Disclaimer: I do not own Ever After. I do not own The Lady of Shalott. I do not own The Defence of Guenevere. What else don't I own? Oh yes, I don't own any Disney songs either.
A/N:
Kisaki Hana: wOOt! Lol. Thanks. That makes me feel a lot less guilty about mixing it up. True… You know why it has taken me so long to start writing in the Ever After fanfiction section? Because I've only just seen it recently. I can't believe it's taken me SO long to watch it! Hehe… hopefully they will meet in the nearISH future. But not TOO soon. Mwahahaha…
Kathy L.: Thank you! Here's the next update! Thanks for reviewing!
Pampered Witch: Wow… I like praise. So thanks! Lol. Thank you for being so encouraging. :)
Anna: That's great that you like it. I'm updating… soonish. Sorry it's taken me longer than usual. Assignments and tests should perish a horrible death.
Mockingbird84: I'm trying to continue. It's just that… myeah. Yeah… I'll try to think it out and figure things out. I like it… but it's scary that I am deciding what happens next. I suppose that's what it is with alternate endings?
Orlando-crazy: Love the name! I have a friend who's obsessed with Orlando Bloom. It's cute. :D I like Pirates of the Caribbean as well… I just wish I had inspiration for that too… :D Thanks for your review!
BuffyShakespeareAusten: And you're not? Mwahahaha. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being evil. It is very enjoyable thank you. :D Okay. I'll do that next time. Er… this time?
Chapter 4
Henry stood up straight and looked at his father. Francis looked away.
"This is your last chance to change your mind, Henry…" Francis's voice was almost a whisper.
"Father, I am going to walk in there, and marry Princess… Gabrielle… Gabreilla or whatever her name is. That will be done. We can learn to like each other later."
Francis opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by the organ striking up a dramatic tune.
"That's our cue to go in, son."
"Thanks, Father." They walked in together. Henry was quiet, and he kept his head down. He reached the front and stood there, waiting for the princess to enter.
The first clue he had to her arrival was a loud sniff from the audience. Henry glanced around. The princess was walking slowly towards him. He could see tears streaming from beneath her veil. There was a man in the congregation who looked just as miserable as the princess. Henry smiled. He could guess what was happening.
The princess reached the front. Now she was openly crying. Loud sobs emitted from beneath the veil. Henry felt his heart break for her. He understood the pain she was going through. The man in the congregation was weeping loudly as well. Henry looked around him, and for the first time, he understood what he was doing.
Henry started to laugh at the sheer ridiculousness of the situation. He turned to the princess and lifted the veil from her face. There was a collective ripple of surprise through the congregation.
The princess let out a string of words that mean so little, yet so much to Henry. He lifted a finger to her lips.
"I understand." He said gently, his eyes so full of meaning. She smiled at him, and then fled to the arms of her beloved. The two sets of royal parents were stunned.
Marie and Francis recovered first. They too started laughing.
Henry smiled, but his heart wasn't into it. He could only hear and see one thing; one person/
Danielle.
Some day when spring is hereWe'll find our love anew
And the birds will sing
And wedding bells ring
Some day when my dreams come true.
He would find her. Whatever it took, he would find her.
Danielle sat up in the bed.
"Are you feeling better now?" Cecile asked her gently.
"Yes." She replied, unsmilingly.
"What can you remember?" Cecile decided to probe further. Danielle squeezed her eyes shut.
"Do you really want to know?"
"Only if you want to tell me." Danielle drew in a deep shuddering breath, and seemed to draw strength from it.
"My stepmother sold me to Le Pieu… I was beaten and whipped… and –" She broke off. She could go on no longer.
Cecile hugged her.
"That's alright… you don't have to tell me…"
She had started… that was progress for the day.
Henry jumped off his horse.
"Jacqueline! Where is your sister?"
"Marguerite?"
"No, Danielle!"
Jacqueline exchanged a tortured glance with Captain Laurent.
"What's the matter? Tell me!"
Slowly, and haltingly, as though every word was being forced out of her, Jacqueline spoke.
"She was sold to Monsieur Le Pieu…"
Henry jumped on his horse.
"I will go rescue her."
"No! You highness, you don't understand! That is not all!"
It was too late, Henry had already left.
"I have to see Monsieur Le Pieu." Henry demanded the moment the servant opened the door.
"Your highness!" The servant sank into a ridiculously low bow. "I will send him down…"
Henry tapped his foot impatiently.
Finally, a man walked down the stairs.
He was old, grey and oily-looking. His face was twisted into a self-satisfied leer of subservience.
"How may I help you, your honourable highness?" Henry was reminded instantly and irresistibly of a snake in the grass, down to the warning hiss.
"You have a servant in this household." Henry replied abruptly.
"I have many, your highness." This time, Henry felt that he was toying with him, the way a cat does before it eats a mouse.
"Nicole… Danielle."
"Oh, you mean the slave girl!" Le Pieu's face took on a mockingly sombre expression. "I'm so sorry, sire. She died."
"What!" A wave of numbness swept across Henry.
"She jumped off a waterfall." Le Pieu smiled. "Terribly tragic." He didn't look like he thought it was tragic at all. In fact he looked as if it were downright amusing.
Henry backed away.
"Thank you for your time…" He managed to whisper, before turning and breaking into a run. The last thing he heard as he left the grounds was Le Pieu's laughter ringing in his ears.
Mocking him.
A/N: I'm SORRY! I'm reverting back to short chapters again, aren't I... I'll make the next one longer. PROMISE!
