Alex glared at him and then sat up. JC helped her off the bed and she carefully placed her weight on her ankle. Seeing that it was fine, she bowed her head slightly to Edmund. "Thank you." Edmund nodded and quickly left the room. She turned and looked at JC. "Thanks. Now, let's go and talk to father." She pulled on his hand and dragged him to the sunroom where her parents were resting. They looked up as they entered. "Hello, Alexandra, Joshua," said Cythera. They bowed.
"Mother, father, I have something to ask you," started Alex. "Since we know that JC belongs to the Leo Kingdom, couldn't we go and visit his family now? Tell them that we found their child, if that is what happened." Roald looked thoughtful. "That wouldn't be such a bad idea. We haven't formally spoken to them in a couple of decades. Our kingdoms are allies in a sense, so I don't see why not. I'll talk it over with out advisors and hopefully we can get the journey underway next week." Alex smiled and hugged him. "Thank you!" She turned and walked out, once again pulling on JC's hand.
Alex walked into the dining hall and sat down in one of the chairs. JC sat down across from her. "I can't believe that this is happening," he said.
Alex smiled. "It is pretty amazing." JC looked up at her and crossed his arms on the table. "Just think. Not more than two days ago, I had no clue where I was from, no clue who my family was, no clue about who I really was. Now, I know that I am really a prince of all things and belong to one of the most prosperous kingdoms there are." Alex laughed and reached across, grabbing his hand. "This is a great thing, and I'm glad that it's happening to you of all people."
"Why?" he asked confused.
"You are one of the kindest and most unselfish people I've ever met. I truthfully couldn't be happier if you weren't with me as I grew up. You were able to keep your head even if I wasn't. You deserve this. You always have, it's just finally working out for you." JC smiled. He couldn't believe she had really felt that way. He rubbed
his thumb against the back of her hand as they held eye contact. She smiled back and they got up and went to get some things ready for the upcoming trip.
"Father, please!" begged Alex as she stood in front of him. He sighed in frustration. "Fine, but the last day, you will be changed and dressed properly, all right?" Alex nodded and left the room, returning to her own. She smiled, seeing JC sitting on her bed. "What did he say?" he questioned.
"He said I could ride Iris with my breeches for most of it, but on the last day of the journey I have to dress 'properly'." JC nodded and watched her as she pulled some clothes out of her closet. In the middle of her suitcase, she carefully put down her sword and then started to place clothes on top if it. "Never leave home without it," she commented making him laugh.
They had contacted the Leo kingdom and asked to visit, claiming it was to go over their treaty. They mentioned nothing of JC; they almost wanted it to be a surprise. They were to leave the next day, and Alex being the procrastinator that she was had left all of her packing for last minute. JC was helping her by putting some of her jewels into a secure pouch. "Why isn't Dei here helping you?" he asked.
Alex shrugged. "I think she skipped out with Lance. We can't find either of them." JC laughed at the thought. "Well, good thing I'm here or you'd never get this done." Alex laughed as she put another dress in her bag.
"Just think, in a couple of days you'll know who your family is." He stopped and sat back down on the bed. "You're right. I just hope they like me."
"Oh please. How old are you? How could anybody not like you?" She tweaked his nose as she walked past. "Stop worrying about it."
"Yes Alex," he said mockingly. She smiled and pushed his shoulder.
"That's right." They laughed and continued doing her packing.
"Can we go already?" mumbled Alex. Iris picked up on the nervousness that Alex felt and began to prance around. "Stop it Iris," she said pulling on the reigns.
"You okay?" asked JC riding up next to her on the ever calm Storm.
"Yeah, I just want to get going."
"Tell me about it," said Justin, riding up on a bay stallion. "Could this take any longer?"
"Doubt it. Hey Justin where did your parents go?"
"They left this morning. There were some things that they had to take care of." They nodded and breathed a sigh of relief when they finally started moving.
"I'll race you to the first clearing," challenged Justin.
"You're on!" Without waiting, Alex and Justin both bolted ahead at a hard gallop.
"You'd think they were brother and sister," said Char as she came up next to JC.
"You can say that." They watched as they soon disappeared in the woods. JC laughed as he heard yelling. "So are you really nervous?" asked Char. JC shrugged. "Yeah. I'm just trying not to focus on it right now. I can't stop it, nor do I want to, so I'm just going to let it happen."
Char nodded as they came out into the clearing and laughed. Justin and Alex were riding around it. At one point Justin's stallion reared and Iris soon followed. As their hooves touched the ground, they started off again.
"Children!" shouted JC. "It's time to go!"
"Aww, but we want to play some more daddy!" they shouted as they laughed.
"Yeah, come on, let's go."
Alex rode up next to him and slapped his leg with her reigns. "You just have to ruin all of my fun don't you?" JC smirked as he looked at her smiling face. "Well, excuse me."
"You're excused." JC bowed slightly in the saddle. "Why thank you." She reached over and ruffled his hair, making some of the stands go everywhere. She laughed and trotted ahead until he sped off after her, both going full speed into the forest.
"Alex you're going to fall asleep," said JC.
"No I'm not," she retorted, looking at him in the fading light.
"Alex?"
"What?"
"Duck." A small branch smacked her in the face and she immediately started to grumble, cursing the tree. JC laughed. "Why don't you just go and get some sleep? The others are."
"Because I'm not going to, okay? I'm staying up till we reach the wayhouse, Iris isn't going to let me fall."
"But Iris can't prevent branches from hitting you and knocking you off." Alex glared at JC. "Well, thank you. Besides even if I wanted to go to sleep, the carriages are full of luggage and maidens and the such. See, mother and father don't know the meaning of the words, 'pack light'."
JC laughed. "Then ride double with me."
Alex froze and cautiously looked at him. "What?"
"Ride double with me. We can tie Iris up with Storm and you can ride in front of me so that I can at least make sure that you don't fall off."
Alex couldn't see him that well, but she could hear the sincerity in his voice. "Are you sure?" she asked, disbelief flowing into her mind.
"Yes, now come over here before you do fall off and I kick myself for it."
Alex laughed and steered Iris closer to Storm. She swung her leg over and balanced herself as she tied Iris' reigns to Storm's. JC held her arm as she quickly transferred horses. He held the reigns in front of her as she leaned against him.
"I owe you JC," she mumbled.
"Go to sleep Lexi," he whispered. Justin, Chris, and Joey were riding behind them, talking quietly. "Look at them," whispered Joey, nodding his head to them. Chris chuckled. "They couldn't seem any closer if they tried." Justin laughed agreeing with them completely. Looks like their problem was solved after all.
Eleven