The Short Stories of Miss.SunFlower

Yay, nice update

don't make me fall in love with Paul again Maggie! You're too good at this ;)
 
I know. When I read Real Men it was like "OMG Paul is amazing" I had to keep reminding myself it was a fan fic. :D Not that Paul isn't amazing. Oh, you girls know what I mean.
 
*okay I love you toooooo much*

Nothing had changed.
Everything had changed.
Paul. What had been wrong with him as she spoke to him earlier? If you could even call it speaking to him, she thought glumly. He had looked stunned, speechless. Deirdre may have found it flattering but she didn’t like thinking her looks would get in the way of their old easy friendship. That, and it didn’t look like a good stunned – just the opposite in fact.
But he was only one person, in an entire village of old friends. And, as she met the rest of them, it appeared he was the only one with that reaction.
Ruth, like her little sister, nearly tackled her to the ground at seeing her. Nicole and Meagan to their turns with hugs as well, and the guys clapped her on the back like an old mate. She felt completely normal here. She knew while the princess’s visit was supposed to be the main focus everyone here had only concentrated on seeing her.
After a tall young man gave her a friendly hug, she pulled him at arms length, gazing up at him, as it occurred to her who he was.
“Damian!?” She squeaked incredulously. My, he had grown up indeed.
He laughed a deep laugh. This was the reaction he had hoped for, she knew. “I’ve grown up a wee bit in 4 years, Deirdre.”
“I can see that.” She replied, still shocked. He was over 6 foot that was for sure, and looked closer to her age than 17. “But what are you wearing?” She said, putting a finger to the near rags the boy was in, “You’d look more grown up in some decent clothes.”
More laughter for that, from everyone gathered, “They’re comfortable.” He grinned. Oh my, she could see he probably won the hearts of many of the younger girls here, with a smile like that. “Besides, I don’t own much else.”
“I’m sure you could get some clothing loans,” Deirdre argued, “Paul or Keith’s clothing has to be your size now.” Trying to lighten that mood she flicked her eyes to Paul. He and Damian were about the same height it seemed, but wouldn’t remain so for long, “Paul’s may be too small soon though.” She said, failing to smother a giggle.
Damian nearly died laughing at that, and she happily caught the crack of a smile that crossed Paul’s face, “Court has done well at turning you docile, I see.” He commented.
Deirdre laughed; he’d sounded almost relieved that she was as fiery as when she’d left. She gave him a mock curtsy, “Thank you, good sir.”
And now he laughed, and it was her turn to be relieved. Her friend was her friend again. She didn’t think she could bare it if he were not.
“Speaking of,” She added, glancing around the group gathered, “where IS Keith?” The blonde young man was missing.
George gave the warm smile she’d missed so much while away, “Every couple weeks he’ll be away for a day or so, trading. Wanted him to stay to see you but he said he’d be back tonight.”
Keith had barely been older than Damian was now, when she’d left. The thought of him with any kind of job… trading… it was hard to imagine.
Ruth laughed at her expression, “Hard to picture isn’t it? But he’s doing good at it. We have much more than we ever imagined since.”
Deirdre nodded absently, “Well, that is good to know I guess.”
She continued to talk to anyone she could, while George, village leader as he was, spoke to Julianne and her guards, negotiating their own trading. She tried to remember if these trips were made when she had been growing up here. She knew the port traded with the royal city, but she hardly remembered a carriage coming from the city to do trading.
She wondered if the King had devised this just so Deirdre could see home.
That was an incredibly sweet plan, and it would almost be over. These weren’t daylong stops in a single place. They had been to three villages before this one, and would have to be back to the castle the next day so they’d need to leave soon, very soon. To return, God knew when.
She was winding down the conversation when Julianne spoke. While supposedly directed to George, Deirdre knew she was speaking up so all those around heard.
“Thank you for the peaceful welcome and the goods we’ve traded.” She said in the most mature formal voice she’d ever really heard, “I am to travel back home, however Deirdre is to stay for as much as a week longer.”
She was? When on earth was THIS discussed!? The girls cheered and Paul looked as surprised as she felt. She looked at the Princess who glanced around George to wink at her.
Oh, she would have to thank her later.
George, of course, happily agreed to that, and that conversation ending, Julianne prepared to go. Deirdre caught her quickly.
“What did you do that for? The King doesn’t know about this does he?”
“Deirdre, a fool would know you would much rather be here, for as long as you can. No, father doesn’t know, but you are safe here as you would be anyways. And you may stay here however long you wish.”
She smiled, “Well how will I get back, when, I eventually must come back.”
Julianne made a face, thinking about it, “I’ll send a page, and a horse, for you when I arrive home. He will stay as long as you want and accompany you home. Does that work?”
“I suppose it works as well as any plan, but,” She thought about some way to thank the young woman, “Can you not at least stay the night? It is not what we- you are used to, but you could meet everyone I spoke of. Please?”
She considered this, and Deirdre could see the tiniest bit of haughty distaste for such a setting, for so long. But again she caught her pleading expression and smiled reassuringly at last.
“I will stay this night. And I would love to meet the old friends my Deirdre spoke so highly of.” She giggled, “What was the tall dark haired one’s name again?”
“Damian, and he happens to be 17, highness.”
She raised her eyebrows, and looked a little putout, “Is he really…?”
Deirdre laughed, “He is, and I don’t think I want you staying another night if it means you’ll return to tell the King you’ve fallen for a lowly tradesmen or stable owner.”
“Oh I’ll be good, Deirdre, I promise. No harm in playing though… that other one you spoke to… Paul, he was also quite cute,” She babbled on.
Deirdre rolled her eyes. As much as the wayward young princess annoyed her at times, she had helped her stay longer with the people she loved, and she was grateful for that.
 
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