Chapter 3
"Well now a lovelier sight I've never seen." The sound of that cultured voice had Deirdre looking up to find Rohan, dressed in a black doublet and red tights. His once wild long hair was pulled back and tied with a piece of twine, and his face was as clean as ever. Still he held a different manner, as if he was now as removed from the Rohan she'd known so long.
"Rohan?" Was that her voice? It was so weak and trembling… but was this all real? He looked so… Then she saw the signet ring.
"Deirdre." He inclined his head, uncertain what she was thinking.
"What are you doing here?" She asked unsure what to say or do. It had been so long and she'd never thought to see him again, especially on this day.
"Well Garrett said that I should come. He thought you've been unhappy." He said searching her gaze, was she glad to see him? Would she like this little surprise?
"Well, didn't you once say that duty must come first?" She said quietly trying not to break, on this night when her future would be sealed she didn't know if she could handle this.
"True, but highness you forget you must also be true to yourself." He said, thinking of the day she'd told him that she couldn't ever be untrue to herself. It had carried him through some rougher times in the last years.
"I don't have time for this; I'm to be announcing my official engagement tonight." She said lifting her chin, she had to go, to get this over with or she'd crack, she couldn't go down with red eyes.
"And you sound thrilled." He smirked, she was unhappy but not to see him, not really.
"You know how I feel." She said as she turned to go. As she neared the doors she muttered to herself. "Or you did."
"Deirdre…" the quietly spoken word had her pausing, hesitating.
They could hear the anthem playing and Deirdre knew it was time. She glanced around for her intended but she did not see Garrett anywhere about.
"Deirdre we need to talk." Rohan said moving to speak to her.
"Rohan we don't have time, I must go and…" she was slightly surprised when she found herself being crushed in Rohan's arms. "Rohan?"
"Garrett has stepped down." In informed her roughly, as if he'd held the words in much too long.
"He…" He'd let her out of the contract? Could he even do that?
"Highness!" A servant called and she knew she didn't have anymore time.
"I have to go." She said, there was no time either way.
"Fine." He grabbed her arm and they were walking, heading for the large doors to the ball room.
"Rohan what are you doing?" She asked trying t get free. "I need to go in with my betrothed." She muttered but he'd not let her hand go.
"You are." He muttered back and her heart stopped even as the doors were flung wide to admit them.
"Her royal majesty Queen Deirdre and her betrothed King Rohan of…" Deirdre didn't hear the rest, had she just heard the servant right? Was this really happening? She knew she could not cast Rohan a real glance so she went through the motions of being the dutiful queen, she'd wait until later to get her answers. And she would have them from both Rohan and Garrett.
***
The fairy smiled to herself as she saw the first male she'd ever love d and the princess announce their engagement. It was about time, she mused. Even back when she'd been determined to have him Aideen had known that Deirdre and Rohan were fated. Her night dreams had said as much.
***
Angus smiled at the news, he was very happy, his best friend and the princess or rather the queen were betrothed. It was about time. He'd always told Rohan to go for it. There had always been a magic between them…
"'I believe that it is about time." Ivar was saying aloud and Angus rolled his eyes. Ivar was as always a know it all. Maybe more than that he'd just never changed.
***
Deirdre saw Garrett a few feet away and she tilted her head in question and he motioned that she and Rohan were to have the first dance. She knew then that Rohan would start the explanation then. That was why she went into the pose willingly as the flutes began.
"So mind explaining things highness?"
"Well, I have to admit it was all Garrett's idea. After we ceased being the knights I thought I'd never have a chance with you. That was why I went home and took the thrown. Mother was gone and my kingdom needed a responsible ruler." He said easily leading her through the complex steps to the dance. "I then realized that I could have you, if you'd want me to wed."
"Because you were a noble?"
"yes. Yet I thought that surely you did not feel the same, that I have imagined the concern for me I saw in your eyes, that you just thought of me as a subject. But there had been that day, when we kissed…"
"Rohan…" She didn't know what to say to that? Could she tell him she'd love d him for years? That she probably had since they were children?
"You do not need to say anything princess." He said and she wanted to smile, it had been years since anyone had called her that, even when she was one, it had always been highness or your majesty…
"I love you." She blurted and he did very well, not even missing a step at that.
"So you admit it then?"
"Yes but I don't see what…" She was shocked when she found herself jerked into his arms and kissed thoroughly. The applause thundered about them.
***
"Well?" Garrett asked joining Ivar and Angus off to one side of the dance floor.
"Not bad." Angus nodded to the other man.
"Then you planned this?" The Saracen king asked and Garrett nodded.
"I had the betrothal doctored and now they'll be married and I'll find a different bride." Garrett told them with a little smile.
"You dog you." Angus laughed clapping the prince on the back.
The end
***
Final Author's note: I hope you liked this, it came to me in a dream and well there it is. PLZ let me know what you think. Should I write more Mystic knights stories?