Eyes Of Lia (Slowly Editing/Updating)

Oliver Green

-_-_-_Chapter 4-_-_-_

I smiled over at the man who had my back.  Oliver.  Oliver Green.  He was the best horse trainer next to Ol' Gus Green, who was Oliver's dad.  Once Gus finishes his last few years here, Oliver would take over.  Oliver, like his father was gentle and kind to the animals, however he was intimidating to the other stable men.  Often times after I was done with my morning chores, and while he made his final round of training, feeding, or doing anything he pleased to do at the moment.  

"But Sir!" The dirty faced one protests, his face turning red.

"Let the girl go. If she wants to go then she can go, she is of the royal court." Oliver said. The Stable men turn to me in bewilderment. Oliver threw me a wink and gestured me to go off.

"Thank you, Sir, Sir Oliver." I wave and bow my head and spin the horse towards the exit and we trotted out of that situation, quite literally.

I take a lap around the village and castle walls, before I decide that I should go back and turn in the horse for the day.   I had plans to finish and to sort out, plus I needed to talk to Oliver about my plan. I could trust him with anything.  As I began to make my way towards the stables, I hear my father's familiar voice cut through, but still inaudible, but I hear Oliver's defiant tone.

"Well I didn't know." Oliver huffed.  

I hop off of the mare and put her away, brushing as I listen to the conversation.

"Don't you dare tell me that you didn't know Oliver.  This is the second time!  You let that girl ride off with one of my best horses-"

"With all do respect sir, she is your daughter."  Oliver barks back at him.  

"I don't care! Sarini wouldn't do anything like -"  Oliver bravely cuts my father off.

"Sarini wouldn't ride any horse here unless she had to."  I peek around the corner to see Oliver's arms crossed over his chest, and my father's jaw clenched tightly.

"You are lucky you are good at what you do, otherwise I would have thrown you out on the streets years ago."  And with that my father spun around and left the stables and mounted onto Paradox and rode off to the village, probably to go his meetings.

"Lia?" I hear his voice say.

"Yeah?" I whisper and peek around the corner.  Pretending like I heard nothing.

"How was your ride?" He asked. He stood beside me and petted the youngest filly that we had, she was only a year and a half. I moved out of the stall and next to Oliver.

"It was good"

 He turned towards me. His intense and gentle brown eyes searching me, he knew I overheard.  

"Oliver?"

"Yes?"

"Do you think it's wise to get revenge on somebody for something that they did a long time ago?" I ask.

"Depends." He looks at me once again, as he puts the tack away. And startles me by asking, "What are you thinking about?"

I bit my lip and immediately began telling him about my whole entire plan.  Oliver listened intently, asking questions every once in a while, really getting into the plan.

Oliver looked at me, his bright eyes studding mine.  A small smile played at the corner of his lips, he finally said, "Lets do it." 

"You sure?"  I ask, not sure if it was a joke.

"Yes,"  He says "I want to go along." 

"But I don't know how to get there exactly though." I sigh, already beginning to have second thoughts.  Oliver smiles and hugs me tightly, and after a minute lets go and stands up, helping me.  

"Lia, tell your father that I needed you to help me calm down a few horses, a hound got out."  

I nod, not questioning his statement and prepared to tell my father those exact words.  

"Goodnight Lia,"  He says waving goodbye to me, before making his way to the small cottage, where his father and he lived.

"Goodnight Oliver."  I make my way back to the castle. 

When I open the doors I was greeted by Hanna, who looked worried.  She questioned where I was and if I was hungry.  When I agreed that I am hungry she surprised me by saying, "Okay, here, I will just get something for you."  She says and sits me down and wraps a blanket around me.  She got up and walked down a the hallway and turned into a doorway, which was the kitchen. 

Why is she being so nice now?  Is this all apart of an act?  Does she really care about me? 

Hanna then appears with a tray full of baked goods.  "I am sorry, but they are a little cold as they were sitting out."  

I eat in silence, and Hanna looks at her hands and played with her fingers, once I finish my food she jumps up and hurries away with the tray of food.  Once she returns I was ready to ask questions.

"How come nobody in the village knows about me?"  I ask.

Hanna looks around,  instantly looking uncomfortable.  "I am not allowed to speak of that."

"Why not?"  I wanted answers.

"I think you have the right to know, but I am not the one that should probably tell you." 

I jump up.  "Does this have something to do with my father?"  I feel my body warm up.

 "Lia, you better calm down before you say something regrettable." 

"Why would you care?  I have basically lived in the shadows.  How am I suppose to learn basic daily life skills?  How am I suppose to fit in with people if I don't know how to react around them? Why doesn't anybody know about me?" My hands balled up into fists, and I hit the table, emitting a loud bang and a wince from Hanna.

"Lia! Go your room.  You have no right to verbally talk down to your step mother.  You should know your place."  My father was standing behind me.  His stormy eyes stare straight into mine.

I straighten up, "Look at who you are, you are supposed to be a king.  You are supposed to be truthful, and not lie to your people!  But you hid me, your own daughter, your flesh and blood from the entire kingdom.  How is that truthful? Why should I even listen to you? You don't care about what I do, as long as it doesn't affect you."  I step away and before he could react I take off to my room.