AN: As always I don't own Glee, or the movie Ever After – I just like to play around with things.
Seeing the drenched Princess and the King's guard riding towards him, William Schuester looked up from the boxes he was tying to his carriage.
"Oh Thank you!" he cried happily, seeing the tube, the young Latina carried in her arms as they approached, "My set-list!" he exclaimed happily, taking it from the girl, and cradling it close to him like a lost child.
"Santana you promised!" One of the guards, Puck, butted in, catching up with the princess as she dismounted the big black horse.
The guard was around her own age, and as much as was possible for any of her father's men, Santana liked him. "Yes and I broke that promise Puckerman" she bit back, throwing him the reins and heading towards Schuester. "I though I'd see a little of the world before I gave up my life for my Kingdom" she added bitterly.
"Well why on earth did you stop?" Schuester asked good-naturedly.
When the man received no reply from the princess, Puck filled in for her.
"Princess Santana here is suffering from an arranged marriage" he explained, "Amongst other things" he added sarcastically, earning him a glare from the Latina.
"So, this set-list, you claimed was a matter of life and death?" Santana questioned. William just nodded, and pulled a piece of parchment from the tube, holding it up for her to see.
Observing nothing but a list of song titles written there, Santana was about to berate the man for letting her go to such lengths to retrieve it when Puck cut in again.
"This is William Schuester, he has been summoned to the Palace along with his band of performers to entertain His and Her Majesty, as well as provide festivities at the Royal wedding."
Santana barely heard the second part of his sentence. "You're William Schuester, the famous show choir master? A man of forward thinking has come to meet my father, the King of Backward? Perhaps this could work out in my favour; maybe you could bring him into the sixteenth century?" She questioned hopefully.
Half an hour later, the clatter of hoof beats on the long entryway, brought the Marquis, who had just returned from the market, out to the front of Tubbington Manor. Seeing the Princess and a member of the guard riding towards her, she popped her head back inside and hissed at Emma to fetch her children, making sure they were presentable immediately.
"Ahh your Highness" she greeted, her tone sickly sweet, her dirty blonde hair falling around her shoulders, as she curtseyed low.
"Marquis" Santana chorused back politely, "I'm here to return your horse, I borrowed him this morning" she informed her, motioning for Puck who had been leading the animal to tie it to a near-by post.
"Was it missing?" Terry asked, her eyes never leaving the Princess's face, gauging her every reaction, soaking up every detail of the exchange, and storing it away to use to her tactical advantage in her quest to earn her son a place on the throne.
"Yes, one of your servants permitted me to borrow it, she had quite a good arm" Santana added as an afterthought.
"She's mute!" the Marquis jumped in quickly, hoping whatever interaction Brittany had undertaken with the princess was not going to ruin Jesse's chances for the crown.
"Really" the princess raised an eyebrow, unimpressed by the woman's blatant pandering to her, "She seemed fine this morning."
"It comes and goes" the Marquis explained it away, with a wave of her hand, "We were excited to receive our invite to the royal engagement" she added eager to change the subject, "I trust all is well with the Prince of Ohio?" she enquired, trying to keep her tone casual.
"As well as it can be" Santana replied with a sigh.
At that moment Jesse and Lauren came bustling through the doors, skidding to a halt, as they bowed and curtseyed to Santana, "Your Highness" they chorused together.
Smiling broadly the Marquis introduced them, with a wave of her hand. "Your Majesty, this is Jesse, Pierre, Marcus, Saint James" she explained, smiling proudly at her son, "and this is Lauren" she added as an afterthought, smiling a tight-lipped somewhat forced smile at her daughter.
"Pleasure to meet you" Santana said, more out of politeness than actual pleasure. It was hard to miss the way both Jesse and the Marquis were staring up at her adoringly. It was also hard to miss the way that Lauren was staring up at Puck, pulling on her skirts, and smiling shyly, as he was returning her gaze.
"Well, we must go, thank you again for the horse" Santana concluded, as she pulled the mount she was now astride round, to head back down the driveway, smiling to herself, as she watched Puck almost have to physically tear his eyes away from Lauren to do the same.
"Anything her majesty requires" the Marquis finished, and all three of them bowed and curtseyed as Santana and Puck rode away.
"Taken a fancy to the Lauren girl have you?" Santana questioned teasingly.
"Taken a fancy to the St James boy have you?" Puck jibed back. He knew if he spoke to any other member of the Royal family in that manor, he would lose his head. But since he was orphaned and taken in by the Palace as a servant, he and Santana had become the closest thing to brother and sister either of them had, and in their time alone together, they spoke freely, unrestrained by job title and class.
"Not in a million years" Santana confirmed with a sigh, as they trotted easily back towards town, and the trouble she knew was sure to be waiting for her.
Making her way towards the entrance to the castle, Brittany had to stop to compose herself. Her blonde hair was twisted up tightly, and decorated with wildflowers – at Mike's insistence. The dress she wore was blue and gold, pinching in her already tiny waist, and trailing down to cover her feet, and flay out around her ankles. For a moment she was reminded of the life she lead before her father passed away, but seeing the slave wagons up ahead she was instantly yanked from her thoughts.
"Make way for the lady!" One of the King's guards called as she passed by, causing Brittany to blush a pretty pink, and redouble her pace. Noticing Mr Figgins being shoved roughly onto a wagon, about to leave for the harbour, she ran forward, grabbing the horse's reigns before it could pull the carriage away.
"I wish to address the issue of this gentleman!" she informed the man in charge of the slaves, pointing to Arnold Figgins, whose face lit up in a mixture of joy and disbelief at seeing Brittany there.
"He is my servant, and he was sold in error, so I wish to buy him back, I think you'll find I have more than enough coin here for that behest" she finished, her heart racing, her palms wet, as her nerves threatened to overcome her.
"He's already bought and sold" One of the men informed her rudely, jumping aboard the carriage, and flicking the reigns, urging the horse forward. Keeping her grip tight on it's bridle, Brittany held the beast back.
"I demand you release him at once, or I'll take this matter to the King" she threatened.
"Under the King's law he is bought and sold" the man sneered back, "He's property of Caracus now."
Brittany was suddenly outraged, and didn't see the approaching Princess, followed closely by her personal guard, Puck.
"He is not property, you ill-mannered tub of lard!" she insisted, "Do you honestly think it's right to chain people like cattle?" she questioned.
"Get out of my way!" the man shouted at her, leaning down from his position on the drivers bench menacingly.
"You dare raise your voice to a lady" a sweet but authoritative voice cut in. Looking up Brittany briefly met princess Santana's eyes, before quickly dropping her head in a show of respect, and praying she would not be recognised as the servant she was.
"Forgive me your Highness" the man pleaded instantly, "I meant no disrespect, I'm just trying to do my job and take these thieves to the coast."
"My servant is not a thief!" Brittany spoke up, her eyes meeting the Princesses again, "And those who are cannot help themselves."
"Really?" Santana questioned a little taken a back by the girl's bold declaration, "Well do enlighten us…" she offered, whilst taking the blonde in. She had the most piercing blue eyes that Santana had ever seen, her frame was slender and well muscled, her bone structure near perfect. The princess had to admit to herself that she was in fact very beautiful.
"Well..." the blonde began, breaking the princess from her spell, "If people are raised ill-educated and without a better example, then how should they know anything else your Majesty?"
Santana was uncharacteristically lost for words, at the girls bold declaration, "Well there you have it…" she muttered quietly to herself. Turning her gaze to the man in charge of the cart, she ordered the servant to be released.
"But your Highness" the man argued.
"I said release him!" Santana raised her voice a few decibels, earning her a few stares from passers-by, though in that moment she couldn't bring herself to be concerned by anything other than the beautiful and intriguing blonde before her.
The man quickly complied, and Mr Figgins was unshackled and released from the cart. "I thought I was looking at your mother!" He whispered to Brittany quietly, as she gave him a reassuring squeeze on the arm.
"Meet me at the bridge" she whispered back, before continuing to up hold her disguise "Prepare the horses, we leave at once!" she commanded in a loud voice, and Mr Figgins hobbled off.
Brittany nervously turned back to Santana, her heart battering against her ribs, she was once again blown away by the princess, and not just her appearance but also her compassion. "Thank you, your Majesty" she stated, curtseying one last time, before she turned to head off and meet Mr Figgins, to take him home.
Watching the girl begin to retreat Santana quickly dismounted her horse, thrusting the reins at Puck, ignoring the stares she received as she hurriedly walked after her.
William Schuester watched the scene unfold with interest, he noticed the peasant's work boots that poked out from beneath the beautiful blonde lady's skirts, but said nothing.
"Have we met?" the princess questioned, suddenly feeling as if the blonde was somehow familiar.
The girl in question, turned briefly before continuing to stride away from her, "I do not believe so" she called back over her shoulder.
"Interesting, I though I knew every courtier in town" Santana mused as she continued her pursuit.
"I'm visiting my cousin" Brittany shot back, desperate to get away and make her exit before she could be discovered, although part of her ached for this to be her real life, and for the beautiful princess to actually be speaking to her, not someone whom she was pretending to be.
"Whom might that be?" Santana asked intrigued.
"My cousin." Brittany stated simply, using all her effort not to break into a run, she was after all supposed to be an upper class lady.
"Yes you said that…" Santana replied a little narked, unused to such evasiveness, "Which one?
"The only one I have your highness" Brittany replied, fighting the internal panic that was swelling in her like a tidal wave.
"Are you being coy on purpose, or do you honestly refuse to tell me your name?" Santana asked, torn between being outraged, gobsmacked and intrigued.
"No…and yes" the blonde admitted as she tried once more to escape.
"Well at least tell me your cousin's name so that I might call upon her to ascertain your identity, for anyone who dares to speak up as boldly as yourself is well worth the effort." Santana spoke out, desperate to get the mysterious blonde to give her something to go on, anything.
Brittany stopped, a bright smile lighting up her face. The princess has just stated that she was 'well worth the effort', and the compliment sent butterflies to her stomach, and made her blood rush into her cheeks, as her blue eyes met brown.
Santana noticed the girl's cheeks turn a pretty pink, and couldn't suppress the smile that formed on her own lips at the sight. She was utterly breath taking, and the princess was desperate to learn more about her.
Noticing the princess seem to get lost in thought, Brittany seized her chance and began hurriedly walking away again.
"Wait" Santana called, noticing the blonde hurrying off.
Something in the Latina's voice, made Brittany pause, and turn around. She nervously let her eyes meet large sparkling brown ones, and she felt her heart flip inside her chest.
"Please" Santana began, he voice soft and full of beseeching, "I beg of you, give me a name."
Brittany couldn't contain the small gasp, that slipped from between her lips, Princess Santana had just begged…the princess, had just begged her, a mere peasant, to learn her name.
Seeing Santana standing before her, her hair shining in the late afternoon sun, her brown eyes wide and pleading, Brittany suddenly realised she was unable to deny her anything, "My name…" the blonde began, her mind racing, "Is Brittany Susan Von Gent"
As the princess broke into a grin, finally having been granted the information she so desired, Brittany's head spun. She had no idea why she had substituted her surname, for her mother's maiden name, but quickly decided it was probably for the best, that should the princess look for her, she would not be found and exposed as the peasant she was, even though the thought of not seeing her again made her heart flip painfully.
At that moment a voice broke the girls from staring, entranced with each other, "Ahh Santana" the Queen cried, walking towards her daughter, flanked by ladies of high standing and guards. "The King would like a word…several in fact" she informed the princess.
"He usually does" Santana retorted bitterly, before turning back to Brittany, only to find that the blonde had fled and she was left standing there alone.
AN: Reviews Motivation Updates :)