Part 3

About a week later, Claudette was at the marketplace, picking up some things when she heard someone call her name. She looked up to see a familiar young man approaching her. He wasn't in uniform, but she recognized the friendly guard from the castle. What was his name? Oh yes.

"Good morning Baelfire," she greeted him.

"Good morning," he gave her a polite bow, "I'm glad that I found you."

"Oh yes?" she smiled a bit shyly.

"This is for you," he handed her a folded bit of parchment, then hesitated, "You can read, right?"

"I can," Claudette nodded, taking the parchment and unfolding it curiously, giving Baelfire a smile. Her smile faded slightly as she read the letter. It was from the king, thanking her once again for her service, and expressing his desire to see her at the castle again in a year's time. Although she didn't realize it, her smile returned as she read his kind words.

"It seems that you have caught the king's eye," Baelfire said, "He told me that if you wish to write him back, that I should deliver your letter."

"Write the king back…" she sounded dumbfounded. What did one say to a king? She blinked and shook her head slightly, then turned to Baelfire with a smile. "Would you like to join my father and I for dinner?"

It was Baelfire's turn to blink. "Thank you, if it's no trouble."

"None at all," she assured him, "After all, you did come all the way out here."

Back at the mill, Claudette introduced him to her father, who was inwardly a bit amused at one of the king's men being so polite to him.

During the meal, Claudette read through the letter again.

"What do you have there, my girl?" her father questioned.

"It's a letter," she said absently.

"I can see that," he replied, "Who is it from?"

"It's from the king…"

"From the king?" he repeated, moving over to see, "Is he detailing your reward?" He took the letter from his daughter and started to read it.

"Ah-" Baelfire started to speak up, but it was too late. The king had instructed him that the letter was to be for Claudette's eyes and none other. But the damage was done now, he supposed.

"You really impressed him," her father said, sounding pleased.

"I guess so…" Claudette looked down at her food, and then looked to Baelfire. "I hope you are enjoying your meal," she said changing the subject.

"It is very good, thank you," he replied.

Eventually, Baelfire returned to the castle, where he was cornered in the stable by someone who had been rather impatiently waiting for his return.

"What took you so long Bae?"

"She invited me to stay for dinner, I couldn't think of a polite way to refuse," Baelfire replied, "Besides, the food was pretty good."

"Did she read the letter?" he asked.

"She did," Baelfire replied.

"How did she react?"

"She was surprised, I think, but she seemed pleased with it."

"Good," he nodded, "She seems like such a nice girl… sweet and humble… and so gifted."

"And concerned about helping her father," Baelfire continued, "She doesn't want to leave him alone."

"I see…" he looked thoughtful.

"And she's still a bit intimidated. Even after your letter."

"Why would she be intimidated?"

"Your highness," he responded pointedly.

"You know that you can just call me Chris," he scolded slightly, "I'm not all that formal most of the time."

"True, but that's hardly common knowledge, now is it?"

"I-" King Christopher trailed off, "Oh… I see. I guess I did come across overly formal when we first met… but I had to make sure that she wasn't trying to trick me."

Baelfire just gave a nod. "You did nothing wrong."

"Still… what can I do? I'd like to get to know her better. But that won't work well if she's still frightened of me."

"I'm sure that you will figure something out," Baelfire said, "You always do."

"Well, I did promise to reward her," he nodded, "I could make life easier for her and her father."

Baelfire gave a nod and chuckled slightly. The curious look that Chris gave him made him laugh a bit more. "You like her."

Chris sighed. "Is it that obvious?"

"I'm afraid so," his friend replied.

"I want to get to know her better," Chris decided, "Maybe even court her properly. But if she's frightened by royalty…" He looked thoughtful, and then smiled. "Baelfire, I think that a trip to the village square is in order. I'll need to change clothes."

"Oh no," Baelfire responded, "I know that look. It's not a good idea."

"What's wrong with going to the village?"

"She'll recognize you," Baelfire said flatly, "But even if she doesn't, you'll eventually have to tell her who you really are." Christopher looked mildly irritated at first, he'd thought it was a clever plan.

"There is a chance that she would be impressed at the lengths you went to court her," he continued, "But more likely, she will be upset at the deception."

"What do you suggest then?"

"Perhaps you can show her that there is more to you than just the crown."

"You're right," Christopher sighed, "Why are you always right?"

Baelfire gave an elegant shrug in response to that.

The next day, while trying not to look like he was waiting for Claudette, Baelfire was talking to a merchant, discussing something that he really had no interest in. Finally, after saying that he would consider thinking about the new sort of table linens that the man was selling, he was able to slip away and walk nonchalantly past his target - Claudette.

She called out to him when she saw him, and he gave her a wave.

"Good day, Miss," he touched his hat politely.

"I… have something for you…" she said shyly, shoving a folded sheet of parchment into his hand, almost before she lost her nerve. "Well, not for you, but-"

"I shall see that it is delivered," he promised.

"I didn't expect to see you again here so soon," she admitted.

"King Christopher often sends me on errands to the marketplace," Baelfire replied, "Today, Chris asked me to investigate some new table linens for the castle."

"Chris?" she repeated.

"That is his name," Baelfire nodded.

"You call him that?" she blinked, "Chris, I mean?"

"Sometimes, yes," Baelfire replied, "He prefers that, actually."

"I see…" she said slowly.

"He's not as formal as you might thing, when we're in private," the man told her, "Maybe you'll get a chance to see some time."

She gave a nervous laugh at that. "Oh I don't think I'll get a chance…"

"You never know," Baelfire gave her a wink. He touched his hat again, "I must be going. Good day."

"Good day," she echoed, watching him fade off into the crowd.

Christopher all but pounced on Baelfire when he returned to the castle, letter in hand. He almost tore it in his eagerness to read her response. She had written him a very polite and proper note, thanking him for his kind words, and how glad she had been to help. He was a little disappointed when she expressed her doubt about coming back to the castle to spin for him again. Still, he was hopeful that he would be able to change her mind.

"Good news?" Baelfire asked, sitting down on the steps.

"It's a start," Chris agreed, "But even letter writing can be so formal. I need to talk to her in person again." He started to pace the room, as Baelfire watched him, "But I can't summon her to the castle, that will frighten her again."

"Probably," the other man agreed.

"And I can't travel down there formally, that would be just as useless…" His eyes lit up, "But not if I don't go as the king."

"Chris…" Baelfire sighed, "we talked about this already."

"I won't lie to her," Chris assured her, "But I won't frighten her immediately if I look like everyone else. I won't travel with my entourage, just you. " Somewhat encouraged by the fact that his friend wasn't frowning at him, he went on. "Since I won't be dressed as the king, I won't be in as much danger, so I won't need a full guard."

Knowing that there was no stopping Chris when his mind was made up, Baelfire stood up. "Alright," he agreed, "Come with me. We'll have to find you something to wear."

It had been difficult for Christopher to wait the full two weeks until the Harvest Festival, but Baelfire had assured him that it would be the best time to blend in with the crowd. There was a big party in the town square, with music and dancing. Christopher was delighted to find out about that. It was the perfect excuse to speak with Claudette.

After seeing the large crowd of people gathered though, Chris was forced to admit a slight flaw in his plan. With so many people, it would be difficult to find just one person in the crowd.
Still, by some magical powers that Bae seemed to possessed, he led the king right over to where Claudette was gathered with a few other girls that Chris assumed were her friends.

Before he had a chance to walk over to them, a little girl grabbed Claudette's hands and dragged her out to join the dancers.

Christopher watched them dance for a few minutes before making his way into the crowd and tapping Claudette on the shoulder. "May I have this dance?"

She looked a bit surprised, but after assuring the disappointed little girl that she would dance with her a bit later, she turned to dance with the unfamiliar (but handsome) young man.

After a few turns around the square, he asked her if she was enjoying herself.

"I am," she replied, "Are you new to the village? I do not recognize your face."

"My friend Bae brought me," he answered, "I've never been to the Harvest Festival before."

"Bae?" she repeated, looking around. She smiled when she saw Baelfire dancing with the no-longer-disappointed little girl.

"Yes, that's him," her partner nodded.

"You're a friend of Baelfire's."

"I like to think so, yes," he joked.

"Well any friend of Baelfire's is certainly welcome to dance with me."

"Wonderful!" he whirled her around and she laughed happily.

They dance for awhile, and then stopped to buy some mugs of cider and catch their breath. Her partner also bought far too much food, as far as Claudette was concerned. She half wondered how long he had been saving to be able to buy as much as he did. But, she thought to herself, if he had been trying to impress her, he was making good progress in that direction.

With his spoils in hand, the two of them made their way over to a grassy area, out of the way, to sit and rest. Claudette was out of breath, and her face was flushed. And she had never had quite as much fun dancing before.

"You are quite the dancer," she stated.

"Thanks," he smiled, "You aren't so bad yourself."

She turned a bit pinker. "Thank you sir."

"It's Chris," he told her with a nod.

"Chris," she repeated, "My name is Claudette."

"Well, Claudette," he said with a smile, "Shall we partake of this wonderful feast?"

"We shall," she agreed cheerfully.

The two of them settled down to enjoy their dinner. Claudette found the young man very pleasant and easy to talk to. For his part, Chris was glad that his initial impression of her being a pleasant clever girl was true.

After they had polished off the small feast that he had purchased, Chris leaned back on his arms in the grass, looking up at the sky. "This festival is so much more fun than anything else I have been too lately."
The people here were genuinely having fun. There was no posing, no eyeing up the competition, no trying to impress their betters. He liked that very much. He shook himself out of his musings. "But that's not the real reason I came out here tonight." He sat up again and turned to face her, taking her hands. "I came here to see you."

She blinked, staring at him confused. "Me?"

"I know I thanked you in person, and then in the letter, but it just didn't seem like enough," he said.

Claudette's eyes grew wide and she pulled her hands away, turning her gaze down to the grass.

"You really are a wonderful dancer."

"Th-thank you s-sire…" she whispered.

"Please. Just call me Chris," he requested, "No one knows that I'm here."

"I… I c-can't…" she whispered.

Christopher sighed. "You didn't have any trouble looking at me before. Please. Look up?"

She slowly lifted her gaze to his. He was surprised to see tears in her eyes.

"Claudette?" he tilted his head, "What's wrong?"

She brushed her tears away. "You're so… wonderful."

"That's making you cry?"

"No, not that…" she took a shuddering breath, "I'm just the daughter of a poor miller."

"Not just," he corrected, "You are an extraordinary young lady."

"I'm not…" she protested.

"Of course you are," he said firmly. "And that's why I am here. Baelfire really is my friend, and that's why I was able to talk him into helping me."

"You came in disguise… just to see me."

Chris nodded, "I heard that you were fearful of the king, so I thought I would show you that I am nothing to fear."

"No," she agreed slowly, and then gave him a shy smile, "You did not even step on my feet."

"There, you see?" he smiled.

She giggled softly. "If only my father could see me, having a picnic with the king."

"I know that you care a great deal for your father," Chris said thoughtfully, "That is admirable."

"Since mama died, we've only had each other," Claudette confessed, "And sometimes we barely make ends meet."

"Well, I did say that I would reward you for your services," Chris said, "And I will." He looked puzzled, "But I don't understand, couldn't you spin yourself out of your troubles?"

"You and papa… and Baelfire, I suppose, are the only people who know about it," she said, "I keep it a secret… otherwise everyone would try to get me to spin for them."

"I see," Chris nodded slowly, "Well, your secret is safe with me."

"Thank you," she smiled.