A/N: I appreciate all the suggestions and reviews! I hope you all are happy with what I'm doing with the characters. R&R! :)

Chapter 6

After Rachel had closed the door, Quinn finished getting dressed while tears streamed down her face. She didn't know what to think anymore, so she just walked out to the courtyard and took a calming breath, knowing that she wouldn't be able to do her work while focusing on what transpired between her and Rachel. When she finally walked into the forge Sam greeted her with a smile. "Good morning, Quinn," he said as she went over and grabbed her hammer, rag, and other items she would need for her first project.

She looked at the boy and managed to crack a soft smile. "Hello, Sam."

"Hey, where did you run off to yesterday? You were gone for quite a while."

"Yeah, I'm sorry about that by the way, things just went crazy."

"It was no trouble, but is that going to happen often?"

Sighing, she dejectedly shook her head. "No, it won't happen again."

"Are you alright, Quinn? Is there something you'd like to talk about?" He approached her and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"I'm alright. Just tired, I didn't get a whole lot of sleep last night."

Scratching the back of his neck he said, "So I guess, that means you won't be up for a ride in the country when our shift ends tonight? I found a path the other day that leads to an extraordinary view of the kingdom. It's beautiful. And who knows, it might help clear up whatever seems to bother you."

Chewing on the inside of her lip, she thought about it. Sam was a nice guy and she could easily start a relationship with him. He had all the qualities she hoped for in a man, if her soul mate turned out to be a male. And this was a step to moving on from Rachel since Rachel was still going to be with Finn. She might as well, right?

"Sure, Sam, I'd love to accompany you."

A bright smile lit up his face. "Great, I guess I'll meet you at the stables when the sun is beginning to sink behind the mountains?"

Nodding, Quinn smiled, "Sounds good, Sam. Now, how about we get to work?"

"Yeah, that'd be good huh?" He chuckled.

Smiling she shook her head and began to continue the work she started yesterday.

The sun was high in the sky when the sound of horses broke through her concentration. Looking up she saw soldiers on horses and a couple of carriages following. Holding her breath she saw the door of the first carriage open and reveal a tall, brunette boy with a dopey smile. He had a knife on his belt where a sword should be and a long red cape around his shoulders. His sleeves and clothes puffy and all around he looked like a rich douche who thinks everything is his for the taking. This was the guy Rachel is in love with? He didn't even ride his own horse for Heaven's sake! But sure enough she saw the palace door open and the small brunette run out and fling her arms around him.

Watching the scene before her broke her more than she thought possible. And tears welled in her eyes as she saw the smile on the brunette's face when he whispered something into her ear. Shaking her head, she tore her eyes away from the scene for she couldn't handle it anymore. It was too much too soon. But she couldn't help it, her eyes drifted back up and when they did they landed her soft, brown eyes. Her eyes fell from Rachel's and landed on their hands that were intertwined. His hand the size of her head, was more like a paw than an actual hand. Only when they walked inside was she able to take her off the duo.

"You looking at the prince or the princess?" A soft voice asked next to her.

Jumping she turned to her left and saw a bright eyed blonde staring at her. Innocence clear as day in her eyes, and face and dress dirty. Looking around she saw Sam and Puck were nowhere to be seen, probably taking their break. Turning back to the blonde she shook her head and said, "I don't know what you're speaking of. Now, excuse me while I get back to work."

"You can't lie to me, Quinn. I saw you in the stables yesterday."

That grabbed Quinn's attention. "First off, how do you know my name? And secondly, no one was in the stables when I was."

"Everyone knows of the new blacksmith, Quinn Fabray, the savior of Princess Rachel. And I was most certainly in the stables, considering I work there. I was sitting with one of the horses during my lunch break, and it had eaten half of my sandwich by the time Leroy had shown up and broke you and Rachel up."

"Who are you?"

"My name is Brittany S. Pierce, and please don't tell the cat, Lord Tubbington that I shared my lunch with a horse. He gets quite jealous."

Quinn twisted her mouth and furrowed her eye brows. This girl was certainly different, and had a very special aroma surrounding her. Quinn was about to tell the girl to go away when her heart ached at the thought. She didn't know what was happening but she smiled kindly at the slightly taller blonde. "I won't tell, Lord Tubbington. You're secret's safe with me."

"As is yours."

Just then a tan-skin brunette appeared in the entryway of the forge. She looked annoyed but smiled when she saw the blue eyed girl. "I swear, if I have to listen to the princess talk about Finn one more time, I'm going to kill the boy myself."

Hearing that, Quinn's heart pinged with hurt but she forced it down, chuckled and said, "I'll help."

The girl turned and looked at the blacksmith and a smirk appeared on her face. "So you're Quinn Fabray? Wow, I bet it sucks to be you right now," she muttered.

"Fuck off."

"Santana be nice." Brittany chirped from Quinn's side.

The girl, Santana, nodded at the taller blonde then looked at Quinn and shrugged. "I'm sorry; I get mean when I get annoyed. And being Rachel's Hand Maiden, it happens a lot."

"It's okay. Just don't talk badly about her, alright?"

"So it's true then? Britts was right?" Santana asked as she stepped closer to the blondes.

"Yeah. It's true." Quinn sighed. "It's true and she still chooses him." She had no idea why she was opening up to these people who just approached her out of nowhere, but she was. "It doesn't matter anymore. If she's truly happy with him than it doesn't matter."

"It does matter, Quinn. She loves you and you love her that matters. You can't just give up on her and what you two have. Not if you love her. People in love never give up." Brittany smiles as she looks over at Santana, whom returns the smile.

"I'm not giving up; I just don't have a chance with her. She's in love with Finn, and she will be happy with him, and she won't be killed because he's male and she's female. And if he makes her happy, and takes care of her. I don't want to ruin her chance of a happy life. I love her enough to not want to spoil that for her."

"So if you found out she isn't happy and doesn't want to marry him, you'll fight for her, I mean really fight for her?" Santana asks.

"Of course. But she and I are over, and I'm going out with Sam this evening."

"Sam's a dork; you can do better than him."

"I like him." Quinn argued.

"But not like you like Rachel." It's true; she didn't feel the same for him as he most likely did for her. Her heart still yearned for Rachel and the love she once returned.

"It's complicated."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever blondie. I should head back. This conversation isn't over." Santana said as she motioned for Brittany to come with her.

Quinn stood there and tried to understand what just happened. Two girls she hasn't even seen before had just walked up to her and openly stated that they know about her and Rachel. And most importantly, they didn't seem fazed by it at all; in fact Quinn could've sworn she saw something between the two girls. Sighing, she walked over to the barrel of water, cupped her hands and splashed her face with the liquid.

As the water trailed down her face and neck, she braced her arms against the wood and leaned over. Thoughts about her last conversation with Rachel then the girls plagued her mind. They were right of course; she should fight for the small brunette. She should at least try to win her heart. Finn was a complete moron so she would have a shot right? Rachel told her she loved her and that she'd rather marry her over him. Shaking her head and running her hand over her face and through her hair she stood up.

She heard a soft clearing of a throat, she already knew who was there and she dreaded turning around. Knowing she couldn't deny her she turned around and saw Rachel standing next to Finn who was twice her size. Quinn looked at Rachel and silently begged her to leave but before the girl could make a move, Finn walked into the forge and took a look around. "So you're the famous Quinn Fabray?" His voice made her want to vomit a little bit, it was annoying and she wanted to beat his face in. Stopping in front of the blonde he quirk a dopey smile and outstretched his hand. "I owe you a great debt of gratitude for saving Rachel from those two goons the other day."

Glancing at Rachel, she swallowed down her disgust and shook his hand. "I'm just glad she is alright." She casted a small smile to the brunette and dropped Finn's hand.

"Rachel told me you were the best blacksmith around," he began as he looked at the sword Quinn was currently working on. Quinn's eyes kept fluttering back to said girl, Rachel had a small smile on her face as their eyes locked. "You'll have to give me some tips." He motioned to the almost finished sword. "I'm not so great with a sword but I am an expert with my knives."

"Maybe," Quinn said her eyes still on the princess. "If it'll make you happy, My Lord." She wasn't talking to the boy, more so to Rachel, whose heart started beating faster.

"Great. Tomorrow at dawn then," he asks.

"Sure."

"Great, looking forward to it," he smiled.

Rachel stepped up, placed a warm hand to his arm and whispered something in his ear. He then bid Quinn ado saying that he had to talk to Leroy about something and walked back to the castle leaving Rachel and Quinn alone in the forge. Turning to Quinn Rachel said, "You didn't have to do that, Quinn."

"I know. But I could see you wanted me too. You brought him here for a reason. So if it makes you happy…" She was cut off when Rachel threw herself into Quinn's arms and hugged her. She was taken back for a second before she returned the hug, pouring all the love she held for the brunette as she whispered into her ear, "I'm not giving up on us, Rachel. I'm sorry for what I said this morning, but I love you too much to just stand by. So, if I have to be nice and teach Finn how to use a bloody sword, I will, because I know that it'll make you happy. I'll do whatever it is you wish of me. Because I love you."

Rachel didn't know what to say to that, so instead she just held tighter to the blacksmith and smiled. "Thank you, Quinn."

"Just, please don't say yes tonight. Please." When she felt the brunette nodded she hugged smiled and kissed her head. "Thank you. Thank you so much, Rachel. And I hope you don't choose him in the end."

Pulling away Rachel met her eyes and asked, "Does this mean you forgive me?"

Quinn nodded. "Yes, only if you forgive me as well."

Shaking her head Rachel replied, "There's nothing to forgive." She then wrapped her arms around Quinn once more. And for the first time since her eyes fell on her, Quinn felt that she might have a chance.

A/N: What do you think? Suggestions? What would you all like to see more of? Leave your thoughts or shoot me a PM!