Disclaimer: I do not own Ever After. Neither do I own those two lines from the Prince and Me.

Chapter 8

Henry stopped in his tracks as Danielle sprang away from the young man next to her. He scrutinised the man jealously.

The man was young and handsome, to be sure. He emitted a powerful sense of power and leadership. Stop it. Henry told himself. You gave her up. Don't blame her or him if she's moved on.

But still that glow of hope that the sight of her had inspired in him flickered on.

"Danielle?" He said again, this time questioningly. Danielle seemed to have recovered her shock and was backing slowly away from him. It hurt to see the panic in her entire manner.

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Danielle felt her foot hit the log.

"Danielle?" Henry asked for the third time. Danielle looked around, like an animal caught in a trap. She turned, and made as though to leave, but Rafe caught her arm.

"Don't go Danielle. I can defend you if you wish." He said comfortingly. Danielle shook her head.

"Not everything can be solved through weapons, Rafe. Not of the physical sense."

Rafe lowered his hand. Henry walked slowly up to Danielle.

"Danielle, please listen to me."

Danielle felt a flash of anger wash through her.

"Listen to you? You mean the way you listened to me?" She saw Henry recoil slightly, and winced, regretting her harsh words.

"You deceived me!" Henry protested. "It was natural that I was upset!" Danielle looked at him. He was still so handsome. His hair was untidy, and his eyes were pleading, yet indignant. Stop it. He betrayed you, remember? At those thoughts all the anger kept washing back.

"I? I deceived you?"

"You took on your mother's identity!"

"I did no such thing! You asked for a name – any name. I gave you my mother's. Was it my fault that you mistook that for my name?"

Henry deflated visibly.

"Please, Danielle. Please… let me explain."

Danielle's eyes flashed. Her entire face was pale, and her red, red lips contrasted sharply.

"The only wrong done in this unfortunate affair was yours. You pretended to love me, Henry."

"I wasn't pretending!" He tried to cut in.

"No, I wasn't pretending!" Danielle cried. Tears were running down her face in long streams. "Just go, Henry. Just go."

She swayed on the spot. Henry held out his arms to catch her, but Rafe was faster.

"Come on, Danielle… calm down." Rafe carried her away.

Henry sat on the log that Danielle and her friend had just vacated, head in hands. "You pretended to love me." Her voice echoed in his head. "Listen to you? You mean the way you listened to me?" An immeasurable wave of sadness and guilt washed over him.

"Will you plague me for the rest of my days, Danielle?" He whispered.

"Rafe." Henry jumped. The young man was standing there in front of him.

"I beg your pardon?" Henry stood up.

"I'm Rafe. My father… I believe you met? He was the gypsy leader who spared your life the last time you were here."

Now Henry realised why the man had looked so familiar.

"Rafe!" He exclaimed. "You have grown up! Where is your father?"

"He died." – came the curt reply.

Henry looked away.

"I offer my sincerest apologies."

"Don't." Rafe said. He sat down on the log. "I believe you came in search of Danielle?"

"I did." Henry replied bitterly. "But she won't listen to me. You saw her, Rafe."

"There was a misunderstanding between you?"

"She led me to believe that she was someone she was not. She was just a servant." Henry looked away. Rafe put his hand on Henry's shoulder.

"Does it really matter what she was?"

Henry looked back at Rafe.

"Now it doesn't."

"Why did it then?" Rafe probed further.

"Because –" Henry threw his hands up. "I don't know!"

"She is hurt that you abandoned her. Can you blame her?"

"No." That was the truth. It hurt. But there was no other answer.

"Give her time," said Rafe as he stood up. "Show her that you're willing to wait. Give her reason to trust in you again."

I thought I could trust you

I guess I was wrong

All those days without you

Has made me grow strong

You left me: a young child

That child has now gone

I've grown harder and cold

Not easily torn

I see you yet again

You've come to see me

Will you wait for me now

Or yet again flee

A/N: yes,yes… short chapter, I know… I promise to make the next one longer. I know I've been promising long chapters for a looooooooong time now… but the next chapter will definitely be longer. I PROMISE!

How about virtual cheesecake for anyone who reviews?