Four Years Later (A "The False Prince" Fanfic)

Eight

Roden and Mott jump up immediately, withdrawing their swords. "Only harm him if you have to, and bring him to me when you catch him!" I call after them. Mott nods his head to show that they have heard.

They come back about ten minutes later with a man, possibly several years older than I, struggling in their grasp. His eyes widen in fear and disbelief when he sees me and my family, and he struggles to bow.

"Y-your M-majesty," He stutters. "I'm so sorry. I didn't want to steal, but you see, I had too." His face is pale, and he's looking around for something, or someone.

"Why did you have too?" I ask him, standing up with my arms crossed.

"M-my wife just had her baby earlier today, and she's starving. We have nothing. No house, no food, only the water in the stream to drink. And the baby's so cold that he's turning blue! You can punish me, but at least let me see my family again." He explains panicked. I look him over, and I see the desperation on his face.

"How about you bring them here?" I ask him kindly. "We have a large fire, and my men are cooking dinner now."

He relaxes immediately. "You really mean it?" He asks.

When I nod my head, he jumps for joy. 

"I'll go get them right now!" He says excitedly. "Thank you so much Your Majesty!" I nod my head and Roden and Mott release him. They sit back down on the logs beside the fire.

"Do we have any extra blankets?" I ask Harlowe. "They probably are cold, and I don't want their baby to die."

He shakes his head sadly. "The men are still wet from their swim across the river. They need them as well." I make up my mind then and there.

The man stumbles back into camp with a young woman clinging to his arm. She holds a bundle in one arm, most likely her baby. It looks like she's struggling to walk. She falls as she nears me, and I catch her, helping her stand.

"Easy there," I soothe her. "Don't want to wake the baby."

She looks at me with wide eyes. "Thank you, Your Majesty." I guide her down to my previous spot on the log and mention for Darius to help me. We gently lower her and her baby down into the seat and I give her my blanket.

The man sits down next to her and wraps her and their baby up in the blanket, and she rests her head on his shoulder. This releases a pang of homesickness up in me, and I realize how much I miss Imogen.

We would like a baby, but that hasn't happened yet. And I understand, even though Imogen and I do not have a baby, how this man feels. He would do anything to protect them, and I admire him for that.

Darius notices me staring at them, and he gently grabs my shoulders and leads me to another log. "Sit down Jaron, you look exhausted." I allow myself to be sat down on the log and I smile gratefully at Darius as he takes the blanket from his own shoulders and wraps it around mine.

I groan as I slide down the log, letting my back use it as support.

"You sound like an old man Jaron!" Roden teases. That gets everyone to chuckle, even the newcomers.

"Ha ha, very funny." I tease him. "Aren't you supposed to be with the men?"

"Is that your way of dismissing me?" He asks in mock anger.

"Just go see when the foods ready!" I yell in exasperation. He bows with an amused expression. Then he runs wildly off throughout the underbrush.

"Your baby is darling." Mother gushes to the young lady, who blushes.