I heard it as the door shut behind Gabriel when he left, and again, a couple of hours later, when he returned, only this time I was making lunch instead of washing the dishes. To my surprise, the door opened, and he poked his elvish head in. I noted how his stark white hair cascaded perfectly down, framing his flawless face and golden eyes.

I looked away quickly, banishing such thoughts.

“Joan,” His voice was quiet, “I just wanted to let you know that there might be some clients dropping by today, and that I’d like you to show them up to the study, if you’d be so kind as to do so.”

Still unable to form coherent words to direct at him, I nodded, perhaps a little shakily, in reply, glancing at him with wary eyes.

“Thank you.” He said, and left. I felt his magic moving as he retreated up the stairs.

About an hour later, there was a knock on the door. Turning down the soup that I was making for lunch, I answered the door, and showed the rather mousy woman that I met at the door, up to Gabriel’s study. Taking a deep breath, I knocked on the door, and then entered, saying, “A client to see you-“ but I stopped short, and gave a little squeak of surprise as the woman walked passed me, and into the room. Instead of the elf, as I expected to see, it was the human Gabriel that met my eyes. The woman looked at me, a little confused as to why I seemed so surprised, and Gabriel blinked, looking equally confused.

I felt my face flush, and I backed out of the room, muttering, “Sorry, sorry…” I quickly closed the door, and stood in the hallway with my back against the wall, hugging myself tightly, confused and feeling a little stricken, as I had never expected to see the human Gabriel’s face ever again, and his sudden appearance made my chest hurt pitifully.

A brief moment later, the door to his study opened, and I quickly tried to pull myself together, so that I didn’t look crazy, in case it was the woman leaving already. But I heard Gabriel’s voice speak, “Are you alright, Joan?” his tone was sad as he gently put his hands on my shoulders, “I’m afraid that my glamour startled you.” He said, the glamour of the human Gabriel still up. But his image flickered, and I could see the much taller, concerned elf for a few split seconds, and wondered if it was his concern that caused his glamour to malfunction.

Shaking my head vehemently, tears filling my eyes, “I-I can’t…I can’t…” I stammered.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, his glamour now dissolving completely, apparently disregarding the fact that the potential client only had to poke her head from the study, and his cover as a human detective would be blown.

“I just can’t!” I sobbed, not able to hold back my tears anymore.

“Shh, it’s alright. Whatever it is, it’s okay. Take your time. Go and have a cup of tea or coffee, and some of those biscuits that you like, alright? When I’m done up here, I’ll come check on you.”

“Y-yes sir.” I said, and saw him wince, but he didn’t correct me.

“That’s the ticket.” He said encouragingly, and squeezed my shoulders gently. I pushed his hands away, feeling a little uncomfortable, and a flicker of pain shot across his face, “You must try to get used to me again.”

When I looked away, and didn’t reply, he sighed quietly, walked over to the door to his study, replaced his glamour, forced a smile, and went back in.

Doing as he said, I made myself a pot of tea, and made sure that there was some coffee for him, just out of habit. Then I curled up at the table with the tin of biscuits and drank my tea in the quiet, comfortable kitchen.

In that moment, I missed Mrs. Hudson terribly. At least I wouldn't have to be alone in the house with the strange elvish man, if she were there.

A little while later, I heard the client leave the house, and Gabriel came into the kitchen, his glamour removed once more. He stood near the door for a little while, and I could feel him watching me silently. But somehow I wasn’t concerned about it anymore. I felt like a wreck, and it didn’t matter what he thought of me anymore. After all, I was just his maid, what he thought about how I looked was really of no consequence, or shouldn’t have been, anyways.

Finally, I spoke, but didn’t look up, “There’s coffee for you, sir.”

Gabriel inhaled deeply, “I can smell it, thank you.” The elf went to the counter, and poured himself a cup of the aromatic liquid, filling the kitchen with its smell. Then he came and sat across the table from me, and I could feel his gaze on me once more.

“Did you need something, sir?” I asked softly.

“I only came to check on you. But then there was coffee…and I can’t avoid drinking it when it’s sitting there ready for me.” Gabriel smiled. I recognized his attempt at getting me to smile. When I didn’t say anything, he sighed softly, and put his cup down, tracing the rim of the cup with a long finger. “I’m sorry, Joan. I am so sorry…I’m sorry that I lied to you, and that I am different than I let you believe.”

“Me too.” I whispered, pulling my knees to my chin and hugging them tightly, carefully setting my teacup on the table.

In my peripheral vision, I saw his broad shoulders wilt. “I…I’m still me, Joan…my name isn’t…actually Gabriel, but I’ve been using it for so long now that it feels like my own…You…should still call me that. I…I promise I'm still the same.” He told me, reaching up and running his supple fingers through his long white hair. I looked up in time to see this action, which was terribly, terribly attractive. The elf glanced up at me, catching my gaze, which rather rendered me unable to look away. It was the first time since the night of the ball, the night that he had changed so drastically, that I had looked him in the eye.

“But how can you say that you’re the same? You’re so different!” I whimpered, upset, and on the verge of tears again. His name wasn’t even Gabriel? Somehow, that didn’t surprise me.

He closed his eyes, looking away, pain written across his fair face, breaking the spell, and allowing me to look away. “And for that I am sorry. I wish that I was truly human, that everything I let you believe about me was true…but they were lies, and I would take them back, if I could…tell you the truth from the start…but I cannot change the past…No magician is that good.” He laughed weakly, rubbing his flawless face tiredly, clearly still upset. “I’m sorry, Joan. I can do nothing more than apologize, and beg for you to at least try to forgive me…can you do that much? Can you at least come to terms with the idea that I lied, that I am sorry that I lied, and at least consider forgiving me?”

I was quiet for a little while. “I…I can try.”

“That’s all I ask.” He murmured, and reached out, as if to touch my hand, but I pulled it off the table, averting my gaze. Another flicker of pain flashed across his face, and suddenly I felt bad for moving my hand, doing something that I knew would cause him pain…but I was so angry with him, and confused. That didn’t justify it, but it certainly made me feel a little better. “We can work on it.” The elf sighed softly.

I stood, and started to clear away the things that I’d used to make tea, once again wishing that Mrs. Hudson were there.

“What…what is your name, if it’s not Gabriel?”

“It’s an elvish name, you…probably couldn't pronounce it.” His tone was apologetic.

“I see.” I muttered.

“Gabriel is just fine. I prefer it, actually.”

“If you say so.” I shrugged.

It was quiet for a few moments.

“I’ll go…let you have some space…” Gabriel said quietly, then left the kitchen.

--

“Gabriel!” I called up the stairs, annoyed, but not at him, for once.

We’d been on speaking terms the last few weeks or so, but not as close as we had been.

Not nearly as close, and I doubted very much that I’d ever be that close to him again, though the thought upset me. But honestly, I didn’t know how I could possibly be close with him again, given everything that had happened.

Right now we were cautious friends, always afraid of stepping on one another’s toes. I could tolerate that, even though I wished for the companionship that we’d previously shared…I longed for the feeling that I used to have when I looked at him, the sense, however ill-advised, that my attraction to him was mutual, even if it weren’t true. Because I had sort of thought that, towards the end, despite my protests to anyone who’d said as much.

But I didn’t feel that anymore, because now, whenever I looked at him, every bit of common sense in my mind screamed that no man, or elf, or whatever he was, as perfectly attractive as him would ever feel attracted to someone as plain as I was. It just wasn’t natural, and didn’t happen.

“Yes, Joan?” he came down the stairs, struggling with his bowtie, which he occasionally wore when going to visit important clients. “Just give me a moment…my fingers…” he held out his hands, retracted his claws, and then gave it another try, but had to give up. The elf looked up at me, seeming a little hopeless. “Can you?”

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

“Fine. Come on.” I said, going into the kitchen, he followed me. “Sit.” I said, and he obeyed, which was good because he was so tall now that I never could have reached his bowtie otherwise. I stood in front of him, and started to work on his bowtie, even though I wasn’t very good at it.

“Did you need something, Joan?” he asked, his large golden eyes trained on my face, something that made it very difficult to focus on tying his bowtie, and made my hands shake a little.

“The sink is broken.” I told him, hoping that my voice wasn’t shaking as well.

“Again?” he sounded confused.

“No, you never fixed it, and I’m not a magic plumber, I’m a magic doctor, and I can’t figure out what’s wrong with it.”

He cringed, “I’m sorry.”

“Please just send for the plumber soon.” I said to him, finally getting his bowtie tied just right, then taking a few moments adjusting it.

“How’s it look?” he asked hopefully, standing up, still very close to me.

I took a step back to admire my handiwork, and then sighed, “You’d look better without it, or a normal tie, honestly.”

He pulled off the bowtie. “Normal ties aren’t as fun.”

“Am I to take that to mean that you pick your ties based on their ‘fun’ factor?” I blinked, unable to keep from being amused by his comment.

Gabriel grinned, flashing his bright, be-fanged grin at me, “What other factor does one judge a tie by?” I rolled my eyes at him as he put on his glamour, and left, saying, “I’ll be back around dinnertime, Joan.”

--

That night, I went to bed, still a little annoyed. No one had come to fix the sink, and I continuously had to go outside to fetch water from the garden spigot, which really wasn’t horrible, but it was a nuisance. If I wanted to do the dishes, or needed warm water at all for anything, I was having to heat it myself too.

The whole week, it had remained broken, and I didn’t see Gabriel enough to remind him to get it fixed, so I got used to going to the garden to fetch water.

One day, when I was out in the garden fetching the water, I heard a voice call my name. “Joan? Joan Watson?”

I straightened, and turned, wiping my wet hands on my apron. I saw a man striding towards me who seemed familiar, but I couldn’t place who he was for the life of me. “I’m sorry, sir, but can I help you? You do seem to know me…”

He laughed in a way that was annoyingly familiar. “I came here to see if Sir Locke could tell you where I might find you, since I couldn’t keep you from my mind. It’s me, Joan!”

I blinked, still unable to remember him. “I’m sorry, I’ve a bad memory when it comes to names and faces, I’m afraid.” I lifted the bucketful of water. “And I’m a little busy…”

“It’s me, Ed.” The man laughed, looking down at the bucket, curiously, and then at my apron. “I fancied a walk without my guards, so I’m in disguise!” He took off his hat, and away came the wig he was wearing with it, revealing his real hair.

My eyes widened as I recognized him, and I dropped the bucket of water, covering my mouth in surprise as the container hit the ground, and splashed water all over me. It seemed that I was discovered. “O-oh my goodness! Clearly it’s a good disguise!” I stammered, feeling my face flush, I looked down at my apron, and smoothed it out, wishing that it wasn’t so stained.

“Come now, what are you doing? A high-society lady such as yourself fetching water?” he sounded confused.

I sighed, frustrated with life, and embarrassed about my position. “I told you that I wasn’t anyone of any concern. Sir Locke is my employer. I’m his maid, if you must know. Now since I need to go die of embarrassment, sir, you really ought to be on your way to find another lady, who really is of high society.” I turned to go.

“I’m confused.” Prince Edmund said.

“I’ve no doubt, sir.” I muttered, filling the bucket again, then lifting it.

“Here, that looks heavy, let me help you.” He stepped forward to take it.

I blinked in surprise, not expecting this. “Okay.” I let him relieve me of the bucket. “Um, I guess follow me, sir.”

“You can call me Ed.” He said cheerfully.

“Alright.” I led him into the kitchen through the side door of the house. “This is the kitchen, clearly. Would you like to see the rest of the house? It’s not big, and Sir Locke is out.”

“You’re calling him Sir Locke again instead of Gabriel…Is something wrong?” he teased.

But of course, this rather touched a raw spot, and I looked down, “I…We had a bit of a falling-out.”

Ed looked down, “I’m sorry, Joan, I didn’t mean to pry…and I’m sorry if I’ve embarrassed you.”

“I’m sorry that you didn’t believe me when I told you I was no one of consequence. I know the younger Sir Locke because I work for him, and the elder because they’re brothers, and he’s here often.”

“Quite.” Ed laughed, “But I can’t blame you for mixing business matters and personal matters.”

“I appreciate that.” I smiled a little.

“Now I think I really am interested in seeing the house of Sir Locke, the famous detective!” the Prince said in a jovial sort of way, changing the subject.

“Well, it won’t give you any insights into his psyche, I’m afraid.” I laughed, and took off my apron, then went towards the door, “Shall we?”

“Certainly!” he stepped forward and opened the door before I could, and held it for me, to my surprise. Men didn’t often hold doors for me…not that I couldn’t hold the door for myself, after all.

“Oh, thank you.” I went through. Then I took him on a quick tour of the house. We spent the longest in Sir Locke’s study, as the prince was particularly interested in that room, for whatever reason.

“So this is where the magic happens?” Ed asked, looking around the room thoughtfully. I was amused by the fact that he mentioned magic, considering that both Gabriel and I could use it.

“I wouldn’t call it magic, but it does seem like that sometimes. What do you think?”

“I think that Sir Locke is an odd man.”

“Ah, the skull?” I laughed, “I keep getting after him to get rid of it, but he insists that he needs it to bounce ideas off of.”

Ed grimaced, “I see…you know, this wasn’t what I expected.”

“How so?”

“I don’t know, I thought it would look more like a police holding cell, all dark and frightening.” He said, looking around again, “But these rooms are quite comfortable.”

“Yes, well, I think that Sir Locke finds it easier to get people to talk when they’re comfortable, and in what’s clearly a safe environment…minus the skull. But he has his oddities.” I smiled, knowing that it was his oddities that had me a little in love with him, though I hated the fact.

“I suppose that makes sense.” Prince Edmund shrugged. “Although I wonder, why not leave the crimes to the police?”

“It’s his way of caring, I think.” I replied. Gabriel was a difficult man…well, elf, I suppose…although maybe that was why he was so difficult to understand, sometimes. He was literally not human.

“That’s a strange way of caring.” Ed laughed.

“Perhaps.” Now I thought about it, it was actually a very brave way of caring for others.

Anyone could give someone a hug, words of encouragement and love, or a present, but to solve their murder, or prevent it, not just anyone could do that, and it took nerves of steel to hunt out dangerous thieves, gangsters, and murderers, like Gabriel chose to.

I shook myself from my ponderings. “Well, that’s the house.”

“It’s not the palace, but it’s nice enough.” Ed said as I led him back downstairs.

“I’m glad it’s up to your standards.” I said, unable to keep from being sarcastic.

He laughed, “I would think that it wasn’t to your standards, dear lady.”

I was quiet for a moment, “I grew up pretty poor, honestly, so it goes above and beyond my standards. And Sir Locke is a very fair employer…after all, he does let me help him with his cases.”

“Have you seen anyone die?” Ed wanted to know, interested because I was talking about Gabriel’s cases. “I should think not, you wouldn’t continue to go on cases with him, surely, if you did. I’m sure it would be a great upset to the –ah- more delicate nature of your constitution.”

I almost snorted aloud in amusement at his words, which betrayed that he really didn’t know me very well at all. “I’ve seen dead bodies before, actually, and I’ve seen people die. But most of the death I’ve seen didn’t have much to do with the cases I’ve assisted Sir Locke with.”

“When have you seen people die that weren’t related to crimes the detective was looking into?” The prince seemed taken aback.

It was so much easier talking to Gabriel, and now I realized what he meant by ordinary people being a little dull…but Ed was kind, and seemed to like me, so I at least had to be patient, and give him a chance...after all, he was royalty, and hadn’t been judgmental towards my position as just a maid.

“I was in the military for two years, not fighting, mind you, but I was a healer in the medical wards in the desert. I have my medical training and everything…but that provided me with plenty of deaths to fill a lifetime with.”

Ed blinked, “I see.”

It was awkwardly quiet for a moment, and I could tell that he didn’t know what to say to that. “I was just getting water to make some tea when you saw me outside, you’re welcome to join me for a cup, there are some fresh biscuits as well.” I motioned towards the kitchen, not sure what else to do, and offering someone a cup of tea was always the best thing to do when at a loss of what to say next.

Ed looked at his watch, and frowned, “As much as I want to take you up on that generous offer, I’m not one to usually turn down biscuits, I must ask for a rain-check, I’m afraid, Joan. If I’m not back at the palace soon, I’ll be missed, and that won’t go over too well…”

I smiled, “That’s perfectly understandable. It was a pleasure to see you again, your highness.” That was a bit of a stretch, but the company hadn’t been all that bad.

“Honestly, you can call me Ed.” He insisted, laughing.

“Alright.” I followed him to the door.

He opened it, and then hesitated, “I wonder, if I dropped by the same time tomorrow, might you be around again?”

“Most likely, yes, if I haven’t gone to fetch a plumber because our sink is still broken because Sir Locke keeps forgetting to have someone fix it…” I grumbled.

Ed laughed. “Then maybe I’ll bring the royal plumber around, that way you don’t have to worry about finding a plumber on your own. Then, while he fixes the sink, we could go on a walk and take in the fresh air by the river.”

I thought about it, “Well, that wouldn’t be so bad.”

His face lit up, “Excellent!” he beamed, “It’s a date, then!”

“Sure.” I shrugged, but wasn’t so certain that I was glad that I had a date. What would Gabriel think? Reprimanding myself, I forced myself to remember that he was only my employer, it didn’t matter what he thought...even though it rather made me feel guilty for some reason. After all, it wasn’t like I was cheating on him, or anything.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Joan!” He said, then set off, whistling cheerfully, hands in his pockets.

I closed the door, wondering what I’d just gotten myself into.