Hey guys! So I am so happy with the reviews that I had gotten back from the previous chapter. I am glad you are happy that Jane has finally come into the picture. So I'm glad that you enjoyed the big reveal with Constance and how evil she really is because I was worried I wouldn't be able to change her character into an evil villain being realistic but with your reviews I feel more confident. So some questions that were asked about this story were asked in some reviews and I am prepared to answer them. So the ages that I decided to make for Maura is about the age of 18 while I am making Jane a couple years older like 20 or 21. So they are still relatively young but back then they are viewed as adults and I wanted that for this story. Another question brought to my attention is that Maura should recognize Jane voice when she saved her in the forest from hearing it before. Keeping this in mind if you remember Maura's party was when she turned 14 so that was 4 years ago. Now I don't know about you but I wouldn't really remember hearing someone's voice from 4 years ago especially if it was only one conversation no matter how unique Jane's voice is. Not to mention Maura's kind of in a daze and not in the right state of mind because of the events in the forest. So that is my reasoning why I'm sorry if it doesn't make any sense to some but that's just me personally. Ok so if any of you have more questions about previous, present, or future chapters please let me know and I will try to answer them if they will not reveal too much about the story and where it is headed. Ok thanks for reading my little spiel just wanted to clarify some things before moving on with the story. Ok thanks again and on to chapter 15!
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Shock. That is the logical answer behind Maura's reaction to the inconceivable events that had taken place. It was amazing how much Maura had gone through in the past few hours. She first learned her father was sick, came back home, found out Constance had been lying and the truth behind everything was revealed, fled the castle, was attacked by soldiers that used to be loyal to her and was saved by a bow wielding hero. Pure insanity. The thoughts in which the young woman was still currently trying to wrap her head around. Reeling herself back into reality she focused that her hand was still enclosed with the hero's. Her hero. She hadn't felt this way since…
"Excuse me, Princess? Are you alright?" they asked with concern laced within their voice. Oh that voice. But before she could really think about it she decided to respond.
"Huh? Oh yes. I'm sorry I am just a little disorientated from everything." Maura responds calmly. "It is understandable though, from the adrenaline, increase of endorphins, and high levels of stress I have experienced in only a few short hours that can lead to loss of memory, lack of ability of attention span, and might eventually lead to having hallucinations."
This caused the stranger to slightly turn to Maura and tilt their head in confusion. Oh no I did it again. "I'm sorry I…." she tried to explain. This happened a lot. She would go into long speeches that people didn't understand and even if they did they found no interest in it. It made her feel even more awkward than she already did.
"No its ok. I think what you meant to say is you're a bit confused by all you've been through today?" they asked calmly and Maura nodded in response. "Well I can see why. You just may need to dumb it down for me alright? I'm not exactly royalty here." They spoke with a chuckle.
Maura ducked her head in shame afraid she was being judged by this individual. Then she looked up she saw a horse standing next to a tall tree. This horse was beautiful, very large, and completely black expect for white streak that went along the middle of its face and socks. The individual went up to the horse and petted its face gently. The horse reacted by pushing its face into its owner's hand and it made Maura smile. Maura had started to think about the situation she was in and what was going to happen.
"Who are? Why did you save me? What are you going to do with me?" The questions just kept coming and Maura had difficulty getting control of herself.
The stranger turned around. "Wow relax your highness, there's nothing to fear. I realize you have many questions but everything will be answered in good time. But it's probably best if we leave before any more of those goons stumble upon us." And with this the mysterious stranger mounted the horse and offered their hand to Maura expectedly.
"Why should I trust you?" the question slipped out accidently but Maura needed to know.
The stranger huffed and explained in an exasperated tone. "Well I did save you Princess, or does that count as nothing?" they asked back. This left Maura putting her head down in shame for her skepticism. "It is probably best that you are not trusting. It could possibly save your life with the situation you're in. But I swear to you, you can trust me and I will not let anything befall you." They responded back in such confidence. Maura then found it difficult finding reasons not to believe them. She nodded in agreement but needed to know something else.
"Can I at least know your name?" she requested quietly.
"Ok. You can call me Rizzoli like everyone else does. Now come on let's go." Maura nodded and walked up to the horse and mounted the horse and sat sidesaddle as she normally would. Rizzoli turned and tilted their head in confusion. "What are you doing?"
"Um, ridding the horse same as you." She responded in confusion.
"Oh no not like you aren't. You are going to ride like me." They declared.
"What you mean like one leg over one side and one on the other?" the young woman looked in full of confusion and horror. They nodded their head in response. Maura looked at them in an appalled face. "No oh. I can't do that it's unladylike and just…."
"Really? You almost got killed and you're worried about being unladylike? Well too bad I don't want you complaining that your bum hurting when I ride quickly and I am not slowing down for your comfort Princess." And with this Rizzoli grabbed her leg and forced it over the other side of the horse.
"Okay okay fine!" Maura replied aggravated by Rizzoli's brute force. "But do not man-handle me like a brute."
This made Rizzoli laugh loudly and muttered something sounding like man-handled ha. This irritated Maura even more. "What is so funny?" she asks in an angry tone.
"Oh you'll find out soon oh sovereign one." They responded in a mocking manner but it was missed by the honey blonde.
"I am considered royalty but I wouldn't go as far as sovereign…"
"Ok I guess you missed that one." they responded confusing Maura even more. "Don't worry your pretty little head about it." Maura huffed in response of Rizzoli's new arrogance. The nerve of some people.
Suddenly Rizzoli let's go of the reins and quickly snatches both of Maura's hands and wraps them around their waist. "Well Princess you may not like it but you're going to have to touch me until we get to our destination. So hold on tight. It's going to be a bumpy ride." Rizzoli then pulled on the reins making the horse to go fast beginning their journey. Maura was shocked by this action and had no choice but to hold on to Rizzoli tightly. This made Maura angry and annoyed. Rizzoli is such a brute! So stubborn and just…..! Maura could not think properly and it was completely aggravating. I can't wait to get off this horse and away from Rizzoli. She told herself but did not notice herself drawing patterns upon Rizzoli's abdomen and then placed her head on the rider's shoulder.
The trip had taken them west of town which confused Maura. She wanted to ask but thought better. She was unsure of what was going on with her father and evil stepmother and had no idea of how to proceed next. Her best opinion was this Rizzoli character no matter how much of an inconvenience they were. But Rizzoli did save me when they could have just left me for dead. Maura realized she might have been too hard and judgmental to Rizzoli and begun to feel guilty for it. Before she knew it the horse had slowed down and it seemed like they had reached their destination.
"Alright I don't know about you but I need to change from this position." Rizzoli stated out of nowhere. "Is it alright if we walk the rest of the way? It's only a few yards from here." They asked politely.
"Yes that's fine." Maura responded back. She too felt the need to stretch and change positions from the way she was, especially her first time riding the "unladylike way". Maura agreed logically that she would have been more uncomfortable if she sat sidesaddle but she would never reveal this to Rizzoli. Rizzoli dismounted the horse first and assisted in Maura dismounting; the young woman slipped and almost fell if it were not for the archer's strong arms that caught and pulled her into a tight embrace. This caused Rizzoli to chuckle while Maura blushed but quickly pushed away from the embrace. The warm feelings she was experiencing were unexplainable to her, made her uncomfortable and again they began to make their way. For a few minutes it was relatively silence with the exception of both footsteps from them and the horse and also with the noises of nature around them. They were closely approaching an enclosed area where their destination lied. They seemed to stop in front of a large bolder and behind it was a curtain of vines that seemed to be a dead end.
"Where are we?"
"Right outside the entrance."
Maura looked at Rizzoli but could not see them fully for their hood was still covering their face. "Will I be able to ever see you?"
Rizzoli was quiet for a minute trying to think of a response. "What do you mean?" they asked confusingly.
"Your face. It's been covered by your hood the whole time and I want to see it." She replied simply. "Besides if you want me to completely trust you I should know what you look like."
Rizzoli thought for a second and sighed, "I'll show you mine if you show me yours." They replied back in a joking manner.
The young woman huffed in response. "Oh so childish." But curiosity was eating at her and she took off her hood first. Rizzoli stopped and looked at her.
"So this is the face of royalty." They responded indifferently but continue to stare.
Maura felt slightly uncomfortable and was not sure how to react. "Yes, is there something wrong?"
"No of course not you look….nice." Rizzoli said quickly but in an awkward tone.
In this change in tone Maura raised an eyebrow. "Ok your turn."
Rizzoli took a deep breath and removed the hood. An accurate description would be it very much unexpected. Rizzoli had olive skin, angular face and jaw along with a cleft chin giving a hardened look. Had a moderate sized scar under her cheek bone that went diagonal to the middle of the cheek; had piercing brown eyes that had an intense gaze. Hair pulled back into a braid that ran along her back. Yes her! A woman! The mysterious archer turned out to be a woman not a few years older than herself. But how did I not notice? Well so many characteristics that seemed to be male left Maura was very surprised and it left her mouth slightly ajar. She stood there and stared at the other woman trying to take everything in. Rizzoli just stared back with just as much intensity but finally broke the silence.
"Are you alright Princess?" Rizzoli asked in a concerned tone.
"What? Oh yes I just…. Um…" Maura began and tried to find the words to respond.
"I'm not exactly what you were expecting?" The dark haired woman asked trying to help Maua out.
"Well yes. I didn't even consider that you…."
"Would be a woman?" She finished for her. Maura looked back with a slight blush on her face. "Yeah that happens a lot so I'm used to it." Rizzoli responded back with a chuckle.
"Oh no I see you are a woman. Actually you have a very symmetrical, attractive face…."
"Are you trying to tell me you're attracted to me?" The other woman says with a slight smirk exposing her gorgeous dimples. Wait gorgeous?!
"WHAT? No I uhhh…" Maura tried to recover from the awkward situation she placed herself in. Heat had rose in Maura's face while a burning irritation started to develop on her chest and neck that she begin to scratch at. Oh no not now Maura berated herself as she tried to get ahold of her breathing but failed miserably. Rizzoli saw the distress in Maura's face and tried to calm her down.
"Your highness are you alright?" She asked full of concern laced within her soulful voice.
"Uhh yes…I get urticaria and experience vasovagal syncope when I am highly stressed." She wasn't completely lying. She was very stressed from when she would lie but the honey blonde would not focus on that detail. Rizzoli didn't need to know that. As it continued on Maura found it more difficult to breathe and began to see spots.
"Vago what? Are you going to be okay?" the other woman had now become panicked from Maura lack in communication. She put both hands on the honey blonde's shoulders trying to steady her.
"I….I…" But before she could mutter anything out the lights turned out and the world went black.
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A muffled voice invaded Maura's head. She tried to listen to what this voice was saying. Not soon after she felt as though she was floating unsure where she was going. She tried to reach out to grab something. Anything. But she was met with a strong force that was holding her together. Maura was too weak to resist so she simply embraced the warmth that the unknown provided and snuggled into it as a pleasant scent filled her nasal cavity. She felt herself fading again to the dark abyss. She woke up to a multitude of voices that had different pitches. A man and a woman could be easily heard in discussion.
"Oh poor thing. What's gonna happen to her now Vince?" a woman asked full of sympathy.
"I'm not sure. We'll see what the counsel thinks about the situation." Said a man's voice.
Maura continued to listen but wanted to see her environment. As she opened her eyes light had painfully flooded in and she closed them quickly and moaned in response. She heard footsteps approaching her as she attempted to open her eyes again.
"Sweetie are you alright? Can you open your eyes?" the kind voice of the woman responded. Maura finally was able to fully open her eyes and stared at the people above her. A middle aged woman, with red hair, and auburn eyes. She looked at Maura's eyes and smiled brightly.
"Where..where am I?" Maura's voice cracked as she asked the woman.
"You are in a village on the outskirts of town. Do you remember anything?" The woman asked.
Maura was thinking about recent events, it took a few seconds but she remembered the dark hair archer. "Where is she? Where did she go?" she asked quickly, in a panic.
"Rizzoli? She's just in town getting more supplies she'll be back soon." A man responded. He was an older man with gray locks and a beard. He was wearing dark brown trousers, and a light brown long sleeved shirt. The honey blonde released a breath in relief thankful that her savior was alright and still around. But more questions arose in Maura that were blank in her memory.
"Wait how did I get here? I remember walking with her and…" Maura paused trying to remember.
"She told us you fainted and she carried you the rest of the way to us. She left you here and asked that we take care of you while she's gone." The red head spoke. "Don't worry sweetheart you are safe with us."
This gave Maura a smile on her face. She went to reach for her satchel but when she did not find it she began to panic. Where was Bass? "Excuse me have you seen my satchel? It was on me the whole time and something very important to me is in there." The girl began and she was starting to become hysterical.
The red head looked at Maura, "Oh yes I believe so it's over here. Let me get it." And true to her word she returned to the bed satchel in hand. Maura opened it and saw the carrier and a tortoise's shell could be seen.
"Bass, oh honey let me see your little face" she asked the small creature. "Just poke out your head for me please." As if the tortoise understood English he popped his head out and Maura gave a sigh of relief that her little friend was okay.
"Oh he's so cute" the older woman spoke suddenly. "I'll try to find a box for him so he can have a little more space."
Maura smiled at this and felt eternally grateful for these people's generosity. She looked around and saw she was in a brick house. She was lying on a bed made straw with a feathered pillow. The room only had limited furniture that consisted of a small table, two stools, and a fire place where Maura assumed the cooking and washing took place. "Thank you for your hospitality. May I know your names?" the young girl asked politely.
"Oh my silly me of course you can! I am Melanie and this is my husband Vince." She spoke suddenly pointing to both her and her husband.
"I am Maura Doyle." She spoke properly.
"We know who you are your highness and we know from Rizzoli that you are in great danger." The gruff voice of Vince explained to her.
Maura nodded in agreement. "It's my stepmother….she…." the honey blonde began.
"It's okay. You can discussion it to the counsel later when everyone's there. So we know how to approach the situation." Vince said and Maura nodded but had confusion in her eyes. "Melanie will explain everything to you as she shows you around and will bring you when it is time." The older man spoke as he kissed his wife on the cheek and walked out of the house. Maura looked at Melanie trying to get an answer.
"Come on dear let's feed you and the little guy then I will tell you all I can." The woman spoke as she got food together to make a meal for the young princess. Once they ate they stood and made their way to the outside world.
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They had been walking around for about 30 minutes as Melanie had shown Maura around. Scattered across was many makeshifts homes and many tents where people dwelled. There had been a variety of men, women, and children that wished to seek refused from the queen's wrath. Melanie informed Maura that their majesty's royal guards seem to experience a change in demeanor. Instead of instilling the feelings of safety they created fear with the mistreatment of the people. Those who proved to be a threat to the queen's power were punished severely.
"Ever since the new queen took over bad things had been happening to the kingdom and its town's people. The guards have been invading the homes of the people and creating havoc everywhere they go. Attacking people and killing at will. They have no rules or regards for what they do and do what they wish. I'm sure courtesy of Constance and her new Captain of the guards." Melanie explained to Maura with a sigh. "And either people are too afraid to act or they leave town and go into hiding like us. Vince and the others have been trying to have change but it's been difficult to find brave souls to go against her."
"How long has it been like this? I had been in France for a year so I have not been here to witness this."
"For about a little more than 6 months. It seemed to happen when you father became ill."
"Well that explains a lot. My father would never hurt his people. He cares too greatly for them." Maura spoke adamantly.
"I'm sure you father is dear. When he was with your mother, God rest her soul, the kingdom was joyous and plentiful. Even after your mother passed the King took care of his people. Problems only started to occur after his new marriage." The red headed woman concluded.
"I'm so sorry this has happened. If I had known I…."
"You cannot blame yourself highness. But there is one thing you can do."
"Yes anything."
"Help us take down Constance. It's the only way to stop this chaos and restore peace to the kingdom."
Maura thought long and hard. Constance was going to be a tough opponent to defeat but she would do all she could to help. "Yes of course. But you have to do one thing Melanie."
"Yes Highness?"
"Please call me Maura. If being royal means putting people's lives in danger then I want no part in it." The young woman responded with a smile.
Melanie returned the gesture. "Well good thank you Maura. Well I think it's time the counsel is about to meet. We must go" she finished and they both followed the direction that would reveal what was to happen next.
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They made their way to a large tent and voices could be easily heard. Maura could hear argument within the tent as she enter and was nervous for what it would mean for her. When Maura first entered she saw some individuals standing and an assortment of men sitting across a table.
"You have got to be kidding me." A familiar voice sounded that Maura instantly recognized.
"Rizzoli you know better than anyone that going against the Crown is a serious effort. One that might not be possible and even if it were might not be worth it." One of the grey haired men responded full of frustration.
"So you chose to do nothing? Just stand back and live in fear for the rest of our God forsaken lives?!" Rizzoli had shouted back.
"It is not that simple Rizzoli and you know it!" an African American man roared in response.
"Take it easy General Frost" The grey haired man said trying to calm the other man. "We should review the knowledge we have newly inquired. Oh your highness nice to see you." He addressed Maura that made everyone turn.
Maura first looked toward the three men she assumed were the counsel men then to the brown eyes of Rizzoli who was looking at her intently. Melanie encouraged Maura to walk up and stood next to Rizzoli and in front of the men. She looked at Rizzoli who had been wearing a long sleeves white top with dark brown slacks with black boots covering them. The big difference was that her hair was free from its confines and beautifully curly hair had flowed down past her shoulders. Wow. A cough broke her from her stare at the older woman and Maura turned her attention to the counsel.
"Lady Doyle we finally meet. Rizzoli here has told us she found you in the forest being attacked by your own guards. Is this true?" The kind man asked gently.
Maura nodded "Yes. I had been running away from them but they caught up to me. If it wasn't for her I would be dead." The honey blonde said pointing to Rizzoli.
The man nodded in response. "I am Arthur O'Brien, this is Samuel Frost, and Harold Maccabee." He began to introduce the men at the table. "We were citizens to the kingdom and fought on occasion alongside your father for many battles. But the kingdom has been experiencing turmoil and we wish to know why."
"My father is not responsible for the change Sir, I swear" Maura began to plead. "I have out of the country for a year now and have only recently become aware of my father's illness and the changes within the kingdom."
"We believe you my Lady" the orange hair man named Harold spoke. "But we need to know why you fled the castle and who's behind all this."
Maura nodded quickly and looked at the floor full of nerves. She did not feel the figure approaching until a strong hand was placed on her lower back. "Just tell them what you know. Trust me you can trust them, I promise." The deep velvet voice whispered into her ear sending chills down her spine. Maura over looked this as being startled. She looked into those brown orbs and nodded in agreement. The honey blonde explained what she had learned when she arrived home. Patrick's sickness, Constance's lies, and her actions and the agenda this woman had led against the Doyle's. Maura was becoming upset and it was evident by her gestures and facial features. Rizzoli stood beside her and never left her side.
"Well I'm sorry to hear about your mother Lady Doyle and if this is true the queen is more dangerous than we already knew. Thank you for telling us. Does anyone have anything they would like to ask?" O'Brien asked the occupants in the room.
"Yea I have something" a dark colored man asked. "How do we know you're not lying?"
"Oh come off Crowe why are earth would she be lying?" Rizzoli barked at the man.
"I don't know maybe this is a trap from the queen herself to use her to find our location which she did thanks to you Rizzoli."
"Well gee Crowe when I see a couple men ganging up on a woman, especially the Princess for God's sake then I think she may be telling the truth. If I hadn't stopped them she would have been killed."
A noise from the entrance temporarily stopped the heavy discussion going on. Two men appeared in which Maura had recognized both. One was the man from this morning, Vince and he was helping hold up a Sean Cavanagh. The older man seemed to age so much since Maura had last saw him. When he saw Maura, a look of recognition hit his face like a bolt of lightning.
"Lady Maura? Is that really you?" the man asked in complete shock.
"Yes it is" the honey blonde approached him and embraced him. He was one of those people most important to her because he had always been present within her life and was there for the most difficult times. "Where have you been? Constance told me that you retired. Why did you leave us?" the questions were flooding through her lips.
"Retired? She told you that? Well I guess it was but was involuntary on my part."
"Why would she do that?"
"Because I was starting to become suspicious of her actions. When I went to investigate she got rid of me but not before I found something."
"What did you find Cavanagh?" Maccabee asked.
"A book of spells. I believe she has been practicing witch craft."
This stunned everyone into silence. It took a few minutes until someone spoke. "See? Now you believe her Crowe?" Rizzoli asked.
Crowe looked at the council "Why are we even listening to Rizzoli in the first place? Last time I check women don't have any authority." He spoke smugly.
"Well this woman does when she could kick your ass from here to Timbuktu in no time at all" the tall woman retorted quickly while a round of chuckles and snickering erupted.
"Alright that is enough." Samuel spoke ending the feud between the two. "Now we believe you but we need time to deliberate if we will take a course of action."
"IF? If? What's more to consider? Both the princess and the former Captain of the guard corroborate each other's story. It's the time to devise a plan to take this woman down." The archer stated adamantly.
"Rizzoli we cannot just simple walk up to the castle gates and declare war! We lack both in numbers and resources to be at all success. You are acting irrational. Just because you have a personal vendetta against the Crown does not mean that we will risk everything for it." Frost boomed loudly.
Silence had filled the entire tent as all eyes were on the fuming brunette. No one had the courage to say a word and waited for what was to happen next.
"If you continue to hide you will suffer the same fate. I would rather die trying to do what is right rather than die cowering in fear waiting for death to find us." And with this she turned around and walked out.
Sean approached the table the counsel man was sitting behind. "That was uncalled for Samuel and you know it."
Maura was lost in a state of confusion. Before she knew it her legs had started moving toward the exit but a hand grabbed her arm and spun her around. A dark young man, a little younger than she, was starting at her. "Let her go. She needs time to cool off." She looked at him with a slight glare but noticed another man with light skin and light, sparkling blue eyes approach the exit.
"I'll go check on her." The man spoke as he made his way out. Maura felt a twinge of something she was not sure of. She looked at the dark man again.
"That's Casey Jones, Rizzoli's best friend. He'll make sure she's okay. Oh right I'm Barry Frost but everyone calls me Frost." The young man answers as he offered her his hand.
"Maura Doyle." She takes his hand as a sign of greeting. "What's going to happen now?"
"I'm not sure. This has been discussed many times but nothing has ever happened to try to retaliate back. Well then again we have never had sources from within the castle itself revealing to us what is really happening." Frost finished.
Maura nodded her head in response trying to find something to say. Melanie approached Maura, "Well it looks like it's time to go back and eat some dinner before bed. Come Maura." Maura rose and began to follow Melanie but turned around.
"Make sure she's okay please" she asks almost pleading. "It was a pleasure meeting you Frost hopefully we can possibly get to know each other."
Frost smiled showing off his brilliant white teeth, "Don't worry, she's in good hands. Also that would be nice your highness. It was a pleasure as well, have a good night." Maura then turned around and followed the red head into the darkness of the night's sky.
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Yayyyy chapter 15! Wow my chapters are seemingly getting longer than before. I guess I'm getting the hang of this. Alright so we met a few people in this chapter and we continue to start to unravel these characters and their personalities. Also the entrance of the hidden village, if you have seen the movie Tangled it is roughly based where Rapunzel's lives just to get a visual. Alright thanks for reading guys and following up with this story that has become dear to me. Reviews are highly appreciated and they just make my day :) Alright until next time…..
~C.L. 3