Honor
Chapter Ten: Skip the Charades
Annie rose from her seat and followed Stu into the kitchen with her plate in her hand. The Princess found she rather like the feeling of putting her own dishes away. The meal had been pleasingly simplistic, much plainer than anything Annie was used to. However, she had enjoyed it mostly because she ate among new friends.
Ashley smiled at her and picked up a large bucket that sat next to the door, "I'm going to go get some water so we can wash these," she said. She walked out the door and let it shut behind her. Annie listened to the relaxing sound of the laughter that drifted in from the small dining room like a vapor. It seemed strange to her that these people could be happy in such dire circumstances. When you compared their lives to hers, she lived on easy street.
Annie felt a pang of shame rise up in her. Before, when she was in the village, she had thought these people had it so easy. The events of the past few hours had proven her wrong. Very, horribly wrong.
The Princess quickly looked up as a loud scream and a splash came from outside. Annie rushed to the door, took in the scene before her, and burst out with a most unladylike laugh. What she saw was quite an amusing sight.
Stu and Ashley stood in the front yard. Ashley clutched the empty bucket, while a few drops of water slipped out of it. Her other hand was clasped over her mouth in a look of mixed horror and amusement. Annie followed the girl's gaze to where Auggie stood. He was dripping wet and mad to boot. He caught sight of Annie and started towards her.
It was an easy decision to run forward and throw her arms around him with a cry of, "Hélas, Auggie."
"Auggie, speak in English," she whispered in his ear while she hugged him tight. If he called her 'Princess' in French, then her new friends would know who she really was. And Annie didn't want that to happen.
Honoring her request, Auggie began to speak in rapid English, while Stu and Ashley gave the two of them confused looks.
"Where have you been?" he demanded, "Arthur and Reva and I were worried sick about you! We have to get you back!"
He fought the blush that bloomed on his face. He hoped very strongly for it to go away, but that was hard as Annie still clung to him. Unconsciously, his arms wrapped around the princess and pulled her slightly closer.
"I know what I have to do now, Auggie," Annie responded in English, "But first, you're right, I have to get back to the palace."
She released him and turned back to Stu and Ashley. She switched back to French with practiced ease, "I want to thank you both for your hospitality. I am proud to call you my friends."
Stu gave her another kind smile, "I enjoyed meeting you too, Annie."
Ashley smiled as well, "Bye, Annie. Good luck to you. And you as well, sir," she added politely to Auggie, "I hope you two are happy together."
Auggie blushed and started to babble that it 'wasn't what it looked like,' but Annie took hold of his hand and grinned.
"We will, thank you," Annie turned and led Auggie away. She didn't let go of his hand until they were out of sight from the little house.
"How's that for thinking on my feet?" she grinned smugly. She was quite satisfied with her acting.
"What was that about?" Auggie rubbed his hand self-consciously.
"I didn't want them to know who I really was, so I had to pretend to be a normal village girl."
"What does that have to do with the hug you gave me?" Auggie tried to look cross, but in the end he had to turn his face away to hide his blush at the memory.
"Well, I had to think of a reason for you to show up, so I pretended that we were courting," Annie said with a shrug, "They bought it too."
"C-courting," Auggie choked out. His face turned several new shades of scarlet, "And that was the best thing you could come up with?"
"Would you have preferred being my brother, maybe? Besides, do you think I, a Princess, am not good enough to be courting you, a guard?"
"I didn't say that," he snapped back, "You just...surprised me, that's all."
Annie sighed, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you just now, and I shouldn't have run away. I learned a valuable lesson out here, and I'm ready to accept my destiny."
"You're going to marry Prince Jai?" Auggie wrestled with the idea. He knew it was right, but it seemed so wrong. He knew, deep down, that he didn't want Annie to do that. And he didn't think she wanted that either.
"I can learn to be less boyish and impulsive and become more obedient and proper. And, though I may not like it, it's the best thing for me," Annie reasoned.
Auggie couldn't tell if she said that more for her benefit than his.
"Are you sure about that?" He knew it was wrong to question her, but had to ask.
"Do I have to be?" She sighed loudly, still very much in thought, "Let's go back."
She took his arm again as they passed through the main part of town. Auggie realized she held his arm for the same reason she had held his hand in front of Stu and came to the conclusion that Annie's life was filled with hiding her true self away and becoming someone else. Her whole life was a lie.