Chapter Four
Author's Notes: Ha, told you guys I wasn't abandoning it! It sucks having to get everything back up and going again, but I love this story. Thanks to all those who came back and read it, and to seeker71 for my the first review since! Utena is beginning to realize that things are even less like she remembered, but perhaps that is not a bad thing after all.
"'Tis morning, Your Ladyship," the servant said, thrusting open the curtains. Light flooded the room. Utena groaned and recoiled, drawing the pillow over her face.
"Lady Gretel will be entertaining you this morning while Lady Agathe and Lord Hansel meet with their attendants," she said, ushering in servants with heavy buckets of water. They lumbered over to the brass tub, the water rocking inside the vessels. A look of relief blossomed on their faces once they finally spilled their buckets into the tub, sending it rolling across the metal.
"That doesn't exactly motivate me," Utena said groggily. She struggled to lift herself up, the sheets falling away from her limbs.
"Well, what is..." the servant blurted, "You're already dressed!"
Utena looked up at the servant covered from head to toe in plain white cloth. "Well, I don't really have any clothes except this."
The servant stared at her quizzically for a moment. "Well, I suppose it makes sense. You've been sleepin' for an awful long time, after all. I'll tell Lady Gretel after you've had a good bath. I'm sure they'd want to see to that."
Utena shakily rose from the bed and walked towards the bath. Before she made it half way there, the chambermaids immediately began peeling off her clothes. "Hey, hey, what are you doing!"
"Undressing you, Your Ladyship," said a servant, confused that the question even had to be asked.
"Why does everyone in this world want to undress me?" she muttered to herself before reluctantly lifting up her arms to let them do their job. She supposed she had to get used to it. Although, once they were done, Utena felt surprisingly unashamed to stand naked in a room full of servants. Perhaps it was having to undress for the witch yesterday, or perhaps it was another odd twinge of familiarity creeping in.
Utena eagerly leapt into the tub. She exhaled deeply, grateful to finally have a warm bath. It helped wake her, lightened the load on her eyelids. A chambermaid handed her a bar of soap, which leapt from her grasp and plopped with a splash into the tub. Utena followed it underwater with her hands until she finally held it again and began scrubbing herself vigorously.
Once she was finally done, the water was a murky gray from sixteen years of grime and sweat. Utena had never felt so refreshed in her entire life. She rose from the tub, sending a huge wave rocking across the bath. Water rolled over her, quickly dripping away. A chambermaid dried her with a wool towel and she was redressed in the same clothes. Now that she was clean, the old garments felt stiff and greasy.
Gretel soon entered with a man, the keeper of the wardrobe. She was already dressed just as finely as she had been yesterday. "It is my pleasure, Your Highness, to provide you with whatever you may need. I will be sure to make you the best-dressed lady in any kingdom!" Gretel said passionately. Utena grimaced.
The keeper of the wardrobe placed a stool in the center of the room and unfurled a roll of measuring tape. "Please stand here, Your Ladyship," the man said, gesturing to Utena. She obeyed.
"Now, we shall need a gorgeous ballgown," Gretel began, watching the attendant take her measurements. "We shall have a grand ball a week from now, to celebrate both your presence and all of our awakenings. Forgive me, Your Highness, that such could not be planned earlier."
"I don't know if I want to wear a ballgown, to be honest," Utena said, hoping to escape being used as Gretel's dress-up doll. "Can't I just wear something like this? With leggings and stuff?"
Gretel's mouth dropped open. It stayed like that for at least a minute, until Utena thought that she was beginning to look like a fish. Gretel suddenly found herself once again, her eyes darting back and forth as she finally lifted a hand to cover her gaping mouth. "I...er...well..." she stammered, dumbfounded.
"I guess that's a 'No.'"
"Nay, nay, Your Highness, it is whatever you wish! Though, I suppose if that is what you desire, we should just let you wear Hansel's old clothes," she said pointedly, disgust beginning to seep into her expression.
"We gave those away long ago, Your Ladyship," said the keeper of the wardrobe.
Gretel huffed and rolled her eyes. "Well, then just make her what she wants. Tell me, Your Highness, do you intend to lead or follow when dancing at the ball?"
"I...what? Oh, I don't know. Maybe both," Utena said innocently, failing to see Gretel's verbal barb. "I mean, if it's so important, you can make me one or two dresses just in case."
"If that is what you wish," said Gretel blankly.
"To be honest, Your Ladyship, it will be difficult to finish this many clothes along with your wedding dress," said the keeper of the wardrobe, "I am not accustomed to such a large request."
"Wedding dress?" Utena asked.
"Oh, yes! I do not intend to brag," Gretel beamed, her expression betraying her words, "But I am betrothed to Prince Alaric. Soon we will be able to entertain each other as princesses, on equal footing. Would that not be marvelous?"
"Great," Utena said, thankful that it seemed no one in this world properly understood sarcasm.
"It was lucky that I woke up when I did. If I would have slept for too long, why, my chance could have been stolen away from me! Oh, to think of it!"
"I'm surprised you're willing to leave your brother behind," Utena said frankly. She lifted her arm up higher for the man and his measuring tape, almost seeming to know the order with which he would go. Her own mind frightened her here.
"Why?" Gretel asked, cocking an eyebrow. "It is every lady's dream to be given such an opportunity. Perhaps, being born with such an illustrious title, you cannot quite understand my position."
"No, no, it's not," Utena answered quickly, "I mean, it's not that. It's an opportunity...I guess, and I'm sure he's a very nice man. Still, it doesn't seem like you to want to leave your brother for any reason."
Gretel looked at her strangely, then slowly began to become more flustered. "Does not seem like myself? Have the servants been speaking ill of me again?"
Utena noticed the 'again,' but decided to say nothing. "No, no, it's not that! It's just, I, uh, oh, you wouldn't believe me."
"Please, Your Highness, if you would. I will do my best to trust in you."
"Well...I'm not sure if the witch told you, but I can't remember anything about life here. All I remember is what I saw in my dreams while I slept."
"How queer! I slept like the dead, only remembering blackness. And how unfortunate for you, Your Highness. That at least explains why you are a bit...queer," Gretel said, obviously still struggling to be polite. "But still, how could you have known that?"
Utena stammered for a moment, unsure of herself. "Well, in my dream, you were there. And I knew you in my dream, and you...uh, loved your brother a lot."
"Oh, oh! So you are like a seer!" Gretel began jumping up and down, for once acting like a kid instead of a proper lady. "Tell me, will my marriage be fruitful? Will he be kind? Will I one day become Queen?"
"I, well, I can only tell you what I saw in my dream," Utena said sheepishly, "And you weren't married then. I can only tell you what you were like then."
"Oh," Gretel said, obviously disappointed. "Well...aye, I loved my brother much more when I was younger. I could not bear the thought of parting with him. However, I am a lady now, and have outgrown such childishness. I now know what is truly important." Utena stared at Gretel–the former Nanami Kiryuu–and was absolutely dumbfounded.
"I am done, Your Ladyship," said the keeper of the wardrobe as he took a little bow. Utena stepped down from the stool, allowing the man to take it and quickly leave the room.
"I am sorry for you having to wait for your clothes, Your Highness. You may help yourself to mine in the meantime, if you wish," Gretel said, her tone sugar-sweet.
A servant-girl waited just outside the door, left ajar by the exiting master of the wardrobe. "Excuse me, Your Ladyship," she said shyly, peeking into the room.
""Were you told that I should not be disturbed? I am entertaining a very important guest.
Go and bother my brother," Gretel said dismissively.
"I'm sorry, Your Ladyship, but the steward turned us away. He said that they're discussin' very important business," said the servant, shrinking in her own sheepishness.Gretel exhaled sharply. "What is it?"
"A peasant is outside the gates demanding work. She refuses to leave."
"Well, do we not have guards for a reason?"
"Aye, Your Ladyship."
"Wait!" Utena blurted out, her face full of concern, "Don't you have some sort of job? This is a big place. I'm sure you could use another worker somewhere. The kitchen? Somewhere?"
Gretel's eyes narrowed. "Your Highness is much too kind." She sighed, obviously exasperated. "If that is what you wish, then it shall be done. Wait here, please. You need not bother yourself with little troubles."
"Actually, if you don't mind," Utena said, not trusting the word of Nanami Kiryuu, "I would like to come with you."
She could nearly see Gretel's teeth gritting behind her lips. "Of course! If that is what you wish." Gretel's head whipped around to face the servant, the girl responding with a cower. "Bring her to the kitchen. I will present the new servant to the cook." She turned back towards Utena, trying again to compose her face with a smile. "Shall we go?"
Utena followed Gretel on an unknown course to the first floor, through dank hallways and down dark stairs. Following the Flussegen lady's quick gait soon led them to the kitchen. It was full of thick smoke and spiced scents, the din of clinking silverware and the shouting cook the only sounds to be heard. Countless maids walked back and forth with dishes from the scullery, more stirring the huge pots hanging from the hearths.
"Well, then, where is she? She is trying my patience," Gretel complained. She then craned her white neck to see the servant, hurriedly walking with the peasant-girl in hand. "Ah, cook! Come here for a moment! I have a new scullery maid for you!"
Utena could not help but notice the quick and graceful movements of the peasant-girl. She did not lumber about like most field workers, nor stumble from years of malnourishment. Unusually pale arms slid out from the ragged cloak of donkey hide.
"What's your name?" Utena asked, bending her head to catch a glimpse of the girl's face beneath the cloak.
"Call me Donkeyskin," she said quickly, emotionless. She paused for a moment, realizing the incongruous nature of Utena's girlish voice and masculine clothes. Orange-red frizzy curls spilled from her hood as she peered up to look. Slowly, through their mutual curiosity, they revealed each other.
Utena's eyes widened. The marks of soot and dirt could only barely hide the pale perfection of the woman's features. Her large eyes were narrowed, green and cold. Her lips were slightly thin, as if stretched taut by a lifetime of frowns and forbidding glares. She had the air of confidant indifference befitting a princess...or a model. Utena knew the quick grace of such an accomplished fencer could not be so easily hidden.
"Juri. You're Juri Arisugawa," Utena spoke. She only stood there dumbfounded, staring at the former Student Council member. Donkeyskin's expression turned to surprise, then soured.
"I am a common beggar," she replied curtly, "I assure you of that."
"Well...maybe now, but..." Utena spat out, feeling her confidence somehow melt under the eyes of a commoner. "But you were Juri before..." She wracked her brain for some sort of recollection to the name 'Donkeyskin,' but nothing seemed to form into the shape of a story like Hansel and Gretel.
"What are you going on about?" Gretel asked, exasperated. "She has work to do. You did ask me to give her a job, did you not?" Gretel's eyes and mouth narrowed, like a cat's face tightening before the attack. "Your Highness has a rather disconcerting habit of renaming everyone you meet. Is this some symptom of forgetfulness as well?"
"I, er, well...yeah, it kinda is," Utena said, simply giving up trying to explain it.
"Perhaps breakfast would do you good, Your Highness," Gretel said, straining to regain her composure, "It is often difficult to think on an empty stomach."
A vial of potion broke, dropped to the forest floor. A horse snorted and stamped the ground. The others followed suit before the driver of the chariot silenced them with a pull of the reins. "I swear, I have seen no one," the witch said, her voice shaking.
"Really, you have no reason to be so withdrawn," Akio replied, flashing a charismatic smile, "All I am trying to do is look for my dear sister."
"I am a witch; you think I do not know what happened?" she said, voice quivering, "Do you think I don't know what you have become? What you sister did?"
"We have had a misunderstanding and a few mishaps, of course," he said, placing a hand over his chest plate of black metal, "Of which I will acknowledge were mostly my fault. But reports of it, I must say, have been greatly exaggerated. That is why I am trying to find her, you understand; I feel it is time we had a heart-to-heart and place all this behind us. It would be the best for the kingdoms if we came to an understanding, wouldn't you agree?"
"That was not a 'mishap.' It is the greatest story of witch-lore; you cannot convince one of us of anything else. Please, you do not have to waste words, Dread Lord."
He chuckled. "Very well; I do not have time to waste anyhow." His smile suddenly turned vulpine. "You are aware, I'm sure, that in some worlds there is a legend that God created his universe in seven days," Akio said, waving his hand slightly as if to illustrate it, "And I have broken my own apart in half that time. It is shameful that these times require such destructive methods."
"I was not even aware of your sister's return, much less have I seen her." The witch now had her head slightly bowed, not wanting to look at his face any longer. "As for Utena Visvaldas, you must know the stories as well as I. She probably has not yet gone far from her resting place."
"I hope I will find that you are being truthful," he replied, the morning sun glinting off his armor. "If you see my sister, tell her that I need to speak to her. Immediately. Please do what you can to make that happen." His smile faded as he turned forward to snap the reins, urging his team of horses forward. The witch ran off as the pounding of hooves receded farther and farther into the woods.
"I am glad you are Prince enough to enjoy archery," Hansel said as he took an arrow from the quiver and nocked it in the arrow rest. "With just Gretel and my mother, I do not often have the pleasure of practicing with someone else. The only activities they will join me in are hawking and chess."
Utena smiled awkwardly. Archery with Touga was the best option she had, which was not saying much. Doing anything with Nanami, even eating, just irritated either of them. Lady Agathe seemed to be constantly busy. Even sneaking off to try and talk to Juri was fruitless, the new scullery maid only dismissing her with an icy, "I must concentrate on my work, Your Ladyship."
Touga had suggested they go hawking, but the idea of a craggy bird of prey at the end of Utena's arm alarmed her. He seemed quite shocked at her polite refusal. That was followed by the suggestion of horseback riding through the countryside, an activity which Utena only had bad memories of. She could not imagine how she managed to ride across kingdoms when she lived in this world. Archery was his last suggestion. She had practiced a bit of Kyudo archery at Ohtori and was confidant that the mechanics would be similar enough for her to master. She positioned her legs to the side and reached back to withdraw an arrow from her quiver.
"Even so, Gretel was never one for chess. At times she is too ladylike for her own good," Hansel said, releasing the string and shooting the arrow towards the target. It landed left to the center, making a dull "Thunk!" as it made contact.
"What do you mean by 'for her own good?'" Utena asked suspiciously.
"Why, to have any fun. Gretel just wants to do needlepoint and the like," he said, taking out another arrow.
"And talk about her wedding plans," Utena muttered as she shot the arrow into the very center of the target. Her eyes widened slightly. She never remembered being quite that good.
Hansel heard her remark nonetheless, and could not help but laugh. "Say no more, I understand completely. What luck, to finally find an honest royal." He withdrew his arm, tightening the string. "And a good shot, Your Grace. It is no wonder you became a Prince with that sort of skill."
Utena shrugged her shoulders slightly. She gripped the bow tightly and drew the string taut.
"Aye, I wish you could have seen my sister before the engagement," Hansel said as he shot off another arrow, getting slightly closer to Utena's perfect shot. "With how she dresses now, it is easy to see she cannot wait to become a princess. Before, she was not quite so vain."
Utena nearly choked herself trying to keep in her laughter and accidentally shot her arrow into the far clearing.
Hansel smiled. "I see Your Grace finds that hard to believe."
Utena exhaled sharply. "Honestly? Yes," she said, smiling back at him.
He chuckled. "True, she does enjoy her newfound status. However, peasants have no choice but austerity. Until our story unfolded, she was just like any other young girl."
"Your family was poor?" Utena said, stopping in mid-reach towards the quiver.
"What, you do not know the story?" Hansel said, surprised. "The witch told us you could not remember anything, but I did not realize you were at such a disadvantage. You have not heard the story of Hansel and Gretel?"
Utena sighed and drew out the arrow. "I've heard it, but the story doesn't seem to work here. Your mother doesn't seem very evil, isn't dead, and the stories never made Hansel and Gretel into noblemen."
"Ah, yes. You know the old tales then. Things have been a bit strange since the Great Disruption," he said as he nocked his arrow. "When our village-witch named us, our mother was very frightened of fate turning her against us. However, it was not to be. Our father...was the one who wanted us turned out into the woods once the plague came." His eyes narrowed. He released the arrow and it soared into the air. "After the story took its course, as it says, we were left with the witch's treasure. With that, we bought many acres of land. What would take merchants many generations to acquire, we had just stumbled upon."
He reached for another arrow as he continued to calmly explain. "As many others have done, our lands and riches bought us the position. We had the luck to find our fortunes much quicker than most other newly-noble families. The Earl that ruled over us had died of the plague, without a son to his name. The arrangement was simply sensible. Our King, Gods bless him, is a kind ruler who is not mired deep in tradition. I served as a squire in the King's court, and my sister was engaged to his son. Soon, I am certain, he will arrange a bride for me as well."
Utena shot an arrow into the ground. Hansel turned to her, an eyebrow cocked. She looked up at him, mouth agape. For a moment, she could speak nothing but wordless eruptions. Finally, she managed, "Has this world made you all crazy!"
"I am not quite sure what you mean, Your Grace," he said, loosening the string again as he stared at her, "Perhaps this is another misunderstanding arising from your memory. It is a shame that you are forced to undergo such terrible–"
"No, no!" Utena insisted, cutting him off as she put her hand on her hip. "I remember perfectly! You, of all people, getting married? Don't make me laugh! Who are you trying to fool? You couldn't even stay with one woman for a week!"
Hansel closed his eyes, brows furrowing slightly. "I am sorry, Your Grace, but now you do me injury. I am proud to serve my Lord in any way, and I am sure he will make an adequate choice."
"That's bullshit, Touga!" she yelled, "That's bullshit, and you know it." Hansel paused and stared, obviously disturbed. There was silence for a moment. Utena stared back icily. "Well, what? You know I'm right, don't you?"
"Who...are you talking to?" he asked.
Utena's eyes widened. She said nothing for a moment, unsure of what to say until she sputtered out, "I...I don't know."
"Is it...do visions overtake you? Have you entered your dreamworld waking? I have heard of seers who speak like this."
"I..." Utena muttered. Perhaps it would be easier for them to understand, to sympathize with her plight if they thought she could see into the future. But no matter how much she rationalized the sensibility of lying, she could not help but try to explain. "I...I've known you before. In my dreams."
Hansel stared at her for a moment, eyes widened. Finally, he stepped closer to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "You have known something which could not be known, so you must speak the truth. Please, Your Grace, try to understand. Gretel and I have both had a rough time adjusting to our new status, and there were certainly times we are not proud of. However, my knighting was not long before my long sleep, and perhaps my oath has driven some sense into me. Perhaps I have taken the image of a courtly lady in the romances to heart, and that is what prevents me. All I know is that I have realized my transgression. "
Utena stared up at him with the confused expression of a child. She searched his face for signs of sincerity, able to find no more than a gleam of something in his eyes. She always hated this about him, the indecipherable nature of his face. Normally, an expression of reform from Touga would be immediately distrusted; but in such a strange world, with everyone she knew already acting so differently, she could be certain of so little. A sign, no matter how small, could mean everything.
He withdrew his hands and straightened his posture. "I hope you understand my position. Whatever the nature of your dream, you must realize that it is a precious gift. Nothing in this world is without reason, and I am sure this knowledge will become quite valuable. "
"You're both so different," she muttered, "How...How could this have happened? I just don't understand..."
"My sister is not one for self-reflection," he said, the fact suddenly making him smile, "So I cannot tell you why she has changed so. As for me, I can tell you little more than what I have said. I suspect both can simply be attributed to growth, leaving our childhood behind." He withdrew further and spread his arms wide, his smile broadening. "But what sort of host am I, letting the conversation become so dreary? This has obviously upset you, and for that, I apologize. Now, let us return to practicing and cheerier conversation. Perhaps you can regale us with tales from your dream another time, when the memory is not quite so fresh."
"It's nothing important," she said wearily. She again took the shooting stance and withdrew an arrow from the quiver.
"Oh, do not be so pessimistic, Your Grace," he said as he drew his arm back and tightened the string.
"Could you please stop that?" she said, a bit curt. Her eyes concentrated on the shot. "All that 'Your Grace' stuff. Titles...bother me."
Hansel drew his arm forward again, still gripping the arrow between his index and middle fingers. He watched her as she fired the arrow. It landed slightly off-target to the right this time. "I am sorry if I have offended you," he said, his tone now slightly miffed. "I only meant to be polite. It seems we cannot understand each other's habits."
"No, no, it's just..." she paused for a moment, unsure of how to explain. "Look, I'm sorry. I just have some quirks from my other life."
"Other life? I did not imagine it was that complex," he said, his tone softening again. Hansel finally drew back the string. Nothing was said until he shot the arrow, landing still to the left of the target. "Although I know you must feel out of sorts here without proper memory, you must remember how important dreams are. Though it may not seem true, your dream may hold a key to the future."
"I'm sorry, but I don't think you understand. It really doesn't tell me anything. The less said about it, the better," she said, bitterness working its way into her tone unwittingly.
Hansel nodded. "Then I will not speak of it again, Your-ah, I mean, Utena."
Utena sighed and dropped her hands, bow and arrow still tightly clutched. She slowly swung her head up to look at him. "You are Hansel of Flussegan, right? No one else?"
His eyebrows rose. "Well, of course."
"Then that is how it will stay. I'll know you only as that," she said, mustering a smile.
Hansel returned her smile with one of his own. "I am glad of it, Utena," he said with a nod. They continued the match in silence, Hansel being the first to nock his bow. They drew their bows taut and shot at the same time, both of their arrows flying straight into the center of the target.