***One Week Later***

The Queen had requested Eleanor's presence in her office. Eleanor's hands had been shaking uncontrollably when Jasper told her. She looked up at him and the sadness in her eyes melted his heart. "It's ok, baby, you are stronger than she is. I'll be right outside the door." He swore he could see the tears forming behind her green eyes.

Eleanor had no idea why the Queen wanted to see her, but it was never anything good. Her mind raced through every second of the past three days. Had she gotten blackout drunk? Had she made some horrible scene at a club? Did she crash a car or set something on fire? She didn't remember doing anything that bad, that "news-worthy." But then, she also knew that her binges left her with little or no memory. So when she stopped outside the Queen's door and took a deep breath, she plastered on her "fuck off" face and held her head high.

Jasper marvelled at how she could change personalities so quickly. He enjoyed the true Eleanor. She was kind and fragile. Jasper was just able to hear the Queen's voice. He tried not to listen, but when he heard her say "I wanted to tell you how pleased I am darling," Jasper knew nothing good would come of this.

She couldn't believe what she was hearing, the Queen, her bitch of a mother, was actually going to praise her. Eleanor stuck her hands into the back pockets of her leather pants, holding them up. The pants now hung so loose that a gap had formed between her stomach and the front of the pants. Her purple cropped top stopped just below her ribs. The chill of the room put goosebumps on her exposed skin. "I'm pleased to see that you have decided to finally get in shape, Eleanor. You'll be the talk of fashion week next year. The designer's love creating for a lean body. And when you look good, the Monarchy looks good." Her mother was telling her how proud she was and Eleanor wanted to vomit. The room began to spin. She was stunned into silence, lowering her head and mumbling a thank you.

Jasper couldn't believe what he just heard. He turned and reached for the door knob, prepared to lay some truths before the Queen, but the door opened and Eleanor slipped out. Slowly closing the door behind her. She stopped, head down and shoulder's hunched. "Eleanor?" She looked up at him, trying desperately to hold back the tears. Her face was ghostly pale, her usually red lips were a faint pink. "Come here, baby," Jasper held out his arms and pulled her in.

Before she realized what he was doing, Jasper had picked her up and was carrying her back to her room. She rested her head on his shoulder and breathed in his warm scent. She was exhausted from holding back the tears.

"What she said is not fair to you, and it's not true." He had put her down on her bed, sliding her up to the headboard. Sitting in front of her, he looked into her eyes, she was on the verge of tears. He reached up to brush the hair from her eyes. "It's ok if you cry Eleanor, the things she said to you should never have even been thought. You don't need to be so guarded around me. I'm not going to hurt you, ever again. I'm certainly not going to stand by and watch that woman destroy the one person I actually care about."

His words shocked her, the thought of another human being caring about her, about her wellbeing, was a new concept. Her father and brothers had cared, of course, but none had been able to protect her from the emotional abuse of her mother. When she was a child, she had cried to friends, begging for someone to listen and help. The things she said fell on deaf ears. Eventually, she stopped trusting anyone, stopped telling the people in her life about what she was experiencing. She learned to rely on herself. But now Jasper was here and he was telling her he would protect her. Without warning, the tears flowed from her tired eyes, creating little black rivers down her cheeks. Embarrassed, Eleanor quickly turned away, hiding her face from him.

His heart was breaking, seeing her, his beautiful strong princess, vulnerable. She was looking at him when the tears started, quickly turning away. Jasper reached up and gently took her chin, turning her to face him. "Eleanor, look at me," slowly she raised her eyes to his, "you are already beautiful, inside and out. You are stronger than she is and it threatens her. Now come here." He pulled her into his chest and held her while the sobs wracked her fragile body. Eventually tiring her enough for sleep the pull her under. Jasper tucked her into bed and climbed in beside her, holding her while she rested.

***Later that Night***

Jasper had been absolutely furious that the Queen had praised her daughter for losing weight. Could she not see that Eleanor was dying. Her body had nothing left to give. He was, again, standing in the dining room corner watching Eleanor slice her cauliflower into paper-thin slivers. Much to his pleasure, she ate the entire serving. She left the meat and rice untouched. Four glasses of water later, Eleanor asked to be excused. Clutching her stomach, she slowly walked from the room.

She managed to eat, and now she was paying the consequences. Her stomach was filled with pressure and intense pain. It burned, making her double over. Breathing hard, Eleanor fought through the pain. Her mother's words replayed in her mind, among other things. She knew the pain was because she had screwed up, again. If she had just skipped dinner, she wouldn't be battling the urge to throw up. Eleanor went straight to the bathroom, closing and locking the door. She turned on the fan and the sink faucet. Lifting the lid and staring into the bowl, the dark thoughts came back. "God, you are such a fat ass." "Look at how big your thighs are." "You are so stupid, you honestly think all those beautiful, skinny girls eat as much as you?" "You want to be that gorgeous and then you go and eat, what's wrong with you?" Her throat was burning.

Jasper knew she didn't want him to hear her, and he did have to strain to hear her. He remembered the first time he had heard her throwing up in the bathroom. Eleanor had just eaten the better half of a pizza, a rarity in the castle. Something Ophelia had brought Eleanor, late night cravings, of course. She disappeared not long after and Jasper grew concerned. Pressing his ear to the door, thinking she may have overdosed, he heard the faint sound of her retching and he knew immediately what was happening. When she came out, he asked her if she was alright, Eleanor smiled and said "I'm fine." But that didn't happen this time. The door didn't open, the water didn't turn off. The toilet didn't even flush. Instead, he heard the unmistakable, albeit subtle, sound of her body colliding with the floor.

Eleanor looked up to see Jasper kneeling over her. "Why are you in my bathroom?" "You fainted." "I did not, now get out," Eleanor practically screamed. "Len, just let me help you, please." Why wouldn't he just leave her be? All she wanted was to be beautiful, why couldn't he see that? Eleanor picked herself up off the bathroom floor, pausing for a moment as the room spun and stars ran past her eyes. She flushed the toilet, washed her hands, and walked away.

Jasper had nearly ripped the door from the hinges. She was laying on the floor, cold and pale, not breathing. He had immediately checked for a pulse. Finding one, he turned her on her side. Moments later, she had opened her eyes. Jasper released a breath he didn't know he had been holding. She had come back to him. And just as quickly, she had pushed him away. Jasper stood and followed her into the bedroom. She was standing by the window smoking a joint. Jasper knew it was best not to push the situation. Push her too hard and she will build taller, thicker walls. Somehow, he needed to show her how beautiful she was. Stepping up behind her, Jasper slid one hand around her waist, breathing in her delicious scent. With his other hand, he moved her hair, exposing her pale neck.

His lips found that spot on her neck, just below her ear. Shivers ran along her spine, and for once it had nothing to do with how cold she was and everything to do with the way Jasper could make her feel like nothing else mattered in the world.


Please leave feedback. I'd love to know what you think of the story. Any ideas or suggestions are welcome!