AN: Thanks for the positive feedback so far.
The Marquis, gave the King's messenger a sultry smile, as she let her eyes grace over the invite he had delivered, requesting the presence of herself and members of her family at a Royal Ball at the Palace in just five days time.
The messenger pushed his thick-rimmed spectacles further up his nose and blushed at the attention from the older woman. Artie Abrams had never had much luck with the ladies, since he fell from his horse and a severed spinal cord saw that he'd never walk again. That said he was lucky enough to have been kept on by the King as a mounted messenger, leaning down from his horse pass out messages, as opposed to dismounting.
"What news of the engagement?" Terry questioned, leaning forwards slightly and looking up at the messenger through her lashes.
"Cancelled" Artie confirmed, his eyes hungry as he swept over the older woman's face "Word is that the Princess has five days to find herself a Prince" he confessed in a whisper.
"Most intriguing" the Marquis, gave him another sultry smile, before leaning up to grace his palm with gold coins, "I shall need to know…Who the competition is, every move she makes, her agenda, and any other titbits you might dig up" she finished, emptying the contents of her purse into his eager palm.
Leaning down from his horse, Artie dropped his voice to a whisper "She's riding in a dressage contest against the Princess of Asia tomorrow at noon."
The Marquis gave a satisfied nod, the corners of her mouth pulling up, as he mind already began racing with ways that she might use her inside information to Jesse's full advantage.
Turning her attention back to the messenger, who was greedily stuffing the coins into his pouch, before turning back to her, besotted. "Skin of such elegance, concealing such ruthlessness" she complemented him, reaching up to run a finger down his cheek. "Perhaps when this is all over, and my son is crowned King, you and I might come to some arrangement."
At this Artie's eyes went wide with excitement, and he gulped as he nodded his approval.
"Until then, I look forward to our next intrigue" the Marquis purred, stepping back and watching as the messenger rode away, before wiping her hand on her dress skirts and cringing at his back. Jesse was going to be King, and if that meant she had to play nice with a few less than suitable gentleman to get him there, then so be it.
Brittany was busy collecting honey from the beehives, Emma by her side, holding out the bucket for her to place the combs in, they chatted as they worked.
"I would have loved to see you, dressed up like a lady, talking to the Princess today" Emma gushed, her voice full of pride.
"The Princess, is so breath-takingly beautiful" Brittany admitted, momentarily loosing focus, and almost being stung by a bee.
"Yes, you've been saying that…all day" Emma agreed, with a roll of her eyes.
"Well it is as true now, as it was this morning" Brittany replied with a giggle, "Though I do not know why I gave her my mother's maiden name."
Emma remained silent, intrigued by the way Brittany had spoke of nothing but Princess Santana since their encounter the previous day. The blonde had always been a friendly soul, but Emma had never seen her, quite so...well, besotted with another.
"It would break my heart for her to end up courting or worse, married to Jesse." Brittany admitted sadly, breaking the maid from her musings.
"Hush now child before you curse it!" Emma exclaimed, "The only throne I want that boy sitting on is the one I have to clean everyday!" she confessed, as the pair, still laughing, made their way back towards the manor.
Heading up to her small box room, Brittany heard voices coming from inside, and paused at the door to listen.
"It is a lovely dress, but a little small for me" Lauren whined.
"We shall just have to get you a tighter undersuit then" Came the Marquis's reply.
"But I cannot breathe as it is!" Lauren complained.
"If you cannot breathe, then you cannot eat…" Terry shot back cruelly, and Brittany heard, what she assumed was, Jesse laughing.
"Now Jesse, Darling" Terry spoke up again, "You want to wear something fit for a Prince, well here it is."
Brittany, hearing a few thuds, and gasps, decided then would be a good time to find out what was going on, and entered her room.
When she found caused her to gasp too. The small wooden chest, containing her prized belongings was flung open, and Jesse was holding one of her father's finest suits up to his chest, admiring himself in a looking glass and the Marquis looked on in approval.
"That is my Father's!" Brittany cried, enraged that the Marquis thought she could take the clothing Brittany had lovingly packed away when the man had passed.
Terry, Jesse and Lauren all jumped at the sound of her voice, panicking the Marquis spoke up quickly. "Ahh, Brittany, so glad you came! We were just going to air out the suit for Jesse to wear at the Royall Ball a few days from now." Seeing the blonde girl about to fly into a rage she continued, "Of course we supposed you would permit him to borrow the garments, as of course we shall be outfitting you in one of Lauren's dresses for the event, so the trade seems, somewhat fair."
Brittany felt all the anger dissipate from her body, and her mouth hung open in shock, "You wish me, to attend the ball…with you?" she hardly dared to ask.
"Why of course!" The Marquis exclaimed, a big fake smile plastered to her face, "I supposed that we could all go as a big happy family!"
Seeing Brittany's eyes light up full of hope and happiness, then noticing the cruel smile her mother shared with Jesse, Lauren realised she didn't want to be a part of such a charade, and without saying a word to anyone, made a dramatic exit.
"What ever is the matter with her?" Brittany questioned, a little concerned for her step-sister.
Jesse seizing the opportunity, gave Brittany a big sympathetic smile, "She does not wish for you to accompany us" he admitted, watching as the blonde's eyes filled with sadness as she bought his lies.
"But do not trouble yourself child" Terry piped up, "We shall all be going to the ball…As long as you can finish your chores on time"
"Of course stepmother!" Brittany agreed excitedly, and hurried off to make a head start.
Santana had awoken the next morning, feeling refreshed, as well as a little bewildered by her actions of the previous night. She could barely believe she had not only accepted, but asked for the crown, yet the deed was done.
After the house staff brought her breakfast, she noticed Mr Schuester heading towards the forest, and on impulse decided to follow him. As she caught him up, he merely acknowledged her presence with a smile, then continued to walk in silence, giving them both ample thinking time.
They stopped when they reached a small lake at the far side of the wooded area, staring out across the picturesque scenery, until finally Santana spoke up. William seemed to be a wise man, and now more than ever she needed advice.
"Do you believe in soul mates Sir Schuester?" she asked tentatively, avoiding eye contact with the older man.
"Of course" he replied with a smile, saying nothing further, waiting for the young Latina to say what she needed to.
"But how do you know when you've found that person? What if you find them and they're not who you expected, or what you expected…what if you never find them at all?" she questioned, frustrated by her inability to express what she was truly trying to say.
"Love is different for everyone" William replied wisely, "It is rarely straight forward, but Fate can usually be relied upon to bring two people destined for each other together, when neither of them is expecting such a turn of events" he replied cryptically.
"But what if it's not that simple?" Santana shot back, "What if they find each other but circumstance prevents them from being together, are they still soul mates then?"
"Indeed" the older man replied, "You cannot leave everything to fate child, she has got a lot to do! Sometimes you must give her a hand! Take the opportunity you have been presented with, and do what needs to be done."
Santana nodded seriously, taking in his words, hoping what she had done was just that. Accepting the crown was a bold move, but one that was necessary if she wanted to change the laws, allowing all the subjects of the Kingdom, and herself to love freely, leaving her free to court and hopefully marry Brittany… Brittany Susan Von Gent, who she had known merely days, and met just once before.
She found herself sinking unsurely back into her thoughts of soul mates, and love at first sight…was it really possible to see someone, and just know. If her own reaction to the beautiful blonde was anything to go by she guessed it was. However, until she had time to learn if the other woman felt the same, she would be plagued by insecurity, unable to shake the unsettling feelings of doubt surrounding her brash actions.
"Come along" Sir Schuester startled her from her thoughts, as he pushed a small rowing boat out from under the bushes and onto the lake, "A good row before a show always helps me think, I do after all have to put on a spectacular performance at your coronation."
Santana huffed, before walking over to hop easily into the boat, as William rowed them out onto the water.
Brittany was out in the woods, by the outskirts furthest from Tubbington Manor, with one the pigs, Rufus, looking for truffles at the bases of trees and among the foliage.
As Rufus oinked excitedly, Brittany picked up the small prize he'd found and placed it into her basket, giving him a pat in reward before sinking down to lean against the base of a large tree.
As the pig snuffled contentedly around in the dirt, the blonde felt her thoughts drifting off, in a direction that had become all to familiar these last few days…Princess Santana. Sighing as she tried to push the thoughts of the beautiful olive skinned girl out of her mind, Brittany also caught herself replaying the scene with her stepmother earlier that day.
After all the years of being treated as a servant, and being made to believe that she ranked as one, Brittany could barely believe that she was being permitted to go to the Ball…the Royal Ball…meaning that the Princess would be in attendance.
She imagined herself dressed up like a lady once again, this time perhaps wearing some of Lauren's cast off costume jewellery, and maybe even some real ballroom slippers, descending the steps of a beautiful ballroom, as everyone in the room watched her entrance, before the Princess greeted her at the foot of the staircase, twirling her around then pulling her close to dance a slow and intimate waltz…
Her daydream was broken as Rufus snorted loudly, digging through the compact dirt with his snout. The sight brought Brittany back to reality, and looking down at her dirt stained overalls and filthy callused hands she felt the dream crumble. Not only was she a woman, she wasn't as confident nor elegant, well-spoken nor as courageous as Santana, so she forced any further thoughts and pointless hopes away.
Feeling dirty, she gave Rufus a final pat leaving him to happily pick through the foliage, and headed down to the lake, deciding a swim would be help her feel a little fresher, and perhaps clear her head.
Minutes later, after swimming out a little way, Brittany lay on her back, her arms and legs spread as she floated at the water's surface. She enjoyed the gentle warmth of the late afternoon sun on her face, and the way the water cleansed and cooled her skin, soothing her aching muscles.
When the light of the sun through her lids disappeared, Brittany frowned a little, but kept her eyes closed, determined to enjoy her temporary reprieve, sun or not. A few seconds later when something hard prodded her gently in the shoulder she screamed in fright, grabbing onto the offending object, and yanking it hard.
Before she realised what was happening she felt a weight crash into her, knocking the breath out of her, and heard a resounding splash. She flailed desperately under the water, feeling light headed, and panic stricken as she realised she no longer had any idea which way was upwards. Brittany thrashed and struggled to no avail, and all to soon her air was gone and she found herself taking in lung-fulls of water.
As her panic grew she suddenly felt two strong arms wrap around her waist and begin drawing her towards…well somewhere. Having no idea whether she was being pulled to the surface or dragged deeper into the murky depths, after terror had sent all rational thoughts reeling, Brittany struggled wildly, but as her body grew more and more starved of oxygen, she found her limbs becoming limp, as she fluttered in and out of consciousness, submitting to whoever was holding her.
When her head finally broke the surface, the arms around her torso pushing her up and holding her there, Brittany coughed and spluttered, her eyes filled with tears as the cold water burned her throat and lungs as she struggled desperately to breathe. Just as she managed to suck down a few gulps of air, and splutter out a little more of the intruding water, the blonde caught sight of something moving in the water next to her.
Turning to her left, she was met with big brown eyes that were staring at her with a look full of concern, and something else that she couldn't quite place. She let her eyes drift over the Princess's perfect olive features and plump full lips, before deciding she was hallucinating and promptly passing out.
Alarmed Santana secured her grip on the unconscious girl, and began quickly swimming to shore, ensuring Brittany's head stayed above the water as they travelled, leaving Sir Schuester to right the capsized boat, and locate the oar that had startled Brittany and been the source of their problems.
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