The Uncrowned King

Her Return

XAVIER

I stare at Lucas waiting for him to give me an answer to my question. It is clear to me that he does not want me to go to the winter games but he does not want to tell me what the reason is. I know now that he is one of the dragon slayers and then, suddenly I realized why he does not want me to go. I look around me to see if there is anyone else close by and then I say to him.

"Are you planning to kill the dragon king?"

Suddenly he jumps up from the rock he was sitting on and then he puts his arm around me walking to the river. He then whispers and says.

"We would never do such a thing"

I can see in his eyes that he is lying but it is clear that he does not want to say that it is the truth. We just stare at each other as if we know that we should not talk about this any longer. I realize now that the dragon slayers will be behind me if I decide to kill dragon king. I let it go just there and then not to talk of it again. Then I say to him.

"Okay, let's start the training then"

I can see that he is completely amazed by my reaction and that he never thought that I would just give it up like that. The thing is, he does not know who I really am but when the time is right I will join them and take the kingdom back.

"Okay. I think you made the right choice"

Then we walk back to our usual spot and we start to fight. I am getting better and better each day and now that I know the winter games are going to happen, I know that I will be able to be one of the top ten knights after my training.

CLARA

I know that I am training to be a lady and that I am not allowed to show any sudden emotions. I swallow deeply as I say without hesitation.

"I am sorry Sir Robertson, can you please repeat your question?"

"I said if you would allow me, can I please escort you back to your hometown?"

I know that I should give him an answer but it is like I am stuck in time. I do not know what to do. It would be considered rude if you deny a gentleman to help you in your travels. I guess it can not do any harm if he just escorts me back home. It is not as if he is going to stay there.

"I will be honored. Thank you, so much"

He takes my hand again and then kisses it as he says.

"Then I will wait eagerly until your departure"

It is strange how he is able to give me butterflies in my stomach. I did not really think of him in such a way but now, for some reason, it seems like my mind is changed. He almost bows as he leaves my chambers. As the door closes I stand with my back against the door and I wonder what is going on with me.

But then the next day arrives and the next few months and I almost forget about his offer. We have completed the training and I am finally a lady. I have the papers to prove it. The best news of all is that I am getting to go home.

I am mostly excited to see Xavier as my mother let me know that he has changed in many ways. She did not go on about how he changed but it seems like it is for the better because they are speaking to each other again.

I packed up my last things and Elizabeth and I have decided to keep in touch. I guess in many ways we will never lose touch because we have become such good friends. I turn back to look at the room that I have been in for almost a year and a half and I smile as I know I will never see this room again.

Just as I open the door, Sir Robertson stands in front of me. I am startled by his presence and almost lose my balance. Luckily, he is there to catch me just in time. His arms wrap around my body and I would lie if I say that I do not feel something. I feel butterflies flying around in my stomach.

I blush as I say while he helps me standing upright.

"Thank you for saving me from what could have been an embarrassing fall for a lady"

"It is only my pleasure, Lady Clara. Are you ready to leave for your hometown?"

I am still a bit disorientated but I make sure to react like a lady when I say.

"I am ready"

He holds out his arm for me to hook into. I make sure to do it exactly the way that I was taught by putting my hand only on his forearm. Then we make our way outside where his horse carriage is waiting for us.

I am not used to this kind of treatment as he opens the door to help me inside. The inside is as beautiful as the outside. It has the softest cushions that I have sat on in a horse carriage before. It is colors of red and gold just like the outside.

I forgot to tell my mother that I am coming back with Sir Robertson and I know she will not be happy because she probably wanted to prepare. The only reason I did not tell her is that I forgot all about it.

Sir Robertson is nothing but a gentleman to me all the way to my hometown. The closer we get, the more nervous I get. I do not know why I feel this way but I am guessing it has something to do with Xavier. I wonder if I am even going to get to see him today.

From what I am gathering of what my mother tells me, it seems like he has different times he comes back home. Then finally we arrive at my front door. I keep a close eye on sir Robertson's expression. He must be thinking that I am in a completely different class than what he is. I do not know why he is interested in me in the first place.

I am just about to open the door when my mother opens the door. I can see the shock on her face as she was just about to run and hug me but when she sees the man next to me she is frozen right where she is standing. Then she turns to look at me and say.

"Clara, you did not tell me that we should expect company?"

I can see the way that my mother is forming her lips and that usually means that she's angry with a smile on her face. So, I reply just the way that the lady is supposed to, without any feelings.

"I am sure that we can accommodate Sir Robertson with a cup of tea and maybe some dinner?"

Then it is as if she just understood what I said. I have never brought a "sir" back home and suddenly my mother's attitude changed tremendously.

"Of course, there is always room for a gentleman like yourself"

Sir Robertson then skillfully takes my mother's hand and kisses it while he says.

"I have been wondering where Lady Clara got her beauty from and finally I have solved the mystery"

He makes sure to keep eye contact with my mother and I soon realized that he is very polished with his words. My mother instantly blushes so she put her hand on her chest and says.

"You are a man of kind words, Sir Robertson, please come in. I can put on the kettle for us"

As we walk into the house I look around as if it is the first time that I see the house but it is not the house that interests me. My eyes are looking for Xavier and to my disappointment, he is not here for my arrival.

I really hoped that he would have been here and that we could be friends again. I wish I can tell him how sorry I am and that if I could I would have stayed a little while longer before going to England.

XAVIER

Today is the day that I had dreaded for a long time. Today is the day that Clara is coming back home. It is strange how a year and a half still have not changed the way that I feel about her leaving me. I guess that I am stubborn in that way. My mother did not tell me exactly when she will arrive and so I make sure to spend some extra time training as I only want to get back to the house at nightfall.

Finally, I am so tired that I need to go to bed and so I take the path back home. But when I see the house, in the clearing, appears before me, I see something that I did not expect. I see a horse carriage parked in front of my house. A million things through my mind.

Did Clara get herself a horse carriage? Did she bring someone with her back home? Does this mean that she found a suitor? Suddenly, my heart starts to race in my rib cage. I realize that maybe through my stubbornness, I let her fall into the arms of another man without being able to protect her.

"f**k!"

I hide behind the nearest tree. I feel like a complete coward. I do not know why I just can not walk up to the house and be the man. It is strange how something small like a letter can change your entire life. Usually, I would just walk in there and maybe pull a prank on my sister but now suddenly she is not my sister.

But that is not the only reason. I guess she is now a lady and then I look down at myself and realize that I am a man. We have grown apart from each other and I do not know whether it is a good thing or a bad thing. All I know is that I better do something about it.

I have to get into that house. I have to be a King one day. If I can not stand up and be a man right now, how am I going to defeat the dragon king? So, I take a deep breath and I say to myself that I am still the man of the house. Then, with full confidence, I walk into the house.