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The remaining two days of the walk are much more affectionate, and also much more free of wizards and snakes than the first two days were. Somehow, all three travelers manage to not realize that Bella has not yet produced her name, even though on at least one occasion it would have been convenient for Tony to have.
And there is the castle, and there is the -
"Skyvault," sighs Bella, diving into her hat for her specs.
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"I'm going to call Dad, next," Bella says, "and tell him - questions before I go?"
"Oh, no, he should know right away, I'll talk to you again soon, Bella dear - I'll want to come visit and meet your fiancée in person if that's all right -"
"Sure, we'll set something up," says Bella happily.
Ranata beams and waves goodbye, and the call ends.
"So that's Ranata," Bella says.
"Oh, no, he should know right away, I'll talk to you again soon, Bella dear - I'll want to come visit and meet your fiancée in person if that's all right -"
"Sure, we'll set something up," says Bella happily.
Ranata beams and waves goodbye, and the call ends.
"So that's Ranata," Bella says.
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"I like her," says Bella. "Charlie's turn."
Charlie answers the mirror less effusively, but not less affectionately, and addresses Bella as "Bells".
He reacts with stunned silence to the news of his daughter's engagement.
Charlie answers the mirror less effusively, but not less affectionately, and addresses Bella as "Bells".
He reacts with stunned silence to the news of his daughter's engagement.
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"Dad," says Bella. "It's traditional to congratulate me."
"...Congratulations," says Charlie. "Bells. Your Highness."
"Thanks, Dad."
"How have I not heard about this before, Bells, why wouldn't you call me?"
"It's just happened," exclaims Bella. "I met Sherlock four days ago. This is the first I've been at a mirror since we decided to get married. I told Cricket because I'm not going to be home to buy him more food, and I told Mom next, and then I told you, Dad."
Charlie does not look fully comfortable with the situation, and he keeps peering at Sherlock.
"...Congratulations," says Charlie. "Bells. Your Highness."
"Thanks, Dad."
"How have I not heard about this before, Bells, why wouldn't you call me?"
"It's just happened," exclaims Bella. "I met Sherlock four days ago. This is the first I've been at a mirror since we decided to get married. I told Cricket because I'm not going to be home to buy him more food, and I told Mom next, and then I told you, Dad."
Charlie does not look fully comfortable with the situation, and he keeps peering at Sherlock.
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"It's very sudden," says Charlie after a long silence.
"The wedding's not until the fifteenth of Umber," says Bella.
"It's still - sudden."
"Does it help that she rescued me from a giant river-snake?" asks Bella, frowning.
"...Not as much as you might think."
"The wedding's not until the fifteenth of Umber," says Bella.
"It's still - sudden."
"Does it help that she rescued me from a giant river-snake?" asks Bella, frowning.
"...Not as much as you might think."
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"Well, Dad," says Bella, "I'll... call you another time and hope to catch you in a better mood, I guess."
"Bells, it's nothing against you or Her Highness, but such a short time..."
Bella shakes her head and waves the mirror image away. Charlie disappears and it reflects only herself and Sherlock.
Bella wraps her arms around her fiancée. "I was expecting both of them to have reactions about halfway between those," she mutters. "Worried-but-happy. Not one just happy and one just worried."
"Bells, it's nothing against you or Her Highness, but such a short time..."
Bella shakes her head and waves the mirror image away. Charlie disappears and it reflects only herself and Sherlock.
Bella wraps her arms around her fiancée. "I was expecting both of them to have reactions about halfway between those," she mutters. "Worried-but-happy. Not one just happy and one just worried."
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"He'll get over it. Especially if Ranata visits and then talks to him. She'll like you. And Tony too. I'm debating whether to announce that part of the plan ahead of time."
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"Yeah, that's my thinking. Stagger the revelations, that way, too. Marrying princess! Expecting baby! Marrying other princess!"
Snuggles? "Are you okay?"
Snuggles? "Are you okay?"
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"It's only because it's fast. Nothing about you. We already knew it was fast."
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Nuzzle. "Umber is a ways away. It's only Brown now. He'll have plenty of time to get used to the idea, and we'll have plenty of time to confirm that it's a good idea."
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"Now," says Bella, "fun as it is being carried everywhere, I'm going to atrophy if it goes on much longer and I'm going to crack my head open one of these days if I try doing without, so I need to go find one of the servants you mentioned and see about moccasin material."
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Bella goes off - carefully - to look for someone to solicit fake leather from, then goes back to her room.
Sherlock's not there to ask about timing, so Bella wanders into the castle, exploring the layout and keeping her eyes peeled for Her Majesty to ask about politics lessons and sword-looking-at permissions.
Sherlock's not there to ask about timing, so Bella wanders into the castle, exploring the layout and keeping her eyes peeled for Her Majesty to ask about politics lessons and sword-looking-at permissions.
There she is!
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"Your Majesty?" inquires Bella, quite ready to be sent away if the queen is busy with important queening.
"Ah, Bella," says her majesty. "Have you decided which of my daughters you are going to marry?"