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The next morning Brittany still trembled slightly from both the cold and the emotional turmoil of the previous evening. She had awoken before the break of dawn, and unable to lie still any longer and think of what she had done, and all that she had lost, she had woken Lord Tubbington and set about her work as if it was any other day.
It was still early in the morning, and she was knelt in the dirt, working on the roses when the Marquis found her. "I have it on good authority that the Queen was about to announce her engagement to Jesse, before your little stunt" Terry informed the blonde cruelly, standing over her as she continued to tend to the roses, barely flinching when the thorns caught her skin, sending droplets of dark red blood sliding over her milky skin.
Dissatisfied that she was not getting a reaction form the girl, the Marquis pressed on, "Now you're back to being the servant that you truly are, no more pretending to be a courtier, no more of your sick and ungodly fraternising with her Majesty Santana…Simply back to your own meaningless little life."
As her step-mother spoke, Brittany felt nothing. It was almost as if she was watching herself from the other side of a very thick pane of glass, or perhaps like she was under water. Nothing seemed real, it was all very surreal, and it felt as though her brain was perhaps distancing her from herself, trying to save her from the sea of pain she was slowly drowning in. When the Marquis said her name however, Santana, she was momentarily freed from behind the glass, and hauled out of the water, feeling cut through her numbness, and the a deep ache rose in her chest, sending bile to her throat, as loss coursed through her veins again, barely leaving her with any breath.
Finally, the blonde forced herself to look at the other woman, and getting to her feet she spoke, though her voice was lifeless, "You have gotten what you wanted it seems" she admitted, easily believing that Santana had intended to marry Jesse, for now, her world seemed to comprise of only the worst possible outcomes in every respect. "So leave us be," she continued, "go and move into the palace, and leave us here."
Terry looked on the girl with emotionless eyes, it was obvious how broken she was, yet she could not find it in her heart to care, "Come child, there is someone I need you attend to at the main doors" she stated, and simply turned and headed in that direction, leaving Brittany to follow her, which she did with no complaint – nothing was worth fighting for anymore.
As they neared the front of the house, Brittany noticed a large cart, laden with fine furniture and goods was parked by the entrance, two burly men unloading the cargo and carrying it into the house. There was also a horse drawn carriage parked beside it, and the man who stepped out from behind it to greet them, made fear and unease rise up in Brittany and spread through her like a forest fire.
Ken Tanaka strode easily towards them, his sword sheathed at his him, his hair slicked back, greasy as ever, and as always he ran his eyes over Brittany in a way that made her feel violated without even being touched. He appeared to be dressed to impress, in all black and forest green, his stubby fingers adorned with an assortment of rings and a large golden medallion hanging from his chubby neck, which only served to make Brittany uneasy.
"M'Lday" he greeted the Marquis with an over the top bow, "And Brittany, radiant as ever" he gushed, a smugness in his voice that made the girl even more nervous, and she automatically took a step back, recoiling from his presence.
"What is he doing here?" she spoke up, turning to Terry for an explanation, as the men finished unloading the last items from the cart. Emma, Molly and Mr Figgins had gathered on the Manor steps, alerted by the noise that something was transpiring. The Marquis did not bother to send them away, it would be useful that they were to see this; it would act as a deterrent for any more antics from her servants.
"I couldn't very well have you around distracting the Queen now could I?" the Marquis told her, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. When Brittany made no move to acknowledge what she had said, standing there, seemingly in shock as she realised what was happening, the Marquis went on, "Of course I thought the Baron foolish to wish to take you, but he was rather persuasive, and of course the manor must be at it's best for when we have Royal visitors, and for when it is put to sale when we relocate to the palace, and he made me a rather generous offer with the furnishings."
Tanaka smiled evilly and moved closer to Brittany, reaching out to touch her hair, which hung un-braided around her shoulders. She batted the hand away on reflex.
"I do so very much admire your fight Miss Brittany" he purred, glaring at her suggestively, "Come, we shall take our leave" he demanded, turning and getting in the carriage.
When Brittany made no move to follow he popped his head back out of the door and gave an over exaggerated sigh, "Fine, as you wish" he said non-chalently, before gesturing to his two men, who had now finished with the furniture, one of whom closed in on Brittany, grabbed her roughly and wrestled her towards the carriage.
Emma, Molly and Mr Figgins realised what was happening, and ran forwards, crying out and shouting insults and threats, anything to help save the girl. Tanka's other man easily silenced them as he unsheathed his sword, stepping towards them with it held high, ready to strike, halting their advances, leaving them powerless but to watch as Brittany was thrown roughly into the carriage, and driven away.
Santana took one last look at herself in the mirror. She was wearing all white – a beautiful fitted white bodice, that was encrusted with tiny diamonds, the neckline plunging low against the valley of her breasts, leaving her delicate collarbones and the swell of her breasts exposed, the skirts billowing out around her, all silk and net, also studded with a few well placed diamonds. Her hair hung in loose ringlets down to her waist, a pretty net veil pinned into her hair. Fighting back the tears, one gloved hand reached and folded the veil down over her face. The netting was thick enough to hide the single tear that slid down her cheek as she fought to compose herself.
She, Santana Maria Lopez, Queen of the Kingdom, was about to be married. She had pictured this day many times since she was a little girl. Back then, she would dream of the beautiful dress, the room full of people all waiting to see her walk in, the prince…all of which she had now. Lately however, that dream had evolved into something much less superficial, something much more specific and meaningful. Lately, that dream had become one of a wedding where she simply wasn't judged, where people gathered not to admire her beauty, or watch her perfect ceremony with envious eyes, but where they came simply to watch and accept as she professed her love. The dream was all about blonde hair, perhaps twisted up elegantly, or even left un-braided, falling perfectly to frame a pale face. It was about ocean blue eyes, and the faintest flush of rose that would be in her cheeks as they met at the altar. Lately, that dream had become unanimous with Brittany.
Hurriedly forcing the thoughts down, and steeling herself for what she was about to do, Santana turned away from the mirror, and stepped out into the corridor that adjoined the great hall to meet her Father – his anxious eyes forcing her to hold herself together and simply play her part, and as they started their journey towards the end of the aisle, play her part she did.
When they reached the altar, her Father gave her had a last reassuring squeeze, before he placed it into another decidedly larger one. Santana looked at her husband to be for the first time, and felt absolutely nothing. There were no sparkling blue eyes staring back at her full of love and promises of forever, just some red-rimmed dull brown ones. There was no beautiful woman in a white dress that hugged her perfectly toned body, with long blonde hair and a smile that could shoot Santana to the stars, just a tall burly man, who more accurately described appeared more of an over grown boy. Prince fin wore a smart suit, his dark brown hair was slightly ruffled, and his expression not that of a man about to be happily married.
Regarding all this with an unfamiliar detachment, Santana simply accepted her fate. The music ceased to play and the preacher began his long and arduous ceremony. Santana counted the different pieces that made up the beautiful mosaic of the royal crest, on the large stained glass window behind the altar, determined to keep her thoughts at bay.
When the time came for the vows to be exchanged, the preacher passed them the rings, and began to speak the lines Prince Finn of Ohio was to repeat to Santana. Before he could do so, a loud sob broke through the relative silence of the room, and whirling around to locate the source of the sound, Santana noticed a young servant girl with tears streaming down her face, being held back by an older apologetic looking servant, as she struggled, her hands reaching out to the prince, her sobs becoming more and more frequent. The young man by Santana's side saw it too, and a single tear rolled down his cheek, as he looked one last time at the tiny brown-haired and brown-eyed girl, "Rachel, I'm so sorry" he whispered quietly, before he began to recite his vows in a repeated voice.
Santana watched the exchange with disgust. It was clear the man, boy, whatever he was, next to her loved the girl in the congregation, and it was more than clear that she loved him too, yet there he was, parroting off meaningless vows like a fool to a woman he did not even know, as his love watched, broken.
"Stop" her tone came out authoritative and a little harsher than she intended, the room fell silent at her demand, as they all awaited her next move eagerly. As she stood there in her white wedding gown, mentally criticising the Prince, she realised that she was no better. She too was standing at an alter, with a man she did not know or love, preparing to make false vows, when the love of her life was out there somewhere, no doubt loving her and craving her, just as she was.
The congregation shared worried glances as the Queen of the Kingdom, who had just called a halt to her own wedding at the altar, began to do nothing other than laugh. Santana laughed hard and she laughed loud. She laughed hysterically at the surrealism and the silliness of it all. This was not love, or even the fulfilment of obligation - it was pure madness. Things had become so convoluted and seemingly broken beyond redemption, yet as she had watched the exchange between the prince and the girl, she had realised that they were not. She loved Brittany, with every little piece of her heart, and she was lucky enough that Brittany felt the same. That was enough.
When her laughter finally broke, breathing hard she turned to the prince, and clapped him on the shoulder, surprising everyone, "I know exactly how you feel" she told him, and shared a pointed glance at the servant girl, whose tears had stopped and was looking on with disbelief. "Be happy" she told them, before she hurried back down the aisle and out into the street, leaving hundreds of onlookers, including her parents and the Marquis and Jesse in her wake.
As the Queen fled the room, the Marquis and Jesse shared a triumphant look. When they had received the invitation to the royal wedding, shortly after Brittany's departure, they had been distraught. But now Queen Santana was once again available, and this time they were certain they would not fail in their quest to make Jesse king.
Running out into the courtyard, still wearing her wedding dress, veil and all, Santana set off at a hurried pace towards the stables – it was only a matter of time before she was looked for. The clatter of rushed footsteps behind her told her she was being followed, so she turned round, only to be met by Puck, who reached out to gently squeeze her shoulder, "Come, this way, I know someone who may have the information you seek" he told her, before leading her back towards the other side of the Palace.
As they jogged along, Santana was so grateful to Noah Puckerman, he had known where she was going, and what she sought without even having to ask. He had followed her without her request, and been there for her, understanding her when no one else had. She still thought of him as a brother, and was her current mission not so urgent, and her emotions so shot, she would have told him so there and then.
When they reached the carriage holding area, Puck quickly lead the Queen to an older looking carriage at the far side of the lot. An equally old and withered looking man perched on the driver's bench, dozing in the afternoon sun. Santana recognised him from somewhere, and she struggled to place him for a few seconds, before she realised it was Brittany's servant…one of Brittany's friends, she mentally corrected herself, pushing the hint of doubt that snuck into her stomach away.
"Please Sir, I beg of you…tell me where she is" Santana called out as soon as they were within ear-shot, startling Mr Figgins, who jumped awake, his eyes growing wide at the site of the beautiful Latina Queen out in the dirty yard in her wedding dress. "Please" Santana begged again, her heart hammering against her ribs, adrenaline beginning to pump in anticipation, as she felt herself drawing one step closer to her beautiful blonde again.
"She has been sold" Mr Figgins told her sadly, hanging his head.
"Sold?" the Queen shrieked, "Sold?" she repeated, barely able to believe it, turning to Puck with outrage and horror in her eyes. He grabbed her hand tightly, keeping her grounded, holding her together as she threatened to shatter into a thousand pieces right there and then, his gaze reassuring his friend that they would find her.
"To whom?" Santana asked, once she had recovered enough to speak.
"Baron Ken Tanaka" a voice replied before Figgins had chance to speak, as Lauren ran up behind them, stopping on the other side of Puck, panting slightly with exertion.
Santana face clouded into a scowl, she had heard much of the man, and had the misfortune of meeting him on one occasion. He was known throughout the Kingdom to be a scoundrel. He had never married, and took many young female servants, almost all of which had mysteriously runaway or been the victims of tragic accidents after a few years at his service.
Adrenaline took over, and Santana quickly formulated her plan. "Tell no one with have spoken" Santana commanded them all, "All will be righted" she assured them, the determination on her face proclaimed her intentions to be true, and with that she turned and ran once again in the direction of the stables.
Puck immediately followed, and ran a few paces, before he stopped, turned back around, and ran to Lauren, planting a swift kiss on her cheek, before he ran off again after his Queen and his best friend.
Ken Tanaka lived in a small run down castle at the edge of the wilderness in the outskirts of the Kingdom. His home was large, poorly lit and cold. Most of the walls and floors were bare stone, the design was severely lacking in windows, and his décor was old and crude – stuffed animals and hunting trophies scattered through out the place.
To Brittany it felt oppressive and suffocating, and she longed for the open spaces and the gardens of Tubbington Manor. She longed to hold Lord Tubbington again, and laugh as she did the laundry with Emma and Molly, or sing with Mr Figgins as they tended the garden together.
More than anything she longed to see Santana one last time. To have a chance to explain what she had done, and why she had done it. To tell her that she had lied only to save a man's life, and then from thereafter she had been so intoxicated, and had fallen so hard in love that it was impossible to stop. Love had made her blind and foolish, and it had cost her everything.
On arriving at the Baron's estate, she had been thrust cruelly into a small box room next door to the kitchen and locked inside. There was nothing to furnish it but a straw mattress and a scratchy woollen blanket, on top of which, what she guessed was her uniform, had been laid out in anticipation of her arrival.
The skirts of the pinafore cut off above the knee and were far too short to be considered anything close to proper, the shirt was also revealing, and so Brittany simply refused to wear the items. Sitting in the corner of the room she had simply closed her eyes pretended to the world and herself that she was asleep until the Baron had sent for her.
The same burly man who had wrestled her into the carriage lead her into what she assumed to be the dining hall, where Ken Tanaka was waiting. The man gripped her upper arm tightly, and she was certain there were going to be bruises shaped like his fingers left there in the morning.
"Hello Brittany" the Baron greeted her, "I see you did not change into your uniform" he observed, taking a step towards her.
Brittany instantly tried to step back, but was caught by the guard, who grabbed her other arm, pinning them behind her back, and holding her in place as the Baron advanced, an evil smile on his face. "I have waited many years for this day child" he informed her, "Even as a youngster you always caught my eye. I celebrated the day your father passed, and the Marquis became your guardian, the woman has an evil streak, and I knew it would be far easier to strike a bargain with her."
Brittany felt herself hyperventilating, with her arms held tightly behind her back, and the disgusting man advancing on her she felt utterly helpless. As the Baron stepped into her personal space, she turned her head in repulsion.
Tanaka laughed a little at her display, then reached out, ever so lightly tracing the curve of her breasts atop her heaving chest as the guard held her tightly. Brittany felt physically sick. Her skin burned with displeasure where he had touched her. She could feel tiny beads of sweat beginning to form on her forehead from the fear. "You will maintain your distance Sir!" she commanded, her voice full of an authority and certainty she did not in reality possess.
The Baron seemed to consider this for a moment, his eyes roaming over her cleavage, then back to her face, "You're right" he agreed, "We have all the time in the world to spend together, we should not rush…I have waited too long for you my love."
Brittany remained silent, simply glad that he was no longer touching her, and seemed to have halted any further attempt to, for now.
"Go and change into your uniform" Tanaka commanded, "And then you may prepare me a feast for dinner, you need not concern yourself with dessert, I have that already planned" he leered suggestively.
Fighting the urge to comment, Brittany simply lowered her head submissively, and waited until the guard freed her. She forced herself to walk slowly towards the doorway that lead out into the corridor that lead back to the box room, her head hammered against her ribs, and adrenaline coursed through her veins. Just before she reached the exit, she spun around quickly and sprinted as fast as she could back into the room towards the main doors and her freedom.
Her attempt at escape was cut short however, when something hard collided with the back of her head, and the floor came up to meet her very fast, as the world disappeared into blackness.
When Brittany came to, the first thing she saw was the grey tones of the cold stone floor she was lying on, the room around her spun in and out of focus and her head ached painfully. As her vision cleared, she realised she was still in the dining room, and flinched as she thought back to the heavy blow to her head that had foiled her escape plan.
She decided to try and sit up in order to asses the situation, but when she tried to move her arms to push herself up, they seemed heavy, and when they got more than a little way apart something stopped them with a jangle. Straining against the binds, Brittany looked down and noticed her wrists were shackled and bound together by a heavy wrought iron chain, she also noticed a similar chain running from her wrists to join to shackles that had also been placed around her ankles. Terrified, but fighting to keep her head Brittany managed to struggle to her knees, thankful as she realised she was still fully clothed, which given the circumstances was at least something.
The Baron sat in a chair across the room, stroking his hideously large stomach, watching the unaware girl with a predatory eye, as with another great effort she maneuvered her bruised body from a kneel to a stand.
Brittany wobbled slightly, adjusting to the weight of her restraints. She could feel blood trickle down her back, and she guessed the wounds from her lashing had reopened again. Her whole body ached from the rough treatment she had received, and her night out in the cold the previous evening, which now felt like a lifetime ago. She let herself think back to the ball briefly, back to her, and she slipped into a happier place, of gentle kisses, soft lingering touches and the safety of slender caramel arms wrapped securely around her waist while coffee brown eyes stared into her soul. Forcing herself back from her escape, Brittany surveyed the room, hoping to find another chance at escape or at least a place to hide.
She jumped with surprise as she noticed the baron sitting silently in a chair watching her, she had no idea how long he had been there for, but she guessed it had been a while.
"So glad you're finally in attendance again, my sweet Brittany" he greeted her, rising from his perch and beginning to stride towards her. "Though you have been unconscious for the better part of the afternoon, all of my men have left, and now it is just you and I, totally alone" he drew out the last words, his tongue running over his chapped lips, his beady eyes never leaving Brittany's face, as he stalked closer still.
"Unshackle me" Brittany demanded, her request was quickly cut short as the Baron reached her in two quick strides and silenced her with a swift smack to the face.
"And have you try to runaway again?" He questioned, his voice sickly sweet, "I think not."
Brittany kept her head turned away from the awful man, determined not to let him see the tears forming in her eyes as she succumbed to the hopelessness of her situation.
"I had a horse like you once" the Baron recounted, pacing in a circle around the girl as he spoke, "Stubborn beyond belief, unyielding. In the end all it needed was to be broken" he punctuated the word by grasping the blonde's chin and forcing her to look at him. "And once I broke it, when it submitted to me, it turned out to be the best horse I have ever owned" he told her, "I suspect that you will be much the same."
Brittany gasped in surprise as the Baron reached swiftly forward with his other hand, and grabbed the front of her dress, tearing the chest open, exposing her undergarments.
Terror flared up in her, consuming her. She thought to scream, but then decided she would not give him the pleasure. Adrenaline flooded her veins and she shook hard, her muscles feeling suddenly leaden and her mind overwhelmed with fear and repulsion.
The Baron laughed cruelly at the terror in the young girls eyes, as he threw her roughly to the ground, standing over her to survey the prize he had pursued for so very long.
As he knelt beside her Brittany closed her eyes and thought of the one thing that could take her away from the dire situation she was in, the one thing that remained her only escape - Santana.
She could only imagine the horrors she would face that night, as a prisoner in the Baron's castle, but she would survive, she had to survive, she had to see Santana again. Even though her innocence was about to be stolen by a man she despised Brittany wished with all she had that the Latina was the one taking it, the situation could have been so different now, had she only been able to make the Queen see that although she had lied, she had done so for the right reasons, for love, and to give their love a chance to blossom, before it was automatically quashed by status and obligation.
Brittany whimpered as she felt a cold clammy hand on the inside of her knee, kneading roughly at the skin there as it ascended her thigh. A thought crept into her mind, if she was to die here tonight, Santana would forever see her as nothing but a liar, a traitor that had betrayed her and pursued her heartlessly just like Jesse, she would never know just how much of Brittany's lies had been true - she had been and was completely in love with her, and there and then the blonde decided she would tell the Queen that, or die trying.
As the invading hand moved higher and the Baron moved to lean down and settle himself atop the slender girl, she quickly reached out a shackled hand, grabbing his dagger than hung sheathed from his belt, and before the man distracted by lust could notice she had the cold point of the blade pressed to his throat, and was forcing him off her as she moved into a sitting and finally standing position.
"The key to my binds, if you wish to walk away with your life" Brittany demanded, her voice wavered with emotion and physical strain, but she focused her little remaining energy on keeping the dagger at the Baron's throat as he removed the key from around his neck, his face a sour mask as he placed it in her hand.
Carefully Brittany removed her bindings, one eye always on her enemy, daring him to even try to make a move against her. When the heavy shackles were finally off, Brittany's muscles felt like jelly, but her limbs felt light and floaty with relief. Wasting no time she ordered the Baron to shackle himself to one of the heavy stone pillars in the room - which, sensing his defeat he did without complaint. Once she was satisfied the man was secure, Brittany threw the key into the fire, lay down the dagger well out of his reach, and began to hobble towards to main doors.
It took the last of her strength to heave one of the heavy doors open, and after she did so, she barely managed to stagger over the threshold, to take a breath of the fresh twilight air before she collapsed.
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