The past few days have been a vague blur to Madeline after the ball. She remembered Arthur coming to try and cheer her up with the news of Madeline's father's belongings returning, her stepmother devaluing her, and waking up in a room that was not her house, seeing a land that was not her own, seeing people that she doesn't know. It took it a while for things to fall into place, but Madeline was still having trouble registering it.

But she was sure of this: She wasn't at home, Arthur's not here, Alyssa's not here, Kumajiro isn't here and there's no one to save her. Alyssa always told her that someone would be her hero and sweep her off her feet like a princess in the fairytales Madeline and Alyssa read together. Madeline immediately thought of Gilbert saving her but then a twinge of pain was sent through her. "And you. Are just like them." Just the thought of that memory brought tears to Madeline's eyes. She had to have something… anything to occupy her mind. She couldn't find anything and she burst into soft sobs.

After a while, Lars silently came into the room she was in while she was still sobbing. He knelt beside her and stroked her hair and whispered to her soothingly. At this point, Madeline didn't care that he was the only one in the room with her. She was hurt too much to even care. Lars sat her up and leaned her against his chest which she continued to cry.

"It's alright, my Madeline. I won't let you get hurt again like that idiot has hurt you." His Madeline? She was no one's property. It disgusted her. But what was she supposed to do? She couldn't fight him off. She knows a couple of basic self defense but she has to be very physically strong to fight him off but she's not. She doesn't know magic like Arthur or Eric and what would her words do? She couldn't do anything else but accept her fate.

"All better now?" He asked. Madeline barely nodded. "Excellent. I expect you to join me for dinner."

"Quoi?" She asked quietly.

"You are to dine with me. I trust that you have no objections?"

Madeline wanted to scream all sorts of profanities at him. She would never want to do anything for him, ever. Not even serving him. But she didn't know where she was and what laws were for a servant's disobedience. Going to the pyre or the gallows was not a pleasant thought.

Lars loved the weak glare that she gave him. He was more than pleased he finally got what he wanted, although he did prefer it if she did put up a little fight, let her fiery passionate spirit show, but he will deal with that later. For now he will allow her to grieve a little longer, let the pieces fall into place and make her his, one way or the other.

"I had my sister donate some of her old gowns for your use. Use them as you wish. Although for tonight, I have selected this gown for you." It was a bright yellow, almost like a canary and very elaborate. Puffs on the shoulders, bead streamers on the bodice and the skirt and see through sleeves. Finally, a red tulip was pinned on the corner of the left shoulder. It was beautiful and Madeline had no objections to give. She just sat on the large bed and stared at it before finally putting it on.

She couldn't help but think of her first 'date' with Gilbert. The laughter, the music, the happiness that she had long forgotten. The kiss. How Madeline longed for him. She longed for his warm comforting arms, that confident yet awkward smile, his beautiful red eyes and his silver hair. But she screwed up. She royally screwed up by letting fear taking advantage of her. She couldn't summon up the courage she needed to tell him the truth until he was humiliated in public, in front of hundreds of people. She would hate herself too if she were in Gilbert's shoes. But… She would eventually be forgiven, right? But even if she was, it'll be too late. Gilbert's probably married by now. God only knows where she is and a week has passed since she was taken from home.

After Madeline silently slipped into the gown, Lars led her downstairs to the dining hall where servants and four other high ranking people were. Madeline refused to eat on her own until Lars-almost forcefully-fed her himself. He used a soft but threatening tone which she heard before and he meant business afterwards.

"My, isn't she the maiden, Lord Keizer." One of the guests' wives was admiring Madeline who kept her head down. She couldn't understand what they were saying, it wasn't English and it wasn't French. "Is it true that she is a servant?" She narrowed her eyes.

"Was. Her step mother was very cruel to her, forcing her to become a servant for ten years. We fell in love over the past couple of years and I'll be taking her as my wife soon. Just as soon as we change the records of her otherwise I can't." He said smugly as he held Madeline closer to him. However Madeline had no idea what he was saying, she didn't understand Lars' native language and not a word of it was similar to French or English. But still, she couldn't help but feel afraid.

"Hmm… You look very ordinary, girl. Although you have some charm." The woman said in English in which Madeline raised her head but stared at her vacantly and silently. "Now tell me, what have you done to attract Lord Kaiser?"

'That's what I'd like to know.' Madeline thought.

"Do you have any talents? Art? Music perhaps?" Another guest inquired.

"Um… Well…" Madeline mumbled.

"Perhaps singing? Sing a song for us." Madeline didn't know what to do. The last person she would ever sing for is the man right next to her but she also experienced pain from that night, it was a double edged sword to humiliate another person. There was a lullaby that her father sang to her when she was young. It had a little sad meaning but it was very beautiful nonetheless.

"Fleur aux pétales d'or, répands ta magie
Inverse le temps, rends-moi ce qu'il m'a pris
Guéris les blessures, éloigne la pluie
Ce destin impur, rends-moi ce qu'il m'a pris, ce qu'il m'a pris...
"

"Beautiful." A male guest smiled at her. "A true nightingale."

"My nightingale." Lars whispered in her ear. Madeline took a few steps away from him in which he pulled her close to him again.

"Birdie, you're unlike any girl I've ever known. Ich liebe dich." Ich liebe dich… What does that mean? Madeline felt like she was about to burst into tears on the spot but she had no more to give. She was too dehydrated.

"Gilbert…" She barely whispered.

After the guests left, Lars dragged her upstairs at a breakneck pace and almost slammed the door to the room they were in. Lars pinned her against the wall and was glaring at her.

"That was uncalled for, love."

"What did I do? I did nothing wrong."

"You were thinking about him, Madeline. You said his name." Madeline was silent for a while trying to figure out her next move. She couldn't think of a lie nor could she deny it.

"I-I wasn't aware it was a s-sin to think." Wrong answer. Lars threw her on the bed and crawled over her before giving her a rough kiss.

"Always have to be feisty, don't you?" He grinned. "Although, let's make this clear. You are mine now, little nightingale. You can either be my servant or my lover, your choice-"

"Servant." Madeline said quickly. Out of the two things she dreaded, this was the lesser of the two evils.

"Rash aren't you?" He smirked. "Very well. I will respect your wish for now, feel free to change your mind at anytime, I'll be waiting. Although, you can't keep me waiting forever, love. And just so you know, I carry out the servant's punishments." His lips brushed against her neck.

"I do not approve of you thinking of another man, royalty or not, they can't take you back." Madeline let out a sharp gasp as he bit her. "Your blood tastes so sweet…" He said as he licked his lips.

Xxxxxxxx

-3 days ago-

Gilbert headed for the stables the second he got out of the church and ended the ceremony. Ivanna and the Baroness attended the wedding and wouldn't be at their house so now is as good as a time as any to get a head start to find Madeline. He arrived at the manor within half an hour, he figured, with no one in sight. He ran to the fields where they first met, hoping by some stroke of luck someone would be tending the land. No one was there, in fact, it looked like it was poorly taken care of for a while as the grass and the garden was starting to turn brown.

"A- Madeline!" Gilbert called around the grounds.

"You've got some real guts showing up here," A low voice came from behind him. Gilbert turned to see a young man a little older than him with emerald eyes and messy dirty blond hair. He was filthy and looked like he hasn't slept in days.

"Arthur, who is it?" Alyssa took a step out of the door and she narrowed her eyes at Gilbert.

"I'm starting to get the feeling I came at a bad time." He nervously chuckled to somewhat lighten the mood. Then he put on a straight face after he took a deep breath to calm down. "Is Ma-"

"You're bloody right you came at a bad time, wanker! How DARE you show your face around here, you arse! Because of you-" He looked like he was about to strangle Gilbert.

"Artie-Artie, let me handle this, you might go out of control again." Alyssa said calmly as she held Arthur back. He calmed down but shot a murderous glare at Gilbert who shivered.

Alyssa showed no signs of hostility as she walked calmly up to Gilbert and looking at him straight in the eye.

"As a subject of the court, I have nothing against you. However, as a sister…" Gilbert blinked and he was sent flying by a super powerful punch to the cheek. "It's my duty to beat the holy hell out of whoever makes Maddie cry."

"Alyssa! You- you just punched the PRINCE. Oh bullocks. What are we gonna do? What are-" Alyssa shut him up by ramming her lips onto his which turned him beet red.

"I can do a lot more than that.~ I am pretty tough, Artie~" She grinned.

"Yeah- That's okay. I deserved that." Gilbert groaned. "I know I was an ass wipe. I-I came to apologize to Madeline. Do you know where she is?"

"Why do you-"

"Because I LOVE her, dammit. I was a fool to not accept the truth, to not listen to her. I want her to know how sorry I am. And how much I love her. And how I will never let her go again." Gilbert kept his head down and voice was steadily decreasing in volume.

"She's been sold." Arthur said.

"WHAT? Please tell me you're joking."

"I'm not. The Baroness made arrangements with Lars De Keizer secretly for who knows how long. Madeline is his servant now and there's not a thing I can do. It was a legal deal and I don't have the power to change it."

"You don't. I do. I'll bring her home."

Xxxxxxxxx

Gilbert sighed as he watched the waves zoom underneath the ship. He asked the captain repeatedly to increase the speed of the ship which the reply was that the only way they could go faster is if, God forbid, a storm had occurred and the winds miraculously blew them in the direction they needed to go. It was still at least another five days to the Netherlands.

"Madeline… Birdie." He went to the sleeping quarters and found his bunk where he took out her slipper from his pack. "Please stay strong. I'll find you, I promise." He brought to the slipper to his lips and shut his eyes, praying for strength from his paternal grandfather, Fritz.

Xxxxxx

"I'll find you, I promise." Those words woke Madeline from her slumber, and not a very pleasant one. After Lars dismissed her last night, she returned to the room that she was given and cried herself to sleep. Her mind was so stressed that she couldn't relax enough to fully fall asleep, meaning that she couldn't dream, she couldn't escape to the world where all of her troubles melted away, she couldn't find her father out of all people who would comfort her in her time of need. But a faint voice from somewhere calmed her, it was saying over and over not to worry, everything will be all right, to stay strong and that they loved her. The last pleasant message left her satisfied with the amount of rest she was able to get.

For the next four days, Madeline had entered her old routine, plus or minus some things. She'd wake up to find flowers and a beautiful gown on her bed, which she had a burning feeling of disgust for and put them away, she would draw some water, manage to avoid dining with Lars after she returned, have a quick breakfast, then hurry off somewhere to clean until two o clock in the afternoon. She would spend lunch in the garden, which she had to admit, was very beautiful. Although she could do without the mass collection of the tulips. It's not that she disliked them, but when she's getting them from Lars, it makes her not to want to look at them. Something so beautiful shouldn't have been used for something so vile.

While she was taking a break, Madeline found an apple tree that was in the back gardens that led to an orchid, not unlike her own where she used to play games with Arthur and Alyssa when they were younger. She picked up an apple from the ground and tossed it in the air and caught it. It just wasn't the same. There's no point in trying to make fun out of her chores.

How she missed home… Sure, it was a pretty miserable life since her father passed away but she was surrounded by loved ones that made it all worthwhile. A thought had entered her mind: what if she tried to escape? Escape… That was something she could only dream of. She had neither the strength nor the drive to attempt something that grand. She was physically weak for the most part however, she knows how to use a bow and arrow which would supply her with food if she was successful in hunting. IF she was. And she couldn't get around without being identified as foreigner. If she did, where would she go? She couldn't go back home. How would she be able to get Arthur and the others to come with her?

"Not thinking of leaving, are you little Madeline?" Lars came out of nowhere and leaned against the tree that was right behind her.

'Why do you want to know?' Her mind hissed. She bit her tongue to stop herself from talking back to him but the red mark on her neck that she hid with her pigtail was a warning of how dangerous this man actually was.

"N…No."

"Good. After all, I wouldn't want my little nightingale to get hurt by the dangerous world out there." Lars said as he snaked his arms around her waist and kissed her cheek. She managed to pull away easily.

"I have cleaning to do." She said as she kept her head down.

"You know, you won't have to do those chores if you became my lover, you would do as your heart's content."

"I would want to clean." Madeline said coolly.

"Remember, Madeline, you can't make me wait forever."

"Just watch me." She mouthed to herself.

As Madeline was dusting the library with two other maids, she paid no heed to them because she didn't feel like talking to anyone nor listening to gossip. Although she heard something of interest and she did decide to eavesdrop.

"Really? He walked out just like that?" The younger maid squealed in excitement.

"Not before giving his arranged bride to an aristocrat whom she loved apparently."

"Wow. Hard to believe anyone would do something like that, even if they are royalty."

"And you won't believe the reason he left! My daughter's friend told her that he left to go find a young girl who was a servant, who captured his heart." Madeline's ears perked up like a dog the second she heard the word servant. Her heart started to pound in hope that Gilbert was looking for her. Please let them continue before she started jumping to conclusions and started to do something rash.

"A servant? No way! How would a prince fall in love with a servant?"

"Apparently, she pretended to be a courtier for some reason, no one really knows why. in Although the poor girl's mother exposed her in front of the entire court and that left him heartbroken. But he looks like he's trying to find her."

"Excuse me, do you know the name? Of the prince?" Madeline dared to ask.

"Oh… Well let's see. What was his name again? Gaven? No. Dilbert? No, that's just silly."

"Gilbert?"

"Yes! That's it! Gilbert." Gilbert! It was Gilbert after all! He's looking for her right now! But… How was she supposed to contact him? She doesn't have a trained bird, she can't ask someone else. "And rumor has it that he's on a ship coming to the Netherlands."

Madeline was so excited, she had a hard time containing it. She happily accepted the food that she was given for dinner and finished all of it, despite the protest of her upset stomach that refused to take more than a small bowl of potato soup. She wasn't planning to stick around here, when her love is out there looking for her, willing to give her a second chance and hopefully bring her home. She needed every bit of strength she could get.

Madeline went to bed early and had about four hours of sleep before making her exit through the window. She neatly rolled a bunch of clothes together to make it look like she was asleep, found some spare sheets in the closet and tied them together and climbed out the window. And not a minute too soon.

Lars would come to Madeline's room in the middle of the night and fall asleep with her in his arms. Madeline woke up to find him with her once and had to brush it off like nothing happened. She certainly didn't want a repeat of that night or worse. She heard him in her room and she had to leave quickly. Thankfully, he didn't notice she was replaced by a body of pillows. She left as quietly a mouse, careful not to disturb anything that would make noise.

Xxxxx

If anyone said Lars was furious the next morning, that would be an understatement. Once he realized that Madeline was gone, he was peeved but calmed down once he knew that she had nowhere to go and she would return before long. But the news of that blasted prince heading to this country in search of the servant he loves was so infuriating that words couldn't describe it . There was no way that he was going to lose his little bird to him, he gave her up and Lars had wanted Madeline for years. He wanted this one-of-a-kind girl as his own. Madeline had just bloomed ever so beautifully despite her pitiful circumstances and he wanted her more than anything. She had a pure heart that was kind, selfless and feisty. He didn't know when it was that he wanted her so much but he knew he had to have the little flower that had a beauty no one else had. Madeline was his, and nothing was going to change that, he wouldn't allow it.

As long as the freak of a prince was in the picture, Madeline will keep trying to run, will keep trying to escape from him. When Lars brought Madeline back with him, he knew she will try to run. The question was when. He had to keep constant watch on her to make sure she wouldn't. But what happened hurt Madeline so much and left her depressed, Lars saw this as an opportunity to 'heal' Madeline and allowed her free reign. Although she rejected his advances and refused to yield to him completely, she hasn't shown any signs of preparing for an escape which made him think she lost the will to try. But the second she heard that Gilbert was looking for her, she jumped at the chance. Lars should've paid closer attention to her, he shouldn't have underestimated her. But when he finds her again, he'll make sure that she won't ever leave again.

The other thing was the prince. He might be able to stop Madeline from running, but he won't be able to stop the prince from following them. He can't send someone to get rid of him for good, there are severe penalties against murder, and it is quite unimaginable to what would happen if one murdered a royal from any nation.

However, there's no penalty for those who fall in combat. He smirked to himself. Madeline will be brought back.

Xxxxx

"I am looking for a girl." Gilbert said slowly to a merchant who looked like he was East Indian but he couldn't speak a lot of English. He was the only one speaking English so Gilbert decided to ask him. "If you can help me, I'll buy lots of beer from you."

"Beer? You want beer?"

"No! Girl! Me, looking! Pretty, blonde hair, violet eyes, this high." Gilbert started waving his arms around to emphasize his desperation.

"You buy! You buy! Foreigner with money! I sell best beer around!"

"Yes, I believe you." Gilbert's eye twitched.

"You buy! You buy!" Gilbert face palmed himself. Wasn't there anyone who could speak fluent English? Or at least tell him that they've seen a pretty girl? Or wait a minute…

"Do you know someone named Lars de Keizer?"

"Keizer?" The man finally stopped asking for Gilbert to buy beer and looked at him with wide eyes. "You in no good. You don't want to get involved."

"You think the AWESOME me would pick a fight with that guy? No! He picked a fight with me. And when you pick a fight with the awesome me, you're in for a real ass whoopin'." Gilbert grinned.

"Awesome?" He pointed at Gilbert and had a confused look on his face.

"Yeah! Now you're talking! Could you tell me where he lives?"

"Yeah… I don't speak English. Yes yes. Buy beer! Come again!" Gilbert face palmed himself again. He walked down a less crowded street that slopes and moved to the side to see if anyone looked familiar.

'Tall blonde spikey hair… Has a scar above left eye. No sign of him or Birdie.'

"Gilbird, you think you can look for-"

"Gilbert!" For the umpteenth time, Gilbert heard her voice calling out to him. Out of instinct, he whipped his head around to find her but she wasn't there. He sighed because he knew that she probably wouldn't call him by his first name after what he said.

"Gilbert!" 'Please, just stop tormenting me,' Gilbert thought. 'I never should have blown her off like that and I can't feel any worse than I am now.' "Gilbert!" Something crashed into him and when Gilbert looked down, he saw golden hair tied in pigtails and a turquoise skirt slowly flap against the wind.

"Gilbert! Merci Dieu! Merci Dieu!" Madeline sobbed while hugging him to death. "I'm sorry!"

"Birdie…" He hugged her back and some tears of happiness were rolling down his cheek. He tilted her chin up and they were brought into a gentle passionate kiss. "I'm the one who should apologize." Gilbert said as he placed a hand on her cheek. "I should've listened. I should've known that you went through a lot of shit just to see me. I love you, Madeline and I don't want to let you go again. I'm sorry."

"Say it again." She whispered while giving a small smile.

"I'm sorry?"

"No. The part where you said my name." Gilbert smiled.

"Ma-"

"Madeline." A deep voice came from behind her and she gasped. Lars had arrived on a black stallion and was above them. "You've been a very bad girl. Not only running off, but with another man, which I told you I don't approve of." Gilbert moved Madeline behind him protectively.

"You have no right to treat her like that." He snarled. "She's not some prisoner who you can toy with."

"True but she is my servant by law. And you can't do a thing about it, little prince. This isn't your country, you can't change it."

"Oh yeah? Our laws clearly state that the only time a servant may be transferred is if their employer has a legitimate reasoning, such as inexcusable behavior and it MUST be run by the person in question. That was no transfer you did, Lars, it was kidnapping. And I can assure you that you WILL hear from our courts as kidnapping is a severe offense."

"In your country. Not mine. But you will be found guilty of kidnapping my servant." He smirked and snapped his fingers. Two men appeared, one holding the Indian merchant and released him, sporting a swollen cheek and a few bruises.

"Thanks for the tip," One of them sneered at him as they threw him on the ground.

"Madeline, unless if you want him to get hurt and be punished yourself, I suggest you come with me." Madeline hesitated and gritted her teeth.

"Madeline."

Madeline found her courage once more and stood beside Gilbert, squeezing his hand. "N-no. I'm staying with Gilbert. You can punish me all you like but I will never stay with you! I'll always try to get away from you and you won't stop me!" Lars narrowed his eyes.

"Apparently, you didn't hear the other part. Gilbert will get hurt."

"Maybe. But he's too awesome to be taken down by your goons." She gave a cheeky grin. It felt so good to rebel since things were starting to turn around.

"I knew there was a reason I fell in love with you." Gilbert drew a sword from his belt while the other two drew their swords as well. "Now things are gonna be reeal interesting." Gilbert had a cocky grin on his face.

"Good luck." Madeline said. The brute on the left charged at Gilbert and Gilbert blocked the attack and clashed blades with him for a while. Then the other joined in the fight as well but despite the gigantic size of the men, they were no match for Gilbert's wit and skills. He was fighting the two men like it was nothing while they were panting out of exhaustion and couldn't land a decent hit on him.

"Watch this." He smirked as he held the blade horizontally. With a few well connected hits, there was a flash of light and they were knocked out.

"That's right, kneel before me!" Gilbert laughed proudly. "I am the prince of AWESOMENESS! I am-"

"Gilbert!" Madeline screamed as the Indian merchant was dragging her toward Lars' horse.

"Madeline!" He managed to grab on to Madeline's arm but the merchant kicked him away then handed her limp body to Lars.

"I am so not buying beer from you, jackass."

"I told you. Don't get involved. Lars is cruel. I did you favour."

"I don't care! I'm not losing her again!"


Hey everyone! Hope you're all having a good end of summer/back to school! Sorry this chapter is a tad late but I'm a bit busy since it's my first year in University ;D Feel free to strangle me for leaving yet another chapter at a cliffhanger but I would love you more if you review and faved. Thank you to those who've done so already, you guys rock!

Next chappie is definitely gonna be the last one, I have no clue when I'm gonna post it but I'll try to get it done in two weeks. I just loved it when I made Maddie and Alyssa more... cheeky(?) It's not exactly what I've intended but I think it works.

I have another plot bunny and I'm posting another poll and if you can check it out and vote, I'd greatly appreciate it. It's for a new story I'm thinking of(although I should be working on Heart of Italia and Echoes, which are still going on it's just ideas and writing have become very slow)

Enjoy guys!

I DO NOT OWN THE SONG, IT BELONGS TO DISNEY'S TANGLED (French/French Canadian version)