A Princess Named Harry: Book 2

Chapter 49

Harry sat across from Lianne on a cozy couch for some tea and cake. Lianne stared at Harry with intense eyes. She stared at her up and down. She seemed to be judging her.

Harry tried to eat her cake in peace, but Lianne made that increasingly difficult. Harry took a bite and was chewing when Lianne said, "You know, you never once responded to any of the letters I sent to you."

Harry began to cough violently. Of all the things she expected Lianne to say, that wasn't one of them.

"Par-pardon?" she choked. Harry wondered if Lianne knew about her participation in the war. "I-I'm sorry."

Lianne calmly took a sip from her teacup. "I didn't send any letters," she said.

"O-oh."

"I was wondering if you were going to tell me about the little adventure you've been on for over more than half a year."

"I . . . I'm sorry," Harry replied meekly.

Lianne crossed her arms. "As you should be, you should've told me that you were going to do something as reckless as join the army." Harry lowered her head; she was about to apologize again when Lianne added, "If you had, then I would've joined you." Harry looked up at Lianne in surprise. "You're weak, so you aren't much help, but I on the other hand, I'm very strong, so I can make up for what you lack." Lianne had a childish expression on her face. It got even more childish when she asked, "What do you think?"

"Wha-what do I think?" Harry had to think about it for a moment. She wondered what Lianne was getting at. "Are you trying to say that you want to join the war?"

Lianne's expression instantly shifted to one of anger. "Are you trying to not get me to join the war by acting dumb?"

Harry tossed her hands up in hasty movements and said, "N-no! No! I wasn't trying to do anything! You-you want to join? W-wow that's so nice of you!"

"Don't try to butter me up with your nonsense," replied Lianne.

Harry smiled and began to laugh. She still didn't understand why people didn't like Lianne.

"No laughing like that either," she hissed.

"Okay," she laughed.

After her laughing fit, the serious of the matter hit her. Lianne was going to join the war if Harry was going back after the month was over. Harry finally spoke, "You don't have to join in the battle."

"Neither do you."

"I've been to battle."

"Yes, that's why you can rest for longer than a month."

Harry didn't say anything. She didn't know what she should say.

"You can't stop me from making my own decisions," Lianne said sternly.

"But what about Taram?"

"What about it?"

"What will it do without its crown princess?"

Lianne scoffed, "As if the people here want me as their crown princess."

"A-about that," Harry began. "Why don't people like you? I think you're a very good person."

"You've heard the stories about me already, haven't you?"

"Yes."

"Let's leave it at that." Lianne turned to look out the window. "There's no reason to make up excuses."

Harry stared at Lianne hopelessly. Lianne didn't seem to want to tell Harry about her side of the story. Harry wondered why, but she couldn't force Lianne to tell her. Being persistent isn't always a good thing.

Harry spent half the day with Lianne, who for some reason gave off the impression that she'd rather spar with Harry than sit around talking about simple things.

Before Harry left, Lianne made her wait outside her mother's office while she asked to participate in the war. She had received the same response as Harry. It seemed, her father was in the room too because Harry heard him shout, "Are you crazy? Absolutely not!"

"Why are you asking to participate in the war?" asked her mother calmly.

"Did we not send them enough knights?" asked a stressed-out Henry. "Is my brother so desperate he's even asking my daughter to join in battle?"

"Dear-"

"I'll send him a strongly worded letter!"

"Actually," Lianne interrupted. "I want to join the war of my own accord."

Harry quietly waited outside to hear what Henry would say now that he was aware of the truth. He went on an angry rant for so long that it made it impossible for Lianne to convince him to let her go. Lianne was angered by the results, but Harry was secretly glad that Lianne couldn't go. It wasn't hers nor Taram's battle to fight. This was between the magical army and the Cardiaire Kingdom. They shouldn't have even needed to send any of their knights in the first place.

Harry and Lianne stood outside watching as the servants prepared the carriage for Harry's departure.

"What will you do?"

Lianne's sudden question threw Harry off.

"I won't be able to come with you."

Harry was strong enough without needing someone by her side to protect her, although she had been saved by Terrance once or twice before.

"What will you do?"

Harry knew her answer without having to think about it. "Of course, once this month is over, I'll go back and fight again." This was the one thing she had been sure of. She needed to finish what her former knight had started.