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Chapter XXXIII - The Black Forest

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Leaves crunched beneath Athena and Claudius's feet. A silvery fog moved throughout the forest, climbing over mossy rocks and thick tree roots.

"How long has it been since you've gone through the woods?" Athena asked, picking up her rosy dress to leap over a fallen branch.

"I don't know… Twenty-five years, more or less," Claudius answered.

"How do you like it?"

Claudius tripped over a tree root but picked himself back up. He glanced at Athena and shook his head.

"I'm sorry…" She winced. "I feel more myself when I'm in the forest, especially when I take my shoes off and can feel the ground." Athena moved her arms around and danced a bit as she walked. "I hoped you might feel the same but… I suppose not."

Claudius wrapped his arms around his chest. "I much prefer being inside, where there aren't as many things to trip over—where I can relax and read my books by the fireside."

"I guess that makes sense," Athena said. "Dragons mostly stay inside their caves, don't they? I guess that's where they feel the safest."

"This dragon does." Claudius tapped his chest with his pointer finger.

Athena turned her head to face him. He traced his gloves over his suit, rubbing his fingers up and down. She gripped her dress tighter and fumbled with her lacey white gloves. "Claudius?" she spoke.

"Yes, dear?" He took hold of her hands and brought them close to his heart.

"I have a question, something I've been wonderin' about." She stopped in her tracks, pulled on him to face her, and picked up his other hand.

Claudius's eyes grew wide; he rubbed his thumbs over her knuckles.

Athena blinked a couple of times, smiled a thin smile, and looked down. "What's the real story? About these gloves, I mean?"

Claudius jerked his head back and blinked, confused. "I'm not so sure I understand your question."

"You haven't spoken to Henri in over twenty years, yes? You didn't even know he was still alive until a year ago?"

Claudius fumbled with her hands. "Yes? I still don't understand where you're going with this, Athena."

She let go of him and turned around, strutting away into the fog. "If you hadn't seen him in over twenty years, then how did you get him to make these gloves for me?" Athena spun about on her heels and held up the pearly gloves.

Claudius's heart dropped into his stomach. His lips fell. "It would be rude of me to share the origin of your gift, Athena."

"I don't care," she spat.

He sighed. "Henri and I… He…" Claudius scratched the back of his head, ruffling his thick black locks. He backed up and sat down on a tree stump. "Athena… I've always…."

The girl trotted on over and perched on the root beside him. "It's alright. I'm not upset, I promise. Just curious. You can tell me."

"Of course." Claudius cleared his throat and adjusted his suit. "While Henri and I were still friends, he… noticed how much I longed for… someone to be by my side."

Athena squinted her icy blue eyes.

"I apologize. I'm so embarrassed," he said, facepalming. "I've always wanted… a wife. Yes, a wife," he stammered.

Athena blushed and picked her head up, lengthening her body.

"No, no, no, no…" He waved his hands. "Not yet. It's just. Oh, god, I've said too much." Claudius hugged himself and sighed. "Henri made those for my future—"

"Thank you, Claudius. That's all that needed to be said." Athena wrapped her hands around his shoulders. "I understand completely now." She grinned.

"Oh, Athena," he lurched over. "I hope you don't misunderstand this as me proposing to you. I only wanted to express my feelings."

"I understand completely, Claudius. I really do." She laughed. "I still think they are lovely and I'm so proud that you gave them to me." Athena gripped onto his wrists, then patted them. "Are you ready to start walking again?"

Claudius shook his head and stared at the ground.

Athena leaned in, resting her head on his shoulder. "What's wrong, Claudie?" she asked, her voice higher than usual.

"Claudie?" he questioned, dropping his jaw. "You've never said that before."

"I know. It's new." Athena giggled. "Now, tell me, what's wrong?"

Claudius winced, his eyes drawing in. Pain shot through his face. "Do you love me, Athena?"

The girl opened her mouth, her eyes falling away and then coming back to him again. "Claudius… of course, I do." She sighed. "I will admit, it's new and strange. I'm not sure if it's… here to stay or, if it will go away in a month or two." Athena shrugged her shoulders. "I've fancied you for so long, Claudius, but that was just fancy. This feeling I have now is something else."

"What is this feeling?" Claudius gripped her hands tighter.

"It's…" She bit her lip. "I think it's…. I mean, I've always loved you deeply as a friend, but now this love is so different from anything I've ever felt for anybody, ever." Athena's shoulders caved in.

"I've loved you for so long, Athena." Claudius threw his head back, facing the sky. "I think the first time I knew… was when you went away to Dublin. I didn't get a single letter from you, but—"

"Oh, let's not talk about that." Athena laughed and slapped Claudius's knee.

"I'm holding this over your head for as long as I can, darling," he said, smirking, his mustache tilting slightly. "I didn't get a single letter from you, but… I still grew in my love. And when you came back and told me about the dress you bought and how you felt like you found a new part of yourself, it felt like talking to a new person. And then as you grew and found more of yourself, I fell more and more."

Athena's heart warmed. Her skin turned red and fireworks went off in her stomach.

Claudius spoke, "I know that I am not the best… beau in the world. I can't go to balls with you, I don't like doing some of the things you enjoy," he motioned to the forest path they trekked, "I can't be the man for you that you deserve."

"Quit that, Claudius. You know I wouldn't trade you for the world."

"You should." He nodded.

"Also, I don't consider you my 'beau'. Usually, when a girl has a beau it implies she has more than one. I don't want anyone else but you." Athena snuggled closer to him, nuzzling under his chin.

Claudius rubbed his chin on the top of her head before running his hand up her arm. He reached her chest and neck, then lifted her chin.
The wind whipped around them; the fog grew denser. Black clouds soared overhead and the sun disappeared.

Athena's heartbeat sped up; she looked up once at the dark clouds before returning her gaze to Sir Claudius. Their eyes locked.

Claudius gripped her chin between his forefinger and thumb while wrapping his other arm around her waist. His skin was at first cold as snow, but he warmed up while holding onto Athena as her hot breath spread over him. Goosebumps rose on both of their faces.

"Athena, I love you and always will," he said.

"As do I," she whispered.

Claudius closed his eyes first, leaning forward. Athena watched his dark form as he inched closer and closer and fear of the unknown poured into her stomach. She pulled back.

Claudius opened his eyes as she drew away from him. "I'm sorry, I don't know what I'm doing," he said, faltering.

Athena took another look at him before shaking her head. She closed her eyes and lifted her chin. "Yes, you do," she said.

Claudius wrapped a finger around her cheek, drawing circles on her skin. He flew toward her, coming in hard and fast, before backing away.

Athena opened her eyes again, her brows knitting together. "Claudius… what's wrong?"

He let go of her and stood straight up, pushing himself off of the tree stump. Claudius lifted his nose into the air. The wind changed, and a new scent blew in his direction.

Athena pulled her skirts around herself. She got up off of the tree root and ran to him.

He turned around. Athena trembled in the blowing wind.

He spoke, "There is someone else among us in these woods. A dragon."