Chapter twelve:
After their walk around the forest Darling looked to Raven and asked her. "Has Briar sent a message to you yet to tell us what time the party will be and where it is going to be held?"
Raven checked her silenced phone and nodded as she said. "Yes, it's going to be held at the main school hall, and will be starting at nine so we have plenty of time." After she had told Darling this a thought occurred to Raven and caused her to ask Darling in concern. "Do you think we will need new outfits for tonight?"
"I'm sure that due to the short notice of the party and that we only just changed roles today, that no one will comment if we go to the party just as we are. Though after our last conversation about how you felt about what you had to dress in, I can't say I blame you for wanting to start to change your wardrobe as soon as possible. I will admit I too am anxious to be able to change my clothing to ones which will fit me better as well."
"I plan to go through my old wardrobe to see what I can salvage from it. I'll also donate whatever I no longer want or feels fit me as I am now." Raven told her honestly.
Darling gave her a nod as she said to Raven. "That sounds like a very wise way to handle things, I believe I shall follow your example and do the same with my own wardrobe."
Raven smiled at Darling, she felt very proud to know that her own cautious way of handling her clothes, had inspired Darling to do the same. "I believe it is best to show people that you don't need to completely change your wardrobe with a change of roles, and can reuse what you have. People waste so much that they don't need to."
"That is very true." Darling says softly, before she asks Raven. "Shall we go and get some dinner?"
Raven nodded. "Yes let's. Do you want to go to the castleteria or shall we go into town and have dinner out?"
Darling hummed softly as she considered her answer for a few moments. "I would love to have dinner with you on our own in town with you."
With a nod of agreement to Darling's words from Raven, the couple then took the correctly signposted path out of the forest and made their way along the pathway into town. As they walked towards Book end arm in arm Darling asked Raven. "Where would you like to go for our meal?"
This time it was Raven who took a few moments to consider her answer to the question. "What do you say to going to the cauldron?"
Darling thought this was a great idea and so enthused to Raven. "I've never been there, but I've heard the food is spelltacular!"
"Trust me the food there is divine." Raven assured her, before guiding Darling in the direction of the restaurant.
When they arrived there, they were greeted by the cheerful hostess. "Hello there, ladies! A table for two?"
"Yes please." Raven confirms.
With a wide smile for them the hostess addresses the couple again. "I'll show you to your table. Please follow me!"
Without hesitating Darling and Raven followed her, she guided them over to one of the tables. "Here we go."
Once Raven and Darling have sat down at the table, the hostess hands them both a menu each and then asks politely. "Would you like some water or bread for the table?"
"I'd like some water." Raven tells her.
"Just water for me too." Darling says to the hostess.
"Not a problem. I'll get one of the members of staff to bring you both a pitcher of water and two glasses." The hostess tells them, before she makes her way back through the restaurant.
Darling looks around the restaurant, the light is a low golden colour from all of the enchanted candles settled in the black ironwork lanterns hung from elaborate black iron work stands and iron work chandeliers in the ceiling. The walls were papered in a deep purple with a golden leafy mask pattern on it. The tables and chairs were all black, their cushions were in purple to match the wallpaper and the table had a gold and purple table cloth spread over it.
After she had taken everything in, Darling looked across the table at Raven and says to her softly. "This place is enchanting."
Raven is relieved to hear this and says to Darling. "I am so glad to hear that you like it."
The couple shared a smile and then turned their attention to the menus. A short while later Raven had settled on what she wanted to order when a member of staff came to take their order, so she placed her menu back down onto the table and waited for Darling to finish choosing her food.
Darling spent a while longer than Raven pursuing the menu, before she too had chosen what she wanted to eat, Darling then placed her menu to one side and turned her attention back to Raven. "What did you decide to order tonight?" Darling asked her conversationally.
Raven answered this question. "I thought I would have salmon fillet, with mash and peas, and then dark chocolate and strawberry cheesecake for dessert. I'll tell you now that I love a good dark chocolate and strawberry cheesecake! The one here is wonderful. What about you Darling? What did you choose to eat?"
"I thought I would try the lamb cutlets, with a medley of green vegetables and roast potatoes. For dessert I liked the sound of the chocolate mousse with raspberry coulis." Darling told Raven.
At that moment a waiter came over to them with the pitcher of water and two glasses. He set them on the table, poured them both a glass of the ice cooled water and then asked Darling and Raven. "Are you both ready to order?"
"Yes, we are." Raven told him and once he had his pad and pen ready, Raven recited her order to him.
Once he had Raven's order written down, the waiter then turned his attention to Darling, who without hesitating told him what she wanted to eat.
When the waiter finished writing he smiled at the couple and said to them. "We will get your orders to you soon."
"Thank you." They said cheerfully to him. The waiter smiled back at them and then headed to the kitchen to hand in their orders.
Darling looked across the table at Raven. "So, do I get to dance all night with you? Or do I have to share you for the night?"
"The only other people to dance with me are usually Maddie and Kitty, though occasionally Apple will dance with me too…So you won't have to share me too much." Raven assures her.
"In that case, can I reserve a slow dance for the night now?" Darling asked Raven with a cheeky smile on her face and a glint of laughter in her eyes.
A chuckle left Raven, before she said to Darling. "You can have every slow dance for tonight if you want. After all, as I have no intention of dancing any slow dances with anyone other than you my Charming lady knight."
"I am very glad to hear that my lady princess." Darling said with sincerity to Raven.
Slowly Raven smiled at Darling, before saying to her softly. "You know, I think I'm going to enjoy slow dancing with you."
Darling returned the witches smile with one of her own. "I am sure we will have a wonderful time slow dancing together."
"I plan to hext my father tonight about the changes in my role, I know he will be very happy to hear my news." Raven told Darling in a joyful voice.
Darling was glad to hear her lady princess sound so happy. She on the other hand was in a quandary, she was convinced her parents would be shocked by the news, and probably angry, after all this wasn't the destiny, which they had imagined for her.
Seeing an expression of worry on Darling's face, Raven reached out, she gently cupped one of her hands, then began making soothing circular motions over the back with her fingers, as she asked softly. "What are you worried by?"
"I am a little concerned about my family's reaction to my own change in roles." Darling admitted to her, with a touch of nerves clear in her voice.
Raven nodded, she could understand that, after all they were both taking very large steps away from the parts they had started with, at the same time she was also well aware of just how traditional Darling's parent's views of the stories were. Raven really wanted to comfort and encourage her Charming lady knight and so said to Darling. "Hopefully if you explain to them how rare the connection, we share is to them then they might be more understanding of why things have changed for us both in our stories."
As Darling considered this sage advice from Raven, she nodded to her. "I think that telling them that information will indeed help and though it may take them some time, I firmly believe that my family will eventually accept my change in parts and who I am standing beside as my lady princess. It will also help with my cause that all those on the light side of fairy tale world respect true love and they would never meddle with it out of fear of being made the evil of the story. With us being soulmates too it will make it very hard for them to deny what has happened to both me and my story."
"The only big concern I have right now is my mother…" Raven confessed to Darling, her voice and body shaking a little with the worry she felt deeply inside her.
Instantly Darling wanted to reassure Raven that everything would be alright just as she had assured her in her floral notes and so said to her. "I made you a promise that I would stand steadfastly beside you and I meant it. I am not going to be scared off by your mother after all I am your shield and your sword now after all. If she escapes and if she does something to you with magic, I will find a way to free you it. I am your knight, your hero and prince, let me help you carry the burden of your mother's darkness, it is what I am here for."
Raven nodded to Darling to show she heard and accepted these words from her. "I am glad to know you won't be leaving me."
"Not until the day I die." Darling promised her in a soft but serious voice.
These words made Raven blush a little and she wanted to kiss Darling rather badly, but decided to hold back on the public displays of affection for now. Before either of them could say anything more the waiter returned with their food, he placed each dinner down carefully and then asked. "Is there anything else I can bring to the table for you both?"
"Not for me thank you." Darling replied to his question.
Raven shook her head and then spoke to him politely. "No, I am fine as well. Thank you."
With a nod to them both the waiter walked away. Darling and Raven both started to eat their meals. After a few mouthfuls Darling swallowed her mouthful and addressed Raven. "You were right this food is amazing."
The moment she heard these words, Raven broke out into a smile. "I am glad to hear that you are enjoying the food."
As they continued to eat, the couple chatted feely, Darling and Raven speculated about what classes the headmaster would deem appropriate for them now and wondering where their new story might guide them.
When Darling and Raven had finished their meals, they paid for their food and then left the restaurant together. Once they were outside Raven took one of Darling's hands into hers and smiled at her, Darling smiled back at Raven, squeezed her hand gently and then the couple made their way back towards Ever After High.
Darling escorted Raven through the school, back to her dorm room, when they reached the door, Raven turned to Darling and asked her. "What time should I expect you to come and get me for the party?"
"Well as the party is to celebrate our relationship it would probably be wise if we are there early…" Darling mused before coming to a decision and addressing Raven once more. "I will arrive to bring you to the party at eight forty-five."
Raven gave Darling a nod and said to her. "I'll see you then."
"Before you go inside, can I kiss you again?" Darling asked Raven in a soft loving voice.
Without hesitation Raven smiled and nodded her permission to Darling. She stepped closer to Raven, put her arms around her and then Darling gently kissed Raven. With a hum of pleasure Raven returned the kiss, while at the same time she lifted her arms and lopped them around Darling's shoulders.
When they finally broke the kiss Raven and Darling were both breathlessly happy. Slowly they released each other, Darling gently took one of Raven's hands in hers, she knelt down on one knee and pressed a kiss to the back of her hand. "I will see you later my lovely lady princess."
"I look forwards to it my Charming lady knight." Raven told her smiling with an expression of pleasure and love clear on her face.
Slowly Darling came to her feet, she reluctantly released Raven's hand and watched with an aching heart as she went into her dorm room. Darling drew herself up, it was alright to miss Raven and want to be beside her, but she couldn't let them over ride all of her duties and other feelings towards Raven.
Reluctantly Darling turned away from the room and made her own way back to her dorm room. As she walked along the corridor, Darling decided that the best thing to do was to distract herself from the desire to want to be at Raven's side at all times, so she could love and protect her. After spending a few moments considering what she could do to shift her focus, Darling settled on looking at her new lesson schedule and then starting to start to sort out her wardrobe to fit her new role.
