Anna can't speak and does everything she can to get herself under control. Once she is sure that she can speak without crying she begins again. "She's right, she's dying. Part of her is still connected to her world. The poor girl is stretched so thin. I don't know how she can stand it. It will be nothing more than a miracle if she can last the week she promised."
"Don't, please don't." Ariele begs as she sits up. "Aren't we late for a dinner?" She feels more than a little sick and would far rather go to her room.
Grey frowns, "She's not up to this little dinner Anna. She should go to her room and lie down."
Anna doesn't say anything and just looks consideringly at Ariele. But before she can say anything Ariele does, "I'm fine Grey. Just tired. And there is nothing either of you can do about that. I'll make it for as long as I promised Anna. The only time I've ever broken a promise was to that bitch of a queen. And the only reason I think that I might have that one is that the world is still there. I'm still there or at least part of me and that gives me hope that I didn't kill nearly seven billion people. I can live with breaking a promise that allows that many people to live.
"As long as I don't have to dance I can make it as long as the dinner. But Grey if you could cut it as short as possible I'd appreciate it. I'm not very hungry so whenever you determine it's okay we can go." Ariele hates being like this it reminds her of the time she was recovering in the hospital.
"No dancing tonight. I promise we'll leave as soon as possible." Grey isn't happy about this. He knows how much Ariele doesn't want to go and doesn't understand why she isn't taking the easy out provided for her.
She looks at him as if she was reading his mind, "I don't take the easy path Grey. If I did I would have died years ago and so would have my planet. I'm a survivor, tonight won't be nearly as bad as past court functions."
She looks down at her dress and looks at them ruefully, "But the biddies will be talking a great deal tonight. The dress is all wrinkled. I'm sorry Grey I messed up the dress and very likely my hair as well."
Anna laughs and Grey lets out a few expletives. He just doesn't understand women. He throws his hands up in the air and walks away.
Anna gives Ariele a hand up. "Don't worry your hair is fine. I think Grey cheated a little and set it so that it won't muss or the flowers to wilt. As for your dress," Anna says a few words and the dress looks as good as new. "Now that, that is all settled I have a gift for you before we go down."
"Taren will you bring out the box on my bed please?" Anna calls back to her bedroom. Shortly Taren looking a bit sheepish comes out with the box that Anna indicated and hands it to her.
Grey just looks at Taren hard and tries not to laugh. He's glad that Anna has finally found someone. Contrary to what Anna thinks he does remember or thinks he remembers being with Anna. He just doesn't feel that way about her and wants her to be happy. And Taren is a good man, one of the best. He couldn't have picked a better man for her.
Then he frowns a bit. Taren also has a reputation of being a love 'em and leave 'em man like himself. But Anna is a grown woman and can take care of herself in matters such as this.
Anna takes hold of the box and opens it. "This is actually a gift from Grey and I both." The gold and amethyst necklace was huge and most definitely costly.
Ariele shakes her head no and backs away. "I can't accept that Lady Anna. First you've given me such a nice room and then made me a Lady and gifted me with an estate. That necklace is far to fine for me."
Grey frowns as Anna looks confused. Grey steps to Ari's side and whispers, "You must accept the gift or you will offend her. She made it herself. It is a great honor to receive such a gift."
Ariele looks unsure and then looks to Grey who nods solemnly. She takes a deep breath and turns back to Anna who has taken on a hurt look. "It is very beautiful Lady Anna and I would be honored to accept this necklace."
Anna smiles and Grey takes the necklace from her and places it around Ariele's neck. The amethysts ranged in color from the smallest stones of purplish pink to the largest stone in the center that is the deepest purple. The dress, flowers and necklace so perfectly coordinated that it is obvious that Grey planned it that way. It is only then that she realizes that Grey's outfit complements hers and she finds herself speechless.
"Now, we must hurry, the others have been kept waiting for far too long." Anna says and Taren immediately offers her his arm. She accepts and leads the way out of the room.
Grey does the same for Ariele who accepts. "You knew? About the necklace and all?"
"Yes. Like she said it was a combined gift. The amethysts are from me, but the design and execution of the necklace is all Anna's. Were she not required to deal with the day to day problems of castle life she would have made master goldsmith long ago. She doesn't have the time to do many pieces and that is her finest yet." Grey explains.
"Why did she give my such a gift Grey? I have done nothing to earn this or the estate that she's given me." Ariele truly isn't used to receiving gifts and such gifts are very nearly overwhelming her.
"Anna has been a lonely person for a very long time. I have been her closest companion but my duties have kept me away. You have given her friendship on a level that I can't, and Taren is giving her more on another level that I can't.
"So from where I stand the jewels and gold are small in price to what you've already given. She will mourn your loss far more than the gold when you die Ariele." Grey says adamantly.
"I'm glad you finally believe that I'll only be here a short time." Ariele longs to know if he'll miss her too, but isn't vain enough to ask such a question.
"I believe that you may die, but I still don't believe that I'll be the one to kill you." That part still makes him angry, although the other part is starting to make him sad now.
"Wanting someone doesn't mean you love them. Look Grey, I know you want me, but let's be honest with each other and ourselves, you've known me for what two days? You could barely stand me yesterday. I know you far more than you think and you know me far more than anyone, but does that even make you like me? I know how I feel about you, but you?" Ariele shakes her head. "You don't know what to make of me. So how can you possibly make such an absurd claim? Your past is an indicator of future actions. And so that much makes your statement true, but the future can bring changes that make your actions change as well."
"Well then, making a statement about me acting so far out of character would that not be considered rash and absurd?" Grey is finding it harder to believe that he could ever kill Ariele, even should she be proven to be a traitor.
Ariele looks at him sadly, "I wish my words were absurd and rash. But after years of dealing with those that make the truth twist and spin about to their wishes, I know truth when I hear it. Or even speak it." Ariele refuses to say any more and pins on a fake smile.
Grey growls under his breath. He knows her smile is fake only because he's seen her real smile and that's what he wants to see her wear now. The pain her words bring are unbearable to him so they can't be true and he won't accept them no matter what she says. He finds himself unwilling to be separated from her for more than a few seconds. He always uses the excuse of being there to protect her, but he's disturbed that it goes deeper than that, far deeper. He finds that he doesn't like other men talking to her and makes sure that they don't talk for very long.
Anna keeps an eye on them and is both amused and saddened by the turn of events. She now understands far more just how difficult this is for Ariele to be here. She just hopes that Ariele can hold out for as long as she said she could. Now more than ever they need her.
Anna goes to her place at the high table and everyone else move to their places. She watches in amusement as Grey escorts Ari with care to her place and frowns at the one placed across from them.
Once Anna is sure that people have their places she sits and everyone else does as well. Immediately the food is brought out and plates are filled.
While waiting for their turn to be served Ariele is surprised and a little taken aback by the catty comment from the woman across from them."Excuse me? What was that?"
"I said it must be nice to have your own clothier stay with you twenty-four hours a day."
"Yes, I find it very useful. But I don't take it for granted. His gifts are given to those that he deems worthy. Obviously from your remarks he didn't find you worthy." Ariele breaks off long enough to instruct the server on the food before returning to the female. "You are a beautiful woman physically, but I come from a people far more beautiful physically than you and know this truth, beauty on the outside is destroyed when the inside is full of hatred and envy. If you wish to remain beautiful you need to lose the anger and bitterness. The corruption of hate and envy will forever destroy the physical beauty and turn it to an ugliness that cannot be compared. When that happened to the people I came from those people were shunned and killed. Here though, I think you would find pity and loneliness." Ariele shrugs, "But the choice is yours ma'am." And with that Ariele turns to her meal leaving the woman sputtering and unsure of what to say.
Grey hides his laughter and no longer worries about whether she can take care of herself with words. He does seek out her hand under the table though and gives it a gentle squeeze and doesn't let go.
Ariele doesn't say anything. She likes the feel of his hand holding hers and knows that if she moves it or says anything he'll remove it. But she feels warmed inside at his approval of how she took care of the rude female across the table.
Ariele makes it through dinner. She is surprised at the inclusion the other diners give her and other than that first one they have been welcoming and friendly. A far cry from what she's used to. She needs to leave or she'll start crying in front of everyone.
She squeezes Grey's hand that he'd left there throughout the whole meal. Grey immediately signals for a servant. The servant nods and quickly returns with a pen and paper. Grey writes a few things and hands the paper to the servant with instructions.
Shortly after she sees the servant handing the paper to Anna. Anna reads it and then stands up.
"Everyone, might I have your attention please? I know that this is a rare occasion, a night of pleasantry even frivolity so close to an enemy invasion. Normally I wouldn't host such an event, but we have been fortunate in that we have a new friend that has come a long way to help us in our need. It would be churlish of me indeed to not do this one little thing for her.
"To Lady Ariele, a light in the darkness of our night." Lady Anna salutes her with her wine and drinks to her toast. Everyone follows along even Ariele finds herself taking a drink out of her wine.
Anna sits and Ariele stands at Grey's urging. "Thank you Lady Anna. I have been graciously welcomed. I feel more at home here than even among my people and I thank you all for that, but especially you Lady Anna.
"To the people of Healthhome and most especially Lady Anna. May long life and happiness bless you all." Ariele toasts and is surprised and gratified by everyone accepting and toasting as well.
"You did just fine Ariele. Not much longer and we can leave. Are you holding up alright?" Grey is worried by the shaking that has come over Ariele.
"I'm fine, it's just that's the first time I've toasted or been given a toast. It's reaction is all." Ariele finds herself taking another sip of wine. She normally doesn't drink, she found that it slowed her reflexes and made it harder to get away.