fandom; Swan Princess
pairing; Derek/Odette
warnings; none
disclaimer; I own nothing.
i.It's silly, really, and she doesn't hesitate in telling her father so - at least a good seven times after they've left their beautiful castle clad in marble and pastel-shaded glory, crowds of people coming to see them off, cheering joyfully; they've all heard.
Odette knows this, because she overheard two of the maids in the court, not very subtly whispering about the big news - "have you heard?" they squeaked, big smiles stretched across rose petal lips as they chattered away.
Odette asked her father about the news, about why she hadn't heard, but he merely shook his head, a wistful smile on his face, and patted her hair before telling her to go play, daddy was busy these days - as if she hadn't noticed.
"But, dad, it's silly!" she hisses one last time as the gates are opened, the display of a huge, portentous castle coming to view. Standing in the middle of the overfilled courtyard is a lady with big hair and a pretty smile; next to her Odette sees a boy, a sour expression on his youthful face. His name is Prince Derek, she knows, because daddy mentions him quite often ("the two of you are going to be very good friends, my child, isn't that wonderful?").
Her dad helps her off of the horse, whispering something or another about greeting the boy politely and suddenly Odette feels even more irritated. The dress she's wearing is stupid and itchy, and it makes it excessively hard to move around; she's only wearing it because daddy insisted, because they were visiting very important hosts.
Prince Derek is just standing there, huffing and trying his hardest not to meet her eyes, while his mother is cooing happily and welcoming them.
Odette is being pushed forward lightly, fused together with the prince that looks no more happy about the situation than she is, almost stumbling on the stupid, stupid dress - it's pink, too! - and wishing that she could just rip the matching hat off.
This is so silly, she thinks, glaring in response to her father's encouraging look behind locks of sunshine.
ii.Winter becomes her favorite season for reasons you'd think were obvious enough. As soon as she sees that first snow flake soar towards the ground, she smiles and stretches out across the bed, a thick book filled with tales and stories from faraway-countries in her hand.
Odette grows quite fond of fairy tales in particular; the love between the beautiful princess and the brave prince that is able to survive anything, even grotesque monsters, even death, their kiss stronger than the sharpest sword, glittering in silver.
"You enjoy the romantic ones the most, milady?" a young maid asks as she helps the princess get ready for bed, noticing the newly imported book on her bedside table.
"I guess", Odette answers absently, twirling a braid around her finger. "It's probably because things like that don't happen in real life - it makes it exciting."
"Oh, but milady, you're to be wed with a Prince Charming too, aren't you?" the maid sighs dreamily. "I hear Prince Derek has grown quite handsome, and-"
"That's not it at all", the princess replies stubbornly, making a face. "He's immature and mean! There's nothing 'Prince Charming' about him!"
"Perhaps you will be delightfully surprised, then, milady. I truly hope you will", the maid smiles, taking some of the used sheets in her arms and slowly walking out of the chamber.
Odette rolls her eyes at her bed overflowing with lace and girly fluffiness. Eyeing the book, she remembers the last summers spent in that castle that smells so much differently from her own, Derek and his friend and the pranks they always pull on her - they never get away with it, though. She remembers the horses and the races and the swimming in the lake nearby, the dirt under her nails and the running from the tutting servants as soon as she skinned a knee. She remembers Derek's teasing laugh, his remarks about Odette being more of a man than he is ("yeah, because you're a pansy!") and the tasteless jokes exchanged between him and his stupid friends.
No, she decides, bringing the book into her lap and fumbling with the lamp. This is nothing like a fairy tale or a love story - not even close!
And as days go by, she finds that the flower buds covering the majestic trees that can be seen from her personal balcony (where she's stood so many times, her daddy yelling at her to hurry up and her stomach dropping, no no no I'm not going I'm not going no no no) are starting to look more like a bad omen than anything; she sighs hopelessly when she wakes one morning only to be able to see the spots of green grass breaking through the layer of snow.
"Soon, it's summer break again", her father rumbles, pleased, at the dining table.
"I know", Odette murmurs brokenly, cursing the traitorous winter for leaving so quickly.
iii.
The road there is ridiculous; it's kind of narrow, kind of bumpy, and the whole time she is being questioned about Derek's family history, the main rules of proper etiquette and so on. There's non-stop talking and pinching her sides when she's not listening and Odette, will you please, please try at least?She's, apparently, grown into a fine young woman; at least, that's what their family friends from faraway are claiming, that's what the entire court is buzzing about, that's what the inhabitants in the kingdom is always complimenting her on; the waterfall of golden curls, the way the dresses are fitted perfectly against her lean body, the way her singing voice like chirping birds rings out throughout the castle sometimes, the way her eyes sparkle kindly.
"You've grown so much, my child", her father murmurs as if he's surprised, touching her perfectly manicured hand, his eyes soft despite the wrinkles embedded beneath them and his conscious seemingly far from the constricted space in the carriage where everybody is talking. Odette smiles at him - he means well he does I know he does - but she can't bring herself to answer, the bitter taste in the back of her mouth more evident as she sees the castle clearly now, brilliant green growing all around it.
She's heard rumors; Derek this and Derek that; handsome, courageous, kind, strong, talented Derek. Her lithe fingers lock in her lap, gaze focused on her new tiny shoes. Odette knows this is not what she's wished for, not what she's wanted; everybody knows, she's sure. Even her father. Even the servants. Even the exotic bird in the golden cage leaning against the wall of her room looked at her sympathetically just before she left, as if aware of the sorrow in her chest.
"Come now, come, princess", Mr. Rodgers insists, offering his hand for her to take. She accepts it, grumpily stepping out of the carriage and resisting just a bit more than usual, being just a bit more difficult than she always is - because, well, this is the last summer. From now on, she'll be spending all of the seasons here. The thought makes her cringe.
And she's being pushed through doors and greeted by people rushing around frantically, baking ingredients and flower bouqets and differently colored napkins in their arms, smiles and squeals and humming everywhere she looks, they're all watching her approvingly, murmuring, touching her as if to calm her.
It only makes her all the more stressed, all the more aware of all eyes that rest on her, all the more annoyed by the whole situation. Frowning, she tries to drag her arm back from the vice grip her father and Mr. Rodgers have on her, but to no avail. She is pushed into the main ball room, her cardigan somehow disappearing and the door closing shut behind her.
Odette faces the door, arms crossed at her chest, wishing she had the ability to burn right through the surface with her gaze. Politeness and princess-like manners be damned, she knows she never agreed to this.
"He's so immature!" she protests, yet to turn around and face the marvelous Prince Derek - the future king and her future husband. She hears a sharp intake of breath, however, and it makes her sigh, collecting herself. She feels out of place and silly.
Slowly, Odette lifts her gaze, arms slim like a swan's neck falling to her sides as she turns.
[end] A/N;
Sorry if it's hard to understand or anything. The first part is supposed to be when they meet as little kiddos for the first time like in the movie. The second part is when they're teenagers, and the third is when they're all grown up. Aww.
The Swan Princess is actually my favorite non-Disney movie. And, I've been wanting to write stories for Disney and non-Disney fandoms for so long. This is going to be a little collection with all of those stories I've longed to write, or something. Hope you likey!