In Gabrielle's room she kneeled next to her bed. She planted her face into her bed, weeping as she gripped a pillow.
'How could he do this to me… I thought he loved me… I thought we were going to be together but I was just being an idiot… Stupid I was for thinking he could ever love me… I mean I show up out of nowhere and think His Majesty could love me at first sight when he has a noble woman here who loves him very much.'
She sat up, turning around, she looked at the room…
'This used to feel like home but now… I don't recognize it.'
She looked over at her vanity, seeing her teddy bear sitting on the vanity desk. She stood up slowly, walking over to it.
'After he gave it back to me, I put it in here so it wouldn't get dirty in the kitchen… It reminds me so much of him… How I hate him so much and yet… I can't stop myself from loving him…'
She sat down at the vanity, looking at her reflection, seeing tears dried on her cheeks.
'I loved you so much Ansel… Even if it was a fantasy to you it felt real to me…'
She looked through the drawers on her vanity finding a paper, pen, and envelope. She set them down on the vanity desk and began writing on the paper.
'I love you Ansel… I love you enough not to get in the way of your happily ever after even if it's hurting me.'
She continued writing the letter, her tears staining the paper.
She finished writing, folding up the letter, she put it in the envelope addressing it to Ansel.
She walked over to the bed, neatly making it up, got the envelope, and set it on top of her pillow.
'I love you Ansel… Thank you for everything…'
She kissed her fingers and touched the envelope.
"Thank you Ansel," She whispered.
She turned around, looking at the room.
'I guess this is goodbye now…'
She went over to her wardrobe, finding her old peasant dress folded up in a corner. She pulled it out, dressing herself in it and hung up the dress she was wearing in the wardrobe.
She walked back over to her vanity, looking at her reflection.
'It's over now…'
She looked through the drawers of her jewelry box (that sat on the vanity desk) putting a ruby ring in her pocket.
'Hopefully I can get enough to get to the next kingdom…'
She looked over at her teddy bear, glaring at it. She picked it up.
'This made me feel so safe but now I feel nothing… And yet… I still want it with me…'
She held the teddy tightly against her chest and left the room, closing the door behind her.
She walked through the hallways, keeping her head down.
Undetected by the roaming guards, she made her way to the front door of the castle and left.
Tap, tap, tap
She felt as if a weight weighed down on her heart as she made it to the bottom of the stairs.
She looked back at the castle and sighed, holding back her tears she turned around and walked away, leaving the castle grounds.
Inside the Guard's Chambers Ansel waited, pacing back and forth.
'I wonder what's taking her so long… I want to see her face… I want to hold her again.'
ERRRRR, SLAM
A door to the Guard's Chambers flew open.
"Your Majesty," Cobsworth called out, entering the room.
"What is it Cobsworth, I'm waiting for Lady Gabrielle," He stated.
"I just saw her in the hallway and,"
"She's on her way," Ansel interrupted, his body shaking from anxiousness, "I thought I was ready for her but I'm not… I don't know what to say to her. She has me wrapped around her finger and I…"
"Maybe you should start by explaining yourself to her," Cobsworth interjected.
He looked over at Cobsworth, his mind filling with confusion, "What do you mean," He inquired.
"Well when I saw Milady she was in distress. Something about you kissing Hattie," Cobsworth reported, watching Ansel's eyes widened.
"She saw us," Ansel gasped.
"So it's true. Your Majesty what happened, I thought you hated Hattie," Cobsworth prodded, urging for an answer.
"I do hate Hattie… Now it makes sense… I just got finished rejecting Hattie again, I told her not to challenge Lady Gabrielle's position and that I'm in love with Lady Gabrielle, but this time instead of getting mad and storming off as usual she kisses me and then reminds me of the decree," Ansel explained, fuming in his mind.
"Do you think she saw Milady," Cobsworth speculated.
"I'm sure she did and that's why she was so quick to kiss me and then remind me of the decree… I have to find Gabrielle… Explain everything to her… I have to let her know that I want to court her. That I want her to be my wife," He sputtered.
"I'll come with you, Your Majesty. She's in her room right now," Cobsworth informed, and Ansel left the room, Cobsworth following behind him.
Ansel stormed through the hallway as Cobsworth following close behind him.
"She challenged the love of my life. She tried to threaten her position. She's stooping to new lows and I won't have it in the castle," Ansel rambled, making his way to Gabrielle's room.
Knock, knock, knock
He knocked on the door, but heard no response.
"Lady Gabrielle it's me… I really need to talk to you," Ansel pleaded, getting no response.
He looked back at Cobsworth, seeing a slight frown on his face. He turned back around and knocked on her door once more.
"Please… I know you're mad at me but please let me explain things to you so you understand… I don't want anyone else but you. I'm in love with you Gabrielle and there's no one else that could ever take your spot in my heart. I have no feelings for Hattie and I never will. Please believe me when I say it was a set up. Please Gabrielle…" Ansel begged, still getting no response.
He put his head against the door, giving a deep sigh.
"She hates me," He lamented, "She finally has the courage to leave her room and now she sees a ridiculous sight of Hattie kissing me."
"She doesn't hate you, Your Majesty. She thinks you don't have feelings for her," Cobsworth comforted, trying to sympathize.
"But I do have feelings for her. I love her," Ansel mourned.
"Then you should go in and tell her," Cobsworth suggested.
Ansel nodded, taking a deep breath as he put his hand on the door knob, slowly opening the door.
"Gabrielle,' Ansel called out, peeking his head in the room, "Lady Gabrielle."
Ansel scanned the room, seeing Gabrielle not inside, he entered the room.
"Lady Gabrielle," He called out once more.
Cobsworth entered the room.
"I thought you said she was in her room," He pressed.
"She was… She must've left," Cobsworth replied.
Ansel looked over at her bed, seeing the letter on her pillow, he walked over to it, picking it up.
He opened it, reading in his head,
'My Dearest Ansel, thank you for helping me get out of Holden. These last few months have been great and months I will cherish forever but I have to move on now. You will always hold a dear place in my heart and I wish you all the happiness in the world,
Your Friend,
Gabrielle
Tears filled Ansel's eyes as he leaned against the bed.
"No, no, no, it can't be," He spluttered, "It can't be."
"What is it, Your Majesty," Cobsworth queried.
Ansel looked over at the wardrobe, dropping the letter as he stumbled to it. He opened the door searching through her clothes, seeing the dress she was wearing hanging up and the peasant dress missing.
He took a step back gripping his heart.
"She's gone," He uttered, tears welling up in his eyes.
"What do you mean gone," Cobsworth inquired, picking up the letter to read it.
Ansel ran out of the room, shouting for his royal guards, ignoring Cobsworth calls for him to come back.
"Guards, guards, I need all my men," Ansel shouted, worry and fury filling his heart.
Cobsworth caught up to him, touching him on the shoulder, "Your Majesty…"
Ansel turned to look at him, gritting his teeth. "Get all of my men, everyone in my army. All the Generals, the knights, the guards, new recruits, everyone. Gather them all, bring me my Guard Master. Nobody rests until Gabrielle is back home with me. I'm declaring this a Kingdom Priority."