The Knight's Mysterious Maid

"You’re going to be a married woman before you know it. Is there something you want to talk about? I know it would be more suited for you to speak with your mother about this, but there’s not much as your father that I can talk to you with you being a woman and I a man. Ask me anything you think I would have the answer to," said Phillip. "Hmm. I don’t have anything to ask mother at the moment so I don’t know what to ask you. Maybe when the time gets closer I will have some questions for you. I am not worried about becoming his wife. I am yet to see how different it will be from now," Annalise replied, letting go of her father’s arm to get up the small hill they had to climb.

"There is a little difference from now. It’s harder to separate yourself from him unless you run away. Your names will always be attached to him so you’ll share his praise and curses. There is nothing you have to fear. You’ll figure out everything as you go," Phillip said as he did with Celine.

"It is only becoming a parent that I might worry about. I am not exactly like most women. I’ve never been," Annalise paused to look for the right word.

"Nonsense. I’ve seen the way you cared for your friends, and the people here, and how you take special care of your pets. Being a mother will come naturally to you. Don’t worry if there are some things you don’t understand at first. Even those who prepared long for the moment struggle at some point. Your mother and I certainly panicked a few times," Phillip said, remembering the confusion he felt.

"We had to go to our parents for help only to find that the answer was so simple. We learned that we just needed to take a moment to think and then it all worked out. Lucky for you," Phillip said, nudging Annalise with his arm. "You two have a lot of people around you to help you. Two armies at your side."

"Two armies. I never really thought about that," Annalise said, liking the sound of her and Rafael having two armies. The knights and her warriors here. "Our family will be well protected."

"When Rafael and I build our new home, will you stay often in the room I shall make for you and mother? I know that you aren’t fond of leaving home because you worry about what will happen with you gone, but our home won’t be far away and I would love for you to explore their kingdom with me. See his current manor," Annalise proposed.

It was time her family got to move around and see more than just the border. Her eyes were opened to another world and she could not sit still. Even as the leader, Annalise planned not to stay at the border. If she had not travelled around, she would not have known about guns.