"Falling"

We Need To Talk

Sitting in his brother's study, Jensen waits for the Private Council's meeting to be over so he can talk to Josh. His part in this meeting is already over, so all he can do now is wait for the others to finish talking, before being dismissed, and he can finally have a moment alone with his brother.

Jensen thinks back to that morning and what the Princess had told him. He can only imagine how desperate she must have been to come to him and how scared she was when she told him what her father really wanted her to do.

It took a lot of courage from her to take that step and trust him with the truth. He can't help but admire how brave she was, knowing that, by telling him, she could've easily ended up in the dungeons. Still, she trusted him and he will be damned if he isn't going to do whatever he can to keep her safe.

Josh dismisses the Private Council and Jensen knows it's time. All he can hope is that he can make his brother understand and show mercy towards the Princess, as he stands and walks over to his brother.

-"We need to talk." - His voice betrays him, worry coating every word.

-"What's happened?"

-"This morning I was told something and I need you to hear me out to the end, before saying anything."

-"Alright, go on."

-"Princess Arabella came to see me earlier. It turns out you were right when you said that Williams is up to something. The Princess told me her father sent her here to spy on us, under the guise of wanting information to put together a new alliance offer that didn't require a marriage to seal it. However, she believes that what her father really wants is information on how to best harm you and the Kingdom."

"He ordered her to send weekly letters with that information, but all she has been sending is letters that detail her life here and her time spent with our mother and Mackenzie, plus some things that are common knowledge. She hasn't send anything that might put us in any danger. She has also confided that, unlike her father, she doesn't blame you for what happened with her sister."

"Josh, I believe her. I believe that she is telling the truth and that she doesn't want to put us in any kind of danger. If you had seen her when she told me, you would be as sure as I am of her innocence."

"We have a golden opportunity here. We have a direct line to feed Williams with as much false information as we want, through the Princess, making her our ace in the sleeve."

Jensen takes a deep breath, waiting for his brother to say something, but Josh doesn't, simply looking at him with anger in his eyes. "Well, he's pissed.", Jensen thinks, seeing the anger rolling off of Josh's body. He knows in that moment that he is going to have to fight to keep the Princess off of the dungeons.

-"Where is she now?" - Josh stands, looking straight into Jensen's eyes.

-"She's outside, in the hall, waiting to talk to you. I figured you would want to talk to her."

-"WHY ISN'T SHE IN THE DUNGEONS?" - Josh shouts.

-"She came to me for help. I..." - Jensen gets cut off.

-"I want her in the dungeons immediately."

-"No. Just hear her out."

-"Why would I hear to what a spy has to say?"

-"Because she is trying to keeps us all safe from her father."

-"Do you really believe that?" - Josh snarls, anger dripping from every word.

-"I do."

-"Then you're an idiot. You were fooled by a pretty face."

-"Give me some credit, will you? I had one of my men read the letters she sends back to her father and she is telling the truth about what she is writing him." - His brother is stunned at his admission. -"Josh, just hear her out."

-"There is nothing she can say that is going to change the fact that she is a spy and a traitor."

-"Damn it, Josh. She came to me knowing full well that if her father finds out, he will kill her, not to mention what you would do to her."

-"See? That's how I know she is lying. Williams would never kill his only daughter."

-"He would if his new wife is already pregnant."

-"And I guess it was the Princess who told you that?" - Josh scoffs.

-"She merely confirmed what I already knew. I received word yesterday, just hadn't had the opportunity to tell you."

-"Do you really believe she is innocent?" - Josh lets out a breath, sitting back down.

-"I do."

Josh looks up at his brother, Jensen still standing in front of him and ready to defend the Princess again if necessary. He contemplates all that Jensen just told him, and even if he hates to admit it, he knows that his brother is right. However, he can't help but wonder if the Princess is being truthful.