Part 2: ~~*~~
"Feeling better?" Ferio came in, closing the door behind him with his foot, and smiled at the delicate girl lying in the too-big bed. She was clean, the nurses having come in and washed all the dirt, dust, and soot off, and sat up shakily as he set the tray he was carrying on her lap, settling himself on the edge of the bed to watch her eat.
"Arigato," she murmured, looking over the food, pleased, and picking up a small piece of tender meat to nibble. "You know, I could get a little too used to this," she smiled up at him, but his smile was vague.
"Well, that's the idea," she looked up at him, confused, but he only gave her a sweeter smile, which made her blush and concentrate on her food.
"Why . . ." she started, troubled, "why are you being so good to me?"
For a moment, he was serious, reaching out a hand to stroke her cheek. "Because I love you." Fuu gazed into his eyes; she had heard it before, but that had been when she was fatigued and ready to die. Hearing it again, it suddenly hit her that he was perfectly serious, and he moved forward to put his arms around her, knocking the tray onto the bedspread, holding her firmly as he kissed her throat, shoulders, and mouth.
"Marry me," he murmured into her ear, and Fuu put him gently away from her, calming her breathing.
"I . . ." she regarded the mess he'd made on the coverlet, "I need more time." He kissed her throat once more and moved away, forcing a smile.
"I understand. I'll, um, have a maid clean that up when you're out today."
Fuu smiled, "I'll probably just eat it off the bed. I'm starving."
Ferio looked at her wryly, "Well, now I feel worse."
Gazing up at him, emerald eyes unwittingly alluring, she replied, "It was worth it," and pushed her hair back.
Closing his eyes and smiling, Ferio turned away, "Don't do that to me."
"Do what?" Fuu blinked, letting her hair swing back to place.
He gazed back over at her longingly, "Look so beautiful. You drive me insane." He turned and left Fuu to her thoughts.
~~*~~
He loved her. But did she love him? She had thought so, but how did she know that wasn't just infatuation with a charming man? How did she know he wasn't just infatuated with /her/?
"Does he really care?" she wondered aloud, and Umi turned to her friend, startled. They were outside, sitting and waiting for Hikaru to meet them.
"You okay, Fuu?" she touched the other girl's hand to get her attention, and gentle sapphire met startled jade. "What's wrong?"
Fuu shook her head. "Ferio asked me to marry him."
Umi's eyes lit up. "That's great!" Her expression fell when she saw Fuu's face, and she got very concerned. "Don't you love him?"
"I don't /know/!" Fuu cried. "I don't even know if he really loves me. If he truly does, or if this is just a thing he's going through that he'll be done with when he has me, when I've fallen completely in love with him and can't stand life without him . . ." a helpless tear slid down her cheek, and Umi hugged her.
"Forgive me for overhearing," a sweet voice said, and the two girls turned to see the beautiful Princess Emeraude, her long golden hair trailing behind her, "I can't help but have a personal interest in your affairs, since Ferio is my little brother."
"No, please, sit with us," Fuu offered, moving over to allow the small young woman to sit. She had grown to enjoy the princess' company in the past two weeks she had been there, and valued her friendship and the talks they were able to have.
"I know you're having problems," Emeraude said delicately, looking at Fuu with wide, intelligent cornflower blue eyes. "But maybe I can alleviate a few of your concerns." Emeraude clasped her small white hands on her lap, and spoke. "Ever since we were children, Ferio has always been able to talk to me about everything. From how he felt when his favorite horse died, to the pranks he would pull on court members. He never spoke seriously to me about anything he wasn't serious about, and Fuu dear," Emeraude covered Fuu's hands with hers earnestly, "he's never spoken more fervently about anything in his life than you." Fuu looked down at their hands, and peered at the small princess.
"How do you know if you're in love, princess?"
Emeraude smiled winningly. "You just . . . know. It hits you all at once, the realization, and nothing is ever sweeter. Ferio's had that, he's just waiting to see if, or when, /you/ realize it."
Fuu felt tears coming to her eyes. "What if I never do?"
Emeraude only smiled gently, squeezing Fuu's hands. "Spend time with him. Find out." She gestured to where Ferio was following Lantis and Hikaru on horseback, coming toward the three girls.
Fuu stood and kissed Emeraude's cheek gratefully, then walked toward the approaching party. "My prince," Fuu stopped him, as Hikaru sent smiling glances back, making Fuu blush, "I have never ridden before. Would you mind teaching me how?"
Ferio looked down in surprise, then smiled at the girl below him. "Of course, sweet lady."
~~*~~
Alcyone wrapped a silken robe about her nude form and slipped a newly acquired silver coin into her jewelry box, looking at the man getting dressed, only a shadowy movement in the darkness of her bedroom. "Just capture the girl, and the prince will be yours," she repeated, and he nodded at her.
"It will be done. And then, Cefiro will fall."
Alcyone smiled.
~~*~~
"Ah!" Fuu exclaimed as her horse hopped over a log. Ferio laughed and calmed her, golden eyes kind.
"It's all right," he soothed, and Fuu grinned wryly over at him.
"Sorry," she blushed. "I'm not used to this."
"It takes some getting used to," he agreed, and they reached a lovely back part of the gardens, where they dismounted and laid out a blanket to sit on, Fuu producing a basket of fruit and bread.
Ferio lay back, putting an arm under his head, and Fuu lay on her stomach, nibbling pieces of apple and thinking. It was all a very calm scene, or so thought the figure in the shadows who could not see the inner turmoil of the prince and beautiful maiden.
"Ferio," Fuu asked softly, and he turned his head to regard her. "You say that you . . . care . . . for me, but . . . /why/?" She was not able to say the word "love." Somehow it went against the very fiber of her being to say such a powerful word without it being absolutely honest.
Ferio lay back and looked into the trees above him, for once not smiling as he spoke. "All my life, I have seen beautiful women. Ones more beautiful than you, even. But every one of those women were shallow and vain, caring only about themselves and their clothes." His voice was bitter as he described them, but became soft and full of awe as he continued, "When I saw you the first time, your soul shone through your skin, your eyes, your mask. It was golden, and straight as an arrow. You would never lie to me, cheat anyone, or harm another living soul for your own benefit. /That/ virtue drew my attention, and made you more radiant, more shining than any of the overstuffed self-important dogs of the court." He turned to look at her and his eyes were full of light, like a wondering child's. "It was what drew my sister's attention to you at the masquerade, and what I learned was not a dream I was fooling myself with when you helped that child. Ever since, everything you have done has only strengthened my original belief of your kindness and intelligence, and made me fall more deeply in love with you. And that is why I say that, and why I cannot go a single moment for thinking of you."
Fuu felt her breath catching, and they gazed at one another for a moment until a noise in the trees made Ferio look sharply back. "What was that?" his brow furrowed and he stood, peering into the shadows of the thicker brush. After a moment, he turned and shrugged, only to hear Fuu's gasp too late as a figure came hurling out at him, knocking the prince to the ground.
"Ferio!" Fuu cried, and found gloved hands grabbing her from behind. She struggled, and Ferio looked up to meet her eyes, terrified, as she was pulled atop a black steed in front of a man who smelled like sweat, and taken away.
~~*~~
"Well, FIND her, damnit!" Ferio slammed his fist into the wooden table and ignored the pain it caused. Lantis didn't even flinch, but calmly advised his prince as to the odds of them actually finding her if they mounted a search party to look randomly.
"We'll help," Hikaru spoke up, "She's our sister and we'll do whatever we can."
"I'll do anything to aide the search, Ferio," Emeraude agreed.
"Thank you," he said sincerely, calming the slightest bit.
"There has been terrorist activity in the northeastern region of the country," Zagato reported, coming up behind Emeraude who turned to smile at him. "She might be there."
"Get a party together," Ferio started, but was stopped by Lantis.
"Sire, if we attack, they may be inclined to kill her." Ferio grimaced, knowing the older man was right.
"Well /do something/," he ground out. "It's your job to be rational and figure out a plan."
"Sire," a servant burst into the room, out of breath. "There's a man here to negotiate terms of Fuu-sama's release." He bowed and showed the prince and co. to where the man was waiting.
He was a dark man, with brown clothes, heavy boots, and was unarmed.
Ferio glared at him, and he glared right back. There was an obvious and instantaneous hate between the two men, and Ferio stood with arms crossed, waiting.
"In exchange for the girl returned, unharmed, we demand the Prince Ferio. No negotiations." He inclined his head. "You refuse, she dies."
Ferio lowered his eyelids as an uproar burst out behind him, standing perfectly still. Himself for Fuu . . . "Done."
"Ferio," Emeraude protested, and he waved her to silence.
"If Fuu is not returned, my last orders here will be to attack your base with the full force of our army." He looked to Lantis, who looked back at him before closing his eyes and nodding reluctantly.
The negotiator inclined his head, "No harm will befall her. You are all we want."
"No!" Hikaru exclaimed. "Ferio, there can be another way!" He made a sharp movement with his hand, silencing her, and followed the man out of the castle, not looking back for fear he would cry.
"Do I get to see her again?" he asked the negotiator softly, his voice betraying nothing of his fears and dowsed dreams. If only he had been stronger . . . he might have prevented her being taken in the first place. He had thought she was starting to care, to love him.
"When we put you in the cell and take her out, yes," the man said unemotionally, picking up the broadsword he had left hidden in some bushes.
"Good job," the huge man told the negotiator, taking over custody of Ferio from his friend. "You'll get that bonus for sure."
"Yeah," the negotiator shrugged and turned, leaving silently.
The huge man grabbed Ferio's arm and led him deeper into the ruins of an old castle in the middle of a forest. After a moment, they reached a door that sloped into the ground, and the huge man stuck a key into the rusted chain and lock, opening the door with a creak and clang. "Send the girl out, quick."
Ferio went in, letting his eyes adjust to the damp darkness, and caught sight of a slender figure huddled on a wooden bench by the wall. He went forward and stood by her silently, trying to convince himself it was really her.
"I don't /want/ any," the huddled figure snapped sharply, and Ferio blinked. "Go away," she whispered.
Sadly, he placed his hands on her shoulders, moving them to warm her, and sat beside her, holding her. After a moment, she rose up . . . and slammed a fist into his stomach. "Ow! Fuu!"
"F–Ferio?!" she exclaimed, surprised, and bent over him. "I'm sorry! Are you okay?"
"Yeah," he said wryly. "They didn't hurt you did they?"
"No," she smiled, "I refused to eat, but now I can." She laughed, "You come all this way to rescue me and I punch you. I'm sorry!"
"It's okay," he soothed.
"Well," she grabbed his hand, smiling at him in a way that made his heart leap and tugged him toward the door. "Let's go home!"
"Ah," he stumbled, "I have a few things to finish up here. Promise me you'll go straight back?" Fuu looked at him oddly, but promised. Ferio let out his breath. "Good. Now hurry and go, so I don't have to worry about you." She smiled, a little confused as if she recognized there was something he was not saying, and left. Ferio watched her go, and whispered, his heart breaking, "Fuu . . . sayonara."
~~*~~
Fuu sat on her bed, staring dumbly at the floor, everyone around her. "He came . . . he came to take my /place/?" She couldn't believe it. How had she not realized, how had she been so /stupid/!? Fuu gripped her stomach, bending over, and let out a pained, soul-wrenching cry.
"Go," Emeraude ordered everyone but Umi and Hikaru, and they left the girls alone.
"He left me," Fuu whispered, tears trailing from her eyes. "He left me, and . . . and I'll never see him again," she sobbed, her sisters holding her comfortingly. "I think I'll be okay now," she told them softly after a while. "I need sleep, and . . . I'd like to be alone if you don't mind."
"Of course," they hugged her again and left, looking back in concern as Fuu smiled tearily and waved them away. Once they were gone, she settled herself at her window seat and looked out to the moon.
What she wouldn't give to have Ferio with her now.
What had he said? "Promise me you'll go immediately back." Fuu sat completely still. He had not said anything about returning.
She started smiling slowly.
~~*~~
"Dearest Friends,
'I am sorry. I am afraid that my feelings for Ferio have made themselves known very recently. I have gone back. I love you all.
Fuu"
Hikaru put her face into her hands, and Lantis touched her shoulder gently, concerned. The whole room was completely silent.
~~*~~
Fuu waited outside the slanted door for the guard to bring Ferio's food. When he saw her, nightgown blowing in the morning wind, the man's eyes narrowed, and he demanded what she was doing there.
"I love him," she stated softly, seriously. "I don't care what happens, I have to be with him."
The man snorted and shrugged. "Suit yourself." He unlocked the door. "Oi! In there, food!"
He swung the door open and Fuu ran in ahead of him, throwing her arms around Ferio.
"Fuu!" Ferio stood up, holding onto the weeping girl gently, terror filling his eyes. "What are you doing here? I thought I told you to get to the castle!"
"I couldn't stay," she cried, "not after I realized what you'd done. I love you, I have to be where you are. I love you, Ferio." She kept saying it over and over, crying, and he held her all the while.
"If you really love me," he said roughly, "you'll go back and be safe."
Fuu sniffled, then looked up at him, her eyes hard. "I /will not/ leave you."
"If you love me," he argued, "you'll do what it takes to be safe."
"And if you knew anything of me," she replied passionately, "you would not waste your breath." She sat on the bench and the door slammed, the large man having given up and set the tray on the filthy ground. "I'm staying."
"Fuu," he sat beside the delicate girl, so fragile in her long nightgown, and placed one arm about her slender waist, pulling her to him. She gasped and looked up with pink cheeks into the prince's warm golden eyes. "I love you."
Smiling happily, she snuggled closer into his embrace and soon fell asleep.
~~*~~
"Hey," Umi leaned provocatively against a tree as the large man looked her over and smiled.
"Hey, baby, what are you doing out here?"
"Oh, nothing," she twisted some hair around one finger and looked down as he came closer.
"Who are you waitin' for?" he asked heavily, stopping only half a foot away from her.
"You," she murmured, glancing up at him with the deepest ocean blue orbs.
"Really?" he breathed, and she slipped out from under him, smiling, as a rod swung and slammed into his head from behind, toppling him forward, unconscious.
"Nice shot," Umi murmured to Lantis, Hikaru peeking around him and nodding her agreement. He reached down and removed the keys from the man's pants, then led the girls until they found the sloping iron door farther in the woods, making sure no one was around before unlocking and opening it.
Hikaru went in first and sweatdropped, to be followed by her two friends. The three were adorably super deformed as they watched the pair on the bench, asleep.
"Ano, Fuu-chan," Hikaru interrupted, and the flushed couple awoke, blinking sleepily. "We should get going."
"An army is presently standing by to attack the rebel camp," Lantis informed him quietly as they ran to the horses.
Ferio frowned. "How did you find us?"
"Fuu-sama drew us a map with her goodbye letter," Lantis replied, smirking vaguely.
Ferio looked at the girl in front of him on the horse in surprise. Fuu only smiled sweetly back at him, kissing his nose lightly and making him chuckle.
"You'll marry me now, hm?" he asked softly as they approached the castle. She only turned and kissed him deeply in reply. Ferio came up, slightly dazed, "I'll take that as a yes." Fuu leaned against him contentedly and he wondered at the young woman. Beautiful, intelligent, resourceful, loyal . . . he sighed happily and they entered the castle as Lantis went to tell the army they could march.
~~*~~
"Ferio," Fuu giggled softly as she was pulled along the hallway at night, "don't I even get a proper ceremony?"
"Nope," he whispered happily, holding tightly to her hand and almost racing down the corridors. The battle with the rebels had all but been won, and Lantis would be returning soon with his men. Ferio was taking Fuu to see Clef, who was certified to marry couples as well as be a doctor, a veterinarian, and all around know-everything professional guy. He was staying in the palace at the moment because of Fuu's recent medical needs, and Ferio counted the doors to find the older man's.
One, two, three . . . four! Ferio stopped suddenly, making Fuu run into him and giggle more, then turned to snatch her up in his arms and give her a wildly passionate kiss before rapping on the door for Clef. After a moment, a sleep-ruffled man opened the door and peered at the pair.
"Marry us," Ferio requested excitedly, and Clef sent a suffering glance heavenwards before nodding resignedly and letting them in.
"The princess know about this?" he asked, but just shrugged and yawned when they replied in the negative. "She approve?" he settled his glasses on his nose and peered into a book he had gotten down from one of the shelves.
"Yes," the pair replied simultaneously, and looked at each other before stifling more laughter.
"You two drunk?" he asked in the same tone of voice, obviously making reference to their giddy behavior, but Ferio just made a face, replying no, and asked him to hurry.
Clef performed a quick but legal ceremony, and let the couple alone while he made out the proper documents of marriage for them, yawning intermittently. When he returned, he found them eagerly kissing on his favorite chair and quickly sent them off to their own room, shaking his head as he shut the door behind them.
Children are insane, he thought to himself as he went back to bed. Utterly /insane/. But he couldn't help a small smile as somewhere in another part of the castle, a newly wed couple proved their love.
~~*~~
"Fuu," Hikaru called softly, thinking her friend was still asleep after yesterday's events. "You awa . . ." she stopped, making Umi bump into her from behind, and they stared at the disheveled bed. A sheet covered two figures sleeping deeply in each other's arms.
"FUU!" Umi screamed in her astonishment, staring. The noise awoke the pair, and they stirred, keeping the sheet where that their dignity was generally kept.
"Ohayo," Fuu yawned, smiling and blushing. Ferio stared at the sheet, his cheeks turning bright red.
"Ohayo," he said softly as well, sending a wry glance up at the two astonished girls.
"We were married last night, by Clef," Fuu explained gently before her friends could recover their wits enough to say anything. "Perhaps," she suggested, "you could go so we can get dressed?"
"Oh!" Hikaru exclaimed, much relieved. "Okay, yeah." She pushed the still blinking Umi out in front of her and closed the door behind.
Fuu smiled at her husband, who smiled back and kissed her forehead. "Ohayo, darling."
"Ohayo, my love," she replied, beaming at him, then getting up and slipping on a fresh dress as Ferio likewise got dressed.
They kissed once more before going out, hand in hand, to face their friends and family.
End!
************
Author's Notes: Cliff rescue scene inspired by Hikaru's epic climb up the cliff after the light-monster that took Fuu and Umi (that was one of the coolest things ever, all rights belong to Shido Hikaru). Ballroom scenes inspired by... me. Costume inspired by that Knights anime pic where Fuu is kneeling and has the green wind around her feet (and how all her wind magic is green and flow-y, and ...you know). Basic plot of: servant girl is mistreated, meets prince, lives happily ever after (eventually...) inspired by whoever made up Cinderella. To have a tough Cinderella, inspired by Ever After. All rights to them, I own... nothing.... except Fuu's ball clothes. *runs and jumps happily on the poofy green gauze dress* ...and the blanket Ferio spilled food on. ~_^ Cool, ne?