Chapter XIII ~ Under Custody

The Swan King’s Rest

Richard had gone to the broken screen in the basement as glanced into it one last time, as it was ritual for him… in hope that the Blue Fairy could hear or would listen. Stroking the key about his neck, tenderly, a tear trailed down his cheek before he stood up to leave. As he made his way back, he turned lights off as he went, his vigil never ending for the past two years, but he needed as always to hear her. It hurt that she had to suffer so much. Suffering she never deserved or earned — This was utter evil and he was promised to stay safe. How much could he handle at this rate?

Livelihood was not as it was since his Cassandra’s kidnapping, as no one would believe him. As much as her trust in Quasimodo became stronger by the day… he still had a fear for the enemy, and her unability to remember his name hit him like lightning.

While he sat on his bed, Richard notices a spark in the air, as if fills his lungs as a strange blue hue fills his room. His eyes glazed over, blinking so slowly at first as he felt suddenly so calm, and so heavy… His own vision, he began to see a strange sapphire aura, beginning at the center and spreading out like waves across his eyes. Becoming dazed, he rested his hand against the bed, to catch himself... fighting it for a moment... This was magic…

The Fairy knew he would hurt so greatly as the battle would deepen and it would break the man further, and these two years were too long already for him. He deserved peace, and there was a future of his daughter's return. This was a promise she kept too for Odette, to keep him sound and safe for her.

... still your heart, King Rayan... 

This castle stays safe, your temple grounded - 

When the spell shatters, you will see. 

Sleep now, dear heart ~ close your eyes, and soon you will see her complete and whole. 

So will you...

He gives a weak sob before he soon laid on the bed, so incredibly gentle and soft, as his soothed spirit was filling with trust… For a long, desperate moment, he gazed up at the enchantment hovering in the air, as this shimmer seems to fill the room, sealing a protective guard... His wide brown eyes began to gently close, a the mirror is filled with a glamour. Her magic glimmered protectively over him as three glowing orbs manifested into the room, as soon as those eyes were closed in an enchanted slumber - One green, one blue and one red - Fauna, Merryweather and Flora come into a new sort of sleeping beauty. An ordinary man. A screenwriter, enchanted to sleep, breathing in the very magic of his protection.

Guard him well, my dear friends.
He is precious to our dear Odette and he has fought long and hard with them.
 A heart broken by time now beneath glass.

Richard’s sleeping form was softly lifted and respectfully settled into the bed. The fairies form into three sweet ladies. Flora touched his cheek.

“You truly are a king…” Flora spoke, hurt. “You, dear. The tear streaks…”

“…poor, sweet man…” Fauna wept.

“He only wants his princess home…” Merryweather sighed.

“…and she will come home. He will open his eyes when she is freed and he will know love has triumphed. For now, his heart and his home stay safe. None shall come in or out until that day.” Flora vowed, before beginning to fly with her wand at the ready.

The house itself was enchantedly sealed, illusioned to be hidden, and the doors sealed with a mark. Whoever came by wouldn’t acknowledge the house, and would walk away. As she pulls the duvet over him, Flora sees the magical key on his necklace. A beautiful trinket that glimmered when touched it. It felt cold…

Cold Iron

This was a meeting long awaited, which settled some unnerve among the Dwarfs for quite some time now. It was Jiminy who willed himself to accompany the lady after her personal talk with the young man. Tonight, they have decided on something that would change everything they’ve known so far. Eleonor’s distrust was justified, given how Grimhilde became such a torture. The Flock, the Dwarfs, even he was reaching a breaking point because of all this evil, and it would grow even more painful had this man had never appeared and witness for himself; of one transformation.

Casey walked through the forest as the night was no longer young, looking for the one corner along the lake of that small oak where Quasimodo had first seen her. She was able to hear the cricket approach, hopping quick to keep up with her. She was slightly taken aback but she was relieved that it was only him.

“… Jiminy… oh, thank goodness~” she sighed, offering her hand for him to land on.

“Nearly scared the hat off my head!” he piped at her, after such a brisk run. “… or it could just be me scaring myself - that’s old hat for me, I guess~”

“Given that you’re the one providing the scare, I have no complaint about it.” she smiled with her current melancholy in the moment.

“Going off on your own again…? Or is this another given?”

“I take it that the girls sent you…”

“Need I say more?”

“No, I suppose…” Casey sighed. “Quasimodo was with me, not long ago… and soon, as I agreed — I am to meet with the Magistrate.”

“The father?”

“True… and I feel very mixed about it. But my faith is stronger this time.” she went on to explain as soon as she stepped close to the water’s touch. The moon was slowly ending its route and dawn would follow close for another long day. She looked back to the one she held in her hands. “The girls have this chance, how could I be a coward and blow it now… I may not remember much now, but moving forward feels just right to me.” 

Feeling confident amidst her palm, Jiminy settled his parasol in front of him and flicked his hat that it was slightly slid atop his head. “Part of why I’ve deliberated with the ladies on your behalf that we are with you.”

“You are. Eleonor, she~?” Casey’s eyes lit up with hope.

“It was difficult turning her head on this matter, but yes… she as well. Her reasons are keeping eyes on their Diamond ~ her words, not mine.” Jiminy’s eyes smiled as he said that. He shook his head at the folly of that statement, regardless. It made Casey feel all the more better, and she sat low beside the tree bow. 

“He is coming any moment. I must be ready~” she said, sharing just how nervous she was.

Jiminy stood taller, motioning both hands to his chest for her to take a moment to breathe.

“In… and out, in and out, with me now.” he urged her, compassion filling his eyes as he did so. Inhaling through the nose and then out of the mouth, they both did this in unison for a good moment. She nodded, finding that greatly helpful. 

“… thank you, sir. Yet, I worry about - what may happen - to you and the Seven?” she asked.

“I speak on all of your behalfs by day. The men are quite the travelers alone… I do not think you have any reason to worry. This is all for you, hon. For a future for each of you, isn’t that right?”

As tears threatened her eyes, Casey nodded to him before they both heard rustling in the woods, not far from them. At once, after hearing that they were not alone, someone stepped out from the shadows with a seemingly menacing slouch. Jiminy bounded silently, finding a niche beneath the bow of the tree to hide in. She wrapped her arms about herself as her eyes met with cold iron. Her blood ran cold, and she stayed as still as the night air as he appeared as if out of thin air. 

“Only the Holy Spirit — The Spirit of the Lord - can change us…” came a lone, deepening voice that could be mistaken as the dull purr of the ground, like a quake. “State your name to me, lass.” he calmly requested of her, at first sight.

A splendid man, indeed, at first sight covered in a worn plate of armor amidst a deep dark noble robe. His face was aged, high cheeked and prominant that stole all attention, because his eyes were a whole world of their own to her. She feared looking away would end the world… She easily recognized him, of a sorts, and she knew who he was loyal to — as told. Despite her initial shock, Casey curtsied as she was taught by her fellows as kindly as could be. “I am known as Cassandra, my Lord.”

Those eyes appeared to sharpen at her at first before he held his chin high as if studying her closely. “Lady Cassandra,” he reciprocated her greeting with an honoring curt nod. “… you carry yourself so still, as a bird would when caught in the crossfire.”

As cold as she was beginning to feel, she stood her ground before the man, with a lady’s respect. Certainly, the Magistrate had been told a grand deal prior. “You shall address me as Your Honor, lady Cassandra. Sire, then afterward. I will accept no other. I am Dom Claude Frollo, High Minister of Justice of Paris, and current defender of her walls upon this hellish crusade.”

Jiminy was as quiet as the dead as he once more listened into this man’s appearance to the poor girl. She was holding onto her own end quite well, in a way to learn by Quasimodo’s wish on this matter. This was a means for her entire flock… so she swallowed that lump away. 

“It is an honor to meet you, Sire. I believe I come before you as I am…” she admitted, right away, feeling her cheeks flushing. “Nowhere to hail, no dowry to my name… No homestead, except here, in this place ~ about this lakeside… I speak for others ~ that we are… in desperate need of help.” she expressed.

“As justly put by my only son,” was the reply, which made her throat run dry. “Do tell then - in grand detail - of what he had witnessed first hand upon the lake that eve?” Frollo had asked, remarkeably calm ~ albiet too calm for her liking. 

After that remark, he was still deeply studying her movements, sighting the fact that she was refusing to move her feet. Her feet felt like solid stone while talking to him. “… he saw a pair of swans, sir. White and lowly… and at once when the moon shined on them, they both changed into women.”

It was almost cruel, as to how he approached her with calm and poise, yet his entire frame seemed like a shadow in her eyes. It darkened the beauty of the forest surrounding them, however she was able to see something change in the man’s olive colored eyes. Whilst keeping both arms crossed before him, he stood straight above her as if getting to know her own air. 

“M’lord.” he seemed to correct her, much to her confusion. “No common maiden states a title with such fine care as you have. Clearly, by how you carry yourself before me, you are a foreigner.” he stated, yet not with malice, surprisingly.

In honesty, she paused at that and slowly rose up her head to look into his eyes again. Once again, she was too stunned to move. 

“Come to me then.” then came the passive command towards her, to what she fully obeyed. 

Once when he held his regal hand out to her, she offered hers just the same, of which he took. Of course, she was physically sound, together and very much real to him, and not a glamour conjured by maliciousness. Her palor rivaled his own, her eyes were mirrors as if something was dimming from within them. Beautiful that they were, like a doe’s as softly described, but an emptiness was trying to leak inside them. That ornate jewel that she hardly boasted glimmered in the dimming moonlight. There was a fear that was clear to his eye that she was prone to hiding herself, yet she was refraining because of his presence. “I speak the truth to you, sir…”

“I command that you must. Lying will be regrettable. If this truth comes with proof come the sun, then I shall wait.” he spoke again, that baritone refusing any ounce of emotion to her ears. He passed her by after circling her like a cat that cornered its prey, yet she refused to look away from him. “That bit of swag about your throat — speak of how you came upon it.”

“It was bestowed on me…”

“By whom, lady?”

“By a Fairy.” she answered once more, trying not to shy away. She wished she had her wings to hide her head in right then. This all sounded so foolish. Jiminy Cricket moved back into his hiding place when Claude Frollo had neared and turned his back toward the tree, where Quasimodo had first seen her and Ida. Faer fluttered into the leaves and hid himself as well, as a robin. That was the chance when Frollo himself stroked the jewel in admiration. He had a sense that this informal meeting was not a lonesome one. 

“Enchantments tend to hide secrets.” his voice broke through her thoughts once more, prompting her to look back at him. “Only do I find trust in his findings, and his word had spoken of you sporting an unnatural shape come the sun.”

Jiminy began to feel a cold fear creep into his heart, as hers had. She felt the need to keep herself covered when her eyes caught onto the glint of light coming in the horizon with abandon. “It is only truth that I’ve told, sire. There is no ill in this land, only that it served us as a home and safety. The enchantment was set over our heads, against each of our wills. The sun will shine here, and you will see.” she told him, with not a single lying bone in her body. “The other women who accompany me, they were all abducted by the terrible Queen Grimhilde, for her hunger for others youth. She somehow intended to use this spell as a prison on us. A spell that… never belonged to her. Until we agree to her terms, we were to stay trapped as swans by the day hours. Only the light of the moon grants us a minute to feel normal again.” she explained to him, even under those sharp eyes. “We do not know who truly cursed us…”

“A swan, specifically… a fowl that stays stagnent upon the water. Imagine the creature to be easily swayed, beneath such beauty.” he seemed to drawl before her, with a sorrow filling his eyes. “Through my Woodsman’s eyes, it was thought to be a miracle — I highly doubted. My suspicions of a worse cause seems to be coming to fruition ~ none of which has fallen on your shoulders, however.”

“We only seek to find a way, sire… Quasimodo knew it was important for you to come and see me. The only proof of my words would be to become a swan again, before you.”

“Your eyes scream of torment, child.”

“Yes,” Casey stated, feeling that lump of emotion in her throat as dread began to set in again. “… Quasimodo, a true blessing he is. He refused to leave this place after he saw us.”

“The boy has a bleeding heart,” Frollo appeared to agree with her. “Come days when we disagree many a time, but he knows where justice is due. I always trust his intuition. Witchcraft of this nature often come from darkened, deep hearts, having you as passing victims, your tale may have more merit. Of course, until I witness for myself. As relayed to me, it seems you have quite the posse’ around you… to have been protected by Seven Dwarfs.”

“It’s seems to be seven for each bird, I guess. Because, not including I, there are six other ladies like me.”

“A blessing, are they?”

“As there’s another, sire. Someone special was sent to us, on the back of a dove over this lake. Able to ride with us, what have you — and when they touched this jewel, it’s enchantment granted them the ability to understand us in our birdskins, be-because our voices are robbed by them.”

Jiminy’s pupils shrunk a little in instinctual fear as he backed up a bit but he had to muster it all up. His love for Cassandra would never allow it. Of course he would be mentioned, as he was a part of this posse’, wasn’t he? Better late than never, no doubt ~ Jiminy fixed his collar and swept his jacket and stepped out, despite his fear. He could not hold back much longer because daybreak was only a blink away. Seeing the Magistrate’s eyes sharpen at seeing him, Jiminy tried to keep his voice from shaking as he tipped his hat to the man. 

“It is a pleasure, your Honor, yet it could be in, uh … in better, -hehe~ better circumstances~” Jiminy spoke with a chuckle, ashamed of the stammer that hit him out of nowhere.

“State your name, monsieur.” he was ordered right off, treated like any other man. 

“Jiminy Cricket, sire,” he gave, straight-forward and respectfully. “I was once a lone traveler that fell into the Italian Village of Collodi.” he continued, happily being offered to perch in his dear maiden’s palm. He was quite grateful for the support, as he was feeling as jittery as Faer at the moment. “… the Anointed Voice for her sake, and for her sisters, by hand of the Blue Fairy.”

“This Fairy, speak of her likeness to me,” the Knight requested, seemingly to have fallen into a memory of some sort at the mere mention of that name. 

“She is… oh, she is just - just everything we have ever heard of. In the guise of a star, she emerges when she must. Her gown is made out of stardust, and her hair of the purest gold… with eyes of diamonds. My-my words, I believe, do not hold much weight in comparison, my Lord.”

“I have every right to believe you among them, Cricket. Only a man would know to keep a hat over his brow, and through his own eyes, stand tall. Fae, are you not?”

“N-not that I am aware, sire…” Jiminy stated before that moment came that made Cassandra shudder.

Between two mounts, there came the golden shine of the sun, piercing over with power and beauty, taking away the stars as it rose with abandon. Once it hit the waters with grace, the woman among them~ Cassandra, gazed at it with deep dread, yet was entranced at the sight before she instinctly set her foot into the water in front of the stunned men. Frollo furrowed his brow deeply, almost prone to snatching the girl by her arm, only to be stopped by the small gentleman. His eyes were full of sorrow for this one moment, despite it having to happen each and every dawn. 

“Child - return here, this instant!” he barked at her at her unwillingness but it felt as if his voice was unheard.

“She can’t help it~” Jiminy sadly told him. “It is a part of it, they have no control over it.” he explained with a crack in his voice.

That was the moment when the waters began churn about her, and rise with some invisible force, something in the Judge’s eyes seemed to ignite. At once able to see something overwhelm the waters with this evergreen distillment that danced with the enchanted water, as if to bind the girl. It was clear to be a horror to the Cricket’s eyes, no doubt, as nothing could be done. Recognizing the colorization of the distillment overtaking the poor woman, Frollo’s palor grew sharper, as did his eyes relit in flame. She was only one of the many as Quasimodo had told him who suffered beneath the guard of the Dwarfs. Just as Quasimodo had shared with him, as that unnatural haze overlapped her, her form seemed to falter beneath it and seemed to vanish at first sight beneath the rays of the young sun. She appeared to hold her arms about herself before vanishing within a blink ~ this was an enchantment, an unnatural shackle was chained to this young girl’s neck. 

Not even a moment had passed when that emerald sick had vanished from the air before a white body emerged out of the waters in a fray. Wings wide and as white as pearls glimmered with the moisture of the lake as they flapped strongly. A head shook, her feathers frilled ~ a white swan took the stead of the woman, only in a moment’s time with no mercy. However, one thing remained. It was not any linen that she wore or her hair one would believe, but the brooch remained about her breast crowned by the same diamond jewel he observed upon the woman. 

Claude was stunned at this, as it was no lie, no curse upon their minds. The mourning of Jiminy was understood, as well as the anger of the Dwarfs as it was so rumored. Grand, it made his own stomach churn seeing this happen to a girl so young, in the prime of her life, her life bound within the limited body of a waterfowl that was often hunted for game. 

Entranced by the harrowing spell, Frollo had not acknowledge Quasimodo’s gentle presence just yet. On strong legs, he narrowed down whilst wrapping his hand with linen to calm a rising callous. “… would I ever tell you a lie?” he softly asked, which was cause for Frollo’s shoulders to lax.

“My only wish was it to end. I did not desire to be overcome with more rage.” Frollo’s voice remained stoic yet his eyes were his betrayers. 

“I did not wish to tell you,” Quasimodo spoke, modestly with a voice so riddled with grief. “Yet, I felt a calling to come to her. I cannot explain it in any other sort of way.” he was saying before spotting where Jiminy was perched. All three were now watching a weary swan float about near the bank. Claude was able to clearly see this strong compassion spill from his son’s rather mournful eyes that matched that of the Cricket’s own. 

“Oh! Torment me with it as much as you wish~” came a sarcastic remark which ignited Quasimodo’s passion even more so.“Before my own eyes, they were accursed to behold those devilish will-o-wisps have not yet been entirely extinguished as we had hoped.” Frollo made his disdain fairly known. 

Jiminy, whom stayed beside Quasimodo’s proximity was not in the mood of hearing of that. “You have seen this sort of magic before, Your Honor?” he inquired quite carefully. 

“Seen?” Frollo responded to that, affronted. “… we were absolutely thrown into absolute Hell because of it. conquering over her Kiss over this world, I would give my own blood to end it all. That ill that surrounded her, I have seen it a much too much, in its unnatural way, over our own heads…” Frollo’s voice saddened and deepened before he rested his eyes upon Quasimodo’s. That was when dread settled into Jiminy’s stomach at seeing that exchange before it was ultimately aimed at him.

“The Maid had spoken of a Queen Grimilde, the one who initiated this heinous spell…” Frollo brought up before the Cricket, whom Quasimodo offered the cover of his hand for. The frightened Jiminy backed against his palm as he mustered up to find the words.

“Wh-why yes~ she was the one who abducted them… but, we-w-we as a family, we are not so sure if she was the one who c-cast it~” he explained.

“It could prove very well that it was conducted through her…” Quasimodo softly added. 

Casey was able to listen to all this and paddled herself quietly close to the band while trying to breathe just right to calm her heart down. She did not like the sound of Jiminy’s voice being that of fear and arched her wings up high in warning. She did not want things to escalate, yet it touched her how Quasimodo was willing to protect her friend. Yet, seeing the unease in the swan, the Magistrate’s face grew ever somber once again, as he straightened a shoulder strap. 

Sharing an apologetic glance towards Jiminy, Quasimodo then rose again as Frollo was eyeing the enchanted swan. Jiminy had to wave at her, when she so reached her neck high in worry towards him, to reassure her that all was well. 

“Be that as it may, I must recommend, lady, that you bring the rest of your fellows to me.” Frollo then commanded of her, sporting a softer tone. “As of this moment, all of you…” and at that, he landed his sight on Jiminy as well. “… are under my custody.” 

Their Final Day

In the custody of the Minister of Justice came off as daunting to Casey and Jiminy, as to what that may entail but this was a huge step thus far. Truth had been shared and shown, raw and as bright as day, and so the path was then made fairly clear. Courage had to be for all of them yet, if they thought merely keeping away from villainous scrutiny was almost too much to handle already~ being known with this affliction remained unsettling. Eleonor’s distrust in the idea was hence justified though as this could lead to lending their lives into unknown hands, all for Casey’s own feelings that were growing towards the deformed Woodsman. 

The trust she had for the Seven, their Voice and her Maidens, it would have to grow farther than that for each of their fates. If Casey was ever to find a way back home, there was the tough possibility that there wasn’t as this world was vaster than she ever imagined.