Authors Note: Special thanks to my reviewers.
Disclaimer: I (once again) do not own Yu-Gi-Oh
For the sake of clarification, anything in italics are the thoughts of whichever character's POV that part of the story is being told through.
"You have got to be kidding me!" Ari was starring in horror at the monstrosity that was in front of her. "You want me to wear this!" The dress had its own stand, though it was so covered with baubles and embroidery that Ari was sure it could stand on its own. Ari was addressing her yells to the nervous old woman who had been assigned to wait on her. The woman looked as though she would have a heart attack if she thought it would be allowed.
"Please, milady. This is the dress Lady Margaret sent up for you. You should look proper if you are going to meet the Prince."
"There is no way I'm going to meet with anybody dressed up like a peacock!" Ari stopped, took a few deep breaths, and forced herself to remember that this was not this woman's fault. "I'm sorry," she said. "But could you please get me something simpler? Much, simpler."
"I-I'll see what I can find." the woman stammered, and hurried out of the room. Ari sighed and flopped down on the ornate bed. The rooms assigned to her were quite lavish, far to lavish for her tastes. She hadn't been expecting such special treatment, especially after the trip from England. They had traveled frugally, trying not to attract the attention of King Richard's men. Ari didn't really see the point, since the Rose Crusaders already knew who she was. The boat ride across the English Channel had been awful. Ari had no idea she was that susceptible to sea sickness. Now, here in France, things were a lot more comfortable.
"Is this acceptable, milady?" The old woman was back, a new dress in her arms. From what Ari could see, it was blue, with silver embroidery on the hem.
"Sure," she said. The woman looked confused, but like all the other servants Ari had met here, she remained silent.
A half-hour later found Ari with fraying nerves standing in front of a set of large double doors. It's okay, it's okay, she repeated to herself. Sure it's not every day you meet a prince, but I'll be fine, just relax, relax...
The doors creaked open and Ari got her first look at Prince Henry, who was standing in the middle of the room talking to some guy with a funny hat. Ari's left eye twitched. Since when do medieval princes wear tight leather? she wondered. (AN: Those of you who have played the game know what I am talking about. For those of you who have not, just thing black leather with lots of buckles.) The man in the funny hat was bowing a lot, almost one bow for every syllable of his speech, which was so heavily accented that Ari could not understand a word.
"Thank you," said Prince Henry, looking as though he didn't understand what the man was saying either. "I will look into it as soon a possible." The man garbled something with the words "thank you" in it, and walked past Ari out the door.
"Lady Arianna," the Prince's attention was now turned to Ari. "You don't know how glad I am to see you." He gave her a very elaborate bow. Ari waited for him to say something else, but he just looked at her. Wait, am I supposed to curtsy or something? I don't know how to curtsy! Ari attempted what she thought was a curtsy, but wobbled, so much so that she nearly fell. The Prince led her over to a small table with two chairs. He insisted on helping her sit, much to Ari's confusion and chagrin. What? Can't women sit in this era?
Prince Henry sat down opposite her. There was an uncomfortable pause, during which Ari tried in vain to catch the Prince's eye. Finally, he began:
"Lady Arianna, I wish to..."
"My name is Ari," Ari could not help but to interject. "Just Ari" A faint, but relieved smile flickered on the Prince Henry's face.
"Ari, then," he continued. "I want to apologize for the rude way you were summoned from your home. I hope you were not interrupted during something important."
"Just a history test that I was glad to get away from" Ari said, growing more relaxed. "My mom will be worried about me though, so I should get back as soon as possible."
"Understandable. However, the situation here is dire. It will take time to remedy."
"Okay." The Prince blinked in confusion. Ari rephrased what she was about to say." Alright. Um... perhaps you could refresh my memory as to what the dire situation is?" Oh, why didn't I just pay attention in class?
"The Yorkists and the Lancastrians have been battling over the throne of England for many years now. For the past decade or so (AN: I don't really know the time sequence of the War of the Roses. I have it written down somewhere, I just don't want to dig it out.) the Yorkists have been in power. Recently power past to "King" Richard, after the death of his nephew, who was king before him. I am in exile until those blasted Rose Crusaders can be defeated. Once Richard is out of the way, I can take my rightful place as King of England." As the Prince was speaking, he seemed to grow more and more impassioned. He practically shouted the last piece. Ari discreetly raised a finger.
"Question:" she said. "Why do you need me? Why don't you take on the Rose Crusaders?" Her quiet question took all of the thunder out of Prince Henry.
"Because," he stammered. "As king to be and...and figure head of the Lancastrian family...I can not put myself in danger of...danger. Besides, the prophesy says that with the Rose Duelist our victory is assured."
"Prophesies are nothing but bullshit," Ari said bluntly. "A fortune teller told my dad that he would live a long life. That turned out to be a lie." She knew she was being rude. She knew that in this era people got their heads chopped off for being rude to royalty. But she didn't care. She was mad. The noble prince turned out to be a coward.
"I'm not going to fight your battles for you," Ari said firmly. She stood up and walked out the door. She waited for Prince Henry to yell for the guards, but he just sat stunned in his chair.
Once she was out of sight around the corner, Ari broke into a run. She hardly knew where she was going until she found herself in the stables. A grizzled old man hurried up to her.
"Be thou needing a horse, milady?" he asked with a bow.
"Yes," replied Ari. "Quickly!" The man hurried off. Ari leaned against a post and tried to rein in the flood of adrenalin inside her so that she could think of a plan. There was only one thing she could think to do. She would go back to England and find the Rose Crusaders. Their captain had offered to help send her home, maybe he would still make good on that offer. With the power of the Rose Crusaders at her back, she could find the other Rose Cards and be on her way home. No promise would bind her to help a man too afraid to help himself.
"Here you are, milady." The elderly hostler was back, leading a blood-bay mare. Ari grabbed the reins below the horse's chin. She had ridden a horse once or twice while on vacation; surely she could do it again.
"If I may say so, milady, 'tis good to see you leaving so soon." The old man helped Ari into the saddle.
"Why is that?" Ari could not help but ask.
"The sooner you leave, the sooner you will defeat the Rose Crusaders and that false king, Richard. Then no more innocent lives will be lost." Ari froze.
"Innocent lives?" she asked, scared of what the answer would be.
"Oh yes." The old man seemed eager to answer all her questions. "Many lives have been lost since this war began.'Tis said that Richard hath slain his own nephews to take control of the throne. It is not for such a man to be seated on the throne of our beloved England. It will be good to have all those lives avenged."
Ari slowly unfroze. She sighed. Honor, whispered a voice in her head. Innocents, whispered another. Just because I don't like the man that leads the Lancastrians, that doesn't mean I can turn my back on all of the people of England. I know that Richard is not a good man, and I know that any man willing to kill children has no right to rule. And I know that Henry Tudor is essential to the progression of history, even if he is a coward. Maybe it's his destiny to become king, and he doesn't need my help. But since I'm here I should help to make sure that things come out all right.
"Put this horse back in her stall, but be ready to saddle her again as soon as possible. I'll be leaving today."
In a space of less than half an hour Ari was back in front of the large double doors. Rather than wait for someone to open the door for her, she gave them a hard shove and strode in with all the confidence she could muster.
Prince Henry had not yet left his chair, but now he was speaking to a man in the uniform of the Guardsmen. He made a sound of surprise when Ari walked in and the man in the uniform reached for his sword. Ari stopped well out of reach of the long blade.
"I will help you," she said. "But only if you promise that you will send me home when I am done."
"You have my word, as the rightful King of England, that I will do everything in my power to send you back to where you came from." Prince Henry looked extremely happy and relieved, though he tried to put as much formality into his tone as he could.
"And there's one more thing," Ari said. Following some unknown impulse, she walked forward, brushing past the guard, and knelt on one knee before the Prince. "Promise me that, when you are King, you will put an end to the blood shed, an end to the suffering. Promise me that you will rule justly and with...honor." The Prince seemed taken aback by her intensity, but the relieved look vanished and was replaced with one of purpose. He stood, and pulled Ari to her feet.
"I promise," he said. It was simple, but full of conviction. Unable to take the formality anymore, Ari said:
"Then I will go get ready. I want to leave as soon as possible. Prince Henry." She curtseyed, a little steadier this time, and made her way toward the door.
"Please," said Prince Henry from behind her. "Call me Yugi." Ari smiled over her shoulder and nodded. Then she left.
That night saw Ari and three men-at-arms once again crossing the English Channel. The blood-bay mare, whom Ari had named Rose, was strangely quiet and peaceful, as the ocean waves carried them onward toward the fog shrouded cliffs in the distance.
Well people, please review. Before you ask, there will be no romance between Yugi and Ari. In case you haven't figured it out from the first chapter, it's going to be SetoXAri all the way.