"No."

"No?"

"No," King Darren said, standing and pacing. "Have the two of you completely lost your senses?"

"Santana had nothing to do with this request, Father," Blaine assured the king. "She doesn't even know I'm asking. I just think -"

"You just think you'll cover your tracks a bit more," his father bit out. "You're lucky, young man. So very lucky. The Hudson boy is honorable, but imagine what would have happened if you'd pulled this stunt with a more… with a noble who was higher in rank and sure of himself? You're playing with the fate of the kingdom, son. And for what? So Santana can have her way with whatever pretty lass catches her eye?"

"Father, this wasn't just…." Blaine huffed, unsure of how to continue. This would teach him to get involved with Santana's schemes. "She cares for her. And Rachel was completely against the marriage. And everything was settled peacefully. Baron Finn won't make trouble."

King Darren glared at him, itching his goatee. "You're sure?"

"Certain, Father."

"Very well. Still, I'll not bestow a title on the Berry girl for no reason. If Santana chooses to marry her, then we shall revisit the idea."

"But…."

The king gave his son a grim smirk. "Ah…I see. You're worried your best friend will not in fact marry the girl. And you want her to be okay in that case. Very sweet of you, son, but you're not doling out political favors for sweet intentions. If the girl is left to her own, then she will have learned a hard lesson about the world, and the folly of youthful passions. Go to, boy. I have other matters to attend to."

Blaine sighed and bowed. "Yes, Father."

The bell jangled as Santana entered the shop. She smiled, spotting a blonde woman shelving some crafted metal wares. "Morning, Brittany."

Brittany turned to see who had entered, than smiled brightly, eyes shining. "M'lady!" She skipped over to the Baroness, hugging her tightly without a second thought before pulling back and giving a little curtsy. "To what do we owe the honors, Lady Santana?" she asked, crossing her hands in front of her apron with barely contained energy.

Santana smiled, returning the hug easily, and then chuckling. "I must speak with your husband about the commission I asked of him several days ago."

Brittany took Santana's hand, leading her through the shop and to the back. "He is in his forge as we speak, and I believe he finished your order a couple of nights ago! He won't let me look at it until you have approved, but he looks incredibly pleased with himself all the same," giggled the woman.

She guided the Santana through the forge, the workers looking up long enough to bow their heads as their Baroness walked by, murmuring respectful "M'lady"s, until they reached a work station, slightly larger than the rest, where a young man, perhaps in his mid-twenties, with a lanky, yet well-toned frame and scarred up arms, wearing a heavy leather apron and gloves, was sitting at a grinding stone, sharpening a blade.

"Artie! Her Ladyship is here~" sang out Brittany, and the man took his good foot off the pedal, looking up, then smiling.

"Lady Lopez! An honor as always!" He stood, and his prosthetic, made of leather and metal, starting from just below his knee, clinked as he walked towards the two woman after setting the blade down and removing his gloves, throwing them down on the heavy table just behind him. He bowed, and Santana allowed him to kiss her hand in leau of a hug, due to him being covered in soot and ash from the forge.

"Artie, a pleasure. I assume you know why I make an appearance, yes?" Santana smirked a little, but it was soft and friendly. The shaggy haired man nodded.

"Indeed, m'lady. And it is complete. One moment." He turned, foot clinking on the stone floor, and began digging in one of the drawers of a thick, heavy oaken cabinet next to the table he had put his gloves on.

All around them the sounds of fire and forge, metal on metal and grinding stones, could be heard. The smithy was large, well lit, and smelled of fire, sweat, and molten metal. There were weapons hanging on the stone walls, and tools as well. The center of the shop was open, with the main furnace burning hotly, and around it the various workstations and smaller furnaces of the other smiths and crafters working under or apprenticed to Arthur.

He grabbed a small box from a shelf and nodded to the side room. Once they were inside, he closed the door and poured two glasses of wine.

"I must say," he said, sliding the box and a glass toward her. "After my normal commissions of swords, daggers and shields, this was quite fun."

Santana opened the box and looked down at a pendant. It was round, with the eagle from the Lopez banner carved into the center, framed in silver. It held a small ruby in its talons. "It's beautiful, Artie," she said quietly, smiling. "Thank you."

"No trouble at all, Santana," he said, using her first name since they were alone.

"How are you and Brittany?"

"Pregnant."

Santana nearly spewed wine all over the small table. "Come again?"

"Brittany's pregnant," he said, smiling broadly.

Santana laughed. "Congratulations!"

"Thank you."

"Here," she said, passing the money bag across the table. "I have to be going, but I'll visit again soon."

"Always a pleasure, m'lady."

Santana nodded to him and strode from the shop.