Ever After: Remix Story
Chapter Two: 10 years later
"I signed a marriage treaty with the King of Spain and that boy will obey me, or there will be hell to pay!" King Francis of Spain said.
"But he does not love her my lord" Queen Marie tried to calm her husband's temper.
"It's not about love" Francis said harshly.
"Perhaps it should be" Marie said.
"If he is to become King, he must accept his responsibilities." Francis said fervently.
"A sapling cannot grow in the shadow of a mighty oak, Francis. He needs sunlight" Marie told him.
"He needs a good whipping" Francis retorted.
"Really Francis, can't this wait till morning" Marie said.
"No, If I can't sleep, than neither shall he" Francis barked. The two entered Henry's bed chambers/
"Henry, wake up" Francis barked, But Henry was not in his bed. They looked at the window to see a rope hanging down from it. Marie sat on the bed,.
"Oh no, not again" She whispered/
"Call out the guard! Bring him back!" Francis shouted.
Danielle De Barbarac was picking apples when she heard a noise.
"Come on, you stupid beast!" She looked up to see a stranger handling her father's horse.
"Oh no you don't" She muttered. She ran towards him and hurled an apple at his head. it knocked him ff the horse.
"Thief! This will teach you to steal my father's horse!" She shouted, throwing more apples.
"Mine slipped his shoe. I have no choice." The man said. She still couldn't see his face.
"And our choice is what? To let you?" Danielle asked.
"I was borrowing it" The man replied. Danielle continued to throw apples.
"Get out, or I'll wake the house." She told him. He managed to get up and turned to face her. immedietely she dropped to her knees.
"Forgive me, Your Highness. I did not see you." She said. She prayed that he would not recognize her as the friend he used to play. What would he think if he knew she was a servant. She had merely told Gustav to tell him that she was gone, to avoid the shame of letting him know what she had become.
"Your aim would suggest otherwise" Henry said, going back toward the horse.
"And for that I know I must die." Danielle said softly. She cringed, where had that come from. Must be a servant thing. The prince eyed the young woman, who seemed to be terrified. He smiled gently.
"speak of this to no-one and I shall be lenient" He said, getting on the horse.
"We have other horses your highness. Younger if that is your wish" Danielle told him.
"I wish for nothing more than to be free of my gilded cage" He told her. He dropped some gold shillings on the ground in front of her. "For your silence" Than he rode off.
In the house trouble was brewing.
"I asked for four-minute eggs, not four one-minute eggs. And where in God's name is our bread?!" Marguerite shouted.
"It's just coming out of the oven, my lady." Louise told her taking the eggs off of the table.
"Marguerite, precious, what do I always say about tone?" Rodmilla asked. It was Jacquelin who spoke up.
"A lady of breeding ought never to raise her voice above the gentle hum of a whispering wind." Marguerite glared at her sister.
"Jacqueline, dear. Do not speak unless you can improve the silence." Rodmilla reprimanded.
"I was not shrill, I was resonant." Marguerite said flippantly. "A courtier knows the difference."
"I doubt your style of resonance would be permitted in the Royal Court." Rodmilla said sternly. Marguerite laughed.
"I'm not going to the Royal Court, am I, Mother?" She asked. "No-one is. Except some Spanish pig they have the nerve to call a princess."
"Darling, nothing is final until you're dead. And even then I'm sure God negotiates. Why is there no salt on the table. Danielle!" Rodmilla called. Danielle was just enter ing the kitchen.
"Coming" She called.
"She's in one of her moods!" Paulette said warningly.
"Did the sun rise in the east?" Louise asked.
"Yes, Louise it did" She dropped the shillings on the counter. "And it is going to be a beautiful day" Danielle laughed at thier expressions.
"Look at all those feathers! Child, where did you get this?" Paulette asked.
"From an Angel of mercy, and I know just what to do with them" She said looking at Louise.
"Maurice" The older woman said softly.
"If the Baroness can sell your husband to pay her taxes, than these can certainly bring him home. The court will have to let him go" Danielle said.
"But the King has sold him to Cartier. He's bound for the Americas." Louise told her.
"This is our home, and I will not see it fall apart." Danielle siad. They could hear Rodmilla.
"We are waiting" She called. Danielle pocketed the shilling and went into the dining room with the bread.
"Morning, madame, Marguerite, Jacqueline. I trust you slept well." She said placing the bread on the table.
"What kept you?" Rodmilla asked.
"I fell off the ladder in the orchard, but I am better now." Danielle told her.
"Someone's been reading in the fireplace again. Look at you. Ash and soot everywhere." Marguerite commented.
"Some people read because they cannot think for themselves." Rodmilla announced.
"Why don't you sleep with the pigs, Cinder-Soot, if you insist on smelling like one" Marguerit asked.
"That was harsh, Marguerite" Rodmilla said. "Come here Danielle child" Danielle walked over to her, still hurt from her sterp-sister's remark.
"Your appearance does reflect a certain... crudeness, my dear. What can I do to make you try?" Rodmilla asked.
"I do try, Stepmother. I do wish to please you. Sometimes, I sit on my own, and try to think of what else I could do, how to act..."
"Oh, calm down, child. Relax." Rodmilla said. Danielle sighed and turned to go, than turned back.
"Perhaps if we brought back Maurice, I would not offend you so." Danielle suggested. Rodmilla's tone turned cold.
"It is your manner that offends, Danielle. Throughout these hard times, I have sheltered you and cared for you. Throughout these hard times, I have sheltered you and cared for you. Is that such an extraordinary request?" She asked.
"No my lady" Danielle replied.
"Good, now there will be no more talk of servants coming back, is that understood" Rodmilla asked.
"Yes, Milady" Danielle replied exiting the kitchen. Later that day Rodmilla decided to buy a brooch for Marguerite.
"No, too small, need to draw some attention" She said, holding a brooch up.
"I fear, Baroness, anything larger might make her fall over." The salesman said hesitantly.
"Perhaps you are right. I shall have to look elsewhere." The Baroness turned to go.
"I have just the thing" The sales man said quickly.
"Have you lost your marbles? Do you know what the punishment is for servants who dress above their station? Five days in the stocks." Gustav reprimanded as Danielle was behind the curtain putting on a dress.
"Yes, but I am a Courtier made to be a servant. No one will recognize me anyway" Danielle told him.
"What about Henry? What if he rocognizes you?" Gustav asked. "He will come to me"
"I doubt he will, besides, He knew who my father was, He won't guess what's happened to me" Danielle replied.
"They'll never buy it. You are too sweet" Gustav told her.
"They'll never buy a servant with 20 gold francs either. I am Maurice's only hope" She said. "Don't laugh I am coming out" Danielle stepped out from behind the curtain. Gustav gaped at her.
"What, You've seen me in noble clothes before" She said.
"Yes, but you were only eight. You look lovely" Gustav told her. "But we must do something with your hair" Meanwhile, Henry had stopped to help the aged painter Leonardo Da Vinci and got caught by the royal guard.
"Henry, You promised" Captain Laurent said sternly.
"I know, I lied" Henry said grimly, swinging off the horse. "I thought I'd see the world before I gave up my life to God and country."
"Than why on earth did you stop?" Leonardo asked, taking a long package from the prince.
"I suppose I lack conviction. Besides, you claimed it was a matter of life and death." Henry said.
"A woman always is Sire" Leonardo said pulling out a painting.
"She laughs at me, sir, as if she knows something I do not." Henry said staring at the painting.
"The woman had many secrets, I merely painted one of them" Leonardo told him.
"Signor da Vinci has been invited to the palace as the artist in residence." Laurent told Henry. Henry looked at the painter in surprise. Baroness Rodmilla De Ghent was eating lunch when the she heard the sound of horses.
"Mother, it's Prince Henry" Marguerite called from upstairs. Rodmilla hurried outside.
"Oh! Your Highness. What a lovely surprise. To what do we owe this great honour?" She asked. Henry smiled.
"I am returning your horse, Madame" He said. Rodmilla cocked her head a bit.
"Was it missing?" She asked curiously, just as Marguerite and Jacquelin rushed out to greet the prince.
"Yes, I took the liberty of borrowing it this morning. I am afraid I may have frightened one of your servant girls. A young lady, with quite a good arm actually" He said. Rodmilla fumed inside. Whe she found Danielle there would be hell to pay.
"As always Your Highness is welcome to anything he wishes." Rodmilla said graciously. Marguerite and Jacqueling curtsied.
"Your Highness, may I present Marguerite Francoise Louise of the house od Ghent.." She paused. "And Jacquelin" Henry looked at Jacquelin and saw the hurt look on her face to be shunned by her own mother.
"Ladies, forgive me, but you seem to have blossomed overnight." He said sftly, still looking at Jacquelin. Marguerite pushed her sister out of the way and Henry could see a sparkling gold brooch on her dress. He knew she longed for a compliment.
"We're so looking forward to celebrating the engagement to your own Spanish rose." Rodmilla said simpering. Henry rolled his eyes and said nothing for a moment. The house seemed quite familiar, but he couldn't place his finger on it. Marguerite was still standing there waiting for a compliment, but Henry turned to Jacquelin who had not had the liberty to by a new brooch and was obviously wearing one as old as her mother.
"I must say Jacquelin, That brooch looks marvolous on you" He said smiling. Jacquelin looked like she might faint, and Marguerite looked as though she could spit nails.
"Good day, ladies." He bid them.