Misunderstandings
After Shrek left the room, Fiona laid back down on the bed. So she was sold like a woman of ill repute? She wondered what price she had fetched. For this humiliation she hoped it was a good amount. She couldn't believe her dad would do this to her. How could he? Her rock. He was the only one who had never hurt her, and loved her truly for herself.
It was true the last letter he left her before killing himself had told her about how he had arranged for her to marry Shrek, but she had always thought it was because her father wanted her to be taken care of. She had never dreamed he was paid for her. Why?
It would have been less humiliating if her father had begged Shrek's dad to take him off his hands. If he hadn't wanted her why didn't he just give her away while she was still young? It didn't make sense her dad would do this. Could Shrek be lying? Her mind wanted to believe that, but could he also have come up with such a fantastic story about her being a princess, and having to marry her to be king of a land named Ogrid? She didn't think so. All of a sudden she thought of what Shrek said if she didn't marry him she would be at the mercy of the new ruler. Would this be a bad thing? Maybe she would find a better life with him. These thoughts were overwhelming her. Thankfully her stomach suddenly rumbled distracting her from these distressing thoughts, and reminding her that life does go on no matter what the circumstances. She reluctantly climbed out of bed to go downstairs. She thought she smelled something delicious being cooked, but Shrek couldn't cook, or could he? Well it seemed Shrek had some surprises of his own. Maybe there was more to him than his grumpy, nasty self.
Shrek leaving Fiona, as always after expending his anger was hungry. He decided to give cooking something himself a try. He pulled out his mother's dusty recipes, and found one for Cheesy bacon grub stew. This looked simple enough. Normally he would have grabbed something simple, but secretly he hoped that if he made this recipe good, the smell might drive Fiona downstairs. He didn't know why he wanted her to come downstairs, but he did. Why he would desire her company is beyond him, but the presence of any one, no matter how annoying, in the mood he was in would be welcome. He needed the distraction.
Shrek continued thinking of what had just passed between them. Whatever Fiona and he decided, if they needed to hide out to avoid the contract penalties, so be it. Nobody was going to stop him from doing what he wanted. He knew being an ogre he wouldn't easily blend no matter where he went, but he couldn't worry about that now. Shrek burning himself came back to the present task at hand. Lost in thought he had almost burned the food. Luckily he hadn't. It was perfect. Dishing some in a bowl he headed to the dining room.
Sitting down he dipped his spoon into the bowl. He hesitated. What was he waiting for? Could it be he was still hoping that Fiona would come down? His ears strained to hear any little noise. He heard nothing. Disappointed he savagely stuck the spoon into his mouth. Well if she wanted to sulk let her starve then!
Fiona walked silently into the dining room to get to the kitchen. Shrek was engrossed in his food eating it like it was a dragon to be slayed. She stopped momentarily and looked at Shrek. She was a little repulsed at his table manners, but for the first time she thought not of herself, but how he must be feeling. Yes, he was a bad tempered lout, but he was going through a lot now as well. He had his whole life turned upside down as well as her. She silently sighed. What a mess she and he had made of things.
Shrek hearing her sigh turned around. So she had come down after all. He smiled briefly until he saw her face. At first he couldn't make out the look she was giving him, but all of a sudden it registered that she was looking at him like she felt sorry for him. She felt sorry for him? How dare she! He didn't need her pity.
Shrek brusquely trying not to show his irritation needing her to stay: Well join me then if you a mind to. There is plenty in the kitchen.
Fiona all of a sudden not hungry declined: I don't think I want any supper after all.
Shrek irritated barked out: Go get a plate and stop feeling sorry for yourself! As long as you are in my house you won't be starving yourself. I won't be having people accusing me of killing you.
Fiona hesitated. Should she do as he says, or not? Being deathly tired and sick of everything she decided to comply.
Shrek hearing her sigh turned around. So she had come down after all. He smiled briefly until he saw her face. At first he couldn't make out the look she was giving him, but all of a sudden it registered that she was looking at him like she felt sorry for him. She felt sorry for him? How dare she! He didn't need her pity.
Shrek brusquely trying not to show his irritation needing her to stay: Well join me then if you a mind to. There is plenty in the kitchen.
Fiona all of a sudden not hungry declined: I don't think I want any supper after all.
Shrek irritated barked out: Go get a plate and stop feeling sorry for yourself! As long as you are in my house you won't be starving yourself. I won't be having people accusing me of killing you.
Fiona hesitated. Should she do as he says, or not? Being deathly tired and sick of everything she decided to comply.
Fiona came back and sat down. The tension in the room was so thick it would have taken more than a knife to cut it. She glanced surreptitiously from time to time at Shrek and one time caught him looking at her. Why would he sit there watching her eat? She wished he would go away.
Shrek couldn't help looking at Fiona. She seemed so vulnerable and pathetic he almost cared what she was thinking. He wanted to say something, but he was not good in awkward situations. He wanted to make a joke about his food, but didn't know how. He had spent so much of his life being the ill tempered, scary ogre like people had judged him to be, he didn't know how to be sympathetic. He didn't even know if he wanted to be.
Fiona glanced back at her food wondering what he was thinking. She felt like a bug under a microscope. She just wanted to eat and leave as soon as possible. Glancing once again she caught Shrek's gaze.
Their eyes met for what seemed an eternity, and uncomfortable Shrek turned away quickly.
Fiona turned back to her dish hurt at his apparent rejection. Fiona hadn't known what she was going to do, but this was the last straw. Hurt by his continued coldness and uncaring nature she decided that she was going to call Shrek's dad and see if she could escape this prison and start a new life without Shrek. She wasn't going to tell Shrek either until all the plans were made. She knew he didn't care, but she didn't want him to try to stop her out of sheer orneriness. One thing for sure though is if Shrek's father refused to help her, there would be no for better or for worse in their marriage vows, because it would only be for worse, and that is not something she was willing to think about now, because if she did, she wouldn't be able to go on.
Shrek couldn't help looking at Fiona. She seemed so vulnerable and pathetic he almost cared what she was thinking. He wanted to say something, but he was not good in awkward situations. He wanted to make a joke about his food, but didn't know how. He had spent so much of his life being the ill tempered, scary ogre like people had judged him to be, he didn't know how to be sympathetic. He didn't even know if he wanted to be.
Fiona glanced back at her food wondering what he was thinking. She felt like a bug under a microscope. She just wanted to eat and leave as soon as possible. Glancing once again she caught Shrek's gaze.
Their eyes met for what seemed an eternity, and uncomfortable Shrek turned away quickly.
Fiona turned back to her dish hurt at his apparent rejection. Fiona hadn't known what she was going to do, but this was the last straw. Hurt by his continued coldness and uncaring nature she decided that she was going to call Shrek's dad and see if she could escape this prison and start a new life without Shrek. She wasn't going to tell Shrek either until all the plans were made. She knew he didn't care, but she didn't want him to try to stop her out of sheer orneriness. One thing for sure though is if Shrek's father refused to help her, there would be no for better or for worse in their marriage vows, because it would only be for worse, and that is not something she was willing to think about now, because if she did, she wouldn't be able to go on.