Arthur awoke the next morning, feeling strangely rested. It had been a long time since he'd slept through the night. It must have been that he was wounded, he decided. But a lingering thought also stayed in the back of his mind. Could it have been that he really cared about someone, for the first time in, years?
The wound on his arm had been re-wrapped, and cleaned again during the night, yet he had not awoken.
"Nine days." He whispered. "Nine days."
Lenore brought him breakfast, and Arthur popped a his question.
"Lenore. How do you impress a girl?"
Hope lit in the servant's chest. He could have listed numerous things that Arthur was doing wrong, but decided to keep it positive.
"I've heard. She likes books."
"Books." Arthur mused. "Girls...books. The library!"
Arthur changed his clothes, and hurried down to Gwen's room, unsure of how to ask for her presence nicely.
"I would...like...to...show you-something." He finally said, deciding that sounded pleasant.
Gwen had dressed that morning in a deep blue dress, and spent ages brushing out her hair. It had been partially frozen and tangled. Her face was still pale; she'd caught a minor chill. But it was nothing too serious. She stood at the knock at the door, and opened the door to find Arthur there. "Arthur." She said, and a genuine smile lit her face. "Show me something?" She asked, "What is it?"
"A-" He peeked down at a note in his hand, which Lenore had written out, and told him what to say. "Surprise. For you. I think you...will like."
Gwen nodded, "Alright." She said with a tentative smile, "Lead the way."
"Wait." Arthur gently offered her his hand, feeling extremely awkward, and unsure of himself. "It would be my pleasure to escort you."
The Prince darted his eyes up from Gwen, down to the piece of paper.
Gwen smiled. She liked this. He was acting...almost like a gentleman. She put her own small hand gently in his.
Arthur cleared his throat, and led her down the stairs, and to a great oak door, engraved with beautiful carvings.
"Here, now. Close your eyes." He urged.
Gwen looked confused but obliged, closing her eyes. She bit her lip, waiting.
He waved his hand lightly in front of them, and deciding he was good, opened the door, and led her in.
"You may..." He glanced down at the sheet again. This was awkward; he didn't even know how to speak to her. "Open your eyes."
Gwen smiled, opening her eyes slowly. She spun, looking around, her face lit with complete awe. "Oh my." She whispered. There were books, hundreds of books, lining the walls. "Oh Arthur."
"Do you like it?" Arthur laughed, perfectly happy he'd picked something she enjoyed.
"It's wonderful!" Gwen exclaimed, her eyes still focused on the books.
"I used to come here a lot." Arthur shrugged, picking up a book, then setting it down quickly.
"Arthur..." Gwen said quietly. She looked at him, and took a step towards him, "Why is it like this?" She asked, "Why are the servants trapped here? What happened?"
"I made a mistake." Arthur said gruffly. "Did something I regret. We're cursed to be unloving, and trapped until...someone sees behind it all."
"What did you do?" Gwen asked, "I mean, if you don't mind me asking."
Arthur sat down softly, leaning on a pile of books. "I left someone out in the cold. And..." He shook his head, unable to finish. "Turned away their need."
"Do you regret it?" Gwen asked gently placing her hand on his arm, "What you did?"
"When I saw you, in the cold. When I turned you away. I did." He shrugged.
Gwen smiled, and sat down beside him. "I'm glad you let me stay." She said softly, "I have nothing to go back to." She was lying, and she knew it. But he needed her, more than her brother.
"Would you like to see him again? The mirror, can show you anything you wish to see. You might regret saying that." Arthur said, unsure that she really meant what she said.
"He doesn't need me anymore." Gwen said, looking down at her hands, "I feel...that I'm needed here."
"How so?" Arthur looked at her, his eyes emanating curiosity; it was such a change from the hate that had been there before.
"It doesn't matter." Gwen said, smiling softly, "He just doesn't need me anymore."
"As you wish." Arthur nodded.
Gwen stood, and started to examine books, a smile lighting her face. "These are beautiful." She said. All of them were the finest make, bound perfectly.
"My father and I used to collect them." Arthur looked up at the thousands of books that surrounded them.
"Where is he?" She asked, "Your father?"
"Dead." Arthur's voice had absolutely no emotion as he said it. "Gone. I locked the library up...after he died. It didn't seem right to continue, without the one who'd inspired my love of books."
"Oh, I'm sorry." Gwen said. Not for his death, because she knew there was nothing she could do about that, but for asking.
"No, it's fine. You can...ask. I don't mind. I've never really had a friend before." He stood up, and took her out of the library, shutting but not locking the door behind them. Maybe she'd like to come back someday.
Gwen followed, looking at Arthur with gentle eyes. "I can try to be your friend." She said, "But I think...I think we both need to change a little."
The word change didn't exactly appeal to him, and his posture stiffened."How so?"
"Well..." Gwen said, deciding to proceed with extreme caution, "You need to try and be a bit kinder while I...maybe I could be a bit less stubborn."
Arthur didn't know how to reply. Here was a small, sweet girl that he'd only met only 48 hours before, telling him he needed to change?
Instead of loosing his temper, Arthur bit his lip, and walked off in the opposite direction.
"Arthur." Gwen called after him. She looked small and alone, in the huge hallway, shuddering slightly at the cold, "I really do want to be your friend."
He kept walking, straight to the East Wing, suddenly aware of what a dark mess it was. Arthur lay down on the bed, and banged his head on the pillow - hard.
He had tried to be nice, and good, and that's what he got? He would have thrown something, if everything but the bed wasn't already destroyed. As the young man watched, another petal fell from the rose.