This was written for Seanfhocal Challenge 22, and edited after Lea's comments on it, with much thanks to her. I hope everything's clear this time around!

There were no words to describe how he felt. There were no words he could find to say to her. There were no words for what was left of them.

Jonathan had made words useless.

Cythera raised her eyes to his, and he found regret there. Yes, he too was regretful, he should have moved sooner. He found despair, and oh, how his heart despaired. She was helpless, and he was helpless. Her eyes looked too bright and her lip quivered. And all he felt for her was suspended in this space between them, a space that was only going to grow wider and wider.

He longed to take her in his arms, but Jonathan had made his arms useless for this purpose.

He felt himself trembling, and looked up at the sky, trying to calm himself.

"When did he tell you?"

"This morning. He took me aside after breakfast."

Gary bit his lip. After breakfast. Jonathan had arranged for Lord Masley of Theaham to visit after breakfast, but had suddenly found himself 'too busy' and had begged Gary to meet with him instead. And clearly he had been busy. Far too busy for Gary's liking.

Jonathan had made Gary useful, and in that made him useless. He wondered if Jonathan had known what Cythera meant to Gary - beyond all the foolish jokes and smug looks - and had simply made sure Gary was out of the way.

"And you said yes?"

She gave him a slightly exasperated look. "Well, yes, what would you have said?"

"I wouldn't have given him the chance to propose to me!" Gary snapped. He repented immediately, and reached for her hand, trying to ignore the way her shoulders shuddered at his touch. "I'm sorry, Cythera, I just - I just-"

"I know." She pulled her hand free and got to her feet. "I don't want this, Gary. You know I don't; I don't want to be Queen, not really. I just-" She paused and closed her eyes. "You didn't see him. You didn't see how desperate he was. I couldn't refuse him, I just couldn't. Maybe - maybe it would be best if you kept away from the palace as much as possible."

Gary was about to reply that he couldn't, he was the Prime Minister, and then set his jaw. Jonathan couldn't have it both ways. He couldn't take the woman Gary loved, and have Gary ready to serve. So, he nodded grimly and closed his eyes so he wouldn't have to see her walking away. "Goodbye, Cythera."

He felt the shadow of a kiss pressed to his cheek, and squeezed his eyes more tightly shut, holding back the tears. He heard her murmur, "Goodbye, Gary," and heard her shaky voice. This would probably be the last time they were alone together, and he couldn't bear it, but he had to. If only he had done something, said something to make her his forever. If only Jonathan hadn't moved faster.

When he opened his eyes, she was gone. There had been words that needed to be said, things he had needed to say, things like 'I love you', and 'please stay', but they had all been swallowed up by the silence.

Jonathan always took the best of everything.