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thegirlfairytalesforgot · 7 years

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The Forgotten Girl and the Invisible Servant

Summary: When a curse sends shockwaves through the fairy tale world, a young woman renowned for being the ‘Girl Fairy Tales Forgot’ and a humble Valet with a terrible secret find respite in each other- if only for a moment- under the moonlit sky. ~

Paige was restless.

The safety of the inn seemed null and void in light of everything that had happened. Walls which were once comforting, a blockade from the world and its impression of her, now served as a stark reminder of how things had changed beyond them. The bed that was once hers was now shared with a princess, at least until they left or another room became available.

It seemed like the one place she had left to call her own was once again taken over by royalty, by magic and by a burgeoning sense of loss.

Not that she begrudged Princess Skye for that, it wasn’t her fault they were stuck in this mess. No. The blame laid entirely on Paige and that awful excuse of a Fairy Godmother.

Still, in all the years that had passed, none of her now-royal friends had ever visited the inn where she lived; not Cinderella, not Bella, not even Rose and her castle was a mere half a day’s walk. Perhaps the universe was making up for the fact, given that Red’s humble inn was now inundated with the Princess of the Holy Roman Kingdom and her fiancée, Prince Leonardo of the Southern Kingdom, and-

Him.

Paige tossed in bed, staring up at the ceiling and trying very hard not to think of the way the Prince’s valet stared at her.

She failed, miserably, and buried her face into her pillow in frustration at the fact.

Henry…

For the life of her, she couldn’t understand what she’d done wrong. She’d misjudged him when they first met, of course, but she’d apologised and really, with everything going so horribly wrong, she’d thought he’d sympathise with her a little- give her the benefit of the doubt and forgive her for the misunderstanding. Perhaps she was mistaken?

Yet he didn’t seem to stare at her the same way everyone else did. He didn’t look at her as though she were a social climber, or the Forgotten Girl, or with any kind of preconceived notions really. He just looked. That was the most disconcerting thing of all.

A part of her wanted to confront him on the matter, but confrontation had backfired on her twice recently and in the worst of ways. So maybe it might do to hold her tongue. For once.

He seemed kind so maybe, if she was nice to him, he’d stop staring at her and instead start seeing her? Though they’d just met, the idea of yet another person thinking she was scum tore at her insides. It was desperate, pathetic, and Paige was more than a little angry at herself for putting so much stock in a stranger’s opinion of her.

But she was tired- she was so tired- of people hating her before knowing her. She was tired of being judged based on the actions of others, what happened to the people around her, tired of being compared and always being found wanting.

Once, just once, she wanted someone to see her for who she was.

Once upon a time, she’d had a whole host of friends, a family, people who loved her for who she was.

Those people were gone now, and she had no idea how to get them back (if she could get them back).

She had Kai, and Red, but her world was much smaller now and a lot lonelier.

Sitting up in bed, Paige rubbed her tired eyes and cast a glance over at the princess. Were it not for the fact that she could hear her faint sleep-filled breaths, Paige might have thought Skye was pretending to be asleep. She looked so small, so still and fragile in the light of the moon. Like a dormouse hibernating for the winter.

Or rather, a dragon disguised as a dormouse, judging by the downright awe-inspiring skills she’d displayed earlier that morning.

Kai snoozed at the end of the bed, black fur turned silver and cast in half shadows from the moonlight. His ears twitched as Paige slid from the bed, but he moved no more than that. Not even as Paige put on her slippers, tiptoeing to the chair where she’d hastily discarded her coat, and left the room. Lazy cat.

It wasn’t the coldest of nights, but there was a decisive chill in the air. Beneath her feet, the grass was dew-stricken and the trees which framed the inn whispered secrets to the soft wind which blew around her. A few paces away, the forest called, dark and deep, mysterious and comforting. For a while Paige debated with herself, knowing it was never a good idea to set foot in the woods alone at night (Red would kill her if she found out). Still, she thought, it might be nice to get away. Just for a moment. Just to breathe.

Before she could even begin to set foot amongst the oak trees, to feel the twigs breaking underfoot or hear the night birds singing, a voice called out to her through the darkness.

“Awfully late for a walk in the woods.”

Paige was quite certain that she woke the entire inn with her shriek, but was also sure that nobody would come to her aid, for the sound she let out was more akin to a fox in heat than a young woman in distress. So she did what she usually did when confronted with a threat.

Punched it.

“Woah there! I’m sorry! It’s umm…me,” the shadowed figure ducked out of the way of her fist with a practiced ease, and then proceeded to step several paces away, arms up in a show of pacifism.

Squinting at the figure, Paige dropped her fists, her eyes widening when she realised who it was- who she’d almost hit.

“Henry?!”

“Yes,” he replied and, though it was dark where he stood, Paige could just about make him out. Blinking as she adjusted to the low light, she started to fathom what appeared to be a quite sheepish look plastered on his face. “I’m sorry I startled you.”

“Oh, no, no not at all,” Paige replied. “I mean yes you did startle me, but that’s fine. It was a mistake after all. I wouldn’t cast you to the wolves for it!”

She laughed, nervously and embarrassingly loud even to her own ears. Would she ever be able to have a normal conversation with this man?

But then she heard something, a small exhale which might have been a laugh, though she couldn’t tell. The next moment, Henry stepped out of the shadows. A sliver of moonlight fell on his features, making his sun-kissed skin glow, and Paige forgot how to breathe.

“I’m very glad for that,” he uttered, bowing low. His impeccable accent slipped, and Paige caught faint hints of his native language slipping out, tongue rolling around the r’s. The language of the Southern Kingdom was never one she had learned herself, but she enjoyed hearing the accent nonetheless. It was more passionate somehow, more forthright.

Something stirred in Paige at both the action and the way he spoke. It felt rather like her insides were squirming despite the fact that she stood perfectly still. She preferred it when he spoke naturally, wanted to hear more of it.

“I was only going for a quick stroll,” she challenged, trying to hide the way it sounded like an excuse. “To clear my head. Why shouldn’t I?”

“Why shouldn’t you?” he asked, gentler in tone than her, as he came to stand at full height again. Paige mentally tripped. She wasn’t expecting such a response, and it caused her to blurt out an honest answer before she could stop herself.

“Well I suppose it’s dangerous, and Red doesn’t like me walking in the woods by myself at night so I might upse- oh,” Paige halted mid-sentence, wrinkling her nose. “You think you’re clever, don’t you? And regardless, you’re awake.”

She couldn’t help but prod her finger in his direction, but Henry remained unperturbed by such a rude gesture. He was strange, there was no doubt at that.

“I’m well-read, but that has nothing to do with intelligence,” he smiled then, offering up no excuse as to why he was out and about in the middle of the night. Paige could feel warmth radiate from him, despite him being an arm’s length away. “Will you be fine on your own?”

Paige tilted her head incredulously. “You aren’t going to try and convince me not to?” she stared, bewildered, her lips quirking to the side in confusion.

It occurred to her that most of the conversation was just a stream of questions and, for some reason, it annoyed her.

“Why would I?”

Paige groaned, running a hand down her face. The effect of her ire was instantaneous, causing the smile to vanish from Henry’s face despite it not being her intention.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you,” he stepped backwards again, placing one hand on the back of his neck, his dark hair ruffled in the breeze as his eyes crinkled. It was the most expressive face Paige had seen him produce thus far. His accent had disappeared, back to the near perfect, controlled and surprisingly educated speaking manner which made it seem as though he was born and raised nearby as opposed to several Kingdoms away. Inhaling slowly, he moved his hand back down to his side.

Each action seemed remarkably thought-out, yet not so, and it puzzled Paige to no end.

“You know these woods better than I,” he reasoned, taking time with his words. “I’m a guest, whereas you were raised here. If you’re fine on your own I- I have no reason to doubt you.”

They fell into silence, one in which Paige replayed his words over and again in her mind.

Maybe it was impertinent of her, but she thought she understood Henry a little better now.

After a time, Paige linked her arms behind her back and casually balanced on the heels of her slippers. “When people from the Emerald Kingdom ask inquiring questions, it’s usually ‘cause they’re accusing others of something,” she explained. “Most people here mind their own business.”

“Are you accusing me of being nosy?” Henry asked, and there were a faint tinge to his voice, a twinkle in his green eyes that hadn’t been present before. If she didn’t know any better, she might have thought he was teasing her. But he seemed far too reserved for that. Still, it was another question.

Paige turned to hide the grin splitting her face in two. This wasn’t how she’d imagined the conversation going at all, but she couldn’t complain. It was remarkably pleasant after a day of distinct unpleasantness, like a soothing tea during a cold winter's day. “Are you accusing me of accusing you of being nosy?” she shot back because, even if he wasn’t teasing her, she felt the need to do so to him. He seemed fun to tease, in a friendly sort of way.

“Are you accusing me of accusing you of accusing me of being nosy?”

Oh. Perhaps he was the sort to joke around after all.

The smile on her face began to wobble, her shoulders tensing for all the right reasons. Once again she’d misjudged him and he’d surprised her, but this time it was a far better misunderstanding. “I’m not sure, judging by the fact that I have no idea what you just said,” she snorted, and then descended into a fit of giggles.

“Neither do I. I’m quite certain it’s the most nonsensical thing I’ve ever uttered,” he said and, when Paige looked up, she couldn’t help but laugh harder at the completely baffled expression on his face, the way his cheeks darkened. “I’m sorry.”

“You keep apologising, and yet I’m laughing,” she stated, moving to touch her lips. “I don’t know anybody who would apologise for making someone laugh.”

“I’m more sorry for making a fool of myself than anything,” he mumbled, and Paige was unsure if she was meant to hear it. Regardless, something in her lifted at that, and all at once she felt a sort of kinship forming with him.

Her smile grew brighter as she stepped closer, for she realised that he’d not yet moved back after his earlier retreat, and she wanted him to see the sincerity in her gaze. After all, if someone said to her what she was about to say to Henry, she would have thought they were making fun of her. Balling her hands into fists, she brought them up under her chin in a show of enthusiasm.

“Good! I get on much better with fools,” she chuckled, hoping he’d catch her meaning.

“You- you get on?” Henry spluttered and, for some inexplicable reason, Paige thought she caught the faint traces of a blush creeping up his face.

She pouted for a brief moment, thinking how best to describe what she meant and inwardly cursing the difficulties language barriers presented. “I can be friends with fools,” she explained kindly. “Those who aren’t fools don’t like me very much. Probably because I’m a fool myself. I didn’t mean ‘get on’ as in ‘climb on’. I wouldn’t make friends with anybody if I climbed on them! Kai especially, could you imagine!”

“Oh, I see. That’s what you meant I-” he stopped dead in tracks, and Paige might have wondered what it was he seemed so flustered over, but was distracted by the way his shoulders dropped, the way he placed one foot forward. “Wait. You…want to be friends?”

Paige could feel her heart sinking. Turning quickly, she let her hair fall over the side of her cheek, until she could only see him in her periphery.

“Well I don’t think it’s so strange a suggestion!” she cried defensively, tasting bitterness on the tip of her tongue and feeling heat creep up her face. “We’re going to be spending a while together. I’d rather be friends than awkward acquaintances or bitter rivals, so I suppose we should decide on it now instead of spending the next few weeks umm-ing and ahh-ing over it.”

She waited, steeling herself for another rejection, her lungs turned to iron under the weight of his decision. Yet she couldn’t find it in herself to blame Henry. After the farce she’d made of herself recently, as well as her and her family’s reputation, it was a miracle he wasn’t running away screaming.

“Friends,” Henry began and Paige winced at his tone, the way he whispered it like some sort of secret. “I... wouldn’t be opposed to that.”

Paige narrowed her eyes, looking up at him again but finding herself unable to read his expression, confused as to why his native accent seemed to be creeping back into his speech once more. Had she insulted him so badly that he was simply too shocked to care? “You wouldn’t be opposed?”

“I would like that,” he corrected, rubbing one hand against his opposite arm, not meeting her eyes. “It would be... pleasant… I think. I hope.”

“Oh!” The iron in her lungs melted away, and she beamed at him. True, he still sounded unsure, but it had been so long since she’d made a new friend and she was certain she could prove her worth now that she had a chance. “That settles that then!”

Extending out her hand, she shot Henry her best trust-me smile, her heart hammering in her chest. She hadn’t thought about the gesture before she made it and now, with her hand hanging awkwardly between them, she began to regret it.

Just as Paige was about to pull her hand away, she felt calloused fingers skimming against her the tips of her own.

Her breath hitched, and Henry began to pull away, but she impulsively reached for his hand before he got the chance. She paused, his hand in hers, her mind yelling at her that this was the part where they were meant to actually shake hands.

Yet all she could do was think about how pleasant his hand felt in hers.

Then his grip tightened, ever-so-slightly, sending a jolt of energy straight up her arm and right to chest. She yanked her hand away, as though a lightning bolt had stuck between them.

That had certainly been what it felt like at least.

“It’s late, I should save my death-defying woodland walks for daylight hours!” she rambled too loudly and quickly, she was sure, for Henry to understand a single thing she said.

“I think I’ll stay up a little more,” he rasped, looking up at the moon, and then back to her.

Turning away, Paige tucked her hair behind her ear, feeling abnormally shy. “Well, then, goodnight,” she replied, beginning to walk along the path back towards the inn, using her voice to lighten the moment after the strangeness which had just occurred. “I hope when daylight breaks you don’t reconsider your agreement to this friendship though I assure you it’s only legally binding when you buy me a pint, so you do have a chance.”

When she reached the inn door, she heard a chuckle. It was only once, but the sound was so light and free that it made Paige stall.

She span around, briefly catching the look of shock on Henry’s face. That was odd too. Why would he be shocked by laughter of all things?

That being said, he’d apologised for making her laugh. So maybe he didn’t understand how laughter worked.

For a moment Paige was tempted to stay, to teach him what laughter was. Kai had helped her once, taught her how to laugh again. To do something similar for someone else would be rather rewarding. Yet, the more she stayed, the greater the chance she had of ruining the foundations of a friendship which had just been laid.

“Please don’t worry about that,” he replied, cutting through her thoughts with a warm tone as he bowed again. “I promise I won’t.”

Paige was rarely one to be stunned into silence. But then, so many unlikely things happened to and around her, she shouldn’t have been surprised.

Finding some semblance of politeness, she managed to squeak out a ‘goodnight’ before spinning on her heel and slamming the door behind her, leaning against it and breathing as though she’d swam to the Kingdom of Champagne and back again.

That night, she still couldn’t sleep, but her mind was preoccupied with more than the memories of the morning’s events. Instead she felt compelled to muse on promises, past and present, broken and newly formed…

And she definitely, definitely, wasn’t thinking about the way Henry’s hair fell into his eyes when he bowed to her. No. Not at all. Not one bit.

#fairy tales #original writing #the girl fairy tales forgot #cinderella #sleeping beauty #beauty and the beast #princess #fairytales

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