Disclaimer: I only own my OCs and the general plot.
Frog: And again with the apologies. I know it's been a few weeks now, and I've no word in my vocabulary that I can use to tell you all how sorry I am. I lost the notebook that I've been writing the rough draft of this story in about two weeks ago at my relatives house (they live in the same district), and haven't been able to find it. And over half of this chapter was already written in there. And for some reason I have trouble rewriting something if I don't have the original because I always forget stuff, but I ended up doing it anyways. So as a result, this chapter might not be a good as it could have been. Once again, I'm sorry. I'm trying to do better, really. Christmas break is after Monday of next week, so I should have more time to write then.
Aviran looked up at her innocently, too innocently, "Now what would give you that idea?"
"About two years ago, one of the Empress of Falcane's seven children disappeared. I don't know much about the whole ordeal, but I'm fairly sure his name was Aviran."
"It could be a different Aviran," he pointed out, but the glint in his eye made it pretty obvious that he was just being annoying now.
"You also look like a member of Falcane's royal family. White hair isn't something you see everyday," Danica added.
"My, my, my. Danica's becoming a smart cookie. I better watch what I say around her from now on," he chuckled, returning his attention to his book but continued to speak, "Alright, you win. I am the fifth child of her majesty the Empress of Falcane. However, you've no need to worry about me stabbing you in the back just because our nations are at war."
"And...why should I trust your words?" she asked bitterly.
He sighed heavily, setting his book on the table, "To be completely honest, I'm not sure how much I would care if you died. But I have put aside my crown, and as such, I am no longer your enemy. Just the guy who guards the door. I just thought I'd teach you a differant mentality of life."
"Dare I ask why?" Danica questioned curiously but with that noble-like air in her voice.
He paused thoughtfully, "Because I've had enough of nobles and royalty sacrificing everything for their countries or a family name."
"But that's our duty! It's our job as royalty to take care of our people! How can you be so selfish!" Danica snapped angrily. His expression didn't change and remained cool and calm.
"I know that Danica. I understand that sometimes it takes a sacrifice. But that...policy has been taken too far. Your people don't want you to be miserable, believe it or not. You are more loved by the nation you serve than many monarchs will ever dream to aspire to. It's only fair that you make your own decisions regarding your happiness."
"But..." the Avian Princess hung her head, "That goes against everything I have ever been taught."
"Trust me," Aviran smiled reasuringly, "I know that the life of royalty can hardly be compared to the fairytale everyone makes it out to be. But the common folk, the people who look up to and admire you most, would be inspired if you followed your heart for once, and not what the high people in society have put aupon you in the form of rules and ediquette that don't even make sense."
"Is that why you left the life of a prince?" Zane asked, suddenly walking into the room. Danica jumped when she heard his voice, and wondered how much he had heard. He came up next to her, and gave her a soft smile.
"Well...more or less I suppose," Aviran shrugged. Zane paused.
"Why...did you need to hire my father?" he asked with some difficulty. Danica gave him a suprised look. Apparently his mother had told him something.
The white haired man nodded slowly, and began, "To start at the very beginning, Vespera had been a servant of mine for many years. And...well one way or another I had fallen in love with her without really realizing it. By the time I did...I guess I was too far gone to care. Of course, we didn't let anyone know if we could help it, but eventually my mother learned of it anyways. And knowing how "scandelous" it is for one of Falcane's royal family, even the largely over-looked fifth child, to even be attracted to a peasent, she ordered for Vespera to be put to death.
"So I hired your father to help us get away. Unfortunatly, we were followed, so your father told us how to get here and then turned back to create a diversion to distract our pursuers."
Zane took a steady breath, and Danica reached over and squeezed his hand, so that he could ask the question, "What happend to him?"
"We don't know," Aviran lowered his head, and spoke appologetically, "That was the last time we saw him...I'm sorry I can't tell you more..."
"It's alright," the other man murmered.
"Do you even plan on going back?" Danica questioned, cocking her head.
"Not if I can help it," he snorted indignantly, "It's not like I'm missed much. The public barely realized I existed before, so I'd imagine I've been nearly forgotten by now."
"But you said..."
"What I said reffered to you, not me," he interupted, rolling his eyes, "I'm the fifth fo seven children. I was hardly ever made public appearences or had anything to do with how the nation was run. Just another face in the family portrait."
"Doesn't your family miss you?" Zane asked, raising an eyebrow. Aviran sighed tiredly.
"Some of them might," he muttered, rubbing his temple, "My oldest brother is paranoid that everyone else in the family is out to steal the throne from him. Which, I should mention, there is one or two that have tried. And I was rarely allowed to interact with my older sisters. Our mother makes sure her younger, uneeded children are educated and taught how to be proper nobles, but other than that we are mostly tossed aside. Unless there's the threat we'll make the family look bad..."
Danica frowned. She had heard rumors that every now and again a member of the Falcane royal family would go missing, supposedly put to deaht. But she had always thought it was just the idle chatting of maids. Now she wasn't so sure. Even she had closer relationships with her family. She wondered if part of the reason Aviran didn't want to go back was that he feared for his life.
"I'm sorry," she murmered gently. He shook his head.
"I really do envy you, Danica," he smiled sadly, "That people are actually looking for you, and want you to return to them..."
"Speaking of returning..." Adelina walked in the front door, smirking. She handed Zane an envelope, and sent Danica a triumphant look.
"What is it?" the Avian Princess asked hesitantly. His expression remained blank.
"Apparently Avia has the money now," he stated slowly, not sure what to think.
"That's impossible," Aviran's eyes narrowed. He stood up, and read the letter over the black haired man's shoulder, eyeing the paper critically.
"You could have underestimated them," Adelina pointed out, cockiness could almost be seen radiating off of her.
"I suppose I should write back in response," Zane sighed, "Danica, would you please come with me?"
She nodded, and followed him out of the room. They made their way to the room she and Evalyn shared (formerly his). He unlocked the desk in the corner, and moved some fo the scatterd documents aside before pulling out a clean sheet of paper and some ink.
"What do you need me here for?" Danica asked, uncertainty present in her voice, as his handwriting began to fill the paper.
"I just want you to look it over when I'm finished," he answered, his hand moving quickly. Soon he had completed it, and moved to the side a little so she could see it over his shoulder. She read it over once, her eyes narrowing a little.
"If the money is not there, or our people are attacked, it is in our code to take back or, if the situation calls for it, kill Princess Danica," she read aloud, raisng and eyebrow at him.
"It' our policy, I have to put it in so they understand this is serious," he shrugged, and then gave her a look as though he had been stabbed in the back, "I'm suprised you would even think I would do you such undeserved harm! I thought you loved me..."
"Love? You? Ha!" she scoffed teasingly, sticking her nose in the air, "I am a proper Avian lady. I would never fall for a low life like you."
Zane smirked, standing abruptly, and locking an arm around her waist, "Let's see if I can change that."
"He pulled her close, and kissed her deeply, and she returned it with an equal amount of passion. Eventually they broke apart, panting lightly. Danica leaned against his chest.
"I don't want to leave just yet," she sighed sadly.
"I know," he spoke soothingly into her hair as he rubbed her back gently. A light, but weary chuckled escaped him after a moment, and she turned her head up toward him with a questioning look.
"It's amazing how the choices we make affect us int he end," he mused, staring off into space, and then shaking his head, "I almost wish...I hadn't kidnapped you..."
"Zane?"
"Then neither of us would have to go through this..." Danica reached up, and touched his cheek with her hand. He looked down at her quietly, and she gave him a gentle, loving smile.
"I'm glad you did," she spoke affectionatly, causing him to smile a little.
"You're welcome then," he stated teasingly. She giggled and he pulled her close.
Frog: And that's that chapter. I'm not sure I like the ending...oh well. I've kept you guys waiting long enough (assuming there are still people reading this story). If you haven't voted for a pairing in that other story I want to start when this one's over, please do. I need some more votes. If you want some more information on what I have planned for the story line to help you with your decision (which isn't much since the pairing has alot to do with it), just ask, and I'll tell you what I can. Anyways, enough rambling. Please review! Bye!