The Swan Princess

Chapter 34: Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

One last ball? Midnight, tonight. Seduce me and ruin me, Odette

A ball? Tonight? How am I ever going to get back there when I'm stuck in human form? The only way for me to return in time would be to fly.

It dawns on me then.

He doesn't care.

If I'm mortal. If I'm peasant. If I'm princess. If I'm swan.

He would accept me no matter how I returned.

I push myself into standing.

I begin what I've missed so much: chanting.

Magic forces I love so dear,

Make my swan self reappear

I raise my arms up and smile. The white light is returning, spinning around me, taking me back to my free-flying self.

Give me the power to choose when to fly,

So that I can return to soaring through the sky

I launch, feathered, and follow the wind patterns back to my home.

***

The main drawbridge is down, and revelers file in. Sieg wasn't kidding about a ball. I've never seen so many lords or ladies come through. Even from a distance, I could see the pastel trim of the carriages, hear the clomp of the horses, and sense the excitement of the air.

Swooping down, I sail through the air above them. Kids point up at the air, gesturing wildly to each other about my presence. I do a little barrel roll, just for them.

I glide over the line of invitees, eyeing the two guards gatekeeping the entrance. I drop an obligatory golden ticket by them as I soar into the main entrance of the castle. Behind me, I can swear one of them laughs, a jovial sounds that refreshes my spirits as I move through the castle halls.

When I'm approaching the servant's quarters, I land in my human form, jogging to reach them. I'm going to need all the help I can get for my grand entrance tonight.

"I'm going to strangle that bitch," I hear Emilia say, "and then I'm going to leave her to rot in the dungeons. See how she likes it."

"Dungeons?" I ask.

Emilia shrieks, running forward to throw her arms around me. Behind her, Margo, and the other servants are hand-sewing jewels to a dress.

"It was terrible, Odette," Emilia says, releasing me. "Odette spelled herself to look like me, stole my clothes, and left me naked in the dungeon! Margo had to come rescue me when she realized I was gone.

Margo grunts, sewing another bead onto the dress. I walk forward to get a closer look. A blonde head of hair whips toward me, and I stagger back.

"Annalise?" I ask.

"I knew you would come," she says gleefully, pulling me by hand to look at the dress. "Isn't she marvelous?"

It is. The bodice is the purest white, lined with lace and and a sweetheart neckline. Beads glimmer all over, making it shine like a star when it spins. The skirt is so full, it takes two servants to lift up a side, and it's covered in white, layered fabric. Feathers.

Annalise reached into an expensive-looking jewelry box and placed something delicate on my head. "For you." I ran my fingers along the surface, all smooth metal and sharpened jewels. A tiara.

My eyes feel wet as Emilia rushes to style my hair, and the other servants help me undress. I gaze around to Princess Annalise, adding final details to the dress as if she were a common servant. Emilia, who is ducking her head in and out of a basket of hairpins, determined to make me look my best. Margo, who is ironing out any wrinkles, holding the fabric up to the highest of inspections under her watchful eye.

I feel a surge of humility. "You did all of this... for me?" I ask no-one in particular.

"I've been doing this for you for a while now," Annalise announces smugly. "I knew you and Sieg were made to be."

Emilia beams up at me. "I knew you could do it," she says, pinning another errant strand of hair in place.

Margo attacks another section of fabric with the iron. "You're humble, for royalty." She shifts in her seat, like she's unsure how to go on. "Much like this one," she nods her head at Annalise, who smirks, "you aren't afraid to get your hands dirty."

"Thank you," I say sincerely. "I could not have gotten this far without any of you."

The three women continue to circulate around me and the dress.

"My mother wanted to tell you thanks for borrowing him all the time," Annalise says. "She was growing tired of babysitting his antics."

"Was she?"

"Yes." She smiles up at me. "He'll be all yours soon."

Butterflies fly around in my stomach.

"I hope so."

***

A knock bangs at the door. Once. Twice. Thrice. "Come in," Emilia says.

The bangs resume, louder this time.

She leaves my side to open the door, but the hallway is empty.

"What...?"

"Yow!" My favorite mirror smacks her ankle.

"What in all the lands?" She reaches down, to the mirror that is impatiently hopping on its handle.

"Mirror," Annalise scolds. "Behave." It shimmers faintly in apology.

"How long did it take you to hop all the way here?" I ask it.

It hops along the floor, like a child playing jump rope, trying to reach me. Emilia makes to grab for it, but it smacks her again.

"Mirror!" I chastise.

It reaches me, then levitates vertically to where I can face it.

Its surface shimmers, and it reveals to me a vision.

The fragrance of flowers — sweet roses and wisteria — waft through the air from the image. Harpists played a melodious, gentle tune, that echoes through the mirror.

Annalise, Margo, and Emilia gather around me to watch.

Nobility sit in satin-draped chairs, arranged in orderly rows.

Navy garlands hung from the perimeter of the room, half aloft by draping, gold ribbons. A white rose and gossamer arch stood at the back of the room. Behind it, a wooden dias encased a scarlet red rose, all the petals fallen but one.

Above, the castle logo has been redesigned to include a swan flying over a howling wolf.

Queen Sera stands by him.

Wide blue eyes. Serene, full, smile. An awed expression, as he gazed into her face.

"You came back," Sieg said, breathless. "I was worried you never would."

The phantom drifts down the aisle, giving him a razor-sharp smile.

It's my mirror image at the alter, dressed in the black version of my dress, about to marry my prince.

The Black Swan.