His little moves and ticks set off the alarm that he wanted to make a break for it, but she was glad he stayed
"You keep eyeing that door like it's going to disappear on you" she said pulling her hand back from his arm,
"no worries, it won't do that" she smiled making herself a little more comfortable on the bed,
"If i need something I can ask a servant, but for now I believe its just sleep. Why don't you go get that wound of yours patched up, I'm apologize if I've caused you more trouble."
****************
After arriving back at the orchard Bowen saw to it his horse was fed, watered, and placed back in the stall without a saddle or bridle on. Even missing a leg he could manage to do most of the chores about the stable, even about the orchard, it just required a little more effort. Returning to the cottage he was met with the smell of spice soup, the aroma of flavors and vegetables wafting though the air from the fireplace where the pot sat. The table was set with only one empty, a pitcher of either milk or water, a few slices of bread, and a single cup and spoon, and Alicia was sitting quietly in front of the fire place reading an old and worn book.
"Smells great as always" he smiled and with the help of his crutch made his way over to the table and sat down at one of the ends.
"Its nothing special, just mom's old recipe" she answered simply closing the book and standing. She took the bowl from the table and filled it with the soup, even taking the time to pour some milk from the pitcher into her father's cup.
"Well that's why it's so great" he took the bowl with a nod of thanks and began eating, but stopped when he noticed Alicia turn tail and walk towards her room.
"And where do you think you're going?" he asked reaching out and taking a large gulp of milk.
"To bed, I already ate. I just wanted to make sure you got home safe." her tone was flat, empty. It was always the way she spoke when she wanted nothing to do with what would happen next.
"No, you're not. You're going to turn yourself around and come back here, we need to have a talk."
"A talk? Can't call a one sided scolding a talk!" she shouted wheeling about glaring at her father,
"and trust me I've heard it before, and if I haven't I know what your going to say anyway. You'll just be wasting your breath!"
"Hold on for just one second!" he stood from the chair that squealed against the wood floor as it slid back,
"You think you know everything Alicia! Get your head out of the clouds and come back down to earth for even a little bit! That boy, the Prince, you better pray he's a good man and won't rat you out otherwise you could be hung for treason, or attempted murder. A smart woman would've run! hell a smart woman would've married the man she's supposed to when she was supposed to, then maybe none of this would've happened! Michael is a good man!"
"Seriously? EVERYTHING has to be about that! Why must you always ALWAYS without fail bring Michael into every argument! I'm tired of being pushed around like a pawn in this little game of paying back the bankers, I am not going to marry him if its the last thing I'd do! I'd rather swing from the rafters of the castle as a corpse than call myself his bride! Let me run my own life for once! I wanted nothing to do with marrying him, and as it stands its not going to happen! Have you not seen what I've done already to pay back those greedy men? I'm holding up my end of the bargain and working my a** off to stop that marriage contract in its tracks."
"You're being stupid Alicia, you can have a better life with him! You'll end up working yourself into the ground before you can consider yourself free from that contract! Any more mistakes like this one and you can call our deal as good as done! I can't have my daughter tromping around the forest shooting Princes! Accident or not you better watch yourself otherwise I'll see to it you marry Michael and save this farm that you and I care so much about."
Alicia ~ "" ~ ''
Bowen - "" - ''
Sir Heinrich ~ "" ~ ''
Princess Sophia - "" - ""
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