Part 3

Barry was called into his dad's study were he found his father reading over some papers.

"You wanted to see me dad?" asked Barry

"Son, I just received word that the Warlord Zoom is threatening to destroy the Snow Kingdom." Said Henry

"What? They don't have a strong enough army to stop that monster! What is he after?"

"The caverns for one. Second he wants the Princess."

"You mean the caverns that the gems they sell come from?"

"Yes. I happen to know that a lot of that money is used to care for orphans, and education."

"I know. Dad, I do pay attention when we discuss that stuff. But as bad as that would be. I am more concerned that Zoom wants Princess Caitlin. I know I only met her once years ago. But no woman deserves to be treated the way Zoom would treat her. Is there anything we can do to help them?"

"Well since you asked. There is. King Thomas is asking for help from our army. In exchange as suggested by his son Crowned Prince Charles is offering you Princess Caitlin's hand in marriage. From what he wrote Caitlin is willing to do it. But you have some say in that matter."

"While I am willing to do that if that is what you think is best. I would like to spend time with the Princess to get to know her a little before I say yes for sure."

"Then I will invite the Princess and King Thomas so you can meet and talk with her and I can go over the details more with him."

"Of course."

"Barry, even if you don't marry Princess Caitlin I am going to give them military help. The Princess doesn't deserve to be forced to marry a man who only wants her to claim the throne for himself. We both know that Caitlin would be the only one to escape the slaughter of her family."

"I know. I just wonder if the rumors about her family are true. That they are descended from the Goddess Khione."

"Well they say there is some truth to every rumor."

"Yeah. Well if I do marry her I will have to tell her our family secret. That we are descended from Hermes."

"Right. You and my brother Jay were both gifted with his speed. You know if it is true that Caitlin is descended from Khione that may mean she has the Goddess's powers."

"That would make us opposites."

"Well they say opposites attract."

"Very true dad."

"Barry, you may have to be patient with her. From what Thomas put in his letter Caitlin doesn't let very many people close."

"I understand."

Barry headed out to go for a ride on his favorite horse Flash.


Caitlin was walking through the garden which was still was a ways from blooming. She actually enjoyed this time of the year. Winter was ending the spring was just beginning. She noticed the young man she ordered the staff to care for sitting on a bench crying. She knew what everyone said about her. That she was cold. But that was not the truth. She was guarded. She could not let people too close or risk the wrong people finding out about her powers. People feared what they don't understand. She walked over to the young man and sat on the other end of the bench.

"Most people find it still too cold to spend much time out here this time of the year." Said Caitlin

They young man turned to her and start to scramble to bow to her.

"You don't have to get up." Said Caitlin

"Princess my parents taught me to show respect for you and your family."

"And I am telling you that bowing is not necessary. But I am at a disadvantage. You know my name, but I do not know yours."

"Francisco Ramon. But I like to be called Cisco."

"It is a pleasure to meet you Mr. Ramon. May I ask if your family survived Zoom's attack?"

"No they were killed. My parents ran the bakery. My brother Dante was no use to Zoom. Neither am I. I was only spared to deliver Zoom's message. Zoom was forcing most men and boys old enough into his army. Killing anyone that refused. I won't even tell you what Zoom was planning for the women."

"I have an idea. Is the staff taking care of you?"

"Yes thank you. Is my horse ok?"

"Yes. He or is it she?"

"He. Vibe."

"Vibe is fine. He is in one of the stables. One of the veterinarians would have checked him over."

"Good. Not that I am going back to Boarder Town. There is nothing for me there."

"I am sorry you lost your family."

"Princess if I may say the rumors about you being cold as ice aren't true."

"Not fully. But I am not the warmest either. I have things to attend to. The staff knows to get you anything you need."

"Thank you Princess."

Caitlin got up and headed back inside. She had to wonder if things were different if she would be friends with someone like Cisco.

"Princess your mother is looking for." Said her assistant Lady Patricia Spivot

"Did her Majesty tell you why Patty?"

"No you're highness."

"Great. Oh and Patty unless others are around I have told you that you don't need to be formal with me. We were playmates as children after all."

"I just don't want to get in trouble. I am your lady after all, and I would like if you do marry the prince of Central Kingdom I do want to accompany you."

"Patty don't you know me well enough to know that you going is going to be one of my conditions. After all you are one of the few people outside of my family that knows my secret."

"Well you did have a habit of making snowmen without snow as a child."

"True. I should go see what the Queen wants."

"You still planning to take those toys personally to the orphanage tomorrow?"

"As long as things don't change between now and then yes."

"I will make sure you security detail is arranged then."

"Thank you Patty."

"Anytime. Your mother is in her office waiting."

Caitlin walked off heading for her mother's office. That was going to be something she, herself was going to have to get use to. Once she married the Crowned Prince she would have an office and take on learning what it really means to be Queen.