Mabel was thrown into a chair and Captain Redford slammed the door to his chamber. He turned and looked at Mabel will such a horrifying face. "What was that?!" He screamed.
"I'm sorry Captain Redford I couldn't do it!" Mabel yelled in a panic. She knew what she was ordered to do, but she couldn't hurt Grumpy.
"How many times do I have to show you how it's done?! Look." Captain Redford took out a dummy that he his amongst his chamber and put it in front of Mabel. "When he had his head turned that would have been a perfect time to take out the knife..." He took out a knife that was hiding Mabel's basket. "... And hit him!"
Mabel was forced to watch as he stuck it through the dummy a number of times. That's what she would have had to do with Grumpy. No to anyone in the kingdom under Captain Redford's orders. It had been that way ever since she got to the castle.
"I'm sorry Captain, he just..."
"Just what?"
"Said something so sweet the my father would say to me."
"Darling," Captain Redford changed his tone and bent down to the little dwarf. He took her tiny hands in his, rubbing one of them as he looked lovingly into her eyes. "You know I say sweet things to you."
"You say them in a rather threatening way." Mabel said uncomfortable looking into his dark eyes.
"That's just to show my love to my future queen."
"Well I-I couldn't do it. The moment j-just didn't seem right to me." Mabel lied. She wanted to get away from here, from this kingdom, but she had no other place to go. Her mother was gone, so Captain Redford said.
"You see Captain I know she'd fail. I could have done it too you know." Clarabelle, Captain Redford's Lieutenant said as she walked out from the shadows. She was a very beautiful lady. If only Mabel were tall like she was, Clarabelle wouldn't look down on her.
"You said you couldn't because you were wearing black."
"Well even if I wasn't wearing black I'd still be suspected because they never saw me around the castle before and don't you think they'd immediately attack a woman whose carrying a knife?"
Mabel sighed. This treatment was so unfair. She should never have followed Captain Redford down to this chamber all those years ago. That's when it all started. She loved him at first, but that changed whenever he abused her. "Tell me again why I have to be your queen?"
"Because I love you." He said smoothing her hand once more.
"I thought you loved Clarabelle." Mabel said. She knew they were together by the way they spoke to each other when they were alone. She'd been here since Mabel first arrived. There was something going on, but it was too late to back out.
"Oh, why would I love a lieutenant? You're the princesses lady in waiting." Behind Mabel's back he exchanged a glance towards Clarabelle.
"And I would rather be your lady in waiting any day." Clarabelle said circling around the chair.
"Then why do I have to take orders from you?"
"Because Captain tells me to do it so you'll do harsh commands to me."
"Well if I'm going to be queen, and you king, and you're my lady in waiting then who will those three men you hired to be as bad guys going to do?" Mabel said pointing to the men who were sitting a table in corner playing cards.
"He said we'd be the royal musketeers who'll keep you safe." One of them said.
"That's right we don't want anything bad to happen to our queen."
"Yes I'll never have one bad thing happen to you." He was looked at her again, the way he looked her when they first met. That look used to melt her into a puddle, but now it frightened her. The only reason she was staying was the promise he made to her.
"And you promise to find my mother?"
"Yes."
There was a long silence as everyone stared at Mabel, waiting to hear an answer. "Well I suppose I'll be off."
"Hold on not so fast." He grabbed hold of her arm as she got down from the chair.
"What?"
"I want you to pour this in Snow White's drink tomorrow at breakfast." He said handing her a little package of poison.
"What do you want me to do with it?"
"Because they won't expect a pretty helpful lady in waiting like you."
Mabel's heart just broke. She loved Snow White. She'd been her lady in waiting ever since the princess came to the kingdom. She was like a daughter to her. But everything would change, as Captain Pete said. She just didn't want to live in misery any longer.
"Alright." She spoke very quietly.
"That's my future queen." Captain Redford said as he kissed her cheek. "Now get some sleep my lady."
Clarabelle opened the door for Mabel and she walked out from the chamber and started to climb the chairs. If she stayed she would have been able to hear Captain Redford and Clarabelle laughing.
