[o50] 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
Blair fought to hold back the bitter tears that pierced her eyes until she had hurriedly returned to her own chambers, slamming the bedroom door forcefully behind her. The girl fell back against the door, furrowing her brow and choking out a pained sob as her head hit the polished wood.
It was too hard to form thoughts. What was she supposed to think?
Blair exhaled deeply, slowly peeling her eyes open and looking around the room. Her first instinct had been right, this was no time for thinking. The only impulse she had was to get the hell out of here, out of this stupid world; this stupid book. "Serena." Blair whispered, pushing herself away from the door. She scrambled across the room, pulling out her socks and the navy blue cape when she realized that the rest of her clothes were still in Chuck's room and she was still wearing his despicable robe. She violently shrugged it off, as if the garment were diseased, before running over to the armoire and looking for whatever unfavorable spare clothes had been left there for her. Blair quickly pulled out a silk orange chemise, tossing it over her head and pulling the dress down til it hit a little bit above the knee. She slipped into her flats and slung her cape over her shoulders, fastening the clasp around her neck. Blair hardly spared the room a second glance before retreating out the door from which she had entered.
The palace halls were as deathly dark as they were quiet. Blair slowly crept through them, finding her way to the grand and golden central staircase of the palace and following it down to the ground floor. As she approached the palace doors, slipping through them and into the courtyard, she realized that it was no longer late at night but rather very early in the morning. The sky above reflected the muted colors of dusk; a sandstorm of blushes and periwinkles.
Blair didn't expect to be interrupted as she made her way through the desolate courtyard and towards the palace's front gates. However, the startling and questioning call of her name caused the girl to stop dead in her tracks and turn around abruptly.
"Blair?" Nate was positioned somewhat leisurely on one of the large branches of the goldenrain trees that were planted in the courtyard. Upon noticing Blair he jumped down from his lookout spot, sending a flurry of yellow petals and leaves into the air after him. "What are you doing?" He looked at her suspiciously, eyeing her shoes, her cape; the direction she was heading.
"I should ask you the same thing." Blair replied defensively, "but it's no business of mine and neither is what I do yours."
"Were you planning on leaving?" Nathaniel pointed in the direction of the gate, and pretty much ignoring the words that had just left her lips. Blair looked at him blankly, as if to inquire, honestly, what else would she be doing?
"So what if I was?"
"Blair, you can't leave. You promised Charles you would help him."
"Actually, he promised me that he would help me return home if I helped him." Blair took a step towards Nathaniel, looking at him defensively. "Do you know what home is, Nathaniel? It's a place where you feel warm, and safe." She paused. "I don't feel safe here. So if you'll excuse me... I'm going to find my way home." Blair made a move to walk past him but Nathaniel quickly stepped into her path, holding up his hands as if to prevent her from walking straight through him.
"Wait, wait, Blair... I don't get it. You were working so hard to help us."
"It was a waste of time." Blair replied darkly. "He doesn't deserve my help."
"He?" A wave of realization washed over the sandy-haired boy and he glanced back at her sympathetically. "What did Chuck do this time? Look… he doesn't mean half of what he says, Blair. Chuck likes to get a rise out of people, don't take it seriously-"
"Ugh!" Blair through her hands up in frustration, "Do you always blindly defend that bastard? It's pathetic." She could tell her hit a nerve when the boy was at a loss for words. She felt a little bad, but she hid it well, and stuck behind her accusation as she looked at him impatiently. "Do you want to know what your precious prince did?" Blair asked, barely waiting for an answer, "Please, tell me, does he often 'get a rise' out of people by seducing them, sleeping with them, and then turning around and saying that it was all just for sport? Just a game?"
"Blair..."
"Don't even try to defend him," Blair warned the knight, taking a step back.
"I wasn't going to." Nathaniel ran a hand through his hair, looking at her sympathetically. She hated to be looked at like that. "I was going to say... I'm sorry. I didn't know that... something more was going on between you and him."
"Really? Despite the fact that your stupid prophecy spelled it out for you?" Blair replied sardonically, folding her arms protectively across her chest.
"Well, you denied it pretty adamantly." Nathaniel retorted, and for extra emphasis he cleared his throat and raised his voice, "Never in a million years, even if we were the last two people on earth..."
"I can't believe you!" Blair looked at him in astonishment, her jaw dropping slightly. "I do not sound like that."
"Oh, yes, you do." Nathaniel grinned cheekily, "My socks are wet! I can't believe you ruined my socks!" He whined mockingly.
"Shut. Up." Blair grinned widely as she hit him playfully in the arm, "You are unbelievable, Nathaniel Archibald. You've got everybody fooled into thinking that you're this perfect proper gentleman, knight in shining armor... "
"Hey, hey," Nate put his hands on his hips, looking at her seriously, "I got you to smile, didn't I?" Blair hadn't even realized it until he pointed it out, and the girl quickly regained her composure. "Seriously, Blair." He placed an arm on her shoulder, "Even if I wanted to, I couldn't let you leave. It's just too dangerous at this time of night. Most of the guards aren't even on duty, and who knows what kind of ravenous bandits are wandering the streets." He glanced at the palace gates briefly before turning back to her, "Just... do me a favor. Sleep on it. If you still feel the same way in the morning... we'll make the proper arrangements."
Blair eyed the other boy thoughtfully, considering his proposition. Though, it didn't look as though she had much of a choice. However, Blair was not one to leave any type of agreement empty handed. "Fine." The girl conceded, "I'll wait until morning... but I have one question for you." Nathaniel nodded acceptingly, "Now that I've said my piece... what are you doing out here, alone, this early in the morning?"
"Just couldn't sleep." Nathaniel shrugged casually. "Being out here... it clears the mind."
"That's not much of an answer." Blair replied, appearing somewhat bored.
"Well, stick around." Nathaniel suggested, walking back over to his tree, "and maybe things will get more interesting."
"Hmm." Blair eyed him curiously. "We'll see." She turned quietly, making her way back across the courtyard and towards the palace doors as the twilight hovered in the sky delicately above her.
The following morning, Blair was suddenly and very rudely woken from her sleep by the piercing sunlight that blasted through her windows and into her tired eyes. When she finally pried them open, sitting up in her bed in alarm, she found a very satisfied Daniel Humphrey pulling the curtains away from her window.
"Rise and shine, princess." The scribe moved towards her bed, plopping himself down on the mattress ungracefully. "We're going shopping."
"W-what?" Blair looked at him blankly, then back at the door. "Why are you in my room?"
"Wow. I thought you'd be happy." Daniel scratched his head awkwardly, "He said you'd like to go shopping..."
"He?" Blair questioned, frowning at him. Why would Chuck...
"Nathaniel." Dan explained quickly. "He said you were feeling a little depressed… a little homesick. He thought a little retail therapy in the marketplace might make you feel better, and he would have taken you himself, but…"
"Knight stuff." Blair finished, to which Daniel nodded. She could see that Nathaniel was definitely not letting her go so easily, and his line about them 'seeing how she felt in the morning' was just that - a line. He even went so far as to put Daniel on a mission to keep her preoccupied. If such was the case, Blair figured she might as well take advantage of it. "Shopping sounds great." Blair grinned, "I'll be ready in ten minutes."
"You were out of line."
"I appreciate your concern, Nathaniel, but I've already got a parent to worry about." Chuck drawled as he collapsed backwards onto his throne, "I don't need another one." The prince crossed his legs, examining his best friend carefully. "In addition, I don't remember you ever disapproving of my antics before."
"Yeah, well… that's because the future of our kingdom wasn't at stake." Nathaniel replied dully, folding his arms as he paced back and forth anxiously. "Do what you want with your harlots and harem girls, but… Blair is too important to be pulled into your games."
"Too important to our kingdom, or… too important to you?" Chuck asked curiously, clasping his arms together and leaning forward, "When it comes to Blair's feelings, you're not a exactly a saint either."
"To our kingdom." Nathaniel clarified flatly, "We need her. She tried to leave last night, Chuck!"
"Let her!" The prince retorted caustically, sitting up in his seat. "Let her go. It doesn't matter. We'll find a way without her."
"You know she's been invaluable so far-"
"Look, I'm really not in the mood to discuss the matter any further. If you want to keep her around so badly, than do what you will. It makes no difference to me." As soon as the prince had effectively ended the conversation, one of the palace's many servants entered the throne room, rushing up to the two boys and bowing graciously at Charles' feet.
"Your Highness," the servant gasped breathlessly, "you have a visitor..."
Chuck growled with displeasure, "Like I just said, I'm not particularly in the mood to entertain guests."
The servant stood up, swallowing adamantly, "I'm afraid you'll want to see this one…"
"Remember the first time we met?" Blair sighed whimsically, linking arms with Daniel as they walked towards the marketplace. "I remember following you through these streets… not knowing what to expect."
"I remember." Dan agreed, "I also remember how you totally almost screwed me over with those guys who were heckling you. You actually claimed that I would kick their ass!"
"Hey! I was improvising." Blair replied defensively, "And Nathaniel swears you throw a mean punch."
"Only when provoked." Dan added light-heartedly. He lead them over to a fruit stand, picking up a starfruit with his hand and tossing it lightly to examine the fruit before offering it to Blair.
"Hmm, no thanks." The girl scrunched up her nose, shaking her head. Dan shrugged and put the fruit back down before leading them over to the next stand.
"It's her!" The shrill cry of an elderly woman drew Blair from her thoughts and she looked up in alarm to find the hunched over spinster, basket in hand, pointing accusingly straight at her.
"Pardon?" Blair arched an eyebrow at the woman who was now standing in her way in the middle of the road. She glanced to the side, questioningly, at Daniel, who returned the same puzzled expression. By now several of the other villagers traversing around the marketplace had started to pay attention to their awkward encounter.
"You!" The old woman howled again, threateningly taking another step towards Blair. The girl would have assumed that it was mere fanaticism, after all, she was the girl from the prophecy. The one who was supposed to save everybody, and all that. However… there was a look of hostility in the woman's eyes which suggested that she wasn't here to show her appreciation. "It's her! That lying impostor!" The woman shrieked, reaching into her basket and pulling out a loaf of bread which she forcefully thrust towards Blair's head.
"Hey!" Blair was so taken aback that the bread would have hit her square in the face had she not thrown her arms up in defense at the last minute. As the loaf fell uselessly to the side, Blair dropped her arms, glaring angrily at the squat elder. "What the hell is your problem?" Blair asked indignantly, brushing off her skirt. "I guess Dalmasca doesn't exactly take care of it's elderly…"
"Lying little girls like you are my problem!" The old woman retorted, now turning to address the crowd that had gathered behind her. "It's her! The impostor who claims to be our savior! She's nothing more than a liar, a phony, a fake!" The crowd stirred at her words, hurried murmurs moved throughout the marketplace and surrounded Blair with their whispered accusations. Blair simply stared at the woman in shock, at first unable to find the words that truly expressed her surprise and infuriation. Then she did.
"Are you crazy!?" Blair shrieked, taking a step back as Daniel moved protectively in front of her.
"Don't talk to her like that, you lying whore!" A younger woman yelled from behind, and just as Blair whipped around an apple landed at her feet, with debris splashing onto her shoes. Blair stared in horror at the ground, then up at the angry sea of faces glaring back at her. They were all beginning to speak up now.
"Go back to where you came from!"
"She's probably a Zaibach spy!"
"Whoa, whoa," Dan pushed Blair behind him, holding his arms out defensively, "Everybody just calm down!" He yelled, in a failed attempt at reason. "Blair, is not a liar. We don't even know what you're accusing her of lying about!"
"Isn't that the guy who wrote the expose on the king?" An onlooker voiced aloud, followed by a jeer of agreements. "For a guy so set on a exposing the truth, you sure keep strange company!"
"Forget him, get the impostor!" An angry boy yelled, grabbing a rock from the ground and chucking it towards Blair. This time, the girl wasn't too quick to move and the rock hit Blair square in the arm, causing her to recoil in pain and sink to her knees as a slew of pebbles and fruit splattered all around her.
"Blair!" Dan dropped to the ground, attempting to shield her from the onslaught of debris, "Are you okay?"
"I don't know," Blair breathed, adrenaline rushing through her veins as she realized the true and unexpected danger she was in, "I don't know what's going on…" She looked past Dan's shoulder, horrified at the sight of the villagers closing in, makeshift weapons in hand, and vengeful expressions on their faces. She winced, pressing her face against Dan's chest as the sound of metal slicing through air silenced the reproachful taunts.
"Back. Down." The strong voice cut through the silence with a tone that held no room for negotiations. Blair could hear the shuffle of retreating footsteps and lifted her head in both surprise and curiosity. Dan's grip around her shoulders loosened as they both looked up to find Nathaniel's graceful stature poised in front of them, with his sword wielded ominously. "You should all be ashamed of yourselves." The knight yelled tightly, "Now go about your lives. Go, or I will make you." He added darkly, waiting for the crowd to begin to disperse before turning around and facing the shell-shocked pair on the ground. Before Blair even had a chance to speak, Nathaniel didn't hesitate to give her orders of his own. "Blair, we've got to get back to the palace, now."
"I don't understand," Blair breathed quickly as she tried to keep pace with Nathaniel as they entered through the palace gates. She tried her hardest to shake off the seemingly suspicious stares of the palace guards, but they managed to distract her and served to confuse her even further. It was as if the whole kingdom were in on some inside joke which to her remained a mystery. "What did I do to provoke them? A little less than a month ago they were singing songs in my praise!"
Nathaniel stopped shortly in front of the throne room, turning around to face both her and an exasperated Daniel. "Blair, tell me the truth. Where are you from?"
"What?" Blair furrowed her eyebrows, "I told you. I'm from Manhattan."
"Manhattan… and that's a different world? Not just some obscure Astorian village that nobody has ever heard of?"
"Entirely different!" Blair insisted, "Nate, I've never been here before in my life! What is this about?"
"I'll explain, but first I need to have your word… you are royalty, right, Blair?"
"What? Well-" Blair opened her mouth to explain further, but the sound of heels clacking rapidly against tile interrupted her from her thoughts. The brunette turned towards the noise, staring in shock and abhorrence at the waify blonde that strutted towards them, flanked by guards.
"Is this her?" The blonde inquired accusingly, looking back and forth from Nate to a pale and speechless Dan. "Is this the girl who's been impersonating me?"
"Excuse you?" Blair put a hand on her hip, looking at the girl in disbelief. "Nathaniel, what is she talking about?"
"I should ask you the same question." The blonde girl replied defensively, "Pretending to be the girl from the prophecy? Pretending to be me? What in the world would have ever possessed someone to do such a thing?"
"I'm sorry, you must be misunderstood." Blair faced the girl square on, not in the least bit intimidated by the fact that in her flats the blonde practically towered over her. "I am the girl from the prophecy." After all of that denial, Blair had just recently accepted the idea, and she'd be damned if some random peroxide blonde twig was going to say otherwise. Blair turned, looking expectantly and Daniel and Nathaniel. "Well? Tell her!"
"Um-" Nathaniel opened his mouth to speak but the zippy blonde beat him to the punch.
"Why would we take the word of the son of a traitor?" The blonde mused, glancing briefly at the knight. "His allegiance to you would only be further proof of the treason taking place here." Blair's mouth dropped in horror and fumingly, she took another threatening step towards the blonde.
"So much class for a girl who claims to be royalty." Blair combatted icily. "I'll entertain your delusional accusations, but remember that your problem is with me. You can leave Nathaniel out of it the same way you left your manners at the door."
"Well, then. You better start speaking for yourself."
"You'll wish I never did by the time I'm through with you." Both girls jumped at the sound of the throne room doors being thrown open, and at the temperamental prince which stormed out of it, flanked by guards as well as Vanessa and Aaron's worried and panicked faces.
"Shut. Up." The prince growled angrily. "Both of you."
"Oh, Charles," The blonde's voice softened and she took a step towards him, placing an arm gingerly on his shoulder. "I'm so glad you're here. This impostor has been verbally attacking me with horrible accusations." Blair felt the urge to vomit; she couldn't even believe this girl's audacity. The sight of the little twig draping herself over Chuck was enough to make her skin crawl.
"Don't touch me." Chuck replied dismissively, shrugging her hand off. His eyes met Blair's for a brief second, allowing the tension to transpire between them for a moment before abruptly looking away. "This is a disaster." The prince looked at both parties with disappointment, his voice raising as he spoke, "And I do not have the time to deal with this while my father is on his death bed!"
"Well, then what exactly do your propose we do to resolve this?" The blonde asked impatiently, folding her arms.
"Let the people decide." The prince replied flippantly, turning briskly on his heel and retreating back into the throne room.
Daniel Humphrey paced back and forth heatedly on the palace balcony, biting his lip and scratching his head and partaking in every other physical action associated with panic and nervousness. Vanessa Abrams watched him worriedly, fiddling with her fingers and staring every so often at the ground.
"Daniel, I'm sorry, I tried to warn you as soon as I found out… I went to your room but you had already left with Blair."
"It's not your fault." Dan replied in exasperation, "It's her! What is she doing here? Why is she doing this?" He put his hands on his hips, turning to face the horizon. When he was awarded no response he turned back around to find Vanessa staring speechlessly at the blonde girl who was now approaching him.
"Sounds like you have a few questions for me, big brother." The girl raised an eyebrow while maintaining a guise of innocence. Dan narrowed his eyes, shaking his head and grabbing the girl by both shoulders, pulling her aside. He lowered his voice into a harsh whisper,
"Jenny, what the fuck do you think you're doing?"
"What am I doing?" The pixie blonde raised her voice, "What are you doing, Dan? Does it make you feel like more of a man or something, running off on far away adventures, writing in your little diary?"
"What is this really about, Jenny?"
"How about the fact that dad still hasn't returned home?" Jenny acquired accusingly, "The delegation was supposed to last two days and he's been gone for almost a week. He wrote me a letter," Jenny added bitterly, reaching into the pocket of her silk taffeta dress and pulling out a wrinkled piece of parchment. "Dearest Jenny. Still working on the delegates. Trying to convince them to sign their allegiance to Dalmasca. Everyone here fears Zaibach. Rumor has it Zaibach has gotten wind of Dalmasca's motives and may be heading for Alexandria. Will try to be back as soon as possible. Stay safe. Love, Your Father."
"Jenny. He's doing the right thing."
"The right thing isn't always the best thing, Daniel!" The girl shrieked, shoving the letter back into her pocket. "Somehow our father is poised at the forefront of the support Dalmasca movement, which, by the way, isn't exactly popular." She inhaled deeply, "If we go to war… sure, maybe Dalmasca will win, but what's going to happen to us? The kingdom poised in between the two warring nations? Collateral damage, that's what."
"Jenny, you're being ridiculous. There will be casualties from all sides, that's a part of war. People die… but at least they die for what they believe in."
"What about our father? Do you want him to die?" Jenny asked accusingly, "Would you be okay with that? I don't want to lose my father, and I don't want to lose my friends back home!"
"Of course I don't!" Dan rebuked, "But I'm proud to have a father who at least stands behind his beliefs! I'm glad our father isn't a coward."
"Better a coward than dead! I love him too much and I love our home too much to see everything destroyed at the hands of two greedier kingdoms." Jenny bit back the tears that stung her eyes, "Don't you get it, Dan? They don't care about Alexandria! We're just a pawn in their game… well, I'd rather be a pawn on the stronger team."
"So, what?" Dan asked accusingly, staring his sister down, "It's okay to see death and destruction so long as its not happening in your backyard? It's okay if hundreds or thousands of Dalmascans die?"
"All those Dalmascans would do the same thing if they were in our position." Jenny replied blankly. "Besides… if you really believed in sacrificing those you love for the greater good, you'd turn me in. Tell the prince that I'm your sister… and that I'm a fake." Jenny watched him carefully, "but you know that that's practically guaranteeing my execution, and despite your ideals and your righteousness you don't want to see your family get hurt either." Dan simply stared back at her, speechless. Jenny took a step backwards, "Now if you'll excuse me… my public awaits." She turned quickly on her heels, brushing heatedly past Vanessa and back inside the palace.
"Blair, you're not even trying." Nathaniel placed a hand on the girl's shoulder, looking over the brunette's head at the busy marketplace in front of them. "It's not like you to give up so easily. What happened to the girl who got the best of Georgina Sparks?"
"This is different!" Blair snapped, glancing over her shoulder at the spritely blonde and her stupid smile and stupid laugh and stupid tacky shoes. Laughing gaily with the village mothers, complementing their makeshift aprons and their homemade bread. Blair turned back to face Nathaniel, looking at him squarely. "I'm not a nice person, Nate. I don't know how to make people laugh or feel good about themselves. It's not what I do."
"Well… maybe you're just…" Nathaniel paused, "honest?"
"I'm a bitch." Blair groaned in defeat.
"But I'm not." A voice from behind sang gleefully, and Blair turned in surprise to find Aaron approaching their position under one of the empty bazaar tents.
"Aaron," Blair smiled in relief. "You believe me?" The boy responded with an incredulous expression.
"I know people, Blair. That girl over there," He glanced at Jenny, "She's not a queen." He paused, "At least I hope not because she's not too bad looking and it'd be a shame if she were destined to fall in love with Prince not-so-Charming." Blair narrowed her eyes at the seer, who smiled brightly in response, "I'm kidding."
"Well, what do you suggest I do?" Blair asked, not wanting to sound desperate but feeling quite desperate all the same.
"Do what you do best." The seer replied nonchalantly, "Be strategic." He shifted positions, holding up his hands to illustrate his point, "In the same amount of time it takes that girl to charm every individual working class villager, we can hit all of Dalmasca's most influential nobles."
"Group think." Blair replied, "I like where you're going with this. It is after all, the educated elite who pretty much determine popular opinion, in any society."
"Not only that, it's the women." Aaron added with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "By the way, I happen to have a registry of all of Dalmasca's noblewomen in my back pocket." He reached around, pulling out a small scroll and unravelling it. "The three of us will split up the list. I'll use my irresistible sway over women to curry good favor, and…" Aaron glanced at Nathaniel, "Nathaniel, you can just… smile and look pretty." The knight narrowed his eyes at the seer but said nothing, his silence serving as evidence of his compliance. "All right, Team Blair… time to get to work."
To Be Continued...
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
SONG:
Stars - Celebration Guns Nate & Blair's courtyard conversation.
A/N: Once again, my time management is awesome. Honestly, I was able to get this up now because I got sick this week and thus was able to take a break from schoolwork. Unfortunately, now I'll be busy playing catch-up. Boo! I'm still going to try to stay on top of this fic, though. Maybe it'll be done by Christmas? Anyway, this storyline was originally going to be resolved in one chapter but then I realized this would have then been an insanely long chapter and I probably would not have gotten it up this weekend. So, now it's a cliffhanger. I know, not too much C/B but that's because they're being their turbulent selves. It's kind of funny because this chapter draws from a lot of different times in GG. CB and BJ is post 1x13-fallout; NB and Chuck/Bart is around the 2x13-2x18 area.
In other news, I've decided to postpone writing my other AU C/B fic Auf Wiedersehen until after I finished Storybook Endings; epic CB-ness can be overwhelming. In the mean time, though, I am starting a multi-chapter Dair fic.
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
Blair fought to hold back the bitter tears that pierced her eyes until she had hurriedly returned to her own chambers, slamming the bedroom door forcefully behind her. The girl fell back against the door, furrowing her brow and choking out a pained sob as her head hit the polished wood.
It was too hard to form thoughts. What was she supposed to think?
Blair exhaled deeply, slowly peeling her eyes open and looking around the room. Her first instinct had been right, this was no time for thinking. The only impulse she had was to get the hell out of here, out of this stupid world; this stupid book. "Serena." Blair whispered, pushing herself away from the door. She scrambled across the room, pulling out her socks and the navy blue cape when she realized that the rest of her clothes were still in Chuck's room and she was still wearing his despicable robe. She violently shrugged it off, as if the garment were diseased, before running over to the armoire and looking for whatever unfavorable spare clothes had been left there for her. Blair quickly pulled out a silk orange chemise, tossing it over her head and pulling the dress down til it hit a little bit above the knee. She slipped into her flats and slung her cape over her shoulders, fastening the clasp around her neck. Blair hardly spared the room a second glance before retreating out the door from which she had entered.
The palace halls were as deathly dark as they were quiet. Blair slowly crept through them, finding her way to the grand and golden central staircase of the palace and following it down to the ground floor. As she approached the palace doors, slipping through them and into the courtyard, she realized that it was no longer late at night but rather very early in the morning. The sky above reflected the muted colors of dusk; a sandstorm of blushes and periwinkles.
Blair didn't expect to be interrupted as she made her way through the desolate courtyard and towards the palace's front gates. However, the startling and questioning call of her name caused the girl to stop dead in her tracks and turn around abruptly.
"Blair?" Nate was positioned somewhat leisurely on one of the large branches of the goldenrain trees that were planted in the courtyard. Upon noticing Blair he jumped down from his lookout spot, sending a flurry of yellow petals and leaves into the air after him. "What are you doing?" He looked at her suspiciously, eyeing her shoes, her cape; the direction she was heading.
"I should ask you the same thing." Blair replied defensively, "but it's no business of mine and neither is what I do yours."
"Were you planning on leaving?" Nathaniel pointed in the direction of the gate, and pretty much ignoring the words that had just left her lips. Blair looked at him blankly, as if to inquire, honestly, what else would she be doing?
"So what if I was?"
"Blair, you can't leave. You promised Charles you would help him."
"Actually, he promised me that he would help me return home if I helped him." Blair took a step towards Nathaniel, looking at him defensively. "Do you know what home is, Nathaniel? It's a place where you feel warm, and safe." She paused. "I don't feel safe here. So if you'll excuse me... I'm going to find my way home." Blair made a move to walk past him but Nathaniel quickly stepped into her path, holding up his hands as if to prevent her from walking straight through him.
"Wait, wait, Blair... I don't get it. You were working so hard to help us."
"It was a waste of time." Blair replied darkly. "He doesn't deserve my help."
"He?" A wave of realization washed over the sandy-haired boy and he glanced back at her sympathetically. "What did Chuck do this time? Look… he doesn't mean half of what he says, Blair. Chuck likes to get a rise out of people, don't take it seriously-"
"Ugh!" Blair through her hands up in frustration, "Do you always blindly defend that bastard? It's pathetic." She could tell her hit a nerve when the boy was at a loss for words. She felt a little bad, but she hid it well, and stuck behind her accusation as she looked at him impatiently. "Do you want to know what your precious prince did?" Blair asked, barely waiting for an answer, "Please, tell me, does he often 'get a rise' out of people by seducing them, sleeping with them, and then turning around and saying that it was all just for sport? Just a game?"
"Blair..."
"Don't even try to defend him," Blair warned the knight, taking a step back.
"I wasn't going to." Nathaniel ran a hand through his hair, looking at her sympathetically. She hated to be looked at like that. "I was going to say... I'm sorry. I didn't know that... something more was going on between you and him."
"Really? Despite the fact that your stupid prophecy spelled it out for you?" Blair replied sardonically, folding her arms protectively across her chest.
"Well, you denied it pretty adamantly." Nathaniel retorted, and for extra emphasis he cleared his throat and raised his voice, "Never in a million years, even if we were the last two people on earth..."
"I can't believe you!" Blair looked at him in astonishment, her jaw dropping slightly. "I do not sound like that."
"Oh, yes, you do." Nathaniel grinned cheekily, "My socks are wet! I can't believe you ruined my socks!" He whined mockingly.
"Shut. Up." Blair grinned widely as she hit him playfully in the arm, "You are unbelievable, Nathaniel Archibald. You've got everybody fooled into thinking that you're this perfect proper gentleman, knight in shining armor... "
"Hey, hey," Nate put his hands on his hips, looking at her seriously, "I got you to smile, didn't I?" Blair hadn't even realized it until he pointed it out, and the girl quickly regained her composure. "Seriously, Blair." He placed an arm on her shoulder, "Even if I wanted to, I couldn't let you leave. It's just too dangerous at this time of night. Most of the guards aren't even on duty, and who knows what kind of ravenous bandits are wandering the streets." He glanced at the palace gates briefly before turning back to her, "Just... do me a favor. Sleep on it. If you still feel the same way in the morning... we'll make the proper arrangements."
Blair eyed the other boy thoughtfully, considering his proposition. Though, it didn't look as though she had much of a choice. However, Blair was not one to leave any type of agreement empty handed. "Fine." The girl conceded, "I'll wait until morning... but I have one question for you." Nathaniel nodded acceptingly, "Now that I've said my piece... what are you doing out here, alone, this early in the morning?"
"Just couldn't sleep." Nathaniel shrugged casually. "Being out here... it clears the mind."
"That's not much of an answer." Blair replied, appearing somewhat bored.
"Well, stick around." Nathaniel suggested, walking back over to his tree, "and maybe things will get more interesting."
"Hmm." Blair eyed him curiously. "We'll see." She turned quietly, making her way back across the courtyard and towards the palace doors as the twilight hovered in the sky delicately above her.
The following morning, Blair was suddenly and very rudely woken from her sleep by the piercing sunlight that blasted through her windows and into her tired eyes. When she finally pried them open, sitting up in her bed in alarm, she found a very satisfied Daniel Humphrey pulling the curtains away from her window.
"Rise and shine, princess." The scribe moved towards her bed, plopping himself down on the mattress ungracefully. "We're going shopping."
"W-what?" Blair looked at him blankly, then back at the door. "Why are you in my room?"
"Wow. I thought you'd be happy." Daniel scratched his head awkwardly, "He said you'd like to go shopping..."
"He?" Blair questioned, frowning at him. Why would Chuck...
"Nathaniel." Dan explained quickly. "He said you were feeling a little depressed… a little homesick. He thought a little retail therapy in the marketplace might make you feel better, and he would have taken you himself, but…"
"Knight stuff." Blair finished, to which Daniel nodded. She could see that Nathaniel was definitely not letting her go so easily, and his line about them 'seeing how she felt in the morning' was just that - a line. He even went so far as to put Daniel on a mission to keep her preoccupied. If such was the case, Blair figured she might as well take advantage of it. "Shopping sounds great." Blair grinned, "I'll be ready in ten minutes."
"You were out of line."
"I appreciate your concern, Nathaniel, but I've already got a parent to worry about." Chuck drawled as he collapsed backwards onto his throne, "I don't need another one." The prince crossed his legs, examining his best friend carefully. "In addition, I don't remember you ever disapproving of my antics before."
"Yeah, well… that's because the future of our kingdom wasn't at stake." Nathaniel replied dully, folding his arms as he paced back and forth anxiously. "Do what you want with your harlots and harem girls, but… Blair is too important to be pulled into your games."
"Too important to our kingdom, or… too important to you?" Chuck asked curiously, clasping his arms together and leaning forward, "When it comes to Blair's feelings, you're not a exactly a saint either."
"To our kingdom." Nathaniel clarified flatly, "We need her. She tried to leave last night, Chuck!"
"Let her!" The prince retorted caustically, sitting up in his seat. "Let her go. It doesn't matter. We'll find a way without her."
"You know she's been invaluable so far-"
"Look, I'm really not in the mood to discuss the matter any further. If you want to keep her around so badly, than do what you will. It makes no difference to me." As soon as the prince had effectively ended the conversation, one of the palace's many servants entered the throne room, rushing up to the two boys and bowing graciously at Charles' feet.
"Your Highness," the servant gasped breathlessly, "you have a visitor..."
Chuck growled with displeasure, "Like I just said, I'm not particularly in the mood to entertain guests."
The servant stood up, swallowing adamantly, "I'm afraid you'll want to see this one…"
"Remember the first time we met?" Blair sighed whimsically, linking arms with Daniel as they walked towards the marketplace. "I remember following you through these streets… not knowing what to expect."
"I remember." Dan agreed, "I also remember how you totally almost screwed me over with those guys who were heckling you. You actually claimed that I would kick their ass!"
"Hey! I was improvising." Blair replied defensively, "And Nathaniel swears you throw a mean punch."
"Only when provoked." Dan added light-heartedly. He lead them over to a fruit stand, picking up a starfruit with his hand and tossing it lightly to examine the fruit before offering it to Blair.
"Hmm, no thanks." The girl scrunched up her nose, shaking her head. Dan shrugged and put the fruit back down before leading them over to the next stand.
"It's her!" The shrill cry of an elderly woman drew Blair from her thoughts and she looked up in alarm to find the hunched over spinster, basket in hand, pointing accusingly straight at her.
"Pardon?" Blair arched an eyebrow at the woman who was now standing in her way in the middle of the road. She glanced to the side, questioningly, at Daniel, who returned the same puzzled expression. By now several of the other villagers traversing around the marketplace had started to pay attention to their awkward encounter.
"You!" The old woman howled again, threateningly taking another step towards Blair. The girl would have assumed that it was mere fanaticism, after all, she was the girl from the prophecy. The one who was supposed to save everybody, and all that. However… there was a look of hostility in the woman's eyes which suggested that she wasn't here to show her appreciation. "It's her! That lying impostor!" The woman shrieked, reaching into her basket and pulling out a loaf of bread which she forcefully thrust towards Blair's head.
"Hey!" Blair was so taken aback that the bread would have hit her square in the face had she not thrown her arms up in defense at the last minute. As the loaf fell uselessly to the side, Blair dropped her arms, glaring angrily at the squat elder. "What the hell is your problem?" Blair asked indignantly, brushing off her skirt. "I guess Dalmasca doesn't exactly take care of it's elderly…"
"Lying little girls like you are my problem!" The old woman retorted, now turning to address the crowd that had gathered behind her. "It's her! The impostor who claims to be our savior! She's nothing more than a liar, a phony, a fake!" The crowd stirred at her words, hurried murmurs moved throughout the marketplace and surrounded Blair with their whispered accusations. Blair simply stared at the woman in shock, at first unable to find the words that truly expressed her surprise and infuriation. Then she did.
"Are you crazy!?" Blair shrieked, taking a step back as Daniel moved protectively in front of her.
"Don't talk to her like that, you lying whore!" A younger woman yelled from behind, and just as Blair whipped around an apple landed at her feet, with debris splashing onto her shoes. Blair stared in horror at the ground, then up at the angry sea of faces glaring back at her. They were all beginning to speak up now.
"Go back to where you came from!"
"She's probably a Zaibach spy!"
"Whoa, whoa," Dan pushed Blair behind him, holding his arms out defensively, "Everybody just calm down!" He yelled, in a failed attempt at reason. "Blair, is not a liar. We don't even know what you're accusing her of lying about!"
"Isn't that the guy who wrote the expose on the king?" An onlooker voiced aloud, followed by a jeer of agreements. "For a guy so set on a exposing the truth, you sure keep strange company!"
"Forget him, get the impostor!" An angry boy yelled, grabbing a rock from the ground and chucking it towards Blair. This time, the girl wasn't too quick to move and the rock hit Blair square in the arm, causing her to recoil in pain and sink to her knees as a slew of pebbles and fruit splattered all around her.
"Blair!" Dan dropped to the ground, attempting to shield her from the onslaught of debris, "Are you okay?"
"I don't know," Blair breathed, adrenaline rushing through her veins as she realized the true and unexpected danger she was in, "I don't know what's going on…" She looked past Dan's shoulder, horrified at the sight of the villagers closing in, makeshift weapons in hand, and vengeful expressions on their faces. She winced, pressing her face against Dan's chest as the sound of metal slicing through air silenced the reproachful taunts.
"Back. Down." The strong voice cut through the silence with a tone that held no room for negotiations. Blair could hear the shuffle of retreating footsteps and lifted her head in both surprise and curiosity. Dan's grip around her shoulders loosened as they both looked up to find Nathaniel's graceful stature poised in front of them, with his sword wielded ominously. "You should all be ashamed of yourselves." The knight yelled tightly, "Now go about your lives. Go, or I will make you." He added darkly, waiting for the crowd to begin to disperse before turning around and facing the shell-shocked pair on the ground. Before Blair even had a chance to speak, Nathaniel didn't hesitate to give her orders of his own. "Blair, we've got to get back to the palace, now."
"I don't understand," Blair breathed quickly as she tried to keep pace with Nathaniel as they entered through the palace gates. She tried her hardest to shake off the seemingly suspicious stares of the palace guards, but they managed to distract her and served to confuse her even further. It was as if the whole kingdom were in on some inside joke which to her remained a mystery. "What did I do to provoke them? A little less than a month ago they were singing songs in my praise!"
Nathaniel stopped shortly in front of the throne room, turning around to face both her and an exasperated Daniel. "Blair, tell me the truth. Where are you from?"
"What?" Blair furrowed her eyebrows, "I told you. I'm from Manhattan."
"Manhattan… and that's a different world? Not just some obscure Astorian village that nobody has ever heard of?"
"Entirely different!" Blair insisted, "Nate, I've never been here before in my life! What is this about?"
"I'll explain, but first I need to have your word… you are royalty, right, Blair?"
"What? Well-" Blair opened her mouth to explain further, but the sound of heels clacking rapidly against tile interrupted her from her thoughts. The brunette turned towards the noise, staring in shock and abhorrence at the waify blonde that strutted towards them, flanked by guards.
"Is this her?" The blonde inquired accusingly, looking back and forth from Nate to a pale and speechless Dan. "Is this the girl who's been impersonating me?"
"Excuse you?" Blair put a hand on her hip, looking at the girl in disbelief. "Nathaniel, what is she talking about?"
"I should ask you the same question." The blonde girl replied defensively, "Pretending to be the girl from the prophecy? Pretending to be me? What in the world would have ever possessed someone to do such a thing?"
"I'm sorry, you must be misunderstood." Blair faced the girl square on, not in the least bit intimidated by the fact that in her flats the blonde practically towered over her. "I am the girl from the prophecy." After all of that denial, Blair had just recently accepted the idea, and she'd be damned if some random peroxide blonde twig was going to say otherwise. Blair turned, looking expectantly and Daniel and Nathaniel. "Well? Tell her!"
"Um-" Nathaniel opened his mouth to speak but the zippy blonde beat him to the punch.
"Why would we take the word of the son of a traitor?" The blonde mused, glancing briefly at the knight. "His allegiance to you would only be further proof of the treason taking place here." Blair's mouth dropped in horror and fumingly, she took another threatening step towards the blonde.
"So much class for a girl who claims to be royalty." Blair combatted icily. "I'll entertain your delusional accusations, but remember that your problem is with me. You can leave Nathaniel out of it the same way you left your manners at the door."
"Well, then. You better start speaking for yourself."
"You'll wish I never did by the time I'm through with you." Both girls jumped at the sound of the throne room doors being thrown open, and at the temperamental prince which stormed out of it, flanked by guards as well as Vanessa and Aaron's worried and panicked faces.
"Shut. Up." The prince growled angrily. "Both of you."
"Oh, Charles," The blonde's voice softened and she took a step towards him, placing an arm gingerly on his shoulder. "I'm so glad you're here. This impostor has been verbally attacking me with horrible accusations." Blair felt the urge to vomit; she couldn't even believe this girl's audacity. The sight of the little twig draping herself over Chuck was enough to make her skin crawl.
"Don't touch me." Chuck replied dismissively, shrugging her hand off. His eyes met Blair's for a brief second, allowing the tension to transpire between them for a moment before abruptly looking away. "This is a disaster." The prince looked at both parties with disappointment, his voice raising as he spoke, "And I do not have the time to deal with this while my father is on his death bed!"
"Well, then what exactly do your propose we do to resolve this?" The blonde asked impatiently, folding her arms.
"Let the people decide." The prince replied flippantly, turning briskly on his heel and retreating back into the throne room.
Daniel Humphrey paced back and forth heatedly on the palace balcony, biting his lip and scratching his head and partaking in every other physical action associated with panic and nervousness. Vanessa Abrams watched him worriedly, fiddling with her fingers and staring every so often at the ground.
"Daniel, I'm sorry, I tried to warn you as soon as I found out… I went to your room but you had already left with Blair."
"It's not your fault." Dan replied in exasperation, "It's her! What is she doing here? Why is she doing this?" He put his hands on his hips, turning to face the horizon. When he was awarded no response he turned back around to find Vanessa staring speechlessly at the blonde girl who was now approaching him.
"Sounds like you have a few questions for me, big brother." The girl raised an eyebrow while maintaining a guise of innocence. Dan narrowed his eyes, shaking his head and grabbing the girl by both shoulders, pulling her aside. He lowered his voice into a harsh whisper,
"Jenny, what the fuck do you think you're doing?"
"What am I doing?" The pixie blonde raised her voice, "What are you doing, Dan? Does it make you feel like more of a man or something, running off on far away adventures, writing in your little diary?"
"What is this really about, Jenny?"
"How about the fact that dad still hasn't returned home?" Jenny acquired accusingly, "The delegation was supposed to last two days and he's been gone for almost a week. He wrote me a letter," Jenny added bitterly, reaching into the pocket of her silk taffeta dress and pulling out a wrinkled piece of parchment. "Dearest Jenny. Still working on the delegates. Trying to convince them to sign their allegiance to Dalmasca. Everyone here fears Zaibach. Rumor has it Zaibach has gotten wind of Dalmasca's motives and may be heading for Alexandria. Will try to be back as soon as possible. Stay safe. Love, Your Father."
"Jenny. He's doing the right thing."
"The right thing isn't always the best thing, Daniel!" The girl shrieked, shoving the letter back into her pocket. "Somehow our father is poised at the forefront of the support Dalmasca movement, which, by the way, isn't exactly popular." She inhaled deeply, "If we go to war… sure, maybe Dalmasca will win, but what's going to happen to us? The kingdom poised in between the two warring nations? Collateral damage, that's what."
"Jenny, you're being ridiculous. There will be casualties from all sides, that's a part of war. People die… but at least they die for what they believe in."
"What about our father? Do you want him to die?" Jenny asked accusingly, "Would you be okay with that? I don't want to lose my father, and I don't want to lose my friends back home!"
"Of course I don't!" Dan rebuked, "But I'm proud to have a father who at least stands behind his beliefs! I'm glad our father isn't a coward."
"Better a coward than dead! I love him too much and I love our home too much to see everything destroyed at the hands of two greedier kingdoms." Jenny bit back the tears that stung her eyes, "Don't you get it, Dan? They don't care about Alexandria! We're just a pawn in their game… well, I'd rather be a pawn on the stronger team."
"So, what?" Dan asked accusingly, staring his sister down, "It's okay to see death and destruction so long as its not happening in your backyard? It's okay if hundreds or thousands of Dalmascans die?"
"All those Dalmascans would do the same thing if they were in our position." Jenny replied blankly. "Besides… if you really believed in sacrificing those you love for the greater good, you'd turn me in. Tell the prince that I'm your sister… and that I'm a fake." Jenny watched him carefully, "but you know that that's practically guaranteeing my execution, and despite your ideals and your righteousness you don't want to see your family get hurt either." Dan simply stared back at her, speechless. Jenny took a step backwards, "Now if you'll excuse me… my public awaits." She turned quickly on her heels, brushing heatedly past Vanessa and back inside the palace.
"Blair, you're not even trying." Nathaniel placed a hand on the girl's shoulder, looking over the brunette's head at the busy marketplace in front of them. "It's not like you to give up so easily. What happened to the girl who got the best of Georgina Sparks?"
"This is different!" Blair snapped, glancing over her shoulder at the spritely blonde and her stupid smile and stupid laugh and stupid tacky shoes. Laughing gaily with the village mothers, complementing their makeshift aprons and their homemade bread. Blair turned back to face Nathaniel, looking at him squarely. "I'm not a nice person, Nate. I don't know how to make people laugh or feel good about themselves. It's not what I do."
"Well… maybe you're just…" Nathaniel paused, "honest?"
"I'm a bitch." Blair groaned in defeat.
"But I'm not." A voice from behind sang gleefully, and Blair turned in surprise to find Aaron approaching their position under one of the empty bazaar tents.
"Aaron," Blair smiled in relief. "You believe me?" The boy responded with an incredulous expression.
"I know people, Blair. That girl over there," He glanced at Jenny, "She's not a queen." He paused, "At least I hope not because she's not too bad looking and it'd be a shame if she were destined to fall in love with Prince not-so-Charming." Blair narrowed her eyes at the seer, who smiled brightly in response, "I'm kidding."
"Well, what do you suggest I do?" Blair asked, not wanting to sound desperate but feeling quite desperate all the same.
"Do what you do best." The seer replied nonchalantly, "Be strategic." He shifted positions, holding up his hands to illustrate his point, "In the same amount of time it takes that girl to charm every individual working class villager, we can hit all of Dalmasca's most influential nobles."
"Group think." Blair replied, "I like where you're going with this. It is after all, the educated elite who pretty much determine popular opinion, in any society."
"Not only that, it's the women." Aaron added with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "By the way, I happen to have a registry of all of Dalmasca's noblewomen in my back pocket." He reached around, pulling out a small scroll and unravelling it. "The three of us will split up the list. I'll use my irresistible sway over women to curry good favor, and…" Aaron glanced at Nathaniel, "Nathaniel, you can just… smile and look pretty." The knight narrowed his eyes at the seer but said nothing, his silence serving as evidence of his compliance. "All right, Team Blair… time to get to work."
To Be Continued...
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
SONG:
Stars - Celebration Guns Nate & Blair's courtyard conversation.
A/N: Once again, my time management is awesome. Honestly, I was able to get this up now because I got sick this week and thus was able to take a break from schoolwork. Unfortunately, now I'll be busy playing catch-up. Boo! I'm still going to try to stay on top of this fic, though. Maybe it'll be done by Christmas? Anyway, this storyline was originally going to be resolved in one chapter but then I realized this would have then been an insanely long chapter and I probably would not have gotten it up this weekend. So, now it's a cliffhanger. I know, not too much C/B but that's because they're being their turbulent selves. It's kind of funny because this chapter draws from a lot of different times in GG. CB and BJ is post 1x13-fallout; NB and Chuck/Bart is around the 2x13-2x18 area.
In other news, I've decided to postpone writing my other AU C/B fic Auf Wiedersehen until after I finished Storybook Endings; epic CB-ness can be overwhelming. In the mean time, though, I am starting a multi-chapter Dair fic.