New chapter : D

-back at the palace-
"Mori!" One of the red headed boys came to him with a note and a shoe.
"Remember the Fujiokas? We think we found where they put that girl, and get this. Read the note. Oh, and I think this is her shoe. She should have the other one, so you can identify her!"
Mori took the note and read it, frowning.
"I wasn't aware that she had more daughters than the two? I know there is another girl in the house, but she seemed little more that a slave, an exceptionally mistreated one at that."
Here Kyouya spoke.
" Fujioka Haruhi is the biological daughter of Fujioka Ranka, who married Masayo and she brought the two daughters who you see in society. The girl initially attended events with the others, and attended less and less and then dropped off the radar entirely. There are several rumours about her that include one saying that the new Fujiokas keep her as a slave. However the official story is that she has left with friends without the mother's or father's permission and so is considered disowned."
Mori frowned as Kyouya recited all this. The twins looked at each other and shrugged at how Kyouya knew all that, and then remembered it as well. Mori continued to think, and tucked both the shoe and note into his suit, as the rest of the group aside from the small boy drifted off to dance with people.
"What are you going to do Takashi? I've told you what she said. It's up to you, but don't do something you'll regret." For the second time that night, he looked old beyond his years, as he spoke to his cousin.
Just then Akane came over. She glanced at Huni and then looked over him and started talking to Mori.
"Will you dance with me? I feel like you've been neglecting me!" She simpered girlishly. The slight movement of his eyebrows was the only disapproval he showed, at her snubbing of his cousin and presumption to his time, but he nodded courteously. All throughout the dance he couldn't help but think of Haruhi - if indeed that was who she was- and Akane noticed. When the dance finished she didn't let him go.
"You ignored me throughout all that dance! Why? Yesterday you were perfectly happy to dance with me till that - woman-" she spat the word out, " came along, and then you ignored me! You can't do that to a lady, especially not when there is an offer of marriage on the table! You can't just dump for that stupid little airhead!" Mori didn't like hearing this presumptuous woman bad mouthing Haruhi and assuming that he was going to marry her. So her grabbed her arm and pulled her to one side.
"The only reason I danced with you is because you asked so often. I had no intention of marrying you and am sorry I got your hopes up so much, but there is no need to insult other people."
"That's it, isn't it! You think she's prettier than me! That stupid cow, how dare she do this! You don't even know who she is! Your father won't let you marry her. I am a good match, probably the best here!" Mori watched this, feeling his anger grow. He knew he couldn't let it show though, and had to be polite. At the same time he had no desire to stay in conversation with this girl, even if he could not take into account everything her family had done to Haruhi.
"I am sorry you feel so emotional, however, I have no inclination to even entertain the thought of marrying you." He then bowed and walked away, leaving her standing there angry. Walking over to his father he whispered something in his ear, and the two got up and left the ballroom.

"Father, I know who I want to marry, but she is not here tonight. I beg that you give me leave to go find her tomorrow and claim her hand, and then you may announce it." The king looked a bit perplexed.
"Well, I suppose, if it will mean that you finally marry, I suppose so. But who is she? Why is she not here tonight?"
"She was, but she had to leave early due to... Unfortunate circumstances. So I never got a chance to speak to her. I would also like your written permission to allow me to search her house, as I fear her family will be jealous and try and stop her."
"I must say Takashi, this is all most cloak and daggers. But very well, in the morning get a written warrant."

The ball ended without a proclamation of who the prince wanted to marry, and most of the ladies were confused. Surely he had still not chosen? They all went home, bitterly disappointed, Akane more than most as she had been told that there was no way she would ever be considered.
"But I don't understand why mother! And why did you let that girl get out! She almost ruined everything! Although, I dealt with her, I didn't see her again after I spoke with her, and I definitely didn't see the prince dance with her. Although he did seem rather edgy, he was so rude to me mother!"
Masayo let Akane rant for another ten minutes or so, and then told her to go to bed and that they'd deal with it in the morning. She went and unlocked the washroom, not even bothering to tell Haruhi this time. Luckily Haruhi was still awake, and when she was sure her stepmother had gone upstairs she came out and went to bed, dreaming of the prince and escaping.
Haruhi woke up early morning as she was so used to doing, and began contemplating leaving before any of the witches were awake. The more she thought about this, the more it seemed like a good idea, so she got up, and started getting ready. She had packed all her things into a bag and was just going to the kitchen when she heard a knock at the door. Thinking to ignore it, she carried on getting her stuff ready but the knocking persisted. Worried it would wake one of the witches up, she rushed over to the door and opened it just as the man was about to knock on it.
"Yes? Who are you?" This was the last thing she needed, because this man was dressed rather fancily, which meant he was probably an important official.
"Is this the Fujioka residence?" Haruhi nodded.
"I am looking for Fujioka Haruhi." Haruhi stared at him for a few moments.
"Why? What has she done? Who are you and why are you here?" Once gain Haruhi felt the realisation that she was in fact of high blood, coupled with fear over why she was wanted.
"I am here on business of the palace, and you will either bring her to me, or I will search this house. I have a warrant of the king." Haruhi frowned.
"A warrant of the king is only available to search the houses of criminals. If you want to search the house of an ordinary citizen, you need a warrant of peace. So I ask again. What do you want with Fujioka Haruhi?" The official looked at Haruhi rather oddly, seeing nothing but a slave who was being oddly defiant and knew so much about warrants. Just as he was about to answer, Mori stepped forward.
"I am searching for you, Miss Haruhi. Would-". As soon as she saw the prince, Haruhi's eyes widened in fear and she stepped back.
"No. You- why didn't you tell me who you were? I never would have attracted so much attention if you had! I would have been able to speak to my father, I would have been able to leave here!" Mori frowned.
"Where is your father? I can let you speak to him. Say you'll marry me Haruhi. I can take you away from all is, away from your stepmother and sisters. When we we at the ball, I knew when you collapsed on me and then told me off for assuming why you hadn't eaten, my heart belonged to you then." Haruhi looked at him, and felt all that she'd tried to push down while she was searching for her dad come flooding back.
"I- I think- I think I lo-" just then she heard Masayo shout down.
"Haruhi? Where are you brat? Why haven't you brought my breakfast? I'll teach you to be late! Don't ignore me!" This last bit was screeched. Turning round, Mori caught the fear on her face, and took hold of her hand.
" I will take you away from this whatever, come with me. You don't have to marry me, just let me at least take you out of this house." Haruhi looked at him and nodded, grabbing her bag that she had previously packed with her dearest possessions. Getting into the carriage, Mori had to help Haruhi, who was still exhausted from so little sleep the night before. As the carriage set off, the swaying was so lulling that Haruhi couldn't keep her eyes open, and in her hazy sleep she leant her head against Mori's shoulder.
"I think..." She fell asleep, and her head slipped down onto his chest. Mori looked startled for a minute, and then put his arm around her, overcome with a desire to protect her, this girl that he knew he had fallen deeply, impossibly, madly in love with. Looking at her dressed in rags, so thin, he felt a rage against those women that had done this to her. No one deserved to be treated like that.
As he was thinking, Haruhi started shifting in her sleep, muttering. It didn't take much to realise that she was having a nightmare, and as she was moving her sleeve rode up, exposing her skin with all the bruises on it. Seei that, he felt his rage grow immeasurably, and gently stroked her face and hair, trying to calm her down. It must have worked, because she stopped moving quite so much, and wrapped her arm around him, so he pulled her tighter. He didn't want the journey to end, but inevitably it did. He pulled his arm off her and shook her slightly to wake her.
"Haruhi. Haruhi, we're here." Haruhi started into wakefulness, and then realised that she was holding onto Mori.
"Oh, I, I'm sorry! I-" she stopped talking and just blushed, and then grabbed her bag and hid her face, so she didn't see the slight smile on Mori's face. He helped her out of the carriage and then took her inside the palace to one of the many guest rooms.
"You can get clean in here, I will send up some servants with clothes as well."
Haruhi walked in and was stunned by the opulence of the room. It made her old house look like a peasant's abode, with a large bath with elegant gold swan head - taps! They had running water here! The towels looked thicker than all her old clothes put together, and the walls were decorated with a delicate mosaic.
Just then the two servants that Mori had promised showed up. One of them emptied some sweet smelling goo into the bath and started running the taps while another hung up the dress that Haruhi assumed she was supposed to wear after the bath. As she was looking at the dress, one of the servants grabbed her from behind and started undressing her.
"Hey, what are you - I can undress myself thank you very much!" The woman didn't listen, and once Haruhi was undressed they put her in the bath and started scrubbing her."I- hey- watch what you're doing! I can wash myself!"
But no matter what she said or did, she was only one person and was still malnourished, so the two servants got their way. When they finished washing her they dried her and started dressing her. Haruhi didn't try and stop them, realising it would be futile and deciding to save her energy for the following hours which she was sure would be trying. When they finally finished they showed Haruhi herself in a mirror.
Although she still looked very thin, her cheeks had been scrubbed pink, and the dress was simple which suited Haruhi. While she had enjoyed getting dressed up for the balls, she much preferred simpler clothing, and this dress looked nice. She mentally steeled herself, not knowing what would happen now, where all this was going. It had all happened in such a rush. Then she remembered her bag and grabbed it from where she had dropped it when she first came into the room and walked to the door.
"Father?" Haruhi's father turned to face her, as she ran to him and hugged him, pulling him close like she hadn't done for many a year, as he hugged her back, so tight she could barely breathe, but she didn't care. She had her father.
Things passed in a blur from then, Mori insisted that her father and her get something to eat and he gave them a room where Haruhi recounted what had really happened. She didn't tell her father everything, figuring that he didn't need to know it all, what she told him was bad enough. He felt so bad for believing all of Masayo's lies, and vowed that he would put straight this atrocity.
And so he left Masayo, and Haruhi had her father back again. But what of the prince I hear you ask? Haruhi had known she had been falling for him since he extended a hand to her when she was a slave, even if she hadn't known at the time. And when he showed her the shoe that she had lost, she brought out the other one and put them both on.
As she did so, she was surrounded by a blinding light, and her faerie appeared. When the light faded she was dressed in garments worthy of a queen.
"My dear, your triumph in the face of such adversity has inspired the hearts of faeries all over the land. May you be forever happy." She kissed Haruhi and then disappeared, leaving her to explain to a very confused Mori and father that she was how she had been able to come to the ball when Masayo had locked her up.
And so, Haruhi and Mori got married, and when the time came they ruled wisely. Haruhi was beloved by all, including the current king and queen, who were glad that their son had finally chosen a sensible woman to marry.
Haruhi became acquainted with all Mori's close friends, and they became hers too. When they had a little baby boy and girl, twins, all of the friends were asked to be godparents.
Masayo and her daughters were shunned from society once Ranka left them, and they were forced to sell all their worldly goods and live in a cottage and work.
And so, Haruhi and Mori lived happily ever after

~~~~~
The End

Well, it's been a wonderful story to write, and thank you to all my reviewers, I hope you enjoyed reading the story as much as I enjoyed writing it : )