Sorry about the delay in updates. But real life has been getting in the way lately. I will try and be better about updates but no promises.
Part 22
Sam Scudder was a drifter who hated every Royal he had ever met. In fact he didn't like any noble. But when Zolomon made him an offer he couldn't resist. All he had to do was find a way to bring Princess Caitlin to the Warlord and he would be rewarded handsomely. But getting her alone was going to be the problem. She was never fully alone unless she was in her suite. A suite that was in a wing of the palace that was heavily guarded. In fact most of the grounds were well guarded. His only chance was going to be if she went for a ride alone, not that her personal guards were ever far behind her. He would have to wait to make his move. But he was going to collect his gold if it was the last thing he did.
Erin sat next to her niece's bed, her puppy was curled up at the foot of the bed.
"Erin, when will I get to meet Princess Caitlin?" asked Chrissy
"Most likely not until closer to the wedding. But I know that she is going to like you. She is really nice."
"Why did she have to go away?"
"The bad man that killed your mom and dad wants her as his wife. But he will not treat her like your dad treated your mom or how Charlie treats me."
"Where she go?"
"She went to stay with King Henry and Queen Nora in the Central Kingdom. She is safe there."
"Is the bad man going to come here to hurt us?"
"I don't know honey. But I know King Thomas and Charlie are going to do everything they can to keep us safe."
"Will they keep Snowflake safe too?"
Erin looked at the puppy that was laying on the bed and smiled.
"Yes, they will keep Snowflake safe too. Now you need to get some sleep."
"Night Auntie Erin love you."
"Love you sweetie."
Erin placed a kiss on the young girl's head and turned out the light as she headed out of the room. When she reached the hall she found Charlie waiting for her.
"You are going to be such a good mom." said Charlie
"You really think so?"
"I know so. Erin, I know that my mother is cold hearted but that does not mean that you have to be a good Queen. My grandmother was nothing like my mother, and she was considered one of the best Queens in a very long time."
"Do you think that it is a bad thing that I let the dog sleep in Chrissy's bed?"
"No. My dad told me when he was a boy he had a dog that slept in his bed. My mother on the other hand thinks that no animal should be inside the palace unless it is to be served for a meal and it better be dead when it comes in."
"Yeah well I will never see things the same way as that woman does."
"Caity sure as hell doesn't. No one seems to make my sister angry as much as our mother does."
"I guess it is good that Lady Cecile knows your family secret."
"It is. Though Caity would never hurt anyone intentionally with her gift unless someone she cares about is in danger."
"I know. I should get to bed. I have an early meeting with your mother tomorrow."
"Most likely about you spending so much time with Chrissy."
"Of course. She thinks I should just have a nanny with her all the time."
"That is how she did things. Mother doesn't understand that not everyone feels the way she does about having a family."
"Goodnight my love."
"Goodnight. I can not wait until you can spend every night in bed by my side."
"Only a few more months. But until then we need to be careful. We can not be caught together that way until then."
Charlie leaned over and kissed Erin before letting her head to her room. He watched her go, letting out a sigh.
"Son don't worry it will not be long before Erin will spend every night with you." said Thomas
"Dad, mother doesn't spend the night in your bed any more does she?"
"No. Not since before your sister was born. But not every relationship is like your mother's and mine."
"I know. You and mother only married out of duty. Not like Erin and me. I mean yes I know that we were chosen for each other. But we do love each other too."
"I have seen it. I just hope that your sister will open her heart to Barry. It will be better for both of them."
"I think that if anyone can break down that ice wall around Caity's heart it will be Barry."
"I really hope so."
Caitlin stood on the balcony outside her room. It was nice that the warmth of the day was still holding on it to the night. Not that cold bothered her much. But the fact is she did like warm weather better than cold. Sometimes she felt like her gifts were stronger in the spring and fall than in the winter. Summer, if it got too hot, made her feel weak. But winter didn't make much of a difference.
"Do your gifts make it so you don't get cold?" asked Jesse from the next balcony
"Something like that. But too me this is a warm night for this time of year." said Caitlin
"I forget that the Snow Kingdom doesn't get as warm as it does here."
"Well I don't think you have spent as much time there as here. I know your mom is from there originally but that doesn't mean you go there very often. I know that if I do marry Barry my time there will be limited."
"No one will stop you from going to visit your family."
"I know but I will have duties and responsibilities here. Jesse, I do care deeply for Barry. I think that I may even be falling in love with him."
"That is good. I wish that I could find someone to love. But most of the guys that show an interest in me only do so they can get closer to my family."
"Jesse, just take your time. I am sure that there is someone out there for you. As much as it pains me to say this, but my brother Charlie was right. I can see myself being happy with Barry. Even though it comes with being a future Queen, something I never wanted."
"Thanks for the advice Caitlin."
"Anytime. Those rumors you may have heard about me are not true. I am not a cold person by nature. Though I do have a hard time letting people close. You could say that I am scared that the wrong person will find out about my gift and either hurt me or try and exploit it for their own gain."
"You don't have to worry about that here. No one outside the walls of the palace is going to find out about them. In fact no one that doesn't already know about them is going to find out about them."
"I know. Thanks. I think I will head to bed."
"Good night Caitlin."
"Good night Jesse."
