DISCLAIMER: If you are still confused I suggest you go research some
copyright infringement litigation and get back to me.
Author's Note: Today I started thinking about which fairy tale I would like to retell next. I've got a few possibilities but I thought I'd ask if you guys had any requests. If you do please post a REVIEW and include your requests and suggestions. I was considering "The Frog Prince", "Rapunzel", or .whatever. Please R&R. By the way, thanks to Lilimione for reviewing. I really appreciated it. And your reviews are very helpful.
~~Chapter Eight~~
The stairs were growing chillier and darker as I ascended. The radial stone steps were cracked and worn with age, my footsteps echoing off the stony walls into the oblivion. Somewhere a silky smooth voice was calling my name. It slid down over me from the expanse above. I had to reach it.
I was staring at the broken windowpane. Its scars had shifted into the shape of a rose, jagged petals and thorns stretching to escape their confinements of glass. I tried to lift it out, but every time I reached out towards it I felt, not cool windowpane, but sharp punctures. My fingers began to bleed.
"Rose-Rose-" there was a reddish glow behind me, calling my name, "Briar Rose-wake up!"
My eyes flew open. Jason was standing over me repeating my name. "Rose, get up!"
I gasped, my heart pulsating rapidly. The red light was gone, as was the windowpane, and the seductive voice beckoning to me had changed to the cracking speech of a pubescent male, whose voice had recently begun to change. I was nestled in the down mattress and silken sheets of my bed. The only circumstance that hadn't changed was the lighting. It was still pitch dark in my bedchamber.
"Jason, what are you doing here? What time is it?" I moaned as my body relaxed back into its cocoon of quilts.
"It is currently five o'clock in the morning and I'm here to waken you."
I covered my head with a pillow, "Why?! It's too early."
"Because of your miserable failure in your duel with that royal-pain-in-the- neck yesterday. You're going to learn how to fence." Jason threw something soft and light on top of me. "Now get up."
I rolled onto my back and sat up in bed. A shirt and a pair of breeches were laying across my legs. Still not fully awake I picked up the clothes and turned them over in my hands. Boy's clothes. "What are these for?" I asked in puzzlement.
"You're going to wear them. You can't learn to fence in a dress. I'll not have you tripping over your skirts mid-lunge." He lit a few of my large candles and said, "Now hurry, I've got to break in your father's new riding horse today and I'm watching Maximus enchant a porcupine this afternoon." He opened my door to leave as I changed.
"Jason!" I called out as he closed the door, "Mother won't like me wearing these clothes or my learning combat. Who's going to teach me?"
With only his left eye and half of a roguish smile showing in the door crack Jason replied in a self-assured voice, "I am."
**~~**
It was only a week after my birthday, in June so we were lucky to avoid the early morning chill that ensued from September until March.
Our palace was built on a small scenic plain, facing East, out over the Borandon Ocean. Far to the Southwest was the Heddwyn Mountain Range. To the West, Lake Glyndwr, filled a small valley, River Wendolyn trickled from this lake, down to the ocean. A small meadow lay slightly to the North. It was rather secluded by the forests that surrounded our castle. I will not say that the Castle of Eldron was in an ideal defense location, but that was not the intention when it was built. Eldron had not seen a war in over a hundred years. My great-grandfather had adopted a code of chivalry when he ascended the throne and built the palace, and by some strange turn of events, we had not fought a battle since.
Jason and I traipsed into the meadow. It had seemed to be the least likely place we would be caught. Strictly speaking, combat training was not a "proper" study for women. And a woman was practically more modest naked than in trousers. I knew that there would be Hell to pay if I was caught in both offenses at once.
By now I was fully awake and resolved to master whatever Jason could teach me. We cast our sheaths off to the side and Jason was helping me position my body.
"You're right handed so lean forward on your right leg and keep your left to the back. Your left arm should be slightly back to balance yourself." He reached over and adjusted the hilt of my sword in my hand, "This guard should completely cover your knuckles. Okay, now, basic leg movement is a sort of shuffling movement. You should lunge forward to begin your attack, make a sort of figure-eight motion with your wrist. That's good. Now try to touch me."
Jason backed up, opposite me, "Just simple, basic movements. Try to touch my chest with your rapier." He bent into position. I did the same, slightly nervous, unsure of myself. I caught his eye and held it as he said, "En gard!" and hesitating briefly to allow me a head start, lunged forward and began to parry. I tried to apply the movements he had shown me, but as I tried to concentrate on my wrist Jason gradually pushed me backwards and soon I realized that I had lost a good ten yards. As I switched focus to notice this fact, Jason flipped his wrist and jabbed me in the chest with his blunt training sword. "Touche," he remarked casually and backed off. "Not bad Rose, but this time just try to stand your ground. Don't worry about advancing yet. Just stay put."
For the next hour we parried and Jason made comments about my stance and attacks. Soon, it was near six o' clock and we were hot, sweaty, and tired. We were also in danger of being seen. Hearing the bell's of a nearby church sound we sheathed our weapons and hurried back to the castle.
We entered the castle quietly, through a back kitchen door. Jason handed me the swords and slunk off through the corridors to return to his room before the other servants left theirs. I scurried to my bedchamber. Once, I had to duck behind a door as a maid passed by. Luckily for me she was carrying a load of laundry in her arms and was more concerned with the slipping underclothes than ten-year-old princesses running around in breeches, carrying training rapiers.
Upon reaching my room I crawled under my bed, wriggling out of my boy's clothing. I carefully hid the swords and garments under a loose floorboard near the head of the bed. I then crawled out, dusted myself off, and quickly donned a light green gown. I braided my hair and ran out the door, down to grab and early breakfast.
A rigid grip on my shoulder halted my flight. I winced as I heard my mother's voice, "Briar Rose, I think you owe me an explanation."
I slowly turned towards my mother, trying to think of a way out of this one, "For what Mother?" I asked innocently.
"For your disgraceful behavior." Her large, exotic, brown eyes stared sternly into my small blue ones, hiding the panic inside my chest. How on earth was I going to explain my attire and possessions this morning without incriminating Jason as well?
"Well, you see, I thought that wearing-"
"Your father and I can never show our faces in Linderly again! We are the laughing stock of the entire court. We, and our mud-covered daughter in her tattered gown!"
So, this wasn't about this morning. Although I should have been cowering in fear of her punishment, I breathed a sigh of relief.
Mother wasn't finished, "The only good thing to come of this is that King Marius thinks that your mud-covered entrance was 'simply hilarious' and that he will continue visit our home."
"Why does that matter?" I asked before I could think that this probably was not a good time to interrupt.
Mother frowned, "Never you mind. The only thing you need to be concerned with is your punishment. I have no idea what possessed you to do what you did but it is no longer important. You will be confined to your room today. I will have your meals sent up. Hopefully this will keep you clean and respectable for the next twenty-four hours. Maybe during that time you can consider what you have done and make a few wise decisions."
With that Mother firmly grasped my elbow and pushed me back into my room. The large oak door shut with slightly more force than usual, and I heard the turn of the key in the lock. I stood staring at the door in anger for a few moments and then began to pick up my room. I was not the neatest of girls but being disorderly had its advantages. Whenever I became stressed I would absentmindedly clean things.
An hour later my breakfast arrived. Oat cakes, a pear, and a glass of white grape juice. I wolfed it down and, having dusted my armoire for the fourth time, leafed through a few well-read books. It was an inopportune time to realize that I had already read all of the books in my shelves many times and was in dire need of something new to read. But it could not be helped now. I finally sank down on my bay window seat and rested my head against the cool windowpane. Far across the grounds the sea waves broke on our shores, the roaring white foam cascading over rocks and sand. Then, ever so faintly, singing reached my ears. I opened my window and leaned out to hear the song more clearly. Far out to sea I could barely make out the forms of three young women floating in the water. Mermaids.
"The sun rises from her dark cave As we must all rise from our sins. Listen to the sea, telling you, Sacred secrets from before the Dawn of time, forget your worries. Look only to your heart's desire. Sometimes what we search hardest for, Is already within our hearts. Search deep, emerge from your darkness, And find the strong courage within."
They were the most beautiful creatures ever beheld by man. Legends spoke of their powers of seduction over the sailors, and though I could not see them clearly, their haunting music had enchanted me. As I strained to hear their voices again, another hit my ears, "Rose!"
Below me Jason was calling up the castle wall.
"What are you doing here? I thought you were supposed to be with Maximus!"
"I was. The porcupine escaped and is now running rampant throughout the gardens. It did however, manage to stick Maximus with a few quills before it left. He seemed rather tired and told me to take the day off while he soaked and bandaged his hand." There was a brief pause as he contemplated me. "What are you doing up there anyway?"
"Being punished. I'm not to leave until tomorrow morning." I sighed and continued, "It's incredibly boring and I think I'll go crazy if I'm in here to much longer."
"Tie your sheets together and through them down to me."
This was a rather unusual request. "What?! Why?"
"So I can climb up you idiot. What did you think?"
"But I can't leave."
"I know, but the Queen never said, no one else could come up did she?" A mischievous grin played across his face. I had never known Jason to break the rules. That was my job. So I quickly tore my sheets off my bed and knotted them together and lowered them out of my window.
Jason took hold of them and bracing his feet against he stone wall, began to climb up the tower wall. I held onto the sheets and grabbed his hand to help pull him into the room when he reached my window. Jason pulled in the sheets and stowed them under my bed. He then turned to look at me.
I spoke first, "You don't have to stay here. I'm not trying to punish you as well."
"No, it's my fault as well. If I hadn't taken you down to that lake you would never have gotten so dirty." He shook his head. "Well, at least we're together. What shall we do your highness?"
Author's Note: Today I started thinking about which fairy tale I would like to retell next. I've got a few possibilities but I thought I'd ask if you guys had any requests. If you do please post a REVIEW and include your requests and suggestions. I was considering "The Frog Prince", "Rapunzel", or .whatever. Please R&R. By the way, thanks to Lilimione for reviewing. I really appreciated it. And your reviews are very helpful.
~~Chapter Eight~~
The stairs were growing chillier and darker as I ascended. The radial stone steps were cracked and worn with age, my footsteps echoing off the stony walls into the oblivion. Somewhere a silky smooth voice was calling my name. It slid down over me from the expanse above. I had to reach it.
I was staring at the broken windowpane. Its scars had shifted into the shape of a rose, jagged petals and thorns stretching to escape their confinements of glass. I tried to lift it out, but every time I reached out towards it I felt, not cool windowpane, but sharp punctures. My fingers began to bleed.
"Rose-Rose-" there was a reddish glow behind me, calling my name, "Briar Rose-wake up!"
My eyes flew open. Jason was standing over me repeating my name. "Rose, get up!"
I gasped, my heart pulsating rapidly. The red light was gone, as was the windowpane, and the seductive voice beckoning to me had changed to the cracking speech of a pubescent male, whose voice had recently begun to change. I was nestled in the down mattress and silken sheets of my bed. The only circumstance that hadn't changed was the lighting. It was still pitch dark in my bedchamber.
"Jason, what are you doing here? What time is it?" I moaned as my body relaxed back into its cocoon of quilts.
"It is currently five o'clock in the morning and I'm here to waken you."
I covered my head with a pillow, "Why?! It's too early."
"Because of your miserable failure in your duel with that royal-pain-in-the- neck yesterday. You're going to learn how to fence." Jason threw something soft and light on top of me. "Now get up."
I rolled onto my back and sat up in bed. A shirt and a pair of breeches were laying across my legs. Still not fully awake I picked up the clothes and turned them over in my hands. Boy's clothes. "What are these for?" I asked in puzzlement.
"You're going to wear them. You can't learn to fence in a dress. I'll not have you tripping over your skirts mid-lunge." He lit a few of my large candles and said, "Now hurry, I've got to break in your father's new riding horse today and I'm watching Maximus enchant a porcupine this afternoon." He opened my door to leave as I changed.
"Jason!" I called out as he closed the door, "Mother won't like me wearing these clothes or my learning combat. Who's going to teach me?"
With only his left eye and half of a roguish smile showing in the door crack Jason replied in a self-assured voice, "I am."
**~~**
It was only a week after my birthday, in June so we were lucky to avoid the early morning chill that ensued from September until March.
Our palace was built on a small scenic plain, facing East, out over the Borandon Ocean. Far to the Southwest was the Heddwyn Mountain Range. To the West, Lake Glyndwr, filled a small valley, River Wendolyn trickled from this lake, down to the ocean. A small meadow lay slightly to the North. It was rather secluded by the forests that surrounded our castle. I will not say that the Castle of Eldron was in an ideal defense location, but that was not the intention when it was built. Eldron had not seen a war in over a hundred years. My great-grandfather had adopted a code of chivalry when he ascended the throne and built the palace, and by some strange turn of events, we had not fought a battle since.
Jason and I traipsed into the meadow. It had seemed to be the least likely place we would be caught. Strictly speaking, combat training was not a "proper" study for women. And a woman was practically more modest naked than in trousers. I knew that there would be Hell to pay if I was caught in both offenses at once.
By now I was fully awake and resolved to master whatever Jason could teach me. We cast our sheaths off to the side and Jason was helping me position my body.
"You're right handed so lean forward on your right leg and keep your left to the back. Your left arm should be slightly back to balance yourself." He reached over and adjusted the hilt of my sword in my hand, "This guard should completely cover your knuckles. Okay, now, basic leg movement is a sort of shuffling movement. You should lunge forward to begin your attack, make a sort of figure-eight motion with your wrist. That's good. Now try to touch me."
Jason backed up, opposite me, "Just simple, basic movements. Try to touch my chest with your rapier." He bent into position. I did the same, slightly nervous, unsure of myself. I caught his eye and held it as he said, "En gard!" and hesitating briefly to allow me a head start, lunged forward and began to parry. I tried to apply the movements he had shown me, but as I tried to concentrate on my wrist Jason gradually pushed me backwards and soon I realized that I had lost a good ten yards. As I switched focus to notice this fact, Jason flipped his wrist and jabbed me in the chest with his blunt training sword. "Touche," he remarked casually and backed off. "Not bad Rose, but this time just try to stand your ground. Don't worry about advancing yet. Just stay put."
For the next hour we parried and Jason made comments about my stance and attacks. Soon, it was near six o' clock and we were hot, sweaty, and tired. We were also in danger of being seen. Hearing the bell's of a nearby church sound we sheathed our weapons and hurried back to the castle.
We entered the castle quietly, through a back kitchen door. Jason handed me the swords and slunk off through the corridors to return to his room before the other servants left theirs. I scurried to my bedchamber. Once, I had to duck behind a door as a maid passed by. Luckily for me she was carrying a load of laundry in her arms and was more concerned with the slipping underclothes than ten-year-old princesses running around in breeches, carrying training rapiers.
Upon reaching my room I crawled under my bed, wriggling out of my boy's clothing. I carefully hid the swords and garments under a loose floorboard near the head of the bed. I then crawled out, dusted myself off, and quickly donned a light green gown. I braided my hair and ran out the door, down to grab and early breakfast.
A rigid grip on my shoulder halted my flight. I winced as I heard my mother's voice, "Briar Rose, I think you owe me an explanation."
I slowly turned towards my mother, trying to think of a way out of this one, "For what Mother?" I asked innocently.
"For your disgraceful behavior." Her large, exotic, brown eyes stared sternly into my small blue ones, hiding the panic inside my chest. How on earth was I going to explain my attire and possessions this morning without incriminating Jason as well?
"Well, you see, I thought that wearing-"
"Your father and I can never show our faces in Linderly again! We are the laughing stock of the entire court. We, and our mud-covered daughter in her tattered gown!"
So, this wasn't about this morning. Although I should have been cowering in fear of her punishment, I breathed a sigh of relief.
Mother wasn't finished, "The only good thing to come of this is that King Marius thinks that your mud-covered entrance was 'simply hilarious' and that he will continue visit our home."
"Why does that matter?" I asked before I could think that this probably was not a good time to interrupt.
Mother frowned, "Never you mind. The only thing you need to be concerned with is your punishment. I have no idea what possessed you to do what you did but it is no longer important. You will be confined to your room today. I will have your meals sent up. Hopefully this will keep you clean and respectable for the next twenty-four hours. Maybe during that time you can consider what you have done and make a few wise decisions."
With that Mother firmly grasped my elbow and pushed me back into my room. The large oak door shut with slightly more force than usual, and I heard the turn of the key in the lock. I stood staring at the door in anger for a few moments and then began to pick up my room. I was not the neatest of girls but being disorderly had its advantages. Whenever I became stressed I would absentmindedly clean things.
An hour later my breakfast arrived. Oat cakes, a pear, and a glass of white grape juice. I wolfed it down and, having dusted my armoire for the fourth time, leafed through a few well-read books. It was an inopportune time to realize that I had already read all of the books in my shelves many times and was in dire need of something new to read. But it could not be helped now. I finally sank down on my bay window seat and rested my head against the cool windowpane. Far across the grounds the sea waves broke on our shores, the roaring white foam cascading over rocks and sand. Then, ever so faintly, singing reached my ears. I opened my window and leaned out to hear the song more clearly. Far out to sea I could barely make out the forms of three young women floating in the water. Mermaids.
"The sun rises from her dark cave As we must all rise from our sins. Listen to the sea, telling you, Sacred secrets from before the Dawn of time, forget your worries. Look only to your heart's desire. Sometimes what we search hardest for, Is already within our hearts. Search deep, emerge from your darkness, And find the strong courage within."
They were the most beautiful creatures ever beheld by man. Legends spoke of their powers of seduction over the sailors, and though I could not see them clearly, their haunting music had enchanted me. As I strained to hear their voices again, another hit my ears, "Rose!"
Below me Jason was calling up the castle wall.
"What are you doing here? I thought you were supposed to be with Maximus!"
"I was. The porcupine escaped and is now running rampant throughout the gardens. It did however, manage to stick Maximus with a few quills before it left. He seemed rather tired and told me to take the day off while he soaked and bandaged his hand." There was a brief pause as he contemplated me. "What are you doing up there anyway?"
"Being punished. I'm not to leave until tomorrow morning." I sighed and continued, "It's incredibly boring and I think I'll go crazy if I'm in here to much longer."
"Tie your sheets together and through them down to me."
This was a rather unusual request. "What?! Why?"
"So I can climb up you idiot. What did you think?"
"But I can't leave."
"I know, but the Queen never said, no one else could come up did she?" A mischievous grin played across his face. I had never known Jason to break the rules. That was my job. So I quickly tore my sheets off my bed and knotted them together and lowered them out of my window.
Jason took hold of them and bracing his feet against he stone wall, began to climb up the tower wall. I held onto the sheets and grabbed his hand to help pull him into the room when he reached my window. Jason pulled in the sheets and stowed them under my bed. He then turned to look at me.
I spoke first, "You don't have to stay here. I'm not trying to punish you as well."
"No, it's my fault as well. If I hadn't taken you down to that lake you would never have gotten so dirty." He shook his head. "Well, at least we're together. What shall we do your highness?"
