Chapter 2 Best Friend

"She is a beautiful woman,sigh." Jordan added.

"She might even be the queen of iceland, I still wouldn't want to see her this late. Take me to her."

The woman was indeed beautiful, she had long silky red hair, a lean body and a smile that lit up the room.

"Your highness" the woman said, bowing her head. "please forgive my intrusion.I am a child minder and have been taking care of children for many years. I heard that you have a new baby and I wanted to offer my help." said the woman.

Jordan smiled. He took the king aside.

"She's perfect my Lord. She is a real lady,she could teach your daughter to be a good woman,look at her attire, she's neat." He whispered.

Jordan and the King turned their gaze back to the woman.

"What is your name woman?" The king asked.

"I am Shiandra Rhinehart from the country of Aota."

"My advisor wreckons that you are the right person to take care of my daughter. I will give you 50 coins every week for taking care of the child.Am I not fair?"

"You are very fair my Lord. Thank you my Lord" said Shiandra bowing her head.

Jordan fixed his throat.

"My Lord,you have not yet told us the name of your child"

The king was surprised, how could he forget to name the child.

"Her name is Carmen,because she reminds me of a woman I once loved." Said the king.

"Carmen,it's a beautiful name my Lord." Said Shiandra.

The king organised a good room for the the child minder as well as for the baby.

Five years passed, baby Carmen was now little Carmen,she loved to run around the palace chasing cats and butterflies. She got in trouble many times.

"Come down from there,your father will be upset if you fall." Shiandra shouted. Carmen slowly went down the tree, hoping she would not fall,but she slid and fell anyway.

"Race you to the palace!!" Carmen shouted running as fast as her little body could. Shiandra laughed, observing the little legs go.

Jordan and the king were watching from the stables.

"My Lord,the child is very active, but she does not have friends of her own, she might get lonely. Should I bring Alex to play with her sometime?" Jordan asked, while watching the king brush the white horse which he had named after Carla, to keep the memories of the woman he loved close to his heart.

"Alex is a good boy and you have become like a brother to me. Bring Alex tomorrow." The king commanded.

Later in the evening, When Jordan was eating dinner with his son, he was reminded of what he had spoken with the king and unsure at what his reaction would be.

"My son I need to ask you a favour.The king's daughter does not have friend's to play with,she is usually lonely and it is beginning to show." Said Jordan.

Alex placed his fork gently beside his plate.

"But she is a girl and I am a boy! It will never work out."

"It will work out because you are my son and you shall do as I say!"

Alex rolled his eyes.

"Ever since mother died you have been horrible to me. I cant do this, I cant do that. I must learn combat, I should forget about my writing's because they wont take me far. And now you want me to befriend that girl.Argh!" Alex was annoyed, he grabbed his plate with a piece of meat left and ate in his room. Jordan followed him there.

"I know that you might think I am harsh but "Please son!" there is a reason I am like this. I have big plans for you, I want what is best for you. I love you son."

Alex didn't like to see his father begging. And if his father wanted him and Carmen to play together, then he knew that it must have been an important thing to him.

"Ok,fine! I will do it.Argh my friends are going to make a mockery of me for doing this!"

"Thank you son." said Jordan, giving Alex a hug.

An advisor is an important title in the royal family. Jordan was a wise man, he thought ahead. He did want the best for his son, just as he wanted what was best for Kineti. He wanted Alex to marry Carmen one day, yet he had not suggested the thought to King Cyrus.

"I can see that you like her,but why do you hesitate?" The king asked, seeing that Jordan's glance was in Shiandra's direction.

"Oh no my lord. Its not like that."

The king laughed.

"We are grown men, there is no need to be shy. Why do you hesitate? Go and talk to her."

"Your sigh I really don't see her in that way. She is beautiful, neat but I don't feel attracted to her nor will I marry again." Said Jordan.

The king laughed.

Alex arrived at the palace, he had two tennis balls and a bat with him. Shiandra had been expecting him to arrive. So was Carmen. The two went to the garden and began to play.

Carmen did not know how to play the sport,but Alex taught her.

"Thanks for calling your son,it must have been a struggle." Said Shiandra approaching Jordan.

"Excuse me, I have letters to read." said the king, leaving Jordan and Shiandra together at the stables.

"Alex is a grown boy, he listens to me." said Jordan, laughing.

"I don't see a ring on your finger,why are you not married?" Shiandra asked.

"I used to be married,my wife died a long time ago. The doctor's said that it was ovarian cancer."

"I am so sorry.."

"It's okay. I've learned to accept that."

"And you,why are you not married?I can see you also don't have a ring on your finger. Is it because men make too much noise in their sleep or are we are simply too untidy to live with?"

Shiandra looked at her finger for a while.

"I wish I could laugh at the last sentence, you have just mentioned now, but I cant. Maintaining relationships was something I really was never good at. I don't ever want to feel trapped again I guess.The end."

"Short and sad. I pray that one day you find someone who is willing to appreciate you."

"Thank you. Those are kind words I could never ever forget." Said Shiandra. Walking back to the children.