Delsa Oneshots

by hiccups-are-better

This is a series of Delsa (Danny Phantom x Young!Elsa) oneshots. I do take requests, suggestions, and constructive criticism if you have any. If not, just enjoy! Cover Art by iesnoth.

47. A Pair of Star Crossed Lovers

Happy Birthday to me! This is something that I worked on a while ago and it was sooooo fun to write and I hope you enjoy it as well.

Disclaimer: Alright so this one is loooong. It's also a Romeo and Juliet AU with Shakespeare speak included. But before you're completely turned off, I promise that its not always word for word and some of it was rewritten to fit the story. It actually makes a lot of sense in context rather than verse.

Anyways, I have you all like it. Enjoy!

The story you are about to read has been told before… a lot.

And now I'm going to tell it again… but different.

Two households, both alike in dignity,

In fair Amitia, where we lay our scene,

From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,

Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.

From forth the fatal loins of these two foes

A pair of star crossed lovers forge their life;

Whose misadventured piteous overthrows

Do with their love bury their parents' strife.

The fearful passage of their fatally marked love,

And the continuance of their house's rage,

Which, but their children's love, nought could remove,

Is now the fifty pages traffic of our story;

The which if you with patient eyes attend,

What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.

The streets of the city of Amitia are peaceful and still as four men stood in a square. But, for not all of them fully alive, two ghosts faced two humans, on feud on which many have laid down their lives. Peace is present, though some ignore it still and favor violence.

"Do you bite your thumb at me sir?!"

Even when the quarrel is stupid.

"I do bite my thumb sir."

A house of powerful ghosts feuds that house which despises the species, thinking it better they do not exist in the mortal world.

"Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?"

One of the humans turned to the other, "Is the law of our side, if I say yes?"

"No."

The human nodded, "No, sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, sir, but I bite my thumb," he made the crude gesture again, "Sir."

The ghost seemingly growled and drew its sword, "Do you quarrel, sir?"

It did not take long for the clashes of swords to be heard through the square. A woman dressed in black pants and shirt stepped into the scene. She growled in frustration, brushing back her black hair and narrowing her eyes as she drew her sword as well.

"Part, fools!" she called to them, trying to stop the fight, "Put down your swords. You know not what you do."

The sounds of another party entering the square drew her away from the men. "What, art thou drawn among these heartless hinds?" a cocky baritone voice sounded, taunting her, "Turn thee, Samantha, look upon thy death."

She looked at the man before her, he was much taller, broad shouldered, and with all too familiar auburn sideburns, "Hans, I do but keep the peace. Put down thy sword, or use it to part these men with me."

He scoffed, "What? Metal drawn and talk of peace?!" he glared at her and drew his weapon, "I hate the word, as I hate hell, all of the Phantom house, and thee. Come, coward!"

Sam met his menacing gaze and his sword as the fight began to expand. She didn't even realize the heads of the households had arrived until she heard their angry demands to their men.

"What noise is this? Give me my sword," cried Frostbite.

And the response of Lord Arendal, "Thou villainous Phantom. Hold me not, let me go to him!"

The clangs of metal and shouts escalated quicker than Sam had anticipated, and in a moment she knew it could only end badly. Then, just as she had expected, a circular portal appeared above them to reveal a cloaked ghost with a disapproving glare on his face.

Clockwork, a being between the ghosts and humans, one meant to keep the peace, and one who has had enough of the foolish fighting that continues no matter what anyone does.

"Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace," he called down to them before landing on the ground, while his form changes, his staff held proud as if a symbol of his authority. "You that quench the fire of your rage with fountains issuing from your veins," he made eye contact with Hans, "Throw your mistempered weapons to the ground, and hear the sentence of your moved superior."

They all seemed reluctant but complied, throwing their weapons to the stone below them. Clockwork sighed, "Three brawls, by you, old Phantom, and Arendal, have three times disturbed the quiet of our streets," his deep red eyes seemed to darken, "If ever you disturb our streets again, your lives shall pay the price of the peace," he softened, "For this time, depart away."

With that, the spector took his leave, sending one more warning glance to the subjects below him. Though begrudgingly, all parties retrieved their weapons and parted ways peacefully.

Sam was tired of the same old routine. Small fight, medium fight, big fight, scolding from Clockwork, it seemed to never end. She trotted along the cobblestones of the streets as the sun continued to rise for mid morning. Finding the figure in which she knew she could find solace, she approached him.

"Good morning," she greeted, cheerful to greet a close friend after an ugly fight, "Didn't expect you to be wandering the streets this early."

The head of silver hair had been sitting on the wall of the city, staring out over the plains and fields that spanned below him. At the sound of her voice, he turned to her, green eyes softening at the sight of his friend. "Never did I see Samantha Manson out in broad daylight," he teased right back, taking her arm and helping her up onto the wall.

"It's not that late yet," she raised a brow, "You talk as if night is almost upon us."

He blinked, "Is the day young?"

"Just struck nine."

He sighed, his eyes returning to the green fields in front of him, "Sad hours seem long," he paused before continuing, "Was that Frostbite that went so fast?"

"It was," she answered, "The work of pesky Arendals, refusing to make peace," but her attention was caught by something else he said, "Pray, what sadness lengthens Daniel's hours?"

He couldn't help but chuckle at the use of his full name, "Not having that which I yearn for makes them short."

She snorted, "In love?"

"Out."

She furrowed her brow, "Of love?"

"Out of her favour," he sighed, "Where I am in love."

"Oh poor love," Sam teased, trying to cheer up her friend, "You've always favored heart over mind."

He shook his head, "I'm afraid I've made a weakness for myself then. This love feel I, that feel no love in this," he met her gaze, "Do you not laugh?"

"No," she offered a smile, "I rather weep."

"At what?" he tilted his head at her answer.

Another smile and a hand lay on his chest, "At your good heart's oppression."

He returned her smile and shrugged, "Why, such is love's transgression. Griefs of my own lie heavy in my chest," he turned from her and lept off the wall, "I must depart, sitting and fester will not prove my case."

"Then I will go along," she followed him, her boots making a softer sound on the stone than his, "And if you leave me so, you do me wrong," her teasing look faded and she offered him some comfort with a hand on his shoulder, "Tell me in sadness Danny, who is that you love."

He raised a brow, "What, shall I groan and tell you?"

"Cease your dull groans and let me listen," she urged him.

"I do love a woman."

She rolled her eyes, "That much I'd guessed."

"Pledged to another," he answered before meeting her gaze, "But not to a mortal man."

Sam blinked at his response, "Then she hath sworn that she will still live chaste?" At his nod, his expression hardened and she shrugged, "Then forget to think of her."

Danny laughed softly, "Teach me how I should forget to think."

She took his arm and began leading him down the street, "By giving liberty unto your eyes. Examine other beauties." She pulled his arm harder, "Come, for we shall busy your mind and talk no more of these sad things."

He didn't respond, but he compiled allowing her to drag him to the market square where vendors could shout their sellings. They chatted idly as noon approached, the sun softly warming the stones beneath their feet. Danny could tell Sam was just trying to distract him for the time being and, though it wasn't entirely working, he was grateful for her efforts.

"I pray, sir, can you read?"

Danny turned at the sound of a timid page's voice. The older man looked at him with a desperate plea. Danny just smiled, "If I know the letters and the language," the man blinked at him, not catching the young noble's joke. "Stay fellow," he corrected himself holding his hand out for the paper in the man's hands, "I can read."

The older man gave it to Danny and he began reading the names aloud, finding on the list his lady love. "What assembly is this?" he asked, not taking his eyes off the paper.

"A masked gathering tonight at our house," the page answered.

"Who's house is this?"

"The one of my master, Lord Arendal," the man smiled as Danny handed the paper back to him, "If you're not of the house of Phantom, do come in trade for your help." With a friendly smile, the man left the two.

Sam noted the look in Danny's eye, "Pray, your lady, she will attend."

"She was invited at the least."

She smirked at the answer, "And so were we," as he was about to protest she held up a hand to stop him, "Go we shall and you, with unattainted eye, compare her face with some that I shall show you," her smirk widened, "And I will make you think your swan a crow."

He paused and thought for a moment before shaking his head at his friend, "I'll go along, but pray, for the sole reason to prove you wrong."

---

"Heavens child! What are you thinking? Make haste, or the guests shall be long gone before you receive them."

The dark skinned girl tutted at the older woman, her teal eyes never leaving the dress she was tying and fixing, "Now, milady, if you wish her to be the prettiest maiden in the room, time is what we require."

"Valerie," a sweet voice smiled, "You musn't fuss."

"Why not?" she straightened up and met the gaze, "I'll fuss if I wish, now hold still."

A flutter of lashes followed the role of blue eyes, but a smile stayed on pink lips as blonde hair was swept back and styled with pieces to match her dress.

A sigh from the older woman drew her attention. "What is it mother?" she asked.

"Elsa," her mother smiled, "You're a woman now."

She blinked back at her mother as Valerie laughed, "Oh, she's nearly there. If she's a woman than I'm an old maid," she sighed, "But I would wish us to see each other wed."

Elsa smiled fondly at her friend as did her mother. "And that is the theme of which I speak," her mother smiled, causing both heads to turn to her, "Tell me daughter," she took her hand, "What do you think of marriage?"

She blinked back at her mother, her breath stolen. She glanced at Valerie for support but only found shock on her friend's face. "It is an honor I dream not of."

"Then dream of it now," she urged, "Many before you are wed. I was a mother at your age."

"I know it," Elsa nodded.

Her mother smiled wider, "Count Kristoff wants you for his wife and love." In the silence, Elsa and Valerie exchanged looks. "So, daughter, can you love the man?"

"I…" She was at a loss for words, "I hardly know him."

"Then learn to know him when you arrive tonight," her mother softly commanded, "Seek how you feel and study his eyes."

Elsa took a deep breath before lifting her chin, "I shall then, if it is my parent's wish."

Her mother smiled and took her cheeks in her hands before leaving her to finish preparing for the feast.

The sun set upon the fair city in due time and soon the entrance of the Arendal's estate was filled with excited guests, dressed formally with masks upon their faces.

"Should we attempt to talk our way inside or sweep past without a word?"

Three figures appeared on the side of the entrance, hiding slightly away from sight without being obvious. The woman shook her head, "Say nothing, less you say too much," she surveyed the crowd around them, "We will not challenge them and they shan't challenge us."

"We'll enter, take a lady's measure and depart. I am not for this ambling."

"No, dear Danny," the third figure spoke with a smile wrapping an arm around his friend, "We must have you a dance."

Danny laughed and shook his head, "Not I Tucker, believe me. You have dancing shoes, I have a soul of lead so stakes me to the ground and I cannot move."

The man laughed, "You are a lover Danny, so borrow Cupid's wings, and soar with them above a common bound."

"You speak as you know Cupid and it is easy to use his wings," Danny rolled his eyes before his gaze turned weary, "Should we enter?" he turned back to his friends, "I feel a consequence hanging in the stars."

Sam glance around warily, "Maybe we should consider what we do."

"For I dreamed a dream last night."

Tucker scoffed, "And so did I."

Danny crossed his arms and looked at his friend, "Well, what was yours?"

"That dreamers often lie."

"In bed asleep, while they do dream things true," he fired back.

Tucker raised playful brow, "O, then, I see Queen Mab hath been with you."

"You talk of nothing, as always," Danny laughed

"If there is more of this than we shall be too late," Sam interjected.

"Then on we go!" Tucker threw his arms over both of their shoulders and smiled, leading them into the entrance as to slip into the crowd.

The trio slipped on their masks. Sam's was dark with enticing swirls of purple, Tucker's resembled a lion, and Danny's was plan black that merely served to cover half his face, hopefully masking the glow of his eyes a little.

They entered as Lord Arendal spoke to the company and no one took notice of them, which they were grateful for. The hall was filled with golden light and colored costumes of the guests, tables filled with food lined the edges of the room and a space in the center was cleared for dancing.

They stood off as the music began and dancers filled the floor. "Methinks we have the pick of the show," Tucker muttered, earning a swat at the chest from Sam.

Danny merely laughed at his friends before his eyes caught something at the other side of the hall.

She was a sight. Slim and slender figure with curves that could drive any sane man insane. Her platinum blonde hair cascaded down her shoulder in a braid. The curve of her face was feminine and gentle and her glittering blue silvery mask only highlighted her bright blue eyes. Those eyes. He watched those eyes for longer than he'd care to admit, almost willing her to look his way. And when she did, they widened and a faint blush covered her cheeks as his bright eyes swept over her.

"My lady Elsa," someone called to her.

The presence of that someone next to her made her turn, "Count Kristoff."

The tall burly blonde smile fondly at her, "Can I beseech that you will pity me enough to dance and warm my evening with a heavenly smile?" he teased with a soft smile, taking her hand and leading her to the dance floor, not fully giving her a chance to answer him.

"Keep your unmannered hand for lesser prey and leave the fair one to her own device," Danny muttered to himself, a wave of jealousy sweeping through him before he scolded himself. Jealousy for a girl he didn't know? Tucker would laugh at him if he could read his mind.

Sam spotted someone else on the dance floor, "It that your lady love?"

"What lady is that, which doth enrich the hand of yonder knight?" he asked, ignoring her question.

Sam blinked at his change in attitude and shrugged, "I know not."

His gaze drifted back to her, following her movements, "She doth teach the torches to burn bright," he moved slightly as to not lose sight of her, "It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night like a rich jewel in a queen's ear, beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear."

"But what of your old love?" Sam asked.

Danny didn't look away from the blonde, "Did my heart love till now? Forswear the sight," he shook his head in a disbelieving sigh, a smile turning up one side of his mouth, "For I never saw true beauty till this night."

He watched as she got closer to him. Thinking quickly, he stepped into the dance just as the other man turned around. But said count gripped his arm, "Sir, I must protest."

"I have a prior claim," was Danny's quick answer, praising his luck when another lady came to ask him to dance.

"And what claim is that?" the blonde asked as she took his hand and continued the dance, not opposing his intervention.

Danny paused, his breath slightly taken away before responding, "A timid claim of a heart that ever must be heard."

The air left her lungs in one moment as she stared back at his sincere eyes. They said nothing to each other as he took her waist and she his shoulder, their hands entwined. They danced together and world around them faded.

At the feast at the table, Hans sat in a stew, watching the crowd in boredom before his eyes caught something. He dropped the fruit he'd been eating onto his plate and reached back for his sheathed sword that hung on the chair he sat on. "Now, by the stock and honour of my kin, to strike him dead, I hold it not a sin."

A hand stopped him from rising from his seat, "Why, how now. Wherefore storm you so?"

Hans growled gesturing to the man dancing with Arendal's daughter, "Uncle, this is a Phantom, our foe, a villain that is hither come in spite, to scorn at our solemnity this night."

Arendal furrowed his brow, "Young Daniel is it?"

"'Tis he, that villain Daniel."

The lord rolled his eyes and sat back down, "Let him alone. He bears like a gentleman and, to say truth, Amitia brags of him to be a virtuous man. I would not for the wealth of all the town here in my house have any misfortune befall him. Therefore be patient, take no note of him," his look turned stern, "It is my will, the which if you respect, put off these frowns. Am I master here, or are you?"

Hans frowned, protest clear in his eyes, but he plopped back into his chair as instructed.

When the master's attention was drawn away from the pair, Danny managed to pull her from the crowds, hoping to have a word with her without prying eyes. He found a small alcove and gently pulled her towards it, leaving her enough slack to pull away from him if she wished.

But she did not. She followed him willingly. Elsa cheeks flamed when her mind came to the sudden conclusion that she might not want to leave him, that her mind, body, and heart were all telling her to latch onto this stranger and never let go. For god's sake, she didn't even know his name.

Once in private, he turned to face her, staring at her a moment before reaching up and pulling off his mask. Elsa had to swallow her gasp when she met his gaze again, the removal of his mask only clouding her thoughts more as his handsome face dared her to say something to him.

Feeling more comfortable with this stranger now that she'd looked straight into his eyes, she reached up and began to pull off her own mask, brushing away a stray hair that fell into her eyes.

Danny's heart swelled at the curious and sweet look in her eyes as she stared right back at him. He didn't know how, but after a while, he found the courage to speak, "If I profane with my unworthiest hand this holy shrine, the gentle fine is this," he held his palm open for her before meeting her gaze again, "My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand to smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss."

A small intake of breath was her reaction as she stared at his humble offering of trust, as if his palm held his heart. "Good pilgrim," she spoke softly, "You do wrong your hand too much, which mannerly devotion shows in this," she shrugged shyly, lifting her hand to press her palm into his, "For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch, and palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss."

His heart swelled at her gentle invitation, "Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?"

A small smile graced her lips, "Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer."

He took her other hand in his, "O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do," a small smirk came to his face, "They pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair."

"Saints do not move," she spoke suddenly, seemingly shy and little nervous, "Though grant for prayers' sake."

He smiled comfortingly at her, tentatively reaching his hand up to her face, watching for any signs of displeasure. She sighed when his warm hand brushed her soft cheek. "Then move not," he reassured her, "While my prayer's effect I take."

Slowly and steadily, he leaned in and kissed her. Their lips connected in a moment of sweet, beautiful bliss. The kind that can only be found in fairy tales. It was soft and sweet and her lips felt like rose petals against his own, so pleasant he never wanted to part from them. But, for her shyness and comfort, he gently pulled away, smiling a bit when she followed his lips with her eyes closed before opening them again. He smiled at her, "Thus from my lips, by yours, my sin is purged."

Her breath was shorter and she longed for that wonderful feeling of being kissed by him to return. "Then have my lips the sin that they have took," she responded.

He blinked at her answer, "Sin from thy lips?" his smile returned, "O trespass sweetly urged," both hands now rested on either cheek, "Give me my sin again."

Their lips touched once more, more fervent but the sweetness was not lost. Danny's hands slowly moved to her waist as she reached up and cupped his face in her small hands to pull him closer. As the kiss deepened, Danny began to lose himself. He pulled her body flush against him because god she was so soft. Everything about her was alluring. Elsa's knees grew weak and she had to clutch to his shoulders for support.

They broke away from each other, their breaths mingling . A smile soon came to grace Elsa's lips, "You kiss by the book."

This earned a smile from him as well.

"Madam?! Elsa?"

The two were startled when a voice called for her. Only able to take a step away before they were discovered, Valerie appeared, only taking note of them for a second. "Your mother craves a word with you."

She nodded and picked up her mask from the floor. She gave him one last glance before turning and leaving the small alcove.

"Pray," Danny spoke, "May I ask who is her mother?"

The woman looked at him warily, "Her mother is the lady of the house."

Danny's face fell, "She is an Arendal?" he groaned, turning away from the woman as she did him, "Oh, my life is my foe's debt."

Sam suddenly appeared before taking Danny's arm and pulling him away, "Come, we must be gone while the sport is at its best."

Elsa however, couldn't bring her thoughts away from the man she just met. "Valerie," she called when the party was dying down, "That fellow there, please go ask his name."

She nodded and went to do so. When she returned, she seemed to be shocked. "His name is Daniel, and a Phantom. The only son of your great enemy."

Elsa's heart sunk in her chest, "My only love sprung from my only hate? Too early seen unknown, and known too late. Prodigious birth of love it is to me," she shook her head, "That I must love a loathed enemy."

Valerie stared at her friend for a moment before taking her arm, "Come, let's away, the strangers are gone."

---

Danny walked along the gravel path, torches lighting his way as he mulled over what just happened in his head. "Elsa," he mused to himself, a small smile coming to his face, "Even now, after knowing you to be my sworn enemy, my heart beats, strong and true, at your name." He shook his head, looking up at the house he'd just left, "Can I go forward when my heart is here? Turn back, dull earth, and find thy center out."

"Danny!"

He flinched at the call of his name, recognizing Sam's voice. He did not wish to rejoin his party. No, he needed more time with his thoughts. Acting fast, he lept into the air and floated over the garden wall, landing safely in the soft grass as he heard the party approach on the other side.

"He is wise," came Tucker's slightly slurred voice, "And, on my lie, hath stolen him home to bed."

Sam shook her head, "He ran this way, what of this orchard wall? Call to him."

Tucker scoffed before cupping his hands over his mouth, "Daniel! Romeo! Humours! Madman! Passion! Lover!" a laugh escaped him, "Speak but one rhyme, and I am satisfied. Cry 'Ay me!' pronounce but 'love' and 'dove.'"

"And if he hears you, thou wilt anger him," Sam shook her head at her friend, though she couldn't contain the small smile on her face, "Come, he hath hid himself among these trees,

to be consorted with the humorous night. Blind is his love and best befits the dark."

Tucker shrugged, "If love be blind, love cannot hit the mark. Now he will sit under a tree and wish his mistress were that kind of fruit. Come, shall we go?"

She sighed, "Go, then, for 'tis in vain to seek him here that means not to be found."

The sound of footsteps, though unsteady, slowly became more distant. Danny allowed himself to be visible again as he moved through the gardens. Lamps lit with flame allowed him to see the path in front of him. He followed it, admiring the marble statues and blooming flowers.

He furrowed his brow as he came about a wide courtyard before his eyes caught a figure above him on a balcony. He froze, "But, soft," a soft smile came to his face, "What light through yonder window breaks?" He knew who it was before he even saw her, "It is the east, and Elsa is the sun."

Moving swiftly through the paths carved into the bushes, he didn't once take his eyes off of her, "Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, who is already sick and pale with grief, that thou art far more fair than she."

He stopped in the bushes as he caught sight of Elsa on her balcony, light surrounding her from all angles and the roses that grew along the side of the house framing the beautiful portrait. Gone was her beautiful blue gown, the styling of her hair, in place a thin white nightdress that hung upon her frame in an inherently alluring fashion. Her hair was wild in the wind and her eyes searched her mind as thoughts ran through her head. "It is my lady," his smile widened, "O, it is my love. O, that she knew she were. She speaks yet she says nothing: what of that? I will answer it," he stopped and shook his head at himself, "I am too bold, 'tis not to me she speaks."

His focus was brought back to her as she shifted, leaning on the great stone railing of the balcony, the flames of lamps dancing in her eyes. "Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven," he breathed in disbelief, "Having some business, do dwell in her eyes to twinkle. The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars, as daylight shames a lamp. Her eyes in heaven would through the airy region stream so bright that birds would sing and think it was not night."

Unable to tear his eyes away, she moved again, shifted her weight in a way that seemed to fascinate him. He wished to learn how she moved, her habits of speech, more than a priest would yearn for his bible. She rested her cheek in her hand, still in thought as he got closer, "See, how she leans her cheek upon her hand. O, that I were a glove upon that hand, that I might touch that cheek once again."

He moved swiftly so he stood at the wall of the balcony just underneath her and out of sights. He froze when he heard a sigh from above.

"Ay me."

He perked up at this, "She speaks," he leaned his head back against the stone, "O, speak again, bright angel, for thou art as glorious to this night, being over my head as is a winged messenger of heaven unto mortal eyes."

Another sigh came from above. "Daniel," she mused aloud before shaking her head, "Oh Daniel, wherefore art thou Daniel? Deny thy father and refuse thy name, or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love," she smiled at her next thought, "And I'll no longer be Arendal."

His heart swelled at her words, "Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?"

Elsa shook her head again to herself, "Tis but thy name that is my enemy, thou art thyself, though not a just a Phantom," she paused again, "What's Phantom? it is nor hand, nor foot, nor arm, nor face, nor any other part belonging to a man," she sighed in anguish, "O, be some other name. For hate of my family lies not in your kind, but in your clan of spectors."

She stood up straight before leaning against a pillar, careful of the thorns of roses that grew there. "What's in a name?" she mused, her eyes finding a flower beside her and plucking its stem, "That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet," she traced the petals of the rose, "So Daniel would, were he not Daniel called, retain that dear perfection which he owes without that title," she stood as she felt giddiness rise within her, a smile proof of her conclusion, "Daniel, doff thy name, and for that name which is no part of thee," she blushed at her next words, "Take all myself."

Danny couldn't stand it, he had to show himself. It took all his willpower not to launch off the ground towards her. No, his feet stayed with the earth as to not frighten her. "I take thee at thy word!" he called, stepping out into the garden, "Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized. Henceforth," he shook his head, "I never will be Daniel."

Her eyes widened and the rose dropped from her hand, "Oh my good lord above did you just hear all of that?" She peered into the darkness, "What man art thou that bescreened in night

would stumble on my counsel?"

His eyes caught the rose that fluttered to the ground before him. "By a name I know not how to tell thee who I am," he spoke, reaching down and picking up the rose, "My name, dear lady, is hateful to myself. Because it is an enemy to you. Had I it written," he paused before stepping into the light and turning to meet her gaze, "I would tear the word."

Elsa's heart fluttered at the familiar sight of silver hair, "My ears have not yet drunk a hundred words of that tongue's utterance, yet I know the sound," she smiled and called down, "Art thou not Daniel and a Phantom?"

"Neither," he shook his head, "Fair lady, if either thee dislike."

A blush colored her cheeks at his words. "How camest you?" she asked, suddenly realizing they may not be alone, "The orchard walls are high and hard to climb, and the place death, considering who thou art if anyone were to find you here."

He smirked, "I fly these walls. You forget, fair love, that I am not of this world or the next. For stony limits cannot hold love out. Therefore thy kinsmen are of no worry to me."

Her heart sank at the thought of them being discovered, "If they do see thee, they will murder thee."

Danny couldn't help but smile at her concern for him, "There lies more peril in your eyes than twenty of their swords."

"But I would not for the world they saw thee here," she tried to reason.

He gestured around him, "I have night's cloak to hide me from their sight," he met her eyes again, "If thou love me, let them find me here."

She was at a loss, still shocked by his appearance. She took a moment before speaking again, "Do you love me?" she shook her head before he could answer, "I know you will say 'Ay,' And I will take thy word," her expression dimmed, "Yet if you swear, thou mayst prove false," but she could not keep her smile away for long, "O gentle Daniel, if thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully," she looked away from him, "Or if you think I am too quickly won, I'll frown and be perverse and say no."

"Do not oppose if you do not mean it," he called to her desperately, "The only thing to cast me away would be your displeasure of me," he lowered his head to her, "If it be so, tell me now."

Elsa blinked before she smiled fondly down at him, "In truth, fair Phantom, I am too fond. But trust me, gentleman, I'll prove more true: my true love's passion."

With little effort, Danny pushed off the ground to soar into the air, gently stopping when he reached the other side of the railing. She seemed shocked, her breath stolen from her for a moment. But he rejoiced at being so close with her again, holding the rose out to her, "Lady, by yonder blessed moon I swear-"

She held a hand out to stop him, placing her hand over the one that held the rose, "O, swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon, that monthly changes in her circled orb."

"What shall I swear by?" he asked.

She shook her head at him, "Do not swear at all. Or," she blushed as her eyes found the rose and she took it from him, "If you will," she dropped the rose to the ground and reached forward to take his hand, "Swear by thy gracious self," she shyly met his gaze again, "And I'll believe thee."

He nodded, smiling at their entwined hands, "If my heart's dear love-" He stopped himself before gently pulling her by her hand towards him. She didn't resist, her breath leaving her as he drew her closer. "Oh, Elsa," was all he said, bringing a smile to her face. His head dipped into her neck, pressing soft kisses there. She sighed as her eyes fluttered shut and threaded her fingers through his hair as she relaxed against him, letting him hold her.

"My lady? Elsa?"

The calls of Valerie came from within. Too lost in the warmth of her lover, Elsa didn't even open her eyes, "Anon, good maid, anon."

She had to pull away from him, before brushing his cheek with her fingertips, "Goodnight, goodnight, as sweet repose and rest."

When she turned away from him, he moved over the railing so he could stand on the balcony, "Wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?"

She paused and turned back to him, her eyes wide, "What satisfaction can thou have tonight?"

Danny stared at her for a moment, gathering his courage, "The exchange of thy love's faithful vow for mine."

A smile came to her face at his answer and she nodded, "I gave mine before thou did request it. My bounty is as boundless as the sea, my love as deep. The more I give to thee, the more I have, for both are infinite." She too, gathered her courage before she went to him. She reached up and took the back of his neck, placing her lips just under his jaw in the gentlest of kisses.

He sighed at her touch as her friend called again. "I come, anon!" she called back. She met his eyes before pressing a hand to his chest, "Stay but a little," she nodded, "I will come again."

As she retreated into her house, Danny leaned against a rose covered pillar, a smile on his face. "O blessed, blessed night," he gazed after her, turning himself invisible as to hide while he watched her silhouette through the window, "I fear, being in night, all this is but a dream."

When she returned, she looked for him, surprised to find the balcony barren. Then hands on her shoulders and a faint, "Boo," made her jump and turn around. She sighed when she found him smiling mischievously at her, laughter in his eyes, "You've proved yourself a worthy spirit."

"Ay, was I not before?" he answered her tease before he stopped, looking in her eyes that were now not as bright. "Pray love," he spoke, stepping closer and taking a hand to offer comfort, "What plagues you so?"

Her eyes widened before she looked away from him, "Tis nothing."

"Has something your friend said upset you?" he urged, wanting to make her smile return, "Let me fix whatever conflict you may toil with."

She shook her head and met his gaze, "Marriage is what plagues me," she shrugged, "It's shadow is fast approaching with no signs of halt, and yet I still yield. How I long for…" She trailed off as she stared at him before she blinked and looked away, pulling her hands from his.

Danny took her hands right back, "If it is a hero you seek," he spoke fervently, "Then a hero to you I shall be."

She furrowed her brow at him, "You mean to marry me? A stranger to your house?"

He nodded, "Ay, I would."

Elsa shook her head, "But your life-"

"Would be nothing without you in it," he finished before tentatively continuing, "If it be, time wavers passion and we grow to be only friends."

"I have no words," she breathed, but the light had returned to her eyes. She shook her head faintly, "Is it not too rash, too unadvised, too sudden, too alike to lightning?"

"Then do you wish me gone?"

"Never," she stopped him, putting hands to his chest, "I am far too grateful for your sacrifice."

He shook his head, "Not sacrifice, more alike to a gift from the heavens themselves."

"Then," she smiled, "At what o'clock tomorrow shall I send to thee?"

"At the hour of nine," he answered.

She nodded, "I will not fail," she sighed, "Tis twenty years till then," her eyes became shy as she looked away, a blush lighting her face, "I forget why I asked you to stay."

He pulled her closer, taking her waist, "Let me stand here till you remember it."

She sighed and shook her head, "I shall forget, to have thee still stand there, remembering how I love thy company."

"And I'll still stay, to have thee still forget," Danny leaned down to brush his nose to hers, "Forgetting any other home but this."

The flicker of a lamp light reminded her of where they were, the flames telling her she must let him go before they are discovered, "'Tis almost morning," she said, "I would have thee gone or else I would kill thee with much cherishing."

"A fate I will accept," he smiled and she returned it. He leaned down, kissing her passionately as if to keep her warm for the rest of the lonely night.

When they broke apart, she smiled fondly at him and cupped his cheek, "Good night, good night," she shook her head, staring at him fondly, "Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say good night till it be morrow."

She gave him one last kiss before pulling away from him, their hands lingering until the last moment.

"Sleep dwell upon thine eyes," he wished her before she disappeared from sight. Giddy from the night, he floated out over the garden without a care in the world, "Would I were sleep and peace, so sweet to rest," he then filled himself with determination, "Hence will I to my sister's cell, her help to crave, and my dear hap to tell."

And there, under the stars, did our lovers sleep with their hearts full and satisfied.

---

The sun rose over the fair walls of the city, casting golden light upon its stones. A garden nestled in a small courtyard held a bright array of colors, greens, purples, reds, and yellows all shining in the morning sun.

In the center, a young women plucking plants, long hair pulled back and out of the way of her work. A simple dress with stains of grass and dirt pooled around her as she kneeled in the garden and hummed peacefully as she went about her way.

Before green eyes materialized in front of her.

She jumped back with a yelp, falling into the bush behind her, frowning at the laughter that befell her. "Good morning Jasmine," Danny smiled at her before floating down to the ground.

"You know I hate the name," she grumbled as she sat back up, but a smile was clear on her face, "Why so happy to greet the early sun? Last I remember you like to sleep until the day is done," she teased before she noted her brother's unruly appearance, "Unless I hit it right, Daniel has not been in bed tonight."

Danny smirked at the thought, bringing fresh happy memories to his mind, "That last is true. The sweeter rest was mine."

She blinked back at him, taking note of his messy hair and disheveled clothes, "God pardon sin," she muttered before leaning in closer to him, "Pray, was thou with Paulina?"

"With Paulina?" he scoffed, "No, I have forgot that name, and that name's woe."

She beamed at him and laid a hand on his shoulder, "That's good my brother," she blinked, "But where has thou been, then?"

"I'll tell thee, if thou ask me again," he grinned mischievously, "I have been feasting with my enemy, yet I bear no hatred."

She shook her head at him as she moved to stand and brush the dirt from her skirts, "Be plain, riddling bears nothing."

He stood with her and held her shoulders with an excited smile, "Then plainly know my heart's love is set on the fair daughter of Arendal. So hers is set on mine, combine by holy marriage to rescue her from grievous fate, for she has a fearful enemy this date," his gaze turned hopeful, "But this I pray, that thou consent to marry us today."

She stared back at him, "What a change is here! Is Paulina, whom thou didst love so dear, so soon forsaken?"

He shook his head, "I pray thee, chide not; she whom I love now doth grace for grace and love for love allow," he rolled his eyes, "The other did not so." But his smile soon returned, "My fair, my beauteous, my Elsa."

"Speak you so, though she be an Arendal," she watched her brother carefully.

"Jazz, you yourself spoke of the hopeless quarrel between two names," he chided her, "Should you not rejoice at my distaste for hate? At my love despite her blood and mine?"

She resisted the urge to smile at her brother's words but could only hide it for so long. "I have never seen you speak so fervently," she mused before crossing her arms, "Doth she know of the female friar to wed her?"

"She would not care," Danny responded with a wave of his hand before his expression grew serious, "For no other ghostly father in the land would have us wed."

Jazz blinked at his sudden solumness, "Danny?"

He met her eyes, smile gone. "Sister," he spoke, "My dear love suffers under her house. A marriage to a man her parents have handed her to."

"Like many other ladies her age," she chided him.

He sent her a look, "No, for my heart was swayed by the fear in her eyes as she spoke, the flames that dimed when she returned to me," he sighed, "I would take heed and take time to love her the more, but she is in need. Who am I to deny my love what she wishes?"

The redhead smiled at him, "Your heart has always been strong and true," she muttered admiringly, smiling at how her brother had grown over the years, "Tis true, no other friar would marry you two without her parent's consent," she placed a hand on his shoulder with a smile, "At what time shall we expect her?"

Danny's face lit up with joy as he scooped his sister up into a hug, launching into the air and spinning.

"Danny!" she shrieked, "I pray you, set me back down on Earth!"

He laughed at her but compiled. Once back on the ground, he tackled her in a hug once more. "Thank you, dear sister," he said to her, making her smile in return.

After a few more words and details settled with her, Danny left Jazz to her work and ventured home. He was surprised, however, by the figures at his house gates. "Ah," Sam called to him as he approached, "So night has not stolen you away from us."

"Nay, I thank thee for my cover," he nodded to his friends and they both laughed at him.

"Why, is not this better now than groaning for love?" Tucker mused, patting his friend on the shoulder, "Now art thou sociable, now art thou Daniel."

Sam looked uneasy, "A letter has come for you, of a challenge to the great Hans."

But Danny didn't hear her, too occupied with a woman that caught his eye, "Peace, friends, peace." His lame goodbye made them follow him as he approached the woman who neared the gates of the house.

She met his gaze and met him halfway, "Gentlemen, you tell me where I may find the young Daniel?

"Yes, tis I you seek," he nodded eagerly, recognizing the voice from last night.

Valerie raised a brow, "If you be he, sir, I desire some confidence with you."

He nodded again, taking her arm a leading her away from his friends, "Ay, then speak."

Once they were a fair distance away she turned to him. "My young lady bade me inquire you out. What she bade me say," her eyes grew dark as she gave him a warning, "But first let me tell you, if you should lead her into a fool's paradise, if you should deal double with her -"

"Dear lady," he shook his head in protest, "Commend me to thy lady and mistress. I protest unto thee-"

"Commend thyself," she cut him off, a skeptical look on her face.

Danny sighed before meeting her eyes, "Bid her devise some means to come to shrift this afternoon. And there she shall at 'Friar Laurence's' cell and be shrived and married."

"Ay," she nodded, "I shall commend it to my lady."

With that she turned and left the young man in the street with his friends looking on curiously.

---

"The clock struck nine when I did send her."

Elsa, dressed in day clothes, paced her room, her hands fiddling with one another, "In half an hour she promised to return," she paused, "Perchance she cannot meet him. That's not so," she glanced out the window nervously, "Now is the sun upon the highmost hill of this day's journey, and from nine till twelve is three long hours, yet she has not come," she gasped suddenly when she heard the sound of her friend approaching, "O God, she comes."

Valerie entered the room in a huff, her pace fast as she moved across the space. "O friend," Elsa called to her, "What news? Hast thou met with him? Send thy man away," when her friend continued walking into another room, she followed her, "Now, good sweet maid," she paused at the look on her face, "O Lord, why look'st thou sad?" her heart sunk in her chest, "Though news be sad, yet tell them merrily. If good, thou shames the music of sweet news by playing it to me with so sour a face."

She waved the young blonde off, sitting on a bench in the hall, "I am weary, give me leave awhile. What a jaunt have I had."

Elsa sat beside her and took her hand, "Nay, come, I pray thee, speak."

Valerie looked at her, "Do you not see that I am out of breath?"

She shook her head, "How art thou out of breath, when thou hast breath to say to me that thou art out of breath?" she folded her arms, "The excuse that thou dost make in this delay is longer than the tale thou dost excuse." Elsa softened, "Is thy news good, or bad? Answer to that. Say either, and I'll stay the circumstance. Let me be satisfied, is it good or bad?"

Valerie gave her friend a look, "You know I doth protest a union with spirits far greater in power than us." But a small smile crept onto her face, "But, preface, I must confess, you have good taste. A face as handsome as the dawn but mysterious as the night."

"This did I know before," Elsa smiled before she took her hands, "What says he of our marriage? What of that? What says my love?"

"Have you got leave to go to confession today?"

Elsa furrowed her brow, "I have."

A smile crept onto her face, "Then hie you hence to Friar Laurence's cell to be wed by his sister. There stays a husband to make you a wife," she smiled fondly at her friend that beamed back at her, before taking her into a hug, laughter filling the great hall. Valerie was the one to pull away, cupping Elsa's cheek, "Now comes the wanton blood up in your cheeks, they'll be in scarlet straight at any news," she took her hands, "Hie you to church. I must another way."

The blonde smiled in delight, standing from the bench, "Hie to high fortune! Honest friend, farewell."

As Elsa readied herself for the church, Jazz and Danny both awaited her arrival in the cathedral.

"So smile the heavens upon this holy act, that after hours with sorrow chide us not," Jazz smiled, having changed into a clean dress, and gazed at her brother fondly.

"Amen," he laughed in response, beaming at the altar before him, "But come what sorrow can, it cannot destroy the exchange of joy that one short minute gives me in her sight," he smile at her, "Do thou but close our hands with holy words, then love-devouring death do what he dare," his smile widened, his next words to himself, "It is enough I may but call her mine."

Jazz's smiled faded ever so slightly, "These violent delights have violent ends, and in their triumph die, like fire and gunpowder," she shook those thoughts away, "But no talk of that, for you have a love, boundless and bountiful." Both their heads snapped up at the sound of the church door opening and two figures entering. Jazz smiled at her brother's lovestruck gaze, "Here comes the lady so light a foot."

"She makes light of my heart as well," Danny practically sighed.

Both Elsa and Valerie made their way to the small cell of the church, both cloaked to hide their faces from onlookers. A bright smile was immediately on the blonde's lips, eyes meeting her love before noticing the other party. "Good evening to my dearest confessor," she said, nodding her head to her.

"Ay, but will thou soon call me sister," Jazz teased a bit before glancing at her brother, "Daniel shall thank thee, sister, for us both."

Elsa finally turned to him fully met his eyes, her cheeks flushing beautifully in the candlelight, "As much to him, else is his thanks too much."

"Oh, Elsa," he sighed at the sight of her, reaching up to pull off the hood of her cloak, "If the measure of thy heart like mine is full, let rich music's tongue unfold the imagined happiness that both receive in either by this dear encounter."

She shook her head, "But my true love is grown to such excess I cannot sum up sum of half my wealth," she glanced at the ground sheepishly, "I cannot thank you enough for sacrifice."

"What talk of sacrifice is this," he furrowed his brow, taking her hand, "I did declare before and I shall again that this a blessed day in my life, for I will gain a friend, a love, and a wife."

Jasmine smiled fondly at the two, "Oh then come, come with me, and we will make short work," she ushered for them to follow her, "For, by your leaves, you shall not stay alone till holy church incorporate two in one."

---

"Tis nearly dusk," Sam sighed, pacing across the cobblestones, "Where has Danny stowed away?"

Tucker stood from his comfortable position against the fountain in the square. "My my how you worry of our friend," he then reached down to adjust the sheath of his sword, "Do you not worry instead the blade that will soon bear its head"

Sam shook her head and took off her jacket, revealing her shirt and over corset, "I pray thee, good Tuck, let's retire. The day is hot," she sighed as she threw the cloth to the ground, "And, if we meet with him, we shall not escape a brawl."

He just laughed at her and shook his head, "Thou art like one of those fellows that when he enters the confines of a tavern, claps his sword upon the table and says 'God send me no need of

Thee!'"

She scoffed, "Am I like such a fellow?" she shook her head with mild scolding, "I who is so apt to prevent quarrel," she stopped, spotting someone else entering the public place, "By my head, here come the Arendals."

"By my heel, I care not," Tucker managed to laugh.

Hans stormed into the square with a scowl on his face, a mission clear in his thoughts. A small squad of men followed him as he marched towards the two in the center. "A word with one of you," he commended.

Tucker raised a brow at this, teasing the raging man, "And but one word with one of us? Couple it with something," he shrugged before smiling, "Make it a word and a blow."

The redhead sneered, "You shall find me apt enough to that, sir, and you will give me occasion."

"Could you not take some occasion without giving?" the other man continued to taunt.

Hans ripped off his jacket and threw it to one of his men, "Thou consort with Daniel-"

"Consort!" Tuck exclaimed before shaking his head and looking back at Sam, "What, dost thou make us minstrels?"

Sam could practically feel the tension building between the two men. "We talk here in the public haunt of men and ghost," she spoke clearly, standing close to the center of the two, "Either withdraw unto some private place, and reason coldly of your grievances, or else depart," she glanced around at the crowd beginning to gather, "Here all eyes gaze on us."

Tucker didn't even break his stare with Hans, "Men's eyes were made to look. Let them gaze. I will not budge for no man's pleasure."

It was that moment that Danny chose to appear, fresh from the church with a smile bright on his face. His step held spring, for the promise of night brought with it his new wife and twas almost fairy time.

But Hans smirked in triumph at the sight of him, "Well, peace be with you, sir. Here comes my man." He turned to Danny and began to approach him, Sam and Tucker following as to support their friend. "Daniel," he called as the ghost turned at the call of his name. Hans sneered as he neared him, "The hate I bear thee can afford no better term than this. Thou art a villain."

Instead of a frown, a small smile came to Danny's face yet again. "Hans, the reason that I have to love thee will much excuse rage to such a greeting," he shrugged, "Villain am I none," he turned to continue on, "Therefore farewell. I see thou know'st me not."

"Boy," Hans taunted, "This shall not excuse the injuries that thou hast done me," Hans drew his sword, "Therefore turn and draw."

Danny turned back and faced the sword. He looked at it in confusion before taking his finger and gently pushing the tip of the blade away, "I do protest, I never injured thee," he offered a smile, "But love thee better than thou canst devise, till thou shalt know the reason of my love," he walked closer and placed a hand on Hans's shoulder, "And so, good Arendal, which name I tender as dearly as my own, be satisfied." After patting the confused man's shoulder, Danny turned and continued on his way.

Everyone gawked at his words of peace before Tucker pushed through Hans's men. "O calm, dishonourable submission!" he reached down and drew his sword, "Hans, will you walk?"

Hans smirked at the prospect of a fight, "What wouldst thou have with me?"

But Danny had heard the sounds of steel and stopped. He looked onto the scene with new eyes. Once he would disregard it as normalcy, now seeing disapproving blue eyes as he remembered the heritage of Hans. "Gentle Tucker," Danny called to him as he went back to his friend, "Put thy rapier down."

Tucker did not listen, only challenging Hans with a, "Come, sir," before flying into the fray.

Danny watched with panic as their swords clashed in the afternoon sun, blinding light showcasing the harshness of the battle. He desperately turned to his friend, "Draw, Sam, beat down their weapons." Impatient, he moved to step into the battle, "Gentlemen, for shame, forbear this outrage! Hans, Tucker, the prince hath forbidden battle in Amitia streets."

Seeing his chance, Danny stepped in the middle of their fight, facing Hans to try and stop him, "Hold, Hans! Tucker!"

But Hans parried around Danny, a stabbed Tucker right through his ribs. The air was still after that, unnaturally silent. The clattering of Tucker's sword to the ground broke the quiet.

Tucker looked down at she shirt, already beginning to stain with blood. He looked up and met Danny's worried eyes. "I am hurt," he muttered before beginning to fall to the ground. Danny was lucky enough to catch him and lay him down.

Sam rushed over to the two, kneeling beside him, "What, art thou hurt?"

Tucker waved at her, out of breath and choking one the air, "Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch," he spoke to himself, "Tis enough."

The black haired woman turned to one of Hans's men, "Go, villain, and fetch a surgeon!"

The page's eyes widened and he nodded before rushing off. "Courage, man," Danny urged his friend, looking at the small injury, "The hurt cannot be much."

"No," he shook his head, "Tis not so deep as a well, but ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a dead man," he found some strength and sat up further with the help of Danny and Sam. He glared between both Hans and the two above him, "A plague on both your houses!"

The shout took too much energy and he slumped into Sam's arms. He gazed glassy eyed up at Danny, "Why the devil came you between us? I was hurt under your arm."

Danny's jaw flapped for a moment before he found a lame response. "I thought all for the best."

He looked back up at Sam, "Help me into some house, Sam." She nodded and hurried him to his feet, Danny helping her steady him. As the two began to walk away, he turned back to them, his shout once more echoing across the building around them.

"A plague on both your houses!"

Danny shook his head, trying to deny to himself what had just happened. "My very friend, hath his mortal hurt in my behalf." He shook his head at himself harsher, time flying by him as he stood under the beating sun, his mind whirring, "Hans, that an hour hath been my kinsman," he sighed to himself, closing his eyes in sorrow, "O sweet Elsa, thy beauty hath made me effeminate and in my temper softened valour's steel!"

It was then that he saw Sam running back towards him. It hadn't been long enough, why was she back so fast? "O Danny, brave Tucker dead!" she cried, anguish clear in her voice as she reached him. Out of breath and out of spirit, her watery eyes met his, "That gallant spirit hath aspired to the clouds."

Danny froze at the revelation, staring at her, hoping she would smile and tell of jest. But tears are what he was given, his own eyes becoming blurry. He blinked rapidly before taking his crying friend into his arms. "This day's black fate on more days doth depend," he scorned himself for interfering. His interference was to prevent death, not cause it. His anger began to fuel his heart more and more, "This but begins the woe, others must end."

Sam peered over his shoulder at the sound of more boots on stone, "Here comes the furious Hans back again."

He tensed at the name of Tucker's killer, rage blinding his sight as he turned. "Alive," he scoffed, "In triumph and Tucker slain!" he paused, taking a moment of silence for his friend, "Away to heaven, respective lenity," but his eyes returned to the man before him and his anger fueled his conviction, "And fire-eyed fury be my conduct now!"

He let go of his friend, taking up Tucker's fallen sword and moving to meet Hans halfway. The oaf seemed proud of himself and Danny growled, eyes glowing bright with rage, "Now, Hans," he raised the sword, "Take the villain back again. For Tucker's soul is but a little way above our heads, staying for thine to keep him company," his hands began to glow a menacing green and the skies above seemed to darken, "Either thou, or I, or both, must go to meet with him."

Hans scoffed at his show of power, "Thou, wretched boy, that didst consort him here shall soon be with him hence."

Danny nodded to his sword, "This shall determine that."

He was the first to swipe at his foe, the Arendal ducking away and countering. Sam watched in distress the her friend practically flew at the speed of light. Fueled by rage, his ghostly advantage will prove too much for Hans, that she knew. But if he were to kill for revenge, though satisfying justice, he shall deepen the rift between houses. Part of her wanted to tell him to cease, the flashing of metals crying out to her for peace. But another part of her wanted to cheer him on, to urge him to spill Hans's blood for taking their friend before his time.

Then, all at once, Danny had ducked under Hans's blade, pivoting behind him, and running him through with his sword. Everyone felt death descend once again among the young as Hans slipped from the weapon, more blood staining the streets.

Danny looked on with shock, coming to his sense as soon as his eyes found blood. The sword fell from his hands and he stared dumbly as Hans's men rushed forward to save their lord and master.

He then heard a muffled voice and someone shaking him. He turned to find Sam pulling on his arm. "Danny, away, be gone! The citizens are up, and Hans slain," she shoved him towards the street, causing him to stumble, "Stand not amazed. The prince will doom thee death if thou art taken. Hence," she yelled at him as he turned to leave, "Be gone, away!"

"O, I am fortune's fool!" Danny growled in anguish as he took his leave and moved to hide himself among the winding streets of the city, his power over visibility at the ready.

Sam stared after him, barely registering the sounds of a crowd gathering, the steps, the shouts, the cries. She panted, her mind heavy as she looked down at the dead body before her. Not moments before did she wish him dead for her dear friend's revenge. Now, though she claims herself strong, all she wanted was a moment's peace for tears to fall unseen.

A cloak of fine fabric then met her eyes, which she lifted to meet the guardian of the land. "How now, dear Samantha," Clockwork spoke gently but with sternness, "Where are the vile beginners of this fray?"

A flood of fresh tears, threatened her eyes. "O noble prince, I can discover all the unlucky manage of this fatal brawl," she nodded at the bodies before them, "There lies the man, slain by young Daniel, that slew his kinsman, brave Tucker."

Clockwork hummed, ignoring the cries of the Phantom and Arendal clans. Those who claimed justice but only wanted other blood to spill. "Sam, who began this bloody fray?"

She pointed to the redhead on the ground, "Hans, here slain, whom Danny's hand did slay. Daniel that spoke him fair, bade him bethink and urged your will," she shrugged, "All this uttered with gentle breath, calm look, knees humbly bow'd," she looked over his shoulder to glare at the clan dressed in Arendal's colors, "Could not make truce with the unruly spleen of Hans, who was deaf to peace." She met the ghost's gaze again, "And, as he fell, did Danny turn and fly. This is the truth, or let myself die."

"Daniel slew him, he slew Hans," Clockwork turned to look at the dead men, "Who now the price of his dear blood doth owe?"

Sam shook her head, "Not Danny, lord, he was Tucker's friend. His fault concludes but what the law should end the life of Tybalt."

Clockwork sighed before his voice was projected to the entire square, "And for that offence immediately we do exile Daniel hence, and if he returns, oblivion to be his recompense."

---

New sheets were freshly lain on the bed, the vanity and dresser were all cleaned and cleared of trinkets, and fine nightclothes were set aside. Elsa grinned at her handy work. Her heart swelled and she smiled brightly at the thought of her being a wife, and a willing wife no less, to one with whom she would trust her life.

Valerie had been out doing errands, leaving Elsa to her own device, yet her thoughts never swayed from her husband. So she'd set to work to make her room warm and homely as the afternoon came.

Satisfied with her work, she paused at the doorway to her balcony, remembering the wonderful night before. A blush soon rose to her cheeks as she realized this night would prove more wonderful than the last.

"Come, night," she urged the sun, praying for it to set faster, "Come, Daniel. Come, thou day in night for thou wilt lie upon the wings of night." She smiled brighter, becoming alight with excitement as she turned to twirl around the room in pure joy, "Come, gentle night, come, loving night. Give me my Daniel."

She paused her eyes becoming distant as she looked out her window at the sky, "And when he shall die, take him and cut him out in little stars," she smiled at the thought of his handsome face, "And he will make the face of heaven so fine that all the world will be in love with night and pay no worship to the garish sun."

It was then that Valerie burst into the room, eyes frantic and panicked. Elsa moved to her, taking her arms to offer support, "Now, friend, what news?" When there was a sob, Elsa gasped, fearing the worst, "Ay me! What news? Why dost thou wring thy hands?"

"He's dead," Valerie whispered before she shook her head and tears trailed down her cheeks as Elsa moved to side her friend down on the edge of her own bed, "We are undone, lady, we are undone! Alack the day! He's gone, he's killed, he's dead!"

Elsa froze, staring in disbelief. "Can heaven be so envious?" she whispered, barely audible.

Valerie sneered, "Daniel can. Who ever would have thought it? Danny!"

The blonde furrowed her brow in confusion, though her anguish was not gone, "What devil art thou, that dost torment me thus?" she took her friend's shoulders, "Hath Daniel slain himself? If he be slain, say 'I', or if not, no. Brief sounds determine of my joy or woe."

But her friend was in nothing but hysterics, shaking her head fervently, "I saw the wound, I saw it with mine eyes. All in gore-blood I gagged at the sight."

Elsa was beginning to lose hope, her throat closing as her chest began to heave, "O, break, my heart! Poor bankrupt, break at once!"

"O Hans, the good friend I had!" Valerie cried, "O honest gentleman! That ever I should live to see thee dead!"

She stopped, her own tears now leaving her eyes. "What storm is this that blows so contrary?" she urged her friend, trying to calm her down somewhat, "Is Daniel slaughtered, and is Hans dead?" she sobbed at the prospect, "My dear-loved cousin, and my even dearer lord? For who is living, if those two are gone?"

Valerie, seemingly coming to her senses, shook her head, "Hans is gone, and Daniel banished," she sneered as anger began to befall her, "Daniel that killed him, he is banished."

Elsa stopped and stood, backing away from Valerie as if she'd just burned her. "O God!" she said, "Did Daniel's hand shed Hans's blood?"

"It did, it did. Alas the day, it did!"

Elsa stumbled against the dresser at the revelation. "O serpent heart, hid with a flowering face! Did ever dragon keep so fair a cave?" she kicked the dresser angrily as she yelled, "Beautiful tyrant! Fiend angelical! Dove-feathered raven! Wolvish-ravening lamb! Despised substance of divinest show! O that deceit should dwell in such a gorgeous palace!"

Valerie shook her head solemnly, "There's no trust, no faith, no honesty in men. All perjured, all forsworn, all naught, all dissemblers. These griefs, these woes, these sorrows make me old." She growled, stomping as she stood, "Shame come to Daniel!"

"Cursed be thy tongue for such a wish!" Elsa yelled as she whirled around. "He was not born to shame."

She furrowed her brow as she stared at Elsa, "Will you speak well of him that killed your cousin?"

"Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband, my savior, and my love?" she fired back, "Ah, poor my lord, what tongue shall smooth thy name, when I, three-hours wife, have mangled it? But, wherefore, villain, didst thou kill my cousin? That villain cousin would have killed my husband," she shook her head, wiping her eyes, "Back, foolish tears, back to your native spring. Your drops belong to woe, which you, mistaking, offer up to joy," she sighed in relief, "My husband lives, that Hans would have slain. And Hans's dead, that would have slain my husband."

She moved to her vanity, taking comfort upon the chair, "All this is comfort; wherefore weep I then? Some word there was, worse than Hans's death," she closed her eyes, more tears washing down her cheeks, "Hans is dead, and Daniel…" she stopped and choked on the word, "Banished?"

The gentle agreement of her friend was lost in Elsa's ears. She shook her head, the dam of salt tears now broken, "That 'banished,' that one word 'banished,' hath slain ten thousand Hans. Hans's death was woe enough, if it had ended there. But following, Daniel is banished.'" She slammed her hands down onto the vanity top angrily, "There is no end, no limit, measure, bound,

in that word's death, no words can that woe sound!" She turned to her friend, "Where is my father, and my mother?"

"Weeping and wailing over Hans's corpse," she said softly, talking softer as she approached her crying friend, "Will you go to them? I could bring you thither."

She shook her head, "My tears shall be spent, for Daniel's banishment. I, a maid, die maiden-widowed."

Valerie placed her hands comfortingly on the blonde's shoulders, brushing her cheeks to wipe some tears away. "Find solace in your chamber," she spoke sweetly before sighing, "I'll find Daniel to comfort you." Elsa perked up and turned to her friend, who moments ago had scorned his name. "Your Daniel will be here at night," she reassured her, "I'll to him, for he is hid at his sister's cell."

Elsa sucked in a breath before taking her friend in a hug, sobbing gratefully into her ear, "O, find him, dear friend!" she pulled away and took a small ring from her finger, the some one he'd given to her that day. "Give this ring to my true knight," she placed it in her friend's palm and closed her fingers over it, "And bid him come to take his last farewell."

Valerie nodded solemnly. She gazed her friend's sorrow filled eyes and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead before turning and hurrying out of her chambers.

Across the town in the secluded cell of Jasmine's studies, she called out to the specter she knew was now hiding there. "Daniel! Come forth, come forth!"

Just as she had expected her brother appeared above her, bright eyes worried and lost. "Sister, what news? What is Clockwork's doom?"

"A gentler judgment vanished from his lips," Jazz responded as her brother floated down to the ground before her. She took a deep breath before continuing, "Not body's death, but body's banishment."

Danny stared at her, frozen in time for a few moments before an humor-lacking laugh left him, "Ha, banishment!" his eyes narrowed, "Be merciful, say 'death,' for exile hath more terror in his look, much more than death," his eyes turned desperate as he looked back at her, "I beg, do not say 'banishment.'"

Jazz sighed, "Hence from Amitia art thou banished," she did try and offer some comfort, "Be patient, for the world is broad and wide."

He turned away from her, angrily growling, "There is no world without Amitia's walls! But purgatory, torture, hell itself. Hence-banished is banished from the world, and world's exile is death."

"O rude unthankfulness!" she shouted at him, causing him to turn back to her, "Thy fault in our law calls for death, but the kind ruler, taking thy part, hath brushed aside the law, and turned that word death to banishment," she softened her glare but still spoke firmly, "This is dear mercy, and thou seest it not."

"'Tis torture for my vengeful crime!" he shouted back at her before his voice dipped in volume, "Gone will be my kin, my family. It is not mercy," in his eyes then tears as his voice grew weaker, "Heaven is here, where Elsa lives," then his voice returned with anguish and anger, "And every cat and dog and little mouse, every unworthy thing, may live here in heaven and may look on her. But Daniel," he shook his head, "Daniel may not."

Silence hung in the air as the siblings gazed at each other, unsure of what emotion to feel. Jazz's heart ached to see her brother in such a state of disarray. "And say'st thou yet that exile is not death?" he challenged her, "Hadst thou no poison mixed, no sharp-ground knife, something other. No, you must mangle me with that word 'banished.'"

"Hear me but speak a word," she urged him.

"O, thou wilt speak again of banishment?" he questioned. "Thou canst not speak of what thou does not feel. My dearest friend, dead before my eyes, only adds to anguish. Elsa thy love, only an hour married, then Hans murdered."

Nothing but silence followed his words. Tense silence that a sword could cut through, before a knock at the door did just that. "One knocks," Jazz stated before nodding at her brother, "Good Daniel, hide thyself." When the knocks increased in severity and harshness Jazz rushed to the door, "Who knocks so hard? Whence come you? What's your will?"

"Let me come in, and you shall know my errand. I come from Lady Elsa."

In an instant, Danny reappeared in thin air and gave Jazz a harsh look. She nodded in compliance and began to unlock the door, "Welcome, then."

Valerie entered the small space, closing the door behind herself, "Where is my lady's lord, where's Daniel?"

"There," she nodded over at him, "With his own woes made drunk."

"Even so lies she, weeping for his sake," Valerie shook her head, eyes distant.

Danny perked up at this and moved towards the pair, "Speakest thou of Elsa?" he stopped and spoke carefully, shame filling his heart, "How is it with her? Does she not think me a murderer?" he shook his head at himself, "Now I have murdered my tomorrow? In killing him, whom she most truly loved, I have tried and sentence my own heart to death," he looked back to Valerie, "Where is she? And how doth she? What says my concealed lady to our cancelled love?"

"O, she says nothing, sir, but weeps," she shrugged, "And on Hans calls, and then on Daniel cries."

He nodded, turning away from the two, "Once mine, now gone, her love withers away with each tear does it not? My want for peace on her behalf did spill blood on the streets," he shook his head as tears began to well in his eyes, "I wished to wipe such tears away, not to be the cause to weep."

Jazz shook her head at her brother, "I thought thy disposition better tempered," she moved to him and turned him back to her, holding his shoulders, "Hast thou slain Hans and with Tucker dead? Wilt thou slay thyself and leave thy lady too?"

She stared at her brother before shaking him a bit as she smiled slightly to offer comfort, "What, rouse, man! Thy Elsa is alive, for whose dear sake thou was but lately dead. If there you were happy, Hans would kill thee. The law that threatened death becomes thy friend and turns it to exile," she brought him into a hug, "Take heed, go, get thee to thy love, as was decreed, ascend to her chamber, and comfort her. Then till we can find a time to blaze your marriage, reconcile your friends, beg pardon of the prince, and call thee back with twenty hundred thousand times more joy."

A soft chuckle could be heard as he hugged her as well. "Such words of comfort are familiar to my childhood," he praised in thanks to his sister.

She pulled away from him and turned to the other woman in the room, "Go before, commend me to thy lady, and bid her hasten all the house to bed," she looked and smiled back at him, "Daniel is coming."

Valerie smiled, joy filling her eyes, "O Lord, sweet and good counsel. My lord, I'll tell my lady you will come."

He nodded back at her, "Pray, do tell her I'm prepared to be chastised, and have my eternal thanks."

She stepped forward and offered something to him, "Here, sir, a ring she bid me give you," she placed it in his hand, "Now make haste, for it grows very late."

With that, she turned and swiftly made her leave, making sure to not draw suspicion. Jazz smiled at her brother once more, brushing his cheek fondly to wipe away stray tears, "Go hence, good night. Either be gone before the watch be set, or by the break of day disguised from hence," she warned him, "I'll send message of all our news," her smile returned, "But tis late. Farewell and good night."

Danny gazed at his sister fondly, knowing this was the last time he'd see her for a long time. "But that a joy past joy calls out on me," he stated, "It were a grief, so brief to part with thee." He pulled her into his arms once more before stepping away.

"Farewell," could be heard as he disappeared and left Jasmine all alone in her dwelling.

---

"Why the race to drag her to the church?"

The Arendal house had taken to bed early that night as stars began to fill the sky above. Settling the chambers, the hands of the household at odds. "Give her time to mourn her cousin," Lady Arendal urged the husband that sat before her.

"No," he shook his head, seemingly still deep in thought, "We have no time to waste on tears, when Kristoff, who is resting to the side, will slip if he be not persuaded she is his."

"I do not think he is so changeable," Iduna shook her head.

He stood from his chair, moving to pace the room, "Let us not take that chance with lover's vow." He looked at her, "Do you want legal offspring, who shall take and pass on our name and blood?" he shook his head, "With Hans dead and our line at risk, young Elsa is the only living course to which our blood can flow."

She lowered her head, "You know I do."

"Then we shall take action when we may and strike while the iron is hot."

Then a page entered the room with the count on his tail. "Kristoff," Iduna smiled, "How now?"

"How does my lady in this sorrowful hour?" he asked immediately, "I would that I might be some comfort to her."

The woman shook her head, "Tonight, she is imprisoned in her grief," but she forced a smile, "Come morning, she will come to mind"

"Then, when dawn breaks," Arendal smiled at the two, "Bid her make ready for her wedding day. Tell her that on Thursday, she shall wed the noble count," he looked to Kristoff, "What say you to Thursday?"

Kristoff beamed back at him, "My lord, I wish Thursday were tomorrow."

In Elsa's chamber, candlelight was so bright, one might think it day. Some servants wondered, as the night traveled on, why her lights had not yet gone out. Then night deepened and the wax of the candles shortened and Elsa worried the lace sleeves of her night dress. She'd changed a little after Valerie returned to bid her news of her love, as she'd also discarded the pillow she'd wet with her tears.

Then a noise on her balcony made her head snap in that direction. More rustling was heard and, unable to bare the wait, she rushed out to the balcony. She froze at the sight of him, heaving out over the stone rail with a rose in his hand.

He noticed her gaze and shrugged. "My feeble attempt to soften your heart to me."

She walked towards him deliberately and stopped a foot away, staring at him. "Blood is on your hands," she whispered, "You are a villain and a murderer," and when she blinked, tears appeared in her eyes, "Yet why is my heart still sweet and why do I yet still yearn for your arms?"

Danny sighed in relief when she rushed forward into his chest, wanting his comfort. He gladly took her in his arms, dropping the rose in favor of holding her to his chest. "It is your heart that will keep me sane," he spoke, "The beautiful sweetness that I do retain shall keep me from truly becoming a monster."

"Pray, love," she sobbed, "Tell me the story. I know you not one quick to malice. So why blood shed?"

He swallowed thickly, his grip upon her tightening. "I contradict my wish to respect your dead," he began, "But Hans sought blood with me. I refused, to favor peace for love's sake not an hour after marriage," he began to choke on his words, "Then childhood friend, Tucker, did intervene, the price blood for his valour," he shook his head, "In rage for my dearest friend's soul, I too sought blood in my own right."

"O god," she sighed as she pulled back to look at his face. She brought a hand to his cheek, wiping away a tear, "So much blood to accomplish so little."

He blinked away his sadness and took a deep breath. "Then tell me now," he breathed, "Could you have a murderer to share your bed as a husband? If not, banish me and henceforth never see my face again."

"Speak not of such things," she hissed at him. There was a pause, then she sighed, "We have both lost today, let us not add to grief where love can heal."

Danny looked into Elsa's eyes before leaning down and taking her lips to his. She sighed, finding comfort in the kiss as he held her against him. Sweet and short was all it was as he pulled away. "Can you love a fool?"

She smiled, "It is somewhere in me, yes."

He couldn't help it, he laughed at her wit. She took his hand in hers, nerves welling up in her stomach. He smiled fondly at her nervousness and let her take his hand, brushing her cheek to offer comfort to her. He allowed her to lead him into her chambers at her own pace.

His smile widened at the sight of candles, the lovely glow reminding him of what awaited them. But he saw her chest begin to heave slightly. Moving his hand to her lower back, he led her forth gently, ready to stop if he felt any hesitation.

Yet she moved, graceful as ever, and even became eager at his comfort. They reached the end of her bed and she turned to him, unsure of how to go forth.

More smiles as he reached up to brush a braid from her shoulder, cupping her neck as he claimed another kiss. She returned it, sighing when she felt his hands travel to the tie on her nightdress. She gasped as she felt it slip from her shoulders, yet she did not feel cold once the cloth left her.

"Ay me," Danny smiled as he shook his head at the sight of her, "How do husbands stray from wives?" taking her bared waist and reveling at the feel of her skin, he gazed straight into her eyes, "Tis heavenly, this sight, this privilege that you will share with me this night."

Her smile, brighter than all the light of the room, blinded him with joy. It faded, only slightly, as she tentatively reached forward and trailed her hands up and under his untucked shirt, his warm skin gracing her palms as they moved.

Not a while later, Valerie came to the door, wanting to check on her grieving friend but thinking nothing of it. So she knocked softly. "Madame? Elsa? My lady?"

She heard a rustle from beyond the door, and then a sweet and drawn out, "Anon, sweet friend…"

Elsa lay panting underneath her husband as he smiled down at her. Still in his arms, he smiled with content. "Oh Elsa," he leaned down to place a kiss on her heart, "Goddess," her shoulder, "Nymph," the other one, "Divine," her neck, "Rare," her jaw, "Precious," and at last her lips, "And celestial."

Valerie was about to open the door to further inquire but paused at a particular, long drawn out feminine noise that echoed through the wood. She furrowed her brow before a rhythmic rocking sound could be heard and her cheeks flushed. Realizing she had been too late to check on her friend, she took her leave, telling all servants to avoid that corridor due to Elsa's "grieving."

---

Morning came, and with it hence, streamed sunlight into the bright room that was so alight with love and passions. Danny was the first to wake to the bright sky and the sound of birds. He woke with Elsa in his arms against his bare chest, smiling at her angelic sleep. He leaned up carefully and moved her onto the soft of the bed and pillows, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

But she woke when he leaned away, noticing the sudden cold in her sleep. She blinked away the last of her dreams and squinted her eyes in the light. With a sigh, she sat up beside him. "Must you be gone?" she asked, reaching over to take his neck, "It is not yet day, it was the nightingale, and not the lark," she leaned forward to press her lips to his neck, "Believe me, love, it was the nightingale."

He sighed in remorse, trying to find it in him to force himself away from her soft body and thudding heart, "It was the lark, the herald of the morning, no nightingale," he pulled away slightly and nodded to the window sill, "Look, love, what streaks do lace the severing clouds in yonder east," he nodded to the extinguished candles around the bed, "Night's candles are burnt out," he looked back at her, "I must be gone and live, or stay and die."

Elsa shook her head in denial, not yet willing to let him go. "That light is not daylight, I know it," she dismissed as she began to pull him back down into the pillows on top of her, kissing his face to convince him a bit more, "Therefore stay yet, thou need not to be gone."

As she kissed his neck, his nose turned into her soft flowing hair. He groaned and shook his head, not believing the beautiful blonde that has latched herself to him, "Let me be taken, let me be put to death," he took her back in his arms and kissed her back, "I am content, so thou will have it so. I have more care to stay than will to go," he pressed down further into her as they both began to pant, "Come, death, and welcome! Elsa wills it so. It is not yet day."

Elsa paused and let her head fall back into the pillows as Danny kissed her. She furrowed her brow when their eyes locked, "It is, it is," she glanced out the window once again, eyes widening as she realized how late it truly was, "Then be gone, away! It is the lark that sings so out of tune."

He shook his head before brushing her soft lips with his own. "There is yet still time," he tried to persuade her before pretending to glance out the window, "It is still dark."

She leaned up a bit and peered over his shoulder as he began to kiss hers. "Tis broad day," she said with a small laugh as her head fell back and he continued to kiss her neck, "If there were a rooster it would tell us so. O, now be gone. More light will come as the day grows."

He lifted his head to meet her eyes, his expression forlorn, "Then more dark and dark our woes."

Not a moment later did the door to the room swing open, revealing a panting Valerie. They both separated in surprise, pulling up blankets to cover themselves. "My lady," she panted, panicked, "Your lady mother is coming to your chamber," she gestured to the window, "The day is broke, be wary, look about. I must now flee, they cannot know I was here."

She rushed away as Danny lept out of the bed, fighting to quickly dress himself as Elsa reached to grab a robe from the bedside. "Then, the balcony," she said as she stood from bed, grabbing Danny's boots for him, "Let day in, and let life out."

He followed her as they both ran out onto the balcony. "One kiss," he begged her, "And I'll descend."

She gladly compiled as she met his lips halfway, savoring the moment for what it was worth. "Art thou gone so?" she said wistfully, "My love, lord, husband, friend, I must hear from thee every day in the hour, for in a minute there are many days," she stared before pulling him into a tight embrace, "O, by this count I shall be much in years ever I again behold my Daniel."

"I will omit no opportunity that may convey my greetings, love, to thee," he promised, holding her just as tight, trying to burn her into his memory.

Tears then sprung in her eyes at the reality of his exile, "Dost thou think we shall ever meet again?"

"I doubt it not," he rubbed her back as to comfort her, "And all these woes shall serve for sweet discourses in our time to come." He pulled away to look into her eyes, "And trust me, love, in my eye so do you," he kissed her farewell, "Adieu," and then once more, "Adieu."

At that, he took his boots and launched up into the sky, leaving her to her own devices. "O fortune, all men call thee fickle," she closed her eyes as tears fell, "Be fickle, fortune, for then, I hope, thou wilt not keep him long," she opened her eyes up to the sky as if to beg and plead, "But send him back to me."

Instead of his return, she heard a call from within. "Daughter! Are you up?"

She turned and made her way inside, "Who is it that calls? Is it my lady mother?"

She entered her room to find her mother. She was smiling warmly, but it faded at the sight of her daughter, "Why, how now, Elsa!"

Thinking quickly, she wiped her tears away, "Madam, I am not well."

Her mother sighed and shook her head. "Evermore weeping for your cousin's death?" she asked as she made her way towards her daughter.

"Let me weep for such a feeling loss," though she spoke not of the loss of Hans.

Her mother scoffed, moving to open the curtains to let in the day, "Well, girl, thou weep not so much for his death, as that the villain which slaughtered him lives."

Elsa nearly choked on her breath, "What villain madam?"

"That same villain, Daniel."

As her mother moved to fuss about her room, she spoke aside to herself ot offer some comfort, "Villain and he be many miles asunder, but God pardon him. I do, with all my heart."

"The traitor murderer lives," it was then that her mother shook away her hate rather fast, "But now I'll tell thee joyful tidings, girl." She rushed to her daughter who sat upon her bed, "Marry, my child, early next Thursday morn, the gallant, young and noble gentleman, the Count Kristoff, shall happily make thee there a joyful bride."

Elsa felt her heart shrivel up and drop into her stomach at the same time. She already had a husband, taking two was blasphemous. This was supposed to be prevented in the first place, but now as blood has fallen onto her husband's hands, their plot has been foiled. "He shall not make me there a joyful bride," she protested, shaking her head, "I wonder at this haste, that I must wed. I pray you, tell my lord and father, madam, I will not marry yet; and, when I do, I swear," she swallowed thickly and paused, "It shall be Daniel, whom you know I hate, rather than Kristoff."

Unhappy with her answer, her mother stepped back and away before footsteps drew her attention to the door. "Here comes your father," she nodded, stepping away, "Tell him so yourself and see how he will take it at your hands."

The lord of the house entered the room with a beaming smile, excited before he spotted his daughter on her bed. "How now! What, still in tears? Evermore showering? In one little body," he smiled as he approached, hoping to comfort with news as he glanced at the lady, "How now, wife! Have you delivered to her our decree?"

"Ay, sir," she nodded but sent a look her daughter's way, "But she will none, she gives you no thanks."

His expression grew dark as he stared at his wife, "Will she none? Doth she not give us thanks? Is she not proud? Does she not count her blessings, unworthy as she is, that we have wrought so worthy a gentleman to be her groom?"

Elsa reached out to her father, hoping to comfort him and persuade him, "Not proud, but thankful," she shook her head, "Proud can I never be of what I hate, but thankful even for hate, of your love."

He glared and ripped his hand from her grasp, "What is this? 'Proud,' and 'I thank you,' and 'I thank you not,' and yet 'not proud,'" his glare hardened and his voice rose, "But fettle your fine joints 'gainst Thursday next, to go with Kristoff to church, or I will drag thee on a hurdle thither."

The lady's eyes widened, reaching forward to stop her husband from rushing to her daughter, "What, are you mad?

"Good father," Elsa sobbed, "I beseech you on my knees, hear me with patience but to speak a word."

"Hang thee, young disobedient wretch!" he yelled to her, making her flinch back as he broke free of his wife, rushing to her, leaning over the bed and harshly lifting her to meet his gaze by her arms. "I tell thee what," he said in a dangerously low voice, "Get thee to church Thursday, or never after look me in the face."

Elsa opened her mouth to reply but she was thrown back into the headboard. "Speak not!" he shouted at her, "Reply not, do not answer me!" he lifted a hand, "My fingers itch. I thought us blest that God had lent us but this only child," he shook his head, "But now I see this one is one too much, and that we have a curse in having her."

Valerie's voice suddenly cut through everyone, yet no one had noticed her arrive, "God in heaven bless her!"

"Hold your tongue!" he commanded.

Valerie blinked at him, "May not one speak?"

"Peace, you mumbling fool!" he turned to her, his hand finally dropping, "Here we need it not."

The lady then grabbed her husband yet again to pull him back away from the bed, "You are too angry, my lord!"

"It makes me mad," he yelled, "To have her matched, and having now provided a gentleman of noble parentage, youthful, and nobly trained," he glared at his daughter, who shrunk back under his gaze, "And then to have a wretched puling fool, a whining mammet, in her fortune's tender,

to answer 'I'll not wed. I cannot love, I am too young. I pray you, pardon me,'" he stiffened, "Come Thursday, and you be mine, I'll give you to, and if you be not, hang, beg, starve, die in

the streets. I'll never acknowledge thee."

It was with that that he left the room, leaving the women in shock at his utterance. Elsa turned her tear streaked face to her mother. "Is there no pity sitting in the clouds, that sees into the bottom of my grief? O, sweet my mother, cast me not away! Delay this marriage for a month, a week."

But her mother was tight lipped and didn't even look at her, "Talk not to me, for I'll not speak a word," she lifted her chin and began out of the room, "Do as thou wilt, for I have done with thee."

Then it was them two. Elsa turned to her lifelong friend and spoke in a breaking voice that was barely above a whisper. "O God! O dear friend, how shall this be prevented?" she gestured out the window, "My husband is on earth. Comfort me, counsel me. What say thou? Hast thou not a word of joy?" she sobbed, "Some comfort, Valerie."

Valerie was silent, unsure of her own thoughts before she took a deep breath to speak. "Faith, here it is," she carefully approached Elsa, "Daniel is banished, and all the world to nothing," she paused and took her friend's hand, "I think it best you married with the count."

Elsa eyes widened at the betrayal as she rambled on. "O, he's a lovely gentleman! Beshrew my very heart, I think you are happy in this second match, for it excels your first, or if it did not," she shrugged, "Your first is dead, or were as good he were, as living here and you no use of him."

The blonde stared at her for minutes before her voice came, barely audible, "Speakest thou from thy heart?"

She nodded, "And from my soul too, or else beshrew them both."

"Well," Elsa took a deep breath and wiped her cheeks solemnly, "Thou hast comforted me marvellous much," she nodded, "Go in, and tell my lady I am gone, having displeased my father, to Laurence's cell, to make confession and to be absolved."

Valerie smiled brightly at the change of attitude before nodding, "Marry, I will, and this is wisely done." She squeezed her friend's hand before turning and rushing out the room. As soon as her footsteps were gone and scream could be heard.

"Ancient damnation!" she cried, "O most wicked fiend! Is it more sin to wish me thus forsworn?" she shook her head, "I'll to my new sister, to know her remedy, and if all else fail, I myself have power to die."

That afternoon, under the cover of confession, Elsa did steal away to Jasmine's home, remembering the place well as she concealed her face with a cloak, the same she wore to her wedding. She made way with such haste that she did not even knock, leaning against the door once she'd entered to pant.

She had a mind to apologize to Jazz, who stood baffled at her appearance, but when her eyes softened, she knew there was no need. "How, now sister," she moved towards the blonde, who began to cry yet again, and took her in her arms, "I already know thy grief," she shook her head, "It strains me past the compass of my wits. On Thursday next be married to the count."

"Too many," Elsa shook her head, finding comfort in her new friend, "Too many tears in the past day, countless have fallen and yet it will not stop. Give me some present counsel, or, behold,"
When there was a pause she sobbed again, "Be not so long to speak, for now I long to die. If what thou speak, speak not of remedy."

"Hold, sister," Jazz chided her, "If, rather than to marry Count Kristoff, thou hast the strength of will to kill thyself, then is it likely thou wilt undertake. But, if thou darest, I'll give thee remedy."

Elsa nodded, "O, bid me leap, rather than marry Kristoff, or bid me go into a new made grave and hide me with a dead man in his shroud. I will do it without fear or doubt, to live an unstained wife to my sweet love."

Jazz thought for a moment before taking Elsa's arm and leading her out into the garden, thinking to give her some peace. "Hold, then, go home, be merry, give consent to marry Paris, for Wednesday is tomorrow," she met Elsa's confused gaze and began to explain, "Tomorrow night look that thou lie alone, let not thy friend be with thee in your chamber."

When Elsa nodded for her to continue, Jazz made her way to a small table full of bottles, flowers, herbs, and torn up plants. "Take thou this vial," she picked up a small bottle and turned to offer it, "Being then in bed, and this distilled liquor drink thou off, when presently through all thy veins shall run a cold and drowsy, for no pulse shall keep. No warmth, no breath, shall testify that thou lives, the roses in thy lips and cheeks shall fade to pale ashes, thy eyes' windows fall," she nodded, "Like death, when he shuts up the day of life."

She took the girl's shoulder then to keep her attention, "Thou shalt continue two and forty hours under death's cloak, and then awake," she snapped her fingers with a smile, "As from a pleasant sleep. Now, when the bridegroom in the morning comes to rouse thee from thy bed," she shrugged, "There art thou dead. Then, thou shalt be borne to that same ancient tomb where all the kindred of the Arendal's lie."

Jazz then nodded, glad to see Elsa intently listening, "In the meantime, shall Daniel by my letters know our plot and hither shall he come. He and I will watch thy waking, and that very night shall Daniel steal you away and this shall free thee from this present shame," she offered the vial, "If no inconstant toy, nor fear, abate thy valour in the acting it."

Elsa's eyes hardened in determination, taking the vial in her hand, "O, tell not me of fear."

Jazz nodded with a smile, "Then get you gone, be strong and prosperous in this resolve. I'll send a page with speed with my letters to thy lord."

"A thousand thanks," Elsa smiled gratefully.

Jazz but waved her away, "Tis for my brother's heart and happiness, and yours. Now off, confession is over."

She smiled at her wit before turning to leave the garden. She clutched the vial tight to her chest as she moved. "Love give me strength, and strength shall help afford," she chanted to herself before turning, "Farewell, dear sister!"

When Elsa returned, she apologized to her father, saying she had been to confession for being disobedient to her parent's will. Her father, in a change of mood, rejoiced at this switch and called for fine meats and fruits that night for dinner, smiling proudly at his daughter.

Her mother helped her to bed that night, showering her with words of praise. Elsa then asked her to be left alone that night and she consented, too joyous to be suspicious. Once she'd left the room, Elsa stared after her mother wistfully. "Farwell," she whispered, "God knows when we shall meet again."

Elsa's heart began to fill with dread as she got up to take the vial from her vanity. "I have a faint cold fear thrills through my veins, that almost freezes up the heat of life," she muttered to herself as she made her way back to bed, "My dismal scene, I must act alone. Come, vial."

She paused, "What if this mixture do not work at all? Shall I be married then tomorrow morning? What if it be a poison? How if, when I am laid into the tomb, I wake before the time that Daniel come to redeem me? There's a fearful point! Shall I not, then, be stifled in the vault," she shook her head, "Methinks I see my cousin's ghost seeking out Daniel, that did spit his body upon a rapier's point," she looked down and uncapped the vial, "Daniel, I come! This do I drink to thee."

And with that, she downed the poison in the vial and resigned herself to sleep.

"Mistress! what, Lady!" came the calls of her friend that next morning to wake her for a wedding. "Elsa!" Valerie paused when she entered the room to find Elsa still in bed. She sighed and shook her head, moving to ready her wedding clothes, "Fast, I warrant her, she still sleeps. What, not a word? Sleep for a week, for the next night, I warrant, Kristoff hath set up his rest, that you shall rest but little," she smirked at her joke, "Marry, and amen, how sound is she asleep! I must needs wake her," she sighed as she drew the curtains open to let in the light, "Madam, madam, madam! I must needs wake you."

It was then that Valerie made her way to Elsa's beside, pausing when there was still no stir from her. "Lady?" she called, shaking her friend, shocked to find her skin cold and her body limp. "Lady! Lady!" she whirled around as her throat closed in panic. "Help, help! My lady's dead!" she cried, staring down at her unmoving friend, "O, well-a-day, that ever I was born!"

"What noise is here?" came the lady into the room.

But Valerie sobbed as she held onto Elsa's limp form, "O lamentable day!"

Lady Arendal froze at the sight of her daughter, pale and unmoving. "My child, my only life," she rushed forward onto the bed to cradle in her arms, "Revive, look up, or I will die with thee!

Help, help! Call help!"

The house was filled with tears that day as the count was sent henceforth without a bride. The feast, once prepared to celebrate such a joyous wedding, was now to be served in sorrowful woe over a burial.

But the house did not stop or notice that Samantha of the Phantom house was watching the funeral procession in the streets with a close eye. She stared, unbelieving, at the corpse that was carried above the procession, for it could not be. A mere few nights ago did she watch her and Danny dance, lighting up the room with such a flurry it made her feel light just to think of it. The lady that did so enrich the heart of her saddened friend.

It was one thing to see a man who thirsted blood die, and even her friend who had willingly fought for honor. It was entirely different to watch a young innocent life be carried away. The sadness weighed in her heart as it weighed in her eyes as she turned to take leave of Amitia, for she had a responsibility to her friend.

She had been the one to see him out of the city and he'd asked her to watch over Elsa, in case anything should happen to her.

It was with a heavy heart and heavy news that she made the half day journey to the neighboring town he stayed in. When she arrived, she sought out the house his family helped him find.

Danny was inside the study of his house, staring at the star charts splayed out on the desk beneath him. It was at the sound of footsteps that he looked up, a smile coming to his face when he saw his friend. "Sam," he stood as he moved to greet her. "How now," he beamed quickly taking her in his arms, "It does my heart good to see such a friend."

He broke away from her, not noticing her grim expression, and rushed to his desk her get her a drink. "News from Amitia," he said as he brought her a chalice of water, thinking her thirsty from her panting due to the journey, "How doth my lady? Is Frostbite well?"

Sam did not take the water from him, only staring as she caught her breath, trying to find a way to bring news.

Danny furrowed his brow at this, "How fares my Elsa?" when there was silence, Danny set down the chalice, "See, I ask again."

"Then I will answer only once," she said, her throat drying up as she took a shaky breath, "Her body sleeps in Arendal's tomb, and her immortal part with angels lives."

He stared at her, his heart fully stopped in his chest. "She… Elsa is dead?" came his shaking voice.

Sam closed her eyes at this, unable to look at her friend's grief stricken face as she nodded, "I saw her laid low in her kindred's vault, and presently took post to tell it you."

He reached back, stumbling as he found support on his desk. Sam reached forward to help steady him, "O, pardon me for bringing these ill news, since you did leave it for my office, sir."

"Is it even so?" he weakly asked, looking up to meet her gaze. When she nodded solemnly, he growled, angrily shoving things off his desk, the papers flying in the air and the chalice changing to the ground, "Then I defy you, stars!" He shook his head before turning and making his way to the door, "I will hence tonight."

Sam moved to stop him, taking his arm, "I do beseech you. Your looks are pale and wild, and do import some misadventure."

"Hast thou no letters to me from my sister?" he asked her hurriedly.

She shook her head, "No, my good lord."

"No matter," he waved it off, his voice suddenly becoming too calm, "Get thee gone, and fetch water for your horses, then meet me at city's gates. I'll be with thee straight."

She hesitated, but then decided to take her leave, letting her friend have a moment's peace to grieve his love.

"Well, Elsa, I will lie with thee tonight, to say a final farewell as your house has," Danny spoke softly to himself, too distraught to think of tears, "O mischief, thou art swift to enter in the thoughts of desperate men!"

With that, he stormed out of his house to his stables by the road. His movements were frantic, distraught, and hastey.

"How now?" a deep gravelly voice called out, "What art thou man in such a state?"

Danny stopped at the voice, about to saddle his horse, when he instead turned to the beggar man beside him. "What business do you have?"

"That of an apothecary," the man humbly said, "That of someone who has seen that look in your eye many times before."

"And what of it?" Danny asked bitterly, "Many men have lost loves, what say you to that?"

He raised a brow before chuckling and reaching into his cloak, "For that I have remedy," pulling out a green vial, he looked back at him, "A dram of poison, such speeding gear as will disperse itself through all the veins that the taker may fall dead," he gave Danny a look, "Even to those who walk in purgatory, this will send thee to oblivion."

He would not admit it, but for a moment, Danny considered the poison in his grief, the green vial seeming so welcoming. But then we remembered the wonderful blue of Elsa's eyes and the smile that breathed life back into him. "My love, now dead," he admitted before shaking his head, "Would not want me to spill more blood, especially my own," he mounted his horse, "I love her too much to take such a course."

And off he rode to meet Sam at the gates of the city to ride to Amitia, leaving the apothecary behind.

It was by light of moon did they finish their journey. The clops of horses on the cobblestone echoed through the late night streets. The two stopped by the great tomb of the Arendal house, where their family in generations lay to rest.

Danny got off his horse, thankful for the torches, still lit from the funeral no doubt. He sighed as he heard Sam dismount her horse as well. "Pray, I beg," he spoke without looking at her, "Do not interrupt me in my course. Why I descend into this bed of death, is to behold my lady's face, one final time," he turned to her and pulled a leather letter holder from his belt, "Hold, take this letter, early in the morning see thou deliver it to my lord and friend, Frostbite. Therefore hence, be gone."

She shakily took the letter and nodded, "Ay, I will go."

"So shalt thou show me friendship, as many years do prove," Danny smiled at his friend, eyes bittersweet, "Live, and be prosperous, and farewell, good Samantha."

Sam nodded at him, before taking him in an embrace. After a few moments, she watched him enter the tomb, and left on her horse moments after he disappeared into its halls, seeking out his sister and her own house, and that of his wife's.

The tomb, still alight with flames, was grand and open, filled with peaceful death that did not seem to disturb the faithful lord. No, his eyes instead found the freshly laid bed with a new body and a thin white cloth over her.

It was surreal, to look upon his love's deathbed, yet he didn't hesitate as he drew closer. Her dress was a deep blue, and a small thought came to his head that the dress fairly matched her eyes.

Those same eyes he willed to open, but never would again.

"O my love," he sighed wistfully, "My wife."

He stepped closer to the bed and spoke as he reached up to pull the sheet off of her. "Spirits, do pardon me," he spoke to the ancestors that lay with her, "I only wish to say goodbye."

He moved to sit partially on the ledge of the stone deathbed she laid upon. "Oh sweet Elsa," he shook his head, his throat beginning to close as the reality of her death became just that, "Death, that hath sucked the honey of thy breath, hath had no power yet upon thy beauty," he allowed himself to smile triumphantly as he reached up to brush her cheek, slow tears building in his eyes, "Thou art not conquered. Beauty is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks, and death's pale flag is not advanced there." He reached over to take her hand in his, "Ah, dear Elsa, why art thou yet so fair? Shall I believe that unsubstantial death is amorous, and that the monster keeps thee here in dark to be his?"

Almost as if an answer to the call of death's monster, the earth began to shake around them. Danny eyes widened as the natural disaster that unfolded before his eyes, watching as the tomb crumbled around him. He winced as he watched a pillar fall and crush an old ancestor's body. His heart sunk out of respect for the Arendal's dead, but he couldn't possibly save all the bodies, maybe only one.

Sam was returning with her house when the earthquake shook Amitia. It happened right as the two houses caught sight of each other and Sam left again for Jasmine, then they were forced into cover, watching helplessly as the tomb came crashing down.

Then everything stilled.

The dust settled, revealing a mountain of rubble. Both houses, looked on in shock, the Arendals weeping for their lost dead, and the Phantoms weeping for their lost member, who only moments ago had venture in.

Then there was a shift, and Daniel appeared with Elsa in his arms, not even noticing the crowd before him.

"This is that banished haughty Phantom!" Lady Arendal cried, "Stop thy unhallowed toil, vile Phantom! Can vengeance be pursued further than death? Condemned villain, I do apprehend thee, for thou must die!"

Frostbite growled at the proudful words of the women, "The punishment on him was just, bestowed my Clockwork fairly. Fie, fie, in faith!"

"You wretched specters who pollute our earth may have claim upon the grave, but not under our name," Arendal bit out before drawing his sword, causing Frostbite to do the same.

"Stop!"

Both houses froze at the desperate, tearful cry of Danny. He held his wife cradled in his arms, gently, holding her close as he glared at the people before him.

"This is your child!" he yelled, nodding at the woman in his arms, "She lays dead before you and still you bicker with your enemy on her sacred ground," he turned to his own clan, "And you! What if this were me?" he softened and looked down at her, "Oh how I wish the stars had asked me to join them and not her."

Frostbite gaped at the scene before him, "How can you speak so fondly of an Arendal girl?"

"She is a girl!" he emphasized, "She had a life to live, so much life left."

Arendal stepped forward to challenge him, "What claim have you over my daughter?"

"A claim as her husband," he stated firmly, earning gasps and shouts of protest. "Over a father, who neglected child, urged her into unwanted marriage. She found love and comfort in me and consented to be my wife. It did not matter to us, what names we held. Love looks not with the eyes but with the mind, and therefore is winged cupid painted blind," he glared at the two crowds, "Tucker had been right, a plague on us all! For it was not a blade, or poison, or death who killed her, it was hate."

As he uttered the last word, he set down his love for a moment, standing and moving towards the crowd, "Do you even know what we quarrel for? What shall be our excuse when we knock at death's door?"

Arendal's eyes looked to his daughter, lying dead in the grass. He threw his sword to the ground and soon after, so did all his kin. It was then that the Phantoms followed suit, and he looked up to the green eyes that challenged him. He looked over at Frostbite, "O brother Phantom," he said in a sigh as he moved towards him and offered a hand, "Give me thy hand. This is my daughter's will, for no more can I ask."

"But I can give thee more," Frostbite responded, nodding at the enemy child dead before him and his own kinsman who stood so protective over her, "For I will raise her statue in pure gold. There shall no figure at such rate be set on this delta as that of true and faithful Elsa."

Arendal smiled in gratitude as Frostbite took his hand. The ghost laughed joyfully before pulling the other man into a hug. The houses were shocked, but somehow found a comforting humor in this situation.

But everyone froze when a feminine whine came from the moonlit grass before them, the figure that lay there stirring. A few people cried "Ghost!" or "Spirit!" or "Angel!" But she couldn't seem to hear them as she lifted her head.

Everyone watched in disbelief as Elsa moved to sit up, rubbing her eyes gently as if to wake from sleep. "Where is my lord?" she called, opening her dreary eyes, "Where is my Daniel?"

"Here, love," he answered immediately, astonishment clear in his voice, "I am here."

She looked up to find him standing above her, and smiled sweetly as if nothing had gone wrong. She furrowed her brow at him, "Pray love, why do tears wet your cheeks with such fervor? Is it the darkness of night or something that unsettles you?"

He beamed down at her and shook his head as he kneeled down with her, "How can you speak of my worries at a time like this?"

She seemed confused at his answer before she smiled again, "To ease your worries is my privilege."

Danny just smiled at her before taking her tightly in his arms, never wanting to let go for fear of losing her again. "Your virtue is my privilege," he spoke as he buried his face in her neck, crying at the sound of her pulse and beating heart, "For that it is not night when I do see your face, therefore I think I am not in the night, nor doth this place lack worlds of company."

He pulled away and brushed her rosey cheek, reveling in her open eyes and breathing chest, "For you in my respect are all the world, then how can it be said I am troubled, when all the world is here to look on me?"

Elsa smiled at him before leaning in to kiss him, both their smiles still relevant as their lips touched. Such a loving sight warmed the hearts of all gathered round, fortifying their decision on peace.

Then the sound of a horse approaching caught everyone's attention. The animal skidded to a stop as Sam and Jazz both dismounted. It was then that Elsa noticed the crowd around her and the frantic looks of her accomplices.

"Sam, tells me you did not receive my letters," Jazz panted, looking to her brother.

He shook his head, making Elsa look at him confused. "What has conspired here?" she asked the two before her.

Jazz sigh as she rubbed her temples, "Well, the course of true love never did run smooth."

Danny blinked, a few of the pieces falling into place as he looked at Elsa, knowing his sister's profession. He stared at her before nodding his head out to the crowd, "It seems we have much to discuss." He moved away and let her go, offering a hand to help her up, "But first we must get you rest and food."

She smiled at him, "Then this, my love, must be our soft epilogue."

Allowing him to help her up, he lead her through the streets as the dawn broke on the horizon, the white silver beams of sun promising a hope for tomorrow.

A shining peace this morning with it brings;

The sun, for sweet bliss, will show his head:

Go hence, have more talk of these joyful things:

Of how on ground of love these enemies did wed.

For this is a story that will set your heart aglow

It's that of a Juliet and her Romeo.