Betrothed

Chapter Forty-Five: The Return to Pachenthou

"Maybe you should come and see who else is in the wagon with Balen," Olivia suggested. Audrianna tried to scramble to her feet, but could not even fully sit up without assistance. Henry walked over to her and picked her up in his arms. He then carried the little girl outside, to the wagon, in which Balen sat on the bench holding the reins to the horses. Henry then proceeded to carry her towards the back of the wagon, so she could peer inside to see its passenger.

Wide-eyed, the princess looked to see who else could be going home with Olivia and Balen.

"Sister," the voice of a familiar little girl rang out. "Gets up here in the wagon with me. We gets to gets home with Olivia and Balen!"

"Janessa!" Audrianna exclaimed. "I thought you had been killed!"

"Me toos," Janessa stated. "Buts I woke up here in the wagon, with Lord Balen takes caring of me. And now I'm better!" The little Andjety girl cupped her hands as if to whisper a secret, but spoke loud enough for everyone to her. "I just only lay here so they will takes me home with them." Balen turned to look at Janessa and chuckled.

"So, do you want to go home with us, or go back to the castle?" Olivia asked. Audrianna looked at Olivia, then at Balen, then at Janessa, who patted an empty space next to her.

"I'll go back to Pachenthou until I get better," the princess resigned. "Or rather, until both of us get better," including Janessa in her decision.

"Very well," Henry replied. "Shall I help you get settled?"

"Oh, yes," Audrianna responded with a broad smile. "I would love you to come along."

"I meant, settled in the back of the wagon," Henry clarified.

"Oh," she said, her smile dropping.

"But I would be honored to help escort you to the Royal Farm in Pachenthou," Henry offered. Audrianna smiled again.

"Royal Farm?" Balen replied. "Are you talking about our humble farm?"

"Any farm that is the residence of the crowned princess, and a Lord and Lady, is a royal farm, not a humble one," Henry declared.

"You can call our farm whatever you want," Balen replied, "just as long as you understand that it is our farm."

Henry laid Audrianna in the back of the wagon, to which she crawled towards Janessa. As she positioned herself next to her friend, Audrianna reached around to hug Janessa.

"Whoa! Carefuls," Janessa replied. "I be still mighty tender."

"I'm sorry, sister," Audrianna replied. "I'll be gentle with you, but I won't stop hugging you. You saved my life!" The princess laid next to her and took her hand. The Andjety girl smiled and squeezed Audrianna's hand.

"Well," she replied to the princess, "if I hads to choose over again whether to takes an arrow in the back for you..."

"You would do it again?" Audrianna asked.

"Nots a chance!" Janessa exclaimed, her voice cracking. "That arrows hurted! I used to gets beaten almosts everyday as a slave. Lets me tells you, that arrows hurted me much, much more!" Audrianna giggled. "I was goings to say, I would pushed you off the ledge."

"Push me off the ledge?" the princess asked incredulously.

"You wouldn't haves gotten hurted as bad as me." Janessa grinned and squeezed her new sister's hand.

Henry walked back to the cabin and gave instructions to Rupp concerning the return to Nadeau, and rewarding those who fought against the Witch's army. He also gave instructions regarding the safe return of King Malcolm's body to Nadeau, as well as planning for his funeral upon Henry's return. Rupp informed the crowned Prince the demise of Vynjoi, as well as Castalia severing his head.