Someday My Prince Will Come (Chapter 6)
A continued De-anon.
As a child, Alfred asked Arthur to let him into a fairy tale book, but the adventure never happened. 400 years later, Alfred accidentally gets sucked into the tale and Arthur has to go after him.
This Chapter: The beginning of a journey, chores, and a non-Russian dancing bear
Whistle While you Work
Arthur awoke to the smell of fresh hay and his mind gave an odd jolt of confusion. He had slept in hay often enough in his lifetime, but certainly not in the past two centuries, except perhaps during war. He sat up quickly, shouting something inane about Nazis and the French countryside, before looking about at his surroundings and remembering where he was.
“Oh Bollocks,” he swore to himself, leaning forward and placing his head in his hands. The little stable was beginning to fill with daylight, but he could still see the princes sleeping silently throughout barn. Arthur stood and stretched, before going over to his new armor and beginning to prepare himself for the day’s battle.
He was worried; he couldn’t help it. As much as he told himself that there was no way they could lose in this story book world, he couldn’t help but think that something might go wrong. After all, he and Alfred shouldn’t have been there, and that could easily throw a wrench into things. What if something went wrong with Alfred that he couldn’t fix?
He paused in his dressing. Even if he managed to find Alfred and the two of them made it back home, it didn’t mean everything would be perfect. It would be the same as it always was; they’d bicker and fight and Arthur would always be too much of a coward to act on his feelings. The lucky royal bastards strewn about the floor would all have their happily-ever-afters and he would be condemned to an eternity alone.
Arthur sighed heavily and continued to dress. He’d do what he always did. He’d put his energy toward the problem at hand, he’d do what he could for Alfred, and everything else could wait.
“Oy, your highnesses! Up and at ‘em, lads. You’ve princesses to rescue.”
The princes sat up blearily and looked about tiredly. In a moment though, they seemed as bright eyed as ever.
“Ah, morning! The day’s way of saying ‘Salutations’!” Topaz said happily.
“I can’t wait to kill some wizard today!” Garnet shouted happily, bounding to his feet.
“I wonder if Bluebell will be waiting for me still…”
“That’s all well and good, boys,” Quartz said, standing up and looking about grandly, “But the day’s first adventure must be breakfast!”
“To breakfast!” the other princes shouted, and in a moment they were all dressed and out the door. Arthur sighed and followed.
oOoOo
“Alright, it’s time to get this castle fresh and tidy!” Violet said. The other three girls stood ready at attention, Alfred was in line as well but wasn’t exuding quite the same enthusiasm.
“I’ve brought the brooms,” said Daisy.
“I’ve got the mops,” added Bluebell.
“And I’ve made sure we have plenty of water!” Rose chimed in.
“That’s great girls!” said Violet. “Now all we need is a smile on each of our faces, a song in each of our hearts, and a little help from some friends.”
Alfred looked at the three girls, each of whom had wide grins on their faces. He couldn’t remember anyone ever looking so excited to do work. He certainly didn’t feel excited. He had always hated cleaning, but at least in modern times there were a lot of things to make it easier. He would’ve given anything for a swiffer and vacuum cleaner just at the moment. Even if he’d had them, however, he couldn’t imagine how it would be possible for the five of them to clean the entire place by themselves.
Alfred snapped out of his funk when he noticed Violet walking daintily towards one of the castle windows. The five of them were all down on the first floor at the moment, right in the front hall by a vast locked door. When the girls had first shown him to the room, Alfred had immediately suggested breaking out of the wide low windows that framed the door. The girls had told him that the windows were enchanted and wouldn’t let any human through them. Naturally Alfred had tried to climb through the window anyway, but had been thrown back as though electrocuted. He couldn’t see any reason that Violet might be walking so determinedly toward one of the windows now.
She leaned forward, not poking her head out, but coming as close as she could. Violet began to whistle a high-pitched tune, and suddenly the sound of wings filled the air. A dozen or so large white swans flew through the window and landed demurely at Violet’s feet. Alfred gaped.
Bluebell hurried to the window next, she stuck her head right close to it and sang a few wordless bars of a tune. Four deer came bounding through the window. Daisy hurried-up next to her and sang her own tune. A host of happy looking squirrels, chipmunks, and raccoons climbed into the house and settled about her skirt, smiling up at her.
Alfred watched in amazement as Rose took her turn. She whistled her own little tune and then giggled happily as a colorful flock of songbirds flew through the window and perched on her and everything about her. Then all four girls turned and looked at Alfred.
“What? You don’t expect me to do that,” he paused, “Do you?”
“I’m sure you can do it Alfie!” Rose said, and her birds tweeted their agreement.
“Yeah, Alfie,” added Bluebell, “You seem like the sort of person that animals just love. I bet you’re surrounded by them all the time.”
Much to his disturbance Alfred found that he couldn’t argue. Animals really did like him, they always had, which was odd considering his environmental record. Still, there was no arguing with the rabbits that had followed him around as a child or the whale living in his swimming pool.
“I guess I could give it a shot… But don’t expect much from me.”
“Oh, we won’t!” Rose assured him.
Alfred approached the window slowly. He felt incredibly stupid, and he didn’t even know what he ought to sing. He settled on belting out a lyricless version of his national anthem.
At first only a few mice came out of holes in the walls and sat curiously by his feet, but a moment later a handful of rabbits hopped through the window. They were shortly followed by an owl, a badger, a porcupine, two foxes, three wolves, a bear wearing a turtle on its head, and two bald eagles. Alfred decided it was time to stop singing.
“That was amazing…” Daisy said with quiet disbelief.
“I’m sure they’ll be a great deal of help!” Violet told him with a smile. “Alright everybody. Let’s split up and get this place in tip top shape.”
The animals and the girls all hurried off throughout the castle to clean, leaving Alfred confused in the entryway.
oOoOo
“This is it Fellows; we head for our final battle,” Quartz spoke with his usual bravado, but did not move forward. Arthur and the four princes were all mounted and standing at the edge of town. The dirt path toward the forest stretched out before them ominously. It felt as though a single step forward would deny them any chance to turn back.
Arthur swallowed thickly and urged his horse forward. He could hear the princes behind him, following. Together they all set out, and rode until the forest was in sight. Throughout the entire trip the group was uncharacteristically silent.
“This really is a strange forest,” Arthur murmured to himself. The twisted, leafless branches of the trees seemed to reach out threateningly. There were no animals about, and almost everything about the place seemed to warn against entering it. Even the stoic horses seemed to hesitate.
Arthur grasped the hilt of his sword and started the group forward once again. There was a collective intake of breath from the princes but they followed him loyally. The horses’ hooves were the only sound that could be heard, and the silence only served to increase their nerves.
Suddenly from every direction the sound of crows could be heard. They cawed and dived at the would-be heroes, causing them all to throw up their arms to protect their faces. But the crows touched none of them, instead they took to the air as one and disappeared past the branches and into the sky.
“What was that?” Arthur asked, breathing heavily as his adrenaline returned to more normal levels.
“Just a bunch of stupid old crows. Nothing that’s going to stop us!” Garnet said in a voice that was a great deal louder than necessary.
“I’ve never seen crows act like that…” Turquoise muttered.
“You’re just being a coward,” Garnet snapped back.
“No… He may well be right,” Arthur said thoughtfully. “We should be more careful as we proceed. I think we may have set off the alarm system. It won’t be so easy going forward.”
“What is this ‘alarm system’ that you speak of?” Quartz asked.
“I think those crows have gone to warn the wizard that we’re coming. I’m sure he’ll try to stop us from advancing.”
But Arthur was wrong. There were no more traps or surprises. They went on towards the castle at the forest’s center completely undisturbed. The princes seemed to calm down the longer they rode. They began to laugh and talk with one another, happily unconcerned. Arthur, however, grew more anxious as they rode. He could only imagine that this was a bad sign. He was certain that the crows were lookouts, and if the Wizard wasn’t reacting by sending something to greet them, than he must be planning something up at the castle.
oOoOo
Alfred and the bear were sweeping the stairs together in a companionable silence. Working alongside animals had seemed disturbing and unsanitary at first, but the bear really did seem to be doing a good job, so Alfred decided not to complain. Besides bears could be pretty cool when they wanted to, maybe Mathew had the right idea.
Alfred was humming happily as he swept, and the girls were right, it really did make time seem to fly. He had hummed his way through quite the repertoire of songs including Elvis, MJ and the Beatles, but he was currently stuck on an old romance song.
“Hmm,hmm, hmm, hmmm, hmm, with your smile so warm, hmm, hmmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, there is nothing for me but to love you just the way you look, hmm, hmm.” Alfred was dancing with the broom and he was very glad that nobody could see him. Well, the bear could see him, but the bear was dancing too so the blackmail was mutual.
The large front doors of the castle swung open with a resounding thud, and Alfred stopped his dancing rather abruptly. The wizard stood in the doorway with his cape billowing out behind him; there was a panicked fury in his eyes and the look he gave Alfred froze him where he stood.
“Boy, what are you doing there?” he snapped.
“Cleaning, Sir!” Alfred responded quickly. It had been an almost military reaction, but he was ashamed a moment after he’d done it.
“Right, right of course. Just as you should be… yes…” The wizard ran a hand through his long black hair before fixing his eyes on Alfred once again. “The girls, where are they?”
“Iunno,” Alfred said shrugging, “Around.” He was much prouder of this useless response.
“Well then help me find them you damned ignoramus. And get that bear out of my sight!” The Wizard hurried up the stairs, grabbing Alfred by the arm as he went. The nation was startled by how easily he was forced forward. He struggled valiantly against the Wizard’s grasp but his strength, of course, failed him.
As the two men hurried through the castle a steady stream of animals headed in the opposite direction. They ran from the Wizard’s approach, the same way they might flee an impending storm. Alfred had enough experience as an outdoorsman to know that when the animals run, he ought to run too, but he was dragged ever onward.
They found Rose dusting chairs in the dining room; one look from the Wizard and she whimpered. She followed them obediently, making no other sound. The rest of the girls were found in similar ways. They were working happily, but one look from the Wizard and they would follow him submissively. Alfred looked around at them desperately, wishing he could do something to help. Daisy was weeping quietly, and the hero in Alfred cried out for him to act. He tugged miserably and hopelessly at his arm.
“You found everyone, so where are we going now?” Alfred asked petulantly.
“Patience Fool, you will know in a moment,” the Wizard responded. He spoke true, and a few seconds later the group found themselves at the top of a castle tower. “Stay here my pretties.” The Wizard advised them. He smiled in a way that made the girls step back and hide behind Alfred.
But they had nothing to fear from him in the moment. He shut the tower door, leaving the five captives alone and imprisoned.
“Why did he do that?” Rose whimpered. “He’s never done anything like this before. What did we do wrong?”
“I don’t know what happened, Rose dear, but we’ll be alright,” Violet said comfortingly. She placed her arms around the youngest girl.
“I’m scared!” Daisy wailed and she forced herself into Violet’s embrace as well. Bluebell stood off to the side, hugging her arms against her chest. She looked terrified. Alfred watched them tiredly before turning his gaze towards the window.
“Wait a sec…” he said slowly, “I bet I know what’s up. He was forced to make a move. It’s just like a war, see? He was forced to make a move because his enemies made a move first!”
The girls did not see, but they turned their teary eyes towards him hopefully.
“Someone must be coming to rescue us!” Alfred shouted happily. The girls’ eyes lit up and they all began to smile. Alfred found himself at the center of a giant group hug. He was too marvelously happy to feel awkward. He could only think of one thing: Arthur was coming!
oOoOo
A couple of songs for you today! First off the chapter is named after "Whistle While you Work" from Snow White. The original happy little animated animal movie. (It helped to be the original full length animated movie period).
But I also can't ignore the spot on modern parody from Enchanted:
And here is the song that Alfred was humming to himself. "The Way you Look Tonight". Made famous by a number of 30s/40s singers. I like the Bing Crosby version.
As a child, Alfred asked Arthur to let him into a fairy tale book, but the adventure never happened. 400 years later, Alfred accidentally gets sucked into the tale and Arthur has to go after him.
This Chapter: The beginning of a journey, chores, and a non-Russian dancing bear
Whistle While you Work
Arthur awoke to the smell of fresh hay and his mind gave an odd jolt of confusion. He had slept in hay often enough in his lifetime, but certainly not in the past two centuries, except perhaps during war. He sat up quickly, shouting something inane about Nazis and the French countryside, before looking about at his surroundings and remembering where he was.
“Oh Bollocks,” he swore to himself, leaning forward and placing his head in his hands. The little stable was beginning to fill with daylight, but he could still see the princes sleeping silently throughout barn. Arthur stood and stretched, before going over to his new armor and beginning to prepare himself for the day’s battle.
He was worried; he couldn’t help it. As much as he told himself that there was no way they could lose in this story book world, he couldn’t help but think that something might go wrong. After all, he and Alfred shouldn’t have been there, and that could easily throw a wrench into things. What if something went wrong with Alfred that he couldn’t fix?
He paused in his dressing. Even if he managed to find Alfred and the two of them made it back home, it didn’t mean everything would be perfect. It would be the same as it always was; they’d bicker and fight and Arthur would always be too much of a coward to act on his feelings. The lucky royal bastards strewn about the floor would all have their happily-ever-afters and he would be condemned to an eternity alone.
Arthur sighed heavily and continued to dress. He’d do what he always did. He’d put his energy toward the problem at hand, he’d do what he could for Alfred, and everything else could wait.
“Oy, your highnesses! Up and at ‘em, lads. You’ve princesses to rescue.”
The princes sat up blearily and looked about tiredly. In a moment though, they seemed as bright eyed as ever.
“Ah, morning! The day’s way of saying ‘Salutations’!” Topaz said happily.
“I can’t wait to kill some wizard today!” Garnet shouted happily, bounding to his feet.
“I wonder if Bluebell will be waiting for me still…”
“That’s all well and good, boys,” Quartz said, standing up and looking about grandly, “But the day’s first adventure must be breakfast!”
“To breakfast!” the other princes shouted, and in a moment they were all dressed and out the door. Arthur sighed and followed.
oOoOo
“Alright, it’s time to get this castle fresh and tidy!” Violet said. The other three girls stood ready at attention, Alfred was in line as well but wasn’t exuding quite the same enthusiasm.
“I’ve brought the brooms,” said Daisy.
“I’ve got the mops,” added Bluebell.
“And I’ve made sure we have plenty of water!” Rose chimed in.
“That’s great girls!” said Violet. “Now all we need is a smile on each of our faces, a song in each of our hearts, and a little help from some friends.”
Alfred looked at the three girls, each of whom had wide grins on their faces. He couldn’t remember anyone ever looking so excited to do work. He certainly didn’t feel excited. He had always hated cleaning, but at least in modern times there were a lot of things to make it easier. He would’ve given anything for a swiffer and vacuum cleaner just at the moment. Even if he’d had them, however, he couldn’t imagine how it would be possible for the five of them to clean the entire place by themselves.
Alfred snapped out of his funk when he noticed Violet walking daintily towards one of the castle windows. The five of them were all down on the first floor at the moment, right in the front hall by a vast locked door. When the girls had first shown him to the room, Alfred had immediately suggested breaking out of the wide low windows that framed the door. The girls had told him that the windows were enchanted and wouldn’t let any human through them. Naturally Alfred had tried to climb through the window anyway, but had been thrown back as though electrocuted. He couldn’t see any reason that Violet might be walking so determinedly toward one of the windows now.
She leaned forward, not poking her head out, but coming as close as she could. Violet began to whistle a high-pitched tune, and suddenly the sound of wings filled the air. A dozen or so large white swans flew through the window and landed demurely at Violet’s feet. Alfred gaped.
Bluebell hurried to the window next, she stuck her head right close to it and sang a few wordless bars of a tune. Four deer came bounding through the window. Daisy hurried-up next to her and sang her own tune. A host of happy looking squirrels, chipmunks, and raccoons climbed into the house and settled about her skirt, smiling up at her.
Alfred watched in amazement as Rose took her turn. She whistled her own little tune and then giggled happily as a colorful flock of songbirds flew through the window and perched on her and everything about her. Then all four girls turned and looked at Alfred.
“What? You don’t expect me to do that,” he paused, “Do you?”
“I’m sure you can do it Alfie!” Rose said, and her birds tweeted their agreement.
“Yeah, Alfie,” added Bluebell, “You seem like the sort of person that animals just love. I bet you’re surrounded by them all the time.”
Much to his disturbance Alfred found that he couldn’t argue. Animals really did like him, they always had, which was odd considering his environmental record. Still, there was no arguing with the rabbits that had followed him around as a child or the whale living in his swimming pool.
“I guess I could give it a shot… But don’t expect much from me.”
“Oh, we won’t!” Rose assured him.
Alfred approached the window slowly. He felt incredibly stupid, and he didn’t even know what he ought to sing. He settled on belting out a lyricless version of his national anthem.
At first only a few mice came out of holes in the walls and sat curiously by his feet, but a moment later a handful of rabbits hopped through the window. They were shortly followed by an owl, a badger, a porcupine, two foxes, three wolves, a bear wearing a turtle on its head, and two bald eagles. Alfred decided it was time to stop singing.
“That was amazing…” Daisy said with quiet disbelief.
“I’m sure they’ll be a great deal of help!” Violet told him with a smile. “Alright everybody. Let’s split up and get this place in tip top shape.”
The animals and the girls all hurried off throughout the castle to clean, leaving Alfred confused in the entryway.
oOoOo
“This is it Fellows; we head for our final battle,” Quartz spoke with his usual bravado, but did not move forward. Arthur and the four princes were all mounted and standing at the edge of town. The dirt path toward the forest stretched out before them ominously. It felt as though a single step forward would deny them any chance to turn back.
Arthur swallowed thickly and urged his horse forward. He could hear the princes behind him, following. Together they all set out, and rode until the forest was in sight. Throughout the entire trip the group was uncharacteristically silent.
“This really is a strange forest,” Arthur murmured to himself. The twisted, leafless branches of the trees seemed to reach out threateningly. There were no animals about, and almost everything about the place seemed to warn against entering it. Even the stoic horses seemed to hesitate.
Arthur grasped the hilt of his sword and started the group forward once again. There was a collective intake of breath from the princes but they followed him loyally. The horses’ hooves were the only sound that could be heard, and the silence only served to increase their nerves.
Suddenly from every direction the sound of crows could be heard. They cawed and dived at the would-be heroes, causing them all to throw up their arms to protect their faces. But the crows touched none of them, instead they took to the air as one and disappeared past the branches and into the sky.
“What was that?” Arthur asked, breathing heavily as his adrenaline returned to more normal levels.
“Just a bunch of stupid old crows. Nothing that’s going to stop us!” Garnet said in a voice that was a great deal louder than necessary.
“I’ve never seen crows act like that…” Turquoise muttered.
“You’re just being a coward,” Garnet snapped back.
“No… He may well be right,” Arthur said thoughtfully. “We should be more careful as we proceed. I think we may have set off the alarm system. It won’t be so easy going forward.”
“What is this ‘alarm system’ that you speak of?” Quartz asked.
“I think those crows have gone to warn the wizard that we’re coming. I’m sure he’ll try to stop us from advancing.”
But Arthur was wrong. There were no more traps or surprises. They went on towards the castle at the forest’s center completely undisturbed. The princes seemed to calm down the longer they rode. They began to laugh and talk with one another, happily unconcerned. Arthur, however, grew more anxious as they rode. He could only imagine that this was a bad sign. He was certain that the crows were lookouts, and if the Wizard wasn’t reacting by sending something to greet them, than he must be planning something up at the castle.
oOoOo
Alfred and the bear were sweeping the stairs together in a companionable silence. Working alongside animals had seemed disturbing and unsanitary at first, but the bear really did seem to be doing a good job, so Alfred decided not to complain. Besides bears could be pretty cool when they wanted to, maybe Mathew had the right idea.
Alfred was humming happily as he swept, and the girls were right, it really did make time seem to fly. He had hummed his way through quite the repertoire of songs including Elvis, MJ and the Beatles, but he was currently stuck on an old romance song.
“Hmm,hmm, hmm, hmmm, hmm, with your smile so warm, hmm, hmmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, there is nothing for me but to love you just the way you look, hmm, hmm.” Alfred was dancing with the broom and he was very glad that nobody could see him. Well, the bear could see him, but the bear was dancing too so the blackmail was mutual.
The large front doors of the castle swung open with a resounding thud, and Alfred stopped his dancing rather abruptly. The wizard stood in the doorway with his cape billowing out behind him; there was a panicked fury in his eyes and the look he gave Alfred froze him where he stood.
“Boy, what are you doing there?” he snapped.
“Cleaning, Sir!” Alfred responded quickly. It had been an almost military reaction, but he was ashamed a moment after he’d done it.
“Right, right of course. Just as you should be… yes…” The wizard ran a hand through his long black hair before fixing his eyes on Alfred once again. “The girls, where are they?”
“Iunno,” Alfred said shrugging, “Around.” He was much prouder of this useless response.
“Well then help me find them you damned ignoramus. And get that bear out of my sight!” The Wizard hurried up the stairs, grabbing Alfred by the arm as he went. The nation was startled by how easily he was forced forward. He struggled valiantly against the Wizard’s grasp but his strength, of course, failed him.
As the two men hurried through the castle a steady stream of animals headed in the opposite direction. They ran from the Wizard’s approach, the same way they might flee an impending storm. Alfred had enough experience as an outdoorsman to know that when the animals run, he ought to run too, but he was dragged ever onward.
They found Rose dusting chairs in the dining room; one look from the Wizard and she whimpered. She followed them obediently, making no other sound. The rest of the girls were found in similar ways. They were working happily, but one look from the Wizard and they would follow him submissively. Alfred looked around at them desperately, wishing he could do something to help. Daisy was weeping quietly, and the hero in Alfred cried out for him to act. He tugged miserably and hopelessly at his arm.
“You found everyone, so where are we going now?” Alfred asked petulantly.
“Patience Fool, you will know in a moment,” the Wizard responded. He spoke true, and a few seconds later the group found themselves at the top of a castle tower. “Stay here my pretties.” The Wizard advised them. He smiled in a way that made the girls step back and hide behind Alfred.
But they had nothing to fear from him in the moment. He shut the tower door, leaving the five captives alone and imprisoned.
“Why did he do that?” Rose whimpered. “He’s never done anything like this before. What did we do wrong?”
“I don’t know what happened, Rose dear, but we’ll be alright,” Violet said comfortingly. She placed her arms around the youngest girl.
“I’m scared!” Daisy wailed and she forced herself into Violet’s embrace as well. Bluebell stood off to the side, hugging her arms against her chest. She looked terrified. Alfred watched them tiredly before turning his gaze towards the window.
“Wait a sec…” he said slowly, “I bet I know what’s up. He was forced to make a move. It’s just like a war, see? He was forced to make a move because his enemies made a move first!”
The girls did not see, but they turned their teary eyes towards him hopefully.
“Someone must be coming to rescue us!” Alfred shouted happily. The girls’ eyes lit up and they all began to smile. Alfred found himself at the center of a giant group hug. He was too marvelously happy to feel awkward. He could only think of one thing: Arthur was coming!
oOoOo
A couple of songs for you today! First off the chapter is named after "Whistle While you Work" from Snow White. The original happy little animated animal movie. (It helped to be the original full length animated movie period).
But I also can't ignore the spot on modern parody from Enchanted:
And here is the song that Alfred was humming to himself. "The Way you Look Tonight". Made famous by a number of 30s/40s singers. I like the Bing Crosby version.