Tell her to try to go with me

You look down at her and reply with a smile, "You have no idea how much I want you to come with me.... If I could make it so I would... but I need to help my sister by getting Margaret out of here and it would be too much for me to ask for both of you to come with me."

She quickly holds you tight, and looking up at you with a smile she says, "But what if I convince my father to let me go with you....?"

Looking at her with a mixture of excitement and skepticism you reply, "Yeah right... just how are you going to do that?"

"Oh, I have my ways..." she says with a smile, winking at you before scurrying out the room leaving you confused.

"I'll believe it when it happens..." You think to yourself as you head to your room.

With that, you leave the tower and head downstairs to your quarters for the night. The king's visiting chambers are just as you remember then. There are two rooms, one sparsely furnished for the king's maid where Rachael will be sleeping tonight, and one that is equally as furnished as the Lord 's Chambers. Captain Turtus must have been told of your departure tomorrow because by the time you arrived in the room he had already laid out a complete supply of traveling gear and an assortment of armor and weapons. Not to mention the Clean bed linens feel amazing after your days on the road.

It's has been a long few days so you quickly pick out a bow, about 20 arrows, a knife, and a set of leather armor that is sturdy yet wont draw attention to you like the shiny mail and plate armors. You look on the desk to find a knapsack with enough food for a weeks travel. You know you must reward Lord Richard for his support when this is all over, he is taking a great risk helping you. You put away your items before laying on the comfortable bed, quickly fading away.

When you wake up you find a note on your bed stand with Lord Richard's seal. You groggily roll over and grab the note, cutting away the sea with your dagger. Holding a candle up to it you read...

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John,

It appears my adopted daughter Elizabeth has taken a liking to you, and would like to become more acquainted with you. While I feel concern for her on the road I feel it would be best for her to leave the kingdom until things stabilize. However, I believe her attempts to... court you... will distract her from her duties as a faithful guide... therefore I will send Margaret with you to assist with your journey. Elizabeth does not want you to know her intentions, so regrettably I will lie to you when we see you off... just know that I it is for the best.

Forever may you rule

Lord Richard

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You jump back a bit as you feel a presence in the bed. You hold the candle up and look up to see Rachael has crawled between your legs, her eyes on the large tent between your legs...

"Well it appears my prince just got a little excited from that letter...." she giggles "But um..." Pointing at your tent she says, "You uh might want to get rid of that before you meet lord Richard... you know before you begin a long journey with his eldest daughter... all alone..."

You smile, her teasing amusing you as you quickly throw the letter to her and say "Actually it looks like both his daughters will be joining us... and if you read the letter it seems Elizabeth wants to..." "Get to know me...." you add with a smile.

"Oh...." Rachael says with a hint of jealousy as you notice a flash of depression run across her face. You realize that to the fact that she actually might like you and having a royal suitor with you will place you far outside of her reach. She clears her throat and wipes her eyes as she tries to pull herself together, but you can hear her voice squeak a few times as she continues, "I assume Richard would be happy if you return with his two daughters ...very much expecting...." Looking away she sheds a tear as she continues, "You royals certainly have to be careful who you end up with..."

Barely able to contain herself anymore, Rachael says, "I should go... you have a long journey ahead of you my lord...." You see her step out the bed and walk slowly to her room, the faint sound of her sobbing echoing in the room.