Picking sides

Gertrude woke up the next morning with a dilema on the mind. Who was in the right? Should she tell her father what she had caught her mother doing? Was magic evil? Gertrude also worried that the fact of WHAT her mother was using magic for. It was to stall her wedding. If she told her father, being the stubborn man he was, her wedding might very well be tomorrow. There was no longer a clear right and wrong. She hated that feeling.

She decided to not do anything until she decided what to do. She spent the day avoiding her mother and father. She was silent at dinner. She was exactly the princess her father wanted--seen not heard. Horatio however noticed the difference in her and confronted her after dinner.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"Nothing" Gertrude dismissed.

"Really? Then who was that silent oaf at the table tonight. Because she had no character what-so-ever, my betrothed may try to play that role, but isn't that good of an actress. It wasn't you" Horatio teased.

Gertrude found his teasing delightful, and it almost cheered her up for a minute.

"I'm just struggling with a personal moral dilema. I'll figure it out soon and be back to your bold beauty soon" She teasingly assured him.

He smiled and leaned down and gave her one kiss tenderly on her lips. Her heart fluttered. She was full of excitement. Then he pulled her in close. She could feel through his pants what at least his body wanted. She pulled back, fear striking her heart. She wasn't ready for that. No, she wouldn't tell her father. She wasn't ready. Her mom was right. Her mom was just protecting her.

Perhaps magic wasn't all bad. Like her mother said. She would stay true to her mother who always was looking out for her. In this moment she decided she'd ask her mom about how to use this tool--magic. Then she was pulled back to the moment. Horatio stood there horrified at making her uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry if that was too fast. I promise my intentions were nothing but honorable. I only thought a kiss was approperiate for my betrothed and...and it felt like we were on the same page...and I wanted to give you comfort" he fumbled over his words.

"All is well, good to know that intentions were honorable, wasn't sure. Your body doesn't hide it's desires as well as you do." Gertrude teased knowing he'd blush in embarassment and she could take her leave.

He was rather sweet, she thought, but I'm just not ready.