Travel to the Past;
Part Three
Upon arriving back at the palace, Ariel and Willow learned two pieces of information from Anthony. First, and most important, Marc had been sent on a messenger's assignment down to the Bazhir, and would be gone for the next week or more. Secondly, the Midwinter Ball was being extended another night, so they would have to get dressed up again for tonight. Ariel grumbled as she threw open her closet doors.
"Damn balls..wear this, cinch that! It's madness!" Ariel pulled out a purple satin gown for herself, and sat down, unknotting the binding on it's corset. "These things are evil. I hate corsets. My grandmother insists on buying them for me." Ariel continued to mutter to herself, violently working with the laces. Willow laughed and pulled her new gown from one of her many shopping bags from the clothing merchant. It was a dark pine green colour and made of velvet. Unlike most dresses, there was only a breast band sewed into the chest, not a full bodice or corset, which allowed the fabric covering her torso to be free to move about, accenting her slim figure wonderfully. The dress was accented with silver embroidery. Ariel put silver earbobs in Willow's ears and a beautiful silver necklace on her, further accenting the silver embroidery and wide-set neckline. Brushing her hair and twisting it expertly, Ariel put her hair up for her with a emerald encrusted silver hair clasp. She painted Willow's lips and eyes lightly, bringing out her natural beauty even further. Ariel smiled proudly at the finished product, and Willow gasped.
Willow had never seen herself as beautiful. But this dress, those gems, and whatever else Ariel had done had proven herself wrong. For the first time, she noticed curves and tucks that she swore hadn't been there before. She had never seen her eyes so bright, so teeth so white, her hair as healthy as it looked tonight. She smiled brightly at Ariel, who matched her practically trait for trait.
"Thank you so much, Ariel!" She hugged her supposed cousin, who laughed and patted her back.
"All in a day's work, Will. Now, c'mon, I need to pick up Anth, and we need to go to the ball!"
Willow's second experience with balls was much more pleasant than her first. The time she had spent in this ancient version of Corus was the most fun she had ever had in her life. Her parents had only crossed her mind a few times during the past four days. She loved them, of course, but they were very wealthy and loved to travel. Willow's choice to enter boarding school only widened the gap between the times she saw her parents. They had not even been able to make it home from Carthak for last Christmas, instead sending her many presents to her grandparents home and having her spend her break there. Her parents loved her, this she knew, but she also knew that they were not the type to settle and raise children. Willow was content, however. She liked boarding school, she had her independence, everything was going along fairly well.
But this new Corus brought an entire new dimension to her life. She felt much more fulfilled standing around with a group of knights, squires and other nobles at a royal ball than she ever could learning about wars and memorizing dates back home in school. Willow spent most of her time at the ball talking with Ane, Mel and Ari, even venturing a dance or two with Anth. At one point, Willow didn't know exactly when, a new person joined their group. He had brown hair and blue eyes. His hair had a slight wave to it that probably created a very attractive feature, had it not been so wild and messy. It obviously never received the attention most hair did, and covered half of his ears, and fell into his eyes. Had it not been so fine, the boy would've been decidedly shaggy looking. His face was young, but slightly gaunt and pale. Willow continued to study the newcomer, who was seated, hunched over a leather bound tome. Ariel giggled, catching Willow staring, and walked over to her, poking her in the side. Willow jumped, and Ariel giggled again.
"Found a love interest, hm?" Willow blushed slightly and shook her head.
"Of course not! He just caught my eye, I've never seen him before." Ariel smirked,
"Sure, sure. That's Matthew Beaumont, the pariah of the Beaumont family." Ariel explained briefly to Willow. Willow turned away from the boy whom she now knew as Matthew Beaumont and looked at Ariel.
"An outcast? Why?" She questioned her cousin. Ariel smiled and looked back at Matthew.
"He's Dominic Beaumont's younger brother. You met Dominic last night, remember? With the blond hair, blue eyes and stunning good looks?" Willow nodded, she remembered the man. He was stunning, that was true enough, but she also remembered his brash personality. Ariel continued her explanation.
"The Beaumonts are from Fief Naxen, they're very high society. Their children are pure-blooded as nobles come. The Duchess Beaumont was a Queen's Lady for many many years, coming from the fief Minch, which is actually a duchy, like Naxen is. They have eight children.." Ariel was explaining when Willow interrupted.
"Sorry, but how do you know all this?" Ariel giggled,
"I'm a noble and a squire, my life is inside this palace, I know all the secrets. And Dom explained it all to me, too." She grinned at Willow, and then continued. "Anyway, The Duke and Duchess Beaumont have eight children; Charles, Dominic, Nicholas, Matthew, Josephine, Catherine, Samantha and Laurel. Charles is 29, and the inheritor of the Duchy Naxen. He's married to Isabella of Meron, another duchy. You see? High society is all they associate with. So, Charles is a knight, Dominic is a knight, and Nicholas is a knight. They were all incredibly successful in the program, some of the best. Josephine and Catherine are both Queen's Ladies, a very prestigious position. Samantha and Laurel just finished their time at the convent, and will be introduced next week to court. Understand?" Willow nodded, of course she understood. This family was rich, powerful and well-bred. The children had an obligation to continue the legacy, even if it meant compromising personal happiness.
"So Matthew is a knight, too?" She asked Ariel, who smirked.
"A scholar. That's why he's the outcast, he chose his personal goals and happiness over the collective goal of the Beaumont family."
"Did they disown him?"
"No. Not yet, at least. He's only 19, and on some level I think they pity him. They probably won't cut him off until he's making enough money to adequately support himself." Willow smiled slightly,
"I feel bad for him.." Ariel grinned,
"Why don't you go over to talk to him?" Willow shook her head.
"I couldn't! He seems so involved in whatever that book is he's reading." Ariel rolled her eyes,
"Oh, he's always reading. Go ahead, make a new friend!" With that, Ariel gave Willow a light shove in Matthew's direction. Willow stumbled a few steps and turned pink. Smoothing the fabric of her dress, she regained the minimal amount of composure she held to begin with, and walked over to Matthew, sitting down next to him. The boy didn't even look up. Willow cleared her throat, and he jumped. Out of his seat, quite literally, the poor book dropping to the ground.
"Oh, I'm sorry!" Willow exclaimed, kneeling down to pick up the book.
"Oh, please don't! You'll ruin your dress!" Matthew said, bending down quickly to intercept the book, and intercepting her head instead.
"Ow!" They both exclaimed, and sat down on the ballroom floor. From over on the other side, Willow could hear Dominic and his friends snickering. Matthew blushed lightly and picked up his book, sitting back down. Willow sat back down next to him.
"I'm sorry about that, I didn't see you.. you didn't dirty your dress, did you?" He looked up at her, his bright blue eyes wide. Willow smiled and smooth her dress out.
"Don't apologize, I shouldn't have startled you like that. My dress is perfectly clean." Matthew smiled, and then after a moment, realized he was talking to a girl of nobility, and offered his hand.
"Um, I'm not much for bowing, sorry. My name's Matthew Beaumont." Willow grinned and shook his hand.
"Willow Serenity. It's lovely to meet you." Matthew closed his book, putting it in a heavily beaten leather pack.
"What brings you to the ball, Willow?" He ran a hand through his hair unconsciously, revealing his full face for a brief moment before his locks resumed their residence in front of his eyes. Willow smiled shyly, looking down at her hands.
"Um, it's a long story.." Matthew glanced at Willow and then out onto the ballroom floor, watching the people bustle about and laugh. There were several minutes of awkward silence between the two people. Finally, Matthew coughed and took a sip of what was either some somewhat clear liquor, or water.
"So, um, are you a noble lady?" He asked Willow. Willow couldn't help but laugh slightly,
"No, I'm not a noble lady. You're a scholar, right?" Matthew nodded,
"I am. My family hates me for it, but it's the perfect occupation for myself, I wouldn't give it up for anything in the world." Willow smiled, noticing Matthew relax as he began to talk about his work.
"What's your favourite thing to study?" She questioned him, and smiled more broadly as his eyes lit up.
"Philosophy, of course. There was this ancient Gallan philosopher, Manawydan, and he believed.." Matthew began, spending the next full hour explaining the many philosophers and ideas he had encountered during his numerous hours of study. Willow listened attentively the entire time, captivating by both the subject matter and the storyteller. She loved the amount of vibrancy she could see in him as he went on and on about the hypotheses of Sebastien Henri, or how in the later years of his life, Lindhall Reed and Numair Salmalin, two very close personal friends, went on to write two starkly contrasting books on philosophy and politics. It was fascinating. Moreover, Matthew was fascinating. Willow felt as if the night had barely begun when a droopy eyed Ariel tapped her on the shoulder.
"Huh? What's up, Ariel?" Willow asked, finally taking a moment to stretch.
"It's fair late, Will. Past one in the morning, the ball's almost cleared out. Let's go back." Willow blinked and looked around, observing that Ariel was correct. There were a few impassioned couples still sharing a private moment on the balcony, but other than the couples and some diehard dancing fanatics, the ballroom was empty. Even Dominic and Simon, known for their partying capabilities, appeared to have gone to bed. Willow nodded,
"Okay, we can go back. I'll be ready in a second." Ariel nodded and yawned, dragging her worn down body over to a chair by the door, where she sat waiting for her cousin. Willow smiled at Matthew and stood up.
"That was fascinating, Matthew. I had a really nice time talking with you." Matthew smiled a bit and stood as well.
"Thank you for listening. Perhaps we could see each other again, to continue the conversation?" He questioned, a hopeful tone in his voice. Willow smiled, genuinely happy at the invitation,
"That'd be wonderful, Matthew.." She smiled at him. Excitement began brewing in his blue eyes.
"How about tomorrow, at the Royal Library? I do my work on the fourth floor, deep in the philosophy section, near the back. Is that all right with you, Willow?" She nodded,
"That sounds great, Matthew. I'll see you then." He smiled and helped her put on her cloak.
"I'll see you tomorrow then, Willow. Have a lovely evening." With that, Matthew picked up his pack and slung it over his shoulder, heading off to wherever he was staying. Willow smiled, watching him go, and then headed over to Ariel, who teased her the entire walk back to her room.
~*~
The next day, after fending off Ariel's continued barrage of teasings and torments, Willow managed to bathe and dress herself in a pair of blue breeches and a dark green shirt, brushing her hair out and leaving it down. As an afterthought, she put the silver earbobs Ariel had lent her back into her ears, and headed off for the library. No matter what time period she was living in, Willow would always know where the Royal Library was. She couldn't help gasp as she entered, taken back by the beautiful tapestries that adorned the interior. The Royal Library of her own, although beautiful in it's own way, had muddy red carpet and depressing, dank stone walls. The younger version of the same building had breathtaking, thick tapestries hanging from every wall. Looking around, she picked out ones that depicted scenes from many of the Tortallan wars, including several from the Immortals War. Others revealed Mithros and his council, the royal Tortallan lineage, among countless other designs. As she walked up the winding stairs, Willow noticed every banner had been polished so people could see their reflections in the wood, and the stone floors were immaculate.
Willow reached the fourth floor and began to wander through it, searching for the philosophy section. It was not until she asked a clerk that she learned the entire floor *was* the philosophy section. Finding the stairs again, she oriented herself, and began walking towards the back of the building. After a few minutes of walking through the literary maze, she found Matthew. He was bent over another book, sitting a long table that reminded her of the ones they had the cafeteria back home, only this table was made from rich mahogany, most likely hand-crafted at a northern fief, where lumber and mining were the main businesses. She smiled, and cleared her throat. Matthew look up and grinned,
"Willow! You came!" She laughed and took a seat that he offered to her.
"Of course I came, I said I was going to!" He smiled slightly and marked a page in a book, closing in gently.
"I've been disappointed many times before by people, I tend to take agreements in light until they actually occur." Willow shifted slightly. That had not been the answer she expected. Tucking a renegade hair behind her ear, she smiled at him.
"So, shall we continue our conversation? I think we had just reached the teachings of Burke." Matthew broke out into a broad grin.
"Burke. One of my favourites." He told her, and jumped right into the conversation, captivating Willow again with his words. She sat and listened to him talk, conversing with him when he found his knowledge rusty about a certain philosopher or idea. The conversation lasted several hours. When Matthew finally ran out of philosophers to tell her about, she grinned at him.
"That's..amazing!" Willow told him. Matthew blinked, taken back,
"You think it's amazing?" He asked in a disbelieving tone of voice. Willow laughed,
"Of course I think it's amazing! The ideas, the people, their histories, their connections.." She trailed off, pausing for breath. "And the fact you about so much about so many! I would've thought it'd take a lifetime to learn so much." Matthew grinned shyly, and blushed.
"It's..it's really not that hard. I mean, I've been studying for almost ten years.." He told her, shyly. She smiled,
"Nine years? How old are you?" He laughed, slightly.
"I'm 19. What about yourself? I know it isn't proper for me to be asking a lady her age, but I'm a curious fellow, and not all that proper." He told her, still grinning a bit. Willow giggled,
"I'm 16 years old." He nodded, absorbing the information. Willow shifted, resting her elbow on the table, and her hand in her hand.
"Tell me more about yourself, Willow. Where did you grow up? What is your family like? What kinds of things do you enjoy?" Willow scrunched up her face a bit, thinking. She was never good at talking about herself for any amount of time over a minute.
"Well..let's see. I grew up around Runnerspring, that's where my Dad is from. My mom and he travel almost all the time, so I don't really see them that often. I'm an only child, so I mostly fended for myself. Um..I was staying at a boarding house for awhile, and then I decided to come here. This is where I met Ariel, she's my cousin, I'm staying with her right now. What do I enjoy? My favourite colour is dark green, my favourite food is anything Yamani, really. I like to read, so my favourite things to study are literature and history. I think philosophy will become a new favourite now, after this." She said, grinning at him. Matthew grinned back. "So, what about yourself, Matthew?"
"Me? I'm fair boring, I'm afraid. I'm the youngest Beaumont, from Naxen. My parents are kind, loving people, but they're also..nobility purists, let's call them. I was destined to become a knight in their eyes, and they were incredibly disappointed when I adopted a scholarly path instead. At ten years old I used my savings to ship myself off to the University, where I quickly excelled in the study of philosophy. After completing the general academia program at 14, I began studying to obtain a mastery in philosophy. I won't receive an official robe or anything for it, but it'll make me happen. I still have a few years to go, though. As for what I enjoy.. my favourite colour is dark blue or brown, and my favourite foods are anything I eat with ease, and without dirtying book bindings with crumbs. You obviously know my favourite area of study already." He said, grinning at her. They sat for several minutes, simply looking at each other. Although there was silence, the room and both parties were at ease. Finally, a gear turned in Willow's head and she remembered something vital.
"Oh!" She exclaimed. Matthew blinked, startled.
"Oh? Is something wrong? Are you late for an appointment?" He questioned. She laughed, shaking her head.
"Sorry for startling you. No, nothing like that. I just remembered something I wanted to ask you." He grinned, obviously happy that she did not need to part just yet.
"What is it, then?"
"I'm looking for a book. It's a small book, pocket-sized, and bound in bright red leather. It's a copy of Numair Salmalin's spell journal. It's really important that I find it.. could you help me?" Willow asked him, looking into his bright blue eyes. Within herself, she felt something stirring. It was not an unfamiliar feeling, she felt it most of the time she was around Thomas. However, unlike the feeling she felt around Thomas, this one was stronger. *Much* stronger. She swallowed and shook her head slightly, trying to clear her mind. She blinked her eyes tightly, and looked back up at him. Matthew had been talking while her mind was wandering, but she managed to catch the end of what he had been saying.
"...never seen a book like that before, but I'm sure it exists if you know about it. This library has practically every book ever printed, I bet if it's anywhere, it's here." Matthew explained to Willow, who smiled and nodded her agreement. "Let's go book hunting, shall we?" Willow giggled,
"Let's!"
With that, Willow and Matthew began to search the library for the one little book that would give Willow's true life back to her. They searched together for several hours, through the mathematical theorems section and the tribal language section, the entire philosophy section twice over, and the section in the basement that held personal artifacts of well known historical figures. By the time they finally stopped, it was pitch black outside, and the wind was blowing fiercely. They stood at the doorway, both tired and sore from all the searching. Willow shivered and pulled her coat around her body tightly as she looked outside, watching the wind blow pieces of trash around violently. Matthew looked down at her,
"You didn't bring a scarf?" Willow shook her head, smiling slightly.
"It was warm this afternoon, when I came." She told him. He hesitated for a moment, and then wrapped his thick blue scarf around her neck.
"It'll keep you warm." Willow smiled up at him,
"Thank you, Matthew, but don't you need this? You'll freeze out there, you don't even have a coat!" Matthew grinned and shrugged,
"I'll be fine. I like the cold." Willow rolled her eyes, but didn't argue the point any further. There was an awkward silence between the two. Tentatively, Matthew bent down and gently brushed Willow's cheek with his lips. Willow blushed, feeling the heat rise in her face.
"I-I'll talk to you later, Matthew.." She managed to tell him, before rushing out of the library and into the night. She turned back once, after she had been walking for a few moments, and saw him standing the middle of the street, watching her. She gathered all her courage up and waved him a cheerful goodbye. Even from her distance, she could practically see his face light up as he returned the wave, and turned to head home. Willow turned and rushed back to the warmth of the palace, her insides churning. She had never felt so giddy in her entire life. The feelings were bubbling up inside her, washing over her in waves. Willow felt like she could've walked on air the rest of the way home. She couldn't wait to tell Ariel about her day.
When she entered her cousin's room, however, her excitement immediately died. She could tell something was very, *very* wrong. Ariel and Anthony were both in the room; it was the first time Willow had ever seen him in Ariel's room, although she assumed he must go in and out a lot, considering how close they were. Anthony's arms were around her tightly, and Ariel's face was buried in his chest. Looking up at his face, Willow noticed how bloodshot his eyes were, and thick tear stains running down his cheeks. Ariel took a shaky breath, and Willow could hear her begin to sob into his chest. Anthony was murmuring to her quietly.
"It's going to be okay, Ari.. no one could have expected this, but we'll get through it.." He told her gently, stroking her hair. Willow hated to interrupt, but she desperately wanted to know what had happened. Walking closer to the couple so she could speak softly, she looked at Anthony.
"What happened?" Willow questioned in a hushed tone. Ariel didn't even seem to notice. Anthony sighed and glanced down at Ariel, then back at Willow.
"Marc, my brother, and her lover..he went on a messenger's assignment a few days ago, and we just received the word.. he was murdered by hillmen." Willow's eyes went wide, remembering the boy from the first night of the ball. He had been so large, so muscled, Willow couldn't imagine anyone being able to take him down.
"I'm so sorry.." She said softly. She knew it wouldn't help either of them begin to heal their wounds, but it was all she could think of. Trying to be helpful, Willow gathered up her cloak. "This seems like a personal.. is there somewhere I can go?" Anth nodded, grateful that Willow was so understanding of the circumstances.
"Mel's room in just down the hall. Ian's gone to help with the funeral preparations, so she should be by herself." Willow nodded,
"All right. Thank you, and I'm very sorry, once again." She told them both, and left quietly. Willow found Mel's room easily, the door was open. Knocking on the door frame quietly as she entered, she found Mel not in a state of mourning. Rather, she was cleaning her large dagger collection.
"Mel?" Willow said, her tone a mixture of surprise of confusion. Mel looked up, putting a small dagger down.
"Willow, hi. I take it you've been to Ariel's room?" Willow nodded, taking a seat on the bed.
"I felt bad intruding on them like that, so Anthony mentioned that I could come to your room. You're not in mourning?" Willow asked, before she realized it was rude. Mel laughed and looked down at her blue and brown outfit,
"No, I'm not in mourning. I know it sounds awful, but.. he wasn't a nice person, Willow. I suppose you've never heard the stories, have you?" Willow shook her head, her brow furrowing. She remembered him being very possessive of Ariel at the ball, but she figured that just came from raging male hormones. She never thought there could be anything behind that.
"What are the stories?" Willow asked, her curiosity sparked. Mel put away her dagger collection and sat down.
"I probably shouldn't be telling you this, since you're Ariel's cousin and close to her, but.. well, like I said, he isn't a nice person. Nor was he a good person, in my opinion. He's overly possessive, brash, rude, he's a true brute to the bone. If you ever met his father, you would see where it came from. His father beat his children when he was angry at anything, and if Marc had survived long enough to have children, I'm sure he would have too. His temper was so short, it was unbearable. I don't know how Ariel put up with him. When they began to date one another, we were at a party, and somehow an argument got started between Marc and me. Before I knew it, he had beaten me up so badly that three of my ribs had cracked and I was black and blue all over. I had to tell Sir Tristan, the head of the program, that I fell down the stairs." Mel smirked, remembering the incident. Willow's eyes widened, she could hardly believe what she had just been told. Mel continued,
"Then, he used to beat on Anthony. Anthony's a bastard son, his father was one of the men at arms of the fief. His mother was a true strumpet, she should've been living in Lower Corus in a harem, not at the castle of King's Reach." Willow had to break in,
"If there's such bad blood in the King's Reach line, then what about Ian?" Mel smiled. Ian was one of the older Corganne brother, as well as her knightmaster and her lover.
"I don't really know, Willow. All I know is Ian and Anth are some of the kindest, gentlest men you will ever meet, bad blood or none." Willow smiled.
"That's good to know. But, continue about Marc." Mel nodded, and shifted, pulling her legs up underneath her.
"Anyway, Marc always used to beat on Anthony. Every chance he had to make a crack about Anth's parentage, he made it. It wore heavily on Anthony's self-esteem. He's still rebuilding, really. Ariel's helped him, but he's still very vulnerable. You can see it when you look into his eyes." Willow smiled slightly, knowing exactly the look Mel was referring to. She had seen it the very first time she had met Anthony, at the ball. It was the same look a kicked puppy, or a struck child held in their eyes, but Anthony's never seemed to go away. It was awful that someone could destroy their brother like that.
Mel continued her story of Marc's true nature.
"When Marc and Ariel became lovers, ironically, that's when Ariel started sleeping in my bed. He would have his fun, and then kick her out of bed so he could have a good night's sleep. Ariel would sneak over to my room and sleep in my bed, usually because she was confused and hurt afterwards. I don't believe it for a moment that Marc was gentle in *any* aspect. So, there you have it. That's what Marc was like, and don't let anyone tell you different. Now you see why I'm not in mourning for the dumb bastard?" Willow nodded slightly, still digesting everything Mel had told her. She finally stood up,
"Thanks for telling me all this, Mel. Um, are you going to the funeral?" Willow asked, trying to figure out what her next course of action should be. Mel nodded,
"Of course. I may have hated the boy, but Ariel didn't, and he was Ian and Anth's brother. I have to support them. The funeral is the day after tomorrow, if you'd like to attend." Willow nodded,
"I think I will. Thank you." Willow told her, and exited. She made her way back to Ariel's room, thinking about everything Mel had divulged. It was hard to grasp the idea that such a bright, kind, girl like Ariel would ever be Marc's lover, especially if the stories Mel told were factual. She sighed slightly,
"I suppose it's true that love is blind.." She said to herself, remembering the well used cliché. She put her hand on the doorknob to let herself in, but then paused, holding her ear to the door. She could no longer hear Ariel sobbing, or Anthony soothing her, so she carefully and quietly let herself slip into the room. Ariel was laying on top of the bed, fast asleep, while Anthony was going through her closet, choosing a funeral outfit for the poor girl.
"She finally made herself pass out from crying." Anth told Willow quietly, after placing a plain black dress on a chair. He paused for a moment and then shuddered, quickly shoving the dress back into the closet.
"What was wrong with that dress?" She asked Anthony, who sighed, pulling out another black dress and laying it down on the chair.
"It brings back.. painful memories." He told her, and closed the closet door. Not being able to connect the dress with anything Mel had told her about Marc, Willow pressed him for information.
"What kind of painful memories?" She asked. He sighed and looked at Willow.
"When Marc and Ariel first became lovers, Ariel's older sisters, Michalina, Kayla and Clarissa all hated him, with every fiber of their being. They told her to dump him, and find someone better. When she refused, the four got into a huge argument. Michalina continued to fight with her, telling her she would end up becoming pregnant and dropping out of the knight program, and countless other insults. Ariel's a strong little girl, but she's also incredibly close to her sisters. She couldn't take it when they began to severe ties with her, and she.." Anthony swallowed, tears brimming in his eyes. Willow put a hand on his shoulder. Anthony choked back the tears,
"She left her sister Micha a morbid note, and she slit her wrists..in that dress.." Willow put a hand over her mouth in shock. Ariel? The spunky little girl everyone called a pixie? She had tried to kill herself? Willow couldn't imagine it, but as she looked back at Ariel, sleeping peacefully upon the bed, she noticed for the first time the shiny glint of a scar upon her wrist, and a reddish stain on the middle of her floor. Willow shuddered herself, involuntarily. Anth nodded,
"She's had some rough times. That's why I don't want to leave her alone right now. Marc's really done some twisted things to her mind, and I would hate to lose her again.." Willow nodded and hugged him. Anth returned the hug tightly,
"Thanks for listening." He told her. "You'll be in here, right?" Willow nodded. She wasn't going to let anything happen to the girl she had became so close to so quickly. Anthony smiled slightly, and headed for the door that connected a squire's room to their knightmaster's.
"Thanks. If you need anything, I'll be in my room." He told her, and quietly let himself out. Willow sat down in a chair, and watched Ariel sleep, wondering what would happen next.
~*~
Willow attended the funeral along side of Anthony, Ariel, Ian and Mel. She saw several other people she recognized there, such as Dominic Beaumont and Simon Ravenhill. She noted in the back of her mind that she did not see Matthew there, although that was unimportant. She sat through the entire process dry-eyed, yet she was somber and melancholy. She saw Ariel crying feverishly into Anth's chest, who was crying gently himself, and Mel offering Ian a handkerchief to wipe his eyes with. She had no doubt they all knew the stories Mel had told her earlier that week, most of them had probably been there when they occurred. Yet, they seemed forgotten temporarily as Marc was eulogized by his father and the head of the training program, Sir Tristan. Afterwards, they headed to a short reception. Ariel had finally stopped crying, and now had taken the look of someone who was brain dead. She did not move, eat or talk. Willow wondered if she was even fully conscious. Anthony tended to her carefully throughout the day, and carried her to bed that evening, where she fell asleep without a word.
The next morning, Willow woke early and decided to take a walk through the palace gardens, to clear her own mind and allow Anthony and Ariel more personal time, if they needed it. When she returned in the late morning, she put her ear to the door. She could hear Anthony and Ariel talking through it.
"How are you feeling, Aribelle?" Anthony asked as he sat down on her bed. Ariel was still laying in bed, looking pale and unrested, even though she had slept over 13 hours the previous night.
"Better, I guess.." Ariel replied. Ariel propped herself up in bed, and Anth smiled slightly, brushing her hair out of her face.
"You're looking better." He told her, lying. She rubbed her eyes,
"I feel like I was run down by a stampede of horses.." Ariel replied. There was silence between the two for several minutes. Finally, Anth took one of Ariel's petite hands into his own large ones, playing with her fingers.
"Ariel?" He asked. Ariel looked at him,
"Yeah, Anth?" Willow pressed her ear to the door harder.
"I know I shouldn't be asking you this the day after the funeral, but I'm not a proper person. Do you still love me?" He looked at her, his eyes desperately trying to search her response before she vocalized it. The question made Ariel smile slightly.
"I do.." She said, softly. Anthony broke out into a broad grin.
"I love you too.. I don't want to jump into anything, I know you're still hurting.. I just wanted to know.." He told her. Ariel smiled and moved closer to him.
"Okay. Thank you, Anth." There was silence in the room. Willow waited several moments, listening hard. When nothing was said, she carefully opened the door a crack, peaking in. She smiled widely at the scene she saw before her. Ariel and Anth were kissing softly, Ariel's hands intertwined with Anthony's. Willow closed the door carefully and headed off to take another pass through the gardens, allowing Anthony and Ariel the rest of the morning in privacy.
Part Three
Upon arriving back at the palace, Ariel and Willow learned two pieces of information from Anthony. First, and most important, Marc had been sent on a messenger's assignment down to the Bazhir, and would be gone for the next week or more. Secondly, the Midwinter Ball was being extended another night, so they would have to get dressed up again for tonight. Ariel grumbled as she threw open her closet doors.
"Damn balls..wear this, cinch that! It's madness!" Ariel pulled out a purple satin gown for herself, and sat down, unknotting the binding on it's corset. "These things are evil. I hate corsets. My grandmother insists on buying them for me." Ariel continued to mutter to herself, violently working with the laces. Willow laughed and pulled her new gown from one of her many shopping bags from the clothing merchant. It was a dark pine green colour and made of velvet. Unlike most dresses, there was only a breast band sewed into the chest, not a full bodice or corset, which allowed the fabric covering her torso to be free to move about, accenting her slim figure wonderfully. The dress was accented with silver embroidery. Ariel put silver earbobs in Willow's ears and a beautiful silver necklace on her, further accenting the silver embroidery and wide-set neckline. Brushing her hair and twisting it expertly, Ariel put her hair up for her with a emerald encrusted silver hair clasp. She painted Willow's lips and eyes lightly, bringing out her natural beauty even further. Ariel smiled proudly at the finished product, and Willow gasped.
Willow had never seen herself as beautiful. But this dress, those gems, and whatever else Ariel had done had proven herself wrong. For the first time, she noticed curves and tucks that she swore hadn't been there before. She had never seen her eyes so bright, so teeth so white, her hair as healthy as it looked tonight. She smiled brightly at Ariel, who matched her practically trait for trait.
"Thank you so much, Ariel!" She hugged her supposed cousin, who laughed and patted her back.
"All in a day's work, Will. Now, c'mon, I need to pick up Anth, and we need to go to the ball!"
Willow's second experience with balls was much more pleasant than her first. The time she had spent in this ancient version of Corus was the most fun she had ever had in her life. Her parents had only crossed her mind a few times during the past four days. She loved them, of course, but they were very wealthy and loved to travel. Willow's choice to enter boarding school only widened the gap between the times she saw her parents. They had not even been able to make it home from Carthak for last Christmas, instead sending her many presents to her grandparents home and having her spend her break there. Her parents loved her, this she knew, but she also knew that they were not the type to settle and raise children. Willow was content, however. She liked boarding school, she had her independence, everything was going along fairly well.
But this new Corus brought an entire new dimension to her life. She felt much more fulfilled standing around with a group of knights, squires and other nobles at a royal ball than she ever could learning about wars and memorizing dates back home in school. Willow spent most of her time at the ball talking with Ane, Mel and Ari, even venturing a dance or two with Anth. At one point, Willow didn't know exactly when, a new person joined their group. He had brown hair and blue eyes. His hair had a slight wave to it that probably created a very attractive feature, had it not been so wild and messy. It obviously never received the attention most hair did, and covered half of his ears, and fell into his eyes. Had it not been so fine, the boy would've been decidedly shaggy looking. His face was young, but slightly gaunt and pale. Willow continued to study the newcomer, who was seated, hunched over a leather bound tome. Ariel giggled, catching Willow staring, and walked over to her, poking her in the side. Willow jumped, and Ariel giggled again.
"Found a love interest, hm?" Willow blushed slightly and shook her head.
"Of course not! He just caught my eye, I've never seen him before." Ariel smirked,
"Sure, sure. That's Matthew Beaumont, the pariah of the Beaumont family." Ariel explained briefly to Willow. Willow turned away from the boy whom she now knew as Matthew Beaumont and looked at Ariel.
"An outcast? Why?" She questioned her cousin. Ariel smiled and looked back at Matthew.
"He's Dominic Beaumont's younger brother. You met Dominic last night, remember? With the blond hair, blue eyes and stunning good looks?" Willow nodded, she remembered the man. He was stunning, that was true enough, but she also remembered his brash personality. Ariel continued her explanation.
"The Beaumonts are from Fief Naxen, they're very high society. Their children are pure-blooded as nobles come. The Duchess Beaumont was a Queen's Lady for many many years, coming from the fief Minch, which is actually a duchy, like Naxen is. They have eight children.." Ariel was explaining when Willow interrupted.
"Sorry, but how do you know all this?" Ariel giggled,
"I'm a noble and a squire, my life is inside this palace, I know all the secrets. And Dom explained it all to me, too." She grinned at Willow, and then continued. "Anyway, The Duke and Duchess Beaumont have eight children; Charles, Dominic, Nicholas, Matthew, Josephine, Catherine, Samantha and Laurel. Charles is 29, and the inheritor of the Duchy Naxen. He's married to Isabella of Meron, another duchy. You see? High society is all they associate with. So, Charles is a knight, Dominic is a knight, and Nicholas is a knight. They were all incredibly successful in the program, some of the best. Josephine and Catherine are both Queen's Ladies, a very prestigious position. Samantha and Laurel just finished their time at the convent, and will be introduced next week to court. Understand?" Willow nodded, of course she understood. This family was rich, powerful and well-bred. The children had an obligation to continue the legacy, even if it meant compromising personal happiness.
"So Matthew is a knight, too?" She asked Ariel, who smirked.
"A scholar. That's why he's the outcast, he chose his personal goals and happiness over the collective goal of the Beaumont family."
"Did they disown him?"
"No. Not yet, at least. He's only 19, and on some level I think they pity him. They probably won't cut him off until he's making enough money to adequately support himself." Willow smiled slightly,
"I feel bad for him.." Ariel grinned,
"Why don't you go over to talk to him?" Willow shook her head.
"I couldn't! He seems so involved in whatever that book is he's reading." Ariel rolled her eyes,
"Oh, he's always reading. Go ahead, make a new friend!" With that, Ariel gave Willow a light shove in Matthew's direction. Willow stumbled a few steps and turned pink. Smoothing the fabric of her dress, she regained the minimal amount of composure she held to begin with, and walked over to Matthew, sitting down next to him. The boy didn't even look up. Willow cleared her throat, and he jumped. Out of his seat, quite literally, the poor book dropping to the ground.
"Oh, I'm sorry!" Willow exclaimed, kneeling down to pick up the book.
"Oh, please don't! You'll ruin your dress!" Matthew said, bending down quickly to intercept the book, and intercepting her head instead.
"Ow!" They both exclaimed, and sat down on the ballroom floor. From over on the other side, Willow could hear Dominic and his friends snickering. Matthew blushed lightly and picked up his book, sitting back down. Willow sat back down next to him.
"I'm sorry about that, I didn't see you.. you didn't dirty your dress, did you?" He looked up at her, his bright blue eyes wide. Willow smiled and smooth her dress out.
"Don't apologize, I shouldn't have startled you like that. My dress is perfectly clean." Matthew smiled, and then after a moment, realized he was talking to a girl of nobility, and offered his hand.
"Um, I'm not much for bowing, sorry. My name's Matthew Beaumont." Willow grinned and shook his hand.
"Willow Serenity. It's lovely to meet you." Matthew closed his book, putting it in a heavily beaten leather pack.
"What brings you to the ball, Willow?" He ran a hand through his hair unconsciously, revealing his full face for a brief moment before his locks resumed their residence in front of his eyes. Willow smiled shyly, looking down at her hands.
"Um, it's a long story.." Matthew glanced at Willow and then out onto the ballroom floor, watching the people bustle about and laugh. There were several minutes of awkward silence between the two people. Finally, Matthew coughed and took a sip of what was either some somewhat clear liquor, or water.
"So, um, are you a noble lady?" He asked Willow. Willow couldn't help but laugh slightly,
"No, I'm not a noble lady. You're a scholar, right?" Matthew nodded,
"I am. My family hates me for it, but it's the perfect occupation for myself, I wouldn't give it up for anything in the world." Willow smiled, noticing Matthew relax as he began to talk about his work.
"What's your favourite thing to study?" She questioned him, and smiled more broadly as his eyes lit up.
"Philosophy, of course. There was this ancient Gallan philosopher, Manawydan, and he believed.." Matthew began, spending the next full hour explaining the many philosophers and ideas he had encountered during his numerous hours of study. Willow listened attentively the entire time, captivating by both the subject matter and the storyteller. She loved the amount of vibrancy she could see in him as he went on and on about the hypotheses of Sebastien Henri, or how in the later years of his life, Lindhall Reed and Numair Salmalin, two very close personal friends, went on to write two starkly contrasting books on philosophy and politics. It was fascinating. Moreover, Matthew was fascinating. Willow felt as if the night had barely begun when a droopy eyed Ariel tapped her on the shoulder.
"Huh? What's up, Ariel?" Willow asked, finally taking a moment to stretch.
"It's fair late, Will. Past one in the morning, the ball's almost cleared out. Let's go back." Willow blinked and looked around, observing that Ariel was correct. There were a few impassioned couples still sharing a private moment on the balcony, but other than the couples and some diehard dancing fanatics, the ballroom was empty. Even Dominic and Simon, known for their partying capabilities, appeared to have gone to bed. Willow nodded,
"Okay, we can go back. I'll be ready in a second." Ariel nodded and yawned, dragging her worn down body over to a chair by the door, where she sat waiting for her cousin. Willow smiled at Matthew and stood up.
"That was fascinating, Matthew. I had a really nice time talking with you." Matthew smiled a bit and stood as well.
"Thank you for listening. Perhaps we could see each other again, to continue the conversation?" He questioned, a hopeful tone in his voice. Willow smiled, genuinely happy at the invitation,
"That'd be wonderful, Matthew.." She smiled at him. Excitement began brewing in his blue eyes.
"How about tomorrow, at the Royal Library? I do my work on the fourth floor, deep in the philosophy section, near the back. Is that all right with you, Willow?" She nodded,
"That sounds great, Matthew. I'll see you then." He smiled and helped her put on her cloak.
"I'll see you tomorrow then, Willow. Have a lovely evening." With that, Matthew picked up his pack and slung it over his shoulder, heading off to wherever he was staying. Willow smiled, watching him go, and then headed over to Ariel, who teased her the entire walk back to her room.
~*~
The next day, after fending off Ariel's continued barrage of teasings and torments, Willow managed to bathe and dress herself in a pair of blue breeches and a dark green shirt, brushing her hair out and leaving it down. As an afterthought, she put the silver earbobs Ariel had lent her back into her ears, and headed off for the library. No matter what time period she was living in, Willow would always know where the Royal Library was. She couldn't help gasp as she entered, taken back by the beautiful tapestries that adorned the interior. The Royal Library of her own, although beautiful in it's own way, had muddy red carpet and depressing, dank stone walls. The younger version of the same building had breathtaking, thick tapestries hanging from every wall. Looking around, she picked out ones that depicted scenes from many of the Tortallan wars, including several from the Immortals War. Others revealed Mithros and his council, the royal Tortallan lineage, among countless other designs. As she walked up the winding stairs, Willow noticed every banner had been polished so people could see their reflections in the wood, and the stone floors were immaculate.
Willow reached the fourth floor and began to wander through it, searching for the philosophy section. It was not until she asked a clerk that she learned the entire floor *was* the philosophy section. Finding the stairs again, she oriented herself, and began walking towards the back of the building. After a few minutes of walking through the literary maze, she found Matthew. He was bent over another book, sitting a long table that reminded her of the ones they had the cafeteria back home, only this table was made from rich mahogany, most likely hand-crafted at a northern fief, where lumber and mining were the main businesses. She smiled, and cleared her throat. Matthew look up and grinned,
"Willow! You came!" She laughed and took a seat that he offered to her.
"Of course I came, I said I was going to!" He smiled slightly and marked a page in a book, closing in gently.
"I've been disappointed many times before by people, I tend to take agreements in light until they actually occur." Willow shifted slightly. That had not been the answer she expected. Tucking a renegade hair behind her ear, she smiled at him.
"So, shall we continue our conversation? I think we had just reached the teachings of Burke." Matthew broke out into a broad grin.
"Burke. One of my favourites." He told her, and jumped right into the conversation, captivating Willow again with his words. She sat and listened to him talk, conversing with him when he found his knowledge rusty about a certain philosopher or idea. The conversation lasted several hours. When Matthew finally ran out of philosophers to tell her about, she grinned at him.
"That's..amazing!" Willow told him. Matthew blinked, taken back,
"You think it's amazing?" He asked in a disbelieving tone of voice. Willow laughed,
"Of course I think it's amazing! The ideas, the people, their histories, their connections.." She trailed off, pausing for breath. "And the fact you about so much about so many! I would've thought it'd take a lifetime to learn so much." Matthew grinned shyly, and blushed.
"It's..it's really not that hard. I mean, I've been studying for almost ten years.." He told her, shyly. She smiled,
"Nine years? How old are you?" He laughed, slightly.
"I'm 19. What about yourself? I know it isn't proper for me to be asking a lady her age, but I'm a curious fellow, and not all that proper." He told her, still grinning a bit. Willow giggled,
"I'm 16 years old." He nodded, absorbing the information. Willow shifted, resting her elbow on the table, and her hand in her hand.
"Tell me more about yourself, Willow. Where did you grow up? What is your family like? What kinds of things do you enjoy?" Willow scrunched up her face a bit, thinking. She was never good at talking about herself for any amount of time over a minute.
"Well..let's see. I grew up around Runnerspring, that's where my Dad is from. My mom and he travel almost all the time, so I don't really see them that often. I'm an only child, so I mostly fended for myself. Um..I was staying at a boarding house for awhile, and then I decided to come here. This is where I met Ariel, she's my cousin, I'm staying with her right now. What do I enjoy? My favourite colour is dark green, my favourite food is anything Yamani, really. I like to read, so my favourite things to study are literature and history. I think philosophy will become a new favourite now, after this." She said, grinning at him. Matthew grinned back. "So, what about yourself, Matthew?"
"Me? I'm fair boring, I'm afraid. I'm the youngest Beaumont, from Naxen. My parents are kind, loving people, but they're also..nobility purists, let's call them. I was destined to become a knight in their eyes, and they were incredibly disappointed when I adopted a scholarly path instead. At ten years old I used my savings to ship myself off to the University, where I quickly excelled in the study of philosophy. After completing the general academia program at 14, I began studying to obtain a mastery in philosophy. I won't receive an official robe or anything for it, but it'll make me happen. I still have a few years to go, though. As for what I enjoy.. my favourite colour is dark blue or brown, and my favourite foods are anything I eat with ease, and without dirtying book bindings with crumbs. You obviously know my favourite area of study already." He said, grinning at her. They sat for several minutes, simply looking at each other. Although there was silence, the room and both parties were at ease. Finally, a gear turned in Willow's head and she remembered something vital.
"Oh!" She exclaimed. Matthew blinked, startled.
"Oh? Is something wrong? Are you late for an appointment?" He questioned. She laughed, shaking her head.
"Sorry for startling you. No, nothing like that. I just remembered something I wanted to ask you." He grinned, obviously happy that she did not need to part just yet.
"What is it, then?"
"I'm looking for a book. It's a small book, pocket-sized, and bound in bright red leather. It's a copy of Numair Salmalin's spell journal. It's really important that I find it.. could you help me?" Willow asked him, looking into his bright blue eyes. Within herself, she felt something stirring. It was not an unfamiliar feeling, she felt it most of the time she was around Thomas. However, unlike the feeling she felt around Thomas, this one was stronger. *Much* stronger. She swallowed and shook her head slightly, trying to clear her mind. She blinked her eyes tightly, and looked back up at him. Matthew had been talking while her mind was wandering, but she managed to catch the end of what he had been saying.
"...never seen a book like that before, but I'm sure it exists if you know about it. This library has practically every book ever printed, I bet if it's anywhere, it's here." Matthew explained to Willow, who smiled and nodded her agreement. "Let's go book hunting, shall we?" Willow giggled,
"Let's!"
With that, Willow and Matthew began to search the library for the one little book that would give Willow's true life back to her. They searched together for several hours, through the mathematical theorems section and the tribal language section, the entire philosophy section twice over, and the section in the basement that held personal artifacts of well known historical figures. By the time they finally stopped, it was pitch black outside, and the wind was blowing fiercely. They stood at the doorway, both tired and sore from all the searching. Willow shivered and pulled her coat around her body tightly as she looked outside, watching the wind blow pieces of trash around violently. Matthew looked down at her,
"You didn't bring a scarf?" Willow shook her head, smiling slightly.
"It was warm this afternoon, when I came." She told him. He hesitated for a moment, and then wrapped his thick blue scarf around her neck.
"It'll keep you warm." Willow smiled up at him,
"Thank you, Matthew, but don't you need this? You'll freeze out there, you don't even have a coat!" Matthew grinned and shrugged,
"I'll be fine. I like the cold." Willow rolled her eyes, but didn't argue the point any further. There was an awkward silence between the two. Tentatively, Matthew bent down and gently brushed Willow's cheek with his lips. Willow blushed, feeling the heat rise in her face.
"I-I'll talk to you later, Matthew.." She managed to tell him, before rushing out of the library and into the night. She turned back once, after she had been walking for a few moments, and saw him standing the middle of the street, watching her. She gathered all her courage up and waved him a cheerful goodbye. Even from her distance, she could practically see his face light up as he returned the wave, and turned to head home. Willow turned and rushed back to the warmth of the palace, her insides churning. She had never felt so giddy in her entire life. The feelings were bubbling up inside her, washing over her in waves. Willow felt like she could've walked on air the rest of the way home. She couldn't wait to tell Ariel about her day.
When she entered her cousin's room, however, her excitement immediately died. She could tell something was very, *very* wrong. Ariel and Anthony were both in the room; it was the first time Willow had ever seen him in Ariel's room, although she assumed he must go in and out a lot, considering how close they were. Anthony's arms were around her tightly, and Ariel's face was buried in his chest. Looking up at his face, Willow noticed how bloodshot his eyes were, and thick tear stains running down his cheeks. Ariel took a shaky breath, and Willow could hear her begin to sob into his chest. Anthony was murmuring to her quietly.
"It's going to be okay, Ari.. no one could have expected this, but we'll get through it.." He told her gently, stroking her hair. Willow hated to interrupt, but she desperately wanted to know what had happened. Walking closer to the couple so she could speak softly, she looked at Anthony.
"What happened?" Willow questioned in a hushed tone. Ariel didn't even seem to notice. Anthony sighed and glanced down at Ariel, then back at Willow.
"Marc, my brother, and her lover..he went on a messenger's assignment a few days ago, and we just received the word.. he was murdered by hillmen." Willow's eyes went wide, remembering the boy from the first night of the ball. He had been so large, so muscled, Willow couldn't imagine anyone being able to take him down.
"I'm so sorry.." She said softly. She knew it wouldn't help either of them begin to heal their wounds, but it was all she could think of. Trying to be helpful, Willow gathered up her cloak. "This seems like a personal.. is there somewhere I can go?" Anth nodded, grateful that Willow was so understanding of the circumstances.
"Mel's room in just down the hall. Ian's gone to help with the funeral preparations, so she should be by herself." Willow nodded,
"All right. Thank you, and I'm very sorry, once again." She told them both, and left quietly. Willow found Mel's room easily, the door was open. Knocking on the door frame quietly as she entered, she found Mel not in a state of mourning. Rather, she was cleaning her large dagger collection.
"Mel?" Willow said, her tone a mixture of surprise of confusion. Mel looked up, putting a small dagger down.
"Willow, hi. I take it you've been to Ariel's room?" Willow nodded, taking a seat on the bed.
"I felt bad intruding on them like that, so Anthony mentioned that I could come to your room. You're not in mourning?" Willow asked, before she realized it was rude. Mel laughed and looked down at her blue and brown outfit,
"No, I'm not in mourning. I know it sounds awful, but.. he wasn't a nice person, Willow. I suppose you've never heard the stories, have you?" Willow shook her head, her brow furrowing. She remembered him being very possessive of Ariel at the ball, but she figured that just came from raging male hormones. She never thought there could be anything behind that.
"What are the stories?" Willow asked, her curiosity sparked. Mel put away her dagger collection and sat down.
"I probably shouldn't be telling you this, since you're Ariel's cousin and close to her, but.. well, like I said, he isn't a nice person. Nor was he a good person, in my opinion. He's overly possessive, brash, rude, he's a true brute to the bone. If you ever met his father, you would see where it came from. His father beat his children when he was angry at anything, and if Marc had survived long enough to have children, I'm sure he would have too. His temper was so short, it was unbearable. I don't know how Ariel put up with him. When they began to date one another, we were at a party, and somehow an argument got started between Marc and me. Before I knew it, he had beaten me up so badly that three of my ribs had cracked and I was black and blue all over. I had to tell Sir Tristan, the head of the program, that I fell down the stairs." Mel smirked, remembering the incident. Willow's eyes widened, she could hardly believe what she had just been told. Mel continued,
"Then, he used to beat on Anthony. Anthony's a bastard son, his father was one of the men at arms of the fief. His mother was a true strumpet, she should've been living in Lower Corus in a harem, not at the castle of King's Reach." Willow had to break in,
"If there's such bad blood in the King's Reach line, then what about Ian?" Mel smiled. Ian was one of the older Corganne brother, as well as her knightmaster and her lover.
"I don't really know, Willow. All I know is Ian and Anth are some of the kindest, gentlest men you will ever meet, bad blood or none." Willow smiled.
"That's good to know. But, continue about Marc." Mel nodded, and shifted, pulling her legs up underneath her.
"Anyway, Marc always used to beat on Anthony. Every chance he had to make a crack about Anth's parentage, he made it. It wore heavily on Anthony's self-esteem. He's still rebuilding, really. Ariel's helped him, but he's still very vulnerable. You can see it when you look into his eyes." Willow smiled slightly, knowing exactly the look Mel was referring to. She had seen it the very first time she had met Anthony, at the ball. It was the same look a kicked puppy, or a struck child held in their eyes, but Anthony's never seemed to go away. It was awful that someone could destroy their brother like that.
Mel continued her story of Marc's true nature.
"When Marc and Ariel became lovers, ironically, that's when Ariel started sleeping in my bed. He would have his fun, and then kick her out of bed so he could have a good night's sleep. Ariel would sneak over to my room and sleep in my bed, usually because she was confused and hurt afterwards. I don't believe it for a moment that Marc was gentle in *any* aspect. So, there you have it. That's what Marc was like, and don't let anyone tell you different. Now you see why I'm not in mourning for the dumb bastard?" Willow nodded slightly, still digesting everything Mel had told her. She finally stood up,
"Thanks for telling me all this, Mel. Um, are you going to the funeral?" Willow asked, trying to figure out what her next course of action should be. Mel nodded,
"Of course. I may have hated the boy, but Ariel didn't, and he was Ian and Anth's brother. I have to support them. The funeral is the day after tomorrow, if you'd like to attend." Willow nodded,
"I think I will. Thank you." Willow told her, and exited. She made her way back to Ariel's room, thinking about everything Mel had divulged. It was hard to grasp the idea that such a bright, kind, girl like Ariel would ever be Marc's lover, especially if the stories Mel told were factual. She sighed slightly,
"I suppose it's true that love is blind.." She said to herself, remembering the well used cliché. She put her hand on the doorknob to let herself in, but then paused, holding her ear to the door. She could no longer hear Ariel sobbing, or Anthony soothing her, so she carefully and quietly let herself slip into the room. Ariel was laying on top of the bed, fast asleep, while Anthony was going through her closet, choosing a funeral outfit for the poor girl.
"She finally made herself pass out from crying." Anth told Willow quietly, after placing a plain black dress on a chair. He paused for a moment and then shuddered, quickly shoving the dress back into the closet.
"What was wrong with that dress?" She asked Anthony, who sighed, pulling out another black dress and laying it down on the chair.
"It brings back.. painful memories." He told her, and closed the closet door. Not being able to connect the dress with anything Mel had told her about Marc, Willow pressed him for information.
"What kind of painful memories?" She asked. He sighed and looked at Willow.
"When Marc and Ariel first became lovers, Ariel's older sisters, Michalina, Kayla and Clarissa all hated him, with every fiber of their being. They told her to dump him, and find someone better. When she refused, the four got into a huge argument. Michalina continued to fight with her, telling her she would end up becoming pregnant and dropping out of the knight program, and countless other insults. Ariel's a strong little girl, but she's also incredibly close to her sisters. She couldn't take it when they began to severe ties with her, and she.." Anthony swallowed, tears brimming in his eyes. Willow put a hand on his shoulder. Anthony choked back the tears,
"She left her sister Micha a morbid note, and she slit her wrists..in that dress.." Willow put a hand over her mouth in shock. Ariel? The spunky little girl everyone called a pixie? She had tried to kill herself? Willow couldn't imagine it, but as she looked back at Ariel, sleeping peacefully upon the bed, she noticed for the first time the shiny glint of a scar upon her wrist, and a reddish stain on the middle of her floor. Willow shuddered herself, involuntarily. Anth nodded,
"She's had some rough times. That's why I don't want to leave her alone right now. Marc's really done some twisted things to her mind, and I would hate to lose her again.." Willow nodded and hugged him. Anth returned the hug tightly,
"Thanks for listening." He told her. "You'll be in here, right?" Willow nodded. She wasn't going to let anything happen to the girl she had became so close to so quickly. Anthony smiled slightly, and headed for the door that connected a squire's room to their knightmaster's.
"Thanks. If you need anything, I'll be in my room." He told her, and quietly let himself out. Willow sat down in a chair, and watched Ariel sleep, wondering what would happen next.
~*~
Willow attended the funeral along side of Anthony, Ariel, Ian and Mel. She saw several other people she recognized there, such as Dominic Beaumont and Simon Ravenhill. She noted in the back of her mind that she did not see Matthew there, although that was unimportant. She sat through the entire process dry-eyed, yet she was somber and melancholy. She saw Ariel crying feverishly into Anth's chest, who was crying gently himself, and Mel offering Ian a handkerchief to wipe his eyes with. She had no doubt they all knew the stories Mel had told her earlier that week, most of them had probably been there when they occurred. Yet, they seemed forgotten temporarily as Marc was eulogized by his father and the head of the training program, Sir Tristan. Afterwards, they headed to a short reception. Ariel had finally stopped crying, and now had taken the look of someone who was brain dead. She did not move, eat or talk. Willow wondered if she was even fully conscious. Anthony tended to her carefully throughout the day, and carried her to bed that evening, where she fell asleep without a word.
The next morning, Willow woke early and decided to take a walk through the palace gardens, to clear her own mind and allow Anthony and Ariel more personal time, if they needed it. When she returned in the late morning, she put her ear to the door. She could hear Anthony and Ariel talking through it.
"How are you feeling, Aribelle?" Anthony asked as he sat down on her bed. Ariel was still laying in bed, looking pale and unrested, even though she had slept over 13 hours the previous night.
"Better, I guess.." Ariel replied. Ariel propped herself up in bed, and Anth smiled slightly, brushing her hair out of her face.
"You're looking better." He told her, lying. She rubbed her eyes,
"I feel like I was run down by a stampede of horses.." Ariel replied. There was silence between the two for several minutes. Finally, Anth took one of Ariel's petite hands into his own large ones, playing with her fingers.
"Ariel?" He asked. Ariel looked at him,
"Yeah, Anth?" Willow pressed her ear to the door harder.
"I know I shouldn't be asking you this the day after the funeral, but I'm not a proper person. Do you still love me?" He looked at her, his eyes desperately trying to search her response before she vocalized it. The question made Ariel smile slightly.
"I do.." She said, softly. Anthony broke out into a broad grin.
"I love you too.. I don't want to jump into anything, I know you're still hurting.. I just wanted to know.." He told her. Ariel smiled and moved closer to him.
"Okay. Thank you, Anth." There was silence in the room. Willow waited several moments, listening hard. When nothing was said, she carefully opened the door a crack, peaking in. She smiled widely at the scene she saw before her. Ariel and Anth were kissing softly, Ariel's hands intertwined with Anthony's. Willow closed the door carefully and headed off to take another pass through the gardens, allowing Anthony and Ariel the rest of the morning in privacy.