21 Dangerous Affairs.

The journey was strenuous and the weather didn't seem to care. Sebastian was all soaked with sweat from his head to his toes.

They had gone into the forest and fields searching for any sign of the prince and Natalie.

The king had given clear instructions for them not to hurt the prince on any circumstance not that he dared to try it.

Why had this son of a gun taken his Natalie to? Had they gotten out of the kingdom.

That thought scared him. Surely, they had not left the kingdom on their own.

They further searched the forest.

He had already given up finding the duo today and was thinking of what to say to the king.whey he noticied some footsteps. He instructed them to stop there and he followed the footsteps to a path where he saw a little shade, like a temporary shelter.

He went in and searched inside, he saw nothing only footsteps leading into the shade.

The hell? He cussed under his breaths, this people had escaped. But how? How did Williams pull this off, alone.

Some things were not adding up, if they had left the kingdom, someone would have helped them and that seems to be the only reason why they hadn't bern found.

He will have to go back and inform the king so they have to come up with another plan and prepare also for it.

If his instinct we're right this time around then they have a lot of things to be worried about.

..... .... .... ... ... ..... ..... .... .....

They came near a lake as the man who she had come to know as Gerald signaled them to rest here.

They had been walking for almost two hours even if she felt like fainting she didn't show it.

Williams had asked her many times if she wanted to rest but she objected. She will never show them she was weak. There was a small boat there which was obviously for them.

Few hours ago, she had been scared that the prince was going to kill her not knowing he had been making several plans to get her out of the kingdom.

He had woken up early that morning to go receive Gerald which he had sent for through lily. He had told lily of his plan to escape days before. So lily sent Gerald who she was courting to help them.

Hearing all this revelations marveled her and she apologized to Gerald who did understood her after hearing her reasons.

I think we should set to go now, Gerald told them after few minutes. They all stood up and boarded the boat.

This was her first time in a boat and she felt zesty. But the tired yet reasurring faces of the two men who sat beside her set her still.

Crossing this lake will lead us out of mulerius, the next place you see is " Gilda" that is where I come from and where you would temporally stay.

Williams face turned to hers which seemed to say, Are you ready for this?.

She nodded. He smiled and held her hands tightly against his.

Soon they were in Gilda, Gerald's home place and attitude changed in a sudden. Even if he was tired from the long journey he still bounced walking home and gretting passerby. He looked... Free.

Natalie opened her mouth and stretched, she hadn't said a word in hours and her mouth felt heavy.

She nudged at williams, did you see how Gerald 's face lit up as soon as we reached here? She asked.

Oh, yes I did. This is his home, who wouldn't be happy to be at his abode. He replied noticing the lessening tension around them. He was very tired and worried about his problems but Gerald 's attitude had created this jovial atmosphere and for a minute he had forgotten about his trobbles.

There is this srnse of fulfillment coming to

the place you call home, it is exciting and beautiful. She told him.

Yes, you are right, you are happier when you are in your home. He told her

I miss my home, Williams, when I was abducted, I was dishearte, I felt lost.

Do you understand what I mean? She asked him.

Umm, I don't know, I haven't felt the pain of forcefully leaving someone or somewhere but I felt the pain of someone leaving me, he told her with sincere contempt.

I didn't know I would survive a day in milerus, everyday I wished to be out of there, I wished to be back at my home.

He thought of his home in the palace in milerus.

Does he feel the same way about leaving there?

The past few days, he had felt trapped in there.

Definitely not a nice feeling of being in ones home.

I do not miss the palace, he told him without emotions.

i am sorry.

Sorry? Do not be, I don't think I am either.

You know, so many things had happened this past few days, so many triggered memories, misplaced feelings.

That place has felt more and more less of a home to me.

I am glad I left there.

Williams, I want you to know how much you have done for me and how much I appreciate this. I will pay you back everything it cost.

He flushed.

Do not thank me, it is not only my deeds, it was the joint efforts of others and by the way my father had cost you a lot. This was a way of making it up to you.

That is not your responsibility, she said.

I know.

They were too engrossed in the conversation and didn't notice Gerald had stopped walking and going into a small house.

Hey, he called after them, where are you going? He asked them laughing behind them.

..... .... ..... ..... .... ... ... ..... ..... .....

Diana, he said seeing the lone woman standing near him. She looked like his late wife, Diana.

She stayed mute and looked at him, her eyes cold and heavy with sadness.

He went to her and held her, I am sorry Diana, I am sorry, he said repeatedly.

He kept cooing her and when she tried to talk, blood started gushing out of her mouth. He looked at her in horror. Her eyes were bloody and she fainted in his arms.Then he saw his son williams coming to him. You killed her, he said to him. You killed my mother, why father . He kept screaming and shaking her until he woke up.

He realized he had been dreaming.

Damn, he cussed waking up, he was sweating all over his body and he felt like he was caged.

He had slept while he was waiting for the search party he had sent to bring the prince and Natalie.

He went to his chamber.

Your majesty, a royal servant beckoned him. Sebastian and the other royal gaurds has arrived.

Really, he said, usher them in immediately, He told the servant.

Few minutes later, Sebastian walked in with a solemn face, he had rehearsed his speech a hundred times in his head.

The king was not in loggerheads with him but that could change any minute. He could transfer his agression to him without thinking twice. He had learned to be careful with this man considering his last earlier relations with him... It was not close to anything nice. His memories with the king we're terrific.

Your majesty, he said bowing down. I have both bad news and good news.

Where is my son?

Your majesty, I must say, that is the bad news I bring to you this noon. I couldn't find them.

What! So what is the good news you talk about when you haven't found them. The king said aloud.

I found tracks of them, your majesty and...

Bullshit, what is this nonsense you talk of, how is that good news? I specifically told you to find them.

But my king, we can use the tracks to fund them.

So why didn't you? The king said, his eyes red with anger.

Sadly, I suspect that they may have left the kingdom.

That is ridiculous, williams can't do that... Then he realized that he was not alone, natalie was with him. She could have beckoned him to do that.

But my king, Sebastian said trying to make the king calm down.

You are not doing enough, oh heavens, o should have sent my best of warriors to do this. I didn't know it was that serious, williams could have not done that willingly, that witch....

Natalie, Sebastian reminded him, he had no right to curse at her.

She is a witch, the king said. Everything that has happened, happened because of her.

I agree, Sebastian told him, he must not take any chance, the king when angry was like an untamed tiger.

You said it yourself, she with the prince can be disastrous, so we must take caution and not do anything reckless. Sebastian said in the most polite manner.

You are right, we must think thoroughly on what to do, Sebastian go call my cheif right hand man to see me right now, I must not waste more time. Who knows how far they have gone now.

Sebastian sighed, relieved, again he was spared from the king rage.

He also has some thorough plans to make, he didn't trust the king nor williams the king's son.

Even, his very love of his life, Natalie. What he felt was far from "trust" for her.

What he felt controlled him, have him strength. He found that he could really do more than he thought he could do.

I love you Natalie , he said to himself. Your love gives me energy even in this worrisome times.

And I will never lose you.