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Where's My Happy Ending? ((butterfly0408/Kolath))

Crista did not respond to that. It was not that she did not want to give him words of affection back to him. She was just.... afraid to. To her, this still had no chance of every lasting. It was hard, but she did not want to fall even more in love with him then she already was. It would only make being separated in time harder on them both.
 
A week passed and the doctor was glad to report that all the girls were doing much better. They had all begun to eat normal food again and were well on the way to recovery.

Rebeccaâ??s father had shown up in short order and despite his attempt to plead innocent Aiden had proof from Heylelâ??s own records that Rebecca had been given to him to pay a debt. The lord was promptly arrested and turned over to the mercy of the new lady of the province, his own daughter. She gave him a horse and money and banished him from her lands, and Aiden made it from the entire kingdom. As soon as Rebecca was released she left for her new estate, promising to come see Crista often.

Jacqueline and Shannon, were having the hardest time adjusting to the change and shortly after being well enough to leave they disappeared, although one of the guards claimed to have seen them in one of the brothels downtown.

As soon as Crista was able to walk and looked strong enough Aiden and Christian took her out to her fatherâ??s lands, along with a group of soldiers. They did not wait to be invited in but instead let themselves in quickly quenching any arguments with numbers. They searched the house finding only Juliet. When looking about for the other two, Susanna had come with the group to help Crista if she needed it, they found that two horses were missing and sitting on the parlor desk was a note. It was from Danella, it laid out the affair that she and Dilian had been having and how they were leaving her without a penny, since they had maxed out the family credit and drained the bank.

It was fitting justice and after the needed statements from Aiden to remove the title from Juliet and restore it to Crista, Aiden left it in Cristaâ??s hands.

That was the part that hurt the most for Aiden. He had left Crista at her family manor with a group of guards to support her, but he had left because she wanted to stay instead of coming back with him to the castle. That had been two months ago and Aiden hadnâ??t seen Crista since.

He sat in his room looking in the full length mirror finding all the robe and ceremony disgusting. â??Why canâ??t they just give me the crown and be done with it?â? he muttered to himself.
 
"Because you look so handsome," came his mother's voice from behind him as she entered, closing the doors behind her. "Would you rob the kingdom of seeing how fine a king they are now gaining? You make your mother very, very proud Aiden. Not just for how you look as well, but for all you have done as well." She approached him and bowed her head to him, a sign of respect to the new king.
 
Aiden turned and smiled at his mother returning her bowed head as a sign of respect due the queen mother. â??I know that motherâ?¦butâ?¦I would trade it all for just one more day withâ?¦â? he trailed off sighing knowing that thinking this way was not the way a king should think. â??I knowâ?¦the life of a king is sacrifice, at least the good kings.â? He smiled a little at that sighing once again, â??But its such a pointless sacrificeâ?¦â?
 
His mother smiled warmly and motioned him to sit at the table the so often had their talks at, "I know. I am certain she feels the same way, even if you do not think she does." His mother shook her head a bit, "She loves you Aiden, which is why she does this I feel. She feels that the best way to love you it to spare you embarrassment in front of your people. She doesn't realize she is punishing you.... she feels as if she is only punishing herself." His mother was always so aware of everything.

Her smile turned to a smirk. The very look his mother always gave when she had a plan, "She loves you so much, she'd do anything to avoid seeing that happen. Anything at all. Especially in front of highest of nobility..." she wanted to see if he could reach the plan she had himself or if she'd need to draw them out for him. Either way it would be done.
 
Aiden sat next to his mother listening only partially to what she was saying, assuming she was trying to get him to move on from Crista. He would never move on from her, he loved her desperately. It was only as his mother stopped talking and was clearly waiting for him to say something that Aiden realized that he had been being rude. â??Iâ??m sorry mother I just donâ??t see how I am supposed to live my life knowing that the woman I love is within my grasp but she wonâ??t come to me.â?
 
She shook her head lightly, "You have not heard I word I have said, have you Aiden?" She sighed and crossed her arms, leaning forward and resting upon the table. "What will you do without me, Aiden, when I am one day gone? What will you do when I'm not here to find the loophole in every situation for you?" She waited, knowing that would get his attention. If it didn't, nothing would.
 
Aiden was about to come back with something that was completely off topic. â??But motherâ?¦ wait what?â? his mind that had been so stuck on his problem finally clicked on what she was saying. â??What do you mean a loophole?â?
 
"Well, not so much a loophole, but one way that you can convince Crista to marry you... wither she likes it or not. NOT that she doesn't want to, for we both know she does. She only does not want to embarrass you by not being able to have children for you," she stood and started to walk about, just pacing a bit. "But she also would not wish to embarrass you if perhaps you proposed marriage to her in front of a room full of nobility. To deny you would be like a slap in your face in front of everyone. It's a trick, a dirty trick, but perhaps he only chance you have of convincing her to say yes to you."
 
This time Aiden had been listening intently. He loved the idea because he agreed with his mother about Crista wanting to be with him and all. However he saw one major flaw with it. â??Motherâ?¦Crista will be so upset with me for pulling this very dirty trick.â? He sighed deeply, â??She might not ever forgive me for tricking her like this.â? He perked up after a second, â??Can I tell her you put me up to it? it might not be so bad coming from another woman?â?
 
"If you must, or... you could tell her she gave you no choice. It was either trick her and life a long happy life with her at your side filled with laughter and love for you both. Or let her go and loose the best thing in your life." But now, his mother had come to stand behind him, her hands upon his shoulders, "She may be mad at first, but there will be plenty of time to earn her forgiveness over the years to come."
 
He smiled nodding, â??Thatâ??s true.â? He stood moving over and kissing his motherâ??s forehead. â??Thank you mother, you have given me hope for something that I had nearly lost all.â? He stepped over to the mirror again and checked everything again. It all seemed in place the fur lined cape trailing behind him, fortunately not too long. His hand rested on the jeweled sword hilt at his side sighing. â??Am I ready for this mother?â? his question was not just about appearance it was also about needing assured that everything would be fine.
 
This mother came forward and stood beside him, looking at his reflection with him. "No man is ever truly ready to be king, but some are more prepared then others. I feel you are one of those." She sighed, "You remind me...." she looked down, her face darkening, "You look as your father did the day he was made king. The day I married him."
 
Aiden looked at his mother seeing the down cast look on her face and gently hugged her. â??You miss father very much donâ??t you.â? It was a natural reaction to the way she looked when speaking of his father. He assumed she missed him because that was what you were supposed to feel for the dead.
 
This mother was silent for a long while before she shook her head, "No. I don't." It was, she knew, the last reply he probably expected to hear from her, but it was the truth. She was free to tell it now. "I could have learned to love your father Aiden, if he had given me a chance to. But your are old enough to know things now, things I never would have dared speak before. Ours was an arranged marriage and I was nothing more then a tool for him. The moment I gave him and heir, he pushed me aside for the kinds of women he preferred." She grasped his face softly, "If not for you Aiden, I would have given up all hope years ago. You are the light in my life."
 
Aiden blinked looking at his mother. He knew that some of what she said was true but he could hardly believe that it was as bad as she said. Until he looked into her eyes, â??Iâ??m sorry mother I didnâ??t know what all was going on.â? he felt like he had failed his mother just as he had failed Crista those months ago. â??If I had only knownâ?¦â?
 
His mother shook her head and smiled towards him, "There was nothing you could have done Aiden. Not with your father. He would have stopped anything you tired to do with one of his vicious ways. And I didn't want you to know about them. That was my choice. I wanted you to have a happy childhood and life. I didn't want you to feel the burden of it. So I took it all on myself. I took care of you in many ways you'll never know. I've done things for you.... things for you..... and for Crista. For you both..."
 
There was something in his motherâ??s voice that worried Aiden, something that seemed to speak of a deep and dark secret. Aiden was not putting up with more of those in the near future. His hand came up and brushed over his motherâ??s cheek. â??What is it mother? What are you trying to tell me?â? he knew there had to be something that she was hitting at.
 
She shook her head a little, "There are things Aiden... things a mother would do for her child. To see them happy. It's in a mother's instinct to do it. That is anything and everything to make sure you are happy. It broke my heart to see you struggling to find Crista..." she stopped and sighed. She had to think before she continued onward, "It's amazing really, how people can be creatures of habit. Your father for example... did you know that every night he had a glass of wine before bed? The same blend of wine every night that he kept in the same cabinet in his quarters..." she trailed off a bit.
 
Aiden froze for a second closing his eyes as he started to realize what she was saying or at least trying to figure out how to say. He turned to his mother and placed a finger on her lips. â??Mother, I think that I understand what you are saying.â? He gently kissed her forehead, â??say no more about it, or as the future king I might have to take action that I would regret.â? He looked into his motherâ??s eyes smiling tears in his own. â??He would never have let me look for Crista would he?â?
 
"No," she said softly, lightly shaking her head with her reply. "If he were were still alive, Crista would likely be dead right now." It was horrible to say, but it was also terribly sad that it was the truth.
 
Aiden nodded kissing his motherâ??s forehead lightly again. â??I love you very much mother, and thank you.â? He brushed a couple tears from his eyes as he turned. His hand rested on the hilt of his sword and he slowly walked out of his room heading for the main court room. His nobles were waiting and he would not disappoint them.
 
In part, Crista was happy to have had these two months all to herself.

It was time much needed to get back to exactly what she knew. Being in her own home, doing all the things she had done before her father's death and her life drastically altered for the worst.

The servants of the house came to know Crista not only as their mistress of the house now, but in many ways an equal. They we no longer forced to preform tasks that left them over exerted when it was unnecessary. Crista wanted them each to know never to push themselves farther or harder then they were able. When they were done for the day, they were done. More was proving to get gone then did under Juliet's harsh hand, much of it Crista had a first hand it. She often joined in the tasks of the house, just like her father before her. The house was soon full of humility once again.

Crista's main project was her mother's garden. It was too late in the year not to start planting for nothing would grow this season, but Crista cleared it and readied it for the next spring. She would make it lovely once again. Make her mother proud of her.

It was very helpful having Susanna by her side through this. The two, whom at one time had been total strangers and enemies really, were now like the sisters they should have been when their parents joined all those years ago. Crista was teaching Susanna how to get her hands dirty and work on her own land while in exchange Susanna was helping Crista learn to be a noblewoman. After all, as much as she hated to admit it... she was one now.

Which she was totally at home with her hands in the earth or riding her horse through the countryside, sipping tea with the pinkie up and her posture straight and perfect was totally and completely foreign to her. Aiden had told her that nobility was deep within her, but she certainly didn't feel it as Susanna was showing her how to curtsy all the way down to the floor and back up again. She felt more like she would fall on her face. Just what she needed when she had to present herself at Aiden's corination to plead her loyalty to him. Perhaps then he would understand why it could never be.

Then again, perhaps he already did. She had not seen him in two months. That was the part she hated now. There were nights where she would have horrible nightmares about her time as Haylel's slave. She'd wake up, crying, sweating, reaching for him. But he wasn't there. He'd never be there again.

This was what she wanted though, wasn't it? Well, it wasn't what she wanted, but it was how things needed to be for Aiden to be the best king he could. It just surprised her how fast he seemed to get use to the idea. After he had been so determined about her marrying him in that time she recovered in his care, she had expected him to protest a bit more even after she had returned to her home. But there had been no contact after that. Not a letter, nothing. Only the invitation to the corrination and the events to follow it.

Every lord and lady in the land would have to come and appear before him, proclaiming ther loyalty to him as king. Then there would be a grand banquet as well as, of course, a grand ball. All occasions for him to see exactly how unsuitable she was as she struggled in her curtsy and sipped her soup to loudly, and tripped over her feet as she danced. No, correction, she would not be dancing. She'd be a wallflower during that part of the celebration. So when he saw how unsocial she was, that would all be the final nails in the coffin and it would all be over at least.

He'd go on with his life. She's go on with her life. Their time together would be just distant memories to him in no time. Though they would always be treasured moments in hers. She could never thank him enough for all he had done for her. He had given her a life to be had and for a time had shown her that she could be loved, even if only for a time.

And so now Crista and Susanna were arriving at the palace, walking among all the other nobility. Crista, while fitting in better then she once would have, still stood out among them. While most wore elaborate gowns and jewels, their hair done up in grand fashion with gems, Crista was dressed much more simple. Still looking lovely never the less in a royal blue gown with golden and black trimmings. She worn only a small necklace. The very one that had been the final gift from her father before his death. Susanna had tried to get her to wear something more elaborate, even to do up her hair or something besides the simple braied bands and leaving the rest to just hand down her back. Crista had only smiled, "This is who I am Susanna. I will not pretend I am anything more then a simple country girl." That was all she was after all.
 
There was a murmur over the coward as Crista walked in. The nobles all knew the story of her rescue, some had even been at that party with Heylel. All of the nobles thought it was wrong that she would be included in their number. Nearly all the ladies turned their noses up to Crista and her simple clothes thinking nothing of her. Rebecca was not one of them she rushed forward and wrapped her arms around Crista in a hug that spoke of a bond that at least Rebecca felt. â??You look wonderful Crista better than I have ever seen you, though that might not be saying much.â? the smile disappeared from her face for a moment but soon returned. Rebecca pulled Crista to one side wanting to chat about everything that had happened since they were last together. Aiden had not yet arrived so all the nobles were gossiping.
 
"I could say the same about you," Crista replied to Rebeca, a light hearted smile on her own face as she took a step back to look at Rebeca. Now she truly was born for this, looking just perfect in the attire of the rich and powerful. From what she had heard as well, her lands were fairing much better under her care then it ever did under her father's. "I look as best as I can for a girl of my station." One thing about Crista, she was well aware of her surroundings. Such as the looks she was getting from half the crowd. As well as the snubs she was getting from the other half. Aiden should be here to see what she had warned him of for himself. How could he take her for a wife when the people that matter most in his kingdom did not accept her let alone respect her.

Susanna tagged along with Rebeca and Crista, making an interesting trio to behold. Three women appearing to be in three stations. Rebeca looking like the duchess she was. Susanna looking more like a baroness then Crista the true noble. She looked almost common among them.

They chattered a bit about this and that, small things to pass the time as they waited. Crista was the most quiet among them. There was so much on her mind thinking about what she was going to have to do. Face Aiden, the man she loved so much she had to let him go, one last time. Oh and it would be the last time. After this, she'd quietly slip into the shadows of her manor to live a quiet life like she father had before her. She'd never attend another affair of nobility again. She would not even be here now if it wouldn't have been a sign of disrespect towards Aiden not to appear before him and plead her loyalty to him. The more she thought about it all the more she realized that she couldn't remain here after her task was done. Not for the dinner or the ball. Just, one last look at what could have been and then, goodbye.
 
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