Strong Body, Fragile Hearts

Her Gardener, lonely

 Ellie's POV

Joker stormed up to us, glaring at Finni, his eyes nearly glowing red with anger. It scared me, and Joker had never, ever scared me before. I stepped closer to Finni scared and relaxed as he pulled me into an embrace. Joker began to yell at us, at me, horrible, horrible things, "Bells, he's a liar! He works for the Queen's Guard Dog! He doesn't want you, he only wants to use you for information on us." My heart began to crack at the mere thought of that. "I- I don't believe you!" I shouted at Joker and turned into Finni's chest. I didn't want to hear any more of these horrible accusations. "I have proof Bells!" Joker cried and out form his pocket and withdrew something that made my heart break. 

It was a sheet of paper that had pictures of everyone at the circus. Not ordinary ones, but ones of every first stringer before the circus was formed. At the forefront was one of me, locked onto a leather table, clearly screaming, as I was injected with agility serum. I looked up at Finni and my eyes were watering. "Why, why would you have something like that?" Finni opened his mouth and sputtered out, "Bells, I've never seen that before!" Joker shouted again before he could say anything else, 'He's lying! I found them hidden in his gardening shed!"  I looked up at Finni with tears in my eyes. I began to cry, harder and harder. He had just used me! How could I have been so stupid?! I shoved Finni away and hugged myself. Joker stepped forward and tucked his jacket around me. 'Bells..." Finni started to say and took a step toward me.

"DON'T touch me!" I screamed and shoved him away once more. He lost his balance and fell back. His expression was that of someone lost, someone who had no clue what was going on. He looked hurt and alone. I felt myself, wanting to go over there, comfort him and say I didn't mean it. But I couldn't.

He hurt me so badly, I didn't want to ever see him again. Joker gently tugged on my arm and led me away, while I wept bitterly, thinking of what I had done. I had even let him kiss me! Joker and I walked back to the circus, I wanted nothing from Finni or his friends. Doll met us at the entrance and I fell into her arms, crying and weeping. I just wanted to sleep and forget all about a gardener boy that had broken my heart.

Doll escorted me back to our tent and sat next to me and comforted me as I cried over a boy. There's a first time for everything right? Beast, the animal tamer, sat next to me and rubbed my back, murmuring comfortable words. Eventually I fell into an exhausted sleep. All I could dream about was Finni.

Elsewhere...

Dagger and Peter, Wendy's brother, were arguing. "He shouldn't have done it! I haven't seen Bells smile like that for ages!" Dagger argued vociferously. "NO! She was compromising us, if he hadn't done that, that damned lord would've found something!" Peter yelled. Dagger backed down sullenly. "But, she was so happy, was all this really worth ruining her happiness?" Beast said as she walked out of Bells tent. Doll followed her quiet, deep in thought, though there was obviously something troubling her. Wendy emerged from her tent, a disturbed look on her face. Jumbo, the fire breather, leaned against a stack of barrels silent, merely contemplating what was occurring. Joker walked in from the shadows, wearing a frown, rather than his customary smile. He sighed then began to speak, "I know no one is happy about what happened with Bells, neither am I. We did what we had to, to protect our family. Our only mission now is to protect Bells from ever finding out what really happens, and to help her feel better."  Doll looked up and said, "Joker, this isn't right, we can't let Bells be hurt because of what we do. I doubt the boy even knows what is going on. We can't punish them both for our... indiscretions."

Peter launched into a furious tirade at Doll's words, "We can't tell her it was a lie! It's too risky! In fact she might be compromised now, we should get rid of her!" Everyone broke into shouts at Peter's words. Even Wendy who always agreed with her brother shot him a fierce glare. "NEVER! I would go turn us in before I let you hurt Bells!" Doll screamed at him and he began to yell at her too. Beast had begun to shout at Peter too and Dagger was siding with her as always. Jumbo stared at the ground and Joker held his head in his hands as the first stringer excluding Snake and Bells erupted into shouts. "SHUT IT!" Wendy yelled as she stood up on her boxes. Everyone fell silent. Wendy barely talked, let alone shouted.

"Bells is one of us, we are not killing her, nor are we getting rid of her. We act as normal, helping to comfort Bells in her distress. We are not telling her, we keep her away from the boy at all costs. No one is dying or going to the police." She continued, shooting glares at Peter and Doll, one who glared at her, the other who looked away.

Joker then rose from his place and nodded, in agreement with Wendy, then made eye contact with each person in turn, while saying, "And above all, keep her and that boy apart!" The group nodded, Doll a bit reluctantly and they dispersed.

Bard's POV

We had to get Bells to see Finni again. The bloke was losing it. He was quiet and sullen, he refused to look at or tend to the pear blossom or narcissus bushes and at any mention of anything related to Bells or anything even remotely close to her, he retreated to the garden, mooning around the place where she left and his life got ruined. It was time to interfere. I stomped out from the kitchen to the gardens where Finni was once again, mooning around. I sat on the stone bench next to the bloke and shook him a little. He blinked once, then turned and gave me a weary smile. "Hey, Bard." He said quietly. He looked like death.

His eyes were tired and bloodshot, he had bags under his eyes and his hair was everywhere. And he wasn't wearing his straw hat. He never, never wore his straw hat. "So, you like this girl huh?" I said leaning back. Finni remained quiet and stared at the ground. Where a bouquet of flowers, pear blossoms and narcissus's lay. "You know, if you don't like her that much then keep on doing what you've been doing for the past week." He looked up at me startled by my statement. "If want to keep the girl, then you have to fight for her. Don't roll over and give up, you want to be with her, then prove it, go find her and make her understand." I flicked some ash away from a hole in my apron. Finni looked up at me and said quietly, "Do you really think she'll believe me?" I remained silent then said just as softly, "You'll never know if you don't try."