Thank you to alicathelton, chinkerchickchu & Lily Ophelia for the reviews. I love you guys! Here's some more... Well overdue I might add LOL I thought I'd all ready posted this part. Sorry cya x
P.S. chinkerchickchu, I don't have a Harry Potter story... I have 1 Buffy, 1 Phantom of the Opera and 2 Ever After… :S
Part 3
Meeting by the Lake
The lake was calm, the leaves on the trees billowed gently in the wind. The prince and Signor Leonardo de Vinci stood upon a small hill. They spoke of nothing but love and fate. Henry determined to find the answer to his internal struggles; should he go find 'her' or let her come to him?
"You cannot leave everything to fate, boy. She's got a lot to do. Sometimes you must give her a hand." Signor de Vinci told him. Henry pondered the words for a few moments before nodding softly and changing the direction of the conversation to the two little Noah's arks held in the inventor's hands.
"What's this project?" His interest in the artists work genuine.
"Would you care to see if they work?" Without waiting for an answer, the old man ran towards the lake. Placing the shoes on his feet he began to slowly drift across the top of the lake.
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The still lake was only disturbed by the lithe figure of a girl, floating atop the surface, her arms waving by her sides propelling her backwards, further out into the lake causing little ripples of water to expand around her.
A huge smile covered her face as her arms dragged through the liquid level loving the freedom the water provided. Floating away from all her chores, from her troubles and her grief. Floating away from her step-mother.
"It looks like rain." The voice interrupted her solitude, shocking her from her self induced peace.
"Auugghh!" Crying out as she saw the old man loaming over her, seemingly walking on water. Falling under, she surfaced in time to see him tumble under with her, crying out himself.
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Two shouts pieced the quietness surrounding Henry, suddenly worried for Leonardo, he ran down the cliff side to the lake. The second voice intrigued him so, for it was too high to also be the Signores.
"Signore da Vinci, are you all right?"
Looking up at the prince, the old man answered him jokingly. "I should leave walking on water to the Son of God; fortunately I tripped over an angel."
The mention of someone else stirred the prince to look over, confused yet excited by what he saw.
"Comtesse!"
"Your highness, oh!" She exclaimed, sweeping down to her knees. Remembering she had no need to drop so far if she was a courtier she rightened herself and made an excuse. "Uh...uh careful, it's very slippery right there."
He stared at her in amazement, after her impromptu exit from court the day before he had feared he'd never see her again, yet here she was, right in front of him, dripping wet and soaking cold.
"Here please, allow me." He offered her his cloak, wrapping the rich fabric around her shoulders.
"Oh! Thank you." She smiled at him, relishing in the dryness of the material.
"Come, let us go dry off by the carriage. I'm sure Leonardo will have a new project to test out."
"Lead the way, Sire." Walking back up the cliff, Henry and 'Nicole' in toe, Signor de Vinci smiled, aware of the sparks flying between the two. From what he'd heard she'd make a wonderful queen.
Upon reaching the carriage, de Vinci preceded to remove the outer layer of his clothing, hanging them across the carriage roof to dry.
"Nicole, would you like to dry some of your clothing as well?" When she didn't respond, he called her again. Still nothing, he decided his assumption was correct it wasn't her name she had given the prince. "Child?" Finally looking around to him she smiled.
"Yes, sir?"
"Care to dry your clothing?" He moved his arm and pointed at his own attire. Shaking her head slightly she sat on the ground, wet dress bunching out behind her. Slightly disappointed, Henry sat next to her, leaving Leonardo to his work.
"Where are your attendants?" He asked, looking around trying to spot someone.
"I decided to give them the day off."
"A day off? From what? Life?" Henry laughed, incredulously.
"Don't you ever tire of having people wait on you all the time?" Deep down agreeing with her statement, but protocol demanded it, so he had to say something back.
"Yes, but they're servants, it's what they do."
"Well I wish I could dismiss mine as easily as you do yours. I must be going." Angry at his inferiority Danielle stood at walked away. Laughing out loud Henry stood and chased her.
"You're angry with me."
"No." She denied, continuing to walk from him.
"Admit it."
'If he wants to know so badly.'
"Well yes it you must know."
"Why?" Henry could not fathom what he had done to upset her so.
"Because you are trying to bait me with your snobbery."
"I'm afraid Mademoiselle that you are a walking contradiction and I find that rather fascinating." He looked at her with the curiosity of a young boy receiving a gift.
"Me?" She asked, almost forgetting he believed her to be noble. Stopping she turned to look at him, deciding not to run.
"Yes, you. You spout the ideals of a utopian society and yet you live the life of a courtier."
'If only you knew.'
"And you own all the land there is and yet you take no pride in working it. Is that not also a contradiction?"
"First I'm arrogant and now I have no pride, however do I manage that." He asked to himself, enjoying the banter between them.
"You have everything and still the world holds no joy and yet you insist on making fun of those who would see it for its possibilities." She sighed, seeing an end to their conversation began to turn again.
"How do you do it?" He asked, effectively stilling Danielle.
"What?" Her voice uncertain.
"Live each day with this kind of passion, don't you find it exhausting?"
"Only when I'm around you. Why do you like irritate me so?"
"Why do you rise to the occasion?" At that both burst into laughter, looking over at them Leonardo smiled.
"Sire, I have a confession to make." She admitted, her heart pounding in her chest.
"Oh, and what is that milady?" Fear rising to choke her, she swallowed it back and spoke loudly although hesitantly.
"Do you still wish to know my name?" Nodding excitedly he exclaimed that he did. "Danielle de Barbarac."
"I knew it!" A voice exclaimed from higher up the cliff. Looking over to see Leonardo with a proud grin on his face. "I knew it was not your name."
"I said as much at court, sir."
"Yes, but the boy did not seem to understand that." Both laughed, as Henry just stared at her.
"Danielle." He muttered, testing it out on his tongue. Obviously please by the result he repeated it a little louder. "It's a beautiful name." he told her.
Blushing prettily, she bit her bottom lip. "My father named me, sire. Thank you."
"Henry."
"Thank you… Henry."
XXX
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