A/N - Hey everyone. So sorry i've taken forever to update! I promise to try harder and actually write. Well anway, I'm torn between making this a happy ending or a sadder ending. So please give me your opinion and we'll take it from there!
Chapter 25
Leopold stood still as the servant women pulled on the corset. She didn't worry about the immense amount of pain that surged through her body as her waist was squeezed tighter and tighter. She had completely cut herself off from any communication with anyone the last two weeks. Her mind became numb to everything around her. She obeyed the few orders given to her without a whine or complain and kept to herself the rest of the time. Her aunts advised her to look her best for the trip home, their last chance for potential suitors to see Leopold. Although Leopold hadn't found a husband this time her aunts had secretly decided that, given a month or so to forget what happened, they would return in a second attempt at betrothing her.
When the servant finished tying off the corset she dressed Leopold in a loose ivory shirt made of cotton and a brown colored skirt. Leopold didn't react when she placed on a stool, then poked and prodded at as the servant piled her hair on top of her head. Leaving it to rest in many pins while it hung down and away from her neck. Her aunt arrived as the servant finished and silently led Leopold down to where the horses and carriages were waiting. The family wasn't taking any chances this time. They had every available son, cousin, father, brother and uncle that was at the castle ready to escort her home. The aunts would be riding along in the carriages with Leopold.
She nodded a greeting towards her cousins who stood by their horses and they nodded in return. Nobody spoke except for the adults but they ignore most of the children. Leopold smiled towards Eliza and Parker as they walked closer to her.
"How have you been?" Parker asked as she hadn't spoken to Leopold in quite some time.
"Fine. I'm still alive aren't I?" she joked trying to put on a brave face.
"He's not any better." Parker muttered loud enough for Leopold to hear.
"We're going to miss you Leopold." Eliza said breaking the silence that followed Parker's comment. Parker hadn't been to pleased with the way things had turned out between Leopold and Aaron and she blamed both of them. She had never been one to be subtle about her feelings and Eliza had learned from the start that she spoke her mind and wasn't ashamed to be loud or rude. Not really caring about her image, Parker lived for disobeying the rules and making a big scene out of something little, often complaining about one thing for many days. She was after all betrothed to a thief. Eliza found herself apologizing to many people or finding ways to fix Parker's mistakes. She really didn't care about most of the things Parker did, it was her reputation and she could ruin it if she wanted to, but she felt she owed it to at least apologized to those who had gotten on Parkers bad side. If she wanted to marry a thief that was her own decision Eliza wasn't going to stop them, especially when they were so happy. She was just glad she had snagged Xavier.
"I'm sure I'll miss the two of you as well." Leopold said bluntly with no emotion on her face.
"Yes well--" Eliza started before she pulled Leopold into a tight hug. "I am going to miss you. I hope your aunt takes good care of you." she whispered
"I'll be fine." Leopold replied as she returned her friends hug. "I'm already over it."
"But are you over him?" Eliza muttered before she released her friend and looked her in the eye. Leopold refused to meet her friends stare and instead turned to Parker.
"Your both way to stubborn. That's what the problem is. Way to stubborn to admit both of you were wrong." Parker said as she yanked Leopold into a quick hug before she released her and wiped her eye.
"Are you crying Parker?" Eliza asked astonished. She hadn't seen Parker cry once in the ten years she had known her.
"Of course not!" Parker replied with a sniffle. The two girls laughed but Leopold wasn't in the mood. She said one last goodbye before she allowed her aunts to escort her to the carriage. Leopold took a glance at the carriage then at the cluster of her cousin who stood by, holding the reins of the horses they would ride. She turned to her aunt beside her.
"I would rather ride. If that's not a problem." she whispered in order to not bring to much attention to her wish. Her aunt stared at her for a long time and Leopold almost thought she hadn't heard what Leopold said. Finally she nodded and walked past Leopold into the carriage. Nothing more was said and Leopold turned to find Ace holding the reins of two horses. She gave a half smile and walked over to him. She thanked him as he helped her mount the sidesaddle.
"No problem kid." he responded with a pat on her leg as he threw her the reins and mounted his own horse. He grabbed the cheek strap of her horses' bridle and led the two horses to where Xavier and Philip sat with their own. The four talked as they waited for the women to finish ushering the children into the carriages so they might be under way. Half an hour later the five, joined by Sebastian, decided to get a head start on the journey and snuck away from the rest of the caravan.
"We're going to get in so much trouble if we get caught." Philip muttered as they kicked their horses into a gallop as they passed the last of the palace's gates.
"We won't get in trouble if you'd hurry up your horse!" Leopold called suddenly feeling as if everything that had happened the past few weeks had been stripped away. She urged her horse to go faster and swept ahead of the boys as she entered the city at a fast pace. Slowing down to a quick trot she hurried through the streets with her cousins right behind her. She passed the many stalls that were selling all sorts of things and quickly passed by. Many people paused and watched in amazement as they passed. Leopold smiled to many children that tried running along side her horse and threw them a few coins before continuing through the streets. Suddenly she spotted the Dancing Dove ahead. She slowed to a walk and stopped in front of the building. She stared at the building as if hoping someone would come out and greet her. It brought back many memories some good and most bad. Nobody stood outside and for those of the untrained eye it looked like nothing more than a deserted inn. There was nothing left for her there. Not that there really was anything to begin with, but she somehow became attached to the place and the people inside of it. They all lived their lives to the fullest and didn't really worry about trivial things, like what to wear the next day. They enjoyed the time they had with each other and never worried about making themselves presentable. Leopold's horse became anxious about standing and started moving from leg to leg. Leopold bit her bottom lip before grabbing her saddle horn and preparing to dismount.
"Leopold hurry up!" Philip called turning his horse around and waiting for her. Leopold stopped mid-way through dismounting and readjusted her body in the saddle. She turned her horse without taking her eyes of the inn and almost cried. There was no one there for her anymore. She glanced at Philip who sat waiting, before grinding her teeth and kicking her horse into a trot after them with one last glance at the inn. They soon left the city streets and rode at an easy pace as they entered the forest. Leopold heaved a big sigh and rested back in her saddle as her horse continued to walk with the others. She was finished with that city. There would be no returning for her no matter the amount of arguing on her aunts behalf. She wouldn't go back if the prince wanted to marry her. Leopold was glad to be rid of all that had happened and was excited about returning to her uncles fief in hopes of returning to the way things use to be. Spending time with her cousins and pestering her aunt. Nothing could get better.
Leopold closed her eyes and raised her head to the warmth of the sun. Soaking in it's rays and heaving another big sigh. She loved this part of the trip. The silence of the forest was mysterious in some ways and threatening in another. She remembered clearly the trip to Cores and the first meeting of Aaron. Leopold sighed again as tears formed in her eyes. Why must everything return to him? Leopold wiped away the tears and tried to concentrate on the trip.
"Are you alright Leopold?" Ace asked pulling up next to her and obviously seeing her tears.
"I'm fine. Couldn't be better!" Leopold replied smiling and giving him a quick glance. Ace didn't reply but continued to ride while joking with the rest of the boys and attempting to sing songs in hopes of making the ride faster. Leopold tried joining in on the songs that she knew, but that was a rare occasion as they had learned most of the songs while being squires to other knights and those of the King's Own. Either way Leopold smiled and forced herself to enjoy the trip home. She was going home and that was enough for her.
Chapter 25
Leopold stood still as the servant women pulled on the corset. She didn't worry about the immense amount of pain that surged through her body as her waist was squeezed tighter and tighter. She had completely cut herself off from any communication with anyone the last two weeks. Her mind became numb to everything around her. She obeyed the few orders given to her without a whine or complain and kept to herself the rest of the time. Her aunts advised her to look her best for the trip home, their last chance for potential suitors to see Leopold. Although Leopold hadn't found a husband this time her aunts had secretly decided that, given a month or so to forget what happened, they would return in a second attempt at betrothing her.
When the servant finished tying off the corset she dressed Leopold in a loose ivory shirt made of cotton and a brown colored skirt. Leopold didn't react when she placed on a stool, then poked and prodded at as the servant piled her hair on top of her head. Leaving it to rest in many pins while it hung down and away from her neck. Her aunt arrived as the servant finished and silently led Leopold down to where the horses and carriages were waiting. The family wasn't taking any chances this time. They had every available son, cousin, father, brother and uncle that was at the castle ready to escort her home. The aunts would be riding along in the carriages with Leopold.
She nodded a greeting towards her cousins who stood by their horses and they nodded in return. Nobody spoke except for the adults but they ignore most of the children. Leopold smiled towards Eliza and Parker as they walked closer to her.
"How have you been?" Parker asked as she hadn't spoken to Leopold in quite some time.
"Fine. I'm still alive aren't I?" she joked trying to put on a brave face.
"He's not any better." Parker muttered loud enough for Leopold to hear.
"We're going to miss you Leopold." Eliza said breaking the silence that followed Parker's comment. Parker hadn't been to pleased with the way things had turned out between Leopold and Aaron and she blamed both of them. She had never been one to be subtle about her feelings and Eliza had learned from the start that she spoke her mind and wasn't ashamed to be loud or rude. Not really caring about her image, Parker lived for disobeying the rules and making a big scene out of something little, often complaining about one thing for many days. She was after all betrothed to a thief. Eliza found herself apologizing to many people or finding ways to fix Parker's mistakes. She really didn't care about most of the things Parker did, it was her reputation and she could ruin it if she wanted to, but she felt she owed it to at least apologized to those who had gotten on Parkers bad side. If she wanted to marry a thief that was her own decision Eliza wasn't going to stop them, especially when they were so happy. She was just glad she had snagged Xavier.
"I'm sure I'll miss the two of you as well." Leopold said bluntly with no emotion on her face.
"Yes well--" Eliza started before she pulled Leopold into a tight hug. "I am going to miss you. I hope your aunt takes good care of you." she whispered
"I'll be fine." Leopold replied as she returned her friends hug. "I'm already over it."
"But are you over him?" Eliza muttered before she released her friend and looked her in the eye. Leopold refused to meet her friends stare and instead turned to Parker.
"Your both way to stubborn. That's what the problem is. Way to stubborn to admit both of you were wrong." Parker said as she yanked Leopold into a quick hug before she released her and wiped her eye.
"Are you crying Parker?" Eliza asked astonished. She hadn't seen Parker cry once in the ten years she had known her.
"Of course not!" Parker replied with a sniffle. The two girls laughed but Leopold wasn't in the mood. She said one last goodbye before she allowed her aunts to escort her to the carriage. Leopold took a glance at the carriage then at the cluster of her cousin who stood by, holding the reins of the horses they would ride. She turned to her aunt beside her.
"I would rather ride. If that's not a problem." she whispered in order to not bring to much attention to her wish. Her aunt stared at her for a long time and Leopold almost thought she hadn't heard what Leopold said. Finally she nodded and walked past Leopold into the carriage. Nothing more was said and Leopold turned to find Ace holding the reins of two horses. She gave a half smile and walked over to him. She thanked him as he helped her mount the sidesaddle.
"No problem kid." he responded with a pat on her leg as he threw her the reins and mounted his own horse. He grabbed the cheek strap of her horses' bridle and led the two horses to where Xavier and Philip sat with their own. The four talked as they waited for the women to finish ushering the children into the carriages so they might be under way. Half an hour later the five, joined by Sebastian, decided to get a head start on the journey and snuck away from the rest of the caravan.
"We're going to get in so much trouble if we get caught." Philip muttered as they kicked their horses into a gallop as they passed the last of the palace's gates.
"We won't get in trouble if you'd hurry up your horse!" Leopold called suddenly feeling as if everything that had happened the past few weeks had been stripped away. She urged her horse to go faster and swept ahead of the boys as she entered the city at a fast pace. Slowing down to a quick trot she hurried through the streets with her cousins right behind her. She passed the many stalls that were selling all sorts of things and quickly passed by. Many people paused and watched in amazement as they passed. Leopold smiled to many children that tried running along side her horse and threw them a few coins before continuing through the streets. Suddenly she spotted the Dancing Dove ahead. She slowed to a walk and stopped in front of the building. She stared at the building as if hoping someone would come out and greet her. It brought back many memories some good and most bad. Nobody stood outside and for those of the untrained eye it looked like nothing more than a deserted inn. There was nothing left for her there. Not that there really was anything to begin with, but she somehow became attached to the place and the people inside of it. They all lived their lives to the fullest and didn't really worry about trivial things, like what to wear the next day. They enjoyed the time they had with each other and never worried about making themselves presentable. Leopold's horse became anxious about standing and started moving from leg to leg. Leopold bit her bottom lip before grabbing her saddle horn and preparing to dismount.
"Leopold hurry up!" Philip called turning his horse around and waiting for her. Leopold stopped mid-way through dismounting and readjusted her body in the saddle. She turned her horse without taking her eyes of the inn and almost cried. There was no one there for her anymore. She glanced at Philip who sat waiting, before grinding her teeth and kicking her horse into a trot after them with one last glance at the inn. They soon left the city streets and rode at an easy pace as they entered the forest. Leopold heaved a big sigh and rested back in her saddle as her horse continued to walk with the others. She was finished with that city. There would be no returning for her no matter the amount of arguing on her aunts behalf. She wouldn't go back if the prince wanted to marry her. Leopold was glad to be rid of all that had happened and was excited about returning to her uncles fief in hopes of returning to the way things use to be. Spending time with her cousins and pestering her aunt. Nothing could get better.
Leopold closed her eyes and raised her head to the warmth of the sun. Soaking in it's rays and heaving another big sigh. She loved this part of the trip. The silence of the forest was mysterious in some ways and threatening in another. She remembered clearly the trip to Cores and the first meeting of Aaron. Leopold sighed again as tears formed in her eyes. Why must everything return to him? Leopold wiped away the tears and tried to concentrate on the trip.
"Are you alright Leopold?" Ace asked pulling up next to her and obviously seeing her tears.
"I'm fine. Couldn't be better!" Leopold replied smiling and giving him a quick glance. Ace didn't reply but continued to ride while joking with the rest of the boys and attempting to sing songs in hopes of making the ride faster. Leopold tried joining in on the songs that she knew, but that was a rare occasion as they had learned most of the songs while being squires to other knights and those of the King's Own. Either way Leopold smiled and forced herself to enjoy the trip home. She was going home and that was enough for her.