-Jade-

The next day Jade didn't eat her breakfast in her chamber. Now that William had returned, she felt safe to leave her chamber and eat in the dining hall again. Elizabeth escorted her and was almost bursting with impatience. There was something on her mind and she seemed very eager to share it with Jade. It just didn't come out.

"What is the matter, Elizabeth?" Jade finally asked as they descended the stairs that would take them to the great hall. Her curiosity had defeated her sense to let Elizabeth be.

"I really shouldn't talk to you... about what it is I mean." Elizabeth said and shook her head. "It is none of my concern and it might have just been gossip. It's most likely just gossip..." She mumbled to herself.

"Elizabeth..." Jade sighed, the right corner of her mouth elevating somewhat. Her governess shot her a look that admitted defeat.

"The girls in the staff... they whisper and gossip something terribly." She began and her eyebrows furrowed.

Yes, perhaps... but you believe it this time... Jade thought while she studied her company. Otherwise, she wouldn't have brought it up in the first place.

"You could just tell me? I am almost certain that it has something to do with me..." She said and pouted her lips. "Since it is gossip, it must be about me."

Elizabeth threw a glance at Jade while they walked and seemed to consider it. As they kept descending the stairs she seemed to grow more and more bold and willing to tell her about it.

Poor woman, just ask.

Elizabeth kept her questions or whatever was on her mind to herself,  until they had nearly reached the dining hall. They were walking through the last corridor when she finally spoke.

"One of the girls told me that the prince came to your chamber yesterday, while she was there..." Elizabeth finally spilled what she had been keeping inside of her. Jade suppressed a mischievous smile when the memory flashed before her eyes. "... and she also told me that he didn't leave... for quite some time."

My lord, you really can't do anything without it spreading like wildfire in this damned castle. Jade thought and mentally rolled her eyes. A real one would have alerted Elizabeth.

"That is... true." Jade admitted in a low voice, in case any of the keepers of the castle-gossip was around.

Elizabeth gasped quietly and stopped in her steps to Jade's surprise. They were now just a couple of meters from the door that led into the dining hall.

"Good heavens, child! Don't you know what could happen? Please tell me that you know what could happen?" Jade frowned, puzzled by Elizabeth's question. Elizabeth leaned in to her but kept a watchful eye out for anyone that could hear her before she continued. "Don't you know that you can become with child?" The last words were but a mere whisper.

With child? Jade thought and felt her whole face express confusion. Then it came crashing down on her. Oh my- She thought we-

Jade placed a hand over her mouth to keep herself from bursting into laughter, right in the poor woman's face. Elizabeth saw the amusement in Jade's eyes and seemed both upset and relaxed when she realized that her concern was for nothing.

"My Gods, Elizabeth!" Jade laughed quietly and squeezed the woman's hands tightly in hers. "Did you really think that we did... that?"

"What? Made little baby bastards? Yes! Yes, I did, you stupid girl!" Elizabeth exclaimed quietly with narrowed eyes. She didn't seem so amused that Jade was laughing at her. But most of all she seemed very relieved. Her eyes glistened with a little hint of amusement as well. "I also heard about what happened in the library so don't tell me that the two of you are simply holding hands!" she continued. Her words caused Jade to laugh almost hysterically. "So don't act like nothing happens as soon as the two of you are alone!" Elizabeth snapped while shaking her head.

Jade fanned her face with one hand as Elizabeth made her laugh even more. Her governess pursed her lips and gave her Jade a light push so she would get out of Elizabeth's face and into the dining hall.

To Jade's surprise, no guard stood outside the door.  When she opened it, William stood on the other side of it. They seemed equally surprised and said nothing. He then took a step to the left to let her in. A warm but yet perplexed expression lingering in his eyes.

-William-

He was early. No one else had arrived yet, not even Jade. Which was a bit odd since Elizabeth almost always made sure that Jade was on perfect time, and he had hoped to get the chance to spend a little time alone with her. Even if it was only for a couple of minutes.

He walked over to the large windows and studied the frost covered trees outside. His thought stayed on the beautiful view for about ten seconds before they wandered off to the memory of him on top Jade in her bed yesterday.

He had to focus very hard on not getting... well, hard.

The sound of laughter woke him from his thoughts. Soundung genuine and heartwarming, he knew its owner without a doubt.

Jade. He thought and turned towards the door she usually entered through. His eyes waited impatiently for her to enter his line of sight.

It was the same laugh he had heard that night in the inn so many months ago. A kind of soul crushing ached washed over him when he realized that this was the first time since then he had actually heard it. Jade hadn't laughed like that in ages. Not around him at least.

Who made her laugh like that? He wondered jealously and walked towards the door.

He would kill to be able to make Jade laugh like that. The sound of her laughter reached him again as he put his hand on the door handle just as he was about to open the door. He stopped, closed his eyes and listened to it. To him it was the sweetest music and he just wished that he could be the reason for its outburst someday.

-Jade-

William closed the door behind her. As soon as he turned to her, a warm smile crept up on his lips.

"Good morning." Jade said in a low voice. "Going somewhere?"

"No." He answered and his voice expressed a relaxed tone that she hadn't heard before. She wondered what caused it.

He watched her with a sincere look of affection in his eyes. It made her blush.

"What were you laughing about?" he asked curiously.

"You heard that?" Jade asked and smiled shyly.

I hope he didn't hear what we talked about...

"Yes..." William answered her and they walked over to their seats together. William pulled her chair out for her and she gave him a surprised look. "What?"

"What are you doing?" she asked quietly, giggling as well. William gave her a confused look but he was still smiling. "This isn't like you..." she continued.

"Just sit down." He said. Jade looked at him with a provoking look on her face but did as he told her. He then took his place to her left. "What made you laugh like that?"

Jade looked at him and the dark eyes were locking with hers. He truly wanted to know for some reason. Jade smiled and shrugged her shoulders.

"Why do you ask?" Jade hoped that she would get out of answering his question by asking another. That is what he does when he doesn't want to answer one of mine...

William was just about to speak when his parents entered and took their places. This is the first time I am thankful for their presence... Jade thought.

The queen refused to look at them but it did not bother Jade. In fact, it made her feel more at ease. The king didn't say a word either, which struck Jade as strange and a bit unsettling. He did however smile faintly at her whenever their eyes met.

He is usually so cheerful... I wonder what is on his mind, or what have caused this gloomy mood of his.

"What are you going to do today?" William asked her quietly. Jade suspected that he did it to be sure that his parents would not be able to hear him.

"I don't know... read, I guess." Jade answered and couldn't hide the boredom in her voice. She had always loved to read, ever since she learned it as a child. Her parents did not have the coin to buy any, since they were too expensive. And here, they existed in abundance. Here she could sooth her desire to read. However, the amount of books she had read during William's absence caused her desire to slowly fade.

"Is that tediousness I hear, Jade?" William's tone made her hold her breath for a moment before she answered. It was playful but in an attractive and seducing kind of way.

"Perhaps..."

"Don't you have lessons?" He asked curiously.

"No." Jade answered while tearing a piece of bread into two smaller pieces. "Mrs. Coen taught me almost everything I need to know... for now I think. And as long as I read every day she lets me be." She continued and threw a glance at him in secret while he ate to see his reaction. There was nothing.

"So... you are not doing anything special later?" he asked without looking at her. It seemed almost like he tried to make it look like they were not speaking to each other. Why does he act like I am not even sitting here? She thought puzzled. It was bewildering that he was questioning her about her day but acted like he did not listen - visibly.

"I guess that is one way to see it." Jade ate one of the pieces of bread. It was still warm from the oven and was deliciously soft and perfectly moist. The taste made her let out a silent sigh of delight. "Why do you ask?"

"I might have something in mind..." His voice had almost returned to the cold version she had had to endure in the beginning.

"Don't you have things to do?" She asked.

"Things like what?" William was testing her patience right now. Either he could look at her while he spoke to her, or he could answer her a little kinder.

"Things like duties?" She responded and made sure her voice was easy to interpret. She was getting annoyed. Very annoyed. In the corner of her eye she noticed how he most certainly picked up the change in her voice. "Why do you ask?" she repeated herself for what felt like the hundredth time.

William let his tongue wet his lips quickly but before he could answer her, the king spoke to him - of course not knowing that they were even speaking to each other.

. . .

Jade left the dining hall after she had finished and an acceptable time had passed. The king kept William busy so he was not given the chance to speak to her again. Instead he had discussed the recent battle with his father. Jade stopped listening after just a couple of minutes since it didn't catch her interest at all.

Like every other day, at least since William had left and before he returned, Jade met Loren by the stairs for their usual morning walk. It was very cold this morning and she could immediately feel how this walk would be a shorter one... if not, she would at least hurry back in to the warmth of the fireplace in the library.

Loren looked like he was a bit more relaxed than usual, or his body wasn't as strict and stiff like it used to be. Was it because William was back? Or was there another reason?

"You look... well and rested." Jade said sarcastically and studied the part of his face that was visible when he was wearing his helmet; the eyes and the lower part of his mouth. It was impossible to read Loren's face when he was wearing that stupid helmet. Jade had still only seen him without one time; in the training grounds.

"I am, thank you." Loren answered, hearing the tone to her voice but didn't act on it. He knew that she was mocking him. For fun of course. Jade pulled her hood up and loved its warm protection from the cold biting wind. She could already feel the tip of her nose loosing warmth and becoming numb.

"You must be pleased." Jade said as they started to descend the stairs leading to the gardens. Loren cocked his head to the side in confusion. At times Jade didn't need to see his face in order to be able to tell what he was thinking. The rest of his body did the work for her. And now it told her that he wasn't quite following her.

"Pleased?" He repeated.

"Yes. Now that the prince is back, you don't have to babysit me all day. You will have loads of free time to... I don't know... Eat and sleep? That is why you are more rested today isn't it?" she asked and chuckled, amused by his confusion. "You got a full night's sleep, and it shows."

"First of all; I am not your babysitter." He said sternly and Jade almost thought she could her annoyance in his voice. It would have been the first time he let his temper slip with her.

Would have been nice to know if he is actually human... She thought to herself.

Loren would, and nonetheless could, spend a whole day with her without leaving her side to eat, sleep or take care of other needs. What made her even more impressed was the fact that he never complained - but it did make him seem like he was insensitive to these things. So seeing him react like this was in some strange way comforting. He was nothing more than human.

"And secondly?" Jade asked provocatively while they walked into the frost covered grass. Their steps made crunching noises as they put their feet down in the icy stiff grass.

"Loren."

They both stopped in their steps and turned around at the sound of her guard's name being called out. William was walking towards them in a calm manner. Jade's eyes narrowed as she tried to figure out what he was doing in the gardens, now. Loren, however, acted like it was nothing weird about William's sudden presence at all. It was almost as if he always assumed that the royal family could appear out of thin air - and he acted accordingly. Strict, stiff and polite.

William was wearing a coat almost exactly similar to Jade's. It was black and thick. The hood however didn't have snow-white fur sewn to its edges like hers did. William's hood had dark grey fur on his hood's edges. It was obvious that it came from a wolf. Which suited him and his person better she thought.

It suits him and that wolfish grin of his... She thought and resisted the urge to bite her lip. The coat truly looked excellent on William. It complemented his broad shoulders and impressive chest.

Jade shook her impure thoughts out of her mind when she felt how her core awoke. How was he able to do this to her by just standing there? He hadn't even spoken to her yet!

"Your grace." Loren said and bowed for his prince.

"Bootlicker..." Jade said under her breath.

It was ridiculous that Loren acted like this as soon as William appeared. They obviously knew each other very well so bowing was extremely stupid in Jade's opinion.

Royals and their traditions and etiquette... She thought and sucked her teeth in her mind.

"You can go inside. I will take your place from here." William said and nodded at the castle. Urging Loren to leave. The guard did not even question him. Instead he left and walked with hastened steps back to the castle.

He's probably freezing in that armor... All metal and no warmth. Jade thought to herself.

William walked up to her and offered her his left arm. Jade took it without a word and they started walking. It felt odd that he was with her during this routine of hers. It had been a way for her to pass time and clear her mind during his absence. It had been and still was her haven of safety, and now he was here and joined her.

"You were quick to leave earlier." He said in a low voice and pulled her a bit closer by withdrawing his arm closer to him. The feeling of their arms touching soothed her while also sending sparks through her body.

"Well... It wasn't like you seemed so interested in me." Jade said even though she knew it was partially untrue.

"Why would you think that?" She could feel how he searched for her gaze with his, but she kept it straight ahead. Denying him her attention. "I talked and listened to you almost the whole time."

"You didn't look at me once while we were talking." She remarked and made sure the edges of her hood was shielding her from his scrutinizing eyes.

"My apologies."

Jade slightly turned her head and saw that he had lowered his eyes to the ground momentarily.

"I didn't do it to upset you; I just didn't want my father to meddle." He added.

"Why not?" Jade asked and let him know that she accepted his apology by meeting his gaze. William pressed his lips together, hesitating to tell her the reason.

"He has become more... candid about his... opinions concerning us." William seemed to have a very hard time constructing the sentence. It was pretty clear to Jade that William wished that his father would just keep his thoughts to himself.

"In what way?" Jade pushed him.

"Let's just say that he is getting impatient about things that don't concern him." William stated and that was the end of their conversation regarding his father. Jade accepted it since he had promised to tell her what she wanted, at some point. He just seemed to need a bit more time...

They walked for a while and threw insecure looks at each other, causing them to turn their gazes away with timid smiles on their lips. Jade had forgotten all about the cold air and was actually quite content at the moment. Just the two of them with no one else around.

"Why did you ask me what I was going to do today?" Jade asked after a while. "You have never cared about that earlier." She continued.

"Why are you so set on your assumption that I don't care and don't want to pay attention to you?" He asked instead of answering her. "You have no idea." He sounded a bit insulted actually.

"What would you have me believe when you barely speak to me, at least before you left you did not say very much to me. You never spent any time with me and you didn't listen to me. It wasn't until shortly before you left you actually did one of those things." Jade inhaled deeply.

This conversation was making her very uncomfortable. She did not like to argue, but she would if it was necessary. She had anticipated a short and clear answer, not this.

William stopped and turned to her with a not so happy expression on his face. Jade pulled her arm to herself and let both of her arms hang to her sides. His lips tried to form the words but it was hard for him and Jade waited patiently. Is it really that hard just to tell me how he feels?

"I always cared about what you were doing, even if I wasn't present at the time or even if I acted like I didn't." He sighed but did not meet her gaze. His was fixed on something behind her, like a child not wanting to confess something. "Why do you think I made sure that you had Loren watching over you?" His question confused her.

"To protect me from your mother." Jade answered.

"Not just." He continued. "I ordered Loren to watch over you because the lunatic that tried to kill you - but also because I needed to know that whatever you were doing you had someone by your side, when I couldn't be there." He said and his voice became even lower. "I care Jade." He said and pressed his lips together for a moment. "I have always cared about you."

"That wasn't clear to me." Jade answered and she felt bad about it. If she had known about his intention, then maybe she wouldn't have been so reluctant. "I did not know since you never told me..." she added apologetically.

"I am sorry..." William said quietly. "It was hard for me to talk to you at first... You didn't want to talk to me and I thought it was better to give you space."

"It would probably have been better if you had told me what you wanted and why." Jade said. "I still want that you know." William raised his eyebrows in surprise and his lips parted slightly.

"What do you still want?" he asked. It sounded like he was scared to hear the answer to his own question.

This is my chance! Jade thought. Ask him why he chose you and... how he feels. She swallowed nervously and looked to her left before her eyes met his again.

"I want to know why you chose me." She said quietly and crossed her arms slowly. "You still haven't told me why I am here - except about the fact that we are getting married... Which I still haven't agreed on."

William studied her in silence as she spoke. For every word that came out of her mouth, his face seemed to lose a bit of color and his eyes widened.

"I would also like to know how you could not come to me first? Why did you go behind my back and asked my father for my hand? Why didn't you ask me?" The last of her many questions was the hardest for her, it made her throat close up and she felt how it affected her voice. She did, however, manage to keep her vision clear and it didn't become blurry with tears.

William inhaled and seemed to process her questions one by one.

"Do I have-"

"I want to know all of it. Now." She demanded and referred to the promise he had made her the day before. "If you don't I will not marry you." She answered. A low price for her hand, in her opinion, but what would he think about it?

----------------------------------------------------

WELL! It seems like someone is getting a bit more confident and demanding!

I hope you liked this chapter!

What do you think will happen next??

Love Jenny