A Princess In A Fairy Tale

[Maeve]

The diamond. It represented two things, but Maeve had a feeling that her hesitations were unrelated to bravery, and more the fidelity of love. Had someone she loved betrayed her? Was it the other way around? These were very personal questions and to abruptly ask them would be far too rude. She wanted to know, but could only ask in a way that did not make Isadora feel uncomfortable since she sensed her discomfort in this subject was already rather significant.

The poor girl looked so unsure; so worried. Maeve leaned over a bit and gently placed her hand on top of the Princess'. Go on My Lady. She gently urged, without sounding like she was pressuring her. Anything you say to me will no leave this room, or be spoken to anyone else. She was not sure how to convince her to trust her... as much as she wanted to, she knew it was a process. And yet, she could not help but feel optimistic because Isadora was already opening up to her, even if it was just a little and bit by bit.

So tell me. What is it regarding the fidelity of love that troubles you and causes you this much worry and despair. Love should be a happy occasion! No matter who the other was and to feel this much angst from this extremely kind woman...well, it really did break Maeve's heart. She deserved to be happy, as did everyone, but this woman had displayed a unique goodness that was not common in this world anymore. Perhaps we could start by discussing who this very fortunate man is, She said with a kind, encouraging smile. Maybe talking about the man himself would start this conversation off with a bit more positive energy.

[isadora]

Maeve told her to go on...but Isadora didn't know what more she could say. How much would be too much? It felt like saying anything at all would be too much of a risk, but she'd go crazy if she tried to keep it all bottled up for the rest of her life. She'd have to trust someone eventually. She had the woman's word that she wouldn't tell, whatever that was worth, but Isadora believed her. She didn't think she'd go around telling everyone that the princess was in love with a miscellaneous Druid, but she figured she'd keep the details to herself.

She smiled when she thought of Alistair, looking down briefly, and blushing to herself. "He's strong...and he doesn't say much. He's devoted to his beliefs and his people, and he's stubborn. He doesn't listen to me and when he does speak, it's usually to argue with me. But he's also kind, and honorable, and when I'm with him, I feel safe. And he loves me." She looked back up, gauging Maeve's reaction. She could describe what Alistair was like, but she couldn't tell her who he really was.

Picking up her tea and taking a slow drink, she thought about what she'd just told her. It still didn't explain why she was in such turmoil; in fact, having such a wonderful man in love with her shouldn't be a cause for any distress. But it was, because no matter how wonderful he was and how much she loved him, they could never be together; not really. Not unless one of them gave up everything about their own life to be a part of the other's world. "But...I can't be with him. I love him, but...he's a commoner."

[/size]

[Maeve]

Maeve listened with great interest and intrigue as Isadora described the man she loved and the one who loved her. She spoke with such devotion, admiration, and affection. It brought a smile to Maeve's lips that she almost forgot the despair in Isadora and her hesitancy to take something that symbolized fidelity. But the reality of the situation returned and that euphoria was gone. Upon hearing her say that they could not be together; that he was a commoner. The smile faded from Maeve's lips, and she felt sad. Sad that things were so difficult for the princess when she seemed to find someone who encompassed everything anyone would be looking for.

Maeve did not understand the issue of class differences. Where she came from, everyone was regarded equally. Even she as the Queen of the realm, was not limited in her actions in such a way. It must be a great deal of pressure and stress. If he truly is how you describe him to be, and I have no doubts that he is, then there is nothing common about him. She said, sort of playing with the word, though she knew full well what Isadora meant.

Tell me, can you truly love anyone else, with the same strength that you love him? She could feel it. It was not mere infatuation and lust. There was something deeper, a stronger connection between the two, well...at least on Isadora's part. Maeve could not speak for the man for she did not know him. She also had to choose her words carefully, making sure she did not let too much slip.

[/color]

[isadora]

Isadora didn't live in a world without divisions; they were entrenched in class differences, and it didn't matter how much she loved him, she couldn't just turn the entire system upside down in order to marry him. Well...technically, she probably could, but she doubted such a thing would go over very well. Worst-case scenario, her people would be outraged and rebel, and her allies would be so horrified they would cut ties with them and possibly declare war. In the best-case scenario, her people would marvel at the thought of a commoner king, but her allies would refuse to deal with a peasant. She doubted Uther would have forgotten about how Alistair kidnapped him, either, so the worst case scenario was much more likely.

The other option was to run away with Alistair, but that would leave her country without a ruler or heir. It would mean civil war amongst the upper nobles, who would doubtless vie for the throne amongst themselves, and her people would suffer. She couldn't bear to do that to them, and the thought of leaving the kingdom she loved in someone else's hands left her cold. So she didn't see any way they could be together. Maeve pointed out that there was nothing common about him, and she smiled wryly. "You're right...but he's not just a peasant. He's a druid and a fugitive. Not exactly common...nor good things." She didn't know if it was a good idea to tell her all this, but she'd told her enough already to be condemning...so why not the rest?

She looked away when she asked if she could love someone else. "I hope not." She didn't want anyone else to ever make her feel like this again; both the happiness and the pain when he wasn't around. She didn't even like that Alistair had this much control over her emotions. "I don't want to love anyone else like I love him."

[Maeve]

Maeve looked at her a with a sympathetic expression. She understood the severity of the situation....well, only to a certain extent of course. She knew that it must be difficult to love someone who did not hold a rank acceptable to those in a higher class. The entire ranking and class system was just something Maeve would never understand. Why did it have to be such an obstacle? Why could happiness not be so easily attained in this world? If it could, people would be less vengeful, less ruthless, less bitter towards one another. That was the real root to achieving peace; finding happiness. And yet, here was a Princess, in love with a man she could not be with. It deeply saddened Maeve for she knew there was nothing she could do to help, no matter how much she desperately wanted to.

Her expression became a bit more curious when she revealed that he was a druid. They were magical beings, some possessing abilities. She had something in common with them besides the bond of both being magical; they were also both hunted. The druids are peaceful people, She said, thinking about them out loud. She had known and encountered many druids... having her own affections and bonds with certain ones. But the situation was becoming more clear. With the way druids, and other practitioners of magic, were being condemned it was no wonder her relationship with the man was even more forbidden. A commoner and a druid...that would not sit well with neighboring kingdoms. And yet, Maeve could not bring herself to be less than optimistic. She always believed there was hope for everything, and was not going to discourage this idea...even if Isadora felt it was an impossibility.

Is he a fugitive because he is of a race who practices magic? Or was there something more? Her words of not being able to love anyone else, or rather, not wanting to love anyone else allowed Maeve to smile a bit. There had to be hope! You deeply care for him. She had to said it. Feeling the affection from her for him, was so refreshing after all the anger that filled most people these days. Do you believe he would make a good ruler, alongside you? Did Isadora trust her judgment in this? Maeve then suddenly realized she had been asking so many questions, and did not want to overwhelm the Princess. I ask these questions, because I feel that there is hope. That you should not be so quick to discourage yourself from the possibilities this life has to offer. She had to be an optimist. If she was not, she would have given up on humans a long time ago.

[isadora]

Isadora nodded; she had met some druids, the ones Alistair had taken her to. They didn't seem to be bad people, suspicious, but that was to be expected of a people who were being hunted. And Alistair wasn't at war because he liked the thrill of battle, or enjoyed killing, as she knew some others did, he wanted his people to be free, to live without fear. He wanted a peaceful life...a life with her. But he was trying to stop Uther's oppression, and she had a country to rule, so it didn't seem like they were going to get what either of them wanted for themselves.

Her question was difficult to answer. "Yes...and no. He's been trying to help his people, and he's broken the law to accomplish that end. The crimes amount to High Treason, and a death sentence. And King Uther knows who he is, what he looks like. He hates him enough that if he became king, he would declare war." She didn't trust the woman quite enough to tell her exactly what Alistair had done. But she was confident in her assessment; Uther had not been happy about being kidnapped.

She snorted when Maeve asked if he would be a good king. "Even if Uther didn't invade, he'd be awful. He's a good man, but terrible with people. He has no tact, no talent for diplomacy, he lacks the skills a ruler must have." But would it be so bad? He could fight, he had to have some talent for military planning, and everything else...she had. She could handle the rest, she already did, the only thing her kingdom needed a king for was the military. She had been horribly mismanaging that for years. But would her people accept him as king? She shook her head at Maeve's suggestion of hope. "I can't get my hopes up...because if I do, it will hurt so much more when they come crashing down, and I don't know if I could survive that." It hurt so much already, how much more could she possibly take?

[/size]

[Maeve]

Maeve could fully relate to that. She wanted to tell Isadora about just how much she could relate to Alistair's actions...after all, if the Princess could love someone of magic, perhaps she would not be so quick to arrest a faery? Then again, maybe not. Maeve was very conflicted as to what to do. The Princess was being so honest and open with her and Maeve desperately wanted to return that favor. She had a feeling that before they went their separate ways, she would disclose her true identity. It sounds justifiable to a certain extent, Maeve said. While she tried not to make her opposition to the law so apparent, and did not try to save her people through violent or illegal ways... she understood those who did. It was after all how some of her kind wanted to resolve their issues with humans. She could not allow it though; war and violence would not solve anything.

It is getting harder and harder for those who have magic within them to survive without persecution. She was not trying to speak treason, even though by her just being here she was risking arrest if they were to discover the truth. She was trying to find out how Isadora felt towards those with magic. Maeve however was not too subtle and she would not use manipulation or play mind games to get this information. There was no need for that when she could ask and if the Princess did not feel comfortable enough to give that information, she would respect that. If I may ask... how is it that you came to meet him, and were able to spend such a significant amount of time with him? Enough to have led to them falling in love with each other, as that did not always happen in an instant.

I may be quick to presume this but it sounds that all of the qualities he lacks, you compensate for, and vice versa. Hearing her admit that she could not hold on to that hope, made Maeve sad but at the same time, she understood. That did not mean she wanted her to let go of the idea so quickly. My Lady, I do not believe that magic will forever be illegal. I believe that one day, people will come to accept that everyone has different abilities and that we can not change who we are. An idealistic indeed, but one had to be when trying to search for hope and hold on to that undying faith that people could change; that they could show more compassion towards one another. I can imagine it must already hurt so much now. If you do not have hope, then what is there? Acceptance is not always the right path. Sometimes, we must be more optimistic because if we are not, then we are already lost. Then there is no hope that the world can heal from all this cruelty and corruption. To give up so easily, to be so defeated.... is the greatest devastation of all. Maeve felt a few tears form in her eyes. It was a difficult topic when so much was at stake.

[isadora]

Isadora raised a quizzical eyebrow when the woman justified Alistair's actions; did she really agree with him, or was she simply trying to earn the Princess' favor? She'd known many people who would adopt her view as soon as they learned it, even if they'd been saying the exact opposite only moments before. Some people felt the best way to get ahead was to say whatever they thought she wanted to hear. But Maeve went on to speak on how it was getting more difficult for magical beings to survive, and something about it didn't seem right. Most people would say that they had fewer and fewer magical creatures roaming around, wouldn't they?

Most of Isadora's subjects were relieved at the decline of magic; it made them feel safer to have something that they didn't understand and couldn't control eradicated. She had felt that way, too, before Alistair had shown her that magic wasn't evil, as she'd always believed. She had a feeling Maeve could relate to the dilemma of the druids, more than the woman had let on. She knew about Druid beliefs, didn't she? And their symbols. Knowledge that wasn't common, and sometimes even forbidden these days.

Then there was the uncomfortable topic of how she'd met Alistair, and Isadora looked down, biting her lip. She'd already told the woman so much, she didn't think this would really be much more damning that what she'd already revealed to her, but this was the humiliating part. Could she really just admit that she'd fallen in love with a man who had kidnapped her? Who had tied her up, hurt her, forced her to do menial labor and held her against her will? Would she even understand? Even Isadora thought she was insane for her feelings towards the druid. How could she even attempt to justify them to someone else?

She figured if she was going to reveal so much to the woman, she might as well reveal this. After all, who else was she going to tell? And maybe she wouldn't think Isadora was so insane...or if she did, at least then she'd have confirmation from someone else. "...His first act of treason...was kidnapping me." She looked up at the woman nervously, wondering how she would respond to that.

[/size]

[Maeve]

Sensing her emotions and picking up on her body language led Maeve to believe that she was hesitate in revealing something. One of the questions she had asked? A topic she raised? Maeve was about to apologize for possibly prying too far when Isadora spoke, explaining in one statement how she had met Alistair. This, was something that Maeve had not expected to hear. He kidnapped her? Why? Well, perhaps the why was more simple if she were to make conclusions about human behavior. Ransom. Revenge for something. Hopefully not perverted pleasure. She was a Princess after all, and could be a target, a victim of greed and ruthlessness, two qualities that only darkened this world.

Maeve also knew that she could not judge the situation. She did not know the man, or his motives. What if they were more honorable? Maeve was unsure for Isadora spoke about it with great reluctance...was there justification for his actions? At the same time, he had endangered a woman's life. Maeve decided not to leap to any conclusions until she knew more. Making accusations and snap judgments about people was not part of her nature for she felt that everyone deserved the benefit of the doubt. Still. Her eyes were filled with curiosity with an underlying, subtle worry to them... hoping that the kind Princess had not been too traumatized by the experience. After all, there could have been more involved for kidnapping royalty was no easy task. Maeve could not condone such behavior, but if this was a man that she loved, that had redeeming qualities, then surely there must be a reason.

Maeve wanted to help alleviate some of that hesitation that Isadora felt, if only to raise her comfort level. That must have been terribly frightful for you, she said sympathetically. You describe him as a man you think highly of. He must have done something to redeem this act of abducting you. She purposely did not ask a specific question. It kept the subject open, allowing Isadora to explain what she wanted without any sort of added pressure to answering her questions.

[isadora]

Isadora waited for Maeve to say something, feeling more uncertain the longer it took the woman to react. At least she didn't jump up and ask Isadora what in the world was wrong with her; because that was exactly what the princess had been wondering over the last few weeks. Finally, Maeve spoke; and there was no reaction to her tone. She was calm, collected...and completely and utterly wrong. Isadora bit her lip. "That's just it...it wasn't." Well, she'd been terrified at first, but once she got over her initial shock at being kidnapped she hadn't been afraid of Alistair at all.

There had been other terrifying things that had happened to her over the course of her kidnapping, but Alistair had protected her, kept her safe. "You must think I'm insane." She sighed with frustration, she thought she was insane, so it was only fitting that everyone else should too, right? "He kidnapped me...but he never hurt me. He never treated me badly. He even tried to act like a worse person than he was, to try and get me to hate him. He was a really bad actor." She didn't know how to explain it. Despite his best efforts to make it seem like he was a horrible person, she had seen through it. His being nice to a cute little girl hadn't helped his performance. "He shouldn't have done it...but he is a good man. He was trying to help his people. I can't blame him for that."

[/size]

[Maeve]

She had not been terrified? He had treated her kindly? Maeve continued to be able to relate to him wanting to help his people. All magical beings were in danger, including druids who possessed natural magic talents. But how was kidnapping a Princess, one who had not even implemented rules against magic, help him and his people? This made the faery more curious as to what the situation was, and she felt now, she wanted to question the motives. She knew that Isadora was not obligated to tell her anything, but hoped she could continue to confide in her. Perhaps even talking about this would put her at ease, though she was unsure if that would be the case, considering how much tension she felt from her right now.

You are not insane, She said, immediately disagreeing and rejecting any suggestion of this. If he had shown you nothing but kindness, and demonstrated qualities that only created an affection for him, if he protects you, loves you, cares for you, then why would it be insane to be in love with a man such as this. Maeve was leaving out the obstacles for being someone of magic, and of a different class, did not define who was person was... it was their personality, their character traits, their actions. If he had frightened you to no end and treated you very poorly, then I would be more concerned as to why you loved someone like that. If he displayed all the traits she described, then he did sound like a decent man. Even if he was a fugitive. Maeve could technically be discovered a fugitive, did that make her a bad person? She believed not.

What were his motives My Lady, if not to harm you. How would taking you, help his people? This was something she still did not understand. Kidnappers did not often show compassion to their victims. Instead, they tried to instill fear in them so that they would not regard them as weak and not challenge their authority.

[isadora]

She breathed a sigh of relief when Maeve assured her that she wasn't insane, listing off all the reasons Isadora had been telling herself but had been unwilling to really believe when she had no outside confirmation. It felt good to be able to get it all off her chest, so good that it made it too easy to share the intimate details of her secret affair with someone who was almost a complete stranger; because now that she'd started telling her, if Maeve wasn't what she seemed, she was already condemned. So what was the point in hiding anything?

She lifted her tea, which was already starting to get cold, to her lips to take a sip, trying to calm herself as they spoke about the kind of man Alistair was, and what his motives were. What were his motives? Money, as far as she knew. That, and hurting Uther's reputation. And insulting Prince Arthur, since she was friends with him. Not really pure motives, but Alistair wasn't really pure as the driven snow as it was. No, he was just a man, and men did things that were wrong for all the right reasons.

"Money, for one thing...the druids are poor, they can't afford weapons or the other things they need to fight back against the Knights of Camelot. Also to hurt King Uther's reputation, to show all the kingdoms he recently allied to that he isn't even strong enough to protect one girl in his own castle. Finally, to insult Prince Arthur. I don't know what the reason for that is, he just doesn't him, I think." Alistair had a habit of getting very angry whenever Arthur was brought up, to the point of refusing to listen to her at all when she tried to convince him that Arthur wasn't as bad as he thought.

[/size]

[Maeve]

Maeve listened intently as she began to list the reasons for her kidnapping. Money, pride, disrespect...all these were traits of the human race and some went way to far to uphold or achieve them. Of course in this case, Isadora did not seem to blame him for it. She justified the actions by explaining the poor lifestyle of the druids. They were indeed simple people, as Maeve had encountered many in the past and knew the general way of life they lived. And where does your alliance now lie My Lady? Maeve asked in a soft voice, knowing the answer to the question could be dangerous, and asking such a thing could be considered treason by some.

She made sure to ask it in such a way that it only reflected curiosity and held an innocence to it. She did not plan to use this information against her, though could understand if Isadora did not want to reveal such things. Maeve only asked because she wanted to continue to understand the relationship she shared with someone, while conflicted with it at the same time.

[isadora]

She wanted to know...where her alliances lie? She blinked, wondering why she was curious about that. It didn't have anything to do with her inner turmoil; she had changed some of the laws of Gwent to better protect magical beings, as subtly as she could, but her allegiances were not to the druids, even if she was in love with one of them. Her back straightened, she was a princess, and her allegiance would always be to her people, and her duty, always putting them ahead of what she wanted, always above the desires of her heart.

"My alliance is, as it had always been, to the people of Gwent. I will always act in their best interest, regardless of what I feel or what I, personally, might want. The well being of my people will always come before my desires." She answered solemnly, unwilling to let her emotions affect how she would rule. She had a responsibility to her people, and that meant that she couldn't put herself ahead of that. She sipped her cold tea again, a stubbornly determined gleam in her eye.

[/size]