Second: Lily for Lilly

She didn't get much sleep that night. She had a lot of things to stew over. She was growing very concerned about where the caravan from Tinto could be. They were never so late to get to Budehuc and she was beginning to grow worried. Of course she wouldn't dare show this to anyone; instead, she acted as though she were angry. Don't let them see you soft was a rule her father had instilled in her from since she was a little girl. He had been proven right: things got done a lot faster if she was forceful about it.

Over time she began to like how her presence made people scurry to do her bidding. A little bit of fear never hurt anyone. And with her hard shell around her, she was safe from being hurt. Sure she didn't have very many friends, and she didn't exactly like that, but at least she couldn't be emotionally wounded. Or at least that was what she thought, until recently.

There were only two people that completely understood her and knew her for who she was: her father, and Lady Chris Lightfellow. Everyone else just saw her as "the Dragon". Why should she care what other people thought about her? She knew what she was really like, and that should be enough. But it wasn't.

Day came and she had only napped lightly. She groggily rose, her eyes half-closed, not wanting to face the brilliant sunlight streaming in through her window. She shuffled over to the mirror and combed out the tangles in her long red hair. She was not in the mood to bother much with what she was wearing, so she slipped on her most ragged traveling ensemble and stepped out to face the day.

To her surprise, she found a lily just outside her door. Puzzled, she knelt down and observed it. Surely it wasn't meant for her. No one in the castle would bring her flowers of any kind, not even Reed and Samus. Maybe one of Chris's suitors had put it here by accident; it was the only explanation she could think of. She picked it up and went to the Silver Maiden's room, but did not find her there. Frowning, she descended the stairs, thinking that Chris would be outside.

She froze at the foot of the stairs. In her peripheral vision she could see Sir Percival standing hear the Blinking Mirror. It was too much to hope that he hadn't noticed her. She had been so humiliated yesterday when he had seen her crying. He had been kind to her, as if he actually cared that she was hurt. Him being so handsome hadn't helped much, either. Maybe if I ignore him, he'll ignore me, she thought. Her head held high and her eyes fixed forward, she passed right by him.

"Good morning, milady!" he greeted. She paused, and couldn't stop herself from looking in his direction. His handsome face was creased in a wide smile. "Did you like the flower?"

"What?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"The lily," he explained. "I was wondering if you liked it."

"You gave me this?"

"Yes, I did," he confirmed. She gave him a disbelieving stare and frowned at the lily in her hand. She flicked her eyes back up to him.

"Why?"

"I thought you would like it. It's a lily, you see, and… your name is Lilly. Do you prefer a different type of flower?"

"Uh…" Lilly didn't know how to respond. Why would Percival give her a flower? It just didn't make any sense. "Who put you up to this?" she demanded. He tilted his head to one side, looking perplexed.

"What do you mean?"

"Who put you up to this?" she repeated louder. "Did Lady Chris ask you to do this?"

"No, milady. I did this of my own free will." He smiled gently at her. She stared blankly back at him, her brain clumsily trying to understand this. What was he trying to pull? Was he trying to make up for seeing her cry yesterday or something?

"But why? Tell me why," she ordered.

"Because, I…" He paused, stepping forward and taking both her hands in his. No one had ever looked at her so tenderly before. What was happening? She wished her heart would calm down. "I want to show you that I truly do care, Lilly. I would like to know who you really are, if you'll let me. I may even love you." That brought her back to her senses. She pulled her hands away, not bothering to cover up a harsh laugh.

"Very funny. Was that supposed to cheer me up?" He remained silent. "Well, it was a pretty pathetic effort, I must say, but it gave me a good laugh, anyway. You can give this to Chris, now." She held out the lily to him, mentally scolding her cheeks for flushing over nothing.

"No, that's for you," he said.

"Joke's over, so just drop it, okay?"

"I'm not joking. The lily is for you."

"Well, I obviously don't want it, so take it back!" She flung the lily at his face. "And don't you ever speak to me that way again, do you understand me?" She turned and stalked away, seething at the sheer nerve of him.

I truly do care, she repeated to herself mockingly. I would like to know who you really are. I may even love you. What bullshit! Who's he trying to fool? I'm not stupid!! She paid little attention to where her feet were taking her and was only slightly aware that a flock of birds scattered as she stormed through. Why did he say those things to me, anyway? Was he trying to make me feel better or something? He should've just kept his mouth shut and left me alone! I don't want anybody pitying me, especially if it's just faked pity!

But deep down, she wished his words had been honest. Even if she wouldn't admit it to herself.