6 Chapter 5: A Path of Twist, Turns, and Surprises

As dinner comes to an end and the conversations start to die down it is nearing the time for everyone to retire to their rooms for the night. Overall Winston thinks the night went well. After the first set of conversations everyone went straight to eating, to Winston's and Lillian's fathers sharing stories about their youth and the adventures they had together. During all of this Winston doesn't completely ignore Lillian though; the two shared light conversation at different times and even shared an occasional laugh about their fathers.

By the end of the dinner Winston has to admit that Lillian seems like a fun, pure, sweet girl. He even thinks she appeared nervous at first and had relaxed as the night went on. He found it quite cute of her actually although he was careful not to show it.

As everyone begins to stand and exchange partings Winston approaches Lillian.

"That was a fine dinner don't you think?", he says to her.

"Yes it was. Everything was quite excellent.", she answers him with a bow. She looks at him for a moment with a hesitant look. "Would it be possible for us to meet again tomorrow? Just the two of us; I would like to spend more time with you before I go.", she finally asks nervously.

Winston does not respond right away instead he looks at her thinking what would his mother do should he accept, but he also thinks of the kind of person Lillian seems to be to him and what a good friend she could be. He becomes unsure.

"I shall think about it.", he says instead as friendly as he could with a smile. "Goodnight, fair maiden.", he continues.

"Good night, dear prince.", she says to him returning his smile half-heartedly. Lillian follows her family as they head for the exit looking back at Winston only once. As she goes Winston looks around to where his mother is standing behind him. After saying a farewell to Lady Lackburd she rests her eyes on Winston. He can't read her expression or tell what she is thinking, but he knows she had wanted this dinner to be focused on him and Lillian and that he had successfully prevented that with the help of his father and Jamonson.

The question is then what would she do now. Winston shows no regret in his eyes for what he had done nor any worry. He simply turns to his mother and father and bid them good night. Winston then turns to Jamonson who is also on his way out and bid him the same before seating off to his room. Leaving the situation as is.

The next day Winston awakes and prepares for the day with last night's dinner not far from his mind. For him it is a personal victory due to the fact that he didn't allow his mother to get what she wanted without him being considered. While he does feel proud though he is concerned about what would happen now.

So much so that he barely pays attention when his day's schedule is read to him. In the end he decides not to dwell on it and just face whatever his mother plans when it comes. After breakfast Winston makes his way to his sword lesson. As he greets his teacher who is already present his father comes up behind him from the entrance.

"Pardon my intrusion, but I need to speak with my son.", he says walking in.

"Yes your majesty.", Winston's teacher says bowing his head. Winston watches him as he walks off to the far side of the room. Then turns to his father.

"What is it father.", he says. Winston notices the troubled look on his father's face and knows something is wrong.

"As you could guess your mother wasn't all too happy about that little stunt we pulled last night and you can trust she voiced her opinion of it.", the king starts out wearily.

"How upset was she?", Winston asks.

"Very. So much so that she wished for me to get rid of Jamonson.", Winston's father answers.

"She can't do that can she?!", Winston asks shocked.

"No, of course not. However, she feels he is a bad influence on you and that he is trying to control the way you think.", the king goes on.

"What! If anyone is trying to control me it is she. Jamonson lets me be free. He is nowhere near a bad influence. How dare she accuse him of being one!", Winston goes off in a rage at his father's words.

"Calm down Winston.", his father says sternly. "Your mother believes what she is doing is best for you. No matter if she is wrong you cannot fault her for wanting what is best for you.", he goes on. Winston calms and falls silent with his face towards the ground in frustration.

This is a big move his mother played. He thought she would try harder to push him towards the Lackburd girl. He expected something like canceling his whole schedule and telling him to spend the day with Lillian until nightfall, but this. It would have been the last thing he expected.

Winston's father looks down to him. "Winston. You know that Jamonson keeping his job rest on you. You must talk to her and find a way to save Jamonson's job, but also keep fighting for your way.", Winston's father advises him. Winston looks up to his father.

"What about you? What did she say about you?", Winston asks his father. Curious about what she had to say about him. The king gives off a slight chuckle with a half-smile.

"I can handle your mother with that and not just because I'm king. You just focus on you and Jamonson.", he says calmly while putting his fist to Winston's chest. Winston smiles and nods with a determination that burns bright in his eyes. He turns to his sword master.

"Sir John! May I be excused from the rest of today's lesson?", he calls to him. Sir John meets Winston eye to eye for a moment.

"Of course my young pupil and remember to face your enemy head on.", Sir John answers. At his master's approval Winston confidentiality exits the room leaving his father and master to watch him go.

He quickly changes back into his clothes and sets out to find his mother. After asking one of the butlers, he sets out for the castle's library. There he finds her reading one of her favorite books by the window. He approaches her without hesitation.

"Mother, I need to speak to you.", he says stepping in front of her. She raises her head with her normally calm expression.

"I thought you were in a lesson right now.", she says to him.

"I asked my instructor if I could be excused for the day. I needed to speak to you immediately.", Winston informs her with steady eye contact and voice.

"Hmm... Perhaps later I'm reading now Winston.", she says returning her attention to her book. Winston takes a deep breath and releases it.

"This cannot and will not wait mother. I will speak to you now about this.", Winston insists firmly. His mother looks back up to him.

"Will you now?", she asks lowing the book.

"Yes. It is that important. Because it's about me and Jamonson's positions.", Winston's words gets her full attention.

"Oh. So your father told you did he.", she says closing her book. She leans forward. "Then what do you have to say for yourself. For ruining the dinner I planned for you.", she says.

"You didn't plan that dinner for me. You planned it so that you could find me a fiancée and what I did I do not and will not apologize for. You brought it upon yourself by trying to control my life. I do not wish to find a fiancée at this time; no matter the tradition and Jamonson has nothing to with how I think. How dare you accuse him of being a bad influence on me. If anything he is the one who keeps me sane while I deal with you and your attics. You will not get rid of him. You don't have that power.", Winston stands up to his mother in a barrage of words that doesn't let up until it is over. His mother seats looking at Winston for a moment before rising.

"Is that how you really feel? You do realize all I do. I do for you. As a prince you have an image to uphold.", she responds.

"And I will uphold it. I understand perfectly the weight I carry. You always made sure of that.", Winston responds. "That is why I'm prepared to make a deal with you. I will take the task of finding a fiancée more seriously if and only if you agree that you will no longer threaten Jamonson's job again and that I will have a say in any decisions you make for my future. Because you're not the one who is going to have to live it. I am.", Winston goes on and pointing to himself as he finishes. His mother stares at him taken aback by her son's strength.

"Very well. That seems reasonable, but what do mean by serious?", she agrees and asks slowly.

"I will spend the rest of today with Lillian and genuinely get to know her.", Winston explains.

"Fine. You have my word.", she says.

"And you mine."

.......

For the rest of that day Winston spends his time with Lillian as promised and at the end of it Winston finds he actually enjoyed himself and Lillian's company. They walked the yard and talked and ended up learning about each other more than either had anticipated.

That night at dinner was no different. The two of them laughed and talked as if they were the best of friends. However, Winston found that as great as Lillian was as a person she could not understand his point of view or ideas about royal life. Although he knew it was only a fifty-fifty chance that she would.

When it came up she couldn't understand Winston when he shared with her his disdain for having to always be pressured into things such as marriage or not being able to play and be carefree like a normal child. Nonetheless, Winston doesn't regret the time he gave her. Not to mention his mother was quite pleased as well at how the day went after their confrontation.

"So what do you think? Could she be your future queen?", she asks him after coming to his room after dinner. He looks at her with a neutral look. He still doesn't like discussing the topic of marriage. It's not like a wedding would be happening any time soon, but he supposes he owes her at least a thought.

"Actually I would highly consider her. She's a good person with a beautiful personality.", he tells his mother. As he prepares to put on his night clothes his mother turns to walk out with a smile that she just couldn't hide. "I would like to see her again sometime.", he calls out to her as she exits. The queen turns back to him with an ecstatic expression at her son's words. "Don't make it more than what it is so soon though.", he warns her.

"Oh. That's right.", she says straightening her face. "Very well. I will be sure to make it so.", she says instead. "Good night, Winston", she says after a moment.

"Good night. Mother.", he replies.

The next morning Winston wakes up; Lillian and her family depart back to their own home. Allowing Winston to enjoy a normal day. As he dresses he is read his schedule which is hectic due to everything being canceled yesterday. Even so Winston feels a sense of relief and ease. The fact that he will have a horseback riding session a little past noon didn't hurt either.

Winston goes about his day after breakfast setting to work to complete his list of classes. He first goes to sword practice, then to literature and writing where he is taught by the monks of the kingdom's head church. Usually he would have gone to his etiquette class with his mother, but due to a combination of a full schedule and his exceptional execution of etiquette during the Lackburd visit he is able to skip it for the day. By time he completes his math class it is noon and time for lunch. Once completed it would be time for his horseback riding lesson with Jamonson.

When that time arrives Jamonson approaches Winston in the garden where he always enjoys lunch.

"My young prince.", Jamonson greets Winston with a bow. "Are you about ready for our lesson this fine day?", he continues with the brightest smile. Winston looks to Jamonson swallowing the last morsel of his meal.

"I am now. You sure are in a good mood.", Winston observers. Jamonson approaches Winston and places his hand on the prince's shoulder.

"Why wouldn't I be? I know about yesterday. Your father told me everything and I am most proud of you. You finally took a step to control your own life on your own and most importantly you did it to your mother.", Jamonson goes on somberly praising Winston. Winston smiles.

"I had to protect you. I couldn't let you lose your job for helping me and not in the way you were accused of.", Winston admits.

"I know you wouldn't. Your heart is just to kind for that. Honestly, your father and I were more worried about how you would handle the results of that night.", Jamonson admits. Winston gives off a half smile.

"To be honest I was too, but I'm not that much of a brat now.", Winston admits shyly.

"Well how about we celebrate with a ride out near the forest. You can tell me all about your day with Lady Lillian yesterday.", Jamonson goes on teasingly at that last part. Winston laughs at Jamonson's words.

"Don't you start.", he replies.

When the two arrive at the stables Winston goes to greet Starracer as he has done before. When suited up Jamonson explains today's lesson as Benjamin leads the horses outside.

"Today we're going to work on your maneuverability on your horse. That way we can build you up to learn how to fight and hunt from horseback.", he says.

"Okay, but what's...maneuverability?", Winston asks as they head out the barn.

"Basically it is how well you can move. On a horse in this case.", Jamonson explains.

"I would say the trick is to focus on your upper body rather than your lower. Which you can trust to the horse.", Benjamin advises as Jamonson and Winston come to their respective horses.

"Will you be accompanying us too Benjamin?", Winston asks as he mounts his horse.

"No. Not today I'm afraid. I have things to do around here first.", Benjamin informs him regrettably.

"Hmph. What is it you're working on?", Winston asks curiously.

"I'll show you when you get back.", Benjamin decides.

"Fine.", Winston says not feeling up to the challenge to find out Benjamin's secret. "Shall we get going?", he says instead to Jamonson. Jamonson nods in agreement.

"Hand me that bag, Benjamin.", Jamonson instructs his nephew while gesturing to a brown bag beside Benjamin. In it is a set of arrows and two bows. Benjamin hands Jamonson the bag and waves him and Winston off as they head to the open fields.

They choose a nice secluded spot not too far from the stables.

"Now then, what I want you to do is set off on Starracer and while Starracer is running try to turn around. First to your left. Then to your right if and only if you feel you can. Then go back forward and grab the reins and stop your horse. Got it?", Jamonson says giving Winston his instructions. Winston listens carefully and tries to envision himself doing the procedure. He decides to only go left a few times than both directions.

"Okay. I think I got it.", he says. Winston starts the exercises as he planned. At first he has a mix of success and failure, but as he continues them and takes advice from Jamonson he begins to have more successes than failures.

"Alright! One more time!", Jamonson shouts as Winston completes a go turning left and right. Instead of returning to his starting point by Jamonson, Winston starts from where he is. As he prepares to turn around he and Starracer stumble upon a large group of wild birds in the grass. The birds erupt in a flying mass toward the sky. The sight frightens Starracer and sends her running. Because he was not holding the reins at the time Winston is unable to stop his equine friend. Instead, he is forced to just hang on so that he wouldn't fall. He lets out a shout of surprise and fear as his horse dashes off.

"Prince Winston!", Jamonson shouts terrified as he seats off to save the young royal.

Winston tries to calm Starracer as she continues at full speed. He squints his eyes as the wind whips him in the face. Looking forward he notices they are heading down a hill to the forest.

"No...!", Winston cries. As Winston tries to think of a way out of his situation the idea to jump comes to his mind.

<i>No, I can't. I can't abandon Starracer</i>, he thinks determinedly.

At that moment Winston hears the sound of something jumping from a tree and immediately after Starracer stops. Winston looks up, his body shaking with fright. In front of him he sees a boy holding onto Starracer's bridle. Winston looks at him.

He wears loose fitting clothes; his pants and vest are the same color brown and his shirt is a lighter brown. He looks to be the age of seven like Winston. Winston sits back up on his horse. His body is no longer shaking and his breathing was steadying. The two look at each other for a moment.

"Uh...thanks.", Winston speaks to him first. He is relieved that the boy helped, but Winston can't help but think what he is doing here and who he is. Usually no one would be around these parts, but here he is. Is he alone? Is he a traveler? How did he stop Starracer? Winston's curiosity swells inside him to the point it becomes unbearable. "Um...who are you?", Winston asks him.

"Vincent. My name is Vincent.", he answers. "Are you okay? What's your name?"

"I'm fine, thank you. I'm-"

"Prince Winston!" the call is that of Jamonson. Winston turns to see him riding towards him and the boy. As Jamonson nears, Winston hears the sound of ruffling behind him. He turns around to see Vincent backing up to leave.

"Wait don't go!", Winston calls to him.

"You're the prince. I'm pretty sure you can't be seen with someone like me.", Vincent says to him.

"Nonsense I want to thank you properly. Don't go, please.", Winston insists. Vincent looks at him for a moment. Winston silently pleads that he will stay. He can't explain it, but he feels a connection or a pull to this Vincent for some reason.

"Are you alright Prince Winston?", Jamonson asks frantically when he stops by Winston.

"I'm fine. Thanks to him.", Winston says turning to Vincent. Jamonson looks to the boy in front of them.

"Who is this?", Jamonson questions Winston.

"He is the one who stopped Starracer. He helped me.", Winston explains. "His name is Vincent."

"Vincent...? Thank you for saving Prince Winston. You did a very good thing today.", Jamonson speaks directly to Vincent.

"I do good deeds whenever I can and for whoever I can sir. But thank you just the same.", Vincent replies bowing his head. "If you would excuse me I must be off.", he continues.

"Wait! I feel like I should reward you somehow. Will you allow me that?", Winston stops him. Vincent turns around back to Winston.

"You don't have to do that.", he responds.

"I want to.", Winston says simply. Vincent looks uncertain for a moment. Winston senses his unwillingness. "Think about it. If you change your mind come back here tomorrow. If you don't then...", he relents.

"I understand. Thank you.", Vincent replies. The two part ways understandably, but Winston is left hoping that he will see Vincent again.