I'm really sorry for the delay, people. A lot of pressing things to do.

I hope it is of your liking.

Nanny Fair Tale

Chapter 8: What's in a name?

King Maxwell was so anxious to talk to Niles he could barely wait for the doors of the main room to close. 'So, what have you discovered?'

The clever knight frowned, realizing something was amiss and already knowing half the truth. 'What about the other subject that required my attention? Shouldn't we deal with that before talking about a woman we already know what wants?'

'Oh, I made it up. I wanted you to tell me the news. You were with her too long'.

His suspicions confirmed, Niles suppressed an exasperated sigh. 'Have crossed your mind I could be making some important discovery at the point when you interrupted me… Sir?'

'Was you?'

'We'll never know!'

'You're saying you didn't discover anything?'

'What I'm saying is that it is not wise to interrupt an interrogation'.

'It's the second time you tell me I did something you don't consider wise, in just one morning. Is there something wrong with you?'

Niles turned his glance to a nearby wall in order to hide a strange feeling that was rising within him, because the question suggested there was no possibility of something wrong with the King, and it made him feel deeply unsettled. 'No, Sir. I just think I could have gone further with my questions if you had given me time enough to follow my planned strategy'.

Maxwell went to sit on his throne. 'I'm sure I didn't interrupt anything relevant. Never forget a King has his own blessings, and God is guiding my actions. I can never be wrong'.

Niles sensed the danger in the declaration and decided not to comment it. 'She is a witch. She represents various people and beliefs and just wishes to convince you that the forest should be open to visitors, no matter their interests in it'.

'But that's an absurd!'

Niles turned his eyes to the King. 'Do you really think so?'

Shock was written all over Maxwell's face, and Niles didn't know if it was luck or terrible fate that Fran arrived with the children that exact moment, and turned the tense conversation into a collection of funny stories about their time together, creating easy smiles in the faces of those usually sad kids.

In fact, he didn't want to discuss the matter of the forest, right now. He needed to think things over without the fierce reactions of the King.

Maybe the distraction was for the better, after all: he liked those children, and seeing how Fran was being good to them could warm Maxwell's heart to the idea of strange woman who wandered in the forests…

Niles excused himself after some niceties and could feel all eyes on his back while he was exiting the room: Fran's worried ones; the children's confused ones; the King's suspicious ones.

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The Clever Knight spent all the morning organizing some battle items in the Castle, hoping the hard work would help him to calm down and think.

Unfortunately, he was still restless at noon, and didn't feel like having lunch with the Royal Family. He decided to go for a walk, because his mind seemed to be denying him the right to understand his own position in this situation.

Once he was out of the Castle, Niles realized the day was a bit cold and the sun was not in the sky, what made him think there was no light in any part of his life, in that precise moment: he could see no way to solve the dilemma he was in.

There was little gain in denying the facts: he was in love with a mysterious woman, who made him question the loyalty his family had taught him to give to the head of the Kingdom. He counted on the light of his intelligence to guide him through this maze of ideas and opinions, but felt like something more alike clairvoyance would be the only way out…

Niles walked quickly, trying to create a pace that helped him to concentrate.

His father had been a loyal servant, as his grandfather; why would he be different?

To be sincere, he had always felt different. Once, when he was a boy, he even asked his father why he should remain a servant for Maxwell, if it was clear he was better prepared to make decisions than him…

His father was a very decent man, and explained how even the most brilliant Kings needed people with great capacity to help them, and how Niles' position was worth respect and consideration, even if it was socially demeaning, in some circumstances.

Niles decided not to question destiny, and made a life of working hard for the Royal Family, protecting them and their territory. He took care of making some fame of his own, but never thought of his name being above the King's name, as he had seen some nobles do.

He never questioned his path in life… Even when he knew just his righteous mind and firm grip had stopped the King from making stupid decisions… For example, when he convinced Maxwell he should not execute every member of the deceased Queen's family just because some nobles told him they were all witches and wicked magicians…

Niles had considered himself happy when he managed to simply make sure all of those still mourning people were safely guided to the borders of the reign, and not executed. If it was to happen again, he was not sure he would have the necessary calm to discuss the matter with the King without letting show how disgusting the idea of killing people for biased assumptions is to him.

It was not clear if he could remain in this role of acceptance and submission anymore. He didn't have peace of mind, because the notions of right and wrong were dislocating themselves and occupying other places in his mind: the right actions were not always what the King decided, and this was an astounding notion.

Niles noticed he had taken many turns while walking, as if he knew where he was going even without thinking of it.

Now that he had arrived, he finally discovered what was it he was looking for; the place where he had hope to find the light he searched.

The rural area.

There he saw the peasants and their families, working hard to maintain not only themselves, but the soldiers, knights and nobles of the Castle.

Niles walked a bit more and recognized some of the boys from that morning, greeted them and started a conversation about crops. Soon he was invited to observe some of their daily activities – and soon he was happily taking part in them.

He saw himself engrossed in a series of novelties: he helped the people in some of the hardest activities; he had lunch and nice conversation with them; he discussed alternatives to better their lives; he met some really old and wise and funny people, who made him think of Miss Fine and her simple and wise ways, and some strong and dependable people, who made him think of his witch...

At the end of the day, he felt tired and refreshed as never.

Now he could say he had discovered what life really was for some people – the people he should recognize as the ones he really had the duty to protect.

While getting back to the Castle, Niles knew he had seen the light, and that it was illuminating some ugly things.

For example: how was it that he had spent the majority of his life thinking of borders and territory and hunting people in forests when there were such more important things to deal with, like social justice and the honest dreams of the less fortunate?

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Now it was night, and Niles was preparing for bed, not happy at all about the day.

Things seemed to be getting out of control, and even if he could pinpoint the problems, he could not see any solution for them.

His always clever mind seemed to be betraying him.

First, there was that strange meeting with the King in the main room. The way Maxwell reinforced his own wisdom in different ways, the way his face showed shock when Niles questioned him…

Then, his walking and the meeting with the people who lived around the Castle.

Seated on his bed, remembering every detail, Niles was worried: when he was walking back to the Castle, excited and worried about the ideas he was having just by being among those honest hard-working people, he noticed there was a soldier observing him at a distance: a boy that was specifically trained to follow and spy suspects.

Niles was surprised that the King had decided to send someone after him.

First, because he never thought he could be aim of distrust.

Second, because he had trained that boy. It was stupid to send him after his own Master…

Stupid, because the boy was obviously feeling bad about the whole thing; even more stupid, because Niles was very good at following people, knew the techniques and could simply hide whatever was it, if he intended to do anything wrong…

Now, besides all the worries with his own new ideas, Niles had to deal with the fact the King became more and more of a fool, once he was faced with possible danger.

And, of course, there was that dinner, the highest point of his worries for now.

He was a bit anxious to participate, because all he had seen in the day was still too fresh in his mind. The fact that people worked hard to sustain such a fancy life style was making him feel bad.

And, of course, he feared the new encounter between the King and the witch. He wondered if Maxwell had any ideas when he made the invitation; maybe the real cause of the interruption was to make that invitation… But what did it really mean?

Niles arrived alone in the main dinner room, trying not to show on his face how agitated his musings made him, and was surprised to see there was a lot of people invited: at least thirty people were in the big dinner room, among them some of the most important nobles of the reign, Fran, the King and the King's children.

The knight pretended he didn't find things abnormal and seized the opportunity to talk with the siblings, who always seemed to enjoy his company, and undo some of the strangeness he may have provoked earlier.

He was almost having a good time, some of the tension gone, when the witch arrived, guarded by two men, wearing a silver toga, with delicate details in gray.

Everyone stopped talking at once and turned to her. The silence was a nervous one – as if anticipating a storm.

Niles had to breathe deeply to calm down, because he felt like he was looking straight to the moon – he felt fascinated and stunned by her presence and her ability to throw a delicate light around her.

Most of the people in the room looked at the witch as if she was an exotic animal, Niles noticed, when he managed to look away from her. He realized they were judging and disliking her without even giving her a chance, what made him angry at them.

The King dismissed his children (what confirmed Niles' suspicions of a plan in motion), quickly announced the dinner and invited everyone to join him at the table.

Niles made a gesture to indicate a place for the witch, once the guards didn't move to guide her to the only seat left, almost at the other end of the big table whose head was the King.

The knight suspected the man had the intention to make the woman say something in front of everybody, as if the distance he had kept from her was any indication; the notion made him even more anxious than before.

Niles had two basic reasons to feel disgusted by the present situation: first, the King would probably make a fool of himself, because his mind was not good enough for a confrontation with such an amazing mind as hers; second, this disposition put the woman very far from him, Niles, once he had a seat besides the King.

Of course, he could always enjoy the sight of her and the stealing glances they threw at each other. But he would feel way much better if he could stand by her.

And for the King, Niles had to admit the idea of seeing him being verbally humiliated by the woman in silver didn't really bother him as much as it should.

At some point of the night, things got out of control - exactly as he had envisioned.

Niles was following a lot of conversation at the same time and not really having part in none, because what he really wanted to discover was the set up.

He never could guess it would be so simple: one of the nobles complimented the King for the dinner; other added the Royal Family maintained a tradition of good hosts; and other proposed a toast to the amazing king they had…

Maxwell beamed with pride, and started a speech. Niles was paying attention: everybody had stopped talking, as if on cue.

'I am a very conservative person. One thing I guarantee to all of you: no matter what happens, you can travel far from this Kingdom, and be back in, let's say, fifteen years… All of this will be exactly the same. No changes, no instabilities, no turmoil. I believe in maintenance and stability, and I shall do everything that is required to have it'.

Maxwell raised his cup in a new toast, and almost everyone on the table cheered.

Niles cringed at the smirk the King threw into the witch's direction, and at the glare she gave back.

He turned to Fran to share his worries through an expressive glance, when he saw the sad look on her face, and realized how hard the King's words were to her: the man was covering her with attention all day, letting his children attach themselves to her, enjoying her company, just to proclaim in front of the whole nobility he was against change… It probably meant there was no chance he would commit to her, even if they were so very close in such a short time…

The speech went on. 'Our Kingdom is living a period of richness and power, and there is no reason to make it any different. In fact, certain values are the basis for us, and these things are what make us strong and united. For example, family. There is nothing more important than family. I think that…'

'I disagree'.

The witch's voice sounded so strong and so sudden that all the heads turned to her at once. She seemed made of steel, and her eyes were settled on the King's face as if she intended to destroy him with a glare.

The man recovered from the surprise of being interrupted, and talked really loud. 'Really? Do you mind telling us what could be more important than family? Would it be land? Property? Money? Vengeance? Luxury? Fame? Treachery? Sin? Evilness? Envy?'

The people around the table looked at the King as if he had grown a second head, because each item of the list was said with more vehemence than the previous one – it was almost as if he was enjoying proclaiming them. Realizing his tone, he made a face. 'I'm trying to read her mind'.

Seizing the moment of strangeness, the woman spoke again, smirking lightly. 'Every one must think of a list that is agreeable with his own desires'.

'I was trying to guess what was going through your mind', the King was suddenly blushing, and his tone became provocative – what Niles knew he always did when he felt cornered. 'But you seem to disagree with all of my suggestions. Just amuse us with your ideas, then'.

She raised her chin in defiance. 'The things a person believes are always more important than his or her family opinion'.

Murmurs all around the table.

'That's wrong', Maxwell just stated with a wave of his hand.

'That's why people marry and found their own families: to have the opportunity to live by their own ideas and create new alternatives'.

'That's absurd. People should always hear their elders', and with that he glanced to some of the nobles on the table, what unsettled Niles.

'There are elders with many different opinions. How to choose who is the right one to hear?', the woman pondered. 'Think like this: even you are an elder to someone'.

Maxwell was purple, now. 'What is that supposed to mean?!'

'If you can't understand, your Majesty… I have made my point'.

The King rose up, inflamed, threw his napkin on the table with force and managed to push his chair in a way that made it tumble to the ground.

He had given two steps into the witch's direction when he was stopped by Sir Niles.

Maxwell looked at the open hand that was very close to his chest – one more step and it would physically block him - , and threw a furious gaze to the blue eyes that were fiercely on his. 'Are you out of your bloody mind?!'

The knight's voice came in a whisper. 'I can't let you do this'.

The King answered in the same low tone, through gritted teeth. 'I can do whatever I wish'.

'You are acting on your temper. This is not…', Niles hesitated.

'Wise?', the King suggested, sardonically.

'…acceptable'.

'This was not what you were going to say, was it?'

'If you could think clearly you would know I'm right'. Niles lowered his voice even more. 'Please, Sir'.

King Maxwell kept his eyes on his knight for some moments more, then relaxed his stance and nodded. 'I'll trust you one more time. I hope you know what you're doing'.

The King went back to his place at the head of the table, seated and resumed eating as if nothing had happened. The other people did the same, more or less quickly, and just after making sure the situation was over for most of them, Niles came back to his chair.

He looked discreetly at the witch and, when their eyes locked, he saw how frustrated she was. There was no glory in beating the King, for her.

Niles almost smiled at the thought of her being so focused on her mission she didn't enjoy messing with the King's head if it didn't prove to be of any gain.

Suddenly she got up and exited the room without a word, followed by two guards.

Conversation flooded the room with easy when she disappeared, and Niles noticed Fran and himself were the only ones that didn't seem to be enjoying themselves – the King was joyfully exchanging impressions with some noblemen.

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Niles thought seriously about trying to reach the room of the witch, that night.

He was trying to conceive a reasonable plan, because he didn't feel like exposing their conversation, but it seemed imperative they discuss what had happened over dinner.

It would be good to share with her the things he had discovered on his journey through the rural area, too.

And, of course, it would be great just to have the opportunity to see her again, without a lot of suspicious people around…

The strange thing was, the more he tried to create a scheme, the more his eyes felt heavy and his body desired to lie down and relax. While he was preparing to bed and remembering all he could of his agitated day, he didn't feel sleepy, but when he started thinking of ways to see her, he felt like he couldn't keep his eyes open.

He fought the sensation for a while, but decided it was futile. Maybe the day had been more difficult that he had previously felt. Maybe he was really worn out.

But it would be so good to see her again, and finish what they were doing when the King called…

What was that, again? It was important…

Niles rested his head on his pillow and felt like he hadn't slept in days. He couldn't resist anymore…

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He felt a hand on his. A soft hand, almost as if a breeze was passing by him and trying to stay.

Niles opened his eyes. There, seated at his side, on his bed, she was.

He frowned in doubt and smiled in joy while asking, 'How did you get here?'

She smirked. 'Oh, I know a lot of witchy things…'

He seated and noticed she was… translucent. 'You are really… here?'

'My consciousness and part of my physical body are'.

'The rest is there… in the other room?'

She nodded.

'Wow'.

She smiled at his amazement. 'It is very useful when we need to communicate from short and medium distances'.

'If you were far, you couldn't do it?', he seated and was touching her hand very slightly, feeling the strange texture of the skin. It was like silk and cotton, but with a very living warmth… It was like that white flower she had given him in their second encounter, the one in the meadows…

'I could, but it would be dangerous, because I must use my vital energy to do this, and at some distance my body would have nothing to go on'.

'I see'. He smiled at her. 'I'm happy you came. I missed you'.

'Me too', she answered and smiled back, thinking of how cute his care about touching her in this state was.

His expression became one of light scolding, 'And I was worried by the earlier confrontation'.

She made a face to show her despise. 'He asked for that'.

'I know, but I still don't understand your strategy'.

'Don't worry. You will understand tomorrow'.

With that he stopped dealing with her skin and turned his full attention to her face. 'What do you mean? What happens tomorrow?'

'Everything'.

'God, woman, tell me something that puts some sense in all of this!'

She put her ethereal hands on his cheeks, what made their eyes lock in a very serious and intimate way. 'There are changes happening. Things that were out of place are fitting, now, and it will provoke consequences that start tomorrow'.

'What will you do?'

'My presence is necessary to put things in motion, but the decisive acts are not on my hands', she waited a moment, as if her eyes were still saying things her mouth would not say, and took her hands from his face.

He understood it was difficult to her, but needed to know more. 'Whose hands are they in?'

'The King's, obviously. And yours'.

Niles frowned. 'I hope it doesn't mean I'll have to betray him, because I won't. I was raised by his side, and I must guarantee…'

'Don't worry. You must do what you believe is right. Nothing more'.

'Are you sure it will be enough?'

'If it isn't, there is no reason for me to fight anymore. My quest is fair'.

There was a silence, and he smiled. 'You are fair'. She smiled back, then they both sobered, and again, they had an understanding. 'I don't know what you mean, but if you say it will work, I'm with you'.

She nodded at him, and he was sure he saw a strong emotion being hidden in the gesture.

The woman started talking animatedly, as if it was an exciting brand new subject. 'Now, there is something I really needed to do, and that's why I came here…'

Niles smirked and closed the distance between them, giving her light little kisses on the lips. 'That' good you needed this… I think I'd never have the opportunity to see your soft side…'

'Don't get used to it. I'm not a soft person, really…'

They shared a chuckle over that.

Niles resumed kissing her with delicate touches, and she enjoyed it for some time, but then seemed to remember something. 'You know, it is really nice, but I came here with a task to accomplish'.

'Other than being close to me?'

'Well, in fact, it is related to being close to you'.

'Oh, really? And what is that?'

'I need you to know my name'.

That was it! The important thing he had forgotten! 'I'm glad you didn't change your mind about that. It seems a very serious subject'.

'And it is'. He nodded in understanding and waited. She resumed. 'But I can't really tell you: it is necessary that you deduce it'.

'Uhm?'

'I'll help you, don't worry, but you'll have to say my name without me saying it; and then I'll be able to give you the nickname that can summon me when necessary'.

'Oh, some witchy thing, I see. All right, let's do it as it must be done'.

The woman changed her position on his bed, crossing her legs and getting comfortable. She was really excited by the prospect of such a revelation, and both of them noticed that: Niles did, by the way her eyes were shining; the witch did, because she could feel her positive emotions flowing towards this man.

'I have three names. The important ones are the first and second. The third is a clan name, used by the family'.

'So, I must guess two. Go on'.

'The first is considered a virtue in your religion – so much that I have provoked you at the doors of the Castle by saying you practiced it'.

'Chastity', he blushed but said it with sureness. He didn't even had to think hard to know this one – her commentary had made him feel outraged and aroused, at the occasion.

'Very good, Clever Knight!'

'Why, thank you', he made a formal greeting with his head. 'What about the other name?'

'My second name is in another language'.

'Uhm… Can I speak it?'

'Probably, once it is a very common second language in Castles'.

'Then it's French'.

She nodded. 'It is a characteristic people wish difficult situations had, and…'

'Claire'.

Her eyes were wide at that. 'How did you know?'

'I was thinking about needing light today, and you described exactly what I felt – that I am in a difficult situation and needed things were clearer. Claire is a usual name, in French'. It was his time to smile at her amazement. 'I am the clever, after all… even if I think destiny is having his part, here, in making my path cross things that are important to you'.

She kept looking at him as if realizing something. Niles saw her face change and almost could feel the intensity of her realization.

Before he could ask what it was, she looked away and resumed talking quickly. 'My last name is not very important; I rarely use it, and my nickname isn't related to it'.

He thought it was a good moment to put things lightly. 'But I can guess it. Maybe I need to know your family, one day – it would be gracious to know their clan name'.

She smiled. 'I can say it ends in the name of a very proud animal…'

'Cock'.

Again, the turmoil and the quick recover, '… and it starts with a nonsensical three letters form'.

'Hey, that's not fair!'

Now she relaxed and smiled. 'I never said it would be. But, as I said, it is not important. When the time is right, maybe you will discover it by yourself'.

'I don't want to be by myself anymore… Chastity Claire'.

She gulped. There was something about him saying her name that put her on edge, and it had nothing to do with the magical powers usually related to it. It had something to do with him, with the way he trusted and understood her…

She got closer to him in an impulsive move, her hands on his shoulders, her cheek on his, and put her mouth close to his ear. 'Call me CC'.

He closed his eyes and murmured, 'CC…'

'Niles…'

It was like a wave of tenderness engulfed them both. The fact she was not exactly there didn't make any difference now, because their faces were touching in a way they could feel each other and the thoughts that were passing through their heads.

It was a level of belonging that almost made them hurt.

Suddenly, Niles' grasp of reality started to falter again, as it had happened when he fell asleep earlier.

He quickly understood it was her who had made him sleep before, and it was her doing it again to put an end to their encounter.

An ethereal hand conducted his body, touching lightly his forehead. 'Lie down, darling. I have to go, now'.

He obeyed and could not open his eyes anymore; her power was too strong for him to resist.

However, he had to make sure she knew something before he passed out. 'I love you'.

The hand on his forehead seemed to freeze in shock, and the silence created a sensation that time had stopped.

Niles wanted desperately to know what was going on, but sleep claimed him.

He was not able to see the way she looked at him before disappearing, but when he woke up, in the next morning, he found a new white flower on his pillow: beautiful and delicate.

The detail was that this one had a twig with some thorns in it.

He understood the message and felt prepared for the day that would change everything.