AN/ I own none of these characters; they all belong to Sophie Audouin-Mamikonian. This is an alternative ending to chapter … I've forgotten which one, but the one where Robin carries Tara to the throne room. I'm sorry to any Tara Duncan fans who can only read French; hopefully most of you on this site can read English. I would have written it in French, but I don't have any accents on my keyboard, and French without accents looks so weird, I tried a bit and it didn't work.
Robin gently lowered Tara to the floor. She was grateful for his tact, in not letting her been seen by the whole court as dependent on him, but that happened to be exactly what she wanted the whole court to see. She stood up on tiptoe; trying not to grimace with the pain from her legs, and, in front of the astonished doorman, planted a kiss on his cheek. She then wrapped her arm around his neck and, letting him carry most of her weight in this, slightly awkward position; they advanced into the throne room.
His head was spinning. What was she doing? Letting him basically carry her into the throne room was practically a declaration of her trust in him in front of the entire court of Omois. What did this mean? They were halfway to the thrones now. This was where he would normally, when they walked together into Lisbeth's presence before her legs were injured, turn aside and go stand by the wall. However, if he did that now, the Heir of the throne of Omois would sprawl on the floor. So they continued up the interminable path to the thrones at the end. Suddenly Tara stumbled and fell forwards. Robin caught her and before she managed to hide it under her impassable "heiress face", caught sight of her expression, contorted with pain. He couldn't bear to see her like that. He lifted her again into his arms, carrying her like a child again. Her sigh of relief blew across his neck and he smiled down at her. She smiled back, settling into his chest contentedly. He wished they could stay like this forever, it was so comfortable. Suddenly the throne room, miles long as it was, seemed to shorten, they were practically at the dais already! He deposited her gently into her throne, and turned to walk away. A sudden madness took hold of him. They had been so comfortable together, why shouldn't they stay like that forever? He turned around and strode back towards the thrones.
Ignoring the Empress's shocked exclamation at his interruption of her, he knelt in front of Tara, and, bowing his head in the traditional greeting, asked "Will you do me the honour of accepting my hand in marriage?"
A shocked silence greeted his words. Then Lisbeth spoke, at her most scathing; "And why, half-human should my niece, with the wealth of other possible candidates for her hand accept you? You have no connections, no power, no riches…" Robin knelt there, hearing the tide of abuse wash over him. She was right. What had he been thinking? Tara could marry anyone she chose, why should she go for him? He had been arrogant beyond belief; he should leave now before he got himself even deeper into trouble. Go and live in Hymlia, in the mountains where no-one would ever need to see his half-blood face again.
Tara stood up, wincing, and, cutting across her aunts tirade, said calmly "I will." No one had ever seen Lisbeth so shocked. "W-W-What?" she stammered, shaken. "You accept? Now? Before we've had time to discuss anything? Do you realise what you're throwing yourself away on? You could have had…"
"Yes, now: Before you have time to execute/banish/dispose of him in some other way. I love him, he loves me, and we will marry, in a couple of years' time." She bent down and took Robin's hand, attempting to pull him to his fight, but failing miserably. He got up swiftly and lifted her back into the throne. He stood behind her seat, the perfect cavalier gentleman. She had accepted him. She loved him. He was going to marry her! He looked proudly over at Lisbeth, who was still mouthing like a goldfish out of water. This particular metaphor was helped by the fact that she was wearing gold and crimson today, her hair dyed corn yellow with the customary white streak standing out sharply. He stifled a grin.
"I am tired," said Tara, standing, at her most regal, "any other business can be conducted another day." And she linked her arms around Robin's neck, allowing him to carry her out of the room again.
AN/ If you want me to write the next chapter in French, just review and say so. It won't have any accents though! Otherwise it'll be in English again.