Disclaimer: Sadly, I own nothing associated with Once Upon a Time, Marvel, or Grimm's Fairy Tales. Only original characters and ideas are mine.
AN: Here's an extra-long chapter, almost the last of this story. There'll be one more chapter, then an epilogue, and then I'll be off to the next story. Enjoy, and please don't forget to review. Thanks!
Chapter 10: After the Ball:
The morning following the ball, I decided that Henry deserved a reward for his hard work.
After springing my little surprise in Henry, I could only watch as he stared at me in complete shock and joy.
"A whole five days off?" he said, wondering if he heard me right.
Henry had every right to be surprised. So far, he'd only been allowed a few hours off, at most, and only if one of his lessons had been cancelled or put off for a later time. Any sort of free time had been rare and precious, a fact I hadn't fully realized until a few days ago; and even then, it had been because I'd been so busy trying to keep him busy that I lost track of that.
But after months and months of working hard at everything that had been thrown his way, Henry deserved some time to stop, relax, and have fun –like all children should have.
So, I had decided to give him a few days to himself, without any studying or assignments. Besides, I could use a rest, too, and I very much wanted to spend a few hours alone in my little garden, in my other form.
As Henry wrapped his arms around me in a tight hug, I caught Steve smiling at me, and my heart sank a little. In spite of the joy of the moment, I couldn't help but feel sad about Steve not knowing about my curse. Since my first day as Henry's tutor, I'd spent my nights sleeping in my swan form in my bedroom, meeting the requirements of my curse and letting only a few know about my situation.
But as much as I wanted to tell Steve, especially after the wonderful time I'd had at the ball, I struggled with the idea of telling him. 'As cowardly as it is for me to hide it from him, I just can't risk him treating me differently once he finds out.'
Steve was, after all, a knight, and knights were honor-bound to try and help those who couldn't help themselves. Since I was under a curse, part of me feared that he would treat me like a victim, and feel obligated to try and seek out a way to break the curse when there was only one way to do it.
'The last thing I need is a man who feels obligated to be the love of my life,' I thought, forcing a smile as Henry pulled back from our hug.
The problem was that I truly was starting to feel something wonderful for Steve. During the ball, I had felt something warm stir inside my heart every time he held me near; and when he smiled at me, like he was doing now, I felt like I was truly special in his eyes.
'Those beautiful blue eyes that looked so tenderly at me as we danced through the night…'
It was because of last night that I needed some time to myself. I need to think about my feelings for Steve, what he might feel for me, and when I would have to tell him the greatest secret of my life. This would be my chance to literally spread my wings, without the risk of Steve finding out about me as I pondered these many things.
"Well, then," I said to Henry, "Off you go. Just try not to forget everything I've taught you, alright? And try not to sleep your free time away; there's so much you could be doing instead."
Henry sighed. "I couldn't even if I wanted to. Dad wants to spend some time with me, so I don't think sleeping in is an option."
Steve gave his charge a smile and pat on the shoulder. "I will see if your father wants me accompanying you. If not, I have a few tasks that need my attention that I haven't been able to do, even on my days off."
I shooed the two off down the hall so that they could meet with Emma and Neal. I hadn't had much of a chance to speak to Henry's father; he was always traveling around the kingdom, checking on how everyone was settling back into this world, or going off to others as a special messenger to other lands as an envoy for David and Snow.
As it so happened, this was the first time since the coronation that Neal had been in the palace. After the coronation, he had been sent as a special ambassador to Philip and Aurora's kingdom, bearing a lovely gift for their newborn son, Prince Philip, named for his father. Neal had also gone to assure the new parents that Snow and David still counted them as friends and allies, and to tell them that they would be welcome any time they chose to visit.
Now, at last, Neal was home, and of course he very much wanted to spend time with Henry. For the most part, it really was a coincidence that I chose to give Henry some days off while his father was here, but in the end, this would work out for the best.
'And I really would like some time to myself,' I thought as images of my secret garden drifted through my head.
Even though I did have some time to myself whenever Henry was spending time with Snow or David, learning about how to be a responsible young man (and Prince), my time hadn't really been my own. I spent many of my spare hours putting together assignments and thinking about what I would be teaching him next.
But now I had five days to play –and I wanted a swim.
After asking for a picnic basket of food from the kitchens, I tucked book into the covered wicker container and headed to the garden, the magic upon the door letting me through without any difficulty.
Once the door was shut and secured behind me, I quickly walked to the tree near the small pond. There, I set my basket on the bench, to keep it from insects, and closed my eyes, my mind focusing on my swan form.
My body shifted slightly, and my skin was covered by the familiar itching and tickling as feathers grew upon my skin. I could feel myself shrinking and my bones becoming lighter as the curse's magic did its duty. In seconds, I had changed, my wings flapping as I stretched and exercised them.
Settling down, I waddled to the water's edge and dipped a toe in. Even though the water was enchanted to always be a comfortable temperature, I always checked. After all, what might be comfortable to a regular swan wasn't always fun for a human, even one in swan-form.
The water was cool and pleasant, so I slid into it, my feathers and light frame floating easily on the still surface. Ruffling my feathers a little, I began paddling, easily gliding from one end of the pool to the other. As I swam, I occasionally dipped my head into the water, letting small streams flow down my neck and onto my back as I played and splashed.
When I was fully damp, from beak to tail, I felt satisfied with myself and stepped out onto solid land. It took only a minute to shake most of the moisture from my feathers, and when I felt dry enough, I changed back into my human body. From the position of the sun, I judged that I'd spent a good two hours splashing around the water. My stomach growled, complaining that it was empty and needed to be fed.
Practically attacking the picnic basket, I pulled out the many good things that the cooks had packed for me. I found a small sealed jar of pickles, cold roasted ham sliced fresh off the bone, some loaves of bread the size of my hand, tiny cherry tomatoes, and a small basket of brilliant, shining cherries. There was also a tiny basket of strawberries, some slices of sponge cake, and a jar of whipped cream.
I was about to help myself when I heard someone knocking on one of the doors. Fearing someone was trying to come in without permission, I rose to my feet and went to the door.
"Who is it?" I asked, keeping my temper in check. Everyone knew this garden was off-limits!
"It's me, Drina," Henry's voice called through the wood. "Can I come in?"
Sighing with relief, I opened the door and smiled at the uneasy look he had on his face. Looking around, I noticed that he was alone. Where was Steve? Had he been given the day off?
"Do you have anything to eat?" Henry asked, eyes wide as he looked hopefully at me.
I couldn't help but laugh as I stepped back to let him in. "I was about to have lunch," I replied, closing the door after him.
We sat down on the large bench and helped ourselves to the basket's contents. Henry managed to finish what I couldn't, so I ended up putting only empty containers and plates back into the basket. With the food gone, the two of us sat back and basked in the warm sunlight as birds flew overhead or sang in the tree above us.
"May I ask why you came back early from your time with your father?" I said, looking over at my pupil.
He sighed. "He took me hunting. I found out the hard way that I don't like killing animals."
I hid a wince. Henry was a kind boy; I could have immediately told Neal that hunting was not the sort of thing he would enjoy.
"I've decided that while I like eating deer and things like that, I'd rather not be the one who ends up killing them for dinner," he said, looking down at the ground. "Does that make me a weak person?"
Without hesitating, I reached over and hugged him tightly. "You're not weak," I firmly told him. "Lots of people don't like hunting. My father was never a hunter, and neither are his brother and sisters. Everyone has different likes, and hunting just isn't for you."
Henry nodded, but kept his cheek pressed against my shoulder, just as his grandmother used to do when I comforted her as a child. It made me smile, seeing one of Snow's traits passed down to her grandson. His heart was as pure and gentle as hers.
"And where is your guard?" I teased. "You didn't leave him alone in the woods, did you?"
He chuckled, but stayed as he was. "Dad didn't want him to come along, so I let Steve off for the day. He deserved it."
"Very true," I said in approval. "Now, since we've eaten and rested for a while, what would you like to do now?"
For a moment, all was quiet as Henry thought carefully about it. "Can we go to the library and find something fun to read?" he asked, peeking up at me from my shoulder.
I had to laugh a little at him. "Alright; let's go return the basket first, and then we'll go to the library."
Within fifteen minutes, Henry and I were tucked into a quiet corner of the library, a large book propped up between us on a table.
Looking at his eager face, I smiled. The book was about the exploits of the Knights of the Round Table, with pictures to go with the tales being told. Henry was pouring over every image and word, eyes wide with excitement and joy as he read.
"It's amazing, the things they've done," he murmured when he finished the first chapter. "I know that not all knights succeed in their quests, but they're King Arthur's knights! They're the best, right?"
I shrugged. "Some of them are," I agreed. "Sir Lancelot, for instance; and Sir Galahad is another people speak highly of."
Henry looked at me. "Maybe we should ask one of them to help with your curse?" he tentative asked. "Maybe they can find a way to cure or break it. Camelot has magicians, doesn't it?"
Afraid that someone might overhear, I shushed him. "No, Henry," I whispered, keeping my voice low so that only he could hear me. "I refuse to trouble magicians with this. I will break the curse on my own. Besides, there are worse things to change into than a swan."
To my surprise, Henry reached over and hugged me tightly. "I know," he murmured into my ear. "I just hate knowing that the curse makes you miserable."
I patted him gently on the back and pulled away. "Don't worry; I'm used to it. Have faith that, some day, it will be broken. I don't need an army tearing the world apart for my sake."
Without a word, Henry nodded and went back to his book while I went to find myself one. As I turned a corner, I thought I saw someone retreating down the far end of the aisle, but dismissed the thought. Lots of people liked using the library, and since this particular section was a good distance from where I'd left Henry, they couldn't have heard our conversation.
I managed to find a text on Wonderland, and carried it back to the corner to join my young charge.
Flipping through the book in her hand, Ronda could barely contain her glee. Lady Andrina Fox was cursed! And not just any curse –a Swan Curse!
It had been too easy to follow the two back from the gardens to the palace. She had seen them emerge from the walled off garden, talking and laughing and not paying any attention to the world around them. After returning a basket to the kitchens, they'd made their way to the library, where Ronda easily found hiding places among the shadows of the tall shelves.
She had overheard them talking about knights, quests, and finally, curses. When she heard that Lady Drina was under a curse, and heard a whispered mention of swans, Ronda could barely contain her excitement. With that information in mind, she quietly made her way through the library, searching the shelves until she found a book about curses. Thus armed, she slipped out of the library and back to her quarters, where she immediately began reading.
It was too perfect. Apparently those under that particular curse changed into a swan at a certain time; if they didn't, they risked having the shape-change forced on them, whether they willed it or not. Best of all, the only way to break that curse was True Love's Kiss, which was extremely rare outside of legends and tales.
'This has to be why there's a secret garden just for Lady Drina,' Ronda realized. It was a secret place for her to change shape away from curious eyes!
Ronda guessed that Lady Drina had to be spending most of her time as a swan in the garden or in the privacy of her rooms, when she could fulfill the obligations of the curse and not have to worry about someone stumbling on her by accident except for a maid. And at night, the maids tended to retreat to their own beds, leaving their mistresses to their rest.
So Lady Fox likely spent her nights as a swan, possibly sleeping in that garden. And in all probability, Steve didn't know about it!
'If I tell him, he'll abandon any thought of pursuing her.'
If there was one thing that chased men off, it was the pressure to be a woman's True Love. Most men didn't even believe in the idea of True Love until they actually experienced it. Even if they really did care about the girl they were courting, the constant talk of True Love tended to send them racing for the hills.
Grinning broadly, Ronda knew that she had to begin planning immediately. She would have to wait and find the right time to tell Steve about Lady Drina's curse; after that, he would see that any hope of being with the simpering tutor would be futile, and that a future with Ronda was the best path for him.
But if she wanted to get anywhere with Steve, it was time for her to take a risky first step.
Sitting down at a table, Steve let himself relax a little as he signaled a serving lad. The boy nodded and came forward to take their order before racing off to fulfill it.
Across from Steve was Ronda, who looked extremely relaxed and happy as the boy brought their pints of ale. The lad had company in the form of a serving girl, who had a tray bearing their bowls of lamb stew, a plate of warm bread, and a platter of roasted potatoes for them to share.
Once the food and drink had been set down, Steve pulled out his eating utensils and began to dig into his stew. Ronda did the same, and in no time, the two had downed their dinner without uttering a single word between them.
The serving boy came back around to take away the dirty dishes and refill their cups, but afterwards, left them alone. Steve appreciated that –it had been a long day of polishing armor and preparing weaponry for Henry's lessons, and all he wanted was to relax a little before turning into bed.
'Thank goodness this tavern opened up,' Steve thought as he took a drink.
The place had been opened up over a month ago by a former guard, who had grown weary of his duties and wanted to try something new with his life. He'd opened the tavern close to the massive building that housed the guards, and was doing a very brisk business. The men liked not having to go great distances to have a drink, and their wives liked not having to search for their lost, drunk men on the road at night.
'The poor women might not like having a tavern so close, but at least it's close by, and they're able to drag their husbands home, if needed,' Steve smiled to himself.
Not only was the beer, ale, and cider good, but the food was above what anyone expected. The cook was the owner's wife, her kitchen helpers were their daughters-in-law, and the servers were the younger children and older grandchildren. It was very much a family business, and everyone was doing well by it. Even the little lad who swept up every night earned some coins for his efforts.
Until now, Steve hadn't had the chance (or the desire) to eat here. Mostly, he ate in the dining hall; the food there was wonderful, and the air was always full of warmth and contentment. Seated next to him, Drina was a wonderful dining companion, and he liked talking with her; they were always exchanging jokes, poking fun at one another, and talking about Henry.
But Ronda had asked him to go with her to try the food at the tavern, and he felt somewhat obligated to go. David had, in a way, put Steve in charge of making her feel welcome, and even though she had been here for some time, he felt obliged to make sure she was settled in and comfortable.
"Well, that was money well-spent," Ronda cheerfully exclaimed as she finished her second round of ale. "What do you think?"
Steve nodded. "Agreed," he said, taking another sip from his mug. But as good as the drinks here were, he was missing the palace tables –and the company of one particularly delightful dining companion.
From the corner of his eye, Steve noticed Ronda shifting a little in her seat. "Why don't we head out as soon as you're done?" she suggested. "There are others who'll want this table."
Steve agreed, and finished his drink quickly, leaving the table to a waiting family that looked eager for a place to sit. He then followed Ronda out the door and down the stone pathway that led towards the gardens. He was surprised when she beckoned for him to accompany her, but since it was a pleasant evening and there would be many others out and about, he decided to walk with her.
After several silent minutes, Steve heard Ronda take a deep breath. "It's a beautiful evening," she said, looking over at him. "Don't you think so?"
It was, and he said so. The weather wasn't too warm or too cold, and the moon was full, so there was plenty of light to see by. Families and courting couples passed by them, and Steve couldn't help but smile at the sight of the children skipping or playing along the edges of the pathways.
When he turned his attention back to Ronda, he noticed that she was walking extremely close, almost pressed up against his side. Startled, he took a step back. "What are you doing?" he asked, keeping his voice quiet so that he didn't attract the attention of those around him.
He needn't have bothered, since the other groups were beginning to head indoors for the night. Still, it only made things more uncomfortable for him, given the look that Ronda was directing at him.
"I would think it was obvious," she said, trying to move closer but failing, as Steve proceeded to keep a distance between them. "It's a lovely, romantic evening, and the two of us have just had supper together. Now we're taking a quiet stroll through the royal gardens, and are quite alone."
Steve swallowed nervously as 'oh, no,' echoed through his head. Now that he thought of it, tonight did seem like the sort of outing a courting couple would take, and it was the last thing he wanted.
Thoughts of Drina drifted through his mind, especially the night of Henry's birthday ball. Memories of her twirling and smiling in the shining candlelight seemed like a beautiful dream that he could not forget –and did not want to. The feelings that evening had stirred inside him were unusual and alarming to him, so he'd gone to the tavern tonight with Ronda, hoping that spending time with a fellow guard would relax him enough to try and understand what he was feeling.
Now the evening was taking another turn entirely, and he had to attend to this unfortunate situation before it got out of hand.
"Ronda," he said, holding up a hand to keep her at bay. "Please don't take this the wrong way, but I don't feel that way about you."
She stopped and gave him a look that seemed torn between anger and amusement. "I know you don't feel that way now, but these things take time," she said, keeping her tone calm and reasonable. "Perhaps, after a few evenings out with me, you'll come to think of me differently."
Steve kept a hand up as Ronda attempted to step closer. "I very much doubt that's going to happen," he said firmly.
Ronda smiled. "All I'm asking for is a chance for us to get to know one another better. I don't think it's too much to ask, do you?"
To any other man, it wouldn't be; any man in his right mind would be willing to try and form a relationship with Ronda. She was bold, beautiful, strong, and a good fighter –a good match for a guardsman, a soldier, or even a mercenary.
Unfortunately, Steve wasn't sure if that's what he wanted in a woman. The only thing he knew for sure was that he wanted someone who was kind, fair, and intelligent –and she wasn't with him tonight.
He sighed. "I'm flattered, Ronda, but I don't think it would work," he gently told her. "I'm sorry."
The hope and good humor on her face vanished, with disappointment and anger replacing them. "You won't find another girl like me anywhere close to here, Steve Rogers," she told him. "It won't take you long to realize that I'm a better match for you than any of the fluff-headed noblewomen or maids in the palace."
With that, Ronda turned and left him standing alone and confused on the path of the garden.
It took him an hour to clear his head and get his thoughts on track.
First, he'd finished a walk through the gardens, followed by him taking the longest way possible up to his rooms. By then, it was late, and he realized that if he didn't get to bed soon, he wouldn't be able to function in the morning.
As he walked up the hallway towards his room, he saw Drina coming up from the direction of the library. Over her arm was a basket so filled with books, she struggled to carry it. When Steve realized this, he rushed forward, taking the basket from her before she could even protest.
"Let me help you," he said firmly as he hefted the basket with his hand. It was heavy, but nothing he couldn't handle.
She gave him a grateful smile. "Thank you. I thought I could make it back to my rooms alright, but I guess I was wrong."
He chuckled as they headed towards the royal wing. There was little sound at this time of night, though Steve could see lights on beneath the doorways. Henry's door was dark; he was asleep, of course, since he tended to go to bed early.
"I missed you at dinner," Drina whispered, the sound of her voice in the quiet hall catching him by surprise. "Were you ill?"
Shifting the basket on his arm a little, Steve tried to hide his discomfort. Just thinking about what had happened with Ronda left his stomach twisting in just the wrong way.
"A guard asked me to join her for dinner," he said honestly. "She wanted to see what the new tavern by the guards' quarters was like."
Drina gave him a curious glance. "Did it not go well? You seem a little…off. Did something bad happen?"
Steve sighed. "You are right; it did not end well, and that was partially my fault."
To his surprise and confusion, Drina gave him a sympathetic smile. "I'm sorry to hear that. May I ask why?"
He thought about it, and chose to be honest. "I told her I couldn't give her what she expected." Drina seemed to understand what he was implying, and nodded. "She's a nice person, but I just didn't feel right about the whole thing."
By then, they had reached Drina's rooms, and Steve found himself carefully handing the basket to her. She didn't have a strong build, but with both arms, she held up under the weight of her burden without much difficulty.
"Well, connections can form in one of two ways," she said, looking thoughtful. "Snow and David certainly had a rough time falling in love –they had to overcome all sorts of difficulties before they realized they loved one another."
Her mouth then twisted upwards into a small smile. "On the other hand, my father fell for my mother quickly, and vice versa."
Steve smiled. He suspected his parents had found love the same way. "Well, I'm going to trust my gut in this. It says that Ronda isn't the one, and I believe it."
Drina laughed a little. "Then by all means, go with your gut and trust your instincts," she said. "But right now, you and your gut should get some rest."
As she slipped inside her room, Steve felt odd, as if something important had slipped out of his grasp. It was like a glowing orb of warmth and comfort had gone out, leaving him alone in the dark hallway.
Feeling unsettled again, and as though a burden had started forming on his shoulders, Steve headed to bed. Later, as his eyes drifted closed, a passing image of Drina's smiling face relaxed him enough to fall into pleasant slumber.
After the door closed behind me, I took a deep breath and tried to relax as I hauled my basket of books to my desk. Why had I felt so anxious when Steve had mentioned having dinner with another woman? And why had I tried to advise him towards forming a relationship with her when, in fact, I wanted to do the opposite?
The whole thing was ridiculous, of course; I wasn't interested in him like that, and if he wanted to court a woman, he was certainly free to do so. I had no claims on him. We were merely friends; that's all.
'But do I want something more than friendship?'
My heart fluttered at that, even as memories of our evening at the ball together caused me to smile. It had been a wonderful night, and I knew I would never forget it. In fact, I'd actually dreamed of dancing in a room full of clouds, with Steve's arms around me.
Then my mind snapped back to the present, and to reality. It was wrong to assume that he would ever be interested in me. He never acted as if he wanted something deeper, so there was clearly no way things would progress further between us.
'Although…he did dance with me the entire ball, and never even glanced at another woman, even when they tried to get his attention.'
I gave myself a mental slap and began setting the books onto a nearby table to deal with in the morning. I immediately prepared for bed, and lay down for a good night's rest, trying to put all thoughts of romance and Steve Rogers out of my head…and failing entirely.
AN: Review?