Gene
and Bruce followed behind as Skye and Paul walked hand in hand.
"Are
you still back there Gene?" Paul smiled.
"Better
here than with The Queen. I don’t think
she likes you Paul." Gene responded.
"My
Mother would not hurt you." Skye laughed.
"But watch out for Grandmother."
"That
is what I am afraid of." Bruce added.
Skye
laughed as she led them to the top of the hill.
"This
is one of my favorite places." She said as she sat down under a tree.
"It
is beautiful here." Bruce agreed.
"You
can see all over this side of the island.
Look there is your boat at the dock." Skye said as she
pointed. "I like to sit up here by
myself. It is so peaceful."
"Did
you want to be alone now?" Paul asked as he sat down next to her and took
her hand.
"Not
now." Skye smiled suddenly very shy.
Bruce
punched Gene in the arm. "Think
we’re not wanted here?"
"Uh..we
aren’t leaving you two so bring it down a notch or I will have to hose you
down." Gene laughed as Skye turned red with embarrassment.
The
four of them spent the afternoon together laughing and talking. Bruce, Gene, and Paul entertained Skye with
stories of being on tour. Skye was evasive when talking about herself. She was careful not to reveal too much.
"It
is getting late, we should be getting back for dinner. Mother will be worried." Skye stood up
to leave.
"Do
you always do what your mother tells you?" Paul asked as he stood close to
her, very close to her.
"I
don’t think we want to make the Queen angry so we need to get back. I rather like my head on my shoulders."
Gene told them.
Queen
Daphne met them at the door as they returned to the palace.
"I
was getting ready to send Andre out to look for you. Gentlemen please come in and Adkins will show you into the dining
room. Dinner is ready. Skye your grandmother is waiting for you at
the lagoon. Go now." Queen Daphne was stern in her commands.
"But
isn't Skye having dinner with us?" Paul asked.
"Skye,
your grandmother is waiting." Queen Daphne ignored Paul.
"I
will go with you." Paul insisted.
"No! You will follow Adkins in the dining room
for dinner." Queen Daphne
addressed Paul directly.
Skye
bowed to her mother and left the palace.
She was in trouble and she knew it.
Paul
started after Skye but Gene's hand on his shoulder stopped him.
"Dinner
sounds like an excellent idea Queen Daphne.
Will you be joining us?" Bruce directed his comments toward the
Queen hoping to take her attention away from Paul.
"Yes,
I will." Responded Queen Daphne.
"May
I escort you to dinner?" Bruce asked as he offered her his arm.
"Thank
you." Queen Daphne smiled charmingly forgetting for a moment her anger at
her daughter and allowing Bruce to escort her to dinner.
"Come
on Romeo, let's go play nice with the Queen." Gene whispered to Paul.
*****
Skye
walked to the lagoon slower then usual.
She was in trouble and was dreading this meeting with her grandmother.
"You
lied to me Granddaughter." Adolphina calmly stated as she sat in the
lagoon.
"Yes
Grandmother." Skye hung her head in shame.
"You
have never lied to me before Granddaughter.
I believe these men have too strong an influence on you." Adolphina
was being overly stern with Skye.
"Perhaps I should talk to your mother and have you forbidden to see
them again."
Skye's
head snapped up. "Grandmother
please don’t do that." She pleaded.
"You
are not in the water Skye."
Adolphina ignored Skye's pleas.
Skye
entered the water and swam to the rocks where her grandmother waited.
"Apparently
you need someone to sit with you to ensure that you follow orders. Is this how a future queen acts? How can you be responsible for our people if
you cannot take care of yourself? I am
disappointed in you Granddaughter, I had expected more of you." Adolphina
did not look at Skye as she lectured her granddaughter.
Skye
sat next to her grandmother with her head bowed and tears rolling down her
face. Grandmother had never talked to
her this way before, but Skye had never lied to her grandmother before either. Maybe she would not make a good queen after
all.
Adolphina
felt the emotions coming from Skye and knew she had made her point.
"Tell
me about this man of yours." Adolphina said softly taking Skye’s hand in
hers.
Skye
looked at her grandmother and saw the tenderness in her eyes. Skye understood the lesson her grandmother
was teaching her.
"He
isn’t really my man Grandmother, but I do like him." Skye beamed.
"Have
you told him who you are?" concern entering Adolphina's voice.
"No,
not yet." Skye replied
hesitantly. "I did not want to
frighten him."
"If
he cannot accept who you are then he is not for you Granddaughter."
Adolphina was trying to be gentle but she was worried about what would happen
to Skye. After all, it was not so long
ago that they almost lost Skye.
Skye
and Queen Adolphina sat in the lagoon talking quietly as a grandmother would do
to a granddaughter. She told Skye what
it was like when she was a girl and advised her about her role as a future
queen. All thoughts of the strangers
were gone as they shared with each other.