Part 11

Charlie sighed as he looked over the map that showed the movement of Zoom's army. Bookings was the latest town to fall. From the reports of the scouts for the army there was nothing left but rumble and children. Members of the army were now rounding up the children who had been left with the bodies of their parents and the other adults laying dead in the streets. The children would be taken to any number of orphanages in the big cities. Any siblings would be kept together if possible. But there were only four orphanages that he knew of in the whole kingdom that were coed. Most were either just for girls or just for boys, and a couple of them were not even in the same city. He had no idea how his father dealt with things like this. He was broken from his thoughts when he felt a soft hand on his arm. He looked over to see his fiancée had come into the study.

"Charlie, things may look bad now. But I just know that King Henry is going to help regardless if Caitlin agrees to marry Prince Bartholomew." Said Erin softly

"Erin, there is no way you could know that."

"You need to have a little faith. But if it helps I think that your sister is going to fall in love with him. I mean my cousin who lives in Central Kingdom told me that he treats everyone well. He rarely loses his temper."

"Erin, Caity needs someone to show her how to open her heart to love. My dad and I have done our best to show her love. But the combination of my mother and her gifts have caused her to close herself off to most people."

"I understand that. Charlie is that Bookings that Zoom's latest attack happened in?"

"Yes."

"I had family there. My older sister moved there after she married five years ago. Her husband recently became mayor. They had a little girl she would be three now."

"I'm sorry but my reports say that no one over the age of twelve was left alive. I will have them begin searching for your niece to have her brought here."

"I will get some photographs to send out."

"Good."

"You know my parents are no longer in good enough health to care for her."

"I know. That is why your niece will come to you and we will see that she is cared for."

"Thank you."

"Erin, you know that I love you. While we were chosen for each other as kids. We have spent a lot of time together and gotten to know each other really well."

"I know Charlie. Though if anyone knew how close we really are then it might be really bad for us."

"Erin, we love each other. So what does it matter how close we are?"

"We have to be careful. Charlie I can't be obviously pregnant at our wedding. It will cause a scandal."

"Do you regret being with me that way?"

"Of course not. Charlie, making love to you was the most wonderful thing to happen to me. It is just I don't want anyone say anything bad about you."

"I don't care what those kind of people think."

"People like your mother?"

"My mother is nothing but a cold hearted bitch. You do know that she doesn't care if Caitlin is happy? That Caitlin should just suck it up an do her duty and marry whoever she is told to. Even if the guy were to be emotionally abusive to her."

"That is part of the reason you suggested that your sister possibly marry the Prince of the Central Kingdom."

"Barry will treat my sister really well. Not push her to do anything she is not ready for."

"Caitlin is lucky to have you as her brother."

"I am lucky that I will have you as my wife."

Charlie leaned down and gave Erin a passionate kiss that she returned.

Caitlin smiled as walked to the stables to see one of the hands trying to hold a auburn colored horse with a white spot that looked like a bolt of lighting on it's forehead while another tried to put a saddle on. She knew that horse had to be Flash, Barry's horse. She spotted Barry outside the paddock watching. She walked over to him.

"Frost will at least let the stable hands get the saddle on her." Said Caitlin

"Flash doesn't like most people. He doesn't trust them." Said Barry

"May I try to calm him? I have a way with animals."

"Of course."

Barry signaled for the hands to step back. Caitlin entered the paddock and slowly walked over to the horse. Making sure no one noticed she dropped the temperature of her hands as she gently placed them on the horse. She spoke softly as she began to rub him.

"Easy there boy. No one wants to hurt you." Said Caitlin

The horse started to calm down. None of the stable workers could believe it. Barry walked over with a smile.

"You really do have a way with horses." Said Barry

"He is just scared. He knows that you won't hurt him. But he won't trust anyone else. By the way I sure hope that you aren't expecting me to use that side saddle." Said Caitlin

"I never said for them to use that thing. I think that they assumed because most other noble women use them you would."

"My mother hates that I don't ride side saddle. I find them to be uncomfortable. It is also not good for the horse. It puts too much weight on one side of the horse."

"Get a regular saddle for the other horse and finish saddling Flash with a regular saddle for Princess Caitlin to ride." Said Barry

One of the stable hands took the side saddle to put away and grab a regular saddle. It didn't take long to have the two horses ready. Barry being a gentleman gave Caitlin help to get up on Flash. The horse remained calm as he adjusted to the weight of Caitlin on his back. Barry climbed up on the other horse and one of the hands gave him the specially designed picnic basket that he hooked on his saddle.

"Ready?" Barry asked Caitlin

"Yes lead the way."

Barry smiled and the two of them headed out down the trail that went through the woods to the lake. Caitlin noticed that their protection detail was keeping a distance while keeping them in sight.

"Barry?"

"Yes Caitlin?"

"Are we going to leave the palace grounds?"

"No but it is better to be safe. Don't worry they will not get to close unless there is some kind of threat. There have been a few times someone has been able to sneak on to the grounds through the woods."

"I understand that. It has happened back home. Not for a while but it did when I was little."

"My being the heir it is important that nothing happens to me. My Uncle Jay has no interest being king and my cousin Jesse can't stand the protocol she has to go through now. Being Queen would drive her crazy. Besides right now she can avoid marrying one of the young kiss ups that are apart of the court."

"I understand that. I can't stand any of the guys in the Royal court back home. They only want to be in the hunt to marry me in order to get close to my father and brother."

"You don't have to worry about that with me."

"I know. Barry, I want to try and make things work between us. But it is going to take me time to adjust to being here away from my family."

"Caitlin, there is no pressure from me. Take all the time you need. But I do want to get to know the you that only your family knows,"

"Not sure you will like that version of me."

"Caitlin, everyone has secrets. I don't care what yours are. Whatever you are scared of me finding out about you won't change anything."

"I am not so sure about that."

Barry watched Caitlin as they rode. He could see that she wanted to trust him but wasn't sure she could.

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