CHAPTER EIGHT

Later on, Lily is seen ushering Theodore into the guest wing chamber..

"Is there anything you may need my lord? "

"I wonder, have you been kissed by a real man before lily, your lips looks virgin, full, and ready to be sucked on. " he smiles touching her face, she blushes.

"THEODORE!!!! "Williams's voice is heard. He quickly drops his hands down."

"Oh.. Schmucks!! Carry your lovely self away from my chambers Lily before that unruly boy pours his frustration on me. Shu go on now!! "

He shuts the door and then mounts the huge bed.

"Williams to bed the Princess..? Oh what a royal hump that would be" he snickers.

*

*** A bright and sunny morning in the palace***

Annalisa grabs her coat and drapes it over her shoulders. She unlatches her door and then steps out.

"Your Highness.. Good morning. " The guards stationed down the hall greets her.

"Good morning. Have you seen my handmaiden Ameryl?

"She was seen a few minutes ago heading to the kitchen.. "

She nods and makes her way down.

"My Lady, where to in the wee hours of the day? " They follow her.

"I cannot take a stroll around the palace? "

"No of course not. It is just too early. Most of the royal family is still asleep peacefully. "

"I do not sleep like a log of wood. I want to take a stroll down the gardens and then bask in the coming due. I want to be alone. Get me Ameryl."

"Very well my Princess "

He leaves her and then heads to the south of the hall.

She makes her way down and then outside breathing in the fresh air.

She heard her before she saw her.. "Ameryl?"

"Yes your highness, the coach is waiting by the north of the Palace. I have packed you food so that you will eat when hungry and I went into a chambers for a change of cloths befitting the Princess. "

"Do not tell me your packed me long gowns, ropes and corsets Ameryl because that would be dreadful."

Amery smiles " Well I also threw in shirt and pants with booths"

"Ah you speak my language. All these clothes are burdensome. Okay.. Lead the way. Where are the parents.? "

"Asleep! "

"Good if they ask of me, do well to tell them I eloped the Lord of faires"

Ameryl chuckles. Annalisa smiles.

*

"Ah.. Princess Annalise, welcome. " The Baroness approaches her as her royal coach jugs to a stop. The guards stationed helps her down.

"Madame Blendaly.. How do you do? " Annalise smiles at the woman who clasps her hands together in excitement.

Baronness takes a small bow in smiles

" Marvelous your Highness. As anyone told you that you look radiant as always."

"Only those who love to patronize me" She smiles.

"A-ha I see. Here to see Sissie I presume? "

"Afraid so Madame. Is the rascal awake yet or I have to give her a grand waking ?"

" Oh you know her. She is in her chambers and please tell her to take such dreadful color off her hair. "

"I will Madame. How is the Baron, how does he fare these days? " they walk side by side

"Better your Highness. I would have the maids send up breakfast for you both "

"No do not worry. My handmaiden likes to smother me. she packed almost a trunk full of food. Have someone bring it in. We may eat it for years and it wouldn't finish "

They laugh " Ofcourse your highness" she knocks on a door ''Sissie, your Highness is here to see you. Be a dear and come out''

''Anna Madame'' Annalise tells her.

''Nonsense!!! You are the Princess and you must be respected as thus, it does not matter that you and my daughter have been friends for ages. ''

''Very well Madame''

''So, the royal debutante ball, when is it slated to hold your highness?''

''I believe Mama would have a better idea. Left to me i would kick it away''

''Nonsense!! It is a time for all the fair maidens in the land to come out and show their beauty, grace and their aura, those who have been betrothed would show their matches, those who aren't would be paraded about. It is a time for flowers to be plucked, and maybe you, my Princess would be too soon''

''Oh Madame, if i didn't know you better i would say you had a foresight into the future''

''How so?''

''Well, the king has..--''

The door swings open and Annalise gaps ''Such dreadful color of your hair!!!'' Annalise exclaims with both hands on her face seeing a maze of red air on her friend's head.

''Oh you little wrench!! Come on in. It is only you who dares to wake me up from my slumber, it is too early but royal wrenches like you refuse to hug your sheets but parading in the still dark looking for comfort. Come on in, do not stand there looking like a stuffed doll in a corset dress'' She grabs her hands and then pulls Annalise inside. ''Bye Mama, tend to the Baron, he needs you by his side more than me in mine.''

''Sissie?''

The door was shut in her face, she sighs turning away, the door flings open ''I love you Mama, good morning!'' she winks at her and then slams the door again.

Baroness Blendaly shakes her head ''Dear Child, such a nut case'' She snaps her fingers and beckons to a guard ''Tell the maidens to help with the royal food basket from the coach and take it up to the girls.''

''Aye my lady''

*

Sissies's eyes grew big ''Bollocks!!!'' she curses

''My expressions exactly!!''

''What are you going to do?'' She picks a spoon and scoops the last morsel from the plate and puts it in her mouth. The basket of food was near empty. Annalise pushes her empty plate.

''Fight it!''

''You cannot fight it, it is tradition!''

''Well i would run away''

''You cannot run from the king''

''Well i do not know but what i do know is that it is not happening''

''You can allow a stranger to put you in the family way and disgrace the throne'' Sissie smiles

''Not funny. Oh, Mama wouldn't listen to me and Father is set in his ways but i am stubborn, i will not allow it. I will elope, that is what i would do''

''I can come with? It gets boring these days.''

''Oh, i long to fall inlove Sissie, not forced into this.''

''Maybe, a bright and shining stranger would drop from the skies and sweep you off your feet, maybe he may be a prince and the King would have no choice other than to marry you off to him and you both would live happily ever after''

''Just like the books?'' Annalise gushes.

''Just like the books! '' Sissie nods.

There heard noises behind the door, laughter and heavy booths.

''What in the name is causing that hoot?'' Annalise turns to the closed door.

''Oh, i think they are heading out. He likes to do an early morning run with the guards''

''Who?''

''A distant cousin, He has been here one week and four long days. ''

''Oh! i am sure he might be horrid, distant cousins can be so. Remember Luke?''

''Ah, he snorts like a pig.''

''A fat one!!'''

They laugh.

''Come, let's go for a ride, Papa bought me a white horse, and she is a beauty''

Annalise pouts ''My Father the king sees it unladylike for me to mount on. See how i suffer?''

''Aye, but you are the Princess, you enjoy plenty. Come on''

They leave her chambers after changing clothes to riding clothes, venturing out to the field where two horses were brought for them.

''My lady?'' The guard comes to Annalise to help her mount the horse she was given to ride.

Sissie who had already mounted her white horse is smiling. ''Ready?''

''Aye!!"'

''Legs go. Hiya!!'' Sissie kicks and then her horse begins to trot and then gallop followed by Annalisa behind.

They gallop through the vast land and then after a while, they make their way back. Sissie seeing it, nudges her horse with a kick and they fly above the ditch. Annalisa was following her head on behind.

''Watch it Anna!!'' she calls out. But it was too late, her horse is heading straight for the ditch before he sees it, he screeches back in fear rising high from the ground and backwards.

Annalise screams as she was thrown off the horse and falling.

That was a few seconds ago. She opens her eyes to realize that she wasn't on the grass and bruised and worse, maybe mangled.

She looks to see strong arms holding her, she looks up to see blue eyes staring down at her,..

''It's you again, blue eyes'' she smiles.

He smiles ''You have a knack for falling and i happen to be there every time to catch you''

''Oh my goodness!!'' Sissie drops down from her horse and rushes to them ''Thank God, the king would have had our heads, Are you okay Anna?'' She peers down at her.

Annalise nods ''Yes, yes i am. Blue eyes save me, again'' she smiles

Sissie chuckles ''His name isn't blue eyes silly.''

''It doesn't matter, he can catch me anytime any day ..blue eyes fits him perfectly''

Now his smile broadens..''My lady, i would drop you now.''

''No.. in your arms is perfect!!'' She holds on to him ''I think i sprained my ankle so....can't work blue eyes, you can carry me, all the way..back to..wherever it is!!''

Sissie face-palms at her friend... ''Aye, anything for my lady''

He holds her tighter and begins to walk back with her..

''Who is the hunk, oh my God?!!! She mouths to Sissie turning her head sideways ''Can i keep him, please please pleaseeeee''' She pretends to swoon and then smiles wrapping her hands around his neck.

Sissie laughs .. ''Oh Annalise, you are one nut case of a friend!''

*