Not that he argued, much. He’d agreed with her decision to leave. Her decision to go to Boston and go to Law School and leave him behind. Whatever love had been there before his accident —- that was gone, for the both of them. She had clung to it while he was missing, but it wasn’t there anymore. He had tried to find it, but there was nothing for him to find.
He keeps his arm where it is, refusing to leave until she hears him out. There’s something here, something real between them.
“You can’t tell me you don’t feel anything for me.”
lips formed in a straight line, forest irises nothing but a PLEA as she fought to reason with herself —- (this wasn’t right. this wasn’t okay) . but it was real, & david was right; she couldn’t tell him that she no longer harbored feelings in the very depth of her core for him. it’d be nothing but a lie. one that would fool nobody, least of all themselves.
❛ —- david. ❜
it was a half-articulated warning. she was struggling. her heart felt as though it were impendingimplosion. mixed emotions trampling her entire being, swallowing her whole. no matter how many times she attempted to keep distance, or divert him from her thoughts, it WOULDN'T work. somewhere, deep inside, mary margaret knew that. she could try but she would fail. almostnervously, she shuffles.
❛ of course i do. ❜ there’s a hitch in her tone. it was (more) than a feeling, so much more ; harder, too. should love be this difficult ? ❛ i can’t stop thinking about you. ❜ he seemed to encompass half of her being. the next words to escape rosy lips are packed with fuel. not even she’d seen them coming. ❛ —- &i love you. ❜
’ daenerys, your grace, ’ comes a soft voice, like leaves rushing through a soft spring breeze. the owner of said voice is a small, lithe silver-haired girl, who kneels at the sight of the SNOW QUEEN. formidable & just — as her brother would have her BELIEVE. ’ daenerys stormborn, of house targaryen. my brother sent me in his place; BEGGING your grace’s pardon for not being able to attend your ball himself. i hope my presence will do in his place. ’ the words were spoken as if they had been memorised, every word; no trueEMOTION behind it. she is a frightened little thing. a beautiful mouse. she looks up, however; meets the eyes of the queen of this realm. for it would be a slight not to.
forest colored irises are peeled upon the younger girl, a gaze sharp enough to c u tthrough marble should that be her intention. it is not, however, & they immediately mold into ivory features :softening. it wasn’t necessary, her apology. if anyone were to apologize, it need not be her. his absence would be – already was, forgiven. and her presence welcomed.
formally, her hand extended. they were no less of a person than she was. (queen) or not —- they, too, deserved to be h o n o r e d. for she wouldn’t be a very goodqueen if nobody dare to follow her. the slight flush of red that graced her cheeks broadened, a smile then tugging at each corner of her lips.
’ it’s a pleasure to have you among us this evening. ’
█ ▌ ❅ ▐ she had never seen someone sing so freely, be so at home in nature - & - it was beautiful. So she just watched, cautious of her powers rising up and found herself smiling ; unbidden, unusual.
on occasion, when snow found herself chest deep in an abundance of absolute love&awe of what the forest and mother nature had to offer them, a ray of melodic sunshine pushed through rosy lips. it hadn’t been until she’d slowly succumbed to a hum that light hues rested upon another : a woman, blue eyes, with her blonde hair braided to one side. less worried that she’d been caught, and more inquisitive about (who) and (what) she was doing, snow refrained from continuing.
’ —- it seems i’ve captured an audience. ’
she spoke more so to the bird perched to her shoulder, a humble tone, to which it chirped delightedly at before disappearing into the trees, leaving the two women to themselves. the next words to ease out were nothing but a mere guess, though telling from the look gracing her features snow thought it safe to assume.
’ correct me if i’m wrong but you look a little lost. ’
warm gaze lifted from the book in front of her at the familiar sound of the bell above the door chiming. she set reading material aside at the appearance of a not entirely unfamiliar head of cropped, dark hair, the corners of her mouth curling upwards with ease. the tranquil silence of the ice cream parlor is broken by soft, sweet voiced greeting.
❝ Afternoon. What can I get for you ? ❞
being with child certainly had it’s perks. besides having the chance to raise a child & watch a part of david and herself grow up, it also helped in sufficing as a good reason to indulge in some much needed ice cream. eating for two just happened to be another perk.
’ two pints of vanilla, please. ’
awarm smile tugs across her lips before adding :
’ oh !a pint of cherry vanilla & one rocky road, as well. ’
it’s only then that realization dawns upon her – she’s never formally introduced herself to the woman behind the counter. though, it seems silly now but recognition is failing her sorely.
’ have we met before ? ’
( —- aside from the obvious : her question digs deeper. )
Her touch is calming, and he relaxes almost immediately under it. It’s her voice, really, that draws him back to reality instantaneously. She has that affect on him, her ability to help him so natural that he knows he should be able to sleep again in a moment, be able to say something to her in a moment.
” —- I didn’t mean to wake you.”
Words, and they aren’t calm, or steady, but shake a bit, that he can manage. It’s all about pushing it aside, after all. He’d prefer to keep this to himself. Even if she’s able to help, which he knows she can, having lived through this herself, he also knows that it just fades with time. The nightmares stop - it’s an after effect of the sleeping curse, but it passes sooner rather than later. Any fix now is just temporary.
“I know.”
His voice is calm now, and a deep breath helps even more, the cool air bringing him back from the harsh conditions of the Netherworld. Looking over at her, there’s a small smile on his face, his lips curved just slightly, though it’s certainly not reaching his eyes. He’s here, his head and heart are here, but he knows as soon as he sleeps, it’ll be back there. If not tonight, then tomorrow. And it’s frightening.
“You should go back to sleep. I’m fine.”
He isn’t though. He isn’t fine. Physically, yes, but the Netherworld encompassed the mind. His eyes are the path and they bleed the opposite : a letter in which Snow can read quite well.
’ I know. ’
Her words convey a double entendre: I know you’re fine ( or ) I know you better than that. The latter is where she finds herself. Though she need not further stress her point as she moves quietly through the loft to retrieve one of the wax candles kept in case of emergency.
Returning promptly, candle already lit & secured in a holder, she places it upon the dresser. He could insist all he wanted - fine or not - the candle would remain bright. The flames belonging to the nightmare were terrifying but the ones flickering now would soothe.
David, in fact, had been the one to tell her so —-
