Chapter 17/Week Thirty-Three/Six Months Left

Resisting the urge to yawn, for a queen does not make such crude expressions, at least not where anyone may happen to see, Marianne makes her way through the castle corridors as quietly as she can. These early morning trips were beginning to wear on her, and it's only been five weeks. At least she only has to appear at the Judgment Hall once a week, but it still means that she has to awaken far earlier than she's accustomed to and stay there for far longer than she likes so that her people may get an audience with her.

The worst part of court days during this particular winter was that she didn't even get the pleasure of seeing Bog until he was nearly ready to go to sleep. Even then, they couldn't even say more than a few pleasantries before they were forced to part for propriety's sake. Yes, he could stay awake longer than his habit to join her as she relayed the various complaints to Boris, but they've already had that discussion and there was no point to all three of them losing sleep. They couldn't even spend much time alone together the day following court day either, thanks to the added work created by combining the three days of court into one.

But she wouldn't renege on her decision. It was best for her people than having to risk the winter weather more than once a week. And despite the minor annoying inconveniences, it was best for her as well.

At least this cursed form handled the cold weather well enough to make up for the lack of ability to wear warm clothes. Barely.

"Marianne, wait up!" Dawn pleads.

Marianne turns at the strained whisper and raises an eyebrow when she notices the pair approaching her. A quick look to the nearest window confirms the early hour. Even more surprising is her sister's disheveled appearance. At least she wasn't running...flying around the castle in her nightgown like she had when she was younger, but the crown princess was far from looking her best, seemingly only to have dressed in a hurry and hadn't done anything about her sleep-tousled blonde hair.

"Father, Dawn, what are you doing awake? It is not even sunrise yet," Marianne murmurs, extending her right hand to allow Dawn to perch on her finger.

"We wanted to talk to you. In private. Without any chance of someone listening in. So, we figured it would be best if we caught you before you left for the Judgment Hall," Dawn explains. "It's really important, Marianne."

Their father's grunt of agreement echoes the statement and Marianne resists the urge to sigh. There's no doubt who they are referring to about not overhearing. Which meant the nature of the conversation about to happen is one that's going to guarantee her budding headache.

"I cannot tarry long if I am to make it to the Judgment Hall before any arrivals, so I trust you'll make it brief and to the point," Marianne cautions, turning back and continuing her walk at a slower pace so her father can easily keep up.

"It's about Boggy," Dawn starts, running her hand through her long tresses to smooth them out.

"I thought as much," Marianne comments. "Is this a conversation that is going to differ from the last time we talked about it, or shall I repeat my previous answers now and save us the breath?"

"I, that is we, we know you're resistant to the idea of marrying him, of marrying anyone, simply for the sake of breaking the curse. As aggravating as being stuck in this form is, I do understand your reasonings," Dawn admits. "You are right. For as little freedom being a royal gives, it is unjust to force you and a potential suitor together because of a curse."

"And how did you come to such a wise understanding?" Marianne questions, letting amusement leak into her voice. "Was it because of a certain prince? A certain prince that you repeatedly protested against simply being introduced to, I might add."

"Okay, fine, yes!" Dawn huffs. "Sunny might have been a large influence."

"Shouldn't that be Prince Sunny, Princess Dawn?" Marianne corrects pointedly.

"We...uh...we talked about that, and we both agreed that it's...it's more fitting for a husband and wife to call each other by their given name and since we are going to be married, we felt it...felt it was okay," Dawn mutters, smiling uneasily.

"You have his permission to address him so informally?" Marianne asks.

"Oh, yes! We had talked about it a little while he and King Hasani were visiting and had discussed it further in our letters. Sunny had mentioned that his parents call each other informally when they're addressing each other and had asked my permission if we may do the same. That is alright, right?" Dawn questions worriedly. "I asked Daddy, but it's so hard to understand him sometimes and you've been so busy, so I wasn't sure."

"Of course, it is alright," Marianne murmurs with a soft smile, running a clawed finger across her tiny sister's head to move a lock of hair into place. "I have no intention of enforcing those silly rules about royal decorum where it concerns family. I merely wanted to make sure you had Prince Sunny's permission. It would not do to offend King Hasani's family over mere formalities. But that surely isn't what you wanted to talk to me about, is it?"

"In a way, it is. After conversing with Sunny on quite different matters entirely, I've come to realize that we all have been unfair to you about all this curse-breaking matchmaking," Dawn admits. "I've also come to realize that Boggy shouldn't be forced into the same nonsense."

"I'm glad to hear you say that, Dawn," Marianne comments with unveiled relief.

"That doesn't change the fact that you should marry Boggy," Dawn continues, ignoring her sister's low growling groan. "It's not even about the curse, Marianne! Not entirely, anyway. Do you remember all those stories Daddy used to tell us when we were younger about all his adventures before he married Mother? We both used to say that we'd only marry a man that was like him. Strong in heart, mind, and will, determined, loyal, kind, gentle, brave, smart, cunning, and all those other things that are just Daddy. Well, Sunny is like that and so is Boggy. I mean, he doesn't even mind me calling him Boggy anymore."

"You forgot to call him that once when you were tired and he asked me if you were sick," Marianne muses.

"See! That's what I mean!" Dawn cheers before cringing at making too much noise. "Marianne, surely you've noticed how much Boggy likes you, and not just as his queen, either. He was frantic those two days you were gone three weeks ago."

"Everyone was frantic by the time I returned," Marianne points out.

"Everyone else was more concerned about King Reinhart but Boggy was concerned about you. Not his queen. You," Dawn counters. "You like Boggy, too, and don't say you don't because Daddy agrees with me, and you'll be arguing with him. Maybe it's not love just yet for either of you but why deny the both of you a chance to be happy with each other?"

Marianne has to stop walking and take a deep breath against the pain that rises at her sister's question. It's only through sheer strength of will the tears stay locked behind her closed eyelids.

Why?

That was the question to a lot of things, wasn't it? The answers for which she could never give. To herself or to anyone else.

She could never tell her father and sister about her lo...great affection for Bog. She could never tell them that Stuff told them six weeks ago that with the Dark Forest allowing their union that they were recognized as husband and wife to those of the goblin kingdom whether they married in the formal tradition or not. She definitely couldn't tell them about the intimate moments or even the more innocent touches and kisses. Dawn would squeal like the maiden she is and wake the whole castle, if not the nearby village as well, and Father would no doubt faint.

Telling of the bargain she had made was impossible and revealing Roland's activities the morning of their arranged wedding was tasteless.

Opening her eyes at Donald's questioning grunt, Marianne turns her attention to his concerned green eyes. She could tell them a few things that might stop any future conversations about this, though. She can only pray she doesn't break her father's heart beyond what he can endure.

"You've forgotten about this, Dawn," Marianne murmurs once she continues walking, raising her left hand to indicate the intricately-carved wooden ring. "Whatever happiness that might come about between Bog and I will only be temporary. In four months, I will start my twenty-first year, and should nothing happen before then, I will die in thirteen years thanks to this curse. As Prince Sunny is not bound to our laws since he is a foreign prince, he may choose to return to his people and marry again should you die before him, but my husband will be fated the same as Father, to live and to die alone. Would you ask that I do that to Bog?"

"Isn't that Boggy's decision on whether he wishes that for himself? Our whole family line has had that curse hanging over their heads and they all chose to marry and enjoy the life they had left remaining," Dawn argues.

"Yes, they chose to marry. But their partners didn't have a choice," Marianne reveals quietly. "Why do you think that law about a non-royal being forbidden to marry again outside the royal line on penalty of death was created in the first place? None of them had a choice in the marriage. They were all ordered to by their monarchs, and then condemned to be alone so as to make sure they couldn't reveal family secrets."

"But Daddy," Dawn starts, turning worried blue eyes to their father.

"Was ordered by his queen to marry her," Marianne answers, grimacing at the whine emanating from her father. "Mother was cruel, spiteful, and vindictive. When she was forbidden to marry the one she wished, she ordered the young knight who had become enamored with Crown Princess Theresa to become her own husband so as to keep her younger half-sister from being permitted to marry as she wished. Furthermore, she had also arranged the marriage of Princess Theresa to Sir Roland to ensure Father could never marry her after Mother's death."

Marianne opens her hand to catch her stunned sister as she falls from her finger before she has to stop suddenly when Donald walks right in front of her to stare up at her. His green eyes are neither pleading nor sad but hard emeralds containing demands he can't voice. She allows herself a soft sigh and strains her ears to see if anyone is nearby before gesturing him forward.

"What I am to tell you must not be repeated in any form. This must remain confidential until the matter is settled. Do I make myself clear, Dawn?" Marianne questions quietly, getting a quick agreement. "King Reinhart's visit three weeks ago was at my bequest. Granted, I hadn't thought he himself would appear, but he came because of a courier I sent to him two weeks prior."

"But why?" Dawn asks.

"As the new monarch, it is my responsibility to review all edicts made by my predecessor and make a decision whether to enforce those edicts or renege them. It was six weeks ago that we came to the edict concerning the exile of Princess Theresa and the subsequent annulation of her marriage to Sir Roland," Marianne answers, placing the tip of a clawed finger gently over her sister's mouth to keep her silent. "Even Boris had been surprised by the contents as we reviewed it to discover that she was given no chance to defend herself against the charges made against her, charges that were made by her own husband, and most of them are not recorded."

"But Boris was Mother's chancellor as well. How could he not know?" Dawn questions after removing Marianne's finger.

"He informed me that he had been told by the former queen that this was a private matter and that he was not to interfere. He hadn't thought to question it at the time or at any time since," Marianne explains. "The only recorded charge against her was an accusation of treason caused by her act of fleeing to King Reinhart's kingdom but even that is not credible enough to enforce an exile without a trial since there was no proof that she had given King Reinhart any information about this kingdom."

Holding up a clawed finger against Dawn's open mouth to silence her pending question, Marianne takes another moment to scan the corridor they're walking through when her ears catch a slight sound. She breathes a soft sigh of relief to notice the sound coming through the stone beside her and she pauses her step to allow the kitchen cat to walk through from one wall to the other without breaking her stride. While it wasn't likely to trip over the feline thanks to her fae abilities, it was an unpleasant feeling when the cat walked through you if you crossed paths with her.

The cursed king father grunts his own question as they enter the Great Hall and gestures toward his daughters with a long clawed finger before casting the finger toward where Princess Theresa's portrait should have been hanging on the nearby wall.

"Yes, I had written to King Reinhart with the intent of getting in contact with Princess Theresa to allow her the chance to defend herself of the accusations credited against her and thereby, allowing me to make a fair and just decision on whether her exile should stand or be revoked," Marianne admits quietly, casting her eyes uneasily around the large room as they make their way across it as quickly as Donald can walk. "What the scout had not known and what I had not revealed upon my return to the castle three weeks ago, was that King Reinhart had not brought that large number of guards to defend himself but to protect the accompanying exiled princess who entreated him for refuge nine years ago. Princess Theresa had been most forthright in her defense, revealing a great many things to me. Including what you yourself never revealed, Father."

Donald sighs roughly and shakes his head before looking pleadingly at his daughters.

"You don't have to apologize to us, Daddy," Dawn assures, flying to hug her father's long snout before landing on the top of his head and returning her attention to her sister. "But what does this have to do with you still refusing to marry Boggy? If he does want to marry you despite that law, then it's his choice. And besides, you're the queen, why don't you just annul that foolish law and be done with it?"

"Being queen doesn't mean you have all power, Dawn," Marianne chides softly. "Even a queen must obey the laws of her kingdom."

"Not if those laws are archaic and without present value. Surely, you can look into whether you can remove that law or not," Dawn argues. "At the very least, you could just announce your love to Bog, break Sugar Plum's curse, and decide after everything goes back to normal whether marriage to him is an option or not."

Her resulting groan is covered by her father's loud groan, and Marianne barely manages to withhold her mirth when he shakes his head hard enough to dislodge Dawn before pinning her with a green-eyed glare. The tiny princess huffs and crosses her arms at the stern disapproval being clearly expressed.

"I know I promised not to bring up the whole breaking-the-curse argument but I'm only saying that announcing her love doesn't automatically mean that she has to marry him," Dawn defends.

"How are you so sure that me catering to that deranged witch's demands will even return things to normal?" Marianne challenges, getting a surprised look from both of them. "Sugar Plum has lived in Brightvale since the day she cast this curse and has performed no acts of magic since. Even the goblins of the Dark Forest don't know how she managed to cast this spell since those I've talked to had sensed her power beforehand and know she didn't have the amount of magic required to change me so drastically, let alone do all this."

"You've been talking to the goblins?! Marianne, you know the laws!" Dawn whispers with panic.

"Laws that are archaic and without present value," Marianne quips before losing all amusement. "The goblins were the only ones I could talk to."

Watching both her father and sister flinch at the underlying accusation tears at her heart but Marianne ignores the pang. Even at the slow pace they are going, they were approaching the castle door where there is a higher possibility of someone overhearing what they should not. It was best to end this conversation and ensure it would not be repeated again.

"There is more to my refusal of bowing to that witch's whims than the mere stubbornness you presume it is. The very night she cast this curse, I traveled to the ancient tree to request help from the goblins," Marianne admits, shushing Dawn's outcry before straining her ears once more. "There was no help forthcoming from them for the goblin king is the only one who can remove such a curse and he is away on business. However, I was cautioned not to fulfill Sugar Plum's terms, but to wait for the goblin king's return."

"But that's dangerous, Marianne!" Dawn moans. "The goblin king will want something in return!"

"There is no other way. As I have told you before, I am more aware than anyone else of what that witch has done. I knew on that fateful day that she had cast this curse that my very life was forfeit. Either I will die because Sugar Plum does not have the power to safely reverse the magic she wove, or I will die because it is the price to be paid to the goblin king to free my people. There is a chance the goblin king may not require my life to reverse the curse, but that will depend on how merciful he is feeling after his lengthy business is finished," Marianne explains at Donald and Dawn's stricken looks.

Repeating her admonition to not repeat anything she had said, Marianne bids her father and sister a farewell before hurriedly striding through the castle doors, giving the pale light faintly glimmering through the eastern clouds a baleful glare. She would have to rush to get through the white tundra before her subjects started arriving at the Judgment Hall but at least she may have managed to convince her closest kin to finally let the matter rest.

Not that she meant to reveal as much of the truth as she had.