Twenty years ago.

"Congradulations on your first child my son he will grow to be as ugly as you. -- Alright, alright, Rachel stop glaring you're going to catch this old man on fire."

After several moments when the chuckles died down, King Arturian, with a big grin on his face, held up his hands to quiet those still talking. "The Royal family has a tradition. When our lovely ladies bare their first child, the King. Thats me incase anybody has forgotten." A couple of seconds of laughter later, he held his hands up again. "Where was I, Oh yes. The King gifts the new Mother with a pendent from the Royal treasury."

He was turning away from the crowd of obviously bored Nobles, barely containing his amusement at their less than excited applause. King Arturian then picked up a small finely crafted white wood box from the table on this right. Upon facing the two new Mothers, the wind seemed to leave his sails as he noticed neither had paid his speech any attention and were happily chatting together. They did not even realize how quiet the room had gotten or that everyone was looking at them.

A slight cough from the Queen's personal guard got their attention. A moment later, both faces flushed in embarrassment, and they did a quick curtsy toward the King.

The King, for his part, was very amused, standing one eyebrow raised with a do I got your attention now ladies look on his face. "May I continue now?"

"For my lovely Queen." He said as he opened the box with a flourish, quickly showing it to the whole room. "I know none of you can actually see it from so far away, but take my word, it is a beautiful and exqusitly crafted work of art." Then, turning back to his Queen, he proffered the box to her.

The Queen stared at the silver pendant showing a bird taking flight. Then, smiling brightly, she lifted her hair while raising her head, inviting her Husband to place it around her neck. King Arturian obliged after handing the box to a waiting servant. "I know this is a few days late but I am way to lazy to do this ceremony twice in one week."

Then after giving his Queen a peck on the lips, he stepped back admiring his work. "It would seem I have impeccable taste in both jewelry and woman. It's so hard being so good at everything. I feel for all those men who aren't me."

The Queen rolled her eyes, and King Arturian stepped back before a small hand could sneakily pinch his side. winking at her, he whispered. "Too slow." I am going to regret that later. after a moment of pause, he thought. Or maybe not; it might be fun.  

Spinning around, he inadvertently smacked his long mantle in the Queen's face mussing her hair. Several people nearby drew in a breathe and took a step back. But the King didn't notice as he grabbed up another small ornate box, this one made of some nearly black wood.

For my elegant and beautiful daughter-in-law, I have this." He said and showed off another silver pendant with a bird with both wings hanging protectively over two chics.

The moment Rachel saw the pendant, she thought it the most beautiful thing in the world after her son and immediately began to tell the King it was too much. However, before she could speak, Benson stepped forward, taking it from his father, and placed it on her neck. Then, copying the King, Benson kissed his wife and stepped back. However, instead of saying too much, he said she looked beautiful.

Spinning around once more, arms raised instead of smacking Rachel, he got Benson, who had stepped in front of his wife just in time. Then, the King began to speak to the gathered nobles and other influential people who had the unfortunate timing to be in the Capital at this time. "To be honest with you, all this tradition has always been done in private, but that's boring. So I thought, why not let my close friends enjoy it too. Still, then another thought struck me why risk insulting so many good people when I can let you all enjoy this happy moment.

The absolute annoyance in so many eyes was exactly what he wanted to see here today, and the King reveled in his small joke. However, those same looks soon turned to smirks, and some were doing their utmost to keep a straight face as they made for the massive doors at the end of the hall.

Confused, King Arturian turned to look where they were looking and found several not-so-happy faces behind him. Even Tracy, the ever stoic personal guard, shot him an annoyed look. Before she slowly lowered her very pregnant self into a chair that the queen had asked a servant to fetch.

Sweat began to pour down his back as he looked around for an escape. Spotting his Fathers old friend making his way toward the door, the King smiled. "Duke Barnabus I believe we have a meeting scheduled for this morning. I seem to be free at the moment why don't we find a quiet place to talk?"

Slowing to a stop, the old Duke looked between the King and his family before he smirked and turned to the King's young aid. "Greg why don't you reschedule me for tomorrow I think on such an occasion as this the King should spend more time with his family."

The young man nodded and gave the Duke a deep bow before turning to the King and doing the same before following the Duke out. The loud noise the doors made as they closed sounded ominous to the mischievous King.

- - - - -

Theo + Anita

Theo woke to the sound of chirping birds and a soft snore below him. Peering down below, he found the crazy lady, who first saved him then attempted to murder him, leaning back against the tree legs folded beneath her. "Well that looks uncomfortable." Deciding to put that problem on hold, for now, he climbed the tree a couple dozen more feet till he could see the starry sky above.

Turning his view north, he saw a bit of color peeking over the distant blackness he knew was the mountains. "It seems morning is nearly here. I guess I'll make breakfast as an apology for my little prank before getting back on my way to the mines."

Clambering back down, Theo found Anita's bag and, shrugging, tipped it over, dumping the contents all over the ground. "Here we are flint, pan some potatoes, a bit of salt, and some dried meat. "Now, where to get some water?" After looking toward the pond, Theo shivered and turned back to the sleeping woman. "There you are, my sneaky water skin." without making a sound, he snuck closer and, with the grace that belied his large hands, untied the skin and sauntered back to his small fire.

After emptying the waterskin into the pan to let it boil, he chopped the potatoes and shredded a couple of strips of meat; thinking for a second, he stood and walked back to the prickle bush, and with a small knife, he found in the girl's bag, cut a small limb off. Then, bringing his prize back to the fire, he sat and meticulously plucked all the hair-thin spines from the leaves and removed the stems. Double-checking that he got all of the spines, he nodded, then shredded the leaves into the now boiling water.

Soon Theo added all the ingredients and sat back, only then staring at the prickle bush. "Wait a second shouldn't I be covered in nasty red welts that burn like fire?" quickly scanning his body. He couldn't find any signs that he rolled around in the bush.

Frowning, he stood and walked to the crazy lady and began looking her over. Sure enough, he could see several red welts on her tanned skin. Good thing only her arms are uncovered. That would be nasty if she wore a dress like all the girl's in the village. Well, it's going to take a while for the soup to finish. I suppose I could pluck some of these white hairs she acquired last night.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

Smiling at his own inner voice, he started plucking them. It wasn't until he had laid Anita back in the other direction and began jerking them from her other arm that she finally moved. Then, after getting right up in her face again, having apparently not learned his lesson, he spoke. "Morning sleeping beauty, once you're up, I made us a nice breakfast of potatoes soup courtesy of your own supplies and a touch of foraging from yours truly."

It took Anita a few moments to wake up completely, and during that time, the Prince kept asking her to move her arms around as he continued to pluck the hairlike spines from her skin. When she finally caught up to the present, she only understood that the Prince was running his hands up and down her arms with his face inches from her skin.

Face flushing, she took a sudden step back only to trip over a small root behind her. She would have fallen, except the Prince clamped his hand around her bicep and held her still. "Dont move for a second Im almost done, only a couple more to go." He spoke distractedly, apparently not even noticing her embarrassment.

"Okay, all done, my dear, and you should really find a river to wash those welts because once the air warms up, they are going to burn like the fires of hades." Looking up, the Prince noticed her flustered state but pretended he didn't see anything as he wrapped his arm in hers and led her to the campfire. "Eat something we both have busy a day ahead. After that, I have to head to the Mallorn mines while you do whatever crazy forest chicks do during the day."

Anita tried to take everything he said in, but the Prince talked too fast for her to keep up. Is this really how one talks that broke the geas only the day before. Or maybe I am just slow. It wasn't until the Prince held out a wood bowl and spoon that his words registered, and she placed the bowl on the ground and began to move her hands.

Theo raised an eyebrow as the girl set the bowl down as soon as he handed it but ignored it; however, he sighed when she began using hand language. placing the hot pan on the ground as well. he grabbed her chin between thumb and forefinger and turned her stunned face to look at him. "Use those pretty lips as the Almighty intended." The Prince said while pressing his thumb on Anita's upper lip and drew it down, catching the lower, leaving her mouth partially open.

Theodore stared down into Anita's hazel eyes, forgetting where he was as he got lost in the moment. He could feel his heart begin to beat faster and forced himself to look away, dropping her chin in the process. Picking his food back up, he started eating, trying his best to play off the moment as nothing. Dammit, Theo, remember what Aunt Rachel told you? Flirting around as a teenager is one thing but bear in mind when you retake your throne. You will have to put silly childish fantasies behind you and marry someone that will strengthen the Kingdom.

Anita could feel the Prince's finger on her lips long after he had returned to his food and took a while to gather her thought before picking her own bowl back up and took a bite. The moment she did, she stared dumbly at the bowl. Why is this so good it's just boiled potatoes and dried meat. I have often made it, but it never tasted like anything but well-boiled potatoes with strips of dried meat.

Shaking her head at the thought, she took another bite, this time chewing slowly to savor it. There it is, that peppery flavor. Where did that come from? I know I don't have anything but salt. Staring into her bowl, she found some shredded green's inside. that must be where the taste came from, but where did the Prince get it? Oh, he said something about foraging earlier. I wonder what plant this comes from?

Working up a bit of courage, she was about to ask about the peppery green's when she noticed how quiet the Prince had been. Looking up, the Prince didn't have any of the Mischievousness she had come to expect, and much as she wanted to deny it, rather liked about him. Losing her nerve, she dropped her eyes back to her bowl and continued eating.

A few silent minutes later, with no sound but the clinking of wooden spoons on either bowl or pan, the Prince set the pan down, patted his hands on his trousers, and stood up. "Well, my quiet forest savior, I hate to eat and run, but I am on a bit of a quest and need to be on my way. So again, thank you for your timely arrival last night and for letting me use your ingredients to make a delicious breakfast. Honestly, that last really saved me. I hadn't eaten in a couple of days."

Scrambling to her feet, Anita began using her hands in a panic, but the Prince never even glanced in their direction.

Theodore sighed inwardly and stuck his hand out. "Its been interesting hope we can meet again in the future." After holding his hand out for a couple of seconds, he retrieved it once again. Right crazy forest girls don't shake hands need to remember that for the future.

Giving a final wave, Theodore turned around and began following the path he had been traveling the night before. Weird, even though I can't feel the compulsion anymore, I can still feel that the mine is in this direction.

Theo hadn't made it five steps when. "Stop I am coming with you." echoed out from the small young lady, and every bird in a quarter-mile took to the sky, adding to the cacophony.

Theo barely paused his stride as he offhandedly called back. "Sorry, Miss, but I don't travel with strangers." Behind him, he could hear the girl frantically shoving objects into her pack. Looking over his shoulder, he found her sprinting to the tree and snatching up two bandoliers filled with thin throwing knives. He watched awhile longer as she searched the tall weeds for something else but to no avail. Then, grinning to himself, the Prince thought. Hah, you won't be wearing those ugly half sleeves anymore. They are on my feet now.

Intrigued at her activities, the Prince finally stopped and watched Anita with one raised eyebrow carefully schooling his expression toward seriousness. Thank you, Jeffree, for all those acting lessons.

Anita, who was too busy packing her things, never noticed the Prince stopped, nor when he turned to watch her, she just threw that last bandolier in her pack. Then, she sprinted toward where he had been walking, almost slamming into him. Anita managed to stop in time but still stumbled a step forward. Then, taking a deep breath, she stopped for a second to formulate her following words hoping it didn't sound too childish.

"Your Royal Highness Prince Theodore Arturian the Twelfth, my name is." But that's as far as she got when a hand flashed forward too fast for her to react and grabbed her by the throat. Quickly lifting her off the ground.

Theodore enjoyed himself immensely as he watched Anita take a breath to speak but didn't let it show on his face. However, as his full title fell from her lips, his stare became cold. Before she could react, he grabbed her by the throat, lifting her to eye level. "How do you know who I am? Everything about the Royal family is a national secret." But, of course, I wouldn't know who I am myself if Aunt Rachel hadn't, for some unknown reason, been immune to the geas.

At this thought, the anger in his eyes turned momentarily to grief, but he squashed that down. It's not time to grieve not until I have rescued my cousin and told him what happened.

Anita panicked and didn't even try to speak and began to use her hands to talk as fast as possible. This time the Prince listened to her. "The man who hit you with the spear somehow recognized you. He gave a note to another guard who brought it to my Grandfather. He sent me to accompany you. So many families have been searching for you for nearly two decades now."

Theodore let go but didn't lower his guard. If she is a traitor with the geas gone, she could make a lot of trouble for him. "Who was the man who hit me? How did he recognize me?'

Shaking her head, Anita spoke this time. "I don't know but when he killed himself both Grandpa and Father seemed really upset."

Relaxing a bit more, he asked, "Who is your Grandfather that he would send his own Granddaughter after a naked boy on the slim chance that the dead man was right?"

Anita stood straight, a proud look in her eyes. Then, catching the glare from the Prince, she Immediately lowered them and spoke softly. "I am Lady Anita Barnabus, my Father is Lord General Barnabus and my Grandfather is Duke Barnabus."

Theo finally fully relaxed, and a smile spread across his face."Aunt told me about the Barnabus family she said I could trust them to always do what's best for the Kingdom." Okay, that's not entirely true, but for now, we will see how things go.

Anita actually cringed at this. "My Dad and Grandpa have always wanted to apologize for the way they treated Princess Rachel. I even heard rumors that some of the nobles erected a statue of her in Underground Capital." She dared to look at the Princes and found a goofy grin spread across his face. Then, relaxing, she discovered that she could no longer stand and promptly fell like a limp noodle.

Looking down at Anita, Theodore sighed, "sorry, I can't be too careful, after all except for the usurper; I am probably the most wanted man in the Kingdom." Then, holding out his hand a third time, he waited. Soon, she tentatively put her hand in his, and he lifted her, not letting go. "You can call me Theo. That's what friends and family call me."

Face flushing. She nodded "call me Anna, that's what everyone calls me."

With his customary mischievous smile, he brought her hand to his lips. "Anna, what a lovely name for a beautiful young lady such as yourself."