Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters mentioned in this story.
They all belong to their rightful owner: Craig Bartlett.
Title: "The swineherd"
Summary: In the land of Fairytales, reigns King Arnold. He has been captivated by Helga, the princess who lives in the country next to his own. Rumor says that she is haughty, but Arnold believes that is only her exterior. He is determined to ask for her hand in marriage, but this girl can be hard to convince. Drastic situations calls for drastic measures.
Author's 1st note: Yeah, this is going to be very different compared to what I have written before xD "The swineherd" is an old Danish story by HC. Andersen - the man behind "The little mermaid" – and I have always adored it for its message albeit it's a tad too short for my taste xD I have decided to try and take my own spin on it with Arnold and Helga so while you will recognize certain elements from the original story, there are many things that are my own creations. First of all, the ending is going to be very different (doi) so whether you know the original story or not, I'm sure you will find this enjoyable :D
This story is only going to be three chapters long, all at least with 5.000 words in it. Happy reading!
[Please notify me if you notice any grammar mistakes. This isn't my first language, so there's bound to be mistakes.]
Chapter 1: "You tell me to forget that lesson"
He watched him with a frown upon his face. Gerald, the king's squire, feared and worried for his king. King Arnold was currently standing near a wall in his chamber, gazing upon a picture of the princess who lived in the kingdom near his own. The princess' name was Helga and Gerald's king had fallen for the girl even though he had only met her once at one of the many balls her parents had arranged.
"If I may say so, your majesty, I do not understand your taste in women." Gerald said. Usually, he would never speak in such a casual voice to his king, but Arnold was an unusually kind king and did not care for formalities and had insisted that his servants would call him by his name and speak to him like they would to any other.
Arnold sighed and turned to look at Gerald. "We do not share the same taste in women, squire. That is to be expected." He replied and turned to look at the picture once again.
The frown stayed on Gerald's face. "But the people in the town says that the princess is - - " he started and Arnold whipped around to look at him.
"People love to gossip. What are they saying?" he asked.
Gerald smiled in triumph. "They say that the princess is very… haughty." He whispered as if it was some sort of big secret.
"I have heard that as well." Arnold said and grabbed the picture from the wall.
Gerald nodded eagerly. "So surely she is not to the king's taste?" he asked, but Arnold shook his head.
"I'm sure it's only her exterior. On the inside, she is good and kind. I'm certain of that!" he insisted and smiled at the picture.
Gerald frowned again. "But… the emperor and the empress are also supposedly - - "
"But it is not the emperor nor the empress I wish to marry. Do I, Gerald?" Arnold asked with a smirk and Gerald smiled back.
"Of course not." He said and arched his back.
"This is why I have called upon you, Gerald. I need your advice. How do I win the heart of the princess?" Arnold asked and looked expectantly on his squire.
Gerald sighed deeply. "Well… if the rumors are true… the princess adores gifts." He replied with despair on his face.
"Gifts…" Arnold repeated thoughtfully.
"Gold seems to be popular in that palace." Gerald added.
"No. I refuse to give her something shallow and materialistic. That doesn't show her how much I love her or why I do. No, I want something that symbolizes… A rose!" Arnold announced.
Gerald felt that he would pass out soon. "A rose?"
"Yes, and a pink one. Princess Helga always wear pink dresses, surely it is her favorite color. A pink rose that symbolizes her beauty…" Arnold declared and put the picture of Helga back on the wall.
"Is that all you wish to bring her, your majesty?" Gerald asked in disbelief, wondering if such a simple, but genuine gift could impress a princess like Helga.
"Of course not!" Arnold replied and Gerald smiled in relief, but not for long. "The rose only symbolizes her beauty. I need something that symbolizes her soul as well. It is not her beauty I love her for after all." He continued and walked towards the window to sit down on the pane, something he only did when he was alone or if Gerald was the only other person in the room. It didn't fit a king after all. "Something that symbolizes her soul…"
"Perhaps a mirror?" Gerald suggested with a snicker and Arnold shot him a slanted look. "Apologies for the frivolity, your highness." Gerald apologized, still with a smile on his face.
Arnold turned and opened the window to gaze outside. Instantly, he noticed a bird sitting on the willow tree and singing. "Squire, what is the name of this bird?" he asked and Gerald approached him to look outside. "It is simple-looking and yet it sings such a beautiful melody." Arnold observed as Gerald leaned his head out of the window.
"Oh! That would be a nightingale, your majesty." He answered with a smile.
"A nightingale… That's it! I will give her a nightingale! A bird that sings the melody of the soul." Arnold declared and offered the nightingale his hand. The gray bird observed his hand for a moment and then jumped onto it, nestling comfortable in his palm. "Bring me a bird cage, Gerald and then we will make haste to the princess." He ordered in excitement and pet the nightingale.
"You definitely have a way with animals, your highness." Gerald replied and walked away after bowing to him. "I fear that you lack a way with women though…"
A lovely melody ricocheted in the study, perhaps with more edge to it than its listeners would have preferred. "Play it more softly, dear." The mother of the pianist ordered gently.
The girl rolled her eyes. "Mother, care to remind me why I am allowed to play only one song on the spinet?" the blonde asked.
"Because you have yet to learn how to play just this song beautifully, Helga." Her father replied in her mother's place.
Helga frowned, spread her fingers and banged them on the tangents. Her parents held their hands to their ears. "Dear, you just gave me a headache." The mother complained as her daughter stood up.
"Your headache is not due to my way of playing, it is due to your new-found love of Merlot." Helga retorted and walked past her.
"The daughter of an emperor should not raise her voice!" her father yelled.
"Nor should the emperor!" she retorted and he stood up, ready to yell at her until someone knocked on the door.
The father sat back down on his chair, watching his daughter cross her arms and look away. "Yes?" he said and one of the servants walked in.
He bowed gracefully. "Your royal highness. King Arnold from the land of Fairytales requests the princess' presence." The servant said formally, keeping his head held low.
Helga quirked an eyebrow. "King Arnold?" she repeated in confusion, but then she remembered him and felt the corner of her mouth lift on its own. She remembered meeting him at one of the balls her parents had most recently hosted.
"Land of Fairytales." The emperor snorted and shook his head. "His people consists only of idealistic excuses for humans."
Helga frowned at her father's words, but said nothing. "What does he wish of me?" she asked, but the servant shook his head apologetically.
"He did not say so, your royal highness, but he is carrying a silver casket and something else hidden beneath a vail. I believe they are presents for the princess." The servant replied and Helga's face lit up.
"Presents?" she questioned and noticed that her father started to smile.
"Seems like you have managed to get yourself an admirer, my daughter. I would have preferred a man whose ideals were remotely close to our own, but to be honest, I am relieved that even he has taken a liking to you." He said and stood up from his chair, helping his queen to stand up as well. Helga frowned at his words, but lifted her dress slightly up from the floor and followed the servant out of the study, knowing that her parents were following close behind.
"I am nervous, Gerald." Arnold said and fidgeted with his cape.
"Of course you are. You have walked into the lion's den." Gerald retorted, his expression tense from feeling the same nervousness as his king. Arnold sighed at his squire's words, but he could not deny them. As soon as the lord chamberlain had welcomed them into the palace, a feeling of reverence had overcome him and his excitement had faded.
The king and squire followed the lord chamberlain and didn't stop until he stomped twice with his golden cane. "His majesty King Arnold of the land of Fairytales with presents for Princess Helga!" he announced loudly and banged the cane into the floor again. A door opened and Arnold felt his heart get stuck in his chest when he saw the girl who had haunted his dreams, both when he was asleep and awake, ever since he had first met her.
Helga walked into the room, followed by her parents and court ladies. Arnold noticed that one particular court lady seemed to be allowed to be much closer to the princess than the others. The girl was short, of Asian descent perhaps and seemed very sweet. Helga's face was one with dignity, a beautiful face framed by blonde hair. He did not know any other princesses who would let their hair hang like that. The empress for example was wearing her hair in a bun that looked so tight that surely she could feel it on the skin of her face and scalp. Helga was wearing a pink dress, like Arnold had hoped and assumed.
"Good afternoon, your highness." Arnold said, took his feathered hat off and bowed deeply.
"Good afternoon." She replied and curtsied in front of him. When he arched his back, the feather on his hat tickled his nose and he made a small sneeze. He looked at the princess in embarrassment and noticed that she had lifted her hand to her mouth, hiding a snicker and he couldn't help but smile. That expression was definitely better than the one he received from the emperor and the empress.
"Well, appeal is not one of his traits." One of the court ladies whispered in Helga's ear and she couldn't help but snicker.
"And he is far too short as well." She added, hiding her mouth behind her hand and snickered with her court ladies. The court lady closest to her gave her a bit of scolding look and Helga stopped laughing.
Arnold looked curiously at the uncommon image of a princess listening to her court lady and looked at Gerald. "See? We have that in common." He whispered and Gerald nodded thoughtfully before offering him the silver casket. "In all modesty, your highness…" Arnold said, opened the casket and grabbed the rose inside gently. "I bring you a rare rose, a symbol of your beauty."
Helga's eyes widened a bit. A rose? She thought in shock and put her hand to her chest. Oh, what a fool!
"Pink?" Helga questioned with a forged smile and Arnold nodded.
"That is your favorite color?" he asked and she nodded.
"I appreciate that you have at least had the decency to study before offering me a present." She said and was about to grab the rose until she heard her father's voice.
"You bring a simple rose to my daughter? Surely, this is some horrid attempt at a joke? If my daughter wishes for flowers, we have a rose garden right outside her own chamber." The emperor grunted and grabbed the rose, causing Helga to flinch and put her hand back in front of her waist. The emperor snorted at it and whipped it towards one of the servants who grabbed it, bowed and walked away to dispose of it. "You have some nerve." The emperor said to Arnold who took a fearful step back.
"Oh, let us see the other presents first before we get angry." The empress suggested and pulled her husband back next to her. He grunted angrily, but waited for Arnold to present the next present. He gulped and gestured for Gerald to give him the birdcage. Gerald lifted the birdcage from the ground and removed the vail. The nightingale started singing happily as soon as it was revealed.
"A nightingale, your majesty. A symbol of your beautiful soul." He said and Helga hid a frown. A bird? He is bringing vermin into my palace?
The emperor growled again. "I have lost my patience! You travel all this way uninvited and then you waste our time with these presents that are more fitted for a peasant than for a princess! Get out of my palace, my kingdom and don't you dare show yourself in front of my family again!" he ordered.
"Your majesty…" Arnold said in shock and looked at Helga who refused to look back at him.
She took a deep breath and then scowled at him. "You heard the emperor, did you not? How dare you shame me by representing me with such cheap presents? Throw out the rose, let the nightingale out of its cage and you can follow it back to where you came from!" she said and whipped her head around, her hair brushing his face in the process.
Arnold watched Helga walk away, followed by her court ladies and her parents, who were all praising her for showing him his place. Arnold felt his heart sink as he turned around and followed Gerald back to his carriage.
Once they were outside, Gerald opened the door to the carriage for Arnold. "I warned you, your majesty." he reminded him before and Arnold sat down.
"It is not over, squire." He said and looked back at the palace.
"Oh." Gerald said and quirked an eyebrow. "I suppose I must have misjudged her complete and utter indifference to you."
Arnold frowned at Gerald before Gerald walked inside and sat in front of him. "You would give up if you were me, wouldn't you?" Arnold asked.
"Giving up is a little moot at this point, your majesty. Can you hear that?" Gerald asked and put a hand behind his ear. "It's a fat lady and she is singing." He said and put his hand back on his lap.
"Did you not see the way her eyes changed while we were talking?" Arnold asked and Gerald cocked an eyebrow.
"From contempt to repulsion?" he asked, but Arnold shook his head.
"Her father's words made her act the way she did. I just need a second chance at talking to her… but without her parents nearby." He said and looked out of the window. "I will have my princess in the end."
Gerald's face had been one of disgust for a full ten minutes as he held a bucket of dirt in his arms. "You are going much too far, your majesty. Surely you are unrecognizable by now?" he asked, begged, as he watched his king smudge the dirt on his face. The royal blue clothes he usually wore were replaced by an old, blue hat that was much too small for him, a tattered cloak, pants with holes in them and a shirt, Gerald assumed had been white before Arnold had dipped it in some dirty water.
"I need to make sure, Gerald, but I believe you are right." Arnold replied, as he looked himself over in the mirror once more. "They can't possibly recognize me now?"
"I can barely recognize you, my king." Gerald answered and frowned at the bucket of dirt in his hands. He offered it to the servant next to him who gave him a distasteful look before taking it and walking out of the chamber with it.
"Thank you, Gerald." Arnold answered and readjusted the black wellington boots.
"If I may say so, your majesty, there is a flaw in your plan. Do you truly believe that princess Helga would want to be seen with one of the servants?" Gerald asked and Arnold shook his head.
"I will figure something out. Wish me luck." He answered before disappearing out of the chamber.
Gerald nodded. "He will need all the tokens of good luck if he has to pull this one through…" He muttered to himself.
Arnold made haste to Helga's kingdom by carriage, but sent the carriage back as soon as he neared the palace. He approached the gate and asked for employment at the court, which the lord chamberlain didn't seem too keen on giving him. Arnold almost gave up until he noticed Princess Helga walking inside the garden. He had smiled, turned to the lord chamberlain again and begged once more. The lord chamberlain had caved in and told him that all they could be in need of was a swineherd. Arnold had taken the job without any hesitation. In his own castle, they had pigs as well and he had often wandered around the pigsty and had even taken a liking to a special pig he had named Abner. Taking care of the pigs didn't seem like a job that would be too hard to do without any experience, so he headed to the pigsty in a good mood.
Thanks to Arnold's way with animals, he quickly befriended all the pigs and eventually learned how to take care of them. He had only been working at the palace for a few days when he saw the princess again. He was crouched between the pigs, playing around with them in the mud, when he heard the unmistakable sound of high-heels clattering on the path made of stone. He peeked over one of the pigs and noticed the princess running towards him and only stopping once she had sat down on a grand, white rock only a meter away from the pigsty. Arnold smiled until he noticed her face. It was tear-stained and he frowned at the unsuitable expression on her. He didn't wish to see the princess sad.
"Excuse me, your majesty." Arnold said and stood up. Helga gasped and whipped her body around to look at him, slipping down from the rock in the process. Arnold jumped over the fence from the pigsty and saw the princess lying on the grass, her hands desperately holding her dress down to cover her pantalets. "I am terribly sorry, princess! I did not mean to frighten you." He said and offered her his hand.
"Well, you did!" Helga retorted and got herself sitting up. She noticed his hand, but waved it off. "Don't touch me! You are covered in mud!" she said and stood up. She looked behind her dress down at the skirt, noticing some strays of grass on her dress. "Oh, my parents will have my head for this."
"Surely not. It is only a dress." Arnold said, but knew he had made a mistake when he saw the anger on Helga's face.
"Well, I don't expect a swineherd to know about fashion. You have any idea how much even one of my dresses cost?" she asked, but put her hand up to stop him from answering. "Oh, don't bother… This is why I tell them I shouldn't wear such expensive dresses when we are just ourselves at the palace." She continued and sniffed as she brushed the pieces of grass off the skirt.
Arnold smiled as he watched her, but coughed awkwardly when she looked at him again. "Your highness, forgive me if I am speaking out of turn, but… did I see… tears in your beautiful eyes?"
Said eyes widened at the question. The princess was in shock; not only had this swineherd just seen her fall backwards, but he had also seen her crying? And now, he even had the nerve to approach the subject as if he was a dear friend of hers! "You are speaking out of turn." She said and arched her back.
"Forgive me, your highness." Arnold said and bowed deeply.
"Get back to work, swineherd." She ordered and he heard her walk past him.
"Y-Your majesty!" Arnold called and turned to look at her. She looked at him over her shoulder, quirking an eyebrow when she noticed he was nervous. Not that it should be any surprise; he was standing in front a princess after all, a princess he had just insulted even. "Please… if this is the place you go to when you wish to be alone… then do not mind me and sit back down."
"I do not mind you, mind you." Helga retorted. "I came here to be alone. I cannot do that with you around and you have work to do." She continued and was about to continue walking.
"I will not bother you!" Arnold insisted and she shot him a questioning look.
"Persistent, aren't you?" she asked sarcastically, but he just bowed again. She turned to look back at the palace. I will not find another place that is as isolated as this. If I go near the rose garden, the gardener will attempt to chat with me… This boy has at least sworn to leave me alone. She thought and walked past him. He leaned back up and smiled as he watched her sit back down on the rock, her pink dress covering it completely. Arnold bowed again in front of her and went back into the pigsty.
Helga and Arnold did not exchange a word after that, but Arnold stole a glance ever now and then, watching the princess enjoy the summer wind whenever it would take ahold of her hair. He did not notice, but once or twice Helga would let her eyes travel towards him as well and so their days continued. Helga would come back to the pigsty at least once a day in order to be alone. They did not exchange words the first three days, but enjoyed the other's silent company.
One day though, and Arnold's shock had been more than evident, Helga spoke to him. "How do you like working here?" the blonde woman asked, looking at her fingers as they tapped on her lap. She wasn't sure why she was feeling nervous. He was just another servant after all, but she had to admit that he was one of the few, if not the only, she felt comfortable around. Perhaps it was because he was a swineherd and not something of a higher status like the lord chamberlain. She felt as if she had to wear a mask even around her own servants, but not with the swineherd.
Arnold had almost dropped the food he had been supposed to put in the trough when he had heard the princess' voice. With a small sound of surprise, he readjusted the bag in his hands and made sure all of the food landed in the trough.
Helga, who suffered no ear damage, heard his choked sound though and looked at him. "Do you intend not to answer me?" she asked, but noticed that he was shaking his head in panic.
"Oh, no, princess. I did not mean to seem rude. I just… didn't expect you to talk to me is all." Arnold explained and smiled at her.
She looked away instantly, her body tensing at his intense gaze. "D-Do not misunderstand." She said. "Mother and father are out and I am feeling chatty. I cannot exactly speak to the swine."
"You could, actually."
"Excuse me?"
"They cannot reply, but they are very good listeners." Arnold joked and petted a pig next to him.
Helga frowned. "Is this your way of telling me that you do not wish to speak to me?" she asked and Arnold shook his head eagerly.
"Not at all! I was simply attempting a joke, your majesty, but it fell to the ground." He explained and leaned over the fence to get closer to her.
"Indeed." She agreed, but he could see a hidden smile on her mouth. "So… do you intend to answer my question?"
"I enjoy working here very much, your highness. If I may say so, I also enjoy that you come here every day."
"Even though we do not speak?"
"Just being in your presence brings me in a state of awe, princess. I work in a pigsty after all. Your presence brings beauty to my surroundings." Arnold answered with a smile that made Helga's heart skip a beat. A very uncharacteristic blush threatened to spread on her cheeks so she resorted to what she knew best: sarcasm.
"I am not sure if that is a true compliment. You just compared me to a swine after all." She said and looked at one of the pigs with disdain on her face. "Even the least charming woman in the world is beautiful if caught next to a pig."
"I disagree, your majesty. I find pigs very adorable."
"Explain. How can such a filthy animal be endearing?"
Arnold crouched and put his hands around a pig's face, turning it towards the princess who glared at him in disbelief. "How can you not love this face?" he asked and scrunched his own face to look like the pig. Rather than the pig, the princess caught herself looking at the swineherd instead and couldn't help the snicker that escaped her lips. She hid it behind her hand, but Arnold had seen it and felt a blush spread on his cheeks.
"What a beautiful laughter, your majesty." Arnold said before he could stop himself and he put a hand to his mouth as if that could somehow bring his words back to his throat. The princess glared at him in shock. She was obviously speechless and before he could apologize, she stood up from the rock and walked away. Arnold sighed and felt a pig put its snout on his cheek as if it was trying to comfort him. "I spoke out of turn again…" Arnold muttered and petted the pig's ear.
Helga did not come back as usual the day after nor the day after that. Arnold was starting to fear that he had missed his chance when he saw her walk with her court ladies near the rose garden. I must get her attention again! He thought and walked into the small house he had been provided as a home. Every time he had a break in his duties as a swineherd, he spent his time creating a pretty little pot. There were little bells around the rim, and when the water began to boil in it, the bells began to play the same tune Helga knew. He walked out of the house, pretending not to look in her direction, but noticed that the princess was indeed looking at him.
"That cannot possibly be a pot, can it?" Helga asked one of her court ladies, the one she trusted the most.
"If a pot has bells on it, your majesty, it can in fact create such a melody. It resembles the one that you play." The court lady, named Phoebe, answered. Helga was baffled. The last time she had spared the swineherd a waken thought, she had seen a blush on her cheeks in her reflection, she did not care for. She would never admit it, not even to herself, but the swineherd had snuck into her dreams during night once or twice since their last exchange.
Helga had decided it would be safer to stay away from the swineherd. She was the princess after all and if anyone found out that she had been talking to him as if he was an equal, heads would roll and certainly one of them would be her own. Curiosity overtook her though and she felt her legs walk towards the pigsty in habit. She could hear the confused whispers from her court ladies, but she did not care for their opinion and her parents were nowhere nearby to catch her.
The swineherd looked at her, a hidden smile on his mouth only she could recognize since she knew his facial expressions better than her court ladies. "Have you created the pot making that wonderful sound, swineherd?"
Arnold nodded at the princess' question, deciding it would be in her and his own best interest to pretend not to have spoken to Helga before this day. She looked towards his house, closing her eyes and listening to the melody. The tune even sounds like the way I play it… She observed and smiled at Arnold.
"How much will you take for the instrument?" she asked and shock overtook Arnold's face. He had not expected her to wish to buy it from him; he had only wanted her attention if even for a moment, after all.
"You can have it, your majesty. Consider it a present." Arnold answered and stood up, about to walk inside.
Helga was baffled; a swineherd was surely poor and yet he would give his pot away? "N-No." she insisted and he looked at her questioningly. "I am the emperor's daughter and you are a poor swineherd. Certainly there is something I can give you?"
Helga would never admit that she truly wanted to give the swineherd something, no matter what. It was not only due to the financial difference between them, but also because she wished to apologize for her behavior the last days, where she had ignored him. He had meant no harm, she knew that, but he created feelings inside her that did not befit a princess, especially not if such feelings were for a swineherd.
Helga could see that he was surprised at her insistence and she couldn't blame him; she could even feel the eyes of her court ladies gawk at the back of her head. Arnold was in deep thought for a moment. "There is only one thing I wish from you, your highness." He said, knowing that he would soon be walking on thin ice. This price could damage any possible chance he had with her, but he wanted it more than any gold she could offer and not because he had plenty of his own.
Helga nodded, silently asking Arnold what his price was. "I wish for permission… to kiss the princess' cheek." He answered. The court ladies behind Helga gasped, some of them uttering words of disgust and others were giggling maliciously; those were the court ladies who disliked the princess the most. Helga herself seemed frozen to the spot. Only when Phoebe touched her shoulder, she seemed to come back to the Earth.
"You are trying to make a fool of me." Helga stated, but he shook his head.
"A kiss on the cheek, my princess, and the pot will be yours." He answered and bowed for her.
"To offer a princess such a dangerous price!" Helga hissed and turned her back to him, her court ladies following her dutifully. The nerve! Helga thought, hoping that her flushed cheeks were safely hidden behind her hand.
The sound of the pot caused the princess to halt though. She turned to look at the swineherd again, a look of distinguished innocence and hope on his face. The expression made her look at her court ladies, her lips turning to two thin lines in deep though.
She pointed accusingly at them. "Hold out your skirts and stand around us so no one can see." She ordered and the ladies gasped and giggled as they followed her back to the pigsty. I must have gone mad! The pot is not that special. Helga thought and yet she approached the pigsty and put her hands on the fence, trying to rest them casually, but her nails were digging in the back of her hand painfully. "I accept your price."
Arnold was incapable of hiding his happiness and that made Helga blush even more. He leaned towards her, but she quickly pulled out her handkerchief from her chest pocket inside her dress and put it over his mouth.
"At least wipe your face first before you kiss a princess' cheek! You are filthy to say the least." She said and Arnold wiped his mouth and cheeks as bidden.
Helga's face scrunched when she saw how dirty her handkerchief had gotten and offered it to a court lady who looked just as disgusted as Helga did, but took it obediently. Helga then took a deep breath and closed her eyes, waiting patiently for a kiss she was unsure how she felt about. She felt his breath on her cheek before a pair of warm lips placed themselves on her pearly-white skin, which grew red and hot at the feeling.
When the mouth disappeared, the princess blinked and looked at the owner of the lips. The swineherd was smiling childishly, which almost felt contagious, but she managed to hold her smile back.
"The pot is yours, princess." Arnold said and bowed for her.
"It most certainly is!" she said and was about to walk inside the pigsty to retrieve it, but a pig walked in front of her and she jumped back in revulsion.
"I shall get it." Arnold said and walked into his house, snickering behind his hand.
Helga felt a hand pat her shoulder and she turned to see a court lady holding a clean handkerchief in her hand. "You misfortunate creature! Forced to kiss a swineherd of all people." She said and wiped Helga's cheek gently, but firmly.
"She could have chosen to threaten him to have him fired instead." Another court lady pointed out and Helga's eyes narrowed at her words.
"Are you patronizing my choice?" she asked and the court lady instantly curtsied, apologizing for her words. "Remember." Helga said in a harsh tone. "I am the emperor's daughter. No one must know about this day."
To Arnold's disappointment, Helga didn't return to her usual habit of joining him for the day as he had hoped. He was certain he had seen a well-hidden happiness on her face after he had kissed her. If he had felt anything else, he would have given up and gone home, but he knew he still had a chance. Therefore, he decided to make another instrument that could charm her. He made a rattle, which, when turned quickly around, played all the waltzes, gallops, and polkas known since the creation of the world. Once the princess and her court ladies could be seen near the pigsty again, he swung the rattle to the amusement of even the pigs.
Helga's ears perked up at the sound and she looked towards the swineherd. "I have never heard such a wonderful composition." She said in awe and smiled at the swineherd who was smiling at the pigs. He cares so much for those pigs… She observed and heard Phoebe talk to her.
"I have never heard of a rattle who could make such a sweet sound. It is even rarer than the pot, your majesty." She said and Helga shot her an annoyed look.
"Are you trying to push me towards the swineherd?" she asked in a whisper.
The girl looked at her innocently. "I am only pointing out that I am sure you will find pleasure in the rattle." She said and curtsied.
Helga didn't believe her, but her interest was definitely piqued. "Go and ask him what he wants for the instrument." She ordered and Phoebe curtsied again before heading towards the pigsty. "But no kissing!" she hissed when she noticed that her mother and father were standing nearby, talking to the lord chamberlain. She didn't have their attention at all, but she didn't want to take any chances.
Helga watched as Phoebe talked to the swineherd and her face was visibly paled when she returned. "He wants… He wants a kiss." She whispered and the court ladies gasped, giggled and groaned.
"He wants to kiss my cheek again?" Helga asked with a frown of embarrassment on her face.
"No." Phoebe replied and shook her head.
"He wants me to kiss him?" Helga asked, hearing the court ladies groan at the mere thought, but Phoebe shook her head again. "But you said…?" Helga questioned and leaned closer to her.
Phoebe put her mouth near her ear. "He wants a real kiss." She whispered. The court ladies had all leaned as close as physically possible in order to hear what Phoebe had said and so they all gasped when they heard her answer.
"What a naughty swineherd!" one of them bellowed and noticed the emperor's curious stare. She nodded in his direction and pretended that everything was as it should be, but the emperor still watched them in wonder.
Helga scowled in the swineherd's direction, especially when he smiled at her. The nerve! She thought. "You truly mean that he is asking for my lips?" she asked in incredulity and Phoebe nodded in apology, but Helga noticed the smile on her face. She turned to look at her court ladies. "Cover us." She whispered.
The women squealed in excitement as they followed their princess to the pigsty, forgetting all about the emperor and the empress nearby. "What is all the commotion?" the emperor questioned and his empress looked towards her daughter.
"Why would she go to the pigsty?" she wondered aloud and frowned at her husband who frowned back. "Perhaps we should keep an eye on her?" she suggested and her husband nodded in agreement.
"I'd say your price for a rattle is rather high, don't you think?" Helga asked when she had approached Arnold. She put her hands on the fence and he did the same thing. He would have preferred to put his hands atop of hers though, but he knew that would be too bold. She was already displeased with him after all.
"Ask your lips, I am sure they will tell you it is not all that bad." He replied with a smirk that made her heart skip a beat.
All Helga could do was frown, too many contrasting feelings flowing around inside her. She watched him intensely as he leaned closer to her, his eyes gradually closing. She finally caved in and leaned closer to him as well, closing her eyes expectantly.
"What in heaven's name is going on?!"
Helga gasped loudly and turned towards the voice she knew could only belong to one person. The court ladies gasped as well and curtsied deeply for the emperor who looked murderous.
"Oh, no." Arnold said and jumped over the fence to stand in front of Helga. "Your majesty, let me explain." He begged and bowed before him before Helga curtsied as well.
"There is nothing to explain! Daughter, what a shameful action! To kiss a swineherd!" the emperor shouted and walked past the court ladies.
Helga stepped back, noticing how Arnold was following her and making sure to shield her. "Your highness, I forced your daughter to kiss me. Lay your anger on me and not her!" he begged and Helga looked at him in shock. Why is he protecting me? She wondered, but the thought quickly lost her attention.
"It seemed to me that the princess was leaning just as much into the kiss as you did." The empress said and crossed her arms.
"I… I…" Helga said, looking pleadingly at her court ladies for help, but what could they do?
"Get out!" the emperor said and pointed at the gates.
"What?!" Helga said in shock and took a step back.
"Get out of my palace! Your grubby behavior does not befit a princess! Get out!" the emperor ordered.
"If you think you can defy us as you please, think again!" the empress continued.
Helga's shocked face turned angry. "You have told me to do as I please so I can learn how to rule the country, but when I don't follow your rules, you tell me to forget that lesson?!" she yelled and saw that her father's face was now red with anger.
"Get out!" he roared and Helga turned around. She felt someone take her hand and before she knew it, she and the swineherd were running out of the kingdom together.
Author's 2nd note: Ah, a mean place to end it I am sure. (Hee-hee) Do not fret! The next chapter will be up tomorrow ;) In the meantime, please leave a review to tell me what you think :D As always you are all more than welcome to draw perhaps a cover for this.