Research (2)

After finding as many books on the subject as she can carry, Diana set them down on the table and began to read through book after book for knowledge on Noblis and it's royal family.

'None of this is what I'm looking for,' she sighed in frustration as she finished the third book and went on to the fourth in the pile.

She's read about some old battle tatics they used in war, past Kings and Queens reigns, how it's a flourishing place full of beauty. How it has medicinal plants and luciouse fruits but none of it's what Diana's looking for.

By the time night has fallen Dianas finished atleast four stacks of books and is still no closer to what she's looking for.

'This is so frustrating,' she thought to herself as she dragged her hands through her hair.

"Your still researching?" Alex asked as he came in tossing Diana an apple which she grabbed before it hit her. "I guessed you probably haven't eaten today," Diana just smiled slightly in defeat without any emotion reaching her eyes she took a bite out of the apple. "I'm also guessing you haven't found what your looking for."

"Your not wrong," she said as she took another bite of the crisp red apple "thanks for the apple." Diana said graciously thanked him.

"It's nothing. Are you still researching the same thing you were earlier?" he asked as he approached where she's sitting pulling up the seat next to her.

"More or less, but I'm focusing on Noblis mainly however, I'm coming up with nothing but dead ends," she explained with a sigh of frustration.

"Anything I can help with?"

"Not unless you know anything about Queen Ava, King Rory and their child which the queen supposedly miscarried fithteen years ago,"

"Unfortunately I don't know much honestly. I know that the king and queen were close to my parents as well as the king and queen of Malum. However, I thought that they miscarried the child fifteen years ago until you said otherwise."

After a moment of thought she realised something "Wait a minute,"

"What is it?" Alex asked in curiosity.

"The three royal families were close until the war between Fortis and Noblis broke out, right?"

"Yeah, what of it?"

"Then during the time that Queen Ava was pregnant as well as your mother and the queen of Malum the three kingdoms were all still close to one another."

"Yes, but my parents don't often talk about that time and from what I know they think that the king and queen of Noblis' child died fifteen years ago."

"Maby, but that doesn't mean that they aren't keeping something important from everyone no matter how insignificant it may seem, they might not even realise they know," Diana explained as her mind begins to race "they could know something that's actually important to this war." she explained resolutely as she got up from her seat and headed out the library towards King Brian's study with Alex hot on her heels.

"Are you going to my farther now?" he asked as they walked down the halls.

"Of cource," Diana replied nonchalantly "there's no point in waiting around when I could just ask him right now."

"True," he agreed after a moment of thought "but it's already nine in the evening," he pointed out afterwards.

"Great, it's not even that late yet," Alex just sighed in response.

After a few more minutes they finally reached king Brian's study. Diana knocked on the large oak door after arriving and waited for a response.

"Come in," she heard king Brian call from inside and turned the golden handle letting herself in Alex followed behind her.

King Brian's study is simple but has an elegant yet comftable feel to it. The left wall is lined with books regarding state politics, legal documents and so on. The right wall is a large window which opens to a beautiful balcony which over looks the hall kingdom as far as the eye can see. In the center of the room are to ruby red sofas which are parallel to each other and in between them is a wooden table.

At the far end of the room is King Brian's desk with two chairs in front of it with red cushions on them and King Brian sat facing the two chairs.

"Diana, Alex what a pleasant surprise," he welcomed then both with a broard smile "what can I help you with?" he asked them as he gestured for then to both take a seat across from him.

"We're sorry to disturb you farther however, Diana wanted to ask you something," Alex explained as they both took their seats. Causing King Brian's attention to fall on Diana.

"Oh, what is it you want to ask me?"

"Well I was researching to find out more about the three kingdoms, the war and such when I remembered something I learnt or more acurately overheard my parents talk about back in Malum. However, I unfortunately couldn't find what I was looking for but then Alex pointed out how you and the queen were close to the other two rulers of the other kingdoms. So I thought that maby you would be able to help me figure it out." Diana explained.

"Alright, what would you like to know?" he asked his curiousity peeked "I'm happy to help if I can," King Brian explained.

"Well, I was wondering what you know about the time when Queen Ava was pregnant and when she supposedly miscarried her child," Diana explained to him bluntly.

"Well I don't actually know to much about the miscarriage itself, as just after it they declared war on us demanding 'her' back. However, I can help with the time during her pregnancy after all, all three of the Queens were pregnant at the time and we were all still close friends." He explained but he said the last sentence wistfully.

"Do you know the gender of the child?" Diana asked curiously.

"Unfortunately not, none of us were there when she gave birth and the news soon travelled that she miscarried the child. None of us were ever there for any of the births as we were all regretfully to busy with each of our kingdoms."

"I see," Diana said thoughtfully "when the queen of Noblis was pregnant did she act differently?" she asked.

"No, throughout her whole pregnancy she was the same old Ava she never acted differently to an odd extent she would have mood swings bur that's just common. She never acted peculiar,"

"Hmm," Diana was deep in thought with his response when she thought of something "What about Queen Amara?"

This caused him to think carefully "She and Blake had been acting a little bit strange, even before the pregnancy but I haven't seen or spoken to either of them in fithteen years. Why do you ask?"

"No reason in paticular," Diana lied 'so my parents were acting odd before this war started, could they been involved in someway?' she thought to herself.

"Diana may I ask you a question?" King Brian asked.

"Of course,"

"Why do you think that Queen Ava only supposedly miscarried?"

"I overheard my parents talking about it and it always seemed a little odd the timing of the war coming just after her 'miscarriage' and then them always demanding a 'her' back" Diana explained in complete honesty.

"I see," this caused the king to be lost in thought "Well you two best get some rest it's already half past ten I'll see you both tomorrow morning," he said dismissing them and after a few goodnights Alex and Diana left his study.

"Did you find out what you needed to?" Alex asked as they walked down the halls.

"I'm not sure yet," Diana replied while thinking through what they learnt.

"Lady Diana, Prince Alexander sorry to disturb you," a servant said as he stopped in front of them "but I have a letter for Lady Diana."

"A letter?" Diana asked sceptically as her eyebrows furrowed 'Who would be sending me a letter?'

"Yes my lady," the servant said as he handed Diana the letter she took it and began to read it.

'Diana,

it's Esme I was wondering if you'd like to meet for lunch tomorrow at noon just come by my parents shop and we can go from there hope to see you.

Esme.'

"Who's it from?" Alex asked.

"Just a friend I made in town a few days ago when we went shopping,"

"You mean that one who gave you that hair piece, which was actually the only thing you got that day unlike the other two girls?"

"That's the one she asked me to lunch tomorrow at noon and I see no harm in going," Diana replied

"Fair enough, but how do you know you can trust her?" Alex asked sceptically.

"Says the person who didn't even know me a day before choosing me as their personal knight," she retorted

"Fair enough," the servent just watched them with a smile. He'd never seen the prince so happy before, afterall the prince never acted this way with anyone let alone a girl.

"Thank you for bringing me the letter," Diana said graciously before continuing down the hall.

"Want a spar?" Alex asked.

"Sure I've been cooped up all day I could do with some excersise,"

They went out and trained until midnight when Alex called it a night and Diana said she'd follow him in a while but she isn't going to well at least not tonight.