Huffah! I have been successful in completing this chapter, something I was compelled to do. I absolutely adore this chapter, and cannot wait to start twelve, however, I do have my other story to continue with as well. It's fairly long for me and I really hope you all enjoy it. I probably have many typos and such, but I thank you for those of you who reviewed last chapter (and that was perhaps two or three of you… cough cough). I wish for the rest of you to review as well…

So, here's chapter eleven, enjoy!

Eleven

I blinked a few times, adjusting to the sunlight. I rubbed my eyes and sat up, glancing around the room. Deborah was coming in the door with a new dress. It was red and simple. She smiled when she saw me awake. "Master insisted you have breakfast with him in the library instead of alone in your room."

My heart did a few flips. Last night… Deborah didn't tell him, did she?

She got me into my dress and combed my hair, putting it up. I tried to even out my breathing as I took the familiar path to the library. I opened the doors to find Rush pacing back and forth. I smiled like a giddy school girl at the sight of him. His face was illuminated with sunlight and a little frown tugged at his mouth. I shut the door and he looked up, now smiling. "Shannaye."

"Rush," I said back to him.

"I hope you slept well," he said. "We'll leave not too long after breakfast."

"I did sleep well," I assured him as we sat down to eat. "Did you?"

He took a bite of ham and nodded. Swallowing he said, "Better than I have for a while."

"I'm glad to hear it," I said, taking a bite of eggs.

Breakfast was filled with small talk and I told him about home. "But two years had passed. Why was it only weeks… or a month and a half here?"

"I haven't figured that out myself. Somehow the servants could tell you how much time had passed, but you and I both find time slightly different here. The weather changes incredibly fast, I'm sure you noticed. That's the only clue that the time moves quickly here."

I bit my lip. "How strange."

"Indeed," he agreed, an amused smile creeping upon his face.

I frowned. "When I return today, how much time will have passed?"

"I think it should be the same as here since it's only been a day." He gave me a reassuring smile.

I studied his features. "Is this how you looked when you were a prince, before the curse?"

He laughed. "Yes, it is. It takes a lot of energy for me to keep up a complete fake appearance. I could do little things, like if I had a small scratch on my face, I could keep it hidden." When he said this, a scratch appeared on his face and he pointed to it. "Like that." It disappeared again. "Those kinds of things are barely a conscious effort. I might even be holding up the act in my sleep for all I know."

"That's quite interesting," I said.

"Very," he agreed.

"How old were you when you got the curse?"

He thought for a moment. "About twenty-one."

We finished our food and sat talking for a while longer. Finally Rush said, "Perhaps I should take you home now."

I looked in my lap. "I suppose so." I looked back up at him. "Please, let me see the music room one more time. The one at home is not nearly half as lovely, nor does it mean as much to me."

He gave me a half-hearted smile. "Of course."

We walked to the music room arm in arm. When we got there, Rush opened the door. I didn't go in right away, I just leaned against the doorway, taking in the room. "When can I come back? Please, the past month was awful, not knowing when I'd get to visit you." I looked to him eagerly.

"I'll visit you twice a week," he promised. "You can come back with me on occasion."

I tried not to look disappointed. "Twice a week?"

He nodded. "I know, it's not much, but I already feel like twice a week is too often."

I sighed, looking back at the music room. "I'll miss it here."

His hand intertwined with mine and I looked up to him, startled. "It's very lonely without you here." He smiled sadly. I smiled back at him. He let go of my hand and frowned, as if it had been something he shouldn't have done. "I really should take you back, Shannaye."

I nodded. "I suppose so."

We walked away from the music room to the stables where our horses waited for us. On the trip home Rush had me tell him more about the palace. I told him how the library was so large and about the gardens. I told him about the little garden with the swing and the pond I loved to wade in. I promised that when he visited me, I would take him to it.

We got to the palace gates and Rush was about to turn away. "No," I said quietly, "come in for a while. Please?"

He looked nervous, but smiled at me anyway. "For a while."

We went in and found Edmund pacing the halls. He looked up as we came close and ran up to me. "Shannaye, where were you? We have all been worried sick." I knew this was going to happen, and I braced myself for the attack on Rush that was about to come. Indeed, it came. "And why is he here? He took you from us! Does he think he can have you for good?" He addressed Rush now, stepping closer to him in a menacing way. "Get out, stay away from here! My sister has had enough with you!"

Anger flared inside me out of nowhere. My brother couldn't talk to Rush like that! I glared at him, taking a step to him. "Edmund! No! I want him here, I invited him! I went to go see him yesterday, but it became dark sooner than I thought. My only choice was to stay there. You are not to send him away, ever. He is my guest right now. Honor that. And do not speak on my behalf again."

Edmund looked shocked at my statement, but caved as I knew he would. "Whatever you say."

Rush looked as equally shocked as Edmund was. Really, I was shocked at myself as well, but I took no time to revel in myself suddenly taking the initiative. Instead, I asked, "Edmund, where are mother and father?"

"In the dining hall," he answered.

I nodded. "Thank you, and my absence will remain extremely vague in its happenings." I gestured for Rush to follow me. He followed along nervously as we grew closer to the dining hall.

"Shannaye, really… I don't want to cause trouble." He kept tugging at the end of his sleeves. "I can just go back now…"

I shook my head. "Rush, my mother and father will not have the same reaction as Edmund, I can assure you that much. I will make sure of it. Please do not worry. I can take care of it."

He took a deep breath as we neared the dining hall doors. He opened one and held it for me. My mother cried with relief as she ran to embrace me. "Shannaye! You are alright."

Father had a more stern, but concerned, approach. "Where did you go, girl? You had us all worried. You cannot expect to be able to disappear just like that."

"I'm sorry, I only went for a ride in the woods and my old friend Rush found me as it was getting dark. He kindly allowed me to stay at his home," I said, motioning to Rush.

My mother smiled as he bowed to them. "My dear young man," she said, and I nearly laughed when she said young. "I appreciate your kindness to my daughter. Pray tell, how did you two meet?"

I smiled as Rush looked to me with a little panic. "He was at one of the art festivals we visited. He was visiting as well and he accompanied me that day. I knew you would make a big deal about me finally making a friend," I paused, as if a little ashamed, "and told you I had been reading instead." Actually, I really had been reading off under a tree that day. I could see Rush calm a little and relaxed a little myself. If Rush wasn't relaxed, I could not be either.

Father half-smiled and said, "Well it's nice to meet you…"

"Sir Rushell, Your Highness," Rush finished for him, improvising.

"Ah, a knight," Father said, smiling. "Did I knight you, or was that my son in my absence?"

"It was me, Father," Edmund said as he walked in.

Father nodded. "I see." He paused. "I don't recall a Sir Rushell being in the records."

Edmund feigned a look of confusion. "Really? I do think I put him in… Perhaps not. I must've been preoccupied that day."

"Well, Sir Rushell, you must really stay and have dinner with us," Mother said.

He squirmed. "I…" He looked at me and I saw that he was in an awful state, on the verge of panic. I hadn't seen Rush, one of the toughest people I'd ever met, look so… vulnerable.

"He did say that he's got some previous business," I said, leaving it open for him to decline politely or to accept if he wished.

"I'm sure I can put it off for a night," he said, his voice a little less on edge. I hadn't realized how well I had gotten to know him to notice little things in his mannerisms such as this.

"Splendid! Edmund, go tell the cook we have an extra plate at the table tonight, and tell the guards that Shannaye is back safely. I trust you ate on your journey back, daughter? We just only finished lunch. Shannaye, why don't you show Sir Rushell around? You can return to get ready for dinner in a few hours," Mother said, shooing us away.

I smiled. "Yes, Mother." When Rush and I had left the dining hall, I grinned at him. "That went well," I said.

He let out a sigh. "Maybe for you. I was scared out of my wits."

I laughed. "My parents aren't that intimidating."

"Only if they don't know you were the one that took their daughter," he said, laughing with me, though sounding a little worried still. He offered his arm and I took it. "Where shall you start your tour, Madame?"

I pretended to think deeply. "I did promise you that I'd show you the garden. Come, let's do that first."

So we traversed to the garden, laughing at how easily we got away with my plot. We got to the garden door and I smiled. I opened the door. The garden was as lovely as ever. I ran to the swing and pulled my slippers and stockings off. Rush looked at me quizzically. I just smiled at him knowingly and walked to the pond, lifting my skirts as I stepped in. "I love doing this," I said, walking around the shallow puddle of a pond.

Rush took his shoes off as well and followed suit. "This water's perfect," he said, kicking a little water. I squeaked as a little splashed on me and he gave a sinister grin. He kicked a little harder this time and I tried to jog to the other side of the pond, but he laughed and chased after me. Even when I got onto the grass, he still chased me. I ran to the swing and sat down, clinging to the ropes desperately, laughing hard.

Rush stood in front of me, shaking his head and still laughing. He leaned against the tree and looked around the garden. "It's beautiful here," he commented.

I nodded. "I come here all the time, just to wade in the pond or swing. It's a good place to think."

He continued to look around the garden in silence. I did the same. The tree Rush leaned against was old, perhaps as old as him, and it was a very large tree. I watched birds fly around the garden and I felt content, being here with Rush in the garden.

"You said you took a walk this morning?" I asked, curious.

He nodded absentmindedly. "That I did. Taking walks for me is like coming to the garden is for you. It clears my head sometimes."

"Yes, walks do that," I agreed. I swung my legs, staring at the familiar dirt beneath me. Suddenly it was moving and I looked behind me. Rush smiled at me, pushing the swing. I turned back around and enjoyed the moment.

I heard Rush take a deep breath as he pushed me again. "Deborah told me about your conversation last night," he said softly, bringing the swing to a stop.

I turned my head to look at him, my face flushed. "She did?" I asked weakly.

He nodded, and he looked off at something across the garden. "I've never had anybody… care for me sincerely in return… and I don't know…"

"Wait," I said, interrupting. "You said care for you in return. You care for me, too?"

He blinked at me. "Yes."

I pressed my lips together. "I've never had anybody care for me really at all other than my family." I looked to him. "I've never really cared for anybody, either."

He looked back at me. "What are we going to do about this?" he asked.

I shook my head. "I don't know," I whispered in reply.

He sighed. "Me either… What if nothing breaks the spell? I'll live on while…" He didn't finish, leaving it for me to fill in the blank.

"How do you know if the spell is broken?" I asked, directing the conversation a little from that.

He shook his head and answered, "I really don't know." I frowned and leaned my head against one of the ropes. Rush moved a piece of hair from my face. I blushed and he gave a half smile. "You're so beautiful, Shannaye."

I smiled. "You're quite dashing as well," I told him, laughing.

He came around to stand in front of me, laughing as well. He held out his hands and said, "Come on, let's dance." I took his hands and we twirled around the garden, tripping over tree roots and laughing at each other. We danced through the pond, my skirts getting soaked in the process. I didn't care anymore, the moment was too perfect to care about my skirts.

Rush stopped dancing after a while and grinned. "You're soaked," he said, amused.

I gave him a playful shove. "Only because you wanted to dance in the pond."

He shrugged. "I thought it would be fun. Admit it, you enjoyed getting soaked." He grinned at me.

"I shall not say such a thing."

He raised his eyebrow. "Then perhaps I will make you!" He made a lunge for me. I squealed, running from him. My skirts weighed me down and he caught me caught me in no time, him arms flung around my waist. I laughed, turning to face him, and he said, "Admit it!"

I refused and he began to tickle me, making me laugh harder. I pushed on his chest, but he didn't let go. "Fine! Fine! I enjoyed getting soaked!"

He stopped tickling me and laughed. He let go of me and shook his head. "I have never had so much fun in two hundred years."

I laughed. "Never?"

"Never. Then again, I was different two hundred years ago. I haven't been part of society in two hundred years, either, I could have easily forgotten about fun like this." He paused then said with a slight tone of amusement, "Your parents think I'm a knight."

"A knight that accompanied me at a festival," I added. "Trust me, the fact that you befriended me has made you a god in my parent's eyes."

He looked skeptical. "Surely you're more likable than that."

I laughed. "Oh, I am plenty likable. I just don't try and make friends. I sit and read mostly. I don't really speak to anyone much. People make me nervous."

He shook his head, chuckling. "You're a funny girl, you know that?"

I made a face. "Yes, so I've been told."

He stepped closer to me so that there were perhaps two inches between us. He reached up and ran his fingers through my hair. "I wish… I wish I knew how to fix this curse," he whispered. He then leaned over and pressed his lips on mine. His hands cupped my face and I put my hands on his upper arms, not able to reach any higher to wrap my arms around his neck. I never had been so happy, I didn't want the moment to end.

We separated and stared at each other, still in each other's arms. I studied his grinning face and let go of him suddenly. "Rush, change into something, anything. It doesn't matter."

He looked confused. "Why?"

"Just do it." I was getting impatient with him.

He frowned, his face worried. "I… can't." He gasped and his face lit up. "Shannaye, the curse, it must be gone! You're such a brilliant girl!" He gabbed me and twirled me in the air, setting me down only to kiss me again. "Oh I love you so much! What made you think of it?"

I grinned. "Your scratch. You said it barely took a conscious effort to keep it hidden and I thought that you were either very distracted or perhaps…"

"Or perhaps the curse had broken," he finished enthusiastically. He gave me yet another kiss. "I will visit you as much as I possibly can," he promised.

His enthusiasm was contagious. I smiled excitedly. "That would make me so happy," I told him, leaning into him. "Perhaps I should go get ready for dinner."

He nodded, "Okay." He slipped his hand into mine and we walked to the gate as such. Before stepping onto the grounds, I placed my hand in the crook of his arm. He smiled down at me and we walked back to the castle. Edward saw us and walked to us. "Rush, why don't you join me in the study until dinner while my sister gets ready?"

Rush nodded. "I would be honored, Your Highness." He bowed to me. "I shall see you at dinner, Princess."

"Until then, sir." I watched them leave, Edmund talking animatedly at Rush, it seemed good-naturedly enough, so I did not worry.

I went to my room and flopped on my bed for a moment. I stared up at the new canopy that hung over my bed. I thought of Rush and the way he smiled after our kiss. I thought of the kiss itself, my very first one.

"Shannaye! Mother said you were back! You did not come see me? I do not get to meet your knight?" Kaylla said as she loudly entered my bedchamber. "I am hurt." She fanned her hand in front of her breast, as if about to have a fainting spell. She broke into giggles.

I sat up and laughed at her. "You're so funny," I said sarcastically.

"What was that you used to tell me? 'Sarcasm is the tool of the dimwitted.'" She raised her eyebrow.

I shrugged. "It was two years ago," I said haughtily, bursting into giggles as she did.

"So, is this knight a respectable young bachelor?" she asked, sitting next to me on the bed.

Once again, the thought of Rush being described as young made me nearly choke up in a fit of laughter, but with joy I remembered he was no longer immortal. "He's twenty-one. Very kind," I answered.

She grinned. "You're smitten with him, aren't you? No Duke could catch your eye, sister, it had to be the brave knight, just like in your books. Don't deny it, you were blushing."

I smiled. "I do enjoy his company," I admitted.

She jumped from the bed. "Come! We must make you more beautiful than ever so that knight of yours could not resist you for a second!"

"Kaylla…" I shook my head. "Not again."

She smirked. "No hair cuts this time, I promise. Now please, pick out a dress with me."

I sighed and walked to the wardrobe with her. I pointed to an emerald dress I had brought back from Rush's castle. Kaylla squealed with excitement. "A gorgeous dress, Shannaye! Wonderful choice. This shall be easier than before."

Once I was in it, she moved me to my vanity. She looked through my jewelry and stopped. She picked up the locket by its chain, letting it slowly rotate. "You still have this," she said quietly. I nodded. She put it on me and we stared at my reflection in the mirror. "Shannaye, you are beautiful."

I immediately thought of the garden and Rush telling me I was beautiful. "You are still the more beautiful one, Kaylla." She shook her head, but we both knew the argument would go nowhere, so we said nothing more. Instead, she told me of her husband, who had stayed at home with his sick mother, as she did my hair. We spoke of old memories and the silly arguments we had. I told her more about my stay with Rush, careful not to give anything away.

A knock came at the door and a servant informed us dinner was ready and waiting. I took my sister's hand and we walked downstairs to the dining hall. Unconsciously, I squeezed her hand. She smiled at me and I suddenly felt like we had never been separated, like we were seventeen and fifteen again. Now I was nineteen- nineteen!- and she was the one that was seventeen years old. And married, too!

She looked over at me and smiled, as if knowing my thoughts. We released hands and walked in. Everybody was standing off to the side, waiting for us. Rush was speaking with Edmund and Father about the quality of different woods while Anya and Mother spoke of linens. They all looked up as we approached them. Father said, "Now that the ladies are here, we may eat!"

Edmund offered his arm to Anya, Father to Mother, and Rush to me. Kaylla followed behind us. Mother and Father at each end of the table, Edmund to the right of Father and Anya next to him. Kaylla sat to the right of Mother, I sat next to Kaylla, and Rush on my other side. We ate while chatting idly about the weather and economics. After dessert was served, we were invited to gather in one of the parlors. We all sat in the parlor and chatted for a while. Rush was invited to spend the night in a guest room. He accepted the invitation much to my enjoyment. The rest of the night Rush and I could not be very close nor alone, but we caught each other's eye every so often.

Finally we were sent to bed. Kaylla and I walked back up to our rooms. As I laid my head on my pillow, I thought one last time of my first kiss before I fell asleep.

I hope you have enjoyed this and overlooked anything stupid I have done.

Review! Please? I would appreciate it! If I knew you personally (ahem, KAITLYN) and you did not review, I would wring your neck. Lovingly, of course. That's all a lie, by the way. If I knew you personally, I would give you a shiny penny. So, review and pretend that you know me and then you can pretend that you have received a pretty penny.