Hi guys! A lot of things have been happening for me lately (good things!) so it's been a couple days. Sorry 'bout that. But, here ya go! I hope you all liked that last chapter. I didn't get a ton of feedback about the conflict stuff but the ones who did write reviews concerning it, thank you. It's always nice to hear how my writing is going. Leave a review if you feel so inclined please! :)

Thanks again, guys! :D

29

They stayed under the footbridge until the thunder stopped, huddling together, listening to the rain. When Kit felt it was safe to venture back to the palace, he gently squeezed Ella's shoulder. "Ella, darling?"

"Hmmm?" she mumbled.

Kit smiled. "Ella, are you asleep?"

"…no…"

A soft chuckle escaped him as he shook her again. "Ella, I think we can head back to the castle now. I believe the lightning has passed. It's still raining though."

Ella glanced out at the downpour and smiled sleepily. "What's the matter, Kit? Have you never before danced in the rain?"

Kit raised an eyebrow. "I can't say that I have."

At this statement, sleep fled from her eyes and Ella rose immediately, stretching out her hands to him. "Then we'll have to remedy that! Your Highness, it would give me great pleasure if I could lead you through this, the first –"

"Dance?" Kit interjected, smirking as she used the exact words he had to invite her to dance with him the night of the ball.

"Yes," she grinned, "dance… that's it."

Taking her offered hands, Kit stood. With a cute little smile, Ella pulled him out into the rain and within seconds both were soaked to the skin but neither cared. Kit looked into Ella's beautiful face as he wrapped his hand around her waist, pulling her towards him. Then the two began to sway, their bodies matching each other as they moved around in the grass. Both became lost in memory and Ella started to hum La Valse de L'Amour as she spun around, following Kit's lead.

Kit had to admit, dancing with Ella in the rain in the dark of the night was positively thrilling and rather arousing. The feel of her wet skin beneath his fingers and seeing her clothes cling to her body excited him like nothing had before. It was good they were dancing or else his fantasies would travel down a road that would be considered positively tactless for an unmarried man!

When the time came for Kit to take Ella's waist and lift her around in the air, his whole body surged with energy as her breath hitched. Ella's wet cheeks darkened and when he placed her back on the ground, the two abandoned the remainder of the dance. Instead they stared into each other's eyes for an immeasurable amount of time and then Kit slowly wrapped his hand around the base of her neck, resting his forehead against hers.

"I love you more than life itself," he muttered, breathing in her scent mixed with that of the rain.

She closed her eyes, hiding her beautiful brown irises from his view. "As do I."

Kit pulled her into his chest and kissed her again, the rain falling all around, the cold providing a nice chill to the heat sprouting between them. Ella's thin fingers laced into the thick curls of his hair as Kit deepened the kiss like he had under the bridge. She moaned into his mouth causing his whole body to shiver. Consumed in passion, he set to work kissing every inch of her face until he reached his favorite spot on her neck. He chuckled a little as she eagerly turned her head, inviting him to do as he wished. Kit decided not to mark her again, seeing as she still had the remains of the last one, but he did allow his lips to linger softly against her skin. As he reached her ear, he gently kissed the lobe before muttering, "We should probably return to the castle now, my darling."

"You're probably right," she gasped, chest heaving as excitement coursed through her from his actions. "We'll likely get sick if we stay out here much longer."

Kit frowned. If that occurred his weekend plans would be spoiled! "Oh, we can't have that," he muttered, pulling away and taking her hand.

She chuckled as she guessed, "Don't want to spoil the weekend?"

"Indeed not, my dear!" he said cheerfully as the two of them headed down the cobbled path. "It will be a trip you won't want to miss!"

As was expected, when the two of them reached the steps half the guard, Alistair, Peter, and a fuming Prudence were waiting for them.

"Have you any idea how ridiculously reckless you two are?" Prudence snarled.

Kit ran a hand through his soaking wet hair while Ella trembled like a leaf beside him. "Can the tongue lashing wait, Prudence? Ella needs immediate attention."

Through chattering teeth, she countered, "So do you!"

Kit ignored the shivers coursing down his body from the cold. "You're more important."

"Enough!" Prudence snapped. Snatching up a pair of towels she'd gathered for their eventual arrival, she threw them into their hands. "I want both of you in your private chambers and out of those wet things immediately! I'll send the servants to draw your baths."

"But, we'll get the floor all wet," Ella worried.

"Leave the clean up for the servants to worry about," Prudence said firmly. "Now, off with you."

Kit didn't need to be told twice. After wrapping the towel over his shoulders, he took Ella's hand and led her away from the gathering, ignoring the smirks as he went; Charles and Victor made sure to follow at a distance seeing as they were still on duty as Ella's personal guard. Ella muttered out little apologies until they'd made it around the corner.

"Ella, darling, if anyone is to blame for the hallway, it's me," Kit tried to sooth.

Ella shook her head. "I'm the one who ran out into the rain."

"And I'm the one who started the fight."

"You're much too noble, Kit. We both know this is my doing. My sour attitude is what caused the fight in the first place."

"Ella, you needn't allow yourself to be dismayed over what has already passed."

"But we're currently getting the floor all wet and I'm making the bigger mess because I'm in a dress."

Kit glanced over his shoulder. He couldn't deny she spoke the truth. Frowning, he paused. "Ella?"

"Yes?" she questioned, stopping next to him. Without warning, Kit swept her into his arms.

"You won't drip nearly as much of I carry you," he said cheerfully.

"But now you'll be soaked," she protested, fidgeting.

"Ella, I'm already at that point," he pointed out kindly as he refused to let her down, walking passed the silently amused guards every few feet. If there hadn't been enough gossip concerning the couple tonight, the guards witnessing this exchange would be sure to add to it. A few minutes later he reached Ella's room and set her down. She frowned at him.

"That wasn't very nice, surprising me like that," she muttered. "But it was kind of you to address my worries with a solution." She kissed his cheek. "Thank you."

Kit held an amused smile before lightly kissing her. "Anything for you, my darling. Now, sleep well. Tomorrow will bring many great things."

Ella smiled. "Are you going to at least give me a hint of what we will be up to?"

Kit shook his head. "I'm afraid you'll just have to wait and see."

She squeezed his hand. "Alright… goodnight Kit."

He leaned forward and kissed her again, ignoring the smirks of Victor and Charles as well as the Palace Guards standing on either side of the doors. "Goodnight Ella."

o0o0o

Ella woke the next morning having slept rather peacefully. In fact, it was the first real sleep she'd been able to have since coming to the palace. By now she was used to the bed, unlike when she'd first arrived, and found it rather difficult to remove herself from under the covers. If it weren't for the small squeaks coming from her left, she may have kept on sleeping. Rolling over, she found the mice cheerfully greeting her.

"Good morning to you too," she replied, sitting up and stretching.

The mice began trying to get her attention, gently tugging on her nightgown. Ella yawned, listening to their excited squeaks. "My you are all chipper this morning. What? Leaves?"

She looked over the side of her bed and noticed, to her intense curiosity, that a line of leaves led to her door, the colors red, orange, ad yellow. Ella raised an eyebrow. That's when she noticed the key resting on an elegantly scrawled note, obviously in Kit's hand. She leapt out of the bed immediately.

Dearest Ella, the note read, today begins the weekend I whisk you away for your birthday. I do pray you find the surprises I have arranged to be pleasing. The first, as you notice, is a key followed by a trail of leaves. It would be greatly appreciated by me if, once you are dressed, you would follow the leaf trail with key in hand. It will lead you to the next surprise. Looking forward to seeing you soon, Kit.

Ella giggled. It was a good thing Prudence had them bathe before they retired for the night so she wasn't in need of another one in the morning. Rushing for the rope by the door, she pulled it. Immediately the door opened and three servants stepped inside, carefully avoiding the leaf trail as they went.

"Have you been waiting for me to wake?" she asked, surprised by their sudden appearance.

"We have," one of them answered, smiling. "On the king's orders, my lady."

"We are to help you get ready as speedily as possible," another said. "The king suggested you wear something you will be comfortable traveling in."

Ella looked at her huge wardrobe; the dresses resting inside had been made by the seamstresses remarkably fast in the course of a week but each was elegant and beautiful. Ella was still intimidated by the vast selection. She wasn't yet used to owning so many clothes seeing as for the last two years she'd only had one dress to wear.

"Um, what would you suggest?" she asked, staring at the servants.

The smallest of the three timidly stepped forward. "Perhaps the dark green one, my lady," she suggested, "with the yellow embroidery?"

"A fine choice," Ella praised, staring at the gown.

The girls immediately snapped into action, helping her dress and combing her hair, pulling the long locks into a low bun at the base of her neck. After adorning her ears and neck with emeralds set in gold, they handed her a pair of brown gloves and wrapped a thick brown cloak over her shoulders.

"Thank you," Ella muttered, staring at her reflection and finding a pale beauty staring back at her. The girls had done a fine job at concealing her nearly faded love mark and any other blemishes on her face.

"You look beautiful, my lady," one of the girls sighed, flattening the creases in her cloak. "The king will love you in this dress."

"You're too kind," Ella smiled.

"Right," the oldest of the three said, straightening up, "you'd best be off, my lady; His Majesty is waiting."

Ella looked down at the pile of leaves before snatching the key Kit had left into her hand. Smiling at the servant girls, she inclined her head before carefully moving around the leaves. Opening the door, she noticed they trailed all the way down the middle of the corridor and out of sight around the corner.

"Good morning, my lady," Jasper, one of her personal guards greeted while his companion, Fredrick, inclined his head. Both men held slightly amused expressions.

"I take it the two of you have been informed as to what is going on?" Ella inquired as she started walking down the hall, careful to avoid getting too close to the leaves.

"We have," Fredrick answered as the two men walked behind her. "But we're not allowed to answer any questions you may have."

Ella smirked. "Naturally; Kit did say he wanted this to be a surprise."

The leaf trail went down a flight of stairs before twisting around a large hall towards the Queen's Wing. Ella raised an eyebrow but kept a steady pace. The doors to the Queen's Wing were wide open so the trail could continue without any stumbling blocks. Ella found that it led into the greenhouse. Passing magnificent floral bulbs and evergreen plants, Ella humorously followed the leaves around a row of hydrangeas until she came to a door.

She remembered that this door used to lead to a fairly empty room used for the storage of garden tools but now it had a lock on it. A new sign had been posted on the mahogany reading: Enter and Immediately Close Door. With a raised brow, she glanced over her shoulder.

"Am I to go in alone?" she asked, addressing Fredrick and Jasper.

"At first, yes," Jasper replied. "We're to allow you a moment to…"

"Take everything in," Fredrick supplied.

Frowning slightly but immensely curious, Ella unlocked the door with the key and did as the sign instructed, closing it quickly behind her. She gasped as a stream of multicolored butterflies took flight, their colors every shade of the rainbow. "Oh my," she breathed, stepping further into the room, the butterflies fluttering all around. Large plants lined the walls, some sporting lovely flowers ranging from hydrangeas to roses. Sun streamed through the glass roof overhead and as Ella continued to walk into the menagerie, her eyes landed on a site that brought tears to her eyes.

Her hands covering her mouth, Ella collapsed onto the floor just as Jasper and Fredrick came into the room. Ella reached out a trembling hand and fingered the glass slipper she had seen her stepmother shatter. "He told me she had fixed it but… seeing it," she whispered. She glanced over her shoulder at her at her guards, a warm smile lighting her face. "She fixed my shoe."

"Are those…?" Jasper muttered, staring at the shoes with awe.

"Truly," Fredrick quietly replied. "We had heard of the glass slippers but we never saw the shoe that traveled the kingdom."

"My stepmother shattered the other," Ella revealed. "But the maker came to Kit and mended the broken heel after the former Grand Duke had given it to him."

"Whoever made them has to be the best shoemaker in the world," Jasper complimented.

Ella let out a soft chuckle. "She did tell me she was rather good at shoes."

"I think she was being modest," Fredrick opined. "These are exquisite! I've never in all my years seen a glass shoe and one crafted so remarkably at that!"

Ella noticed Kit had made sure they were inside a box resting on blue velvet, the inner mold made so the shoes would stay in the same place. The box they rested in could be closed shut, the outer wood hand carved with butterflies surrounding a pumpkin. Ella's smile widened at the artwork. Picking up the box, she kept a firm grip on it along with the key to the menagerie.

She wanted to run to Kit and reward him with the biggest hug and kiss she could give. Where was he? She looked around almost hoping he would step out of the foliage.

Jasper cleared his throat. "Are you ready to depart, my lady? We are to lead you to your next gift."

"There's more?" Ella wondered, positively stunned at the very thought.

Fredrick chuckled while Jasper smirked. "My lady, if we may be so bold, the King plans to spoil you far more abundantly than this."

Ella's eyes widened. Never before had she received so many presents. Her parents had bestowed her with one gift on her birthday each year but it was apparent that Kit had planned to shower her with multiple offerings. But what she had was enough. What else could he possibly give? She was satisfied yet curious as to see what he had in mind.

"You are to take me to the next present?"

Jasper nodded, smiling. "We are."

"Very well," she muttered, biting her lower lip as she smiled shyly. "Lead the way, please."

To her surprise, the two of them didn't lead her back into the palace but through the glass door of the greenhouse leading out into the palace gardens. Ella curiously wandered behind them, trying to keep her eyes from lowering to admire the wooden box containing her shoes. The gift in her hands was a priceless treasure. What more could Kit possibly have in store?

o0o0o

"Surely she should be on her way soon," Kit muttered as he paced back and forth before an amused Alistair and Peter.

Both men shared a glance, smirking deeply before Alistair said, "Kit, calm down."

"But the servants alerted us that she was on her way down to the greenhouse over twenty minutes ago!" Kit argued, continuing in his frantic pacing.

"Perhaps she is taking her time admiring the butterflies," Peter opined. "There are more of those creatures in that room than in the entire kingdom."

"Indeed," Alistair chuckled. "There are enough in there to admire their beauty for hours."

Kit looked upon them in horror. "Surely she won't spend all day in there?!"

Peter chuckled. "Of course not, Sire. Lady Ella will want to thank you."

Kit relaxed a little at this but continued his pacing nonetheless. "Do you think she found the shoes?"

"How can one miss them?" Alistair commented. "You placed them in the middle of the room."

Kit frowned. "Yes but…"

"Will you stop fretting?" Prudence demanded, unable to stay silent at the entrance to the stables any longer. "She will be here, Sire. Just give her a few moments to enjoy the gifts. For heaven's sake!" she grumbled, walking away.

Before she could fully disappear from Kit's view, a stable boy rushed in. "They're coming!" he announced.

Kit's heart skipped a beat. "Right," he muttered frantically, clapping his hands together. "Alistair, you'll be able to handle the palace affairs while we're gone?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," Alistair chuckled.

"And Peter, you have a sufficient amount of divisions ready to depart on my command?"

"Yes, Sire," Peter smiled.

Kit nodded distractedly, his heart pumping in his chest. "Prudence, are you sure the cottage is ready?"

"Sire, do try to relax," Prudence said with a distinct scowl. "Everything is in order. Goodness, you're worse than your father was when preparing for an event!"

Kit smiled apologetically. "I am sorry. I just want everything to be perfect."

"It will be," Prudence assured, her face softening slightly. "Now stop fidgeting."

Kit swallowed. "Right, all of you can go now. Peter, we'll meet you around the back when we're ready."

Everyone bowed before taking their leave, Alistair making sure to clap Kit's shoulder while Peter sent him a wink. Kit took a deep breath facing the open doors, his heart pumping fast. This was it. The perfect weekend alone with Ella was about to begin. He could hardly contain himself. Swallowing hard, he tried to keep his anticipation in check as his eyes remained trained on the door, waiting for the first sight of his beloved.

Usually he wouldn't fret this much but since last night he and Ella had had their first fight, he was petrified of doing something that would spark another one. He wanted this to be a good experience for both of them not a disaster. His heart skipped when he saw her shadow.

"Kit?" she called while walking into the stables. Her hair had been pulled away from her face, tied at the base of her neck in an elegant bun. She wore a remarkable dress, the evergreen dancing with golden embroidered threads. A long brown cloak covered her shoulders, something Kit was thankful for since the air was rather chilly today. Her arms were protectively wrapped around the box containing her shoes.

As her eyes met his, Kit watched as a remarkable smile lit her face. "There you are!" she cried happily, hastening towards him.

An unconscious smile climbed Kit's face as he watched her set down the box with tenderness before throwing her arms around him. Laughing, he spun her around, kissing her. "I take it you found the butterflies?" he asked.

"Oh, Kit they are positively the most beautiful things I have ever seen! And my shoes… and the box… thank you so much!" She kissed him again.

Feeling as if he were one with the clouds, Kit laughed as he took her hand. "And I haven't even finished giving you all your presents!"

"Oh, but the ones you gave are plenty enough!"

"Ella, darling, I beg you to allow me to give every gift I have intended for you. I spent a great deal considering what to bestow."

"How many more gifts are there?" she wondered.

"You'll just have to find out," Kit replied, happily taking her hand. "Are you ready for the next?"

Ella smiled excitedly, nodding. Chuckling, Kit gently guided her out of the stables around to the right where a large paddock stood. Inside were an elegant mare with a gleaming white coat and white hair and her foal, sporting a similar coat to that of his mother but instead of white hair, his was dark gray.

"The mother's name is Glimmer," Kit said as the two stopped just outside the paddock, Ella staring at the magnificent animals in complete awe. "She was my mother's. She sired a healthy male about a month ago. The male hasn't been christened yet. I feel you should name him, seeing as he's yours. Glimmer is as well."

"You're giving me horses," Ella breathed, her eyes captivated by the animals before them. "Oh, Kit…" she turned to look at him, her eyes shining, "They're gorgeous!"

Kit smiled. "It helps that I already talked to Galahad about it."

"You did?" Ella wondered, perplexed.

"I'm afraid I can't communicate with him all that well just yet but when I introduced him to Glimmer, he appeared rather enchanted by her. The two spent the entire day in the paddock and he doesn't seem to mind the foal either."

Ella let out a remarkable laugh. "So you have been playing matchmaker with my horse?"

Kit couldn't help laughing with her. "Perhaps; though, in my defense, my original intent was to merely have him accept the idea of sharing you with other horses."

"How thrilling," Ella mused. "Well, I can't say I'm not pleased to hear he doesn't mind. I was afraid he'd be upset."

"As was I," Kit admitted. "But it turned out better than I thought."

"Indeed. If I may inquire, who is the foal's father?"

"His name is Admiral. He was one of my father's horses."

Ella's face broke out into a large smile. "You said the foal hasn't been named yet?"

"That is correct," Kit replied.

"Then I shall name him Major," Ella said with a slight giggle.

Kit laughed. "The father is Admiral, the son is Major, and the mother is Glimmer – I fear she doesn't quite fit in when it comes to a position of rank."

"That's alright. Her name suits her just fine. May I go and speak with the two of them for a moment? I want to make sure the foal likes the name and that the mother approves."

"By all means, darling, they belong to you," Kit invited.

She lightly kissed his cheek. "Thank you."

Kit watched her enter the paddock and approach Glimmer and her son without a hint of worry. Leaning his elbows against the fence, he smiled as he witnessed the exchange between her and the horses.

"Hello, my name is Ella," she introduced. Glimmer stepped forward and pressed her nose into Ella's outstretched hand while her foal stayed shyly by her side. "It's nice to meet you. Did you overhear Kit and I's conversation by chance?"

Glimmer nodded her head, letting out a small neigh.

"Is that alright?" Ella asked delicately. "I know we've only just met but I would love to take care of the two of you too."

Glimmer surprised Ella by wrapping her head over her shoulder, pulling her into a hug. Ella let out a soft giggle as she wrapped her hands around Glimmer's large white neck. Pulling away, she looked into the mare's eyes. "May I meet and name your foal?"

Glimmer nodded again.

Ella walked around Glimmer and held her hand out to the foal. Kit was sure he would back away but instead he pranced up to her immediately, placing his nose in her hand. "Hello there," Ella muttered stroking his nose. "I'm Ella. I have a name for you. Would you like to hear it?"

The foal whinnied, its hooves stomping into the ground in excited anticipation.

Laughing, Ella crouched down to his eye level. "I've decided to name you Major. Do you like that name?"

The foal nodded his head and made little noises as he stomped his hooves again. "Major it is!" Ella said happily, patting his neck. "I look forward to getting to know you more but for now I have to go back to Kit. Is that alright?"

Both horses nodded, Major rubbing his head affectionately against her arm. Ella walked over to Kit who beheld her with a large grin. "I think they like you," he opined.

"I believe so," she replied, stepping out of the paddock and wrapping him in an embrace. "Thank you so much!" she muttered into his shoulder.

"You're welcome, Ella," he muttered back, holding her tightly. "I'm glad you like them."

"I love them!" she sighed.

Smiling, he gently squeezed her hand. "Come, we must be on our way."

"Where are we going?" she wondered, allowing him to lead her away from the paddock around the side of the stable.

"On vacation," Kit answered evasively, smiling to himself.