Chapter 25

The longer Darcy stared out the window, the slower time seemed to flow. He was itching to move, release his impatience, yet Lady Catherine had already scolded him twice. Apparently fingers tapping on the windowsill were not conducive to a relaxing family atmosphere. About to snort his exasperation at the thought, Darcy paused remembering that such behavior was unbefitting of a gentleman, especially one of his noble heritage. He dared not pace as he knew the movement would only further aggravate his aunt, and the less notice she gave him the better.

He had already forgone the pleasure of meeting with Miss Elizabeth in the park that morning in an attempt to appease Lady Catherine. She had been most adamant that Darcy had been neglecting his cousin, and no amount of persuasion could sway her from her demands that he spend an hour conversing with her in private. After witnessing of Anne what Darcy would have termed a tantrum from a child two years of age, he had capitulated. He had not given in completely, however, until Lady Catherine had agreed that they would be properly chaperoned by Mrs. Jenkinson with a footman posted at the open door for the entire duration. Both mother and daughter had seemed disappointed with his demand, but Darcy was insistent.

The hour had been spent resisting the urge to cringe with every word out of Anne's mouth. Having grown too much like her mother, she had been more than happy to demean and belittle everything about him, his sister, and his lifestyle choices. She then had the gall to offer him unsolicited advice in how to handle all of his business affairs as well as infer that he would become a much improved man under her wifely tutelage. The last had nearly caused Darcy to choke on bile at the thought, and brought him a pitying look from the footman standing guard. In all his lifetimes, he could not remember having ever been so uncomfortable.

When he had finally made his escape, it had been disappointing to discover that Fitzwilliam had already left the great house to take a tour of the park. Darcy knew the beauty of nature was not what drew his cousin out of doors; no, it was the pleasant company that could be found from one Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Not wishing to share her company with another, he decided to forgo his own pleasure to take care of some neglected business. It was only the knowledge that the Collinses and their guests had been invited for tea that kept him going throughout the day.

Yet as the time for the arrival of the party from Hunsford came and went, Darcy began to regret his earlier decision. With his beloved so near, he had been a fool not to take advantage of any time he could have with her, even with Fitzwilliam in attendance. As the minutes continued to drag on, his regret turned to concern. It was not like Mr. Collins to be late as it was sure to bring Lady Catherine's ire upon him. Worry as to the delay only further increased his restlessness.

So wrapped up in his thoughts, he was startled to hear Mr. Cowell's entrance as he announced the Collinses and Miss Lucas. He had not sensed her arrival and to not hear her name almost sent Darcy spiraling into a well of panic. Struggling to keep a calm facade as he turned to greet the guests, he froze upon discovering that Miss Elizabeth was indeed nowhere to be seen. So focused on her absence he barely registered the conversation around him.

"Mr Collins! I am most seriously displeased in you. Tardiness is a trait most unbecoming in a clergyman. What would the Archbishop have to say?" Lady Catherine spoke with a hard glint in her eyes, refusing to acknowledge Mrs. Collins or her sister as they curtseyed in greeting. Her focus was solely on Mr. Collins who was so far bent over that he seemed in danger of falling on his head.

"Your Ladyship, I can offer only my most humble apologies for being the means of inconveniencing you and your most amiable daughter and your esteemed nephews," he spluttered between gasps. Knowing what he did of the man, Darcy was certain Mr Collins had all but ran the short distance from the parsonage. A quick glance at the ladies confirmed this thought as they both appeared heightened in color and struggled to calm their breathing. All of this seemed to escape his aunt's notice, or perhaps she took pleasure in the thought.

Unaware of Darcy's musings, Mr Collins continued. "To have disappointed Your Ladyship brings me such regret as I am sure I have never desired to bring your disapproval upon me. As I was saying to Mrs Collins..."

"I will not tolerate tardiness, Mr Collins!" Lady Catherine bellowed shocking the man into silence. "When I have been so magnanimous as to invite you to my home it is nothing short of the highest disrespect to arrive later than the time specified. You should be grateful that I have not turned you out."

Eyes wide at the atrocious speech, Darcy was relieved to see Mrs. Collins place a hand on her husband's trembling arm to stop his reply. "I fear I must be the one to apologize for our tardiness, Lady Catherine," she spoke softly but firmly. "I was so concerned for the health of my friend that I neglected the time. It is an oversight I promise will never happen again."

Darcy felt his heart stop for a mere second as the words Mrs Collins spoke penetrated his mind. Miss Elizabeth was ill? No, it could not be. Rigid with fear, he was afraid to ask more, but he required answers. Thankfully, Lady Catherine had finally taken notice that one was missing from the party.

"Miss Elizabeth Bennet did not accompany you this evening?"

"No, Your Ladyship. I am afraid my friend has found herself quite indisposed. She begs your forgiveness for her absence."

"Indeed, Your Ladyship! I have already spoken to my cousin and expressed your sincere displeasure with her for not attending you. But my dear Charlotte says that..."

"Thank you, Mr Collins, that is quite enough!" Lady Catherine waved her hand to silence the man. Turning back to his wife, she continued. "I must say, Mrs Collins, that I believe your friend would do better to stay home and recover. It would not have been seemly for her to expose my Anne to whatever ails her. But I must impress upon you the need to instruct Miss Bennet in the proper time to be indisposed. It does her no good to dishonor her betters by shunning their company."

"Of course, Your Ladyship," Mrs Collins replied with a curtsy while her husband bowed multiple times while expressing his undying gratitude for Lady Catherine's divine benevolence. Darcy, however, was not appeased. His concern had only grown, as well as his embarrassment at his aunt's high handedness. Catching Fitzwilliam's eye, he saw his concern mirrored there, and was grateful that he moved to talk to Mrs Collins as she seated herself as far from Lady Catherine as she could. Moving a little closer himself, Darcy angled towards the duo just enough to let them know that he wished to hear their conversation without alerting his aunt to his interest.

Nodding ever so subtly towards Darcy, Fitzwilliam began to speak. "Forgive me, Mrs Collins, for prying, but I cannot help but be concerned regarding your friend. I had the pleasure of meeting her in the park earlier today and she seemed in the best of health. Is her indisposition one of great concern? It must have come upon her quite suddenly for her to have only been affected after we parted ways."

Hesitating slightly, Mrs Collins glanced towards where her husband sat continuing to regale Lady Catherine with praise before replying. "Eliza states that it is merely a headache that will surely pass quickly with peace and quiet. But to be truthful, sir, I have never known my friend to be indisposed. As a child she was never ill, always the picture of perfect health. She has never once to my knowledge claimed so much as a headache before that I find myself quite worried. She was so pale upon our departure, that I quite despaired leaving her behind. However, Mr Collins would not hear of my remaining to attend her."

"I believe Miss Elizabeth is quite lucky to have such a caring friend as yourself, Mrs Collins. Indeed I dare say that if she is as hale as you say, she shall be quite well on the morrow. In fact I would not be surprised if you were to return home tonight to discover... Darcy! I say man, are you quite all right?"

The panic that had been slowly building in his chest upon discovering Miss Elizabeth's absence had fully taken over his thoughts upon hearing Mrs Collins speak. He found himself frozen in place as fear consumed every fiber of his being. No, Darcy thought, it could not be possible. He could not lose her now! How was it possible she had succumbed to illness before regaining her memories? It had never before happened, for it to happen now could only mean that she was in great danger. Unless, what if her memories had returned allowing the curse to come and collect its toll.

"Darcy?" Fitzwilliam's hand on his shoulder brought him back to the moment, and he was arrested by the concern shown by his cousin and Mrs Collins. Struggling to keep his voice steady, Darcy excused himself from the pair and quickly left the room much to everyone's astonishment. Without a word he rushed out the front door before the footman on duty could fully open it for him. So great was his need to see Iliana that nothing else mattered.

The thought of her dying alone hurried his steps. He would never forgive himself for not seeing her earlier in the day. To think that her memories had returned when he had been absent allowing her to immediately succumb to whatever illness she suffered from without being able to send him word caused his steps to falter. But only briefly. Determined to get to her, he hurried his steps towards the parsonage. He would not allow this to be the end. He would save her this time!

It took every ounce of willpower to stop at the door and ring the bell instead of storming inside. If they were for once successful, it would not do to have the parsonage servants gossiping about his behavior. Doubt and hope mingled in his mind and he was barely able to address the maid who answered the door. Without waiting to be announced, he swept past the maid into the sitting room where she awaited him.

Time seemed to stop as Darcy saw her rise, surprise written all over her features at his abrupt appearance. She was indeed pale, with red splotches under her eyes, but instead of the warmth and relief he expected to find there was nothing but anger. One glance into her dark brown eyes and he knew, Iliana still slept. Clamping down on the bitter disappointment he felt, he inquired after her health stating that as the purpose of his visit. Her cold reply left him breathless. He knew then she had not been indisposed. For reasons unknown to him, she was angry and had chosen to avoid company this evening. Yet was it is company she wished to avoid? He could not be certain, and after having sat down almost immediately stood up again to pace.

He wondered how the evening could have gone so wrong. It was obvious that she took no pleasure in his being there, yet, such was his concern for her that he could not leave her. Several times he stopped his pacing to attempt to address her, but being uncertain what to say he kept quiet. She, however, sat there determined not to break the silence; it was up to him to start the conversation. If only she had regained her memories. Then he could simply propose and they could work together to once again break the curse. But what could he possibly say or do to alleviate the situation he found himself in.

Stopping his pacing once again, Darcy grasped onto a sudden thought. Perhaps there was a way to break the curse without her memories returning. He had told himself on the walk over that he would not leave her in the parsonage alone without having offered a proposal. That at the time he had thought her memories had been restored seemed suddenly irrelevant. A betrothal before would have allowed him to spend time with Iliana as she battled whatever illness had befallen her. As Miss Elizabeth, however, a betrothal would allow him a greater chance of helping her recover her memories.

Hope suddenly swelled in his chest. He would propose to Miss Elizabeth, and after gaining her acceptance he would continue to woo her, and marry her while helping her to finally remember him. Is it possible that after all these years it could be this easy, he wondered. They had never tried to wed before both had regained their memories. Would her not being awakened be the key to finally ending the curse? It was worth a try.

Despite having decided on a course of action, Darcy was still uncertain how to go about it. Iliana knew of his love for her. To have asked her would have been as simple as saying "marry me." He knew the answer to such an inquiry as she had given a positive answer many times over. Miss Elizabeth, however, had been vocal in her dislike of him. She did not love him, so how was he to propose to her in a way that would appeal to her mortal self.

Having been silent for several minutes, he glanced her way and saw that her agitation had grown. Not wishing to delay his happiness any longer, he came towards her and thus began, "In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you."

There! He had done it! He had finally expressed his love without freezing time around them. She had to know that this was no hallucination, that he truly meant what he said. Yes, he wished he could have waited until her memories returned, but now that he had started he could not stop. He would no longer wait for Iliana's return. As it was, the moment he began to speak he felt the watcher's influence in the room filled with a sense of panic. But that did not matter to him. He would not deter any longer. He would not let the unknown being ruin his chances this time.

Having watched her closely during his declaration, he had seen the shock upon hearing his words, but then she had blushed and remained silent. Hopeful that this meant she was willing to also ignore the watcher he continued on.

"In declaring myself thus, I am fully aware that I will be going expressively against the wishes of my family, my friends and I hardly need add my own better judgement. The relative situation of our families is such that any alliance between us must be regarded as a highly reprehensible connection. Indeed as a rational man I cannot but regard it as such myself but it cannot be helped. Almost from the earliest moments of our acquaintance I have come to feel for you a passionate admiration and regard which despite all my struggles has overcome every rational objection and I beg you most fervently to relieve my suffering and consent to be my wife."

Pleased with his impassioned speech, Darcy had failed to notice the hasty withdrawal of the watcher. Instead, his focus was solely on Miss Elizabeth as she digested all he had said. While much of it was said simply to appease the mortal aspect of their current relationship, the last was spoken to Iliana as much as it was to Miss Elizabeth. He waited as she looked down, her face coloring with a delicate blush; it endeared her to him even more. With thoughts such as these, it came as quite a surprise when she finally raised her eyes to him and he saw that they were darker than he had ever seen them. The anger emanating from them caused him to step back slightly in fear while the coldness of her tone felt as though she had doused him with a bucket of cold water.

"In such cases as this, it is, I believe, the established mode to express a sense of obligation for the sentiments avowed, however unequally they may be returned. It is natural that obligation should be felt, and if I could feel gratitude, I would now thank you. But I cannot - I have never desired your good opinion, and you have certainly bestowed it most unwillingly. I am sorry to have occasioned pain to any one. It has been most unconsciously done, however, and I hope will be of short duration. The feelings which, you tell me, have long prevented the acknowledgement of your regard, can have little difficulty in overcoming it after this explanation."

Paling, Darcy leaned against the mantle as he thought of what she had said. Confused as to how she could be refusing him in such a manner angered him. Still oblivious to the watcher's desertion, he became angry that an outside influence would turn his beloved against him. Even without her memories, it made no sense that she would deny him her hand. She loved him! He knew that she did! Surely she felt something, anything besides anger. Seeking for some sort of reassurance, he composed himself and with a voice of forced calmness said, "and this is all the reply which I am to have the honor of expecting! I might, perhaps, wish to be informed why, with so little endeavor at civility, I am thus rejected. But it is of small importance."

Where he had attempted calmness, it was apparent she had no such qualms as she hastily replied. "I might as well inquire why, with so evident a design of offending and insulting me, you choose to tell me that you liked me against your will, against your reason, and even against your character? Was not this some excuse for incivility if I was uncivil?"

Darcy stared at her in horror. Had he said that? No, he was certain she was mistaken. He had simply tried to appeal to her sense that what might be expected from his mortal family was of no concern to his heart. However, she was not finished.

"But I have other provocations. You know I have," she continued heatedly. "Had not my own feelings decided against you, had they been indifferent or had they even been favorable, do you think that any consideration would tempt me to accept the man who has been the means of ruining, perhaps for ever, the happiness of a most beloved sister?"

Struggling to not interrupt her, he stood there, leaning more heavily upon the mantle for support. To hear her say that she had never had favorable feelings towards him tore at his heart. The pain was more unbearable than any pain he had ever suffered in all their lifetimes. And considering how gruesome some of their deaths had been; but no. He must not think of that as she was watching his reaction carefully. Steeling himself against the words to come, he waited for her to finish.

"I have every reason in the world to think ill of you. No motive can excuse the unjust and ungenerous part you acted there. You dare not, you cannot deny that you have been the principal, if not the only means of dividing them from each other, of exposing one to the censure of the world for caprice and instability, the other to its derision for disappointed hopes and involving them both in misery of the acutest kind." She paused, giving him time to consider how he was indeed guilty. Had he not left Netherfield, Bingley would have had the support he needed to stand up to his sisters. Giving a small smile of affected incredulity, he bolstered up every ounce of strength he had to reply to her inquiry of "can you deny that you have done it?" with assumed tranquility.

Thinking of his last conversation with Bingley, he began to speak. "I have no wish of denying that I did everything in my power to separate my friend from your sister, or that I rejoice in my success. Towards her I have been kinder than towards myself." To have spared Jane Bennet the attentions of a man undeserving of her was, he felt, cause for celebrating. He was confused as to how her dearest sister could not see it that way. Miss Bennet deserved someone so dedicated to herself that no outside influence could sway him from her side. If only someone had watched out for him in such a manner.

The last of his words had seemed to confuse her slightly, but it did not take long for her to start back up again. This time, however, he was unable to control his emotions and his pain turned to anger. "But it is not merely this affair," she continued, "on which my dislike is founded. Long before it had taken place, my opinion of you was decided. Your character was unfolded in the recital which I received many months ago from Mr Wickham. on this subject, what can you have to say? In what imaginary act of friendship can you here defend yourself? Or under what misrepresentation can you here impose upon others?"

"You take an eager interest in that gentleman's concerns," Darcy spat the accusation out. How could she be so blinded as to ignore what the rest of Meryton had discovered about the man, not to mention her own father's knowledge. He refused to think that her father had not shared at least a little of their discussion with his daughters.

"Who that knows what his misfortunes have been, can help feeling an interest in him?"

"His misfortunes!" Darcy repeated contemptuously; "yes, his misfortunes have been great indeed."

"And of your infliction," cried Miss Elizabeth with energy. "You have reduced him to his present state of poverty - comparative poverty. You have withheld the advantages, which you must know to have been designed for him. You have deprived the best years of his life of that independence which was no less his due than his desert. You have done all this! And yet you can treat the mention of his misfortunes with contempt and ridicule."

Anger such as he had never felt towards her threatened to drown out all reasonable thought. It was plain that despite the truth of Wickham's depravities being known, she still placed the blame squarely on his shoulders. Unable to stand still any longer without releasing his frustration through magic, he began to pace the room. To allow his anger to vent would cause irreparable damage and harm to her in her sleeping state. Taking a deep breath, he turned once more away from her as he spoke. "And this is your opinion of me! This is the estimation in which you hold me! I thank you for explaining it so fully. My faults according to this calculation, are heavy indeed! But perhaps," he added, stopping in his walk, and turning towards her, "these offenses might have been overlooked, had not your pride been hurt by my honest confession of the scruples that had long prevented my forming any serious design. These bitter accusations might have been suppressed had I with greater policy concealed my struggles, and flattered you into the belief of my being impelled by unqualified, unalloyed inclination - by reason, by reflection, by every thing. But disguise of every sort is my abhorrence. Nor am I ashamed of the feelings I related. They were natural and just. Could you expect me to rejoice in the inferiority of your connections? To congratulate myself on the hope of relations, whose condition in life is so decidedly beneath my own?"

Shocked at what he had just said, he was forced to wonder if those were the words of Fitzwilliam Darcy or Prince Eavan. Had those truly been his feelings, or had he let the anger of the moment carry him away. Before he could decide she replied quite venomously, yet with perfect outward composure. "you are mistaken, Mr Darcy, if you suppose that the mode of your declaration affected me in any other way, than as it spared me the concern which I might have felt in refusing you, had you behaved in a more gentlemanlike manner. You could not have made me the offer of your hand in any possible way that would have tempted me to accept it."

Staggering back a step, he felt his heart shatter as he looked at her with an expression of mingled incredulity and mortification. Yet, she went on.

"From the very beginning, from the first moment I may almost say, of my acquaintance with you, your manners, impressing me with the fullest belief of your arrogance, your conceit, and your selfish disdain of the feelings of others, were such as to form that groundwork of a dislike; and I had not known you a month before I felt that you were the last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed on to marry."

He wanted to shout at her. He wanted to cry. But mostly, he wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss her until she remembered who she was and apologized. But she had such a steely look to her eyes; there was absolutely no sign of his Iliana in them. Dejected, he started to turn, but could not bring himself to leave just yet. He could not give up hope; this could not be the end. With a deep sigh, he straightened his shoulders, refusing to allow her to see the utter anguish he felt. "You have said quite enough, madam. I perfectly comprehend your feelings, and have now only to be ashamed of what my own have been." Proud that he had kept his voice steady, he decided to leave her with the same words she had once uttered to him. "Forgive me for having taken up so much of your time, and accept my best wishes for your health and happiness."

For the briefest of moments he saw shock upon hearing his parting as well as a spark of recognition. But the moment passed quickly only to be replaced once again by anger. Unable to stay any longer in her presence, he hastily left the room and saw himself out of the house.

Without looking back, he strode and headed not towards Rosings, but towards a secluded grove of trees he knew nearby. Anger warred with despair. He still could not understand why the woman to whom he was tied to for eternity no longer loved him. Even when he had first thought her forever lost to him, he did not doubt her love. Was this to be the final curse? Was he doomed to live the rest of his lives without her by his side. Then again, if she truly believed the accusations she had hurled at him, had she ever loved him? Or had she simply been waiting for the right moment to betray him? Blinking back tears, his heart screamed no at the notion, but the pain was still unbearable.

Having reached the privacy of the trees, Darcy reached down and hurled a branch with all his might into the woods. He could feel the anger threatening to explode within him, and, for the first time in centuries, he had no desire to hold it back. With sudden feeling he threw his head back and screamed as a wave of magic flung out from him in all directions scattering animals, insects, and flora alike from all around before collapsing to his knees in a grove now devoid of all life. It was then that he finally gave in to his tears.

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Immediately upon Mr Darcy's departure, Elizabeth gave in to actual weakness, collapsing onto the sofa. She was so astonished by the events of the evening that she knew not what to think. A short time later, she heard a wail of pure anguish that struck her to her very core. The cry had been so loud it had startled her, but a quick glance out the window showed the kitchen maid had not heard it. It was then that she knew the cry came from Mr Darcy, although how she knew that, or how she could hear it when no other could, escaped her understanding.

It was then that she gave in to her own tears. For half an hour she sobbed. She knew not whether to be angry, sad, or flattered. That Mr Darcy had proposed marriage to her was inconceivable. That she had unknowingly inspired love in him was not something she could easily dismiss. But the idea of tying herself forever to a man who had ruined Jane's happiness, that she could not endure.

Unbidden, the image of the fair-haired man with blue eyes came to her. He was so sad, she wanted to reach out to comfort him. But as he turned to look at her, the image shifted to that of Mr Darcy and her own heart broke.

When he had first proclaimed his love, she had felt such unexpected happiness. His declaration was familiar and comforting. But then she felt an unexplained panic enter her heart as a voice whispered in desperation, "no, not yet!" It was then that Mr Darcy had continued and the panic was quickly replaced by anger. A part of her greatly regretted losing his good opinion, but she could not regret having denied him after the hurtful things he had said.

After all her tears had been spent, and she had relived the evening over in her head several times, she heard the wheels of Lady Catherine's carriage on the drive. Unwilling to face the others, for she knew Charlotte would immediately know something dreadful had happened, Elizabeth quickly ran up the stairs to her room where she eventually fell into a fitful sleep full of disturbing dreams.

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Darcy lost all track of time as he grieved. At one point he had lain down and curled into a ball in an effort to hold the pieces of his heart together, but he knew it was futile. There was no hope left for him. He had lost not just Miss Elizabeth, but Iliana. He had made many mistakes over the years, but there was to be no atoning for this one. She had made her position clear; she did not love him.

As he lay there, numb to the world, he failed to notice the approach of a powerful presence. It was not until he heard a dark chuckle that he realized he was no longer alone. The being was powerful, such power as he had not felt since before their first death; he recognized the power as belonging to the watcher. He knew in his mortal state that he could not protect himself from the being, and after Miss Elizabeth's rejection, he had no desire to do so. If the being was here to collect the final cost of the curse, he would gladly pay it. He had no desire to live without her love, but he still had his pride and refused to die lying down.

Slowly he stood up, keeping his back to the being. But before he could turn around the being spoke.

"Well I must admit that was poorly done, Mr Darcy."

The voice was familiar to Darcy. It was deep, strong, used to being in charge, yet he could not place it. Despite all this, or perhaps because of this, his anger with the being grew. How dare he influence his beloved in the callous way that he had. Straightening his shoulders, he turned and was shocked at what he saw.

Standing before him was an elderly fairy. His straight hair and beard were so white it was impossible to tell what color it had once been. His face and hands were full of wrinkles and age spots. His wings hung lifeless and colorless from his back. Yet despite his advanced physical age, the fairy stood tall and proud with blue eyes that appeared youthful but had a depth to them that proved he was indeed far older than he appeared. Having never seen a fairy of a physical age above that of a mortal about thirty years, it was of no surprise to Darcy that he could not recognize the being. But this only served to further infuriate him.

"No thanks to you, I am sure," Darcy finally snapped.

Laughing, the fairy waved his hand noncommittally. "I beg to disagree, but we could spend several lifetimes arguing over that. I have no wish to do so. Needless to say, you messed up, more so than I could have ever expected of you."

Glaring at the fairy, Darcy spat back, "what do you know of me? You are nothing more than a torturer. You take pleasure in my downfall, and have for centuries. So now you have finally come to end me for once and all. Well, sir, I say have at it! You have won!"

Cocking his head to the side, the fairy walked towards Darcy who subconsciously clenched his fists. It would not do to attack the fairy as that would not end well for him in his diminished state. He was not as powerful while being a mortal man. When the fairy stood within arms length, he stopped. Speaking softly he asked, "do you not recognize me?"

Refusing to give in to the fear that was creeping into his heart, Darcy replied, determined to stand his ground until the very end. "I do not. Nor do I have any desire to do so. It is enough to know that you have poisoned Iliana against me and that you are a traitor who has betrayed my father in order to place this curse upon myself. And now you may end it and take what you so desire."

Shaking his head, the fairy turned away with his shoulders slumped. "Darcy, I have no desire to end your life, nor am I a traitor. As for the Lady Iliana, I cannot deny that I have influenced her and kept her from regaining her memories. The anger she currently feels for you, however, is of your own making."

"No! I refuse to believe you are innocent. You have poisoned her against me, influencing her thoughts. She would have never believed all those lies had you not..."

"Had I not insulted her? Oh wait, I forget that was you!" The fairy whipped around in anger, and despite his resolve to show no fear, Darcy stepped back. "Had you never uttered that insult she would never have been susceptible to my influence."

"Had you not kept me from recognizing her, I would have not felt the need to do so," Darcy replied a bit petulantly.

Laughing, the fairy began to walk in circles around him, and Darcy followed his every movement still waiting for the final blow. "Tell me, Darcy, why do you believe I did that?"

"I have already said that you are a traitor. You are one of the ones who placed this curse upon the two of us. You have grown tired of the fight and wish to end my life permanently." Ignoring the fairy's sad sigh, Darcy continued. "You are so determined to keep Iliana from me that you were the one to approach my sister in London, are you not?" Seeing the fairy nod, Darcy could not help but lash out in anger as he reached out with his magic to whip a large branch from a nearby tree and send it flying towards the fairy's heart.

He should not have been surprised to suddenly see the branch veer off in another direction, but the fact that it happened without the fairy making any visible movements caught him off guard. Even more wary than before Darcy turned to look at him and was arrested by the man running his hand through his hair in exasperation. Seeing Darcy's shocked expression at the recognition, he gave a small, sad smile.

Unable to process what he had just discovered, Darcy fell to one knee, his fisted knuckles resting on the ground as he whispered, "My Lord, Oberon!"

AN: Long time everyone! I know things have been crazy in our world, but I hope that each and every one of you dear readers have been doing well in some form or other. My thoughts and prayers are with those suffering daily.

Now, as I have stated before, this story is never far from my heart, and I finally made the time to sit down and begin writing again. The next chapter is being edited today, and will be up in a little over 48 hours from now, hopefully giving you all time to read this one first. I was adamant that this chapter not be posted until the next was ready and I am fully prepared to keep that promise! In fact, I'm already working on Chapter 27. YAY! :D

Now, I know a lot of you have expressed your desire that this chapter not happen, but it is vital to my plot. Several of the reasons will be made clear in the next chapter, but not all. I still have many secrets left to share. That being said, I repeat what I have said previously that this is not a true variation in that I am planning on following Jane Austen's original story as closely as possible. Take that how you wish! Obviously there have been several major differences in Darcy and Elizabeth's story with even more to come, but the general plot will remain unchanged. For now...

Other than promising the next chapter in the next 48 hours, I will not make any promises for posting. I have done that before and I have no wish to disappoint again. But I will reiterate what I have said before: THIS STORY WILL BE FINISHED! I don't know when, I personally hope sooner rather than later, but it will happen. The Epilogue is already fully edited and ready to go, and I will make sure I get to that day. Until then,

Happy Reading!
With love, Allahteeah