The Shield and the Puddlejumper - a CindeRodneyrella story!
The Shield and the Puddlejumper.
Author: Fenchurch
Genre: Fairy tale
Warnings: Some gratuitous kissing and a happy ending. It’s an AU - surprisingly!
It’s a Cinderella (or ‘Rodneyrella’ as Rieval calls it!), but based on the film The Slipper and the Rose.
Beta'd by the Great and Glorious goddess47
Dedicated to Rieval... pour fêter ton anniversaire (un peu tard) et pour te remercier d'être venue fêter le mien!
***
Chapter One
“Right, that’s that!” Commander Kolya pulled off his gloves and dark cloak to reveal a bright scarlet jacket and blue britches.
Rodney gasped. It wasn’t standard funeral wear and they had just been attending the funeral of the Commander’s husband, Rodney’s father.
When Rodney turned to look at his step-brother and step-sister, he realised that they too had worn startling colours under their dark cloaks. His parents were not their parents and there hadn’t been much love lost between them all, but Commander Kolya’s marriage had restored his fortunes and… and it had been his husband’s funeral!
“I hate dark colours,” Michael complained. “They make me look washed out.”
“No, your pale face and blond hair make you look washed out!” Larryn told him cattily. “I look good in pretty much any colour!”
“Papa! Are you going to let her speak to me like that?” Michael appealed to Kolya.
“Like what?” Larryn asked indignantly.
Rodney sighed and removed his own cloak. Draping it over his arm, he headed for the stairs, but his Stepfather’s voice halted him.
“And where do you think you’re going?”
Rodney breathed deeply and then said, as politely as possible. “I am going to my room.”
His Stepsiblings exchanged amused glances and spoke together, sniggering.
“His room!”
“Cut that out, you two,” Kolya commanded. “You no longer have a room in this house.”
“I… excuse me?” Rodney asked, confused.
“Your father left everything to me. All his clothes, money, jewellery, assets and this castle are all mine now. You have nothing.”
“You tricked him!” Rodney accused angrily. “You made him change his will!”
“Yes,” Kolya agreed, blatantly. “I made him fall in love with me and I made him change his will. If he hadn’t died of natural causes, I would have killed him.”
Rodney, who was not a fighter of any kind, flew at his Stepfather and got a couple of solid hits in, before Michael and Kolya, between them, got him under control.
“That’s enough of that!” Kolya sneered. Michael forced Rodney to his knees and kept him there. “Now, listen very carefully. Your father left everything to me and that includes you. I have sacked the staff - they were useless and cost far too much to keep. You are now the staff.”
“To wash and scrub and cook and clean!” Larryn crowed.
“To take orders instead of giving them!” Michael added gleefully.
“In your dreams!” Rodney spat and struggled.
“No, you see, there is no one left on this planet. I made them all leave. I shall order in any provisions we need and of course we three can still come and go and do as we please, but I have removed the control crystal from the Dialler. There is only one way off this planet and I control it. I will never remove this pouch from around my neck and you have no way to escape.” Kolya picked up a leather bag that hung around his neck and Rodney could see the crystal glinting within. “Besides, even if you did get away, what would you do? Where would you go? You are too rude to have friends and you have no discernable skills… except perhaps your questionable interest in… in Science!” Kolya laughed derisively. “No, you are stuck here, and if you wish to eat then you will work. So, off to the kitchen with you!”
Kolya grabbed Rodney’s arm and between his stepbrother and stepfather, Rodney was manhandled towards the kitchens and literally thrown down the stairs.
Kolya dusted his hands as though they had been contaminated in some way.
“I’m hungry. Burying spouses really takes it out of you, you know, and I should… I’ve buried two wives and a husband now.” He smirked at Rodney’s fury. “Have a meal ready for us by five o’clock, or else we shall come down and beat you. Remember that I still have that lemon in my pocket and that your death will only mean that we go and buy ourselves a slave in your place. Now, get working!”
The door slammed and Rodney looked around at the small, homely kitchen where he had spent many happy hours. It was true that Rodney was too abrasive to win friends among the nobility, but here, among the staff, he had belonged. They had played with him, when his father forgot he existed, and they had let him make his scientific discoveries down here when they were forbidden upstairs. The cook had often helped him to get the equipment he needed in the past and they had all helped to set up his lab in one of the outhouses.
Now, though, the place was empty. The laughter that had made it such a warm and cosy place was gone and in its stead there was an eerie silence.
Rodney thought about his options and quickly came to the conclusion that, until he found a way to escape, he was stuck here. It was all too much. He sat down on the lowest step and buried his face in his hands. When his father had married Kolya, he had been excited about having a brother and sister, especially as the brother was supposed to be some kind of scientist, but it quickly became obvious that Michael was only interested in making money out of science and not in the process itself. They were horrible and his father had had even less time for him than before.
Now it was worse. Now he had nothing. Even Carson, his tutor and godfather, had gone away, and he was left alone. He allowed a few tears to escape his eye before telling himself, rather sternly, that seventeen year olds did not cry under any circumstances, and he got up and began to plan dinner.
*******
Prince John hesitated before stepping through the Stargate.
“Hey, what’s up?” his valet and bodyguard grunted.
“Here we go again,” the Prince sighed. “Every time I come home they make a huge fuss. I bet they didn’t do this for Dave.”
“It’s ‘cos you are the only one they’ve got left,” Ronon shrugged. “You’re the Prince.”
“Yeah, but I’m still just me.”
“Go through or I’ll push you!” Ronon threatened, good-naturedly.
“Thanks,” John replied sarcastically as he straightened his shoulders and stepped through the gate.
A hundred voices cheered as John re-materialised in the ‘gate room. There was a fanfare going on and the city lit up like Christmas tree lights to see her favourite son come home.
The Sheppards were direct descendants of the Ancients, that mystical race of people who had built the beautiful city of Atlantis, and so John was the heir to the throne where sat the King of Pegasus. Over the years, the shining city had become the centre of all things in the galaxy, especially since the defeat of the Wraith - a terrifying race of vampiric mutants that had previously terrorised the people of the Pegasus Galaxy.
Ever since John’s grandfather had managed to be King while this feat was performed (although to hear Grandfather tell it, you’d have thought he was actually there at the time!), Atlantis had ruled the galaxy.
Of course, John knew that the galaxy pretty much ran itself, but there was unity and coherence with a Royal Family and however much John might want to fight it, he was a public figurehead. When people saw him, they saw security and law and order… and a rather nice young man with wild hair that they’d like their children to marry…
A lady in a fine red dress stood next to a strange-looking man in a dark suit and pressed shirt on the balcony over-looking the ‘gate room. While all around bowed to the Prince, John nodded at the Regents.
“Aunt Elizabeth, Woolsey!” he acknowledged.
“Welcome home, Prince John,” Elizabeth grinned widely. “You are just in time for the start of the grand banquet.”
“Banquet,” John repeated unenthusiastically. “Any particular reason?”
“Why, to celebrate your engagement to the Lady Mara, of course.”
“Kneel, Prince John.” Woolsey suddenly appeared at his elbow.
“What? Why?”
“We have decided that you deserve a grand honour for this auspicious occasion. The impending marriage of the Crown Prince of Atlantis is one of the greatest events in the life of your city. This wedding will ensure the succession and allow you, Your Royal Highness, Prince John, to ascend the throne of our Ancestors as King.”
John would have bet money on Woolsey having practised that little speech over and over again in preparation.
“There is no auspicious…” John tried, but he was manhandled by the Lord Chamberlain over to a cushion on the steps where his aunt, the Lady Regent of Atlantis, was waiting with a large medal.
“You, Prince John, shall henceforth be known as….”
“Aunt Elizabeth, I…”
“Knight Commander of the Royal Order of the…”
“I didn’t ask her…”
“Royal Order of the Staircase,” Elizabeth repeated firmly, putting the ribbon around the Prince’s neck.
“Isn’t that usually awarded posthumously?” John asked, but was unheeded.
“Now, rise and I kiss you on both cheeks.” Elizabeth did that. “You know, I sometimes award medals to a whole battalion!” She confided to her nephew and John sighed.
“Can I get up now?” he asked as the court of Atlantis clapped and cheered. “Aunt Elizabeth, will you please listen to me?”
“But the banquet is about to begin and you must accompany…”
“ELIZABETH!” John shouted and suddenly there was silence.
“Yes ,John?”
“I didn’t want to do this in front of the court…. Look, I went to The Tower and I met Mara, but…”
“Yes John, I know. That’s why we’re having this… “
“There should be no celebration. There is no reason to celebrate!”
Woolsey stepped up to stand next to Elizabeth.
“She turned you down?” the Chamberlain asked.
“No, she did not turn me down.”
“Then that’s alright…”
“No, Woolsey, it is not! She didn’t turn me down - I didn’t ask!”
There was a gasp from all those who were still left attending the Prince. Most of the court had gone on to dinner.
“Why not?” Elizabeth asked. “Did she not have the gene?”
“Oh yes, she had the gene. Not a very strong one, in fact it was pretty weak, but she had it.”
“Was she not pretty?” Woolsey asked. “You were very insistent that we find an ATA noble with good looks.”
“She was pretty enough, but… look, I want a partner who can match me in conversation, who can beat me at chess… I want someone intelligent!”
“Lady Mara wasn’t bright enough for you?” Elizabeth asked crossly.
“No! She barely has a brain! She threw herself at me! It was… horrible!”
“Why would having a pretty lady throwing herself at you be horrible?” Woolsey asked, but everyone ignored him.
“I couldn’t bear to spend my life with someone like that!”
“Why on earth not? I’m told she has perfect court manners.”
“Yes Elizabeth, I’m sure she has… Look, I know it sounds cheesy, but… I want to marry for love.”
John sighed. He should have predicted the response from his guardian and chief advisor. They both rounded on him and spoke together.
“What has love got to do with being married?” Elizabeth asked.
“It’s your duty to marry, Prince John.” Woolsey said.
“You lucky bastard!”
A gloriously dressed man with a long pony tail and sparkles and ribbons everywhere approached and John sighed.
“Oh crap! Who let him in?” Prince John mumbled sotto voce, then turned to his cousin. “What is it, Kav?”
“You get to pick the best of the bunch and yet you always turn them down!”
“Look, Kav, if you want them…”
“But they don’t want me! They want you” the Duke of Kavanaugh accused with an extravagant gesture. “You have the title and the looks and I get your leavings!”
Woolsey took John by the arm and led him away.
“Your highness, that’s the price we have to pay unless you do your duty and get married.” The Chamberlain indicated Kavanaugh with a nod of the head.
“I know and I understand my duty, and believe me when I say that I would do many things to prevent Kav becoming king, but I can’t marry without love. I’m sorry, but I can’t.”
“Then you should do as your father and your uncle did, and all your ancestors.”
John whirled furiously and waggled a finger at his aunt.
“Don’t you dare! Don’t you even think about it! I’m glad that I had Dave as a brother, but I refuse to marry someone just for show and then have a lover as well. That’s just not… I just can’t… and you can’t make me!”
“John!” Elizabeth tried, but John had swept out.
“Ronon!” Woolsey called as the giant went to follow his master. “You have the task of convincing him.”
“Sorry, can’t do that!” Ronon smiled in his irritatingly relaxed way. “I’m just a servant.”
With an amused grin, the giant jogged to catch up with the prince.
***
In his own room, John took the ridiculous medal off and threw it at his couch.
“Am I wrong Ronon?” he asked, knowing that Ronon would be following him.
“Don’t ask me.”
“If I am supposed to sleep with someone and have children with them, then why should I not love them? What kind of morals are we espousing here?”
“I hate it when you use big words.” Ronon grunted and John couldn’t hold onto his anger.
Chuckling, he sat down on his bed and pulled out a comic.
“Hey!”
“Yeah Ronon?” John looked at his valet over his comic.
“I wouldn’t have married her either.”
John just laughed.
******
Chapter 2
Author: Fenchurch
Genre: Fairy tale
Warnings: Some gratuitous kissing and a happy ending. It’s an AU - surprisingly!
It’s a Cinderella (or ‘Rodneyrella’ as Rieval calls it!), but based on the film The Slipper and the Rose.
Beta'd by the Great and Glorious goddess47
Dedicated to Rieval... pour fêter ton anniversaire (un peu tard) et pour te remercier d'être venue fêter le mien!
***
Chapter One
“Right, that’s that!” Commander Kolya pulled off his gloves and dark cloak to reveal a bright scarlet jacket and blue britches.
Rodney gasped. It wasn’t standard funeral wear and they had just been attending the funeral of the Commander’s husband, Rodney’s father.
When Rodney turned to look at his step-brother and step-sister, he realised that they too had worn startling colours under their dark cloaks. His parents were not their parents and there hadn’t been much love lost between them all, but Commander Kolya’s marriage had restored his fortunes and… and it had been his husband’s funeral!
“I hate dark colours,” Michael complained. “They make me look washed out.”
“No, your pale face and blond hair make you look washed out!” Larryn told him cattily. “I look good in pretty much any colour!”
“Papa! Are you going to let her speak to me like that?” Michael appealed to Kolya.
“Like what?” Larryn asked indignantly.
Rodney sighed and removed his own cloak. Draping it over his arm, he headed for the stairs, but his Stepfather’s voice halted him.
“And where do you think you’re going?”
Rodney breathed deeply and then said, as politely as possible. “I am going to my room.”
His Stepsiblings exchanged amused glances and spoke together, sniggering.
“His room!”
“Cut that out, you two,” Kolya commanded. “You no longer have a room in this house.”
“I… excuse me?” Rodney asked, confused.
“Your father left everything to me. All his clothes, money, jewellery, assets and this castle are all mine now. You have nothing.”
“You tricked him!” Rodney accused angrily. “You made him change his will!”
“Yes,” Kolya agreed, blatantly. “I made him fall in love with me and I made him change his will. If he hadn’t died of natural causes, I would have killed him.”
Rodney, who was not a fighter of any kind, flew at his Stepfather and got a couple of solid hits in, before Michael and Kolya, between them, got him under control.
“That’s enough of that!” Kolya sneered. Michael forced Rodney to his knees and kept him there. “Now, listen very carefully. Your father left everything to me and that includes you. I have sacked the staff - they were useless and cost far too much to keep. You are now the staff.”
“To wash and scrub and cook and clean!” Larryn crowed.
“To take orders instead of giving them!” Michael added gleefully.
“In your dreams!” Rodney spat and struggled.
“No, you see, there is no one left on this planet. I made them all leave. I shall order in any provisions we need and of course we three can still come and go and do as we please, but I have removed the control crystal from the Dialler. There is only one way off this planet and I control it. I will never remove this pouch from around my neck and you have no way to escape.” Kolya picked up a leather bag that hung around his neck and Rodney could see the crystal glinting within. “Besides, even if you did get away, what would you do? Where would you go? You are too rude to have friends and you have no discernable skills… except perhaps your questionable interest in… in Science!” Kolya laughed derisively. “No, you are stuck here, and if you wish to eat then you will work. So, off to the kitchen with you!”
Kolya grabbed Rodney’s arm and between his stepbrother and stepfather, Rodney was manhandled towards the kitchens and literally thrown down the stairs.
Kolya dusted his hands as though they had been contaminated in some way.
“I’m hungry. Burying spouses really takes it out of you, you know, and I should… I’ve buried two wives and a husband now.” He smirked at Rodney’s fury. “Have a meal ready for us by five o’clock, or else we shall come down and beat you. Remember that I still have that lemon in my pocket and that your death will only mean that we go and buy ourselves a slave in your place. Now, get working!”
The door slammed and Rodney looked around at the small, homely kitchen where he had spent many happy hours. It was true that Rodney was too abrasive to win friends among the nobility, but here, among the staff, he had belonged. They had played with him, when his father forgot he existed, and they had let him make his scientific discoveries down here when they were forbidden upstairs. The cook had often helped him to get the equipment he needed in the past and they had all helped to set up his lab in one of the outhouses.
Now, though, the place was empty. The laughter that had made it such a warm and cosy place was gone and in its stead there was an eerie silence.
Rodney thought about his options and quickly came to the conclusion that, until he found a way to escape, he was stuck here. It was all too much. He sat down on the lowest step and buried his face in his hands. When his father had married Kolya, he had been excited about having a brother and sister, especially as the brother was supposed to be some kind of scientist, but it quickly became obvious that Michael was only interested in making money out of science and not in the process itself. They were horrible and his father had had even less time for him than before.
Now it was worse. Now he had nothing. Even Carson, his tutor and godfather, had gone away, and he was left alone. He allowed a few tears to escape his eye before telling himself, rather sternly, that seventeen year olds did not cry under any circumstances, and he got up and began to plan dinner.
*******
Prince John hesitated before stepping through the Stargate.
“Hey, what’s up?” his valet and bodyguard grunted.
“Here we go again,” the Prince sighed. “Every time I come home they make a huge fuss. I bet they didn’t do this for Dave.”
“It’s ‘cos you are the only one they’ve got left,” Ronon shrugged. “You’re the Prince.”
“Yeah, but I’m still just me.”
“Go through or I’ll push you!” Ronon threatened, good-naturedly.
“Thanks,” John replied sarcastically as he straightened his shoulders and stepped through the gate.
A hundred voices cheered as John re-materialised in the ‘gate room. There was a fanfare going on and the city lit up like Christmas tree lights to see her favourite son come home.
The Sheppards were direct descendants of the Ancients, that mystical race of people who had built the beautiful city of Atlantis, and so John was the heir to the throne where sat the King of Pegasus. Over the years, the shining city had become the centre of all things in the galaxy, especially since the defeat of the Wraith - a terrifying race of vampiric mutants that had previously terrorised the people of the Pegasus Galaxy.
Ever since John’s grandfather had managed to be King while this feat was performed (although to hear Grandfather tell it, you’d have thought he was actually there at the time!), Atlantis had ruled the galaxy.
Of course, John knew that the galaxy pretty much ran itself, but there was unity and coherence with a Royal Family and however much John might want to fight it, he was a public figurehead. When people saw him, they saw security and law and order… and a rather nice young man with wild hair that they’d like their children to marry…
A lady in a fine red dress stood next to a strange-looking man in a dark suit and pressed shirt on the balcony over-looking the ‘gate room. While all around bowed to the Prince, John nodded at the Regents.
“Aunt Elizabeth, Woolsey!” he acknowledged.
“Welcome home, Prince John,” Elizabeth grinned widely. “You are just in time for the start of the grand banquet.”
“Banquet,” John repeated unenthusiastically. “Any particular reason?”
“Why, to celebrate your engagement to the Lady Mara, of course.”
“Kneel, Prince John.” Woolsey suddenly appeared at his elbow.
“What? Why?”
“We have decided that you deserve a grand honour for this auspicious occasion. The impending marriage of the Crown Prince of Atlantis is one of the greatest events in the life of your city. This wedding will ensure the succession and allow you, Your Royal Highness, Prince John, to ascend the throne of our Ancestors as King.”
John would have bet money on Woolsey having practised that little speech over and over again in preparation.
“There is no auspicious…” John tried, but he was manhandled by the Lord Chamberlain over to a cushion on the steps where his aunt, the Lady Regent of Atlantis, was waiting with a large medal.
“You, Prince John, shall henceforth be known as….”
“Aunt Elizabeth, I…”
“Knight Commander of the Royal Order of the…”
“I didn’t ask her…”
“Royal Order of the Staircase,” Elizabeth repeated firmly, putting the ribbon around the Prince’s neck.
“Isn’t that usually awarded posthumously?” John asked, but was unheeded.
“Now, rise and I kiss you on both cheeks.” Elizabeth did that. “You know, I sometimes award medals to a whole battalion!” She confided to her nephew and John sighed.
“Can I get up now?” he asked as the court of Atlantis clapped and cheered. “Aunt Elizabeth, will you please listen to me?”
“But the banquet is about to begin and you must accompany…”
“ELIZABETH!” John shouted and suddenly there was silence.
“Yes ,John?”
“I didn’t want to do this in front of the court…. Look, I went to The Tower and I met Mara, but…”
“Yes John, I know. That’s why we’re having this… “
“There should be no celebration. There is no reason to celebrate!”
Woolsey stepped up to stand next to Elizabeth.
“She turned you down?” the Chamberlain asked.
“No, she did not turn me down.”
“Then that’s alright…”
“No, Woolsey, it is not! She didn’t turn me down - I didn’t ask!”
There was a gasp from all those who were still left attending the Prince. Most of the court had gone on to dinner.
“Why not?” Elizabeth asked. “Did she not have the gene?”
“Oh yes, she had the gene. Not a very strong one, in fact it was pretty weak, but she had it.”
“Was she not pretty?” Woolsey asked. “You were very insistent that we find an ATA noble with good looks.”
“She was pretty enough, but… look, I want a partner who can match me in conversation, who can beat me at chess… I want someone intelligent!”
“Lady Mara wasn’t bright enough for you?” Elizabeth asked crossly.
“No! She barely has a brain! She threw herself at me! It was… horrible!”
“Why would having a pretty lady throwing herself at you be horrible?” Woolsey asked, but everyone ignored him.
“I couldn’t bear to spend my life with someone like that!”
“Why on earth not? I’m told she has perfect court manners.”
“Yes Elizabeth, I’m sure she has… Look, I know it sounds cheesy, but… I want to marry for love.”
John sighed. He should have predicted the response from his guardian and chief advisor. They both rounded on him and spoke together.
“What has love got to do with being married?” Elizabeth asked.
“It’s your duty to marry, Prince John.” Woolsey said.
“You lucky bastard!”
A gloriously dressed man with a long pony tail and sparkles and ribbons everywhere approached and John sighed.
“Oh crap! Who let him in?” Prince John mumbled sotto voce, then turned to his cousin. “What is it, Kav?”
“You get to pick the best of the bunch and yet you always turn them down!”
“Look, Kav, if you want them…”
“But they don’t want me! They want you” the Duke of Kavanaugh accused with an extravagant gesture. “You have the title and the looks and I get your leavings!”
Woolsey took John by the arm and led him away.
“Your highness, that’s the price we have to pay unless you do your duty and get married.” The Chamberlain indicated Kavanaugh with a nod of the head.
“I know and I understand my duty, and believe me when I say that I would do many things to prevent Kav becoming king, but I can’t marry without love. I’m sorry, but I can’t.”
“Then you should do as your father and your uncle did, and all your ancestors.”
John whirled furiously and waggled a finger at his aunt.
“Don’t you dare! Don’t you even think about it! I’m glad that I had Dave as a brother, but I refuse to marry someone just for show and then have a lover as well. That’s just not… I just can’t… and you can’t make me!”
“John!” Elizabeth tried, but John had swept out.
“Ronon!” Woolsey called as the giant went to follow his master. “You have the task of convincing him.”
“Sorry, can’t do that!” Ronon smiled in his irritatingly relaxed way. “I’m just a servant.”
With an amused grin, the giant jogged to catch up with the prince.
***
In his own room, John took the ridiculous medal off and threw it at his couch.
“Am I wrong Ronon?” he asked, knowing that Ronon would be following him.
“Don’t ask me.”
“If I am supposed to sleep with someone and have children with them, then why should I not love them? What kind of morals are we espousing here?”
“I hate it when you use big words.” Ronon grunted and John couldn’t hold onto his anger.
Chuckling, he sat down on his bed and pulled out a comic.
“Hey!”
“Yeah Ronon?” John looked at his valet over his comic.
“I wouldn’t have married her either.”
John just laughed.
******
Chapter 2