The Last Dance (25)

Wow, so thanks for all the great response I got on the last chapter =) For a few days I was even on page 2 of what's hot, talk about surreal! Thank you so much, and I really, really appreciate all the comments and votes.

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Recap:

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He nodded slowly, miserably. "So... what now?" He asked thickly

And I knew he meant without even having to hear the words.

"You said we were friends..." I said slowly. "...and we still are. I won't leave you just because..." I trailed off again, gesturing between us.

I managed a shaky smile, though I knew it didn't reach my eyes, and I knew he could tell. Still, he fought to return it.

I turned away before he could see the tears that refused to be blinked back. I felt, if anything, worse than before. Yes I was glad that he was staying, but at what cost? Would he end up resenting me anyway because of what I'd just done?

Wordlessly, we each took our reins and trudged slowly on towards the castle, shielded by the shadows of the night that could, for a moment, mask all our misery and doubts.

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Chapter 25 - Home Sweet Home

The sun had disappeared, leaving no lingering rays of light or heat in its wake. It seemed also to have taken all sound with it.

Skirting the edge of the village, there was no sounds of the night life of the townsfolk. Everything was quiet and still, with not even the hint of a breeze to stir the dust up from the roads.

The silence lay thick, like a blanket over the town and was an almost eerie presence that accompanied us to the castle.

The only evidence of life came from our own gentle steps down the cobblestone paths. Our shadows could barely be distinguished from the surrounding darkness, and the pale silvery light of the moon ducked in and out from between the houses, barely illuminating a strip of the road before disappearing again. It would have all been much more disconcerting had we not been home.

The atmosphere matched our grim moods, even seemed to taunt us as we reached our destination. The faint clip-clop of the horses' hoofs seemed almost deafening to me as it echoed between the buildings, lost to the night.

I disliked being at the edge of town. I longed to be in the city square surrounded by the tireless merchants who sold their counterfeit wares in the dead of night. I missed the sickly sweet smell of roasting apples and cider filling the air with its pungent and intoxicating aromas, even the sounds of forbidden lovers meeting in the shadows of doorways and closed up shops for a few stolen seconds together.

Anything would be better than this taunting silence. Whatever turmoil we had both experienced, it seemed to have leaked out to the surroundings, tainting it with bitter emptiness.

The loneliness crept under my skin making it tingle uncomfortably. I hated the state of things between us now. The quiet didn't help, only made it easier for the icy numbness to spread through me. I wished I could break the silence but didn't know how.

I kept my eyes to the road ahead never once letting my gaze wonder to the Prince for fear that he might be looking back.

It was a struggle just walking beside him; the guilt tore at me incessantly, but more even than that was the regret.

If that had been the end of something more between us I wish it had lasted longer. And now here we were stuck in this awkward situation and I didn't know what to do.

Things would always be different between us now, no more of the easy banter and innocent teasing.

The realization of that stunning loss tugged at my heart strings painfully. Maybe back at the castle the tension would be lifted, since we'd no longer spend so much time together. I could only hope the tension would lift. And yet it was a bittersweet victory if it came at the cost of our newfound friendship.

Caught up in my thoughts as I was, I barely stopped myself from running into the Prince, who had stopped before the castle entrance. He faced the door resolutely and I waited behind him since he blocked the way.

He lifted a hand to push it open, but then hesitated and whirled around to face me. The sudden move had me taking a quick step back.

Wordlessly, he searched my expression intently for something. Though I didn't know for what, I made sure to keep my features carefully blank. I focused my eyes just past his head to the intricate carvings on the door behind him so that my eyes wouldn't betray me either.

He studied me a moment longer before finally sighing and breaking the silence that had stretched between us.

I could feel his eyes burning through me but couldn't hold his gaze, the seriousness of his expression making me worry.

"Before we go in... I want to make sure that nothing's changed between us" He said slowly, being sure to enunciate each word.

My voice replied steady and calm, not letting on to the numbness that had been slowly spreading through me.

"Of course it hasn't Johnathan" I lied easily.

I caught the grimace on his face and reluctantly met his eyes, faking nonchalance to gesture at the door behind him. He didn't move, or even acknowledge my request, but I saw his face falter, and then fall.

"You're lying, you're treating me differently already" He whispered.

I forced a half smile onto my face. "What do you mean?"

He looked away from me. "You just called me Johnathan. You never call me that" He said sadly.

I cringed slightly, cursing myself for making such a stupid mistake. He was right of course; I'd never called him by his full name before.

I sighed heavily "John, I--"

He shook his head, stopping me from continuing.

"I know what happens next" He said bitterly "You're going to start avoiding me, only talking politely to me, it's going to be even worse than before, and that too after you said we were friends."

I opened my mouth to say something, and closed it right back up. After all, what could I say when he was exactly right? I looked away guiltily having been thinking the same things only moments ago.

"Why?" He whispered, even quieter than before "Didn't you mean what you said?"

"I did... at the time... but then I thought about it... and... I just don't want to make this harder for you."

Or me, I silently added.

I shifted uncomfortably under his gaze, afraid to see what they showed.

He was probably angry, with good reason. I'd had time to think about it and it seemed like the right thing, no, the only thing to do. How could he get over me if I was always around? How could I get over him if I was always around?

I felt his hands grasp my shoulders.

"Look at me Cece" He said evenly.

Reluctantly I met his gaze, but couldn't find a trace of anger there. He looked calm, if a little hurt.

"I know what you're thinking, but you can't protect me from this."

I studied him uncertainly, but there were no more lines of tension on his face, none of the earlier conflict.

"Why can't I?"

He smiled ruefully "I'm a big boy Cece, I can handle rejection. But if you try and ignore me...." He threatened teasingly, softening the intensity of the moment.

I rolled my eyes at him, but couldn't keep from smiling. "What? You'll run away again?"

He pretended to think about it and his smile grew wider "I might... and I'll take you captive" He added smugly.

A chuckle escaped me. "Fine, I won't ignore you, but if you annoy me too much--"

"You still can't ignore me"

I pouted and pretended to think about it. "Can I beat you with my sword then?"

He laughed "Only if I can fight back."

"Deal."

He held his hand out for me to shake on it, and I felt instant relief that things could go back to a semblance of normal. It made me feel better knowing I wouldn't have to lose him. It was an even greater comfort having a conversation so like the one's I'd grown used to. Even if what had happened couldn't be forgotten, at least it didn't have to change things too much.

I tried to pull my hand away but he held on looking at me seriously.

"You can't change your mind you know. You can't just wake up tomorrow and forget this conversation ever happened. You're stuck with me."

I made a face at him and faked a horrifed expression making him laugh.

He let go then and turned to face the door. He ran his hand through his hair once and pushed it slowly open, waving me in.

"Home sweet home" He muttered as I walked past him.

***

We were stopped just as we entered the main hallway by a gasp of surprise.

Spinning left I saw a castle attendant staring at us in shock. He bowed hastily when we turned to face him.

"Prince Johnathan, well I'll be, back from your travels in the dead of night?" He asked curiously.

John smiled, obviously lost.

Maybe I should have filled him in on the cover story his father had created.

He looked to me anxiously, trying to buy some time and ran a hand through his hair. I mouthed for him to play along and he nodded slightly.

"It's all thanks to Cece here for delaying me" He said while throwing an arm around my shoulders playfully.

I glared at him for drawing the attention of the attendant to me.

He looked at us in surprise, probably wondering at our camaraderie. Although I didn't know the man personally, everyone at the castle knew of our dislike for each other. And since he thought John had been off gaining field experience and I had been at my sister's it must be something of a mystery to him.

"Lady Celia, I'm pleased you found an escort back to court."

He still sounded a bit confused, but did a good job of masking it.

"Yes it was quite the coincidence" I said smoothly.

He still looked puzzled at our late arrival, but I suppose he was taking it rather well.

"Would you by any chance know where my father is?" John asked.

He blinked in surprise, as if he'd forgotten where he was and then gestured for us to follow him.

Once his back was turned I elbowed John to make him move his arm and he pouted at me.

"People don't know where we've been, or that we get along, can we not make it so obvious?" I hissed quietly.

He rolled his eyes at me but didn't argue, for once.

As we walked down the halls I could hear the sounds of quiet chatter and laugher behind the closed doors. I smiled to myself, realizing how much I'd missed such little things as that.

Of course every room was filled, hosting the girls and young men who had traveled here for the High Ball in one weeks' time.

I sighed remembering that I would have to participate this year, but pushed it out of my mind when I found us standing in front of the doors to the library.

The attendant turned to us. "Shall I announce you my Prince?"

"That's quite alright."

He nodded and bowed to us before walking back down the hall, disappearing behind a corner.

John sighed. "Well, I suppose it's now or never."

I stepped around him, since he didn't look like he would be making a move anytime soon, and pushed open one of the heavy oak doors into the library.

My eyes settled upon a group in the middle of a heated discussion. John's father was accompanied by my parents and two castle guards, all of them gathered closely around the fireplace, oblivious to our interruption.

I inched the door open further and it made a loud groaning noise attracting their attention.

John and I stood awkwardly facing our parents for a moment while they all stared at us in shock.

It was my father who broke the stalemate, his face lighting up into a smile.

"Celia!" He opened his arms wide and I rushed forward, embracing him in a tight hug. He opened one arm and my mother joined us as we huddled together smiling.

I looked over my father's shoulder to see that the guards had moved off to the side while John had moved to stand before his father stiffly.

The King didn't make a move towards the Prince and I looked between father and son anxiously. I could see the tension rising between them, anger from the King matched against the defiance of the Prince. I knew neither of them felt the emotions they showed but were too proud to admit it. I rolled my eyes, boys.

I pulled away from my parents and cleared my throat, catching John's attention, and glared at him in annoyance.

He sighed and turned back to the King, taking a step closer.

"Dad I--"

He was cut off as his father pulled him into a rough bear hug.

I laughed and my dad squeezed my shoulder. I smiled up at him, and saw a curious expression on his face that matched the one of the attendant earlier. Well, I guess they'd all find out sooner or later that we got along now; John wasn't likely to hide it for long.

When they finally stepped back from each other, both had more relaxed poses.

The King turned to me next with a smile on his face. I grinned and went to give him a hug before stepping back to stand by John.

He then looked to the guards and I followed his gaze to see that both had smiles on their faces at the happy reunion.

One of them stepped forward and bowed. "Well Sire, I guess our services in this matter are no longer needed."

"No indeed, the crisis has been pleasantly averted" He said with a nod in our direction.

John and I smiled at each other slightly while the King waved the guards out.

As the door closed behind them he turned back towards us and looked directly at me.

"Celia, I guess I have you to thank for bringing my son home."

I shook my head. "I can't take the credit for that uncle, he decided to come back on his own" I said smiling proudly.

He raised an eyebrow and looked between us sceptically, but neither of us elaborated.

"Well, be that as it may John, you won't be getting off the hook so easily."

"Aww, dad, come on."

"Nope, you're grounded until the High Ball; I don't want to see you out of your room until then."

"You're grounding me?! But I'm twenty-one!"

"Well, you're actions speak otherwise."

I fought to hold back a laugh earning me a light shove from John.

"But daaadddd."

"You can 'but dad' me all you like son, so long as you do it in your room."

He looked down glumly and the King turned his head slightly in my direction to give me a wink. I hid a smile, poor John; he thought his dad was serious.

I yawned loudly, and no wonder, it must be only hours away from dawn by now.

"Well, goodnight everyone" I said sleepily.

I hugged my parents and the King goodnight before nodding to John.

"I'll walk you" He said and turned to head out the door before I could protest.

I shrugged, pretending not to notice the looks of the King and my parents, and followed him out.

I yawned again, dragging my feet along the floor and savouring the hard marble tiles beneath me.

John obviously thought I was right behind him, but my steps continued to slow down into long slow strides, letting him get further ahead. I wondered when he would notice I wasn't beside him anymore...

1...

2...

3...

4...

There we go.

He turned around in confusion and saw me lagging behind. I gave him a lazy smile and he laughed backtracking to fall in step with me.

When we stood side by side again he linked his arm through mine and pulled me along cheerfully.

No fair, why was he so awake while I was so tired?

"What are you so happy about? You're grounded" I smirked.

He started mumbling under his breath until I shoved him, but, forgetting that we had our arms linked, I lost my balance as well.

He used his free arm to steady me and laughed lightly, shaking his head at me.

"You could have said something in there you know." He continued pulled me along down the hall.

"You're right, I should have suggested he ground you for two weeks, one isn't nearly enough."

"Gee, thanks" He said sarcastically.

I smiled, knowing he couldn't see and leaned my head against his arm. It worried me how comfortable I was starting to feel around him.

He looked surprised and smiled slowly, but didn't say anything more until we reached my room.

We stood apart, facing each other.

"Well, goodnight then" I said softly

"Night Cece, try not to pine for me too much while I'm locked away in my tower for the next week."

I laughed at the fake forlorn expression on his face. And what 'tower' was he talking about? How over dramatic, and yet so typically John. I smiled.

"I don't 'pine' John, I'll just have to break you out if I miss you too much" I teased.

He laughed "Now that I would love to see."