A/N: Hello again! And finally I have another chapter up. This time I'll have to thank I Am Your Singer for reminding me about a character (or two) that I had embarrassingly enough managed to forget. And I recommend that you go and check out his story Someone To Love Me which has the same scenario as my story, but focuses on the happenings immediately after. It is really good.
So, on with the chapter. Not that much happening this time, they're having a bit of a break for a moment ;) I hope you enjoy!
11.
Grand Duke Robert Van Foray leaned back on his seat as he watched the scenery from the window of his carriage. Despite the fact that travelling was tiring business, not to mention to a man of his age, after all he wasn't a young chap anymore, he always enjoyed it. His carriage was his little sanctuary from all the going on's of the outside world giving him a welcome respite between battles with foreign dignitaries, the staff of the royal castle, the king… Practically with anyone truth to be told. Of course he did have his own estate, but as he didn't have much of a family, it felt quite empty whenever he visited there. And yes, mostly he just visited there, since his duties to the royal family kept him in the castle most of the time. He even had an own suite there, all for himself. And not that he wanted to brag, but it was grander than of that blasted incredibly annoying woman's who just happened to be the Princes mother-in-law. So he couldn't even get rid of her. Nothing was ever good enough for that woman. Which was why, he had kept quiet about his living conditions and never invited the princess' family to his quarters.
The Grand Duke sighed happily. He was waiting eagerly for the return to the castle for a change. That woman would be gone for a month or three as she visited her other daughter in a neighboring kingdom. He pitied the prince who had agreed to marry princess Anastasia's sister. The woman should have left on her journey yesterday, which suited well with his schedule. His next trip would be in about three months, right before that woman came back again. This fact made him ever so happy. It almost felt like a holiday.
He shook his head as he thought about the lady. He could not understand for the life of him how such a lovely young lady as princess Anastasia could have such a… woman as her mother. They were like from different worlds completely. Where the princess was kind and caring and smiling, the mother was the opposite, unkind, cruel, never thinking anyone could be of higher status than her. The Grand Duke suspected that she even thought herself higher than the king himself.
The day was bright and sunny and the castle seemed to almost glitter as he caught sight of it when they turned towards the castle. They drove through the town and the Grand Duke spied the people on their way as they passed them. A breeze carried delicious smells from the bakery nearby and the Grand Duke made a mental note to send someone to pick up some scones for him. Mrs. Lane's baking was the best he had ever tasted anywhere and he had been a regular customer for her for years. She always saved the best of the batch for him.
The Grand Duke sighed contentedly as they pulled over in front of the Castle stairs. He got out of the carriage and signaled to the footman to deliver his belongings to his quarters. Then he straightened out his uniform and tucked his hat to the crook of his arm. He ascended the stairs in a brisk pace and walked through the large doors that the armed guard opened up for him. He wondered why the doors were closed. Normally, in a day like this, they would be open. The Grand Duke shrugged his shoulders and thought nothing of it.
Now, he just needed to locate His Majesty and give his repor-
The Grand Duke blinked as he stopped taking in the sight that met him in the entrance hall. A regiment of guards seemed to be carrying statues of stone from the upstairs. And what strange statues they were. They weren't in any positions you might expect from statues, no standing and looking to the distance with great feeling or perhaps courageously facing whatever the statue might have been facing. Instead some of the statues appeared to be lying or in the middle of a strike of a sword or, in some cases, hands held protectively in front of them. And their clothing and weaponry was incredibly accurate work and what even stranger, they seemed to be the standard uniforms and weapons of the palace guard.
The Grand Duke noticed Miss Prudence ordering the soldiers around and headed towards her. He had a bad feeling about all of this. He stopped next to her and they stood silently, side by side for a moment looking at the soldiers carrying the statues through the entrance hall. Then the Grand Duke sighed.
"Do I even want to know?"
Miss Prudence pursed her lips. "I highly doubt it, Your Grace."
The Grand Duke sighed even deeper. "I was afraid of that."
xXx
Rella walked through the Mirror Hall smoothing out her skirts at the same time checking her reflection from the mirrors. It really wouldn't do for anyone to notice any strange shapes within her skirts.
She sighed as she exited the Hall. The events of yesterday still haunted her and made her feel angry, frightened and sad at the same time. She missed Falad something terrible. She knew she would manage on her own perfectly well, but she still hoped that Falad were here comforting her, his steady presence with his fiery temperament always made her feel so much better.
She had been cooped up in her quarters since she came back to the Castle yesterday and now she wanted a little bit of fresh air. They were similar with Falad that way. They both felt it easier to think when outside. That was why they often at home did their work in their garden or in the balconies of their small manor.
Rella stepped outside to the gardens and inhaled deeply. It may not be her home's gardens but they would do. She picked a path at random and set a peaceful pace for her to stroll and let her mind wander freely. She wasn't allowed to keep to her thoughts for long, though. As she was coming up to the crossing of two paths, she nearly run over by two happily shrieking children. Or rather, the other was shrieking happily, the other seemed to be quite put out as he tore after his sister.
"Leopold, Elaiza! Slow down!"
Rella stopped as she heard Anastasia and waited for her to reach the crossing. She was carrying Richard in her arms and trying to see where her two older children had gone off to. Rella smiled and pointed her to the right direction joining her and Richard. Rella observed her stepsister as they walked. She appeared to be feeling better compared to yesterday when she had been quite distraught.
"Have you talked with the Prince?" Rella had to ask.
Anastasia smiled a small but a happy smile. "Yes. We had a long talk this morning. We decided to try to see how we are going to work now that mother has revealed what she has. To see if he really does love me."
Rella smiled. "That's great! Though, I do think that he does love you. Really."
Anastasia smiled in thanks and adjusted Richard in her arms. Richard was babbling incoherently and happily as they watched Leopold and Elaiza play near a small fountain. The women sat down at the edge.
"What about you, Rella?" Anastasia asked looking at her worriedly.
Rella shrugged. "I'll manage. I miss Falad already, though. I want your mother found so that we can change him and everyone else back."
Anastasia nodded. "I understand. I can't imagine what it's like having to see your loved one in stone. I don't think I could live with that if it were to happen to Charles."
Rella smiled faintly. "Right now I'm clinging into the hope, that we'll get the wand. If we don't… I don't know then."
Anastasia rested her hand on Rella's shoulder in silent support. "We'll get the wand. I know we will."
Rella smiled at her gratefully. If there was something about this trip she liked, it was the fact that she and Anastasia had manage to become great friends. She was about to answer her when Elaiza came upon them. She was looking very serious as she stopped in front Rella and her mother.
"Mommy", she started gravelly. "I tink you need to come quickly. Leo went to the wivew and now all the fishies is goin to eat him."
Rella and Anastasia blinked.
"All the fishies?" Anastasia asked.
Elaiza nodded. "Even the fwogs."
The women look at each other and burst out laughing. Elaiza frowned delicately.
"Dat's not fun, is it?"
Anastasia shook her head. "No, no, sweetie. Of course not."
Then she laughed a bit more as she held her hand for the little girl to take. "Let's go save your brother from the underwater life."
Still laughing the group led by the little princess strode towards the little river where the young prince apparently had been ambushed by the fish.
xXx
The Tremaine Manor was bustling with soldiers. They had been ordered to look for the Lady Tremaine and a stone statue of an old woman. This last order was slightly confusing to them. What made this project even more strange was that the Prince himself was here, looking at their side with the Grand Duke trying to inform him of the most un-prince like behavior.
Which the Prince naturally ignored.
The Lady of the house was not found, but the stone statue was discovered quite quickly and the Prince and the Grand Duke went to the back yard to see the Fairy Godmother whose wand was causing so much trouble at the moment. The Grad Duke had been brought up to speed by the Prince when they had been riding to Manor and had been cursing about getting up at all that day ever since. Magic wands and Fairy Godmothers? Really now?!
They came to the statue and The Duke looked at it carefully. There was an old woman in a large-sleeved robe standing on a podium. She looked like she was trying to reach for something or perhaps stop something.
The Prince had cocked his head to the side. "Huh. She looks like a sweet granny."
The Duke blinked. "Yes, Your Highness. I suppose she does."
The Grand Duke motioned some of the soldiers to come and start moving the statue to the Castle. It would be better kept there with the other statues once they got the wand back. The Prince and the Grand Duke stepped back to give the soldiers more space to work and left to circle around the house once more. Perhaps they had missed something. A clue, maybe, that would tell if Lady Tremaine had been here.
However, no matter how they looked nothing indicated that she would have been in the house during the last two days. Around the clock guard was ordered before the Prince ordered everyone to return to the Castle. Before leaving the Prince glanced at the Manor once more. He could have sworn he had felt like someone had been watching them.
xXx
A figure deep in the shadows watched as the soldiers left and the ones that remained set up rounds for themselves. With a hissed curse the figure disappeared with a swish of a wand and somehow the shadowy corner no longer seemed so dark.
A/N: A bit short chapter this time, I know.