Part 12
Iris walked into her father's house after a trip to the market to find her brother Wally was home. She noticed that he was dressed in his uniform. He was talking with their father.
"Wally, I didn't know you were going to be coming home." Said Iris
"Well seeing as I am leaving on a mission in a couple days my commending officer thought it was a good idea for me to come and say good bye to my family." Said Wally
"Where are you going? Or are you not allowed to say." asked Iris
"I am part of the group selected to go aid the Snow Kingdom in their fight against Zoom." Said Wally
"What?! No you can't be serious! I will not have my baby brother going off to fight a war that is not his to fight!"
"You have no say in this. Besides I volunteered. What you fail to understand Iris is. Zoom is after the Snow Kingdom now. But he will not stop until he has control of this whole part of the world. He will kill anyone that prevents him from getting what he wants. He only thinks women are good for to serve men." Said Wally
"You have a death wish don't you?"
"That is enough Iris! Your brother is doing what he feels is right. He joined the Royal Army by choice. Our King has never forced anyone to join the army. Someone like Zoom would force those he deems worthy to join his army. I am proud that Wally is doing this. Not that I want him to die. But I understand why he is doing this. Zoom needs to be stopped." Said Joe
"Dad, I honestly don't think that Zoom will come after us. So why do we have to help those people." Said Iris
"Iris, while I don't understand everything going on in the Snow Kingdom. I know that if Zoom gets control of the gems caverns that a lot of people will die. The sale of those gems is what pays for health care for the poor and education of children. Besides it funds the orphanages that are run by the Kingdom." Said Joe
"Whatever. By why does that mean Wally has to fight a war that isn't his to fight?"
"Iris, if you think that Zoom will not set his sights on us next you are a fool. Our Kingdom has some of the largest gold mines in the world. The Star and Gotham Kingdoms have some of the largest ports in this part of the world. He is going to take each of us one by one until he has all the power." Said Wally
"I don't believe that. He just wants that icy princess."
"You only know the rumors about Princess Caitlin. I saw her arrive with her father yesterday. She didn't seem all that cold. She is not happy from what I could see. But she was not unkind to anyone." Said Wally
"My friend Linda is going to be that icy princess's personal maid. I will find out the truth that I am right. That Princess Caitlin in nothing but cold hearted."
Iris stormed out of the house leaving her father and brother behind. Joe looked at his son.
"She is becoming more like mom every day. A few days ago I heard from some of the guards on the Prince's protection detail that Iris was campaigning to be the prince's mistress." Said Wally
"Your sister has been obsessed with the Prince for years. King Henry's father banned the practice of a Royal having a lover they are not married to. There in the past had been several women that claimed they had a child fathered by an heir to the throne." Said Joe
"Well I also know that the Prince told Iris that was never going to happen. If he ends up married to Princess Caitlin then she will be the only one he will be with."
"That is how it should be. Your mother left because I caught her with another man."
"I know dad. The Prince told her that will never happen."
"He is a good man. I know more about Princess Caitlin then most people here. Her family kept her isolated to protect her from being hurt. Let me just say that there is normally some truth to every rumor."
"You mean you think it is possible that Princess Caitlin is descended from the Goddess Khione like some people believe."
"It would not surprise me. Just like it would not surprise me if our own Royal family is descended from Hermes. But I don't know for sure."
"I don't care if it is true or not. I am not going to let a monster force anyone to be his bride."
"That is my boy. But I should warn you. You may come across young ladies that monster and his army have forced themselves on. You also know that there are going to be some that will believe that they are unworthy of being the wife of a good man."
"Thanks dad."
Caitlin let out a gasp when they arrived at the lake. The water was crystal clear and the sand that wrapped around the shore looked soft and inviting. Very different then the grassy shore of the stream that she would visit at home.
"It is beautiful." Said Caitlin
"Yeah it is. But nearly as beautiful as you." Said Barry
Caitlin blushed as Barry climbed down from his horse and made his way over to help her down. Once she was down Barry took both horses over to a low tree branch and wrapped the raines around it. He then grabbed the lunch that was packed and led Caitlin down to the beach. He the spread a blanket on the sand for them to sit on.
"I wouldn't recommend going into the water. It is still rather cold from the winter. Not that it gets super warm to begin with. The lake is filled by a stream that comes all the way from the Mountain Kingdom. Though somewhere in your Kingdom it moves underground." Said Barry
"It might be the same stream that goes through the palace grounds. It moves underground about five miles from the palace."
"I am guessing it is really cold there."
"It is most of the year. But it has always been one of my favorite places to get away. My brother always knows to find me there when I am upset."
"Are you upset often?"
"Only when I have to deal with my mother alone. My mother has never been warm or there for me. As a child I spent most of my time with nannies. Don't get me wrong. I know being Queen is a job. But it would have been nice if she would have spent at least a little time showing me that she cares about me."
"Some people don't know how to express what how they feel."
"I don't believe that is the case with my mother. She has made it clear more then once that my brother has always been more important then I will ever be and that if we don't work out that she will force me to marry who she sees fit my happiness be damned."
"I don't think that I have ever heard Lady, Princess or other wise use that kind of language before. Well maybe some of the common ones."
"Forgive me for that. My father would not be pleased if he knew I used that word in your company."
"There is nothing to forgive. I find it refreshing that you speak your mind."
"Still it is not how I was raised to speak."
"I won't tell anyone."
"Thank you."
Barry smiled. He was beginning to think that this woman might be the woman of his dreams.
Ronnie sat with Eddie and the rest of the guards watching the young Prince and Princess.
"Eddie, I don't know if the rumors are true about Princess Caitlin. But I do know that our Prince is falling hard for her." Said Ronnie
"Yeah I know. I think that we have to be extra careful when she goes into the city. I don't think that Iris West is going to give up easily trying to get Barry into her bed."
"That is not going to happen."
"I know but she might go after the Princess."
"Then she will face the penalty that anyone that threatens the Royal Family. Plus it could be seen as an act of war."
"That could destroy everything."
"And you wouldn't want that my friend. You want to get to know the Princess's assistant Lady Patricia."
"Is that a problem? Ronnie it's not like I have any interest in any of the Ladies of the court here."
"True. Maybe I should look else where for a woman to marry."
"It wouldn't be a bad idea."
"By the way I will give you any help you need to get your lady."
"Thanks man."
