The Reluctant Princess

Leah got in the carriage again, the ride was dull and boring.

Oberon rode to the carriage to check on Merliah. He got Carradine by the window, "How is everything?' he asked her as she looked bored out of her mind.

She looked out the other window, "Fine."

He sighed, "I know your currently not in the best of moods with leaving your birth home and family, but must you keep the sour tension while I'm TRYING to have a civil talk with you?" He questioned her.

"Maybe." She said simply.

"Come now, must you keep a childish grudge against me? You are going to make good for you people and your KIngdom by doing this. Peace. Is that not worth it?" he asked her.

She continued to look out the window, "Don't call me childish."

I'm not calling you childish, I'm say the grudge your holding against me is. You're father told me you are mature for your age, right now....I'm not seeing it." he said.

"That's cause I don't want to talk to you." She said.

"We're going to have to talk sooner or later. So why not now?"

"Because like I said before I don't want to talk to you."

He sighed aloud, trying not to get frustrated. "Very well. If you wish to speak with me I'll be at the front of the line." he trotted to the front.

Then Finnegan rode to the window, "Perhaps you want to talk to me, my lady?" he offered.

She smiled at him, "Of course I have no quarrel with you."

"OH I should introduce myself, I and Angus Finnegan." he gave her a bow of the head, "By all means my lady, my ears are open and I want you speak what is on your mind. It is not healthy keeping it bottled up."

]She sighed, "I don't mean to be rude, but I cannot stand him. He was so rude to me when we first me. He looked me over like I was some prize cattle."

"From what he has told me, my lady, he was not expecting you to be so young,. He is ten years older than you. So He believes you may see him as an old man rather than...." he grimaced not sure whether he should finish it.

She sighed, "I know, but it still doesn't give him the right to do so."

"I know my lady. But trust when I tell you, that he is just as nervous about this arrangement as you are." he said.

"He doesn't seem like it. He seems he could care less."

Finnegan chuckled a little, "His majesty does come off a bit gruff, but he doesn't feel comfortable being away from Norine too long. And when he becomes nervous, he's not a pleasant man to be around." he said it all with a smile.

"Well it still didn't give him the excuse to treat me like a piece of meat."

"I know my Lady. But if you find a topic you BOTH like, maybe you will see a better side of him." he smiled, "But just before, he was trying to be civil with you."

She nodded, "I know. I just didn't care to talk to him at the moment."

"ANything else you want to get off your mind?" he asked.

She shook her head, "No, nothing I can think of."

"VEry well my lady, but just remember. You CAN talk to him if you have a problem. King Oberon is a reliable man and ruler...it's just a little hard to see sometimes." he nodded to her and rode off.

"Yeah it's as if it isn't there." She said once Finnegan rode off.

They stopped to rest and water the horses and so that Merliah could stretch her legs.

Oberon was talking with Finnegan, "What were talking about with the Princess?" the advisor smiled, "I was trying to get her let got some of the bottled up thoughts on her mind, but she seems to still have a lot on her mind."

Oberon nodded, "That's rather obvious don't you think?" Finnegan laughed, "But she is mainly sad. ANd to be honest Sire, I cannot blame her." Oberon sighed.

Leah was with the horses until it was time to go again.

They travelled for another day and a half and they had Norine in their sights.

Oberon sighed in relief, "Ahh, home sweet home." a smile beamed on his lips.

Norine was pretty, but it wasn't home for Leah.

Oberon rode to the carriage, "Princess, I request for you to ride with me into the city." he had a smile on his lips.

She sighed, "Fine I'll get Star ready."

After she got Star set up, Merliah rode to the front with Oberon. "There it is, Norine." he sighed, "I'm so happy to be home." he looked to Merliah, "You'll like here. I promise you."

She sighed and didn't say anything.

He sighed when she looked at her, "Well, come along." he led the way to the Kingdom, with Merliah a few steps behind him. Finnegan on the opposite side of Oberon smiled, "Well, you are in an honourable spot, my lady."

"It doesn't mean anything. I'm only up here cause of my status." She sighed.

Finnegan sighed, "As wish my Lady." they arrived to the gates and the soldiers opened the doors and the group entered through and into the city.

There was a huge crowd there to welcome home their king.

He smiled as they rode through. They rode all the way to the palace, "ALright, take the carriage to be cleaned, and get they horses to the winters stalls." Finnegan ordered to the soldiers.

Leah waited by her stuff.

Oberon got off Carradine and went over to Merliah, "Do you need assistance?"

"No, I'm just waiting for one of the maids to show me to my room."

He sighed, "Finnegan, get some of the servants out here to take the Princess's belongings to one of the royal rooms." he bowed, "At once Sire."

The maids came and grabbed her stuff and Leah fallowed them.

"This is your room my lady." the maids showed her to the doors and opened them, to show a lovely room, with a large bed and her own bathroom and a terrace that leads a a garden.

It was nice but it still wasn't home, she sighed, "I don't know if I can get used to this."

"you will my lady." the maids encouraged, "If you need anything, just ring the bell near the door. But since of the weather my lady, we'll draw a bath for you."

She nodded, "Thank you."

Meanwhile,

Oberon was in a hot bath of his own. After riding in the cold for three days, made his feel frozen to the bone.

"Ahhh, nothing better than a steaming hot bath in the winter." he relaxed.