Author's note: I know I said I would try to have this up last weekend. But between a midterm paper, studying for a midterm exam, working on my Master's Thesis, and trying to get ahead on work for my research job so I could be at the hospital when my grandma had surgery (she's fine, it went well), writing got pushed to the bottom of the priority list.
Thanks to antica, Nausicaa of the Spirits, and LivvyxBaby for the reviews.
"Edward," Narissa asked in shock. Quickly recovering she plastered a happy (or at least as close to happy as she could get) smile on her face trying to bluff her way out of the situation. "Edward!" But by then Edward was not paying attention to his step-mother. His attention was solely on Giselle, lying on the elevator's floor behind Narissa. Following his gaze, Narissa swept her gown away; more fully revealing Giselle's pale and still form. "I was taking her out for a little fresh air," Narissa explained, lying through her teeth. "She seems to have swooned."
Giving Narissa a look of disbelief and anger Edward hurriedly knelt down. He gently lifted Giselle into his arms, cradling her next to his chest. Narissa continued trying to talk her way out of the situation. "Darling, she's fine," she insisted. "Just leave her. Slap her, give her some water." Turning to the crowd who was beginning to utter shocked exclamations as they saw Giselle's pale face Narissa attempted to reassure them. "She just . . ."
"Somebody help me please!" Edward yelled his voice edged with panic. He knew that whatever Narissa had done to Giselle would not easily be reversed. He could only hope that someone here, in this land that had its own magic, knew of some way to help his love.
Down on the dance floor, Nancy and Robert had been watching Edward's dash up the stairs and upon hearing his cry they both began to hurry towards him. They arrived as Edward was laying Giselle on the same chaise she and Edward had sat on just minutes earlier. Upon seeing Giselle Robert began fumbling for his cell phone. Handing it to Nancy he instructed her to call 9-1-1 and hurried to kneel at Giselle's side.
"You're overreacting," Narissa lectured Edward, her tone flat and annoyed. "You needn't get so upset dear, really."
Sparing just a moment's glance for Narissa Robert reached out and stroked Giselle's hair. "Giselle," he whispered. "What happened?" he asked Edward looking up at him with pain filled eyes.
"Oh, she fainted," Narissa interjected. "That's all that,"
"No she didn't," Nathaniel interjected coldly. He stood in front of the elevator, disheveled but glaring daggers at Narissa.
"Nathaniel, back to the car" Narissa commanded through clenched teeth, her eyes widening in surprise and anger.
"I will not," Nathaniel stated his voice full of anger and conviction. Edward rose to confront his step-mother and the man he thought was his friend and loyal vassal. "You poisoned her," Nathaniel continued, pointing accusingly at Narissa. He turned and addressed Edward trying to make him understand, "She's the evil hag sire! She's the one who did this!"
Slowly the pieces started to fall into place in Edward's mind. "You did this?" he asked Narissa accusingly and in disbelief.
"She poisoned her!" Nathaniel exclaimed and then a guilty look came over his face. "With my help, I'm regret to say sire," he admitted
Narissa saw the look on Edward's face as he heard Nathaniel's story and began to deny everything. "He's lying. Why would I ever align myself with that nobody? Why? Just think about,"
"Silence," Edward thundered. "You lying murderous wretch. When we return home, all of Andalasia will know of your treachery. You're days as Queen will be over!" Edward threatened.
"Take my crown?" Narissa asked coldly. "Don't you think you're being a bit melodramatic dear?"
That gave Edward pause, after all when you live in a land filled with trolls, evil witches and where song is a common mode of conversation melodramatic doesn't really apply to any situation. "I don't what melodramatic means," he admitted. "But you will be removed the throne forever Narissa, I will see to it."
Narissa hissed at Edward in anger. But Edward gave her one more look of loathing and then turned his attention back to Giselle. He didn't notice Narissa beginning to recite a spell. But Nathaniel knew better. He grabbed Edward's discarded sword and held it her Narissa's throat. "That's enough from you, you viper," he growled.
"We have to save her," Edward said urgently to Robert. "What do we do?"
"What do we do?" Robert asked looking at Nathaniel.
"There's no way of helping her," Nathaniel admitted sadly for in his own way he had come to care for Giselle. "She's done for."
Edward felt his heart his heart shatter. He gently brushed Giselle's cold cheek with the back of his gloved hand and said in an agonizing whisper, "No."
Frantically Robert began trying to think of fairy tales and cursing the fact that he had kept them from Morgan. They might have held a key. But then he remembered Giselle telling Morgan stories and then a memory surfaced. "True Love's kiss," he said breathlessly.
"What?" Edward asked, hoping entering into his voice and his eyes.
"It's the most powerful thing in the world," Robert said gazing down at Giselle.
"Yes, yes of course!" Edward cried. Edward's voice brought Robert out of his reverie and he began to stand up and move so that Edward could take his spot and kiss Giselle. But when he looked at Edward he found the prince staring at him expectantly.
"What?" Robert asked confusedly.
"Kiss her," Edward prodded.
"But, but, but I'm not her True Love," Robert protested. "You are. There's no way."
"She told me about you," Edward confessed quietly. "She told me how confused you made her feel. How these feelings made her uncertain that life in Andalasia was what she truly wanted. You are the more likely to be Giselle's True Love than I."
Robert gazed down at Giselle. Part of him had wondered recently. Giselle made everything seem possible; she made the world seem bright and full of hope again. Could it truly be that she was his True Love? Part of him didn't even think that there was such a think as True Love. After all, until recently he had been planning on asking Nancy to marry him.
Nancy. With that thought Robert whipped around to look at her. By this time she had already passed the cell phone to another bystander. Now she took a few quick steps and took Robert's hand in both of her own. With a gentle squeeze she released him and said, "Its okay. Go." Amazed at her selflessness Robert leaned over and gave her a chaste kiss. Turning back to Giselle, he knelt down next to her. Placing his right hand underneath her head, he gently lifted it toward him and bent down. Gently he pressed a kiss to Giselle's cold, unresponsive lips. Pulling back he waited expectantly. When nothing he happened he kissed her a second, and then a third time. Still there was no response from Giselle. "It's not me," Robert said half in sadness and half in relief.
For a moment he grieved for Giselle. Then he realized that there was another man who loved her. "Edward!" Robert exclaimed. "It has to be you."
"What?" Edward asked, hope and fear entwining themselves around his heart. Unconsciously he stood up and took a step forward. As the importance of Robert's actions and words dawned on him he hurried towards Robert's place. Robert quickly stood up and moved out of Edward's way. He joined Nancy and with his right arm drew her close to him just as the clock began to strike the hour.
Narissa cackled. "No one can save her now," she gloated. "When the clock finishes striking she'll be dead."
Edward shot one panicked look at her and then leaning close to Giselle he whispered, "Come back to me my love." Placing a kiss on Giselle's lips he tried to send her every happy thought and every ounce of love and happiness that she inspired in him, first through her song in the woods and then when he saw the strong and brave woman she had become after her finding a way to thrive in this strange land. Pulling back from her he gazed anxiously for any sign of life from Giselle as he heard the final chime toll. Seeing none he bent his head in sorrow as a single tear fell to the floor.
Just as all hope died Edward heard a slight gasp come from the chaise. His heart pounding, Edward looked at Giselle and to his delight found her gazing up at him as color rapidly returned to her face.
"It is you," Giselle whispered joyously. "It's is you!"
Laughing Edward swept Giselle into his arms and spun in a circle as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "I've been dreaming of a True Love's Kiss," he sang quietly as he gazed at Giselle in wonder.
"And a prince I know comes with it," Giselle added as she titled her head up for another kiss. After a lingering kiss to the applause of all the bystanders (and the whispered comment that this was so much better than last year's play) Edward gently lowered Giselle's feet to the floor so that she could stand.
Placing one hand on each side of her face he told her, "I love you Giselle."
"And I love you my prince," Giselle answered as a wave of happiness spread through her knowing that it was true. The two of them embraced and stood there until a scream of rage erupted from Narissa and she thrust Nathaniel and the sword away from her. Out of instinct Edward thrust Giselle behind him as he prepared himself to face his step-mother and all of her evil powers.