Hi everyone, I hope you guys are great!
First of all i want to thank you all for the support to this story and a speacial shoutout to the guest that left such an amazing comment on the last chapter. you made my day.
Anyways, I'm sorry if some parts of this chapter seem a little rushed. i had some parts pre-written and whenever that happens the integration can seem rocky. Enjoy!
Silence followed. An eternal and perfect reminder that all could be said in few words. Eventually, my head found a place in his shoulder once again. His complexion was so thin and jawline so prominent I had imagined it would be quite bony felling but that wasn't true. His lean muscles covered him, giving me a firm but comfortable cushion. He gave no reaction to my actions, keeping himself busy by picking the sand, grain by grain. Myra hadn't moved from her position on our backs, her massive form giving our backs some support.
The ocean continued it's serenate, becoming more violent the more we stayed. I might have found a new appreciation to the element but wasn't looking forward to having to enter its chaos to go back. Which I realized we might need to do. The moon was lowering in the sky, showing the late or early it had become, depending on how you looked at it. I knew I had to say something but lacked the will to do so. I just wanted five more minutes of the music of peaceful breathing and tides. Of the feeling of sand cooling under me even as the breeze kept us warm. Of the smell of salt, metal, woods and sweat.
I realized I was smelling Blade and would've blushed except I was transfixed by how real it was. So human and unpolished. It was unlike anything you would find at the court and I loved it. I wanted to have it all around me with the delicate and grotesque notes it contained. Deciding this wasn't a fairytale I shuffled a little, getting more comfortable. What I was living couldn't be found in a storybook because it was too real. We weren't perfect and our adventure would, no doubt, bring us many problems that couldn't be solved with a true love kiss. It was authentic, unimaginably palpable. Better in every sense.
"Is it a long way back to the castle?" I asked, knowing this wouldn't bring any determination to join action to words.
"About an hour and then another forty-five minutes to go back to the terrace." His lax voice when announcing what would become our itinerary told me he wished to go just as little as I did.
"I don't want to go back." My admission was obvious and unnecessary, but I wanted to say what I felt. Know that what I thought would be listened to.
"Me neither." He added as the young boyish person I had seen in the past few hours but then the adult in him showed as he continued. "But your father would have a heart attack if you went missing again."
"True." I conceded but still made no move to get up. It wasn't quite laziness even if a bit of it had crawled into me in the last few hours. It was the denial of breaking all that had happened, a certain adoration to what I was living.
"Come on. As nice as this is, I have things to do after taking you back, so we better get moving." Announced Blade standing up and thus displacing my head from his comfortable shoulder. I scowled lightly at him to make him know I didn't enjoy the interruption but stood nonetheless. Fearfully, I expected him to lead un back into the sea but instead he was walking in the sand. I sighed, relieved. The tide was looking rather aggressive.
I walked by his side, following his indications and letting the quiet keep us company. It seemed to take forever until the palace was a defined structure once again. I realized then that the ball had ended, and no light shone through the windows. It was truly late. I would no doubt be exhausted tomorrow. But I knew deep inside myself that I would never trade sleep for the hours that had just passed. Not when I was able to her him laugh that way and saw him making one of his dreams come true. This beauty was worth any danger.
"What does swimming feel like?" I questioned, wishing to at least have an image of what seemed like a gorgeous activity.
"It's a bit strange. I mean water in denser than air so if you are not going fast you can feel kind of sluggish but at the same time you don't feel your body weight which helps feel free. And when you swim it feels like you are going so fast and you could move mountains even when your lungs are just screaming for oxygen." His explanation was a bit confusing but I understood that could be normal. When you are used to a feeling and are asked to describe it it's hard to find something other than it feels like doing it.
"I would love to stay longer and learn." I confessed, almost hoping for him to tell me that he'd teach me in what little time I had here.
"You can learn at home too." He said and I felt like he had just taken some of the magic of my wish way. I wanted him to teach me just as much as I wanted to learn. I wanted it to become our thing. To simply have a thing. But he was right in a practical way. It made me doubt.
During our time at the beach I had thought maybe he felt like me. He had let me cuddle with him, had wanted to show me the beauty of what I had yet to experience and had even comforted me by taking me to a personal place. He had gotten mad at his friend when she acted hostile towards me. It truly felt like he was infatuated with me. But now, it seemed like practicality was all he could think of. Why must he be so confusing? Or maybe I was reading too far into simple things.
I stayed silent, not wanting him to disrupt my thoughts any longer. It felt like, with him, his personality and reactions would be as aleatory as the flip of a coin. One day he was sweet, kind and even a little goofy. The next one he was cold and reserved, pushing you away before you got a chance to get close. I just wished for some stability. To know what to expect.
We finally returned to our clothes, marking the end of our expedition quite clearly. I didn't want it to end. Had I misused the last moments by not talking to him? I could always wander later, but his presence was intermittent, and I should make the most of it. But then again, silence felt natural among us. He wasn't a big talker so this lulls in conversation were part of our norm. One I didn't mind as much.
He put his tunic and boots on easily but took the time to carefully redo the lacing on the back of my dress. He brushed me down some but still felt he needed to comment. "I hope your handmaiden is discreet because we won't be able to erase all traces of the beach from you." He declared and suddenly some fear crawled its way into my chest. Maria was usually quite discreet but her love for gossip was no secret. Plus, even if she was my friend she would have to report to my father. Specially with something as conspicuous as me being covered in sand after I claimed I was unwell and retired early. "I'm taking that is a no." he continued upon seeing my expression. His eyes darkened slightly, and his brows furrowed. I could feel the concern radiating off him as he tried to come up with some solution.
"I knew this was a bad idea. She's going to be discovered and tracked back to us. If they catch you coming back in here…" Myra growled. Coming here had been Blade's idea but it was clear she put the blame on me. I could see how protective she was of him but still felt quite offended that she would use me as a target for her anger. It was true none of us had really thought of this, of how to hide this time. I couldn't believe I had forgotten after how paranoid I had been all day.
"I know." He interrupted her and she immediately stopped. His voice hadn't raised in the slightest, but it was glacial, like an ice dagger cutting through all the objections. If he were anyone else, he probably would have taken his hands to his face and rubbed his eyes and nose in frustration, but his body language was too repressed to do that. His change in facial expression already said a lot about how concerned he felt.
"I could tell I fell in one of the courtyards. I told everyone I was feeling unwell, so if I had tripped and thus ended up covered in sand…" I proposed, trying to think of a solution to our predicament.
"You don't have any scraps so it wouldn't be believable. Plus, when we got into the ocean sand must've stuck to all your body, including parts that can't be explained by tripping." As he said this, he looked from head to toe in an inspecting manner that made me blush nonetheless. "No, we need to get you cleaned up. We can blame the sand in the dress on the ocean breeze. The wind was strong tonight and, in this season, often carries sand with it." I nodded. His explanation made sense and I forced myself to memorize this information. Still, the problem of where I could wash up preserved. I couldn't do it in my rooms: Maria would undoubtedly hear. "Come on. I know where you can get cleaned." Announced Blade. The confused look Myra gave him reassured me. She, who had clearly been in the castle before, didn't know what was happening either.
Blade took us closer to the castle but didn't go in the direction of the passageway we had used. He instead guided up to the mountain side through a narrow path and all the way to the training grounds. I had, by this point, no doubt this young man had perfect knowledge of the castle. He must have had time to explore it. He kept going but didn't enter the palace. Instead, he bordered it until we were in the soldier's quarters. I looked at him questioningly, but he didn't even glance in my direction, too busy scanning the zone for guards. Satisfied when he saw the patrol officers too busy talking to take in their surroundings he walked again.
Blade took us to a small stone building on the side of the quarters. "This is the communal bath. It's always empty at this hour. Do quick work. I'll stand guard." He announced, settling in a shadow near the entrance. I nodded and after he helped me undo my dress once again, I entered. The space was small with only a big pool-like basin in the center. I quickly shed my clothing and cleaned. Blade was right, my entire body was covered in sand. Once I was satisfied with the result, I put my garments back on and exited. It had taken only a couple of minutes.
The two friends saw me and nodded then started walking again. We came across a wall that seemed like all others, but when blade pushed a pillar sideways a narrow entrance was revealed. Another passageway I shouldn't know existed.
"It's almost dawn. We need to leave. I'll take her to her rooms. You go get what you need." Said Myra to her companion. I could see her slight hesitance in being the one to outer a command. It was clear to me she respected Blade greatly and was used to attending him. He truly must be a noble, and a men of high status if the Narnian was so submissive to him. Blade gave his approval in the form of a nod and took a turn in the next corridor, leaving us to keep going straight. The moment he left, without a single word of goodbye, I tensed up. Myra hated me. She had made that clear during the night and my only protection had just left. I was at a wolf's mercy.
"He really likes you." Her voice, laced with venom, surprised me. I had expected her to be silent. Cold. I thought of her words. Blade's behavior today truly showed his friendship with me. And I hope I wasn't wrong interpreting it as something more. "I don't see why. You have nothing special if you ask me. But you make him happy and for that I'm thankful." Her condescending behavior angered me, but I didn't dare respond to such an imposing animal.
We walked for some more time in silence until she stopped in one of the exits. "This will take you to the hall where all of Anu's visitors are staying. I believe you can find your way from here." I nodded and turned but was stopped by the she-wolf's body. "I want to make something clear. You do anything that would compromise him or hurt him in any way, and I will kill you. I won't be sorry to do it either." Her words and their meaning felt like lead in my stomach. Of course, I already knew I didn't want to hurt him but to know she would take my mistakes to such extent was terrifying. I nodded dumbly and she moved. "Do not insult my King." She warned again. She must have heard what I said about King Edmund. I felt so embarrassed. I truly had no right to judge him the way I had. I lowered my head and exited promptly. I didn't want to feel anymore fear.
Despite the threat looming over my head and my worry over it, the moment I entered my chambers and touched my bed I was asleep, feeling like the ocean was still rocking me.
Waking up he next morning was hellish. My muscles were sore from the exertion they were put through yesterday and I had barely slept more than two hours. I was, unsurprisingly, groggy and slightly weakened. My father had knocked on my door, taking me away from my delicious slumber. I merely doted a robe before calling my permission for his entrance.
"Ariana, my goodness. You certainly look ill. I'm sorry for not coming to you last night, I didn't want to wake you." Lord Maucin words were kind and perhaps due to my tiredness made me want to cry. I realized how well this worked on my favor: all the symptoms that came from last night could be explain with a simple bug.
"It's alright, Father. I hope you enjoyed you evening." I consoled, taking some of the guilt off his shoulders.
"I did, but that is unimportant. Get some more rest my child. Hopefully, you'll feel better when you wake up. I'll have some food brought." His sweet concern warmed my insides. Our recent disagreement was still fresh but his care for me had not diminished. I was glad beyond belief. I acquiesced to his petition and went back to bed, glad I could get more sleep. As I was about to ay in the soft mat Maria walked in and excused profoundly for not seeing me come in during the night and not tending to me. She helped me out of the heavy dress and into a light nightgown.
I woke a few hours later feeling much better. I took the food from the platter in my bedtable and ate some. With this I truly felt like I had revived.
"My Lady, I'm glad you're awake. Are you feeling better?" asked Maria coming to fuss around me almost immediately.
"Yes, I believe I was just exhausted from the trill of being in this land." I answered. It was true and that made it a good lie. Where 'the trill' came from didn't need to be known.
"Oh yes, you have had quite the marvelous adventures with King Peter lately, haven't you?" a week ago I would have chastised her for being so bold. A servant should never ask a noble of their relations. They had no right. But after meeting Blade and his irreverent comments this seemed unimportant.
Even so, it made me think of King Peter. I had no doubt felt attracted to him on the first days and honored he would even look my way. Yesterday had made me see a new side of him. the coldness he had shown when noticing I overheard his conversation had been quite hurtful. Specially because when I asked Blade, he'd been supportive. I was sure that my infatuation with him was due more to his title. I wouldn't lie and say I used to ignore titles, but it didn't just come from it this time. Him being King had fueled rumors of him all around of a brave young man that could conquer anything. And every lady that heard them fell for that legend. Now that I could take a step back, I realized I had never felt anything genuine for him.
"It's a good thing you are awake and better now, too. The royal siblings are holding a small picnic party in a special garden. All the nobles are invited. I'm sure they'll be happy to see you." Her sly smile made me send her a warning glance. It wasn't because she was a maid, more because I didn't want anyone sniffing on my business. She immediately shut up and helped me get ready for the meal.
When I was ready, I joined my father so he could guide me towards the rendezvous. He had waited for me after Maria had told him I was feeling better and wished to join. He inquired about my health and smiled when I brushed it off with the same excuse I used before. We walked for some time, being escorted by a kind faun, until we arrived at a gorgeous courtyard. All the borders were decorated with red roses in full bloom. Some trees gave the beautiful metallic table some shade. They were indeed made of metal, but their curved design made them seem as fancy as mahogany furniture.
Most of the court of all invited countries was already there, but it didn't seem we were late enough to be disrespectful.
"Lady Maucin, I'm glad to see you. I heard you were feeling unwell, but you look much better." Said Queen Lucy, coming towards me. I was surprised her friendliness wasn't reserved for private spaces. I bowed respectfully and thanked her but before the sentence was even out of my mouth, she had grabbed my wrist and was dragging me towards the crowd. "I hope you like this courtyard, it is one of my personal favorites. Mr. Tumnus himself tends to the roses here. I've spent a lot of time helping him." The light chatter that came form her made me smile. She could certainly illuminate a moonless night with her attitude. I didn't know who Mr. Tumnus was but he must be quite close to her if she took time to help him.
"It is a gorgeous space." I conceded, trying to keep up with the energetic girl. We were the same age, yet her giddy personality made her seem so much younger at times. Actually, I had noticed that on all the siblings. They acted like adults but sometimes child like actions would break the façade.
"Thank you. Cair Paravel has a lot of small places like this one but sadly every time we have guests their stay is too short to show them all. In all honesty it took me and my sibling years to discover all of them." The Queen continued to babble about why these gardens were so special, but I was busy thinking of another little place. King Edmund's balcony was truly a work of art. And the men waiting there was even more so.
I could understand now that Blade was most likely a noble of high status that, due to the quarrel between the two Kings had to leave. With Myra's words the night before 'get what you need' it was possible that he was some sort of spy for King Edmund that brought what was needed to continue his campaign. Because that was the only explanation. King Edmund wasn't in the castle any longer. He'd left with his troops, forcing the remaining sovereigns to try to cover it by claiming his sickness. If this wasn't the case his chambers would be heavily guarded, and servants and doctors would be seen entering at all hours to assure his health. Queen Lucy would have gone to him when upset instead to only his balcony. The Just King had left to protect from a threat that was invisible to the rest of them. 'I suggest you contact him' had said the general. Why would he need to contact a men that was simply resting in his rooms? No, this had been a lie to keep us from reacting poorly to the threat in the western woods. And I couldn't tell anyone about it.
A part of me wanted to ask the Queen about Blade. If he had been dubbed with such a nickname by his friends and was close to the royals, she could clearly tell me more. I could also cover my tracks by blaming the information on court rumors. It would be the perfect opportunity to know more about my mystery man. Yet I couldn't bring myself to. Not because I was afraid or anything of the sort. No. I wanted Blade to trust me on his own terms, on his own time. It was the only fair way.
I was so entertained in my own thoughts it took me some time to notice King Peter coming closer to us. He was, as always, dressed sharply but my heart didn't stutter when I took in his figure. This wasn't his fairy tale. It was Bade and mine. I didn't love him. I loved the idea and myth around him. I could no longer deny it. His edges, shown yesterday had pushed me away, unlike those of a dark-haired men that only seemed to intrigue me. How did I ever confuse these two things? When he was close enough and it had been made clear we were his destination I bowed respectfully. Truly, the gesture turned awkward as his sister was still holding my arm. He nodded at my curtsy but otherwise ignored my presence.
"Lu, I have to say, you really outdid yourself today." He complimented, avoiding looking at me at all costs.
"Thanks! I thought Susan wouldn't agree to hosting the party here but once she did it was easy to do the rest." The enthusiasm the youngest demonstrated at the simple compliment showed her adoration and respect for her brother. Things I had stopped feeling when he disregarded me for merely being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I knew, a the very least, I wasn't making a mistake by judging the oldest brother as a vindictive person.
"Well then I'm glad she accepted." He answered. His eyes ventured towards me slightly and his jaw tensed. When he continued it was clear he was referencing me "This must be one of the things I love the most about the two of you. You do things with effort and honesty, out by meddling into another person business. You asked for permission for what you wanted instead of disrespecting all of us by deciding you know better."
His words, like daggers, pierced my heart. I hadn't meant to hear that conversation! He should have been more careful pf who was around. Upon our arrival they had told us we were free to explore the castle as long as we didn't bother anybody. Well if I bothered him it was because of his carelessness. And still, even as I deflected the guilt towards him, tears prickled my eyes. What right did I have, after all, to behave like he was on the wrong? He was King, ruler of the land we were in, Lord of this grounds. No matter what happened, if this somehow got out, it would all be my fault. Because I was merely a lower Lady. This man could crush me under his boot as he was doing now with ease. He was warning me, reminding me that I was inferior to him in every scale. And I took it to heart.
My self-pity made me turn into an autopiloted machine that bowed when he walked away and laughed when the Queen spoke. Her words, once he was out of earshot were comforting, a proof of defiance to her brother's attitude I wasn't sure if she should allow herself. "I'm sorry about Peter. I don't know what has gotten into him. boasting accusation this way, like he were a child again. You mustn't worry. You are at no fault in this castle. you have behaved exquisitely and had clearly proven you are more than an opportunist, gossipy rat by not outing all the drama that's been happening with my siblings and I."
I saw her take two cup of wine form a server and give me one. I accepted it, trying to let the sunshine she brought through the storm of her brother's words. Because it would never matter if what he said was true. My status would never give me justice.
"Oh, do cheer up! Seeing you so gloom breaks my heart. It is so much better when you laugh. It's so beautiful actually that last night I could have sworn I heard it bringing a new tune to our musicians long after you retired." I froze at her words. She had heard me. she knew I had been laughing last night. Maybe she had thought it came from somewhere else but the wink she gifted me with made the message clear. She must have noticed the dread in my features because she stopped and faced me. "Your secret is safe with me, Lady Maucin. I won't speak a word and once this is over, I will pretend I know nothing of this. I must admit you have covered your tracks extremely well, but no one knows that beach like I do. I've always spent hours looking from the balconies towards it. No one else will notice, not with the companion you have."
I froze. She knew about Blade. Sure. I had deduced he was a nobleman but I could still be wrong. What would happen to him now? "Just do me one favor please. Take care of him. He deserves to have someone he can laugh with like he did last night." With this she winked at me again and changed the topic abruptly. She wasn't going after Blade. Relief washed over me with some happiness that someone else knew of this secret. I felt lighter even as the hurricane of King Peter words racked my inside.
It was of this I spoke to Blade that night. I didn't dare mention Queen Lucy. He was waiting for me in the balcony and when seeing my crestfallen expression offered me some of the dry meat he was chewing on. It was actually quite good, and I felt better for a moment. He didn't ask any questions, knowing I would tell him all I needed to get out. His eyes shone different tonight. A companionship that had been absent from them before wanted to break his calm demeanor. Last night had apparently meant a lot to him as well. He was still scared of letting me close, that much was obvious, but for the first time he seemed truly willing to tear the walls down himself. I took some time to savor it before I told him what happened.
"He is a King and I am just me." I declared in the end sure of what I said but hoping he'd contradict it. I wanted him to see as someone worth something. But he didn't answer. I froze. I wasn't worth anything to him either? If I thought my heart had broken when he'd told me he didn't trust me, it didn't compare with how I imploded in the quietness. Had last night meant nothing after all? Why did I let him take the strings of my heart?
"Never bow your head" he muttered.
"What?" I answered a little surprised he'd broken the silence with such an odd statement.
"It was just something my dad always said, 'Never bow your head'. Where I'm from monarchy exists but is not as important as it is here. Yet everyone looks down when they pass." he explained.
"Did he think he was better than them?" I was a disconcerted. Of course, Narnia's monarchy was one of the most venerated ones, but royals were to be treated that away everywhere. It was only fair. I couldn't tell what this had to do with the topic at hand, but I was intrigued with his story. It seemed it was my time to listen.
"No." he chuckled. "But we lived in a country that had seen and lived war. He thought that it was politicians that started wars, that they cowered away from them, sending innocents to the battlefields."
"But the wars of a King are always fair. He wouldn't expose his subjects otherwise…" I countered feeling a gaping hole in my insides. Dread clenched my chest. Somehow if his answer was different something in me would break and change forever.
"That is true most of the time. Yet it was normal for him to be mad. Back then every man that was of age was called to fight a war that didn't affect us directly. It was important to help, there was a lot at stake, and I don't regret us getting involved. It's just… Rulers are willing to let those things happen, to bring families down." He looked so sad and guilty. The shadows of the night playing tricks with his furrowed brows and I just wanted to sweep the pain I could see in his eyes away.
"I don't think monarchs do these things intentionally…"
"But they still do." He snapped. I didn't cower like I would with any other person for I knew there was no anger in his voice but mere hurt.
"You talk about your father in the past tense." I commented because I didn't know what else to say. People did die to serve their countries and Kings, but they did so willingly. It wasn't because of a caprice from those with power. There was always a reason people approved. Else, they wouldn't follow.
"He went to war when I was ten years old. I still remember the night he left. He had said goodbye to the entire family, but I refused to do it because I thought that would somehow keep him with us. Then I heard the truck starting and I just ran out the front door. They were already leaving. My brother was screaming at me for being selfish and all I could do was cry. Two days later I received a letter from him. It was addressed only to me. It said…" his voice broke and it was clear to me that he had never spoken of this before, that a decade later it was still as painful for him as the first day. He was still a little boy who wanted and missed his father. "He wanted me to keep going. Neither of us could ignore the war but if we were strong, if we adapted, we could survive and see each other again. I tried to listen to him, to do just that, but it was hard. I didn't have a good relationship with my siblings and my mother was grieving or helping the war efforts all the time. My dad had always been my best friend and now he had left me all alone and I was just so angry. I got lost in anger and regret until I looked at myself in the mirror and saw the opposite of who I was. Of who I wanted to be. It took me years to come back to myself."
"Did he ever come back?" I asked feeling my heart break.
"I never knew." He must've seen the question in my eyes because he smiled sadly and went on. "The war wasn't even over when me and my siblings came here. I'll never know what happened to him. It's not that I don't like it here but sometimes I wish I could go back for just an hour. To know."
I sighed and sat on the ledge next to him putting my arm around his shoulder. E didn't go stiff, it seemed, for a second, that he had even leaned into the touch for a second. Last night had truly been to us both.
"Thanks." Silence stretched for a moment. Until he inhaled strongly and continued. "Point is you don't have to bow your head either. If something Peter does seems unfair or insulting stand up for yourself. You deserve to make people respect you."
"I… I can't contradict him. He is the High King." My mumbling didn't help me sound strong, but I couldn't help myself. He'd glued my heart back together. This whole conversation was his way of making me see that I shouldn't let people walk over me. He did think I was worth something.
"And you are Ariana Maucin. He isn't superior to you. He can only make you feel this way because you are allowing it."
"I don't feel like his equal." I admitted shily. What he said made perfect sense, as usual, but I couldn't bring myself out of this mentality.
"Because you are not. Not until you realize you are worth just as much as he is." His words were both comforting and left a horrible sting in me. I knew he couldn't take away everything I felt. No one could but I did hope for more reassurance. As I said so he looked at me with the seriousness of a judge. "You can't expect the world to reassure you. Life is going to bring you down over and over again. And if you depend on others it will never get better. I can't build your strength. That is your duty to yourself."
I was stunned into silence. Was this wisdom? He was so right, and I knew even if it wasn't easy this was MY journey. No one else. Blade was comforting but before anything else he was honest. He was an eye opener and that was worth much more.
"Thank you." I think I had never thanked someone for refusing me, but I couldn't do anything else. He smiled back t me and sighed looking down. I couldn't imagine how hard it was for him to tell me that story, to open up so fully just to make me see the world from another perspective. My arm was still around him and I tightened it slightly. He gave a small chuckle and looked me in the eye.
"You know, you really need to work on not being so dramatic." He told after a while. Teasing was back, peace coming with it. "I mean, I know being dramatic ca be a sign of creativity and that's great. But everyday you turn every rock on your way into mountains. I'm not saying the problems aren't there, but you need to get a hold of yourself and determine facts from what your mind comes up with."
I always knew I was dramatic but had never thought that it could mean I was creative. It was such an odd deduction but made perfect sense. To create the problems I saw, I had to let my imagination run wild in the worst possible scenarios and investigate things that would never even happen. What he said was true and his tone made it clear he wasn't asking me to change who I was, but only to make an effort so that I'd feel better.
"I know." I admitted. I thought of leaving things there but couldn't help remembering once more how much his behavior had changed from last night. And how thankful I was for it. "Thank you, by the way. For working on opening up. It means a lot to me."
"Well, you make it easier than I thought it would be. I won't call myself a changed man after only one night. But you have made me rethink this approach. That is more than most people manage." He answered. My heart elated. I wanted to help him, to make things easy on him. Because Queen Lucy was right.
He deserved to have someone to make him laugh.