They wore black, all of them.

The people gathered in the courtyard on that day had donned their best clothes, the dark colors reflecting their mood.

Jonathan stood before everyone, his face set in a frown and his eyes staring blankly ahead as if he were having a hard time processing things. A black cloak fastened around his shoulders added to his morose, grief-stricken look. Next to him, Olivya stood, her shoulders slumped and her hand on Jonathan's arm. Therese and Catherine stood nearby, and Therese slipped her hand into her sister's for comfort. She occasionally brought a handkerchief up behind her veil to dab at her eyes.

Kade stood ramrod straight. He had returned just in time to hear the news. He was decked out in black pants, a black shirt and vest, and a black cloak similar to Jonathan's. He had his arm protectively around his wife's shoulders. He glanced at her and pulled her even closer, giving her shoulder a comforting squeeze.

Isabella leaned her head against Kade's shoulder. She had given up on trying to wipe away her tears with her already soaked handkerchief and they now flowed freely down her cheeks.

Behind the members of the royal family, a little boy in a chair wore his new black suit for a much more subdued occasion than he had pictured himself wearing it for when he had received it. A small, gray puppy lay in his lap, its head on its paws.

Samantha and Prissy each held one of their mother's hands and even Jade found herself struggling not to let tears escape her eyes.

Behind them, Meredith stood, completely still. She felt that she was in a state of shock. Inside, she was broken apart, the grief pulling at her mind and heart. On the outside, however, she found herself unable to cry, in that state where grief is so deep that tears seem something too trivial to express the pain. So she stared forward, her face pale and her eyes wide.

Antony was the only one who did not fit with the picture of grief that had been painted for this day. He wore the finest clothes of a king, his boots were polished, and the scarlet cloak of Astoria rested across his shoulders, fastened with a gold clasp. His hair, usually towseled, was perfectly in place and the gold band he wore gleamed even in the gray daylight.

Looking at him, one might think he were simply sleeping...

One might not think that this day, this grief, was for him.

And yet...they were unable to ignore the fact that they looked upon his casket.

And Antony was gone.

The people grieved their king.

Olivya grieved her grandson.

Therese grieved her nephew.

Catherine grieved the man who had finally forced her to see some sense and showed her the way back to her sister and her niece.

Isabella grieved her cousin, the one who had grown up with her, the one with whom she had shared good times and bad. The one who welcomed her to the palace even after her innocence had been stolen and most kings would worry for their reputation.

Kade grieved his best friend.

Jonathan grieved his brother, who had used some of his last words to forgive him.

Nash grieved the friend who had given him the opportunity to ride a horse and who had helped him see that life was not over simply because of an injury.

Samantha and Prissy grieved the king who had taken them from Dunkirk and kept them safe and protected during the time Nash was missing.

Jade grieved the baby she had held, long ago, the first time Saraya had attended a party with her new son. She grieved the blonde little boy who had hidden behind his father at every party after Saraya's death. She grieved the man who had showed up at her door one day to offer her protection and refuge in the time her son was missing. She grieved the man who she knew had given her oldest daughter so much happiness.

Meredith...grieved the only man she had ever truly loved. The only man who she had wanted to spend the rest of her life with. The only man she had wanted to see every day.

The man who had made her so happy.

The man she had fallen in love with.

The man whose smiling face she still saw when she closed her eyes.

She turned and fled the courtyard, the tears finally coming.

Meredith sat up in bed, breathing quickly, tears still wet on her cheeks. She didn't move, but sat there, clutching the blankets around her and taking deep breaths, allowing herself to wake up and come completely back to reality.

It had seemed so real. Everything had seemed so clear, and she remembered it perfectly; no part of the dream faded from her mind now that she was awake.

The grand clock, down the hallway by the staircase, chimed twelve times. Midnight.

After a few moments, she hesitantly pulled back the covers and stood, placing her feet one by one on the cold floor. She picked up the throw blanket from the end of her bed and wrapped it around herself, leaving her room and entering the hallway. She picked up her pace as she grew nearer to Antony's rooms.

Just as she came to the door and was hesitating, with her hand poised over the handle, the door opened and she stood face to face with Jonathan.

***

Jonathan was just leaving Antony's rooms after spending the first half of the night with his brother, when he opened the door and had to pull up short to avoid running into the diminutive figure standing in the hallway.

"Meredith?" he said, puzzled, taking in her wide, scared eyes and her pale face and pale hands clutching the blanket around her.

"Jonathan," she said, her voice shaken.

"What's wrong?" he said, frowning.

"Antony...I..." she seemed unable to voice whatever it was she was afraid of.

Taking in her sleep-tousled hair and her nightgown, blanket, and bare feet, he guessed. "Did you dream?" he said, his voice sympathetic.

She glanced at him hesitantly for a moment, before nodding.

He stepped aside. "Go in, Meredith," he said. "Antony is just fine."

She nodded, gratefully, and seemed to be calming somewhat as Jonathan left, letting the door close behind her.

***

Meredith, even with Jonathan's words of comfort, had to see for herself that Antony was safe.

She entered his bedroom from the parlor, and sank against the doorjamb with relief upon seeing that he was still lying in bed, his chest still rising and falling steadily.

She stumbled forward and bent over him, brushing her hand across his hair and touching his face gently, assuring herself that he was still here, he still breathed, he still lived.

She sat on the edge of the bed, taking his hand and pressing her lips against his palm, and cradling it in both her hands.

Down the hallway, after what seemed like only a short time, she heard the clock chime one. She felt suddenly exhausted, as though her fear and the ensuing adrenaline had drained her. After one last glance at Antony, she laid down on top of the blankets, pulling her own blanket, which she still had thrown over her shoulders, around her as she rested her head against Antony's shoulder...

And closed her eyes.

***

Isabella held the torch high as she descended the stairs, her other hand on the railing to steady herself. The night was half over already, and yet she knew she would find Jonathan awake.

She nodded to the guard as she entered the prison, making her way past various guards in armor until she reached the high security cells, where Jonathan was keeping himself prisoner.

"Jonathan," she said, as she arrived before his cell door, which the guards had not locked, according to Isabella's orders based on Antony's wishes.

He looked up, his arms crossed across his chest and a frown on his face.

"I want you to come up," she said. "You're family, and you've been forgiven. There is no reason for you to be down here."

His frown deepened and she watched as he prepared to turn away as she held her hand out to him.

"Think about it, Jonathan," she said, firmly. "What will you accomplish by being down here? You may think that you are keeping people safe, or trying to punish yourself for your actions, but you will never live, down here. There are people upstairs who care about you, Jonathan, and who have forgiven you...who want you to forgive yourself and take a chance. Take the chance that you've changed...because I know you have."

He met her eyes and she stared steadily back at him, her gaze determined. He looked at his hand for a moment, before reaching forward and hesitantly taking hers.

They exited the prison together.

***

Kade brought his horse to an abrupt stop in the courtyard of the palace, returning for the first time since he had left for the battle. He dismounted, handing the reigns to the footman who came over to greet him.

The sun was only just rising over the horizon, starting to pink the sky and bring light to the empire.

Kade readjusted his cloak and made his way up the front steps and inside, greeting Fulton on his way through the door.

"Kade!"

He looked up to see Isabella reach the top of the stairs and begin to make her way down, her skirts in one hand as she attempted not to trip.

He grinned and met her halfway up, on the second floor landing. She threw her arms around him and he held her tight, kissing her. He pulled back, and looked into her eyes.

"I've missed you so, Kade," she said.

"I've missed you too, Love," he said. She put her hand on his arm, touching the ribbon tied around his arm.

"You're still wearing it," she said, smiling.

"I've worn it every day."

She kissed him again. "I've worried so much about you...the whole time you were gone...And when Jonathan said you weren't coming back for a while..."

"I'm back now," said Kade, taking both her hands in his. "How is Jonathan coping, now that he's returned to the palace?"

She sighed. "I just managed to get him to come upstairs. He has, since his return, relegated himself to a prison cell. The only times he has left his self-imposed prison have been in the middle of the night, when he comes upstairs to sit with his brother."

"He sits with Antony?"

She held his hand, looking thoughtfully off in the distance. "Yes...every night for at least a small amount of time. He comforts him when the poison brings its nightmares."

Kade smiled somewhat. "He blames himself, does he not?"

"I would feel the same if I were in his position. But hopefully, he will see, at some point, that he did his best to save Antony from Sawyer's plan, and that, for any mistakes he made before then, he has been forgiven."

***

Meredith awakened as light began to stream in through the gaps in the curtains. She remembered where she was as soon as she opened her eyes.

She stirred slightly against Antony's arm, automatically going to bring her hand up to her face, ready to brush her hair from her eyes. She stopped, propping herself up with her other arm and staring at her hand, intertwined with Antony's. She remained there, frozen, unable to take her gaze off their hands.

She had fallen asleep next to him, certainly, but she was fairly sure that she had not been holding his hand.

Which would mean...He must have moved his hand on his own, finding hers and holding it tight while she slept.

She studied him for a moment more, before she gently pulled her hand from his. She watched as he stirred slightly, before settling once more into stillness.

Thinking back on the night, she realized that she had spent half of it with him and he had not suffered a single nightmare, because if he had, she would have known.

She stood, pulling her blanket around her shoulders, and smiled down at him.

"Come back to me, Antony," she whispered, her words holding hope. "Come back."

***

Therese frowned as she stood in the west wing hallway and watched as the short, brown-haired girl, made her way up the stairs and into the east wing corridor.

"Meredith," she said, taking a deep breath and folding her hands behind her back as the girl, startled, turned to face her. "Could I speak with you for a moment?"

"Princess Therese," said Meredith, slowly, curtsying. "Of course."

"Please accompany me to my parlor."

Meredith came hesitantly forward and followed her obediently to Therese's third floor rooms.

Therese ushered her into her parlor and shut the door behind her, coming to sit primly on the chaise lounge. "Sit," she said.

Meredith, silent, sat obediently.

"I suppose you're wondering what I wanted to speak to you about."

Meredith nodded.

"I wanted to apologize to you."

Meredith frowned, looking puzzled. "What for, My Lady?"

Therese shook her head. "That is not necessary." She sighed. "Anyways...my apology. I will admit that, upon Antony's first admission that he loved you, I was quite floored. I did not think you worthy of my nephew's affections, especially considering how rarely they are given to anyone outside this family. You are not a royal. You are not rich. I was...wrongly...under the impression that he was simply confused, and that his feelings for you would soon pass. I was also...wrongly...under the impression that you did not hold feelings for him."

She forced a smile. "However, as time passed, I began to realize that his feelings did not abate. I watched as he suddenly stopped spending time with you. I thought that this meant he had realized the error of his ways and would henceforth pursue someone of his station, such as Lady Adelaide. However, I soon realized that, although something had most obviously happened between the two of you, he was most certainly not over his feelings for you."

She met Meredith's gaze, evenly. "I have come to see that you are perfectly worthy of my nephew, no matter your station or your wealth. You love him; I see that now. And he loves you. I watched the way he looked at you during the winter gala, when you were dancing, although you may not have noticed it. I watch the way you look at him now, and Isabella has told me how often you are by his side, holding his hand or comforting through a nightmare."

Meredith simply stared back at her.

Therese smiled gently, and reached forward, resting her hand gently on Meredith's shoulder. "Since the death of my brother in law and his wife, I have cared for their son as my own. I want him to be happy. And with you...he is, as he has not been in a long while."

"So this...this is your blessing?"

Therese nodded. "It is, wholeheartedly."

Meredith finally smiled.

***

Jonathan sat back in his chair, watching Antony closely. The clock chimed, eleven times. Eleven in the morning. Jonathan had been by Antony's bedside for several hours and Antony had yet to even stir. He seemed to be sleeping perfectly soundly, with no unknown fears to plague him.

He started, slightly, as the door opened, standing abruptly and facing the figure who entered the room, bearing a tray of food.

"What are you doing here?"

"I'm...sorry, sir," said the girl, softly, looking somewhat scared. "I just...Isabella suggested that I take some food to you, that's all."

Jonathan realized how it must look to her, as if he were upset when, really, he was simply surprised.

"It's fine," he said, relaxing and sitting back down.

She walked forward, hesitantly, and handed him the tray.

He watched as she watched Antony for a few moments.

"I hope Meredith doesn't lose him," she whispered.

"What?" asked Jonathan, puzzled.

The girl blushed, as though somewhat uncomfortable.

"I just mean that I know what it is to lose the one you love, and I do not want Meredith to have to feel that."

Jonathan studied her for a few moments, before catching the leg of a nearby chair with his foot and pulling it closer. "Sit," he said.

She sat, hesitantly.

"I'm sorry," he said. "For making you feel that I was angry with you. You meant well." He gestured to the breakast. "Are you hungry?"

She bit her lip, as if hesitant to say anything, but she finally nodded.

He offered her the tray and, after a moment of meeting his gaze, as if searching for approval, she took a small pastry from one of the plates, biting into it.

"What's your name?" he asked, when a minute or so of silence had passed.

"Jane," she said, softly. "And...everyone knows you. You're...Jonathan."

He nodded. "I suppose my reputation preceeds me."

She nodded. "I won't lie; there are plenty of servants who are quite uncomfortable with your presence in the palace. However, there are plenty of others who know of the time you spend in here, watching over and comforting your brother, and they respect you and are beginning to think quite highly of you."

He sighed, and shook his head. "I've made too many mistakes to earn their respect. They should save it for someone else. Someone who deserves it...like my brother. He was willing to give his life for me. He did not seem to have any qualms about dying, or about forgiving me." He frowned. "My cousin, Isabella, seems to believe I can only take the forgiveness I've been offered and move on to be a better person. But..."

He shook his head in disgust with himself. "I cannot ignore this part of me. It may be in my past but it will always affect me."

Jane smiled slightly. "Perhaps...but how so? Maybe it will affect you in a good way. Allow it to make you a better person. Allow it to show you what it is to show mercy to others as others have shown you mercy."

He turned slowly to look at her. "You have no obligation to me. You are not family. You are not someone I know. And yet you think I can truly move on from this? You think I can be forgiven?"

She looked thoughtful, then she nodded. "I know you can be. Actually...from what I've heard...You have been forgiven. I just...I don't think you've quite accepted it lately."

"You're right; I haven't."

"Then I think you know what you have to do. Forgive me if it's not my place, but you have to accept the forgiveness you've been offered or you will never move on. You will never go anywhere, but deeper into guilt."

She stood, glancing at him hesitantly. "I really...I really should go now. I have work to do."

Jonathan watched as the blonde maid, Jane, curtsied hurriedly and made her way quickly from the room, shutting the door firmly behind her.

***

"Mother?" Meredith questioned, upon seeing Jade standing in the foyer. 'What are you doing here?"

"Nash wanted to visit Antony again, and I...I took a job, working in the kitchens with Ramona."

Meredith smiled. "That's wonderful, mother," she said. "I'm happy for you."

"How have you been since I last saw you?"

Meredith's mind went to the dream of just last night, but she forced those memories away and focused on waking up to find that Antony was holding her hand.

"I've been...surviving."

Jade smiled, hugging her daughter. "I know you'll be strong, whatever happens, Meredith. You always have been."

Meredith forced a smile, not wanting to say that, if Antony were to...die...she wasn't sure she could stay strong in that situation.

"Come on, Mer," said Nash, impatiently. "I brought Emery to see Antony again."

"Alright, Nash," she said, her expression breaking into a smile. "Let's go."

She let Nash piggy-back as they walked up the stairs, Fulton following with Nash's chair and Emery scampering along behind them.

When they entered Antony's room, Meredith was somewhat surprised to see Jonathan. He usually only visited during the night, preferring to stay away once daylight dawned.

Nash saw Jonathan too, and his face went pale. Meredith stepped in front of her little brother, protectively. Even knowing what she knew about Jonathan, she didn't want Nash to have to be afraid if he wasn't ready.

"Jonathan..." she said, slowly.

"I understand," he said, glancing at Nash sitting frozen in his chair.

Meredith watched as he began to make his way towards the door.

'Wait."

She was startled by the small voice from behind her, and she turned to face Nash.

"Mer," he said. "I want to talk to him."

She followed Nash's pointing finger to glance at Jonathan. Finally, she nodded. "Alright, Nash," she said. "I'll be down the hallway with Isabella..." A part of her still worried about leaving her fragile little brother with Jonathan.

"Alright," said Nash, his voice small but firm.

That seemed to settle it, and Meredith gave up, trusting that Nash would be alright and leaving the room.

***

Jonathan faced the little boy whom he had personally injured. He had almost convinced himself that he could accept forgiveness. Talking to Jane had spoke to a part of him, inside, that told him that maybe he could make a better man of himself. Now, however, seeing Nash, his doubts came flooding back.

The little boy glared at him. "Why are you here?" he said, trying to sound intimidating. "Are you going to hurt Antony?"

Jonathan looked at the ground. Why wouldn't Nash think that was his purpose in being here?

"No," he finally said. "I'm here to see my brother. I sit with him...sometimes."

"While he's sleeping?" said Nash, skeptically.

"While he's unconscious, yes."

Nash frowned some more. "Why'd you hurt me?"

Jonathan shook his head. "I...I don't know..."

"You have to have a reason! You don't just hurt someone! You don't just take away their legs for no reason!"

Jonathan felt something break inside him. "I was wrong, Nash," he said, coming to stand before the little boy. He fell to his knees, looking directly into Nash's eyes. "I was angry...and because I was angry at one person, I hurt everyone I thought I had to to get revenge at him. But...You cannot avenge yourself against a dead person. I've made so many mistakes that I regret but..." He suddenly felt everything come together. Becoming broken...begging for forgiveness...He was acknowledging his mistakes and pleading for a second chance. "Nash," he said, his voice breaking. "Please. Forgive me."

Nash seemed to struggle, momentarily, looking first at Jonathan, and then at his hands lying on his lap, on his useless legs.

Finally, after what seemed, to Jonathan, an eternity, he looked up. "I...forgive you," he whispered. He smiled, hesitantly, at Jonathan, before reaching forward and taking his hand. "I just have a favor to ask you."

"Anything," said Jonathan.

"Can you give me a ride on a horse?"

Jonathan smiled. "Of course," he said. "Of course."

***

Kade sat by Antony's bedside that night, allowing everyone else to rest. Nash and his mother had stayed the night and, therefore, Nash's dog, Emery, was running loose in the palace.

Kade studied Antony for a few moments.

"You're just too chicken to race me," he stated, standing as tall as he could, a couple inches taller than the young prince. "You're afraid that you'll get in trouble for being improper."

"I am not," said Antony, indignantly, drawing himself up and crossing his arms.

"Then you'll race me."

Antony glared at Kade, his eyebrows knit together.

"Is it a challenge then?"

Antony gritted his teeth and stuck his hand out. Kade shook and the challenge was set.

They went to the stables and Kade prepared a horse for himself.

"Do you need someone to assist you with your horse?" he jeered, over his shoulder, in what he thought was Antony's general direction. "Does the prince need a servant to saddle an animal for him?"

"Does the stable boy need a reminder of whose Aunt pays his salary and that of his father?"

Kade whirled around to see Antony, with his horse fully saddled and bridled, standing behind him, glaring.

Kade did not want to admit that he was impressed with the speed at which Antony had prepared his horse.

They made their way out to the meadow.

"Ready?" said Kade.

Isabella, looking hesitantly between the two of them, dropped the handkerchief that, upon touching the ground, signaled the start of the race.

They were off. Kade immediately tried to throw Antony off, to somehow trick him into making mistakes of a rider without a great amount of horse experience.

Once he realized that Antony was not to be tricked or thrown off course, he became desparate. He needed the ten ells that he had bet Antony to buy his father a birthday present. Aside from that, if Antony won, he did not have ten ells to give the prince.

He veered to the right, against Antony, and brought his mare against Antony's horse, brushing against the horses side.

He heard Antony gasp and give a slight cry of pain. Expecting him to fall back, Kade urged his horse on.

He thought he would win. However, at the last moment, rounding the corner back to the entrance to the meadow, Antony cut to the side and pulled ahead, passing Isabella first.

Kade groaned in dismay as he brought his horse to a stop and dismounted. Antony brought his horse to a halt as well, and dismounted, clumsily, keeping his weight off his left foot.

Kade swallowed. If he had injured the prince...."Are you...alright?" he asked, hesitantly.

"Fine," said Antony, stubbornly, although he was limping.

"I guess...I guess I owe you ten ells..."

"You don't have it, do you," said Antony, studying Kade as Isabella ran forward, her expression worried, to check that her cousin was alright.

Kade shook his head. "I don't."

Antony shook his head as well. "Don't worry about it. It's not as though I need it. I raced you and I won. Who needs a bet anyways?"

Kade pulled himself out of his memories, just in time to see Antony stir, his eyes starting to flutter open.

"Kade?" he said, his voice raspy.

"Antony?" said Kade, leaning forward, his voice incredulous.

"Mer...Meredith..." Antony managed to get out, trying to sit up, but falling back.

"Just stay here," said Kade, helping his friend relax against the pillows once more. "I'll fetch her."

***

Meredith awakened to loud knocking on her door. She pulled herself from bed quickly, worried that someone was bringing bad news concerning Antony.

She opened the door to see Kade. Her heart sank, knowing that Kade was the one who was sitting with Antony for tonight.

"It's Antony..." she said, her voice sounding small. "Isn't it?"

"Yes!" said Kade, breaking into a smile. "He's waking up! He's asked for you."

Meredith immediately shut the door behind her and hurried down the hallway, breaking into a run halfway down, not caring how unladylike such a thing might be.

Antony.

***

Sidebar image is basically Isabella and Kade, minus correct faceclaims. :)