Disclaimer: I do not own Ever After. Oh how original, my little grasshopper.

Chapter 10

"Rafe?" Henry approached the gypsy hesitantly. "May I have a word with Danielle?"

Rafe bit his lip.

"I'm sorry… but I don't know where she is." Rafe answered. "Look… how about you go back to your castle… palace… home… and come back later? She'd have calmed down by then, and I won't let her run away either."

"I really do want to speak with her now…" Henry replied. "And if she's missing… I won't go until she's been found."

Rafe opened his mouth to reply, but then his face brightened.

"She's here!"

Henry spun around and saw a gaggle of women surrounding a small figure.

"And… she's very wet…" Rafe said slowly. He jumped off the log and strode over to the women. Henry followed behind, unsure of Danielle's reaction to him.

As he approached, he sees Danielle, a bedraggled figure.

"Danielle?" He whispered. Rafe turned to him.

"They don't know what happened. They found her on the banks of the lake. She wielded a knife… there was blood on it. She's still in shock."

"What… what…" Henry stammered. Rafe shot him a sympathetic look.

"Henry… just go back… we'll look after her. I promise."

Dumbstruck, Henry nodded.

"May… may I say goodbye to her first?" He asked, looking very lost. Rafe hesitated, then nodded.

As Henry walked closer, the women drew away. Danielle just stood there, arms limply by her side.

"Danielle?" He asked. She looked up, recognition in her eyes.

"Henry…" She whispered. The look of childlike terror in her eyes broke his heart.

"Oh Danielle…"

And then somehow, inexplicably she was in his arms, his tears falling onto her head. Danielle did not resist, neither did she respond. She just stood there, silently waiting. Henry hugged her close to him, responding to the fierce and sudden urge to protect her.

No more talk of darkness,
Forget these wide-eyed fears
I'm here
Nothing can harm you
My words will warm and calm you

Let me be your freedom
Let daylight dry your tears
I'm here
With you, beside you..
To guard you and to guide you

"Henry?" She spoke in a hesitant whisper.

"I'm here, Danielle." The soft words seemed to shock her out of her wits. Danielle pulled away from him, gasping frantically. She flung herself on the ground, sobbing. Henry stepped forward.

"Danielle!" He exclaimed, uncertainly. "What happened? What's wrong?"

"Get him away from me!" Danielle cried brokenly. Her eyes were glazed over, and Henry could not tell if she was talking to him or her memories.

Rafe placed a hand on Henry's shoulder.

"Leave her alone. I don't think she wishes to see anyone now."

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Henry sat on his bed. Rafe had forced him to go home, telling him that Danielle simply did not want him there. According to his earlier resolution, he should give up all hope now.

But he couldn't.

He simply couldn't. Not after seeing her white, terrified face as she threw herself away from him. Not after seeing her blank, hopeless expression.

"There has to be some way of getting through to her." Henry groaned, throwing himself on his bed.

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Henry was roused the next morning by an insistent knocking on the door.

"Come in." He muttered. King Francis strode in.

"Henry, get up." His earlier compassionate manner had vanished, and now he was a majestic and business-like king again.

"Father?" Henry pulled himself up as his father sat on the edge of his bed.

"Henry, this situation has reached a climax. You disappear all day and you socialise with none of the eligible young ladies of the court."

"The eligible young ladies of the court have nothing in their heads save for feathers, Father." Henry groused sleepily.

"Nevertheless, you have no other option." Francis pronounced sternly. "The Spanish princess is no longer an option… and your Danielle is nowhere to be found. Besides, she is a commoner after all, Henry."

Henry was finding it difficult to concentrate on his father's words.

"Therefore," continued the King. "I have taken it upon myself to arrange with you outings with the court ladies."

Henry choked on his own spit.

"What? Father, no!"

"This morning," Francis spoke as though he had not heard his son. "I have arranged for you to spend the day with Marguerite –"

"Father!"

"…De Ghent."