TFL ch 30

The swoosh of curtains being drawn back is the only warning that precedes the bright light that wakes me. "Rise and shine, Lee! It's time to be out among the living!" Guinevere claps as I groan.

"Why are you always in a good mood when I'm tired?"

"I don't know. My natural instinct, I suppose. Come on, stop complaining and get ready! Breakfast is going to be ready soon and I would love not to be late." She pulls out a lavender dress, one of my more attractive day dresses. One of the dresses that Eric always comments on... Ugh. Leave it alone, Amelia. There's not a chance.

Hustling to put on all the layers of clothing that propriety deems necessary, I listen to Gwen humming as she goes through her desk drawer. "Oh, Lee! I forgot entirely about this!" I straighten my skirts and turn to her. She hands me a paper and explains, "I found this in your boot when you collapsed onto my bed." Lord Edmund's letter to Wesson! Unfolding it quickly, I scanned it to try to figure out its meaning. "Was this what you were looking for when you were abducted?" Guinevere asks.

I nod and place the letter in my journal. I cannot have anyone find that note. "You know, that handwriting is similar to Lord Edmund's handwriting... Although it does look as if it were somewhat masked." Gwen comments as I hide my journal in my things.

Whipping around to face her, I question, "But it does look like Lord Edmund's writing?"

"Yes. He has a unique way of forming his e's that cannot be mistaken. Let's hurry, though, Amelia. We will be late!"

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I spend the morning avoiding eye contact with Selina and Eric. I honestly do not want one more person to figure out my secret, and before I was too obvious. I will make sure now that no one ever guesses my secret.

Gwen and I walk about the courtyard, laughing at my somewhat subtle characterizations of certain lords and ladies. Picking up a bucket, I place it on my head and strut a few steps with my face contorted into a ridiculous expression.

"Lee! Stop. It!" Gwen gasps out between laughs.

"Not until you guess whoo III aaamm!" I reply, stretching the vowels out purposely.

She keeps laughing, fanning herself to try to calm down. I toss the bucket aside and laugh with her. This is how it always should be!

The sound of footsteps alert us that someone is coming. Turning around, we find Eric looking at us with amused suspicion. "What have you both been up to?"

Calming the slight flutter in my stomach at the sight of him, I respond as innocently as possible, "Nothing, your highness. Just practicing ballroom etiquette, that's all."

Gwen doubles over in a fit of laughter, making it ever so much harder to keep my face straight.

"Suuuure, 'Melia. Because just outside the stable is the perfect place to practice etiquette, right?" He smirks, showing off the one dimple he has perfectly.

"Of course it is, Eric! I'm surprised that you don't see how the stable resembles a ballroom!" Gwen says, mischievousness making her blue eyes glitter.

"Oh, you mean the numerous dumb animals present in both the ballroom and the stables." Eric says with hearty laugh at the end of his statement. "You are too much. Lee, you're a bad influence on her."

I look at him wide-eyed. "Me? I would never encourage bad behavior! Would I, Gwen?"

Gwen quickly nods in agreement with me, and Eric shakes his head. "I don't know what I'm going to do with you two good-for-nothings!" His eyes dance like they haven't since we started this trip to Rhodenheim. As he looks at me, he grins, "Would you both care to join me for horseback ride?"

For a moment, my stomach flips in excitement. I can spend time with Eric! But I rapidly stop myself. "I'm sure Gwen would, but I think I'd rather not."

Gwen and Eric both look at me with confusion written on every feature. "Why?" They ask in unison.

Because I'm in love with Eric and he doesn't love me and I can't stand thinking about it. "I just want to take it easy. Make sure all the injuries heal. Forgive me for ruining your plans."

"No, you didn't ruin my plans. We can just as easily spend time together another way. Do you want to take a stroll in the gardens?"

Yes! No. Gah! Why does my mind and my heart have to be so opposite of each other! "Actually, I feel a bit fatigued. I am going to go back to the room and rest." I finally say, deciding that my mind was the wiser of the two.

I feel both pairs of eyes on me as I walk back into the castle. Yes, perhaps that was out of character for me, but I must, I must, keep myself from being, or rather falling more, in love with Eric. I—"Oomph!"

"Honestly, Lee. You have to start watching where you are going! It's rough on my bones running into you like that!"

"Well, if you, Jack Hawkins, weren't running as if demons were at your tail, then maybe it wouldn't hurt so bad!"

Jack laughs. "Ha! Like you are one to talk, Miss I-Am-Always-Late!" He holds his arm out for me to place my hand in the crook of his elbow. "Would you care for a tour of the kitchens, Miss Amelia?"

Without a second thought, I take his arm and walk with him toward the kitchen. "Jack, half the time I don't know whether you are still the same urchin I knew or a gentleman I never met before."

"I don't know the answer to that myself half the time!"

The minutes pass quickly as we reminisce over our years as children together. "Jack?" I ask after some time.

"Yes?"

"The day that the king took us off the streets. Why did you have me pickpocket that day?"

He swallows and stares at the floor for a moment. "You're asking because of something that happened with the Melitan raiders, right?" Without looking to see my response, he continues, "The leader had asked us to join. He promised that if you could pickpocket that man and escape the cops, that we would be raiders and that we would have plenty of food and that you could see a doctor for your cough... I agreed to it, only because I thought it was our only option. You were going to get worse and we were always hungry... The thought that we were almost raiders has haunted me ever since then."

Guilt hit me for the doubts I had about Jack since Wesson's revelation. He had agreed to joining them in an effort to save our lives. "Jack, don't be angry with yourself. We would have had no other choice."

"There's always another choice." He looks up at me, meeting my eyes. "There always is." Grasping one of my hands with both of his, he says, "All that I can say, is that I am so glad you tackled the prince."

Our laughs are cut off by footsteps. Eric and Gwen turn the corner into the kitchen. Gwen's eyes light up at the sight of Jack, but Eric's eyes immediately grow cold. "I thought you were going to your room to rest, Amelia." By the tone of his voice, I can tell he is upset with me.

"I-"

"Forgive me, your highness, but I persuaded her to take a short walk with me. I did not realize you were not feeling well, Lee. I am sorry for keeping you." He nods to both Gwen and Eric, his eyes ever so slightly lingering on Gwen, and leaves the room.

Gwen quietly excuses herself, leaving me facing a frustrated Eric. Alone.

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DUN, DUN, DUN!!! The unwanted (but oh so badly wanted) time alone with Eric!!! How is Amelia going to get out of this one??? Will she finally confess her feelings? And what about the letter?

Question of the Chappie: Which cartoon character is your favorite?

A. Blue from House for Imaginary friends

B. Kim Possible

C. Sonic the Hedgehog

D. Pinky Pie from My Little Pony

E. (Fill in the Blank)

Mine is a tie between B and C. I hate MLP. (sorry @smurf0702) And Blue was ok... lol

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