Lost but Loved

Chapter Eleven: Traveling to Stancely Part One

Lucy had flung herself on her bed and cried herself to bed that night. When she woke, the sun was nearly up, the sky gray. She rushed into her less extravagent gown for her first part of the traveling, pulled her hair back and placed her father's hat on her head. She buckled her sword onto her belt around her waist, slung her new quiver over her shoulder and gently wrapped her bow. She carried with her the bow in silk wrappings, the heirloom, and a package she received from Lord Benjamin filled with new throwing knives.

She walked confidently down the corridors, her own personal guard right beside her. She scowled when she first opened the door, finding that Marcus didn't trust her. The guard was tall, blond, had stubble on his chin, and had a purposeful stride with his sword buckled to his belt like Lucy's. She frowned all the way out to the courtyard where the horses were already packed and loaded. Orion stood away from the other horses, shifting uncomfortably. Lucy noticed that in the shadows lurked Maelgwn and Alec happily snapped at the horses' hooves, no worry in the world for the pup. She found herself wishing she could have a care free life, but that wasn't so.

She mounted her stallion, placing the packages in the saddle bags. Knight Marcus rode a striking young stallion, no doubt a war horse by the way it trotted, and how its muslces rippled under its clean tan coat. He rode over to her, a smug look in his eyes. Lucy shook her head but bowed on Orion as best as she could which meant leaning over slightly.

"You are late. Such tardiness will not be excepted when you arrive at Stancley. Are you ready to leave now?" Lucy shook her head and jumped off the horse.

"I still have to say a last good bye to Alec and Maelgwn. I'll be back soon." Lucy planted her feet and stuck her hands on her hips. "And why didn't you wake me up sooner if I was late? Do you enjoy scolding me?" Knight Marcus didn't answer, instead he turned his horse around and trotted away. She walked briskly over to Maelgwn, who she knew would do the job she desired of him. In his jaws, she placed a small scroll. "Deliver this to Cayden." She put a strip of cloth to his nose and heard him sniff. It was a piece of her dress that Cayden had touched, so it had his scent on it. She tucked it back into her dress pocket, leaned down and kissed Maelgwn's head. "Good luck, my little one."

Lucy mounted once again. Damon came right up to her, took her hand and kissed it. "May the stars watch over you. Promise me this: that you will find a nice man to settle down with and marry. When you do marry, I want to go so invite me." Damon grinned while Lucy frowned.

"Everyone is acting as if they will never see me again. Don't you know that one day I will escape from him and come home? This place is in my blood. I cannot just get up and leave. The first chance I get I'll come back. Hopefully you will be king with a nice queen by your side." She winked at him and motioned to Sophie who was next to Jayce who still hadn't mounted yet. "I will come back and hopefully I can start anew. Until then, I will not stop thinking and dreaming of home. Of Jane and Cayden's house. Even of my rooms back at the palace." She smiled sadly at the prince. "I will come back if its the last thing I do. Will you be here waiting to greet me, like old friends?"

Damon nodded and smiled. "Of course. Lucy, over the last few weeks, you have become my friend. I definately will be waiting for the day you return. There will be a big feast to welcome you, Thanos will be there, Cayden, Alcander, Jane and anyone else you want." Lucy smiled and patted Damon's head as if he was a dog.

"Thanks, Damon. You can be a good friend when you want to be." Jayce swung himself up onto his horse and signalled to Knight Marcus who started to lead the group out of the gates. Lucy looked back and waved to Jane and Damon who stood at the gate, tears in their eyes already. Her chest felt like it was being squeezed by an invisble hand as she watched her friends disappear. Cayden would be following as Lord Luke, to help protect that image. Alec and possibly Maelgwn would follow him out and find their master. Alec for sure but Maelgwn might just go into the forest and become wild once again.