The Hidden Princess

Laddy

Knowing that her son would be furious with her Cladds’ mother, Stella, walked into Charity’s seamstress shop unannounced and with only 1 servant.  Angela was busy hanging garments and measuring garments and getting ready for them to go to Charity.  They had gotten into a wonderful rhythm working together and Angela loved hearing all of Charity’s stories. 

Angela heard the door open and peaked her head around and greeted Stella with her usual kind smile and graceful way.  She did not know who she was but she knew she was royalty, so she bowed accordingly dropping what she was doing to give her full attention to Stella.

Stella looked her over, noted her long brown hair that draped over her shoulders, she noted her straight back and formal posture, she noted her graceful movements and kindness in her eyes that seemed never ending. Angela smiled at Stella once she stood from her bow and Stella knew exactly what her son saw in her. She could not hold herself together any longer. 

Angela stood in front of her waiting to know what she had come in for and was unsure why she had not answered yet.  Stella’s small blue eyes looked her over and it made Angela feel a bit uncomfortable and then she was surprised at what happened next.

“You must be Angela?” Stella asked showing a slight smile.

“I am, Your Grace.” Angela said back with a courtesy.

“The Angela that has my son so smitten he never stops smiling?” Stella turned away and fand looking has some material.

“Your Grace, I …..” Angela did not know what to say, was she in trouble, was he in trouble, what is the right thing to say.  These questions swirled like a tornado in her mind.

Stella dropped the garment and turned with a big smile toward Angela, she held out her arms and walked toward Angela with a glint of pure happiness in her eyes.  She pulled Angela in for a hug and Angela was unsure if she could hug her back, so she did not.  Stella whispered, “You can hug me if you like.” And with that, Angela did hug her back.

Stella pulled away and both ladies stood smiling at each other for a moment. “Angela you simply must come for a visit to the castle and meet the rest of the family.  I have been waiting for Cladd to bring you around and as you will learn patience is not one of my virtues.  I am here to formally invite you for a visit.”

“I would love to come.  When would Your Grace have time for me?” Angela suddenly wondered if Cladd was going to be there too.

“2 days’ time.  I will be able to have everything ready and that should be enough time for your employer to allow time away from the shop.” And with that Stella turned and walked out of the shop.  Angela watched her go with a stunned look on her face.

Charity came up next to her and watched Stella leave “So I guess in two days’ time you will not be here to help me? What an invitation and the fact that she needs time to get ready for you.”  Charity turned to go back to work.  “I wish you the best of luck Deary.”

“What? Is she mean? Why do I need luck? Do you think that Cladd will be there?” Angela was suddenly worried.

Charity laughed “I heard she is genuinely nice.  She has never sent anything back anyway.  She is the Kings sister.  She was married once but he was killed is a horse-riding accident.  I have been told that the next day she found Cladd walking along the road, he was maybe 2 years old and she has poured her life into him.  She has been known to say that God himself handed Cladd to her.” Charity paused for a moment “I think you and she will get along very well.”

That evening Cladd was riding back into town and stopped by the shop.  He was in his half suit of armor and looking very handsome.  Angela knew it was him and ran to answer the door.  He had been gone for 2 days and she had missed him immensely.  Energy rushed around her and she felt whole again with him near her.  She stepped out with him and closed the door behind herself.  He was close enough to kiss and she wanted to so badly, but she wanted him to do it.

“Your Mother stopped by and invited me for a visit in 2 days’ time.” Angela said sheepishly.

“What? Ugh!  My Mother knows no bounds I swear.”  Cladd put his hand up on the wall next to Angela’s head and leaned toward her. He stood there smiling for a moment and he looked deep in her eyes and he could not stop himself. ‘Kiss her’ he heard in his head.

He held her eyes and his smile faded away he began leaning in closer and slightly tilted his head, she knew what was about to happen, she could feel it. She also tilted her head and reached her lips up to offer them to him.  The moment their lips touched this surge of energy exploded between them, he placed his hand gently up to the side of her face to keep himself from falling over and she opened her lips, and he began exploring her with his tongue. She touched his face with her free hand so as not to let go of him.  The kiss was the perfect.  It left them both breathless standing on the front porch with their foreheads touching.

“I love you.” Cladd whispered to her still touching her face with both hands now.

“I love you.” Angela said breathlessly and pulled him in for another kiss.  Her entire body wanted him, she wanted him close, she wanted him to touch every part of her.  It was almost like she had no control.  The passion between them was a great force.

He finally pulled away afraid to let it get out of hand. “I was thinking while I was gone.” Cladd said after he caught his breath. “I don’t want to be gone from you that long again.  I want the world to know you are mine and nobody elses.” He paused for a moment and pulled back to look at her, in his mind he heard ‘Say it. Make her ours.’.

“Angela, will you be my wife?” Cladd smiled at her and looked at their fingers intertwined and then back at her.

Angela stood there and was speechless; 4 weeks ago, she had met him and now he is standing here wanting to marry her. She looked at their intertwined fingers and knew that it was right, something inside her made it feel so right. “Yes.” She said in a whisper with tears in her eyes.

He pulled her in for a hug and lifted her off the ground spinning her around and kissing her all at the same time.  He was so happy.  He had only been gone for 2 days but it felt like a lifetime without seeing her face.  Now, soon he would be able to wake up and have her there to see every single morning for the rest of his life.

“I am going to go tell my Mother, and yell at her for bombarding you.” Cladd set her down and walked toward his horse. 

“No, My Love, it’s alright.  She was simply curious. I will be there in 2 days for our visit.” Angela smiled and walked him toward his horse. “Please don’t be angry with her.” She looked up at him sitting on his horse and he could not do anything but agree with her. With that he rode away, excited to tell his Mother.

‘Good job. Now she is ours.’ Cladd heard the voice inside again. He looked around and then spoke to nobody. “What is this?  Some kind of magic that I hear this voice in my head?”

‘No, I am your wolf, and we can speak just here, in your head, you don’t need to speak out loud to me. My name is Laddy.’

“My wolf? What?” Cladd still speaking outloud.

‘Shhhhh.  Speak in your head to me.  Otherwise, we will be killed.  Human’s do not like things they do not understand.’ Laddy said.

“Okay, so I just think it and you can hear it? Like I am doing now?” Cladd asked.

‘Yes.’ Laddy said.

“Okay then explain why you are here.  Am I going crazy?” Cladd asked.

“You are not going crazy; you are almost 18 years old and you met our mate both of those things woke me up so to speak.  You are of Werewolf descent and you and I will be able to exchange this mind and share this body.  I make you extraordinarily strong, heal faster, run faster.  You can let me out in my form.  Sometimes it is better to fight that way.  However, living where we live, I would not allow you to shift because it will just get us killed. I can help you make decisions; I always have your best interest in mind.  I have the ability to sense if someone is not trustworthy, which is why you have always known when to trust someone.” Laddy went on. “Your mother found us walking along the road because somehow you walked through a portal from our world to this world. You can trust me.” Laddy explained.

“I have always had you? I just couldn’t really interact with you until now?  What do you mean ‘mate’? I have so many questions.  Are my ‘real’ parents still alive?” Cladd rode his horse into the stables and started to take his tack off.

“I have no idea what happened with your parents.  No doubt they never stopped looking for you.  They could not come here to find you, however.  Traveling between realms is forbidden. I have always been here kind of like a subconscious state. Angela is our mate, meaning we are destined to be together by the Moon Goddesses bond.  We must be here to protect her for some reason.  She might be from a different realm as well because she can feel the mate bond as well as us.” Laddy paused. “Your mother is going to be so excited about your announcement.  I am going to shut the link between us off so you can focus on her.  I will teach you how to open and shut the link yourself in time.  Good night.” And with that Laddy was gone. 

Cladd finished up with his horse and tossed him some hay and made his way into the castle. It was dark outside so everyone was finished with dinner.  It was quiet in the kitchen so Cladd made himself a sandwich and headed to his mother’s room.