Long Lost War Hero

Chapter 14

Anna

I walked from my new apartment on campus towards the street as I rushed to get on the train headed towards Trura. Today was the funerals that caused everyone in town to stop doing anything even the pharmacy will be closed. I had only two hours to get there before they started. I had been away for a few months now and only heard the news from the local news that blasted a live stream of the event on television. I had to be there in person for the sake of Catherine and Nicole. I got onto my seat as the train started to disembark from the station. I kept thinking that if I didn't make it, I would feel terrible for being a bad friend. A girl was humming a few rows ahead of me, the sound haunting as well as beautiful melody. She stopped humming and started laughing as the man in the next seat started tickling her. He looked familiar even though I knew I couldn't place him. I quickly opened a magazine looking at models posing for some perfume. Not realizing the time had flown past, only forty minutes past before we arrived in Trura. Only a few stood up and started moving towards the exit, I moved towards the back as I noticed most were in black as well. I had donned on a black flowing mid-calf dress with a over the top black hat that worked as a sun hat as well. My hair was braided in an oval on the back of my head being held by many barrett's. A man walked straight into me knocking me off my balance sending me onto the concrete. The sun hitting my eyes blocking my vision to see who it was. I scrambled onto my feet with anger in every action.

"Excuse you!" I rudely said as I wiped my dress of dirt that gathered onto it.

"Anna, your very much excused." The rough deep voice said.

I rose my arm to shade my eyes as I realized the man was familiar but I couldn't place him.

"How do you know my name?" I asked annoyed.

"I'll let you have time to remember my name, shall we Bella?" He said to the girl that looked impatient.

"Excuse you mister but you knocked me down so screw you dude!" I yelled as he chuckled as they walked away.

I started walking down towards the church where the service was being held for the guys. I could see a line of black cladded bodies forming a line down the street leading towards two women standing with a child. That would be so heartbreaking to be one of them. I stood at the back of the line just to hear a chuckle coming from behind me, the man and his woman companion got in line behind me. If I wasn't here for my two best friends I would be booking it to my parents house. The long got shorter as people quickly said their condolences, shortly it was my turn. I couldn't find the words to show them how much I understood their loss, I bear hugged both of them which started a crying fest between the three of us.

"Alright dry your eyes girls, we still got a few more to greet." Nicole said wiping her eyes while doing a jiggle to keep Donna calm.

I walked away slowly hoping to hear who the two were being addressed as but I couldn't get a single word before I was ushered into a pew. My seat was almost by the doors with the church being filled with half the town. Most of the town liked John but was weary about Dale partly because he always was gone on missions and recruiting adventures leaving his wife always by herself alone.

Nicole and Catherine walked down the isle sitting on opposite sides of the church respectively with their counter parts as the priest begun signing a hymn. It sounded beautiful with hints of remorse. I softly cried for them as many others did as well, the service was dreadfully emotional. Catherine spoke then Nicole and Dales mom then spoke as if it was any importance that only she lost her boy.

"Now ladies and gentlemen please allow the families to leave first for the gravesite as the pallbearers proceed to the casket hearses." The priest stated as a group of men walked towards the caskets.

"Burying boxes empty instead of with their bodies is a shame." Donna exclaimed loudly that everyone stopped and looked at her.

"It's a shame that your still speaking!" Nicole yelled as she ran away with little Donna.

Catherine stood as she shook her head, it seemed as if she had gained weight in her grieving. It looked good on her even though Donna had look of disgust when she walked by. I gathered my belongings to leave when a man approached me.

"Anna oh sweet Anna!" A familiar voice shouted a few pews behind me.

I turned around to see Brad trying to reach me as my arm got grabbed by a hand.

"There you are Anna, I hopped you'd wait for me." The man said as I whipped my head back around.

I didn't realize when Brad walked up to me as I stared in a gaze at the man that suddenly grabbed my hand. Brad grabbed my other hand pulling my interest.

"How do you know Anna?" Brad asked.

"Oh I know of you too Brad but I know Anna fondly and explicitly." The man said as he smirked.

"William we need to get going, why are you talking to these peasants?" The woman behind him said.

I could keep my eyes off of him, he looked out of place in the small church. He was tall with dark brunette hair with piercing bright blue eyes. His suit looked as if it was handmade that costed thousands. He signaled to me with his eyes for me to come with him out of the church.

"Excuse you Bradley, William and I will be leaving." I said as I quickly kept pace with William as my heart started to race with excitement.

" Wait William, I need to grab my purse and mink stole!" The woman yelled as we opened the churches heavy oak doors.

My balance in my heels seemed to gravitate me forwards as he seemed to walk casually probably because of his long legs. He towered over me as he flashed me a bright smile before opening the back door of a black Cadillac limousine. I scooted in before he joined me almost in a rush, the driver leaded the gas pedal before he told the driver to stop. William grabbed a small bag from the side couch and rolled down the window. As he threw the bag out, the woman appeared grabbing it before it fell to the ground.

"William, how dare you!" She yelled as she tried to get in which apparently the vehicle was still in drive as it was locked.

"I know you've been having an affair with Scott, I assigned him to find out how much of a gold digger you actually are!" He said promptly out the window.

As he rolled the window up the driver proceeded down the short street, the darkness of the inside started settling my eyesight and to my astonishment there was a handsome man on the other side of the limousine. The man on the train, my brain said to me as I puzzled it all out. He was that handsome man flirting with the unknown woman who had a horrible giggle. The woman we left behind must've been her, rude in fact is acceptable since she seemed snotty.

"Hello there Anna, it is nice to finally meet you." He said as he offered his hand.

"Hello." I said suspiciously accepting his hand to meet a firm handshake.

" I sincerely regret we couldn't meet earlier to discuss all the events you just witnessed." William said as he put on his seat belt which Scott mimicked.

"What is this all about?Who are you?" I asked with a hint of laughter in my voice.

"This my dear is about you and what you two family lines hold." A woman said in the front passenger seat.

She seemed older but with grace and position. She had dark blond hair and matching eyes of William. Must be his mother, as she guided the driver to the gravesite.

"How do you know Dale?" I asked assumingly.

"We know only John, and your parents of course." William stated before his mother shut him down.

"My name is Eleanor Elizabeth Lynnwood. This is My son William Raymond Lynnwood. We are the Lynnwood's of Bo'eme. " She stated with known presence.

"What's Bohim?" I asked with uncertainty.

"Bo'eme Like bo mi mi." William said quietly before Eleanor whipped around with a scowl.

"You are speaking to the Queen have some respect!" The driver said rudely.

"The Queen of what? Not here for sure!" I said crossing my arms with anger.

"You are of the line of kings that are sister countries with Bo'eme. Bromin is your father country he still runs while living here peacefully as a condition to have a female heir. You will make due to the conditions set by Queen Kathleen who sits on the thrown of this country, whose brother is your father." She informed as she settled back into her seat.

"My father is not a king! What are you talking about?" I questioned as we pulled up to the gravesite where my mother and father quickly approached the vehicle.

"Enough, we will continue this privately at the manor." She said before my mother opened Eleanor's door.

"Oh dear, it has been too long!" My mother embraced Eleanor before I got out following William.

"Well I see you've found our darling Anna!" My father said as he embraced me as if protecting me from these people.

"Yes we surely have, now let us attend our young princes funeral before we head off to the manor." Eleanor stated as she started walking towards the graves.

"We haven't told Catherine upon John's lineage." Mother whispered to me as we approached the seat along the graves.

Catherine and Nicole were already seated, Eleanor presence made both of them stand at attention. It was hard not to stand when Eleanor was being surrounded by a half a dozen guards. She seemed important, and awkwardly it seemed no one else was of any importance. Eleanor, my father and mother sat in the first row opposite side of Catherine and Nicole. Everyone remained standing until Eleanor and my parents sat down. Seemingly everyone knew what was happening except Catherine, Nicole and I. William grabbed my hand as he motioned for me to sit in the row behind our parents. The ceremony was quick following men in uniforms that Queen Kathleen's army wore. Questions kept flooding my mind as I kept thinking about what Eleanor had said. John was royal, Catherine was royal, my parents were royal and I was royal! Oh my goodness, my life had changed in a moments notice. I stood in a daze as I followed William to the graves dropping a flower onto the caskets and walking away. The spreading of dirt was be held for only true family members and no guests. We all got back into the limousine with my family following in their own limousine to my families manor as Eleanor out it, I always just thought my family was rich after all my father worked for a living, didn't he? I questioned myself as we followed the heads of our families into the sitting room.

"Tea please Bianca." My father commanded our house worker before setting down on the expensive sofa.

My mother sat down beside him so I followed sitting next to her as I watched William, Scott and Eleanor sit down on the opposite sofa. Scott motioned for the driver to sit in the line chair separating the two sofas. The driver had a huge expensive brief case made of leather. Bianca came in as he started to pull out yellowed document only to be shoved back into the brief case.

"Thank you Bianca, if you could start on dinner please." Mother said as she stood to take over pouring the tea and small little cookies.

I grabbed a tea putting five teaspoons of sugar and three cookies that I knew were my favorite because Bianca always made the oatmeal raisin cookies just for me everytime I visited. I kept getting looks from Eleanor, William and mother. I knew I had a sweet tooth but I always kept the weight off by working out.

"Shall we begin?" Father said.

The driver nodded as he pulled the yellow papers out and stacked them in precise order as he took them out. I dipped quietly as my eyes roamed the room, I noticed the similarities in my mother to Eleanor.

"We are here today for a commitment long over due. Queen Eleanor lost her husband three years ago, gifting her power to reside over Bo'eme until Prince William commits into holy matrimony as dedicated twenty years ago." The driver stated as he hands a paper to my father who nods in agreement.

"We have not inclined to inform our daughter of our stature as we wanted to raise her with morals of modern civilization Queen Kathleen offers." Father stated as me handed me the paper.

I quickly handed it to William before even glancing at it so that I can get the information from my father. William studied it before handing it to Eleanor who placed it before her on the coffee table.

"Twenty years has passed, your daughter is of legal age as of six months ago therefore their marriage is to be moved forward. This is the declaration of hierarchy made of Bo'eme and Bromin. You are still in the governing power of Bromin, correct your honor?" The driver asked father.

"Yes surely you will allow my daughter to get a moments breath to understand?" Mother asked as she placed her hand on my shoulder.

"Absolutely not, Queen Terrina! The country of Bo'eme needs their King and their new Queen. It is just and the declaration must not be amended. It is stated as the King of Bo'eme must be in power within five consecutive years following the death of the King prior." Eleanor stated furiously.

"Then as the declaration states within two years time will Anna and William be married." My father approached as Eleanor shut him down too as she stood up.

"As it states in the marriage contract between Anna and William made when she was three and he was five, they will marry as soon as both are of legal age otherwise you forfeit your Kingdom to merge Bromin and Bo'eme. I gather this such will happen, you may start boeing to your Queen." Eleanor stated as she glared towards me.

"Can William and I discuss this as thing is between us and no longer between you three as this isn't your marriage or your life. Thank you three, you can leave to the gardens." I stood with similar anger towards Eleanor who gasped as I commanded all of them to leave.

Mother and father quickly got to their feet and lead Eleanor towards the door leading towards the garden.

"Wise move there little Anna." Scott said as I had forgotten that he was still currently there.

"Who exactly are you?" I stated as I sat back down with my arms crossed.

"The youngest but handsomest prince yet to come." He said laughing as he settled in for the conversation.

"Your father will lose his title, your family will lose their royalty and their Kingdom. Be wise with what you say next because you've not done great talking to my mother so far." William said with anger in his eyes.

"Your mother just basically said my parents and I needed to bow to her, as if the stick up her ass isn't the only reason she's still sitting on the throne!" I yelled as I always glared at him in disgust.

"Children! Enough! " The driver yelled quieting all three of us.

"Who..." I started to ask before he cut me off.

"I am their uncle and your eighth cousin. You are ninth cousins and are bound be wed to keep both titles and kingdoms to be merged under your rule." He stated.

"Joshua please continue." William stated as he glared daggers at me.

"Your birthday is in two months so I suggest before another year of life continues you two unit in matrimony bring two countries to one." Joshua said as he pulled out a yellowed thick leather bound book as big as the table.

"Why in two months? I am going to university!" I stated as I grabbed more tea and cookies halted by Williams hands as he fed sugar into my cup.

"Two months is my birthday, my father died the day after my birthday. Three years turns into four and it will take time to merge our kingdoms together, right Joshua?" William explained.

"Correct, almost eight months to conduct country wide visit as you speak to your countries to mend them as one under same rule and same visions.It won't hurt to also show the furthering on lineage as well in those right months." Joshua hinted.

"Huh?" I said as I heard ringing in my ears.

"We get married then that night get pregnant." William stated as he got a concerned look over his face.

I studied his face as Joshua continued explaining in more detail where the wedding would take place, where they would share a palace. Black fuzzies started blocking my vision as it turned black, I felt my shoulders soften then go limp. After that I remember being in a warm embrace that smelled like the forrest with timber and pine.