Gardener

Chapter 4

Queen's Request

"You are a hard woman to find." I glanced up to find the Heir walking towards me donned in the guard's practice uniform, a green tunic and brown trousers, hair pleasantly mussed sticking to her neck and brow. She had a streak of dirt on her cheek I was sure she was unaware of.

"Training with your guards Highness?" I questioned smiling softly as I set the horse brush back in the bin I'd taken it from.

"Yes, it motivates them to see me fall on my... behind." She finished after seeing my upraised brow.

"I'm sure they're motivated because their future Queen takes the time from her busy day to spar with them, not because you fall on your behind. As well I'm sure you don't fall half as often as they think you should, being a woman and all." Her grin could probably make the flowers bloom in that moment, it certainly took my breath away.

"They underestimate me and I always use it to my advantage," I chuckled softly shifting closer to the mare feeling slightly uncomfortable in her Highness' presence and not knowing why.

"How do you use it to your advantage Princess?" I asked curiously.

"Well most of them are men and so when I fight them I," She leaned close looking at me with sparkling eyes. "I just make sure that my tunic is just a little looser than normal." I gazed down into the valley between her breasts before tossing my head back and laughing fully for the first time in a very long time.

"Princess, the Queen has raised very intelligent daughters...I have no idea what happened to her son," I finished brow furrowed.

"He craves power and he will never have it. Not truly anyway..." Jenae sighed softly fixing her attire. "We were close once..."

"What happened?" I questioned softly seeing the need to share in her eyes.

"We grew up and he wanted to be King, he wanted to be remembered as the one who broke the succession of Queens and I, I wanted that for him as well because if Ang was King then I could stay here and spend my days in the gardens. Then reality set in, he failed his Trials and I...I didn't." The Princess traced her fingers along my mare's snout allowing her to nip at her palm. "He's bitter, when our mother took me beneath her wing and taught me the things a monarch should know it became worse." The Princess shook her head; tears that she was unwilling to cry shimmering in her eyes. "I would give it all up if I could just have my brother back."

I hesitantly placed my hand on her shoulder, "Your Highness, if your brother were half the royal you or your sister are he'd be happy for you. He would gaze on you with pride in his eyes and try in his own way to better the Queendom, to better himself and his people. Instead he uses his title to get what he wants and grows angry when it doesn't work. That is no fault of yours."

Jenae took a deep breath before wiping her face. "I apologize, you are but a commoner and here I am practically weeping my sorrows away on your shoulder."

I laughed good naturedly taking no offense to her unintended slight. "Princess, my people are said to be descendants of the Fae and Gods alike and so who would be considered the commoner among us?" She blinked at my gentle rebuke before chuckling softly.

"You are good with words Manoban," Her Highness countered smiling softly.

I shrugged but chose not to reply. "Lyssa, I need you to leave the stables you have my stable hands wandering around like ninnies wondering what to do with themselves...Oh," Baem stopped in his rant upon casting sight of the Queen to be. "Your Highness," He bowed until he could no longer look her in the eyes. "It's a pleasure to have you grace us with your presence."