I'm glad the last chapter was so well received, I was a bit worried. I actually lean towards the Rogue/Remy relationship but they barely know each other and every time they've met they've managed to nearly kill one another…so it's interesting. Plus Logan plays the part of the protector, and my friend has slightly influenced me with Logan/Rogue undertones, hence the past chapter.
And now for the final dream. Amanda gets her dream, a different sort of twist on an old favorite. There will be a small morning-after epilogue. Enjoy and let me know your thoughts.
Nightcrawler
She could kill her father she really could. What in heaven's name had possessed him to tell the king's men that she could spin straw into gold. Who in their right mind would even dream up the possibility that someone was capable of such a thing?
"This is where you will be staying," the palace guard who had been leading her through the hallways said as he opened the door to a room in what felt to be the furthest corner of the palace. "All the straw within must be turned into spools of gold by morning or you shall be executed."
"Yes sir."
Amanda looked around the room in dismay. It was a room the size of her small home filled with straw. The only open space in one corner where a spinning wheel sat with a stool for her to sit on.
Slowly, knowing that she had nothing else to do, she crossed the room and sat on the stool. She picked up a handful of straw and began placing it in different areas of the spinning wheel and she found there was nothing she could do with it. The pieces of straw were not able to be bound together as wool was and they were liable to fall apart.
After a few moments she threw the straw from her hands to the ground and began to weep.
*BAMF*
Suddenly, standing before her was an odd creature. He stood on the balls of his feet and was covered all over in blue fur. His ears were pointy and his eyes were a incandescent yellow. And behind him was what appeared to be a tail. It was all she could do not to scream.
She felt herself back up slightly. "Wha--what are you?" she gasped out finally.
"I am a creature of the night." He crouched down beside her and tentatively used on of the fingers on his three fingered hand to wipe away a tear. "Do not cry Amanda, I am here to help you."
The feeling of his fingers was odd, but nice. The fur was softer than she thought and slightly comforting. "Can you spin all of this straw into gold?" she asked tentatively.
"Yes. But I must require a price," he told her, sounding as if he were sorry that he would have to ask. "What could you give me for it?"
Amanda at first thought she had nothing to give and then felt her hand fly to her throat. "I have this necklace."
He nodded silently and she quickly reached back behind her neck to undo the latch. There was a bit of sorrow in handing something that had once been her mother's over to this creature but if he was going to aid her and by doing so save her life it was the least she could do for him.
He only looked at the trinket for a moment. "Go lay down over there and sleep. When you wake up it will all be done."
"I could stay up and talk with you awhile," she offered, wondering if just the necklace would really be payment enough for his saving her life. "There is not much to do here."
He shook his head, but seemed grateful for the offer. She wondered if anyone had ever offered such a thing to the fuzzy man before her. "You should get your sleep," he said softly.
Amanda nodded and stretched out on the ground. Her lids were heavy and began to slide closed but she could still spot him out of the corner of her eye. "What is your name?" she asked sleepily.
He looked startled as if that was not a question he got often. "I have people call me Kurt," he told her. "It is better than the name my mother gave me."
"Goodnight Kurt," she murmured softly before falling asleep.
She did not catch the smile that crossed the face of the fuzzy man but the small bird sitting on the window sill did.
When Amanda awoke the little creature was gone and the room was filled with spindles of gold. She was dying to see the little fuzzy elf like man and thank him. But he was no where to be found.
She was looking behind a pile of spindles covered with gold thread when the door opened. "What are you doing?"
Amanda spun quickly and saw the king standing in the doorway. "I was just making sure everything was in order for your return," she lied quickly. "What do you think?" she asked, spreading her arms wide.
"It's fabulous." He strode across the room and captured her in his embrace and kissed her firmly. Amanda felt like maybe this would all be alright, but he turned to the page that was following him. "Set up a new room for her. We shall see if she can replicate the results on a larger sized room."
Confused she tried to pull away from him, but his grip on her arm was tight. "What? I thought I only needed to do the one room."
The smile that crossed his face sent shivers down her spine. "You are much more useful to me than to just do one room," he told her. "Come along, you may eat with the servants in the kitchen. I wouldn't want anyone to get a good look at you before I marry you, especially if you don't work out."
"Alright," she said, but it wasn't alright. Everything seemed to be getting worse.
They walked down endless corridors and through the castle and Amanda was thankful that she had been allowed to sleep that night or else she would have collapsed on the walk. Eventually the prince opened a door and shoved her inside. He followed closely behind.
"This is Amanda," he told the women within the kitchen with a quick gesture towards her. "She is new to the castle and shall be resting with you for awhile. Make sure to show her the ropes and see to it that she does not find trouble. I shall be back for you after dinner."
And with that he swept out of the kitchen and into other areas of the kitchen.
All she could do was nod mutely. How did one respond to being treated as a concubine when they were up for the position of queen?
One of the older women in the kitchen came over to her and took her by the arm. "Come along dear, we'll get you some standard servant clothes and some food."
She was again left to follow mutely as her life was guided within standards and a pattern that was not her own. Amanda longed for home.
Hours later she found herself locked in a room nearly twice as large as the first, covered in straw up to the ceiling. Once again she was warned if she was unable to spin all of the straw to gold by morning she would be taken to the square and executed.
*BAMF*
Amanda remembered that sound from last night. Her head flew up and she spotted the elf-man standing before her again. "Kurt! You're back!"
"I doubt you have magically learned to change this straw into gold," he said with a smile.
She knew it was meant as a joke but all it served to do was remind her of her predicament. "No I have not. I fear it is all he wants from me." Tears threatened to take her over again. What would this little fuzzy man think of her if she were to cry before him again?
"I don't see how it could be." He crouched down beside her and appeared to look as if he was going to touch her but decided against it. "You are very beautiful," he said finally, looking at the ground.
Amanda gave off a shrug. "There are many beautiful women within the castle. This is the only thing that makes me special to him." And to think it was all a lie. "If I could survive the king's wrath without being killed, I would not have you do this."
He looked at her with his solemn yellow eyes. "I know."
She pursed her lips and quickly slid the large ruby ring off of her finger. Her heart ached as she did so, but she dropped it into his hand. "Here. The ring was my mother's. It is worth quite a bit."
He looked down at the ring. He held it out to give it back. "I do not--"
She curled his fingers over the ring. "You will not do this without payment," she insisted. It was her right to
"Thank you."
She watched his mouth open again and she knew he was going to ask her to sleep as he told her the last night. "So what are you, really?" she asked quickly, hoping the could engage him in conversation and understand him a bit more.
Kurt pursed his lips and thought about it. "Some consider me a demon, others think of me as an elf. I have no real classification for myself. Most just run in fear."
"I rather like it," Amanda admitted honestly. "Blue is a gorgeous color you know."
She reached a hand out to touch his face, but he caught her hand before it reached its destination. There was an odd look of desperation in his eyes. "Sleep, please."
Amanda was confused, why didn't he want her company. Didn't he get lonely doing things like this for girls all night? Why couldn't he accept what little she could give him?
"I enjoy watching you work," she told him again, hoping that maybe she could get around him this way to spend some more time with him.
"Things will be better for all concerned if you sleep."
"Just let me get a closer look."
"I…"
Before he could respond she was curled up by the stool, her head resting against his thigh. He stared down at her, startled that someone like Amanda would willingly touch him. He waited as her eyes fluttered closed before picking up a few pieces of straw and began to spin.
When at last the room was completed he lay gentle kiss on her forehead. "Be safe Amanda."
He left and the sound of his doing so woke her. The room was done again, and once again he was gone. She knew she would never repay Kurt for all that he had done for her. He had aided her where no other would have. Amanda would most certainly be dead if he had not come into her life so abruptly; she was sad to think that he would be gone from her life so soon.
It was odd, was it not, that she would miss an odd little elf man, covered in fur, who she had only seen for short periods of time over the past two nights. But there was something about him.
"Well?"
Amanda spun around to see her betrothed standing in the doorway. Spreading her arms wide, she placed a smile on her mouth. "What do you think my lord?" she asked, attempting to sound as if she had accomplished the feat herself.
"I think it is fabulous." Mayhap now he would take her and "Come, we shall get you fed. Prepare the next room."
"Another?"
"It will be the last."
Amanda worked to blink back her tears, not believing a word.
~*~
*BAMF*
She could barely meet his eyes with the shame of needing him to take care of what was supposed to be her duty yet again. "Yet another room. I have nothing to give."
Amanda felt Kurt's fingers under her chin and he lifted her face so he could see it. "There is no need. Keeping such a woman alive is enough."
"The room is huge Kurt, I have a feeling it is used for grand receptions. You did the others for payment, this one shall not go without."
"You said yourself, you have nothing left to give."
Amanda thought on it and suddenly a very bold and foolish thought popped into her head, but it was what she could offer. "My first born child shall be yours."
"Amanda, the king will never go for that."
She lifted her hand to his face and smiled when he did not instantly pull away. "I don't want the king," Amanda whispered to him. "I want you."
God she was being bold. What would he think? Would he see her a harlot and cast her aside? Would he accept the gift she was offering?
"But I thought--"
'You started this Amanda,' her mind said. She took a deep breath and continued on in the same vein. "This was my father's doing. I was content enough at our farm at home. You are the first person who has thought of me and my feelings. I want you."
"That does not make me any sort of romantic partner. Look at me."
His response let her know that his decent wasn't about her offer but instead about what he appeared to be. "I have. You are no demon, I have never met anyone more human." Amanda lifted a forlock that had fallen into his eyes and "Tis a pity that no one else can see that."
"Amanda."
"Wake me when you are finished tonight." Before he could move out of her way she pressed her lips to his. "I owe you everything."
As promised Kurt went and work and Amanda curled up by his side and fell asleep listening to the gentle sound of his spinning.
He worked for hours until finally the large room was done. Kurt turned to look at the young woman who was sound asleep by his side. He didn't want to wake her, but he had promised her. He crouched down beside her and shook her awake. "Amanda, it's done."
Amanda sat up, and she sleepily looked around the room. He was right, it was full. Once again she lifted her hands to his soft, blue face and pressed her lips to his. After a few moments she broke away and looked into her gold eyes. "Love me, please. If I must be condemned to a lifetime of torture allow me tonight."
"I can't--"
"Please."
Amanda kissed him again and looked him in the eyes with all the hope that she had within her that she could have an enjoyable moment with a man instead of the horror she felt awaited her with the king. Kurt's yellow eyes softened.
"I will give you tonight."
~*~
The next morn the king came to see what his betrothed had accomplished and was greatly satisfied with the room. He whisked her away instantly and shoved her into nicer chamber than she had seen at her entire time at the castle and many of the maids Amanda had dined with were there to dress her in great finery.
And so she was married in grandeur before the most noble of the kingdom and her father. Where she found it within herself to smile as she married such a dark and greedy man she did not know. She thought of Kurt and wished that it were he instead who stood before her.
The king allowed her little over a week of rest before he once again placed her within a chamber of straw at night. She turned to stare at her now husband with horrified eyes. He only responded with, "It will not be for long love, I just need a little more."
Amanda seriously wondered how long a little more would be. There was a part of her that suspected it would be forever.
The first night she was locked up she heard it.
*BAMF*
"Kurt," his name sounded like a prayer coming off of her lips.
Her head snapped up and there he was directly before her. On instinct she went towards him, desperate to be close to the one person in this world who seemed to care about her and not about what she could or could not do.
He backed away from her. "You are a married woman."
"And my husband locks me in here," she cried, the fury bubbling within her. "I am not his wife, but a prisoner."
"Amanda."
Taking advantage of his hesitation, she closed the gap between them. "Please Kurt, do not deny me this bit of happiness."
"I could deny you nothing. Sleep while I work on the straw, I'll wake you before I go."
~*~
A couple months later, Amanda was discovered to be with child. Unwilling to put the heir to his throne in jeopardy, the king recalled his wife from her nightly duty and instead kept her locked away in her chambers. He strutted around the castle proud, confident in his control and virility, although Amanda had reason to suspect that he was not to fault for her condition.
Seasons passed, and by mid-autumn Amanda was full to bursting with the child. On All Hallows Eve, she gave birth to a child, a son. The midwife tending to her was horrified by the sight of the child and instantly ran to inform the king of the developments. When the exhausted queen gained possession of her son from the nursemaids who refused to tend to him she spotted the problem. He was blue from head to toe, with pointy ears, a tail.
The king was furious as well. He demanded an explanation of his child's condition. The date of the birth was suggested as was a problem with the blood involved in the match. Amanda was instantly blamed for the looks of her child and she accepted them. She had done this to him, but she would not regret it.
"We shall kill him and then try again," he told her simply as if he were discussing the tax money that was coming into their coffers or the new drapes she wanted. His stern gaze turned on her."You shall be a better wife and woman or else--"
*BAMF*
"Who the hell are you?" The King growled at Kurt as he stood in the bedchamber. Instantly noticing the similarity between elf and child he turned furious on his wife. "What did you do with this creature?"
"I aided your wife in her spinning. In return she promised me that her first born child will be mine. I have used my talents to make him over in my image," he lied.
"Can it be changed?"
"Yes." Kurt refocused his gaze on the queen where she lay in the bed, holding her child. "The only way to be made free is if you guess my true name within the next three days."
Catching his true meaning Amanda smiled. "I will do so," she promised him.
Amanda wracked her brain for names. He'd given her a name, Kurt. But apparently that wasn't it. There was something else, something his mother had given him. But what?
She went through hundreds upon thousands of lists of names. She sent many of the couriers out amongst the kingdom, gathering all the names that they could think of. List after list was exhausted and with every name that passed the young queen seemed to get sadder and sadder. During the night before the last day one of the queen's messengers returned extremely excited and whispered a name into her ear.
When he arrived in her bedchamber in a cloud of smoke, Amanda held her child in her arms, and looked upon the elf-like creature with a smile.
"It is the end of the last day, highness," he said solemnly, but his yellow eyes seemed to have caught onto her pleasure. "Do you have the means to make yourself free?"
"Your name is Nightcrawler!" she called out triumphantly.
The room was thrown into chaos as the blue furry man whose true name was revealed rushed towards the queen and her baby. Maids to the queen rushed out of the way and the King shouted at the guards to aprhend the creature. All of a sudden there was a large *BAMF* and the room was filled with smoke and the smell of brimstone. Both young Queen Amanda, the curious looking child and the creature she had called Nightcrawler were gone.