Chapter 9: Fireflies

Gabrielle stood in the kitchen, gripping the skirt of her dress. 

'Improper? Does Ansel truly like me? I mean he's always around Hattie… He's always talking to her… How come he can't talk with me?'

Gabrielle's thoughts overwhelmed her mind as she tightened her grip. 

"Don't listen to them Milady," Josephine comforted, walking over to her, "Hattie is just trying to get under your skin because she's jealous of you."

She looked at Josephine, widening her eyes. "Jealous of me," She asked, "How can someone like her be jealous of me? She's always around Ansel… I mean he must like her."

"Well for one, she has never been able to call His Majesty by his first name. I mean if anyone here were to do that we would get in serious trouble and for two she's been wanting Cobsworth as her servant for years but His Majesty refuses to have Cobsworth serve her," Josephine assured, "Yes His Majesty is just smitten with you."

"Really," Gaberielle blurted. 

"Yes," Josphine responded, "He's really smitten with you and Hattie can't stand it. She's been trying to get His Majesty to be with her for years but His Majesty has made his feelings towards her clear. There's no chance between them and Hattie can't stand it. You make her nervous, that's why she's trying to intimidate you and if I were you I would steer clear of Hattie and Nylah. When Hattie feels threatened, she sinks to the lowest level and I have to say you having Cobsworth as your servant has already set her off even if she didn't show it." 

'Hattie, threatened by me… It just doesn't make sense… She seems so confident…. No she can't be jealous… She's so close with Ansel, there's no reason for her to be jealous of me…'

"I'll keep what you said in mind," Gabrielle noted, hiding her doubts.

"Milady," A familiar voice called.

"I'm in here," Gabrielle answered, looking towards the kitchen doorway, seeing Cobsworth enter.

"I'm glad I finally found you,"  He said, giving a sigh of relief, "What on earth are you doing in the kitchen? Royalty is not permitted in the kitchen."

"My food was cold so I asked Josephine to bring me here so I can make some more. Besides it's not like I'm actually royalty anyways," Gabrielle replied.

"His Majesty has asked us to treat you as an extension of himself. You must treat you as high of a standard as we treat royalty,"  Cobsworth remarked. 

"It's really okay Cobsworth, I don't need any special treatment," Gabrielle assured, "Now what were you looking for me for?"

"You are special Milady and we will treat you as such. Now, I have informed His Majesty about our plans tonight, he said he'll have a carriage ready to take us to his special viewing place," Cobsworth informed, "We need to leave by 7 if we want to see the fireflies at their prime. That's about 3 hours from now."  

"And His Majesty… Will he…"  Gabrielle looked down, placing her hand on her chest.

"He sends his regards. His Majesty is very busy I'm afraid,"  Cobsworth apologized. 

"It's alright," Gabrielle sighed, looking towards Jospehine, "Will you help me get ready for tonight?"

"Of course Milady. Let's get you ready for tonight," Josephine soothed, leading Gabrielle out of the kitchen back to her (Gabrielle's) room.

The hours rolled by

Josephine sat Gabrielle in front of her vanity mirror.

"What do you think," Josephine beamed, "Is it everything you hoped for?" 

Gabrielle stared at her reflection, marveling at her baby blue, floor length, floral dress and her braided half up half down curled hairdo.

She touched her face in disbelief. Unable to utter a single word.

'Is this me… Is this really me… Everything looks so beautiful…'

"You look starstruck Milady,"  Josephine chirped, placing her hands on Gabrielle's shoulders, "You truly look beautiful."

She looked at Josephine, giving a slight smile, "Thank you," She uttered. 

"You're very welcome," Josephine replied, giving Gabrielle's shoulders a gentle squeeze.

Knock, knock, knock

"Is Milady ready," Cobsworth called out.

Josephine and Gabrielle walked over to the door, opening it.

"I'm ready," Gabrielle stated, looking to the floor.

"You look beautiful Milady," Cobsworth praised, "His Majesty's eyes would be glued on you." 

"Thank you Cobsworth," Gabrielle sighed, grabbing on to Cobsworth's arm, "Shall we go?" 

"Yes Milady, let's go,"  Cobsworth responded, leading Gabrielle out of the castle, to a redwood carriage, and getting inside. 

Neigh, screeeeeeeek

The carriage took off…

Gabrielle looked out the carriage's window, watching the castle slowly disappear in the distance…

'I wish His Majesty was with me…' She thought as disappointment ate away at her.

An hour rolled by and the carriage came to a slow stop.

"Come Milady, we're here," Cobsworth said, getting out of the carriage.

He put his hand out towards her, helping her get out of the carriage. 

She took a step forward, taking in the scenery of the forest that now surrounded her. 

She looked around, admiring the tall green trees and forest animals that scurried around the forest floor. 

"It's so beautiful," She said in astonishment

"This isn't even the best part Milady, come with me," Cobsworth smiled, leading her away from the carriage, deeper into the forest.

Crunch, crunch, crunch 

Dead leaves crunched underneath their feet, filling the quiet forest with sound. 

Deeper and deeper they walked until Cobsworth stopped in front of some thick bushes.

"Come see Milady,"  Cobsworth hummed, jestering her to come forward. 

She sighed, slowly walking up next to him. She looked in front of her, seeing a clear pond that had green grass and sitting stones surrounding it. She marveled at the beautiful fireflies that flew above the waters, watching as their lights reflected off of the pond imitating stars. 

"Cobsworth," She exclaimed with a smile, "It's beautiful. They look like stars." 

Cobsworth nodded, taking a few unnoticed steps back from her. 

"You like them, Milady,"  Cobsworth grinned, continuing to walk away quietly, unnoticed. 

"Oh I love them," She gushed astonished at the scenery, "This is better than the books. Can we get closer?" 

Crunch, crunch, crunch 

"Cobsworth please," She begged, her eyes fixated on the fireflies, "I have to see them up close."

"Well then let's go," She heard a familiar respond, making her body jolt. 

'It can't be,' She thought, her eyes widening.

She felt a warm touch on her hand and looked down, seeing a hand interlocking with her's. 

She turned around, looking up to see Ansel standing behind her, looking at her with warmness and a soft smile. 

"Ansel," She breathed, her body beginning to tremble, "Your Majesty, you're here." 

"Of course," He hummed, grabbing onto her other hand, "Cobsworth told me that you wanted to see the fireflies and I…" 

She let go of his hands, wrapping her arms around the back of his neck. She kissed him on the cheek, jumping up and down interrupting him mid sentence. 

In the distance Hattie and Nylah stood, peaking their heads from behind a tree, unnoticed. 

Hattie dug her nails in the palm of her hands, watching as Gabrielle kissed Ansel on the cheek. 

'I'll kill her,' Hattie thought as jealousy arose in her. 

"She actually kissed him," Nylah whispered enraged, "Her Grace Dutchess Celila was right! She is a man-stealer." 

"No worries," Hattie grumbled, digging her nails deeper into the palm of her hand, "She doesn't intimidate me. I have status. He will fall in love with me." 

As Hattie and Nylah continued to watch in secret, Gabrielle grabbed onto Ansel's hand. 

"Come Ansel, we have to see the fireflies up close," Gabrielle bubbled, tugging his hand forward, towards the pond.

He placed his other hand on his face, covering his red cheeks, "O-Of c-course L-Lady G-Gabrielle." 

He followed close behind her, watching her beam in excitement, as she led him over to the pond. 

She let go of his hand, turning around to look at him. 

"Look Your Majesty. Look how beautiful everything is," She swooned. 

She turned back around, marveling at the fireflies above the pond. 

She walked up to the pond and took off her shoes, tossing them to the side. She stepped into the pond feeling the waters cool her feet, and soak the bottom of her dress. 

He watched her, gushing at the sight of the fireflies glowing around her, looking as if they were dancing. 

'So beautiful… She's so beautiful…' 

She reached her hand out, allowing a firefly to land in the palm of her hand. She looked back at him.

"Come on Ansel," She called out to him. 

He cleared his throat, walking over towards her, "I'm coming," He responded, stepping into the waters, feeling the waters rush into his shoes. 

"Isn't it wonderful Your Majesty,"  She breathed, "This place is so… So…. So stunning." 

He smiled, walking up to her. He grabbed her hand, pulling her in closely. 

"To you I'm Ansel, only Ansel," He cooed, staring deep into her eyes.

"And to you it's Gabrielle, only Gabrielle," She smiled, watching as the fireflies flew around him.

'Tonight is the best night of my life,'  She thought, feeling her heart race.

In the distance Nylah and Hattie continued to watch.

"I can't believe her," Nylah fumed, "Shall we go and destroy their date." 

"No," Hattie muttered, "Let's get out of here, I've seen all I need to." 

Hattie walked away as Nylah followed behind her. 

"But Lady Hattie, she's trying to take your man," Nylah chided, "How can we walk away and do nothing?" 

Hattie turned to Nylah, giving a sly smile. 

"We're not doing nothing," Hattie plotted, "We're studying so we can use the same tactics she does and actually win His Majesty's heart." 

Back at the pond Ansel and Gabrielle stood, watching the fireflies surround them. 

The hours rolled past

Ansel and Gabrielle sat on a sitting stone by the pond. 

She laid her head against his chest, listening to the calming sound of his heart beat.

"Ready to go back Gabrielle," He hummed, brushing the back of her head with his hand.

"No, I never want this night to end," She yawned, slowly closing her eyes.

"We can always come back," He chuckled, holding her closely.

"But we never get a chance to see each other," She blurted groggily, "I refuse to leave until you promise me you'll spend more time with me… I don't want to keep missing you." 

His face turned red as his heart beat faster. She closed her eyes slowly drifting into a deep sleep. 

"I promise," He whispered to her, scooping her up in his arms, walking back to the carriage, "For you Gabrielle I'll move the mountains."