For the kingdom

Reality Sets In

Robin had been at the castle for a month now. Raven was a normally calm person, but his prescence constantly put her on edge. Everywhere she went he was there, around every corner, in every room, and she was going to lose her mind. It was not that she hated him, in fact he was very handsome now that she had been so close to him. The reason he was so unappealing was that he was the type that knew that he was handsome, and to Raven that made him the ugliest man alive. Her only escape was her horse riding lesson, the only place that Robin never followed her, and she thanked God for small miracles.
This day however would be different. Raven was in the kitchen with Starfire watching her cook. Raven herself had no talent in the cooking field, but she figured that Robin would not look for her among the servants. "Honestly Star I am not sure how much longer I can endure this torture. I awken he is there, I eat he is there, I go to the library he is there, I walk outside he is there. I have not had time with Garfield in a month, because he does not want to risk exposure. The only time I am away from him is my riding lessons, and he has even taken the joy from that since I am so on edge he will find out" Raven vented stealing a muffin and stuffing it in her mouth. "Princess, Robin is a very shallow man I am sure there is something you can think of to get rid of him, and also do not chew with your mouth open it is not very lady like", Starfire said and then snatched the muffins away before she could take another bite. "I do so desperately want to get rid of him, but worry what my parents will say or do if I am to scare him away. What if they pick someone worse or send me away. This would not be the first suitor I would scare away", Raven sighed rested her head heavely on her palm. Starfire had no answer so instead slid her another muffin before taking the tray, and leaving to put it in the dining room. Raven shot her a brief smile before almost inhaling it. She had been almost eating nothing at meal, because her nerves mixed with the prince made her lose her appetite. Raven was just about to fall into a nice sleep when she heard the voice she had been avoiding. "Good day princess, why are you down here? Not hiding from me I hope." Robin said and started to laugh. "If only you knew" Raven muttered before lifting herself from the chair, and turning to face him plastering on a fake smile she felt she had grown accustomed to. "Of course not, I am simply trying to learn how to cook to become a better future wife," Raven lied and tried to turn away again but Robin grabbed her arm. Raven tried to pull it away, and she could see the surprise on his face before it disappeared as if he had dismissed what had happened. "Princess I think it would be beneficial to this relationship if we were to spend more time together. What are your plans today?". Raven was still inwardly cringing at the word relationship while she answered. "Prince Robin as lovely as that would sound I am very busy today. I am have many classes today followed by horse riding lessons, and by the time is done you will be in a meeting or something I am sure" Raven turned away for the second time only to be stopped again. She had to stop herself from pushing him away from her. "Your riding lessons closer to set than mid day am I correct?". Raven nodded her head, but felt uneasy at the question. "Great than I will accompany you today. I am an excellant rider if you were not aware." he said with a wink. Raven rolled her eyes and took a step away from him."I would want you to be bored prince.". "It would be no problem princess perhaps I could give you some extra advice.". "Yes but you have more meetings at dusk do you not? I do not wish to see you exhausted before your work is done on my account.". "Do not worry about that I have excellant stamina.". "Yes but...." before Raven could finish Robin interupted her. "Princess it is almost as if you do not want me to accompany you" Robin said looking thoughtfully at her. "NO, no that is not it I am merely concerned for you. I would advice against it but if you would like to come I will not stop you," Raven hurriedly explained. "Okay excellant. I will meet you at the stables later," Robin said taking Ravens hand and pressing a kiss to it. All she could think about was how dry he lips were and how badly they would feel against hers. The second he was out of sight she wiped her hand on her dress as if trying to wipe off the memory of it. Raven bowed her head in sorrow with one question in her mind. How was she going to explain this to Garfield?
Raven was running as hard as she could. Her lessons had run late, and had hoped that Robin had not made it to the stables yet so she could talk to Garfield properly before his arrival. When she got to the stables, and did not see him she released a breath she had realized she was holding. "Garfield where are you? I need to speak with you quickly it is urgent," Raven called stepping deeper into the stable. She looked around and saw all the horse standing in there stalls obdiently, yet no sign of him. She was about to call out again when someome grabbed her from behind amd spun her. The first thing she registered was a pair of warm lips against hers. Raven melted into it knowing who it was. When they pulled apart their foreheads rested against eachother. "What was that for?" Raven asked breathless and smiling for the first time in a month. "I love you, do I need any other reason?" Garfield answered pulling away from her to return to his work "What are you doing here so early the lesson does not start for about twenty more minutes?" he asked more focused on the horse he was brushing than her. "Well some complications have arisen, and something has changed about our lessons," Raven said quietly almost. hoping that if he did not hear her it would not be real. That got his attention, and he dropped the brush to give her his full attention
"What exactly has changed, are you still having lessons?" Garfield asked worry evident in his expression. Before Raven could answer a familiar nasally voice called out "Princess, are you in there?". Garfield met eyes with her, and she saw hurt flash in them for a second before they became cold. Garfield turned his back to her, and picked back up the brush. "You must hurry, would not want to keep him waiting," Garfield said emotionless not removing his eyes from the steed in front of him. Raven wanted to reach out to him; she wanted to grab him and convince him that it could only ever be him. She wanted badly to return to the time when they would lay in the stables laughing and sharing secrets, but that time was over and reality had finally hit them.
"Raven you need more control, do not let the horse lead you," Robin called to Raven for what had to be the millionth time. The second they had arrived at the field he had taken over the lesson completely ignoring amything Garfield had said, and eventually he gave up. Raven rode in another circle before steering the horse back to Robin. The look on face said it all, and she sighed. "Princess ,I think you are a lovely rider. However you need to fix your steering if you let the horse lead once it will take control and........" while Robin was still speaking Raven was looking at Garfield. He had exiled himself to a hay bale nearby just looking right back at her. Every now and then she could see him look upon Robin with such hatred that she was afriad Robin might drop dead. This used to be her safe place, and now he has ruined even that. "RAVEN, are you even listening to me?" Robin voice snapped her out her trance. "Of course I am let me go again". "No need I must get going to my meeting. STABLE BOY COME HERE!" Robin called out, and then turned back to her. Raven could feel her blood boil at the tone he had used. Garfield came running over, and stopped in front of him without looking at Raven at all. "Yes prince?" Garfield said bowing slightly. "We are finished with the horse. It is your job to clean them, so take it away now. You did good today" Robin said lightly, but it was apparent by his voice he was being sarcastic. Garfield kept his head down, and meerly nodded before going to help Raven off the horse when he was pushed away. "Oh how rude of me. Princess let me help down from this animal" Robin held out his hand, and Raven so desperately wanted to ignore it but she knew that would raise trouble so she smiled and lept down with his help. "Prince Robin as much as I would like to accompany you I have a deal that I always help clean up the horses" Raven lied looking to Garfield for back up. "Actually, I am positive that the royal meeting is much more important princess. Do not worry I will do it all this time" Garfield said taking the reigns from her hand, and beginning to walk away. "That is great thank you. Come on Princess" Robin beamed pulling her away. Raven followed him helplessly, and as she left he did not look back. He always looked back. Raven felt her heart break, and it was all her own fault.
The meeting had been nothing, but war planning which wad useless since there was no war. Raven had spent that time thinking of what she was going to say to Garfield when she saw him again. Now she sat on her bed with determination she had not felt before. All she could picture was him walking away from her, and all she could think was what if it had been the last time? Raven shook her head at the thought, and stuck her head out of the door. Her second maid Bee appeared "Bee I need you to find Starfire, and tell her to come to my quarters immediatly" Bee nodded her head and quickly scurried away. Starfire must have been close,because Raven waited no longer than 10 minutes before she came. "Princess I was told you needed to see me urgently" Starfire rushed in looking worried. "Yes, I am going out and you are going to cover for me. I need to you lay in my bed until I return. My parents think I am sick so they should be no bother" Raven finished explaining while pulling on her black cloak. "Alright princess just do not be too long I do not wish to be exiled for helping you" Starfire responded laying down, and getting comfortable. "No fight, I am surprised" Raven said heading for the door. "Raven when you are a servant all you have is eachother. We will always protect eachother, and say what our brethen will not," Starfire said looking anxiously at her hands. "What are you trying to say Star?" Raven asked pausing but not turning around. "What I am saying is I think that you two belong together, however if all this will bring is heartbreak then maybe....... just consider........ all I am saying is that do not hurt him. Do not hurt him like that ever again," Starfire finished resettling in the bed. "I would sooner cut off my own arms," Raven responded making a speedy exit.
At night the servant quarters were so omnious that some of the servant would not stay out late, but here Raven stood in front of the gate building her courage to enter. She finally moved, and knew exactly which house was his. Before she had come Raven everything she was going to say planned in her head, and it was a beautiful speech. She was still reciting it to herself when she arrived at his home and knocked on the door. She had everything planned, but when the door opened and he stood there in front of her her entire mind emptied and she felt tears start rush out of her eyes. Garfield looked first confused then alarmed as the tears started the fall and he quickly ushered her inside. Raven was never a person who would cry easily, but when she faced with the fear of losing him she fell apart weeping and heaving. She registered him setting her gently on his wooden chair, and nearly in front of her. "What is wrong, why are you crying?" Garfield asked reaching up to wipe some of the tears away. Raven wanted to rant and scream but all she could say was "PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE ME! MY HEART COULD NOT TAKE IT". Garfield looked at her stunned "Who said I was leaving you?". Raven was starting to regain her composure only still stuttering from the cry. "Ww..when I left you dddidnt look back. Yyyy.. you always look back.". Garfield looked genuinely stunned, and then smiled "I did not look back because I was trying to act completely indifferent in front of him so nothing was suspected". Raven finally had settled down, and was looking at him with a look of confusion. "After the prince had arrived you started to be unecessarily cold to me" Raven said looking down at her hands. "I was upset Raven, knowing that you are betrothed to him is different from actually seeing him, and watching him be so open with you in a way that I cannot hurts me so deeply I cannot express it," Garfield caressed her cheek causing her to lift her head. "You have given me everything never think you are not enough," Raven stood and pulled him into a hug that she never wanted to break. Garfield was the first to pull away looking sorrowful "As much as I enjoy it you must go back to the castle. I do not wish to risk this by getting exiled for our relations". He said it jokingly but Raven could see the subtle seriousness. Before she left she turned quickly amd pushed her lips onto his. She was trying to convey every emotion she felt for him in this kiss. Eventually breathe became a necessity and they pulled apart. "What was that for," Garfield smiled his cheeks turning pink. Raven looked at him and said "I love you, do I need any other reason?" before anymore words could be exchanged she was gone and Garfield collasped onto his floor deep in thought. Raven was running again back towards the castle. Her face was flushed, and her feet were so tired but she could remember a time she was happier. Maybe they could survive this.