"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 LXXVIII…
Look at this, Empress Mary sighed at the two Princesses now eagerly pushing through to her…Attendants only reluctantly giving way at her stern and regal nod.
The two would-be daughters-in-law/suicidal idiots/greedy would-be landgrabbers desperate to score points with potential Mom-in-law.
Still, just doing their jobs as royal Princesses and Suitors… And they have a certain foolhardy, if perhaps forced by familial duty, courage.
Been there myself, though not having to brave Trials like these…
Dear Georgie and his mother being quite enough on their own, even if Georgie was sweet once I got through his ruthlessly terrifying exterior show.
But he had to be…Peasant soldier raised/killed his way to conquering emperor, surrounded by people out to destroy him and his new empire, the ones willing to openly meet him in the fields…Losers…She thought, rather proudly…The less despicable of the bunch, as opposed to those worming in close to betray him.
People just don't really get the meaning of that "uneasy lies the head that wears a crown" thing…Till they wear the dratted thing.
"Your Highnesses…" she addressed the two Princesses in as equal a measure as she could… Mala pressing hard for the inside track…Isabella reserving a good spot which allowed her to display her superior height.
Dwarf…Eyeing Mala below with pleasant smile.
Dyke…Mala grimly smiling back.
At least I'd try to enjoy it with Sheldon…Horrible as that might seem. Over time…
Though to be fair, given the bloody Trials and therefore the utter hideousness of this marital situation, being gay and forever faking it might be considered more rational to many…
"Majesty…" both bowed low.
At least she can see me still…Isabella, slight smirk watching Mala bend.
Say where's our third…She looked over to where Princess Anonymous remained in her seat, anxiously staring for sight of Sheldon among his guards and attendants…
Girl has got it beyond bad into clear psychosis…
"Please bring their Highnesses chairs…" Mary waved to attendants.
"Afraid if you care to sit by me there's no room for your thrones, Highnesses."
Like anything wouldn't be better than those hemorrhoidal torture machines…Mala thought, smiling sweetly. "Not at all, Majesty…I'm grateful for the chance to speak more with you."
"As am I…dear Mother…Majesty…" Isabella, equally sweet smile. "Ah, forgive me, trick of the tongue…Your Majesty."
Of the forked tongue, bitch…Mala frowned.
"Of course…Sit, ladies…" as chairs arrived.
Phew, decent cushions for my tushie at last…Isabella repressed a sigh as she took seat.
"Many thanks, Majesty." She nodded.
"Oh, yes, ma'am." Mala agreed, taking her spot on the opposite side of Mary's temporary throne. Shrewd look to Hyman who nodded…Not so forward as "Mother" but ingratiating all the same.
"Seems we've had a bit more of excitement…" Mary noted, scanning the crowd and anxiously regarding the area where Sheldon had been standing.
"Most certainly…Is the Prince my love all right?" Isabella, hastily rising. Mala, dark look.
Damn bitch, sycophantic word cut right in front of me.
"I should go see…" she offered in her turn, an anxious cry, rising from her seat. "Sheldon…My beloved…Is in danger out there among the spies and assassins!"
And he must live till either I get my SPP pass stamped or a ring on this finger. Though please gods no…Just gimme my ticket, some trinkets, and ma honey Hymie, Mala sighed. But first the maniac must live to do so…
Regrettably…
Though, to be fair…He has been rather sweet in person…IF a bit too concerned with one of us…She stared over at Princess Anonymous coldly, Amy still anxiously peering out to Turandot's last spotted location.
Gods…She really has it bad…Sincerely, unless she's the world's greatest actress, topping even Theodora Maslany…
Didn't George kill her whole family?
But I suppose I understand in a way how the job could lead one to do rather uncomfortable and unfortunate things…
Though lets face it, it has to leave a mark…They say Daddy was once a gentle and kind kid before he became a bloodlusting monster whom I sure hope my brother has managed to kill in my absence from home. Repressing a sigh, she offered a pleading look to Mary from where she stood…
Not too shabby an actress meself, if I do say so meself…
Isabella frowning at her…
Laying it on a bit thick, Borneo girl…
"Please…Stay…" Mary, gently but in firm tone that brook no refusal…Eyeing both in turn. "I'm sure your devotion to my son is appreciated."
Score, Borneo…Mala, contentedly, beaming to Hyman, who offered his shrewd ambassador's nod of approval.
"As you command, Majesty…" Isabella, deftly moving in closer by Mary, a guard's curt eyeing braking her. "Pardon me. But my sword and my arm are ready to fight for Sheldon's dear life, regardless of cost."
Gods help me…Much as I do enjoy a good swordsplay…
To have to save the guy who'd cut off my head without a by-your-leave? Sighing slightly.
Quick batting of eyes to suggest her anxious concern and aforementioned willingness to die…
"Thank you, Highness." Mary nodded. "I'm touched by both your expressions of devotion."
But if you point that sword anywheres near my boy, girl. Or we see any blowguns about you, little one…Polite smile to each princess.
…
"Sire…" Pang had reached Sheldon now, who, though still annoyingly surrounded by a phalanx of guards, had moved into the main square, anxious to see what Agent Lilly might have learned…
"Pang…Can you get these fellows off me?" Turandot eyed him anxiously. "I want to see if Miss Lilly's found out anything more…"
Me? Pang blinked. You're the soon-to-be Imperator/Prince and you can't get rid of your guard?
"Pain of death from Mom if they abandon me without senior orders sort of thing…" Sheldon noted in quick hiss. "Just order them to back off a bit…"
"Uh, well…Guards, a bit more space for the Prince Imperial…Order of the Guardian Minstry." Pang, as regally as he could.
"We have orders to guard His Highness closely." One gruff-looking senior officer eyed Pang. "But, if that's your order and you take full responsibility, as a Guardian…?"
Somehow I suspect this is not something I should take on lightly…Pang blanched slightly, glancing over to where Mary was watching, rather grim-faced.
"Minister Pang has Senior authority during the Procession…" Turandot noted. "He'll take responsibility."
I will? Pang stared at Sheldon who eyed him carefully.
Guess I will…
Uneasy lies the head of a personal friend of the Crown, I see… "Yeah, yeah…But just a little more space. And keep a strict eye out." He tried a stern look which the chief guard clearly regarded with amusement.
"Oh, yes, sir. Boys and Steph…" the commander signaled to the others. "Fan out just a bit and let the Prince and His Eminence here move."
Please don't die or suffer breakage…Pang sighed at Turandot as Sheldon eagerly pushed on, he following quickly. "Careful, your Highness…!"
Amy rising nervously now…
"Your Highness? Stay…" Mary firmly called but to her surprise, unavailingly as Amy hurried to the platform's edge and climbed down, two guards assigned to her, startled but hurrying after.
Oh, Lord. Isabella peered.
Showoff…
And so, now…Naturally…She thought, rising and quickly moving to the edge herself, Mala immediately following…
"Ladies!" Mary called, sternly, waving for the guards to stop them.
"Your Highness, you must come back!" one female guard told Amy, pulling at her armored arm… "We have orders!"
"Stop! All of you!" Mary rose, anxious now…But focusing on Amy.
It would be a perfect time for a Fowler to take her admittedly just revenge…
"Sheldon!" Amy cried, suddenly spying a move among the crowd near his fanwave of guards…
"Guards! Ladies, I'll order them to shoot if you don't stop now!" Mary cried.
…
Charlotte in her rough robes among the group partially vetted…Unless we're "target practice" one cynically joked...Scanning the crowd in the main square as best she could for any potential additional Byzantine agents.
No offense to Californian intelligence services but they slipped up a bit with this Byzantine dame…Not to mention…Me.
Father's been detained…She noted. That guard about him doesn't have the usual deferential look. Carefully keeping among the detainee group as said guards looked about, one, a woman, carefully questioning Gablehauser, clearly the gal-in-charge.
Though they can't seriously suspect him, a Senior Minister…And one whom, for all his own and his loving ambitions for me, sincerely likes Sheldon and would happily settle to be the power behind, so long as his foster daughter is seated beside his Prince. Once, of course, Ministers Hofstadter and Siebert are dealt with…Likely, permanently, in the lady's place…Siebert being a bit more inclined to see reason.
A man of moral integrity if anyone cared to drill down deep enough past the naked ambition…I of all people know that.
That's odd to consider…I had a father all these years. Amy didn't. But she had Aunt Mag for a time and didn't have to quite so completely conceal herself. Still, all things considered…I win.
And will do so, always.
Oh…She peered to see Turandot in the square, guards close but away from his immediate side, a brown fellow in elegant robes beside him, anxiously urging him…
My love…
Oh, hell…She eyed Amy hopping off the platform, guards trying to grab her.
Gods? She's not trying to take vengeance after all, is she?
Isabella and Mala hopping off as well as a furiously anxious Mary barked orders to her guards, all taking quick aim.
Oh shit…She now caught of the bit of movement near the guards, a figure slipping through the crowd…On its diagonal way to Sheldon…
She, grabbing at her robe-concealed dagger…
"My Gods…" Gablehauser, catching sight as well. "Highness!" he cried. Lilly turning at his cry, to see…
"Meemaw…" Turandot brought up short, more guards hurrying to him, with swords drawn, gasped at the figure now halting at the edge of his guards' circle…
"Hello, sweet thing…" the Empress Meemaw, in the tight wrapped robes of a minor priestess, now open to reveal herself likewise in priestness garb, beamed at him. Behind her, in peasant cloak, the large form of the young blacksmith and beside him, the People's Soul, Vlad the Revolutionary, in a similar cloak, in the younger man's firm grip.
Crap. Mary stared. As did Lilly, Gablehauser, Pang, various guards…Isabella and Mala looking round at the stunned faces, Amy too busy trying to escape her guards' grabs while all three princesses looking to dodge any loosed arrows.
Mama…Mary, blinking.
Gods I knew it…I knew she'd pop up out of her supposed grave one day like one of Georgie's buried gravesite horde's coins…
Hmmn…She eyed the guards near…
I suppose not…
Unless…Have I no friend will rid me of this living fear and holy terror?
…
