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edenfallingWhy am I up and posting at this hour? Because I've been trying to fix my internet connection, which for reasons still unknown completely died around dinnertime. I unplugged everything -- the modem, the router, heck, even the various parts of my computer -- dusted, vacuumed, straightened wires, restarted things, and it kept on not working. But I persevered, and see! It functions!
I hope Chris and Rebecca have their access back too. Then again, since the modem and router are in my room and plugged into my power strip, if I have access, they ought to as well.
Anyway. Here we go.
---------------------------------------------
Chapter Three: The Prince Arrives
---------------------------------------------
The fox returned now and again, always mysterious about where it had been. It brought riddles, gossip, and tales of far kingdoms like Alandia, Hy Brasil, Carillon, and Thule, and listened to news of Florissant and Bluebell's family. She looked forward to its visits and put the prince and king out of her mind as best she could.
The summer after her seventeenth birthday, Bluebell received a letter from her parents. A messenger shouted at her window before dawn until she ran up to her workroom (the only room in the tower with windows large enough to fit much of anything through) and let down a basket for the scroll. She then sent down some breakfast for the messenger, as he had to wait for her response.
The letter said:
Dear Daughter,
It has come to our Attention that a foreign Prince has recently arrived at the Court of the King of Murlee, seeking to acquire the Horse that can outrun the Wind (a Singularly ugly Horse, I must tell you) and was Apprehended while attempting to Remove the Horse Unlawfully in the Night (he was Stealing it, Dear; your Father can say nothing straight, nor can he Spell, which is why I Copy this out for you).
However, he apparently convinced the King of Murlee of his general good Character (I shouldn't be at all Surprised; that King is a Scoundrel himself) and has been offered the Horse on Condition that he bring you, the beautiful Princess of the Ivory Tower (I always said you were Lovely, did I not, though I suppose no Good has come of it), to the King.
We expect the Prince in Florissant within the Week, and thought it Wise to send you Fair Warning (though I really don't See how he'll manage to clean the Moat after all these Years of letting it go to Muck; still Destiny is Not to be Argued with).
All our Love,
King Dunstan and Queen Eleanor
Bluebell sent several baskets of books, embroidery, and paintings home with the messenger, but her letter was short. It said:
Dear Father and Mother,
Thank you for your Warning and your Love. I continue Well and hope to return Home someday. Here are some of my Possessions, which I ask you to keep until my Return. I will leave more when I Depart. Give my Love to all.
Your loving Daughter,
Bluebell
Nine days thereafter, the prince appeared in the clearing beneath the ivory tower. He was handsome, with raven black hair, crystal blue eyes, and a clean face. He was also tall and strong. (Princes must be handsome so princesses can easily love them, and they must be tall and strong so they can become impressive kings when they are older.) The fox walked beside him. Bluebell watched from the shadows of her workroom window.
"Now what, fox?" the prince asked.
"Touch the door," said the fox. "It will open for you. Then go in and talk to the princess. I suggest you be polite." It looked up at the window and grinned. Bluebell waved. She drew the curtains and hurried down to the kitchen where she had gathered her baskets.
When the prince reached the kitchen, she curtsied. (She knew, you see, that it never hurts to be polite, even when you are convinced you will dislike a person.) The prince bowed uncertainly. "You are the princess of the ivory tower?" he asked.
Bluebell bit her tongue. "Yes, sir. I am Princess Bluebell of Florissant and I've lived here for five years. Have you come to let me out?"
The prince blinked. "I suppose so. I'm Prince Ivan of Tourmaline. It's a long way west of here. Shall we leave, my lady?"
"Yes, thank you. Please carry my baskets outside while I tidy the tower." The prince looked surprised, and then as if he wanted to protest, but he thought better of it. He picked up two baskets and walked down the stairs. Bluebell rushed upstairs, tidied her rooms, and closed the privy door. When she returned to the kitchen, the prince and the baskets were gone.
She packed bread, cheese, and some dried beef in a bag (she had noticed the prince had no food in his satchel) and walked slowly down the spiral stairs and into the morning sun. The door remained open behind her and the tower looked as it had five years before, when she entered. She felt tired.
"What now?" she asked.
"We go to Murlee," said the prince. "I'm supposed to trade you for the horse that can outrun the wind, which I need to trade in Athimand for the firebird, which I need to take home to inherit the kingdom and because it steals from my father's garden."
"Ah," said Bluebell. "I suppose we'd best be leaving, then. You can leave all but the small basket here; my family will send someone to fetch them."
The prince looked surprised again but he picked up the small basket (which held bowls, soap, a dress, and various other useful things for a journey). They walked off to the west, not speaking to each other. The fox followed.
---------------------------------------------
Chapter Four: The Horse That Could Outrun the Wind
---------------------------------------------
When they reached Murlee a week later, Bluebell took the fox aside in the evening. "Can you get me out of Murlee after the trade? Because I think I found a loophole in my destiny. I get traded for the horse that can outrun the wind, but nothing says I have to stay here."
"Ah. Funny that you should ask," said the fox, looking as if it would rather not be having this conversation. "You see, it's the prince's destiny to bring home three treasures, not just the firebird. He has to bring you and the horse as well. You won't stay long in Murlee."
"I'm a treasure? Like a horse and a brainless bird?"
"In the eyes of destiny, yes. Firebird, horse, and princess: three rare, magical, or beautiful creatures. I don't think it's fair, but I'm only a fox."
"I see," said Bluebell. "Thank you, fox."
She wrapped herself in a blanket and lay down. The fox lay down beside her. "Go away," she said. "You won't help me. I don't want anything to do with you."
"Ah. My apologies." The fox walked away. Bluebell watched the stars turning in the sky for several hours before she slept.
The next day, the prince tried to talk to her after breakfast. "Don't worry about the king of Murlee, my lady," he said. "I won't let you stay there."
"If you say so." Bluebell took his bowl and turned away. He sighed and began packing the basket.
They reached the capitol of Murlee by mid-morning and walked through the city to the castle gates, which were gilded. "I have come with the princess of the ivory tower!" the prince cried. "Let me in." The gates creaked open and the three travelers walked into the castle.
The castle was very different from what Bluebell had expected. Her father's castle was simply a stone house, somewhat larger than other houses in Florissant, with a wall, a swampy moat, and a gate-tower. The king of Murlee, however, apparently thought a castle should be a hundred times larger than any house, should have walls and ceilings set with polished marble, mirrors, and gold, and any undecorated inch hung with brilliant cloth-of-gold tapestries or covered with gilded furniture. Bluebell found it rather gaudy and tasteless, though she had to admit it was impressive.
She and the prince walked through the castle to a great hall where the king of Murlee sat on his golden throne (which would have paid all the taxes of Florissant for seventeen years). "Wasteful," Bluebell muttered. The fox grinned at her.
The prince shrugged. "It's his land. We should at least be polite." He stepped forward and raised his voice. "Your Majesty, I have brought the princess of the ivory tower, to exchange for the horse that can outrun the wind." He bowed. Bluebell curtsied slightly (for the prince was correct; it never hurts to be polite, particularly before one knows a person).
The king of Murlee walked down the steps from his throne to look at Bluebell. He examined her hair, her face, her hands, her figure, and her feet. She held herself straight and refused to blink or flinch as he ran her hair through his fingers and caressed her cheek.
"Hmm," said the king. "She is hardly a traditional beauty. Still, she is unquestionably fair, and her eyes are truly enchanting." He turned to the prince. "She is a fair trade. You have earned the horse that can outrun the wind. Come to the stables.
"You stay here, girl," he said to Bluebell. "My servants will take you to a room. Give them your basket."
Bluebell curtsied deeply. "Thank you, my lord," she said, "but I should like to see the horse that can outrun the wind, and say farewell to the prince who brought me to you."
The king shrugged. "No matter," he said, and he walked out of the throne room, preceded by ten guards (who wore red-and-gold and carried spears). Bluebell, the prince, and the fox walked behind him, followed by ten more guards.
After passing through a maze of gilded, mirrored hallways, they came to the stables in the outer bailey. A thin man in a patched tunic rushed out and bowed.
"Have the horse saddled and brought to me," the king said. The man hurried into the stables and returned leading a singularly ugly horse (it was built for speed, you see, not beauty) wearing a tattered saddle. The king turned to the prince. "Here is the horse that can outrun the wind," he said. "Take it and leave my kingdom."
The prince bowed. "At once, your Majesty." He took the reins and mounted; the horse shivered and danced forward until it stood beside Bluebell.
"Farewell, my lady," said the prince, and held out his hand. She grasped it, thinking to say goodbye and leave later with the fox, but the prince yanked her up behind him and spurred the horse toward the gates.
"What are you doing?" she shrieked.
"Saving you! Hold on." The prince leaned forward and kicked the horse again.
"Stop them!" shouted the king of Murlee, but the horse could outrun the wind and flew through the gates long before the guards could close them. The prince guided the horse through the city and into the forest, putting the golden castle far behind them.
The horse ran west for hours, tireless, through fields and forests, until the prince decided they were safe. He reined in the horse, slid to the ground, and offered his hands to Bluebell. She slid down and leaned on him as her knees buckled (for the horse was no more comfortable to ride than any other, though it could outrun the wind).
"That was stealing," she said.
The prince looked at his boots. "I know. But you really didn't want to stay with the king of Murlee. I saw how he treats people when I was there before."
Bluebell glared at him. "You should have thought of that before you ignored the fox and involved me in your destiny. Then I wouldn't have had to worry about the king of Murlee in the first place. Go away and I'll make dinner."
The prince sighed, but he unsaddled and brushed the horse as she gathered wood and water, then walked away, leaving the horse tied to a bush. While she boiled soup, Bluebell fed the horse bits of bread. It ate eagerly.
She slept badly that night, and was woken near midnight by a strange crackling noise. At first she thought a wild beast was creeping outside the firelight, but a voice whispered, "It's only me. Go to sleep."
"Fox!" she said. "How did you get here?"
"I walked. It was a long, long way, and I'm tired. Go to sleep, Bluebell." The fox lay down beside her. She let it stay, and fell asleep smiling.
---------------------------------------------
Back to chapters 1 and 2
Continue to chapters 5 and 6
---------------------------------------------
I seem to end a lot of chapters with characters falling asleep. Come to think of it, I do that a lot in Secrets as well. This is worrisome. I must find other convenient breaking points!
I hope Chris and Rebecca have their access back too. Then again, since the modem and router are in my room and plugged into my power strip, if I have access, they ought to as well.
Anyway. Here we go.
---------------------------------------------
Chapter Three: The Prince Arrives
---------------------------------------------
The fox returned now and again, always mysterious about where it had been. It brought riddles, gossip, and tales of far kingdoms like Alandia, Hy Brasil, Carillon, and Thule, and listened to news of Florissant and Bluebell's family. She looked forward to its visits and put the prince and king out of her mind as best she could.
The summer after her seventeenth birthday, Bluebell received a letter from her parents. A messenger shouted at her window before dawn until she ran up to her workroom (the only room in the tower with windows large enough to fit much of anything through) and let down a basket for the scroll. She then sent down some breakfast for the messenger, as he had to wait for her response.
The letter said:
Dear Daughter,
It has come to our Attention that a foreign Prince has recently arrived at the Court of the King of Murlee, seeking to acquire the Horse that can outrun the Wind (a Singularly ugly Horse, I must tell you) and was Apprehended while attempting to Remove the Horse Unlawfully in the Night (he was Stealing it, Dear; your Father can say nothing straight, nor can he Spell, which is why I Copy this out for you).
However, he apparently convinced the King of Murlee of his general good Character (I shouldn't be at all Surprised; that King is a Scoundrel himself) and has been offered the Horse on Condition that he bring you, the beautiful Princess of the Ivory Tower (I always said you were Lovely, did I not, though I suppose no Good has come of it), to the King.
We expect the Prince in Florissant within the Week, and thought it Wise to send you Fair Warning (though I really don't See how he'll manage to clean the Moat after all these Years of letting it go to Muck; still Destiny is Not to be Argued with).
All our Love,
King Dunstan and Queen Eleanor
Bluebell sent several baskets of books, embroidery, and paintings home with the messenger, but her letter was short. It said:
Dear Father and Mother,
Thank you for your Warning and your Love. I continue Well and hope to return Home someday. Here are some of my Possessions, which I ask you to keep until my Return. I will leave more when I Depart. Give my Love to all.
Your loving Daughter,
Bluebell
Nine days thereafter, the prince appeared in the clearing beneath the ivory tower. He was handsome, with raven black hair, crystal blue eyes, and a clean face. He was also tall and strong. (Princes must be handsome so princesses can easily love them, and they must be tall and strong so they can become impressive kings when they are older.) The fox walked beside him. Bluebell watched from the shadows of her workroom window.
"Now what, fox?" the prince asked.
"Touch the door," said the fox. "It will open for you. Then go in and talk to the princess. I suggest you be polite." It looked up at the window and grinned. Bluebell waved. She drew the curtains and hurried down to the kitchen where she had gathered her baskets.
When the prince reached the kitchen, she curtsied. (She knew, you see, that it never hurts to be polite, even when you are convinced you will dislike a person.) The prince bowed uncertainly. "You are the princess of the ivory tower?" he asked.
Bluebell bit her tongue. "Yes, sir. I am Princess Bluebell of Florissant and I've lived here for five years. Have you come to let me out?"
The prince blinked. "I suppose so. I'm Prince Ivan of Tourmaline. It's a long way west of here. Shall we leave, my lady?"
"Yes, thank you. Please carry my baskets outside while I tidy the tower." The prince looked surprised, and then as if he wanted to protest, but he thought better of it. He picked up two baskets and walked down the stairs. Bluebell rushed upstairs, tidied her rooms, and closed the privy door. When she returned to the kitchen, the prince and the baskets were gone.
She packed bread, cheese, and some dried beef in a bag (she had noticed the prince had no food in his satchel) and walked slowly down the spiral stairs and into the morning sun. The door remained open behind her and the tower looked as it had five years before, when she entered. She felt tired.
"What now?" she asked.
"We go to Murlee," said the prince. "I'm supposed to trade you for the horse that can outrun the wind, which I need to trade in Athimand for the firebird, which I need to take home to inherit the kingdom and because it steals from my father's garden."
"Ah," said Bluebell. "I suppose we'd best be leaving, then. You can leave all but the small basket here; my family will send someone to fetch them."
The prince looked surprised again but he picked up the small basket (which held bowls, soap, a dress, and various other useful things for a journey). They walked off to the west, not speaking to each other. The fox followed.
---------------------------------------------
Chapter Four: The Horse That Could Outrun the Wind
---------------------------------------------
When they reached Murlee a week later, Bluebell took the fox aside in the evening. "Can you get me out of Murlee after the trade? Because I think I found a loophole in my destiny. I get traded for the horse that can outrun the wind, but nothing says I have to stay here."
"Ah. Funny that you should ask," said the fox, looking as if it would rather not be having this conversation. "You see, it's the prince's destiny to bring home three treasures, not just the firebird. He has to bring you and the horse as well. You won't stay long in Murlee."
"I'm a treasure? Like a horse and a brainless bird?"
"In the eyes of destiny, yes. Firebird, horse, and princess: three rare, magical, or beautiful creatures. I don't think it's fair, but I'm only a fox."
"I see," said Bluebell. "Thank you, fox."
She wrapped herself in a blanket and lay down. The fox lay down beside her. "Go away," she said. "You won't help me. I don't want anything to do with you."
"Ah. My apologies." The fox walked away. Bluebell watched the stars turning in the sky for several hours before she slept.
The next day, the prince tried to talk to her after breakfast. "Don't worry about the king of Murlee, my lady," he said. "I won't let you stay there."
"If you say so." Bluebell took his bowl and turned away. He sighed and began packing the basket.
They reached the capitol of Murlee by mid-morning and walked through the city to the castle gates, which were gilded. "I have come with the princess of the ivory tower!" the prince cried. "Let me in." The gates creaked open and the three travelers walked into the castle.
The castle was very different from what Bluebell had expected. Her father's castle was simply a stone house, somewhat larger than other houses in Florissant, with a wall, a swampy moat, and a gate-tower. The king of Murlee, however, apparently thought a castle should be a hundred times larger than any house, should have walls and ceilings set with polished marble, mirrors, and gold, and any undecorated inch hung with brilliant cloth-of-gold tapestries or covered with gilded furniture. Bluebell found it rather gaudy and tasteless, though she had to admit it was impressive.
She and the prince walked through the castle to a great hall where the king of Murlee sat on his golden throne (which would have paid all the taxes of Florissant for seventeen years). "Wasteful," Bluebell muttered. The fox grinned at her.
The prince shrugged. "It's his land. We should at least be polite." He stepped forward and raised his voice. "Your Majesty, I have brought the princess of the ivory tower, to exchange for the horse that can outrun the wind." He bowed. Bluebell curtsied slightly (for the prince was correct; it never hurts to be polite, particularly before one knows a person).
The king of Murlee walked down the steps from his throne to look at Bluebell. He examined her hair, her face, her hands, her figure, and her feet. She held herself straight and refused to blink or flinch as he ran her hair through his fingers and caressed her cheek.
"Hmm," said the king. "She is hardly a traditional beauty. Still, she is unquestionably fair, and her eyes are truly enchanting." He turned to the prince. "She is a fair trade. You have earned the horse that can outrun the wind. Come to the stables.
"You stay here, girl," he said to Bluebell. "My servants will take you to a room. Give them your basket."
Bluebell curtsied deeply. "Thank you, my lord," she said, "but I should like to see the horse that can outrun the wind, and say farewell to the prince who brought me to you."
The king shrugged. "No matter," he said, and he walked out of the throne room, preceded by ten guards (who wore red-and-gold and carried spears). Bluebell, the prince, and the fox walked behind him, followed by ten more guards.
After passing through a maze of gilded, mirrored hallways, they came to the stables in the outer bailey. A thin man in a patched tunic rushed out and bowed.
"Have the horse saddled and brought to me," the king said. The man hurried into the stables and returned leading a singularly ugly horse (it was built for speed, you see, not beauty) wearing a tattered saddle. The king turned to the prince. "Here is the horse that can outrun the wind," he said. "Take it and leave my kingdom."
The prince bowed. "At once, your Majesty." He took the reins and mounted; the horse shivered and danced forward until it stood beside Bluebell.
"Farewell, my lady," said the prince, and held out his hand. She grasped it, thinking to say goodbye and leave later with the fox, but the prince yanked her up behind him and spurred the horse toward the gates.
"What are you doing?" she shrieked.
"Saving you! Hold on." The prince leaned forward and kicked the horse again.
"Stop them!" shouted the king of Murlee, but the horse could outrun the wind and flew through the gates long before the guards could close them. The prince guided the horse through the city and into the forest, putting the golden castle far behind them.
The horse ran west for hours, tireless, through fields and forests, until the prince decided they were safe. He reined in the horse, slid to the ground, and offered his hands to Bluebell. She slid down and leaned on him as her knees buckled (for the horse was no more comfortable to ride than any other, though it could outrun the wind).
"That was stealing," she said.
The prince looked at his boots. "I know. But you really didn't want to stay with the king of Murlee. I saw how he treats people when I was there before."
Bluebell glared at him. "You should have thought of that before you ignored the fox and involved me in your destiny. Then I wouldn't have had to worry about the king of Murlee in the first place. Go away and I'll make dinner."
The prince sighed, but he unsaddled and brushed the horse as she gathered wood and water, then walked away, leaving the horse tied to a bush. While she boiled soup, Bluebell fed the horse bits of bread. It ate eagerly.
She slept badly that night, and was woken near midnight by a strange crackling noise. At first she thought a wild beast was creeping outside the firelight, but a voice whispered, "It's only me. Go to sleep."
"Fox!" she said. "How did you get here?"
"I walked. It was a long, long way, and I'm tired. Go to sleep, Bluebell." The fox lay down beside her. She let it stay, and fell asleep smiling.
---------------------------------------------
Back to chapters 1 and 2
Continue to chapters 5 and 6
---------------------------------------------
I seem to end a lot of chapters with characters falling asleep. Come to think of it, I do that a lot in Secrets as well. This is worrisome. I must find other convenient breaking points!
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2004-04-06 08:08 am (UTC)