Ch. 6 I'm Never Going to Get This Right

After classes on Tuesday, I went to Anjanique's room to try and find her. I wanted to take her on a walk with me. A real walk this time not saying it was a walk and it was really something else. When I got to her room her maid, Colleen, said that she had left about half an hour ago and had gone to the courtyard.

I tried my hardest not to run as fast as I could out to the courtyard to find her. I had to keep my cool; I really didn't need to totally blow me secret yet. It wasn't so much that I wanted to go for a walk with her as that I wanted to make sure she was okay. During our lessons this morning she had been really quiet, even to the library. She honestly didn't look like she had slept the night before.

When I finally found her she was in a secluded part of the courtyard with a peregrine falcon on her fist. She was sitting cross legged on a bench gently stroking the bird. I came up behind her and gently placed my hand on her shoulder to let her know I was there and so she didn't spook the bird. "Is that Kenai?" I asked her right before I sat next to her.

"Yeah. Dad let him out of quarantine a couple of days ago and I thought he might like to get out of the box." She smiled lightly and continued to stroke the small bird. Anjanique always seemed really at ease with herself and the world when she was with a bird. "Did you want something?" She asked me as she kept stroking Kenai.

"Um… yeah. You were really quiet this morning. Are you alright? Was your ankle bothering you or something?"

She rolled her eyes at me and I knew she really didn't want to talk about it, but I knew she would. That's one thing about sort of growing up with her. I could speak her body language. "I was a little tired this morning. My ankle bugged me a bit last night while I was trying to sleep, but it's nothing I couldn't handle."

I touched her shoulder, and looked at her. "Why didn't you say something to someone? They would have fetched the physician for you. There's no doubt that he could have given you something to help you sleep." She pulled away from me, and then shifted Kenai to her shoulder.

"Because, I didn't want it, Greg! There's no point in it." She grabbed her crutches from the side of her and stood. "I have to take Kenai back. See you later." She stood up and then hobbled off.

As she hobbled off towards the falcon yard, I smacked myself in the face. I did it again. I'm such an idiot. I stood up and walked back to the castle, but I didn't go to my room. I went to Louis's.

I'm going to regret this, I thought as I knocked on his door.

"What do you want little brother?" Louis asked, through a just barely open door.

"Louis, I've got to talk to you. It's about Anjanique." He rolled his eyes and opened the door the rest of the way.

"So what's the problem baby brother?"

"I keep screwing things up with her. She's barely even talking to me anymore. I try to do something nice for her and it all just blows up in my face. How did you manage with Lena? I mean you're about to propose right?"

"I didn't try to make it happen, Gregory. It just did. That and Lena's royal it was a little easier to make it work. Anjanique's different. You might have to wait for her to do something. I can't really help you this time. Sorry, little brother."

I sighed and walked back to the door. "Thanks anyway Louis."

"Just a second little brother." I knew I was going to regret this.

"Yeah, Louis?"

"Do you care if I propose to Lena at your birthday ball?"

I rolled my eyes internally. "No. Go ahead."

"Thanks, Gregory." I nodded and left the room. Oh great. Never going to live this down.

I walked backed back to my rooms and fell onto my bed. This is so not fair. It always seemed like she was storming off on me, not like there was much I could do about it. She was a girl and I was a guy, and well we don't get each other.

I laid there contemplating things until it was time to go get Anjanique for supper. I rolled off of my bed and changed clothes. I never did understand why I had to change before we ate. It was a waste of time.

I walked to her room and knocked on the door. She came out of her room and didn't say anything, but her eyes were slightly puffy and it looked like she had been crying. She started hobbling to the Great Hall. "Anne, are…" I started to say, but she cut me off.

"I don't want to talk about it, so don't try." She gave me that look that made me know she was serious, and I kept my mouth shut, and followed her to the Great Hall.

Supper was uneventful. Anjanique ignored me. Mother asked what was wrong. Anjanique said 'nothing.' My brothers messed with me and left Anjanique alone.

When we got up to leave Mother stopped us. "Edmund, will you take Anjanique back to her rooms? Your father and I need to talk to Gregory." He nodded and helped her out of the Hall.

I bit my lip, and looked at my parents. "Gregory, sit down please. This is important." Father said gesturing to a seat close to them. I sat down and looked at them.

"Gregory, this is about the kingdom." Father said this with a serious look on his face. "Your brother Edmund informed us today that he plans to join the clergy, and that's why he hasn't courted anyone. And I'm sure you know of Louis's plans to propose to Princess Lena. I'm also sure that you know she is in line for her own kingdom's throne and that Louis has denounced his right to the throne after Edmund…"

I interrupted Father. "Wait! Are you saying that the kingdom is mine?!"

"Yes, that's what I was about to say. Now in order…"

"I don't want it! I wasn't planning on this, I don't want the throne!"

"Gregory, be reasonable." Mother started talking now. "Your brothers have made their choices. We would much rather keep the throne in the family and not turn it over to a family that the people don't know or trust. This is really for the people. They all love you."

"But Mother!" I was practically whining now-which I never do-and was standing up.

"Gregory! Listen!" Father was pulling his kingness on me now so I kept my mouth shut. "This is for the good of the kingdom. And you are best option. You are the one I trust with the kingdom. Now you will have to find a wife. Do you understand?"

I nodded, but said nothing. "You may go now." Father said.

As I started walking away, Mother started talking again. "Gregory," I paused. "Remember, it is still your choice. Make the one for you." I nodded and left the Hall.

What the hell am I going to do?