Disclaimer: As per other chapters.
A/N:
BuffyShakespeareAusten: No, she's not meant to. It's just a little side thing to compliment the writing… I like it. : ) Here's the update.
Mockingbird84: Thanks. I think I'm getting my writingness back. Slowly… but surely… :D
Orlando-crazy: Thank you! Sorry for taking ages to update!
Pamperedwitch: Hehe… they won't talk in this chapter, but possibly in the next one. She can't keep running. It gets boring. :P
Kisaki Hana: thank you! You're always so encouraging. Thank you for reviewing me most (all?) of my chapters!
Elle: Here's the update. Sorry it took ages. Thank you for reviewing! I love new reviewers too!
joelene1892: Thank you! I think it's going away. Sorry for taking ages to update. I'll start lengthening the chapters again.
BatteredChild: Thanks for the helpful criticism. I'll try to get it to go slower, and get the people more in character? Thank you for reviewing:D
Chapter 7
Danielle huddled up against a tree, trying desperately to keep warm. In the distance she could see a small light coming towards her.
She leant back, trying to avoid it. She could hear horses hooves trampling the ground; the harsh male voices rang through the quiet forest. The hounds barked…
A light shone in her face.
"Here she is. Our little runaway." A man growled. Blinded by the light, Danielle squinted, her stomach lurching horribly.
"Who are you from…?" She whispered.
"Monsieur Le Pieu, darling." NO. Not Le Pieu. She had hoped, almost wished, it was Henry's guards, or maybe Henry himself? She let herself be dragged without resisting. Then, coming to her sense, she started screaming. She bit down on her assailant's hand.
"Let me go!" She hissed.
She twisted free, and stood there glowering at the guards. She turned quickly to run – too quickly. A quick burst of pain from her wound had her on the ground in an instant. The men stared, then burst into raucous laughter. The guards moved towards her to pick her up.
"Get away from her!" A shrill scream burst through the air. Danielle turned slightly at the sound.
"Rafe?" She gasped, recognising, at once, the one of the gypsies that she had met.
"Danielle." He smiled, his eyes twinkling. Turning back to the gypsies, he announced calmly. "You are outnumbered. Simply… surrender."
And this was true. Emerging from the trees were the rest of the gypsy men. Danielle could recognise some of them. Hastily, she scrambled up to her feet, ignoring the spasm of aching pain that flashed through her back.
Rafe pulled her arm.
"Garielle. Take her back." He gave Danielle's hand to a young man, barely older than Danielle herself.
"But Rafe… I wanted to fight…" Garielle whined. Rafe silenced him with a look.
"Just go."
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It was a while before Rafe and the other gypsies returned. By then Danielle's wound had been retreated. Danielle's eyes lit up in anticipation as she looked up at him.
"Hello Danielle." His voice was husky as he sat down next to her.
"Hello Rafe." She looked at him for a long moment. The warrior light in his eyes was still flickering. A gypsy girl handed Rafe stew. He smiled to acknowledge her, and the girl blushed. As the girl moved away, Rafe turned to Danielle.
"She's a good girl."
"Rafe. Where's your father?" Danielle asked, referring to the gypsy leader who had spared her and Henry's life a month or so ago. Rafe looked at her.
"He died."
"I'm sorry." She whispered, placing her hand over his.
"That's alright. He was happy… free…" He turned his hand over, and gripped it tightly. Danielle watched his knuckles turn white. She looked at him for a long moment. The flickering firelight danced across his handsome face, his dark hair was tousled and untidy. He was free. As free as his father had been.
"I'm sorry." She repeated softly, as though the words could somehow erase the pain.
"Don't be." He whispered.
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Henry threw up his hands in despair.
"Where could she be?" He asked himself desperately. He pictured her smiling, laughing face at the masque, before he had rejected her. He saw her passionate expression as she argued with him. He remembered her courage as she had carried him from the gypsies.
The gypsies.
The gypsies. Of course!
I remember you.
I remember the way
You used to laugh
Your smile
And the things you enjoyed
The places you've been
And the people you loved
I wonder
Why you never came to me
Why you didn't need help
Why you left me
Standing
Was it because I forgot you?
Was it because I left you
Standing?
I'm sorry.
Remember me.
Please.
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Danielle sat up abruptly, pulling her head off Rafe's shoulder. She stared at the charred remains of the fire. They had sat up late talking, while the other gypsies slept. She couldn't even remember stopping. Her fingers were still in Rafe's hand. She looked at him. He smiled down at her.
"Morning." Rafe laughed. He released her hand as he stood up and stretched. Danielle looked around her. Somehow she had a feeling that something was going to go wrong.
Rafe sat back down next to her. The other gypsies were moving around, busy.
"I wonder…" Rafe began, looking at Danielle. He was cut off by a sudden shout.
"Danielle!"
Henry was emerging from the trees, a look of delight on his face.
Danielle sprung away from Rafe, and onto her feet.
