Twisted Strings of Fate
Chapter 50
After the French Revolution, we were able to make many jumps through time. We went as quickly as possible to limit the risk of changing the past. We went so fast that I sometimes lost track of which generation I was on. Huey's notes were perfectly recorded, but it was confusing when my family stayed in the same town for several generations.
My family lived in France for almost a hundred years before we bounced around Europe, going to Italy, Germany, Romania—or as it was called back then, Transylvania—and many other countries. It was as if my family was afraid to stay in one place for too long. Or perhaps they thought that they could outrun the curse.
Eventually, after more than forty jumps from where we originally left from Duckburg, we returned to England, to my surprise. Since we had been there before, I didn't think that we would return.
And while Huey's notes had a clear indication where we had to jump to next, we had no choice but to delay our travels while in a town called Coventry.
The five time travelers were used to coming out of strange places, sometimes not even right-side up. But this was the first time they came out of the reflection of a water fountain. One by one, they popped out of the water's reflection sideways, only to fall backward into the cold water. Spluttering and splashing, they righted themselves in the waste deep water, and did their best to keep their travel packs from soaking up too much moisture. Everything they had was water proof or packed safely away, but the added weight was a burden they didn't want.
Charity had the worst of it since she was the first to come through the portal and someone had landed on her. Launchpad had to pick her up, shake her off and set her down on the ground just outside the fountain.
"Thanks, Launchpad," Charity said, coughing out more water. She shivered. They had arrived during night hours, and the air was quite cold.
They had also been traveling for several hours, including the delay in France. Since they had begun their travels close to midnight, the whole group had been awake close to twenty-four hours. Now, cold, wet and tired, they were well on their way to wanting to collapse where they stood. They would have stopped several decades earlier, but their last few time stops had been very dangerous—a civil war, a plague, and a Viking raid—and it was to their advantage to keep going.
Looking around, they saw they were in the middle of a nice village with buildings surrounding them. Wherever they were, it was settled and civilized for the time period.
"We should head to the edges of the village and set up the tents," Drake suggested. "We don't want to startle any of the villagers by setting up camp in their town square."
There were groans and nods of agreement. Nobody liked the idea of having to walk any distance in the state they were in, but the thought of changing into a dry set of clothes and crawling into a warm sleeping bag spurred them on. Tightening their grips on their backpacks, they tramped through the village.
After some time, Fenton spoke up. "Isn't it odd how quiet and still things are?"
"It's night time," Drake grumbled. "Everyone's asleep as we should be."
"But look at the buildings," Fenton said. "It can't be that late because everyone has their candles lit."
At that, everyone looked around. Most of the buildings didn't have glass windows but instead had wooden shutters. Through the cracks in the shutters, they could see a line of glowing light behind the wood. And it wasn't just one building but every single one they came across.
"Perhaps it's a holiday where they remain inside or have to burn a candle through the night," Jim suggested.
"Maybe," Fenton said, his voice serious. "It just seems far too quiet, but it's not peaceful at all."
"That doesn't make sense," Drake snapped, fatigue making him cranky.
"No, it makes sense," Charity said. "It's like they're all waiting for something." She gazed around with worry in her eyes.
"Then we should get going," Jim said. "The fact that we're in the streets will make us stand out even more."
They picked up their pace to a jog, and just when they were passing by a large building, a large, white figure screamed and reared at their sudden appearance. It took them a while to see by the moon's light that it was an enormous horse with hooves the size of dinner plates. The horse twisted on its hind legs and bucked in a circle. There was another scream, one that wasn't equine at all, and a figure flew off the white horse's back.
The figure landed with a thump and another scream, this one bitten back, followed by groans of agony.
"She's hurt," Fenton said, reacting first as he realized that a woman had fallen from the horse's back. "M'am…er…miss…um…Are you okay?"
"What are you doing here?" the woman asked, sounding afraid and angry at the same time. She had a British accent. "Ouch."
Fenton could see the woman was cradling her arm against her, but without better light than the moon, he couldn't see more details beyond her billowing clothing. "We're sorry for startling your horse. I can help, if you'll let me look at your arm."
"You shouldn't be out here," the woman said. "The priest said everyone would be inside tonight."
"We can explain," Fenton said. "And we will as I examine your arm. Can someone give me a light?"
"Are you a doctor?"
"Of sorts. I know first aide," Fenton deflected the question.
Starling rummaged through his pack and found one of the oil lanterns they had packed. He used a match to light it, but quickly doused it so the woman couldn't see it.
It was then that they got their first good look at the woman, and were surprised to see a twin of Charity's facing looking up at them. That was enough to distract the group for a good few seconds before they realized that the woman was completely naked, what they thought was a cloak was her long, straight hair.
"M'am—I mean, miss—I mean—What are—Can I—Oh, boy," Fenton stuttered, covering his eyes.
"You must be strangers here," the woman said, not doing anything to cover herself up. Even when Launchpad offered his coat, she waved it off despite the cold air.
"What are you doing out here without any clothes on?" Charity asked bluntly.
It was only then that the woman looked at Charity and her eyes widened. "You are travelers from the future," she said.
This was the most surprising thing they had witnessed since leaving McDuck Manor.
"How do you know that?" Jim asked accusingly.
"Because I, too, have tried to break the swan's curse on our family by moving through time. But I was unsuccessful," the woman said, staring into Charity's eyes with such depth. "I would love to sit and explain, but I'm in dire need of your assistance. I must get back on my horse or tonight will be all for naught."
With his face completely flushed and keeping his eyes averted from any part of the woman save for her arm, Fenton scanned the injury with his Gizmoduck lenses. "I'm afraid you won't be riding for a few months. You've fractured the radius and ulna in your arm. They're just cracks, but riding could cause the fractures to separate."
The woman glared at her arm. "Nevertheless, I must finish my ride. If I don't, I will have let down the people of this village and all those who are in my charge."
"Why?" Drake asked. Her story sounded strange, but he was more curious than suspicious.
"To shorten my tale, the overseer of the land has made a wager with me," the woman said. "If I could ride through the village bare-back and naked, then he will lower the taxes on every household. If I don't, they will be double-taxed, and they are already struggling to make ends meet."
"I know this story," Jim said, snapping his fingers. "You're Lady Godiva."
"You are correct, sir."
"Really?" Charity said, her eyes lighting up. "I love your chocolates."
Lady Godiva blinked a little before speaking. "The fact that my story lives on in your time emboldens me." Lady Godiva stood up tentatively. "I assume that I have succeeded."
"You're more legend than history, I'm afraid," Jim said. "Although all the stories did say that you succeeded, but beyond your famous ride, there is little to tell."
"Then that is enough," Lady Godiva said, making gestures and clicking noises to her horse, who had kept a few paces back. "I will finish." As she grabbed for the horse's mane—for it had no bridle—she winced.
Fenton looked to the others with a worried expression. "The story didn't mention her broken arm." He didn't have to say more. They had already disrupted the time-stream. Even with Fenton's warning about Lady Godiva's arm, she had to finish her ride or it could affect the past.
What to do?
"I'll finish your ride," Charity said quickly, her mouth running right when the idea popped into her brain. She immediately regretted it. She had never ridden a horse before, and the idea of getting on the white horse's back made her sick. The horse was massive, bred to pull large carts and carry heavily armored men into battle. Her head didn't even come up to the lowest curve of its back.
But it was the only way. Although Lady Godiva's hair wasn't the mass of curls that Charity had, they looked almost exactly alike, although Charity guessed that Lady Godiva was in her thirties. But it was dark, and nobody should be able to tell the difference.
"Are you sure?" Drake said, looking a little nervous.
"I have to," Charity said, not willing to go back on her word. "We can't change the past. I'll just need a little help getting on the horse, please, Launchpad." She couldn't imagine trying without help.
Just as Launchpad cupped his hands in preparation to help Charity up, Lady Godiva stopped her. "If you are to imitate me, you must disrobe."
Charity froze, forgetting that detail. But that had been part of the wager. If she was to take Lady Godiva's place, she would have to finish the ride naked on a giant horse. It was like she had stepped into a bizarre nightmare.
As if they had forgotten too, Drake and Fenton turned a shade of red evident even by the dim lantern's light.
"Charity, you don't—"
"I said I'll do it," Charity snapped, uncertain who had been speaking. Already she was sweating at the thought, but she had to take responsibility. It was her curse. She was the reason they were traveling through time. If the present was messed up because Lady Godiva didn't finish her ride, then it would be all her fault.
"Okay. I can do this," she said, taking a deep breath. "I-I just need everyone to turn around."
Fenton was already looking anywhere but at the two lovebirds and readily turned around. Launchpad was willing to comply, but Drake hesitated as if assessing Charity's commitment to the job before doing as he was asked. That left Jim with his arms crossed.
"Go on," Charity said, waving at him.
"You'll need someone to help you on that horse," Jim said, a small smile crossing his beak. "And you'll be less embarrassed with me…I think."
Charity's cheeks were already burning but she nodded. He was right. "Okay, but at least don't look while I get undressed." When Jim was no longer looking her way, she quickly shed her clothes, tucking them into her backpack. The air was chilly, and she guessed it must be either spring or fall by the temperature. She was already shivering, although it wasn't just because of the cold.
"Okay, I'm ready," she said, trying to use her hair to cover at least her breasts. She envied Lady Godiva her long, straight hair that went past her waist.
Jim positioned himself next to the horse to prepare to boost her, keeping his eyes lowered. He was a lot shorter than Launchpad, but he looked as if he knew what he was doing.
Unfortunately, Charity didn't. She put her foot in Jim's cupped hands and stepped up. Not used to the action or even really thinking the motions over in her head, she clambered onto the horse's back clumsily. Something startled the horse a little because it stepped away before Charity was ready, which made the lovebird squeak a little, feeling as if she were going to fall off. To add insult to injury, Jim helped her further by pushing on her butt. It was enough for Charity to squeal again, pulling on the horse's mane just trying to balance on the broad back.
"Shhhhhh, my sweet," Lady Godiva said, calming her horse by patting the large nose. "Please, carry her as faithfully as you have me." She continued to whisper to the horse until Charity sat straight. "Do not be afraid of Winter. She is a smooth mount and rarely spooks. That is, unless a group of time travelers surprise her." Despite the pain she must be feeling, Lady Godiva smiled.
Charity grasped the horse's mane tightly, her only lifeline. There was no saddle and no bridle. But even if there were, she wasn't sure how to drive a horse. "I don't even know where I'm going," she said desperately. Her body shook even more from fear.
"Winter knows where she is going," Lady Godiva said. "Most of the journey is over, but you must go through the main road through the village. Once you have left the buildings behind, follow the road north uphill. The horse will take you directly to the stables. Do not speak to anyone. If your companions are obliging, they will help me. We will take the short cut."
"O-okay," Charity said through chattering teeth. Throughout the exchange, she had caught Fenton and Drake glancing at her, although it didn't look deliberate. It was more like they wanted to say something and forgot about her predicament.
Knowing that waiting around would only make her colder and more nervous, Charity figured she should start on her journey. She took the horse's mane in hand and wondered how to start the horse—Winter, and apparently such a large creature was female.
"Okay, Winter. Let's go," Charity said, remembering watching a few westerns. She very gently tapped the horse's sides with her heels, not wanting to startle the animal into a gallop. She squeaked when Winter nickered and took a few steps forward at a plodding pace.
As Charity on Winter left slowly, Fenton pulled out a blanket and his first aid kit from his pack, the blanket to cover Lady Godiva as he treated her arm. He found two sticks to use as a brace before wrapping it up in thick gauze.
"Please, hurry," Lady Godiva said. "It is of utmost importance that my husband not see Charity."
"She wouldn't like anyone seeing her naked," Launchpad said, looking around. "So it's super lucky that everyone is indoors."
"Luck has nothing to do with it," Lady Godiva said. "When word was spread that I was to make this ride, the villagers promised that not a single person would see me in my shame. I believe that my husband's intent was to embarrass me so that I would back out of the wager and let him win."
"Wait," Drake said, holding up a hand. "You made this wager with your husband?"
"Yes," Lady Godiva said, her eyebrows furrowed. "I thought you knew that it was my husband, Lord Godiva, who owns the land. It is he that wishes to raise the taxes."
"And if he sees Charity, then he'll know you didn't finish the ride," Drake said. "Fenton, is she good to go?"
"She's in a lot of pain, but I have the bones braced," Fenton said. "She just needs to take it easy."
"There is no time for that," Lady Godiva said. "We must move quickly. Come. If we run, we may make it back before your friend."
"The way Charity was riding, we don't have much to worry about," Jim said.
"You don't know Winter. Once she sees the stables, there is little to stop her from going home," Lady Godiva said, her tone both bitter and filled with humor.
Charity felt really stupid sitting on the horse as she went at a snail's pace through the village. The horse was so large, she might as well have been a child on a regular-sized horse. At one point, Winter snorted as if wondering why she had to carry such an incompetent rider.
"Believe me, I'm just as unhappy about this situation as you are," Charity told Winter. "But we just need to get through the village, and then we'll go home."
At her words, Winter's ears pricked forward and her pace picked up.
"At least you don't seem bothered by the cold," Charity said, taking comfort in the heat radiating from the horse.
Within fifteen minutes, they passed through the village to Charity's relief. She had worried that someone would burst out of their house to gawk at her.
By the light of the moon, she was able to tell there was a road leading somewhere, and Winter kept to it, so she figured that the horse could find her way. In the meantime, her thoughts drifted to Lady Godiva's words, that not only did she guess that they were time travelers right away, but she had attempted to travel as well. It didn't occur to her to ask questions at the time, but now her head was flooded with them. How did she travel through time? How far did she go? What did she learn about their curse? Were there others?
Since Charity and the others had little contact with Charity's ancestors with the exception of Louise and Lady Godiva, Charity wouldn't have known. But if anything, this cemented that she was doing the right thing to break her curse. Whatever answers she needed were in the past.
It was only through Winter's actions that Charity realized they left the main road, turning and heading uphill. She felt ashamed she hadn't been paying attention, but was glad that the horse knew where she was going.
And much faster than before.
And gaining speed.
Charity grew concerned as Winter's pace turned to a trot which bounced her jerkily on the horse's back. This new gait caused Charity to grip the horse's mane tighter.
"Uh…Winter…Could you slow down?" Charity asked, hoping that the horse was intelligent enough to understand her. She had the feeling Winter understood, she just didn't care.
As Winter's stride lengthened to a gallop, all Charity could do was to hang on with her legs and wrap her arms around the horse's neck. Unable to control her situation, she just closed her eyes and hoped she didn't fall off. If she did, she would be alone, lost—and worse—naked in time.
Eventually the horse's hoof-steps sounded as if she were running on stone, her metal shoes making a sharp sound, and she slowed down enough that Charity could sit up. There was a dark, tall building looming over her that looked like a castle, and warm light glowing through open windows. Charity sighed with relief; her ride was almost over.
Winter trotted around the castle to a smaller building that must have been the stables. As she walked inside, the scent of fresh hay and horses filled the air. There were over a dozen stalls, most occupied by horses who were watching Winter go by with interest. The large, white horse moved to an empty stall and went inside without any guidance and began drinking out of a large tough.
Only when Charity was absolutely certain Winter wouldn't move at all did she slide down, almost collapsing from a weakness in her legs and an ache in her thighs. She rubbed her legs for a little while before stumbling out of the stall. She closed the door before looking around, hoping that Lady Godiva and the others were there. But there wasn't a single sign of anyone other than the horses.
To her relief, she saw a cloak hanging on a hook nearby and snatched to cover herself up. No sooner had she put the cloak on did she hear footsteps approaching. Too late to hide somewhere, Charity turned her back on the door, not knowing what she should do.
"So, it seems that you have won the wager, my lady," a deep voice said. "It astounds me how far you will go for those peasants."
Charity hunched her shoulders, aware of the person coming closer, stopping a breath away from her back.
"It was well worth losing. You looked magnificent on your horse. It was a pleasure to watch you return."
Charity's body tensed as a pair of hands rested on her shoulders, digging into her flesh and releasing in a form of massage. She cringed as she resisted the urge to run, feeling as if a slimy slug was slipping down her spine. She realized that this was the man that Lady Godiva had made the wager with, but there was more to their relationship. Was this man not only oppressing the people of the village but also harassing Lady Godiva?
His hands slipped from her shoulders down her arms slowly, heading to parts that were completely off limits. She stepped away, holding back any cries. She didn't want to be silent, but she couldn't ruin things for Lady Godiva. She had to keep the pretense. But if the man persisted in his advances, what could she do?
"Mamma!"
The man stepped back at the sound of a child's voice.
Charity felt small, thin arms wrap around her legs, and she sent many blessings to her ancestor who had saved her from a difficult situation. She dropped to her knees and hugged the child, hoping that they wouldn't realize that she wasn't Lady Godiva.
"Lord Godiva, a word please," a voice shouted from outside.
"What is it?" the man behind Charity called out.
Lord Godiva? That meant that the man was Lady Godiva's husband. Charity's mind reeled as she thought about how her ancestor had married a man that could let anyone starve for money. Lady Godiva seemed like a nice person, so Charity could come up with one solution. Somewhere in Lady Godiva's past, she had been saved by Lord Godiva. It must have been the curse at work in this situation.
That meant Charity was hit on by her forty-times great grandfather. She threw up a little in her mouth and gagged.
"Mamma, are you alright?"
Lord Godiva had left by this time and Charity chanced to whisper to Lady Godiva's son, "I'm fine."
"Psst!"
Charity turned her head at the attempt to catch her attention. Beyond Winter's head, the window of the stall was open and Launchpad was waving his arms.
"Wait here," Charity whispered, trying to imitate Lady Godiva's accent.
She rushed into Winter's stall, glad to see her childhood friend. Pulling herself up to the sill, she saw that Jim, Fenton and Lady Godiva were with him.
"We don't have much time," Lady Godiva said. "Your friend is distracting my husband. We must make the switch now."
Past the point of caring about her modesty, Charity boosted herself onto the sill and jumped out the window, landing in Launchpad's arms.
"My cloak," Lady Godiva pointed out. "We need to switch. Hurry."
The guys turned their backs to the women as they switched cloak for blanket.
"If you could boost me up, I can take it from here," Lady Godiva said, cradling her arm. "Once I get my husband out of the stables, you can find a mirror in the stable boy's room in the back. He has the night off, so you won't be seen."
As she moved to the stable window, Charity said, "Wait." When Lady Godiva hesitated, she continued, "I have so many questions, especially about you traveling through time."
"There's not much to tell," Lady Godiva said. "I failed. If I didn't, you wouldn't be here." So far, she had been mostly emotionless, like someone who was just trying to get through a hard time. But now, her eyes were moist. She put a hand on Charity's cheek. "Oh, my child, I'm sorry. I'm sorry that you have to go through this. But at least you aren't alone. You are strong. You can do this."
With that, she gestured for Launchpad to help her, which the tall duck did with little effort. In an instant, she was gone. The group could hear Winter nickering at her mistress and Lady Godiva talking to her son, but it was quiet and muffled.
Drake returned to them soon after, and they waited for the stable to empty, Charity using the time to get dressed. Once all was quiet, they entered the stables through the main way, heading to the stable boy's quarters.
"Amazing that we were able to meet Lady Godiva," Jim Starling said with a smile. "I think I now know where you get your spunk."
Charity smiled at the compliment. "Yeah, well, it's not all rainbows and roses. It means I'm also related to that jerk." She couldn't shake off the feeling of him putting his hands on her. "I can't imagine being married to him. Worse still, she probably loves him deeply because of the curse."
"You are pretty lucky who you fell in love with," Drake said unabashedly.
Charity playfully knocked shoulders with him before becoming serious again. "Between Lady Godiva and what my mother went through, I know that this curse is truly evil. It takes so much away from my family. I'm just saddened that there is nothing I can do for them, for my mother, for Louise, for Lady Godiva."
"But they will still want you to break it," Fenton said. "It will benefit them. They care about you just as much as you care about them."
They found the mirror in the stable boy's quarters, which was a broken triangle of glass as if collected from a much bigger piece. Charity grabbed Fenton's hand, and they formed a chain. Just as she touched the mirror, thinking of their next jump, she had a thought. Something wasn't right about the conversation she had with Lady Godiva. But what about it was off?
She didn't have a chance to think it over as they jumped twenty years into the past.
(Author's notes: I've had some comments about Darkwing Duck and the Scarlett Pimpernel (or the Scarlett Pimperbill as DT17 has called him). The Scarlett Pimpernel is a character in a series of novels that take place during the French Revolution. He isn't based of history, although many people did help French aristocrats escape France during the time period. I decided to make him a historical figure in the Ducktales world because I thought that it would bring a little color to their history as well as give Darkwing Duck-the fictional character and TV series-a interesting connection, one that I may play with later in the sequel.
As for Lady Godiva, from the research I did, there is no proof that her story really happened. I feel as if she could be based off of history much like Robin Hood or King Arthur, but there is less evidence of Lady Godiva being a real personage. When I first learned about her-which wasn't that long ago-I knew I was going to integrate her story into the time traveling section of my fanfic. I hope everyone enjoyed the chapter because this one is probably my favorite stop in time.)