Discovery (Revisioned)

Chapter 21

I must have fallen asleep, because the next thing I know, Joseph is sitting beside me. He’s sweating but wearing a big smile on his face. I sit up and look around. There were bags of stuff lying around everywhere and, standing beside Georgie, is another horse.

At first, I’m confused about the horse and I look around to see if we have a guest. I don't see anyone and I look at Joseph to help with my confusion. He notices the confused look on my face and chuckles.

"There is no one else here. The horse is yours.” He scoots a little closer to me. Butterflies are now fluttering my stomach. I take a deep breath and pay attention to what he is still saying. “My Uncle gave us some more stuff. Everything that you asked for is in those bags.”

He points to several burlap sacks that are now standing in the kitchen. “You can go hunting with me now, if you want. This mare's name is Sasha. She belonged to my sister, who is also named Sasha. Do you want to eat or take a ride?"

I beam up at him. I can't contain my excitement as he told me a little more about his life while at the same time including me in his activities. I jump up and hug him before I walk happily over to Sasha. I brush her hair and wipe her clear of sweat. But I’m not ready for a ride.

I look towards Joseph, whose face is unreadable, and shake my head pointing towards the kitchen. I’m hungry and need to make dinner.

I walk over to the make shift kitchen and start preparing the herbs, then I remember the bags. They did give me all the fruits and herbs that I wanted! I can feel my smile stretch wide on my face.

I can’t wait to surprise him with this meal. My stomach grumbles while my mouth is practically salivating while imaging my dinner.

Joseph shoots me a small smile and starts working on the meat. While Joseph cuts up the meat, I finish preparing. The food doesn’t really take too long to make or eat. It was the best meal that we have eaten in a long time.

We ate in silence aside from the mmm’s and groans that kept coming from Joseph causing me to smile. When we were finish, I grab the new paper and quill so I can ‘speak’ to Joseph.

"Is there any news? I am guessing things are good?"

He shakes his head. "Nothing has changed. These were sent by my family and my Uncle."

When he stops talking, I thought he was finished because he looks away. I get up to clean up the mess but before I can move too far, he wraps his arms around my waist startling me. I’m so surprised that I nearly drop everything.

I very slowly put the stuff down and turn around to face him. I can’t read the expression in his eyes but his touch brings a sense of comfort that I hadn’t realized that I needed until just now.

"I wasn't finished yet. I want to tell you about myself. Well, about my family really. Your dad told me everything about you. He didn't want you to know that he talked about you all the time. It helped him deal with Zarius.” I feel tears running down my face. I’m elated yet sad.

He’s about to give me the one thing that I was hoping for only a few hours ago. However, the mention of my dad has my heart broken a little. “Oh, don't cry! Come sit down with me."

He kisses both sides of my face where the tears have fallen before leading me over to the bench. My reaction clearly makes him uneasy.

I sit and wait while he collects his thoughts. I smile a small smile of encouragement. It takes him a minute to start with his story. Despite the reminder of my dad's death, I’m excited to finally learn about him. I grab my quill and paper; ready to ask him questions.

He takes a deep breath and I wonder if it’s really that hard to talk about his family. "You already know that my father is the son of a King.” I nod.

“My Grandfather's name was Nicholas. My Uncle is the older of the two brothers and my father, Brandon, did not really want to be responsible for the whole country. Grandfather hired a mercenary to teach him how to fight while my Uncle was schooled in politics."

"Did they learn other things as well?" I wrote.

"Yes, they learned to read, write, draw, math, and some science. My father excelled at combat. When we were attacked by the warriors of Byzaleron, my Grandfather sent him out to lead the battle. That is where he met my mother. Her name is Evelyn. She's a baker's daughter. My father arrived in her town at sunrise. She was walking out of the bakery with flour in her hair and all over her clothes. My father said that she looked so beautiful that he had to stop the troops. He made an excuse about eating and resting for the fight and none of the men questioned him."

"What did your Mom think?"

"She thought he was dashing, of course, but he was a Prince. She fed all the men and refused the payment from my father. She asked only that they return safely. My father went to her and said that he would win this battle, for her, as long as she agreed to be with him.” My mouth dropped open and he smirked.

“I know, he was blunt, but that's my father. Anyway, my mother agreed and gave my father her apron to carry with him as a reminder. Of course, they won that battle and returned with only a few losses."

"Did your Mom leave her father's bakery to live closer to your father?"

"No, she stayed with her father. He came to see her every chance he could get away. They kept it a secret from my Grandfather."

"Why would they hide it?"

"Because it was f*******n. He is a Prince. He could have been needed for an alliance marriage. But he didn't want that. But soon, my Grandfather found out anyway. He disowned my father for a few years. My Uncle convinced him to forgive my father. That is how we got the house in the city."

"Why not live in the castle?"

"Grandfather banned him from the castle. My father took the house and, several months later, he married my mother. Grandfather had given my father the job of training his soldiers when his mentor died. By the time the wedding came, they were on speaking terms."

"What about your Grandmother?"

"Grandma Isabel died giving birth to Father."

"Oh, sorry! Did your Grandfather ever learn to love your mother?"

"Oh, yes! He loved her like a daughter by the time I was born. He offered my father to come and live in the castle, but Father refused. He said that it would be better for him to keep his reputation with the people of Mestachan."

"Did you get to meet your Grandfather?"

"When I was little he would take me to his war room and would show me Father's accomplishments. I was proud of him. He did a lot to keep us safe. But he died before Sasha was born."

"Which one of your sisters is the oldest?"

"Sasha. When Grandfather died, Father became my mentor in battle lessons. Uncle Anthony tried to teach me strategy, but I really don't like war. Mother taught me that every life has value in it and that I should never attack first. This is how I ended up as a guard in Zarius' rank."

"How did he not realize that you were the Prince?"

"Uncle Anthony and Father said that keeping my identity hidden was important to protect the throne. I have had a boy pretend to be me since I was five. He probably knows more than I do about some things. He's also been my best friend for years."

"Did you not live with your parents?"

"I did. But everyone thought that I was a paige for the Prince. They only saw him leave with my parents and always assumed that I was doing something for the Prince whenever I left."

"Do you think that Zarius has figured it out? That you are really the Prince, I mean?"

"Yes, I do. Otherwise my sister wouldn't have married my best friend. I am sure that everyone knows now."

My current self is reeling in the fact that, not only had I gone back in time, but I had traveled to a new dimension. It is a shame that Dad doesn't get to know. Now, I have gone and fallen in love with the Prince. I pretend to not have read the letter. With a slightly guilty conscious I ask my next question,

"Which sister is married to your best friend? Does your father approve?"

"Father has loved Christopher like his own son for years. Mabel is the one that has married him. I guess now I can officially call him 'brother'." He says with a chuckle.

I don't really know what to ask and I’m happy for him. He needed some good news. He doesn’t really give me the time to think of anything. I notice the light mood change to uneasiness pretty quickly and I brace myself for the bad news.

"Which brings me back to us." He looks at me nervously.

Realization hits, his nervousness is not about dangers. I swallow real hard to get the lump out of my throat. Then I write my question,

"What about us?"

"Well, we have been stuck together for about thirty sunsets. My admiration for you has grown even more. I am happy that you feel the same about me at least I think that you do."

He pauses for a second, looks away for a brief second, and then captures my eyes. My heart rate spikes dramatically. I do feel a great deep admiration for him. He looks fiercely into my eyes before asking,

"Would you let me love you, and only you, for the rest of our lives? Would you love me for the rest of your life?” He pauses and my heart continues racing. My vision starts to blur as my nervousness comes to new heightened levels. “I guess what I am trying is say is, will you marry me?"

It takes me a second before I understand the question. I write the answer down almost in a dreamlike state while he waits anxiously.

His knee stops bouncing when I hand it to him. I wrote the answer yes so small that he has to squint, but when he finally reads it, he wraps me in his arms and kisses me, like I've never been kissed before, with a lot of heated passion and promises. When he finally releases me, I can’t breathe or stand. My legs feel like jelly. We both sit down quickly and he says,

"We should get some sleep because I have a surprise for you on the morrow."