La Rose D'Or

"La Rose D'Or"
by Lisette: Lisette_1@lycos.com

Created on: 01/21/99

Revised on: 07/22/01

Legalese: Nothing here is of my own creation. Goliath and his crew belong to Buena Vista and Disney. In addition, the French fairy tale, "La Rose D'Or," was published in Andrée Vary's Contes et legendes de France -- and please forgive my translation. In no way will a profit be made from this.

Author's Note: This story is the sixth part of the Talika series.

Brief summary: Fairy tales are just tales, written words on a printed page or stories past down through generations... they can't harm the living -- or can they?

Rating: PG-13 due to language and content

La Rose D'Or

Cringing against the biting wind, Lisette pulled her burgundy cloak tighter around her body. On the ramparts of the old castle perched high above the city, the mild wind felt on the streets below had been changed into a hard, abusive force -- a force to be reckoned with. It was from this wind that Lisette tried her best to hide as she waited for the sun to set.

"New dress?"

Surprised at the intrusion into her solitude, Lisette turned quickly to see Elisa's proud form standing behind her. Raising a hand, Lisette quickly tucked a stray strand of pale blond hair behind her ear. "Very old, actually," she murmured as she turned her attention back to the gargoyle statues. The dress that Elisa was referring to was one that she always held dear back when she was living with Craigen in France. Then again, it wasn't the original, but one she created with her magic.

The dress was a deep red velvet that clung to her upper body and flared out around her hips. Around her waist was loosely tied a single matching cord. Per usual, her long blond hair was lying free, blowing in the fierce wind save for the two small braids that extended down from each temple. Because of the wind, the dress lay flat against every curve of her body, the soft velvet cape that lay draped around a small comfort from the cold.

Noting this, Elisa hid her smile. "A bit windy tonight, wouldn't you say?"

"Yes... a big storm is coming tonight," Lisette murmured as she turned her attention up to the stormy heavens above.

The storm had been brewing all day, finally showing its menace as the storm clouds covered the fall sun, completely blocking out its warm rays. As of yet, no rain had fallen, but by the rumbling of the heavens and the streaks of lighting, it was evident that the depth of the storm had yet to show its ugly face.

"And what makes you say that?" Elisa asked, laughter in her voice as she smiled at the young woman, her tone implying that the answer was obvious.

Turning, Lisette fixed her somber blue eyes on Elisa, the eyes that usually only held mirth and laughter. "Can't you feel it? Can't you feel the power waiting to be unleashed?" she whispered, her gaze drifting up to the stormy sky towering above them.

A little unnerved by such a serious expression on a usually light hearted face, Elisa forced a laugh. "I usually prefer watching the Weather Channel to using my senses."

Shaking her head, Lisette bit back a frown. "Talika," she said quietly, speaking the sacred name of her friend, "surely you feel it... the power. Something... something is going to happen tonight..."

Surprised at the use of her name and at the intensity of her young friend's voice, Elisa shook her head slowly. "Lisette, you're getting excited over nothing," she said quietly as she silently searched the dark night with magic fingers. Even though she felt nothing, Elisa nonetheless felt the cold fingers of apprehension trail a slimy path down her back. With Lisette's gown flapping in the wind, the hood of her cloak shielding everything but her bright blue eyes, and the rest of the cloak standing out behind her, she was truly a sight from the past. Shaking her head, Elisa reached forward and turned Lisette till they were facing one another. "I sense nothing but a big storm brewing."

Moving her gaze, Lisette turned her eyes to those of her mentor and friend. All that she saw reflected in those unfathomable brown eyes was puzzlement and concern. Sighing, Lisette broke her stare and shook her head slowly. "I suppose that if the mighty Talika, protector of the first race, cannot detect anything amiss in this stormy night, then I truly have nothing to fear," she said, a small smile shaping her mouth. "Still, as Craigen would say, the Fair Folk are out working their ways this eve."

Laughing, Elisa impulsively pulled her friend forward in a hug. "Don't worry, the only member of the 'fair folk' around this evening is going to be tied up all night with Xanatos in board meetings. Now let's go get our guys before they glide away."

Surprised at her words, Lisette turned back towards the parapets. There stood the clan, awake and talking amongst themselves. "I didn't even realize that the sun had set," Lisette mumbled in amazement.

Before Elisa could reply, a booming crack of thunder resounded through the city at the same instant that a bright flash of lighting lit up the sky. As though the thunder was really the sound of the lightning striking the clouds wide open, a sudden torrent of rain plummeted forth, surprising everyone.

Reacting instantly, Lisette mumbled quick words in a mixture of French and Latin as her eyes flashed green. Quickly a green fog enveloped the clan and the two women; a second later they disappeared.

At that same instant, the group reappeared in another flash of green in the warm and dry Great Hall. As the shock on the clan's faces was replaced by understanding, they turned as one towards the two women.

"Elisa, my love, do we have you to thank for rescuing us from the rain?" Goliath asked with a smile as he crossed the room and enveloped her in a tender embrace.

Smiling up at Goliath's smiling face and the feeling of being in his strong arms, Elisa shook her head slowly. "Sorry Big Guy, but the credit for the quick save from the downpour belongs to our young friend over there," Elisa said as she nodded in Lisette's direction.

"Ah, so the beautiful Mage Magique comes to the rescue once again?" Brooklyn asked, pronouncing the French words perfectly as he too began across the room, a shy smile on his face.

Laughing at his words, Lisette impulsively finished off the rest of the distance and gave Brooklyn a quick hug and a soft kiss on the cheek. "Good evening, Brooklyn," she said, her French accent faint but present.

Smiling at the open displays of affection by the two couples, Hudson shook his head before clearing his throat loudly. As the two couples quickly stepped apart with embarrassed glances at one another, the smile grew larger. "Aye lad and lassies, there still be eyes in the room."

"Hudson, I.." Goliath began, his dark face turned even darker by embarrassment.

Laughing softly, Hudson held up his hand in order to stall his leader's words. "Save it lad.. it is nay important. I be sure that all of ye have somethin' that we should be doin' now. After all, I doubt that any of ye should be wantin' to patrol in the storm that be brewin' outside."

"Father?" Angela asked expectantly, the idea of a night off sounding extremely appealing to her.

Clearing his throat, Goliath nodded slowly. "A wise decision, Hudson. The weather is not safe for gliding tonight. We shall have to wait out the storm inside -- although I would like for each of you to stick around the castle in case the storm dissipates."

Nodding their heads in agreement, the clan quickly scattered -- all most likely fearing that their leader would change his mind and call them back in to duty right then. Hudson, with Bronx following on his heels, headed down the hallway that led to the entertainment room that had been given over to the gargoyles -- no doubt to watch some television show that he found so entertaining. Lexington, too, headed in that general direction, for the computers could be found there as well. As for Broadway and Angela, their destination was most likely the kitchen, while Brooklyn and Lisette slipped down another hallway, just glad to be alone.

Smiling, Elisa slipped back into Goliath's embrace. "Hmm.. a night off you say? This is something new... now when was the last time that we ever had a night off at the same time?"

Smiling softly down at his love, Goliath ran a talon gently through her long black hair. "Too long, it seems. Shall we?" he asked, extending his arm out invitingly for her.

Grinning at his gentlemanly behavior, Elisa faked a curtsy before sliding her arm through his. "Bien sûr , mon petit chou," Elisa said happily, slipping into an accent similar to Lisette's.

Shaking his head, Goliath began leading her down one of the other hallways branching off of the large room. "Which means?"

"I said, 'of course, my little cabbage.'"

"Little cabbage?" Goliath asked, amusement edging his voice as they disappeared from sight.

Laughing, Lisette walked beside Brooklyn in the candle lit hallways. "Hmm, I wonder what put Goliath in such a good mood that warranted a night off?"

Smiling at his love, Brooklyn shook his head slowly. "Lisette, how long has it been since Goliath and Elisa have been able to have a quiet night to themselves?" he asked with a grin.

Pausing, Lisette pondered the question for a few seconds. "To be honest, I cannot remember..."

"Exactly. Besides, are you really one to complain?" Brooklyn asked quickly, his grin widening as he pulled her forward and continued walking down the hall. "Because if Goliath gets a night off, then so do we!"

Laughing, Lisette pulled close and entwined her arm with his. "How true.. so what are we actually going to do with a night off?"

"Well," Brooklyn said as he wiggled his eye ridges comically, "we could always..."

"Lisette?"

Stopping in mid-stride, the couple turned to the side and saw that they were now standing in front of the open door of the nursery. Inside, they saw a disheveled Fox holding a crying Alexander in her arms. "Yes, Fox?" Lisette asked as she stepped away from Brooklyn and entered the nursery. From the toys strewn all about, it was obvious to her that Owen wasn't around, for the manservant always kept things neat.

"Oh Lisette, thank God you're here!" Fox cried out as she rushed forward.

"What? What is wrong?" Lisette asked, concern lighting her face as Brooklyn entered the room behind her, surveying it for danger.

Sighing in exasperation, Fox blew a stray strand of red hair out of her face as she jiggled Alex in her arms. "Ugh! Owen is busy with David in a board meeting and the baby sitter just canceled on me! I have an appointment that I'm due at soon and I can't get Alex to sleep!! Do you know where Lexington is?"

"Uh.. no..," Lisette trailed off as she shot Brooklyn a look.

"Great, just great. Now I'm going to be late for my appointment!" Fox cried, her frustration upsetting Alex and causing him to cry.

Trying to hide her smile at the harried woman, Lisette quickly stepped forward. "If you would like, I can go ahead and put Alex to bed so that you can go to your meeting."

Almost at the same time, both Brooklyn and Fox gave Lisette their full attention.

"Would you please?" Fox asked, hope shining in her eyes.

Biting back another smile, Lisette reached forward and took the screaming baby gently away from his mother and cradled him over her shoulder. "I would be glad to put him to bed Fox. Go ahead, I have it covered," she reassured as Alex began to quiet down.

Smiling her thanks, Fox reached forward, kissed Alex quickly, and then rushed from the room.

As soon as the woman was gone, Lisette began rocking young Alex in her arms as she began walking towards the crib at the far side of the room. Smiling softly, she slowly lowered the young baby into the luxurious crib and pulled the soft blankets over his tiny body. To her surprise and dismay, the baby stared up at her with wide blue eyes. "Ah, ma petite chou... aren't you sleepy yet?"

To this, Alex simply gurgled and smiled a toothless smile.

Sighing, Brooklyn crossed the room and stood beside Lisette, his arms crossed over his chest. "I take it that our night off has been canceled?" he asked, the disappointment evident in his voice.

Shaking her head, Lisette frowned thoughtfully. "Of course not, Brooklyn," she finally stated as she tore her eyes away from the adorable baby and met Brooklyn's glance. "Think of it this way.. the sooner that we get young Alexander to sleep, the sooner we can have our time together!"

Unable to resist Lisette's contagious smile, Brooklyn grinned in response. "Okay, deal. But, how do we get him to sleep?" he asked as he took in Alex's smiling face. "I may not be an expert on dealing with kids, but he sure doesn't look tired to me."

Sighing, Lisette had to agree. "Let's see... what can we do to put you to sleep?"

"Why don't you just cast a spell on him or something?" Brooklyn suddenly asked, a grin lighting up his face. "Don't you know a sleep spell or something?"

Laughing lightly, Lisette turned towards Brooklyn and punched him lightly in the shoulder. "I'd like to try the conventional way of putting an enfant to sleep first!"

Smiling, Brooklyn quickly stepped away so as to avoid being hit more. "Okay, well let's at least keep that in mind as a last resort!"

Shaking her head, Lisette laughed again. "We shall see, Brooklyn," she replied as she turned once more back to the gurgling baby. Suddenly, her eyes brightened as an idea came to mind. "Do you like fairy tales young one?" she asked as she smiled softly down into the crib.

Laughing up at the young woman, Alex reached his chubby hands up and toyed with her long hair that reached down to him.

"I'll take that as a yes," Lisette laughed. "Well then, this is a story that my teacher, Craigen, told me when I was young. It is an old French tale called 'La Rose D'Or'... or 'The Golden Rose,'" Lisette whispered quietly, her voice hypnotic as Alex watched her lips move.

Sighing, Brooklyn moved over to a rocking chair across the room and settled himself in for the tale. "This could take a while," he muttered quietly as he watched his beautiful love spinning tales of days long past.

"Long ago, in a time long past, there was a king and queen who had a handsome son and a young, beautiful daughter. The queen, beautiful as well, was in the habit of always taking long walks in the nearby woods, always carrying a golden rose in hand. One day, when she returned from an exceptionally long walk through those woods, she realized that she had lost her rose somewhere during the course of her walking. So, the queen went to see her beautiful children, and to them she said:

You both must return to the woods that I traveled
and search for my golden rose. Whoever returns my
rose to me will have your father's kingdom.

With such a reward, the two children left together to search for the rose. After some time, they arrived in the forest where their mother had walked earlier. There, the two searched and searched for their mother's lost rose. After having searched well, the young girl finally found the golden rose. Rising quickly, she called out to her big brother and told him:

My brother, I have found Mama's rose.

But her brother said:

Give it to me. It's me who will bring it to her.

The young girl replied:

No. It's me who found it, I will hold it.

In a fit of anger, the brother grabbed her by the throat..."

"What?!"

Startled out of her tale, Lisette turned quickly to see Brooklyn looking at her with wide eyes. "Pardon?" Lisette asked, confusion written across her face.

"What kind of a story are you telling? The brother is strangling his sister?" Brooklyn asked in disbelief as he climbed out of the rocking chair he had settled into and crossed the room.

"What do you mean? I am merely telling a story that Craigen told me when I was young.."

"You can't tell that to Alex!" Brooklyn gasped, his eyes wide as he looked at Lisette in disbelief.

"But why not?" Lisette asked again, still not understanding.

"Okay, maybe it's just me, but I highly doubt that this is a Walt Disney approved bed time story! I mean, violence?"

"But that is how all tales in France are," Lisette replied indignantly, her eyes flashing green. "Unlike you Americans, we do not change old tales around in order to spare children of the truth!"

"Yeah, but..." Brooklyn began, his own voice rising when a sudden cry broke into their argument. Surprised, Lisette and Brooklyn glanced down into Alex's crib just in time to see the young heir's eyes fill with tears. "Uh oh," Brooklyn muttered.

"Ah zût!" Lisette cursed as she quickly brought her hands down and gently tried to soothe the young child. "Now look what you have done!" she cried to Brooklyn as Alex began to scream.

"Me?" Brooklyn gasped in disbelief. "You were the one who was trying to tell him a horror story before bed time!"

Sighing, Lisette shook her head slowly. It did neither of them any good to sit there and argue over whose fault it was. In the end, it was probably both. "Now what?" she asked as Alex's screams became louder and more insistent.

"What is going on in here?"

Groaning, Lisette and Brooklyn turned slowly and watched as Goliath and Elisa entered the room, bewildered looks on their faces. Sighing, Lisette shook her head slowly and cursed the dark and stormy night. "We.. we were trying to put Alex to bed for Fox and we.. had a bit of a disagreement over the story I was telling," Lisette replied slowly as she glanced again at the screaming baby.

"Well, is there not anything you can do to get him to quit screaming before he brings the whole castle in? We heard his cries from all the way down the hall!" Goliath yelled out, wincing as a particularly loud scream was heard.

As a headache began to form in the further regions of his mind from the noise, Brooklyn quickly reached out a hand and gently tugged on Lisette's sleeve. "Backup plan?" he pleaded quietly.

Sighing, Lisette nodded her head slowly. "Oh, Puck would be very upset at me for doing this... then again, what could it hurt?" Lisette questioned herself as she straightened her shoulders. Smiling down at the young child, Lisette raised her hands over the crib. "The night grows old and the time comes near for you, young child, to sleep sans fear," Lisette chanted as a gathering of green energies formed around her raised hands. A few seconds later, the magic dispersed and formed a hazy cloud around the young heir. Smiling, Lisette watched as Alex's eyes slowly fluttered once, and then again before drifting shut. "Sleep well, young one in your enchanted sleep," Lisette whispered quietly.

Relieved at the sudden quiet, Goliath turned his eyes on the young mage. "What did you do?"

Smiling, Elisa looped her arm through her love's and was about to reply when a sudden flash of green caught her eye. Turning quickly, she saw that the magic was originating from above Alexander's crib. Confused, Elisa was about to probe the magic when it brightened and flew forth, surrounding the four people in the room. "Oh no," Elisa sighed as the green grew brighter until the room disappeared from around them, marked by a single clap of thunder from outside.

Shaking her head, Lisette watched as the green magic cleared from around her. "What in the world just happened?" she breathed as she turned around in amazement. Instead of the nursery, she now found herself in the middle of a forest, towering trees on each side. From the colors around her, she could see that the sun was just beginning to set. Confused, Lisette looked down and saw that she was holding a golden rose in one hand. "What?" she murmured in amazement.

"You're not listening, little sister. Give it to me!"

"What?" Lisette asked again as she glanced up. Standing before her was a young man, about her age, wearing clothing from her own time -- breeches, shirt, and a cloak swirling about him. His hair was blond like hers, and his blue eyes sparkled coldly as he drew nearer.

"I said, give.. it.. to.. me," the man ground out slowly as his hands shot out quickly and wrapped around Lisette's slender neck.

"No!" Lisette gasped as they began to squeeze slowly, easily cutting off her air supply. Dropping the damn rose to the ground, Lisette quickly brought her hands up to his and tried prying them away. It was no use -- he was just too strong. As the man squeezed ever tighter, comprehension dawned on her. Alex... he put me in my tale.. I'm in the tale! Lisette screamed in her foggy mind.

As anger clouded his vision, the man squeezed harder and harder as his sister fought his hold, desperately kicking and scratching at him. Harder he squeezed until his little sister fought no more. Only then did sense once more return to his mind. Shocked, he quickly released his death grip on Lisette's neck and watched in shock as she dropped lifelessly to the hard earth. "What have I done? What have I done?!"

Shaking his head, he looked at his dead sister. She looked so peaceful, lying there on the ground with her golden hair spread out like a halo beneath her head. So peaceful and dead. "Oh, Mother and Father are going to kill me!" he groaned as he looked around the deserted wood. Up above, the sun began its slow decent over the horizon. Grumbling about his luck and temper, the young man slowly bent down and began digging a shallow hole in the earth with a branch he found. When the hole was to the right proportions, he then scooped his cooling sister into his arms and dropped her body roughly into the crude hole. "Rest in peace," he muttered as he kicked some of the dirt onto her beautiful red gown and onto her pale cheeks. When he got tired with the dirt, he then moved to the branches that littered the forest floor and began dropping those onto the hole until it was covered from sight.

Sighing, he then scooped up the dreaded golden rose and turned away from the burial ground of his only sister with no more than a scowl in her direction before heading back towards his parents' castle, never once seeing the iridescent shape of his dead sister behind him. "And what will I tell them when they ask of her? That the wolves got her?" Sighing, he knew that he could do nothing else if he ever wanted to get the kingdom he so desired.

"You bastard!" the ghost of Lisette screamed. "You killed me and all you worry about is what to tell your mother and father?!" To her horror, the young man didn't even flinch at her scream. "You can't hear me, can you?" she asked, getting right in front of his face as he walked steadily on. "You can't hear me because I'm dead.." Lisette gasped. "I'm a ghost."

As the green mist cleared from around Elisa, she glanced quickly around. To her relief, Goliath was standing beside her... although, he was a much changed Goliath. "What are you wearing?" Elisa asked quickly, trying to hide her smile.

"What?" Goliath asked, still trying to figure out what just happened. Glancing down, he saw that instead of his loin cloth, he was now wearing a pair of dark breeches and a burgundy shirt.

"You're wearing a crown!" Elisa laughed as she took in the sight. Sure enough, when Goliath lifted his hand to the top of his head, he fingered a heavy golden crown that topped his brow. Never before had Elisa seen Goliath in human clothes, and the sight was enough to cause her to stagger to her knees as laughter rolled through her.

Huffing at her laughter, Goliath turned and looked down at his love. "Yes, well have you looked at yourself yet?"

As she wiped the tears of laughter from her eyes, Elisa looked down at herself.. and stopped dead when she took in the sight. "I'm wearing a dress?!" she gasped in horror. Instead of her usual jean and tee shirt combo, Elisa was now wearing a dark blue medieval gown, reminiscent of the kind that Lisette usually wore. Getting slowly to her feet, Elisa looked around for the first time and took in their surroundings. They seemed to be standing in some sort of hall with two large and ornately decorated chairs standing on a raised dais of sorts behind them against the far wall.

"Where are we? What happened?" Goliath asked as he too looked around in amazement.

"I have no idea, Big Guy," Elisa murmured as she stepped closer to Goliath and hugged him briefly. "The last I remember," she began as she looked up into his dark eyes, "is a flare of magic that originated from Alex's crib.."

"Alex did this?" Goliath asked in amazement as he looked around. "But Alex was asleep, wasn't he?"

"Yes.. but it was an enchanted sleep.." Elisa murmured as she racked her mind for answers. "Perhaps, the magic in Lisette's spell was enough to enhance his own to..."

"But if that is the case," Goliath interrupted quickly, his frown deepening, "then where is Brooklyn and Lisette?"

"Ah hem."

Startled, Elisa and Goliath stepped apart and turned quickly. Standing at the door to the large room was a young man dressed in a page uniform from back in the olden days.

"Your son, the Prince, is here to see you, your royal majesties," the man said quickly.

Sending Elisa a confused glance, Goliath turned towards the page and nodded quietly. "Right.. uh, send him in," Goliath answered in his deep baritone.

Nodding, the man quickly turned on his heel and disappeared out the door. An instant later a different young man walked in. It was apparent from his clothes that this was the Prince the page had been referring to. As soon as his eyes lit upon Elisa and Goliath, the man's eyes turned sad and his shoulders sloped. Very slowly, he walked across the large room and then knelt before Elisa, his head bowed down. As tears streaked down his face, he held out a shaking hand and lifted up a golden rose.

Confused, Elisa shot a look at Goliath. Shaking his head, Goliath motioned for Elisa to take the rose from the man. Sighing, Elisa did as indicated and delicately held up the beautiful object.

Sighing, Lisette quickly shoved her way through the open door and ran into the room she had seen her murderer enter. The sight before her though, was enough to stop her in her tracks. "Elisa, Goliath!" she called out happily as she quickly ran across the room to them. To her great dismay, she got no response as Elisa tenderly held the dreaded golden rose, confusion written across her face. "No, not you too!" Lisette whispered, her voice cracking as invisible tears formed in her eyes.

"Mother," the man whispered quietly, his eyes focused on the floor beneath him, "I have found your golden rose..."

"He didn't find the rose, I did!" Lisette called out quickly, her eyes smoldering with hate.

"Oh, that's nice.." Elisa muttered, trying not to laugh at the events taking place. She had absolutely no idea as to what was going on!

Shooting a weird glance up at his mother, the young man shook his head slowly. "Yes, but my sister, your daughter, Lisette..."

"Lisette?" Elisa answered quickly, a smile lighting up her face as she turned quickly to Goliath and squeezed his arm.

Returning Elisa's smile, Goliath looked down at the young man. "Ah yes, where is your.. sister?"

"Back in the woods buried in a shallow grave!" Lisette cried out, her voice cracking with anger.

"I'm sorry Mother, Father," the young man whispered, making his voice shake with pretend sadness and horror. "Sister.. sister was devoured before my eyes by the wolves! My sister is dead!" he cried out, never once raising his eyes to meet those of his mother.

"Liar!" Lisette screamed, tears filling her invisible eyes.

"What?!" Elisa asked, the color quickly leaving her face. Shaking her head, unable and unwilling to believe his words, Elisa quickly tried to search with her magic for her friend... and was unable. "Goliath, my magic is gone!" she whispered in shock. Horror stricken, she slowly shook her head, still not wanting to believe the man's words. "Oh no... oh God no!" she cried out, tears pouring down her cheeks as she looked over to Goliath.

"There must be some mistake!" Goliath replied slowly, his face gone pale.

"It is.. he's lying, Goliath!" Lisette cried out pitifully, the force gone from her words.

"I'm sorry, Mother.. Father.. but I saw it with my own eyes..."

"No... no!" Elisa whispered.

"Elisa... Goliath..." Lisette whispered quietly, the silent tears streaking down her invisible cheeks.

"And the kingdom, Father?" the young man asked quietly, finally raising his tear streaked face to meet Goliath's sad, sad eyes.

"What about it?" Goliath asked, still absorbing the shattering news.

Suspicion entering his eyes, the young prince looked up at Goliath. "Your kingdom, Father. Do you not remember? Mother promised the kingdom to Sister and I.. to whoever brought back her golden rose..."

"You mean.. this rose?" Elisa whispered in horror as she looked at the golden rose held in her hand -- the rose that was the cause of the death of Lisette.

Shaking his head, Goliath quickly drew Elisa's trembling body into his arms. He knew that from their recent adventure with Caleb, when it came to losing one of the clan, Elisa was more protective than ever. They had almost lost Lisette too many times during that little adventure, that to hear that they had lost her now was too much to bear. "Take it," Goliath murmured to the young man. "Just take it," he said as he buried his head in Elisa's dark hair and as the green mist encircled them once more.

Groaning, Brooklyn slowly picked himself from the ground that he was so rudely dropped on when the mist had cleared a few seconds earlier. "Oh, that's going to leave a mark," he muttered as he rubbed his aching back. Climbing to his feet, Brooklyn found himself surrounded by a thicket of dense trees. "Great, now where am I?" he muttered as he looked around. "A forest, as if that wasn't obvious," he answered himself, a small smile appearing on his face as he realized that he was in fact talking with himself.

Suddenly, a strange fact came known to him. "Hey, it's daylight!" Brooklyn gasped in amazement as he quickly turned his head up to the bright blue sky towering above him. Never before in his life had Brooklyn ever seen the sun, let alone such a bright blue sky -- only on TV, and that was nothing compared to the real thing. Sighing, Brooklyn shook his head slowly. "What in the world happened to me?"

Turning, the young gargoyle was about to start pawing his way through the thick grouping of trees when a flash of white caught his eye. Looking down, Brooklyn quickly cleared the leaves and branches that obscured the object. "A bone," he mumbled thoughtfully as he picked up the object. Shaking his head, Brooklyn wondered what the big deal was. After all, it wasn't that uncommon to find a bone lying in the middle of the woods -- even if it was a rather large bone. Still, for some reason the bone seemed different.. odd and special in some way. Without knowing why, Brooklyn had a sudden impulse to carve the bone.

As though lost in some sort of trance, Brooklyn reached down and withdrew a sharp knife from a pouch tied to his side. Sitting on the carpeted floor of the wood, he then proceeded to shape the bone with a skill and precision he never knew he had.

"Oh, I think I'm going to be sick!" Lisette groaned from beside Brooklyn. After the incident in the throne room, she had found herself dropped back in the place of her murder. To her surprise, Brooklyn was there as well -- dressed in a really interesting shepherd's outfit, but there nonetheless. But, after repeated attempts, it quickly became obvious to her that Brooklyn was just as blind to her ghostly form as Goliath and Elisa had been. "Do you even want to know whose leg bone you're carving up there?" Lisette asked again, knowing that Brooklyn couldn't hear her anyway. Shaking her head, she watched as he finished the carving.

"A flute," Brooklyn whispered as he looked in awe at his handy work. "Ah man, if only Lisette and the others could see this!" Brooklyn crowed as he admired the beautiful flute he had created.

"I am seeing it, and I am not impressed!" Lisette muttered as she slowly got up and began pacing behind her friend. Turning, she watched in amazement as Brooklyn slowly began lifting the instrument to his mouth. Gagging, Lisette stepped back a couple of paces. "Oh God, please don't tell me you're actually going to put that thing in your mouth! Do you know where that thing has been?" Lisette cried out in amazement.

Suddenly, as Brooklyn's breath began filling the flute, Lisette felt herself open her mouth against her own volition. Unable to control her own vocal cords, the following words flew from her mouth:

Whistle, whistle shepherd,
Whistle of your breath.
It wasn't you who killed me
In the forest of Ardenne.
I had found Mama's flower,
I had won Papa's kingdom,
Whistle, whistle shepherd,
Whistle of your breath...

Surprised, Lisette quickly clamped her mouth shut. "Why on Earth did I just say that?"

Just as quickly Brooklyn brought the flute away from his lips as though burnt and looked around in amazement. "Lisette?" he asked, glancing around in confusion. The strange words spoken had come from Lisette's mouth.. he recognized her voice easily. But where was she?

"Brooklyn, you heard me?!" Lisette cried out happily as she jumped forward and tried to hug him. To her dismay, she just passed right on through him.

Shaking his head, Brooklyn looked at the flute he held. "Well that was weird, I swear that I heard her voice."

"You did, that was me!" Lisette yelled, wishing that he could just hear her again.

Shrugging his shoulders, Brooklyn slowly lifted the flute to his lips once again and began to blow. Instantly, instead of the music that should have came, the same haunting words issued forth from the white flute. Gasping, Brooklyn drew the flute away again. "Lisette?" he asked in confusion. "Where are you?" Suddenly, tears stung at his eyes as her whispered words registered in his mind. "No," he whispered quietly. "No..."

Shaking his head, Goliath looked about after the mist had cleared once again. In a matter of seconds, two things became very clear to him. First, he was no longer in the throne room but in some kind of forest -- in daylight! Second, Elisa was no where to be seen. As panic seized his heart, Goliath quickly turned around in circles. "Elisa!" he roared into the crowded wood, his voice echoing throughout the trees as birds took flight from the disturbance.

"Goliath?!"

Surprised, Goliath turned again and peered through the dense woods. "Brooklyn?" Goliath called out as he began pushing branches aside until he emerged into a bright clearing.

"Goliath!" Lisette called out happily. Per usual, no one turned at the sound of her voice.

"Goliath, boy am I glad to see you!" Brooklyn cried out, jumping to his feet as his leader came crashing through the trees. Quickly, Brooklyn brushed his tears aside as he clasped hands with Goliath.

"There you are!" Goliath called out, a smile returning to his face. "Where have you been? Elisa and I have been worried!"

"Right here! The green mist disappeared and voilà, here I am," Brooklyn explained, just glad to see a familiar face. "But where's Elisa now?"

At his question, the frown once more returned to Goliath's face. "I'm not sure.. we were in the throne room when we were captured in the mist again.. when it cleared, she was gone," Goliath rumbled, his eyes reflecting his worry.

"Throne room?" Brooklyn asked in confusion. "Goliath, what's going on here? Where are we?"

Sighing, Goliath shook his head slowly. "I am not sure, Brooklyn. Earlier, Elisa mentioned something about Lisette's magic mixing with Alex's to create this mess..."

Groaning, Lisette slapped an invisible hand against her invisible forehead. "What have I done?" she moaned as all the pieces finally fell into place.

"Goliath, Lisette..." Brooklyn began quickly, his fear crashing back at the mention of her name.

Closing his eyes as the pain came back full force, Goliath shook his head slowly. "We were told that she is.. she's dead," Goliath continued, his voice shaking as he looked down at his second with compassion.

As a vise closed around Brooklyn's heart, he nodded slowly. "That was what I feared.."

"How do you mean?" Goliath asked, confused as to how Brooklyn could possibly know of Lisette's fate.

Sighing, Brooklyn shook his head slowly and tried to bite back his tears. "When I arrived here, I found this bone and then I sculpted it into a flute..."

"Why?" Goliath asked in confusion as he stared down at the beautiful flute.

Shaking his head, Brooklyn laughed a harsh laugh. "Good question. I just had an overwhelming desire to do it," he explained quickly. "But it gets weirder.. when I played it, Lisette's voice spoke instead of music."

"What?" Goliath asked quickly, doubts of his second's sanity clouding his mind.

Shrugging his shoulders, Brooklyn pushed the bone carved flute into Goliath's hands. "Here, you try it."

"But I can't play the flute.." Goliath began.

"Neither can I, and I can't carve either, but look what I did," Brooklyn quickly countered.

Sighing, Goliath slowly brought the flute up to his lips and blew slightly over the carved opening. Immediately, Lisette's voice issued forth from the small flute:

Whistle, whistle, Papa,
Whistle of your breath.
It isn't you who killed me
In the forest of Ardenne.
I had won your kingdom,
I had found Mama's flower,
Whistle, whistle Papa,
Whistle of your breath...

Amazed, all in the circle looked at the flute. As they all regained their senses, all began talking at once as well.

"Why am I saying those things and why can they hear me?" Lisette asked in amazement.

"The words have changed!" Brooklyn gasped, a single tear entering his eye at his love's lonely words.

"What magic is this?" Goliath asked, his eyes riveted upon the bone flute. "Brooklyn," Goliath continued when his second finally met his eyes, "we have to get this flute to Elisa!"

"Why?" Brooklyn asked as a single tear trickled down his cheek.

"I'm not sure, but I feel as though we must take this to her!"

"But you don't even know where Elisa is or how to find her!" Brooklyn cried out, hardening his heart against the pain at the same time.

Shaking his head slowly, Goliath looked at Brooklyn with wide eyes. "I do now. Follow me!" he ordered as he quickly scaled a tree and launched himself into the bright afternoon sky. Shrugging his shoulders, Brooklyn slowly looked around the deserted clearing before following.

"Hey, wait for me!" Lisette cried out.

Alighting lightly in the beautiful rose garden, Goliath quickly led the way into the interior where a single stone bench sat. "Elisa!" he called out quickly as he caught sight of his love.

"Goliath?" Elisa cried out happily as she jumped up from the bench and ran into his embrace. "Where did you go? When the mist was gone, I found myself all alone in here!" Elisa cried out as she buried her tear streaked face in Goliath's shoulder. "My magic, for the first time in my very long life, was of no use to me here.. there was nothing I could do!" Elisa gasped. Never before had she felt more helpless than she did in the time that everyone was gone from her -- never.

"Elisa!" Brooklyn called out happily as he rounded the last corner and saw his detective friend.

"Brooklyn?" Elisa asked as she pulled away and ran over to the young gargoyle. Smiling, she hugged him tightly before turning back to Goliath. "You found Brooklyn!"

Puffing from the energy it took to keep up with the gargoyles, Lisette quickly rounded the corner. "Yeah, thanks for asking, I'm here too.." she gasped, expecting and getting no response to her sarcastic greeting. Sighing, she slowly straightened and joined her friends.

"Yes, but that's not important," Goliath broke in quickly as he pulled Elisa towards him. "Right now, I need you to play this flute."

"What?" Elisa asked in confusion. "Are you guys alright?" she asked, obviously thinking that there was a screw or two missing between the two of them.

Shaking his head, Brooklyn quickly grabbed the flute from Goliath and pressed it into Elisa's hands. "Listen, I got the same response from Goliath already. You just need to trust us on this one... it has to do with Lisette.."

"What?" Elisa asked again, this time a tinge of hope coloring her voice.

"Just play the damn flute already!" Brooklyn suddenly growled out, all patience gone from him.

"Whoa," Lisette murmured as she took in her love's glowing eyes.

Elisa had much the same reaction as she quickly raised the flute to her lips and began to play:

Whistle, whistle, Mama,
Whistle of your breath.
It isn't you who killed me
In the forest of Ardenne.
I had found your flower,
I had won Papa's kingdom,
Whistle, whistle Mama,
Whistle of your breath...

As though burnt, Elisa quickly dropped the flute to the ground. With wide eyes, she quickly looked up at the two gargoyles. "That was Lisette's voice!"

"I know," Goliath replied grimly, "and I feel that it's time to go and pay a visit to our 'son.'"

"Huh?" Brooklyn asked as he looked back and forth between Goliath and Elisa. "Did I miss something here?"

Eyes lighting with green fire, Elisa nodded her head slowly and began leading them from the garden. "There was definitely something slimy with the prince," she agreed, ignoring Brooklyn's question.

Smiling proudly, Lisette followed behind the group. "As Detective Bluestone would say, damn right!"

Minutes later, the group finally piled into the throne room, now occupied with just one chair, the prince lounging within. Eyes glowing a bright white, Goliath strode purposely up to the throne and thrust the flute at the older Prince. "Play," he growled, his voice leaving no room for argument.

Surprised at the abrupt intrusion into his privacy, the older Prince gazed around the room. "Father, Mother, why do you intrude upon my solitude.."

"I said, PLAY!" Goliath roared as he literally forced the flute into the man's hands.

Shocked, the Prince looked down at the ornately carved white flute and up to his father's glowing white eyes, over to his mother's glowing green eyes, and then at the stranger's glowing white eyes. Gulping, he slowly raised the flute to his lips as Lisette's ghost stepped forward, ready to perform as she knew she would. As his breath entered the long white bone, Lisette's soft words flew forth:

Whistle, whistle my brother,
Whistle of your breath.
Because it was you who killed me
In the forest of Ardenne.
To have Mama's flower,
To have Papa's kingdom,
Whistle, whistle my brother,
Whistle of your breath...

As silence once more ruled the room, the gathered gargoyles and human stared at the aging Prince in shock. "You killed Lisette," Elisa breathed in horror and amazement as she stared into the murderer's wide, clear blue eyes.

"It.. it was an accident," the Prince stammered, fear entering his heart. "The little wench wouldn't give me the rose..."

"You murdered Lisette!" Brooklyn roared suddenly as he darted forward, trying his best to maul the man's eyes out.

Moving quickly, Goliath quickly restrained his second. "Guards!" he bellowed. In an instant, the room was quickly crawling with the armed guards of the King. "Arrest the prince.. I want you to lock him away and throw away the key!" Goliath roared as he glared at the murderer.

Nodding their heads, the guards quickly moved in and grabbed the Prince. As he was slowly led away, Brooklyn once more raised the flute to his lips and slowly breathed into it. Instead of the words that they were so accustomed to hearing, an enchanting and beautiful song instead poured forth. To all that listened, it was a song of joy and redemption. And as that song poured forth from the flute, a slow green mist lazily exited as well and covered the travelers. Soon, they all disappeared in a flash of light.

Yawning sleepily, Brooklyn slowly lifted his hand to his eyes and tried to rub the sleep from them. As he did so, the memories of all that had transpired came crashing back. Jerking his head up, Brooklyn quickly looked around. To his relief, he instantly recognized the familiar walls of the nursery in the Castle. "We're back!" he yelled triumphantly as he looked around. Lying a little away towards the door was Goliath and Elisa, curled up in one another's arms. Very slowly, they opened their eyes and looked around. Smiling, Brooklyn quickly turned around and looked about him, his eyes searching for one other. "Lisette?" he called out quickly, his heart growing cold as he realized that she was no where to be seen. "Goliath, Elisa, where's Lisette?" he asked, his voice cracking as he met their sad eyes.

Very slowly, Elisa untangled herself from Goliath and moved across the room to Brooklyn. "Brooklyn, I..." she began as tears slowly formed in her eyes.

"But.. it was just a dream, right? She can't be dead.." Brooklyn protested weakly.

"I don't know," Elisa whispered, shaking her head slowly.

Suddenly, Brooklyn's sharp hearing detected a soft tapping. Turning, he quickly surveyed the room, his sight finally alighting on one of the windows on either side of Alexander's crib. Breaking into a run, Brooklyn crossed the room in seconds as he threw open the window. There stood Lisette on the small ledge, soaked to the bone in her long red gown, her hair plastered to her face, as the rain poured forth. "Gggg... get me inside," Lisette chattered in between blue lips.

Unable to hold back the large grin that spread across his face, Brooklyn quickly reached out and wrapped his arms around Lisette. Ever so gently, he then lifted her through the narrow window and held her tightly in his warm embrace, soaking them both. Sighing, Lisette held him close and buried her head in his shoulder, just glad to be able to be held again.

Smiling, Elisa side stepped the young couple and quickly pulled the window closed behind them before returning to Goliath's embrace.

"Oh God, I thought I had lost you," Brooklyn murmured against her wet hair as he held her tighter, never wanting to let go.

Smiling against her chattering teeth, Lisette brought her lips up to Brooklyn's ear and whispered one thing: Next time, let's stick to the conventional and avoid all back up plans.

Laughing, Brooklyn contented himself to holding the one he loved tight against him -- vowing to never let her go again.

THE END

Now, here is the full translated version of "La Rose D'Or" for your reading pleasures! Thanks for reading!

The Golden Rose

"Long ago, in a time long past, there was a king and queen who had a handsome son and a young, beautiful daughter. The queen, beautiful as well, was in the habit of always taking long walks in the nearby woods, always carrying a golden rose in hand. One day, when she returned from an exceptionally long walk through those woods, she realized that she had lost her rose somewhere during the course of her walking. So, the queen went to see her beautiful children, and to them she said:

You both must return to the woods that I traveled
and search for my golden rose. Whoever returns my
rose to me will have your father's kingdom.

With such a reward, the two children left together to search for the rose. After some time, they arrived in the forest where their mother had walked earlier. There, the two searched and searched for their mother's lost rose. After having searched well, the young girl finally found the golden rose. Rising quickly, she called out to her big brother and told him:

My brother, I have found Mama's rose.

But her brother said:

Give it to me. It's me who will bring it to her.

The young girl replied:

No. It's me who found it, I will hold it.

In a fit of anger, the brother grabbed her by the throat and during the struggle he strangled her without meaning to. When he saw that she was dead, he went into a panic. He dug a big hole, put his sister's body inside, covered it with branches, and then he picked up the rose and returned to his house. When he reached it, he frowned thoughtfully and said:

What will I tell my parents when I return without
my sister? Ah! I know, I will tell them that the
wolves have eaten her.

And he returned to his parents' castle and gave the golden rose to his mother. When she asked him where was his sister, he started to cry and said that a wolf had devoured her before him. His parents were filled with pain, but they did as promised and gave him the kingdom. They searched hard for their daughter, but they never found her. Neither the poor king or the poor queen was able to get over the death of their young daughter, and the castle became a place of sadness where laughter was no longer heard.

Ten years later, a little shepherd who was passing in the forest found a straight bone, long, thin and white at the foot of a tree. He said that it would make a good flute, and so he took it. After he had sculpted it, he put it to his breath. But what surprise when, instead of music, there came words! And here is what the voice said:

Whistle, whistle shepherd,
Whistle of your breath.
It wasn't you who killed me
In the forest of Ardenne.
I had found Mama's flower,
I had won Papa's kingdom,
Whistle, whistle shepherd,
Whistle of your breath...

The shepherd was really amazed, and he never heard anything else but those words come forth from the sculpted flute. One day, the king had gone walking in the forest and he came face to face with the young shepherd.

"You have a beautiful flute shepherd. Will you let me play it?"

"Of course, sire. Maybe you can get more out of it than just words. Me, I can't."

The king took the flute, whistled within, and was even more surprised than the shepherd to hear the flute sing:

Whistle, whistle, Papa,
Whistle of your breath.
It isn't you who killed me
In the forest of Ardenne.
I had won your kingdom,
I had found Mama's flower,
Whistle, whistle Papa,
Whistle of your breath...

And so the king returned right away to the castle, with the flute of course, and went to the Queen's room. It was there also that she played the flute. And there they heard:

Whistle, whistle, Mama,
Whistle of your breath.
It isn't you who killed me
In the forest of Ardenne.
I had found your flower,
I had won Papa's kingdom,
Whistle, whistle Mama,
Whistle of your breath...

After, with a heart full of horror, the king went to his son and ordered him to blow on the flute. Without knowing why, the son didn't want to play it. Finally, with much distrust, he took the flute and started to blow. And naturally, here the flute sang really loud:

Whistle, whistle my brother,
Whistle of your breath.
Because it was you who killed me
In the forest of Ardenne.
To have Mama's flower,
To have Papa's kingdom,
Whistle, whistle my brother,
Whistle of your breath...

And so the king and the queen arrested their son and condemned him to burn alive. And during his agony, the shepherd played the flute. But this time, instead of the words that usually left the flute, magnificent music was heard, like a sign of pardon and joy. After, the king and the queen went to the place where the shepherd had found the bone and, when they returned it to the body, the young girl rose and lived again, and it's to her that they gave the kingdom. The end."