So This is Love - Part 6

Part 6 - In Which Pike and Lilie Confuse Ahiru Greatly, Fakir Makes a Decision, and Rue Confesses

“Ahiru!” Lilie, the blonde, opened her mouth as Fakir rolled his eyes. Once she got started there was no stopping her.
“You don’t mind if I call you, Ahiru, of course. And you simply must call me Lilie. I can just tell we’re going to be great friends. And of course great friends give each other advice, don’t they? Well, in that case, I simply must tell you that it’s not quite proper to be out alone so late with someone other than your fiancé.”
“That’s right,” continued Pike, “There could be a duel if this goes any farther!”
“Oh, yes!” Lilie beamed, scandalized, “This could make for such a delightfully dreadful scandal! And Sir Fakir the Pure being at the center of it all. I suppose no one is safe anymore!”
“No one!” Pike agreed whole-heartedly, even a bit dreamy-eyed, “Ahiru, as good friends, it is our duty to remove you from this danger!”
Ahiru, eyes wide, looked from one Lady to the other in confusion. “What are you talking about? A duel? I’m not in any danger! I was just taking a walk in the garden!”
Pike took Ahiru’s right arm, Lilie capturing the other in a vise-like grip that made Ahiru, more confused than ever, whimper.
“Oh!” Lilie cried over her shoulder at Fakir as she walked with Pike and Ahiru out of the garden, “She must have been so scared! Did you hear that whimper, Pike?”
“Actually,” Pike said, her voice dropping to a bored tone, “That was your fault, Lilie.”
“No!” The blonde was shocked.

Fakir watched the duo drag Ahiru away, clenching his fists in frustration and longing every moment to go after her. Ahiru needed comfort, not nagging!
But Fakir’s reason told her that they had every right to take her away from him, and in fact it was probably a blessing that they had. She wasn’t his, and never would be. And even if she did need comfort, it couldn’t be him to give it to her. It never could be. He couldn’t betray Mytho like that.
Calming himself down, Fakir came to a decision. He would leave. He could make his excuses… leave a note to Mytho… but he had to get out of this castle. He couldn’t bear to watch her marry Mytho, not now that he knew he was in love with her.
She was so naïve, and weak, and soft, and everything a Lady should be and everything Fakir had hated up until he had met her, but… she was also so kind, and selfless, and beautiful, and caring, and genuine… He couldn’t stay.
He would leave and find excuses to stay away. Take on a quest. Do something, anything to get away from this and keep himself away.
Having met her he knew himself well enough to know that if he stayed he would do something they both would regret.

After talking and talking, neither Rue nor Mytho could think of anything to do, and simply sat holding each other, weakly suggesting ideas, until Mytho at once became very still.
Rue was looking up at him in concern and about to ask him what was wrong when he jumped, sliding Rue away from him slowly to look at her. She flushed at the new light in his eyes.
“I’ve got an idea, Rue,” he said, “But I need to check the laws.”
He kissed her cheek ecstatically. “Stay here,” he said, “I won’t be long, love!”
Rue panicked. “Wait!”
Mytho turned back, startled, and took her hands again. “What is it?”
“I… I’m not a princess…” she confessed haltingly.
“Oh, Rue, I don’t care! I--”
“No! I’m not a Lady either. I’m nothing! No one! My father disowned me! He treats me as a servant in his household… I… I… My father works magic,” she said in despair, “I stole his books and made this dress. I slipped out of the house to come to this ball. I thought I would meet a kindly old Lord or something and marry out of that wicked house, but I met you!”
She was in tears again now, and in a fit of choked words she undid the spell on the dress, revealing the tattered peasant blouse and skirt it truly was. She fell to the ground at the Prince’s feet, sobbing into her hands.
“I’m sorry I deceived you my prince…” she whispered, almost inaudibly.
“I ask only one question, Rue--”
“My name really isn’t Rue. It’s Claire. I was afraid my father was here and he would recognize me. I’m so sorry.”
“Claire, then. It doesn’t matter to me what your name is. All I ask is do you love me?” His voice was emotionless now, and this scared her more than it reasonably should have.
“Yes!” He’s got to know I do…
“Then rise, my love. I have no quarrel with you.” His emotion returned, setting Rue’s heart beating again.
Mytho bent to take her hands and lift her to her feet. “Come with me to the library. If I find what I am looking for, then we shall be together for always, and I will take your hand in marriage. If I don’t, I will still love you, and I promise to shelter you from your father in any way I can. I want to protect you…”
Relieved, Rue fell into his arms.
“Now,” he continued after a moment, gently leading her down the stairs toward the library, his arm wrapped protectively around her waist, “Would you prefer I called you Rue or Claire?”
“I…” Rue stopped. She hadn’t thought about which she preferred. But she found the name Claire hard to compare with who she had become. She was Rue now. Rue the servant in love with a Prince. Not Claire the fallen Lady.
“Rue,” she said, “It was given to me in scorn, but it suits me now.”
“True,” he said softly, “You are no longer Clear, but do you Regret so?”
“No,” she returned thoughtfully, “That is why I don’t wish to forget. I think I want to carry my past with me. Without that past, I could not have become who I am.”
Mytho gave her hand a short squeeze before allowing her to precede him into the library.
“Very wise, love. I think you would make a good queen for this kingdom. But I have no quarrel with Princess Ahiru. I shall need to speak with her whether or not I find what I am looking for. Still…” he left her at a reading chair and kissed her lightly, “There is hope. Somehow I have a feeling that the Princess has no more desire to ascend the throne than you to return to your father.”