Lynn did not sleep. She couldn't sleep in this shadow of what used to be her room. Granted, everything was the same. Her father did not move anything out of place and kept her room clean as if waiting for her to return.

Well, he got his wish.

She let out a sigh and sat up running her fingers through her shoulder length lavender hair as she thought about the dinner conversation between her father, her uncle, and herself.

When she stood infront of her childhood home, she felt the nostalgia hit her. Memories of laughter, comfort, and warmth reminded her of times she wished back.

Her mother, kind and patient, would sit out at the porch watching her father and herself run around the grass. The smile and quiet laughter always made her feel so safe, but that was years ago, wasn't it?

Shaking her head, she entered the home and heard her father and uncle talking. Closing her eyes and taking deep breaths, she stood up taller and walked to where they were seated at the dining table. She went straight to the chair farthest from her father.

"Lynn," her father greeted.

She nodded her head to her father and uncle and looked at the meal before her. Roasted chicken casserole. Her favorite.

"Let us eat then," her father sounded disappointed and Lynn didn't look at him as she waited patiently for the meal to be passed to her.

"In the morning, you are to practice your training while your father and I join the King and Queen as they plan," her uncle spoke up and Lynn nodded as she scooped some meal onto her dinner plate.

"I do wish to see what you have learned before your uncle and I head to the castle," her father glanced at her and she blankly stared at him. Nodding her head, she began to eat.

Quiet.

Before she was sent away, she remembered dinners to be so lively. Chatters about their days, what they saw or learned would fill the space between them. Now it was just silence, save for the sounds of silverware.

"Your uncle said you were the best of his students," her father was trying to get her to talk, but she didn't want to talk to him or her uncle. She should be at the training grounds with the others, not here where she did not have a place anymore.

"She is," her uncle said proudly, "it is in our blood, brother. She surpassed them all."

"Ah, then she is the best choice," her father sent a smile to his brother before glancing at her.

"A choice," Lynn finally said cautiously as her brain took in that information.

They had a choice to choose anyone to return and they chose her. They chose her knowingly; like being dropped into the deepest of ocean, she felt her body stop beating.

"Yes," her uncle explained, "the king and queen had asked for a personal knight to safekeep their son. They wanted someone who is my best student, that someone is you."

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Lynn felt her heart beating quickly and her skin was feeling warm. Dropping the utensils on the table, she narrowed her eyes at her uncle. How could he do this to her?

He knew how hurt she was to be sent away; he knew how angry she was at her father; he knew her pain and yet still chose her! He should have chosen Eric.

"Does he know?" she questioned as her hands fisted.

"No, he would know the day of the ball," her father spoke calmly and quietly.

"You must really hate me," she said it as calmly as she could, but by the look on their faces, her anger shined through.

"We do not hate you," her father stated and she shut her eyes.

"You know my feelings and yet, still care less about it," she pulled her emotions deep inside her, "I suppose how I feel means nothing."

"We do care Lynn," her father tried again.

"If I had known what agreeing would entail, I would have declined," she turned to her uncle.

"You would not have a choice," her uncle frowned narrowing his eyes.

"I see," she kept her eye contact with her uncle before she stood up, "I will head to bed."

She heard the scraping of chair as she walked to the hallway and knew it was her father. Ignoring it, she entered her old room and wished for her being in this kingdom to be over.

Letting out another sigh, she walked over to the window looking out to the fields. Leaning her head against the window, she breathed in whatever sanity she still had. She was going to be the prince's personal knight. She was to be everywhere he was and to protect him at all cost.

"Don't worry Lynn! I will protect you!"

"You can't always protect me Prince Garret."

"Eh? Of course I can! I am the Prince after all. If I can't protect you, then what is the point?"

"Prince Garret, isn't the point for you to live so you can rule the kingdom?"

"Lynn, stop calling me Prince Garret, it's weird."

"But everyone else calls you that."

"But I don't want you to."

"Why?"

"Because you're my friend."

"Didn't you say Mr. London was your friend? He still calls you Prince Garret."

"Lynn, please just call me Garret."

"Okay, okay. I was just joking with you Garret."

"Joking?"

"Hey, you never answered me."

"Huh? About what?"

"Geez Garret. Isn't the point to live so you can rule the kingdom instead of trying to protect people?"

"I don't want to protect the people Lynn, just you."

"Oh. Well, I want to protect you too then!"

"Okay! How about we protect each other! Then we can always play and be friends forever!"

Stupid. Lynn covered her face with a palm of her hand as tears slipped down her cheeks.

Stupid.