Down The Rabbit Hole
2. The Way
A/N: Wow thanks for the reviews. favs, alerts and support! I seriously thought no one would no like it! Sorry about the layout of the last chapter. Fan fiction kept deleting the dividers. UGH! Anyways this chapter we learn a bit more about the girls and It's probably a bit Tike heavy. Don't worry more Samcedes goodness is coming. Smut in later chapters. Sorry for any mistakes. I didn't read over like a mad woman today :)
As usual I do not own Glee; just this story! Enjoy yall!
Mercedes spent the next few week reading over Aerallis' history. Over and over again the same story and patterns emerged. People had been documented falling from the sky as far as a thousand years ago. All of them were seemingly ordinary and random people. There was no rhyme or rhythm as to why they fell from the sky.
Mercedes scribbled two names down; these men had fallen through just 3 years prior. She wondered if they held any information on a way back home. She wondered if she would ever see her family again. She was never really close to her mother, father, and older brother but they were still her family. They had always held her up when she needed the support. Her eyes stung with unshed tears as she slammed several history books close.
She turned off a series of lamps before stepping out of Professor Shue's lab. The sounds of her footsteps were easy to hear throughout the empty hall because the whole castle was asleeping. Mercedes was always the last one to bed and the first to rise. Her tough resolve began to break as she reached her chamber doors. She had spent the last few weeks crying herself to sleep; tonight be no different.
"Are you alright?" the Prince asked in a hushed voice.
The deep rumble of a voice made her jump. She turned to find him cautiously approaching her. Once close enough the Prince settled his hands on her shoulders before them sliding down the sides of her smooth arms. Mercedes could only sob turning away from him. He reached around her clicking her door open before pushing her through the open door.
His warm jade eyes scanned her chamber; he had taken the time to personally pick out this room for Mercedes. It was the largest one on this floor and also the closest to his chambers. It was the room that shined the brightest once the sun had risen for the day. Perfect for the lady whose eyes shined the brightest even though the often looked sad to the Prince.
"Please do not cry my lady" the Prince said softly. His hands were still on her arms when he felt her shiver.
"Ugh. I'm a mess right now" Mercedes huffed while wiping her face, "I'm sorry about this Sammy." Shit. She thought as she mentality cussed at herself. Everyone's names were too long for her liking and she was still getting used to all this Medieval Hierarchy business. Mercedes had been calling Prince Samuel "Sammy" in her head since they met. And when Tina was talking to her about Sir Michael, they often referred to him as "ab-ulous" or just Mike.
"Sammy is fine" he said with a quick quirk of his luscious lips.
Mercedes just shook her head. She couldn't figure out if he was being serious or if he was just humoring her because he caught her crying. "And you do not need to apologize. I cannot even fathom the amount of pain you are in being this far away from your family." He said while sliding his hands back up her arms slowly, leaving a trail of warmth making her shiver again. "May I…embrace you?"
Mercedes had barely nodded before she found herself pressed gently against Sam's chest. Her nose buried into the hardness of his chest. It wasn't long before she found herself crying again. Mercedes sobbed for seemed to be for hours. Sobbing away all her problems and fears into Sam's fluffy clean smelling gray shirt. Somewhere between all the sobbing and hysterics Mercedes fell asleep.
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Mercedes struggled to open her eyes. Staying up half the night and morning crying made her eyes unreasonably swollen. She sat up slowly feeling much lighter and better about her and Tina's unlikely situation. She stretched in the warmth of the sun while scanning her room. Her eyes fell on him as if he was a dream, he was fast asleep in a chair adjacent to her bed.
He somehow looked different today. Or maybe it was the fact Mercedes wasn't used to seeing Sammy looking so disheveled. He wasn't wearing the thin metal chain mail armor he usually sported everyday day. He wasn't wearing those dark trousers tucked which into his almost knee high brown boots per usual. Everything he had on was looser, dull, and sexily messy.
"Sammy?" she said softly.
His sleepy eyes fluttered open and Mercedes' heart fluttered with them. She suddenly became self-conscious and scrubbed her hand over her face. She watched his lips quirk into a small lop-sided grin before he cleared his throat.
"Good morning." Sam said while sitting up in the chair. "I did not leave because I wanted to make sure you did not wake up during the night afraid and alone."
"Thank you." Mercedes exhaled deeply before swinging her legs off of the bed. "You're a great friend.. I mean Prince." Mercedes wasn't quite sure how friendships worked here but she wanted to be as respectful to him as possible.
"Friend, my lady" he said laughing. Mercedes tried to shake the blush off of her face. Even his morning breathe and "I just woke up" laugh was sexy.
Sam grinned at her before shooting up out of the chair. His head chocked to the side as he took her in. She looked more beautiful than the sun assaulting his eyes right now. When her eyes finally met his it was now his turn to blush. This is not going to be easy. He thought, needing to get out of her chambers as quickly as he humanly possible.
"I shall see you later today. I have some meetings to attend today. Fair thee well.. My lady" he said as he gave Mercedes a warm smile and bow before leaving her chambers.
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Clop, Clop. Tina could hear the sound of Mike's horse somewhere behind her. If this was his idea of being sneaky, he was seriously failing.
"Mike!" she yelled.
He didn't waste another second because he took no time speeding right over to her.
"La..d-dy Tina" he said while stumbled over his words.
Tina shook her head; it was way too hot for him to be stumbling over his words right now. Rolling her eyes she cut right to the point. "So, why are you following me?" She asked simply.
"Well…I..uh" Mike said while blinking those dark beautiful lashes over his eyes. Tina sighed and then glanced up at him.
"Well if you are going to follow me, you can at least give a girl a ride" she said. Tina wasn't used to wearing dresses like this all the time. She didn't even know where she was walking to either.
"You need not ask, just command my lady" Sir Mike said with a grin. Tina nodded. Oh yous nasty. She thought while taking his outstretched hand. She nodded again while thinking the unholiest thoughts about Mike's body. She and Mercedes would sometimes watch the knights training and sometimes they did it shirtless. So the girls often got to see Mike's painted to perfection body.
"Where to?" Mike asked once Tina was settled on his horse. She snuggled closer to him. The wind from riding cooled her down and the warmth of his armor was lulling her into sleep.
"Anywhere.….I just wanted to look around. So anywhere is fine" She said yawning as they set off.
Tina jolted awake as she slide to the side a bit. Her arms frantically tightened around Mike's waist. She had forgotten she was on a horse. Mike's hands held both her arms pressed against him and with his free hand he held the reigns to his horse. He let of her arms once he felt Tina began to stir behind him.
"I noticed you were asleep, so I rode around and let you rest for a while" His handsome face smiled a smile Tina wouldn't see.
Tina stifled a laugh. Mike was just too sweet and innocent. She didn't know men like this existed; all the men she knew were always after one thing, it definitely not being her sense of humor.
"Did I say something wrong? Please inform me so I may not make the same mistake. I would never want you to be cross with me." He said gently.
"Oh, I'm definitely not cross at you. We just don't talk the way you guys do here. It was a little funny. Your good Mike, no worries" She said.
Mike nodded while tucking his hair behind his ears. He grinned when he suddenly caught the sobriquet Lady Tina had just given him. "Mike" He had never heard his name shortened like that before. He liked the way it sounded.
"I like Mike" he said suddenly aloud. Tina laughed. "Well, how about I call you Mike and you call me just Tina? I'm pretty sure I have to have some royal blood to be considered a lady" she quickly added.
"Music to my ears" he said laughing a bit as they took off back towards the castle.
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Tina stumbled into Mercedes' room. Her face was still flushed red from the sun.
"Girl, are you okay?" Mercedes said while watching Tina slump onto her bed.
"Barely, 'cause these dresses are freakin' hot" Tina motioned down her body which was clad in a red and gold dress. Mercedes thought it looked very pretty against Tina's tanned olive skin.
Mercedes got up from the bed and began pouring her friend a cup of water. Once Mercedes finished water pouring into an iron cup she made her way back to her bed.
"Where did you go today?" she asked Tina as she sat back down on the bed.
Tina took the cup from Mercedes and guzzled it down. Tina gave Mercedes an appreciative smile before she began to speak.
"I went for walk around outside the castle. You know we've been here like 3 weeks now and haven't really left the castle, right?" Tina said as she narrowed her eyes at Mercedes.
Mercedes just rolled her eyes. "What is up with you all these treks? You know that is what got us lost last time."
"I know right? Me and my adventurous ass" Tina cajoled "but anyways, I was walking around and caught Mike following me. That dude about let me die for a mile. He thought he was slick on that loud ass horse of his."
Mercedes tossed her head back and cackled loudly. Her long natural curls fell down her shoulders as she tried to stop laughing. "He just likes you; you both were eye sexin' each other down the first day we met them. Sound the alarm-New boy toy alert!"
"Don't get me wrong, the boy is fine, but I'm not interested in something serious right now" Tina said as she rolled around playfully on Mercedes' bed.
"Mmhmm, you say that now" Mercedes said giving the girl a knowing smile.
Tina laughed but stopped. She slides her hand over Mercedes' tiny hand. "How are you holding up?
"I'm devastated. It's weird I was the calm one when we got here and now I'm the crazy one" Mercedes says while looking down at the book she had open on her bed.
"Hey! I resent that!"
Both of the girls laughed. Tina had always been the comedic relief to Mercedes' dramatic side. Ying and Yang was a nickname gave themselves sometime in high school, described their friendship perfectly.
"My life there wasn't all that great. I'm not sad because I feel like I haven't lost much. My parents have never stood behind me. They just want me to marry some Chinese guy…shut up and be a good housewife ya know. "Tina stated while squeezing her friend's hand again.
Mercedes knew all too well about Tina's parents. Mr. and Mrs. Cohen-Chang pushed all 3 of their children into professions that deemed honorable by Chinese standards. Tina's parents had sacrificed a lot to give their children a good life; they even took up another surname to make their children's lives bit easier after emigrating from China. Tina was grateful but steadfast in living her life the way she wanted. That was something Mercedes had always admired about her best friend, the girl said and did what she wanted.
"I understand you though; your family has always been amazing. You get to do what you want and they support you. So I get it Mercy. It's okay I got you girl!"
Mercedes smiled. This is why Tina was her best friend; the girl always knew what to say to make everything seem better.
Tina smiled at Mercedes while getting herself up from the bed. "Come on girl; let's get you out of this castle. There's a whole world going on around us."
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It had taken the girls at least 30 minutes to walk to the nearest town. Tina huffed once they passed a couple of buildings. The town wasn't as "Renaissancy" as the pair imagined but it still wasn't no New York City.
"This dress is killing me!" Tina said once they took a couple of more steps. Mercedes laughed then said "I guess we should take the guys up on their offer to teach us how to ride horses." Tina just shook her head trailing behind Mercedes.
The girls wandered around the bustling town while taking in the sights and smells. The townsfolk looked happy and very busy. Women with long gowns and tied back hair shopped the market stalls while men wheeled carts stacked high of random goods around. Tina and Mercedes could hear the festive sounds of music and cheers as they neared the center of town.
"Tina, stop jabbing me!" Mercedes said annoyed. She was making her way to where the music seemed to be originating from as Tina began to jab her again.
"Look!"
Mercedes' eyes followed Tina's gaze. "Mercy" she thought as her eyes raked over two sweaty glistening bodies. One of the boys had shaggy blond hair while the other had his hair cut low. The boy with the crew cut had tanned skin. Both of them had matching 6 packs.
"This is like a live Abercrombie and Finch commercial" Mercedes said as she slapped her jaw to make sure it was closed. The blond stopped to wipe his brow before noting the gawking girls. A dangerously handsome and familiar smile spread across his face. Mercedes slapped around her jaw again. "Yep …still closed."
With a little head nod from the man, Tina began dragging Mercedes closer to the pair of sweaty men. Both men put down mallets and stepped out from behind their anvils once the friends were close enough. Mercedes and Tina noticed how low their dark cotton trousers sat on their hips. The girls' lecherous thoughts were interrupted by the blond's voice.
"Hello my ladies, may we be if service to you?" His blue eyes met their brown ones as he dipped into a bow. His bow made Mercedes wish the clothes they had on were normal practical gowns like the women around town because she was tired of people treating her like a royalty.
"Hi" Tina says with a grin.
"Ah, yall must be the latest victims of that damn hole. " The olive skinned guy says with a smile. "I'm Noah Puckerman by the way. Born and raised in Texas but now I'm trapped in this world."
Mercedes laughed. "Yeah, I was just coming to visit you. I read about you guys in Professor Shue's book. Do you know where Finn Hudson is at?"
"Oh Finn? He's probably at the pub, his girlfriend works there from time to time when she's not working in the castle. He and I share this house. We're blacksmiths by day and party animals by night." Noah said as he wiggled his dark brows over his hazel eyes for effect.
Both girls shook their heads. "Well I'm Mercedes Jones" Mercedes said with a smile.
"I'm Tina Cohen-Chang" Tina added.
"Well it's nice to meet yall. This here is Prince Steven Evans but I call him Stevie and I love putting his ass to work every day for me" he said, laughing, as he thumbed in the tall blond's direction.
"Prince? Why are you here? Sam has never said anything about you…" Mercedes asks, her eyes meeting once again with the Prince's.
Stevie smiled again. Mercedes could see why his face looked so familiar. Dazzling good looks and juicy plump lips must run in the Evans bloodline parently. Damn did all the men who lived here look like models?
"I like working with my hands so I live out here with my friends Noah and Finn. There's something about living off the land and working for everything you own… it's why I stay out here. But I do stop by the castle from time to time. Perhaps I start dropping by more often." The Prince said as he swept his hair out of his eyes.
Stevie took both ladies hand and brushed feather light kisses on the back of their hands. His lips lingered almost a moment too long before pulling back. Tina and Mercedes swooned.
"Yall should come down to the pub sometime; sing a little or get a little drunk" the handsome Texan drawled.
"Sounds like a plan, I'm down with it. We should bring Mike and Sam there. See yall around" Tina said smiling at the guys. Mercedes nodded as the girls turned to leave.
"So this is where all the fine single and straight men have been hiding all my life." Tina said while nudging her bestie with her shoulder. Tina had always been man crazy and this place was even overwhelming Mercedes "man senses".
"You need Jesus, Joseph, and Mary" Mercedes joked at Tina. Tina laughed nudging Mercedes again as they headed towards the pub.
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"You seem distracted today sire, is there anything on your mind?" Mike said while setting down more papers in front of Prince Samuel. The two men had grown up together. After Mike's parents passed away 5 years ago the two became even closer.
"I am fine…. I just did not sleep very well last night to be honest." He said sighing as his thoughts returned back to last night. The smell and feel of her lingered on his mind well into the day now letting Sam know he was besotted by the mocha skinned beauty.
He sighed once again before turning his attention back to the royal Knight's daily report. This kingdom had to be the most peaceful one this side of Rhybanril. There never usually anything to report, no one stole and one needed to be punished.
"Tell Satana that I cannot read her handwriting" The Prince said after shuffling more papers around.
Mike chuckled but stopped once he thought about confronting head Knight Satana Lopez. The fiery dark hair and eyed Latina had made her home in Laeniel a little of 10 years ago. She had proven herself in combat and her loyalty to King Theron earned her position as head Knight of King Theron's Royal Knight army. Her motto rang in his head: "You can take the girl out of Brooklyn but you can't take Brooklyn out of the girl". She would often boom that out at new recruits while whipping her neck and sleek ponytail around. Mike didn't even know what a Brooklyn was but if it was anything like Satana he was afraid. He shook away thoughts of the girl as the Prince asked him a question.
"Have you seen Lady Mercedes and Tina today?"
"Aye, my lord…. I believe they went into town today." Mike said.
"Alone?" The Prince said as he slapped the reports down on the table. Mike gave him uneasy look.
"Yes, alone sire. I would have offered to escort the ladies into town myself but we were busy with our preparations to trade with Atembel." Mike stated while standing up.
The Prince sighed as he pushed himself up out of the chair. He belted on his sword and gave Mike a nod. Sam thought he was being unreasonable with their safety but it wasn't a risk he was willing to take. He never wanted to see Mercedes cry like that again, so he promised nothing would ever harm her. He couldn't help her get home but he would try his hardest to keep her happy and safe.
tbc