My Fair Daisy
By Mary
Rating: PG for now. Beware of possible adult chapters later.
Timeline: An AU Ugly Betty story set in the past. This is my first AU story with Ugly Betty, so please be kind.
A/N: I've decided to do this, knowing other B/H fans are writing similar stories. NO copywright infringement on fellow author's stories is intended. This was my idea I got for a story about Princess Daisy and Black Dragon (for those of you who have no idea what I am talking about, see the Ugly Betty episode "Zero Worship").
A/N Two: To anyone thinking that this is going to be your average UB story, this ain't your mama's fairy tale!! All characters are the property of ABC and I'm just borrowing them for a little while. They will be returned unharmed…..eventually!!
Chapter One
Modera, Many years ago…..
Lady Betty greeted the morning sunshine streaming through her windows with a scowl. She had been tossing and turning most of the night, waiting for her sister Lady Hilda to sneak back in from another late night riding through the countryside. Betty knew that Hilda only snuck out at night because their father, Lord Ignacio strictly forbid his "dignified" daughters from galloping about their lands on the high-strung stallions her sister favored. As she pushed back the covers, she heard her mother calling down the hallway for them.
"Hilda….Daisy…hurry! Your breakfast is waiting!" Lady Rosa called out. Betty hurried out of bed to dress as she smiled at the nickname she'd been given when she was a baby. Everyone who knew her called her Princess Daisy, a long ago moniker given to her for her penchant for getting lost in the woods around their castle picking daisies and other wildflowers. Lord Ignacio had warned her against straying from their house, but Lady Rosa only laughed at her youngest daughter, telling her only to bring back the prettiest flowers. Betty washed her face and went to the closet, selecting a plain blue gown. As she laced herself into her gown, she threw back the bedcovers on the bed opposite hers. Lady Hilda groaned and tried to cover herself back up.
"Daisy, pull the drapes...That light is killing me!" Hilda said. Daisy only smiled and pulled at her sister's foot.
"Hilda, get up! Mama's already called for us to come to breakfast and you know how mad Father will get if we're late." Daisy urged. Hilda sighed and stumbled out of bed.
Ten minutes later the two girls rushed to the dining area, ignoring the glare their father gave them as they sat down. Lord Ignacio quickly said grace as Rosa began passing the serving dishes.
"You girls sleep so late. You'll never find husbands if you don't get up and embrace the mornings." Ignacio grumbled. Hilda looked across the table at Daisy and rolled her eyes.
"Father, do you not remember that I've already been married once." Hilda said, "I miss Lord Santos every day still."
"Yes I remember, but you are still young and beautiful, daughter. There are plenty of nobles in this part of the country who would have you and my grandson too." Ignacio said. He turned to Daisy.
"And you, young lady. You need to spend more time at the socials and balls with Countess Christina than sitting in the library at Meade Hall with Prince Daniel reading and chatting with him endlessly." Ignacio grumbled, giving Daisy a pointed look.
"Father, Prince Daniel and I have been best friends since childhood. Mama and Queen Claire were playmates as children. Surely you don't mean to tell me that I cannot spend time with my oldest friend." Daisy questioned.
"You spend so much time with Daniel; you don't even look around the country for a suitable beau to marry." Ignacio said, "You need to find someone to marry, someone suitable for you."
"What about someone I love?" Daisy asked. Ignacio looked over at her.
"Love will come later in the marriage. You only need to find someone suitable with a proper title who will marry you. All those other emotions can come later after you've gotten to know one another." Ignacio said, returning to his food. Daisy stared down at her plate, picking at her breakfast. After her father left to see to his tenants, Rosa stopped Daisy as she was heading out to the meadow.
"Daisy, sweetheart; Don't be too upset with your father. He's only looking out for you." Rosa said, gently touching her cheek. Daisy smiled at her mother.
"I won't, but Mama I want to marry for love. Not to give father a titled son-in-law or noble grandchildren. I want romance and happiness." Daisy said. She pulled a shawl around her shoulders as she made her way out of the castle. Rosa smiled faintly as she warned Daisy not to be out too long.
"Daisy, don't linger in the meadow too long. We have heard rumors that the Black Dragon is back in this area. He is supposed to be a very dangerous and emotionless man. Please get back here before dark." Rosa warned. Daisy held up her hand in a wave.
"Don't worry Mama; I shall be back long before dark." Daisy promised. She headed towards the meadow, tucking her book and a blanket underneath her arm. She headed towards her favorite spot, overlooking a small pond to read her book in peace and quiet.
Henry, the Black Dragon of Kentmore, rode his stallion slowly through the town of Modera. Underneath his black riding helmet, his cold brown eyes surveyed the landscape looking for a suitable place to camp for the night. He couldn't risk trying to get a room at any inn; the Black Dragon surely had a bounty on his head by now. Killing men in an effort to find the treasure of El Corazon del Angel was proving harder than he thought when he'd set out years ago to find it. But he owed someone, and he vowed to pay that debt, no matter how much it cost or however long it took. As he approached a small pond surrounded by sturdy looking oak trees, a blue blur across the pond caught his eye.
Henry urged his horse into a trot as he rode closer to the shape lying on a blanket, a book pillowed underneath her head. He studied the young woman from atop his saddle, taking in the long lustrous brown hair and the plain, yet tasteful blue gown she wore. Henry's horse pawed the ground, causing her to wake with a start. As she sat up rubbing her eyes, Henry fought down the surge of desire he felt for her. He was unaccustomed to such an instant reaction from a woman who was hardly his type. Yet as she turned her face up to him, he was captured by her creamy, soft looking skin. Her face was striking, a light sprinkle of freckles across her nose making her look young and youthful. Her brown eyes lit from within as she woke more fully. Henry was most captivated by her mouth. Her lips were full and rosy, and Henry wanted nothing more in that moment to pull her up to him and taste those lips for himself. He shook his head, trying to clear the distracting thoughts away, when she found her voice and looked up at him more closely.
"Sir, you startled me!" She exclaimed, "Are you here looking for something in particular, or do you just get your fun riding around scaring to death young women?" Daisy asked. Henry's eyes turned colder under his helmet as his glacial voice spoke to her.
"Perhaps if young women wouldn't find themselves asleep in a meadow with their guard down, then I would say they probably wouldn't get themselves scared to death." Henry replied, as Daisy stood and shook the grass from her gown. Henry realized she wasn't quite as tall as he'd thought, making her look only that much more fragile next to him. Yes, this was one woman he definitely needed to keep his distance from. He sat in his saddle and watched as she quickly folded up her blanket and grabbed the book she had been reading. She turned to him and addressed him angrily.
"If you are looking for the inn, it is about a mile up the road in town." Daisy said. Henry looked at her curiously, his inquisitive mind getting the better of him.
"Milady, if I didn't know better, I would think you sounded quite angry with me." Henry said. Daisy shot him a look of anger mixed with something else he couldn't identify as she turned to walk away from him.
"I'm not your lady, and if I sound upset, it is only because you ruined a perfectly good dream I was having." Daisy huffed as she started back towards her home. Henry chuckled, a dark sound that made Daisy shiver as he followed her on his horse.
"Really, and what kind of good dreams would a girl like you know about?? Some daydream of a prince on a white horse swooping up and carrying you off on his horse to live happily ever after??" Henry said, contempt dripping from his words. Daisy turned on him so quickly she almost ran into his horse.
"I would expect nothing less than contempt and scorn from someone like you. Someone who only enjoys seeing the pain and discomfort of others. Anything pure and beautiful I'm sure offends your vile nature!" Daisy said, her brown eyes flashing. Henry's eyes widened under his helmet. He'd never had someone criticize him so accurately after only just meeting him. He saw the spots of angry color on her cheeks and watched the sparks flying at him from her eyes, and he had to stomp down another stab of lust for this unique young woman.
"The Black Dragon has many natures princess. Would you care to find out just how many??" Henry said as Daisy's eyes widened and her mouth dropped open.
"You're the Black Dragon?!" She exclaimed, "Why you're a killer!! You go around killing anyone foolish enough to cross your path! You have no value on anyone's life and what has been said about what you've done to women……" Daisy stopped as she realized just whom she was alone with. Henry watched as she lifted up her skirt and tried to run from him. Henry scowled at her and muttered a curse as he urged his horse after her. Catching up to her quickly, he threw himself off his horse and grabbed for her. Daisy cried out as he fell on top of her. She tried to scream, but Henry clamped a hand over her mouth as he pressed his body on hers.
"Don't scream!! Do you hear me, don't scream!!" Henry said harshly. He saw her brown eyes filled with fear and her body squirmed against his. Henry slowly pulled his hand from her mouth, keeping his body firmly pressed against hers.
"Let me up! Get off of me!" Daisy cried. Henry pinned her arms to the ground with his, glaring down at her fiercely.
"I will let you go on two conditions. First that you will not tell anyone about my presence here. I have business here that is no concern of yours, and I don't need you alerting the whole town about me." Henry said. Daisy stopped struggling long enough to look up at him.
"And why should I do that?" She asked. Henry looked down at her, mustering up the most authorative tone he could.
"Because Princess, I will find out exactly who you are and kill each and every member of your family. Very slowly. Leaving you for last." Henry said. Daisy sighed and tried to break free. Henry's hands held her fast.
"Fine, I will agree not to say anything to anyone that you are here. But if you are seen by someone else, that will be trouble of your own making. Now what is the second condition?" Daisy asked. Henry's mouth quirked into something of a smile as he looked down at her.
"A kiss Princess, to seal our bargain." Daisy's eyes widened as she tried to move away from him. Henry leaned down to her until his breath brushed hot against her cheek.
"One quick kiss just to ensure I have your word." Henry said, "Surely you can't be afraid of just one little kiss?" But Daisy was terrified. She'd never kissed a man before, just her father. And those had been on the cheek. But to kiss a man, a real man, and on the lips; Daisy bit her lip hesitantly. Henry found the gesture disarming and took the opportunity. He bent his head and captured her lips with a growl.
Daisy's head felt like it did when she spun around too long in the meadow. She felt the pressure of his lips increase on hers as she felt his fingers digging though her hair. She tried to break free of the kiss, but as soon as she felt his tongue trying to part the seam of her lips, her outrage gave way to surprise. She tried to gasp, but that only parted her lips and gave his tongue access to the recesses of her mouth. She felt his tongue sweeping expertly along hers and she felt her body tingling with unknown anticipation. She reached up to put her arms around his shoulders, but her fingers encountered only the hard steel of his armor. Henry pulled himself into a sitting position, with Daisy on his lap as his rough hands tugged her closer to him. Daisy angled her head as his fingers turned her neck, his mouth working surprisingly gently along the column of her neck. Daisy shuddered against him as his lips gently nibbled along her heated skin.
"Ah, Princess. You taste so good." Henry whispered against her skin. As his hands moved from her back towards her bodice, Daisy's mind caught up with her body. She focused her eyes on his face and pushed back from him. The sudden movements made Henry release her. She quickly snatched up her blanket and book and looked down at him, her face an expression of shock and frustration.
"There's your payment, you evil man. I'll keep your secret, but stay away from me and my family! I hope I never see you again!" Daisy yelled as she turned away and quickly strode up the road towards her house. Henry stood and mounted his horse as he watched her disappear from sight. He touched his lips, swollen and throbbing from the kiss they'd shared as he spoke to the empty air around him.
"This won't be the last you'll see of me Princess. That I promise you." Henry took one last look down the path she'd taken before turning and urging his horse into a full gallop. He would have to find somewhere to camp soon before it grew dark. He galloped off into the trees, the approaching night swallowing him up in the darkness.
TBC…………………………..