Disclaimer: If I owned Ever After or the Lady of Shalott or The Defence of Guenevere I would either be really rich or really dead. Newsflash: I'm NOT. Either, that is.

A/N:

Guess who: Yes, yes… I know… 8-) but I LOVE Shalott! And since you got to repeat yourself, I will too. You can do SO much with it:D

Mockingbird84: I'll TRY to make them longer. Coz I love it when people write long chapters. So I won't be a hypocrite. I'll TRY not to be a hypocrite. Yeah… I always thought Da Vinci was a good 'father' figure… Besides… he's saved her (Well, let her out of the cupboard) once before… why can't he do it again:D Mmm… they probably wouldn't talk like that, hey… Is it really bugging you? Coz I don't think you'll see much of the guards anyway… and besides, I really don't know what they would talk like… :S Thanks for reviewing!

Pamperedwitch: Thanks! I'll try to update frequently-ish… Just school and stuff gets in the way. I had a math test this morning. shudder

another fan: Well, Henry's definitely not going to figure it out straightaway… that totally defeats the purpose of Leonardo protecting her. Thanks! It's not perfect. But I'll try to make it near perfect. And if I do something wrong, you let me know okay? Flames permitted:D

Yasona Black: Hello! Yes! I updated! And I'm updating again! I love quick updates… and so I'll try my bestest (new word) to update quickly.

Kisaki Hana: I'll try to longify (another new word) them. I like long chapters. And I'm glad you like it. :D Thanks for reviewing!

Chapter 3

Leonardo gazed down at the girl's unconscious form in disbelief.

"Danielle?" He whispered, shocked and incredulous. "How can this be?"

"And by the moon the reaper weary,

Piling sheaves in uplands airy,

Listening, whispers, " 'Tis the fairy

The Lady of Shalott."

The girl made no reply, merely let a soft sigh escape her lips, which were slowly turning blue.

"Oh, Danielle… How can you let Henry do this to you? He's not worth it…"

She did not utter a word, yet Leonardo fancied that there was something reproachful about her face.

Abandoning his water-shoes, he hurried off to deposit her with the lady he knew.

"What in the name of high heaven happened to this girl?" Red-faced and exhausted, Cecile glared at Leonardo, as if it were his entire fault.

"Er…" Leonardo stammered. Cecile somehow managed to make him feel uncomfortable.

"Never mind…" She rolled her eyes in frustration. "Well, come on. Bring her in!"

When Leonardo failed to move as fast as she wished, she tutted in annoyance and snatched Danielle's prostrate body and carried her into the house. "Wipe your feet…" Her voice drifted out to Leonardo.

Henry paced up and down in his chambers. Eventually, he flung his cloak down in frustration.

"Maybe she lied. But what if she had a good reason for it? But what if she was just after my title - " He broke off. It was too terrible for him to even consider.

A knock on his door startled Henry.

"Henry… may I come in?"

"Father?"

"Son…" Francis put his head tentatively around the door. Henry frowned. For as long as he could remember, his father had never knocked on his door. And he had definitely never sounded as nervous as he did now.

"Please… sit…"

"Thank you… I think I will." Henry almost smiled to himself. His father was his pompous self once again. "Now, Henry… about the Spanish princess."

"I am marrying her." But even to his ears, his protest sounded weak and uncertain.

"Henry…son…you don't have to do this…"

"I am."

"It's like you said. An arranged marriage never did anyone any good, Henry."

"I…I'm sure."

Francis threw his hands up in frustration.

"On your own head be it, child!"

"Leonardo!"

"What?"

"Her back! It's mangled!"

"I'm innocent!"

"Someone's been using the whip on her! Regularly! Just where did you get this girl from?"

"The river… she had gone down the waterfall."

"What!"

"The waterfall? I'm surprised she's alive!"

"Is… is she alright?"

"She'll live." – said grimly.

Henry paced back and forth once more.

"Nicole… why? Why lie to me?" He knew that he was partly at fault as well. "I had to make a choice, Nicole…Danielle… And you have to understand." He implored the empty atmosphere.

""The wind was ruffling up the narrow streak

Of river through your broad lands running well:

Suppose a hush should come, then some one speak:

"'One of these cloths is heaven, and one is hell,

Now choose one cloth for ever; which they be,

I will not tell you, you must somehow tell

"'Of your own strength and mightiness; here, see!'

Yea, yea, my lord, and you to ope your eyes,

At foot of your familiar bed to see

"A great God's angel standing, with such dyes,

Not known on earth, on his great wings, and hands,

Held out two ways, light from the inner skies

"Showing him well, and making his commands

Seem to be God's commands, moreover, too,

Holding within his hands the cloths on wands;

"And one of these strange choosing cloths was blue,

Wavy and long, and one cut short and red;

No man could tell the better of the two.

"After a shivering half-hour you said:

'God help! heaven's colour, the blue;' and he said, 'hell.'

Perhaps you then would roll upon your bed,

"And cry to all good men that loved you well,

'Ah Christ! if only I had known, known, known;'"

Leonardo sat tense and waiting. It seemed like an age before Cecile emerged from the room.

"She's awake."

Leonardo leapt to his feet.

"C…can I see her?"

Cecile jerked her head towards to the room.

"Go ahead."

Danielle looked around her. Her head throbbed.

"Finally, you awake."

"Leonardo!"

"At your service, madam."

"How did I get here?"

"I fished you out of the river."

Danielle screwed her face up in concentration. Then, when Leonardo saw her cheeks burn bright, and tears well up in her eyes, then he knew that she remembered.

"Why? Danielle, why did you do it?"

She buried her face in her hands.

"I…"

"Danielle…"

He couldn't see her face, but he could hear her muffled sobs. Right on cue, Cecile entered the room. She took one look at Danielle, and glared at Leonardo.

"Out."

He went. He had no other choice.

A/N: Is this longer?