"Prince Turandot…"
Summary: Can the courageous Princess Amy unfreeze the icy heart of the cruel Prince Sheldon Turandot? Well, she's giving it her all…In song as well as deed.
Disclaimer: What's Chuck's is Chuck's…No infringement intended…
Part XXXVIII…
The mysterious and famed Labyrinth of the "Heartbreaker" Third Hall of the Suitors' Approach…
All three Princesses though reasonably wary, rather glad to be about it again…
Minister Ping's efforts having been a rather flat failure…Though compromised by his anxiety over Penny…
Anxiety not relieved by her failure to show despite Lilly's rather bland, guarded shrugs that she was sure she'd be along…Shortly…
Pong, however, with Suzi, in his element…And his protective, fire-resistant suit, was displaying considerable eagerness for the next round, despite the failure of his efforts beforehand.
History indicating that the threat of angry family members back home, coupled to the potential reward of the Empire, was generally quite enough to get the Suitors to press home their cases…
After all, the secret opportunity to duck out and take Suitor Protection at the last moment was a rather open secret to those in the know…
Still, would be nice to know one's own actions determined the course of History…Or, perhaps Herstory, given princesses' lives and futures hanging in the balance…As well as that of the greatest Empire on Earth.
Besides…Labyrinth…Princesses…And…Dragons…In life-sized, 3D… How much better could life get?
Adding in the factor of true romance, natch…He noted to a pleased Suzi, likewise in fire-resistant suit as were his team.
A worried "Donnie" following Princess Amy, pondering his options…
Make any kind of declaration apart from full revelation and urge her to accept Suitor protection or quit outright and she'll consider me betraying her and either abandon me or run me through…
Make full revelation and Dad's rules are violated…Meaning immediate termination for the princess involved, unless I choose to risk sacrificing the throne to the judgment of the Reagents for demonstrated contempt for the Law and/or facing war from the various competitors for violating the rules they'd agreed to and sacrificed many a daughter to…
On the other hand, it surely would impress her…If she believed me.
Well, might be best to see how things go…Still got a long way to go and the boys may have something cooked up.
Must give Ping points for that argument on marriage…And for one Socratic reference I've missed.
"Did you finish transcribing our bat study data?" Amy asked as she pulled sword up and checked the buckle of its sheath.
"Yes, ma'am." He nodded. "It ought to make an interesting paper for the Imperial Journal of Natural Philosophy, your Highness."
"I think so, too…" nod. "I'll see you get coauthor credit, if I can."
"What?" she eyed his instantly repressed frown…
Co-?
The new tone toward women in chivalry and letting them study natural philosophy and the arts and have a few rights regards property and such is all very well but lets not over do the radical here…This is Pasadena, not some stewpot of radical notions like Rome or Baghdad, after all.
Think I'll have to speak to Sheldon about the uppity attitude of some of the servants here…Amy thought, slight frown at Donnie.
Encouragement of inquiring minds being all very well but one can take this "equality" thing too far…
"Lets get moving, Donnie…" she ordered firmly.
"Yes, Highness…"
Of course I do find I'm getting rather comfortable in the habit of following her lead, he smiled to himself.
"Hyman…?" Princess Mala hissed to her diminutive yet ever more beloved ambassador/significant other as they proceeded. "This might be a good time to consider dealing with the opposition?…People having been known to mysteriously vanish in this hall."
Hmmn…I love her but she's certainly her father's daughter…Hyman thought, eyeing her careful stare.
….
The Imperial Foundry…Where under the stern if anxious gaze of Empress Meemaw, revolution was currently brewing…
Not a situation entirely to her liking, she having had long experience with the fickle fate of such things, her own son having come to power on the crest of one…
Yes, my son, the people's champion and defender of ancient and new liberties…Till he decided to take a side turn into ruthless power grabs, despotism, tyranny, and mass murder.
And at least some of my fellow revolutionaries have more on their minds than demanding an end to the Trials and a few reforms, she eyed the angry citizen who'd spoken out before, who was speaking in a corner of the Foundry to several comrades in low, intense tones…A tall, lean fellow of the rather didactic persuasion…Constantly lecturing what appeared to be a sizable group of his followers.
"A hothead, that one…" the young blacksmith, in his apron, had come up to her, back from a scouting mission into town to seek support and learn the news, nodding toward the other. "Likes to go on about the Roman Republic and the need to distribute wealth and land. But I sense he'd rather like to be the one making such decisions whatever he says about the People and their right to rule."
"They usually do…" Meemaw nodded. "Is he dangerous?"
"I'd guess he could be, if things get out of hand and he spies opportunity. I and my people will keep an eye on him, Majesty."
"You might want to check him thoroughly…I find that type is often the most likely to be a provocateur." She eyed the young smith who nodded thoughtfully.
"An informer? Possibly…Though he has been arrested before now. As I say, me and the lads'll keep an eye on him. But as to the news in town, ma'am…The procession is well underway and the Ministers have been meeting together, probably to discuss our Fowler princess as her name has come up according to my sources."
"Sources…?" shrewd look…
"Where there are servants and attendants everywhere about, there are sources, Majesty." He smiled. "And I have many good friends…Who care about the future of the Empire."
Good man for the Imperial Service…She noted to herself. Must remember his name for Shelly later on…
"Do they mean to stop Amy?" Meemaw asked.
"They don't seem inclined to do her harm…Seems like they or some of them even see an advantage to be gained from her presence, somehow. Though I can't be sure, my friends can only pick up snatches. But the Dowager seems to have learned about her as well…Even confronted her at the start, during the Benediction, they tell me."
He turned a moment to his young assistant who'd come to ask about work to be done…That of the Foundry's normal trade versus the demands of the various groups now occupying different parts of the Foundry, each calling for their own supply of weapons and armor… "Tell the lads to keep the regular trade going as best they can in case the Guard or others show, but the weapons have priority." He told the boy who nodded, rather eagerly. And with nod and simple bow to a somewhat perturbed Meemaw.
Rather young to be in the middle of this sort of thing…
As most of them are…She looked round…Yes, always the rather young who end up in the middle and paying the costs…
Sighing and returning to the subject of the Dowager…
Frown…"Mary? She's not threatened Amy, has she? That daughter-in-law of mine hasn't made a right decision since she married my George. And stubborn to boot."
"If she did, she's not yet acted…The Fowler princess remains intact and in the procession so far…"
"Lord, this could throw a stick into the chariot wheel…If she's convinced herself or the Ministers convince her that Amy means to take vengeance…" Meemaw pondered.
The smith scratched an ear thoughtfully with powerful hand…
"She'd naturally want to protect her son, Majesty."
"And is very capable of doing so…I'll give her that." Meemaw agreed, reluctantly. "The Ministers may be hoping she'll handle the situation for them…And she does have efficient agents."
"The Dowager's never been noted for cruelty or injustice…She's been the one positive symbol of government the Ministers have hidden themselves behind. You really think she'd act against the Princess Amy?" concerned stare…
"She'll be fair…But if she sees Amy likely to win out and reach Sheldon…Her maternal instincts may trump any desire for fair dealing." anxious pondering…
"We could try and see that she's told Amy means no harm…"
"She'd hardly believe that from some stranger…More likely to convince her there is a plot against Sheldon involving Amy. Nothing more on what the Ministers may be up to?"
"Minister Hofstadter has her agents with the procession, my people confirmed that much…She may be planning something…Do you think she also might be considering to eliminate the Princess, Majesty?" the young smith, anxiously. "That could really cause problems…And if the Dowager were implicated…Even we might not be able to control our friends here."
"Hofstadter, my ole friend… The one who convinced my George to silence his guilty conscience, namely me…" Meemaw frowned. "She'd not want Amy to win, certainly…But I would think she'd trust to the Trials for that."
"There is one more thing regards Minister Hofstadter…My people tell me rumors have been circulating about Amy…Princess 'Anonymous'…And the rumors mention the Fowlers. Rumors my people think are being leaked, by her people."
"Deliberately…?"
"Looks to be so…Not loudly but filtering through the crowd…And town…"
"Then she wants Amy's identity known…But not too quickly…" Meemaw pondered. "Now why let the people know a Fowler is in the running and not seize her as a traitor to win favor with Sheldon and the Dowager?"
"It would gain them little favor with the people…I wonder…" the young man paused…
"Yes?"
"It's just…If the Princess did make it to the Trials…And was executed…And the people learned your grandson was executing a Fowler who'd tried to win his hand honestly. It would raise a hue and cry, especially with things as they are. The Minister Reagents might see that as an advantage…"
"And the Ministers could let blame rest with the Prince…Take advantage of the disorder to exclude him from the throne to save the situation, at least for now…Even seek a new candidate they could manipulate more easily."
"It would leave them the power of the land for the relative future, Majesty…"
"But they'd have to be sure Amy would reach the Trials and that she'd lose."
"Losing is pretty much the expected result, ma'am…" he shrugged. "Though getting to the actual Trials might be the tall order."
….
A worried Pang eyed a troubled Lilly as they reviewed the items to be presented at the Gong itself as a final attempt at inducement to graciously bow out or accept the secret Suitors' Protection Program…
"Lilly? Is something wrong?"
"What? No, of course not…"
God, am I slipping that much? She sighed.
The power of love to soften a jaded persona is all very well, but our family will need my skills…My Pang being such a good-hearted sweetie…Whom I wouldn't change for all the riches that have passed through my crafty agent's hands to the benefit of the Empire.
"Penny is all right, isn't she?" he asked carefully…
"Uh…Of course…When I left her at the Library to wrap up some things…" she blinked. "Why do you ask?"
Oh, damn those beautifully soulful brown eyes…I'm going to spill…
"Why wouldn't I be?" Penny asked…As both Pang and Lilly jumped at her voice.
"Sorry…" she grinned, coming up to them as a relieved Pang beamed at her. "It's a bit creepy and dark in here, I shoulda been more... Oh…" she stared…
"Lilly?!" Pang looked at the crumpled Lilly who'd fainted at his side.
"Get some water!" he commanded one of his attendants, who hurried off…Leaving the three alone in the dim near dark…
Whoa…Penny pulled back as Lilly suddenly sat up, pointing what looked like a small hand-held crossbow.
"Lilly?" Pang stared.
"Get back, sweetheart. Penny, if you try to run, this dart will kill you in twenty seconds. Now…How did you manage this and how did you get out of the Ministry?" Lilly, sharply.
Might've known this one wasn't the fainting type…Penny frowned.
…