Two months later Darcy found himself at his wits end. In Elizabeth's presence he felt marvelous. They'd had one proper fight but that was only when Darcy had returned home to find her missing. She was at the market with her Aunt and had lost track of time. She made it up with the food she had gotten and teased him from his dread. "I've made it this long without your protection, Captain," she laughed. He had to admit she was right, but that didn't make him feel less protective of her.
He had to convince her to stop calling him Captain and to instead call him William. Eventually, she shortened it to Will on her own. He liked it when she called him something so intimate and casual, unlike the rigidly formal "Captain" everyone else was regulated to. Even Jane and Charles called him Darcy. But for her, he was someone new altogether. Will.
Unfortunately, Bishop had become irritable and irrational. Demanding more meetings with Captain Darcy on more taxes, more programs for the poor, and finding missing people.
"We must link families back together and help them get through difficult times. Like the Gardiners" the Bishop said. Wickham was still in charge of missing persons and he and a small squad were frequently out of the city. This suited Captain Darcy just fine. Wickham was beginning to try to overthrow his authority. The longer he was gone, the better.
"I'm setting up a new tax to help the poor," the Bishop said.
"If you raise the taxes any more, there will be nothing left to tax, your grace" Darcy said calmly. The Bishop looked at him coldly.
"Are you so unfeeling towards the less fortunate?"
"No, your grace, you've seen my work in the prisons. I don't believe in punishing the masses because of the incompetence of the few. More taxes will just mean more poor," Darcy explained. "Particularly, since the taxes rarely go to the poor."
The bishop glared at him for a moment, narrowing his eyes.
"Tell me Darcy, you've recently married. Why haven't we met your new bride?" he asked, mockingly. The rest of the room snickered. Darcy's bride was an infamous creature that people had only seen once, but spoke of as if she were seen everyday.
Elizabeth had spent everyday on their wedding trip crafting a disguise. The end result was a ghastly creature. Whispers rioted through the city when he returned with her. Everyone from the poorest peasant to the Bishop knew Darcy had a hideous bride. Elizabeth considered this her crowning achievement.
"My bride went to visit family," he said smoothly. (His bride was currently in bed, eating snacks and entertaining herself with visions in her imagination.)
"Odd, you letting her go alone," the Bishop questioned in genuine confusion.
"Not alone, her brother came to collect her. I can hardly leave at this moment," Darcy said. Elizabeth would have laughed to hear what a liar he was becoming. It was a semi honest answer though. The peasants were growing unruly under these taxes.
"Yes, troubling times we live in," the Bishop agreed. Darcy could barely keep himself from rolling his eyes. The troubling times were directly caused by the Bishop's greed. No one would side with Darcy though, for they benefited from these new taxes.
So, he disagreed, but not enough to be forced to resign. He had a wife to care for now. He tried to keep his mind in the meeting and away from Elizabeth. He wanted to go home. He wanted to go back to being her Will.
Oxoxoxoxoxo
Much later that night, Will and Elizabeth were sitting naked on the bed, eating. Will loved the feeling of her skin on his. It filled a void in his soul.
"Do you want a boy or a girl first, Will?" Elizabeth asked him, straddling him as he leaned on the head board. He thought for a moment, running a hand up and down her thigh.
He needed a boy to carry on his line, and give his father's sword too. But a curly haired, rambunctious little daughter invaded his thoughts. One with a bubbly, mischievous laugh who loved her Papa.
Papa?
That was new. He knew that to have children he had to be a father. That was the nature of the thing. But he'd never thought of what that entailed, precisely. Not simply to sire offspring, but to be a Papa. His heart seemed to grow to love Elizabeth more, surely it could handle a handful of dark haired children to call out Papa with excitement.
Maybe not. His heart clenched with longing at the thought.
"I realize men want sons, but I like to hear your thoughts anyways," Elizabeth smiled at his continued silence.
"A daughter," Will said, "I want a little girl who calls me Papa. She could have your laugh and tendency to follow me around!" Elizabeth laughed at the vision, but he continued. "I could sit her on my lap and teach her to read! We could name her Aria!" Elizabeth smiled at his proclamation, and the excitement in the vision he painted. They would probably have a boy later, but he wanted a daughter to christen him as a Papa.
"What about you?" He asked, eyes alight, putting his hands on her waist.
"With such an idyllic picture, a daughter sounds fine. I would still want a boy. I need to pass down my trickery, and I worry your Aria will be too noble for that. But my Matteo? He'll grow up wild!" she laughed. Will envisioned a son covered in mud and leaves running through his house leaving splatters and debris in his wake. He'd tan that boys hide. But it was endearing if he imagined a daughter doing it.
"You'll have to temper me," he told Elizabeth, "I'm worried I'll have favorites." She chuckled.
"I'm sure you will, it will just change to whoever is nicest to you at the time. You'll be tricked and played into anything they want," she teased. He laughed at the idea of four or five pairs of amber eyes begging him. They would win, and more often than not. For them he wouldn't be the formidable Captain Darcy. He would be Papa. Like he was Will for her.
"Then you'll have to temper me from giving them anything they want, or being unreasonably cross," he grinned, thoroughly enjoying this conversation.
"Well now I'm more worried you'll favor the children over their mother," Elizabeth teased again. He could only laugh at the ludicrousness of that statement.
"How ridiculous," he said, moving her off of him, to kneel in front of her, "you are mine first and foremost. You are my best reason for living." Tears sprang into her eyes, alarming him for a second before she threw herself at him.
He was a lucky man.
Oxoxoxoxoxox
"Where did you get this?" Will asked seriously. Somehow, Elizabeth had gotten two guardsmen uniforms.
"From the armory," she said as if it were simple. He chuckled as he accepted the shirt from her.
"How foolish of me," he smiled, "how did you get this was a much better question."
"Sneaking," she smiled, wrinkling her nose in a tease.
"As your professed closest companion, you must tell me!" he grinned, leaning over to kissing her ear.
They had been properly married for six months. He should have been exhausted, but he was too happy to be so.
He had just returned from training and had the rest of the day free. He took two or three half days a week to spend with her. His men were grateful for the rest. The Bishop's men were too, but counted it as a mark against him.
And now his security of the armory was obviously lacking.
"Oh alright," she said, her amber eyes glittering, "I came from above, window to window. I only took these."
"How do you know how to do all this?" he laughed, pulling her to him in a hug. He was surprised how quickly she darkened.
"My step father," she frowned. His heart ached for his wife and he tightened his arms, with a kiss to her hair. She fumed in hatred for the man for a moment.
She shook her head. When he looked down she seemed introspective. After another moment, she shook her head again and offered him an apologetic smile. He smiled at that. She was slowly healing. It used to be that the mention of the man would ruin her whole day.
"Here I am feeling angry, when you, dear sir, promised to show me your favorite spot today," she said. He smiled. He knew where his favorite spot was. It was three feet away in the form of a bed. But she didn't mean that.
"I see, so you've stolen a disguise?" he asked.
"Is it stealing if it's meant to be loaned out?"
"Loaned out to soldiers in a time of war, not faeries in times of peace!" he laughed, sitting down to remove his boots and change into his stolen red uniform. It was clever, no one would look twice at them. She smiled, scoffed and flicked her hand before lifting her dress up and off.
Will nearly abandoned their plans for the day, in favor of spending the afternoon in his favorite place.
Somehow he managed and they were in the stables, helmeted and all. Elizabeth forbade him from using Goliath, which made both man and beast perturbed. They preferred each other.
She drew out a bay named Guido, and he swung the saddle on for him, leaving her to cinch it down. He chose a light brown, light footed horse called Tybalt. He made quick work of his saddle and was right after Elizabeth on the mounting block.
They walked from the stables to the gate, over the drawbridge and into the countryside. When they were out of sight and on a secluded road, they took off their helmets and tied them to the saddles.
Elizabeth looked around her happily, watching the clouds and birds flit about. Will never just watched birds to watch, but when he saw the content smile spread on her face, he looked again. They seemed like happy and energetic little things. Did she feel happy just to see something else be happy?
This was a new idea for Captain Darcy. He made sure people were safe and secure. He tried to avoid making people cry, but that was the extent of his emotional connection. To see her happy, for the happiness of others, made Will want to look closer at the world around him.
They traveled into a valley, which narrowed into a ravine. There lay a wide waterfall about six or seven feet tall. He leapt down from Tybalt, and went to grab hold of his delighted wife to bring her off Guido.
"It's charming!" She said with a wide smile. The horses he tied to graze in the sunny patch of grass nearby. When he turned back around, Elizabeth was half naked and still undressing. He followed suit
She climbed to the top of the waterfall, giving a small shriek from how cold the water was.
"How deep is it?" she questioned, her fiery gold eyes enthralled.
"Deep enough, just avoid the rocks," he said, coming to stand just behind her, one hand to the small of her back. She leapt away from him, narrowing her eyes in accusation. His own eyes grew wide with confusion.
"You first," she said suspiciously, standing just out of reach. He scoffed a laugh, but nodded.
"As you wish," he smiled with a bow, before jumping off the falls. The water shocked his system with how abruptly cold it was. But after he had popped to the surface and swam around for a minute, it felt refreshing. Especially after their ride and a hot day of training.
"How cold is it?" came the voice of his wife.
"Not very, it's perfect!" he said, swimming to a submerged rock and kneeling on it. The water came to his collar bone and he settled to watch his cherished companion.
She felt the water herself, and shivered. She looked at him lounging in the water. Her husband was a big man, and probably didn't realize how cold she got. She took a steadying breath because the water did look fun. She pushed down her spike of fear and jumped in herself. Her shriek could be heard over her splash.
Icy! It was icy! She kicked to the surface and took a grasping, shocked breath.
"It's so cold!" she shouted, to which he only laughed.
"Come here," he said, holding out a hand. "You'll feel better as you swim around." She swam out to him, knowing he was right, but not liking that he was right. But he looked so jubilant when he took her hand and pulled her to him she couldn't help but love him more.
She loved that Will let her do what she wisher, with no regard to things being lady-like it seemed. He gave her a kiss for her efforts, which warmed her further.
"Will you try me as a witch sir?" she asked playfully. He burst into a laugh.
"You probably are one, willfully misusing potions, flying from windows, shape shifting to wander the city. Swimming is the last of a long list," he said. She laughed at this picture he painted.
"Imagine that, the hero of the city is married to a witch!" she grinned. He kissed her smile adoringly.
"Happily married at that!" he declared. But she had too much energy to cuddle in the river. She slid from the rock and swam over to the bank. Will followed her curiously up to the top of the waterfall. She stood at the top with a thoughtfully crooked grin on her face. He smiled in anticipation of what she could come up with.
She jumped high and far, flipping her legs backwards over her head. She splashed down on her back, and popped up with a laugh.
"I wouldn't have landed on my feet would I?" she asked. He roared with laughter. He tested it for himself, throwing his arms down and his legs up. He felt like he got slapped across his whole back. It would have smarted, but the chill of the water stole that away. He exploded from the water with a laugh, hearing her cackling and unable to catch her breath.
They ran back up the waterfall again and again, Elizabeth getting a faster tuck each time. At some points she over shot her turn, and splashed onto her face. Will could hardly remember how to bend his spine, from all the years of stress and beaten-in rigid posture. So, he just threw himself harder, flipping like a log into the pool below. They were soon breathless from their attempts, and hot from scrambling up the waterfall.
They floated down in the pool for a moment. Then Elizabeth set to exploring the falls themselves.
She stuck her hand into the falls, and when she pulled it back out she rubbed her fingers curiously. She got onto a little submerged rock and disappeared into the waterfall. He swam to sit on the same rock– or ledge he supposed– where she had been. Her hand reached out of the waterfall, blindly, for him. He took it and allowed her to pull him in.
The water pounded on his head powerfully, but cathartically. He could lay under the waterfall for hours if it kept pounding on his muscles. But then he came to a warm little pocket of air, and Elizabeths enchanting face. There was enough room for three or four people in the space and the ledge extended into the pounding of the waterfall. He sat down next to her.
"Isn't it fantastic!?" she said with a raised voice over the noise of the falls. He nodded, smiling at her. He had no idea of this place. Whenever he came previously he had only jumped once from the falls and floated around the pool with his thoughts until it was time to leave. Most of his thoughts circled around how lonely he was.
But he had Elizabeth now! She improved his favorite spot! He loved her!
He grabbed the back of her head and pulled her in for a searing kiss. She seemed pleasantly surprised and responded in kind. She was adorable. She made this his favorite place again.
After some long moments, they moved out from behind the waterfall and onto the patch of grass nearby. Neither felt the need to put on clothes after drying off with a blanket Will had brought. She lounged like a cat in a sunny spot on the grass as he started a little fire for tea and warmth. She had brought bread and honey which he toasted.
She looked so content and happy, laying in her sunspot, watching the world around her with fascination. Will sat next to the fire and watched her with fascination. "This must have been what Adam felt for Eve" Will thought with a smile. Adam walked into a cursed land for his Eve. And Will would follow Elizabeth anywhere.
She sat up and looked at him with a cheeky grin on her face. Her cinnamon hair was starting to dry in patchy, wild curls, giving her a halo. God he loved her.
"Shocking as it seems," she said, "I think I would like to live out of doors and in the woods for a season. We can do whatever we choose, with no one to make up rules against it!" He smirked at this, but if any lady could handle it, it would be Elizabeth. She was as feral as she was beautiful.
"Really?" he asked.
"Absolutely," she declared, "could you imagine the scandal? A knight and his lady without even a roof? You could fight cattle and lay siege to rivers," His honor as a husband rebuffed that idea, but he laughed at the ridiculous picture. His heart was full to bursting.
"I'm glad you married me," he said while laughing. Quickly a curious look passed over her face.
"I'm glad of it too, but now I'm curious as to how you remained unmarried," she questioned curiously. He thought for a minute. He had longed for a marriage, so why did it take him so long to get one?
"I suppose I never got around to it. I was too busy becoming a knight, and then a Captain. And then too busy as a Captain. I've also been told I'm too frightful and cold," he said slowly, almost thinking out loud.
Yes, I remember you glaring so fearsomely at me," she said with a smirk, coming to sit next to him. He blushed as he put an arm around her waist and drew her closer to lean on him. They watched the waterfall for a moment.
"How many girls have you brought here?" she asked next.
"Just you," he admitted, "I'm jealous of my spaces. Why?" She nodded. He was a very private man, and she felt honored he allowed her into his guarded life.
"Just curious," she said, looking over at him with her cheeky grin. Will blushed a deep red. He had a shameful secret.
"Are you a virgin?" she whispered with a secretive smile.
"No!" he protested, but she smirked, "at least not anymore... Why? Were you not?" She gave a delighted snort of laughter.
"I told you before I had gotten lucky! No one has ever touched me!" she said proudly. But ladies were supposed to be that way, as much as men were not supposed to be. He felt a twinge of failure.
"Are you disappointed with me?" he asked seriously.
"Of course not! I don't have to share you," she said with a grin. He smirked at this. She was right, he could only think of her.
Silence fell between them as he practically heard her formulating her next, certainly shocking question. He was just relieved she didn't see him as less of a man.
"I'm so relieved!" she exclaimed happily.
"Really?" he asked incredulously. He failed as a man and she was happy?
"Yes, I always thought it was silly to require a standard that one didn't live up to themselves!" she grinned looking over at him.
Well, when she put it that way, it made much more sense. He had to be the thing he wanted to see in others. It made sense on the training grounds. He had to be an excellent fighter to train excellent fighters. Thank god he'd never gotten around to it.
He squeezed her close to him and kissed her temple. She was his only, as much as he was her only. He felt a sense of pride in place of his shame.
He loved her so much it hurt.