Somebody To Love

What The Heart Wants

Jensen has spent the good part of his day trying to come up with a plan to help Harmony, but, in the end, he's come up with absolutely nothing. If only he could just deny them the agreement, it would make things a lot easier.

But, even though he is the King, that is still something that he would have to give a plausible explanation for, and he doesn't know how the real reason behind his intentions to stop that specific marriage would be received.

It is now later in the day, almost time for him to get ready for the party that his mother had insisted on having, and he is sitting in his study, still struggling to find a solution. He looks across his desk and sees his Second-In-Command sitting there, waiting for Jensen to say something.

Jensen knows he can trust Jared, having been friends with the man long before Jensen became King and Jared his Military Commander. If anyone can give him some advice on this, it's Jared.

-"I need to tell you something and I need your advice on it." - Jensen says.

-"Alright. What's going on? You look more worried than usual."

-"You know Harmony's father, Lord Fergus?"

-"Sure. Can't stand the man, but I know him."

-"Well, from what Harmony told me, Lord Fergus has every intention of marrying her off to Lord Carrington and to have her wed him as soon as possible. They also intend to announce it tomorrow morning."

-"Okay? I feel like I'm missing something here."

-"According to Harmony, and this was confirmed by my mother, Lord Carrington has a habit of beating his wives. Harmony is terrified of the idea of being married to him, so much so that she was ready to jump from the window in the old tower when I found her and stopped her."

-"Fuck. I mean, I heard rumors about him, but never took them too seriously. You know how Court gossip works."

-"I know. The thing is... I promised Harmony I would find a solution, some way out, by tonight's party. If I can't, I will help her disappear with her sister. And to be completely honest with you, I'm at a lost. I'm hoping that maybe you might have some idea that can help."

-"Well, as far as I can tell, you have three options. I'm just not really sure you are going to like them."

-"Tell me either way, Jared."

-"Alright. Option one is you find someone else to marry Lord Carrington."

-"I refuse to put another woman in that situation."

-"I figured that much. Option two is you find a new husband for Harmony."

-"Honestly, I can't think of anyone in Court that would be a good husband for Harmony. At least, not by her father's standards."

-"Riiight. Well, that only leaves you with one option. And that is the one you already told Harmony you would do. Help her disappear with her sister."

Jensen nods, knowing that Jared is right, even if he's not ready to lose her. He knows he can make them both disappear, all he needs is to send someone to get Elise and have them meet Harmony at some pre-established location and off they go. But the mere thought of never seeing her again is enough to make his stomach turn.

He watches Jared getting up and walking out of his study, leaving him to his thoughts. Jensen doesn't know what to do now. When he told Harmony he would help her disappear, he didn't think he would actually have to do it, but now that seems like something that he is going to have to do.

A few hours later, Jensen is standing in the throne room, watching Harmony and Justice together, the party happening around him, and he can't help but think that it's going to hurt Justice when she realizes that Harmony is gone. Hell, it's going to hurt him just as much.

-"So, are you finally going to man up and tell Lady Harmony how you feel?" - His mother asks from his side, just as she comes to stand next to him.

-"I don't know what you're talking about, mother."

-"Don't play dumb with me, boy. Or have you forgotten that I'm your mother?"

-"No, I haven't forgotten, but I still don't know what you're talking about."

-"Jensen, it's easy for me to see that you have fallen in love with her. Are you that scared to be happy again that you don't see that the answer to Lady Harmony's problem is standing right next to me?"

-"Do you really think we could make it work?" - Jensen looks back at her, smiling softly.

-"Lady Harmony has accomplished something that I didn't think was possible after your late wife's passing."

-"What is that?"

-"She is the only person, aside from Justice, who is able to make you smile and laugh like you used to."

Jensen can't stop the smile on his lips when his mother smiles at him. He knows she's right, that his heart belongs to Harmony. He isn't sure how or when it happened, but it did and he can't go back now. Nor does he want to.

Leaning over, Jensen whispers in his mother's ear and slips out of the throne room, while his mother makes her way to where Harmony is talking with Justice. He hopes that he will be able to get through what's about to happen.

Harmony sees the Queen-Mother approaching her and Justice, bowing to her when she is close enough. She feels the Queen-Mother lean over her shoulder and hears her telling her to meet the King in the map room. Harmony excuses herself and leaves the throne room as quietly and quickly as possible.

As she makes the short walk to the map room, Harmony already knows why the King wants to meet with her. What she doesn't know is if he has found a way for her to escape this arranged marriage that her father has come up with. Whether he has or not, she has made a decision of her own.

Harmony walks into the map room and finds it empty. She calls out for the King and watches as he comes into view from behind a shelf.

-"Your Majesty. Is everything alright?"

-"Yes. I just need to speak with you about your... situation."

-"Oh. You don't need to say anything, Your Majesty. I figured that it would be impossible to find a solution on such short notice and that's okay. You don't need to worry about this any longer, Your Majesty. I've decided that I'm going to accept my fate and make the most of it. And if, ultimately, my fate is to end up six feet under, then I will go knowing that I stayed true to myself. Thank you for trying though."

Harmony turns to leave, when the next words from the King stop her in her tracks.

-"Marry me."