Red & White

eighteen.

Leah arrived home fast and waited by the door. She wasn't sure how long Harry would be, if he were even to show up, but during that time, her mind was reeling.

She knew it wasn't her business, but when she talked about her father's death due to his family's soldiers, he seemed guilty as if it were his own fault. He winced as she told him her father's story and apologized repeatedly. Yet now he's joining them?

No, no he couldn't be joining the army, Leah reasoned, He's the Prince, the Royal Family can't afford to lose a prince.

So then what was going on?

Staring out the window for more than thirty minutes became a blur and the girl began to yawn and slump in her stance. The twins had showed up and when she explained to them that she was awaiting Prince Harry's arrival, they asked if they could wait with her. Leah couldn't say no to their adorable, innocent faces.

In that time, the three siblings waited and mindlessly conversed. It was nice for Leah to simply sit down and talk with Ben and Cal. The anxiety she felt was still present in the back of her mind, but she put on a different face for them to look upon.

The three sat on the wobbly, wooden chairs by the window and were immersed in a conversation filled with jokes told by the boys about humorous encounters with customers, when a sturdy knock banged against the fragile door.

Leah was out of her seat in a split second, dashing out to the entrance of her home. She probably should have checked through the window who was standing there, but when Cal made a light giggling noise, the peasant was quite sure as to who was on the other side.

The door was drawn open to reveal the wonderous beauty that is Prince Harry Edward Styles.

However, the frown etched on his pink lips distracted the girl.

"Hi," he quietly greeted, almost shy or wary.

"Hi." She sounded the same way.

His eyes flickered behind her where the boys were sat grinning. They flew out of their seats when the certain Royal's attention fixated to them.

"Hello, Prince Harry!" Ben shouted, waving enthusiastically.

He gently waved back with a smile, "How are you doing, mate?"

"Good!"

He chuckled and then glanced back to Leah.

"Should we, um-"

"Yeah, let's go to the back."

"Okay."

They parted ways with the twins and Leah showed the way to the back of the home where the farming fields were. Stepping out to that area, it was like living in your own world; no townspeople or fellow distant neighbors could see you. All the more reason to have the Prince concealed here than in the front of the house, or even inside. He could never be caught somewhere like the peasant's home.

"How's your head?" Harry asked her almost immediately. "Don't bluff, if there's something wrong I want you to come back to the castle."

She was surprised at his demand, but shook her head, "Nothing is wrong, I swear. It's feeling fine."

"Good."

Now that was out of the way.

"I..Leah, I don't want you to be upset at what you saw," he began and she was grateful he brought up the topic and not her, "It wasn't anything like what I presume you're thinking. At least I hope not. I know the subject of military is very touchy, what with everything with your dad's death and I fully understand that. I realize this is all confusing for you and I'm making zero sense right now, and I'm so sorry, but I'm prohibited in releasing any information to anyone about what those men and I were talking about."