The Clash of Destinies

Chapter 3

Autumn walked over to Jackson's cottage as a carriage stopped in front of it. Anna climbed out and Jackson ran straight to her, "Anna!"
She threw her head back laughing as he hugged her, "Jackson, you saw me last night," she exclaimed, pulling away, he pouted.
Autumn shook her head, "He's clingy," she said, Anna turned to her, grinning.
"Autumn," she said, walking over to her, Jackson trailed behind her still pouting. "Ethan wanted me to bring you this," she said, holding out a letter, Autumn tilted her head.
She took the letter from Anna, "The prince wanted you to give me a letter," she asked, Anna nodded as Jackson smiled.
"C'mon, Anna, my mother wants to see you," he told her, she nodded as they headed inside and Autumn leaned on the wall, opening the letter.
Dear Autumn,
Lady Autumn, yes, I know, you'll probably have Anna come back and have her call me Prince Ethan for it. But I had to start the letter like that for fun.
First thing first, when you come tomorrow bring Jackson and don't say a word to Anna. I'm doing them the favor I owe from last night, so it will be a surprise. Second, there is a note in the letter to let you into the palace, so you'll need that.
Also, I really like talking to you, you're very interesting and fun to talk to. I missed you today. and, just as a reminder, you are absolutely beautiful and, since I'm not there, you can't fight me on it, so this worked out well for me.
Sincerely,
Ethan
Autumn chuckled and shook her head, finding the note he mentioned. She slipped the letter back into the envelope with the note, going inside. She tried hiding the grin on her lips as she slipped the envelope into her back pocket.
"What are you smiling about," Jackson asked, she shrugged and sat at the table. "What'd the prince have to say," he asked, she shot him a glare.
"Shut up, Jackson."
Anna shook her head, "He didn't even tell me what he said," she told Autumn, she raised an eyebrow.
"Really?" Anna nodded as Autumn smiled slightly, "Well, I need a favor," Autumn started, Anna raised an eyebrow. "Can you tell him hi from me, but make sure you tell him I called him Prince Ethan."
"Why?"
Autumn shrugged, shaking her head, "Just something between the two of us," she said, Anna nodded.
"Okay," she agreed, Jackson looked at Autumn.
"You two have inside jokes already," he asked, Autumn shrugged.
"I don't know," she answered, he shook his head, grinning.
"You like him," he said, Autumn scoffed, rolling her eyes.
"I don't," she answered, as Maria entered the room.
"Maria," Anna exclaimed, running to hug her, Maria grinned.
"I'm glad to see you too, Anna," she said, Jackson let out a breath, looking at Autumn.
"Isn't Jaxon coming," he asked, Autumn nodded.
"Yeah, he should be here soon. He had to finish up a lesson then he'll be over," she answered, he nodded as the front door opened.
"Hi, Jax," Maria called, he walked over to them and smiled. He kissed the top of Autumn's head before going to the kitchen to help Maria with the food.
"Do you want more help," Autumn called.
"No, thank you," Maria answered, Autumn nodded as Jaxon and Maria brought the food out.
After a few minutes, they were all sitting and eating dinner, "So," Jaxon started, looking at Autumn, she raised an eyebrow. "You ready for your lessons tomorrow?"
Autumn shrugged, "Yeah, I think it'll be good," she said, smiling, he nodded.
"Of course, it should be good especially if you guys have conversations like you did when you were dancing," Jackson said, Autumn glared at him as he grinned.
"Would you shut up," she asked, he shook his head.
"No," he answered, shrugging, she rolled her eyes, taking a bite, as Maria raised an eyebrow.
"What are they talking about," she asked, Autumn sighed.
"According to your son, the Prince's and I's conversations at the ball seemed...." she trailed off, searching for a word. "Interesting," she muttered, Maria nodded.
"And what were these conversations about," she asked, Autumn shook her head.
"We aren't getting into that discussion," Autumn said, Anna looked at her.
"Why not," she asked, as Autumn raised an eyebrow at her.
"Has he told you about any of it?"
"No," Anna admitted, Autumn nodded, smiling.
"The Prince didn't spill, I'm not either," she said, her father and Jackson groaned as she shook her head. She pointed at both of them, "This is why I won't tell you."
Anna laughed and Maria shook her head, "Fair enough," Maria told Autumn, she nodded.
"Thank you," she said, Jackson pouted.
"Why did my mother take your side," he asked, Autumn scoffed.
"Why is my father on your side," she replied, and he nodded.
"Fair."
Anna shook her head, "Are you two sure you aren't actually siblings," she asked, Autumn and Jackson shrugged.
"I really just think it was how we were raised," Autumn said, Maria and Jaxon looked at each other as Anna smiled.
"What do you mean how you were raised," she asked, leaning forward, Maria shrugged.
"Jackson's father was out of the picture before his birth, but luckily I was friends with a head of guard," Maria said, smiling, Jaxon nodded.
"So my wife and I decided we'd help in any way we could with Jackson until we had Autumn and Maria returned the favor," he said, and she nodded as Autumn smiled. Her father would talk about her mother nonstop if somebody got him going and she loved hearing the stories. "So the three of us just decided to take care of them together."
"And without meaning to," Jackson said, glancing at Autumn, she shrugged.
"We were raised as if we were siblings."
Anna shook her head, "Yeah, I didn't notice," she said, Jackson rolled his eyes as she grinned.