AN: I'M SO SORRY FOR TAKING SO LONG ON THIS ONE! I am down to my last days of school and finals are approaching. *cue ominous thunder and lightning* When school's out I'll hopefully get quicker with the updates. I will try to be speedy but… well… I am both slow and lazy. Anyway I hope you like this new stuff! Sorry this one is kind of a filler chapter...

Gothrockerchick: You know for someone who isn't typically a fairy tale person you seem to be really enjoying the fluff! And good idea…I may very well use it :)

Arista Everett June: I'm glad you enjoy the story and its fluff :)

Catlover1033: Go ahead and take your time and I will try to update quickly.

Mirror-owl38: Ok when I asked you to critique the story, I honestly had no idea you had already been reading it. Heh…Irony…. Right? That's irony? ANYWAY! Muahahaha! After fangirling and suffering at the hands of so many authors, I can now exact my revenge on someone else! …sorry. And thanks so much!

Chapter 8: Se Tu M'ami

(Edmund)

I walked with Lydia down the long line of stalls. This was one of the highest class horse breeders in the kingdom and the only one the royal family would purchase from. Before long Lydia couldn't contain her excitement and released my hand to go pet a particular horse that caught her eye. I couldn't stop a small chuckle at her exuberance. I decided to go help her before she did something like release the horse and let it run away.

"Who do we have here, Lydie?"

"Her name's Molly!" She exclaimed, jumping as she tried to reach the horse's nose through the metal bars.

"But Lydia the card says her name's Butternut. I thought you were an expert at reading by now!" I laughed. I picked her up so she could reach better.

"Well I AM! But Butternut is a dumb name so I'm calling her Molly." She stated matter-of-factly. I tickled her in response, causing her to burst into giggles.

Soon a strong yet aged man came walking over to us. "How can I help my favorite customers?"

"Well Sal, it looks like Lydia has found someone she likes."

"Oh has she?" he grinned, turning towards her. "Would she like to go have a ride, then?"

She nodded happily and took his hand as he began to bring Molly out to a field in the back. We knew Sal for as long as we could remember. He was like an uncle to us. He was well built from years of hard work and had black hair peppered with gray.

I continued to wonder around the stables absentmindedly, thinking mostly of Anna. But something caught my attention from the corner of my eye. It was a gray and white patched mare; she was beautiful. When I fed her a carrot from a bucket hanging on the wall, she nuzzled my hand with her nose and whinnied gently. I smiled broadly as a thought entered my head: Anna would love her. But then I reasoned with myself. People would suspect things if I bought her a horse. No one knows, or no one SHOULD know about the dresses, but a horse? "It's a shame," I spoke aloud to the horse, "you would have really loved her." But maybe the horse wouldn't 'technically' be hers! She would just be one she could use when she wanted. And Lydia can't ride by herself, either! So she has to have a horse so she can ride with her! It was decided. Anna was getting a horse.

"I thought you were one to ride stallions, not mares."

I looked over to see Sal and Lydia walking towards me.

"Well Sal, it looks like you have one more sale. I would like to purchase this one as well."

"But you said you weren't getting a horse!" chimed in Lydia.

"It's not for me, Lydia. Wouldn't you like to be able to go riding with Anna?"

"Oh that's so romantic of you, Edmund! She'll LOVE you for sure, now!" She giggled, running off. I blushed scarlet instantaneously.

Sal looked at me critically with a raised eyebrow. "Hey, I'm not one to judge," he shrugged.

I stumbled over words as I tried to 'set him straight.'

"While I know that children love to say things like that that are generally false, I still will not spread gossip."

"Thank you, Sal. The last thing I'd want is for rumors to be spread." I said with relief.

"But she's right, you know," he said with a grin, "it's very romantic."

(Annabelle)

With one last hug, I ushered Florienna out of the nursery. Somehow, just being shown the dresses made me feel beautiful; I felt airy and wonderful. After checking to make sure no one would hear, I did something I haven't done in years: I sang.

"Se tu m'ami, se sospiri

Sol per me, gentil pastor,

Ho dolor de' tuoi martiri,

Ho diletto del tuo amor,

Ma se pensi che soletto

Io ti debba riamar,

Pastorello, sei soggetto

Facilmente a t'ingannar."

It was one of the few songs I knew by heart. My mother would sing it when she cleaned and eventually I learned it. The meaning and the language were unknown to me, but the action of releasing the melody made me lighthearted and gleeful. I spun about the room and twirled, raising my hands above my head.

"Bella rosa porporina

Oggi Silvia sceglierà,

Con la scusa della spina

Doman poi la sprezzerà.

Ma degli uomini il consiglio

Io per me non seguirò.

Non perché mi piace il giglio

Gli altri fiori sprezzerò."

I slowed my dancing and started to giggle at my child-like behavior. It was then that I noticed from the corner of my eye that the door was open with a figure standing inside.

"I didn't know you knew Italian."

(Edmund)

After giving the two horses to the stable boys, I walked quickly to the nursery to see if Anna was still there. I grinned like a fool anticipating her reaction to the gift.

However, when I approached the door, I heard sweet singing from inside. Curious, I cracked open the door to see Anna dancing and singing beautifully. Her hair was waving behind her like flames and a sweet Italian aria floated from her lips. God, she's stunning. I could have stayed there for hours just watching and listening, but feeling guilty, I decided to reveal myself to her.

I silently opened the door fully and watched as she calmed her song and dance.

"I didn't know you knew Italian," I commented to make my presence known.

She froze and slowly turned towards me. "How much did you see?"

"It's what I heard that matters," I grinned. "Your voice is incredible!"

She laughed with defeat, "So you saw it all?"

"Every bit."

With that response in mind, she groaned loudly and covered her face with her hands. Collapsing onto the couch, she then peeked through her fingers at me and began to laugh unabashedly. Her laughter grew in volume and soon mine joined hers. We couldn't contain ourselves and continued like that for who knows how long.

Suddenly remembering why I came to see her in the first place, I sobered and joined her on the couch eagerly. "I almost forgot, I have a surprise for you!"

"I believe you've already given me a surprise today! How many more am I to expect?" she cried.

"Just this one more! I think… anyway you'll love it! Come with me."

I grabbed her hand and hurried her to the stables. Once there, I placed my hands over her eyes and led her forward until we reached the correct stall. I removed my hands, and an expression of pure wonder diffused across her face.

"Oh, Edmund! She's breathtaking!"

"Yes, she is," I murmured, looking at her and not at the horse.

She finally turned to me and then looked with a slightly worried expression. "Wait, you were implying that she is for me, right? Because if that's not the case, then this is really embarrassing…"

I laughed aloud and replied, "Yes she's for you! You didn't really think I was just showing you the horse for fun, did you?"

"Oh, I just wanted to be sure," she cried, running into my arms, wrapping her own around my neck. "Thank you so much," she breathed.

"You're very welcome," I whispered into her hair.

Then, still in my arms, she looked me in the eye. "Why did you do this for me?"

"Well the 'official' answer is that Lydia will need someone to ride with. The real answer to your question is that I saw the mare and thought you would love her."

"And you were very correct in your thinking," Anna smiled, returning her attention to the horse. She went to stroke the animal's nose and ran her hand down its neck affectionately. "What's her name?"

"That would be up to you."

"Hmmm, I'll think about it. You only get one name."

"Well then, my lady," I said with a deep bow, extending my hand to her, "would you do me the honor of accompanying me on a ride?"

She took my hand with a curtsey and a smile, saying "If would be an honor, my lord."

AN: So I know there's a couple lurkers who like to read but won't tell me what they think… tsk tsk… I'm very disappointed in you…

SO REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!

AND HEY! New contest-like thing: Comment with what you want the horse to be named and I may pick it :) Winner gets credit!

Oh and one more thing: I do not own the song but it is called Se Tu M'ami and is an Italian aria :) I sang it for a vocal recital once and liked it so I put it in.