Disclaimer: I do not own Ever After OR Long, long journey.
Chapter 11
Danielle eyed Rafe distrustfully as he strode towards her.
"Are you alright?" He asked quietly. Danielle swallowed her panic. This is Rafe. Rafe is a good man.
"I'm fine." She responded, her tone calm and measured. Rafe sat down next to her.
"No, you're not." He peered at her. "But I expected as much." Danielle buried her face in her hands. "You worry us all." Rafe continued. "And you hurt Henry. He doesn't deserve this torture."
Danielle didn't reply for a moment.
"He doesn't love me." She replied in a cold, broken voice.
"That shows how much you know!" Rafe snapped. "He loves you so much, so much more than you can imagine! And you love him too!"
"I know."
The short, blunt answer startled Rafe and he looked at Danielle.
"This has something to do with the day at the lake, doesn't it."
Danielle had not spoken a word about the day when she had returned from the lake, bedraggled and drenched.
She took a deep breath and stared into the fire. The flickering flames cast an odd, unearthly glow on her face. Closing her eyes, she spoke.
"Rafe… please… just listen. Just listen and understand."
Rafe gave a slight nod. Opening her eyes, Danielle started.
"I love the water; I always have. It calms and soothes me. So… on that day, I was lying in the shallows of the lake. Thinking. I was happy, Rafe. I was happy. And then I heard a cold, cold voice. My eyes flew open and I realised I was staring into the face of Monsieur Le Pieu – my gaoler. He was there, on his own, to take me back. He wielded a knife at my throat and began to drag me back. He told me that he was going to wed me. He told me that Henry couldn't care for me – that he was engaged to another. And I saw the truth in his eyes. Acting out of a nameless desperation, I managed to gain his weapon and turn it on him. Then I fled. I fled like a coward."
She stopped. Her expression was a bitter mixture of sadness and determination.
"You can't honestly believe him!" Rafe exclaimed. "Henry would never do anything to hurt you."
"Perhaps. But perhaps his father has arranged a marriage for him. Besides," here she lifted her chin defiantly. "I do not need to rely on men. I can earn my place in the world." It was a sudden and welcome return to her former, spirited self. Rafe smiled, relieved.
"Will you stay with us?"
"No." She told him. "I feel useless like this. I will go back into town… and be apprenticed to a seamstress or the like. Perhaps I will visit my friend Gustave."
"Very well." Rafe said, sighing heavily. "I wish you well, Danielle."
"Thank you." She broke into a relieved smile.
"It's nice to have you back."
"It's been a long time since I've been back."
Long, long journey, through the darkness Long, long way to goBut what are miles across the ocean,
To the heart that's coming home?
Where the road runs through the valley,
Where the river flows
I will follow every highway
To the place I know
Long, long journey, out of nowhere,
Long, long way to go
But what are sighs, and what is sadness,
To the heart that's coming home?
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Sitting in the throne room, Henry could only grimace heavily as his father told him of 'his' plans for that day. It had been nearly a week since he had last seen Danielle, and he had not been allowed to return. His father had posted guards outside his door at night to stop his 'escapades'. During the day he was tied to Marguerite and she had not let him out of his sight. He had no idea why his parents were putting up with this – couldn't they see how dreadfully clingy she was? Yet, every time they were seen together his father would smile benevolently at the two of them.
"Very well, Father." Henry said dully. His father looked rather surprised at his lack of resistance.
"Good… good… you seem to be getting along with Marguerite rather well… I'm glad. She is the most delightful girl."
Henry wondered vaguely if his father was becoming strained and delusional with age.
"Your Highness." A guard came up to them. "A gypsy is here to see the Crown Prince. He refuses to go away, nor can we make him."
"Is this some kind of joke?" Francis asked Henry, aghast. "A gypsy? Son, have you been consorting with a gypsy?"
"You are always saying that I should get out and mingle with the people, Father." Henry replied dutifully. "Send him up, please." As the guard turned to go, Henry thought better of his suggestion. "Halt. I think I will go down to see him, so that he may not steal as he passes our halls."
Francis nodded approvingly as Henry stood up, but there was a suspicious look in his eye.
"Your Highness. Thank you for granting me an audience." Rafe bowed, extremely conscious of the guards and servants eying him warily.
"No matter." Henry replied dismissively, vaguely amused by the gypsy's language, but more concerned about the message he was bringing. "Shall we take this matter… outside?"
"There is no need." Rafe said. "I merely wished to inform you that the girl that you were concerned about is much better and is returning to town."
Henry gasped quietly.
"She is better then?" He asked eagerly, regaining his composure.
"Much. She is back to her old self. Thank you for your concern."
"Thank you for bringing the message." Henry smiled. Rafe nodded, then turned to go. On the threshold, he stopped.
"She also congratulates you on your engagement."
