Title: Forever Yours
Author: rooster dawn
Pairing: see below
Alternative Universe
Disclaimer: JAG is property of Belisarius productions, no copyright infringement intended. Ever After is the property of Twentieth Century Productions, no copyright infringement intended.
Summary: This story is loosely based on the movie "Ever After"
Good feedback is good for one's soul and everyone's happiness.
Author's note: In the movie the time period covers five days between the time Prince Henry meets Danielle and the Masque Ball. I have tried to stretch out the story to almost two weeks to give them more time to get to know each other better. Besides I think it would be hard for two people from different stations of life to see each other every day and fall in love.
part 9 Another Sunny Day
1200 hours, day 8
in a grassy meadow
The next day Sarah had completed her chores for the day. She decided to go back to the meadow where Michael painted his landscape. She wanted to relax and have fun flying the kite that hadn't found its way back to Leonardo yet.
It was usually pretty windy there, good for flying kites. She wanted to be alone so she could think about Henry, her prince, the man she was falling in love with. Louise was right, he was pretty charming once she got to know him.
She had been flying the kite for about an hour when she noticed a rider approaching her from the same direction Henry had approached from the other day. It wasn't long before she recognized the rider as Henry.
She smiled. It had been more than twenty four hours since she had last seen him. She missed him more than she thought was possible. She was beginning to think about the day it would all end.
"Nicole." greeted Henry.
"Henry, what are you doing here?" replied Sarah returning his greeting.
"I was out for a ride and I was hoping I would see you." he informed her.
"It seems that you've found me." she smiled.
"Was the Baroness upset that I didn't get you home until the next morning?" asked Henry hoping that the Baroness didn't chastise Sarah.
"To say the least. She said she was worried, but I'm not sure I believe her. She said there's no telling what scoundrel I could have run into." she replied sullenly. "She wasn't exactly happy that I was with a man."
"She's right Nicole, we did run into the gypsies. Things weren't going very well there for awhile. It was a good thing you out smarted their leader. Do you want me to go and talk with her? Do you want me to tell her that you were with me?" he asked her showing concern.
"No, all that would do is make her upset. You know she wants you to marry Jordan. I don't want you to have to deal with either one of them Henry if you don't have to." rationalized Sarah.
"I've bought some food and wine in my saddlebags. We can have a picnic." offered Henry.
"As long as I'm not late getting back. I don't want to cross the Baroness again. She's been very kind to let me stay with her." replied Sarah.
They spent the next several hours eating and talking while flying the kite. Henry was surprised at the enjoyment of doing something so simple as flying a kite. But was the enjoyment from flying the kite or did the enjoyment cone from doing it with her?
They were becoming closer and enjoying each other's company more and more. They both were so happy. They didn't want the day to end, but they knew it had to.
"Nicole, do you know the ruins at Amboise?" he asked.
"Yes." she replied.
"I often go there to be alone. Will you meet me there tomorrow?" he asked hopefully.
"I shall try." she replied.
"I'll wait all day then." he informed her.
Later that night Sarah and Henrietta were up in her room. Henrietta was unhappy with all the attention that Jordan was getting from her mother, but she also wanted to be away from her mother.
Renee was in a foul mood again because the prince had ridden off early in the day and no one knew where he had gone. Rumors were circulating around town amongst the courtiers that the prince was rendezvousing with the Comtesse in some out of the way hideaway.
She had made quite the impression the other day when they all saw her dressing down the prince. He had followed her like a little puppy dog afterwards. Since no one knew who she was or where she was staying, it made sense he was visiting her at some unknown location.
"Can I tell you a secret Henrietta?" asked Sarah.
"Me? I thought you only shared secrets with Michael." replied Henrietta a little confused.
"This is the kind of secret you don't share with a man, only with another woman. I know he's kind of a queer sort, but he's not someone I want to share this secret with. He would only make fun of me. Besides I think he already suspects it anyway." sighed Sarah.
"I would be honored Sarah. I can't remember the last time we shared a secret together." chirped Henrietta.
"You can't tell Jordan or your mother. They would only get upset." demanded Sarah.
"I won't Sarah, I promise." swore Henrietta. It had been a long time since anyone took her into their confidence.
"I met a guy last week. I've seen him four times since then." smiled Sarah.
"Wow! That's wonderful Sarah. Do you love him?" asked Henrietta.
"Not at first. I thought he was pretty arrogant and condescending, you know, sort of like Jordan. But I found out he's read Thomas Moore." sighed Sarah.
"He's the one who wrote Utopia, right? Have you talked to him about the book?" reasoned Henrietta.
"Yes, Utopia, but he found it sentimental and boorish. He makes fun of me because I like it." smiled Sarah.
"And you still like him?" laughed Henrietta.
"Well ... I talked with Louise, she told me that when a man likes you, he will either do something with you or talk to you about something that interests you. He doesn't spend time making himself look important or be the center of conversation." explained Sarah.
"So he likes you Sarah." smiled Henrietta.
"We kissed the other night, more than a few times. He told me he loved me." offered Sarah.
"Do you love him Sarah? Did you tell him that you love him too?" asked Henrietta.
"I think I'm falling in love with him, but I don't really know what love is." Sarah replied.
"That's wonderful Sarah. Who is he Sarah? Do I know him?" asked Henrietta.
"I don't know if you know him, but I'm sure you know of him." smiled Sarah.
"Who is he Sarah? Please tell me." pleaded Henrietta.
"I don't know. I don't want to get you in trouble Henrietta." replied Sarah.
"Please Sarah, I won't tell anyone." Henrietta continued to plead.
"His name is Henry." answered Sarah.
"Like as in the prince?" replied a shocked Henrietta.
"Yes, and I don't know what to do Henrietta. I'm only a servant girl and he's royalty." wailed Sarah.
"Does he know?" asked Henrietta.
"No." answered Sarah looking for some reassurance.
"How did you meet him Sarah?" asked Henrietta.
"You know how I met him Henrietta. He was stealing one of our horses." sighed Sarah. Henrietta could be so forgetful at times.
"Then he should know that you are a servant Sarah." reasoned Henrietta.
"Please, get real Henrietta, servants are beneath his notice. It wasn't until later in the day when I went to free Uncle Tom that the prince become aware of who I was." Sarah explained.
"I don't understand Sarah." replied Henrietta. She was quite confused now.
"Think about it Henrietta. Everyone was talking about it." ordered Sarah.
"You are the courtier that everyone has been talking about? You're the one who had the prince falling all over himself for?" deduced Henrietta.
"I wouldn't go quite that far Henrietta. I was just a girl in a pretty dress that he didn't know. He had to know who I was. So he chased after me until I gave him a name." explained Sarah.
"And now he's in love with you. And you're in love with him. You should tell him Sarah, you should tell him who you really are before he finds out from someone else." commanded Henrietta.
"How? How do you tell the man you love that you aren't who you say you are?" asked Sarah not expecting a real answer.
"He has the right to know Sarah. And if he really loves you like you says he does, it won't matter." reasoned Henrietta.
"That would be nice if that was how the world really work, but we know better, don't we. Remember Henrietta, you promised you wouldn't tell them." pleaded Sarah.
"You have my word Sarah. The way they've been treating me lately. I wouldn't tell them if the house was on fire." chuckled Henrietta.
1300 hours, day 9
The Summer Castle
It had been a few days since Anna had extended the invitation to Jordan and the baroness. Renee had been busy plotting and devising a plan that would assist Jordan in her efforts to marry the prince.
It wasn't going to be easy. It seemed that the prince went riding every morning and missed many of the opportunities that would have availed Jordan time with the prince. If the prince was really looking for a bride, someone must have his attention.
But who could it be? One possibility was, it was the courtier whom the prince had fallen all over himself last week, but no one knew who she was or had seen her since. She was young and very beautiful. Were there multiple young courtiers?
"Thank you your highness for inviting us to visit with you." greeted Renee.
"There's no need to thank me baroness, I appreciate your daughter's honesty in returning my keepsake very much. It's not common these days that young people do the right thing." replied the queen.
"Thank you your highness." Jordan replied. "I haven't seen the prince around, has he been well?"
"No my dear, it's more like he doesn't like to be caged up. He's very restless. He doesn't really know what he wants to do with his life. He likes to spend his days riding in the country." smiled the queen.
"I'm sorry he couldn't join us today. It seems he has disappeared again." she sighed
"In fact just the other day he left very early in the morning and didn't return until dawn the next day. I don't know how he does it." the queen continued.
"Ah to be young and virile. To have so much stamina must be wonderful." replied Renee. A creepy thought came to mind. The prince was out all night, the same night that Sarah had been out.
"I was hoping to see the prince again. We had such a good time last week after he played tennis." smiled Jordan.
"Don't we all." smiled the queen.
"Oh, by the way baroness, perhaps you can help me solve a mystery. You wouldn't happen to know a Comtesse de Lancret? I think she's the young courtier that has a hold of Henry's heart. Apparently she's supposed to be staying with a cousin. But no one seems to know with whom." asked the queen.
Inside Renee was beginning to do a slow burn. It didn't take more than a few seconds for her to know whom the queen was talking about. Only one person she knew would use that name, Sarah. When she got through with Sarah, she'll wish she was only visiting.
Her earlier thought had just been confirmed. Sarah had been with the prince and they had spent the night together. It was shameful, very shameful.
"Nicole de Lancret?" she replied a moment later.
"Yes, oh how wonderful. I was beginning to think she was a ghost." the queen laughed.
"No, I'm afraid she's been around for years. Yes ... and ... she's been staying with us, right darling?" Renee smiled as her stomach turned acidic. She so much wanted to scream right now.
Jordan was at a lost. She didn't have a clue who this courtier was. At least the queen had confirmed what she had suspected, that the prince was indeed interested in someone else. But at this moment all she could think to say was "Yes."
"She's your cousin, the one you like to call Cinderella." added Renee as she looked to see if Jordan realized whom they were talking about now.
Jordan got up and took a short walk. She walked about a hundred yards before she screamed a few times as she threw a tantrum before returning. She was quite mad. Why did the prince want Sarah and not her? She was more beautiful than Sarah was. She was of noble blood.
"What's wrong with her baroness?" asked the queen.
"She and Nicole have always been competitive. She hates to lose to Nicole." replied Renee.
"Do you think you can bring her here tomorrow baroness? I would really like to meet her. Henry thinks she's someone special." smiled the queen.
"That she is your highness, but I'm sorry, I would like her to meet you your highness, but unfortunately she's leaving for Belgium later this afternoon. She's getting married in a few days to a Belgium prince." Renee told the queen hoping to put an end to Sarah's happiness.
There was going to be hell to pay when she got a hold of Sarah. She couldn't believe the gall. A servant seeing a prince. It wasn't right. It was unheard of.
"That's a shame. I was so looking forward to meeting her. I know Henry will be heartbroken." replied Anna sadly.