The Emerald Queen

Prince Gareth

Gareths POV

A week earlier at Eden boarder control camp

We have been at the border for 3days now the boarder village was busy and we stayed in one of the inns until Master will came to get us, nobody was allowed to travel from the boarder without a royal escorts especially if they where going to the capital. They searched everything when we arrived and we even signed binding contracts binding us to the laws of Eden.

"Where is Crissy?" I asked my father as I threw myself in one off the chairs next to him the room was spacious with a large king size to the left and a work space to the right where my bother sat behind the desk.

" She is resting, she went for a walk through town earlier and went to lay down. Mast Will is said to arrive soon." he added taking a sip of his coffee and stared out the window.

"Oh thank the heavens." I said relieved, "I don't remember security being this tight a few years back," I was more thinking out loud than anything else.

"It wasn't, but as it's the Princesses crowning it is wiser to take extra procauions" Dad said,

Shakes who had been nose deep in reports looked up and said, "Who would want to hurt the Princess, surely nobody with common sense would not even dream of it." He had a point actually I couldn't think of one reason to harm her and Eden was secure already.

"Evil is always lurking." Father said with a frown. Looked at him for a while and then said, " Father, can I have a word with you please." eyeing my brother I added, "alone!"

"I'm busy with royal books I am not moving if you can't speak infront of me take a walk or wait till I'm done." Shaquil replied irratably, he had been busy taking on more responsibilities from Father slowly and he took it abit too seriously for my liking.

King Angus stretched," Let's take a walk, I love breathing in the Eden air and we should get moving at dawn so let's stretch while we can." following father into the border woods just beyond the village we walked in silence away from the ears and eyes of all. " Father I'd like your permission to have Criseldas hand in marraige. Now before you say anything I will have you know that we are inlove and I want to do the honorable thing before anything happens."

My father eyed me with a serious face, " how long have you known, and before you answer I want the truth Gareth, how long have you known you lover her and want to marry her? "

" well honestly for about a year now and I decided that I want to marry her 4months ago, I know I'm only 18 and she is 17 but I want no other and we can get married after she turns 21 but I want to announce our betrothal and I want to ask her so I want your blessing." I said as I looked his father square in the eyes.

" Why choose now to tell me this? " he asked looking solem.

" I want my proposal to be unforgettable to her and Eden is the most beautiful kingdom to do so and once the ton hear about it she will gain more respect and acceptance." ai had really thought this through.

"Do you recall the promise you and the princess made to each other 3years ago? Did you thing about calling her and letting her know what is going on when you discovered your love?" he asked and I could see he was becoming upset.

"Come on dad we were children, we are friends and that's all I doubt she took it that serious besides I'm pretty sure she has enough suitors to bother with a child's promise, I mean we have not seen each other in 3 years and I stopped texting two years ago do you really think she never got the message. "

My father was seething and I just didn't understand what the big deal was," Do you know why Eden is as powerful and great as it is? It's cause they keep thier word and do what they set out to do, and if you had spoken to that young lady maybe you would have realized what she has been through and respected her enough to tell her."

my own temper flared up " fine I'll tell her everything when we get there, I don't see the big deal!"

my father stormed of saying" You better tell her before she figures it out for herself and you won't get my blessing till she knows."

I think the Eden air is a little too much for him, I mumbled to the trees

A few nights later Master William arrived informing us that we will be leaving right at dawn so that we can make it to the next in by next afternoon, it normally took a week to travel from boarder to the castle which was situated in the center of Eden. It was decided that we all travel in convoy. I was getting bored so I convinced my older brother to get Master William tk take up on horse back as it was not only faster but better, while Dad and Criselda rode with the convoy.

When we awake He sat on the driving box stoic and silent, I was about to approach him when my brother appeared, "Good morning brother," Shaquiel said to me me in as we jumped into our carriage.

"You annoyingly jolly today, did you get some last night, I saw how you where chatting up the girls at the one table last night." Shaquiel just laughed and sprawled himself on the lush cussioned seating of the carriage

" Oh, brother you really are dumb and clueless so let me educate you, though I know your heart lays in the other carriage, and before you fight I will tell you that servants gossip alot back home." my brother really knew how to vex me but I just smirked and allowed him to continue," See what you must remember about Eden is that even though we are The Kings guests or should I say Her Highnesses guests, we are also not actually going to be treated any different from any other edenite and that means had I messed with any of those girls and gotten caught or they said something I would have to marry her, as it is a Eden rule and we both know how Eden is about its laws. Did you know while we are on Eden soil we are bound by thier laws? "

he was really starting to annoiy me with his cheerful banter," I can recall telling you all this three years ago but what I want to know is what where you doing last night with all those girls? "

He grinned so I kicked him on the leg." well if you must know, I was catching up with gossip, the girls were telling me all about the excitement of the corrination and how they admire the princess for her compassion and devotion to Eden, since she began part taking three years ago she has been working hard earning thier trust and respect and even the animals bow to her." I was not liking his tone of interest, especially since I was now becoming concerned at to what this meant for the promise we made that I had apparently broken.

The nature was breath taking and by 9am we reached a small town where everyone got to strech thier legs. Master Will advised that we will go on horse from here and that his Apprentice Hunter would drive the carriage the rest of the way. As I could recall Hunter was the small silent kid that shadowed the princess when we were little, so imagen my shock apon seeing this giant man nod and easy away.

"This way gentlemen." Masters Will said as we broke away from everyone and rounded the stables to find two magnificent horses ready to be mounted.

"Thanks for taking us in horse back Master Will, we were dying in that carriage," I said as we trotted through the valley along side a stream.

" It's no problem Prince Gareth, it's nice to see you boys have grown up but still love riding and being in the open." he said smiling

" Does her highness still love riding, I'm sure she has perfect it by now?" Shaquiel asked causing Master Will to laugh a bit before he said," Unfortunately I can't really offer any information about the princess, that you boys will have to ask her yourself but I will tell you something she never will and that is you boys were almost family to her and then you two just ignored her and it hurt her she said nothing but we all saw it. " This made me feel worse, I mean could me completely cutting communication after falling for Crissy really have hurt her and why did my brother stop talking to her was he convinced I was inlove with her still. I mean it has been 3years I hardly remember what she looks like I mean me was skinny and flat chested and wild when we were younger and maybe we were kindred spirits but we all grown now and Crissy is the woman I love she is funny and smart and a lady with class and style and a body every man would kill to have in thier bed, besides she sees me for me and she really cares for me, I doubt Princess sherrose will come close she probably doesn't even care about the promise made as kids.

We arrived at the palace 2hours before my father so went to our rooms to rest. we washed up and changed