[o61] gossip girl : storybook endings
Title: Storybook Endings
Author: In Fair Verona
Genre: Romance + Adventure
Pairing: CBN
Rating: T
Summary: Blair Waldorf never believed in fairy-tales. However, weeks after her best friend left for boarding school, Blair finds herself enthralled by the pages of an old book, and is thrown in the midst of a strange new world, at the center of a war, and in between a prince and a knight.
PROLOGUE | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14
A/N: I think we've established by now that it takes me at least a month to update this story. That said, I really hope the wait was worth it because there is a LOT of Chuck/Blair interaction in this chapter. In fact, it's pretty much only CBN and one other character who I won't mention, so that you'll read!
"Let go of me, you fucking imbeciles!" Prince Charles roared angrily as he fought against the strength of several of the palace guards who tried to suppress his uncontrollable rage, "I'll kill you! I'll kill all of you!"
"Charles, stop!" Nathaniel stood before his friend, hands extended pleadingly in an attempt to prevent the prince from going any farther lest he escape from the now weakening guards.
"Don't tell me to 'stop', Nathaniel!" Chuck raised his fist, slugging one of the guards square in the eye and shoving past him, only to find himself thrown backwards and pinned to the ground by his sandy haired best friend. Tears teetered threateningly on the verge of his eyes, but he fought desperately to keep them from falling, instead focusing his energy on pummeling the living life out of his best friend, "Don't fucking tell me to stop!" He screamed out angrily.
"Chuck," Nathaniel straddled the boy, grabbing him by the fists until he stopped squirming like the inconsolable child he was, "He's gone. There's nothing… there's nothing you can do about it."
"No…" The prince felt the strength leave his arms as they fell idly to his sides in defeat. He exhaled deeply, eyes focused on the ceiling's intricate mosaic pattern for a moment until he lost the energy to do even that and it blurred before him, "Father..."
Blair had heard the news early that morning, as she made her way to the grand dining room for breakfast. The bleak sky and hushed whispers of the palace servants, plus Charles and Nathaniel's noticeable absent from the table had hinted to her that something was amiss. Her worst fears were confirmed by the sounds of struggle and Chuck's futile screams echoing through the empty palace, which now felt even emptier without its king.
The girl softly tip-toed upstairs, traipsing quietly in the direction of the king's bed-room and then stopping suddenly at the sight of Charles sprawled helplessly on his back with a concerned Nathaniel hovering over-top. The knight sensed her presence and looked up at her pleadingly, seeking her help because he knew he could not appease the prince on his own. Blair drew in a deep breath and then cautiously approached the pair, sitting down on her knees beside the prince and watching him sympathetically.
"Chuck… I'm so sorry." Blair whispered, reaching for one of his idle hands and taking it in hers. Though she still harbored feelings of resentment towards him, the overwhelming need to console the boy who had just lost his father took precedence and she pushed the more negative feelings to another part of herself. "What do you want us to do?" Blair whispered, speaking to him not as a bitter former lover but as his comrade and partner through their taxing adventures.
"I just need to lie here… for awhile." Chuck mumbled slowly, eyes still focused overhead. Blair and Nathaniel exchanged a quick and understanding look before the knight slid off of his friend and instead settled in on his right side, and Blair lowered herself on his left. The three of them lay there like that for quite some time, silently reflecting on the great king that was Bartholomew Bass.
"The coronation ceremony will be held tonight at dusk, followed by the traditional crowning ball in which Dalmasca's most loyal subjects welcome their new king." Announced the squat servant who had presided over Blair's controversial trials against Jenny. He rolled up his scroll with finality and waited for the prince's response.
"It's too soon." Chuck mumbled, folding his arms and leaning against one of the structural pillars in the grand foyer. "The kingdom hasn't even yet had a chance to mourn my father and yet you expect them to celebrate me?" He asked in annoyance.
"I understand that the timing is unfortunate but it is also a necessity, my lord." The servant explained, "It's a traditional mandate… written right here," He gestured to his scroll, "During times of war the kingdom cannot risk being left without a leader. I daresay… with you unable to complete your mission, war is inevitable and we're on the brink of it."
"I really don't think I need to hear about my failures from an overweight, balding man servant." Chuck spit back with vile.
"Chuck," Blair looked at him patronizingly. Even she was somewhat appalled by his juvenile and uncalled for behavior.
"Don't give me that look." Chuck warned her before quickly turning and stalking off in the other direction. Blair sighed, looking at both the servant and Nathaniel helplessly.
"Here I thought we had managed to calm him down this morning." Blair remarked worriedly.
"This morning he was in denial… it looks like he's moved onto the next sage of grief; anger." Nathaniel replied simply. "We don't really have much of a choice but to let him ride it out… knowing Chuck, I wouldn't expect him to take any of this very easily."
Chuck walked quickly and heatedly until he found himself finally alone in one of the palace's many empty corridors. The deafening silence invited his primal scream of rage and the echo of his fist making contact with the nearest wall. "Fuck! Fuck them, fuck them all!" The prince cursed, knocking over a porcelain vase and then kicking violently at the debris. "They have no fucking idea…" He took a deep breath, leaning his forehead against the wall, "I'm not ready for this."
His fingers gently traced the cracks which his bare knuckles had created, feeling the rough groove and wincing at the raw feeling. That's what he needed to get rid of, the raw and perpetually throbbing pain inside of his chest, the rapid pace of his pulse and the frantic rush of fear in his lungs. He just needed to stop feeling. Much like how he felt when Blair had weaseled her way into his confidence, he now felt compromised and out of control of his emotions. Just like before, if he had to burn bridges to free himself from this unbearable feeling, he would do so.
Chuck pushed himself away from the cool surface of the wall, turning swiftly and retreating down the hallway with such focused intention. The western most wing of the imperial palace was reserved solely for the residencies of those whom Chuck used to bother quite frequently, but as of late had been left for dead as a result of his other priorities. Luckily, their purpose was to remain there for his liking whether his visits frequented every hour or passed by with months in between. He approached the familiar doorway which marked the entrance to the west wing, hesitating a bit before turning the nob and stepping over the threshold.
The prince was instantly greeted by a swarm of tanned beauties, and their shrill shrieks of surprise as they realized their prince had returned to them. "Prince Charles!" one raven haired woman exclaimed, and Chuck noted the irony that she knew his name but he knew not hers. It was better that way. "We heard about what happened, we are so sorry... Please, if there's anything you need-"
"I need to see Elle." Chuck announced with finality, ignoring the other women's forced sympathies and instead staring directly ahead. There was a brief silence before the rest of the harem girls began to move aside, splitting from the middle of the hallway to reveal a tall and jaunt figure making her way towards the prince. The woman's hair fell in wheat-colored waves against sun-kissed skin, radiating an impression of warmth that was for the most part false. Elle was not warm, Elle was on fire… a fire so hot that it turned most men cold.
"Charles," The woman looked at him in earnest, not bothering with sympathies or sorries, "I thought you said you were done with me… for good." Elle looked at him expectantly, arms crossed, sheer coral fabric hanging from the angles of her shoulders. Though she appeared to be thin and fragile, her behavior in the bedroom was anything but. Elle had acquired quite the reputation before the prince had brought her into his harem; sparing her from a life of promiscuity just to make ends meet in turn for the vast luxuries the palace had to offer at the expense of pleasuring just one person… him. There was a time when to him Elle had been the best kind of drug, the kind that numbs. In fact, the darkest parts of his youth were flecked with frequent visits to the woman's chambers. When tensions rose between Dalmasca and the Zaibach Empire, and the prince reluctantly realized that it was time for him to step up, he had promptly cut himself off from the coquette. Though he had passed it off as an act of charity that he allowed her to remain in the palace, the truth was that Chuck had let her stay in case he would ever find himself in need of her to numb him once again. Essentially, for a day like today.
"Elle," The prince looked at her condescendingly, "Don't even pretend like you have standards."
"Whatever you say, your highness." The woman reached for his hand before turning around and leading them away, towards the door at the end of the hall, to the metaphorical the point of no return.
"You seem to be in a much better mood than earlier," Nathaniel remarked, standing beside his best friend as they admired their reflections in the mirror of the prince's bedroom. Nathaniel furrowed his brow a little, adjusting the various pins and military badges that adorned his jacket.
"Well, Nathaniel," Chuck remarked as he scrutinized his own regalia; burgundy velvet waist coast with an ample amount of ruffles and gold trim, plus dark bronze trousers and perfectly polished dress shoes with gold detailing, "I realized I don't have much to be worked up about." He smooth his hair to the side, then turned to face his friend, "I'm Chuck Bass." He explained succinctly, "…and I'm about to become a king." He added smugly.
"Which you were pretty upset about earlier… you know, with all the responsibility and your father and everything." Nathaniel reminded him, looking at his friend with concern.
"Responsibility? Meaning I just sit on my throne and order people around? I've been doing that for the past three months, ever since my father found himself bed-ridden. He might as well have been dead at that point."
"What?" Nathaniel looked at his friend in disbelief, "Chuck, you're not even making any sense. You can't actually feel that way about your father, you were uncontrollably grieving him this morning."
"Yes, and that was a mistake which I hope you will not mention to anyone, ever again." Chuck replied off-handedly, "I wouldn't want word to get around to my enemies that I'm weak."
"Mourning your dead father makes you weak?"
"Yes. Which is precisely why I'm over it." The prince replied, walking away from the mirror, "Now, shall we go? I would hate to be late to my own coronation." Nathaniel shook his head at his friend's antics before giving his reflection a quick once-over in the mirror and then following the prince out of the room.
The gathered masses were silent as one of the court's high priests lowered Dalmasca's imperial crown onto the dark head of one former prince, Charles Bass. The act itself proclaimed him a king. Silent and steely-eyed, Charles rose from his seat on the throne, his empty gaze washing over the humble subjects who bowed before him. All, except for Blair, who would never bow down to anyone. He could imagine her argument in his head: he may now be a king, but in the game of chess, the queen still remained more powerful.
"All hail his royal highness!" The high priest announced, bowing once again before Chuck's feet. "King Charles Bartholomew Bass."
"All hail the king!" The crowd proclaimed excitedly in unison, as fireworks erupted in the black sky and the royal orchestra played a celebratory symphony. The mood was unsettlingly light; so much so that it left the new king somewhat sick to his stomach. He vaguely recalled that he lost his father today.
"Dance with the girl! Your highness, dance!" A section of the crowd populated by young, squealing little maidens screeched loudly in his direction. The guards were quick to quell them, but they had already succeeded in distracting the king from his somber thoughts. He looked at the high priest curiously, as if just waking from a trance.
"Your highness, your subjects have made a rather pressing request," The high priest explained, noting that now even more adult members of the court had joined in their ridiculous tirade. "A dance."
"A dance?" Chuck repeated in confusion.
"With… her highness. The girl." The priest explained, as though it were obvious. "Word of your confession of love has gotten around the kingdom. I must admit, it's been doing wonders to boost morale," He added innocently. "I would highly recommend you follow through with it. If not for your own enjoyment, then for the good of the kingdom."
Chuck hesitantly glanced back in the direction where Blair was standing, noticing the girl's utmost fear at his subjects' daunting suggestion. She was backed up in a corner, seemingly searching for an escape, but in her elaborate and voluminous gown with gold peacock-feather detailing, illuminating brown curls and delicate gold foil tiara, she had no hopes of making an inconspicuous exit. The king rose from his throne, eyes set on the girl as he stalked his way across the ballroom to where she stood, anxiously avoiding his gaze. "Blair,"
The girl, realizing there was no escape, turned to face him awkwardly and feigned surprise. "Oh, Chu- I mean, your highness…"
"Blair," He rose his voice so that the surrounding people were able to hear as he made a royal fool out of himself, "Would you do me the honor of my first dance as king?" He inquired as he extended a gloved hand to the girl.
Blair examined him with a mixture of pity and reluctance before slowly nodding and slipping her gloved hand into his. The former prince offered her a fleeting smile before leading them both to the middle of the dance floor, much to the delight of the gathered Dalmascans.
Charles turned to face the girl, intertwining their fingers with one hand while his other came to rest respectfully at the side of her waist. Her eyes willed themselves to meet his, an act which both had avoided for quite awhile now. However, now there were no welcome distractions to prevent the pair from looking at each other in absolute, terrifying honesty.
"So… how does it feel?" Blair inquired quietly, following Chuck's lead as they swayed across the dance floor. "Being a king, and all?"
"Not much different from being a prince," Chuck replied morosely, "except now I'm without a father."
"I'm so sorry, Chuck." The girl whispered softly, and he knew that she meant it.
"Don't be." He replied quickly; dismissively. "I'm not."
"How can you not be?" Blair asked worriedly, looking at him in genuine surprise. "Chuck, it's okay to be sad."
"Life's too short." Chuck returned, "We're at war, Blair. We failed to prevent it and that means any day now… we're going to be in it. I could die just as easily as my father."
"Your father didn't die easily, Chuck." Blair looked at him with disdain, "He fought honorably, was severely injured, and then continued fighting. Long enough to see his son grow into a man." The boy was silent, finding neither the effort nor the words to respond. "For what it's worth, I don't want to see you die." The girl added, searching the boy for some kind of reaction.
"Blair," Chuck looked at her as if something in his lifeless eyes had awoken, even if for a brief moment. "You didn't have to do this."
"Do what?" Blair looked at him in surprise, "Not all of us find dancing to be such torture." She replied lightly.
"Put up with me." Chuck corrected.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Blair lied, putting on a fake smile for the endeared nobles who watched the pair with admiration. The king ignored her fallacies, protesting forth.
"I've said some pretty awful things to you," The king paused, "even for me." He looked down at her in earnest, "I don't know why I can't help but hurt the one person who's ever… who I've ever..."
"Chuck," Blair looked up at him suddenly; breathlessly, "What are you saying?" She watched him expectantly, their audience and the rest of the world blurring into the background as her anticipation took a hold of her. It made her heart beat faster and the sound was deafening to her ears. Chuck returned her focused gaze, his dark eyes bearing into her hopeful ones, his grip on her waist tightening ever so slightly and the distance between the pair shrinking with each second. "Chuck?"
"Um," Then it was gone. The brief light in his eyes, replaced by the harsh reality of their situation. The king bowed his head, "The song's over." It had probably ended moments ago, but neither of them had noticed.
"I know," Blair replied sadly as Chuck loosened his grip on her waist and hand.
"I have to go." He blurted out unceremoniously, stumbling a few steps backward and then turned around to break into a brisk jog. It was like he couldn't get away fast enough. Blair felt a stinging sensation in her eyes, and she quickly grabbed the train of her dress, stalking off the dance floor as quickly as possible. She didn't get very far before Nathaniel's strong arms stopped her from going any farther.
"Blair," He looked at her sympathetically, holding the girl at arm's distance for a moment before pulling her into a supportive embrace. "What did he say?"
"It's not what he said," Blair whimpered, shaking against him, "It's what he didn't say."
"Charles never was good with words," Nathaniel reassured her, looping an arm around Blair's shoulders. "He might not be able to say it, but I can see it, Blair. You've been the biggest breakthrough in him. He's actually… human when he's around you."
"What are you talking about?" Blair asked painfully. "He couldn't get away from me fast enough."
"He's just scared. Chuck's never had to put himself out there before, for anyone. When he's afraid of getting hurt himself, he just retreats into his old, childish ways. Now with his father gone, he's even worse than he was before." Nathaniel looked at her pleadingly, "I know you're not going to like this, but Blair… you have to be the brave one. He won't open up to you on his own, but you could. You could open up to him."
"Why would I willingly humiliate myself any further?"
"Because you can't expect him to say what you want to hear unless you can do the same for him." Nathaniel argued, "and I know you care about him, Blair. Despite everything he's done, you still can't help but care about him and I know he feels the same way."
"You're so sure?"
"He's been my best friend since I was six." Nathaniel replied. "Besides, it's in the prophecy-"
"Oh, please, not with the stupid prophecy again." Blair rolled her eyes, folding her arms and looking at Nathaniel in annoyance.
"I'm sorry, Blair," Nathaniel smiled warmly, "But I can't help but have hope. If you won't talk to Chuck for yourself, will you please do it for me?" He asked earnestly, turning her around and leading her back towards the dance floor. Nathaniel placed both hands on her shoulders, leaning forward and placing a chaste kiss on the back of her head, "I'll be here when you get back. I'll even save you a dance."
"Fine." Blair sighed in resignation, "But I'm holding you to that." She added threateningly as she gathered the hem of her dress in her hands and trotted away in the direction of Chuck's retreat.
Nathaniel made his way outside the grand ballroom, taking a few steps outside to the royal water garden in the palace's backyard. Several stone gazebos glowed against the water, in which lit-up lily pads waded idly. Everything was a blaze for the prince's coronation, but Nathaniel couldn't help but feel that it put on a show of false optimism. He was worried about Chuck, not only as his friend, but as a potential leader of the kingdom he had sworn to protect. It had certainly seemed like the prince had been making strides in the right direction ever since Blair had arrived, but… despite Nathaniel's constant pushing and urging, the two could never seem to get it together when it really mattered. He worried if they ever would. If Blair, the girl from the prophecy, could not get Chuck to come to his senses, than he worried that nobody would. If that was the case, then was the whole prophecy a lie? A hoax? A bit of false optimism not too unlike this brightly lit garden? The knight sighed, leaning against one of the giant stone pillars and staring out into the water as a pair of swans glided by.
"Oh- I'm sorry," A voice from behind him mumbled in apology and Nate glanced over his shoulder, surprised at the sight behind him. A young woman with her long flaxen hair pulled into an elegant ponytail and dressed in a golden silk crepe gown which knotted itself towards the bottom twisted her hands anxiously as she looked at him in apology. "I didn't realize that this thinking spot was taken."
Nathaniel was taken aback, "Oh- what? I mean, no, it's not… I'm not," He paused, smiling at his own stupidity. "It's not taken and I'm clearly not thinking." He rephrased with a friendly smile as he moved away from the pillar.
"Hmm, yeah, you're a really bad liar." The girl remarked candidly, taking a few steps towards him. "I know this might be a little forward coming from a total stranger, but… you've clearly got something on your mind." The blonde took yet another step towards him, "I hear bottling it up makes it worse. I mean, look at the new king."
"You noticed something off about him too?" Nathaniel inquired curiously, wondering who this girl was and how she could be so perceptive towards someone she had never even met.
"That's actually why I came outside." The girl admitted, looking off towards the water. "Something just felt off inside… and I needed some fresh air. That and I wanted to escape all the recently cuckolded lords and dukes who keep asking me to dance."
"Oh," Nathaniel looked at her in surprise, "Well, luckily for you, I happen to be head of security around here." He pointed at one of his many badges, "So if the problem persists..."
"I'll let you know." The girl returned with a soft laugh. She looked at him sincerely for a moment before offering her hand, "I'm Serena."
"Nathaniel." The knight returned, taking her hand in his and kissing it lightly. He paused for a moment to stare at the yellow flower which adorned her hand.
"It's a Daffodil," Serena explained, "They say it stands for new beginnings." She paused, "So, Nathaniel, since we're standing here… with a perfectly good waltz in the background that should not go to waste… how about a dance?"
"Well, I think usually it's the man who is supposed to the ask woman to dance…"
"I don't usually do things the usual way," Serena admitted, offering him her other hand and leading them into the waltz.
Blair wrung her hands nervously as she stood in front of the door of Chuck's bedroom, hesitating as she questioned whether or not to actually go through this; attempting to talk to Chuck. It had been proven difficult to have a rationale conversation with the temperamental prince. Blair smoothed her hands over the voluminous skirt of her gown before raising her hand to knock gently on the door to the new king's chambers. Her heartbeat quickened slightly as she heard foot steps and took a step back as the door opened.
"Vanya, I ordered that wine about an hour ago, it's about time-" Chuck stopped mid-sentence, looking at the other girl in surprise. Blair quirked a brow, taking in Chuck's half-naked appearance and disheveled hair. Suddenly, her face fell, the image of disappointment taking over and making the other boy extremely uncomfortable.
"Is that the wine?" A female voice called from inside the bedroom, and Blair had to hold back the evening's feast when the sight of a scantily clad Elle sidled up to Chuck from behind, "Oh… you must be that little girl I've been hearing so much about." Elle remarked, the subtly bitter intonation in her voice not going unnoticed. "Are you lost?"
"Elle," Chuck glanced back at the older woman, "Wait for me in bed," He mumbled and the older woman quietly obeyed, but not before giving Blair a reproachful look as she made her way back into the bedroom. The king stepped forward, slowly shutting the door behind him and staring calmly at the displeased brunette in front of him. "Blair, why did you come here?"
"I'm wondering that myself." Blair replied curtly, shaking her head. "I don't know… I wanted to talk to you, sensibly, but I can see that you're too far gone for reason. You abandoned your own coronation ball to shack up with some… emaciated and might I add ancient looking random,"
"Look," Chuck explained, cutting her off, "This is whom I am, and this is what I do. I'm simply living up to my potential. The prince that you knew… that was the one who was too far gone for reason. This is the reality." He studied Blair carefully, taking a step towards the girl, "I think it's time to let go of your fantasies."
"What are you talking about?" Blair scoffed, "I don't know why I even bothered..."
"I think I do." Chuck replied quietly, reaching forward and twirling a strand of her dark hair around his finger. "Let me guess, Nathaniel whispered some pretty words into your ear about the prophecy and true love?" He looked at her expectantly, mockingly. "Listening to Nathaniel? I thought you were smarter than that, Waldorf."
Blair studied him quietly before willing herself to speak again, "You're wrong." The brunette mumbled out quietly, still reeling from Chuck's verbal whiplash. "This isn't who you are. You're better than this." Blair reasoned dismissively as she turned and walked away, head held high as it always was.
The young king watched her leave, her last words echoing through his veins accompanied by a feeling he couldn't quite shake. He leaned back against the door to his room, balancing his head against the hard wood. Even if there was some truth to the prophecy, if he really did love the girl, then didn't it make all the more sense that he didn't want to bring her with him in this downward spiral? Blair had said that he was better than the way he was acting, but the truth was that she was the one who deserved so much more.
Blair got herself as far away from Chuck's bedroom as she possible could, returning to the elegant chaos of the grand ballroom. Her first instinct was to seek out Nathaniel, perhaps give him a verbal lashing for his misjudgments before taking him up on his offer of a dance. At this point, she would do just about anything to distract herself from thinking about that horrible, wretched king. The knight was no where to found, but after asking a few of the palace guards she was directed outside towards the water gardens.
As Blair made her way outside, she was greeted by the familiar sounds of light-hearted laughing. Well, it wasn't all too familiar. To Blair it was practically foreign as it had been so long since she'd been that happy. As she walked further through the garden, she spotted the sounds of such happiness in one of the garden's floating gazebos. Her feet froze on the spot and a heavy weight sunk within her stomach.
Serena.
Nate.
Serena with Nate.
Oh God, it was so… typical. Why was she even surprised? Of course. Of course it would be Serena who put Nathaniel more at ease than she had ever seen him during her time in Astoria. What was it about her that was so revolting and unappealing that it would drive Chuck to find comfort in a whore, and Nathaniel to find true happiness in the arms of her best friend? Not only that, but she had managed to infuriate Daniel and humiliate Aaron. Her luck with men appeared no different in Astoria than it was on the Upper East Side. Her ambitions were simply too much for them all to handle, too intimidating, too unapproachable. Why couldn't she just be simple and nice, like Serena?
Accepting her defeat, Blair let out a tired sigh before picking up her dress and making her way back inside the palace. She shouldn't have agreed to help Chuck in the first place. It was foolish to rely on men to get what she wanted when she was probably more capable of doing so on her own. So that's what she was going to do; return home, by her own means. Chuck had said it himself; she didn't have to do this.
"It's a little strange… I've never seen you around here before," Nathaniel remarked as he swayed back and forth gently with the blonde in his arms. He led them into a turn, noticing how she squeezed his hand just a little more tightly after his question.
"That's probably because I'm not from around here." Serena replied simply.
"Not from Dalmasca?" Nathaniel asked suddenly, stopping in the middle of their dance, but still holding onto her hand and waist.
"I meant not from the capital," Serena clarified, picking up the dance again and leading them towards the edge of the floor, "I grew up in the countryside, several miles west. My parents tried their best to prevent me from coming into the city for as long as they could… but I don't really like following other people's rules." The girl shrugged nonchalantly.
"Well," Nathaniel looked at her thoughtfully, "It's still pretty impressive that you managed to get an invite to the prince's coronation, even without any direct ties to the royal court."
"What are you trying to suggest, Mr. Archibald?" Serena inquired seriously, taking a step forward and filling in the gap between them, "That I'm not supposed to be here?" She inquired, arching an eyebrow curiously at the other boy. Nate was at a loss for words, he didn't mean to unfairly implicate her or anything, but it was a part of his job description to think of such things. As he struggled to pull himself out of the hole he had dug, he felt pressure on his chest and his eyes widened in surprised as Serena pushed him forward, and straight into the water behind him.
"I- I can't believe you just did that!" Nathaniel sputtered, shoving his wet bangs out of his eyes.
"Well, I figured we needed to lighten things up," Serena laughed gaily, reaching around and unhooking the back of her dress, "This is supposed to be a party, isn't it?" She winked playfully as she lowered the zipper of her dress, pushing it down her legs and stepping out of it.
"What are you doing?" Nate asked, looking at her in confusion as he waded in the water.
"Joining you," Serena replied enthusiastically before taking a few steps back and then diving into the water beside him. The knight tried to shield himself from the wave of water that splashed around him, then slowly peeled his eyes for any sign of the mysterious blonde.
"Serena?" He turned in a circle, looking around the quiet waters before a sudden wave of water hit him in the face and Serena swam up from beneath, laughing at his expense for a moment and then attempting to out-swim the knight as he splashed some more water in her direction. Eventually the knight caught up to her, encircling his arms around her waist in an attempt to hold the girl steady but Serena merely thrashed about until she found herself turned around, her face mere inches away from his.
"I'm not asking you this just because it's my duty, but…" Nate breathed slowly, willing his piercing dark blue eyes to look into hers. "Seriously," He asked in awe, "Who are you?"
Serena's smile faltered for a moment, as if a sad storm were brewing in what was typically the calm ocean of her eyes. "Just Serena," She replied quietly, in awe herself at the way he was looking at her. It made the blonde somewhat uncomfortable, to the point where to simply stop him from staring at her that way she spontaneously pressed her lips up against his. It was a rash decision, and in retrospect she wasn't entirely thinking, at least not of the consequences. Serena pulled away after a moment, arms still wrapped around the other boy's neck as they bobbed up and down in the dark water. They stared at each other in silence for a moment before Serena's eyes fluttered shut and she hungrily returned her lips to his, hands and legs intertwined as if they were the thing that would keep each other from drowning.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
SONGS
Patrick Wolf - The Gypsy King Chuck's Breakdown; Chuck is crowned king.
One Republic - All The Right Moves Chuck and Blair dance; Nate and Serena swim.
Author: In Fair Verona
Genre: Romance + Adventure
Pairing: CBN
Rating: T
Summary: Blair Waldorf never believed in fairy-tales. However, weeks after her best friend left for boarding school, Blair finds herself enthralled by the pages of an old book, and is thrown in the midst of a strange new world, at the center of a war, and in between a prince and a knight.
PROLOGUE | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14
A/N: I think we've established by now that it takes me at least a month to update this story. That said, I really hope the wait was worth it because there is a LOT of Chuck/Blair interaction in this chapter. In fact, it's pretty much only CBN and one other character who I won't mention, so that you'll read!
"Let go of me, you fucking imbeciles!" Prince Charles roared angrily as he fought against the strength of several of the palace guards who tried to suppress his uncontrollable rage, "I'll kill you! I'll kill all of you!"
"Charles, stop!" Nathaniel stood before his friend, hands extended pleadingly in an attempt to prevent the prince from going any farther lest he escape from the now weakening guards.
"Don't tell me to 'stop', Nathaniel!" Chuck raised his fist, slugging one of the guards square in the eye and shoving past him, only to find himself thrown backwards and pinned to the ground by his sandy haired best friend. Tears teetered threateningly on the verge of his eyes, but he fought desperately to keep them from falling, instead focusing his energy on pummeling the living life out of his best friend, "Don't fucking tell me to stop!" He screamed out angrily.
"Chuck," Nathaniel straddled the boy, grabbing him by the fists until he stopped squirming like the inconsolable child he was, "He's gone. There's nothing… there's nothing you can do about it."
"No…" The prince felt the strength leave his arms as they fell idly to his sides in defeat. He exhaled deeply, eyes focused on the ceiling's intricate mosaic pattern for a moment until he lost the energy to do even that and it blurred before him, "Father..."
Blair had heard the news early that morning, as she made her way to the grand dining room for breakfast. The bleak sky and hushed whispers of the palace servants, plus Charles and Nathaniel's noticeable absent from the table had hinted to her that something was amiss. Her worst fears were confirmed by the sounds of struggle and Chuck's futile screams echoing through the empty palace, which now felt even emptier without its king.
The girl softly tip-toed upstairs, traipsing quietly in the direction of the king's bed-room and then stopping suddenly at the sight of Charles sprawled helplessly on his back with a concerned Nathaniel hovering over-top. The knight sensed her presence and looked up at her pleadingly, seeking her help because he knew he could not appease the prince on his own. Blair drew in a deep breath and then cautiously approached the pair, sitting down on her knees beside the prince and watching him sympathetically.
"Chuck… I'm so sorry." Blair whispered, reaching for one of his idle hands and taking it in hers. Though she still harbored feelings of resentment towards him, the overwhelming need to console the boy who had just lost his father took precedence and she pushed the more negative feelings to another part of herself. "What do you want us to do?" Blair whispered, speaking to him not as a bitter former lover but as his comrade and partner through their taxing adventures.
"I just need to lie here… for awhile." Chuck mumbled slowly, eyes still focused overhead. Blair and Nathaniel exchanged a quick and understanding look before the knight slid off of his friend and instead settled in on his right side, and Blair lowered herself on his left. The three of them lay there like that for quite some time, silently reflecting on the great king that was Bartholomew Bass.
"The coronation ceremony will be held tonight at dusk, followed by the traditional crowning ball in which Dalmasca's most loyal subjects welcome their new king." Announced the squat servant who had presided over Blair's controversial trials against Jenny. He rolled up his scroll with finality and waited for the prince's response.
"It's too soon." Chuck mumbled, folding his arms and leaning against one of the structural pillars in the grand foyer. "The kingdom hasn't even yet had a chance to mourn my father and yet you expect them to celebrate me?" He asked in annoyance.
"I understand that the timing is unfortunate but it is also a necessity, my lord." The servant explained, "It's a traditional mandate… written right here," He gestured to his scroll, "During times of war the kingdom cannot risk being left without a leader. I daresay… with you unable to complete your mission, war is inevitable and we're on the brink of it."
"I really don't think I need to hear about my failures from an overweight, balding man servant." Chuck spit back with vile.
"Chuck," Blair looked at him patronizingly. Even she was somewhat appalled by his juvenile and uncalled for behavior.
"Don't give me that look." Chuck warned her before quickly turning and stalking off in the other direction. Blair sighed, looking at both the servant and Nathaniel helplessly.
"Here I thought we had managed to calm him down this morning." Blair remarked worriedly.
"This morning he was in denial… it looks like he's moved onto the next sage of grief; anger." Nathaniel replied simply. "We don't really have much of a choice but to let him ride it out… knowing Chuck, I wouldn't expect him to take any of this very easily."
Chuck walked quickly and heatedly until he found himself finally alone in one of the palace's many empty corridors. The deafening silence invited his primal scream of rage and the echo of his fist making contact with the nearest wall. "Fuck! Fuck them, fuck them all!" The prince cursed, knocking over a porcelain vase and then kicking violently at the debris. "They have no fucking idea…" He took a deep breath, leaning his forehead against the wall, "I'm not ready for this."
His fingers gently traced the cracks which his bare knuckles had created, feeling the rough groove and wincing at the raw feeling. That's what he needed to get rid of, the raw and perpetually throbbing pain inside of his chest, the rapid pace of his pulse and the frantic rush of fear in his lungs. He just needed to stop feeling. Much like how he felt when Blair had weaseled her way into his confidence, he now felt compromised and out of control of his emotions. Just like before, if he had to burn bridges to free himself from this unbearable feeling, he would do so.
Chuck pushed himself away from the cool surface of the wall, turning swiftly and retreating down the hallway with such focused intention. The western most wing of the imperial palace was reserved solely for the residencies of those whom Chuck used to bother quite frequently, but as of late had been left for dead as a result of his other priorities. Luckily, their purpose was to remain there for his liking whether his visits frequented every hour or passed by with months in between. He approached the familiar doorway which marked the entrance to the west wing, hesitating a bit before turning the nob and stepping over the threshold.
The prince was instantly greeted by a swarm of tanned beauties, and their shrill shrieks of surprise as they realized their prince had returned to them. "Prince Charles!" one raven haired woman exclaimed, and Chuck noted the irony that she knew his name but he knew not hers. It was better that way. "We heard about what happened, we are so sorry... Please, if there's anything you need-"
"I need to see Elle." Chuck announced with finality, ignoring the other women's forced sympathies and instead staring directly ahead. There was a brief silence before the rest of the harem girls began to move aside, splitting from the middle of the hallway to reveal a tall and jaunt figure making her way towards the prince. The woman's hair fell in wheat-colored waves against sun-kissed skin, radiating an impression of warmth that was for the most part false. Elle was not warm, Elle was on fire… a fire so hot that it turned most men cold.
"Charles," The woman looked at him in earnest, not bothering with sympathies or sorries, "I thought you said you were done with me… for good." Elle looked at him expectantly, arms crossed, sheer coral fabric hanging from the angles of her shoulders. Though she appeared to be thin and fragile, her behavior in the bedroom was anything but. Elle had acquired quite the reputation before the prince had brought her into his harem; sparing her from a life of promiscuity just to make ends meet in turn for the vast luxuries the palace had to offer at the expense of pleasuring just one person… him. There was a time when to him Elle had been the best kind of drug, the kind that numbs. In fact, the darkest parts of his youth were flecked with frequent visits to the woman's chambers. When tensions rose between Dalmasca and the Zaibach Empire, and the prince reluctantly realized that it was time for him to step up, he had promptly cut himself off from the coquette. Though he had passed it off as an act of charity that he allowed her to remain in the palace, the truth was that Chuck had let her stay in case he would ever find himself in need of her to numb him once again. Essentially, for a day like today.
"Elle," The prince looked at her condescendingly, "Don't even pretend like you have standards."
"Whatever you say, your highness." The woman reached for his hand before turning around and leading them away, towards the door at the end of the hall, to the metaphorical the point of no return.
"You seem to be in a much better mood than earlier," Nathaniel remarked, standing beside his best friend as they admired their reflections in the mirror of the prince's bedroom. Nathaniel furrowed his brow a little, adjusting the various pins and military badges that adorned his jacket.
"Well, Nathaniel," Chuck remarked as he scrutinized his own regalia; burgundy velvet waist coast with an ample amount of ruffles and gold trim, plus dark bronze trousers and perfectly polished dress shoes with gold detailing, "I realized I don't have much to be worked up about." He smooth his hair to the side, then turned to face his friend, "I'm Chuck Bass." He explained succinctly, "…and I'm about to become a king." He added smugly.
"Which you were pretty upset about earlier… you know, with all the responsibility and your father and everything." Nathaniel reminded him, looking at his friend with concern.
"Responsibility? Meaning I just sit on my throne and order people around? I've been doing that for the past three months, ever since my father found himself bed-ridden. He might as well have been dead at that point."
"What?" Nathaniel looked at his friend in disbelief, "Chuck, you're not even making any sense. You can't actually feel that way about your father, you were uncontrollably grieving him this morning."
"Yes, and that was a mistake which I hope you will not mention to anyone, ever again." Chuck replied off-handedly, "I wouldn't want word to get around to my enemies that I'm weak."
"Mourning your dead father makes you weak?"
"Yes. Which is precisely why I'm over it." The prince replied, walking away from the mirror, "Now, shall we go? I would hate to be late to my own coronation." Nathaniel shook his head at his friend's antics before giving his reflection a quick once-over in the mirror and then following the prince out of the room.
The gathered masses were silent as one of the court's high priests lowered Dalmasca's imperial crown onto the dark head of one former prince, Charles Bass. The act itself proclaimed him a king. Silent and steely-eyed, Charles rose from his seat on the throne, his empty gaze washing over the humble subjects who bowed before him. All, except for Blair, who would never bow down to anyone. He could imagine her argument in his head: he may now be a king, but in the game of chess, the queen still remained more powerful.
"All hail his royal highness!" The high priest announced, bowing once again before Chuck's feet. "King Charles Bartholomew Bass."
"All hail the king!" The crowd proclaimed excitedly in unison, as fireworks erupted in the black sky and the royal orchestra played a celebratory symphony. The mood was unsettlingly light; so much so that it left the new king somewhat sick to his stomach. He vaguely recalled that he lost his father today.
"Dance with the girl! Your highness, dance!" A section of the crowd populated by young, squealing little maidens screeched loudly in his direction. The guards were quick to quell them, but they had already succeeded in distracting the king from his somber thoughts. He looked at the high priest curiously, as if just waking from a trance.
"Your highness, your subjects have made a rather pressing request," The high priest explained, noting that now even more adult members of the court had joined in their ridiculous tirade. "A dance."
"A dance?" Chuck repeated in confusion.
"With… her highness. The girl." The priest explained, as though it were obvious. "Word of your confession of love has gotten around the kingdom. I must admit, it's been doing wonders to boost morale," He added innocently. "I would highly recommend you follow through with it. If not for your own enjoyment, then for the good of the kingdom."
Chuck hesitantly glanced back in the direction where Blair was standing, noticing the girl's utmost fear at his subjects' daunting suggestion. She was backed up in a corner, seemingly searching for an escape, but in her elaborate and voluminous gown with gold peacock-feather detailing, illuminating brown curls and delicate gold foil tiara, she had no hopes of making an inconspicuous exit. The king rose from his throne, eyes set on the girl as he stalked his way across the ballroom to where she stood, anxiously avoiding his gaze. "Blair,"
The girl, realizing there was no escape, turned to face him awkwardly and feigned surprise. "Oh, Chu- I mean, your highness…"
"Blair," He rose his voice so that the surrounding people were able to hear as he made a royal fool out of himself, "Would you do me the honor of my first dance as king?" He inquired as he extended a gloved hand to the girl.
Blair examined him with a mixture of pity and reluctance before slowly nodding and slipping her gloved hand into his. The former prince offered her a fleeting smile before leading them both to the middle of the dance floor, much to the delight of the gathered Dalmascans.
Charles turned to face the girl, intertwining their fingers with one hand while his other came to rest respectfully at the side of her waist. Her eyes willed themselves to meet his, an act which both had avoided for quite awhile now. However, now there were no welcome distractions to prevent the pair from looking at each other in absolute, terrifying honesty.
"So… how does it feel?" Blair inquired quietly, following Chuck's lead as they swayed across the dance floor. "Being a king, and all?"
"Not much different from being a prince," Chuck replied morosely, "except now I'm without a father."
"I'm so sorry, Chuck." The girl whispered softly, and he knew that she meant it.
"Don't be." He replied quickly; dismissively. "I'm not."
"How can you not be?" Blair asked worriedly, looking at him in genuine surprise. "Chuck, it's okay to be sad."
"Life's too short." Chuck returned, "We're at war, Blair. We failed to prevent it and that means any day now… we're going to be in it. I could die just as easily as my father."
"Your father didn't die easily, Chuck." Blair looked at him with disdain, "He fought honorably, was severely injured, and then continued fighting. Long enough to see his son grow into a man." The boy was silent, finding neither the effort nor the words to respond. "For what it's worth, I don't want to see you die." The girl added, searching the boy for some kind of reaction.
"Blair," Chuck looked at her as if something in his lifeless eyes had awoken, even if for a brief moment. "You didn't have to do this."
"Do what?" Blair looked at him in surprise, "Not all of us find dancing to be such torture." She replied lightly.
"Put up with me." Chuck corrected.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Blair lied, putting on a fake smile for the endeared nobles who watched the pair with admiration. The king ignored her fallacies, protesting forth.
"I've said some pretty awful things to you," The king paused, "even for me." He looked down at her in earnest, "I don't know why I can't help but hurt the one person who's ever… who I've ever..."
"Chuck," Blair looked up at him suddenly; breathlessly, "What are you saying?" She watched him expectantly, their audience and the rest of the world blurring into the background as her anticipation took a hold of her. It made her heart beat faster and the sound was deafening to her ears. Chuck returned her focused gaze, his dark eyes bearing into her hopeful ones, his grip on her waist tightening ever so slightly and the distance between the pair shrinking with each second. "Chuck?"
"Um," Then it was gone. The brief light in his eyes, replaced by the harsh reality of their situation. The king bowed his head, "The song's over." It had probably ended moments ago, but neither of them had noticed.
"I know," Blair replied sadly as Chuck loosened his grip on her waist and hand.
"I have to go." He blurted out unceremoniously, stumbling a few steps backward and then turned around to break into a brisk jog. It was like he couldn't get away fast enough. Blair felt a stinging sensation in her eyes, and she quickly grabbed the train of her dress, stalking off the dance floor as quickly as possible. She didn't get very far before Nathaniel's strong arms stopped her from going any farther.
"Blair," He looked at her sympathetically, holding the girl at arm's distance for a moment before pulling her into a supportive embrace. "What did he say?"
"It's not what he said," Blair whimpered, shaking against him, "It's what he didn't say."
"Charles never was good with words," Nathaniel reassured her, looping an arm around Blair's shoulders. "He might not be able to say it, but I can see it, Blair. You've been the biggest breakthrough in him. He's actually… human when he's around you."
"What are you talking about?" Blair asked painfully. "He couldn't get away from me fast enough."
"He's just scared. Chuck's never had to put himself out there before, for anyone. When he's afraid of getting hurt himself, he just retreats into his old, childish ways. Now with his father gone, he's even worse than he was before." Nathaniel looked at her pleadingly, "I know you're not going to like this, but Blair… you have to be the brave one. He won't open up to you on his own, but you could. You could open up to him."
"Why would I willingly humiliate myself any further?"
"Because you can't expect him to say what you want to hear unless you can do the same for him." Nathaniel argued, "and I know you care about him, Blair. Despite everything he's done, you still can't help but care about him and I know he feels the same way."
"You're so sure?"
"He's been my best friend since I was six." Nathaniel replied. "Besides, it's in the prophecy-"
"Oh, please, not with the stupid prophecy again." Blair rolled her eyes, folding her arms and looking at Nathaniel in annoyance.
"I'm sorry, Blair," Nathaniel smiled warmly, "But I can't help but have hope. If you won't talk to Chuck for yourself, will you please do it for me?" He asked earnestly, turning her around and leading her back towards the dance floor. Nathaniel placed both hands on her shoulders, leaning forward and placing a chaste kiss on the back of her head, "I'll be here when you get back. I'll even save you a dance."
"Fine." Blair sighed in resignation, "But I'm holding you to that." She added threateningly as she gathered the hem of her dress in her hands and trotted away in the direction of Chuck's retreat.
Nathaniel made his way outside the grand ballroom, taking a few steps outside to the royal water garden in the palace's backyard. Several stone gazebos glowed against the water, in which lit-up lily pads waded idly. Everything was a blaze for the prince's coronation, but Nathaniel couldn't help but feel that it put on a show of false optimism. He was worried about Chuck, not only as his friend, but as a potential leader of the kingdom he had sworn to protect. It had certainly seemed like the prince had been making strides in the right direction ever since Blair had arrived, but… despite Nathaniel's constant pushing and urging, the two could never seem to get it together when it really mattered. He worried if they ever would. If Blair, the girl from the prophecy, could not get Chuck to come to his senses, than he worried that nobody would. If that was the case, then was the whole prophecy a lie? A hoax? A bit of false optimism not too unlike this brightly lit garden? The knight sighed, leaning against one of the giant stone pillars and staring out into the water as a pair of swans glided by.
"Oh- I'm sorry," A voice from behind him mumbled in apology and Nate glanced over his shoulder, surprised at the sight behind him. A young woman with her long flaxen hair pulled into an elegant ponytail and dressed in a golden silk crepe gown which knotted itself towards the bottom twisted her hands anxiously as she looked at him in apology. "I didn't realize that this thinking spot was taken."
Nathaniel was taken aback, "Oh- what? I mean, no, it's not… I'm not," He paused, smiling at his own stupidity. "It's not taken and I'm clearly not thinking." He rephrased with a friendly smile as he moved away from the pillar.
"Hmm, yeah, you're a really bad liar." The girl remarked candidly, taking a few steps towards him. "I know this might be a little forward coming from a total stranger, but… you've clearly got something on your mind." The blonde took yet another step towards him, "I hear bottling it up makes it worse. I mean, look at the new king."
"You noticed something off about him too?" Nathaniel inquired curiously, wondering who this girl was and how she could be so perceptive towards someone she had never even met.
"That's actually why I came outside." The girl admitted, looking off towards the water. "Something just felt off inside… and I needed some fresh air. That and I wanted to escape all the recently cuckolded lords and dukes who keep asking me to dance."
"Oh," Nathaniel looked at her in surprise, "Well, luckily for you, I happen to be head of security around here." He pointed at one of his many badges, "So if the problem persists..."
"I'll let you know." The girl returned with a soft laugh. She looked at him sincerely for a moment before offering her hand, "I'm Serena."
"Nathaniel." The knight returned, taking her hand in his and kissing it lightly. He paused for a moment to stare at the yellow flower which adorned her hand.
"It's a Daffodil," Serena explained, "They say it stands for new beginnings." She paused, "So, Nathaniel, since we're standing here… with a perfectly good waltz in the background that should not go to waste… how about a dance?"
"Well, I think usually it's the man who is supposed to the ask woman to dance…"
"I don't usually do things the usual way," Serena admitted, offering him her other hand and leading them into the waltz.
Blair wrung her hands nervously as she stood in front of the door of Chuck's bedroom, hesitating as she questioned whether or not to actually go through this; attempting to talk to Chuck. It had been proven difficult to have a rationale conversation with the temperamental prince. Blair smoothed her hands over the voluminous skirt of her gown before raising her hand to knock gently on the door to the new king's chambers. Her heartbeat quickened slightly as she heard foot steps and took a step back as the door opened.
"Vanya, I ordered that wine about an hour ago, it's about time-" Chuck stopped mid-sentence, looking at the other girl in surprise. Blair quirked a brow, taking in Chuck's half-naked appearance and disheveled hair. Suddenly, her face fell, the image of disappointment taking over and making the other boy extremely uncomfortable.
"Is that the wine?" A female voice called from inside the bedroom, and Blair had to hold back the evening's feast when the sight of a scantily clad Elle sidled up to Chuck from behind, "Oh… you must be that little girl I've been hearing so much about." Elle remarked, the subtly bitter intonation in her voice not going unnoticed. "Are you lost?"
"Elle," Chuck glanced back at the older woman, "Wait for me in bed," He mumbled and the older woman quietly obeyed, but not before giving Blair a reproachful look as she made her way back into the bedroom. The king stepped forward, slowly shutting the door behind him and staring calmly at the displeased brunette in front of him. "Blair, why did you come here?"
"I'm wondering that myself." Blair replied curtly, shaking her head. "I don't know… I wanted to talk to you, sensibly, but I can see that you're too far gone for reason. You abandoned your own coronation ball to shack up with some… emaciated and might I add ancient looking random,"
"Look," Chuck explained, cutting her off, "This is whom I am, and this is what I do. I'm simply living up to my potential. The prince that you knew… that was the one who was too far gone for reason. This is the reality." He studied Blair carefully, taking a step towards the girl, "I think it's time to let go of your fantasies."
"What are you talking about?" Blair scoffed, "I don't know why I even bothered..."
"I think I do." Chuck replied quietly, reaching forward and twirling a strand of her dark hair around his finger. "Let me guess, Nathaniel whispered some pretty words into your ear about the prophecy and true love?" He looked at her expectantly, mockingly. "Listening to Nathaniel? I thought you were smarter than that, Waldorf."
Blair studied him quietly before willing herself to speak again, "You're wrong." The brunette mumbled out quietly, still reeling from Chuck's verbal whiplash. "This isn't who you are. You're better than this." Blair reasoned dismissively as she turned and walked away, head held high as it always was.
The young king watched her leave, her last words echoing through his veins accompanied by a feeling he couldn't quite shake. He leaned back against the door to his room, balancing his head against the hard wood. Even if there was some truth to the prophecy, if he really did love the girl, then didn't it make all the more sense that he didn't want to bring her with him in this downward spiral? Blair had said that he was better than the way he was acting, but the truth was that she was the one who deserved so much more.
Blair got herself as far away from Chuck's bedroom as she possible could, returning to the elegant chaos of the grand ballroom. Her first instinct was to seek out Nathaniel, perhaps give him a verbal lashing for his misjudgments before taking him up on his offer of a dance. At this point, she would do just about anything to distract herself from thinking about that horrible, wretched king. The knight was no where to found, but after asking a few of the palace guards she was directed outside towards the water gardens.
As Blair made her way outside, she was greeted by the familiar sounds of light-hearted laughing. Well, it wasn't all too familiar. To Blair it was practically foreign as it had been so long since she'd been that happy. As she walked further through the garden, she spotted the sounds of such happiness in one of the garden's floating gazebos. Her feet froze on the spot and a heavy weight sunk within her stomach.
Serena.
Nate.
Serena with Nate.
Oh God, it was so… typical. Why was she even surprised? Of course. Of course it would be Serena who put Nathaniel more at ease than she had ever seen him during her time in Astoria. What was it about her that was so revolting and unappealing that it would drive Chuck to find comfort in a whore, and Nathaniel to find true happiness in the arms of her best friend? Not only that, but she had managed to infuriate Daniel and humiliate Aaron. Her luck with men appeared no different in Astoria than it was on the Upper East Side. Her ambitions were simply too much for them all to handle, too intimidating, too unapproachable. Why couldn't she just be simple and nice, like Serena?
Accepting her defeat, Blair let out a tired sigh before picking up her dress and making her way back inside the palace. She shouldn't have agreed to help Chuck in the first place. It was foolish to rely on men to get what she wanted when she was probably more capable of doing so on her own. So that's what she was going to do; return home, by her own means. Chuck had said it himself; she didn't have to do this.
"It's a little strange… I've never seen you around here before," Nathaniel remarked as he swayed back and forth gently with the blonde in his arms. He led them into a turn, noticing how she squeezed his hand just a little more tightly after his question.
"That's probably because I'm not from around here." Serena replied simply.
"Not from Dalmasca?" Nathaniel asked suddenly, stopping in the middle of their dance, but still holding onto her hand and waist.
"I meant not from the capital," Serena clarified, picking up the dance again and leading them towards the edge of the floor, "I grew up in the countryside, several miles west. My parents tried their best to prevent me from coming into the city for as long as they could… but I don't really like following other people's rules." The girl shrugged nonchalantly.
"Well," Nathaniel looked at her thoughtfully, "It's still pretty impressive that you managed to get an invite to the prince's coronation, even without any direct ties to the royal court."
"What are you trying to suggest, Mr. Archibald?" Serena inquired seriously, taking a step forward and filling in the gap between them, "That I'm not supposed to be here?" She inquired, arching an eyebrow curiously at the other boy. Nate was at a loss for words, he didn't mean to unfairly implicate her or anything, but it was a part of his job description to think of such things. As he struggled to pull himself out of the hole he had dug, he felt pressure on his chest and his eyes widened in surprised as Serena pushed him forward, and straight into the water behind him.
"I- I can't believe you just did that!" Nathaniel sputtered, shoving his wet bangs out of his eyes.
"Well, I figured we needed to lighten things up," Serena laughed gaily, reaching around and unhooking the back of her dress, "This is supposed to be a party, isn't it?" She winked playfully as she lowered the zipper of her dress, pushing it down her legs and stepping out of it.
"What are you doing?" Nate asked, looking at her in confusion as he waded in the water.
"Joining you," Serena replied enthusiastically before taking a few steps back and then diving into the water beside him. The knight tried to shield himself from the wave of water that splashed around him, then slowly peeled his eyes for any sign of the mysterious blonde.
"Serena?" He turned in a circle, looking around the quiet waters before a sudden wave of water hit him in the face and Serena swam up from beneath, laughing at his expense for a moment and then attempting to out-swim the knight as he splashed some more water in her direction. Eventually the knight caught up to her, encircling his arms around her waist in an attempt to hold the girl steady but Serena merely thrashed about until she found herself turned around, her face mere inches away from his.
"I'm not asking you this just because it's my duty, but…" Nate breathed slowly, willing his piercing dark blue eyes to look into hers. "Seriously," He asked in awe, "Who are you?"
Serena's smile faltered for a moment, as if a sad storm were brewing in what was typically the calm ocean of her eyes. "Just Serena," She replied quietly, in awe herself at the way he was looking at her. It made the blonde somewhat uncomfortable, to the point where to simply stop him from staring at her that way she spontaneously pressed her lips up against his. It was a rash decision, and in retrospect she wasn't entirely thinking, at least not of the consequences. Serena pulled away after a moment, arms still wrapped around the other boy's neck as they bobbed up and down in the dark water. They stared at each other in silence for a moment before Serena's eyes fluttered shut and she hungrily returned her lips to his, hands and legs intertwined as if they were the thing that would keep each other from drowning.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
SONGS
Patrick Wolf - The Gypsy King Chuck's Breakdown; Chuck is crowned king.
One Republic - All The Right Moves Chuck and Blair dance; Nate and Serena swim.