"CONGRATULATIONS!" roared her father as she descended into the dining room, startling poor tired Gwendolyn, "Your marriage is arranged at last!" the room erupted into cheers as the staff celebrated, no one noticed that Lady Gwendolyn's face had gone dead white - or if they did they attributed it to shock.
"My marriage?" she asked her father as he pulled her into his arms for a hug.
"Yes, dear Gwendolyn," her beaming father and Lord said, "And your good Papa has done very well by you!" Turning to the rest of the staff, he loudly announced, "On Sunsday Gwendolyn shall be married to the Prince! We have a future Queen among us! The day after tomorrow we travel to meet her husband!"
Sunsday was in only three days time she thought, her mind moving slowly through the shock, pretty amber eyes glazed. Tomorrow would be her last day at home... and her last day with Al...
Gwendolyn fainted into her father's embrace.
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Fortunately for Gwendolyn everyone thought that her faint had been due to the shock and joy of hearing her illustrious future, and they made much over her as she was tucked into her bed. All around the keep she could hear the sounds of people celebrating, and that night at the dinner table she was pale white with a fixed smile frozen on her face while inside her heart ached unbearably.
That night she cried herself to sleep in Brandy's arms, head nestled against her maid's soft bosom as the tears fell from her swollen eyes. She sobbed brokenheartedly as she realized that tomorrow would be her last day with Al... and she'd have to say goodbye.
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It was obvious something was wrong from the very moment that Gwendolyn saw him, because she immediately burst into tears again. With a very concerned look on his face he swept her up in his arms and carried her across the meadow and into the forest as her tears fell on his shoulder. Once they were in the clearing he sat and just held her on his lap until her shaking sobs finally slowed.
"Gwennie... my Gwennie... my sweet Lady, what's wrong?" fingers stroked her hair lightly.
Brokenly, with occasional sobs she began to tell him, "My father... my marriage is now arranged... and we are leaving tomorrow... oh Al!!!!" her tears renewed as he held her tight, a few tears springing to his own eyes at the sudden end of their stolen time.
Clinging to each other, they just sat there, the breeze flowing through the trees as they held each other.
"I still love you Gwennie," he whispered finally, "I will always love you."