Alex sighed, falling onto JC further as she took more weight off her ankle. Roald ran over to them. "Thank goodness you're all right. We're going to have to deal with Dain now. Thank you Joshua." JC bowed his head. "Now let's get back to the castle." Alex sighed and tried to stand as best she could. "Alex can you walk okay with my help?" asked JC. "I think so." They tried walking a few steps, but Alex's ankle buckled and JC barely caught her as she buried her face in his shoulder, sobbing from the pain.
JC picked her up quickly. "I'm carrying you whether you like it or not," he said and began to walk. She only nodded and snuggled up closer to him. "My gosh, Lexi, what happened?!" asked Dei as everyone came up to them.
"Actually, I think my ankle is broken," she said. "I'm just so tired. Using my magic and then trying to keep walking, it's just too much."
"That's why you should rest," said Arianna.
"Yeah, just like you rest when you're told too?" questioned Chris playfully.
"That's right," she replied, elbowing him in the stomach.
"Lexi, just go to sleep," advised Justin. She sighed. "Whatever. Fine, if it makes everyone happy I'll go to sleep." She turned slightly and looked up at JC. "Is it okay with you if I do?"
"Of course it is. Go to sleep Lexi." Alex sighed again and closed her eyes, leaning against his chest. Her breathing soon slowed as she fell asleep.
"Didn't I tell you she was a nice person?" asked Char as her and Justin walked behind JC. Justin nodded. "She is, you were right about that much."
"At least this marriage won't be completely lost," she said. Justin froze at the statement. The betrothal! He had forgotten all about it. They would have to think of something and fast. "Hello? Justin?" Char snapped her fingers in front of his face, making him look at her, the reason he wanted out of the betrothal. "You kinda spaced on me there for a minute." Justin smiled. "Sorry Char. There are just so many things going through my mind. I need to sort it out." Char laughed. "Don't I know it."
Everyone soon reached the castle and went there separate ways, though most went to the war room. JC carried Alex down the hall and into her room, laying her on the bed. Then he got some bandages and such from Markus and replaced the makeshift splint with a more firm one. When he finished, he stood near her head, gazing down at her. He tentatively brushed a piece of hair out of her face. He sighed; making the one wish that couldn't come true. He kissed her fingers and then brushed them over her cheek. He turned and left, going to look for something to occupy his mind with.
When Alex woke the next morning, her arm hurt, her ankle hurt, but most of all her head hurt from thinking so much. She moaned and got out of bed, limping to the door. She roamed the halls, looking for something to do when she came to the library. She walked inside and looked thoughtfully at the shelves of books. She went to an old corner and
pulled out a musty book that looked like it hadn't been opened in decades. She blew on the cover, which revealed the title. "The Royal Houses of the World," she read. "This should be enlightening." She opened the book and flipped through the pages, scanning the words and pictures. She read as she walked down the halls.
"The Royal House of Leo. A prosperous and honorable family." She studied the symbol on the medallion when she heard someone call her name. Turning, she smiled at JC who was jogging toward her. The pendant he wore came out from under his shirt and it caught Alex's eye. It was the same symbol in the book. Alex gasped as the book fell toward the ground. "Lexi?" questioned JC. "What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost."
"Your...your..." she stammered.
"What?" he asked curiously. She stepped forward and held his necklace in her hands. She gasped again and quickly retrieved the book. She flipped through the pages until she landed on the house of Leo. She only pointed at the pages as she handed the book to JC. He read the words and his eyes widened with each passing moment. He subconsciously began to play with his necklace. "But, if this is right, then that means..."
"You're a prince!" exclaimed Alex happily.
Justin leaned back in the chair in the war room, propping his feet up on the table. They had just had a meeting about Dain, but Justin's mind was on the betrothal. How could he get out of it? Maybe if himself or Alex found someone that their parents approved of no. There wasn't a lot of time and then they would be right back where they started. The door burst open and Alex limped hurriedly into the room, JC following her. The door slammed into the wall, which caused Justin to lose his balance and fall backwards. "Geez, where's the siege?" he asked as he picked himself and the chair up. "Huh?" she asked. "Oh. Nowhere. Read this." She handed him a book and pointed to some pages titled, 'The Royal House of Leo." He read the pages and looked up at her questioningly. She grabbed JC's arm and pulled him toward her. "Look at his necklace."
Justin leaned forward and saw the symbol of the house of Leo inscribed into JC's pendant. He raised his eyes to meet JC's shocked ones. "I take it you had no clue about this?"
"Definitely not," he replied.
"We have to tell father!" Alex said joyfully.
"Wait, what if we tell him tonight?" suggested Justin.
"Why?" asked Alex.
"Then we can surprise everyone. We could quickly arrange a ball. When he comes to present you, he has royal clothes on and then you can explain."
"I don't know," said JC warily.
"Oh, come on, it will be fun!" Alex replied taking his hands in hers. "Please?"
"Oh all right," he sighed. Alex hugged him and kissed his cheek. "I'll go to talk to father!" She limped quickly out of the room, leaving the guys behind.
"She's really into this, isn't she?" commented Justin. JC nodded. "I have no idea why though. I was afraid she was going to pass out on me." He laughed and took JC to get clothes fitted for the night.
Alex stood in her room, looking at the mirror. Her forest green ball gown fit her perfectly and the small emerald necklace added to the appearance. JC was a prince. It just kept playing over and over in her mind. Lately her way of thinking about him had changed, a lot. She sighed and limped toward the door. She stopped with her hand on the handle. "How could I be so stupid?" she asked no one but herself. "How am I supposed to disguise this limp?" She walked outside and down the hall. She stopped by the doors to the great stair and closed her eyes, softly reciting a spell. Hopefully the spell would take the pressure off of her ankle for a small amount of time. She stood on her ankle and the pain was much less.
"Lexi?" asked JC. She opened her eyes and had to grab on the table next to her as her concentration broke. He wore a dark midnight blue tunic trimmed with gold along the seam. The belt around his waist also was trimmed with gold. A sword hung from his belt, but it was more for show than for actual fighting. JC held her arm as she quickly redid the spell. She opened her eyes again and took everything in. "You look great JC," she said. "That's what I tried to tell him!" shouted Justin as he jogged down the hall. "He just doesn't believe it!"
Alex laughed. She reached forward and held his chin, looking him in the
eyes. "You really do look great." She reached down and tugged at the band of his necklace until the pendant showed. "Even better." JC watched her turn around. He could still feel her fingers on his face. He shook his head and fingered the hilt of his sword. "Well, get ready because everyone else is down there. Are you going to be okay?" JC nodded. "It's the same thing nothing's changed. Right?" Alex laughed. "Right." She squeezed his hand reassuringly. "It'll be fine." The chief herald glanced at them strangely before opening the doors.
They walked down the stairs and for the first time in his life he felt like he was going to pass out. Most looked at him curiously. He was a servant so why was he dressed in the clothes of a noble? King Roald and Queen Cythera were the most baffled. They stared in disbelief at JC. As they stopped below the throne, Alex took a deep breath and said, "Mother, father, I would like to formally introduce Prince Joshua of the Leo Kingdom."
The hall fell silent after a gasp sounded from everyone. Roald came down from the throne and walked up in front of JC. They held eye contact for several seconds before he said, "PRINCE Joshua?"
"Yes, your majesty," replied JC. "It turns out that the necklace that I wear belongs to the Royal family of Leos, so I am a prince." Roald stared at him a moment longer before he turned to Alex next to him. "I take it this is the reason you wanted to have everyone assembled?" Alex grinned sheepishly. "Yeah."
"Well, I think that it is a joyous occasion. One of our most trusted companions has finally found his roots. Let us celebrate!" He shouted and clapped his hands, setting the crowd into an uproar. JC blinked. He was expecting a lot more questions, but he was actually relieved that it went so smoothly. Alex quickly enveloped him in a hug. "I told you it would be fine." An idea came to mind and he grinned. "Would you like to dance?" he asked. She laughed and took his hand. "And now no one can cut in."
"Exactly."
Justin sat and watched them. He smiled, this might just work.
"Justin?" questioned Char. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Hey, would you like to dance?" Char's eyes widened at the thought. "Really?" Justin nodded and held his hand out. "Really." Char smiled and let him lead her out to the dance floor.
Nine