A/N: Wow! There were certainly several happy people in the last set of reviews. I'm glad you were proven right! Please keep them coming, they really cheer me up and keep me motivated to continue!

C.V.

Chapter Six- Disagreeable

To admit that I had been lost in the hallways of the palace for the better part of the day would have been incredibly embarrassing. It would also have been very true. I hadn't been inside the main palace since I was a child after all, and even then I'd never taken the lead to go anywhere. First, there was Theron on his adventures, and after that I'd simply followed Sebastian around, my eyes too fixated on him to notice my surroundings.

Now, all of the white pillars and golden accents were beginning to look completely identical, and it wasn't as if I'd a place to go and rest. I'd only just arrived after all, and hadn't been given any chambers to call my own- not that it mattered since I planned on escaping as soon as I could manage anyhow.

Still, I was getting quite frustrated with my lack of purpose- other than avoiding Theron of course. But after a while, even he would have done for a bit of company. At least being angry with him gave me something to occupy myself with. Now I wasn't sure if I'd ever felt more alone in my life.

Perhaps that was why, upon my fifth passing of the white column with a golden swan embellishment, when I heard Clara's voice call my name I didn't immediately think of her betrayal. In fact, I was a little relieved.

"Milady! Oh milady thank all that's good. I've been searching for you for so long now."

"Clara? What are you doing here?" I wondered, for the last time I'd checked she was a servant in Phoebe's home, and not in the palace.

"I've a new position milady. I'm to be your chambermaid here at the palace!" The girl was clearly excited about the prospect, and given what I'd suspected her treatment to have been in Phoebe's care, I didn't blame her. Still, I was well aware what the price of her employment had been- a shoe.

"That is excellent news Clara, though I'm afraid I haven't any chambers here, and so your services won't be required," I said coldly, walking away from her with determination in my step, despite the fact I'd no idea where I was going.

"But I'm here to show you to your chambers, and oh you won't believe how lovely they are. I thought Lady Phoebe's room was grand, but it's nothing compared to your rooms here." It was clear the girl had quite missed the underlying bite of my words, focusing instead on her eagerness to show me my room.

"Actually Clara, it matters little to me how beautiful they are, because I'm not staying. So unless you plan on showing me to the exit then I'd ask that you leave me alone to find it myself," I said, well aware that there was actually no way I'd be able to leave without being forced to return, though I hoped it would drive my point home more clearly.

"Oh, but milady you're not angry with me are you?" she wondered, her face falling at the notion. If I weren't so upset I might have been endeared to her.

"Of course I'm angry with you, Phoebe. You sold me to Prince Theron for a slipper! And while I'm not entirely sure how the two of you managed to plan your insidious little plot in the short time you had between the ball and this morning, I have no intention of going through with it."

"But milady, he's your true love, I just know it!" she said, her face still pleading with me to go along with her. Frustrated, I placed my hands on my hips.

"Can you stop it with the 'but miladies' and the 'true love' nonsense. Even if I did believe in that ridiculous notion, which I don't by the way, Prince Theron would be the furthest possible candidate on that list!" I insisted, despite the fact I was beginning to believe that on my end, at least, that wasn't true. Yet that thought reminded me of Theron's words to me before I'd run off, and only enraged me further.

"And perhaps, when you were conspiring with the Crown Prince to imprison me here all for the sake of better employment, you might have asked him what he thought of me- since only a short while ago he made it abundantly clear he had no feelings for me whatsoever," I shouted at her, and she began to tear up. My anger was quenched in that moment, for truly I'd no intention of making her cry. I was no better than Phoebe now, and was so ashamed with my behavior that I was quite beside myself. I was grateful the corridor we found ourselves in was quite abandoned save for us, so that I didn't embarrass myself in front of anyone else.

"Honestly Clara, you needn't cry," I urged, patting her awkwardly on the shoulder. Unfortunately, my attempts to soothe her only served to make her sob even harder.

"I'm sorry Clara, I didn't mean to shout. I've just had a particularly bad morning in case you haven't noticed. Cheer up. I'll even let you show me to those chambers you were telling me about."

"I- I only wanted you make you happy," she wailed. "He was so handsome when he came to the door, and I was right sure he was the man you were talking about. Truly though, I didn't know he was the Prince, or why he wanted your slippers at all, but I thought why not? You'd hardly miss them, and if they brought you to your true love that would be even better."

Now I simply felt guilty. She had truly been trying to help me after all, and here I was yelling at her in the corridor when she was all excited.

"I believe you, but next time please consider that matchmaking is not your best skill," I finished with a sigh, allowing her to lead the way to my chambers as I'd promised. It was really the least I could do, and while I didn't intend on staying in them for any length of time I was intrigued by Clara's description.

How she knew where she was going so quickly I'd no idea, though perhaps she was used to travelling unfamiliar hallways as part of her duties. Still, it took no time at all before we arrived at an elaborately carved wooden doorway. Images of the most beautiful flowers had been skillfully drawn out and carved into a rich colored wood, and they were so detailed it seemed as if I could reach out and pluck the petals from them one by one.

Clara pushed the door open, clearly not as intrigued by the flowers as I was as she ushered me inside happily, all signs of her former sadness had disappeared -and I could understand why. The whole atmosphere was dark and rich, with walls the same deep blue green of my ball gown. Engraved into the wood all around me with gold leaf were peacocks, their golden tails as exquisitely detailed as the real things. Blue pottery sat on golden shelves, and a mirror embedded with hundreds of emeralds, sapphires and amethysts sat behind a desk embellished with the same golden peacocks as the walls. An ornate blue, marbled fireplace burned brightly, causing the gold around the room to shine with a glowing warmth.

What was perhaps the most exquisite part of the room however, was the ceiling, where it looked as if thousands of peacock feathers had been painted in all of their beautiful colors, and jeweled to make them sparkle. All I wanted to do was lay on the golden bed and stare up at them forever.

I'd never seen anything so lovely, and I didn't understand how so perfect a room could ever have been chosen for me, for there was no way that such a place had been created quickly enough to coordinate with Theron's plan to marry me.

"What do you think of it milady?" Clara wondered, her eyes shining just as much as mine were.

"It's astonishing. It's almost as if the room was made for me."

"That's why I say you're destined to be here milady. Fate couldn't have chosen a more perfect place for you, and look there, on the balcony!" she said, gesturing to the velvet curtains that were now closed, the breeze from outside making them flutter like wings.

I opened them wide, allowing the sunlight to drench the room in light, only to realize that it was even more beautiful than I'd first realized in the sun.

As I stepped outside, I was pleased to note that my chambers overlooked the menagerie, all the beautiful flowers and birds could be mine to regard whenever my heart desired.

For a moment, I considered how I might feel if coming here had been my choice- if Theron had made himself known to me right away, if he hadn't lied and if I hadn't reacted how I did. Would my heart be fluttering with the knowledge that he'd chosen this room just for me, because he thought that I might like it? Now, all I could think about was how he could be trying to manipulate me into following his will like everyone else in High City- that his giving me this room had nothing to do with his care for me, but for him to get what he wanted. The idea made my blood run cold, and the jubilation I'd felt at seeing my chambers was quickly stifled by my suspicion.

Clara must have noticed the change in my demeanor, since she came over to me quickly.

"Do you not like it here milady?"

"I do like it here, and that's the problem," I replied wistfully, while looking at the gardens below me. "He knew I'd like it here, and that's why gave me this place- if only that I'd choose to stay for the material things around me. It shows what little he thinks of me."

"I don't think that's true milady. I suspect you'll find he cares for you more than you think, or than he'd like to admit."

"Tell me Clara, did Prince Theron tell you what I did to him when we were children?" I wondered, although I already knew the answer. There was no way he'd spread around his horrible nickname now that it was sure to fade from existence. No court lady would utter a word against a face like that, no matter how Sebastian tried to goad them on.

And so I told her about my childhood slaying dragons in the depths of the palace with Theron at my side, and how I hadn't cared so much that he was a little odd looking until everyone around me made me aware of it. I told her how I'd pushed him in the pigpen with little consideration to his feelings and how hurt he'd been. I didn't tell her what I'd learned this morning, about how Theron had admitted to loving me as a child, though if his love was friendly or otherwise I didn't know.

"So you see Clara," I said at the end of my tale. "All of this, his planning with you, his marrying me and keeping me here- all of it seems to be his revenge on me for what I've done to him. Whether he admits it or not."

"But you were children! You can't really think he'd be so hateful after so many years."

"There's a saying Clara, that High City holds a grudge for all eternity. And he's the Prince, so it's certainly possible."

She didn't reply, but instead busied herself by unpacking my belongings. I knew it would be useless to tell her that I'd be leaving so there was no need to unpack, since she was bound and bent I'd be happy here. I looked out at the menagerie for some time, until a knock at the door interrupted my thoughts suddenly.

Dutiful, Clara opened the door, greeting the visitor with a friendly smile. He was handsome, his blonde hair neatly trimmed, and she was clearly enamored at first sight of him.

"I am Charles, His Royal Highness' steward. Prince Theron would like me to advise you that dinner shall be served shortly in the great hall- and that since you've quite missed both your breakfast and luncheon you ought to attend, considering you'll get no food elsewhere."

My temper rose again, the calm I'd maintained while looking out at the garden completely gone.

"You can tell Prince Theron that I'll be happy to stay here and starve. So when everyone questions him about how his fiancee perished of hunger in his own palace, perhaps then he'll see fit to admit that he's done wrong," I snapped, causing both Clara and Charles the steward to wince at the bite in my words. Still, Charles didn't leave, which I had to admit was quite brave of him.

"Let me guess, Prince Theron has already warned you about my disagreeable nature and you didn't believe him," I pressed, and Charles only nodded slowly.

"Well then Charles, feel free to spread the word to as many people as you'd like. Every servant in the palace shall know that the prince's fiancee is a complete beast, whose hair is as fiery as her temper."

Charles didn't budge, although he did look immeasurably uncomfortable which was a small victory at least.

"Well get on with it man. Off you go!" I insisted, ushering him away with the wave of my hands.

"I- I can't milady," he stuttered, his face white as flour.

"Why ever not Charles?" I demanded.

"Because His Highness insists that I wait here until you're dressed and ready, and that if you don't come I'm to escort you down with the royal guard,"

Of all the undignified, bull-headed threats. Well, if that was how Theron wanted to play the game, then I'd have to ensure that the next move was mine.

"Then you'd best summon the guards Charles, because I will be kicking and screaming the entire way. I'm afraid the whole palace will think me quite mad."

"Milady you can't do that!" Clara said, shocked by my declaration.

"I've nothing to lose Clara, for my reputation is destroyed no matter what I do, save marry the man- and that is not an option."

Truth be told, I didn't wish to make a terrible scene, but unfortunately Theron wasn't leaving me a choice. I had threatened to be utterly disagreeable after all, and he needed to know that I was going to be exactly that. Perhaps he had thought that I would be too proud to follow through with my own threat, but I certainly wasn't.

And so that was why, a while later, I was carted down to the dining room while kicking every guard who deigned to try and carry me. I was quite lucky with some, and managed to incapacitate several of them with a well placed kick to where I shouldn't have. I was sure that my screams could be heard the entire palace over as well, which was perfectly fine by me. Of course, by tarnishing my reputation so badly I was ensuring that I'd be soiled goods for anyone who'd wish to marry me in the future, but I was quickly coming to the conclusion that I'd be quite satisfied if I never married anyone at all- especially if they, like Theron, thought to treat me so terribly.

But if what I expected was for him to be outraged as I was led into a room of courtiers, the entire royal family included, then I was completely wrong. For while everyone in the room was regarding me as if I were an untrained bear at a travelling circus, Theron laughed- he laughed so hard he nearly cried.

I supposed the scene might have been funny, the image of the guards collapsed in my wake with me hung over the shoulder of another would make for an amusing sight were you not the one in my position. Slowly, the entire court began laughing along with him, and my whole purpose of appearing completely disagreeable backfired, making me instead, into a complete joke.

He stood up lazily, raising his wine glass in the air while the courtiers at dinner did the same.

"A toast to my future wife. May she never lose her spirit."

A round of hear hears echoed across the room, along with the occasional chuckle, and I watched as Theron stared at me, his silver eyes able to calculate my every move before I even managed to think of what I might do next.

Yet as much as I wished I could loathe him entirely, I worried that the only emotion I was feeling was not hate at all, but pure respect and admiration.