For the Honeydukes challenge on the Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft and Wizardry Forum.
When Odette returns to the castle, Derek is waiting by the gate for her. His arms are crossed and that pesky vein on his forehead is bulging. And although Odette feels a little bit bad about visiting the village behind Derek's back, she's sure it was necessary. She's a princess, after all. She needs to be out and about. She needs to be seen.
"You should have told me you were leaving."
"You wouldn't have let me go," Odette retorts. She swings down from her horse and hands a bumbling Bromley the reins before turning to her husband. "I wanted to see our people. It's been so long. I needed to know how things are."
"You can't just disappear because you're curious, Odette. It could have been dangerous."
Odette frowns. "Our people aren't a danger to me, Derek."
"Wasn't Rothbart one of your father's subjects?"
The princess responds by pursing her lips.
"Fine." Derek seems to realise that he's taken it a step too far. He looks over at her, forcing a smile on his face. "How was it? How was the village? The people?'
"Things are well. The harvest was plentiful. There is bread, meat and mead." Odette pauses, questioning her next words. She slips a hand into Derek's as they begin to walk towards the castle. "But some people seemed worried by your absence."
"My absence? I haven't been absent." It takes a moment for the pieces to fall into place. "My absence, when I was looking for you? That's absurd."
She tightens her grip on his hand. Her voice is soft when she says, "You were gone for a long time, Derek. Now they haven't seen you since the wedding, and even that was only for a brief moment. They're beginning to worry."
"I see." Derek exhales loudly. "We'll go into the village tomorrow. Ask the kitchens to prepare some sweets for the children."
Odette smiles. "That sounds like a nice idea."
"Together, Odette," Derek emphasises. "We need to do these things together."
"Together," Odette agrees. "Always."