The Secrets of Llawnech

"Probably horses," Gwen hummed. "But I was busy delivering a baby so could hardly pay much attention."

He smiled softly. "Can't believe Alicia is a mum."

Gwen grimaced and shrugged, "She was a mother before this, she just never told me. I must start being less open with her... she is different now she is a Queen."

"I thought she was too nervous about this pregnancy." He told her. "I think you need to properly talk to her, but I'd give her a while if she's anything like you she will sleep all day."

Gwen just rested her head against his shoulder, asking softly: "Be honest... am I being dramatic to feel betrayed by it? It was humiliating to be comforting her, only for her maid to behave like I didn't even know her. All those years they told me you were dead, the only reason I had hope was for her... and now it is like the her I know is a lie."

"I think you need all the details before you decide to say that she is a lie."He told her." But maybe after she's had a baby is not the best time. "

"I know, I know. I am not there yelling at her, am I?" Gwen mumbled. "Perhaos her and I were never as close as I ever believed... perhaps to her I am always just the adopted sister - perhaps blood matter after all."

"Gwen, don't over think this." He told her. "You and Alicia have been through a lot, there has to be a reason why she didn't tell you, and you need to ask her about it before you start over thinking this."

"I can't help over thinking, I dont do it willingly. My feelings are hurt, my feelings are allowed to be hurt when my sister has lied to me for years when I 0pur my heart out to her.. I thought we were on an even playing feel and now I - I always liked to believe that whenever I admitted I was the more emotional one it was an over exgarration, but now I see it is not, and that I am not as emotionally strong as I would like to be and I see how pathetic I just look. To strangers, to our children, to you... to my sister,"

"You don't look pathetic." He told her. "I'm not saying you're not allowed to be hurt just make sure she tells you why."

"Alicia was always meant to be a Queen, Siobhan was always meant to be too. I am a second born, I was always meant to be nothing. I have not proven any of that wrong I have never been able to act how I was meant to be, look how I was meant to be. But I had her... and it doesn't feel like I do anymore. I would die for her Hayden, and she hasn't even shared her pain with me so I am nothing to her." she trembled then. "I can't be nothing to the person I live for."

"Gwen stop over thinking this."

Gwen just pressed her forehead to his shoulder then and closed her eyes, gulping. Anxious.

He held her close. "Alicia loves you, she must have had a reason but whatever the reason is you need to accept it."

"I am allowed to react." Gwen whispered, adding, almost begging, "Please met me at least talk to you about how I really feel before having to go back to pretending- my whole life is pretending."

Rose had watched her parents from the side for a little bit before stepping away, making her way back into the crowd and batting hands away as other princess tried to grab her to get attention - screaming when one grabbing her by the wrist and slammed her up against the wall.

Hayden looked to her. "Always." He looked up ashe heard the scream. "Rose." He made his way towards his daughter but Marcus had gotten there first.

"Don't you know its rude to grab a lady?"

"After the performance she just put on with you, it is pretty clear she is no lady." The man answered.

Gwen frowned, following Hayden close behind. Stopping at his side to watch.

"The lady that you are manhandling happens to be my lass and if you don't let her go then you will witness something called the Irish fire, and trust me you don't want that" He promised him. "Now let her go." His tone was too calm. And eerie for anything other than cleverly veiled threat.

The man just rolled his eyes, letting go of Rose before walking away as if nothing had happened.

"Your lass?" Rose questioned, trembling only slightly. Exhaling shakily in relief at spotting her parents and making her way to them, holding onto her fathers arm, though her attention was still on Marcus.

"You wanted to play the game.. It just slipped out... I apologise and go now." He told her and he bowed his head and walked away.

"Are you alright?" Hayden asked her. "And whose your friend?"

"We just raced our horses, thats all - the heir of Ireland's brother." Rose whispered, watching Marcus walk away.

"You must find him and thank him in the morning," Gwen hummed. "He was very kind to you."

"Yeah.. yeah I will."

Hayden raised an eyebrow. "Just horse racing? Not even you get mud in your hair." He told her.

"It rained, I tried to push him off the horse and it didn't work." Rose shrugged. "Just a race, I swear."

Hayden still had his eyebrow raised but he laughed. "I warned you you will need to think outside of the box when pushing people from a horse."

Rose shrugged, "Better it didn't work, seems his parents are after a Queen for his brother rather than anyone for him, he said I've probably gotten him in trouble."