The Chronicles Of Lescoban: Book 1- Chapter 3: Going With Bowen I choked on the water I had been drinking. "Me?!" I sputtered. "No that's impossible!!" Bowen opened his mouth to say something, but I cut him off. "No! I'm not some stupid royal!" I yelled, panicking inside. "Now I don't know who the hell you think you are, telling me that I'm the supposed heir to that stupid throne you serve. But I don't care. I am not the princess! Now GET THE HELL OUT OF MY HOUSE!!" "Jennifer!" My mother gasped, finally speaking. "You don't speak that way to the captain!" My father spoke, his face pale, "I'm so sorry, my lord. She never acts this way." Bowen smiled. "It's alright. I'm sure it's just because she's been put in a difficult situation right now. It's not every day a farm girl finds out she's the heir to the throne." "IM NOT THE PRINCESS!!" I practically screamed. Even though I kept arguing against it, somehow deep down I knew what he was saying was the truth. I truly was the lost princess. And it scared the hell out of me. "Sir," my mother spoke. "Are you sure Jen is the princess? She's been with us her whole #life. We brought her home with us when we found her...." "By the border to the Human Realm," Bowen finished for her. She shut her mouth, growing paler than she ever had before. I just sat there, staring at the edge of the table. Everything was going way too fast for my mind. "Sir, Jennifer is not the princess," my father said. "We found her by a river. Not even close to the border." Now my father was lying? "I know you're trying to protect her," Bowen was telling him. "But believe me. There is no way she'll ever be harmed while she is under my protection....." "But she's not the princess!" My father argued. "She can't be!" My mother cried. "She is the true princess," Bowen said calmly. "Whether you like it or not." It went on like that, my parents arguing and Bowen trying to convince them, for at least five minutes. Eventually I couldn't handle it anymore. "Stop it," I whispered. They continued, not hearing me. "STOP IT!!!!" I screamed. Immediately they stopped and looked at me. I couldn't look at them as I spoke. "He's telling the truth," I said softly. Then I looked at them all, my eyes full of defeat. "As much as I don't want it to be, what he's saying is true. I can feel it in my bones. I am the lost princess." My parents both stared at me, their faces unreadable. As for Bowen.... "I live to serve you, my princess," he said, bowing slightly and smiling. "Shut up!" I snapped at him. "It's bad enough that I actually am. I don't need you rubbing it in my face." He nodded, saying nothing, but still smiled. "Jen..." My mother murmured. I looked at her. "Are you sure about this?" She asked. I nodded. "Yes, mother. As much as I don't want it to be true, it is. I truly am the lost princess." She blinked a few times to let it register. Then she nodded. My father didn't say a word. He just watched me silently. Sighing, I looked at Bowen. "So," I said. "Now what?" "Now, I take you to the castle so you can learn everything," he told me. I winced. The castle? "Do I really have to go?" He nodded. "Yes. You have to. It's time to go home, your highness." I glared at him. "This is my home. Right here," I told him. He started to say something, but my father spoke. "She's not going anywhere," he growled deeply. I looked at him. He'd never taken that tone with an official. So why was he doing it now? Oh yeah. Because his only daughter was about to be taken from him. Unfortunately I knew I had to go. I had to go with Bowen. And I couldn't let my father blow a gasket over it. So I spoke. "Daddy," I said, using the sweet voice to try getting him to understand. "I have to go with him. I don't want to, but I have to. Don't think I won't come back. I will. I swear to you." "Actually you won't be able to return until your lessons....." I glared at Bowen as he said that and he stopped talking. My father sighed, defeated. "Alright," he said softly. That's all he said. My mother had gone up to her room and we could hear her crying up there. It was pretty depressing. Bowen led me outside and helped me onto his horse. Neither of my parents came out to say goodbye. So it was just me and Bowen. Unfortunately. As we started leaving, he wouldn't shut up about the stupid situation. "You'll never believe how beautiful everything is. The view from the towers is amazing. You'll love it. And then there's your room......" ...........… Later that night, Bowen decided to stop for the night. I groaned, saddle-sore, and started to get off the horse. I almost had my leg over when I felt a pair of hands on my waist, helping me down. When I was standing on two feet on the ground, I turned and looked at Bowen. "Thank you," I said. "You're welcome." He smiled. Looking at him this close, I realized he wasn't actually that bad. For a royal guard. Plus he was seriously good looking. His sun-kissed skin, his naturally highlighted brown hair, those yummy chocolate brown eyes of his. His strong, sturdy jaw was lightly covered in stubble from being unable to shave. His strong, well-built body covered in armor. Even his horse was good looking. As awkward as that sounds. The beautiful dark bay stallion stood watching us silently. Looking up at Bowen, I felt a little nervous being so close to him. He just....made me feel uncomfortable. And not in a bad way. I shook my head suddenly and took a step away from him. "Stop," I told myself. "He's a royal guard. Don't let him get to you." Sighing, I walked over to a fallen tree and sat down. Bowen disappeared for a little while and gathered some sticks for a fire. Once the fire was burning, Bowen came and sat next to me. Neither of us said a word. It was just a deep, awkward silence. Finally, Bowen sighed. "Listen," he said. "I know this is a hard thing for you. It's not everyday a farm girl learns she's a princess." I looked at him. "It's not that I found out," I interrupted him. "It's the fact that I AM a royal. I mean, all my #life I've hated royals. They're all stuck up snobs. No offense." He laughed a little. "None taken. I agree with that. Though not all of them are like that. You're mother, was a great, kind person. At least to her subjects. The humans...eh not so much." I shrugged. I didn't blame her. Humans are....BLECH. "Tell me about her?" I asked suddenly. Bowen gave me a confused look. "My mother." His mouth opened in an "O". "Well, I didn't know her personally," he said. "but I've heard stories about her." The rest of the night was spent talking about my true mother. The 53rd queen of Lescoban. Then we slowly drifted off to sleep.