The Queen & Her Knight

Chapter 16

"I'm so sorry, Sire"

"Please, angel...it's James"

You put your hand on his chest and he moans softly. "I'm so sorry, James, That I didn't trust you. You've done nothing to make me wonder about your affection for me. Please forgive me?"

"I could never be mad at you, angel. I'm just glad that you believe me. I want to assure you that I never moved up the wedding date, actually there isn't even a wedding date. There's something very wrong with the princess. I ordered a full medical examination on the princess. I'm just waiting on the report"

"Yes, her actions are a bit erratic. That's why I just had to get out of there today"

"So, you aren't sick?"

"No...I'm fine, I just needed an excuse to get away from there"

"Thank God! I was so worried that you have falling ill and I couldn't be there for you"

You pull on his collar and kiss his lips. He almost immediately wraps his arms around your waist and pushes you against him. He groans deeply and then pulls away. "I have to go, angel, but I don't want to"

"Then don't..."

You pull him in for another kiss and this time move your finger to hook in his pants pulling it a bit away from his waist. He grabs your hand.

"Ah...mmm...angel...I'm a damn King about to see a President...how am I suppose to act like one now, thinking of you in all the wrong ways?"

"I'm sorry James but I want more of you..."

You can see him restraining himself. He takes your hands in his and then groans loudly, closing your eyes.

"Mmm...I have to go but I would like to pick this up at a later stage if you'll let me?'

You walk backward a little bit, staring at him through your eyelashes. You bite your finger between your teeth and then slowly let your finger move down your lips, down your neck, between your breasts. You see his mouth slowly opening and his eyes following your finger.

"I guess I'm going to have to satisfy myself then..."

He almost attacks you by crashing his lips on yours, breathing heavily. You feel his arousal for you against your thigh. He pushes you against the wall and tugs your hands above your head. Then he kisses you down your neck moving down to your breasts. You pull out of his touch. He stands confused, looking at you.

"You have to go, Sire. Don't you have an appointment with the President?"

"Angel, you're toying with me..."

"I am, Sire"

He moans like an animal that can't get to his prey. He then turns around, walking painfully away. He turns around and looks at you. "This...isn't finished. We've only started...we will continue this, milady"

"If you say so, James..."

You smile at him and he walks out. Your heart feels light and happy. You're glad that you got to see him, to clear up any misunderstanding there might have been. You go to bed and fall asleep immediately. The next morning you pack your bags and get back on the train. You just settled in when there's a knock on your door.

(Please don't let it be one of the princesses goons)

You open the door and you find Lord Jackson smoldering at you. "Lord Jackson, what a surprise"

He takes your hand and kisses it. "Lady Winters, I've not seen you for quite some time and would like to know if you would like to join me for lunch?"

"Yes, of course. I'll see you at lunch then?"

"I'm looking forward to it"

You close the door and take a deep breath. You know that Lord Jackson has great feelings for you but you love James. You also know that this could be a way to get the princess off your back but you should get word to the King what you're planning, but how? You read a little and then get dressed for lunch.

You walk to the dining car and for once you're early. You find a place to sit and you stare out the window thinking of how this entire journey had so many ups and downs but at the same time, you could've found the love of your life. Just then the King walks in.

For the first time in almost forever, you've known the King, he walks in happy when he sees you. You can't help but smile back at him. He stands in the middle of the room and every bow.

"My dear friends, we hope that you've enjoyed your stay in Austria, I know, I did..."

He quickly glances at you. "Our next country on our list is Germany. We will be there in under a day's travel. Please make yourself comfortable and once again I ask, should you have any trouble, please feel free to come and ask for help"

Everyone cheers and give applause. He gives you once last glance and sits at his table. You notice that the princess is nowhere to be seen. Then Lord Jackson walks up to your table. "Good afternoon, Lady Winters"

"Lord Jackson, please have a seat"

He sits down and smiles at you. You feel a bit uncomfortable but you politely smile back at him. You know you can't toy with Lord Jackson's feelings but if you don't do something to get the princess of your back then she might do even something worse than just, create a misunderstanding between you and the King.

"So, how do you find the tour so far?"

You hear what he's saying but you find his company quite boring. You can't help playing the passionate scenes between you and the King over in your head and how much you would like to be in his company again. You find yourself looking in the King's direction. He's back is turned to you, so luckily he doesn't see you sitting with Lord Jackson. Suddenly you see the King's head falling in his hands.

"Oh...I...am...really....uhm..."

You can't seem to answer Lord Jackson because you're so focused on what the King's doing. You see him starting to sway. You stand up abruptly.

"I'm sorry, Lord Jackson. If you'll excuse me, I need to use the ladies room?"

"Of course-"

You don't give him enough time to finish his sentence before you quickly walk to the King. You stand next to his chair.

"Your Highness"

You hear him whisper to you through his hands. "Angel, please help me..."

Immediately you know what he wants. He doesn't want anyone to see him faint. You look around and see that this part of the train doesn't have a lot of people. You act fast.

"Of course, Sire. I'll gladly help you with the princess' bridal gift. I have the perfect gift if you don't mind following me?"

He barely gets his voice out loud enough for everyone to hear. "Thank you, lead the way"

You stand behind him making sure no one sees you helping him up an getting him through the doors. You close the doors and then put his arm around your neck. Your room isn't too far away and you put him in your bed.

"James?"

"I'm fine, angel..."

"Where's your pills?"

"In my jacket pocket"

You feel in his pockets and get a bottle of water for him to take. You off his shirt and sit next to him on the bed.

"James, what happened? I thought you promised to take your pills?"

"I'm so sorry, I was just about to but obviously, I was too late"

"James, please...look after yourself...I have to go otherwise people might get suspicious and Lord Jackson-"

He grabs your hand and lifts his eyebrow, smiling slightly.

"Lord Jackson??"

"Oh, yes, we're having lunch together"

He moves into an upright position and tries to compose himself. "You and Lord Jackson are having lunch together?"

You bend down and kiss his lips gently, reminding him that he's the only one for you. 

"I guess it's okay as long as you don't choose him above me..."

He pulls you in for another kiss smiling against your lips. You put your hand on his chest and you know what you're doing to him when you do that. You lightly play with your finger on his chiseled abs and up again to his chest. His breathing starts to speed up and you know you're driving him crazy. He groans and pulls you in close but you pull away.

"Ah..ah..ah.. now...Sire, we can't get you all riled up while you're in this weakened state. We don't want the King to have a heart attack, now do we?"

"Hey! I'm not weak and I'm sure, I won't have a heart attack but maybe I'll get something else..."

He pulls you in again and you smile at each other but then you wiggle again out of his arms. You walk to the door. 

"Sire, Lord Jackson would come looking for me. I've been gone too long"

"But I would come looking for you too if you'll leave me here..."

He gives you a cocky smile. You see him laying in your bed and you think back when you made love to him. You can't believe that you're about to walk away from this man of dreams, that's laying in your bed but you know that you can't be seen together, not yet.

"Goodbye, James..."

You use every bit of willpower that you have left to open the door and leave him behind. You close the door and straighten your clothes. You open the doors to the dining car and go back to your seat.

You have a lovely lunch with Lord Jackson and the King looks at you ever so often. After lunch, you retire back to your compartment and find your peace in reading a book. After a view hours, you suddenly feel the train stop. You look out the window and see that there's no station nearby. You put your book down and make your way to the living room car. Most of the people are already gathered there, including Lady Anabel.

"Do you know what's going on?'

"No?"

THE KING

The King is still laying in your bed when he begins to feel better and makes his way back to the dining car. He walks through the doors and he notices that the princess is nowhere to be seen. he quickly eats his dinner and decides to investigate. He walks up to her compartment door and knocks but there's no answer.

(This is very much unlike her. She would either be where the people are or in her chambers)

He turns around and walks back to his compartment. He has a few things to look over before they arrive in Germany. He makes himself busy with the papers for a few hours when the train suddenly stops. He looks out of the window and there's no station in sight. Someone knocks on his door.

"Yes?"

The Conductor opens his door, bowing. "Your Highness, forgive my interruption"

"No, please come in. What can I help you with?"

"As you can see the train unexpectedly stopped and we can't get it working again without some extra spares we have to get from Germany. We could be down until tomorrow. We can get you carriages to take you the rest of the way? It would take you about three hours to get to the closest cottages for accommodation??"

"Well, it seems we don't have much of a choice in this case. Then please see to it that we get these carriages. How long until they'll be here?"

"They'll be here within a half an hour, Sire....but Sire, that's not all..."

The King stands up from his desk exulting his power and authority and he walks closer to the conductor. He stops just in front of him putting his hand in his pocket, staring him down.

"I'm listening?"

The conductor swallows loudly and then answers the King.

"Sire, it looks like...like someone tampered with the engine to make it stop, Sire"

"Are you very sure about this fact, sir?"

"Yes, Sire, it's not possible for the train to stop unless you took out that specific spare. I'm certain of it"

"Who did you speak to about this?"

"No one, Sire. I came straight to you"

"Good. Don't tell anyone you think someone tampered with it. Do you understand?"

"Yes, of course, your Highness"

"Okay, now, please get us those carriages. Thank you"

"Yes, Sire, right away"

He closes the door and the King starts to pace in the room. 

(Who could've done something like this and the question is, why? Dammit, I better figure this out and soon)

He calls his kingsmen to get all the passengers into the living room car. The King makes his way to the car. When he arrives he calls Lord Walton to his side.

"You called, your Highness"

"Yes, we have a little situation on our hands. I trust you with this information and that it will stay confidential, agreed?"

"Of course, yes, Sire"

The King discusses the problem with Lord Walton and they try to run different scenarios between them. Everyone has gathered in the living room area and the King gets their attention.

"Please quiet down. We have a small technical problem with the train but it's being handled. We will require that you pack your belongings for only one night's stay. We will be transported..."

Suddenly everyone hears horses outside the train. They all look out the windows only to find a lot of carriages waiting outside.

"... as you can see, we will be transported with carriages. Please proceed calmly to the carriages. The train will meet us in Germany again and we will be staying tonight in a few cottages not too far away"

Everyone walks back to their compartments and start packing. The King searches your eyes and then walk back to his room.

LADY WINTER'S

"I wonder what's the problem with the train?" You turn to Anabel.

"Yes, as long as it's not too serious"

"Yes, I hope so"

"So, are we sharing a carriage?"

Just then Lord Jackson walks up to you. "Forgive me, Lady Winters for the interruption"

"You are welcome Lord Jackson"

Lady Anabel moves away from you two and gives you time to talk. "Will it be too forward of me to ask you to share a carriage with me?"

You look at lady Anabel and she gestures to you to ride with Lord Jackson. You really don't want to ride with him but it will be a good cover for you. "You may, Lord Jackson"

He gives you a big grin and then kisses your hand leaving you to gather your luggage. You go to your compartment to gather only the necessary belongings. You walk outside the train and see Lord Jackson, Holding a carriage for you. The King and the princess also exit the train and it looks like you have the last carriage. Lord Jackson and yourself quickly bow before them.

"How convenient is it not, James? They kept a carriage for us?" The princess comments.

"Princess, this is the last carriage, I think we should all share it?"

She looks at him highly disgusted as if he just slapped her in the face.

Lord Jackson opens the door "You're most welcome your Highnesses..."

You're about to get into a carriage with the King, Lord Jackson, and the princess. you know what is waiting for you. If you don't practice completely self control this can go very wrong. You try and avoid the princess's eyes and for that matter, the King's eyes too.

Lord Jackson holds out his hand for you to get into the carriage. You take his hand and sit down inside the carriage. The princess is already seated and then he and the King follows.

 The princess bends forward "So, Lady Winters, what do you say about this little dilemma we find ourselves in?"

"Your Highness, I'm hardly one to ask about something like this but I'm sure that transport in a carriage is just as acceptable as that of a train?"

The King tries to hide the pride he feels of how you put the princess in her place by not even trying. "I completely agree with you, Lady Winters. I also enjoy a good carriage ride" Lord Jackson smiles at you.

"Well, we aren't used to this kind of treatment. We should have been on the train now"

"Princess, perhaps we can enjoy the scenery better this way?" The King adds. She hooks her arm into his and lay her head on his shoulder. You can see he's highly uncomfortable but he dare not move or show he isn't enjoying it. You know all this, but deep down inside you, jealousy is bubbling over.

"You're right James, we can enjoy the scenery more"

He clenches his teeth by the sound of his name coming out of her mouth. If there where anything like smoke coming out of someone's ears, it will be the King's ears right now.

"What about you, Lord Jackson are you enjoying the tour so far?" The King tries to get away from his own misery.

"Oh, you Highness, I'm enjoying every moment of this tour. Especially the moments I spend with Lady Winters"

You blush not at the words of Lord Jackson but because of what you know the King is thinking right now. Lord Jackson kisses your hand and you softly smile at him. The King is close to his breaking point and you know he can't have high emotional stress. You're sitting across from the King and the passage between the two seats isn't very wide. This can cause accidental foot grazing. You see the princess is looking out of the window and you lightly let your foot touch his leg caressing him a little.

He quickly looks at you and you give a small smile. He sees what you're trying to do and give you a nod as if he understands what you want to say. He relaxes under your touch and takes a deep breath. The rest of the ride doesn't involve a lot of talking, except for Lord Jackson, while the princess falls asleep against his shoulder. Every fiber in your being hates that she gets to sit next to the King and take his handsome shoulder for herself. You look at him and his eyes are filled with love for you.

Lord Jackson seems very interested in the scenery outside and keeps on telling you all the interesting facts about the rocks and plants as you pass by everything. You try your best not to fall asleep at the very boring conversation you have to listen to. The Kind does his duty and very politely ask questions and nods at all the right places.

At some point, Lord Jackson is very interested in something you pass by. The King makes eye contact with you and mouths to you "I love you". You smile and mouths it back to him. You feel so happy that he thinks about you while the princess lays on his shoulder. After a view hours, you arrive at the accommodations.

You arrive just in time at the cottages as the rain starts to pour down. You run inside the cottage. It's almost midnight and you get ready for bed. You toss and turn but sleep is very far away. You want to see James again and make a decision to just go and see if he's awake. You put on your raincoat and get out your umbrella. You walk closer and see his lights are on and you knock. He opens the door.

You gasp as he stands before you shirtless and all you see is that perfect sculpted body. You don't know where to look and you blush.

"Lady Winters? Please come in before you get drenched"

"Thank you, Your Highness. I didn't know if you would be awake..."

"Please, angel, don't ever apologize for waking me up or not. I always want you to interrupt me and wake me up. I want you by my side forever. You belong to me, you're my missing puzzle"

He pulls you in for a kiss as he closes the door. 

"I must say, I love the welcoming I get. I should definitely come for a visit in these hours of the night again. I just wanted to come and see how you're doing?"

"I'm doing much better now that you're here...mmm"

He kisses you once more and this time you feel his heart against your chest, beating rapidly. You pull away just far enough from his lips to speak.

"What I mean to say is, how are you doing with the dizziness?!"

"Angel, I'm taking my pills, you don't have to worry about me..."

He kisses you once more and thoughts flood your mind. "I just came over to tell you somethings that's in my heart"

"I'm listening..."

"There are days that I have to pinch myself that you're with me and I'm scared that it's all a lie. Cause you're so perfect and you make me happy"

"Angel..."

"No, listen, cause when you love someone, you open up your heart and you make room. So if you love someone and you're not afraid to lose them. You probably never loved someone, as I do with you now"

He caresses you with the back of his hand against your cheek. "Angel, when you say you like the way I make you feel and everything becomes real for you. Then I say, don't be, because you're all I need. I would stop the world if it gave us time together"

You hug each other and you feel his pure love for you just radiating through his touch. "All my life I thought it will be hard to find the one until I found you. You gave me something to lose and I don't want to lose you ever. You're everything to me"

Suddenly you hear the door open. You see pure horror on James's face as he grabs for you and shouts.

"NO!!!! Angel!!!!"