Chapter Six

Train rested his head against the wall behind him, his backside beginning to ache from the hard seat he sat on.

The bustle and hustle of the airport had worn him out and his mind was in such a muddle that he could barely take any of it in. There were children playing loudly and their parents sitting by with bored expressions on their faces. There was a young couple nearby who weren't afraid to show how much they loved one another. There was an elderly couple across from him, who were holding hands and speaking softly to one another – this he didn't mind in the slightest, in fact he felt a little guilty when he admired the love they still had. He couldn't believe how lucky they were.

"Our flight is boarding, Train." Sven said.

Train looked up and saw that Eve and Sven were already prepared to board. He stood up lazily and followed them towards the gate. As they stood in line, he dug his hand into his pocket, looking for his passport, but instead he found a wrapped gift.

He pulled it out and realised that he hadn't opened it yet. He pulled on the tightly tied ribbon and the silken fabric fell open in his palm, in the middle was Fayette's bell.

He stared at it, his mouth fell open, his eyes prickled with tears. A small piece of paper was folded around the leather necklace. He picked it up and opened it, in her elaborate handwriting was a small note.

To remember me by… Love, forever and always, Fayette

Train sighed and looked up at the line that was fast depleting.

"Train?" Sven asked. "Are you coming?"

Train looked down at the note and the shining bell. He shook his head. "No, I'm not." He looked back up at Sven and Eve. "I can't go, not without her."

Sven smiled. "Then let's go get her."

. : . : . : .

"I don't know who you are, buster, but you had better leave this young girl alone or I'll shoot this bullet right through your skull."

Sophie stared around Alfredo, wide-eyed, knowing the voice instantly. "Mr Sweeper…" She whispered. "You've come back."

"Are you alright, Sophie?" Train asked.

Sophie nodded and ran over to embrace him, joyful for his help and knowing just how much his return would mean to her Princess. "Thank you, Mr Sweeper."

Train smiled down at her and pet her head with his free hand. "I'll take care of this moron." He winked as she pulled away. "Don't tell anyone I'm back, okay?"

Sophie smiled widely, a finger to her lips. "Yes, Mr Sweeper."

Train held Alfredo at gun point and met Sven and Eve in a nearby hallway, closing a door behind him. "I found this sleaze playing around with Sophie. Cuffs?"

Sven nodded and placed the hand cuffs on Alfredo, his hands behind his back.

"How dare you!" Alfredo shouted some of his gelled hair falling loose.

Train pointed the gun at him again. "So much as utter a sound and I will shoot you. How old are you anyway? She's only thirteen you disgusting piece of crap."

"I'll take care of him, Train. You go and find Fayette." Sven suggested.

"I already found her. She seems happy enough – she's dancing with her Father."

"Do you even know what her betrothed looks like?" Eve asked.

"Not a clue. But I'm sure I'll work it out fast enough." Train saluted shortly and walked back through the door he had found. Stepping back into the ballroom he adjusted the black suit jacket he had on over his button down white shirt – the collar hanging open by two buttons worth. He placed Hadis back into the holster on his thigh. He could see Sophie still standing at her post at the punch table.

He looked over at all of the dancing couples and an idea struck him. He walked over to Sophie and whispered into her ear. "How would you like to assist a Sweeper in a little adventure?"

Sophie looked up at him. "I'm sorry?"

. : . : . : .

"Are you sure that this is okay?" Sophie asked, pushing a thick sleeve of transparent material back into place on her shoulder. "I'm not sure if I'm allowed to wear the royal dresses."

"It doesn't matter – and I know for a fact that Fayette wouldn't give a stuff if you took all of her dresses for yourself." Train replied, leading her down the hallways back towards the ballroom.

"Why me, exactly?" Sophie asked.

"Because I think you deserve to know how it feels." Train said, sneaking through a back door hidden under the large staircase of the ballroom.

"How what feels?" Sophie asked.

Train pulled her into the dancing couples and began a simple partner dance – the only one he knew. Within moments Sophie was smiling brightly, her heart beating in her chest as she experienced the free feeling of dancing.

"And besides." Train whispered. "I needed a purpose to get closer to Fayette. And I thought that this would be more fun for you rather than Eve."

Sophie smiled a little and held onto his hand a little tighter, resting the side of her face to the space just below his chest.

"Ohh, how sweet." An elderly woman cooed as she walked by with another elderly woman. "You're bought your little sister as your date?" She asked Train.

Train smiled widely. "Well, she is my own personal Princess."

The other woman cooed quietly. "My brother never treated me that kindly – not even on his death bed. He didn't even leave me anything on the will." She grumbled to her friend as they walked on.

Train snorted and held Sophie closer as he tried not to laugh. "I love old ladies." He chuckled.

Sophie was blushing deeply. "They think we're related…?"

"Better than that we're dating." Train muttered, looking up over the crowds a little. "I see Fayette."

A hand rested gently on Train's shoulder and he turned to see a young man.

"Yes?"

"May I cut in?" The boy asked.

"Lucas?" Sophie asked.

"Hey Soph." Lucas greeted.

Train smiled at the look in Sophie's eyes. "No problem kid, she's all yours." He leaned in to the boy's ear to whisper darkly. "But hurt her and a bullet will end it." He stood upright and grinned. "Don't worry kid, I trust you."

Train left the pair to dance with a smile on his face. Anyone would have been better than that guy he had seen harassing her earlier. Fayette was still dancing with her Father – he wondered where her betrothed was.

Train sneakily made his way through the guests and up behind the King, gently tapping his shoulder. "May I take over, Manuel?"

He heard Fayette gasp and Manuel turned as Train bowed and then stood up straight. "I apologise for my tardiness, but I didn't realise what I was missing."

Fayette's smile was worth coming back. "Train."

Manuel handed Fayette over to Train and he nodded to the Sweeper as he walked back towards the thrones.

Train wrapped his arm around Fayette's waist and held her close to himself, his hand clasped tightly around hers and he breathed in the scent of her hair. "I've been an absolute idiot this week, Faye – can you ever forgive me?" He pleaded as he slowly began to sway side to side.

"I already have." Fayette whispered, using an old habit of nuzzling her nose into the little spot at the base of his neck.

"I'll never leave you again." He promised and reached into his coat pocket. "You left something with me – and I need to return it." He pulled out her bell, it ringed brightly and he lifted it up to place back around her slender neck.

"Make another move and it will be your last."

Train froze, his gold eyes turned to look to his side. They had been in such an entranced state that they hadn't noticed that the room had gone silent, the guests forced into a circle around the border of the ballroom.

Train glared into the icy eyes of the man who held a sword to his cheek and wondered how he managed to get loose. "How…?"

. : . : . : .

Sven sighed. He was happy to watch over the prisoner for Train's sake – but after a while of threatening the bound man who kept trying to speak. Eve had also gotten bored and was absentmindedly transforming her fingers into new kinds of weapons that she could use in the future.

The prisoner sat on the ground, scowling and grumbling curses under his breath – but they hadn't noticed that he had pressed a tiny button on the sleeve of his coat.

Sven started when he heard the rhythm of marching feet approaching. He stood up, his suit case ready with the main shotgun cocked to fire, but from behind a zap to the back of the neck sent him to the ground, paralysed until he fell unconscious.

. : . : . : .

Train looked over towards where the man motioned, Sven was lying face down, his hands tied behind his back. Eve was sitting beside him, scowling into the distance, her hair a mess, a thin slit of blood marked on her cheek.

Train growled, but before he could demand who this guy was, Fayette spoke.

"Alfredo, what have you done?" Fayette demanded.

Train looked down at her in surprise. "You know this clown?"

"He's my betrothed." Fayette replied. "I told you his name and I showed you a picture and you don't remember?"

Train looked away. "I was doing my best to block that hurtful memory from my mind." He admitted.

Fayette smiled and then turned to Alfredo. "What did you do to them?"

"I was held captive by this man!" Alfredo cried – his voice peaking into hysteria – as he pointed his sword towards Train.

Fayette looked over at Train in surprise.

Train was already reaching for Hadis. "You had your hands all over that poor Sophie girl. What did you expect me to do?"

Alfredo lowered his weapon, distracted from his secret being exposed.

Fayette gasped. "Sophie?"

"She's fine." Train reassured her. "I dressed her up in one of your preteen dresses and invited her into the party." He grinned. "She's a wonderful dancer."

Fayette smiled warmly at Train. "You've got a good heart, Train."

Train grinned and puffed his chest out proudly.

Alfredo growled. "Well if it weren't for that stupid teenage butler I'd have taught that pathetic maid a lesson long before this party started."

In the fraction of a second, Train drew Hadis, shot a bullet at the blade of the sword – which shattered to pieces in response – and the placed his gun back into its holster. "The only one who is pathetic is you." He muttered darkly, his gold eyes flashing with pure fury.

Alfredo stared at the handle of the sword – the only part of it left – in shock. He hadn't even seen the man pull his weapon.

"You dare to come here, for the Princess' hand, and you intend to assault a thirteen year old child – an innocent child, who did nothing to you or to anyone else." Train added, leaving Fayette behind him as he approached Alfredo, his hand ready by Hadis, ready to shoot if he needed. "You disgusted me before – but I haven't felt like this for many years. Believe me; it's hard to get me this infuriated." He pulled Hadis out of its holster. "And next time, I won't miss."

"Father?" Fayette asked, turning towards the thrones. "Call for the guards to arrest this man, and his entourage. I won't stand for Sophie to be harmed."

The Queen was sitting on her throne, dumbstruck. She was barely moving. Fayette didn't even choose to speak to her. Alfredo was taken away, his entourage taken away with him – these provided more of a fight as they insisted they had only been following orders.

Train was still stiff, his back straight as an arrow as he stared after Alfredo.

Fayette gently touched his arm. "Train, everything's okay now."

Train softened, but didn't look at her. "You might have married that man. He would have hurt you in such a way that…" He paused, turning his head further away. "I can't imagine it."

"Then don't. I won't marry him."

Train finally turned to her and clasped her bell back into place and he flicked it lightly to make it ring. He smiled. "So that I know I won't ever lose you."

"Never." Fayette replied.

Train smiled and gently took her chin with his thumb and forefinger and pulled her up, closer and closer still until they met. A sweet, loving, longing kiss – they expressed their pain, their near loss and the intense burning of their hearts. His smooth, yet calloused, fingers trailed softly down the backs of her arms to clasp her elbows and pull her closer to him.

Within moments they had forgotten the crowds. Forgot the King and the Queen. They forgot who they were and what they were even doing there. All that they knew was that they were together – and there was no force on earth that could tear them apart ever again.

When Train finally ended the kiss he leant his forehead against hers, his breathing was short and his heart was pounding a painful beat in his chest. "Faye, my beautiful, Faye. From the very bottom of my heart, believe me when I say how much I love you."

Fayette embraced him. "I love you, too."

. : . : . : .

A few days passed and Sven was barely seen – he needed to heal from his taser attack, Eve barely left his side. And when he finally was allowed to get out of bed he celebrated by eating nearly all of the food in the castle.

Whether they knew it or not, Train and Fayette spent any possible moment together. Anyone noticed the change in the way they acted – the continuous smiles on their faces, the instant rise in their attitude the moment their other half walked into the room. They took long walks around the castle grounds and horse rides in the orchids.

They were sitting in the library, Fayette explaining the reasons for a civil war that had been started a century ago.

"But that's such a stupid reason." Train complained. "They didn't even talk about it."

"Well, clearly. That's why they attacked without warning." Fayette said. "But the northern providence wanted more land – which was pretty much the only thing worth coveting back then – so they came in and attacked some areas of large lands over the eastern border. I'll bet you can imagine what happened once the Prime Minister of the Eastern Providence heard about the murder of innocent people."

"He was ready to attack." Train assumed.

"She wanted to talk it out – Callista Bellus was a peaceful leader." She turned the page of the large book in front of them to show him a portrait of a blonde haired woman in a medieval styled dress. "The people of the Eastern Providence were all peaceful as well, under her rule and they didn't need to fight because Bellus would fix a problem before it could begin. She went to the Parliament of the Northern Providence – seeking to work out the problem and the reasons for the senseless attack." Fayette shook her head. "She died – murdered the moment she entered the room."

Train's eyes widened.

"Yet, her son took the initiative to take over for his Mother and he knew that the only way to beat them was to fight back. He saved the Eastern Providence, doing that he knew his Mother would have hated – yet, once it was over he remained as Prime Minister of the Eastern Providence and ruled as his Mother did. And he always maintained the fact that it was his Mother that saved the Eastern Providence. That's why I was named after her." Fayette smiled. "Fayette Callista Yvonne Alvares."

"Fayette."

They both turned towards the voice of the Queen. She was dressed as usual – the height of elegance. And as though guests were to arrive at any moment.

"Mother." Fayette muttered, only willing to acknowledge that she had been spoken to, but she quickly turned back to the book that she and Train were looking over.

"Fayette, I wish to speak with you a moment."

"What about?" Fayette asked.

"You will find out, come with me to my study." Yvonne stated, growing rather short with her daughter.

Fayette sighed and stood up, leaning down to peck Train lightly on the nose before she followed her Mother out of the library and down the vast hallways. Fayette hadn't been in her Mother's study for many years – there had never been a need. But from her memory of the large, extravagant room, not a lot had changed. It was still ornate with gold and silver and warm tones of brown, reds and yellows – the walls coated with paintings far back into her family tree and a wall of books behind a mahogany desk and heavily cushioned chair with a high back. In front of the desk were two smaller chairs that were heavily cushioned as well.

As the Queen took her seat behind the desk she motioned to one of the other chairs. "Please, take a seat, Fayette."

Fayette was obedient, knowing that the more she cooperated the faster this conversation would go and the sooner she could be out of there. She took the seat closest to the window – an old habit from when she was a child.

"I wish to discuss and explain as few things that I have done in the past, if you will agree to listen?" Yvonne asked – still unsure of just how much her daughter would cooperate with.

Fayette folded her legs under herself and leaned back, listening intently – she wasn't about to miss this chance to hear the rehearsed round of ridiculous, ill conceived excuses that her Mother would come up with.

"I should start from the beginning." Yvonne explained and then took in a deep breath, as though trying to build up some courage. "I was born into the Eastern Providence, you know this. But what you don't know is that when I was very young my parents passed away and I was sent to live with my Father's cousin – the Duke at that time. I was a simple ward with no hope of being much more than a worker in the household. Until you're Father came to visit." She sighed. "Back then he was the biggest catch in the country. The next in line for the throne. Highest King of Ourania."

Fayette frowned – not really believing this, but continued to listen.

The Queen continued without noticing Fayette's reaction. "He was to marry the daughter of the Duke, my Father's cousin. She was a little older than I and we got along fine – until Prince Manuel came. She began to push me aside in favour of his company and never asked me for tea in the garden or for a walk in the townships." Yvonne looked up. "I was heartbroken. Not just because of the loss of my good friend, but because I knew that I fancied Manuel as well." She admitted. "And sweetheart, I know now what I have done to you – not to mention the horrible decision for a Prince I chose for you. If I had known –" She paused when she saw that Fayette was staring out the window.

"Mother…you've realised your mistake too late – and I've tried to let you know." Fayette said. "And you've kept me here, a prisoner in a castle. But I know what I want – and that is Train. I'll go where he goes. I'm not about to keep him trapped up in here."

"You're the heir to the throne." Yvonne reminded her. "I can't let you just leave, not without another heir to take your place."

Fayette smiled. "I have a candidate who should be able to fulfil my place well enough."

...

A picture that I have done showing the scene when Train shoots Alfredo's sword is on my deviantart account.