Alright, so I had a terrible time writing this chapter. For the first time since I started this story I actually sat down and read the whole thing. All in all I'm fairly proud of my work and except for one chapter that I wish I had spent more time revising I felt like it was a good representation of my love of Beauty and the Beast. But I was afraid as I read this chapter that I was losing some of the simplicity I once had in the work. After a while I have decided that any good story has to sometimes divert from the original plot. You can't always have Belle and the Beast standing there with some heart-rending dialogue. Those things are only good after a great deal of adversity and sometimes rhetoric.

This Chapter focuses basically on the in-between travel with Chip and Sophia as the main characters focused here. Sophia can't stay the same spoiled brat she's always been and Chip had to eventually grow up. So if you're reading this and you're getting sick of the same old travel… well.. so am I, but it was necessary. I worked hard on it though, so I hope you'll review because… it's important to me.

Just on a side note. After about an hour of studying maps of France I need to clarify that the particular forest they keep referring to is accurately the forest of Compiegne. It's very near Picardy France and it reminds me very much of the movies depiction of the forest the castle was in. I'm not really going for amazing accuracy. If I was Christian wouldn't actually be a king…. Or a prince… or anything. I've taken creative liberties and I like them. If you hate that… well review it. That will make me happy. 

Chapter Twenty-One: Into the Woods

________________________________________________________________________

The journey to the coast was not the difficult part. The real trouble came when they couldn't get safe passage back to France.

Chip wasn't sure when the last time was that he had been this irritated.

"Alright Sir" He began once again, speaking very slowly to emphasize how stupid he thought the captain was of the particular ship they were trying to board with.

"All we want is four. Four small spaces for us to use on your boat. We are willing to pay you more then it's worth to let us all aboard. If you would be so kind as to just cooperate and allow us all to use your services we would be most obliged to you."

Chip shifted his weight. He had been standing here arguing with this man for almost twenty minutes. Captain Durham was his name and had been in the fishing and boating business since he was eight years old. Never a day of formal training or education in his life he had lived the last twenty years of his existence ferrying people from one end of the channel to the next. Never in those years had he seen such an influx of people who wanted to get into France and then equally that many people who wanted to get out. From the gossip on both ends of the water it sounded like there had been some strange revolution among the French people and the Royal family had been massacred. But then that was no surprise to Durham. Sounded like the treacherously underhanded French to him. 'May they all rot in Hell' he thought to himself.

There was a rumor that some of the children had escaped somehow and were either coming or going from France to England. It depended on the person he was questioning but according to the rumors everyone was on the alert. Surely a fortune waited in Paris for anyone with a Royal brat in tow. Now, standing on the banks, he was taking every advantage of anyone he could. He wasn't exactly looking for a prince or princess, that was a young man's game, but desperate people who had to get from one end or the other would pay what was necessary.

And now he was dealing with this French whelp who had finally hit the last nerve.

"Listen to me boy! You have two spaces and you have the lesser of five seconds to pay for them or I'm giving them to someone else. The next ferry across is in twelve hours, the rest of you can wait until then."

Chip opened his mouth to retaliate and made a disgruntled noise of protest when Durham stamped his foot.

"Five, four, three, two--"

Chip put up his hands and shook his head. "Alright!" he called out. "Alright, here's your money. Just give me a moment to speak to my comrades and we will board in a moment." He handed the man a large amount of money and noted with some sense of disgust that the ship captain was missing three fingers on his right hand and an ear.

He shook his head again and then walked back to where Armand, Lamont, and Sophia had been waiting. Sophia had a truly bored look on her face but it seemed to brighten considerably when she saw Chip coming. He rubbed his hands together and then looked at his little group. Shaking his head to indicate that he was still furious over the arrangements, he faced his two brothers.

"Alright you two. You are going to take the two spots I just paid for."

Armand looked at his brother in surprise. "You're not coming with us?"

"No" Chip replied.

Lamont shook his head. "Well then, we'll wait till we can all go together."

Chip bent down and picked up the saddle-bag and handed it to the younger of his two brothers. "We have to get started. The longer we wait the less chance we have of finding anyone. You two are going to go ahead of us. Take the main road but don't talk to anyone on the way. Keep to yourselves. I don't want anything happening to you. Magic seems to have a strange effect on the populous. Especially people as superstitious as the French peasantry."

"But what about you?" Armand interjected.

Chip smiled at his brother. "I'll be fine."

Lamont shook his head again. "But you'll have Sophia with you, how are you going to keep her safe?"

Chip placed a hand on each of their shoulders and steered them away from the princess.

"Don't worry. I'll take care of her. You two kept her safe and I'm proud of you." He paused for a moment. "We won't be far behind you. If we're lucky we'll meet up before you get as far as the village of Dolongue."

"If you Frenchys plan on sailing on this boat you better get aboard this very instant!" Durham called from his spot on the banks. Armand nodded his head, pulled the strap of the saddle-bag over his shoulder and without hesitation wrapped his arms around Chip. Lamont followed suit and they both stood for a moment looking at each other.

"Be safe." Armand said to Chip and then nodded half-heartedly to Sophia. They were doing their best not to draw any attention to her any more then they would a common traveling wench. They had already gotten a few sideways looks in her direction.

Then without another word both boys walked up the plank and onto the boat. It was cramped to it's capacity and neither of them bothered trying to find a spot on deck where they could wave but merely sat down in a comfortable corner below deck to wait for departure. They would be in France soon enough and they had a long journey before them. If they were lucky they could catch a nap in before they arrived back on the coast.

_______________________________________________________________________

Hours later Chip and Sophia were traveling on their own boat. If Sophia had been uncomfortable on the way to England she was downright miserable on the way back. Her backside was so sore it caused tears of pain to come to her eyes. She sat upon her wooden crate, rocking back and forth and despite herself she let out a whimper of pain. Chip had been leaning against the walls, his head on his arms which were folded on his knees. He looked up at the princess from his position on the floor. Feeling unsure what to say to her he cleared his throat uncomfortably. It caught her attention and she turned her head to face him.

"Are you alright?" He asked quietly.

She nodded affirmatively. There was a long pause between the two as neither said anything to one another. He relaxed, leaning his upper body against the wall of the ship. Running a hand along the hair of his face he tried to imagine this girl in the courts of Rose Castle. Surely she must have stood out like a star. It wasn't just that she was beautiful, though she definitely was. For Chip, it was like a ray of sunshine. He was now sitting with Sophia-Belle. A girl he had spent hours with as a young teenage boy in Rose Castle. To him, he was seated next to a little piece of home.

"You look different." Her voice spoke, breaking his thoughts. He chuckled a little bit down onto his knees.

"I look different? The last time I saw you, you were ten years old and running about your fathers legs, getting in his way."

It was as if he had turned out a light in her eyes. She shifted her weight on her seat and dropped her gaze to the floor. For a long moment no one spoke. But not knowing what to say, Chip could only sit and wonder what was going on in this girl's head. Nothing about the whole situation made sense. Why was she here now? Where was Christian? Where was Belle? These people had been constants throughout Chip's whole life and he couldn't imagine it without them. He felt himself determined not to even try. He would find them because deep down in his heart, he believed that if they were even somewhere in the world, then everything would be alright.

Sophia listened to the silence that was made after Chip's nostalgic statement. Her mind wandered back to those days. It seemed like a lifetime ago. She wondered if it hadn't really been a hundred years and not just six.

"Why did you leave?" She asked quietly but with every hint of reproach.

Feeling bewildered he answered honestly, not knowing if there was another meaning behind her question.

"I left because that is what your father asked me to do."

Her face screwed up into an ugly expression of anger and resentment.

"Well that sounds like him." She said quietly enough that it almost seemed like she was saying it to herself.

Chip felt even more confused then before.

"I'm happy to do as my King asks, Princess. It is an honor to my family to serve your father."

To his surprise, Sophia snorted in disgust at his words.

"You sound like a perfect copy of everyone else. You people can't seem to have an original thought when it comes to my father."

Chip felt slightly alarmed at her words. This wasn't the Sophia he remembered. Who was this girl?

"I'm not sure I understand you. Christian is a great King."

"He's a worthless King." She replied with venom, not really knowing why she was saying it but allowing it to exit her mouth anyways. Chip felt the hairs on the back of his neck raise in irritation. He slowly got to his feet, but still remained close to the wall, not wanting to appear threatening.

"How could you say something like that? He's your father."

She stood up quickly to mirror him but then took a step forward. Her purpose was to appear menacing.

"And what would you know about it. You've been gone for six years. You have no idea what he's like."

Chip felt anger well up inside of him as he glared at Sophia.

"I don't care what he's like. You are lucky to even have a father!"

She put her hands on her hips, as if this would emphasize a point.

"And how much of a father do you think he is? What kind of a father hides everything about himself from his daughter?! What kind of a father turns into a beast!! Am I really supposed to believe that he didn't deserve it!? Does that speak of what kind of a father he is? If he's such a great king why has all this happened?"

Chip felt a little sick at her words. He didn't like this girl one bit and wondered how two wonderful people like Christian and Belle could have such a horrible daughter. Didn't seem possible.

" And did you have something to do with it, Sophia? Because from the sounds of it you could possibly be that horrible!"

Chip was utterly shocked by his own words. If his mother had heard him talking to a lady that way, let alone a princess, she would have boxed his ears. As it was though, he refused to apologize or take them back. Instead he stood his ground giving Sophia an accusing look she could not misunderstand. She in turn felt red-hot rage course through her veins.

"How dare you speak to me like that. And how dare you accuse me of such things. You forget that you are nothing but a lowly kitchen boy and you should learn your place!"

Chip tossed his head in aggravation and retaliated almost faster then his mouth could move.

"Yes, but until I touch French soil I don't have to answer to anyone. Let alone a harpy like you!"

Sophia stamped her foot. She had never once, in her entire life been spoken to like this. It was humiliating and infuriating and she wanted to lash out with hands and feet and do any kind of harm to him she could. And under any other circumstances she would have but for the anger she felt she could not move anything but her mouth. Her entire body seemed to be rooted to the spot.

"Get out of my sight!! You ignorant peasant!!"

Chip whirled around on his heel and threw open the cabin door shouting over his shoulder.

"Viscous spoiled selfish wench!!"

Right before he slammed the door behind him and Sophia sunk back onto her crate with tears once again streaming down her cheeks.

It was almost a half-hour of stewing on the deck of the ship before Chip's fury dissipated. As he stood staring out at the waves a growing sense of shame crept into his heart and he wanted to bang his head on the railings in frustration at himself. She was almost a decade younger then him and he had fought with her as if he were a small child. He knew better then that. So did she, for that matter, but that didn't excuse his words. They had been foul and he wasn't entirely sure why he had allowed himself to get that angry. It was something about her that infuriated him. Or flustered him, he couldn't seem to say anything correctly when he was around her. In any other circumstance he would have found a girl like that immature, arrogant, and wholly unworthy of his time. But for some strange reason he could not explain, Sophia had captured his attentions.

At first he had just assumed that it was the fact that she was the Princess. Naturally, that made sense. But after a while he decided it had to be more then that. Something he couldn't put his finger on, so he filed it away into the back of his mind and tried not to dwell on it too much. If he couldn't understand it, then he might as well forget about it.

Taking a slow trip back below deck he sighed deeply to himself before pushing the cabin door open. Sophia had not moved from her crate but her face was red and blotchy from crying. She looked up as he entered the room, and then quickly turned her face away, slightly twisting her sore body with her. She wanted him to know that he wasn't welcome near her.

This was the strangest situation she had ever been. Everything was foreign to her and for the first time in her life she was being forced to not only think but to also be resourceful with her own limited knowledge of things. Sophia had spent her entire life in study, that being a principle asset to her father's strict regiment of character building activities he had instilled upon her. But nothing, no book she had ever touched in the library, had ever prepared her for this entire journey she was on.

The smell of the chopping water, the dirt under her nails, traveling alone with a young man she barely knew anymore. All these things were enough to send a girl into a raving fit. She was totally unprepared for the floods of emotions that were hitting her harder then she ever could have expected. She had decided that if she lived through this whole thing she would have to write a book about it.

As it was she was frightened about the future, frightened of the grim prospects of trying to figure out a way out of this mess, and her one and only traveling partner was turning out to be a complete lout. Or so she had decided.

At the same time there was some semblance of awe in her. True, he had dared challenge her which no one in their right minds had ever done before. Except when you turned around that was, in and of itself, braver then anything she had ever known… well except her father of course, but he didn't count.

This Chip, whoever he was now, wasn't afraid of her. That was strange and in many ways exhilarating. He was different and it was still undecided whether she was going to like that or not.

Chip walked quietly over to her and without being invited sat down next to her on her crate. With another deep sigh he leaned forward into his elbows.

"I'm sorry." He finally said quietly. "I want you to know that I didn't mean those things I said. The truth is Princess, you're right when you said that I don't know what has happened at the castle. But I hope you won't think that I thought any of it was your fault…. Or your fathers."

Sophia sat very still for a few moments trying to gather a response. She knew his apology was sincere and in turn she knew that she must apologize. It was something she had vowed never to do. 'Never apologize for anything, you are a Princess.' Had been the words of her last governess. But deep down she knew she needed to swallow that. He needed to hear her say it. Unfortunately she had no practice at all so the best she could muster out in the direction of her hands was "Me too."

Luckily for Sophia, Chip was extremely accepting of the faults of the Rosienne family. Having lived with Christian his whole life he had come to know when they were truly making an effort and this was one of those times.

Slowly he handed her a leather satchel and a small packet of rock hard biscuits. She took them out of his hand and looked at him bemusedly.

"What is it?"

"Just a water pouch and some biscuits. Bought them from a man in another cabin. Waters clean enough."

She took a small sip and barely managed to gulp it down. Her face registered disgust as she looked inside the small pouch. The water was stale and dirty tasting.

Chip chuckled slightly. "Now don't turn your nose up at it. We have a long way to go and you need to get something inside of you. No use hoping a clan of servants will show up with a roast turkey and red wine on a silver platter. This is the best we're going to get for a while."

Sitting quietly together Sophia's thoughts swirled around and around until they would have driven her mad. She was equal parts furious and disheartened. Indeed, yes, they were heading in the right direction of her home but when they reached it, what were they going to find there? Her life as she had always known it was changed and the worst part of that was that it had been her greatest wish. She had wanted things to spiral into a different direction. If only she had known then what it was like….

A tear slipped down her cheek and despite her best efforts Chip noticed. He immediately rummaged into his saddle-bag to find a handkerchief that was always stored with his clothes. It was an aristocratic thing he would have to get used to. Without thinking he leaned over and dabbed at her face. He was finding allot more as he grew older and into his manhood that men, including himself, don't like to see women cry. It's like having a leaky roof, you just have to fix it. Unfortunately he was also finding out the hard way, that women have allot of problems and strange as it seems they are not always fixable. Why, he wasn't sure if he would ever be certain. With men, you could just go and throw around your sword for a while. Or shoot things with your bow and arrow, or someone if the occasion called for it and when you were done, everything was all better. But that wasn't the way it was with women. The problems just never seem to plausibly go away. It was a mystery he was bent on solving one day.

Sophia felt little shoots of electricity that caused the skin on her arms to prickle as Chip's rough hands brushed her cheek in his attempt to dry her tears. She wasn't entirely sure why but even that simple gesture caused even more tears to come on. There was just something about him She let out a small sob and bent her head down lower over her body.

After a few moments she finally whispered. "I wish I had never run away from home."

Chip was unsure what she could have been talking about. His knowledge on the entire subject of the reasons behind their journey were limited to a few meaningful looks that Armand and Lamont had given Chip when Sophia's name had come up in their conversations. He had been suspicious the whole time that there was allot more to this story then the simple idea that 'the spell' had just come back on his own. But he was starting to think that perhaps he had been a little more accurate about her involvement then he had meant to be when they were arguing.

"Well," he began, knowing he was treading on thin ice. "I'm not sure why you would have wanted to."

She sobbed again and several tears splashed onto her ugly English-made gown.

"That's because I don't want you to know."

"Why is that?"

It was a horrible feeling. That same awful vulnerability she had felt standing in front of her father and mother totally naked.

"Because," She finally whispered, realizing she might as well say it. She'd already gotten herself in this far. "You'll hate me if you know."

Chip almost smiled but downed it quickly. He didn't want her to think he was mocking her pain.

"I doubt that." He whispered.

She said nothing and he was starting to worry that she wasn't going to. Taking a bit of chance he finally said. "Listen Sophia, I don't know what has happened here… but I'd like to. And…. I can't do much unless I know what I'm facing." He paused for a moment, giving her time to let his words sink in.

"We have some time before the boat docks and…. A very long journey ahead of us. If we're going to try and make this right…." He paused again becoming aware that perhaps this little speech wasn't just for Sophia. He believed his words as well.

"And I want you to know that… you and I… we can make it right if you want to. But… I can't do it without your help."

Sophia looked up at him into his eyes. Someone who needed her help? That was something she had not heard in her entire life. She nodded slowly at him and he leaned himself up against the wall, his head against the window.

"Alright, start from the beginning."

Hours later Chip was once again making his way below deck. The story was out and now they were both thoroughly sick of the boat they were on and ready to get started on the journey that would take them both back to their home. Whether that was a good thing, or bad.

Chip swallowed hard and entered the cabin. Sophia was standing near the window but gave Chip a small smile and then turned back to gaze outside as the French countryside was just starting to come into view.

Pulling his saddle bag off his shoulder he realized he was once again sticking his hand into the lions mouth but an idea had come to him while he was listening to the captain and a few members of the crew talk on the deck. It had not been a pleasant conversation to overhear.

"Ummm Sophia?"

She turned around and looked at him. Her eyes were still red and swollen from crying but her mood seemed to have lifted a bit since their last conversation.

"Yes?" She replied.

He shuffled his foot just enough to make him seem even more like the blond haired boy that had left Rose castle six years ago.

"I need you to do me a favor." He said and then pulled out his second set of clothing from his saddle bag. They were a very well tailored set of breeches with a white linen shirt and a an embroidered jacket to match the fine leather boots. All were fairly rich clothing by English standards. Sophia looked puzzled as he held them out to her.

"What do you want me to do?" She finally asked.

He swallowed again and then looked down as he quickly said.

"I need you to put these on."

There was a dead silence as neither of them spoke. Sophia pulled her shawl closer to her body and regarded Chip as if he had somehow confused himself and stood in need of some correction.

"Chip… Those are men's clothing." She stated slowly, emphasizing the word 'men's'

Chip nodded but did not retract his outstretched hand.

"I know. I need you to wear these."

Sophia felt a blush reach her cheeks and shook her head violently.

"I cannot wear those." She said with ardor. "I am a princess! Do you know what people would say if they knew that a princess was wearing men's clothing! It just isn't done!"

Chip felt a stab of impatience but downed it, knowing what kind of argument they were now capable of getting into.

"Sophia," he began softly "I realize that. But I was just up deck and I heard some men talking. They said that there are people all over the shore looking for you or your parents or anyone. The captain of just this boat was telling his crew members of how he wasn't going to let anyone on board from France unless they allowed him to examine them for runaways. It's only a matter of time before someone spots you."

He paused for a moment letting her think for a moment.

"You look so much like your mother, Sophia…. I think this will help you stay hidden for a while."

Sophia's blush increased as she thought about being examined by some random man with a thirst for the pile of gold waiting for anyone who could ransom a royal family member. And then, for some reason she could not identify, her thoughts strayed to her father and the vision of his face on the night she was brought back to the castle totally naked crept into her mind. He had looked so disappointed and disgusted by her. She could easily pick out every worry line around his eyes, and the ones of regret around his mouth.

She swallowed hard as the humiliation seeped into her again but she nodded obediently, knowing that by now she had to trust Chip's judgment. It was the best she had right now. She took the clothes silently and examined them a bit before finally saying to him.

"I…. I need help getting out of my dress."

Chips eyes flew open in surprise. "You cannot dress yourself?"

Sophia felt her own stab of impatience. "No! I cannot—I cannot do it myself." She stammered, feeling the heat rise in her face hotter then ever, despite the cool winds coming in through the cracks in the ship.

Chip's hands went a bit sweaty as he realized he had not thought that she wouldn't be able to dress herself. But then he did remember that a maid had helped her into these clothes back in England and even worse was that of course she had never put on men's clothing before and they had their own sets of buttons and ties that would be foreign to her.

He nodded and then smiled weakly as if he was trying to be reassuring.

"That's alright." He said, a little to himself. "I can do that… I can he- help you."

Sophia griped the clothing even harder and nearly swallowed her tongue but not wanting to make this situation more excruciating then it already was she turned herself around so that her back was facing him.

For all of Chip's experience with Louise he was ill-prepared for any kind of personal physical contact. A long row of very small buttons ran all the way down the back of the dress Sophia wore. The color of cloves and so tightly woven across her full frame it was no wonder aristocratic women could not dress or un-dress themselves.

Nervously Chip set down the saddle-bag and put his hands up to the high part at the back of Sophia's neck. As gently as he could he un-buttoned the first button. She shivered but did not protest, though he heard a small sniffle as her arm went up to her mouth to stifle the sound. Trying to ignore the increasing awkwardness Chip un-buttoned the second button and then a third. Without realizing it he allowed his index finger to stroke the soft hairs that ran along the skin between the tops of her shoulders. At the contact, Sophia shivered again and pulled away slightly.

"Sorry." Chip whispered. "I have rough hands. I'm not used to……..

"Undressing women?" She interjected.

He let out a small chuckle to try and relive some of the tension but the only noise that came out of his mouth sounded a bit strangled. Sophia decided now was a good time to thank God that her mother wasn't here to see this.

As Chip started to go along the buttons of the dress again his hands weren't cooperating very well and they started to shake. Or was that the rest of his body shaking and his hands were just so slippery with sweat that he couldn't tell the difference?

It was at the point that Chip reached Sophia's whale-bone corset that he stopped. He was able to see all of Sophia's long shoulder-blades and the top of her strong back. The white of the corset contrasted dramatically with the color of the dress and Sophia's pale skin.

Chip then had a horrible image of Christian's large hands around his throat with him saying something alone the lines of 'I'll teach you to undress my daughter!'.

He took a staggering step back and Sophia turned her head to look over her shoulder when she realized he was no longer touching her. He shook his head vigorously and let out a long breath of air, having realized that he had been holding it the whole time.

"Er… I can't do this." He took another step away as she turned her whole body around and looked at him, confused at his reaction to her.

Flipping around towards the cabin door he glanced back, only to realize that the sleeve of her dress had dropped to reveal her soft white shoulder.

Putting up his finger, his voice much higher then normal "Just give me a moment. I'll be right back."

Bewildered and embarrassed, Sophia didn't move from her spot. She clutched the soft material of the white shirt to her chest and tried not to think of what would happen if some random stranger were to walk into the room.

It wasn't more then two minutes before Chip returned, quite recovered from his nerves. He was holding the arm of a short, stalky looking women Sophia recognized from when they boarded the boat.

The woman was dirty with a big scar across her cheek. She looked at Sophia's half undressed appearance and then back to Chip.

"This the lass you want me to make look like a lad?"

Chip nodded and smiled at Sophia as if this was going to make things much better. Sophia doubted if she preferred the woman's rough looking hands to Chip's but she remained silent.

"What's so special about her?"

"Nothing." Chip replied.

"Then why are you trying to hide her?"

Chip looked down impatiently as if he was explaining something to a small child.

"Listen Mary, do you want the ten or not?"

Ten refereeing to the ten gold coins he had offered to her to help him and not ask questions. Sophia's jaw dropped at the sum of money he was offering this ferry-wench but was too afraid of receiving her own glare from Chip.

"Yes." Mary replied.

"Then you'll kindly assist the lady and not speak a word about it for the rest of your natural life."

"Show me the money and I'll undress anyone you like."

Chip placed a small leather pouch into her outstretched hand and then walked out of the room before anything else could be said. To Sophia's surprise Mary was adept at undoing the clasps on a corset and was even more skillful at the ties and buttons on the crotch of the breeches Sophia was now swathed in. She wondered to herself for a moment how one could become so proficient at working with men's clothing before she realized that she didn't really want to know.

Mary walked out humming to herself an Irish tune and upon passing Chip gave him a knowing wink. He stepped into the room to see Sophia wearing his clothes, including the leather boots on her feet. Her hair was tied up into the cloth hat on her head and she had her arms wrapped around her waist to try and keep herself from falling apart.

Chip took a step towards her and smiled reassuringly but it only caused Sophia to sniffle and turn her eyes away from him, shame written all over her face.

Chip was just now wishing he had brought allot more handkerchiefs with him.

"Don't cry." He said placing comforting hands on either of her arms. "You look….. very nice."

She shook her head and kept her eyes locked on a knot in the wall.

"I look like a man…" she replied.

He chuckled a little bit putting a hand under her chin and smiled as he tipped her eyes to gaze into his. "Not with that face you don't."

Then as an after thought he walked over to a barrel that had been particularly dirty with soot. He rubbed his hands into the barrel and waved her over to him.

"Here." He said as he smeared the soot around her small mouth and nose. Then still grinning he pulled his hands away and took a step back.

"There. As long as no one gets too close to you, they'll never know that you're really the crowned Princess of France."

For the first time she allowed herself to smile. And perhaps because her teeth looked so white against the black soot on her face, Chip felt dazed at really how beautiful she actually was. How was it that he had managed to be here with her?

Oh, sure, she had gotten herself and her entire family into a right mess but he found that really…. He was almost glad she did. It meant he could go home to the family that loved him and that was worth something. He only hoped that that family would still be there when he finally arrived.

It's unfortunate that our best laid plans really never turn out the way we would like. Upon arriving on the French shore Chip was forced to do some quick thinking. The captain of their boat was not jesting when he said that people were frantic at what seemed like a terrible uprising. To these French citizens their whole system of government had come crashing down and many were uncertain on whether to stay or go. Because of the terror and mass confusion many of the lower types of people were doing a fine job of taking advantage of every simple fool going in and out of France. Mix in a rumor of lost Royal family members and it was enough to create mass panic.

They had made it away from the docks undetected and unmolested but it was half-way through the port-city that Chip came upon a nasty bit of news. He was at the stables of Sir Pierre Badeau buying two lovely looking chestnut mares. The stable master leaned up against the stall Chip was inside, brushing the two animals down. The man was long and burly looking and had been very helpful and polite to the two weary travelers and Chip had spent a good time chatting with him about horses and weather conditions.

After some time had passed he began to saddle the horses with two used saddles that would serve them until they could reach Paris and from there obtain information to the whereabouts of several fortress outposts that the people of Rose Castle might have traveled to. The stable master shifted his weight habitually an then as nonchalantly as someone merely returning to a previous conversation opened his mouth.

"Hope you're not thinking to use the main road, boy."

Chip decided not to make a show that he cared much what the man was saying but equally as nonchalant asked from his crouching position underneath the horses belly.

"Why is that, Sir?"

The man shifted his weight sarcastically and smiled down at Chip.

"Because your Princess here wont be getting out of the city, let alone past the barriers that have been set up every ten leagues by the village magistrates and sheriffs. Makes little difference that you've dressed her up to look like a boy."

Chip slowly rose to his feet casting a quick glance at Sophia. She had sat down to rest on a pile of hay and was now sound asleep, unaware of the conversation going on just ten steps away from her. Chip wondered if he was going to breath any time soon, hoping he hadn't already failed on there journey before it had even started. The man chuckled loudly, threatening to wake the sleeping girl on the hay.

"Now don't piss yourself, lad. I'm no bounty hunter. The whole countries gone mad with something. Always happens when the royal family's been killed or what have you."

Chip bit his tongue and looked at the man imploringly but tried to keep his voice steady.

"Is that what they're saying? That they are dead?"

"Hell if I know." The man replied, pulling out a small box of snuff and offering it Chip. He declined and watched as the stable master snorted a few pinches before continuing.

"But if you ask me there's magic about here and that's none of my know-how. I just keep the horses."

Then more seriously he leaned towards Chip and said softly.

"But I'll tell you this much lad, if you want to keep your Royal lassie safe you're going to have to take her through the back roads and that will lead you right through that forest everyone avoids. You know the one I'm talking about."

Chip felt like a cold fist had suddenly clutched his heart and tried to think before the man started talking again.

"You know, legend says that there was once a castle at the center of that forest. Enchanted forest they used to say, with a giant Beast who lived there. Cursed, they used to say as well, to live their alone."

The man paused thoughtfully and then smiled at Chip as if they shared a secret, neither wanted to say out loud.

"Of course, those stories stopped when the King returned and married that angel of a Queen of his….. well that is until now."

Chip kicked his foot a little bit and then looked back into the mans amused face. He hated the prospect of taking the northern route but he could only trust what the stable master was saying and that meant that he would have to not only get them out of the city quickly but also take them back to where all the trouble had started in the first place.

"I don't suppose you could spare us some food and perhaps a few hunting tools. That is if we're going into that forest we might need them."

The stable master laughed. "You're really going to go that way then?"

Chip nodded. "It doesn't seem like I have much of a choice. I have to keep her safe and undetected until I know what could have happened to her family." He tossed his head in Sophia's direction and the other man nodded genially.

"Wait here. I'll get the things you need." He paused for a moment as he turned around.

"And son, may God have mercy on your souls."

Chips original intentions had been to go the main road. It would lead them almost directly to where Rose castle used to stand, very near the city of Paris. It was almost a weeks journey but he had hoped that by going that way he would have a better idea of how to get to a few of the fortresses that were built on the outskirts of the country.

But there was another road that led you through several villages before entering a forest that covered nearly fifty leagues. Several roads led through the forest, one coming out on the opposite end of where they were. It plopped you right into the village where Belle used to live. The road itself had been used by travelers for over a hundred years including by a small man named Maurice who had intended to travel through the forest to come out on one of the side roads to a fair at a neighboring village.

On any normal day most people would tell you that this forest was older then could be remembered and no one was quite sure if even the first settlers of the area could have told you much about it. Many would say that it was haunted and that strange things happened there. The only ones who dared to live there were cut-throats and gypsy-clans.

But many years ago tales began to spread of a castle that dwelled in the center of the forest and it suddenly became 'The Enchanted forest' for most people who went inside told stories of strange enchantments happening to them. Some told of visions of this same castle and others of a massive animal that stalked the grounds waiting for unsuspecting visitors to lure inside. And in many cases men and women alike would enter this forest and were never see again.

While these stories seemed to have resurfaced and were being told on every street corner and every wives circle in France, Chip happened to know that most were true. The enchantments that had held them all bound in the castle had also covered the expanse of the forest and who knows wherever else.

After little debate with himself Chip led Sophia out of the city by way of the side roads. They traveled through fields for a while and stopped very little. And it seemed the closer they came to their destination the more frightened and inhospitable the people were to talk to.

After some time had passed Chip turned around in his saddle and looked at Sophia. She still wore the cap that Mary had put on her head and seemed much quieter then usual.

She gave him barely a twitch of her lips to indicate a smile and then finally spoke.

"Chip?"

He pulled his horse back to walk alongside of her.

"Yes?"

"Are you frightened?"

He thought on this for a while and then finally nodded. "Yes."

"What are you frightened of?" She asked

He looked ahead of them onto the road. "The forest we're heading for."

"But," She began looking puzzled. "If it's so dangerous how did Armand and Lamont go through it so easily?"

Chip chuckled and then looked at her. "Well, I suppose fortune favors the brave….. and the foolish."

"Like my mother? And Papa Maurice?"

Chip shifted in his saddle and then looked at Sophia to see that her question was totally sincere and innocent.

"Yes." He replied. "Both your mother and Maurice were very brave people. At least I think so."

Then after a few moments passed he asked. "Are you frightened?"

She nodded her head immediately.

"What is it that frightens you?"

She paused for a moment and then looked at him.

"I'm frightened that… That I've already run out of time to do all the things in my life that I wanted to before I have to be all the things I don't."

He looked at her thoughtfully and then smiled.

" Do you remember our little band of children that lived at the castle? How we all would meet together secretly when all the grown-up's weren't watching?"

She smiled as well and nodded her head. "Your brothers and sisters and Celestine."

"And you." He finished her sentence and then continued with his thoughts. "We were such a ragtag group, were we not? I remember you and Celestine wanted to go along with us so often and many times you had to stay behind because you were the princess and your parents had so many things you had to be and do."

Sophia again nodded her head and frowned deeply. "I hated it. All I ever wanted to do was go with you. I believe I wished every day that I could just be like everyone else."

Chip shook his head slightly and then continued. "But you see that's just the thing. The rest of us…. We would watch you go and…. We could not tell you how much each one of us wished that for just a moment we could have what you had."

Sophia looked at him in surprise and opened her mouth to say something back but he stopped her.

"No, wait. Don't misunderstand me, we are all happy, but we were happy because we had you with us. Do you think a group of boys would bring along an eight year old if it had been anyone but you?"

She glared at her horses head. "Is that only because I was a princess?"

Chip shook his head "No. It was because you were you. Because if there was anyone in the whole world who was brave and… and… in love with life… it was you. You were everything."

Sophia felt like her tongue had suddenly become too large for her mouth. But Chip wasn't finished yet.

"And so if there was anyone that could make things happen, I know you can…. And when we get out of this and everything is alright again… you are the person who can do what it takes to make changes happen. Whatever those changes are."

"That is if we get out of this alive." She added on cynically.

Chip shook his head with amusement and urged his horse forward into a trot. "Actually, I think with that temper of yours you could scare away anything we might meet in the forest. I don't think I have anything to worry about when you're with me. "