Chapter Three
The trip back to Anthea City seemed longer than their trip out. The carriage moved slower and rattled noisily along the quiet path. Fayette sat with her hands in her lap, tears streaming down her cheeks in lazy trails that dripped down her chin – her hair hung down and covered her eyes and flowed over her shoulders.
For most of the trip Train just watched Fayette – not having a clue how to comfort her as she cried. He couldn't believe all of the things that he had said over the past months – he probably seemed like such an idiot. Although, he realised quite quickly – she was just a normal girl then, she didn't have the mentality that a Princess would usually have.
Sven stared out the window; he didn't know how to take all of it in. One moment, they had a pet cat – the next thing he knows she's a human, discovered to be a Princess and now they were going to the castle. Though, he was quite pleased with the prospect of gaining the reward for returning Princess Fayette and the luxury they could very well stay in for as long as they needed.
Eve watched Train and Fayette – wishing that there was something that she could do. She knew what it was like to be confined. Her heart ached for the newly found Princess and even for the man that drove her insane most of the time – she had a feeling that something deeper was going on here and it was going to hurt the both of them.
"Em…" Train whispered softly, reaching out for her intertwined hands and taking one of them to fold his fingers between hers. "I'm so sorry."
Fayette looked up at him, tears still falling down her cheeks. "I thought that I'd want to be able to cry so much, just to let go of all of the pain I have felt – all of my sorrows. But now…I have more than what I have felt the past year. I have everything from my childhood. And now I can't stop because I can scarcely remember how."
Train lifted his other hand to her cheek and brushed at her tears with his thumb. "Everybody cries now and then – it's a part of life." He stared into her green eyes, much brighter now than they had been as a cat even through her tears. "And you'll get through this. After all, I know you. Cat or not."
Fayette managed a smile at the words he had spoken months ago. And she remembered the nights she spent sleeping by his side. They were impossible to repeat now. The scandal it would create – Train would be executed.
"By the way, Megara said something that confused me."
"What was that?"
"When she said that you had kissed me and I didn't feel the same about you as you did for me." Train replied with a cheeky grin. "What do you feel for me?"
Fayette blushed and spurted out a lie instantly. "That you were a brilliant friend who gave me a collar. What about you?" She countered.
Train grinned and leaned back in his seat. "I was thinking that I was a pretty lucky guy."
Fayette frowned. "What?"
"I had a talking cat for a pet!" Train replied.
Fayette grumbled and wacked his arm.
Train snorted. "Is that the best you can do, Em?" he asked.
Fayette glared at him. "Don't make me make you walk." She threatened.
Train scoffed. "You don't have the heart."
Fayette raised her eyebrows. "Do you really think that I wouldn't?"
Train smiled. "It's okay, Em. If it'll make you feel better, I did feel it a little."
Fayette reached to the carriage door, but Train reached up around her neck and placed her collar on. She paused and looked at Train. "What?"
"I bought it as a chocker from a jewellery store. I thought it would suit you, even as a cat."
Fayette sat back down and felt the bell with her fingertips. "Thank you, Train."
Train smiled. "Any time, Faye."
Sven and Eve shared a glance as they watched the exchange, knowing that there was a storm coming and there was no way that the pair before them would have hearts that'd remain unbroken.
. : . : . : .
The castle rested at the top of the highest level of Anthea city – which meant that it could be seen by all, no matter where they were. The castle mostly consisted of tall towers with pointed rooves – the tallest was flat and had a flag coming from it. The bricks were sandstone and the tiles were a pale red colour. Around the castle – built all round so that it curved and went up and down with the hillside – was a wall that had patrolling guards that could be seen from a short distance. As they entered the gate, they were paused by the patrol man standing there, but they were let through almost instantly.
Fayette looked out the window, observing all of the changes that had happened to her prison of a home – barely anything: some new plants in the gardens, some people that she didn't recognise, probably new workers. But other than that, it still looked like the same, fake place that she had run from a year ago.
"I need to give you guys some instructions when speaking with my parents." Fayette said. "Do not speak unless you are spoken to, don't slouch or be rude – please, Sven, don't smoke. These aren't rules – just precautions to keeping you alive."
"They'd kill me for smoking?"
"Mother is highly against it. They just might resort to it." Fayette explained. "Believe me, you'll understand when you meet them."
The carriage pulled up at the stairs that led up to the large oak front doors. As the door carriage door opened the oak ones slowly swung outwards and Fayette sighed.
"Train, get out first, and then assist me. Then she'll have no excuse to hate any of you." Fayette instructed.
Train did as she instructed – jumping out of the carriage and turning around and offered his hand to Fayette. She took his hand and held it tightly, searching for some support as she stepped out of the carriage and the people who had appeared at the door gasped. She sighed and turned to be sure that Sven and Eve got out of the carriage without trouble.
"Fayette!" a shrill voice cried as heeled-shoed footsteps grew closer.
"Leave me be." Fayette ordered, turning to face her Mother.
The woman – dressed in an intricately designed dress that suited a fancy ballroom – stopped short, looking at her daughter with hurt eyes. "But, my darling."
"I know the real reason why you are so happy to see me, and I'm not pleased. I have conditions, and I will not agree to stay until they are agreed to." Fayette said. "Train, Sven, Eve. Come with me, I will take you to some rooms that you may rest in."
She led the three Sweepers up the stairs; she paused and bowed her head to her Father.
"I'm sorry, Father." She whispered.
He placed his hand on her cheek. "Maybe next time."
She then turned to her friends and continued to walk.
"What was that about?" Train asked, trying to keep up with her.
"I'll explain in a minute, please, just wait." Fayette replied, nodding to some maids who welcomed her home joyfully.
The palace was far more beautiful inside than it was out – there were tapestries of silk and velvet with perfectly made designs. The ceilings had paintings and ornate carvings in the sandstone. There were white marble tiles along the floors with red velvet carpet path running down the middle of every hallway and up every staircase. Portraits of other royal family members lined the walls and were framed with magnificent gold borders. Plants with golden pots were dotted in random places around the hallways.
Fayette opened a door after climbing five sets of stairs and motioned for them to enter. It looked like a miniature library – books lined the walls and four small lounges were set in a square around a round table in the middle of the room.
"Please take a seat, guys." Fayette requested.
They did as she asked and she followed them, closing the door behind her and then walking slowly towards the table. "I need to explain some very important things to all of you. And I would appreciate it if you wouldn't interrupt me too often. I'd rather get this over with as quickly as I can – I was glad to have had it wiped from my mind."
She sat down on the spare lounge and sighed. "When I was born, my life was given a timetable almost instantly. Lessons of all kinds: literature, dance, history, mathematics, art, the list is endless. I grew up in such a sheltered lifestyle that I barely knew that there was any kind of modern technology in the world. Until my dance teacher bought in a CD player and my parents had no choice but to take me out to another city to explain to me some of the things that other people have available to them." She grinned. "I was ten and incredibly naïve."
Train grinned. "So was I at that age. Go on."
"Well, it was from then on that Mother began to have problems with the way I began to think. I wanted to see the world and experience all that it had to offer me. I began to feel trapped, imprisoned. I skipped lessons on purpose and made up excuses. I became a disgrace to Mother and Father almost stopped talking with me completely." She sighed. "I lost everyone who really cared about me – I was confused and depressed. I barely left my room for a long time.
"Until Mother came in. She had 'great' news for me and ordered me to be dressed and ready in half an hour to meet my betrothed."
"What?" Sven cried.
"I did say that my life had been timetabled. That included my engagement, marriage, wife and motherhood. There was no escaping it." Fayette replied. "It was then that I knew that I had to get out of there as soon as I could. I had to escape and travel the world, no matter what measures I had to take to do it.
"After I met my betrothed, wedding plans began to be arranged and an engagement party organised for the day after. It was that night that I packed a bag of food supplies and worked out where and how I would escape.
"I planned to take the abandoned tunnel from the pantry and then get to the stables, get my horse and then ride as fast as I could out of town – even though as I planned the storm began to blow in. I got to the pantry alright, the kitchen staff assisted me. But it was when I got to the stables that I came to trouble. My Father stood with my mare, fully tacked and saddled."
She looked over them as they began to frown.
She smiled. "He gave me a sack of money and his hooded travelling cloak. He gave me the name of Megara and told me that he had organised a break in the patrols so that I would be able to get out. He told me that he only didn't speak with me because Mother kept reminding him of important matters and he felt horrible – he said that he helped me because he felt as though it was the right thing to do, as he had allowed Mother to get way over her head and ruined my childhood."
"He helped you?" Train asked.
Fayette nodded. "He regained my respect and love after that." She wiped her eyes a little and continued. "So I rode through the rain, out of the city and to Megara's home. I gave her the money, saving some money for a flight out. She said that I had to take the potion in at least twenty-four hours or it would not work. That's why I ran into a random alley as soon as I could and then, my human self and my memories were gone. Two weeks past and then I met you." She sighed. "And that's pretty much it, really."
"Why can't you just come with us?" Eve asked.
"I can't. They have me now – I'll never get away again. Beyond that, my fiancé will be arriving in just days, an engagement party rearranged and then I'll be married in less than a month." Fayette explained.
"A month?" Train asked, unable to comprehend just how hurt he felt. That clearly no one would stop it from happening, because if Fayette wasn't bothering to retaliate anymore then there was no point.
"Less than." Fayette replied.
"This is ridiculous." Sven muttered.
"You're telling me." Fayette said. "There is no escaping it this time. I have no choice. I've managed to hide from it for a year without even knowing – now I'm just the Princess who doesn't get the happy ending that she has always hoped for."
The door flew open and Fayette stood up, defensive at first, but then she ran to the man who stood there. The King.
"Father!" She cried. "Father, I'm sorry."
"No, I am." He said. "I never would have imagined that your Mother would go so over board with the searching parties. Even when I tried to convince her that you left on your own – she insisted that someone had kidnapped you and that you were just an innocent little girl." He rolled his eyes. "I've been fighting the chances to leave this city as well."
Fayette smiled. "Father, meet the people who saved my life." She insisted, taking his hand and leading him over. "This is Sven Vollfied and Eve." She said, motioning to the pair who were on the same lounge.
Her Father shook hands with Sven. "A pleasure."
"And this is Train Heartnet." Fayette added.
"I've heard about you, Mr Heartnet." The King said as he shook his hand. "You're a Chronos Number."
"I used to be." Train corrected. "I left that way of life. I wanted to help people, not kill them."
The King smiled. "Right you are. A good life choice, young man." He then turned to address all of the Sweepers. "My wife and I are very pleased to have our daughter back, even if it's for different reasons. Please, stay here as long as you need and the reward will be provided in a few days time." He smiled. "In private, I would appreciate equal treatment, I do not receive it very often, you see. My name is Manuel – just be sure to address me as 'Your Highness' otherwise."
They all nodded.
"Fayette, my dear. Your engagement has already been rearranged; the party will be in a week's time."
"What? That soon?"
"I'm afraid so, my dear. I tried to talk your Mother out of it. But it appears that the Erikson's haven't given up on you or the land they have been offered with this binding, unbreakable contract that your Mother has written and arranged."
"But, Father – "
"I'm sorry, Fayette. There is nothing that I can do." Manuel said. "Just rest for now, everything will be fine. Oh, by the way. Some of your lessons will be starting again."
Fayette started. "No way!"
"Not to worry, only the ones that you enjoy. Art, dance and music." Manuel explained. "I need to make my leave for now; I will speak with you all later."
Manuel left the room and Fayette collapsed into a lounge, holding her head in her hands. "I don't believe this."
"Are you okay, Em?" Train asked.
"Lessons…..I'm just imagining them."
There was a gentle knock on the door and all of them looked up to see a young maid enter. She had her long brown hair tied back into a neat bun – her maids outfit was black with a white apron, the puffed out skirts reached her knees."Princess Fayette?"
"Yes, Sophie?"
"I've been asked to take you to your quarters to be cleaned and dressed appropriately." The girl explained timidly, standing in the doorway, not daring to take another step into the room.
Fayette sighed and stood up. "Okay, thank you. Is Bronte with you?"
"Yes, Princess."
"Call her here, please."
The girl turned her head into the hallway and made a shy call for her friend, who appeared at the doorway almost instantly.
"Bronte, could you take my friend, Eve to my old room and help her to clean and dress into one of my dresses?" Fayette asked. She turned to Eve who was looking up at her in confusion. "Bronte won't harm you, Eve. And I must say that my dresses are still in quite good condition. I'm sure that you'll like them."
Eve reluctantly walked off with Bronte as Sophie beckoned for Fayette.
Fayette turned to Train and Sven. "I'll send for two male maids to assist you. They shouldn't be far behind. And please just cooperate with them. They'll only do as you request. So all you have to do is ask for them to stop or start and you'll be fine. I promise."
Train and Sven exchanged anxious looks as Fayette left them in the room.
"Do you think we should trust her judgement?" Sven asked.
"She wouldn't leave us alone with them if she didn't think they could be trusted." Train reasoned.
. : . : . : .
Fayette almost missed the dresses that she could wear – tight bodice with corsets and lace all over the necklines and the edges of sleeves, billowing skirts with many layers of lace, tulle and satin with glimmering fabric and intricate embroidery – lined on the hem with more lace or frilly material. Of course some of them she cringed at and others she even downright refused to look at – those had been the ones her Mother had bought home for her.
She picked out the simplest – pale pink with a horizontal neckline that went straight off the shoulders with white frilled material lining it; the sleeves were long and hugged her arms until they reached the wrists. It had a tight bodice and the skirts started from the base of the hips and brushed on the floor – the upper layer of the skirts had a split that ran right down the front, revealing a light yellow layer underneath. It had some embroidery as all of her dresses did, but this one only had it on the bodice down the centre at the front.
She refused assistance with her hair; she just pulled the long blonde locks up out of her way and used a large, jewel studded clip to hold it in place. She also refused to remove the choker that Train had given her.
"Your Mother requested that you wear your crown, Princess." Sophie said, her shaking voice clearly fearing anger.
Fayette sighed. "Alright."
Sophie put the small gold tiara into place. "You're beautiful, Princess."
Fayette smiled graciously to the maid and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Thank you, but…" She paused, looking back into the mirror. "I wish I could be in a smaller, less dressy dress."
"The time will come, Princess. Things will work out in your favour, I'm sure of it."
Fayette smiled again at Sophie. "Thank you, Sophie. You always made these kinds of days much more bearable. Tell me, what things have changed here?"
"Not much, Princess. A few people have retired here and there, some left for better work. And a few new staff members that you'll probably meet later." Sophie replied. "But there really isn't much else that has changed."
"Thanks, Sophie." Fayette said as she slipped into a pair of shoes. "I had better head down to dinner." She glanced out at the late afternoon sun and sighed before she retreated out the door.
