[ Had she been in her right mind, Rue would have realized that there was something terribly wrong with the scene before her.

But her thoughts were fazed, full of misunderstandings and blind acceptance courtesy of her dreaming state.

It had been...years. Since she had ever seen such a frightening look on her prince's face. It was the expression that held nothing but malice for all around him, and especially to her...because of her. And his laugh...the laugh that held no joy. Simply gleeful that she was in pain.

He would hold her. Carry her over the top of his fair head, supporting her with strong limbs as they went through their pas de deux. Nothing made her feel more happiness than his firm hands upon her waist.

And then his demeanor changed. Laughing again. His eyes were no longer golden, and he would once again call her an ugly crow before releasing his hold on her and she would fall...

And fall...

And fall...

From outside of her dreaming images, Rue shifted slightly from underneath the covers, brows furrowed and instinctively touching her finger to her bottom lip in self-comfort. ]

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richest_heart
2011-07-01 06:47 pm (local) (link)
[Siegfried came awake almost reluctantly, with sleep clinging stickily to the edges of his vision. In the soft darkness of the bedroom, he parted with a relaxed sigh and lay listening to the delicately steady breath of his princess...

Or so he had intended. But instead, he heard a desperate rush; the sign of quiet panic from her that washed the remnants of tiredness from him and jolted him upright over Rue with concerning rippling in his gaze.

He pressed a cool hand affectionately to her cheek, murmuring to her in the hope of soothing away that troubled frown.]

Shh, my princess, you needn't fear... I promise...
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kraheyhey
2011-07-01 07:08 pm (local) (link)
[ It had been long, so very long since she had seen her prince like this.


And while she loved him more than anyone else in the world, and wanted to be able to love all of him...

No, even in his poisoned state. Rue still loved him. With everything she was.

But he also...terrified her. He wouldn't support her. When he touched her, it would hurt.

And eventually, he would no longer even be a human. His hair would be encased in black feathers, and a large beak jutted out from his face. Rue could almost hear his voice, chanting. You did this to me. You did this to me.

It was all her fault... Her love only caused him pain and suffering, didn't it? What good was her love to him when it only reaped these results?

She would sacrifice her heart for him, but he may as well devour it of his own accord out of enjoyment.

The half man, half crow in her dreams stood before her, smiling in the way that made her shiver as he placed his palm over her cheek.

No, no...! ]
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richest_heart
2011-07-01 07:39 pm (local) (link)
[His own frown strengthened as suffering continued to write itself plainly on her sleeping face. He had to draw her free, lift her up from the tangling folds of whatever nightmare she faced now.

Her waking world had been a nightmare before; the taint in his heart had taught him enough of it. Why must she endure more in sleep? To see her in pain out of his reach... No, he could not allow it.

Carefully, he traced his fingers along her face, brushing feathery locks of hair from her forehead. His tenderness was apparently infinite despite the impurities of his heart; anything, anything to bring his princess some comfort.]

Rue, will you rise for me? I wish to hear your voice, my princess... Tell me what troubles you.

[With elegance, with all his princely powers, he would empty her heart of remorseless poison so that she might smile whether she dances in reality or dream.]
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kraheyhey
2011-07-01 07:51 pm (local) (link)
[ However soft the touch to her hair may have been in reality, it was an entirely different matter within Rue's dream.

Her love's grip to her hair was fierce, holding her and forcing her to open her eyes and meet his light red-tinted glare.

You did this to me.

But that was all right, his image assured her as he dug his nails into her scalp. It was fine. He will just have to eat her heart in compensation. And then spit it out in disgust.

Tears streamed down the princess's face, both in the real world and her dreams. She wanted to scream. She wanted to push him away and hide herself.

So she did. ]

No-- ... Stay away!

[ In a sudden jolt, Rue jerked up from her sleep, eyes wide and wet as she shouted out into the air, pushing against whatever was touching softly against her face. ]
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richest_heart
2011-07-01 08:21 pm (local) (link)
[He recoiled at her command, his hand stinging from being harshly knocked aside. But it was not pain that stopped him from reaching out to gently dry her eyes.

It was shame, cold and strange, tightening the center of his chest. For so long they had been happy. Together.

So what had he done to upset her, to cause her pain? He couldn't have said, and that was the very worst thing, how cruel it was of him to be unaware...

For too long, all he could do was stare, seeming helplessly lost in the furthest fathoms of his very much golden eyes. Then he sealed them away behind his lids, turning from her as he forced a faintly pained whisper.]

I am sorry, my pr-

[He cut off the loving title abruptly, unsure of his right to speak of her as his.]
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kraheyhey
2011-07-01 08:28 pm (local) (link)
[ Even though awake, Rue was still living within her dream. she was still being hurt, he was still looking at her with those cruel eyes...

There was no hesitation in her movements as the princess forced herself further away from the man, refusing to look at him. It was making her chest hurt, knowing what her love did to him. What he did to her.

She dragged herself as far away as she could, until she hit the headboard before pulling herself together into a little ball. ]

Stay back...

[ Words she never thought she would say to her prince. She loved him--with all her being. But her heart was racing and she could still see the brightness of his glare from under her eyelids, haunting.

She feared him. ]
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richest_heart
2011-07-01 09:20 pm (local) (link)
[It was prying his heart into pieces again to watch her like this, each sharp fragment falling away to gather in the pit of his stomach.

Her porcelain skin, normally etched with lines of brilliant strength, was all but marred by this fragility. She was lacking the warmth that he could breathe into his heart when he held her, and he could not offer her his love in return if he was to respect her fearful wishes.

Though he felt as if thorns were lining his throat, he pushed desperation from his voice with all his will to inquire quietly.]

Why? Only... tell me why.

[He must know, he needed this knowledge, though the certainty that it would do little to quell his own heartbeat was bitter. Or perhaps nothing else could slow the rhythm in his chest, because if she wished him gone, then he would go, and it would be an act akin to pulling out his own heart.

But as he was now, he was selfish enough to ask for a reason first. That selfishness could easily be his answer.]