What if Henry knew Danielle before the movie happened and recognized her when she rescued Maurice when she threw the apples? My version of the movie. This is that story.
Disclaimer: I don't own Ever After
"Danielle! Wait up!"
"What Gustave? We have to hurry up if we want to see Henry."
"I'm going as fast as I can."
Finally they arrived at the lake where they were supposed to meet their best friend Henry. They saw Henry sitting at the edge of the lake with his personal guard, he had to have one since he was the prince of France.
"Henry!"
"Gustave! Dani!"
"You ready to play?"
"Yeah."
CACKA DOODLE-DOO!
Danielle de Barbarac woke up with a start, she smiled as she remembered her dream, more like a memory of when she was a little girl. She hadn't seen Henry since she was eight and her Papa died, after that day Henry got busy with tutors and couldn't come anymore. She missed him dearly for she always had a little crush on him, still does after all these years.
She got up and went and did her chores before going and picking apples in the family orchard, as she was coming back she noticed that a man was trying to steal her papa's horse! As she was running to stop him she dropped the apples she was carrying and picked one up and threw it at him. She hit him in the head knocking him off the horse and on his back. She still threw apples at him while he was trying to talk to her. When he pulled off his hood and she saw who he was she instantly got down and kneel before him.
"Your Highness, I am sorry I did not see you there."
"Your aim suggests other wise."
While Danielle was kneeling and speaking Henry was wondering where he had seen her before and that she looked very familiar, same with her aim.
"It is alright madam. Here is some money for your silence."
With that the prince was gone and all Danielle could think of was that Henry did forget her after all. After completing her chores and helping with breakfast plus bringing it out to her stepmother and step sisters. Plus being berated by her stepmother for mentioning bringing back Maurice, another servant that was sold to pay for her taxes.
While her step mother and sisters were shopping she was upstairs in a room with her other childhood best friend, Gustave, while she was changing into a courtier dress.
"Have you lost your marbles? Do you know what the punishment is for a servant to dress above their rank, five days in the stock tank."
"I know but I have to save Maurice. Now hand me that dress I have to get dressed."
"No one is going to believe you, your to nice."
"Yeah well no one is going to believe a servant with twenty gold francs is not a thief either. Now don't laugh."
Danielle came out from behind the curtain and showed Gustave what she looked like.
"The shoes are too big. All this fabric and I still feel naked."
"I don't think anyone is going to be looking at your feet. Now come on we must do something with your hair or no one is going to believe that you're a real courtier."
With that Gustave took her to chair and sat her down while he did her hair. After he was done she left with the money looking for the courtyard where she knew that they would be taking them out of. As she looked over a bridge she saw them she went down to where they were and stopped the man driving the horse.
"Excuse me sir, but that man is my servant and I wish to buy him back."
"Sorry miss but he is already been sold and on his way to the Americas. Now move out."
"I demand that you release him at once or I'll go straight to the King."
"The King is the one who sold him. NOW MOVE OUT OF THE WAY!"
"Is that anyway to talk to a lady?"
"Your Highness I've got orders to send the thiefs to the Americas."
"They are not thiefs at least those who are cannot help it."
"Ok enlighten us."
(I apologize for leaving this out)
"If you suffer your people to be ill educated from infancy then punish them for which crimes their first education disposed them to, can it not be concluded, Sire that you first make them thieves then punish them?"
"There you have it. Release him."
"But sire."
"I said release him."
When the man released Maurice, Danielle went over to him and told him to meet her at the bridge then loudly told him to get the horses ready.
"Thank you My Lord."
She started to leave the courtyard when Prince Henry came up to her and started following her.
"Have we met before?"
"No Your Highness we have not."
"I thought I knew all the courtiers in the area." Why does she look so familiar like I have seen her before
"I am not from around here I am visiting a cousin."
"Oh really. Who?"
"My cousin."
"I know that but who is your cousin."
"The only one I have Your Highness."
"Are you seriously not giving me your name?" I think I know who this is, but it couldn't be could it?
"Yes Your Majesty I am sorry. But I must go."
"Wait give me a name, any name." I think that I know who this is now all I have to do is wait and see what name she gives me
"Comtesse Nicole de Lancret sire."
"Ok." Yep it's Dani
"Now I must go Your Highness."
"Wait you said your name was Nicole de Lancret correct?"
"Yes that was what I said."
"Ok I want you to visit the castle more ok Dani." Let's see if she falls for it.
"Of course I will...wait what did you call me?"
"You heard me Danielle."
Realization struck Danielle as she now knew that she was caught Henry recognized her.
"You recognize me Your Highness."
"Henry, Dani call me Henry."
"Ok Henry. I was afraid that you didn't recognize me anymore."
"I will admit it took a few minutes. Please come for a walk with me."
"Oh but I can not do that I must get back."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes my step-mother would be angry if I did not return soon."
"Ok. Isn't your step-mother Baroness Rodmilla de Ghent?"
"Yes it is why?"
"No reason just curious."
"Ok well I must be going. Goodbye Henry."
"Goodbye Dani."
With that Danielle left and met up with Maurice, who gave her a knowing look. When they got back to the Manor and were walking up the field Maurice's wife saw them and started running to them sobbing with Paulette closely following, soon they were all in a big group hug.
When she went in and started to do some cleaning her step-mother corned her and started asking about the horse that the prince stole that morning. After that she finished her chores and heard that the Prince made it a royal decree that anyone going to the Americas must be compensated.
Meanwhile at the Palace
Right after Danielle left Henry was still watching in her direction when he heard his mother.
"Oh Henry dear, your back your Father would like a word with you, more than a word actually."
"He usually does Mother I'll be right in."
"Alright dear."
After talking with his Father saying that he didn't want the crown he was taking a walk in the gardens with his Mother.
"Mother, do you remember that little girl I used to play with when I was younger with another boy our age?"
"Yes I do why?"
"I saw her today."
"Really you saw little Dani."
"Yes but she is not so little anymore Mother. Did you know her step-mother is the Baroness Rodmilla de Ghent?"
"No I did not. Whenever the Baroness comes into town it just her and her two daughters. I do remember her marrying someone I never did find out who I just know that he died about two weeks after they married."
"Mother something doesn't feel right about that situation."
"I know how you feel Henry but I don't think there is anything that we can do."
Right then his Father came around the corner.
"Now Henry I think that throwing that marriage on you is a bit stressful. So we are going to hold a ball in five days in honor of signore DaVinchi and on midnight you will announce the bride of your choice or I will for you."
"Really Father?"
"Yes really."
"Thank you Father. But what about Spain."
"I will deal with Spain, you have bigger things to worry about."
"I already have a bride in mind."
"And who might that be?"
"Dani."
"You mean that little girl you used to play with when you were small? You haven't seen her in years not since you were eight Henry."
"I know Father, but I saw her today in the courtyard."
"You did? What was she doing here? Where has she been?"
"I think that she has been here in France the entire time Father. She said that her step-mother was the Baroness Rodmilla de Ghent."
"How all I have ever seen is her two daughters, Marguite and Jaqueline. Marguite is just like her mother but Jaqueline is a sweet girl."
"Yes I could tell this afternoon."
"You saw them too."
"Yes after I ran, my horse lost a shoe and I need one so I took a horse from a stable I came upon and that afternoon before I returned to the castle I returned the horse and talked to the Baroness and her daughters came out. When I said that I might have given her servant a shock and I described her she didn't say anything about her being her step-daughter though I know for a fact that the girl I saw was Dani."
"How do you know that it was her you saw this morning?"
"Simple no one has the that good of an arm and aim as she does."
"She hit you?"
"Yes with apples but I deserved it. I was stealing her Father's horse and I had my cloak hood up so she did not know that it was me."
"Ok in the morning if you want you may ride out there and see her if you wish I would love to see her again and don't forget Gustave. Oh Henry tell me why did you stop going out and playing with them?"
"Mother you know why. After her Father died I went up to the Manor and saw her crying on Gustave and my little eight year old heart couldn't stand it that the girl I had a crush on liked a different boy."
The next morning Henry and his personal guard Capt. Laurent went out to the Manor de Barabac to see Danielle. When they got to the Manor and knocked on the door the man who Danielle freed the day before, Maurice, opened the door and bowed when he saw who was at the door.
"Hello Your Highness is there something I could help you with?"
"Yes Maurice you could tell Danielle that I am here."
"I am sorry Your Highness but she is not here."
"What do you mean she is not here?"
"She is out in the woods collecting truffles."
"Isn't that a servant's work?"
"Yes Your Highness."
"Ok thank you. Which way did she go?"
"South Your Highness in the direction of the lake."
"Ok thank you. Wait can you answer me a question."
"I will try my best."
"Is Danielle being treated well here."
"My Lord, she is being treated as a servant."
"WHAT!"
"Yes Your Highness for the past ten years. Since right after her Father past."
"Ok thank you Maurice."
With that Henry left and headed in the direction of the lake, the Baroness didn't even know that he had visited. When he reached the lake he saw her swimming in the lake. He didn't want to disturb her, so he sent a messenger ahead to the palace to tell the King and Queen what he had just learned and that he would be bringing Danielle to palace. When the messenger was gone he knew that he would have to call out to her.
"Dani!"
"AHHHH!"
"Dani!"
The prince took to the water at hearing her scream when he got to her, he helped her to the shore and wrapped her in his cloak.
"Are you ok?"
"Yes I am ok Your Highness. You just startled me is all."
"It's Henry Dani."
"Sorry Henry. What are you doing here?"
"I went by the Manor but Maurice told me that you were out here. I came to talk to you about what you have done for the past ten years."
"Ok what do you want to talk about."
"Why you have worked like a servant."
"What do you mean?"
"Dani do not lie to me."
"Why do you even care you abandoned me when I needed you the most. So why do you even care!"
Oooh Cliffy! Don't forget to review!
