The Half Elf and The Prince.

Chapter Four

Prince Aeryn signaled and gave everyone twenty minutes to make ready before the depart. He had stayed beside this tree almost all night. Leigh had perched herself in the higher branches. She never trusted the road at night. Leigh made he way down the tree.

"Was the absolutely necessary?" He asked "Our convoy is large enough no will will mess with us"

"Plus, we have ten royal guards with us." He said nodding towards them.

"You can't be to careful, Aeryn." Leigh replied sternly adding "Never let down your guard."

Prince Aeryn and Leigh walked to thier horses. They walked to the grey horse first. Leigh wrapped her arms round Aeryn's neck to stabilize herself as he lifted her. Aeryn's heart fluttered, it always did when she touch him. He place his hands onto her and pulled her into to him. He needed to feel her close. He had noticed she no longer pulled away. He knew she no long had the strength.

Aeryn had noticed months ago her feelings match his own. While it made him happy, it made his heartbreak. He loved her, and it would be easier if she didn't reciprocate. They both denied their hearts. Aeryn found this harder and harder. Aeryn knew he would soon have to take a wife, he also knew he would lose Leigh when he did.

He lifted Leigh to her horse and mounted his own. Aeryn rasied his hand and the convoy started down the road.

"We should arrive in Applegate around noon." Aeryn told Leigh "We will go to Golden Lady first."

"That is the house for visiting embassies? Leigh asked. "I never been before."

"Yes, it had plenty of bedrooms, offices, and meetings rooms." Aeryn answered "It also has a ballroom"

"We will probably be invited to few parties " He continued "We will have attended some."

"Great" Leigh roll her eyes.

The rest of the way to Applegate was uneventful. They crossed the bridge and passed through the gates. They followed the road through the merchant and in to the upper class houseing. They passed large houses with beautiful gardens each one more impressive than the first. The convoy made it way to four story mansion.

Aeryn watched Leigh as she looked around. This was here first time in Applegate. She never left Moondale after she came to live there. Her eyes drift to the massive garden that sprawled around the mansion.

"We will walk around them this evening after we get settled in" Aeryn smiled up at the reaching her from her horse.

Leigh leaned to him wrapping her arm around his neck the way she always did. Aeryn like always helped her from her horse never breaking eye contact. Once on the ground he pulled her in to him. She didn't pull away her resolve cowering. He held her close for a moment never speaking any words, just staring into her green eyes. He didn't need words. He could see the want in her eyes, and then he would see the pain. The pain when she remembered he could never be hers. Aeryn let his hands fall from her waist. He could not bear that look in her eyes.

Aeryn walked through the mansion front door in a large room with two stair cases. Waiting in the middle of the room was a well dressed man with grey hair, and two women in dark blue matching dresses, and three more more in dark blue matching uniforms.

"Hello Prince Aeryn, I am Hershel" the grey head man introduced himself with a bow. " I have made sure everyone's room is ready and dinner will be at 6 p.m."

"We have light refreshment in the dining if anyone would like." Hershel explained address everyone" One of the staff will gladly show to your room when."

"Thank you, Hershel" Aeryn replied "Will you kindly show me to my room?"

"Of course Your Highness." Hershel answered motioning for Aeryn to follow.

Aeryn and Leigh followed Hershel up to the fourth floor. They followed him down the hall to the door on the end. He opened and motion for Aeryn to go in, when noticed Leigh behind him.

"Young lady, I will take you to your next Let m" Hershel started.

"She stays in my room." Aeryn cut him off " I will meet you down stairs"

"Yes, Prince Aeryn." Hershel replied eyeing Leigh before he turned to leave.

Leigh walked in the the room and looked around while Aeryn closed the door behind them. Leigh took off her cloak and hung by the door. Then walk over to the bed and fell backward on to it.

Aeryn chuckled as Leigh sighed as she hit the bed. She had been awake almost two full days, he knew she would need sleep to night. Aeryn planned to walk around the garden with her after dinner, and then he bring he back to the room so she could sleep. He just wanted all the time with her he could have.

"We should clean up and change clothes before dinner." Aeryn chimed

"Yeah, I better get up before the bed take me for the night." She replied lifting her self from the bed.

Aeryn watched as she brushed her wild red hair and pulled in to bun on top of her. She washed her face and dug through the chest of her cloths. She pulled a Black corest, a red shirt, and black skirt. She made her way behind the dressing divider and thru here dirty clothes on the ground. When she came back out she was dressed in her clean clothes. Aeryn quickly changed and they return down stairs.

Aeryn checked with the staff about everyone's accommodations and was to pleased to learn everyone had been squared away. He also was told that only the guards and himself were on the 4th floor.

Hershel gave Prince Aeryn all the details of the meetings and parties that were set. The first of which would start tomorrow. Hershel determined it would take about two to three weeks to complete all the negotiations, and sign all the trade and political treadies.

Once Prince Aeryn and Hershel were done with their discussion it was dinner. Aeryn and Leigh walked in to the dining room. Prince Aeryn took his seat at the head of the table, and Leigh took a seat to his left.

Most everyone's was all ready seated or taking a seat. He look around the room, when his stopped on Branwyn. Her eyes full of fire and hate aimed right for Leigh. Aeryn remember the night he went to her room at the inn. How he imagined her as Leigh. He felt shame for using her as he did, but he had no desire for anyone else. Aeryn knew the way she looked at Leigh, this was going to be trouble and his misdeed would come back and bite him.