The King

Mother

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Ed asked for the thousandth time this morning.

"Yes, Ed. I have to," I whispered, throwing my bag over my shoulder. He sighed, taking my hands in his.

"If anything, anything, happens, you come straight back to the castle. Do you understand?" He asked, gripping my hands tightly.

"Yes, I understand," I told him. He nodded, looking down at the floor, avoiding my eyes. I put my hand on his cheek, making him look at me. "I'll be fine."

"I know, I'm just worried," he exclaimed. I pulled him into me, wrapping him up in a hug.

"I'll be back before you know it," I said into his shoulder.

"If you are not back in 5 days time, I'm sending a patrol out to find you," he told me, pulling away.

"Alright," I said, leaning in to kiss him. He slowly kissed back, lazily wrapping his arms around me.

When we pulled away, he looked down at me, his bright blue eyes burning into mine.

"Be safe," he whispered, letting go of me, "I love you."

"I will," I said, "and I love you too."

I walked over to the door, cracking it open. I looked back at him quickly, he smiled softly. I sighed, slipping into the hall, closing the door behind me.

____

"I feel like we've been riding forever," Harry complained from behind me.

"That's because we have been," I mumbled.

"How long until we get there?" He asked.

"Another hour at least," I said, he groaned.

"Why does this country have to be so big?" He asked, trotting his horse to catch up to me.

"I don't know," I said, looking out onto the vast fields of grass and hills.

"What if she's not there?" He asked.

"She is, I know it," I told him.

"Aright, but do you really think it was her who poisoned everyone...what if it was Matthew or Kaolin?" Harry asked.

"That's why Ed stayed back, if there is another incident like that, then...he can stop it."

"He couldn't stop the poisoning," Harry commented.

"That's because he didn't know what was poisoned," I snapped, "are you going to criticise him all day?"

"No, no of course not. I was just saying," he mumbled.

"Kaolin and Matthew are still in the kingdom," I said. "They'll turn up eventually."

"I don't doubt it, but aren't you the least bit worried that something will happen to him?" He asked.

"Of course I am, I hate the thought of him dying, thats why I have to find my mother," I told him.

"I understand," he said, "and I'll help in any way I can."

"Thank you, Harry," I said, smiling at him.

"No need to thank me, you can just give me special treatment when you become queen," he joked.

"Funny," I said, chuckling.

"He will ask you, I know it...my mind is telling me," he said.

"You're an idiot," I laughed.

"I'm serious!" He said.

"Be quiet," I said.

"Come on, you know he loves you-"