by Kree8Tion

©copyright 2001

~ The Morning After~

It had been what Arwen can only describe as magical. The meeting. The laughter. The joy. The frustration. All emotions combined to lead up to one magical climax. The Cotillion. Arwen lay back and a smile crossed her face. The memory of the entire evening toyed with her as she saw the night's events once more. The music sounded in her ears even as the grandly garbed guests lit up the night behind her closed eyelids.

Arwen raised her arms and they began to sway to music only she could hear at this moment. She heard the soft neighing of horses in nearby stalls but it only penetrated as part of the rhythms of the dancers she now watched.

Arwen's arms rested against the hay once more as she remember Aragon's actions. She remembered her Lord Redwood and she wiggled a little as her bottom reminded her of displeasing Lord Aragon.

Lord Aragon! Arwen sat up as her eyes opened, looking around the stall for Lord Aragon. Her smile disappeared as she understood she was the only occupant. She raised a hand to her forehead as it now began to throb. She'd had a bit too much wine and very little beyond bidding adieu to the other guests was very clear.

Arwen remembered walking on a clear starry night, her hand resting on Aragon's arm. She remembered feeling as if she were the only woman in the world and feeling as if the entire universe had been placed there for her entertainment. She remember little beyond that.

Arwen stood quickly as tears filled her eyes. She did her best to brush away the strands of hay determined to cling to her gown and pressed her hands along her skirt in an attempt to smooth the stubborn wrinkles there. She stood still and closed her eyes, forcing her mind to think, to remember. She MUST remember. What had happened after she'd walked under the moonlight with Lord Aragon. And where was he now?

She undressed silently and lifted the covers to wiggle down under them, pulling the coverlet over her head. What had happened after the moonlight? Arwen's head began to throb even more as she forced herself to find memories she knew did not exist. All that remained were questions followed by more questions.

Why had Lord Aragon left her to waken alone?

Why had she risen to find herself in the stable, with horses her only companions?

"Oh Merlin. What have I done?"

Arwen woke when Lady Fay touched her shoulder gently. She remained hidden under the covers but opened her eyes, only to remember and close them tightly again.

"Come my Arwen. Dinner in the Hall awaits and your Father is beside himself to dine. I do believe you have rested well enough. Come. You must be dressed."

"Yes." Arwen heard Lady Fay and knew she must rise and dress for dinner. She also knew she didn't want to. How could she face everyone not knowing what she'd done? How could she look anyone in the eye? What if they asked where Lord Aragon was? Arwen remained hidden until she felt Lady Fay pull the covers back.

"Come Arwen! You must dress quickly for you have slept long! We must hurry or you will cause your Father to only have dessert and he will NOT be a happy man."

Arwen finally obeyed and remained standing as Lady Fay chose a gown for her to wear. Obediently, she donned her undergarments as they lay spread in a row and lastly, pulled the gown over her head. She sat quietly as Lady Fay attended to her hair and was very careful not to look at her reflection. She did now want to see the guilt written on her own face.

"Oh Arwen. A grand night it was. I'm so happy you had a wonderful time."

"Yes." It was all Arwen could muster for an answer. She was afraid that once she started talking about the night, the moonlit memories would flood back and she'd fairly spit out her fears and questions.

"ARWEN!" Arwen jumped to hear her Father's voice as he knocked twice then simply entered her bedchamber.

"Lord Arlo must remember his daughter is no longer a child and wait to be invited before entering her rooms."

"Nonsense Lady Fay. She's nothing I haven't attended to at some point of her life. Now off with you. My belly guides my actions this night and displeasing my stomach would not be wise. Arwen. We go!"

"Yes." Arwen stood and staring straight ahead, walked through her door to stand in the hall and wait for her Father. She shouldn't have worried about conversation. Her Father fairly left room to breathe between his words and no room at all for any one else to comment.

Arwen's mind was jumbled between memories, fear and shame. She shook her head from side to side slowly as if it would put the pieces together. This uncertainty she now carried would be the death of her and ohhhhhhhhh. What a terrible way to die! How would she know? How was she to know what did ... or didn't happen in the stable? Arwen was as stiff and tensed as the wooden broom she'd befriended.

"I DO NOT KNOW FATHER!" Arwen blurted out the words that had been circling in her head since she woke to find herself in the hay.

Arlo stopped in the hall and turned to his daughter. He could not reason the look on her face and all this simply because he'd pondered out loud what the Centurion had chosen to feed his guests?

"I daresay Arwen. Neither do I. That is why I suggested we ENTER the hall to discover the menu."

"Oh." Arwen almost cried right then and there and confessed what may have happened. She was not unknowledgeable of the ways of men and women but was so uncertain how one would know if ... how one would know if another had ...

Arwen sighed.

"How could I be so cruel to your stomach Father. Let us enter now and tame the wild beast you carry."

Arlo smiled. Finally! He would be fed! He patted Arwen's hand and led her into the dining hall while he grinned. Arwen stared at the tiled floor as they walked and sat in the chair her Father held for her.

"I trust my Lady Arwen is feeling well this night?"

Arwen's head shot up as the voice of Lord Aragon beside her filtered through her cluttered mind only to stop where anger must be stored. He sat next to her, smiling as if nothing were wrong. Smiling as if he'd just conquered the world. All of Arwen's fears and uncertainties gathered together and they now guided her actions.

"You! YOU! How DARE you speak to me this night?"

Lord Aragon stared at Arwen in confusion.

"Does my Lady find the table displeasing? I will speak with the Centurion and beg food be brought that would make you smile."

"It is not the table that displeases me Lord Aragon. It is YOU!" Arwen stood and picking up her goblet of wine, poured the contents on Aragon's head and began to walk with her head held high out of the dining hall.

Arwen sat staring out her window. She'd been there just watching the clouds as they drifted by almost as if they would mend her aching heart. She sighed knowing they wouldn’t yet stared at them still.

"My Arwen is going to become that window bench should she remain there any longer!" Lady Fay smiled at Arwen but frowned as she received no reaction from her.

"My Arwen is going to turn into a prune as the moss grows against the trees and the fairies dance under the bush while frogs play their flutes." Again, Lady Fay waited for a reply. Even confusion at her statement would have been enough. Lady Fay shook her head from side to side sadly. They'd been home for nigh on three weeks now and nothing could move Arwen from her place near the bench.

Lady Fay had begun to leave her dinner on the bench before her. At times, she would watch Arwen reach for food and chew slowly. At others, the plate was returned to the kitchens untouched.

Lady Fay was forced to make use of maids to help Arwen dress and undress with her standing lifeless while she was attended to. Lady Fay's heart was breaking as she watched Arwen move further and further away from her. She didn't know what to do. Arwen would not speak of the last day at the Castle nor would she speak of the Cotillion. The only thing Lady Fay was certain of was they were on the path for home before the sun set the day after the grand dance and Lord Arlo used his magic at Midnight to transport them immediately home.

Lady Fay wrung her hands together as she gazed upon Arwen. She knew she must do something or she would be lost in her own world for the rest of her days. She bade the maid to keep an eye on Arwen and barely ran to Lord Arlo. She knew he was more perplexed than she over what to do with Arwen and Lady Fay felt it was time to speak.

When Lady Fay entered the hall, she found Lord Arlo seated by the fire staring into the flames. Santuro was pacing behind him and Lady Fay signaled to him.

Santuro saw Lady Fay waving her arms and walked closer to her, not understanding what it was she wanted.

“Are you all right Lady Fay? Are you hurt?”

“Santuro. It is not me that pains my heart. It is Arwen and Lord Arlo. We must take drastic measures and we must act quickly. I need your assistance in this but you must swear silence in what we are about to undertake.”

“LADY FAY!”

“Hush Santuro. Else Lord Arlo will hear us.” Lady Fay glanced over the short man’s head to be certain he had not been heard. Lord Arlo didn’t even flinch so she breathed a sigh of relief. Taking the short man’s hand, she lead him from the great room and spoke to him in the halls.

Arlo cringed at Lady Fay’s reprimand. He pulled a face but did indeed lower his voice.

“And what may I ask is so important that my Master may not hear? I am sworn to obedience to him and keeping secrets is not allowed.”

“Yes, yes, Santuro. I am well aware. However, these are desperate times. Should you and I fail to act, we will lose our loves for eternity. Do YOU wish to be the reason they are nothing but cinders?” Lady Fay knew she exaggerated but the poor man would not aid her otherwise. She watched as Santuro cringed once more.

“Nnnnno. Would they truly turn to cinders Lady Fay?” Santuro glanced at his Master, as lifeless as the chair upon which he rested.

“Oh yes Santuro. Both Lord Arlo and my Arwen nothing more than ashes fluttered by the wind for all time. Are you prepared to take that chance?”

“Nnnnno. What is it Lady Fay suggests?”

“Come. Come with me for a walk and I shall explain what I have in mind.”

Aragon rode for days. He had no sense of direction. He’d begun to follow the trial of Lady Arwen’s caravan and once daylight broke, but found nothing. Not a wheel rut. Not a broken branch. Nothing.

Aragon felt broken. His men bade him to return home but still he pressed on. He rode relentlessly, picking up one trail after another only to find it was not his Lady Arwen. Still he pressed forward.

More than once, he would sit by the open fire and speak with his Father, long passed away, begging him to reveal Lord Arlo’s castle. More than once, he received no reply.

He sat this night once more confused. He did not know the reason for Arwen’s anger when he last saw her. And angry she was. He smiled as he remembered her spirit as she dumped the contents of the goblet upon his head. He grinned wider still as he remembered her face in realization of what she’d done and her quick escape from the grand dining hall.

His face quickly turned to a frown as, in his memory, he followed her only to be faced with an angry Lord Arlo who prevented him from approaching the one woman that stole his heart. Aragon sat perplexed. He did not know what made Arwen hate him so. He only knew he couldn’t let her go without some sort of explanation. If had truly done something to hurt her, he would apologize for the rest of his days. But if in fact, she was simply …..

Aragon didn’t want to let his thoughts wander further. That only succeeding in angering him more. Once that happened, his anger would simmer until he felt his heart would burst in his worry.

Lady Fay had indeed secured the aid of Santuro. Together they’d conjured up the spell they’d located within Lord Arlo’s great book. They’d gathered the ingredients and mixed them properly. Just as they were almost finished, the Great Book flapped it’s pages and lay opened on a page of its own choosing.

Neither saw the movements and together they approached the Great Book, speaking the words aloud at the exact hour of Midnight, precisely as instructed in the book.

When they were finished, both Lady Fay and Santuro sank back into the thick chairs within the library. They smiled at each other, proud of what they’d done. Then both knew their grand attempt to save both Master and daughter was now in the hands of Merlin. All they had to do was wait.

As both Lady Fay and Santuro walked from the room, the Great Book flapped its own pages as if it had been invaded. Had either of them turned to look, they would have seen that they spoke not the chant to show Aragon the way to their Castle, but instead, had conjured up a number of eligible bachelors who would find their way to Lord Arlo’s door.

The Great Book shivered in its own laughter as it knew Aragon would indeed appear, but he would not be alone.