This one will be a sad one and I wanted Odette's closure to be a very special one that I saved up only for her. Even though I probably suck at writing sad endings, if you are truly moved by all the previous tragic ends, grab a box of tissues just in case. Enjoy.
Chapter 12: The Song of the Swans
In Germany, 1420, James was at his lonely cottage. He felt rather anxious and concern for Odette has yet to answered any of his letters he had sent for the past two weeks. He had wondered if the Swan Lake Princess was busy with her duties or... Could it be that something had happened to her? However, the answer to James' pondering thoughts came sooner than he had expected. It was a stormy night in the middle of spring when he heard a knock on the door.
Now who would have knock at this hour? It was still early before dawn and who could have known that he was living at this old sad cottage? He doesn't recall any visitors. The Frog Prince went downstairs to hear the tapping of the rain pouring from the rooftop. When he opened the door, he caught himself staring at those pretty crystal blue eyes in shock. The same blue eyes that also stared at his eyes in surprise.
"Odette!" James exclaimed in shock, but mostly in delight.
She gave a small smile, "Hello, James."
"W-What... How- How are you here?" James questioned. "Wait, come out of the rain first. You'll catch a cold if you don't."
"Thank you, James."
The Frog Prince moved aside to let the soaked former Swan Princess inside his humble home. Gesturing her to take a seat, James returned with a blanket and a warm cup of tea. Once Odette wrapped herself with the blanket, James resumed with his questions next to her.
"What are you doing here, Odette? Shouldn't you be protecting the Swan Kingdom?" James asked.
Taking a sip of tea and looking down at the cup to see her reflection, Odette answered, "I was... Exiled."
James frowned, "Why?"
Letting out a sigh, the woman looked into the Prince's blue eyes, "Because I broke the oath and have fallen in love with you. I was immediately trailed after I announced my love and plans to wed you... And I would have been put to death if the Goddess Flora haven't intervene. She spared my life and simply had me exiled from the kingdom."
"Then... You've been gone these past two weeks searching for me?"
The former Swan Princess took another sip from her cup, "I know that you were here in Germany from your letters, it was a coincidence that I manage to find your address when I was trying to get away from the rain."
"I'm... So sorry." James looked down in shame.
"It's alright." Odette insisted.
"No, it's not alright, because of me, you-" James was cut off when Odette place a hand on his.
"Hey, hey, no, it's okay." she then hold his hands more firmly. Softly whispering into his ear, Odette assured, "It's okay. I've always wanted this. I wanted to be true to myself- to my heart. To me, this is the right decision. I didn't regret my decision at all."
James looked up to see her smile full of warmth. He smiled back and before they knew it, they shared a kiss.
Jame will never forget about Odette's exile. Even though she had assured him many times that it was alright, he still can't help, but felt bad. He didn't mean for her to get kicked out from her home and because of that guilt, Odette didn't divulge what else had happen that resulted in her exile. Eventually, however, those thoughts decline as the two were getting married! The couple had found a quiet church, not far from Germany or the Underground Kingdom, and were named "Husband and Wife". After hearing that her parents gave them their blessings, James would felt a tinge of guilt once more. He wondered how can her parents, who loved her as much as he does, was happy to give their blessings, when it was he who got their daughter exiled?
The answer never came nor did the question returned to his thoughts as he spend more time with Odette. She was very elegant, always dancing with such grace that even James cannot remained guilt-ridden any further.
However, those happy days just won't last long... And having Odette exiled because of their love was the reason that made James filled with more regret and guilt than he could possibly felt. He wasn't regretting of meeting with Odette. No, he was regretting over the fact that he was the cause that had her exiled in the first place.
One day, when Odette was performing a dance for their 30th anniversary, the beautiful Princess suddenly collapsed. James ordered the guards and staff around the Castle of the Underground Kingdom. It was very chaotic on that day. Very. The doctors couldn't help since there was no cure for this type of illness. What was going on? Why is this happening? Everyone were dismissed when Odette requested an audience with her husband.
James entered the room to find Odette resting in bed. She turn her gaze towards him, giving a weak smile.
"James..." she whispered.
"What is it, Odette?" he rushed to her side. "Are you in pain? Don't worry, I'll soon find the best healers to cure your illness!"
"Wait!" she grabbed his hand to stopped him from leaving. Having his attention again, Odette revealed, "There is no cure for my illness."
"No, no, no, I refused to believe that! There must be a way for me to save you!" James proclaimed.
"James, the reason why you can't do anything is because you can't. It's impossible."
Settling down, the Frog Prince asked, "W-What do you mean?"
Closing her eyes, Odette explained, "This is the price for being far away from Swan Lake for a long time. I was connected to that place since birth... And since my connection to the lake is getting weaker, so is my life force."
"T-Then... We'll take you back." James desperately suggested. "I'm sure that the Swan Guards would understand-" he stopped when Odette shook her head no.
"Nothing can be done, James. Fate has already decided on my destiny. They have decided that I'm destined to die. I can't escape my fate." Odette replied sadly. "This is the consequence the Goddess spoke of."
"No, don't say that." James insisted that there could be another way.
"Please, James, stop!" she raise her voice a little higher. "Stop setting yourself up for disappointment. There's nothing we can do about it!" she unintentionally hurt James as he looked down in silence. Odette gasped, realizing what she just did. The Frog Prince was optimistic and to have him acknowledge that he was going to lose another wife... "James, I... I'm sorry."
"No, it's alright." he got up to head for the exit. Before leaving, James told her, "If you need anything, call me."
He left Odette alone, closing the door behind him. A soft cry can only echo the spacious room as the Black Swan whispered out the name of her beloved.
"James..."
The Frog Prince wandered around the halls to each of the rooms of his former wives, all who have died. He first visited Naida's resting place. The underground passage that James once took to gain access to Naida's room had been blocked by rubble of a cave-in. He would have to row a boat to get to her room. Entering the aquatic space, the Frog Prince looked out at one of the glass widows to see Naida's shimmering sea-green coffin resting at the bottom of the large lake.
He then looked down at one of the glass display case to see the silver ring he wore when he was married to the Prasino Princess. He had taken his ring off before reverting back to a frog at that time, just as he had done the same with his other two wives. His golden ring when he was married to Agnes Koch was in her library and his first ring was with Ivy's.
Nostalgia crept up on him like an old friend as he left the room to visit the others. After all, with each lost, James had found it difficult to return to the rooms of his wives after finding a new love every time. Going to the library, James looked at the empty room, filled with nothing except books. His ring was technically in the library since the secret room is part of it. James' eyes then trailed to that hidden door. The place that Agnes was resting.
Not wanting the painful memories to remind him of his loss, James decided to move on, but since he's not ready to see Ivy's room, he changed direction, going to his room instead.
Once in his own room, James let it all out. His anger, his agony, his pain, his sadness. He screamed, knowing that he'll soon lose another of his loved ones. Why can Fate be so cruel?! Why must it be that he lose love to death? Many have claimed that death wasn't such a bad thing because the people can rest from their overbearing life. If he wasn't immortal, he would gladly die together with Odette. So he won't be lonely with his cursed life, so he may reunite with all his loved ones whom he missed so much.
"Why?"
With each passing days, like the summer of the happy moments is always short-lived, so was Odette's life. As each day passed, her condition worsened. Her beautiful tanned complexion changed and she soon became more paler and thinner.
It wasn't until 1450 that Odette had succumbed to her illness. She died, leaving James once again in the state of a frog. Guilt has subsided, but not his pain.
On her deathbed, many feathers littered the floor, but what had really surprised the Frog Prince initially, was that the feathers were black. How come? Why is that? Memories of what Odette had told him haunted his mind until he understood. After she was exiled, she was turned into a Black Swan. Those pure white feathers stained black by betrayal and sin. But that doesn't matter anymore. It was already too late.
Having asked for Geppetto's help once more, a silver coffin was made for Odette. Decorated with feathers and swans, James had the coffin be put in at the center of the beautiful moonlit lake, under the water's surface.
He had stay beside the lake for a few minutes, recalling what his fourth love had told him.
"James..." the ailing woman called out.
"Odette!" James was by her side, his hand holding hers for comfort.
"It's time... My time is almost up..."
James didn't argue with her, knowing there was no way to reverse Odette's illness. However, he doesn't want to accept her dying either.
Instead, he just looked down as he muttered the words, "I'm sorry."
"Don't be." the woman spoke softly. "I told you... That 'I didn't regret my decision at all'."
"But..." he paused. "If only I could have reverse this. If only I could have reverse time, you wouldn't be like this!"
Odette, cannot watch as her husband filled himself with guilt any further, proposed a way for them to "reverse time".
"Perhaps, there is a way..." she responded with her eyes closed.
"How?"
"They say lovers will eventually be reunited after death. I'm sure that once you break your curse for good, James, you'll finally join me and the others."
"But it's impossible!"
"We'll see... I-It's going to be alright," Odette began to cry for she knew it was almost over. "Despite our parting will be forever this time, I shall wait for you, James... Just like I always have."
"No..." James sobbed quietly.
Still, looking at him straight in those kind blue eyes of his, she told him without any difficulty that "I love you, James."
"Don't go, Odette, please." he begged.
With her last final breath, Odette whispered, "Truly, I couldn't ask for anything else other than to be with you and you only. Thank you, James. Really and forevermore, thank you."
The dying woman closed her eyes in sleep, leaving the man in shock. There was nothing, but silence until...
"AHHHHH! ODETTE!" he yelled in anguish.
No matter how many time his curse replays, no matter how many time this scene plays out in its own twisted ways, it always breaks his heart to see and lose his wives in front of his eyes... Or knowing the fact that they will, all because of him.
However, like the Princess had told him. Time seemed to have stopped for a moment. Standing before him was no other than the spirit of Odette! She was young again, glowing a light blue aura, wearing her blue tutu edged with blue beads and frills as well as a blue choker necklace and earrings. Her hair in that perfect bun and her delicate feet in those blue ballet flats.
She smiled at him, despite James hasn't notice her yet. It seemed that Fate has allowed this to happen, but only for a brief amount of time. So, she won't waste this chance at all. Falling on her knees, she make her presence noticeable to the Prince. She touched his hand in comfort and his shoulder with the other. He looked up to be in complete shock.
She smiled and help him stood up. Without saying anything, she gave him a hand which James took. And... Odette began to dance for James. Here, in her bedroom. There's no need for a ballroom since this is her ballroom. Her graceful steps, her elegant twirls. She had memorize her moves perfectly. It was the dance she wanted to dedicate to James for their 30th anniversary that never happened. Odette was correct that time did reverse for them because they can reenact the small dance they shared when they were on Dire Island. She never say anything, only smiling at him as she performed the "Danse des petits cygnes". Spirits of the other Swan Princess joined her in the ballet, urging for the Frog Prince to join, having approved the couple's love for the other.
It wasn't soon until James joined in, dancing along side with her. He lifted her into the air as if she was flying. They ended the ballet with her and James standing in front of each other, smiling and looking at the other in the eyes. The other swans looked at them joyously before disappearing. The two then closed their eyes and leaned for a kiss, just as the moon came out. The heavenly light shined through the large widows, onto the couple like a spotlight as they shared an embrace after the kiss.
James, no longer filled with guilt, happily hugged her, determined to keep her close- never to let her go. He never spoke throughout the dance, but he didn't have to. His heart did it for him. He was crying as tears streamed down his eyes, however, these weren't tears of sadness nor regret. These were tears of happiness and reminiscence... Feelings that shall never disappeared. Never.
Time seemed to have froze at that moment, but as soon as a new dawn approached, Odette started to slowly fade away.
"I have to go now." she whispered.
"I know." James spoke, wanting to remained this way just a little while longer.
However, he release her as they stared at each others' eyes again.
"I'll be by your side, never forget that." she gave him a quick kiss before hugging him again.
"I love you, Odette."
"And I you, James. Thank you and farewell. I'll be waiting... Always and forever..."
When dawn finally came, donning a new day filled with hope, and the bells from the church close by rang, Odette has left, leaving the sadden Prince to turn into a frog. Knowing that she'll wait after death, the Prince has to continue moving on.
James reflected that moment and felt a little lighter, just a little. There was still sorrow lingering from that final parting.
No longer can he stay in the Underground Kingdom with only that incompleteness in his heart, James decided to travel someplace even further than before. His next lead will take him to the Swiss mountains where maybe, just maybe, he can be free from all the many sorrows that follows him.
I hoped you've enjoyed this chapter. The title of this chapter refers to the Swan Song. Danse des petits cygnes is one of the Swan Lake dance, in case you don't know. And soon, we'll get into Snow White's. Guess when that's going to come out. Please review, I'd loved to know what your thoughts were after reading this chapter. See you guys soon.