Love at First Song
Chapter Two: The Queen
"Ah, Giselle… What a day, my love!"
Edward fell back onto the pillowy white mattress, his long dark locks of hair flopping back.
"We're finally together," Giselle said dreamily.
"I know. You're my true love, after all," the prince said, leaping up to take hold of Giselle's hands. "Our happily ever after begins now."
She shook her head in disbelief. She had dreamed her whole life of this day.
"Oh, but there's one more thing we have to do tonight – introduce you to my step-mother, the queen."
"The queen of all Andalasia?"
Edward frowned. He realized he had probably left out this detail. His step-mother was very powerful and sometimes overbearing, but she had always seemed to treat him kindly enough. She had always made sure that he didn't meet a girl – she thought they were distasteful little things. Oh, but she did not know how much fun they could be!
"That's right. And you shall be her successor one day."
"I knew you were a prince, but me? The heir to the throne?" Giselle twirled happily, imagining herself as a queen, with her pouf of a wedding dress as a royal gown instead.
"It will be wonderful, my love."
"I'm sure she is wonderful and kind," she said, thinking about the queen. "I wonder why step-mothers always have such bad reputations."
Her new husband shrugged.
"I cannot say. She really has taken quite good care of me since my father died, so many years ago. I don't even remember my mother so well."
Giselle was instantly overcome by a fleeting feeling of remorse. Still, it didn't seem like Edward was too sad, so she gently pressed: "If I may ask, what happened to your father?"
"Not too long after he married Narissa, she went on a trip, and my father and I went hunting. Suddenly, a great purple dragon crashed through the brush. He tried to fight it off, but was swallowed up…" The way he said this was surprisingly matter-of-fact. Giselle supposed that the many years that had passed since the event's occurrence had numbed him. He couldn't possibly be so emotionless if it had happened recently.
"How tragic," she said softly. "I'm terribly sorry."
"It's all right. Narissa returned soon from her trip. …My father and I were never that close."
"That sounds awful."
In truth, Giselle had never spent much time with her own parents. As far as she could recall, she had been raised by the forest animals near her tree house home – at least, this was easily assumable considering their close bonds.
Still, it had always seemed nice to raise a close-knit family, and one day she hoped to do so herself.
"Well, my princess, it seems as though it is near time for us to head off to the feast." He smiled and gallantly offered his arm to her. "Shall we ride, m'lady?"
She beamed and took his arm. They skipped together to the great dining hall.
Edward pulled Giselle's chair out for her so she could sit comfortably before seating himself next to her. He squeezed her hand to comfort her – she had never been in such a large space before, or seated at such a large table. She was not nervous, but intrigued. Her eyes danced around the room to settle on the many paintings, furs, and tapestries that hung on the walls.
Then the giant door swung open and The Queen breezed in.
Queen Narissa was beautiful – in a dark, sharp sort of way. Giselle shuddered involuntarily as she walked by, and was immediately ashamed. The queen had given her no reason to be frightened of her. Perhaps the strain of the wedding had gotten to her – no; the wedding had been a joyous occasion. There were no negative feelings in Andalasia unless they were a premonition. Giselle momentarily pushed aside these feelings, telling herself that perhaps she was just tired. It was impossible for her to dislike somebody, after all.
"Welcome, my child," the queen boomed, seating herself gracefully at the far opposite end of the great table. "I hope you find the meal satisfactory."
Giselle couldn't help but notice the unpleasant hiss the queen uttered when pronouncing her "s"-es.
"I'm very pleased to meet you," she quipped, trying to speak loud enough for Narissa to hear. She didn't usually talk very loud. Perhaps a song would carry the note better. Still, Narissa didn't appear to be the type of person who enjoyed singing.
"I know," Narissa replied in a bored tone.
Giselle… bristled. What an unfamiliar feeling. "Oh."
Beside her, Prince Edward also seemed to be feeling uncomfortable. He did not particularly like the fact that his step-mother was mistreating Giselle. All along, he had thought that Narissa had just wanted him to be happy… How surprising her reaction was.
"Why weren't you at the wedding?" he asked suddenly, realizing that she had been absent. His eyes flamed with something like accusation.
Narissa caught her breath.
"Oh, darling," she replied smoothly, tossing her head back to underscore her innocence, "I was just so busy today. I figured that the procession might be full anyway, with all of your adoring little followers."
Her wide smile seemed false.
Still, Giselle was determined to give her the benefit of the doubt. It must be hard for Narissa to run the kingdom and take on a new member of the family. That's what she was now, after all.
In silence, Edward lifted his fork and speared a piece of meat. He was about to lift it to his mouth when a great clamor arose from the hallway, and the fork froze in midair.
"Oh my goodness," Giselle said, quickly rising from the table. "That must be Pip!"
Narissa made a face. "Pip?"
"Her little chipmunk friend," Edward explained, now chewing.
Struggling to open the door, Giselle finally managed to let Pip in. He brushed himself off in disdain and scampered over to a chair. He climbed up and looked at the great feast laid out before him, patting his belly in anticipation.
"Well, well, well. Ain't that nice. A big meal for the new princess," he was saying, just as a hand enveloped him.
"No! Pip!" Giselle cried, throwing herself at Nathaniel. "He's my friend! Don't hurt him."
"Relax, Princess," Nathaniel said, squeezing the chipmunk tighter. "He's fine."
"Why I oughta…" Pip choked out, from inside the hand.
"You're hurting him," Giselle gasped, frowning. "Let him go. He's not going to do anything."
At her insistence, Nathaniel looked to Narissa – who rolled her eyes. He supposed that could be taken as approval. Pip was released and set back onto the table, puffing and smoothing down his ruffled fur.
"Sorry about that, chipmunk," Edward apologized quickly, looking at Giselle to make sure she wasn't too upset.
She looked at him gratefully.
"I'm very sorry, Pip. I guess they weren't expecting you," she added.
"Not really," Narissa quipped dryly.
Nathaniel looked down, feeling rather overpowered, and very forgotten. "I suppose you'll be wanting the main course now," he said quietly.
"Yes. Quickly," Narissa snapped.
He hurried away to go fetch it.
"So. Edward…" the queen continued, fixing her piercing eyes on her stepson's. "How do you like being a married man?"
The prince quickly shoveled down a forkful of food, barely swallowing before he answered. "I like it very much, indeed. Giselle is a fine young woman and I am quite proud to have her as my wife." Even as he said so his posture improved, puffing up with joy for his princess.
"Oh, Edward!" Giselle flushed with pleasure.
"Ain't that nice," Pip grinned, stuffing his own cheeks full.
Only Narissa said nothing.
"Mother?"
She shook her head, as if coming from a daze, and looked at her step son. "Yes, Edward?"
"Nothing." He turned away to return to his food.
"This has been a nice dinner. Perhaps it is time for you two to return to your bedchamber," she said, dismissively.
"Oh. All right," Giselle agreed, not wanting to anger with her new mother-in-law. Sort of.
"But I've barely had anything to eat," protested Edward.
"Go. Your wife wants you to."
Giselle did not disagree with this. Still, she did not see what was so exciting about sleep. Well, except for the fact that her bed would be warmed by her true love. Ah, what a wondrous thought. She smiled to herself.
"I would like to finish my dinner in peace, if you please," she snapped finally, seeing as no one had moved.
"All right, all right," Pip grumbled, hopping off the table into Giselle's waiting hand. "We're going."
As the trio left, Nathaniel brought Narissa the remainder of her food. She narrowed her eyes at the leaving group. She did not like that chipmunk. And she certainly did not like that girl.