A/N: So I feel like I'm boring you guys with this tale which means that it's time to finally end it and that means that this is the SECOND to last chapter. NEXT chapter shall be the end. This means that I am going to tie up all lose end here and now. So, this will be the longest chapter yet I suspect. Anywho, it's been fun taking on this great journey and I'm glad all of you have been here with me. This is my first fanfiction so I'm extremely proud of it and so thankful to all of you reading. You guys make it all worth it. We aren't finish yet though…we still have this chapter to finish. So, without further ado I present to you Chapter 15 of Turning Pages. P.S sorry it took so long but like I said this chapter is going to be very long which means it shall take a while to edit. Very sorry. *pushes background to next scene*
He absolutely refused to have me ignore him. Every time I tried to be silent he always brought me to speak to him again. However, I didn't have to seem like I was enjoying this affair. I gave him short answers and bored expressions. I could tell it was bugging him and that brought me amusement.
The only fun part was when we went horseback riding. My horse was black and his white but both were beautiful. The idea was to ride together but I soon rode ahead of him. I had never rode a horse before but I found that I loved it. It was the only time I had actually smiled during our "date."
After that, we sat down together in a familiar glade. We were both quiet for a moment before he asked "So…how's your Glamour coming?"
I laugh and ask "Is that your try at conversation?"
"Just answer the question," he says bluntly.
"It's fine. I finally froze something," I say. He raises his eyebrow and I add "I mean that I can do it on my own now. I can do it at will."
"Oh yeah. I remember the first time you froze something. It was odd being stuck like that. I could breathe but it was filtered which made it hard and it was so cold. I don't think you understand how I am practically freezing everyday here but right then I had never felt a cold like that before. I brave through the cold for you though. I bet you don't even know what it feels like."
"I'm only half-fey remember. I feel it but it's not uncomfortable. I barely notice it at all."
"I don't mind being in the cold if it means I can be with you," he says coming closer to me. "You know I would do anything for you right?"
"Aaron, I only came today because I wanted to talk to you. Aaron! Stop it!" I say as he kisses my cheek. I push him away and say "Will you just listen to me?"
"I am listening. I do wish that your words were different," he says bringing me closer to him. "What can I do to make you look at me as more than just a friend?"
"Nothing. All I want to be is friends with you."
"Then there is no point in continuing today. The bottom line is this, Page, I am going to marry you in a few days. We are going to be together and there is nothing either of us can do about that. You're going to have to look at me as more soon," he says standing.
"I realize our wedding is coming but that doesn't mean I have to be happy about it. In fact," I say standing also. "I'm going to do whatever it takes to stop it."
"Most girls can't wait for the day they get married," he says as he starts walking toward the castle.
"I'm not most girls," I say following beside him.
"You seemed to have fun when we went riding. Do you want to go again tomorrow?"
"I liked riding but I'd rather not do it with you."
"Unfortunately, I'm your only option. So do you want to or not?"
"…" I am silent. I didn't want to go if I had to go with him.
"You know what forget it. We're going tomorrow. Meet me in the library alright," he says taking my face in his hands. "Lie to me for a second and tell me that you're excited to see me tomorrow."
"No I can't do that to you,"
"Say it, Page. Make me think you want to be with me for a few moments."
"No," I am not so cruel as to play with like this. As I stare into his eyes he looks so broken. His eyes plead with me and I want to say yes but reason tells me not to.
I sigh and think for a moment. I didn't accomplish what I had planned to today. I guess I might as well do as he asks. I'm out of plans and I'm out of luck. There is no other way to make him forget now that he has his sights set on being with me. For now I consent.
"Fine. I really want to see you tomorrow, Aaron. Nothing would bring me a greater joy," I try to say as sincerely as possible.
"That's better, Page. Will you lie to me tomorrow too?"
"Do you really want our whole relationship to be based on lies?" I say. I can't constantly pretend with him one day he might think it's real.
"No, but I like to think about what it would be like if you actually meant what you said. It brings me some comfort."
"You want comfort. What about me? I'm the one being forced to into marrying you."
"I can give you all the comfort you want, Page," he says whispering in my ear and I can feel his fingers trail down my side.
"Don't touch me like that," I say pushing him away.
"Then how would you like me to touch you."
"Not at all would be great." I say walking away from him. When you give then an inch…
"Where are you going?" he asks following after me.
"To someone who I actually want to be with," I say not turning to face him.
He grabs my arm and pull me back to him. "Are you really going to see him right now?" he says with gritted teeth an angry look in his eyes.
"Yeah I am. You said you would take me to him whenever I asked remember. I want to go now."
"Can't I refuse you this time?"
"No, you can't. We made a deal. I'll be back soon," I say walking away. He just stands there as I walk far into the distance.
"Is he insane?" Vincent asks when I tell him about what's been going on.
"I think so. Melissa was my last hope and he doesn't care about her. I can't get him to think about anyone else. He got really jealous that I was coming to see you."
Vincent smiles and says "Too bad. He shouldn't try to take my princess from me." He ran a finger over mine and then asked "Page…where is your ring?"
I look down and start to panic but then I realize where it is and wish I could make up a good lie. Obviously disagreeing with my silence he asks "Did you lose it? It's okay if you lost it. You can tell me," he says drawing circles on my back with one hand and rubbing his fingers over mine with the other as he tries to comfort me for my loss.
I shake my head and say quietly, "I didn't lose it?"
"Well then, what happened to it?" he asks concern falling over his face.
After a while I saw that he wouldn't rest until I gave him answer as to the location of the ring he had paid so heavy a price for. "Aaron has it. He took it from me and refused to give it back."
I see an intense anger pass then as he asks "Does he know what it is? I mean, what it can do?"
"No I don't think so. But he does know why you gave it to me. That's probably also why he took it. He said he was taking as insurance so that I would go out with him when he asked me to."
Vincent scoffs and says "I say we go get it back now." He starts to get up but I grab his arm to hold him back.
"No. Don't worry about it. I'll get it back today, I know I will. Just stay with me for now," I plead I don't want him to do something rash and get into another fight. I'd hate to have to freeze him again.
"Why do you always do that?" he asks.
"Do what?"
"You always hold me back. You don't have to fight this alone. You aren't fighting this alone. You let Ash and Sage fight for you and of course you fight for yourself and I think that is amazing but…why do you always hold me back. Page, I love you, let me show how much. Let me be your knight in shining armor for once," he pleads with me as he stares me in the eyes and takes me in his arms.
I think about his words for a moment. He's correct. I don't let him take part in this, what has surely become, an epic struggle. I sigh and say "Your right. I just don't want to trouble you. I'm so used to doing things by myself and Ash and Sage help because they are my brothers and they can't stay out of my life." I laugh and add "It's funny, the night I met you it was because Ash had wanted me to gain allies just in case something were to happen and he wouldn't be there for me. I guess I don't make much use of you as my ally. Okay I'm sorry but…I don't want something to happen to you. I know that Ash and Sage can take care of themselves and I have always done what's best for me but you're different. You're much too special to me." I feel a sudden relief that I can be this honest with him. Of course I have no choice really ever since that promise I made in the garden. I do think, however, that I would be this honest even without it…maybe.
"You're dear to me as well, Page," he says as he holds my face in his hands. "I just…want to be useful to you."
I reach up and peck his lips as I say, "You're more useful to me than you know."
He smiles and says, "Even so, I want to do something for you. Let me steal it back for you."
"I can't ask you to do that," I say but upon further thinking I say again, "But…could you really?"
"I stole many of the paintings in here," he says as he gestures to the bedroom around us where numerous stolen and hand painted painting hang on walls and lean against furniture. "A little pick-pocketing is nothing compared to some of the things I've done," he says with a smile.
"Ooo such a bad boy," I tease as I ruffle his hair. This earns me a smile which I graciously return.
"I could do other rather naughty things that don't involve stealing," he says trailing his finger down my back which sends shivers down my spine.
"Um…let's focus on the ring first," I say scooting away.
He laughs and says, "Alright, I can always show you those things later." He kisses me deeply and then makes his exit.
"You're going to do this now?" I ask following behind him.
"Yeah, I want to get that ring back on your finger as soon as possible," he says seriously.
"Okay, just be careful," I say worriedly.
"Of course," he says as he continues to walk and I follow behind him.
He pauses and says "Actually Page, I'd like you to stay here for now. I'll be back in a little while."
"Wait, no I want to go with you."
"You can't. He sees you and he's going think you're going back with him or something and I won't be able to get close enough to steal it. Just stay here, I'll do this myself."
"I could make a good distraction," I say trying to get him to see things my way.
He smiles and says "Yes, but I know what you would have to do to distract him. As you know, Page I am very much the jealous type and I'd hate to be off my game because of that. Stay here, please, my darling. I'll be back soon." He kisses my forehead and picks up a sheathed sword leaning against his desk and tied it around him.
I stare at it in shock and say "You're not planning on using that are you?"
He smiles and replies "Well I'm hoping I don't have to but just in case I'm ready."
"Promise me you won't hurt him," I say quickly.
"Why do you care?" he says an accusing look in his eye. I'm silent. "Page, don't tell me you…honestly?" he says understanding my expression.
"He's not a bad person, Vincent. Some of the time, anyway."
"Do you understand what he has put us through? What he put you through, Page? You still have marks on you from it."
"Just on my wrist but those are healing too. Soon they will be gone. He wasn't in control that night. He's not going to get drunk like that again and I know how to protect myself now."
"That's not the point. I want to protect you. From everything. I can't do that without a little help. I won't hurt him too bad. I can say that." I put my hands on my hips and give him an untrusting stare. He smiles and says "I'm kidding. It probably won't come to violence. I'll be civil first. I can promise you that." I nod and he kisses once more then leaves.
I sigh and watch him leave. I suppose this is how he feels every time I leave him. I know he's going off to something brave and wonderful yet he is doing it without me. I know he is doing it for me but that doesn't comfort me much. I stay in the garden for a few minutes. I go through his little library and then take a walk through the garden. I become restless and worry about him even though I know he is fully capable of completing this task. I smile as I imagine the different scenarios of his plan as he goes out to take back a treasured gift.
It is then that I decide that I much prefer seeing the thing for myself. I get up and make my way out of the garden and to the glade where I knew Aaron would be waiting for me. I saw Aaron sitting in his usually spot his back against a tree and a book in his hands. I wondered what book he was reading for I was sure he would stop once he realized it didn't impress me. I guess he was telling the truth about actually liking it, I think to myself. I stay a distance away from him so that he won't notice my presence and neither will Vincent when he comes.
Just then I see Vincent come from out of the shadows and approach the Summer Prince. Aaron looks up and smiles as he marks his book and stands to greet this newcomer.
"Well, hello Vincent. What brings you here? Where's Page?" Aaron asks looking for me but not seeing.
"She's at our meeting place waiting for me."
"So you left her?" he says in surprise.
"No. Like I said she's waiting for me. I need to return something to her before I see her. A highly treasured item that you so cruelly took from her." His voice has an edge now that I have never heard from him before.
"I don't think my actions were cruel. I just needed her to listen to me and spend some time with me. I needed to make sure she would do as I asked," Aaron says defensively.
"That doesn't justify your actions. In any case, my princess is waiting, so if you would please return to me what you took I shall be on my way," Vincent says holding out his hand.
Aaron smiles smugly and say "This isn't your problem, Vincent. This is between Page and I."
"It is my ring. Which I gave to her as a gift, out of love, you have no right to have it," he says growing angry.
"I have every right to have this ring which means nothing. You can't be engaged to a girl who already has other commitments. I have this ring and in a few days I'll have Page too," Aaron says matter-of-factly.
"You talk about her like she's some object," Vincent says venom entering his voice.
"And you don't? I see how you called her your princess. You don't own her. She is able to make her own choices as she has so clearly stated to me on many occasions. She's going to choose me. Even if she doesn't now she will eventually when there is nothing either of us can do about it."
"That sounds like a trap, not love."
"Marriage is a trap. Still, people still get married as Page and I shall be in a couple days. By the way, I'm not giving you the ring. I need insurance."
"She would go out with you if you asked. She wants to be your friend. I hate to say it but it's true. Page, doesn't love you but she does care about you," he says and I see a hint of his jealousy pass over his eyes but it's gone as soon as it comes. I smile and shake my head. You exaggerate my affection! I wanted to yell to him but I remained silent. I'll tease him about it later.
"I'm aware of what little affection she has for me and I'm grateful for it. But…I want more. I love her and I'm going to marry her," Aaron stated bluntly.
Vincent laughs and says, "You see I can't let that happen and this conversation is boring me," he then draws his sword and asks "So, are you going to give me what I came here for or am I going to have to take it by force. Either way I'm leaving with that ring in my pocket."
Aaron smiles and draws his sword as well. "You're on," he says accepting the challenge.
They move to the center of the glade both automatically moving into in a fighting stance. There is nothing but silence between them for some time. I take a moment to examine each of their swords. Both are indeed beautiful but deadly instruments. Vincent's is black with a silver lining from blade to hilt. The only real design on it was a white cross at the blades tip and the unique design of the hilt. I believe Vincent called it Elucidator or the Night Sky. Aaron's sword was much different. Much like Vincent's it is simple and elegant. Aaron's sword is light blue with and darker blue and silver trimming. There are designs in the blade and a hilt of the sword he calls it the Dark Repulser.
I watch them for a moment as they stand there in silence when suddenly Aaron charges. Vincent was well prepared and blocked his attack. Aaron jumps back and charges again Vincent is again prepared and dodges his attack before Aaron can even think of what to do next Vincent swings for Aaron's head but Aaron ducks and uses the hilt of his sword to jab Vincent in the side. Vincent staggers back a little much to Aaron's enjoyment.
"You should give up while you're ahead," Aaron says smugly.
"Over my dead body," Vincent spits back defiantly.
"We shall see."
It is with that word that Vincent charges at Aaron and he tries to dodge him but Vincent with his lightening flash reflexes still manages to make a mark on Aaron's once flawless face.
Aaron touches his cheek and his fingers comes back with blood on them. "You'll pay for that," he seethes.
They come at one another and after much back and forth fighting the end up in the center of the once peaceful glade blades crossed and faces stern and determined. Neither one letting the other look away from what has become an epic stare down as much as a long fought battle. I look at them both and wonder about the winner. My treasured ring is no longer the subject of this fight. It is much bigger than that.
Aaron kicked Vincent from under him causing Vincent to lose his balance and fall to the ground. Aaron stood above him holding his sword to my loves throat and smiling victoriously. Vincent, (he moved too quick and I have no idea where such a weapon came from) suddenly shot a knife from his sleeve and it brushed past Aarons arm causing him to rear back in pain. In that time Vincent regained his balance and stood tall to fight more. Aaron charged and Vincent sidestepped and slashed his sword upward but Aaron blocked his advance.
I was tense as this battle took place. I didn't doubt Vincent's ability to win. I was sure he would. I just hoped that they wouldn't get carried away and that this battle and its winner would have the victory of the win and my ring that thus would end this test of skill. I hoped more than anything this was still simply a test of skill and not a fight that would result in something more permanent than a few scratches. I wasn't so sure as the fight wore on and saw sweat gleaming on both of their brows as well as angry, fierce look in each eye. I could see something like that coming from Aaron but in Vincent it struck me as strange and I feared what a look like that could bring out in him. A pit formed in my stomach as the fighting continued. The sound of metal against each other and the various cursing from the fighters rang throughout. I pulled away from these thoughts and only thought of positive things as I continued to watch the fight.
It was then that I saw Aaron's sword fly from his hands and make a place for itself firmly in the snow some distance away. He was left empty handed and at the mercy of Vincent. I saw the tip of Vincent's blade making its way for Aaron. I had no control. I barely recognized that I had felt a surge of adrenaline rush through me as I ran with all the power I had to the scene.
The next thing I felt was pain rushing through my side and then through my entire body. I felt the pain shoot through me. I had never felt a sensation as sharp and quick as that. I saw Vincent's face contort first in shock then agony as he realized what he had done. I looked down and saw the sword as it made its way through me. I saw the blood as it began to soak my dress and stain the white snow beneath me. I heard my name being called but I couldn't answer. I fell to the ground beneath me. I have been in snow and ice for a good portion of my life. I've laid in it plenty of times but it had never felt as good as it did then. It was cold and inviting. I had wished it to end this pain that was now plaguing my body. My eyes were heavy and my head felt dizzy. Much to the protest of the voices around me I started to close my eyes and take a deserved nap. After all, that's why I was so fatigued right? I just needed to rest. Just one nap. I smiled as the voices pleaded fervently for me to wake and look at them. How selfish! I thought. It was just a nap. I was glad when I couldn't hear those voice anymore. Then my vision grew blurry as well. I saw the color of the world begin to fade and everything went black.
I was awoken with the feeling of something brushing against my forehead. I noticed them to be fingers and the owner to be a blonde haired prince. I sit up quickly but am forced back down by the numb ache in my side.
"You might want to wait a while," Aaron says laying my head back down in his lap. I look around but cannot find the one I'm looking for. "He's gone, for now anyway. You weren't waking up so he when to get more water thinking it might help. He and I both feared the worst." This calms me but I cannot help but feel uncomfortable at my current situation. He realized this and takes me in his arms so that I head can rest against his chest which isn't that much better but slightly more preferable. He holds me tight as he says "I thought I had lost you, Page."
"I didn't think of being lost. I thought of it as a sleep, one I wouldn't wake up from," I say simply. I hadn't thought of death though surely I was dying at the time. I thought of Vincent and how awful he must feel.
"Don't joke I'm serious, Page. I don't know what I would do if I had lost you," he says bring my face to look at him. He was inches from me. I wanted to turn away but I had not the strength.
"Aaron, this isn't the time. How did I wake back up?" I ask not in the mood for his games.
"After you passed out he gathered you up in his arms and took you to away. I tried to follow but he was rather quick even with you on him. I waited for him and when he came back you were still knocked out but the bleeding had stopped. He said you should wake up soon. When you didn't he went back but said I should watch over you just in case."
"You said something about water earlier. What do you mean?" I ask curiously.
"He told me he knew of a lake with healing properties." I smiled at this knowing which lake he mentioned. "You know it?" he asked. I didn't say any more about it. He didn't take Aaron with him so he must not want it revealed.
"He's told me about it but I've never been," I lied. Aaron accepts this and continues to hold me close to him and stroke my hair. I was too tired to protest. I eventually feel asleep in his arms.
"Don't talk so loud you'll wake her," I heard Aaron say. I was already awake but decided to feign sleep in order to see where this conversation goes.
"Just give her to me," I heard Vincent say with irritation coating his voice.
"No, you're the reason she's like this in the first place. I won't have it. Besides she's asleep and you get to hold her like this on a regular basis. I've never gotten to."
"I won't share her, especially not with you," he says firmly. I feel him lean down beside me and stroke my cheek. It takes everything not to smile. I'm not upset with Vincent. Yes, he nearly killed me but I'm not angry about it. I ran in front of that sword. My conscience couldn't allow him to kill Aaron. I didn't want to die either but when you make rash decisions as I did things of that nature are bound to happen.
"Don't touch her," Aaron said sounding like a mother protecting her baby. That made me want to smile and laugh as well.
"Don't order me, Prince. I'll do as I please," he says sitting beside Aaron and I. "How long was she awake for?"
"Just a few minutes. She wanted you but you had just left."
Vincent is silent as he says "Did she say anything else?"
"Not really. She just wanted to know how she ended up alive still. I told her. Then, she went back to sleep. I think I should take her back to the castle. Don't look at me like that. I'm not being selfish I just think she needs rest."
"Alright. Promise me you'll bring her to me when she gets better."
"I can't promise you that. I'm sure she'll come looking for you anyhow, Vincent," I hear Aaron say. Something sad enters his voice but I don't dwell on it much. I decide now is a good time to open my eyes so I do and a yawn escapes. I try to stretch but pain shoots through my side. I quickly grasp it as I moan in pain.
"I'm sorry, Page," were the first words I heard from him to me. He looked about on the verge of tears as he saw me stare into him. I smile and reach out for him but Aaron holds me back.
"It's okay. I'm sure you want to talk about it extensively though. Aaron, let me go," I say turning to him. He shakes his head at me. We stand up but I have to lean on him for support as he places both arms around me protectively.
"I can't do that, Page. We have to go. You've had enough excitement for one day," he says as he whistles and his horse comes trotting forward. He hoists me up onto the saddle and climbs on behind me. I would have fought him but I was too weak.
"Aaron this isn't fair!" I protest.
"He's right, Page. You need to rest. Take this it will make the recovery go better," he says as he hands me a small yet thick leather bound book.
"But Vincent I…" I start.
"You know how to find me," Vincent says interrupting me. I look down at my hand to see that I am still absent of my ring. I look up to him very confused and he smiles a sly smile. Before anyone can say anything else Aaron rides off and I am left with an image of Vincent's form getting smaller and smaller in the horizon.
Aaron takes me to my room and tucks me into bed. I decide to wait for him to leave before I can open up the book Vincent placed in my hands. I grow anxious as instead of walking away Aaron continues to sit beside me.
"Is everything alright, Aaron?" I ask.
"I just…wanted to say thank you for saving my life back there," he says looking down at me.
"Oh, it was nothing, I just didn't want you to get hurt."
"I thought you hated me, Page. Which is why I don't understand why you would do something like that for me."
"Like I said, I didn't want you to get hurt. I don't hate you Aaron. I dislike you. There's a difference. "
He laughs and says "Whatever the difference, I'm grateful."
"As you should be. I believe this means you owe me," I say smiling.
"Oh! I suppose you're correct. What do you want? I'll give you anything you desire," he asks sincerely.
I pause for a moment before I say "Let me think on it a little longer."
He nods and says "Fair enough. I'll come and check on you in the morning. Good Night, Princess," he kisses my cheek and finally leaves.
When the door closes I take out the book and open it to see the middle has been cut out to form a small compartment. In that compartment is my ring and a note. I open the note and it says:
To my darling Princess,
Please forgive me. No words can describe how terribly awful I feel right now. I don't know if you will ever awaken again but if you do. I'd like you to have this which has always rightfully been yours. Put it on quickly and come to me, please. I have much to tell you/apologize for. I don't think I could give enough apologies for what I have done. This is optional if you even want to see me after this. I love you. Please remember that.
-Vincent
P.S. As promised I was able to steal it back for you. You were right you made an excellent distraction. He didn't even notice as I slipped it out of his pocket and into mine.
I smile and put the ring on. Before I drift off into my slumber I admire it for a moment. I find that I missed having it on my finger. It is a constant comfort to me in these days. I lay my head down and fall into dreamland.
I am next on a beach. It would a nice day if not for the ominous, cloudy skies. I jump when I hear a clap of thunder and see lightning strike.
"Don't be scared," I hear a voice say. I turn to see Vincent behind me.
"This is you isn't it?"
"The clouds are. While I was waiting I kind of sank into my own thoughts which are kind of…well… you see," he says motioning to the stormy sky.
"That's not necessary, Vincent," I say as I raise my hand and wipe away the storm clouds. "I'm not angry at you."
He looks surprised as he says "You're not?"
I smile and say "No. I got in the way. You didn't even know I was there. You were so intent on ending him. Which I couldn't have for moralities sake. He's done a lot of awful things. To me especially but…I couldn't watch him die. I didn't mean to die for him, mind you, but I didn't want him to die especially, by your hands." I take his hands in mine and say "Not your hands, which were meant to love."
He takes me in his arms then and kisses me. When he lets me go he says "I love you more than you know. I don't know what I would have done without you, Page. I feared the worst when…" he doesn't finish.
I pick up and say "Don't worry about it. You saved me and that is all that matters." I hug him and say, "I love you dearly, that matters the most."
He laughs and hugs me back. It was then that I felt the sun begin to shine brightly on us. I smiled and laughed as well.
"Okay?" I ask when he lets me go.
"Okay," he says as he kisses me forehead.
"Take a walk with me."
He takes my hand we walk along the beach together. Soon we take a seat near the water. This is my favorite aspect of being with him. Nothing has to be said or done we could just sit there in silence and it still can be a great time. I know I must be smiling gleefully in my sleep.
"Page, can I ask you a question?" he asks ending the silence.
"What is it?"
"What are we going to do about your wedding? We have only three days now."
"There is nothing left to do I'm afraid. I'm out of plans and options. I mean I think if Aaron and I both opposed the marriage then maybe we could end it but that's unlikely because he is very set on marrying me."
"Would he make you happy?" he asks looking down into the sand.
"Of course not! I want to be with you and only you. Why would you even think such a thing?"
"I don't know. Maybe I'm getting jealous again. But… you know what it's ridiculous," He says choosing not to continue his thoughts.
I put my hand on his and say "Tell me. What is it?"
"I was walking to you with the water and when I saw you in his arms and I…well I knew you weren't like that when I left you and I thought that you had woken up and put yourself that way. The whole time I was afraid of you resenting me because of what I had done. I thought you would cling to Aaron when you awoke and forget me. Then I saw you and you looked so perfectly content and thought that my fears had been realized."
I laugh and say "You let your thoughts get the best of you. There is no need for any of that. I love you. I will always love you. I may have to marry Aaron but my heart will always be yours and nothing could make me change my mind. Did Aaron tell you that I put myself in that position?"
"He said you woke up and that was why you were like that. I wanted to hold you one last time but he wouldn't give you to me and I didn't want to wake you."
"I heard that conversation. I had woken up but pretended to be asleep."
"Oh. Page, I really am sorry," he apologizes once again. "I'll never use that sword again."
"Oh don't say that. There may come a time when I need you to. I told you everything is fine. I am still alive, you and I are together and all is right with the world for now," I say kissing his cheek. "No more apologizing."
He smiles and nods as he brings me closer to him. He makes a motion with his hand and a rose appears. He offers it to me and I accept. Soon he helps me to place it in my hair. Once more we fall into our comfortable silence. It is just us. I smile to myself as holds me tightly and whispers in my ear the sweetest things. I whisper them back and when the sun sets we write our name in dreams stars. The night, in this secret place of ours, is more beautiful than anything I have ever seen in reality. I grow sad when the sun rises again. Because with the rising sun, the dream world fades. He kisses me one last time and I feel his hand slip from mine. Everything goes as white as a sheet and then turns black as night.
(2 days until wedding)
I wake to better sprits. Yes, my side still pains me but I got spend the night with the one I love even if it was just in my mind. I smile to myself and roll out of bed to get dressed. I still can't stretch or stand up quite straight. I take a long shower which makes my aching body feel better. I hop out and decide to have a casual day. I wear a pair of jeans and I black graphic tee with Ariel on the front and a black leather jacket with a pair of converse sneakers. I start to straighten my hair but then I get second thoughts. I wanted something different today because I felt different. I felt like a different Page Daniels from the one I was yesterday. I pull out a pair of scissors and cut myself some bangs that cover my forehead and give them a curl. I tie my hair in a pair of twin tails; my hair is so long that they reach my hips. I look in the mirror quite pleased with my work. I am only there for a short while until Aaron comes running in.
"Good Morning, Page" he says as he kneels next to me in my chair at the mirror. "I expected you to sleep in today."
"Nah, I wanted to get around still. Also my mother has a lot of wedding preparation that she says I must attend to."
"How do you feel?" he asks concern washing over his princely features.
"I'm fine, Aaron. There is no need to worry about me."
"How can you say that? Of course I am going to worry about my little princess. What kind of finance would I be if I didn't worry about my wife-to-be," he says affectionately kissing my cheek. I grow ridged at Vincent's pet name for me. I don't like the way it sounds when he says it. I don't the sound of me being his wife-to-be either. He catches my sudden change in mood and says "Is something wrong? Did I hurt you?"
I shake my head and say "No you're fine, Aaron. Weren't we going to go riding today?" I wanted to change the subject. I had quite enjoyed riding and with the wedding being so close I wanted some me time.
He doesn't seem to believe me but says anyway, "Well we were but I don't think you are in any condition to do that. I think you should just take it easy, Page."
"Oh don't be such a grandma! We can go when all of my morning stuff is finished," I say as I begin to walk out of my room.
He follows behind me and says, "Page, I really don't think this is a good idea. I mean you just got stabbed yesterday."
"And I was healed on the same day. I want to go. Take me, please."
He smiles and says, "I can't say no to those eyes. Okay, I'll take you when you're finished. Meet me in the library."
"Fantastic!" I say.
He seems to be in a better mood today as well. As we walk he suddenly comments "Did you change your hair? I like it."
"Thanks, I decided on something different today," I say as we continue our walk.
"I see that. You didn't wear a dress today either."
"I thought it would be too uncomfortable. I used to dress like this back home. I mean, in the real world."
"What's that like now? I've only been a few times," he asks curiously.
"I don't know. Years have probably passed there. I have no idea what it is like now. I only spent a good portion of my youth there before Mab came for me. I've been in the Tir Na Nog since I was ten or twelve. I forget which. I'm sixteen now, Aaron, it's probably a totally different world. Who knows how it has changed since then," I say then thinking of my passed days on Earth as we make our way to our various destinations.
"Do you miss it?" he says stopping.
"Yeah, sometimes. But this world has allowed me to see and do things I never imagined possible," I say thinking of Vincent which brings a smile to my face. If I had never come to this world I would never have met him. What a sad existence that would have been.
"Well, I'm glad you came. I'll see you soon, Page," he catches me off guard as he kisses my lips. It's short and unwelcome. He smiles and walks away before I can protest. I shake my head then continue on my business of the morning. The morning was filled with me deciding a theme and colors for the wedding and telling the designers what I wanted the dress to look like. Having all of this sent to the Queen and then having her disapprove and make changes to everything. I didn't care though. If I couldn't be married to the one I wanted then this ceremony matter not to me.
When all of that was over I went to the library to wait for Aaron. He was already there when I showed up. I guess his duties weren't as plentiful as mine. He was sitting in a chair writing in a notebook.
"What are you doing?" I asked. I knew he had no interest in poetry.
"Writing my vows," he answered as if it were obvious. I had no idea we were writing vows to each other.
"Oh! Okay."
He turns to me and smiles as he says "You haven't even started yours have you?"
I shake my head in the negative. "I didn't know we were writing them."
"Well yeah, I thought it would add a little personality." I wonder about this. He knows how I feel about him. Why would he deliberately make me lie like this?
"Can I see yours?" I have to know what he is saying about me and how he plans on faking our love.
"No. Not until that day. I want it to be a surprise," he says as he closes the book and places it in a locked drawer in the library. I'll have that picked in no time, I think to myself.
"I'm sure you'll have something soon, Page. Are you ready to go?"
"Yeah. Let's go." We walk out together as usual. As I mount my horse I start to think. Aaron is much too happy for my liking. I guess with the wedding so close he has a new found sense of security. I'm going to prove him wrong.
Like before I soon set out ahead of him and my horse and I ride as fast as we can. I can no longer see Aaron behind me and I slow down as I realize I have lost him. We go into a nice trot. I spend a moment taking in the forest around me. It seems so beautiful to me then. I look down at my black stallion affectionately. I've become quite fond of him these past few rides. "I think I shall name you…" I say aloud as I think of a good name that would best fit this noble steed. "I shall call you Johnathan." As I say his name he neighs with vigor and I laugh. "Alright Johnathan, let's go!" I say and he goes once more into a gallop down the path as we go farther and farther into the wood. Soon we come to the maze and fountain where Vincent and I have spent many a day together. I walk to the fountain and stand before this frozen sculpture remembering my time with him.
"New hairdo today, Page," I hear my love call.
I turn and say "Do you like it?"
He smiles and says "Yes it's adorable, my darling." He take me in his arms then and kisses me repeatedly. "Is Aaron with you?" he says when we part.
"I lost him on my ride over. I just came to clear my head. What are you doing here?"
"Same as you. I had some thinking to do."
"What were you thinking about?"
"You as always," he says kissing my nose.
I smile feeling very flattered. "I have someone I want you to meet?" I take his hand and lead him to my new companion. "This is my new horse Johnathan," I say as I pet his mane.
Vincent reaches up and does the same, "Hello Johnathan. Is Aaron going to be coming for you soon, Page?"
"Yeah maybe. He's probably already worried about where I galloped off too."
"Well then, get lost with me," he says taking my hand and leading me down into the maze. I laugh and follow him as we run quickly turning corner after corner. After a while I really do feel lost. We stop and I find myself pinned with my back against a maze wall with his arms wrapped firmly around me. He takes my face in his hands and kisses me deeply. I couldn't help but smile through it. I wrap my arms around him as he pulls me closer. I found then that nothing could bring us close enough. The longer we were together the more I wanted. Gosh, his lips are soft! Just like his eyes they are warm too. I find myself growing warmer and warmer under his touch as I let him explore me. I could melt! Then, I couldn't have enough of him. The longer we kissed the deeper it got the more I wanted of him. If he had asked I would have given him all of me then. He pulls away from me and in response to the disappointed look on my face he says "I didn't want to lose my self-control with you, not yet anyway, my dear," he says with a wink and a smile. I nod and smile awkwardly. I didn't mind losing mine! I think. I'm glad then that my thoughts are my own.
"Page!" I hear Aaron's voice call. I sigh and start to walk toward it but Vincent pulls my hand and whispers, "Run!" in my ear. I do as he asks and we run farther into the maze, away from the voice daring to pull us apart.
We turn a corner and I find myself laughing at the rush of adrenaline coursing through me.
"Shush, my little Princess. He'll hear you," Vincent whispers. My name sounds right through his lips and I throw another fit of giggle in my utter joy. He kisses me deeply to keep me silent.
"Page, I know you're in here. Where are you?" I hear Aaron call.
I almost feel bad for running from him. I let my guiltiness go as I realize that I don't mind because the more I am running from him the longer I can stay with Vincent. We get far enough that we no longer hear his calls and take a rest on a near-by bench. Vincent sits down and I lean against his shoulder as he wraps his arms around me. I'm still giddy from our epic getaway and so is he as we can barely contain our laugher.
"I love you, Vincent," I say running a hand through his black hair.
"I love you too, my sweet girl," he says softly as he brings my lips to meet his. When we part he says "I want to always be as happy and utterly in love with you as I am now."
"I'm sure one day we will be this happy, my love. I'll make sure of it."
"What will we do, Page? You marry him in two days. I'd hate to see you married to someone you don't love," he says twisting one of my twin tail around his fingers. .
"I don't know, darling. The only thing I can do now I try to talk him out of wedding me. But that I think is a fool's errand."
"You might as well try."
"I suppose. Do you have any ideas?"
He thinks for a moment and says "None now but come to me tomorrow and maybe I will. I don't want to sit around though."
"Neither do I but I feel kind of hopeless."
"Always have hope, darling. Problems tend to have their own way of figuring themselves out. I'll have a plan. I'm sure of it."
"I trust you."
"You know I really like your hair like this," he says suddenly changing the subject.
"Perhaps I'll wear it like this more often," I say kissing his cheek. He smiles down at me. How I would miss his warm and bright smile. I don't think I can ever love him more than I do right now. My heart felt as if it were to burst. I smiled and came closer to him so that I could lay my head on his chest and listen to his heartbeat. It was steady; which was in contrast to mine which was beating rapidly. "Vincent," I said after a while.
"Yes."
"Tell me a poem, please."
"Okay, this is a new one I wrote. I call it "Me and You."
"As I held you in my arms for the first time, I made a promise just for you
I'll always love you
I'll love you forever
It will always be just me and you
And don't u forget
I will catch u when u fall
U can bet on it
It will always be just me and you
You'll never know how much I love you
And that's a promise too
Never question my love for you
Because I'll always love you
I'll watch you smile
And comfort you as u cry
It will always be just me and you
And now you realize
I'll love you forever
And you won't forget
I'll catch you as you fall
You now bet
You'll never know how much I love you
Now you know that my promise is true
For it will always be just me and you"
"That was wonderful!" I say when he finishes.
"Do you really like it?"
"Yeah I love it. It was beautiful," I say as I reach up and kiss him sweetly. He pulls me closer to him as he deepens our kiss. He kisses me long and hard. I feel that hotness from earlier rising. Its ended when a voice breaks us apart.
"Page!" and angry voice yells as it tears me away from him. "I have been looking for you everywhere!" Aaron says grabbing my wrist and forcibly pulls me from Vincent's arms.
"Hey! Be gentle with her, Aaron!" Vincent says standing now.
"You weren't and neither was the tip of your sword," Aaron spits back at him.
Vincent is taken back but not out. I see hurt over his face but he recovers and says "She has forgiven me for that accident and I would very much like to continue my time with my fiancée."
I smile at his words. It is the first time I have ever heard him call me that. I see the glee in his eyes when he catches my reaction. I try to reach for him but Aaron tugs on my wrist and pulls me close to him.
Aaron wraps his arms around my waist as he asks "Page, I thought we were taking a ride together. You were supposed to spend time with me." He looked hurt.
"I just wanted to go riding. I didn't expect to meet Vincent here," I explain. "But now that I have I want to stay with him a little longer."
Aaron's eyes go wide and I see he wasn't expecting my answer, "I have to decline your request. I shouldn't have taken you out in the first place. You have an injury. It was a bad move on my part. We should go," he says as he takes my hand and starts leading me away.
"Aaron! Did you not hear her? She wants to stay with me," Vincent says running after us.
"Not everyone gets what they want in this world," Aaron yells back.
Soon we are out of the maze and as Aaron is hoisting me up on Jonathan, Vincent comes out and sees us about to depart.
"Page! Don't leave just yet," he says his eyes pleading.
"Vincent I…" I try to explain but Aaron interrupts me.
"I'm sorry but neither of us can stay," he says as he mounts his horse. "Come, we must go!"
"You know how to find me," I add as I gallop away. Aaron follows me close behind. Soon he catches up to me and stops his horse in front of mine blocking my path.
"What was that about, Page?" he asks irritation coating his tone.
"I don't understand what you mean," I say wanting to avoid conversation with him. He forced me away even after I gave a request to stay. I have nothing for him.
"I'm talking about you and Vincent," he says obviously not wanting to let it go.
"I wasn't expecting him to be there," I say honestly.
"Then why did you run off so quickly during our ride?"
"I wanted a minute alone. I needed to think about some things."
"What things?"
"Nothing of importance to you," I say and before he can say more I move around him and gallop away towards the castle.
"Page, wait!" I hear him call. I've too far by then to even think about turning around.
He catches up to me as I but Jonathan in the stable and he puts away his horse as well.
Soon he walks over to me and says raising his voice at me "That wasn't fair. You never let me finish talking to you before you just run away!"
"Yeah, it's a bad habit of mine. Isn't a good quality for a wife is it? After all, communication is everything in a marriage," I say angrily walking back towards the castle.
He brings me close to him and says calmly "We could work on that."
I push him away and with great frustration say "I don't want to work on it. I don't want to be married. I don't want you, Aaron." I regret the words as soon as they escape my mouth. He looks like a little boy on the verge of tears then. I sigh and storm away. I'm angry at him and me both.
(1 more day until wedding)
Today is a day of business. I get up and make today another casual day. I decide upon a pair of dark blue jeans and a plain forest green T-shirt with the quote "What lies behind us, what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us," – Ralph Waldo Emerson," written in fancy script. Once again I pair this outfit with my leather jacket and the twin tails of yesterday.
The majority of the day was spent making wedding preparations. I even had my fitting for my wedding dress. It had yet to be fully completed and they wouldn't let me see it until the day of the wedding so I have no idea what it looks like. I also had a cake testing with Aaron which was pretty much the only thing Aaron and I did together for the wedding. We didn't talk much both of us being highly upset with the other. I was allowed for once to venture outside the castle without Aaron and rode with Jonathan out to the wedding site later in the day when all the other details had been settled. I guess Mab much like Aaron felt pretty good about her chances this close to the wedding. It was to be held on a neutral ground between the Summer Court and the Winter Court. I sat there and stared at it a few moments. Most girls could look at their wedding being prepared with excitement. I looked at mine with utter dread. I couldn't be happy about my wedding because it wasn't the wedding I wanted and with whom I wanted. Jonathan and I ride for a long time that day. We stop when we see Aaron sitting in the glade once more reading "The Great Gatsby."
I hop off Jonathan and make my way to him. He barely acknowledges me when I sit down. "Hi"
He looks up, marks his page and says "Hey." I must have really pissed him off. I know because I was not greeted with a smile or a kiss or any other sign of affection I would have pushed away. I'm delighted at first because I think maybe he's given up but then he says "We have one more day left. I'd like to spend the rest of it with you."
"What does it matter? You'll have a forever to spend with me if you get your way," I say bitterly.
"Have you seen the venue?" he says changing the subject and looking back down at his book.
"Yeah, it makes me want to gag," I say truthfully.
"You don't like the design?"
"Not really. I guess it's pretty but…there's nothing unique about it. You and I aren't in it. Then again, it may also be because I'm not looking forward to our impending nuptials. I think if we were in it though it would be a mess considering how different we both are. Aaron, do you honestly think we would make a good couple?"
"I would hope so. I thought that you might get used to me. I thought that maybe you would learn to love me. Page, I knew you weren't going to be happy about marrying me from the beginning. I've seen you at every Elysium because we had to dance and all that. You were always so quiet and reserved so I didn't think you would enjoy all the company but I did hope you would get used to it. I wasn't expecting this much protest and fire from you, Ice Princess."
"Not everything is as it seems. That goes for me and you."
"How am I not like you expected?" he says closing his book and staring at me.
"I knew you were a flirt. You proved that true. But I didn't think you cared anything about love or being in love. I also didn't expect you to be so violent and almost like a whining baby as you are. No offense."
"I don't know how you expect me not to take offense to that, Page," he says annoyed.
"You shouldn't. I don't mean it in a mean way. I'm just being honest," I state simply.
"Well, there's nothing you nor I can do about the wedding now. It's happening."
"Unfortunately," I say starting to stand up but he grabs my hand before I can.
"Page, what do I have to do to get you to like me? Who do I have to be? At this point I'd do anything," he asks sounding defeated.
"There's nothing you can do. I don't want you to be anything other than yourself. I might have liked you better had you been yourself from the beginning," I say truthfully. Yes, dislike him because he's getting in the way of my happiness but I would have liked him more if he hadn't done a bunch of other things on top of that.
"I've been someone else so long I don't even remember what I'm actually like," he says sounding far away even though he's so close to me. There was a hint of something else in his voice something I had never heard from him before. I wish a could rewind time to figure out what it was but whatever he was feeling then passed to quickly for me to catch it.
"That sounds like a personal problem to me."
"Do you know how hard it is to be someone else all the time? I change constantly and for what? You never seem to like any of the character I put before you not even the one I made especially for you. Page, I don't know if you understand this but its utterly frustrating being with you. I try to win you every day but every day I am met with nothing but your sarcasm and your scornful eyes and many other verbal abuses that you throw at me. I keep coming back like a beaten puppy eager to please you because I'm so loyal. You're killing me!"
"I didn't ask for this, Aaron!" I say growing angry. How dare he make this my fault? I didn't ask for him to force himself on me every day. I stated from the beginning that I didn't want him and yet like an annoying fly he keeps coming back to me. He keeps hovering over me and coming for me hoping that maybe he'll land someplace preferable but he never does because I always swat him away. My aim was to squish him but unfortunately he's indestructible. I tell him exactly that.
"I might as well be squished for all the affection you give me. I wonder why I even want to marry you sometimes."
"If you could get out of it would you?" I ask. I know his answer may seem obvious on the outside but I think with the way I have been treating him he can't still have affection for me. He must want out. He seems like he's on the verge.
"No, I wouldn't. Why do you look so surprised?"
"I turn you away at every turn! What could possibly make you want to go through with this still? It would bring nothing but misery to us both."
"I have my reasons."
"And those are?"
"I would tell you but they come at a price," he replies a mischievous look entering his eyes.
"I have a feeling your prices are much too high and I won't be willing to pay."
"It's not much," he says grinning.
"What do you want?" I ask curiously.
"A kiss," he says simply.
"I knew it would be too much."
"Gosh, Page it isn't that big of a deal. It's just one kiss. I don't want a regular kiss though. I want you to kiss me like you kissed Vincent on that bench in the maze."
"I refuse to do such a vile thing," I say disgusted with him.
"Is being with me really that harsh of a fate?" he asks looking like a wounded puppy.
"I don't want to hurt your feelings, Aaron but yes. Don't give me that look. It's not for reasons you think." I take a deep breath and say "I just…I just want to be happy. Vincent makes me happy and so I want more than anything to be with him. If I'm with you then…that ruins that dream. Aaron, I care about you but I don't love you. I can't love you."
"You don't show me that you care about me," he says sadly.
"I give you an inch and you take a mile. I wanted to be friends but you couldn't handle that."
"I just want your love," he says desperately. There he goes again! He always talks of this love he has for me but I don't see it. If anything I think he's forcing himself on me to make himself fall in love with me. I hate it when the word comes from his mouth. Every time he abuses it I feel that it loses something.
"My love?! Have you ever even been in love, Aaron? I mean real love, not that second-hand emotion you feel for me that you dare to call love. I mean passionate love. The kind of love where you would willingly throw yourself in front of a bus for the other person kind of love."
"You threw yourself in front of a blade for me," he says so quietly I barely comprehend that word even came from his mouth. "Why would you do a thing like that if you didn't love me?"
"Like I have said over and over again. I don't love you but I do care about you! You mean something to me. I didn't want to see you get hurt."
He smiles bitterly then and says "You baffle me. I don't understand you, Page. Not at all. I try to get you to love me and you turn away from me at everything I do. I kiss you, tell you how wonderful you are and I take part in the things you like but I get nothing from it. I think you hate me for most of the time we're together. You have said that you hate me even. Then I get your affection for a while but lose it because you accused me of being fake when I was for the most part sincere. I think you despise me now. But then you come back and throw yourself in front of a blade meant to end me. What do you call that?"
"Not love!"
"This is exactly my point! Page, I feel toyed with when I'm with you! We get married tomorrow. I've been practically throwing myself at you from the very beginning. I shower you with all of my affection. Unlike you there is no one else I want Page, I'd give you anything and everything you ever wanted. I would have very well jumped in front of that blade for you. I love you, Page. I love you so much. It's not just me being dramatic or making things up. I have actual genuine feelings for you. Then I found out about Vincent. How much you still seek him out even though you're forbidden to see him makes me jealous. I see the way you look at him. It's like he's the only person in your world. You let him be close to you without any protest. I'm convinced you would do anything for him. I wish you would have that kind of passion for me. I saw you two before in the maze. He read you that gosh awful poem and…how you praised him for it. I saw how you kissed him. Page, is it wrong of me to want that from you? Is it wrong to need it?" he says his tone very solemn near the end.
I feel drained by this conversation. I can't just keep yelling back and forth with him. I have to reach him somehow. I have to make him realize what I already have. I decide to do this backwards. I'll indulge his farfetched thoughts for a few moments and then meet them with the truth.
"Convince me, Aaron right here and now. Why do you need me? Why is my love so important to you?" I say.
"Will you take what I say into consideration? I've been trying to get you to understand this whole time but you write me off before I can even say anything of substance. Will you listen to me and I mean really listen to me? If you care about me, show it now."
"I'll listen to you. I won't immediately push you away. I'll give you a chance for now." He nods satisfied with my answer.
"Okay. Why I want to marry Page Daniels: The Story of Prince Aaron," he takes a deep breath and begins. "In the Summer Court things are great. It's beautiful and warm. I love my home overall. But it's lonely there. I don't have any friends. I have mostly acquaintances. I know that you may think that I am a socialite but I'm not. I know humans suck but Fey are a completely different story. We can't lie but we can still deceive and all I have ever seen in Fey is deception. Therefore I trust no one and I love no one, not even the King and Queen. It's sad but true. They don't interest me at all. My father and I sometimes connect but it's rare. I live a life starved of love and affection. This has made me bitter. Page, I have no one. I mean there is a fellow who goes by the name of Puck and of all my acquaintances he and I are the closest. He's like the court jester after all. He's entertaining but frequently annoying. Anyway, what little interaction I get is meaningless and trivial. I couldn't stand it and it drove me mad sometimes. So I would go to the human world or I used to anyway before it was covered in iron and back then I gained my name as Prince Charming. Being blonde and really good looking works out sometimes. However I'm sad that you didn't find me at all charming which surprised me more than I can say." I roll my eyes and he continues, "I did a lot of dishonorable stuff up there and I haven't been back since. Then, I was once again starved of true emotion from anyone. I had heard the humans talk about love as this wonderful and beautiful thing. They made it sound like their god they cherished it so much. I wanted it, whatever it was. I wanted to feel that which they said could build you up and tear you down all at the same time but they said no matter what it was doing it felt good and in the end you were glad it came. Finding it became my obsession, my addiction. Many girls later, I was still unsatisfied and angry. Angry about everything really. I just hated my life because there was no love in it. Until I saw a young Princess at a ball. She seemed as lonely as I was but I wasn't sure and she obviously had no interest in me or what my life was like. So I pursued her none. That was until I was told I was engaged to this Princess and then it hit me. This is my chance! I thought to myself. I can win her easily! I thought. I was so wrong. Page, you were my chance at love. I wanted to feel it and be in it. I knew what girls were like and I thought you would be similar because you were half-human but that wasn't true either. Nothing about you was to be expected but I wanted to fight for my change, slim chance that may be. Then I found out about Vincent and that's when it got violent. I said I would fight and fight I did. I thought he was new and trying to steal you from me and we couldn't have that. I wouldn't allow it. I love you and you know why I love you. I love the way you smile. You smile with all of your heart and soul and when you're really happy you can see it sparkle in your eyes. You're a wonderful dancer as well. It's like floating because you're so graceful. I think you're absolutely beautiful. Every time I see you my heart beats faster and I think of all the things I could say to make you smile at me, to make you smile because of me, to make you mine," he says wistfully. He looks far away as if he can see a happier version of me than the one standing in front of him. "I just want you to give me a chance. I want you to try to love me so that my love could grow from yours and I could have some returned feeling. You not loving me hurts more than me not having the feeling at all. It sucks because I just…want you so bad and I'd do anything for you. I'm trying to be the perfect lover but now I don't know what you want from me anymore. I'm out of tricks. But I will marry you even if you don't love me you will be company. I just need someone or something to be with me, hold me, love me, kiss me, whatever. Any contact would do at this point. I just can't take feeling empty every day. There have some times when the tip of the Dark Repulser was very inviting but I felt that I had resisted those urges because Fate was leading me to you, Page. I thought you would be the one to love me and I mean really love me. …I was wrong, but this time you can't say no to me. We have to be together. It's not exactly what I want but it will work. That's why I want you, Page. That is why I need you. I just don't want to be alone anymore. That's why I don't understand how you could possibly ask me to turn this away. I can't understand why you would want me to go back to that. I can't go back, Page. I can't. I'll surely die if I go back to the Summer court without you as my wife. I like Melissa because she gave me what I wanted from you. I don't love her though even if she cares for me. She means nothing to me, honestly. I liked it when you would be with me even if it was just as friends. I imagined that being married to you would be like that. I imagined that you would soon fall in love with me and forget Vincent after we were married and there being nothing either of us could do about the union. For a time I thought it possible for you to love me. When we would hang out you seemed to like me. I was being real with you for the most part and I like reading to you even though, as I'm sure you saw, I'm not the best reader when I read aloud. I just…wanted some connection with you and books seemed to be the best one. I liked reading when I got to read to you and when I could talk with you about it. You seemed to like me a little then. Was any of that real, Page?"
I had never pitied a creature so much as I did Aaron then. He was right. It would be cruel of me to send him back to his old life. I worry that he really would hurt himself if I don't marry him tomorrow. I start to think about him and his feelings for a moment. I can think of no way for him to not be lonely anymore without me marrying him which would make him happy but would cause me much pain.
I realize that in these thoughts I hesitated too long and say, "Yeah it was. You seemed to be a good guy somewhere inside you." This was probably one of the few true statements about Aaron. He was a nice person sometimes but tended to be a brat who throws large violent fits. Everyone has flaws I guess.
"You seemed like a cool girl. That's why I love you. I feel like I do, Page. I'm happy being with you. Even if you don't want to be with me."
"You see how this conversation consists of us saying what we 'seemed like.' Aaron, that's not how marriage should be. That's not what love is. I have a lot of love for Vincent and I'm not in love with who he seems like. I'm in love with who he is. I don't love him just because he likes reading and he's a good writer and he's really handsome. All of those things are true but I love him because of something he has in him much deeper than all those things. I love him on a level I can't even describe. I don't know; maybe it's the way he looks at me or his smile, I love his smile. It's the most beautiful thing when he smiles. I don't even know why I love him so much now. I've loved him so long I can't even remember exactly why. I guess now it's everything about him, right down to his very essence which I'm sure we now share. Doesn't that sound wonderful? Being a part of the same essence. I feel like he is a part of mine. I wonder if I am of his to."
"Aaron, I love him for so many things. Mostly, because of how he makes me feel when I'm with him. I think love should be so deep that mere words can't even describe it. I think it should be something that will last. Vincent and I, if Fate is good to us, may live forever. I want to be in love with him every day of that forever. I want it to never end. I want it to last as long as I'm sure both of the Courts will. I hope it goes to an infinity beyond infinity. That's what I feel for him. Can you honestly say that about me?"
We sit there together in silence for a moment. The only sound being Jonathan growing restless as he trots around the glade and the wind wiping past us, cold and biting. I find comfort in it but I can see him shivering.
He continues to think for a moment longer before he says quietly, "I've never heard you talk about him that way. It's beautiful." He just stands up and begins walking out of the glade.
"Wait! You didn't answer my question," I yell after him.
He turns back to me and smiles "If you pay my fee maybe I'll answer it." When he sees me shake my head his grin grows wider and he keeps walking away from me.
I hop on Jonathan and ride pass him to the castle. When I get there I lay in my bed and wonder, what's plan C? The answer never comes to me.
A/N: Wow that was long wasn't it. I know that this has to be the longest chapter so thank you for bearing with me as I write this my count says that it is 11,732 words and counting. So we have done a lot here people. Thank You Alex Wolfe for sending me your poem which I named and edited for the stories sake. I loved it and I felt it had the perfect words for Vincent to say to Page. Thank you. I really wanted to develop Aaron a little more I had been meaning to show why he's so adamant about being with Page. Aaron has issues. So let me know how you feel about him now. Also when Page is talking about how much she loves Vincent is my favorite paragraph in the entire story. I loved writing that and was so proud of myself when I finished. I wish I had a love like that. If I ever do fall in love I wish it to be like Page and Vincent's or like my OTP Hazel and Augustus from The Fault in Our Stars. Anyway, the next chapter shall be our last. I'll ask now so that I can get your minds thinking about it. What would you guys say about a sequel to this? It would be another AU but with Meghan Chase in it. I was thinking it over and had some ideas for one and if you have any ideas that would be cool so just leave a review. Maybe you guys just want a series of one shot based off their lives after the story. I might do that too. This is all if you even want more stories about them from me so please review and let me know. I also take request for any other story you want to see made a reality. There are a list of my fandoms on my profile and if it's a book most likely I have read it so throw it my way if I'm not familiar with it I will read and make a fanfiction. I love books and writing; both are my life. Oh! For you otaku's out there who watch Sword Art Online did you catch what I did with Aaron and Vincent's swords during my fighting scene? Hint: Look up Kirito's sword description on google. Also if you want more SAO from me I have a one shot called Akihiko Kayaba's Dream: My Castle so please check that out. My bestie and follower Shiroi07 has a SAO fanfiction called The Story of Suzuka Tachibana: A Sword Art Online Story if you want to check that out. Did anyone like the fight scene I don't feel like I did a good job with it but let me know what you think. In conclusion, thank you all for sticking with me this long on my first fanfiction ever. I'm sad to see it end but all good things must come to an end. I'll see you next time for our LAST chapter! Please review and tell me what you think, I really appreciate your input. Thanks from Maria and Page.