Chapter XV ~ All White Adorned

It was going beyond their limits, by even taking wing again. Odette had almost forgotten how much work it took to keep beating her wings against the air just to stay even. Either it was her anxieties from what had come to be, or what will be, but being surrounded by loved ones, high above the world, embraced by the Heavens. Amidst their torment and imprisonment, with beauty abound~ it all seemed endless to their eyes. Eleonor and Ida kept to her side, giving her a nudge or shove to keep her going.

Even settling with his calming croon, Jiminy soon took in a deep breath to find his own courage to climb higher to see what his flock was seeing. He could hear Ida laughing with contagious joy — Directly when his eyes were locked to the land below him. For a tiny little cricket of his personal stature, it caused natural panic to lurch in his chest. 

“Oh my Stars!” was his response to the entire spectacle, his own spirit being in the moment of celebration with the ladies. “At once when I thought the forests were beautiful already ~ this is just ~ This! This takes my breath away! Goodness gracious!” he cried, barely able to hang onto his hat. 

“This is so exhilarating!” Ida cried out, amidst all the sound of the air passing their ears. The chill of the morning was beginning to burn off the higher they tried to go.

“We’ve finally made use of these things!” Mary followed after. “Instead of floating on like we tried when we welcomed you, ‘Ette~”

“Look below~ Look, ladies, look!” came Jiminy’s emotional call. 

To the best of their ability, Odette and her company all glanced downward at the foot of the forest where the Minister of Justice, alongside the Woodsman himself, were both surrounded by the surviving horsemen who were all clambering close onto the main path that was known to lead on only towards the known waterfall that fed Mondfall’s creaks. Swan Falls, as ironically known as was host to this mysterious landmark spoken to be a path way through the snowy mountain ranges. The Dwarfs managed its discovery but dangers were known to lurk behind it. Once used as a basin for the young Maidens, it took them all back to the younger days when each change was met with agony and depression. Odette remember just how depressed she would get on any other night just recovering from the pangs, hidden behind the beauty of pure white. She would sit with her flock there beside the gate, just waiting for signs of any hope at all. 

Those times were long gone now. 

They had been given and guided towards this opportunity to no longer be confined.

By their minds, by the looks of it, and by learning of their current biology — they can now fly. Odette focused on beating her wings just at the right second to keep herself balanced. Her tail feathers were twitching from side to side needed some practice. Jiminy gasped when he almost slipped but hopped just in time to get directly behind her neck.

“Are you hanging on well, Jiminy!?” he heard her ask.

“As well as I am able to, hon!” he chuckled with nervousness, although this experience was amazing to behold. “— As I live and breathe — Oh, it’s right behind us now~”

“Best to never look back!” Eleonor called to them all. “I sure am not going to~”

“I can’t steady my wings~” Odette worried, anxiety flooding her chest, at last able to focus on how she felt in this body. Jiminy climbed his way, carefully, closer to her head, deeply knowing where her head was in all this. “Keep your head straight, hon! As straight as a compass’ hand!” he told her with a burst of courage. 

She had to shake herself to the present moment, amidst her flock’s overjoy and needed to regain herself for their sakes. She listened to Jiminy and straightened her neck to her bill, facing the horizon. It was so alien - so new to her - that was entirely entranced to follow it for a moment. Meanwhile, below them, from the gathering of horsemen came the orange flurry that often followed Quasimodo like a pixie. That sun orange robin had flown his way upward high to the flock, much to Jiminy’s surprise, of course. Seeing that flash of color before his eyes, the cricket had to duck down into a set of feathers.

The ladies were all already on edge and almost had to break their formation, they were so utterly surprised by the little bird. Ida gave a spirited laugh, as Eleonor scoffed at him.

“We have not the time now to be bothered~” she gave a silent warning to him — something he laughed off.

“I’m not here to bother you!” spoke the Robin in the most bouncy of voices. “I’mma help you—“

“As I live an’ breathe, young man~ with that level of tone, we’d be well off frantic~” Jiminy sported an aghast tone, after suffering another near heart attack. 

“Quasimodo’s shoulder lackey, with no doubt.” Mary playfully stated before Faer decided to swirl about her neck and head in a twirl of a dance, giving quite the squeaky chortle as he did so. Odette was quite glad to see him, and upon seeing her eyes glow, Faer flew to be level directly in front of her bill.

“He spoke ‘lot about you, miss~”  he tried to speak in a low whisper. This little elf happily flew backwards facing them, as if doing simple backstrokes as he spoke to her like some lovestruck yearling. It made her want to laugh. Dorothea, who was directly by her side, shook her weary head at this display. Seeing that had all the attention in the world, even from Jiminy himself, Faer puffed out his chest with some well earned pride.

“Ladies and Gentleman, if you are so kind, allow little ol’ feathered me to entertain ya’ll on this wonderful, springy day~ as we stretch our wings, and head to the open skies —“

The very few of them all got a fine laugh at this, considering that it was already becoming a long day of following their protectors. Faer began to sing in front of the swans. Oh, how they all knew that they were in for it…

“All white adorned, pretty eyes of blue and brown

Silver streaks, with them so wonderfully wide and bright

Your hearts beat altogether as one!”

Jiminy, while gripping his hat and parasol tight, soon showed one delighted smirk on the corner of his mouth at once when the curious creature had begun to sing. Not even a moment had passed and Antoinette already felt inspired enough to hum along.

“Go up, and up robin - Sing us good morning

Spreading good, making shade where we fly

Wind under feather, where our Diamond will shine in the sun…

As young as any yearling, their eyes almost sing

~For you and me~

~All white adorned~”

With each word that was sung among the troupe now , Odette (as she was tactfully telling herself now) willfully hung on to the task of flight, even more so, with much less nervousness than at the start of their trek. The sky held a brilliant hue of pinkness radiating into purple, then bright blue of the coming midday. Jiminy being so small though, he needed to build himself up as the girls were focusing, as he spotted the men below going along the wooded paths, steering away from the lake they were all accustomed to. Even he felt deeply connected to it, only having been there for such little time compared to the Ladies — deeply he wished to the Fairy, if there was ever a time to return to it if there would be any way for Mondfall to be found again. These hopes all the more rendered him to want to sing with the Robin’s sonnet. 

The horsemen loyally followed their Justice, with his trusted scout and Woodsman, Quasimodo, whose steeds were finally at a full run with the flock following Faer’s suit, coming towards a part of the wood that was enriched and fed by one of Mondfall’s creaks. One that was fed by the Swan Falls, the very first place the flock had fled to after their rescue from Grimhilde’s hand. This was so much more any of them could hope for — Not after too long, Quasimodo kept an eye on the flock to be absolutely sure that they were following close with them. It would seem that this action settled relief in Jiminy before he felt the spirit again, to sing.

“Shimmering waters, bending the light of the moon…

Before she saw her True Home’s shine~

We’ve felt magic stir around us

To blind us, confuse us into dizzying oblivion

As young as yearlings, all white adorned…

Odette set her gaze down, miraculously meeting Quasimodo’s, whom was smiling upward at the flock before pressing his pony on towards the Ivory Gate that had remain under chain and lock… Fate led on the Black Knight himself before that orb had landed itself at the heart the pristine lock on the shimmering gate. Claude studied the ornate, stone shaped padlock, as he dismounted with the others gathering from behind. Boldly, he marched to this beautiful gate with honest uncertainty. This latch held another strangeness to him, as there was no keyhole to observe — Not even on the opposite side of it.

This was certainly no ordinary lock made out of this strange metal, that was not traditionally brass or copper but was of rare silver stone. Scrutinizing it even as he approached, Claude had taken something out from a lone pouch from his belt. It appeared to be a wooden box… 

It was happening before the very eyes of both Happy and Grumpy who took it upon themselves to remain close vigil. Quasimodo met gazes with them, as the rest of the knights curiously gathered their mounts round, treading through the shimmering pool and creaks that were littered with tiny gemstones, that each screamed out an air of familiarity, as a matter of fact. With his shoulder lackey kindly leading their owned flock — as it were — Quasimodo returned his attention to this estranged passage that this vision had spoken of, with such confidence. Suspicious he was as well about this mysterious lock, and he and the other men knew well to keep great distance at what Claude was about to do. 

With a graceful hand, Frollo gingerly opened this box that was cyramic on the inside, but this piercing light was the only thing percieved to come out of it. Although the flame was merely half the size of his palm… it was not something to treat lightly, or disrespectfully. Unnaturally, this sapphire blue heat seemed to dance almost in midair before it happened to kiss the lock. It appeared to squeeze around it like a snake before the strange medal began to melt away like ice, forming a hardening mass upon the ground. As swift as wind though, before the flames were even able to escape and touched down on any of the plantlife. It took only a blink’s notice before dry soil complete overtook those flames… Even Quasimodo who bore witness to this on more than one occassion seemed cowed and wary of it.

The molten lock left a swift burn upon a patch of ground directly at the foot of the gate itself. Much to their personal bewilderment — to each of their own, of course — this gate appeared to move outward towards the path behind it, as if on its own violation. Although hidden to them in that very moment, Grumpy seemed entirely focused whilst studying this phenomenon… Happy’s brown eyes were vexed as well.

“Jus’ like with ‘em orbs we’ve discovered~” Happy whispered.

“Not too far stranger,” Grumpy whispered in return before catching sights above of the flock flying round, almost passing onto unexplored ground. Claude had backed up from the gate made of Ivory, with those deep eyes set in unease. Quasimodo wore a mask of courage, in spite of this. It was only a precursor to what may or may not be in the future. The unnatural prisms were one thing never to be long forgotten in this case, and now going beyond them could mean serious danger. It was best to be under the protection of a flag, until they were to reach a final destination which was France itself… As to what state they would all find it in — there was only one way to find out. One small movement in their peripheral had betrayed the two spying dwarfs, both who were then addressed to come over with one swift gesture.

The woods on the other side of the gate had a very different air about them. The air was more dense and the trees were less lush than those of Mondfall. There was the scent of death beyond the gate… and that was normal considering the French voyagers. Both Dwarfs approached the Knight and his son with their hearts full of courage, knowing that they as well were under this man’s protection. Not well knowing of how to address the man, the two were pressured silently to kneel before the Magistrate. As often he would delight to argue against this, he kept it quiet — this was for the good of the flock, most importantly. So he swallowed his own pride, right then, as he was at utter mercy, as they were all under his jurisdiction. Happy and he both took their caps off and kneeled at once before the army, with hearts pounding as they did so… Quasimodo dared not show it, however, when the two loyal Dwarves bowed, his stomach twisted painfully. Mounted once again, on their horses even yet, the moment was entirely an overwhelming one for the Dwarfs. 

Happy was able to see for himself before this one moment that Quasimodo was loyally by the side of this cold man, which closely resembled the likeness of a prince by the side of his patriarch. At least, he felt only a mite bit safer — alas for Grumpy. 

As though they were able to feel Quasimodo’s compassion, they remained as still as stone until they were sharply addressed.

“You may rise, gentle Dwarfs from the Seventh Fall. I wish not for you to have fear of our presence. State your names, be true to me and we shall be true to you…” Claude spoke with utmost power however there was a hint of gentleness after what he had witnessed. 

Grumpy’s eyes had truly gone wide at those words, as did Happy at once. “… you have found this one woman,” that baritone returned as they slowly stood. “The lass who bears the Diamond brooch.”

“Y-yes, y-your Excellency, yes…” Happy answered, bowing with each word, naturally fidgety. “The f-fair lady had taken a mighty fall in the woods… just off the path I were scoutin’ on.” he bravely went on to explain. 

Grumpy was naturally astonished as he held his ground and bit his tongue as self control in the moment. 

“I thought to m’self that she was gravely hurt, as she weren’t movin’… M’heart could barely take the sight of ‘er~” Happy’s own voice began to crackle, tugging at Quasimodo’s heart. Frollo’s face remained as cold as stone as he listened, however with deep rooted consideration. These individuals were truly bonded to these women, particularly this one he had spoken to — Lady Cassandra, who stood out from the rest. Grumpy held a determined expression as he focused on Happy barely holding onto his composure, yet even he was taking calming breaths for himself. This entire journey so far was taking its toll. 

“Cassandra — she seemed to have come out of nowhere ~”

“Elaborate.” Frollo ordered, gentle-toned, needing more pieces to this accursed puzzle.

“… she came from a diff’rent world than ours ~” Happy was soon able to find his voice again. “~ had fallen straight out of the sky, as it was.”

“She was stolen, Happy. Just spit it out,” Grumpy brought the full truth right into the conversation.

“As to where she came from, has she confided in you?” Frollo asked further, in hopes to ease the men’s anxieties.

“She had, sires…” Happy answered.

That was until the soft spoken Quasimodo had come in, respectfully so. “… if I might, your Honor?”

Frollo’s chilling sideways glance was noticeable, despite how still he remained towered above the two along with him. However, it was either equal respect to the younger man, because he was granted a nod for him to continue with further questioning.

“We had spent much time together as a start since my coming here, after I sent Faer along…” Quasimodo went on as a means to comfort the men. “We have sworn protection over you. There is nothing more than that ~ Nothing between the lines. She had shared with me, a great deal.”

Being under the Judge’s rule, for one, was not sitting well with him. “She trusts ya.” he began, not so sourly, by the sound of his voice. “I’m hangin’ on that, Y’Honor.” 

Honor was a word he nearly choked on, since these were entirely nobles — near royalty — as far as they were concerned. The young man he knew more than this Justice of the Court. This journey would be longer if their beloved flock — whom they have protected for over two years straight — stayed in this land much longer, soon to be located by any enemy that laid in wait just outside of those mounts. 

“We hail from Paris, the capital of France, you might have known or not, which would be nearly a four month journey. Are you to accept this and accompany?” Claude asked the two. “Your presence is surely valued by them, and so you as well are under my law and jurisdiction. When the time of peace comes, you shall be provided shelter in our city, as I am confident that you shall abide to our laws. Do you agree to these terms?”

Happy’s face paled greatly in comparison to Grumpy, yet they both kept their thoughts on the flock alone, along with their past with a princess - now deemed a queen of another land with her Prince, Florian. In the past, Grumpy’s dismay, or rather, dislike towards women stemmed from mainly Grimhilde herself when she somehow came into power. When she came into rule even years before the discovery of Snow White taking refuge in their cottage. The first maiden they — not only he — had ever met that they firmly adored and desired to protect. Although they were quite new to the idea at the time. She repayed them with utmost respect by keeping house when none of them ever asked payment in return (… however, he was initially for booting her out of their home, his paranoia was so strong then).  Now when it came to fellow men, Grumpy held much respect, as did his brethren. Quasimodo, whom was not so much a stranger according to Cassandra, felt as though he was one of them… Intuition or not, there was no turning back.

This young man, was by no means, handsome in that physical sense. All in all, he looked like a manifestation of anguish, yet those eyes looked as fresh as spring, and entirely young and wise beyond years. The words their Lady had spoken of made sense now ~ A diamond in the rough, by all accounts, was dedicated to helping the women. As he told her, they were no longer strangers as they shared the same goal — a free life from a great evil.

“Ah-aye, yes, yer Honor. We will abide, as long as we see ‘em free. One day.” Happy answered brokenly. 

“So be it.” Claude gravely, as it would seem to their ears. “… as your actions for these lost and found souls have proven enough, I will entrust you will notify me of any ill fate should it come close to our numbers. From this moment on, your troupe shall remain under our flag, until a conclusion to this conundrum is to come our way… Be aware of thine enemies over this border, a grand army follows, so we must be quick. Gather the rest of your men and stay close to our King’s guard as much as you are able.”

Grumpy apprehensively rose up with Happy as soon they were respectfully given permission to do so. 

*

Away out of Faeland

Similarly from before, the Seven were overly hopeful over the fact that someone had come for the last maiden. It was the same that eventually came for Snow White during their vigil over her time locked under a deep spell of death-like sleep. 

A Prince had come in search for the little princess who slept in that glass coffin, and for what it was worth, their inclination seemed to be correct at the time that Snow White was under something unnatural by how they found the only evidence on the scene when they found her as still as death. A horrible scent had erupted from the fruit and some sort of liquid seemed to leak out from it and had stained hideously on the wood floor. Green, and nothing to be compared to beauty in nature either. There was simply no way they could revive her, and upon entering into the cottage, doused… Who was first to wail out a sob at the sight of her? It was Grumpy, if the rest remembered well, who exclaimed that they were all too late…

It may have turned out well, however the scars of it remained, left with certain regret. Regret of leaving the dear Princess with her own. Had one of them stayed, it would have turned out differently…

Seeing Quasimodo’s gaze to the havens, watching the flock remain close above, Frollo rode beside him as agreements and arrangements were certainly in order. 

“You’ve been captured, my boy. As I know this wild spirit of yours,” he affectionately told the lad he took in, although unwillingly and to settle a crime’s guilt. “A spirit I longed to stifle, no doubt.”

“Oh, you’ve noticed,” Quasimodo replied, fairly warm, pressing Fidele to trot further along with the Magistrate.

“Test me further, and I shall not chortle.” Frollo drawled, spying that smile. Yet Quasimodo held his gaze low at the back of Fidele’s mane. 

“I shall be honest with you, father…” Quasimodo retained his seriousness. His boyishness was shedding off each year, yet it would glow once in a while to the older man with vigor. 

“… that part of my life had been confusing to me, for some time. I felt similarly before, but I didn’t fully understand it then. I never knew what it meant. It was after that noon at the Feast of Fools of ’82.” he told, returning that solemn glow to Frollo’s stone gaze. “It was that kindness that confused me~ that kindness you claimed was a spell cast on me.” he recounted, as Frollo indeed admitted his faults before, so this was a decent conversation for the two. “I chose not to dwell in it, since then… or even search for it. If anything was cast, I believe you would know…” Quasimodo mentioned.

“I would, Quasimodo.” Frollo stoically answered. “My only concern is that you might lose yourself.” 

At that last word, he turned his steed before Fidele, causing Quasimodo to need to pull his rein to bring Fidele to a brief pause. Quasimodo was aware of that this was a prod towards his own mentality during this, even taking a calming breath to strengthen his patience. 

“My stance on the matter remains written in stone, son.” Frollo began as the air warmed up even more. “The mystery surrounding them astounds me, as it could only be because of one lost soul who had made it her sole objective to watch us burn. In my own cynical way, my boy, I am still seeking your preservation…”

“That, I trust… Always,” Quasimodo replied, simply. “For the lady fairs I saw on the lake, for they are in the same boat as we are. By that chance of me even attempting to hunt one of them — I would not be able to live with the guilt~” he was saying, softening the Knight’s gaze slightly. “In turn, she is certainly watching them burn. Why else would Lady Cassandra been thrown here, as she had confided in me, as she had told the others? If I may ask of you, for you to trust me?” he asked of Frollo, with a genuine look in his eyes.

“Kindness towards any stranger is to never be ignored.” Frollo began. “… your noble hand could easily be misled,”

“… as it had happened before,” both men had spoken in unison. “At the hands of the heinous fairy, even as to twist your mind to oblivion against me, against those who love you, do not force me to endure that again —” Frollo went on, with passion, indeed. “ — for your love is to never be used, to never be poisoned. It would mean I have failed in my own purgatory, having lost you during that time is a fate worse than death. It was my punishment to witness.”

“It was not a punishment towards you. It was mine…” Quasimodo gravely corrected the elder. Love ignited in those beautiful aquamarines, which was proof enough. “That was a boy learning his way outside of his sanctuary he once was safe inside of. Those pillars remain shattered to this day. I am a free man, as you are, father.”

“Very much so, Quasimodo. I will forever rue that morn that I would have lost you, permanently, by my own hand. I vow to protect you still, son. Of those brutal times of torment have taught you, your forgiveness, your grace is blessed.” Frollo was soft when he swept some long ginger hair aside from Quasimodo’s good eye. A sign of honest affection that had grown strong over time. “Perhaps, even… you are guided to that lake, to see her. The Wicked shall not go unpunished, as that reigns true. I trust you as a warrior, Quasimodo, for we’ve both have seen both sides of this coin. Protecting her, as your one true path, and vow — May God always guard your heart, above all else ~ as the Star maiden had stated. The Black Swan shall not go unpunished…”

Claude was not eager of the fate explained to him by the marvelous Blue Fairy, concerning Quasimodo primarily.  Fated to meet, as seen in a vision… guided by the fae, among Dwarf and magical beings alike. As much as he wished to retort it all himself to steer away from it entirely. Magic was following them, and had been since their reconciliation. Love earned after such loss~ such trial. It seemed they were all bound even before the Cauldron Born raided the land.

At the end of his speech, Frollo moved aside to continue the trek onward. With a streak of anger in him, the lake was left behind having now led his men towards a riverside. The matter has been settled — Indeed. It was during this stark word between the two, Odette tried to keep her eye low while trying to keep to the flight pattern of the rest of the flock. Eleonor typically chose to lead them, amidst her annoyance with Faer who kept fluttering about her head, laughing at her. She wished very much to snap her bill at him, but she knew Odette and Ida would not allow her to live it down if she tried.

“Can you just stay above my head, and not in front of it!?” she hissed.

“Aw, come on~ I was just having a little fun! Live a bit~!” Faer chirped, doing boasting backstrokes with his wings.

Jiminy still rode upon Odette’s back, witnessing this behavior not too afar. The ladies were trying to make a V formation, of all things, which would appear normal to the untrained eye. So far, the girls were a little choppy, as it was not their forte… He honestly had to roll his eyes at the cocky little Robin while Odette was feeling some of the stress. 

“Didn’t you say you were leading us somewhere!?” Jiminy asked, his voice piped and high to speak through the sharp air passing him by. 

“Of a sort! It’s where ever m’pal is a’goin’!” Faer answered, quite proudly. Ida as with the rest were chortling to themselves, entertained as a result! 

“He’s sure got his pride on~” Antoinette spiritedly chimed much to the amusement of her enchanted sisters.

“If he goes ever harder, I would lose myself if he strikes a tree~” teased Mary. 

Odette shook her head at all of this, perfectly distracted by the chatter and the work on her wings, whilst keeping the army below within her sights, as did Jiminy… who was almost losing his hat during this voyage. A voyage they all least expected to take.

“Quasimodo had told me how he came upon you~ Gave you quite a scare, didn’t he?” Odette’s eyes glowed as she said that.

That shocked the tiny bird to frizzle up and struggle to maintain his cocky flight pattern, and soon flew naturally with them. “Ooh Ha, he sure did, Ma’am! Threw me to the grass and he looked so so angry~ I thought that was it!”

“Hope that humbled you, robin!” Jiminy nearly coughed out as he was trying to level himself still. He had a titan grip on the brim of his hat the whole while. That was until he was able to catch a glimpse of where they were all coming upon ahead. The ranges, where danger was lying in wait as they spoke.