Forever and Ever

Disclaimer Ever After and its characters are not mine.

Summery: How would it have gone if Danielle had told him the almost truth at Hauteford.

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Part 1

To Rescue A Servant

The young woman ran towards the gates, slowing down as she spotted the amount of guards. Breathing slowly trying to calm herself, she carried on forward, walking this time, head held high.

"Make way for the lady." One of the guards called out.

'At least I've fooled them. Now, I have to fool the cargo master.' Danielle thought as the crowd suddenly parted to let her through.

Leaning over the bridge that lead into the castle Danielle spotted Maurice being herded into a cart filled with other 'criminals'. Drawing in a deep breath she muttered "God give me strength" before running back down to meet them.

Stopping by the horses she looked up at the cargo master and spoke loudly, trying to hide how intimidated she felt.

"I wish to address the issue of this gentleman, he is my servant and I am here to pay the debt against him."

Glaring at her, the man answered rather rudely.

"You're too late; he's bought and paid for."

Not deterred in the slightest, Danielle tried again. Her courage fuelled by the look of hope on Maurice's face as he peered at her through the iron cage.

"I can pay you 20 gold francs."

"Madame you can have me for 20 gold francs, now drive on." He replied, leering at her.

Infuriated by this man before her, Danielle grabbed the reins to the horses. "I demand that you release him at once, or I shall take this matter to the king."

"The king's the one who sold him. He's now property of Cartier." The man snapped, losing his temper.

"He's not property at all you ill-mannered tub of guts. Do you honestly think its right to chain people like chattel? I demand you release him at once." Her voice was sharp and demanding, having lost its slight pleading tone at the outrage she felt now.

'How dare he!'

Temper now completely lost, he leaned forward and shouted menacingly at her "get out of my way" and much to her credit she didn't even flinch.

Before she could reply another voice joined their argument. "You dare raise your voice to a lady?"

"Your highness? Uh forgive me, sire. Uh, I meant no disrespect. Uh, it's just uh I'm following orders here. It's my job to take these criminals and thieves to the coast."

Once again stunned by their indignation towards servants Danielle spoke up. "A servant is not a thief your highness and those who are cannot help themselves."

Rather amused by the courtier before him, he looked at Captain Laurent and raised his eyebrows. "Really? Well then, by all means enlighten us." A genuine smile on his lips.

Rising to his challenge Danielle, remembering what Gustav had said to her, met his eyes as she spoke. "If you, suffer your people to be ill-educated and their manners corrupted from infancy and then punish them for those crimes to which their 1st education disposed to them. What else is to be concluded, sire, but that you first make thieves and then punish them."

Quite astounded by her manner and words Prince Henry was almost at a loss for words himself as the rest of the observing court seemed to be.

"Well there you have it. Release him."

"But sire." The cargo master protested.

Sighing loudly Henry looked at him. "I said… release him."

Having no argument that would win this fight, the man bowed. "Yes sire."

Running around to the side of the carriage to Maurice Danielle smiled as he placed his hands on her shoulders and mumbled loud enough for her to hear and her alone.

"I thought I was looking at your mother."

Telling him to 'prepare the horses' Maurice ran off to wait for her away from the crowds. She turned to follow, after paying the cargo master the promised 20 francs. Stopping only when the Crown Prince of France called after her.

"Have we met?"

Turning to look at him Danielle smiled but said nothing. Repeating his question Henry walked closer to her.

"That, sire, is for you to decide."

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