Pansy stood off to one side as she waited for her father to speak. She felt the burning fury within her chest as though she'd never left the stake.
"I understand that you are upset." He said finally. She glared at him until he looked away. "But, as King, you sometimes have to do things that go against your own best interest."
"Upset?" She asked quietly. She stepped closer. "Upset?" she said each syllable as though they were separate words. "One could say that I was slightly inconvenienced when you decided to set me on fire. You knew, KNEW, that I had nothing to do with the famines and droughts. But you did nothing."
She turned around, unable to look at her father. She clenched her fists together when she felt a fresh hand wrap around hers. She looked up, and Neville stood looking at her with his deep hazel eyes, and instantly she felt calmer.
"What would you like me to say?" the King asked, Pansy, caught the look of distaste on his face as his eyes met their clasped hands.
"I would like you to apologise at the very least." Pansy snorted as she turned around. She gave Neville's hand a squeeze before she let it go. "I want my life back. I want freedom and I want Neville."
"Now, daughter, please."
"No." She said as she crossed her arms. "It's not so easy to argue with me now that you can see my face, is it?"
"Daughter. Now that you're whole, you could make a good match with one of the great houses from Seldnir or Lortme. Don't throw your future-"
"Don't you dare finish that sentence." She demanded as she held up her finger. "The reason that I am cured is because of Neville, and that is because we are soulmates. I care not one jot about the great families. Hasn't the great family of Longbottom from Arda sacrificed enough?"
"But darling, he is an Earther."
"Your Majesty. If I may interrupt." Zabini said as he pushed away from the wall towards the monarch. The King looked sceptical for a moment before nodding.
"I asked The earl of Southfarthing here to help me with my work. However, I had an ulterior motive. I knew Lady Alice. We fought in the Riddle Rebellion together. She told me of her newborn son, who had a strange skin affliction that nothing could cure. She enlisted my help as a life debt, and I have been searching for answers ever since. When your majesty employed me to aid your daughter with a similar skin affliction, it dawned on me, the myths could be true."
"Which myths? About whole beings and vengeful gods? About being steered by fate? What utter tosh, speak sense, man!" The King waved, disregarding the healer's account.
"And tosh it may be, but what say you about the lack of a mark on both Lord Longbottom and the Princess?" The healer asked. Motioning to the couple with his hands
"Father. There is no other explanation." She turned to Neville and offered her hand. He took it with a smile.
"And what do you have to say? Lord Longbottom? What are your plans for my daughter?" The King asked angrily.
"I have no plans currently, your majesty."
"See daughter? No plans."
"I have dreams and ideas, sir." Neville stepped closer as she held Pansy's hand. She smiled at him, offering him encouragement. "It's all so new and sudden that I know not what my plans are or what your daughter's thoughts are. Until we have been able to plan together, my plans are to remain by her side wherever that may be. I would like to marry your daughter."
"Marriage. Of course, you would. And why would you care what my daughter wants?"
"Why wouldn't I care, your majesty? If we were to marry, I would want her to be happy."
"Father," Pansy said, and that one word seemed to cut through the argument. Zabini and Neville looked at her before stepping back. Pansy walked forward and stood akimbo as she waited for her father to come to a decision. "It is the least you can do, as you had an innocent man flogged and an innocent daughter burned at the stake." She growled.
The colour faded from the King's face as he shook his head. He sighed heavily as he waved his hand
"Very well. Have your talks, make your plans. Come back to me when you have decided what you wish to do. Meanwhile, If you would excuse me, I have a different execution to attend to. I'm assured that this one isn't of an innocent man?" He asked, raising his eyebrows questioningly.
"Lord Zacharias is far from innocent." Pansy nodded as the King left the room.
