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Post by Annie of Conté on Sept 10, 2008 2:34:13 GMT -5
It was a day before Edward and Rukan would be leaving for the border to fight. Annie had been unsettled for days, literally locking herself up in her room and crying herself untill she fell asleep. She'd been avoiding Edward, so that she didn't have to say goodbye to him yet. Needless to say, she was scared. She didn't want to loose Edward. She couldn't imagine life without her best friend by her side.
Right at that moment Princess Annie was sitting in the library, in a secluded spot. A few tears were rolling down her cheeks, and her face was blotchy. No matter how many people reassured her Edward would be okay, she was still upset. Right now she needed to be with Edward, to have him to comfort her and tell her everything would be alright. She'd spent a little time with Loki and Jack, who reassured her a little, but she was still frantic.
Annie's head was in her hands, and she was shaking uncontrolablly. All she could think of was blood and death. All she could think of was what it would be like if Edward didn't come back.
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Post by Edward of Pirate's Swoop on Sept 25, 2008 2:41:32 GMT -5
((And I come to the rescue! Pardon my absence! I have been unbearably busy!))
Edward had felt renewed since he had slept on the words the Goddess had bestowed upon him. He had almost wanted to go to Annie the very second he woke and declare himself to her, but for once in his life, Edward couldn't find Annie. It was like she was avoiding him, and had become psychic to ward him off. He had almost given up completely, if not the idea of being smited by a Goddess lay heavy in his mind, and his sense telling him that he needed to do it now or never.
It was the day before he left, and he was becoming quite restless. He had to find Annie and now. He did not want to tell her minutes before he left for the border. He wanted to tell her now, before he stood up on a pedestal in front of the intire palace and shouted it out until she showed herself. So, as he had done everyday when he could find free time, he was searching for her. If she was in her room, she wasn't opening up, and it wasn't in his nature just to break into people's rooms.
He found himself wandering into the library, searching restlessly. And finally, as though a miracle lay upon his lap, he found her. She was in a very secluded spot, hidden from the rest of the library by huge bookcases. He hadn't thought to look there before, so now was sort of an epiphony moment. He also notted that she was in the telltale postion of someone who was crying silently. Her back even wavered a bit when she was breathing.
He silently came upon her and pulled her up out of her position lightly by the arms. He then pulled her into a large hug, holding her back and head, while laying his head on top of hersl. He stroked her back lightly to try and clam her tears.
((Pardon my slight God-modding there!))
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Post by Annie of Conté on Sept 26, 2008 18:07:21 GMT -5
As soon as she was in Edward's arms she relaxed her position a little, and buried her face in his tunic. She clung to him tightly, never wanting to let go. She knew Edward could break her grip on him if he wanted to, but Annie didn't care. Holding on to him was the only way she thought would stop him. Nothing, ever, had depressed her this much. The dream had been very bad, but this was the worst thing that had ever happenned to her. Edward was her life, the person that made her want to get up every day, and he was going.
Her throat was dry, and her eyes stung as she sat there in her best friend's arms. Annie couldn't find the words to talk. She hadn't wanted Edward to see her like this, because she knew he would worry. She had wanted to be fit as a fiddle and smiling when she did say good-bye, not an emotional wreck. Annie wanted to stop crying and acting pathetic, but she couldn't, even though she was trying to force herslef to stop.
Annie tried to take Edward in. His smell, the way he held her, his voice... just tried to take all of him in. If this was the last time she would be with him, she wanted to remember it forever. She didn't want to argue about why she couldn't go to war, she wanted to stay in Edward's arms and cry, like a small child. Crying was natural for her now, she had been doing it a lot recently. Annie had also stopped eating much, and walked around the castle like a ghost, with no expression and empty eyes.
"Edward..." she said quietly, her breath heavy, as she tried to stop the sobs from escaping. She put her arms around his waist. He was so much taller than her, and she felt rather small standing with him. Edward wasn't the biggest guy around, and latley Annie looked skinny, even compared to him. Her family and friends had been worrying about her the past few days. Where was the girl that always smiled? What happenned to the warmth that had once flooded her eyes? No one knew the reason, but clearly they didn't know her well enough if they couldn't work out why she was upset.
"Don't..." she said quietly, still shaking. "Don't go, I'm begging you..." she trembled. "Please," her voice was small now, and she couldn't help but feel useless and scared. "I can't loose you, if you can't do it for me then do it for..." she trailed off. Who else could he do it for? "Alynta, and Jack and Loki..." she whispered. Her eyes were wide with fear now, and she kept looking down, so that Edward wouldn't see her face and the emotion behind it.
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Post by Edward of Pirate's Swoop on Sept 26, 2008 20:23:38 GMT -5
Edward let her crush him, let her soak his shirt with tears. He just kept on holding onto her and rocking her gently. He held her with his eyes closed, taking in her scent and the feeling of her little body under his arms. He notied she was significantly thinner than the last time he held or saw her. Had she been eating? He started to get a little worried, but knew know was not the time to be scolding her for not eating. After there talk he would go tempt her with a small cake or something.
This moment was for something else completetly. This moment was for Annie herself, not the body that bore her. This moment was for his love for her, and now was the time for him to say it. He had the courage to do it, and nothing would stop him from doing it. He waited for Annie to calm down, as she normally did pretty quickly. She was not one to cry for extensive amounts of time without clearing herself up expertly in minutes or less. She tried to speak.
"Annie, shh." He put a finger to her lips to silence the names pouring from her mouth. He then held her head in his hands, so that she was looking up at him. "If I had a choice to stay, the only reason that would keep me here is you, and my love for you." The last sentence was said quietly, for there was still a little fear lingering for Annie's reaction to it. But, he had found his courage, and had finally said what he had wanted to say to Annie since the first day they met. SInce the first day he fell in love with her.
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Post by Annie of Conté on Sept 26, 2008 21:59:23 GMT -5
Annie's crying died down, as usual when she was around Edward. When she was with Edward she would only cry for a while, then she would force herself to stop, and it also helped that he was there. He was the little light that made her shine, but in this case she was afraid that this little light might be blown out. Her face was left red and blotchy when the tears did stop rolling down her cheeks, but she was still looking down, or atleast she was still looking down untill Edward took her face in his hands and forced her to look at him.
"If I had a choice to stay, the only reason that would keep me here is you, and my love for you."
"my love for you."
"my love for you."
"my love for you."
"my love for you."
"my love for you."
The last bit of what he had said echoed in her head. She looked him in the eyes. Oh oh, she thought quietly. The way he looked at her, why hadn't she noticed that before? It was the same way her father looked at her mother, and the same way George and Alanna looked at each other. How stupid are you Annie, the boy's head over heels in love with you, and you ignored the signs, her conscious said. It all overwhelmed her, and her head began to spin.
Annie forced herself out of Edward's grip, she couldn't do this right now! "Edward..." she whispered, and looked away. "Just give me a little bit..." Annie stood up and moved over a meter or so from where she had once been with her best friend. She tucked her knees up, wrapped her arms around her knees and tucked her head in, forming a protective ball. The tears came back, but this time she didn't fight to stop them. This was the worst time for something like this, he was about to leave and might not come back, and he was telling Annie now what he loved her...
Do you love him? the question spun in her head. This was the hardest question she would ever have to answer. Annie knew what her brain was telling her; "You have to marry for the good of Tortall, not because this boy says he loves you." Her heart was in disagreement with her brain; "You've loved him for a long time, you just didn't know it. You can't break his heart Annie, he'll never forgive you." Pain was tearing through her body, she knew what her answer was, but she couldn't find words.
Quietly she stood up and moved back to Edward's side, watching him carefully. She knew what she had just done, pulling away from him, had been rude, but she had been taken by shock. She sat much closer than usual, in an awakward position. Annie looked up softly at him. "Edward, I don't know what to say," she looked down and blushed. "I won't say anything..." she said quietly, blushing harder.
Annie's face was now very close to his, and she was breathing heavily. She'd made up her mind on what she was going to do... she was going to follow what her heart was telling her, that she loved Edward of Pirate's Swoop. Suddenly her heart skipped a beat, and their lips met. At first she kissed him softly, but after a few seconds she kissed him with more passion, knowing this was who she loved, not Aiden of Naxen. Her arms wrapped around his neck, as if they were made to belong there.
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Post by Edward of Pirate's Swoop on Sept 27, 2008 2:34:54 GMT -5
Edward saw the realization in her eyes, and felt her freeze. He froze as well, and the fear rose up inside him. Gods, he thought. I just lost her. STUPID GODDESS! Annie forced herself out of his light grip and nearly told him that she needed time. She curled up into a ball, and Edward was at a loss for what to do.
Not wanting to leave her, Edward started to pace in an awkward manner, thoughts scrambling through his head. What if she hates me now? What if she's going to kill me? What if she kills me? Stupid Goddess! IS THIS A JOKE??? ARE YOU LAUGHING NOW???
OK, it's not like she can hear me. I'm thinking. I suppose she would only be paying attention to chosen one... OH GODS! What about MOTHER??? SHE IS GOING TO KILL ME!!! NOW TWO PEOPLE ARE GOING TO KILL ME! I'm never going to see war! Rukan is going to get all the glory! I'm never going to see if my sister will ever pick between my friends... I'll never be able to know if I approve or not!
I'll never know whether or not it was Jack who peed in my hat!
Fascinating as this argument was in Edward's head, his thoughts were interrupted by Annie's voice again. He stiopped in mid pace, left hand half way through rubbing his head and making a mess of his hair. He looked to Annie unsurely. One side of his head said: I wonder how she's going to go about killing me. The other said: It'll be alright! Goddesses can only stretch the truth... I think?
He held his breath as she came closer, and held it even more as Annie stretched up and lightly touched his lips with her own. At first, Edward was taken aback, and was a little surprised. It took him a moment for everything to speed back up from shock and finally realize that the woman he loved actually loved him back. Once he realized this, he was as in to the kiss as she was, pulling her close with his arms, and lifting her a little so that he could get better access to her.
He didn't want this moment to end.
((And Shinny in the background is hopeing Jonathan doesn't want a rare book.))
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Post by Annie of Conté on Sept 27, 2008 2:53:02 GMT -5
Annie was scared when she first kissed him. What fi she had taken what he had said the wrong way, what if by love he had meant their brother-sister bond. What if this was all a joke? What if her father found out? What about Aiden? Was this right for the kingdom? Was Edward the soul mate she had been looking for? How long had Edward loved her? Was this real love, or some kind of crush? Why were her heart and her brain telling her different thing? All this went through her head at once, making it roar.
She felt much better when Edward returned the passion and bought her in closer. She was so close to him now, she was pressed into him. Like Edward, Annie didn't want it to end, but knew it couldn't last forver. It would have to end someday. This was like a fairy tale, or it would be untill the pair would be pulled back into the horrible reality of war. Annie could feel her breath running low, and finally broke the kiss, leaving her arms around his neck. She was now nudging him genlty with her nose, brushing her lips along his face as she went along.
"I love you," she whispered, stopping her nudging and looking him in the eyes. Suddenly the reality did sink in, he was going to war tommorrow and this was going to be hard on both of them. When he left all Annie would be able to think about was him, and how it felt being held in his arms. The thoughts of war made her upset again, and she tucked her head under Edward's chin, sighing. So much for a happy ending, eh?
"Edward, this is going to make it all harder now," she said quietly. "I mean harder to say good-bye," she carried on to explain quickly. Annie removed her hads from his neck and slowy began to gently play with his hair. She wanted to enjoy the time left with her new lover before he had to go. If it were up to Annie he wouldn't be going, but it wasn't up to any, nor Edward. She wanted to kiss him again and again, but didn't know ho he might react to that.
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Post by Edward of Pirate's Swoop on Sept 29, 2008 2:39:10 GMT -5
Edward felt a horrible longing when they finally pulled apart. He nudged noses with Annie, and as she kissed parts of his face his heart practically exploded right through his shirt in longing to kiss her again. His head told him to not, though, they did not want to be caught like that. The gossip would not do them well.
"I love you!" Edward countered, relieved to say the words without her staring at him funny, or taking it another way. He kissed her forehead, and took in the scent of her hair.
"I know." Edward felt the same way, but he knew he had to tell her before he left. The Goddess' visit had unnerved him, for it probably meant great trials were to come, having to do with him and Annie. And possibly Rukan, though his mind had not made that connection as of yet.
"It'll be hard, but I am not leaving your side until you sleep, and then I will not leave it until I am dragged to my horse!" Edward vowed. "And I will come back." Though his heart meant to reassure her, something inside him was making a choice. He would not be dying at this war. He now had a will to live!
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Post by Annie of Conté on Sept 29, 2008 3:00:13 GMT -5
"I love you..." It felt a little strange, for him to mean it in a way other than brotherly. The words gave her a strangge com fort, that this was a fairy tale, in a way. She'd never felt this kind of love for anyone, ever! It was love that made her want to be around your love, it was the kind of love that gave you both emotional and physical pain when you weren't around your sould mate and it was the strongest love Princess Annie had encounteres in sixteen years. This was strong love, and it couldn't be broken easily.
Annie didn't want to say good-bye. She never wanted to see him go. Levi, her father and her friends leaving for war were enough for her, but her best friend and now lover going was too much. A single tear rolled down her cheek at the thought of saying good-bye. "I'm not ready to say good-bye yet Edward, it's too hard. I don't know if I can say good-bye," she whispered, and wrapped her arms back around his neck. Annie knew if someone saw them she would be in trouble, but she didn't care.
The princess smiled softly, trying to keep a brave face. "You can't promise that Edward..." she said quietly. "I wish I could come with you, I wish you didn't have to go," Annie murmured. "I hate this... I hate war... I hate that I'll be away from you... I HATE IT!" she said louder then she had intended. Annie blushed, and looked down. She knew better than to let her anger get the better of her. "I don't want you to leave me, ever!" she said quietly.
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Post by Edward of Pirate's Swoop on Sept 30, 2008 15:54:20 GMT -5
Edward caught her tear half way down her cheek and wiped it away. "Then don't say good-bye." He smiled, hoping what he said was to be true, "Say, 'I will see you when you come back!'" He held her as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Yes, I can." Edward said. "I know I can come back, for if I didn't think I would, I wouldn't feel the need to try and survive would I. Knowing I will have to come back for you will make me fight harder for it, and have a will to live through this war. No scanran is putting their sword through my chest." He held her to calm her down. "We all hate war." That wasn't true, some people would do anything for war, but Edward hated it as much as Annie did, and wished it would never have to happen.
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Post by Annie of Conté on Sept 30, 2008 16:08:56 GMT -5
Annie frowned. "Well, I could just not say anything. I have the perfect good-bye present," she mumbled. "Tommorrow morning, i'll give it to you," Annie said quietly. The problem with not saying good-bye was if by a slight chance he didn't come back she would have never gotten to say good-bye. There were all these what if's in this war, and Annie didn't like it one bit. "Promise me you won't be reckless," she whispered, her piercing blue eyes filled with pain and distraught.
Annie's mouth opened, but she shut it quickly. If he didn't come back she doubted she would have any reason to live. She'd have lost her soul mate, her other half! Annie cringed as he mentioned the sword and quietly looked down. The part of the dream that had Edward lying on the alter came back to her. She couldn't let Edward see how much what he had just said had gotten to her.
"Edward, would have you told me how you felt if there wasn't a war?" this question had been bugging her since she kissed him, and it was good to finally ask it.
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Post by Edward of Pirate's Swoop on Oct 1, 2008 1:54:51 GMT -5
"Ooh." Edward grinned. "Now I'm excited! Even though I still don't want to leave." He tried to make the rest of this short time together happy, and tried to make Annie forget for a bit that he was leaving. He didn't want a large hearbreak from this. "I promise. I will be a good boy, and will come back to you in one peace. No heroism for me!"
Edward thought about her question, and found that he could quite truthfully say no. He had actually gotten the courage to do it because a certain goddess would have smited him if he had not done so before he left. But, he couldn't exactly say that now could he? He would still be smited. He decided some truth was due, though.
"You know, I have liked you pretty much since I first met you. I have been trying to tell you for awhile, and I just recently recieved some really good advice, and have been trying to find you at a good time to tell you since then. It actually has nothing to do with the war. Just, after someone slammed some facts in front of my face, it was pretty obvious that I'm a prize idiot and should have done it LONG ago."
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Post by Annie of Conté on Oct 1, 2008 17:08:53 GMT -5
Annie smiled softly, the tears gone, but her face left red and blotchy, like usual when she cried. "You should be excited. And I know you don't want to go, but we can't change it Edward. But Ru and I have talked about it already, and let's just say I owe her one," she whispered. "Edward," her voice was slightly urgent now, but still at a whisper. "Are you going to tell anyone about this?" Annie asked him.
Her face went blank as she thought of what would happen. Annie's father would be furious, and she's loose her good repuation, and rumours would spread. Then she thought of something else. What if Edward didn't want their love to be hidden? Another thing crossed Annie's mind. Edward deserved much better than this, he deserved a love he could be open about, not have to hide it away like it was a horrible secret. She put all this to the back of her mind, this might be the last time they had alone together, and her stupid brain was playing tricks on her.
"That's right, no heroism!" she said sternly, really meaning it this time. "Oh Edward..." Annie whispered, and looked down. "I never knew. All those things you said and did, you were giving me hints and I never realised! I know now, and nothing, and I mean nothing, will tear us apart," she whispered. There may be one exception to that, and it was war...
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Post by Edward of Pirate's Swoop on Oct 1, 2008 21:31:29 GMT -5
Edward blinked, but decided to not ask what exactly Rukan owed Annie, when the time came, Rukan would tell him herself if it mattered. He did answer her next question as well as he could. "I think we should probably tell a few people, so they can help us if we feel the need to do something like spend time together, you know, cover for us." He thought about who he should tell. "I think the guys would be wise, they can scheme up anything, and tell the to be quiet about it, perhaps Rukan. Anyone you can think of?"
Edward laughed, and then sobered a litttle. "Oh it's OK. I was always afraid to tell you anyway, I mean, what if you didn't like me back? What if I lost you as a friend?" He frowned and continued, "What if you killed me?" he grinned widely to show he was kidding."
"Well, I think we should find a different place to talk about this, yes? A little less of a spot where people can turn up unannounced." He offered his arm for her. Nobody would think anything of that, he usually did it.
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Post by Annie of Conté on Oct 1, 2008 21:41:52 GMT -5
"Loki, Jack and Ru sound good to me," Annie said quietly, not having the strength to really talk loudly anymore. The crying had taken it out of her, and now she felt very giddy also because of the amazing kiss. She smiled softly, "You're right, Loki and Jack will come up with many strange scheme's to get us some alone time," she said and laughed at the thought of those two do all these things. "And, I'm happy Ru will know, because we often talk to each other, and it's hard to keep secrets from her."
"Edward, you'd never loose me as a friend," she said, honestly. "YOU THOUGHT I WOULD KILL YOU!" Annie said, louder than she had meant to. She couldn't help but giggle, "Oh, silly Edward." Annie took his arm, "Where to?" she asked him. Noone would think anything of her holding his arm, as it was something they did often. When they were younger the two could often be seen walking around in much the same fashion with mischevious smiles, like they were up to something.
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