Disclaimer: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation does not belong to me. The characters are full of inspiration, intelligence, and intrigue that I can't help but borrow them a short while. I heartily enjoy the show and its premise. The events of this story are mine, but the characters are definitely not.
A *huge* amount of appreciation is for Elyse and her website; I couldn't have done this without it.
Thanks to the graveshiftcsi groupies for the encouragement.
Author's Note: This is for b8kworm. Thank you for watching CSI in the first place. Thank you for getting me hooked. You know that I'll make you sorry for it.
Archives: the Graveyard, ShipperworldCSI, Working Love, mine. Anybody else, email me. I like to go visiting.
Pairing(s): G/C
***** ***** *****Title: A Fairytale Investigation (4/4)
Author: Laeta
E-mail: ladylaeta@yahoo.com
Hidden in the foliage of the dense forest, three groups of people nestled in for the wait. The first was the Inner Circle, without the Lady Courtesan, amid Constable Brass's men. Eyes intense and bodies intent, they anticipated the end. Slightly forward of their position, the Alter Boys exuded relaxation. They were the fierce bait that hit Lady Heather's Box. Their fire dampened and, to perfection, they feigned repose.
Shrouded in the darker shadows rested the Lady Courtesan and her cats, the other Courtesans with their daggers drawn and at the ready. They would serve their king well, giving their lives to contain the enemy.
Silence, eerie with the absence of night's creatures, spoke riddles to those who waited to pass time. The midnight hour was soon upon them.
A boom was the only warning that the trap worked and the battle ensued. The boys fought until every minion of the enemy was dead or contained. The minions who fled were chased down and slaughtered - one by one - until the day and night exchanged places while dawn spread her wings.
And then there were none when the screams were only wisps of exhalation in the cool morning air. Everybody silently gathered around the sprung trap, ready for the enemy; it was common sense that he would not yield quietly.
Lady Sara slowly depressed the release lever and the trap liberated its victim. Before a glimpse could be obtained, he evaded their weapons and sprinted for the ancient forest. They pursued.
For long stretches of time, King Grissom led his men in a chase that gradually shifted the fugitive into the claws of the waiting Courtesans. At the predetermined meeting locale, the Lady Courtesan stood bathed in pale, white light with the enemy kneeled before her. His blood gushed out of a debilitating wound and the other surviving Courtesans respectfully sheathed their own claws at their king's approach.
Sir Nick entered the clearing and whistled. He processed the devastating assault littering the area and realized the danger hidden within the serene beauty of a Courtesan. Fitter words were never before spoken on their role as Sir Nick's words. "Let the seller beware when he tries to betray a Courtesan."
Taking up guard positions, the rest of the king's fighters arranged themselves so the king could question the man.
Cold eyes looked into the soul of the wounded fugitive. "Who are you? You who come to enslave and destroy my people."
The enemy's bloody and torn face contorted into an ugly vicious smile. "I am the hunger artist." Then he collapsed.
Taking a step back, the king nodded to the Constable. "Chain him up. Bring him to the palace."
"My Lord, do we not execute?" Constable Brass was poised to kill the scum with one hit, wondering the wisdom of the king's orders.
"No, we do not execute. He goes to the Examiner. Meet me at the palace. Go."
Everybody scattered in one smooth motion and the king reached desperately for his Lady. She was covered in blood, it seemed.
"My Lord, I am not unwell. Just -"
He searched her gaze for the answer before she, too, collapsed - from fatigue, grief, and the effort to restrain her temper. He turned to the other Courtesans and gently handed his Lady to their reliable care.
"She - uh - she's overheated. Once she's cool, change her clothes." He sent pleading looks. "And try to - uh - get her to rest. I will go to her tonight."
Then she was out of sight and the king had an appointment with the Examiner.
They trudged down twisted and sordid hallways of the palace; long ago forgotten to be tended, the lighting was horrid and the carpet leaked water. The king lead the way through the maze of corridors until the entourage reached a set of double doors carved delicately out of unknown wood. The design could have been considered attractive had the figures not been so grotesque. Or if the howls emanating from the room could be heard sending shivers down their listeners' spines.
The massive doors held no doorknobs, only a short rhyme:
To halve and to hold
For breaking the mold
Bring a wrath of cold
Else never behold.
Not pausing in his stride, King Grissom blew on the convulsed image of a sword and the doors swung open.
The words, "Got murder?" were the sole greeting that met the group.
Reluctantly, the Inner Circle walked further into the suite of rooms to find the voice's owner. He could have been a genial, grandfather-like gentleman had he not been surrounded by the various pain inflicting contraptions littering the multitude of shelves. Gentle eyes contrasted with the nature of his occupation and all could hear the dry, sardonic temperament of the man's mind.
The man slowly shuffled to his feet and bowed a lacking form of respect to his king. "My Lord." He spotted the Constable lurking behind. "Oh, Constable. It's been a while. This is becoming like our old time traditional cross-jurisdictions, my friend."
The Constable could not prevent the good-natured jab. "Well, look around the place, Friend. There's a reason I stay away."
Chuckling, the man introduced himself to the Inner Circle while their king examined his deceased enemy's body. "Lords, Ladies, I am called the Examiner. This is my lair, welcome."
Shudders were ill hidden as they recognized the significance of the man's title. The king called for Examiner Robbins's attention.
"Examiner, what are your findings."
"Well, I was unable to find anything other than what he calls his recipe for murder."
"Recipe?"
"Yes, that is what he calls it. It entails three ingredients: sex, lies, and larvae. The first two are easy to find, but the last. He could only get that from death; he recalled his first murder. Then there was a little bit of a conscious, which was easily swept away with, 'One little death, it was only a little murder, such a small one, too'. He escalated."
"Were you able to find his goal?"
"That was very easy, My Lord. It was something he called 'Evaluation Day'. I gather it was a day of some sort of judgment. Beyond that, nothing."
"You have enough, my friend; you did well." He looked appraisingly over the contraptions in the Examiner's room. "Though, I will be disappointed if you did not use the -"
No words were necessary. A satisfied smile drifted over the Examiner's face. "I did, My Lord, and a pleasure it was."
"Then justice is served. Thank you."
Our wise king left the Examiner's suite for the more soothing rooms of his Lady.
The celebration was in full progression when the king arrived escorting the Lady Courtesan. It seemed like so long ago when the king last had a reason for such grand scale merriment. The ripe summer night was festive with warm, glowing lights and sensational aromas meant to rouse hunger. A well rehearsed orchestra filled the night air by persuading the attendees to the dance floor while chatter and wine fed the rise and fall of conversation.
The Inner Circle sat at one of the head tables, enjoying their first night of untroubled times. They all performed well when needed and deserved this night of relaxation. The Lady Courtesan's presence assured them that all who aided in the enemy's death were alive and well. However, none would forget those who had given their lives for the precious information.
Lord Warrick's Alter Boys would start new lives in Governor Ecklie's territory in the west. That land was newly acquired and skirmishes still raged throughout the area. Their skills would be used to support his leadership there. It was unclear on their futures with the Governor nevertheless this put the boys into positions useful to their king, who now commanded their full loyalty. They would leave armed with having the ear of the king; any complaints of the Governor's leadership would bring about strong discipline.
The other Courtesans would soon recover from the battle; they suffered severely in containing the enemy. Here, too, the future of the Lady Courtesan was cloudy but, with the support of her king, she would come out atop. This was due to the negative feelings strongly expressed by the Lady Sara. Unfortunately for her, the Lady Courtesan's position in her king's life was far more secure than hers. Lady Sara's position was to stay quiet and observed her king with the Lady Courtesan. However bitter she felt, she could not deny the strength of their friendship.
Then, with the beginning bars of Mr. Beveridge's Maggot slowly filling the air, she watched as he leaned over to whisper in the Lady Courtesan's ear. It was an intimate position turned special when the Lady smiled. Withdrawing from the Lady's immediate space, Lady Sara saw the king extend his hand to the Lady. Then he led her to the floor to lead the dance.
The Lady Courtesan's laughter added enchantingly to the music as the dance brought the king and her together and apart. Eavesdropping other dancers would say that their conversation was beyond their comprehension to understand.
"Are you sure, Lady?"
"Yes, My Lord. I have permission to dance this dance. I even have permission to dance that scandalous waltz."
"Ah, the waltz." Eyes twinkling, our wise King Grissom spent the night in his Lady's arms.
And here, we end our telling of this atypical fairytale.
BTW, Mr. Beveridge's Maggot is the name of a classic contra dancing song. More information can be found at: http://www.sls.hawaii.edu/bley-vroman/contra/dances/beveridge.html and http://www.pemberley.com/pemb/adaptations/pp2/ppfaq.html.
***** ***** *****
© RK 10.Jan.2003