Bianca.

Three and a half years before the curse on the castle.

Lady Bianca Knox strode down the long dark hallway with her head as high as she could get it. The courtiers that lined the corridor gave her small bows and curtsies in deference, but she paid them no heed. On her face, she kept a polite smile, practically plastered on.

She would not tell them anything.

She would not give anything away.

Her mask stayed on her face, fooling the world around her into thinking everything was fine.

That couldn't be much further from the truth.

Her silk dress billowed behind her, catching the air as she rapidly made her way toward the room she had been summoned to. Initially, she had wanted to just come in the comfortable trousers she had just been wearing, but this was all about putting on a show for all of the gossipers and snakes in the court. So reluctantly, she had changed into a flowing blue dress. Her dark raven hair was braided back out of her eyes, and on her hand lay a beautiful ruby ring.

Her mother's ring.

Ever since her mother had passed away, she had kept it. It felt like bringing some part of her along with Bianca everywhere she went. Bianca had developed the habit of twisting it around her little finger whenever she was agitated or scared; and the whole court knew it.

Which is why she was making a conscious effort not to touch it right now. Even when every single fibre of her being told her to.

The doors at the end of the corridor opened, with all the usual pomp and ceremony.

If there was one thing she didn't need right then, it was that.

The doors to his antechambers were flung open, and some young page boys gave her a low bow. Bianca strode through into the room and the doors closed with a large boom behind her.

The ante chamber was dark and deserted. Bianca let her demeanour drop.

She didn't want to be here, she never wanted to be here.

Her fingers itched to touch that ring which lay on her finger. Out of sight of prying eyes, she let herself grab it. Her hand shook and she twisted the ring around her finger back and forth.

A long sigh flew out of her lips.

She had to stay strong. There was no other way to get through this.

Reaching forwards, she pushed the door to the bed chamber open. Light flooded into the darkened room, displaying the flurry of activity that was happening in the main room.

Maids and footmen ran back and forth, moving cloths and buckets out of the way of the bed and replacing them quickly.

Bianca took a step forward, and the servants moved out of her way, like they always did. She walked confidently up to the large four poster bed that lay in the centre of the room.

Tangled in the sheet, lay a man. A man she knew very well. A man she loved with all her heart.

He retched over the side of the bed, clutching at his stomach, as he emptied the contents of his guts into the waiting bucket.

Moaning he turned back over, and Bianca was able to see the sweat falling over his brow, running down his neck. Below his nose, a trickle of dark red ruby blood ran down his face, dropping onto the bed sheets. The blood pooled and stained and spread.

Bianca tried to move her eyes away from it, watching it slowly spread across the fabric in a vein like fashion. The dark red spot grew ever larger and larger, and Bianca felt like she was being pulled closer and closer towards it.

The man retched again, and she snapped out of her daze. Her eyes lifted from the bed to the door on the far side of the room, the one that was firmly closed.

She wasn't even there.

'Move that out of the way, NOW!' a loud voice shouted from across the room. Bianca's head snapped towards the source of the sound.

Cold grey eyes met hers, sending a shiver of hate down her spine.

So, she was here.

She had deigned her dying husband to be important enough to see.

How she made Bianca sick.

Tearing her gaze away from the horrid woman, Bianca made her way to the bedside, and knelt next to her father.

Taking his calloused sweaty hand in her own, she attempted to bring some comfort to him. He didn't seem to take any notice, moaning and writhing in pain.

A young maid tapped her gently on the shoulder, and offered her a cold damp cloth. Taking it her hand, too distracted to thank the girl, she placed on her father's brow. He shook his head slightly, probably from the fever, and gibberish words fell from his lips.

'I'm here father, I'm here.' Bianca whispered. He paid her no attention and continued to moan and twist in the sheets. More blood fell from his nose, staining the sheets. Dabbing at his forehead slightly, she tried to wipe away the sweat and sooth him a little.

It didn't work.

He convulsed and leaned forward, retching again. She moved his head so he was in line with the bucket, but nothing came out. Only more blood dripped from his nose, splattering onto the carpet. He moaned loudly, as bile dribbled out of his mouth.

'Oh, now he's got it all over the carpet.' His wife spat out. 'You incompetent idiots. Someone do something to help him, or at least clean the mess up.'

Bianca bit the inside of her cheek. Hate wasn't a good enough word to describe her feeling towards that woman.

Her father retched again, more bile running down his chin, and dripping it onto Bianca's silk dress. She didn't care one bit. She only wanted her father to be alright. Back to being healthy, and not throwing his guts up into a bucket.

'Bianca, get away from him. You're not helping him. Let the physician do what he has to do.'

Bianca fought down the urge to snarl at the bitch. She was not going to leave her father's side, not for anything. That evil, horrid woman was not going to stop her from caring for her father, as he lay dying.

No one had said the words yet. No one had dared speak 'dying'. But they all knew it. The word hung over the room likes clouds on a rainy day.

There was nothing to be done for him, other than to try and make him as comfortable as possible for his passing. The illness had been so sudden, only a few days before he had been hosting a court banquet in honour of his wife's birthday. Now, he was in a sorry state.

No one outside of the room knew the horrors that lay within. Bianca had tried her hardest not to let on. The court would panic if they knew what was happening, if they knew their duke was on his death bed.

Bianca had even had to keep it from her sister. She was too young, still only a child. Her sister had a kind soul. If she knew, she would have come running down the hallway and flung herself to his bedside, trying to comfort him.

Bianca couldn't allow that. If it was a fever, a disease, she couldn't risk her sister catching it as well. Scarlett was all the family she would have left after this claimed her father. Her stepmother definitely did not count as family; enemy was the word she would use. Losing one member of her family was where Bianca drew the line. She desperately didn't want her father to go, but she knew at this point there was no denying the inevitability of it.

Her father wretched again, this time vomit actually leaving his lips. His wife flinched in the corner of the room, as if it could reach her there. But Bianca simply held his hand as uncontrollably convulsed with the sheer force of the illness.

His hand started shaking, and he opened his eyes. Tears pooled there, clouding his hazel eyes, Bianca's eyes. She tried to smile, to reassure him that everything was going to be fine. But when she looked into her father's face, she could tell that he already knew.

He knew he wouldn't survive the night.

They all did.

Blinking away her own tears, she squeezed his hand gently.

'I love you father. And I'll take care of Scarlett, and the people.' She whispered. Her stepmother remained on the far side of the room and she desperately didn't want her to hear.

Her father looked like he was going to nod, but convulsed again, clutching at his stomach with his other hand. Bianca just stayed by his side, patiently.

The hours wore on, and the large clock in the room began to strike eleven. The Duke fell into a slumber like state, not quite asleep, but not conscious either. He gripped Bianca's hand tightly, unwilling to let go, even when he couldn't see her. Bianca's knees ached from kneeling for so long, but she didn't care. These were her father's last moments on this earth.

Her stepmother had long since left the room, claiming she didn't want to catch the disease he had. But Bianca stayed. She would stay all night if she had to.

The Duke's chest rose and fell slowly, lessening a little every time he took a breath. The maids had tried to get her to rest for a little bit, offering to take over her place at his bedside. She had refused them all.

Eventually, he settled into sleep, no longer tossing and turning. She knew it wouldn't be long. The room fell respectfully silent, most of the servants leaving them alone for a few moments of privacy. Just the useless physician and one footman remained, in case they were needed.

Leaning towards her father, Bianca placed a small kiss on his brow.

'I love you, I love you.' She said. 'I hope you see mother again. Tell her that I love her too, and tell her about how big Scarlett's getting. Scar loves you too, so very much.'

He didn't respond, and she had no clue as to if he had heard her. But it didn't matter, she just needed to say it.

'And I don't hate you for marrying that woman, it wasn't your fault, you weren't to know. I never told you, but I don't blame you. I love you father.'

His chest rose so little; she only knew he was still alive by the slow heart beat that thumped under her hand that she had placed on his chest.

Giving her father one last kiss, Bianca sat down on the floor next to the bed, not taking her hand out of her father's. She didn't care that she was sat in all the bile and blood that he had spewed everywhere. Rubbing the back of his hand gently, she watched as his chest stopped moving all together.

Bianca's world stopped moving.

Tears formed in her eyes without her even noticing it. They slipped from her eyes, down her cheek, and splattered on the floor, mixing in her father's blood.

The physician walked slowly around to the far side of the bed, and checked the Duke's other wrist.

No pulse.

Gently, he placed his wrist back down onto the bed and then he nodded to the footman stood in the corner, who left to inform the Duchess of the sad news.

Bianca sat frozen.

He was gone.

Her Father had just left the world.

Left her and her sister orphans.

The door burst open, and her stepmother entered with all the ceremony and bowing she was accustomed to. Striding up to the bed, careful of where she placed her precious silk slippers, she looked over her husband's corpse.

'Goodbye Thomas.' She said with no emotion, before she turned on Bianca.

Lowering her hand to the young woman, it was the first act of kindness Bianca had seen from her since she married her father. Bianca removed her hand from her fathers, placing it down in the sheets carefully. Then, she took her stepmother's hand, the two women sharing one brief moment of eye contact, before she was hoisted up off the ground.

They stood face to face, the orphan and the widow.

The old Duchess and the new one.

Bianca tried to pull her hand out of her stepmother's grasp, but she held on, just for a second. With a sharp jerk, Bianca felt her hand pull free. Then without saying another word, she turned on her heels, and left the room.

It stank of death and hatred.

Walking through the doors, Bianca failed to notice the small wicked smile that spread over her stepmother's face. She didn't see as her stepmother glanced down into her hand, to see a beautiful ruby ring, and hide it quickly. The doors closed behind Bianca, who was none the wiser as to what her stepmother had just taken.


Bianca made it back to her bed chamber without encountering any courtiers, a small miracle.

As soon as the door shut firmly behind her, she collapsed against the wood, sobs wracking her chest. She cried and she screamed and she sobbed, wishing her father was not dead.

The man she loved more than any other in the world was gone.

Dead.

He was never coming back.

She was his heir; she was the new Duchess of the region.

She didn't want to be.

All she wanted was her father back. She wanted him to sit her on his knee like he used to do when she was young. He had taught her to read and write, reading bedtime stories to her and then making her repeat the words. The story of Robin Hood was always one of her favourites. He had taught her about ruling the county, the taxes that needed to be collected and documented, how to run the household, how to solve petty debates amongst lowborns. Her father had always been fair when it came to ruling. He'd been kind to the lowborns who came to him seeking help, and he didn't turn them away when they were desperate.

That was, until she came along. That bitch.

Bianca picked herself off the floor of her bedchamber, and made her way to the bed. She was exhausted and grieving. Not even bothering to change out of the ruined silk dress, she collapsed onto the bed, and cried into her pillow. She soon succumbed to the tiredness she was feeling, and let sleep drift over her.

A sharp shake to her shoulder woke her.

'M'lady! M'lady, wake up!'

Someone was whispering in her ear urgently.

Bianca tried to swat them away, but they only tightened their grip on her arm.

'Lady Bianca, you need to wake up!'

Bianca reluctantly opened her eyes, still red and raw from crying. Outside, the moon and stars poured light onto the world. It was still night.

She'd only been asleep for a few hours at the most.

'M'lady, you need to go, now!'

Bianca turned to see Beth, her ladies maid shaking her, with fear in her wide eyes.

'Huh?' Bianca muttered.

'They're on their way now, you need to leave!' Beth whispered, pointing to the panel in the wood, the servants hidden entrance to her room.

'What?' Bianca ask sleepily.

'M'lady, I'm sorry. Your father, he wasn't sick. He was poisoned.' She said.

Bianca sprang up when she heard the words.

Poisoned?

He was murdered.

Someone had killed him.

'They found the poison in a broom cupboard, along with your mother's ring. They think you did it.'

Bianca's mouth fell open.

'I would never…' She began, rage rising in her voice.

'I know, but they're on their way here, to arrest you. Now!' Beth told her, her voice becoming more and more panicked.

Bianca shot out of the bed. Her hand instinctively went to her little finger of her left hand, only to find it empty.

Her mother's ring. It was gone.

She must have dropped it.

Or someone stole it.

Bianca's mind raced back through the last few hours. She had been wearing it when she entered the sickroom. She had been wearing it when he had died, but after that….

A bolt of understanding coursed through her.

Her stepmother. She had taken it.

She had stolen the ring when she had helped Bianca off the floor.

She had framed her.

That bitch had killed her husband, and Bianca's father.

Utter rage ran through Bianca. That evil, wicked, scheming whore! She was going to kill her the next time she saw her. She was going to make her feel every last bit of pain her father had felt as she murdered him.

'M'lady, you have to hurry. We need to get you out of the palace, now!'

Bianca snapped out of her hate consumed daze. Beth already had a bag in her hand, and a brown cloak. Bianca grabbed it from her, and made for the servant's passage. Beth followed, and closed the door behind her with a click. Only a few moments after they had disappeared through the door, footsteps sounded on the other side. The guards had entered Bianca's room.

But Bianca and Beth sprinted down the dark corridor, trying to get as much distance between themselves and that room. They had almost reached the end when Bianca stopped.

'Which way is it to Scarlett's room?' She asked.

Beth shook her head.

'We don't have time, you have to go, now.'

'Which way to Scarlett's room?' Bianca repeated, gritting her teeth as she did.

Beth looked conflicted for a moment, before pointing down a corridor to the right. 'Three doors that way.' She said.

Bianca didn't waste a second, before sprinting off in the direction Beth had pointed.

'Wait for me by the kitchen door. I'll be there in a few minutes. If I'm not, assume they got me.' Bianca whispered down the corridor. She didn't have time to turn around to see Beth nod and walk in the opposite direction.

Bianca knew this was a bad idea, and that it could cost her everything. But she was damned if she didn't say goodbye to the only family she had left.

She carefully counted three doors, before pushing open the filthy piece of wood that served as the servant's door.

The room was dark. No candles, no fire.

Bianca tiptoes carefully around the room, to the bed that lay in the centre.

A young girl with flaming red hair was curled up in the sheets, her blue blanket wrapped tightly around her.

Bianca's heart ached. She had to leave her. All because of that evil bitch, Bianca had to leave her only sister.

Placing a gentle hand on the young girl's shoulders, Bianca shook her awake.

'Scar, Scar, wake up.'

Scarlett's eyes fluttered open, and she rolled over to see her sister.

'Bianca? What's wrong?' She murmured.

'Scar, I have to go.'

'Go where?'

Scarlett pushed herself up onto her elbows and stared curiously at her sister.

'Father's dead, and Nerissa framed me for killing him.' Bianca told her.

Scarlett's eyes instantly filled with tears.

'What? Father? How?' She asked, her voice breaking.

'He was poisoned, by her. But she's coming to arrest me, so I have to go.'

'No..' was all Scarlett could say.

'I don't want to leave you, but if she catches me, she will kill me, do you understand?'

Scarlett nodded.

'But I don't want you to go.' She whispered.

Bianca swallowed the lump that was forming in her throat.

'I don't want to either. But I want you to know that whatever she says about me, I didn't do it.' Bianca told her. 'And I told father that you loved him, very much.'

Tears fell down her sister's face. Bianca's heart ached for the fourteen-year old.

'And I love you. More than anything. Please remember that.' Bianca said, feeling the tears run down her own face.

'I love you too.' Scarlett cried, a sob rising in her chest. She leaned forward and wrapped her arms around her sister. Bianca held onto her as tightly as she could.

'I love you. Be strong. I'll be back one day. We'll reclaim father's lands from her, and punish her for everything she's done.' Bianca whispered in Scarlett's ear.

Scarlett only nodded. Her tears dripped onto Bianca's shoulder.

Light began to shine under the door, and footsteps got ever closer and closer.

Bianca sprang out of her sister's arms, and ran back through the servant's door she had emerged from. Without looking back, she closed the door behind her and ran for her life.

Wiping away the tears that continued to fall, Bianca ran down the dark corridors, until she reached the kitchen.

It was deserted. All the servants had been in bed for hours. There was no fire, no candles, no lamps. Bianca made her way around the tables and chairs that were positioned by the fire, and headed for the door.

Beth was stood there, waiting.

'In there. You need to change.' She said, handing her the bag. Inside, Bianca saw that there was a fresh change of clothes, comfortable trousers, a simple white shirt, a tunic and some under things.

Bianca took the bag and walked into the room Beth had pointed to. She quickly stripped off her cloak and dress, and pulled on the shirt, trousers, and tunic, before wrapping the cloak back around her shoulders. She stepped out, and handed the ruined dress to Beth.

'You might want to burn that.' Bianca said.

'Don't worry, I will.' Beth told her.

Voices echoed around the kitchen from the rooms above. The guards knew she was trying to escape by now.

Beth pushed Bianca towards the door.

'I'll try and distract them for as long as possible. Run, and don't look back.' Beth whispered.

'Thank you. I owe you my life.' Bianca told her.

Beth nodded. 'It's been an honour, my lady. I wish you the best of luck.'

Bianca gave her a small smile through the tears.

'I'm glad to have known you Beth.' Bianca said.

Suddenly, the door at the top of the stairs clattered open, spilling light onto the kitchen below. Shadows of men in uniform fell down the stairs, and their footsteps echoed off the wood.

Immediately, Bianca took off, running through the open kitchen door and out into the dark night.

She sprinted down the servant's path through the gardens, making for the tree line. The edge of the gardens ended where the forest began, and Bianca ran as quickly as her body would let her, straight for the woods.

The cold wind whipped at her hair and skin, but she paid it no heed. She had to keep running. Get to the trees.

Once she passed the line, she darted between trees, staying off any paths, determined to get as much distance between herself and the palace. Tears clouded her eyes as she ran further and further away from her home, her sister. From her father's body.

Hours passed, and she didn't stop running.

She had to get away.

As far away as possible.

Keep running, get somewhere safe.

Bianca didn't stop running until the break of dawn, when the sky began to slowly lighten and the sun peaked over the edge of the horizon. The birds awoke and filled the air with their lovely song, and Bianca wanted to kill them for it. She slowed to a walk, unable to keep up her pace any longer. The sun climbed higher and higher into the sky, until it could be seen through the leaves of the trees.

Exhausted, grieving, upset and pissed off, Bianca slumped onto the ground, leaning against an old large tree.

She wept.


AN: Hi Everyone.

Seeing as though it is my birthday today, I'm giving you all a little treat.

After being inspired by a review I got, I decided to write these stories to hopefully give you a little more backstory to some of the characters from Marion's world. I've had these written in bullet point form for a long time, but never actually wrote the stories.

I realise that this story in particular might not make sense now, but if you bear with me, things should begin to make themselves clearer by the time you read part 3 of Marion's story. There are character one shots in here that explain the back story to people you haven't met yet, so please just trust me that it will make sense, eventually .

All reviews and comments are gratefully recieved, so please leave one; if you feel so inclined. ( just to remind you that it is my birthday, and reviews would make amazing presents...)

Part 3 will be up soon, I promise. I'm over halfway done, so it won't be long now.

Thank you all for reading this series, and I hope you all continue to enjoy it as much as I have done.

generic-fangirl.