Formality: I do not own or claim to own the Bambi series or any of its characters. Their rights belong to Disney. I do not make any money or claim to do so through this fanfiction.
Thanks for staying faithful. I'm sure you've all just been dying of anticipation. Oh, by the way, I've decided to add a few lines of poetry to the end of each chapter, so for those of you who have already read the first two chapters, you may want to look at them again. Anyway, on to chapter three.
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Chapter 3: Confrontation
Faline knew what she should have done then and there. Years ago, she had learned that Ronno could be quite dangerous, and while he had never physically harmed her per se, he had become more difficult to read since their childhood. So her intuition told her that Ronno could easily hurt her if he so desired. Knowing that this put her in danger at the moment, Faline's instinct told her that there were two options for reacting to her situation: fight or flight. Since fighting was obviously out of the question, her logic told her that the only way out — and in fact the only thing to do — was run.
So intuition, instinct, and logic were all together advising Faline to run, to turn around at that very moment and put as much distance between her and him as she possibly could. Okay. That's just what I'll do, Faline thought as Ronno stood there, waiting patiently a response. However, as strange as was, their seemed to be the tiniest of voices in the back of Faline's mind — her impulse, perhaps —, and it was telling her to stay. Not really telling, actually, but rather offering. It was the kind of idea that one might end with "You know, just a thought." Even stranger was the fact that since first making itself known, the voice grew louder and louder, until it seemed on the brink of overpowering all better judgment. However, Faline remained strong in her belief — and the more reasonable one at that — that the flight response was truly the way to go. Yet strangest of all, was the fact that, even as the more prominent parts of her mind were beginning to reestablish order …
Faline stayed.
Well, now what? she asked herself as she realized how long she'd kept Ronno waiting. He's obviously waiting for me to say something. But what to say? What to say to a guy the prince forced to leave you alone for the past season? What does he want anyway? Why am I even standing here? Suddenly, Faline realized she was only exacerbating the situation. Maybe if I just say something, play dumb, that'll get him to do all the talking. Anything to keep from saying something that might upset him. So, she finally decided it was time to speak up. After all, she reminded herself, I don't exactly know the span of this guy's patience.
"Ronno?" she finally said, "Is that — ""Really?" he replied melodramatically, "You don't recognize me? Faline I am shocked."
I guess that answers that question, Faline remarked as Ronno continued:
"To answer your question, yes. It is me. I'm back, so your little heart can rest easy. I'm sure the uncertainty's just been nerve racking."
He's kind of right, Faline had to admit, considering how stressful the night before had been. In fact, she hadn't fallen asleep until hours after her conversation with Bambi, the thought of her and Ronno's childhood … relationship of sorts — there wasn't a very good word to describe what she'd considered him — plaguing her thoughts.
Suddenly, Faline realized that Ronno had stopped talking and was now staring at her, his eyebrows raised, expecting a reply. "Oh, uh … well, I suppose I have been under some stress lately."
"You poor thing," Ronno said, taking a step toward her. This did not go unnoticed by Faline, who took a step back, though hers was smaller than his.
"So …" she attempted, "What brings you here?"
"What? A guy can't continue to live where he spent most of his life?" Ronno answered sharply, sounding possibly offended and taking another step forward, this one larger than the last. Faline again stepped back, but she was slightly afraid, and this step was much smaller than her last. This put Ronno and her much closer together than she would have preferred, and their proximity made her uncomfortable.
"No," she practically whimpered, scolding herself for sounding so weak. "I-I mean, uh … W-what brings you here … to-to the meadow?"
"Oh, right," Ronno said, narrowing his eyes and not bothering to apologize. "Well, the boy wanted to see the place, and I'd already promised him we'd do something fun today, so … figure I'd take him here, maybe he'd meet someone. Speaking of him … " He looked up and over Faline — he was noticeably taller — and called out, "Antony! Come here."
The notorious fawn of the previous day suddenly appeared at Ronno's side. "Yes sir?" he respectfully inquired.
"I have someone I'd like you to meet." Ronno said, not taking his eyes off of the doe in front of him. "Antony, this is Miss Faline. She's an old friend of mine, whom I believe you've already encountered." Faline didn't object to his calling her a friend, simply because she was in the company of his son. Or was that really her reason why?
"Oh … uh, hello … " the fawn muttered, looking at the ground, clearly embarrassed at the mention of his previous misconduct.
"Son, look at her when you talk," Ronno corrected, "Don't you know? We're in the presence of royalty." This was said in that melodramatic tone he'd used earlier. When Antony did look up, Faline smiled warmly down at him, dawning a more calm façade. "Hello, Antony," she said.
"H-hello ma'am," he replied, suddenly growing wide-eyed and beginning to stare, as he had done when he'd first seen Faline. This was quickly noticed by Ronno, who promptly corrected him a second time. "Don't stare son."
"Oh. Yes sir," the fawn replied obediently. Faline wondered if every day was like this for Antony, or if Ronno just wanted him to be polite to her. That would make sense, she thought, I'm the only deer he was really ever nice to. Even more so than his own mother. Then again, it might just be because I'm "royalty".
"And who is this?" Ronno exclaimed, interrupting her thoughts. Faline saw that he was smiling down at something, and as she followed his gaze, she saw that Maria was now at her side, being addressed by the one deer in the forest Bambi would have wanted her to keep away from.
"Hi! I'm Maria!" she exclaimed a little too loudly. This didn't seem to startle Ronno, who must have understood where she got it from.
"Well, hello Maria," Ronno answered, sounding suddenly more approachable. "You know, I can take one look at you and tell right away that you're the prettiest deer in the whole forest."
"Really?" Maria said, pretending to sound skeptical, though it was clear that she enjoyed his flattery. "I don't know. Are you sure?"
"Oh yes," Ronno replied, sounding quite sure of himself, "right behind your mother, that is." He glanced back up at Faline to see her reaction, which was some sort of attempt at indifference, though she seemed to have a certain redness to her cheeks that hadn't been there before.
Stop that, damn it!Faline yelled inwardly.Why are you blushing anyway? What's the matter with you?
"So, I guess you two have already met?" Ronno said, still addressing Maria "Or did Antony forget his manners again?"
"Oh, I guess not." Maria replied, realizing that she and her new friend of sorts hadn't bothered to introduce themselves. "Hi Antony, I'm Maria!" she practically shouted, once again, to the other fawn.
Antony's head jerked back, startled by the sudden attention "Uh, hi," he said, again not looking at who he was addressing. Ronno didn't remind him of their respect for royalty, and Faline knew why.
"So, Antony" Ronno interjected, "Why don't you stay here with Maria and actually talk to her, while Miss Faline and I go and catch up?"
"But … " Faline searched for an objection, "I don't want Maria to — "
"Aw, don't worry about her," he replied nonchalantly, "My boy'll take care of her, right Antony?" He turned to his son with an expectant look.
"Yes sir." Antony answered without missing a beat and with a sudden air of pride, as if this were suddenly his chance to prove himself.
"Oh, I don't know … " Faline nearly whined, certain she sounded rather pathetic by now. She looked up to the cliff where Bambi had been and found him pacing back and forth, which meant he was either frustrated or thinking very hard about something. Either way, he wasn't going to see what was going on. What's he doing up there? she wondered.
Looking back at Ronno, she found that he was becoming impatient. Suddenly, however, his face spawned a particularly mischievous look. He then lowered his head and began to step toward Faline, nearly prodding her with his antlers, but not quite. It was just enough to make Faline jump back whenever the points came too close. "Come on Faline," he implored in a jokingly half-pleading, half-insistent tone — at least Faline thought it was joking, though she found that she couldn't really tell with Ronno anymore. "Have a little fun."
Faline remembered two times when he'd done this to her in the past, this method of his of trying to move her, sway her to his will. The firsttime, they had been children, and she had simply found it rather annoying and rude. The second time, when they had been young adults, he had genuilely frightened her. And now, as he once again made this domineering reflection of his own forever-boyish attitude, Faline honestly didn't know what to think. She looked down and saw that, rathar than the stern look he'd worn during this act's past application, his face actually bore a smile. Maybe he has changed. Anyway, I'm sure he can't be as bad now as he was then. After all, we were kids, right?
Faline looked back up at Bambi, who was still pacing. She looked back at Ronno, who had turned eyes up to see her, his head still lowered. Those green eyes of his seemed to spark for just a moment as he saw the unsure look on her face, and his resulting superior smirk told Faline that he knew he'd already won. He then raised his head, looked directly at her with a smoldering gaze, and said, "So, what do we do now?"
Damn it! Faline thought, Why'd he have to use thatoneon me?
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On the snow and sand and turn, I see
Where Love has left a printed trace
With straining in the world's embrace.
And such is Love and glad to be
from "Bond and Free" by Robert Frost
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So many things from the past, and I still refuse to tell you a single one. (No, I'm not making this up as I go. I've got it all figured out.) Hopefully, for those among you who keep going back and seeing if they can peace these things together, Mr. Frost has just lent a huge hand. If you're still confused, don't worry. All will be revealed in due time. Ooh, I am such a tease.