Author's Note: Thank you so much for your wonderful reviews, Ze Ultimate Fanfic Writer, brezzybrez, musafa, Phoenix Feather Queens, NotSupposedToBeHere and J. J. Taylor!! You guys are great!

Now that we're done with the 'Special Mentions', dig in, my pretties!

nascar-freak

Chapter 9: Blinded by Tears

Giovane smoothened the bodice of her gown. She had chosen yet another blue masterpiece to wear but this gown had less layers, and no embroidery on the cloak. Though the dark blue and golden designs made her look like a Nymph of the midnight dwellers. Giovane wore her blue and gold mask, and walked out from her chambers. She slowly descended the stairs, wondering what Peter wanted to tell her now. As she did, her mind swam with thoughts, I never would have dreamed…

About being in a relationship with the High King?

A romantic one at that.

Yes, 'tis blissful, is it not?

Certainly! I am in a never-ending fairytale of 'Once Upon a Time!'

But you have yet to live 'Happily Ever After.'

What dost thou mean?

That Aravinia. I do not trust her.

Peter does…

This is the time to put his faith in you to the test.

Giovane descended the last step and gracefully pushed her way through the crowd to proceed to the royal gardens, I think we make much ado about a mere princess of Argour.

And I think the other. Listen to me and heed.

I am. You are my conscience.

Never mind. Speak with Peter about your feelings. Surely, he know just the right words to say… At that, Giovane smiled peacefully. Her bright eyes sparkled behind her mask. Peter will know just exactly what to say.

Peter stood by the fountain, the exact, same fountain where he and Giovane first met. The exact, same fountain where he first fell in love with her beautiful eyes. The exact, same fountain where he first longed just to touch her hand. The exact, same fountain where he stood rooted to the spot as his gaze fell on her. The exact, same fountain where he wanted to brush his lips on hers of the red petals of the rose. Peter sighed as he looked up at the night sky. He breathed in the wonderful scent of pine trees. He breathed in the icy wind of winter. He breathed in the atmosphere from where snow gently dropped on his flushed cheeks. He stared at the fountain next to him. The cold air had turned the water into a beautiful arch of crystallized ice. Peter paced for a while when he finally heard small and light crunches on the snow. He looked to his side to see a woman in a deep red gown, walk gracefully toward him. Peter unconsciously opened his mouth. The woman mesmerized him as she covered the last few feet between them. Her eyes glinted playfully behind her mask of red and gold. She giggled. Peter shook his head and laughed, "What took you so long?" he asked. Giovane smiled at him and her musical whisper mixed sweetly with the air, "Patience," she taunted. Peter snaked his arms around Giovane's waist and gently pressed his lips to her neck, "You look beautiful," he said. Giovane pulled away and smiled up at him, "My king," she said softly. Peter brushed his lips on hers of the red petals of the rose. He slowly kissed them harder and more fiercely than he ever dared. Giovane minded not and she pulled him closer to her, Perfect, she thought. Soon she felt her chest grow warm. Without pulling away, her fingers ran up to the ruby around the golden chain. It was burning. It was flaming. It was just the way she wanted it.

Giovane tightened her cloak around her as she walked through the snow. She hummed a little tune from a Celestian lullaby. She walked until she found the path to the royal gardens. Her heart sang as she neared the fountain. The exact, same fountain where she first met Peter. The exact, same fountain where she reddened under his warm hold on her hand. The exact, same fountain where she stared into his magnificent and icy gaze. The exact, same fountain where she longed to feel his strong arm around her waist. The exact, same fountain where she listened to his gentle voice of the forest's whisper. The exact, same fountain where she would never have expected the horror her eyes saw, for there he was. By the fountain, with someonw who looked horrifically familiar… Aravinia! Giovane's hand flew to her mouth. She let out a choke and hid behind a hedge but kept her silence. Peter pulled away from his passionate kiss with Aravinia. He smiled and caressed her hair. Aravinia melted in his warm touch. Giovane's heart stopped its job of pumping blood through her veins. The Celestian princess turned pale under her mask. She took short and hurried intakes of breath, "Oh," she whispered and gasped, "Oh!" she breathed. Giovane stared at her lover. Or so, she thought he was her lover! Giovane backed away. Peter leaned over to Aravinia once more to savor a kiss he never imagined he would receive even in his sweetest of dreams. Giovane felt her eyes sting. She felt them swell. She felt them burn. Slowly, streams of tears ran down her face and ruined her mask. She cared not. She tried to turn around and run back to the castle, but her feet refused to move. Peter kissed her again, this time much longer than expected. Giovane could not take anymore. She wanted to scream but the moment she opened her mouth the icy wind sliced her throat. She ran back to the castle, her hands on her mouth. She pushed, and she pushed roughly, through the dense and shocked crowd. She cared not what was happening. Her ears were deaf to the world. She cared not about the disapproving eyes that bore into her. Her mind screamed in anguish.

Giovane ran up to her chambers. The moment she shut the door she screamed, "You unfaithful bastard!" she cried. Throwing her pillows to the floor, "You dare deceive me!" she screamed again, and again, and again. She cared not if she was heard all the way to the ballroom. She tore off her mask and stared at her reflection in the mirror. A pale-faced creature stared back at her. Its eyes were bloodshot and thick with tears. Its cheeks were stained and streaked. Its once beautiful waves were out of place, tangled and windblown. Its lips were red and cracked from the cold outside. Giovane screamed again, "You dare scorn me so!" she tried to scream again. Oh tried, she did. But the moment she opened her mouth, out came but an agonizing sob. Giovane sank to the floor and hugged her knees to her chest. She coughed and choked, but cried and cried. Her tears fell from her eyes and to the floor of her chamber. She hugged herself. Wishing it was Peter who had his arms around her violently shaking body. She thought of Peter and opened her mouth to scream. Out came another sob. She was being stabbed, again, and again, her heart twisted and torn. Her lungs heaving for the slightest breath it could muster. Giovane cried, and cried, her screams to no avail. She stood up and ran to her bed and buried her face in her sheets. She did this until tears blinded her and swallowed her into a dark and painful abyss.

Author's Note: Yes! I did it! I did it again!!! Bwahahahahahah….(ahem—coug--choke!) Excuse me… Anyway, is that suspense or what? haha! I actually had fun writing this chapter! I hope you guys liked it (not the part where it gets really painful for our dear Giovane, of course!)

Anyway! Please review! I love reviews (especially the people who make them!) And whoever does gets a trip to the London Premiere of Prince Caspian! haha! ;)

By the way thanks, musafa, for the correction! ;) You know what I mean!