Chapter 25. Impossibilities
When we get upstairs to where the living quarters and private dining area are, we find Jurien relaxing in one of the chairs in the small common area the borders share. "Your Highness," she says, getting up.
"We need to see Parfait. Now, if you please, in the private dining room," Rod says.
Her eyebrows raise. "Your Highness, your curse is gone!" she says with a smile. And then her eyes land on Fritz and myself. "Sir Fritzgerald? Why did you bring him here?" she asks, suspicious. Then, I pull back my hood, allowing her to see my face, and her mouth drops open. I have walked her of my own free will, I am not wearing rags, and she can remember me; I am clearly not cursed.
"Please tell Parfait that my stepsister started using magic, that she dispelled my curse, and that we want to see her now," Rod says.
Jurien's eyes widen even further, and she scrambles off to find Parfait so shocked she forgets to bow, while Rod leads us to the empty private dining area. I pick a chair at the long table and sit down while we wait. Rod takes one across from me while Fritz elects to stand. It is only proper protocol that Fritz stand while Rod and I sit, though if Fritz does stay here with me I will have to tell him to relax his etiquette in such things.
"I thought that Lady Jurien had left Angielle. Do you know what is she doing here, Your Highness?" Fritz asks us.
"Why did you think that she had left?" I reply, even though the question had been directed at Rod.
"I was told that she and Sir Garlan left Angielle and the Order on their own initiative," Fritz answers.
"Then, you were lied to," I tell him. "They brought a negative report concerning your father to the king. Father did not believe them, and your father expelled them from the Order. They were banished from the palace."
Fritz looks shocked. "Was there any truth to the report?" he asks.
"Let's just say that you are a much better man than your father is, Fritz," I tell him, and Fritz's mouth twists as he takes my meaning. "I would not be surprised to find Sir Garlan here as well, nor would I be shocked if they both treat you with suspicion simply for being your father's son. But then, I have similar problems myself."
The door opens and Parfait walks through, shutting it behind her, effectively ending that conversation. "Prince Rod," she says, smiling. "How nice it is to see you." Her eyes wander to me, taking in Fritz as if he was merely an extension of me. Her gaze wanders around the room for a moment as if she was also expecting someone else. "And Princess Lucette, with her knight as well. How delightful. My name is Parfait. Jurien said…."
"She broke my curse on accident," Rod says.
"And I'm feeling a little useless now," Sebby, the rabbit, speaks up from Rod's shoulder.
Parfait silently takes the chair at the head of the table. "I…see," she says quietly after a few moments. "That…should not be possible."
I feel a flash of annoyance, and that faint lightning starts dancing up and down my arms again, so I hold them up for the fairy to see. "Is this supposed to be impossible too?" I ask.
"Yes," Parfait admits. "But…I…obviously, the impossible is happening anyway."
"Do you know of an uncorrupted witch that could teach me before this lack of control starts setting things on fire?" I ask.
"Yes," she answers, slowly. "Two witches, both friends of mine, normally reside here at the Marchen…this inn. One of which is cursed himself, so his magic is…limited. Delora, the other, has been out on assignment for some time, but can easily be contacted to return here."
My eyes narrow. "Delora," I say. "Was she on assignment to watch me?"
"Well, yes," Parfait admits.
"As a doll, perhaps?" I ask. When Parfait nods, I sigh and shake my head. "How is this for ironic, gentlemen?" I say, addressing Rod and Fritz. "I walk all over town to find a tutor, and then discover her riding in my pocket." Then I pull Delora out of my pocket, and place her on the table.
She comes to life, still doll sized, and Fritz and I stare at her. "You have had quite a day, haven't you, Princess?" she says, walking to sit on the edge of the table. When she does, she becomes a life sized version of the beautiful, raven haired, porcelain doll.
"I suppose I have," I admit, as if a doll turning into my new master doesn't surprise me at all. Everyone would believe me in shock at this point.
Delora smiles at me. "Oh, we are going to have so much fun, Princess," she tells me, eyes twinkling.
"Delora, are you sure…" Parfait starts.
"Oh, yes," Delora tells her friend, kicking a crossed leg up and down as if energetic or excited. "This is the best option we have. I'm sure you have room here for both the Princess and her knight. I don't know what use you might make of him, but he has already agreed to behave himself. We can't let the corrupted witches use him to track down the Princess, after all."
"That…is a legitimate concern," Parfait notes.
"Why do I get the feeling that my new instructor is sarcasm made flesh?" I moan.
Rod only grins, but both Parfait and Delora laugh. "See what a bright young lady she is?" Delora says. "To know me so well already."
"If I could put up with Mother's lessons, I can put up with yours," I tell her, as if taking up the challenge working with her will bring me.
Delora and Parfait's smiles drop. "She knows, Parfait," Delora says, serious, her smile gone. "The basics of who and what her mother was, at least."
"I see," Parfait says, and then turns to me. "When you feel up to it, if you want to learn more about what happened to change your mother into what she was, you can ask Delora or myself."
"I really don't think I could take any more unpleasant surprises today, if you please," I answer, as if I am in something of a daze. Something in Parfait's eyes tells me that there is something else she needs to tell me, but she keeps her silence, and I continue. It is something that can wait for now. "If you want to surprise me again, it better be something good."
Just then, as if on cue, there is a knock on the door. "Parfait, I heard that…" and I recognize my husband's voice…or rather, the voice he had as a child and in his cursed form. It occurs to me to wonder if Waltz saw me running from the carriage on the way to perform his magic act, and followed us to the Marchen.
"Oh, come in," Delora says, and Waltz comes through the door, and his eyes land on me as if there is no one else in the room.
"Princess?" he says, nervous with red eyes wide as if hoping against hope that I will recognize him. This is what I knew would be in his eyes when I saw him, my own pain and hope reflected. And I do not have the heart to pretend that I do not know him. He is a part of me; I could sooner deny recognizing my own reflection in the mirror.
"Wait…" I say. "That couldn't be…but why not? It would be only about the twelfth impossible thing to happen today."
"What couldn't be?" Parfait asks me, her eyes darting between the two of us with a small frown as if something is confusing her. But then, any number of things happening now could be responsible for that. Though I do have to admit to myself…I would find her expression hilarious if circumstances were less serious. I've never seen her perplexed like this before.
"I had a friend…I think I had one…that look like him when I was a child, but he was older," I answer, and Waltz's face lights up. "I only remember some things, there are holes in my memory, but this boy named Waltz use to come into my room and play puppets with me, and made lilies appear from thin air. He said he would teach me that trick, one day."
"And I told you I would teach you how to make lilies appear on your birthday!" Waltz exclaims. "Lucette, you remembered me!"
"But you should be grown up by now, you were older than me…you were older than this when I knew you!" I say, as if confused. "Why…."
"I was cursed," he explains. "As long as it is in effect, I have to remain as a boy."
"I wish that was not so," I say. "I…I think that the last time I remember smiling; I was with you." It was last night…when I was in your arms. I had never been happier.
From behind me, I hear a sudden intake of breath from Fritz, and I remember him telling me that he would like to see me smile. Waltz, however, has a different take on that statement. "Princess," he asks sadly, "it's been four years since you smiled?"
"I think so," I say, with a small frown of my own, not wanting to reveal the entire truth at this time. Though in a way, it is as if all of my pasts never happened. "There has been precious little worthy of smiling at."
"Waltz is the other witch I was speaking of," Parfait tells me, still looking as if her mind is unsettled. "The one with the curse that limits his magic. I am sure that he would love to spend more time with you, but he could do little teaching in his condition. Though, if you manage to remember how you broke your stepbrother's curse and break Waltz's the same way, he would be more than happy to help Delora train you. He would also be capable of teaching you more…potent…spells that Delora is not powerful enough to cast."
"Speaking of teaching," I say, rummaging in my pockets, "I have gold to cover those services, as well as room and board for myself and Fritz." I put the very plump bags of gold on the table, and push them toward Parfait. "You can keep that in an account, and simply deduct whatever seems fair to you." I act as if I do not know what they are worth, when I suspect it might be more than enough to purchase a nice house. My father has been very generous.
"Princess, I…" Parfait tries to say, shocked.
"I am not a beggar, or a fugitive, that needs to accept charity. I know that it will cost you something to keep us here, and it is only fair that my instructors be compensated for their time as well," I answer. "And we shall need a few things. Fritz and I only brought the clothes on our backs." And Fritz has his sword, I suppose. It is so much a part of him, that I'm really not sure if I ever noted if he was wearing it or not this morning. On the other hand, I cannot think he would leave it behind when he knew there might be even a slim chance that he would have to protect me in town.
"Take the gold," Delora tells her friend. "I'm sure that you've probably gone broke helping everyone else again, while I was gone."
Parfait sighs. "I've been told that suffocating beneath my debts will be what kills me. Very well, Princess. This will more than afford the two of you your keep, and free Delora from other duties so she is able to teach you. Rooms three and twelve are currently empty."
"Waltz will show you where they are," Delora says, looking at Waltz, "and will make a list of anything you will need. Be through, and I will call you down when it is time for lunch." She looks very pointedly at Waltz at the last, and I interpret this as, 'Waltz, keep them out of the common room why we explain this to everyone, and that we are not going with the original plan. I would rather they not find out about it.'
"You are welcome to stay with us for lunch," Parfait says to Rod. "Perhaps you would like to come down with us?"
I interpret that as, 'Let's go show everyone that your stepsister uncursed you. It might make them more amiable.'
Rod leaves with Parfait and Delora, and Fritz and I follow Waltz out of the room. He first leads us to room twelve, and opens the door. "This will be yours, Sir Fritzgerald," he says.
"Just 'Fritz' is fine with me," he says, and goes in to look around. It is slightly smaller than my own room, but the view shows the forest instead of the street. And then I realize that this is normally Rumple's room…but he is not here yet. It occurs to me that Fritz might have the amnesic Casanova as a roommate, if there are no other empty rooms. It is much better than some witch's couch or floor, which is probably what he was expecting. I wait outside in the hallway while Waltz scribbles a list of the toiletries and other things that Fritz will need, and Fritz sticks with the bare necessities. It's not like Fritz can shave with his sword, after all.
And it occurs to me to wonder what Fritz can do around here to keep from getting bored. I will have my lessons, but he will go crazy if he has nothing to do all day. Hopefully, he can become on good terms with the other knights and practice with them at least. If he were anyone but Sir Alcaster's son…but maybe Karma could aid that. Karma typically starts out by trying to get on my good side, so he would be easy to convince. After all, it would please me if my knight were properly exercised; Fritz's muscles will do him no good if they turn to flab for lack of use.
"And here is your room, Princess," Waltz tells me, leading me into the bedroom I have occupied for perhaps a decade. I look around and note the location of the objects within, and take a quick look out of my window into the street. "So…what do you need?" Waltz asks, placing the list he had started on the table so he can scribble down things for me. "It looks like Fritz didn't have the chance to grab anything."
"I really didn't give him the chance. I just told him that he could come with me, or not," I say, sitting on the bed as if testing the mattress. I still miss my soft bed from the palace. "I did know that I was probably leaving home when I left my room this morning, but I only took my favorite doll and a box my mother told me to keep an eye on. And the doll turned into Delora." From the door out into the hall, I can see Fritz slowly shaking his head. Dolls do not turn into tutors every day.
Waltz nods. "Then you'll be needing a change of clothes, nightwear, combs…what box?" he asks, suddenly wary.
Perfect.
"I assumed that if my mother thought it important, it might be magical and my tutor could tell me about it," I say, digging into my pocket for it. "She told me not to open it, and I was wondering if it might be dangerous." I pull out the fancy box with the wings, and show it to him. I hear a noise by the door, as if someone else has walked up, but I ignore it.
"It's…it's…Neverland," he says, his red eyes growing wide as he looks at the box in my hand. "It's half of what I need to break my curse! You…said she said not to open it? Do you have the key as well?" He sounds so hopeful it is almost painful.
"She was the one who cursed you, wasn't she," I ask quietly as if I consider this unforgivable, and Waltz nods. I remove the necklace that still has the key hanging off of it, and hold it out to him in one hand with the box in the other.
He takes the key and the box, takes a deep breath, and puts the key into the lock and turns it. Then, there is a flash of light, and Waltz appears his normal size and stature, now his real age, and wears an infectious smile that could light up the palace by itself. "Lucette…you did it! Thank you!"
Waltz then hugs me, picks me up, and spins me around. As the room blurs, I think I see Rod gaping at us from the door and Fritz pinching himself to ensure that he is awake even as he stares at me. Then, I realize that I am smiling back at Waltz.
Fritz has finally had his wish to see me smile fulfilled, but I am certain that this is not how he had imagined it would happen.
…
Apparently, Rod had been sent to tell us that lunch was ready in the common room, but he quickly runs back downstairs to tell everyone that now I have broken Waltz's curse…though that one was broken conventionally. It's probably best if everyone doesn't try to mob me thinking that I have remembered how to dispel curses the way the Bearer would.
When I do make it downstairs, the common room is deathly quiet for a moment, as if a herd of sheep is unsure if a newcomer is there for wool or meat, but conversation slowly picks up again, the whispering much more furious than I have ever seen it. I see Delora beckoning us toward one of the larger, empty tables, and I sit down with Fritz and Rod taking the chairs on either side of me. Fritz tries to offer a bow first, but I tell him that formality serves very little purpose here. Waltz is mobbed by a chattering group and has to accept the congratulations of more than half of the people in the common room before he can even get to the table.
"Waltz seems very popular here," Fritz remarks to Delora, and she nods.
"There is always celebrating when someone manages to break their curse, and Waltz is well liked, and perhaps deserved his curse least. Save but for his actions, the corrupted witches might have won the Great War," the witch answers.
This makes Waltz a genuine war hero, something that Fritz cannot currently claim for himself even as a knight. So far, Fritz's roles have been mostly…ceremonial. If I remember correctly, at this point the most dangerous thing he may have done was retrieve a snake from the dining room. This is nothing in comparison to ending the reign of a corrupted witch queen and saving the entire kingdom from her. And I wish that Fritz could remember the last cycle, if only so he would realize the debt I truly owe him.
"Is Parfait not eating lunch?" I ask Delora, as I look around but do not see the fairy.
Delora looks like she is trying very hard not to smirk. "She…has a headache, and decided to go lie down."
In other words, Parfait has no idea what in the world is going on either, is upstairs racking her brains, and Delora is taking some amount of perverse delight in that. It's just like Delora's sense of humor. The know-it-all fairy has finally been stumped, and is in her room right now consulting very old books trying to figure out which way is 'up.' And I may as well admit it…my sense of humor is not so different from Delora's.
"Would you care to tell us a little about this place?" I ask the witch to try to distract myself, as I struggle with the same smirk as Delora. "Fritz and I saw different images of it before coming in."
"This inn and tavern is…a sanctuary of sorts for the cursed," Delora says. "It is hidden from evil witches, only seen by the cursed and those with magic, or else a few given special exemption."
"And that is why I could not see this place for what it was at first?" Fritz asks, and Delora nods.
"Yes, and when things suddenly looked 'normal' was when Parfait gave you exemption," Delora answers. "A few others are not cursed but allowed in, as well. Like Jurien and Garlan over there in the corner," she says as she nods to where I see the two former knights staring suspiciously at Fritz. "And our cook, Annice…who I believe you own an apology to, Princess."
Just then, Annice comes up with a tray in her hand, and her eyes widen at the sight of me. She had to know that I was here, with all the ruckus in the common room.
"But wasn't she the one that tore your dress?" I ask Delora.
Delora shakes her head. "No, a bird did that. She just made sure that the winged monster didn't make off with me."
"Really," I say, looking over at Annice, who is setting the tray on the table. "Well then, you have my regrets for my getting you fired because I thought you were clumsy. And I am sure Delora appreciated not getting carried off by a bird."
"Th…thank you, Your Highness," Annice stammers, as she goes off to get the next tray.
Rod looks at me and shakes his head. "That makes it two apologies in one day. The world must be ending."
It's not ending…just going around and around again. I almost wish that it would simply end. "Gods, what do you think of me?" I mutter just loud enough that my stepbrother can hear, and he flinches before I continue in a louder tone. "If she didn't deserve it, she didn't deserve it. Besides, only and idiot would think being on poor terms with the cook a good idea." After all, who knows what an angry cook might put in your food…especially one familiar with medicinal herbs. Even my mother said that you could only punish a cook once…and then they had to be dismissed.
As we are starting lunch, I hear, "May I?" I nod, recognizing the voice. Karma pulls out a chair—dressed as a beautiful, redheaded woman—and sits next to Fritz. I had been wondering how long it would take him to show up. "Please allow me to introduce myself. I am Karma. I understand that Her Highness is here for magic lessons, no?" he asks me with a smile.
"That…is correct," I tell him, wondering what his angle will be this time.
And then he turns to Fritz. "And what, pray tell, is the princess's knight doing while his charge is learning to shoot lightning from her fingertips and transform things?"
"I…really have no idea, my lady," Fritz says carefully, as if wondering if Karma is attempting to flirt with him. He almost looks a little flattered, though. After all, Karma is the very picture of a beautiful woman, and any man would be flattered that he had attracted such attention even if his own intentions were already directed elsewhere.
"Actually," Waltz says with a grin as he finally sits down at the table, "Karma is a man. He just…dresses as a woman most of the time due to his own curse."
I sigh. "Why not? After today, I wouldn't bat an eyelash if he turned out to be a prince in disguise."
Karma's smile seems a little forced for a moment before he recovers, as I have said exactly what he is. I don't find myself as amused as the first time I said something similar, but it is still somewhat humorous. "Of course, the Princess has had a trying day," he answers before turning back to Fritz. "I merely wished to mention that the knights and I train with the sword during most evenings, and I would welcome you joining us."
And I understand that Karma is trying to get into my good graces by befriending my knight, since I appear to be on good enough terms with Fritz to have brought him with me. This makes sense because there is nothing else that he can currently offer me himself. After all, I am here for magic lessons instead of here as a pariah sitting by myself trying to break my own curse. However, this might be useful. Hanging around Karma could keep Fritz out of trouble. Or at least, he would probably get into less trouble with Karma than he might otherwise get into on his own.
"I…am not sure that Lady Jurien and Sir Garlan might welcome me, from what the princess has said transpired between them and my father," Fritz says slowly.
"If they do not, I shall require it for my continuance of their education," Karma insists.
"…You are teaching them?" Fritz asks, appearing a bit confused. After all, Jurien and Garlan had been two of the best knights in the Order.
"You should go," I tell Fritz. "You'll go insane if you don't get some exercise. And if Karma is good enough to teach Jurien and Garlan, you could be sparring with an equal."
Fritz's eyes brighten, and I know he is convinced. He has gotten good enough that his only true equal is his own father, who simply does not have the time to spar. He's really too busy trying to organized everything he can to overthrow the king to play with his son.
And I have to wonder how my actions will alter Alcaster's, or even Myth's plans. Perhaps Alcaster will not try to put himself on the throne while I live. He could still depose my father, but to take the throne himself would be a direct challenge to the rightful heir, the witch and Crown Princess. He would either have to act now and kill me before my powers develop, or else wait until I return to the palace to see what kind of a witch I become. If the Tenebrarum corrupts me, he could offer his aid to help me depose my father, and if I am too benevolent he could try sticking a sword in me and then seizing the throne. But I know that if he does not see me as a potential ally, he will see me as a certain enemy. Will he bide his time, or try to destroy both me and my father?
Myth…is harder to predict. I know he will be looking desperately for me. He will want me to free my Mother, but more importantly, is the Tenebrarum visibly unstable? If it is, there is no telling what he might do to attempt to stabilize it…if there is even anything that can be done. And as soon as Rod returns to the palace, able to speak but without a lover, he will know that something is seriously wrong; he will realize that the Tenebrarum has accepted a new Bearer. He might even follow Rod a while to confirm that my stepbrother had found a lover or not, perhaps even if he overhears Rod telling my family that I was responsible for breaking the curse, but he will eventually see the truth.
I half wish I could see the Tenebrarum myself, so I could see if anything is visibly wrong with it. A nagging voice in my mind says that there is, and for some reason when I picture it in my mind's eye, it appears so riddled with cracks it looks more like snow and cracked ice encasing my mother instead of crystal.
….