Quote:
Originally Posted by
unicornkeeper07 
Rafe thought Marilyn would be heading straight to the dungeons, where surely he wouldn't be able to reach her, but instead she headed upstairs. This gave him a little bit of time to run back to the Great Hall to grab that box he'd been saving for her. She was definitely one that was quick on her feet, but Rafe wasn't far behind and quickly caught up. He hoped he didn't offend her in anyway, there was no telling what all she overheard. He just wanted Carter to take things out on Rafe and not be so hard on Marilyn. He knew how much Carter meant to her, even as a friend and would hate to see that friendship tarnished forever. However, he felt like his attempts were shattered and right now he just wanted to wrap his arms around her.
Up, up, up they stairs she went right to the seventh floor. He watched her from around the corner as she paced where the room of requirement was and saw her slip through the door, he had only milliseconds to catch it before it closed. He slowly slipped in quietly, maybe this wasn't the time. Maybe she didn't want to be disturbed. He made his way around all the instruments, but kept quiet in the shadows. She was playing such a sad song and Rafe wasn't quite sure how to feel, but nonetheless it was beautiful. As she played the last few notes, he began to clap.
"Encore!" he shouted cheerfully, but he knew she'd been crying.
He took a seat next to her on the piano stool, the box in his pocket and he put his arm around her and then wiped the tears away with his free hand.
"I'm so sorry you feel like this," he said softy, trying to pick his words carefully.
"This is actually a good setting..." he said as he looked at the piano with its wet keys from her tears. Ever since he spent that time with her in the dungeon and he learned that she played piano and he gave her the tie one, he wanted to understand piano just a little more and been...well, she would soon see. He placed his finger on the keys...this wasn't something he was comfortable with and he hadn't practiced long, but he did the best he
could.
Marilyn wasn't surprised at all when she felt Rafe's comforting warmth wrap around her smaller body. He always knew when she needed him...and she'd never been more grateful for it or for him. Why couldn't others understand how she felt?
There was something much greater than herself that pulled her towards Rafe. She'd felt
utterly devoted to him long before he'd ever made his move behind that suit of armor...Although, Marilyn had mistaken the intense feelings for something else. But his kiss had done something to her. It had changed
everything. It had been torture staying away from Rafe, trying to keep some distance there...for Carter. But Carter couldn't understand. He'd never know the intensity of what Marilyn felt for Rafe. Yes, she was young...but perhaps it was her pure blood and strong magical ancestry that allowed her young heart to know what she felt for Rafe wasn't fake. That it indeed was the real deal.
Why did they have to make her feel so ashamed and guilty?
"It just hurts, Rafe. Why does he have to make me feel bad for loving you?" Resting her forehead against his strong chest, she openly cried. It was a true testament to how much she trusted him, finally pouring everything out in front of this guy she loved so very much. Marilyn didn't know how long she'd sat there like that...She'd built things up for so long that the tears just wouldn't stop coming.
Rafe had began to play something, and it had an instant soothing effect. Her tears had reduced to soft
hiccups, her shaking body somewhat stilled. Though her stripped emotions, Marilyn offered him a watery smile.
"When did you learn to play?...That was beautiful."