''Flying''

I Believe Him

Alexis searched for her mother everywhere, the garden the last place she could think of. Thankfully, that's exactly where she finds her.

-"Mother! Can we talk?"

-"Is everything alright?"

-"I... I overheard a conversation between Lord Roberts and King Henry that I think you should know about."

-"Alexis, how many times do I have to tell you you shouldn't be hearing other people's conversations?"

-"I didn't mean to, Mother, I promise. But when I heard your name, I figured I would listen in and see what they were saying." - She lowers her eyes.

-"I swear, Lexi. One of these days you're going to listen to something you shouldn't and get yourself in a world of trouble." - Bella shakes her head at her daughter. -"What did you hear?"

Alexis very quickly retells what she heard Lord Roberts say about her mother and how angry King Henry got with him because of what he was saying.

-"I don't know what lie they were talking about, but it's important to King Henry that you know the truth, even if you choose not to be with him."

-"Lord Roberts told me that Henry had executed a group of his men on false charges." - Bella sighs as she sits on a bench, Alexis sitting next to her.

-"I don't believe him, Mother. I'm sure there's more to this story than what Lord Roberts told you."

-"I'm starting to think so too, but..."

-"But?"

-"But... I treated Henry very poorly when I confronted him about it. So much so that I doubt he will talk to me about it now."

-"You didn't see just how protective of you King Henry got when he was talking with Lord Roberts. I'm sure he will talk to you if you try." - Alexis sees her mother nod, but not very convincingly. -"Just promise me that, no matter what you decide about King Henry, you won't agree to marry Lord Roberts."

-"You don't have to worry about that, Lexi. Lord Roberts is the last person I would ever marry."

Alexis hugs her mother and stands up, but before she leaves...

-"Mother?"

-"Yes?"

-"King Henry is a good man and, despite of how people see him, he has always been good and kind to us. I don't believe that it was all an act. I believe he truly cares about us and wants what's best for us."

Bella sees her daughter walk away, her head low and deep in thought. Maybe Alexis is right. Henry is a good man and he would only do what Alexander accused him of if something really bad had happened.

Why did she doubted him? Why didn't she let him explain what happened and chose to believe Alexander instead? "Stupid! Stupid!", she kicks herself.

Bella looks up at the sky and thinks that this is all just so complicated and messy. For once, she would like for things to be quite simple. Just once.