CHAPTER 3
"Maybe—Maybe if we lock them in a room together!"
"Uberta…"
"Or make it so they could only talk using hand gestures."
"Uberta, please. I'm getting a headache."
"I hope you're getting a headache thinking about how to fix this because I seem to be the only one doing any brainstorming around here!"
King William sighs and rubs his temples. He is waiting for Odette to finish gathering her things—all of her things. Everything she has stored here over the years instead of lugging them back and forth across the sea. They won't be returning, not for a long while, and certainly not for an extended period of time. Not after what happened.
"Uberta," Willam attempts to be consoling and resolute in equal parts when he says, "I am sorry for this. All our time and hard work put into this vision, and we won't see it come to fruition."
"Well, not if we don't try."
"We've been trying!" William immediately checks his volume. Halls echo. No need to give more gossip to the servants than they already have, and they certainly have plenty after what happened yesterday. He isn't sure where Derek is currently, but Odette has been holed up in her room since the incident. Either way, he does not want their ears to hear this conversation either. "We have done all in our power to see this through, but ultimately the decision is the children's, not ours. And they have chosen."
"They're still so young! They don't know what's good for them."
"They are grown," King William says with a heavy heart. "Derek is a strong man nearly ready for the crown, and Odette has become lady of kindness and grace. We are at a point that if they do not choose this now, they won't ever, and we need to stop fooling ourselves into thinking a marriage will happen."
"But—B-But—"
"Father?"
King William turns away from the blubbering face of the Queen to see his daughter at the top of the staircase that he stands at the base of. Yes, the look in her eye tells him he is correct in his argument. There is no convincing her of staying.
"Odette!" Queen Uberta exclaims. She meets Odette at the last few steps. "Sweetie, you don't truly want to leave, do you? We have all summer ahead of us! It's such a lovely time of year in Chamberg. You know this. There's so much we could do together, just us girls."
Odette gives the Queen a polite smile. "Thank you for the offer, but my father and I are going home."
"This could be your home."
The words are a quiet plea from the Queen that makes the other two wince.
King William and Princess Odette have always thought very highly of Queen Uberta and still do. Though eccentric and prideful, she is generous to a fault and extremely welcoming to any and all around her, making everyone feel included (except those who have personally wronged her, of course). Yes, she can cry for show and for real at the drop of a hat, but that's simply because her emotions run high constantly. Nobody wants to make Queen Uberta cry, certainly not Odette or William, but there is no avoiding this pain.
"I'm sorry," is all Odette can say.
Queen Uberta bites her quivering lower lip to still it. She holds her breath a moment, as do her company, until she releases her breath, squares her shoulders, lifts her nose, and says, "I'll go find Derek for the final farewell then."
King William sighs once again as Queen Uberta exits the room. He raises a hand to Odette's shoulder. "And how are you doing?"
"I'm fine, thank you."
The king knows that is all he will get out of her for the time being. That set look has not left her face. Perhaps she cried last night, perhaps she has yet to cry, perhaps she does not want to cry—any which way, King William knows for this moment, she has to be fine, therefore she is. A true leader, controlling her emotions out of necessity. King William would be proud if he wasn't so ashamed of the circumstances. He helped bring about the look.
"Is the ship ready?" Odette asks.
"It is. It only needs two more passengers."
Odette nods. She does not meet William's eye.
They both hear Queen Uberta before they see her. It's unclear what exactly she's saying because of the echoing in the halls. Then she and Derek appear.
King William tries to take the same strategy as his daughter when he sees Prince Derek and school his features despite feeling like he just tasted something sour.
That petulant look on the boy's face does not sit well with the king. Yes, King William did just call Derek a man, but that does not mean he does not have some growing up to do yet. Point in case, what was said yesterday.
"I…what else is there?"
The shock and hurt on Odette's face was enough to solidify King William's decision that this was the final summer they would try to get her and Derek together. Odette had alluded to that idea at the end of last year and made several arguments for the case. What had made William agree was her insistence that she would try this summer. Fully and completely, she would attempt to see Derek as someone to love and be with rather than fight it.
And it had worked! They kissed! Derek had requested the wedding be arranged! All the hard work and years of hope and worry in equal measure came to fruition, and then—
"—what else is there?"
King William understands Odette's question, why she had asked it. She wanted to be loved. Maybe it was William's fault in telling her so many stories about his absolute adoration for her mother. Aubri had been his world for a brief, fiery, beautiful moment in his life that ended far too quickly.
William does not regret Odette, not for one single moment. She was the product of his and Aubri's love. She was what they both wanted, a child of their own. But losing Aubri had been…Odette was the only thing that kept him going for a long while.
And Odette wants that. She wants the all-encompassing love she can count on the rest of her life. That's why she asked.
"You're all I ever wanted. You're beautiful."
"Thank you. But what else?"
"What else?"
"Is beauty all that matters to you?"
"I…what else is there?"
Oh yes, Odette is beautiful. She is her mother's daughter, after all. She is a golden beauty with soft features and kind eyes. Many other gentlemen from across the lands have asked King William to abandon his thoughts of combining his kingdom with Chamberg and instead give Odette's hand to one of them. She is a highly sought after prize any man would be lucky to have as the beauty on their arm.
But beauty fades. And that is why Odette asked. When beauty is gone, what then?
Perhaps King William is not as good at creating a neutral look as he thought because when he catches Derek's eye, the boy lowers his gaze.
There's a moment of heavy silence that King William realizes he must be the one to break it. "Shall we?" He offers Odette his arm, and the four of them make their way towards the castle's front gates.
It's a silent walk. William and Odette are given their horses once they reach the gates. King William and Odette mount their steeds and turn for their final goodbyes which are brief and uncomfortable. Then they head down the path and away from the castle and its residents that have been a part of their lives for so many years that it feels to William as if they are leaving behind something valuable.
But King William can live without expansion. He can live without growth in wealth. He can even live without extra security. What he cannot live without is his daughter's smile, and he fears if he had pushed Odette and Derek to marry, he would have, in a way, lost her.
For Queen Uberta, the joining of their lands would have been extremely convenient. All sea ports under one throne! Doubling of the military and wealth into one kingdom. A combining of peaceful neighbors that have had good relations for centuries. Nothing but a big win all around.
For King William, it would have meant stability. He still remembers when his father spoke of the southern barbarian clans' random attacks which jeopardized their people being able to winter without worry of starvation. It had been their good relations with Chamberg that helped save them. After losing much of his already small family to defending their lands, King William had found a brother in King Maximillian.
William had known Max for years. Their friendship stemmed from their respective kingdoms' good relations. They corresponded often and tried to visit one another every other year. The two of them became confidants when it came to running a kingdom. It was safe to ask each other foolish questions and debate on actions. They worked through several problems together.
One of King William's favorite memories was conspiring on how Maximilian could go about courting Uberta. Sure, she was willing enough to be pursued, but she had her own ideas about how one should go about such a thing. William had never laughed so hard in his life as he did those nights. And Max got his own laughter in when William nervously attempted to woo Aubri. Both men won the girl in the end. And both lost something. William only had his wife by his side for two precious years, and Maximillian never got to see his son grow up.
That's why it felt like providence to have Odette and Derek get together. Oh, how Max would have loved that idea! They would be in-laws! They could haggle each other at holiday dinners and fight over who would be the better grandfather. The centuries of good relations between their kingdoms would pay off, and they would be one happy family in a safe and prosperous kingdom.
King William glances at Odette. She has not raised her head the entire ride. Once again, King William sighs.
He tried.
"Odette—"
"We're at the carriage," Odette says quickly to derail any conversation about what transpired yesterday.
King William blinks in surprise. Yes, they are at the carriage. They dismount their horses and hand them off to the guards escorting them. Odette enters the carriage first and turns to make sure William gets settled in ok. William waves her off.
"I'm fine, I'm fine," he says but takes her offered hand anyway. He recognizes the grunting noise he makes as he sits as one his father would make as he got older.
William doesn't feel old in spirit, but he's no spring chicken. He realizes he's on the older side. He was forty-five when he met Odette's mother, and forty-seven when Odette was born. Now eighteen years later and he feels the ache caused by him not being careful in his younger years. To be fair, he had to defend his kingdom, so all his injuries weren't technically his fault. Either way, he is paying the price for them now.
The rocking of the carriage lulls William. The whirlwind of the past two days catches up to him, and he feels rather exhausted—emotionally along with physically. Despite a nap sounding lovely, King William tries one more time to talk to his daughter.
"Odette," he says, breaking the silence.
"I'm sorry," Odette says quickly. She stares out the window instead of meeting her father's eyes. "I tried. I really tried."
"Oh, Odette," King William reaches forward and takes Odette's hand. Now she does look at him. He meets her gaze with all the empathy he can put into his features. "We both did. And I'm sorry as well." King William's voice catches. He takes a breath and composes himself. "I'm so sorry, my daughter, for what I put you through. I thought…I thought it was for the best, but that's no excuse for making you miserable for so many years."
Odette places her other hand on top of her father's. "I love you, father."
"Oh, Odette. I love you too." King William squeezes her hands once before releasing them and leaning back in his seat. "Let us go home and enjoy a summer in our own lands, hm? It has been too long since I saw our orchards' produce grow from start to finish."
"That sounds lovely." Odette smiles. It may not be a fully happy one, but William sees it for what it is, her willingness to put all this behind them and move on.
The rocking of the carriage has a lulling effect on the two royals. King William loses the fight against sleep and dozes off. When he wakes up hours later, he sees Odette has also nodded off. A glance outside tells him it's just after dusk which means they must be near the shore. Thank goodness, he would love to get out and stretch his legs.
Rather unexpectedly, however, the carriage stops before clearing the forest.
"Sire! There is someone blocking the road."
King William quickly opens the door. Stepping outside, he glances down the road where his driver points to. A cloaked figure stands in the middle of the path, tall and foreboding.
"Stay inside, Odette." King William ushers his daughter back inside when she moves to step out and take a look herself. He firmly shuts the door once she's inside.
And he is glad he does, for it is the moment he turns back that he sees flash of orange fire swirling around the figure. It flares and pulses until there is no man standing there, only a creatures King William's mind describes as a great animal.
And that is the main thought in King William's addled mind when he wakes up who knows how much later. He is on the ground, the broken remains of the carriage and the bodies of his guards are scattered around him. He is vaguely aware of someone above him. He grabs the front of the man's shirt before him and yanks him down with what little strength William has left.
The man he grabs moves closer. Derek. Prince Derek.
"King William! Who did this?" Derek's voice can barely be heard over the heavy rain that has started to fall.
Who was it? Not who, but what. "It-It came…so quickly. A great animal."
"Where is Odette?" Prince Derek demands to know.
King William fears the poor boy doesn't understand the danger he is in. His grip on Derek's clothing tightens. "Listen to me, Derek—it's not what it seems. It's not what it seems!"
"What's not? Where is Odette?!"
Odette. Oh, Odette. "Odette…" His beautiful daughter. "—is…" The blessing he never thought he would get to have. The proof his dear Aubri loved him. The light in his life after so many years of hardship. "…gone."
King William slumps back as he feels the last of his strength drain out of him. And as the drops of rain fall upon his face as darkness envelopes everything, he could have sworn he heard Odette's name being called out into the black, unforgiving night.
A/N: I never new how much of a hold The Swan Princess had on me until I grew up and rewatched it. This story expansion is a love letter to the original trilogy. I hope you all enjoy it too.