Hi! Sorry this took me so long to get up. School poisons your free time and watches it wither away...that...and I had some difficulty with this chapter. I hope it's satisfactory though! Thanks to all of those who reviewed!
Disclaimer: See Chapter's One and Two!
Chapter Four: Un Plus ProblemeShe felt lighter than air one moment, and then as if a she had swallowed one of her father's marble paperweights. All in a blink of an eye.
Marie-Louise wandered aimlessly on the palace's garden path---the endless roses that surrounded it did not take her mind off of last nights events as she wanted them to---but rather, were a sharp reminder of her Knight's actions.
Unconsciously, she rubbed her arms---feeling suddenly cold though it was a cloudless spring day.
She found herself at the entrance of the garden maze. Its layered walls of greenery towered over her petite form---the slightly shaded inside looking gloomy against the shocking red roses outside it.
Normally, Marie-Louise would have avoided setting foot near the large hedges---her worst fear being that of getting hopelessly lost. But so empty did she feel that the thick aloofness of the maze seemed to call to her.
Her heart screamed for solitude that it rarely needed. ---She took a step.
She reached into the shadow---the humidity surrounded her hand like a glove and coaxed her to enter further.
Hearing soft footsteps in the distance, she took a quick breath and walked forward---the hedge making her bright from dull---and then totally disappear as she made her way further into the maze.
George looked carefully around the end of the rose garden. He was told by one of the many vassals that Miss-Marie-Louise had taken a mid-morning walk through the garden. Though he believed that to be true when he saw her pink dress from the doorway---she was nowhere to be seen.
Aside from feeling very guilty---George desperately wanted to explain his actions to the Princess. Even though he couldn't come up with a very good explanation himself, he had heard somewhere a long time ago that it was best to talk your feelings through---instead of leave them buried to eat you from the inside out.
Glancing at the large maze before him, he knew in truth that was what he had been doing all along. Was he afraid? Is that what you would call it? A Rose Knight being irrationally afraid, just as Miss Marie-Louise was of the maze?
It was sheer connerie.
Not liking the direction his thoughts were heading---he went back to the task at hand.
Logically, he knew it would be fruitless to enter the maze. Miss Marie Louise had not entered the garden since she was four. George remembered that was the day the whole palace was in a desperate frenzy looking for her for over three hours---at least.
He was one of the last to be asked to go and look for her---being that the King and Queen were becoming beyond worried. He was a small boy of eleven---but already aspiring to be the knight he was today.
It had been near dusk when he found her trembling in high-pitched sobs---lost in the maze. Her short curls frizzy and filled with needles from the hedges. She had clung so tightly to him on the way back that he nearly tripped over his own legs. The small George had to give her a piggy-back ride the rest of the way---while trying to remember which route he had taken to get in there without getting lost himself.
To his small mind each moment had seemed like an hour.
From that day forward, he had been officially been named Miss Marie-Louise's child-guardian and chivalrous friend.
And since then nothing had changed. Whether it be actions such as those of George last night or cruel serendipity---he wasn't sure.
Logic was thrown into the wind as he entered the maze seeking the solitude another kindred heart sought.
Coming to three dead ends could have deterred him---if not for the mood he was in. Desperate though hopeless---and the thick humidity in the between the hedges did nothing to deter it. He just knew he had to reach the center.
Marie-Louise once again heard footsteps coming closer. Surely the palace vassals weren't that persistent? Well if they were---it must have been important. She stood up from the bench careful to step so that the white rose bush in the center wouldn't obstruct her from sight.
She carefully wiped the few tears that had crept out, so as not to make her eyes red and puffy. Putting the final touches on, she pulled the front of her skirt straight and smiled slightly.
Vaguely seeing a figure coming down the narrow pathway she greeted who she thought to be the vassal.
"Monsieur? Or rather, Madame? You have gone to so much trouble to find me so I..." Her breath caught when she saw George standing there.
George stood for a moment taking in her surprised face, and then acted on impulse. "Miss Marie-Louise." He bowed low.
"I..." Her voice cracked slightly. "George..." Her voice deepened and she felt anger suddenly coarse through her. Formality be damned. "...Why would you ever want to look for me? Much less see me?"
He was taken a back a bit, but kept his formality with her. It wouldn't do any good to have both of them taken over by irrationality---and then unable to take things back.
"Miss Marie-Louise..." He reached for an explanation, but then dreadfully realized that he had none to give.
She continued for him instead, "George, I really don't know what to say to you after...after that. I was...oh..." She waved her arms around illustrating her point, "so hurt...and here you are with NO explanation NOTHING. I didn't even want to believe you had done that, I DID'NT WANT TO BELIVE THAT WAS YOU!" Her voice shouted at him unrestrained.
George winced and hung his head, ashamed. Though she had very right in Neo-France to be angry---no, furious---with him, the contrast was quite shocking when compared with her normal cheery self.
Not receiving an answer from the Rose Knight, she put a hand to her forehead---as if to gain some clarity she had lost---and then nearly collapsed on the stone bench behind her. Letting her blonde curls fall in her face---hiding any emotion she knew she could not hide.
"Miss Marie-Louise..." He reached out to her slightly, but then quickly pulled back. Shame telling him he was not worthy enough to do so.
He sat on the far end of the stone, and ran a hand through his orange tresses. It would be difficult---but he had to tell her what he was feeling---not a lie disguised as chivalry.
"Marie-Louise..."
She looked up at him with speed she thought she didn't have in her state. That had caught her attention. He had called her by her name---no mark of formality proceeding it.
She hoped now that she would be talking to the George De'Sand she loved. Not the man of late who had been distant and cold through his chivalry---and last night proceeded to hurt her---something she had never thought possible.
When Marie-Louise had looked up, George was saddened to see her eyes glassy and full of pain. She was crying---because of him. He felt very sick at the prospect.
Nearly on instinct, her turned to her and took her small-gloved hand into his. He prepared himself---searching for the words that would paint his feelings.
Marie-Louise was anxious to hear what he had to say, but waited, sensing that he needed to collect his thoughts.
"I can't tell you...I can't explain my actions of the night previous, Marie-Louise" He began softly---more meek than Marie-Louise had ever seen him.
George hung his head---if he looked into her entrapping green eyes anymore he was sure that he couldn't finish what he had to say.
"You have very right, to never speak to me again, but I don't know if I could ever forgive myself then. Even now, I feel guilt shadowing me for the terrible wrongs I've committed you. Not for just my previous crime, but for the past month since we have returned to Neo-France. I had no reason, nor right to be so cold. To further disguise it with friendly chivalry and formality was beyond callus."
With that said, he gained courage enough to look into her deep crystalline eyes, once more.
"This does not mean I do not like you Marie-Louise, I care for you very much. To say that is contradicting what my actions of late have been, however, I can not explain it. I know that's confusing, I'm even confused myself. It would be shameful to ask forgiveness from your kind and innocent heart, Marie-Louise, but that's what I've been since we've returned home, and I would rather mar myself with shame than not ask your forgiveness. You mean too much to me, my Princess."
He looked away from her---feeling so many emotions well up within him that he had hid for a month. All let go of by a few sentences.
He felt one of her warm hands slip onto his shoulder and looked at her again.
Though her eyes were again glassy, they were filled with joy, not pain.
Marie-Louise felt happier than she had ever been to hear him say that. Though it wasn't what she had wanted him to say exactly, hearing him say those last few words more than made up for it in her eyes.
She didn't even remember moving---but it didn't matter.
George was quite shock when she hugged him with all the force her petite frame possessed. The shocked still hadn't worn away when he asked her softly, "Miss Marie-Louise?"
Marie-Louise hadn't even noticed he had said something. The next thing she said she whispered all in one breath into his ear. "I forgive you, George."
Her warm breath on his neck made his skin tingle and ache for more of her touch. So he hugged her back---gently as though she were made of glass. He smiled in contentment and allowed his eyes to shut slightly.
In this one moment---he couldn't deny anything anymore.
"That's impossible. Mireabeu was defeated by the Rose Knight George De'Sand." The King of Neo-France tried to convince his Captain of the Guard Jean Du'Cartel.
The blonde Captain had no wish to tell the story again---it was bad enough--- so he just gave the hard facts---trying not to sweat as he did so.
"Highness, I only know what Monsieur Filer told me. There was a sighting near the Neo Arc de Triomphe. He gave the warrant for a search in the 1st arrondissement, but nothing came up. It may be a false alarm, but none the less, he wants us to be alert." Jean licked his dry lips and waited for his King's response.
The King sat down in his worn leather chair and rubbed his forehead in disbelief. He sighed, but spoke seriously.
"Not a word about this is to be spoken to anyone. Make sure you and Monsieur Filer understand that clearly."
"Understood, Highness."
"And one more thing, and this is most important." The King of Neo-France looked up at his trusted Captain haggardly.
"Yes Highness?"
"The Rose Knight George De'Sand is not to find out about this, either. Though I would trust him with my life---my daughter's life---there is no need to involve him needlessly and risk his alliance to Neo-France for the next tournament."
When his Captain didn't respond he cleared his throat loudly and the nervous blonde was jolted back to reality.
"I-It shall be done, My H-highness."
Whew! Another chapter com-plete-d!
Hope everyone liked it!
French Translation:
Un plus probleme: one more problem
connerie: stupidity
Arc de Triomphe: Arc de Triumph
arrondissement: district
Jean Du'Cartel-John the Trustworhty
Mosieur Filer: Sir Steam
Till next time!
Emerald-Velvet-Touch