AN: Yeah I know, I have taken a LONG time to write on this story. But I haven't forgotten about it. Even my husband is on yalls side. LOL
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Wheatley spent the next several days working as fast as he could to finish the birthday invitations. The sooner he could finish them, the sooner he could be there to protect Chell from Vincent. Or at least, he hoped. He honestly didn't know what work GLaDOS had planned for him after this.
However, his quickness was coming with a price. GLaDOS had made him re-write at least tweleve invitations and it was killing his fingers and wrists. Part of him knew it would be better if he slowed down, but he found it very hard to do.
The dream. Those eyes.
It had to mean something.
Of course anyone else would simply tell him that his paranoia was getting the better of him.
"Why don't you take a small break and get you something to eat?"
Wheatley looked up from his desk. She was right. Not needing to be told twice, he stood from his chair, gave GLaDOS a bow, and was out her chamber door.
The first thing Wheatley did was look for Eliza. If the kids were with her he didn't have to worry. He finally tracked her down in the Royal Dining Hall. She was polishing the surface.
"Eliza, where are the kids?"
She looked up from the table. "Out in the garden with Vincent."
With that he turned to leave. She stopped him.
"Didn't I tell you not to worry?" She gave him a soft, but stern look.
He sighed. "Yes you did, but..."
Eliza cut him off. "Then you needn't worry. The kids are fine. I just saw them myself a moment ago."
Wheatley sighed again. "As long as their ok."
"They are."
It didn't make his worry go away completely, but it did calm it a bit.
He nodded. "I'm going to let you get back to work. Sorry I worry so much."
"It's ok. It just means you love us."
Wheatley smiled.
Eliza smiled too. "I'll see you later."
He nodded and left the dining hall.
Maybe I really AM paranoid.
Trying to put his mind at ease, he ate his lunch and chatted with some of the other servants. He missed talking to Eliza and Daniel, though. Ever since he was put on scribe duty, he only got to see them at breakfast and sometimes at night before bed. He didn't have time to do puppet shows for Chell these days either.
Why does anyone ever choose this job? It's so lonley.
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Today Wheatley was alone in GLaDOS's chambers. She was overseeing the recruitment of some new guard. The Head of the Royal Guard had informed her recently that one of her archers and been killed by a group of muggers in town and therefore would need a replacement.
It had saddened Wheatley to hear about it. Although he never met the Archer, he still felt sympathy for his loved ones. He remembered losing his grandmother when he was younger. There's no pain that is compareable to the loss of a loved one.
Wheatley's mind drifted to his dream. The woman in white seemed to be a loved one to his dream self. Every time she died, his dream self would feel that pain.
All the more reason to figure out who she is.
Putting the thought aside for now, he went back to finishing up the last of the invitations. It felt good to finally be almost done. The birthday party was coming soon and the remaining ones needed to be sent out. Of course the previous sets had already, starting with the most important people. Wheatley knew he was going to be required to entertain the guests and he hoped he get to have a bit of rest between now and then.
Suddenly the door to the chamber opened and GLaDOS walked in.
"Well, that's been taken care of." She looked over at Wheatley. "I see you are almost done."
"Yes, my Queen."
"Excellent. We should be able to get these sent out in the morning. You've done well, Wheatley."
"Thank you, my Queen." He hesitated. She noticed it.
"Is there something else you wanted to say?"
Wheatley swallowed. "Um, well...sort of...kind of...well...yes...um, you see...I was wondering what you had planned for me after this? I know the King's birthday is soon and I had hoped that perhaps...well...if you'll allow it...I'd have a break so I can be well prepared to entertain the guests?"
GLaDOS paused, as if considering what he said.
"Very well. I grant you a break until after the King's party"
Wheatley couldn't stop himself from beaming. He got down on his knee and without thinking, grabbed her right hand and kissed the back of it.
"Oh, thank you, my Queen!"
GLaDOS smiled. "I do believe you still have a bit of work to do."
"Oh! Yes, of course." Wheatley rose and returned to his seat.
...
The next few weeks were some of the best Wheatley'd had in a while. No scribe duty ment he had time to see Eliza, Daniel, Chell and...well...everyone! Being stuck in GLaDOS's chambers day after day was quite lonley without someone to talk to. Well, of course, GLaDOS herself was there, but he couldn't very well strike up a casuel conversation with her, now could he?
Chell had begun showing him more of the magic Vincent had been teaching her. She seemed to really love it, but it worried Wheatley. He didn't like the idea of Vincent turning Chell evil. He knew he needed to have that talk with him, and what better time then when he was on break from his scribe duty. Knowing Vincent was most likely in the garden at this time of day, he took off out to the front courtyard.
When Wheatley got there, it didn't take him long to locate Vincent, even though his back was turned. He was trimming one of the new rose bushes. Nervous, Wheatley walk slowly towards him. As he got closer, he hesistated and was about to turn back when he heard Vincent speak.
"Hello, Jester"
"Oh, um. Hello, and it's Wheatley, remember?"
Vincent turned to face him. "Yes, that's right. So what can I do for you, Wheatley?"
He honestly didn't know where to start.
"Well, um, you see..."
"You're here about Chell, aren't you?"
Wheatley let out a breath. "How did you..."
"She told me you caught her using her gift."
"She told you?"
"In the form of writing, yes."
"Oh, I thought for a minute..."
"That she actually spoke? No. As of right now, she still cannot."
"As of right now? So there is a way for her to speak?"
"Perhaps. But that remains to be seen. But that's not why your here."
"No. Um, it's not."
Vincent simply stares.
Wheatley puffs his chest out in imaginary courage.
"Well, you see. I don't know why you're teaching her magic or what your plan is, but I refuse to let anyone harm her."
Vincent simply smiles. "I have no wish to harm her. Only guide her. "
"But magic is only used by evil people, only someone who is evil would try and corrupt a little girl."
"That is what society has taught you to believe. Most people believe magic to be the stuff of legends and folk tales. It's the reason we cannot be open about our gifts."
"There has to be a reason you chose Chell."
Vincent shook his head. "You missunderstand. Magic isn't something you can teach anyone. You have to have a gift for it. Chell has that gift and great potential, but without proper guidance, she could easily harm herself or someone else and expose it to a world that will fear her."
Wheatley blinked. "So, she was born with this "gift"?"
Vincent nods. "Indeed she was."
"Then why are you just now deciding to teach her? and how did you know she had this gift?"
"To answer your first question, her gift has not began to make itself known to her until recently. Hence the need for me to guide her now. As for the second question, it isn't something you need to concern yourself with. Anything else you'd like to know?"
"Who else knows about her gift?"
"As far as I know, only you, her mother, myself and my informant are aware of it."
"Your informant? Are they the one that told you about Chell? Who are they?"
Vincent picks up the wheelbarrel handles. "I have work to finish. The King's birthday is soon. Have a good day, Wheatley." He begins to walk away.
Wheatley stops him. "How do you know I believe you? How do you know I won't tell the Queen about this?"
Vincent aproaches Wheatley. "What do you think will happen if the Queen finds out? I would get executed, sure, but Chell would too, wouldn't she? It doesn't matter if you believe me or not. You love that little girl too much to let her suffer such a fate." He resumes his work.
Wheatley simply stands there, knowing he was right.
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Just as a note, I have Chapters 13-15 done as well. Deciding if I want to pace the uploads or not. Chapter 16 is in the works right now.
Reviews are always welcome.