𝐹𝑎𝑖𝑟𝑦 𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑒 (𝐺𝑎𝑏𝑒𝑛𝑎𝑡ℎ)

𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑟 11 - 𝑑𝑜𝑢𝑏𝑡𝑠

Gabriel came back to his castle after a quite long journey by sea and then by land.

He had found himself looking at the woman in the cage a lot during the trip, they always shared a cold gaze to each other but they were both kinda interested to each other.

When he came back home he was very tired and stressed.

The only thing I need now is sleep.

"Gabriel!"

He turned around as a pair of soft arms were wrapped around his shoulders.

"Emilie" the man smiled.

"You should stop running away from me you know?"

"I'm sorry but I was kidnapped or at least it's what I have been told"

She put her hands to her mouth.

"Oh but are you all right, did the kidnapper hurt you?"

She began to scan him carefully.

"No, I'm fine Emilie, don't worry"

"I'm glad you are all right"

"Yes I am but let's talk about our wedding instead"

Emilie clapped her hands happily.

"I planned everything, the wedding will be celebrated in two days"

She paused looking at him.

"But maybe it's too early, you must be really stressed because of all that happened to you"

"No it's ok, I can't wait my dear"

But now let me go to sleep please.

Gabriel was too tired to talk about the wedding at that moment.

"If you want to excuse me I will be in my bedroom to rest from the journey"

He planted a soft kiss on her forehead and walked upstairs into his rooms.

Meanwhile Nathalie was back to what she thought was her castle.

"Nathalie we were so worried" her mother said.

"How could you leave your kingdom like that?" her father grunted.

Nathalie gave them an annoyed look.

"Maybe I don't want to live like this"

"But you are a princess and being who you are brings responsibilities" her father said.

"I don't care about them"

"Well, you will"

King and queen grabbed Nathalie and lead her into her room locking the door in the process.

The woman sighed and sat on her bed.

I guess I'm trapped here.

She laid down and closed her eyes to sleep.

I will figure out how to escape later.

She soon found out that she couldn't sleep.

Her mind was settled on Gabriel, she felt something wasn't right.

There was obviously an explanation for them being both on her ship.

She didn't remember kidnapping him and he didn't seem to know her.

Who was that man?

Suddenly she remembered him talking about marrying a woman, Emilie, and she felt a strange feeling in her stomach.

Was it jealousy?

She cared about him and for some reason she thought marrying that woman would have been a great mistake.

Her head hurt.

Maybe I should just sleep.

"I wish I could remember" she whispered.

She had to remember that man because he was important for her, very important.

But why?

Gabriel was sitting on a chair out on his balcony staring at the breathtaking view in front of him.

He had tried to sleep and failed.

He didn't show any interest in that woman but he was feeling bad she had been captured.

They told him she was the king and the queen's daughter from a land near his, apparently she ran away from her castle because she didn't want to be queen.

They didn't bother telling him her name but they said she kidnapped him somehow.

He had the feeling she was someone special for him but how could that be?

I don't know her, do I?

He closed his eyes trying to concentrate but he didn't remember anything about her.

The Sun was setting down, he rested his head on a pillow on the back of his chair somehow feeling more tired than before.

He heard a knock on his door.

He sighed.

"Come in"

Emilie entered the room and approached him slowly.

"How are you doing?"

"A bit tired"

"You didn't even eat anything"

"I'm not hungry"

The woman kneeled down next to him.

"Why are you so serious?"

Then she looked down.

"Have you changed your mind about the wedding?"

The man looked at her.

"No I haven't, I want to marry you"

He really wanted to marry her, didn't he?

She was his fiancée, he loved her, of course he wanted to be her husband.

"I'm glad" she smiled.

The man smiled back and closed his eyes.

"Well I think you should rest now, I won't bother you anymore"

She got up and pecked his cheek.

"For any need just call me ok?"

"Yes my dear"

She smiled and left the room.

She was gone, now he could have took a moment to reflect on his decisions.

Gabriel wasn't sure if marry Emilie would have been what he really wanted.

He couldn't stop thinking about that woman on the boat, she was beautiful, familiar.

Impossible.

He thought marring Emilie would have been the best way to forget. that woman forever.

After a while he finally fell asleep.