Love and Vengeance

He stared at her. "What's going on? Who's dress is this?" He asked, holding it up. She rubbed the back of her neck. "Injured travelers. They needed help, and food."

He nodded. "And they'll be gone in the morning?" He said for clarification.

"No... one of them can't walk long distances yet... and the other won't leave without him. They're harmless, they have no where else to go."

"I struggle to see how that is our problem." He said seriously.

"They needed help and I gave it to them. I happen to care and have half a heart for others. They're fine. They even said they'd work off their pay. Think of it as extra hands for as long as you need."

"Where are they?" He asked, walking past her to the rooms. "The spare bedroom on the left." I said, following after him.

@ musicalpanda
She smiled a little and stroked her brothers hair affectionately, their governess had basically raised them. Taught them right from wrong and how to treat people with respect, "We'll be okay. I'll figure everything out maybe I can find a place for us to stay," she murmured softly to her sleeping brother, she looked up when the door opened.

I stood a little away from the door. "You brought the royals here? He bellowed. "Are you trying to get us killed? What are you thinking?" He asked in anger.

"I was thinking about being a decent person," I said coldly. "They've been walking for days! He had an arrow through his leg and the beginning of blood poisoning! He would have died from sepsis, and her from heat exhaustion!" I yelled back.

"They said they'd pay us back. And he's in no condition to be walking. Where are you going to send them? Out the front door to pass out in the yard? You're being ridiculous." I added.

He shook his head. "I'm thinking about us and staying alive. We will be killed for harbouring them. They need to leave. Immediately."

"Around here people barely know what they look like. I don't even know their names. I recognized them from their clothes, not their faces."

She looked up and at the man in the doorway then looked back at her brother before taking off her earrings and one of her pure gold bracelets. "Here, this should cover our entire stay and then some," she said placing them in the girls hand before walking to her brother.

"We'll leave as soon as we can, we just need time to find our own way," she told them.

"Do you really think your jewelry is enough to cover the two of you? The danger you put us in can't even be covered by the crown jewels." Robert stared at her, taking the jewelry and pushing it back at her. "We don't want your jewelry, we want you to leave. Now."

I rolled my eyes and pulled Robert back. "Let them stay. They'll keep their heads down and follow rules set for them. The second they break them, you can send them out. But right now, they havent. Now go eat, bathe and sleep." I said, pushing him towards his room.

He narrowed his eyes and went, still furious. He wasn't going to let it go this easily, but he was tired and could fight more tomorrow.

I went back to them and sighed. "Do you want your own room or to sleep in here with your brother?" I asked the girl.

"I can share a room with Ryley for now," she told her nodding, "I want to be near him in case he needs anything," she told her softly as she licked over her lips, "After we're long gone, these will be yours to do with as you want," she told her smiling a little as she handed her the jewels.

I shook my head, and stepped back, not wanting to take the jewels. "I don't want them. You need them much more than I do. If you're going to stay alive, you're going to want to keep those." I said seriously, handing her extra blankets.

"My room is down the hall, so if you need anything, let me know. If not I'll see you both in the morning." I said nodding a little and backing out of the room.

She nodded a little,"Goodnight," she said to her softly as she shut the door to their room then went to lay on the bed ont he otherside of the room.

I set breakfast out and made a plate, taking it to their rooms. I knocked and entered a second after. "Hello, How are you both feeling?" I asked politely, putting the plate next to the boy since he wouldn't be able to get up quite yet. "Breakfast is ready," I said to the girl. "Ignore Robert, he's naturally cranky and rude." I said as I checked the boys leg. "How is your leg feeling?" I asked.

---

Robert sat downstairs, eating quietly and annoyed. He noticed Lucy wasn't exactly open with them, strictly politeness, and he was proud. It would make sending them off easier. He just hoped they were gone sooner rather than later.

"He is in a bit of pain but otherwise he is fine," she told her lightly,"I think the pain is more from the hangover than his leg," she teased lightly as she fixed her skirts then sighed.

---

"She is right, it's more from the drinking than anything I'm fine otherwise," he said to her smiling a little.

I nodded a little and sighed. "That's good. Then I did a good job." I said with a small smile. I turned to the girl. "Do you have any skills?" I asked curiously. "That you can do to help out? Robert will be less sour if he sees you doing something."

"I can sew, cross stitch and I am actually fairly talented in medicine but never got any real training," she told her lightly as she looked at her.

I nodded a little. "That's excellent. So if I taught you some things you'd be able to help with medicine?" I asked her.

"Well I can use your help sewing, I have some things that need to be sewn so you can help with that. Alright. Go get something to eat, and ask Robert where the pile of fabrics are. Don't let him be rude to you, he won't throw you out or anything." I said.

She nodded,"Yes I could be taught," she smiled at her,"I'm a quick learner," she said lightly. "Alright then just let me know," she told her softly then kissed her brother's head lightly before walking out to the dining room and fixing up a small plate of food since she didn't eat a whole lot.

---

"We can't thank you enough for taking us in," he told her softly.

I nodded a little. "I knew that finding someone who would around here would be extremely difficult. And you had clearly lost a lot of blood, on top of the fact that your sister looked extremely weak. I'm going to convince Robert to let you stay until you're healed, or until you're ready to go. You're safer here and he knows it."

---

Robert narrowed his eyes a little as the girl walked in, watching her quietly. He eyed her openly, wanting to make it clear that he didn't trust them in the slightest.

She looked at him, "You know who I am, you have no reason not to trust me," she told hm, "If I so much as step out of line you can sendm e off to my death, do you think we're so stupid as to try anything or are you just that stupid.
she asked him.

---

He nodded,"I know, I was going to have her leave me behind, she has to live," he told her, "She has the rightful place to the throne - she'd be a good queen,"

I raised an eyebrow. "I thought the first son has the rightful place to the throne? I didn't know." I said, looking to check the scar on his leg.

---

He snorted. "I think you're out of your element. I have no doubt in my mind that myself and Lucy could send you to your deaths on our own. I'm not worried about you stepping out of line, I'm worried about what will happen to us if it's found out that we're harbouring fugitives. If you think you stepping out of line is my concern, you should just leave now. Head back to that pretty castle of yours."

@ musicalpanda
"I would if I could, if people weren't trying to kill us." she told him as she looked at him, "You don't know what its like... its like being a prisoner," she told him, "That pretty castle was hell for me and my brother," she told him.

---

"I am in line to be king or I was, but I dont want to be," he told her shaking his head.

"Why don't you want to be?" I asked curiously, sitting on the chair instead of his bed. I would normally leave, but it wouldn't be fun for him to sit in this room with nothing to do.

---

He shrugged and smiled coldly. "I still struggle to see how that is now mine or Lucy's problem. You were born into a crappy family but a nice house. Deal with it."

"I agree that it is no ones problem but our own, but you'll hate the man in the throne now more than you hated our parents, he'll raise food taxes, and just tax you for the sake of it." she told him, "My fathers brother is a greedy man, a worser king than my father, and a devious one at that my brother belongs in the throne," she told him, "He would be a kind a generous king, it's his rightful place," she told him softly,

---

"It's not really something I'd like to do, constance is the strong and admirable one. I don't want to be king, call me childish but it doesn't sound like much fun," he told her laughing a little.