The Secrets of Llawnech

Alicia remained in her seat, her energy levels still not the best since the birth.

Hayden smiled softly as he watched the race and he looked over to Rose. "I wonder who she is watching."

"I think I could take a pretty good guess.. what do you think of the Irish lad?"

"He seems nice enough."

"Nice enough for her though?"

"Undecided on that part yet."

"Mm, me too. I think she is scared of how much she likes him." Gwen mused, watching Rose who was still watching every second of the race.

Jackson and Marcus were both pretty good racers, kneck and kneck as they raced.

Hayden nodded. "I agree."

"Come on, come on.."

Hayden smiled softly.

From behind them a new comer would of brought his horse up behind them, encouraging it forward and barging between the two of them. As he went to whip his horse forward he purposefully hit Marcus' too.

"What the..." Rose frowned.

"We need to tell Leo to stop the race." Hayden suddenly told them and Alicia looked to them and then the race. "Leo, call it off." She told him.

As the whip hit his horse, Marcus' horse reared up, before running off out of control.

"Everyone stop," Leo declared, looking to the workers and encouraging them to try and stop the horses.

Rose put the binoculars down and made her way out of the box, making her way down to the track and toward the area her brother and Marcus were closer to. Pushing her way through the crowd.

Suddenly the horse stopped and he suddenly threw Marcus off, Jackson jumped off his horse and ran over to him, as he lay unconscious on the floor.

Rose had joined them only a few seconds later, sitting down on her knees next to Marcus and resting her palm on his cheek.

Jackson watched as the healers ran over as well and he looked for the person who had caused it.

"Is he okay?" Rose asked as she moved out of the way of the healer, not waiting for an answer - spotting the guy as he got off his horse and getting to her feet and walking over to him - punching him in the face. Not caring that she was in public and that it would be frowned upon.

The guy winced, falling back a few steps in surprise. "What the hell?!"

"Exactly my thought! What were you playing at?! That isnt how you race! What is wrong with you?!"

Jackson walked over to his sister and pulled her back a bit. "Easy Rose, I got this, go back to Marcus."

"He will live, it appears that it only knocked him unconscious your highness."

"She is a nut case," The guy sneered at Jackson.

Rose just rolled her eyes, walking back to Marcus and sitting down on her knees beside him once again. Taking one of his hands with both of hers.

This time Jackson was the once who punched him and it was much harder than that of his sister. "Talk about my sister like that again and you'll be lucky to leave with your head."

"And your a violent pig like your birth father." The man sputtered as his nose began to bleed.

Rose glanced up to watch Jackson and the man for a few moments before whispering to the healers, "We should get Marcus to a bed, we shouldn't let him wake up on the floor."

The healers called over some guards who carried him back to the palace.

Jackson suddenly threw him to the floor. "Shut your mouth or you will see just how much like my father I can be."

Rose got to her feet and followed the guards to the palace. Sitting on the edge of the bed once Marcus had been placed down and they had been left alone, quietly waiting for him to come around.

----
The man winced again, sitting himself up and snapping in response. "Go on then,"

"Jackson," Gwen whispered, reaching forward to grab her sons shoulder gently. "Your better than this, come on. Take a step back."

Marcus was still out of it, a nice and large bruise forming on his forehead.
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Jackson sighed and he took a step back.

"If I were you, I would leave." Alicia told him as she walked over. "And if you had any sense, you would not let me or my husband see your face again."

Rose got to her feet and left the room, coming back a few minutes later with some ice wrapped in a cloth. Resting it against the bruise to try and soothe the swelling near it.

----
"Oh please, it was just a race. Hardly my fault that the man couldn't control his creature." He answered with an eyeroll, though walked away.

Gwen exhaled slowly, and despite having yet to do it, gave in and pulled Jackson into her arms. Holding him close and whispering, "Firstly, I am glad you are okay son - you were at risk of being hurt too, secondly I am very proud of you for defending your sister like that, thirdly I am outstanding that you were strong enough to step away from a pointless fight. Well done, your so wonderful."

"Thanks mum." He hugged her back.

"He isn't getting away scott free, don't worry." Alicia told them.
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Marcus woke up a few hours later.