Strong Body, Fragile Hearts

Her Gardener, Truthful

Ellie's POV

Last Chapter...

"What Snake, what do you know?" I asked. "I saw Joker, that night. He had a folder with him. He was leaving the doctor's tent. He left in the direction you had left in earlier." I was floored. I sat back onto my bed, hard. Finni hadn't had the pictures? Joker had, Lied?

He had lied to me? "Is something wrong Bells?" Snake said quietly observing me with a concerned look. "No nothing's wrong. I just, excuse me." Snake gave me a small smile, still looking troubled and left. I began to pace back and forth, back and forth. How could he do this? How could he lie? Finni made me so happy, beyond happy, why would he want to stop that? I was boiling over with hate and rage and, and... Love. I loved Finni. With the discovery of Joker's betrayal, the realization Finni was innocent, I could finally admit it to myself. I was in love with Finni. We were meant to be was the only way to describe it. He understood my horror in my experimentation and empathized.

I was ecstatic with the realization. I was in love with him. It seemed wondrous. I never thought I would love someone, I didn't think I could, knowing my past. I had to see him, had to see Finni. I ran out and went to Doll's tent. "DOLL! Doll!" I yelled and barreled into her tent. She looked up from a book, confused. "What Bells, there is no need to shout you will wake the entire camp." I bent over gasping for breath. "I'm sorry Doll, but I need you to take me to the PhantomHive estate, right now!" I wheezed out and then began dragging her out of bed. Doll put her hand to her mouth and whispered, "Are you sure Bells? Joker..." Then her eyes widened and she seemed to realize what she was saying. She clamped her mouth shut and looked down at the ground avoiding my eyes. "What Doll, what about Joker? I know he had those pictures, I know he tried to keep Finni and I away from each other, what I don't understand is why. Why would Finni and I be an issue?" I began to pace back and forth, pondering why, why the man I loved like a big brother, was trying to keep me away from a person I loved, and who loved me. I stood perfectly still, I couldn't understand. I turned to Doll, a beseeching look in my eyes. I was begging her, begging her to explain this to me. Doll simply stared at the floor. I watched her as she shook her head and whispered to me, "I can't." I took a step away from her as if I had been slapped. My eyes began to water and I ran. I ducked past her tents flaps, and ran to the exit of the circus passing a suspicious looking Peter and a concerned looking Wendy. I ran on.

I ran down the street, looking for a carriage to take me to PhantomHive manor. I saw Mey-Rin exiting a shop and ran towards her. I crashed right into her sending all of her purchases flying to the ground. "Oh my!" She gasped. I stooped over and began picking up her packages while talking at a rapid pace. " Mey-Rin, lovely to see you, I need to go back to the manor with you, right now!" She moved her glasses and then smiled, "Why of course Miss! I wager Finni's been hankering to see you, hm?"She spoke teasingly and I could see that Finni hadn't told them much about our falling out, otherwise she would've have been much more angry with me. I smiled and practically sprinted to her carriage, dragging her with me and listening to her harried instructions.

I bound up onto the carriage and settled her purchases in the back, choosing to sit with her in the front. She joined me and we were off, though at much too slow a pace in my opinion. I thought about how I'd treated him, the night of our date and everyday afterward. I had been so cold, so cruel. "Mey-Rin? I voiced though I was slightly nervous over what her response to my question might be. "Yes Miss?" She replied her eyes on the road I believe, I couldn't tell for certain behind her opaque glasses. "Will...will Finni see me?" I asked hesitantly, scared of what her response might be. SHe turned her head to look at me and smiled kindly. "Of course Miss Bells, I'd wager the boy is in love with you." I smiled at her words, hope blooming inside me like one of Finni's roses. I remained silent the rest of the ride, thinking about what I would say to Finni.

As the carriage approached the manor, I sprang out of the seat, yelled a quick thanks to Mey-Rin and ran to find Finni. I paused outside of the gardens, took a deep breath, then entered them.

I was in shock, the gardens were, awfully maintained, all the beds were in disarray. I put a hand to my mouth as tears began to slide down my face. What have I done? I thought. As I rounded the corner, I found Finni, sitting in the exact spot where our picnic had been.