Patiently Waiting

"She does not know"

"What? Why will you not tell her? She deserves to know"

"Of course I have told her"



The setting sun touched the ornate, mohagany furniture, casting shadows against the victorian tapestry and barely washing the sitting woman's legs.

She opened her hand to the light rays, enjoying the warmth on her palm.

The parlour always brought found memories back to her; she could lie in the floor for hours revisting the sweet moments she had experienced there.

********************************Flaskback****************************************

She tip-toed through the long hallway that led to the parlour, tucking the novel she had snuck from the library in the many layers of her dress.

Smiling gleefully, she gently pushed on the large wooden door and shut it behind her when she slipped inside.

Perhaps she should have felt guilty or at least silly; sneaking around her soon-to-be family's home like a thief, but not without reason.

She sat down by the chaise, opting not to sit on it like a 'proper lady'. After stealing a pillow and fixing her dress skirt, she opened the first page of Burning Praries.

"What are doing, Isolabella?"

She slightly jumped "Hm?" she peered over her shoulder to see whom was intruding, even though she his voice so well "That is irrelevant"

He smiled "Is it now?" he ambled across the room, never taking his eyes from her. "Mother seems to have this idea that she frightens you"

"Hm?" she shook her head "Taking a little time for myself has nothing to do with your mother, Cynfael. Although," her eyes found the page in her lap "her tomes certainly do." She grinned, looking like a child "I love these stories"

Quiet shuffling came from behind her, giving her that discinct feeling that overcame her when he drew closer.

A shiver went down her spine when she felt his breath at her ear "You know that you are mad for reading those things"

"Don't judge me" she managed to say

A chuckled escaped his mouth as he moved beside her "I would never judge you, love"

"I don't believe you"

He quietly scoffed, she could almost feel him roll his eyes "What ever will I do"

"Mmmmm....you will have to read to me"

"You are not capable of doing that yourself?"

"Cynfael" she whined, and dropped her head onto his shoulder. She shifted a bit so her dark locks would fall into his lap, she happened to notice his strange enchantment with her hair a long time ago, and she would gladly use that knowledge to suit herself.

He looked down at her, lips pursing at her display. "Fine. Give me the book" He sighed, though she knew he really wasn't bothered

Giving him her best ridiculous smile, she tossed him the heavy tome and let him adjust himself.

Her heart fluttered at the way he looked in the sunlight, it made his viridian eyes sparkle in a way that was hardly fair or natural, at least she thought.  She hoped one day that she wouldn't become so flustered with his mannerisms, the way he smirked at her when he knew their thoughts were the same, the way he said her name slowly, the way he never failed to introduce her as his 'lovely fiance'; everything caused heat to rush to her face.

Cynfael shook the hair out of his eyes as he leaned on the chaise and moved his leg as if to accomidate more space.

His eyes found hers, "...Well?"

Quickly, she crawled over to him and turned around. She felt her insides spark a bit when she settled herself against his chest, being able to feel him breath in and out.

As he moved the book into her lap, she looked up at him "Thank you"

**************************************************************************************************

"Lady Isolabella?"

"Yes, Dolly"

"A letter came for you. From Cynfael"



Isolabella wandered down the halls, spinning wistfully as she stirred the dust mites that sparkled in the sun that poured out of the tall windows.

Other than humming 'Solstice', she created no noise as she walked. She peered at the portrait of Hyder II, Cynfael's father, that was hanging high in the foyer.
This caused her to grimace.

"Horrible man"



Despite the situation she smiled up at Cynfael, where he stood at the top of the grand stairwell.
He was smirking down at her, his eyes soft

"They tell so many lies, my love. But I cannot bring myself to really care"

Her eyes fell "I know they are lies." she murmured "I believed in you. I believe in you. You came back to me after all..." she turned away, her beige skirts falling off of the last step "But still..."

"But still what?" he exclaimed in question, his footsteps could be heard coming closer to her. He wound his arm around her waist "You know what is true"

He was so close to crying. He never had cried in front of her before.

"Cynfael-"

"I love you so much. I just-...I cannot understand the motives..." his voice broke "why I would even do what my family is accusing me of...it-it's so appalling and horrid-"

"Stop" she twisted around in his arms, eyes stern, more stern than she had ever taken to him "Stop it. You should know that I can't be moved by the nonsense and the venom they are spewing"

A single tear fell down his cheek, though he was trying to keep his lips from quivering and his jaw straight, she could see everything in his eyes.

That was the way it had always been. Cynfael was strong, he could withstand diplomats and armies and the harsh words people spat at him. He was always guarded, never without his armor emotionally, even with her. But his eyes were the window to his soul.

She stepped to him, close enough where her own breath was moving the hair that framed his face. "Cynfael," she gently wiped his tear away, and then cupped his face "I love you"



"Listen to me"

"I will never-" Isolabella spat as she spun on her heels to face the cruel woman "listen to you"

"He lied to you, you foolish little girl"

"Enough!" she continued running to her bed chambers



"Shhhhh" Cynfael said into her hair "I'm sorry, Isolabella" he whispered it like a mantra. Over and over again

She allowed herself that moment of weakness as she cried harder into his chest. "I hate them"

He ran his hand down her back in an effort to soothe her "Shhh"



"Stop running!" Hyde's voice boomed behind her

It was too much. She and Cynfael had been happy until his family involved themselves. They were jealous. They were pure evil.
No decent human being would say such things about their own flesh and blood.

She did stop.

She stopped, and they stopped following so closely.

The silence was so perfect to her exhausted ears.

Why such things happened, she wasn't sure. All she wanted was peace. Peace cost them nothing, but they still wouldn't give that to her.

They were horible.

All she felt was hate. They made hate boil inside her and angst riddle her mind.

Suddenly she swiped her right arm to the table beside her, knocking over the precious Skabari chalice Hyde loved so dearly and it crashed. Breaking into pieces

She ignored the gasps around her, and began walking away

"That is what you are doing to my heart" she whispered



Cynfael ran for her.

Dashing through the halls faster than even he thought possible.

He shoud have never left, he said to himself.

They were tearing her apart, and they were doing it on purpose.

"I'm so sorry"



"Isolabella"

She glanced at the intruder. "Yes?'

"I am sorry"

She exhaled "I don't care anymore"

"...Then you have accepted the truth?"

She let out a humorless chuckle "I have always known the truth" she cocked her head to the side to view her would-be brother-in-law. "Have you?"

He sighed and took two steps to her, "I really do not know what to say..."

"Nothing" she looked back out the window "It's all just a dream to you. But, I understand"

"W-" he narrowed his eyes "What? It is not a dream, Isolabella. Cynfael is dead"

Her eyes shot to him "No. No he isn't." her irises displayed barely contained rage "He has comforted me every night since you began these lies. That he lied to me. That he would never come back. That he would commit suicide to escape me and the pain I brought him"

"Is-"

"Lies"




She stood on Cynfael's balcony, wrapped in his blanket, surrounded by his scent.

"I know that you are coming back" she whispered into the wind "Someday...we'll be together again..."




































Cynfael
Hyder