Chapter 4- The Swan at the Ball

Flashback: The Enchanted Forest

The palace of the Queen Mother and Crown Prince of Chamberg loomed at the top of a shallow rise in its kingdom, all lit up for the grand ball with strings of lanterns and floral arrangements set along every walkway to guide the way in. Gilded carriages crowded up the cobblestone drive to the broad double staircases, each one curving downward for guests to climb up into the main hall. Royal couples made their way grandly up the stairs, arm in arm and laughing gaily.

While guests entered the castle, a solitary figure was watching from the shadows at the edge of the forest. It was Snow, and she shifted her dark green cloak to conceal herself better amongst the trees. She studied the exterior of the castle, trying to gauge the ease at which this mission could be completed.

Just then, Snow heard the insistent high-pitched chatter of ladies coming from behind her. She turned to see two women sitting in the backseat of an open carriage. They both had long blonde hair and were wearing beautiful ball gowns. The taller one was leaning over her driver, angrily snapping at the other guests in an effort to get the line of coaches in front of her to move faster.

"We are not spending the entire evening out here you idiots!" she declared. "Move yourselves!" Despite her loud complaints, the long line of carriages was not moving an inch.

With a frustrated growl, the two women pushed open the doors of the carriage and began to march up the driveway to the castle. When they drew closer to the forest edge, Snow stepped silently out of the shadows of the trees.

The shorter one gave a haughty laugh. "And what are you supposed to be?" said the surprised duchess, as she took in Snow's dirt-streaked face and woodland outfit.

Snow did not answer, just stepped right next to the woman to measure herself against the dress. She realized they were almost the same height and smiled slyly.

"What are you doing?" said the outraged duchess. "Guards!"

Snow delivered a couple of quick martial-arts blows to the back of both women's neck; they crumbled to the ground unconscious.

"Well that was…interesting," said Odette as she emerged from the forest as well. She helped Snow haul the two ladies into the trees for better concealment. Snow smiled at her friend then crouched down next to the woman and touched the fabric of the gown she was wearing. That was easier than I thought, she thought smugly. Now all we have to do is wait for our way in.

In addition to the carriages, small private boats were being commanded to carry the guests in couples through another entrance, more romantic and serene. The castle was surrounded by a series of small waterways that eventually led straight to a stone archway hailing the entrance to a grotto just underneath the main portion of the castle. The grotto eventually made its way to a series of steps leading to the main area of the castle and had been decorated with all kinds of flowers and willow branches to create just the right mood. This was merely another extravagant; it was only a short walk through the gardens to get to the entrance of the palace. Despite that, many couples were piling into the gondolas for a romantic ride and magical experience.

But these waterways served another purpose to a wolf that had a special relationship with mermaids…

A furry head broke the surface in the waterways surrounding the castle grounds, just underneath a wooden bridge that served as a cover. A few footsteps resounded right above the wolf's head and Rayne let out a small whine of discomfort at the closeness of the humans.

A small wet hand clamped down on her muzzle. "Shhhhhh!" whispered the woman next to her, placing a finger to her lips. She inclined her head and listened intently; the drifting conversations of the human couples did not cease. They had not been spotted. Waverly, also known as the Golden Mermaid from the fairytale story The Golden Mermaid let out a breath in relief, causing the gills along the side of her neck to flap open. Then she spoke in mer-tongue, "Come on you! We have a job to do."

Rayne nodded her furry head and placed it underwater. She felt the mermaid gently take a hold of her and guide her further downward. As they had done many times before, Rayne settled herself comfortably on the back of her mermaid friend, her paws dangling over the shoulders of the human half and her hind legs wrapped around the fish half. It was easier for the mermaid to swim with a wolf rather than a human on her back as clothing tended to cause too much friction.

The two party crashers swam closer to the gateway that separated the outside walls from the castle interior grounds. Rayne nipped at Wave's ear, signaling that she needed a breath.

Both broke the surface water again, this time next to a great iron sluice gate, the entrance to the grotto for the alternative entrance to the castle and the ball. The gate was being guarded by a soldier with a tall pike in hand and would only open at the signal of the gondola's steersman, clearly a design to make sure no intruders swam into the palace.

Which was precisely what the two were going to do. They saw their chance and submerged again.

As a small gondola approached, the driver of the boat signaled to the castle guards to open the gates and allow the guests in. The gates glided open to welcome them, then shut themselves smoothly behind. The boat was guided gently to the shoreline, where a pair of stone steps led up out of the water and torches let the spiraled staircase going upwards into the castle. As the Prince and Princess of Glawerhaven stepped lightly out of the boat, no one noticed an underwater figure following the boat into the interior of the castle.

Once the guests and their palace guard escort had departed and the boatman had left his craft for a break, the mermaid and the wolf broke the surface of the water next to the boat. Rayne placed her front paws on the stone steps leading out of the water then climbed up with a slight push from Wave. She shook herself as only a wolf could, spraying droplets everywhere.

Waverly bobbed in the dark water next to the stone shelf where Rayne perched. "I will take you back out when the next boat will be here and the gates will open once again." Rayne nodded silently, crouching and dripping wet on the cold palace stones. The waterway only led into the castle and the only way out was to take the same entrance, at least for the two of them.

"Good luck old friend!"

The wolf leaned forward and licked the wet cheeks of the mermaid in a sloppy wolf kiss. Wave giggled quietly at the touch.

The wolf stole her way up the torch-lit stone steps into another section of the palace. Only a few guards were on duty, but none of them even heard her soft paws on the carpeted castle stones. She crept on further into the castle, climbing yet another set of stairs before finding her goal: the side door that led to the rose gardens of the palace.

She reared up on her hind legs and used her forepaws to unlatch the door.

Princess Snow White of the kingdom of King Leopold and Princess Odette of the Kingdom of Schwanense both stepped over the threshold, into the light of the castle.

"Well that went better than I thought," Snow said lightly. She brushed off some dust from her purloined ball gown, a beautiful blue suave dress with a few flowers and birds decorated into it. Given her current situation it was appropriate to have a forest-themed gown.

Odette likewise brushed away at her own gown, the stone passageway they had entered in had been dusty from lack of use. She was wearing a nice white full-length gown with teal trimmings that Snow had managed to "borrow" from the taller duchess from earlier.

Both ladies stepped into the light hallway, their pointed shoes lightly tapping on the stone floors. The wolf gave an approving nod before disappearing into another darkened hallway.

Snow was about to call after her when she thought better. Neither one of them had ball invitations and it was best to look as unassuming as possible; having a wolf tag alongside probably was not the way to do that. Rayne no doubt wanted to explore the castle and would be careful while doing it.

As the two princesses made their way towards the heavily lit area of the palace, inexplicably Odette became more and more nervous. It will be alright, she told herself firmly. Derek knows you are coming, all you have to do is find him then he will do the rest. She shook herself lightly, trying to find some composure, or at least exhibit the illusion of composure, and then stepped firmly into the next room.

The two of them traversed into the Great Hall, with a high ceiling at least 100 feet up and every inch of the walls covered in exquisite tapestries or stained glass windows. A full orchestra was set up in a gilded balcony, providing background music to the dancers on the floor. A glittering chandelier hung with a vast array of candles lit the ballroom floor, which was packed with crowds of people from kingdoms near and far. Tall, handsome men in golden-braided uniforms, elegant ladies in exquisite full-length gowns, and all manner in between.

Odette could not help but notice: most of the guests were women…specifically princesses. Odette flinched and whispered to Snow, "Wow. Derek's mother is really intent on him finding another princess to marry and forget all about me."

Snow smiled. "Don't worry about it! The moment he confesses his love for you they will all disappear out of here."

Odette nodded, trying to be brave for her friend. The two of them worked their way slowly to the next room, just as big and grand as the first, and tried to look as inconspicuous as possible. Their "borrowed" ball gowns did not mark them as anything unusual; the dresses were certainly passable but they were not very outstanding as to excite interest. Both women were by no means vivacious enough to attract attention; although a few faces did glance at Snow's unusually tanned face and how tall Odette was and gave some puzzled expressions.

Snow noticed a few stares and steered Odette towards a long table set with huge arrangements of white roses and punch-bowls. "Do you see him yet?" she whispered as she took a crystal cup.

Odette craned her neck upward. "No," she admitted. "We did not really say when we would meet; I was in a rush to make him leave the lake before we were spotted." She fingered her golden swan necklace nervously.

Snow nodded and sipped some punch to ease her nerves. With her cup tilted upward, her eyes caught sight of something behind Odette. Her eyes widened in surprise and she nearly choked on her drink.

"Damn it, what is she doing here?" Snow gasped out.

Odette turned to see a regal-looking woman in a black shiny dress slither through the front doors. She was surrounded by a slew of black knights; all wearing the same horse-hair style on their gleaming pointed helmets as a symbol of their mistress. With one wave of her hand, the front doors shut themselves behind the intimidating woman on their own accord. Odette was shocked to see such an open display of magic.

The queen mother approached. "Why Regina! So nice to see you again." Her voice was high with nervousness. If she had not invited the other queen to this occasion her head would have vanished to another realm, undoubtedly.

The Evil Queen merely smirked, "And the same to you Uberta." She inclined her head in the briefest semblance of a bow to pass off a polite response. "Such a lovely party you are hosting here." She passed her gaze around the host of assembled royalties with brief acknowledgements and then sauntered on, an expression of absolute boredom on her face.

Odette immediately reacted. "Snow, you have to leave," she whispered.

Snow nodded and the two of them stole as quietly and inconspicuously as possible behind the huge columns outlining the ballroom to the outer hallway, finding an unlatched door which lead to a smaller study that was mercifully empty. As soon as they were both safely inside Odette shut the door behind them and latched it.

That won't stop Regina, Snow thought, she has magic! She paced the room as her mind raced of the possible escape routes. Should she climb out the windows? No, the terrace was too far off the ground, she would need a rope. Should she wander deeper into the castle and hope there was an exit? She might get caught by one of the house guards and thrown into the dungeon. Should she try and make her way back to the side or front entrance? No, that would require going through the Great Hall where Regina and her knights currently occupied. Well that settles it. She could not go out, she could not go further in, she could not go back, the only other place to go was…down?

"The boats!"

Odette turned her head from listening at the door, certain she had misheard. "What?"

Snow looked up at her. "Remember the Golden Mermaid we met earlier? Rayne said that she would catch a ride with her to get in through the waterways; maybe it's possible I can take a boat to get out."

Odette came over. "Yes! That could work." She racked her brains, trying to remember the route to the waterways in the castle she had not been in since her childhood. "You'll need to go down the last hallway, all the way down, until you find the stone steps leading to the grotto."

But then Snow sobered up. "Odette I do not like the idea of leaving you here all alone."

Odette smiled and shook her head lightly. "I'll be alright Snow. No one in this castle wants my death whereas you have a very angry, very powerful evil queen who is after you just inside the Great Hall."

"What if something goes wrong? What if you need help finding Derek?"

Odette took Snow's hands in hers. "It will be fine. I will find Derek and then end this curse once and for all," she gave Snow's hands a light squeeze, "Before you leave I want to thank you. I could never have come this far without your help. You have done so much for me. Thank you Snow White." She pulled the other princess into a serene hug. The two embraced for as long as they dared.

Then Odette pulled away and turned once more to the door. She opened it a crack, then scanned the hallway. Coast was clear. For now.

"Now's your chance Snow. Go!"

Bandit Snow White slipped halfway through the door before turning and grasping Odette's hand, giving it one more reassuring squeeze. "Good luck, Swan Princess!" Then she was gone.

Swan Princess, thought Odette. I rather like that.

After the sound of Snow's footsteps had faded, Odette slowly counted to fifty and then stepped into the hallway herself. Straightening herself she made her way slowly back to the Great Hall, scanning the faces as they came into view to find that one particular face that she was looking for…

Derek! There he was! Standing in the midst of a gaggle of giggling princesses, all swirling and rustling about him as if putting on a fashion show. He was dressed as handsomely as ever, with his long blue velvet cape and golden buckles, but all Odette could focus on was his face. His strong, square jaws and his bright brown eyes. The face of her one true love. It was he that would save her, he that would declare his love for her before the entire assembly and finally end this curse.

She felt her heart sour and take wings. It was time to go to him. Her feet lifted lightly to join the feeling of euphoria and she only need to take one more step to make it into the Hall where he could see her…

And that was when a heavy hand caught her right shoulder, pulling her back.

"I don't think so princess," came an eely voice from behind her back.

Snow made her way down deeper into the castle, turning and scanning each hallway and desperately looking for the way down to the grotto and the boat rides. She passed many laughing ball attendees but paid as little attention to them as they did to her. Finally, she felt she was on track when the torch-lit hallways began to smell slightly damp and angled further downward.

She went down a spiral stone staircase, rounded a corner quietly, and saw the arched waterway up ahead. There was a small wooden boat bobbing in the dark cold waters and, unfortunately, a steersman with a guard standing next to the boat.

Really?! she thought angrily. She had intended to steal one of the boats and take herself out but it looked like that would not be the case after all. I'll have to bluff my way out of this one.

She tilted her chin up, separated her teeth while keeping her lips firmly set, and threw her shoulders back while descending the remaining stairs, looking every bit the polished princess she used to be.

At the sound of her footsteps, both men glanced at her and straightened up. By the looks of their expression, they saw exactly what Snow had hoped they would, a royal guest about to depart.

"Good evening Your Highness," the steersman said as he took of his hat and gave a sweeping bow. "Departing the event so soon?"

"I am afraid so," Snow said in her best princess voice. "Urgent business has called me away."

The guard dressed in the royal crest of Chamberg frowned. "If it is urgent surely Your Highness would prefer to take the walkway instead? It is a much faster route to the carriages."

Snow thought fast. She could not very well say that she could not get to the walkway because the Evil Queen was in the Great Hall. "I know, but I did not get a chance to ride one of these on the way in and I so want to tell my husband what he missed out on when I get home!"

The steersman chuckled at that. "Well that is certainly understandable. In you come, my lady."

He held out a hand but Snow's finger tips barely graced it as she stepped into the boat, so well was her sense of balance and strength. The steersman waited until she was settled and then started to guide the boat slowly to the closed gates. The guard stepped forward to release the lever that would permit the iron sluice to swing open and Snow could escape.

But something caught his eye which made him pause…

"What in the name of the gods is that!"

Snow and the steersman quickly looked over the side of the small gondola. Although the vault was only dimly lit by a few sputtering torches, Snow easily saw a shimmer of golden scales swirling in the dark waters before descending into the depths and disappearing.

The guard stepped away from the lever, clearly not intending to open the gate and let the creature out. The castle waterway had only one way in and one way out. He lowered his spear to the water as he shouted, "There is a water monster in here!"

To Snow's horror the steersman picked up his oars and started smacking the water around the boat, driving his strikes further into the castle walls and the shallower water it held. The thing underwater tried to switched directions and swim to the opposite of the end of the waterway, but the guardsman had grabbed a long pike with a loop of leather cords around it and was now jabbing it into the water, trying to catch the elusive beast. The underwater creature was getting desperate now, splashing and thrashing in the water as the guard and the steersman drove themselves closer and closer to trapping the helpless beast.

"No!" shouted Snow, "Stop it!" She made a grab for the oar of the steersman but it slipped out of her grasp with how wet it was and how much the boat was rocking.

She tried to grab it again when the guardsman on the stone pathway shouted, "I've got it!" Indeed, he had snagged a long, golden tail of some great fish-creature that he was trying to haul out of the water and onto the stone slabs. The capture creature thrashed and fought with everything it had.

The steersmen dropped the oar and leaped onto the shoreline, causing the boat with only Snow in it to rock precariously and shove further away from the shore. By the time she righted herself up again, she was too far away from the stone walkway to make it in a single leap.

With the combined strength of the two men, the creature was hauled out of the water by her tail.

Both men stopped and stared in horror. "What kind of monster is this?" asked the guard as he drew his sword and pointed it at the mermaid.

Waverly lay dripping wet and helpless on the cold stones of the palace catacomb floor, her tail slapped the ground but was still caught in the tight noose that the guard had a good grip on. She stared up into the men's faces, her golden eyes full of anger and her lips pulled back in a hiss. Her human arms tried to shove herself as far away from the men as she possibly could, until her back hit the wall and there she stayed, hissing up at the two men and showing her fangs.

The guard jerked the leather noose and then placed the tip of his sword onto her chest. "We should kill it then report this incident to the prince and queen. There might be other intruders inside the castle that—" a long wooden oar slammed onto the back of his head; his eyes rolled skyward and he collapsed, unconscious before he hit the ground.

The steersman whipped around to the sight of the princess he had just about to give a romantic boat ride standing behind him wielding a heavy boat oar as if it weighted nothing. He was too much in shock to react quickly enough and his hesitation cost him. Snow gave him a smack on the forehead and he soon joined his compatriot on the ground.

As soon as the two were out, Snow dropped her weapon and then looked down at the mermaid. She was still cowering in the corner, eyeing Snow up and down as if she could not believe what she had just seen.

"No, it's okay," she reassured as much as she could. "Remember me from earlier? We met at the lake with Rayne? I'm a friend."

The mermaid straightened herself up but still did not speak.

Snow quickly grabbed the sword the guard had dropped and slashed the leather cord that still held the mermaid captive, unwinding it as quickly as she could. Waverly yanked her tail out of the trap, but not without a hiss of pain. As Snow glanced at her face, the mermaid appeared to be moving her mouth as if to speak but nothing came out.

"Can you talk?"

The mermaid shook her head and then made some gestures that Snow could not comprehend. By the way her hands were making waving motions, was it something to do with swimming? She pointed to Snow, raised her eyebrows as if asking a question, then to herself, and then to the still-closed gate that led outside.

Snow finally understood that she was asking if the princess needed to escape. "Yes! Can you help me?"

The mermaid shook her head firmly then pointed to the winding stone stairs that led upward out of the stone waterway; she then cupped her hands on the sides of her mouth and made an 'o' shape with her lips, as if she was howling.

"Rayne!" Snow comprehended immediately. "You're waiting for Rayne."

The mermaid nodded excitedly and then opened her hands wide to indicate a question.

Snow was about to say she had no idea where the wolf was when a commotion broke out on the winding stone staircase. Snow grabbed for the wooden oar again and the Golden Mermaid straightened herself up as best she could, using her arms on the stone walls and readying herself for a fight.

They needn't have worried; two guards in full-armor regalia tumbled head-over-heels down the stone stair cases, neither one of them conscious, and landed in a heap right on top of the two men Snow had already dispatched. Snow and Wave looked up in confusion to the sight of a wolf trotting down the steps, a self-satisfied smirk on her muzzle. The grin melted once the creature caught sight of the mermaid situated at the bottom of the stairs, and the wolf quickly leaped down the remainder of the stairs. Wave gave a small mute cry of relief and wrapped her arms around the furry neck of the animal as soon as she was close enough, nuzzling into the white fur with affection.

The wolf looked up at Snow and spoke in a human voice. "What happened?" She had the magic of a human voice thanks to her adventures with the Golden Mermaid and could speak when she was in her true wolf form.

"The Evil Queen showed up; I just barely made it out and was trying to use one of the boats to escape." Snow eyed the pile of men. "What happened here?"

The golden eyes of the wolf looked guilty, "I was…hoping to see the ball so I snuck in to take a peek. On my way back those two were talking of a commotion down at the boat rides and sounding an alarm so I dispatched them before they could bother." The mermaid glanced at the wolf with an expression of disbelief, as if she were questioning if the wolf was crazy.

Rayne looked grim as she licked Wave's cheeks again. "She can't swim with both of us Snow! Not if we have to keep surfacing and drawing breath," Rayne spoke. "It is not easy for mermaids to surface and then change directions with their tails—" her golden eyes glanced down at the blood on the stone surface "—especially if they're wounded." Wave nodded, a look of guilt on her face as she glanced at Snow.

The princess was stumped. "So…what do we do now?"

Odette struggled with all her strength, she kicked, she pulled, and even tried to punch her way out of the iron grip of the evil sorcerer's grip but his grip was too strong.

Staring down at her from his massive height, the evil sorcerer Rothboart asked his voice full of disbelief, "I offered you the world and even mercy in the curse and this is how you repay me?" His fingers dug painfully into her skin, turning it red. Odette flinched. Gone was the suave sorcerer always trying to woe her with a voice of velvet. The man standing in front of her was finally revealing himself as the monster he was. "Thought you could get away with it huh? Thought you could be sneaky?"

"Let me go!" Odette shouted. She was so close to Derek, all she had to do was get out of this grip.

"Calm down my princess," he hissed as he twisted her arm around her back. "I would not want you to miss the party."

Odette felt her whole body shudder at those words. Rothbart was up to something. She just knew it. Before she could contemplate this further, the front doors of the Great Hall burst open with a dramatic flair and Odette heard the unmistakable sound of a pair of high heels clicking on the polished palace floors.

As if on cue, the musicians of the Great Hall had stopped playing and the waltzing and parading of princesses had ended. Every face, every eye turned to whomever it was that had come in late to the ball, even Derek. Odette was utterly confused at the look of relief and adoration that had come over his face. Who is he looking at? Her thoughts were frantic to find an explanation for his sudden change in heart. She tried to shout out and reveal herself to him, but Rothbart clamped a heavy gloved hand over her mouth, silencing her as effectively as if he had used a gag.

"Shhhhh!" he whispered menacingly into Odette's ear as she continued to struggle, "Would not want to interrupt two lovers reunited now would we?"

Two what! Odette desperately thought. What is going on…how can Derek be looking at this person like that?

Rothbart shoved them both forward, still out of sight of the majority of the people in the Hall but enough so that Odette could finally see what was going on. The whole castle guests had formed a circle around a waltzing couple, gazing at the two with expressions of adoration and affection. Odette could barely make out who it was between the masses of shoulders and enlarged hoop skirts.

Derek? No…

But it was true; her love was swaying perfectly to the tune of the orchestra's waltz with a beautiful woman in his arms. A woman who was the same height, had the same grey eyes and striking blonde hair, and the same face as Odette!

No, this cannot be…this is more dark magic. How can she look exactly like me?

Rothbart leaned closer to her. "I want you to watch this princess; this is the moment when everything you ever loved will be ripped away from you forever. The last thing you will see before turning into a swan forever."

No, no no! Please no!