Disclaimer: See the previous 10 chapters.

A/N:

andreaaft: That's ok. I'll forgive this time (mwahahahaha) nah, jokes. Homework can be too much… all the time. I understand completely. I had a math test on Friday. Shudder.

Elle: Here's the update you asked for. Thanks for reviewing!

Chapter 10

"Eleanor?"

"Father!" Eleanor dashed into her father's arms. "Father…" Her father had come at last… but too late to save her.

"My child… my daughter…" Eleanor pulled away, standing up straight and tall. "Father, I'd like you to meet my…husband…Peter."

Sir Joseph looked at the handsome young man beside Eleanor.

"It's nice to meet you son."

As his daughter started talking, he observed Peter. The young man was handsome and charming, no doubt, but his face bore a touch of coldness, and a love for something non-human. He was fond of Eleanor, that was certain, but was Eleanor really going to be satisfied with fondness?

"Eleanor. May I see Mandy?" His daughter frowned for a split second then smiled.

"Certainly. Do you mind if I stay out here with Peter until you are done? It's such a lovely day!"

"Please yourselves."

"The kitchen's the first door on the right." It was the first time that Peter had spoken, and Joseph looked at him. His voice was soft and persuasive, rather like the merchants that traded in Frell. Joseph looked away. The implications of that thought were too severe to think about.

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"Daria?" Jerrold spoke to his fiancée. Fiancée What a strange word.

"Your highness!" Daria spun around in shock. Jerrold winced. One thing about Daria that pained him was her rigid formality compared to El's light-hearted manner. El…

"Please… call me Jerrold…" He observed her face. She was pretty, that was for sure. Her long black hair was pulled back into a braid, with narrow wings of hair framing her sweet pale face. A slow smile spread across her face.

"Jerrold." She was almost beautiful when she smiled. Not as beautiful as El, but…beautiful all the same.

"I wanted to talk to you."

"Certainly."

"Would you like to walk with me?" Jerrold dimly noticed that her face was flushed.

"I'll just let my mother know…" She whispered.

As she made a quick ext, Jerrold slumped against the wall. What he hated about courtiers was the self-conscious way they acted around him.

Which was probably why he fell for El so badly.

He hated to admit it, but he had to honest with himself. And if he wasn't wrong, she had felt the same way. Why else would she have thrown herself into Peter the moment she heard of his engagement? And now she had ruined life just for him. Peter couldn't possibly make her happy. He didn't love her, for one. She didn't love him; that was another.

Why hadn't she waited? He could have broken his engagement. He closed his eyes and thought back to one of their many conversations.

"Have you known Daria long?" Jerrold asked, looking over to where Daria sat. El continued dancing, dipping gracefully.

"Yes. Since we were children. Nothing has ever come between us… until now." Her bluntness was so refreshing.

"Now? What's happened now?" Jerrold's brow creased in concern.

"You. She's loved you ever since she met you."

"When was that?"

"Three years ago." Jerrold raised an eyebrow. "I always wanted to that." He laughed, but she remained serious.

"You care for Daria a lot, don't you."

"Yes!" She blurted out. "She's my sister, my confidante, my friend. I wouldn't do anything to hurt her… but it's not like you two are together or anything…"

"But if we were?"

"I wouldn't be dancing with you. Look, Jerrold, I know this is hard for you to believe, but I love Daria more than anyone else… apart from Father…and he's not around much anymore. Even now, I feel guilty… because Daria's so unhappy."

She never wanted to hurt Daria, and by marrying Peter she made sure that she couldn't. Jerrold realised, with a pang, that he never knew much about El's home life. She had never mentioned anyone apart from her father. He didn't even know if she had a sibling, for goodness sake!

"Jerrold?" He opened his eyes. Daria was there, looking at him in concern.

"Look, Daria… I can't do this now. I have something to sort out. I can't put my past behind me before I understand it all. I'm sorry, but it's not fair on you if I am always thinking about what might have been. I need to know."

Daria looked at him, an inscrutable expression on her face.

"I understand. You need to know why El did what she did." Her voice was soft and gentle. "It's understandable. I could give you most of the answers, but that wouldn't help, would it?"

"No…but thank you." He leant over, and kissed her cheek. "Thank you… I will be back, I promise."

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"Mandy?"

"Joseph! You're back!" She rushed over and gave him a hug.

"Yes I am… and I need answers."

"I know you do."

"El fell for Jerrold. He was engaged. An arranged marriage to Daria."

"The girl from next door!"

"That's right. And when she found out… well, you know she loves Daria."

"Oh help!"

"Yes… and that's how she got into this position."

"There's no way of helping her out of this mess, is there?"

"No, lad."

"Mandy! I'm a grown man!"

"Still with the same tiny feet though."

"Yes…"

A/N: Hehe… nothing in the book ever said that Mandy couldn't be the fairy godmother to males!