This chapter is unnamed because it consists of two minor parts. It is going to be the longest and the last one in "A Gloomy Library", but I have already started writing a sequel to this story. Thanks again to my reviewers!

Chapter 7

Part 1. The declaration of love

6.25 in the morning

The Editor's POV

I was shocked when I heard about the dear Sabrina being punished for nothing. Puck sprayed her with something awful and both of them were locked in the cabins. But Sabrina did nothing too special, so it was unfair to punish her as well. That's what I told Henry Grimm, and he agreed to release his daughter from the cabin. The Blue Fairy, who was standing nearby, murmured some spell that shut down the temporary magic barrier on the cabin's door. Henry allowed me to go and free Sabrina.

I decided I would tell her about my feelings today. She didn't even notice them, she had had her hands full with the fort's defense and battle plans.

So I was happy to come to her cabin. I knocked at the door and informed Sabrina:

"You're free to go. Henry decided to release you earlier".

"Oh, it's great," Sabrina said and exited the cabin. She blinked, because it was dark in the cabin and the sunshine outside was very bright. Then she turned to me:

"Sorry, can you tell me what time is it now? We don't have clocks in the cabins, you see".

"About… half past six," I stammered. She was delighted that she hadn't wasted much time in the "prison". After telling me that, she was going to go to the watchtower and talk to Daphne about their battle plans, but I stopped her.

"Sabrina… I'm sorry to bother you, but I really need to tell you something," I said shyly. Sabrina turned back and looked at me. She didn't seem very excited, though. Her expression showed a faint interest and maybe a bit of worry.

"Yes?" she asked. I mustered enough self-confidence to speak again.

"Sabrina, I love you. Not only I admire your beauty, cleverness, bravery, and determination… and… stubbornness," I added, embarrassed, "but I love you just for you being… well… yourself. I realized on the day I entered the fort…"

I wasn't able to say more. Sabrina was silent. I didn't know what to do: was she shocked, or terrified, or glad, or was she now in deep thoughts?

Sabrina's POV

The Editor loves me! I can't believe it. He almost proposed to me! I don't even know what to think of it.

Of course, the breaking of the poisoned apple's spell indicated my love to Puck, and I've seen myself as Puck's wife in the future. But right now I wish I could change my mind. I had to take eighteen showers to wash that slime away, and Puck is possibly inventing a sequel for this prank in his cabin. When I have nightmares, I see that I'm destined to continue this life forever. I hate destinies!

Still, I can't say I love the Editor. He's not as gloomy and angry as he used to be back in the Book of Everafter. In fact, he have been acting very pleasant and polite for the past three days. I can count him as a good friend, but I don't have any stronger feelings for him.

Somehow I believe in his love for me. I feel like I can't hurt him by saying a firm "I don't love you". Thus I answered softly:

"Editor, I'm really, really very honored and pleased, but you must understand me. I'm only twelve years old, and I don't know my own feelings very well. All that I can say now is that you're an actually nice person and we have similar characters indeed, so you can be sure you're one of my good friends. In… er… three or four years I'll certainly tell you whether I love you or not".

He smiled, took my hand and kissed it.

"I understand, dear. Thank you for your friendship at least".

I said goodbye to him and hurried to the watchtower. Daphne came up with some new plans of defeating Atticus and Mirror. She told me that in the morning, and I was aching to know what she had in mind.

When I was already quite far away from the cabins, I heard the Editor's voice nevertheless:

"Whatever you decide, Sabrina, I'll live in Fairyport Landing anyway. I won't return to my library. It is awfully gloomy… especially without you".

I was blushing when I approached the watchtower. I hoped it wouldn't be hard to avoid Daphne's teasing.

Luckily, Daphne was too excited with her new battle plans to notice anything. She wrote the plans down, and I hurried to deliver them to Charming, Seven and Mr. Canis.

Part 2. The duel

9.30 in the morning

Puck's POV

The army was leaving at last. I heard Charming's long speeches and Seven's commands. Henry and Veronica were again telling Jake to be careful. Robin Hood and Marian were instructing Marshmallow about being on duty on the watchtower. In all the noise, everyone could hardly hear each other.

Finally, the troops went away. The Blue Fairy shouted something that sounded like a spell, and the door of my cabin opened.

"The barrier's shut down, so don't worry," the Blue Fairy said before joining the rest of the army. I rushed outside immediately and slammed into Marshmallow. She was very offended and wanted to know why I was in such hurry.

"What are you planning to do?" she wondered.

"This and that. None of your concern," I replied. "Where's ugly?"

"Sabrina went to check if the water cannon works properly".

It was good for me. Both the water cannon and the watchtower are in the eastern part of the fort, and I wanted my duel with the Editor to take place in the western part. Grimm and Marshmallow wouldn't know anything, I thought. The troops left the fort, the gate was closed and locked magically. The perfect time for a duel.

I flew to search for the Editor. Marshmallow shot a curious look at me, but then shrugged and marched to the watchtower. I'm glad she didn't show any suspense.

I found the Editor quickly. He was walking around the fort's garden. I saw that he was in deep thoughts. Whether he was thinking about Sabrina or the Revisers' training – I wasn't sure. It didn't matter. I landed down and called for him. He turned around, and when he recognized me, he blushed and his face expressed remorse. Oh, he's afraid of me!

"Editor!" I said. "For the last three days, I have noticed that you seem to be… attracted to Sabrina Grimm. Isn't it true?"

The question was rhetorical. It was clear that the Editor had fallen for Sabrina.

"Just in case you forgot it," I continued, "Sabrina is my fiancée! We saw ourselves together when we went fifteen years to the future!"

He looked even more remorseful, but it was obvious he loved Sabrina anyway. I breathed deep and shouted:

"I challenge you to a duel for her!"

"I take the challenge", after a little pause, the Editor broke the silence. "Only if you agree for a few rules of our duel. First one: don't use the help of your pixies, because I'm not able to use the help of my Revisers. Second: don't use your various magical abilities, because I don't have any... well, any that could help in a fight. Third: we'll fight with swords. Sword-fighting is the only way of fighting I know. If those rules are suitable for you, it's decided".

I even felt some respect for him. He was much weaker than me, and he agreed for the duel. The rules he suggested were fair. I nodded when he finished enumerating them, and we agreed that the duel would take place right now.

I flew to my cabin and safely hid my magic flute that controlled pixies. Then I hurried to the armory and searched for two swords sharp enough. Unfortunately, all sharp ones were taken by the troops, but I found two swords which were not too sharp but still good for a duel. I took them and flew back to the garden.

The Editor's POV

Puck challenged me to a duel for Sabrina. Of course I was ready to fight for her. Puck accepted the duel's rules I offered, and brought two swords from the armory. Honestly, I felt rather scared. The fairy boy was much stronger and nimbler than me, so I could be wounded or even killed…

We started to fight at ten o'clock sharp. When the clock on the watchtower struck the tenth time, our swords crossed. I have to admit, Puck was an excellent sword-fighter. The first part of the duel was like a nightmare for me. I've nearly collapsed on the ground for several times. If it wasn't for the fair Sabrina, I could have surrendered. Even though we did fight for Sabrina, I almost surrendered after Puck's sword left a deep scratch on my left arm.

After an hour or so, something changed. Whether Puck got tired or the reason was other, I don't have an idea. Puck suddenly weakened, he got several little wounds himself, and his grin wasn't so wide anymore. We crossed the swords once more, and Puck fell to the ground. He was just about to get up again, and I was just about to raise my sword over him, when we heard the loveliest voice in the world:

"Goodness! Were you two really fighting?"

Sabrina was standing five yards away. Daphne was also rushing to our little battlefield. The girls were on the verge of tears when they saw our wounds.

"Daphne, go and call Nurse Sprat!" Sabrina cried. "Make it quick!"

Daphne, who was already sobbing, ran to the hospital tent. Sabrina looked at us again:

"That was foolish of you both! We all need to defeat the Scarlet Hand, not to fight each other. Who started it?"

Puck got up and told her everything about the duel. He also explained his sudden weakening to me: he twisted his ankle in the middle of the fight.

Sabrina scolded us once more, and we both swore we wouldn't fight duels anymore. Daphne appeared, accompanied by Nurse Sprat, who immediately began to treat our wounds. While she was applying bandages and oiling the scratches with iodine, Sabrina told us:

"Daphne and I have figured out a way to defeat both Mirror and Atticus at one fast stroke. We'll need your help. Come to the main cabin, and we'll explain the details to you".

I watched her and Daphne run to the center of the fort, then I turned to Puck:

"They are right. If we want to beat the Hand, we must stop the jealousy, the duels and other civil fights. You agree?"

Puck smiled and nodded. After Sprat had finished treating our wounds, I shook hands with Puck and we both hurried to the main cabin.

THE END.

The sequel will be much more scary… Sorry, but I won't publish it tomorrow. Tomorrow I'm going to prepare for my Literature exam, so you will probably see my new fanfiction a little later.