A.N The three ages in this chapter are 8, 13, and 15.


My Past


The young girl ran through the field, skipping along the grass. Her long blonde hair whipped up, spinning in the light breezy air. It was one of the first days of summer and Brittany was enjoying the sun.

"Miss Pierce!" her nanny called from behind her, trying to catch up with the energetic and bubbly girl. She held a basket and toys in her arms stumbling on the hem of her skirt. With a yelp the older woman toppled over, rolling in the green grass.

Brittany twirled around, running backwards and giggling at the clumsy old woman. She held her shoes in one hand, loving the feeling of the soil underneath her toes. She felt at home outdoors and was a common occurrence to find the eldest Pierce girl running from supervision.

Bursting into the set of trees she took her usual path, climbing over a small abandoned stone wall and tearing through into a meadow with a small pound sitting at the far edge. She let out a contented sigh, closing her eyes for a moment, letting the wind run through her hair. The grass was higher on her legs, reaching to about mid-calf. Small insects buzzed along their way and a rabbit hopped into a near bush.

"Miss Pierce!" a shriek came from behind her.

Brittany looked behind her shoulder. Her eyes widened as she heard the bulldozing of small twigs and branches. Her nanny approached her at a surprising fast speed. She jumped forward, running to the large oak tree that hung over the small pond. She didn't waste any time, disposing her shoes in a bush and leaping onto the tree, scrambling up it. She had grown accustomed to climbing the tree and knew where to place her feet and hands. Making it to the second rather thick branch, she stopped ducking under the leaves. Her seething nanny exploded through the trees, twigs and shrubbery stuck in her red hair.

Brittany ducked her face into her elbow, letting a quiet giggle. Looking around, the mad woman took off in another direction, looking for her. When she thought she was in the clear, Brittany dropped from the tree, landing softly on the balls of her feet.

She walked to the edge of the pond, looking over the glistening water. She was only there for a few minutes before she heard a soft whimper and sniffle. Brittany spun around looking at the seemingly empty clearing.

"Hello?" her soft voice called out.

The noise stopped for a minute before it began again, this time a bit louder. Brittany cocked her head to the side and followed the noise. She found a pair of berry bushes. The sound was coming from the other side. Pushing away the clumps of leaves she looked to the ground and found a small girl. Deep brown eyes looked up at her, frightened at having being discovered in her hiding spot.

"Hey, there," Brittany whispered, noticing the glimmering tears falling from the girl's tanned skin. "What are you doing sitting down there?"

Her clothes looked dirty She was wearing a pair of boy's pants and a loose shirt. Brittany's eyes sparkled down at her in curiosity. She had never seen a girl with such dark skin before. Her long dark hair was slightly matted with branches and greenery twisted within. Her lips were cracked, her eyes full of wonder as she stared up at the blonde.

"Why are you sitting in the dirt?" Brittany asked again.

The girl puckered her lips, pulling her bottom one into her mouth. "M-my family…" she stuttered, before collapsing into tears again.

Brittany crouched down, kneeling beside the girl that looked to be the same age as her and wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

"My mother tells me that whenever I am sad the best thing to do is place your tongue on the top of your mouth and try to sing."

The girl gurgled looking at the bright blue eyes. "W-what?" she asked, confused.

Brittany lifted a finger motioning the girl to watch. She placed her tongue on the roof of her mouth

"Wring awround the wroses…" Brittany slurred her voice coming out in a muffled mess. She nudged the girl. "You try." She smiled.

The darker girl took to her instruction opening her mouth and trying to sing out a ballad. When it only came out as a mumbled sort of duck noise she let out a small giggle. "That's silly."

"See?" Brittany grinned, proud of herself. "It makes you laugh even when you are sad."

The darker girl quirked a smile, her tears finally drying from her eyes. Brittany looked down and when she spotted something on the girls arm, her eyes grew.

"What happened?" she asked, pointing down to the large cut on her elbow.

The Latina looked down, following her pointed finger. "I fell," she explained, shrugging it off.

"You need to clean up the wound," Brittany said, standing up and brushing the dirt from her light dress. "Here, I'll help you!"

She helped her smaller friend stand up, pushing away the bush so they were back in the meadow. The sun now blistered down on the pair, heat coming across in waves. "We'll use the pond," Brittany grinned, leading the girl underneath the shade of the great oak at the edge of the water. She took the hem of her dress submerging it under water making sure that is was wet, before gently squeezing out any extra water. The Latina looked down at the cut, examining it quietly. She had worse, but the blonde seemed to be persistent on cleaning it.

She brought the girl's wounded arm closer to her body, picking her dress up and rubbing it over the dirty cut. Santana hissed, the pressure stinging.

"It only hurts for a little," Brittany promised. "Whenever I hurt myself my mother does this."

Brittany began to hum, her eyes watching her work carefully. The smaller girl however was focused on the blonde's face. Her features looked a bit boyish, dirt smudged onto her cheek, but her long blonde hair looked far softer and silkier then her own. She was used to people not treating her nicely, and couldn't understand why the girl was the exception.

"What's your name?" Brittany asked, looking up at her through her lashes.

"S-Santana."

"My name is Brittany," she beamed, "Where are your mother and father, Santana?"

Santana looked around weary, her blood running cold. "They got t-taken away."

Brittany sensed her companion's apprehension and decided against diving any further into the subject. She finally finished cleaning the cut, running her dress back into the water, washing the blood from the fabric. Mother would be angry with her later. She had followed everything that her mother did to her when she was hurt. She made her stop crying, cleaned the cut…

"Does it still hurt?" Brittany asked, her fingers fluttering over it.

"It stings a bit," Santana admitted, wincing when the blonde's fingers came in contact.

"My mother always kisses my injuries to make the pain go away," Brittany murmured. "Would you like me to kiss you?"

Santana was silent for a moment, measuring the other girl up. Her mother used to do that as well. Santana nodded shyly, holding her arm out. Instead of taking her arm, the blonde dove in, her lips landing softly on the other girl's lips in a whisper of a kiss. Santana sat stunned when the girl leaned back. She was not expecting that. Santana couldn't help but feel her stomach twist and turn, her eyes watching Brittany as she stood, stretching her arms over her head.

"Honestly, Emma!" a shout came from the edge of the meadow. Brittany whipped her head back, her eyes large. She could easily recognise her mother's tone anywhere. "How can you lose a small child?"

The fair girl gazed back at Santana, her eyes worried. She remembered the last time her family found a stray on their property…

"You should go," she whispered urgently.

Santana must have heard the noise too because she was already scrambling up. "Thank you," she whispered, ducking behind a bush just as a tall skinny woman came bustling through the trees. Her nanny kept up, trying to stay at her side, a young servant boy to her left.

"Brittany, dear!" she called out. "Get over here!"

Santana crouched in the shrubbery, watching as her blonde friend disappeared, hiking back across the meadow. She took one last lingering glance at her, before spinning around and dashing through the forest, looking for somewhere to stay.

"Brittany!" her mother screeched. Brittany jumped, running the rest of the distance to the angry woman, "How many times do I have to tell you, do not run away from Emma!"

She bowed her head, looking at the grass sheepishly. "I'm sorry, Mother."

Emma looked down at the girl, her eyes narrowing. She was a handful and had gotten her into trouble multiple times.

"Look at your dress!" her mother gasped. "It looks like you have been crawling in mud!"

"I had to help the girl, Mother."

"Girl?"

"There was a girl, she was hurt… I had to clean her cut like you do if I hurt myself," Brittany explained, slightly scared at her mother's tone.

"What was her name, dear?"

Brittany muttered under her breath, her eyes still strained on her bare feet.

"Dear, what have I told you about muttering?"

"Santana, Mother," Brittany said more clearly.

Her mother was taken aback, her eyes narrowing over Brittany's shoulder as though she would be able to spot the darker girl. News travelled fast in the small kingdom, and she knew the Lopez family were no saints. Elizabeth would be damned if her daughter was caught with such a girl at a young age.

"You must not talk to her again," she demanded. "If you see her again run home."

"Yes, Mother," Brittany whispered.

"Now, come. Emma will give you a bath to get rid of all those twigs in your hair."

Emma placed a hand on her back ushering her forward. Brittany glanced over her shoulder one last time looking over the clearing, right as she was about to step into the trees she saw a pair of dark eyes peering from a bush. They locked eyes for a moment before Brittany was pulled away.

/

It had been years and neither girl had seen each other. Brittany had finally gone through puberty, spiking up a few inches and rounding out, much to her mother's pleasure.

"Finally all the young men will be able to see you as the beauty you are."

She knew her mother had the best intentions at heart. But sometimes Brittany felt like some pretty necklace to be sold to the highest bidding lord. She was dolled up and polished to uphold the legacy of the Pierce name.

Brittany looked into the mirror, moving her hips back and forth.

"Stop that," Emma scowled. "Leave the dancing for the party tonight."

Brittany frowned, looking back at the green dress. She let out a gasp as Emma pulled at the strings on the back of her dress.

"I hear the young boy Evans is turning into a handsome man."

Brittany pinched the cotton between her fingers, looking over her shoulder. "Is that so?"

"Look straight!" Emma cried. "Yes, he plans to follow in his grandfather's footsteps and become a knight of the kingdom. Not a bad pay if he is honorable."

"Indeed," Brittany sighed.

She cringed when Emma pulled at her weak blonde hair, braiding it into a tight braid. "That hurts!" she complained.

"You'll be thanking me when you get your church bells," she muttered. "You wouldn't want to end up like me now, would you?"

Brittany grumbled under her breath, wincing as she pulled at her hair.

Brittany glided across the floor, her eyes staring across the room at the buzzing people. She walked to the refreshment table, grazing her finger along the white tablecloth, her eyes dancing on the designs. She let out a sigh, her boredom mounting. She usually loved events such as this because it allowed her to dance and be free of proper and adequate behavior. But that was before. Now that she had become a woman, she was expected to act differently. To wait for a male partner to dance with, to stand up straight, refrain from sitting…it was all a little much.

She peered around the room, finding the young blonde Evans boy slipping from the front door. Curious, Brittany walked to the door, her eyes following where the boy had disappeared.

"Miss Pierce!" a voice shouted. "You look beautiful this evening." She looked to her right recognizing Count Abrams walking to her side.

"Thank you, Count," she bowed

"Have you seen my boy?" he asked, pointing to a small boy. Brittany looked across his shoulder. The boy looked small, definitely not a warrior of any type. She wouldn't be surprised if she were taller than him.

"He wishes to have a dance with you before the end of the night,"

"Of course," she nodded. "It would be my pleasure."

"Excellent," he grinned. "I must take my leave." He picked up her hand and placed a soft kiss on it. "Till next time, Miss Pierce."

She curtsied, returning to her previous mission. She walked out into the dark night, looking around and to her dismay found no sight of the boy. Giving a defeated sigh, she decided to head back in. It was then when she saw the small flicker of light in the corner of her eye. Her eyebrows pinched together straining her eyes to look through the night air. She hiked her dress up and walked quickly across the grass. She recognised a silhouette of a small building, probably a barn, as she neared it. She ducked behind a patch of small bushes and peered around them. Sam stood at the foot of the barn holding out a tray.

"Here," he grumbled. "It's all I could sneak out."

"Thank you, Sam," another voice said. Two delicate hands reached out grabbing the food.

"I'm sorry they won't let you come," he mumbled.

There was a moment of silence, before a young lady stepped out beside Sam. She smiled, waving him off. "It's fine. I can understand," she said quietly. "I wouldn't want someone like me at a fancy party either, with my family's reputation and all."

"It will change," Sam said forcefully. "Once you are knighted."

"If I am knighted."

"You will be," Sam said stubbornly, "After how you saved Princess Berry, she would be a fool to not have you by her side."

"She cannot appoint knights. Only her father can."

"He is old. Surely his time-"

"Sam!" the girl hissed. "To talk like that, it's treason!"

Sam stood silent for a while, deep in thought. "If you do not get appointed, I will not either."

"Don't be a fool, Sam," she sighed.

"Am I being a fool?" he asked. "If a fool stands by his honourable and loyal friend then yes, I am a fool."

"It's impossible."

"It's not!"

"I am a woman!" she hissed.

"You could beat half the grown men in that room in a duel."

"And not a well-respected woman," she finished.

"Your parents' bad decisions should not affect your reputation."

"And yet it does."

"I will find a way," Sam murmured. "You will be knighted with me at my side." he said, ending the conversation. "I have to go. Mother will be wondering where I am."

"Of course. Go, go," she shooed him. "Have fun dancing with all the pretty girls." He took one last worried glance before jumping away and jogging back to his party.

Santana let out a sigh, returning to the barn and closing the door. She shifted in her shirt, the material itching at her skin. Grumbling, she moved to the pile of hay, reaching beside it for a more comfortable shirt.

Brittany moved through the bush, looking through a window. Santana picked up a brown shirt, running the material through in her fingers. She knew her. Her dark skin, the raven hair…she remembered. She was the girl she had helped. The girl she had….oh.

Santana hooked her hands under the hem of her shirt and tearing it from her body, tossing it into a corner. Brittany gasped, her eyes transfixed on the girl. She couldn't look away. This was wrong. She shouldn't be looking. Everything about the situation was horribly, horribly wrong. But Brittany couldn't help it. Her eyes ran down the length of her body hungrily. Something deep within her stirred, causing her to twitch.

Sensing eyes on her, Santana looked back out the window finding two deep blue eyes glowing cat like at her. She let out a squeal tugging the shirt on quickly. What pervy bastard spies on a lady? Brittany jumped up ready to run when the door was ripped open. She had nowhere to go. The Latina would be able to catch her. Brittany could hardly run in the silly tight dress.

Attempting it, she leapt from the confines of the bushes, only to be stopped an instant later by a hand. She was spun around meeting the dark eyes she had dreamed of. Santana choked on her words, coming in contact with something that wasn't what she was expecting. The face, the soft features… they were different, but the similarities were still there.

"Oh," Santana whispered

"I-I'm sorry, I-I…" Brittany stumbled backwards, "I-I didn't mean to…"

Santana reached out. This was the girl who had helped her the day her parents…

"Brittany, right?" she asked, looking the girl up and down.

She couldn't believe she actually remembered her! But she had just caught her spying on her, watching her as she undressed… Brittany had to escape. She would ruin her family's name. Her mother would never look at her again.

"I have to go," she rushed out, spinning around and stumbling away.

Santana could have followed her, could have caught up with her. Yelled at her for watching her in such an inappropriate way, but she was glued to the ground. Those blue eyes… Her stomach pinched tightly, her eyes watching the retreating form of the girl. She was taller now, much taller than Santana. Her boyish features as a child had softened out. She was…beautiful. Santana stood stunned, finally finding the energy to gulp loudly. Turning around, she padded back into her makeshift home still wrapped up in her mind.

Brittany returned to the party in a heap. Her mother spotted her from across the room. She politely excused herself from the conversation walking to Brittany.

"Dear, the Abrams son is waiting for you."

"Mother, I need to leave, I feel ill," Brittany stuttered.

Her stomach rolled, her face draining of all colour. Her mother looked over her once, noticing that her face did look faint, "Of course, I'll just tell the Evans we have to leave and get your father. You can meet us in the carriage."

Nothing about Brittany's exit was proper. She did not bid the hosting couple farewell, nor dance with any young gentlemen. But at that moment she could only think of how she had to get away. How long would it be until Santana told everyone, told everyone that she had watched her undress?

After leaving the party that night, Brittany waited. Waited for her mother to come storming into her room in anger. She waited for the whispers or the rumors, but nothing came. After a few months, Brittany allowed herself to relax but promised herself she would not return to the Evans manor again in fear of spotting the darker Latina.

/

It was a few years later when the Pierce family were invited to the first female knighting. Brittany should have realised the obvious truth. She should have remembered the conversation between Santana and Sam that eventful evening, realizing that she would encounter the Latina in the ceremony. She should have connected the dots, but at strain from her mother and school, her mind had no room left to speculate.

It was the evening of a full moon when they arrived at the castle. It seemed that the whole kingdom had been invited. Being the first knighting of the new Queen and the first female knight in general caused the kingdom to buzz with excitement.

Brittany stepped out of the carriage looking around at the large castle. She had only been here one other time to see Queen Berry's coronation. She still felt in awe over the architecture, walking in with a crowd through the large gates. Strolling inside she could see everyone she had ever meet and then some more she hadn't. It was a frenzy of energy, some not so positive.

"It's absolutely ridiculous!" a large man blubbered. "A female night! I thought the day would never come. It's a disgrace to this kingdom and its people."

"How am I supposed to feel safe while a woman holds a sword?"

"Hello, gentlemen," a light voice said.

"Your Majesty!" they gasped, bowing deeply.

Brittany stood to the side, bowing down more elegantly to the regal Queen. After the tragic death of her father, she had been put on the throne with hardly any time to mourn before she was up and ruling her kingdom.

Her mother was shocked to find a girl the same age of her own daughter in charge of the entire kingdom, and not even with a husband. Brittany found it inspiring.

"Are you all excited to see the new knights?" she asked looking around at them.

"Yes, Your Majesty," a man gushed.

"Very delighted. I was just saying it's about time a woman was able to pick up a sword," another continued politely.

The Queen smiled, her eyes glancing over the men pleasantly. She turned to look at the beautiful blonde.

"What is your name, my dear?" she asked

"Brittany Pierce, Your Majesty."

"Are you thirsty, Brittany?" she asked. "Would you like to accompany me for a glass of wine?" She held out her hand.

Brittany nervously swallowed. She was about to touch the Queen. She was about to drink wine with the Queen!

"Of course, Your Majesty," Brittany smiled politely, placing her hand on top of the brunette's and walking through the crowd.

"Men are ignorant," the Queen scoffed. "As if they think I am so dim-witted to not know that they are spitting acid at my back. "

"They fear change," Brittany added

"Hmm," she pondered. "A very wise friend once told me that change can be so good," she smiled. "That it can, at times, be better than traditions. What do you think, Brittany? Is tradition or change better?"

Brittany tucked in her lower lip, trying to think of a suitable answer. "I believe tradition comforts the heart but change can make the heart grow."

The queen studied her, her eyes following the interesting girl. "Very thoughtful. Perhaps one day you will be that wise friend."

The rest of the night flew by until, at last, the Queen stood on a high stage, looking over her guests. A man jumped up onto the stage, dressed in the finest silk.

"Men and women of this kingdom, I present Queen Berry!" he called out, his voice echoing across the room. "Long live the Queen!"

"Long live the Queen!" the crowd yelled back.

The man stepped back, placing his hands in front of him.

"Will Samuel Evans and Santana Lopez please step forward?" she called, her hand placed lightly on a large glimmering sword.

Brittany's heart dropped, the name stabbing in her mind. She could feel her insides turn cold as she looked over finding two figures walk onto the stage, their heads bowed down. Brittany could feel her heartbeat pick up, her breathing uneven. How could she be so stupid?

"Kneel!"

Sam and Santana both obeyed the instruction, kneeling down in front of the Queen and her court, their heads bowed down. What if Santana saw her? What is she recognized her?

"You kneel as Samuel Evans, a noble man's son. You will rise as Sir Knight Evans, protector of this realm and its people." she called out, tapping Sam's shoulders with the sword.

She turned to Santana looking down at her, "You kneel as Santana Lopez, a daughter of traitors. You will rise as Lady Dame Lopez, protector of this realm and its people."

"You both have the responsibility of making a new reputation of your own. Let honor and strength guild you. Raise my knights!"

There was a thundering of applause as the two stood up. "Hozza!" a large roar came.

Santana looked over the crowd, pride grasping every nerve. She couldn't show it though; she had to look strong, powerful in front of them. She couldn't give them the satisfaction of seeing her feelings, she would make sure they didn't doubt her. She would prove to these people that she was a fine and mighty knight. She promised herself that.

Looking over the crowd she saw some of the familiar faces of the market. Her eyes skidded across until they focused on two blue eyes. Her movements faltered, looking back to find a tall standing girl. Her breath was sucked from her chest, her body feeling like ice. It was her…

Brittany felt her previous panic mount again as she realized Santana had spotted her. She knew it was her. What before felt like a luxury castle now felt like a prison.

Santana and Sam stepped down, a new crest on their chests. They circled the crowd, Santana keeping an eye out for the blonde. Brittany was doing everything in her power to hide away from the Dame, ducking behind pillars and engaging in different random conversations. But she could not evade her forever.

Brittany backed up, convinced that the dark head of hair in front of her was Santana. Not watching where she was going, she bumped into someone.

"I'm so sorry," she exclaimed, turning around. When she saw who she had bumped into though, she felt her heart sink.

"If I knew any better, I would think you were trying to avoid me," Santana laughed, holding a mug of beer.

Brittany bit her lip, looking to the ground. "I-I…"

"Look I'm not going to tell anyone," she husked, looking around. "I have larger problems than a perverted girl watching me change."

"I was not watching," Brittany bit back.

Santana cocked an eyebrow, taking a swig of her beer. "Right, you just always find yourselves in bushes, looking through a person's barn window?"

Brittany tried to think of a retort but her tongue was in a knot, her eyes looking at the darker girl intently. She was so beautiful, so breathtakingly beautiful. No, no. She couldn't think like that! It was wrong, it was sinful, it was…

Santana stuck her tongue out briefly wetting her lower lip, wiggling her eyebrows, waiting for a reply from the blonde. "Cat got your tongue?"

After that, there was a longer silence and Santana sighed, shrugging her shoulders. "Look, call it even. You helped me out before so I won't ever mention it again. It's forgotten."

She helped her? Brittany then remembered as a young child patching her cut.

"Good," Brittany nodded. "Congratulations, Lady Dame."

"Thank you."

"Dame!" a loud voice yelled. "Come over here."

Santana looked past her shoulder before glancing back at Brittany. "Until our paths cross again, my lady."

Brittany found herself gasp slightly at her wording. Watching as she bowed to her before walking towards her friend, Brittany could not help but feel a cold wave of relief. She hoped she wouldn't have to see the dark beauty anytime soon, not entirely trusting her self-control around her.

She was no longer scared of the prospect of Santana telling others of her embarrassing past. She was simply scared to see the girl. The moment she saw her, her senses seem to quake from her grasp. She was like jello, and that was frightening. What was more – she was a woman, she shouldn't have any feelings towards her.

But as Brittany left the party returning to her sensible home, she could not shake the girl's image from her mind. And every so often, the dark woman would enter her dreams where she could not escape the image. Eventually she learned to stop thinking of her, to go about her daily life. But every now and then, she would hear a soft whisper of her voice in her mind, and it would always repeat, My lady.


A.N. Obviously there are a lot of historical things that are wrong in this story. But just go along with it:p If I went by historical Brittany would have to be married and have kids at like 13 so... yeah no:B

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