Note: My infamous flashbacks are back! The longs passages that are italicized are flashbacks. There are dream scenes that will be italicized also, though I'm sure it is clear when that is. This chapter is PG-13, so be warned.

Chapter 10: A Leap of Faith

Faith was in her room again, her room in the castle. The tall mahogany doors with the flowery carvings were just as gorgeous as she last remembered. She walked in and felt the cold air hit her. Faith went to her dressing table. She fingered the miniature crystal chandelier.

"I kept it the same for you," said Nathaniel as he closed the door. "Julius wouldn't have it any other way," he smiled and walked towards her. "You wouldn't imagine how many nymphs begged me for your room, but," he raised his hands in a great gesture, "Only the best room for my brother's bride, and even after you left him he wouldn't have another take this room."

Faith walked over to her window and Nathaniel followed her.

"He still loves you, you know," he put his hands on her shoulders. "Why'd you bring him along?" he said jerking his head towards Draco who was enjoying the company of Laura and Lauren.

Nathaniel turned Faith around so she'd look at him when he talked to her.

"I know you still love him, so don't bring yourself anymore pain," he kissed her forehead.

"I don't love him, you're wrong," said Faith as she turned her gaze back to where Draco was.

Nathaniel walked towards the door and before he left he turned and said to her, "I have resigned my place on the throne," he looked wearily away and at the door frame, "Julius will be king." with that Nathaniel closed the door lightly so that it squeaked as it shut.

Nathaniel leaned against the wall just outside her room. He heaved a sigh and rubbed his arm.

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It was night time at the Clearing, and Draco hadn't returned. Faith laid on her bed and looked at the ceiling.

"What do you think of it, love?" he stood behind her and hugged her.

Faith looked up at the ceiling, it was breathtaking.

Julius leaned in more and kissed her neck, "I'm glad you love it."

There were trees and flowers and they moved. A unicorn pranced around and birds flew from nest to nest. In the spring the trees would sway and in fall they would lose their leaves.

'Perhaps he does love me,' thought Faith as she watched the unicorn come out from its hiding.

Faith had given up on waiting for Draco and closed her eyes to sleep.

She was down in the Clearing and back on the faithful rock which she had cried on over Mr. Westchester, but this time she wasn't crying over him.

Faith looked around there was no one there, not even Julius. She wiped some of her tears, but more kept coming. Faith looked around again to see if anyone at all was there; there was no one, Faith cried even more. She felt so alone.

"Who do you love?" whispered a shy familiar voice. "Will anyone ever love you," the voice paused a moment, "or rather will you ever love someone?"

"I DID," cried Faith as she shouted back at the voice. "I DID! And he didn't love me back."

"How are you so sure? How is anyone so sure? Love comes as a wink, short and never long. It lacks longevity. You shouldn't pray so much into love. You only hurt yourself." replied the voice.

"I don't believe you," wept Faith, but she wasn't so sure of what she said anymore.

"If you can't love the one you love, love the one you're with." said the voice as it died out.

Faith dropped her head on her arms and continued crying. It was true; everything the voice had said was true.

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"Oh Draco, must you leave?" whined Lauren.

"Please don't go," pouted Laura.

"Oh but I must, for there is one nymph who has not had the pleasure of my company tonight," winked Draco as he turned and headed towards the castle.

"Do you even know where Eleanor's room is?" giggled Lauren.

'Eleanor, that's her name,' grinned Draco to himself.

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It took Draco a rather long time even with the directions that Lauren gave him. There were many double doors and all of them were big and grand. Plus all of them had carvings on the doors and also it is especially hard to see the magical movements of the carvings when you are not a nymph.

The door slowly opened and Draco poked his head out from behind. He wasn't sure if he had the right room or not. Draco stepped in further only to find a boy or rather a man who looked like a boy. He seemed to be near Draco's age except he looked older in some ways. In fact, all the nymphs he'd met were young, but seemed older.

"Close the door, will you," said the satyr. He was hunched over a table over looking some documents and maps.

They satyr turned around which made Draco jump, but he was careful not to show he was frightened.

"So," he smiled, "you're the one." The satyr picked up his cup of tea and took a sip.

"I'm the one what?" questioned Draco his eyebrow slowly arched.

"Never mind that," the satyr put his cup down and walked over to the door.

"Down the hall this way and the second door from the end, you can't miss it," he said as he opened the door and pointed. "Remember, the big doors," winked the satyr and he closed the door behind Draco.

Draco walked down the hall, it felt eerie to him. He found the door and looked at it. He could faintly make out a patch strawberries in the distance beyond the hill. He looked over in another corner and saw a couple dancing.

Draco shook his head, "Stupid door," and he pushed the door open.

Faith heard heavy breathing outside her door and she awoke, but she didn't bother to move or see who it was. She wiped a tear from her cheek as the door clicked opened.

Draco walked in and saw her sleeping on the bed. He sat down next to her and took off his mangled shirt. Faith turned around and saw Draco's sleek upper body. It was well toned and shined with sweat. Faith felt her cheeks get hot. She put her hands on them and turned away again.

"Oh my god," she gasped under her breath and hope Draco didn't notice that she was flushed.

"Heh," chuckled Draco. He loved seeing her blush over him.

He lay on his side, his arm supporting him, and with his other hand he brushed her hair back to expose her neck. Faith's heart began to beat really fast and she didn't know why. She'd been with Draco before and should be used to his cold touch. But his touch wasn't cold anymore and it seemed his actions weren't out of lust. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but she couldn't think about it much for Draco was now on top of her and kissing her moth, every so often biting her lower lip.

She pushed him off, slightly regretting making his warm body leave her. Draco hovered over her, his hands supporting his weight. He looked at her, she looked scared.

She took his face in her hands, "Do you love me?"

Draco sat back and looked at her. He would've said yes to get it over with, but he couldn't.

"I want you, isn't that enough?" said Draco as he brushed his hair back in frustration.

Faith let go of Draco's face and he rolled back and sat next to her slouched against bed's head board. Faith took Draco's arm and draped it over her shoulder. She then put her arm over his chest and rested her head on him.

"It can't be enough forever." said Faith as she closed her eyes again.

Draco rested his head on Faith's and sighed as he fell asleep.

Faith was crying on the rock again.

A dark figure came out from the trees towards Faith. He put his hand on her shoulder and startled her.

"W-who are you," her voice croaked from crying.

The person wiped her tears and took her in his arms. His embrace was warm and familiar. Faith closed her eyes and pressed into him.

"NO NOOOOOOOOOO." yelled Draco, but she couldn't hear him. "That's me, don't you see?! I'm the one! You're supposed to be with me, me and no one else!"

Faith and the dark figure faded away and Draco was now in the throne room at the castle.

"I love you, love. Though I may not be that wimpy wizard boy, I can love you like he never will." Julius stood in front of her stroking her silvery hair.

"That's a lie," protested Draco, but again she couldn't hear him.

"I love you too," and she kissed Julius passionately and in a way Draco had never seen or felt her do.

Julius started pawing at her, it disgusted Draco to watch.

"He doesn't love you," he scoffed, "he just wants to…" and then it hit him. "I do love you," gasped Draco.

Draco walked around them shouting at them with all his might, but no one could hear him. A tear started down his face, but he quickly wiped it away. Draco watched her face it was so beautiful even if some greasy git was slobbering over her.

Draco suddenly woke up and saw that Faith wasn't there anymore. He ran out of the room shirtless and all. He sped down the hall and passed an opened door. Draco backtracked and looked into the room. It was the satyr again.

"You're looking for Eleanor I supposed," said the satyr. He was sitting a rather large armchair and drinking tea.

"Where is she, you old bag?!" barked Draco as he walked into the room.

"That's no way to talk to me," said the satyr.

Draco grabbed the satyr by his collar and lifted him out of his seat, "I'm not kidding around, where is she?!"

"I think you already know," coughed the satyr as he winked.

Draco dropped the satyr and dashed out of the room.

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The figure came closer, it was Voldemort. Lucius squirmed in his ropes and muffled a cry of help.

"Oh tut tut Nathaniel," said Voldemort as he ungagged Nathaniel who was in the form of Lucius.

"No need to worry about your precious kingdom, I have only but the best plans for it," said Voldemort as he propped Nathaniel up to sit.

"You know, Nathaniel, I do believe that your race with mine, we can rid those who shun us into hiding."

"I would rather my entire race die than to help you achieve such a ghastly vision." spat Nathaniel.

"Oh I was hoping you wouldn't say that. Now I'm going to have to kill you." Voldemort smiled and rose up his wand.

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Draco burst through the doors and stormed into the thrown room.

"Congratulations Julius," Faith had ad big smile on her face which made it glow even more. She jumped and put her arms around Julius. Faith hugged him and kissed him on the cheek. Draco winced and felt disgusted. He didn't like seeing her all over him like that.

"Thank you, love," smiled Julius back.

"Damn that bastard, if he says 'love' one more time," Draco gritted his teeth and walked even faster towards them.

Julius grabbed her by the waist and brought her closer to him. He kissed her slowly and wrapped his arms around her.

Faith tried to get his arms off her.

"Get off her!" shouted Draco with as much force as he could.

Julius let go of Faith and glared at Draco.

"Who are you and what do you think you're doing?" Julius grabbed Draco and lifted him by the neck.

"No one interrupts me," Julius threw Draco down.

Draco touched his neck and massaged it.

"You bastard," coughed Draco, "she doesn't love you!"

At this Julius turned and glared at him even more, "What did you say?" Julius bent down and spat in Draco's face. "You insolent fool."

Faith came between them and tried to push Julius back.

"Please, Julius, don't he doesn't know what he's saying," she tried to calm him down.

"You," Julius now looked at her, "you love him?"

"Why Eleanor, why?!" he smacked her across the face leaving her cheek so red it seemed to bleed. "I love you Eleanor, I would've kept loving you. I even forgave you for leaving me twice." Julius's face was saddened and pain was his face. "Twice I forgave you and this is what you do to repay me?!"

Julius raised his hand and was about to strike Draco, but Faith had grabbed onto his arm with all her might.

"NO JULIUS, NO," tears were streaming down her cheek. "I love him," she whimpered, "please don't hurt him Julius."

Julius shoved her out of the way. Faith landed next to Draco, but quickly leaped in front of Draco and hugged him.

"Fine, Julius, if you want to kill him then kill me too," Faith looked Julius square in the eye and didn't blink.

"You've put me in an awful position again, Eleanor," Julius straightened up, but didn't back away from his stance.

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The door slammed shut and through the barred window Julius came into view.

"Let's hope this will change your mind, Eleanor," Julius looked straight at her with sad eyes and left.

Faith dropped her head into her palms and cried some more,

Draco had been in slight shock throughout the whole thing, he'd only been aware of the situation when he heard Faith crying.

Draco kneeled beside her and put his arms around her. "Don't cry Eleanor," the words came out so foreign to him.

"That's not my name," hissed Faith and pushed Draco away.

"W-what?" said Draco confused. "It's what everyone calls you," said Draco as he sat back away from her.

"S'not my name, Draco," Faith turned away from Draco and curled into a ball.

"Why didn't you do anything?" she sniffled.

"I-I," Draco didn't know what to say. Draco sat against the wall and tilted his head back.

"I don't know much about my feelings right now," he sighed. "I'm sorry," he said as he looked at her huddled in the corner.

"Have a little more faith in yourself," she whispered.

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Author's Note: In my opinion, this was a very good chapter. Things are starting to turn around. Draco is discovering he has feelings! Poor Nathaniel, I feel bad for what happened to him. Julius is very clueless.

Next Chapter: What's going to happen to Draco and Faith? They're locked up in a cell and Julius is angry. If Nathaniel is Lucius, then where's Lucius?!

Thanks to Bubble and Joya for reviewing!