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Chapter Fourteen: Feels So Close

Princess Annie didn't come out of her chambers for the rest of the night. Sir Arthur was mysteriously quiet and meek, as though the incident had humbled him greatly. In truth, Annie's wrath was obviously a scary thing to experience. It was not something one survived without scars on some level. Even Sir Auggie, who could see the many secrets and lies in Annie's stubborn personality, had a healthy respect for her quicksilver temper now. And he was even more amazed at her level of self-control. If Arthur had unceremoniously disrobed him, he would have done far worse to the foolish guard. He would have at least hit Arthur, that's for sure.

Despite the events, Auggie realized he admired the other guard's gall. Arthur had taken a stand for what he thought was right, even if he had gone about it the wrong way. Like Arthur, Auggie knew he had to do something to prevent the wedding but he was at a loss as to what he could do.

The morning broke into sunshine and with it came Annie. She wore a pale blue gown with her hair braided down her back. Auggie could tell she didn't seem too angry so it was pretty safe to assume she wasn't. Auggie had learned quickly that he could read Annie's emotions like his favorite book, despite how well she tried to hide them from everyone.

Auggie remembered the events that had happened only a few minutes earlier. A young vassal had scampered up the hallway and approached the chambers with a message for Princess Annie. Now she had come out of the chambers with a surprisingly warm smile.

"I am going to the library this morning," she announced to Auggie and Arthur as she stood in the hallway.

Arthur still couldn't manage to speak to her, much less look her in the eye, so Auggie articulated what they were probably both thinking.

"Why?"

"I have to do research on French-style weddings," the Princess explained.

"Your wedding isn't going to be English?"

Apparently, Arthur could speak to the princess after all. His voice was incredulous.

Annie blinked, "Of course. In case you have forgotten, Sir Arthur, we are in France. Auggie, would you please accompany me to the library?"

Auggie simply nodded, "Of course."

He followed her off down the hallway.

The pair had made it down the grand staircase when they found themselves surrounded by the ladies of the court. The group consisted mostly of the ladies-in-waiting of the various female guests and the attendants of the King. They were flighty, fickle creatures that were only concerned with the latest gossip. Annie had forbidden both Reva and Joan to associate with the lot of them to prevent her own servants from becoming similar.

The group's resident leader, a maid of the King's named Claire, stepped forward and pressed her face uncomfortably close to Annie's own.

"Are you really marrying the Prince?"

The Princess drew herself back slightly and stared in annoyance at the presumptuous woman, "Yes I am, and you would do well to address me by my title."

The group gave a collective gasp as though Annie had just sworn at them. They looked at Claire to provide an explanation for this.

She did give an explanation. She shrieked at the Princess, "How dare you! You are not fit to be his wife! We all know about your silly adventure into the village!" At this point the other girls nodded in agreement. They all looked properly scandalized, "We heard all about it: swearing and climbing trees and wrestling in the hay with the stable boys! All your friends back home were boys; oh, I can only imagine the inappropriate behavior that went on! And then wearing boys' britches and running around your castle like a lad yourself! You're certainly not a lady! You don't deserve our Prince! You don't belong here!"

Auggie waited for Annie to snap that nothing had happened in the village. That nothing went on between herself and her male friends back home. To defend herself. To do something. But she simply stood there. She looked suddenly very small. As everyone watched, a single tear charted a course down her cheek.

And then she was back.

"How dare you! How dare all of you! You have overstepped your stations, every single one of you! His Majesty will hear of this!"

The pack of girls paled and started mumbling excuses but Annie was way past listening. She stalked straight through the group of the ladies and moved on. She left her guard little choice but to follow.

Several corridors and an almost unearthly silence later, the tension was shattered by Katia and Chloe. The younger sisters of Prince Jai skipped up and gazed at Annie with a mix of awe and affection.

"Princess Annie, will you play with us," Katia asked innocently.

"Please please," Chloe added for good affect.

Annie managed a kind smile for them but shook her head, "Sorry, girls. I can't right now. I have to go down to the library and start planning my wedding."

"To our big brother Jai," they squealed in unison with smiles on their faces. When Annie nodded, they threw their arms around her waist in glee, "Yay!"

They scampered off down the hall. They were clearly thrilled at the prospect of a big sister.

"They're good kids," Auggie said to Annie as he watched the girls run off.

He didn't get a response.

"There must be orange blossom fragrant flowers," Annie mused aloud as she traced her finger over a line in the book she was reading.

"That is simply ridiculous," Auggie groaned. He didn't even bother to look up from his own book. "Why do they have to be orange blossoms?"

They sat across from each other at a narrow table in the castle's expansive library. It was so narrow the books nearly overlapped each other but the duo made do with the space they had.

"Fragrant flowers ward off bad spirits. And orange blossoms represent fertility and prosperity," the irate princess responded, "Why must you nit-pick every French tradition?"

"Because it's their tradition that got you into this marriage mess," he snapped back.

"Arranged marriages are an English tradition as well," she argued. She slammed the book shut with a bang.

"Usually among close families," Auggie retorted, "Not among complete strangers that live hundreds of miles away!"

"Oh, who asked you anyway," Annie said sourly. She re-opened the book and glared down at it. She pretended to read.

"You did ask, if I'm not mistaken, Princess."

Annie looked up.

"I did, didn't I," she said in a quiet voice, "Since I'm asking you these questions anyway, what is your opinion of my marrying Prince Jai?"

There was a long pause while Auggie considered. Neither of them noticed as the library door silently inch open. In a spur-of-the-moment move, Auggie mustered up his courage and leaned across the narrow table and touched his lips to Annie's. Her lips were much softer than Auggie could have ever imagined. They reminded him of freshly spun silk. The Princess was shocked at his action, as any would be in her position, but she quickly recovered and returned the gentle kiss. It only lasted a few moments, but through that kiss, Auggie told his princess everything she needed to know. He told her his true opinion of her marrying Jai. He told her his feelings for her. And to be honest, she enjoyed the feelings he showed her. Because his feelings, apparently, were the same as hers.

When they parted, the Princess looked shocked yet pleased. She smiled softly. A bright blush grew on both her cheeks and her guard's.

"I knew it."

The couple jumped apart and turned towards the doorway. There stood Prince Jai. He looked incredibly smug.

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