Part IV: The Two Princes

The Snow Queen

leighwrites

Part IV: The Two Princes

“If I have it right, it seems that he’s forgotten ... for a Prince. Listen, listen, this is what I heard in town. In this Kingdom there is a Prince who is uncommonly clever, and from what ... told me it’s no wonder! He’s read all the newspapers in the world and forgotten them again, that’s how clever he is! Well, not long ago he was sitting on his throne, and that’s by no means as much fun as people suppose, so he started humming an old tune and the chorus happened to run, why oh why shouldn’t I get married? ”

“A ... told you this?”

“Oh yes! The town is his home! Anyway, the Prince made up his mind right there and then to marry someone, as soon as he could find the sort of person who could give a good answer when anyone spoke to him, instead of someone who stood around looking impressive. When the rest of the palace heard what he had in mind they were delighted! So anyway, the the newspaper immediately came out with a border of hearts and the initials of the Prince, and you could read an announcement that a presentable person might go to the palace and talk with the Prince. Very innovative town. Didn’t matter if it was a man or a woman. The one who spoke best and seemed the most at home in the palace would be chosen by the Prince as his marital partner.”

 “A-and then what?”

“Men flocked to the palace and there was so much crowding and crushing, but no one was chosen. ... that on the third day, a young man showed up with neither horse nor carriage, and strode boldly up to the Palace. ... the man’s eyes sparkled ..., and he had unusual curly hair and poor clothes.”

“Please, ..., you have to take ... to the Palace! ...”

“That’s easy enough to say - maybe ... can help. But I don’t think they’ll admit ... into the Palace.”

... “Wait for me beside the stile.”

... took off, only to return in the dead of night with a small loaf of bread ..., which he dropped ....

“... his best wishes, and here’s some bread. His ladylove spends her time in the Palace. They have all the bread they need, and .... ... won’t be able to get into the Palace with ..., but the ... ladylove knows of a little back staircase that leads to a bedroom, and she also knows where is the key kept, so ...will take us to it.”

... before ... followed ... into the town. A ... hopped around on the wall of the fountain in the town square, squawking in delight when he saw them coming.

“Hurry, hurry, come.” ... heading towards the Palace garden.

... hurriedly followed ... into the garden, and down the wide promenade, where the leaves were falling from the trees. As the lights in the Palace slowly went out one by one, ... led them to a back door which stood ajar.

... sparkling eyes and curly hair.

...

Now they were on the staircase, and there was a little lamp burning on a cupboard. Next to it stood another ..., smaller than the one who had been leading them here; his ladylove, ... realised.

She cocked her head to look ..., .... “.... If you would kindly take the lamp from beside me, I shall lead the way. We shall keep moving straight ahead, where we aren’t going to run into anyone.”

“To me it feels like someone is on the staircase behind us.” ... said.

Something brushed past ..., and from the shadows on the wall, they looked like horses with spindly legs and waving manes. There were also shadows of huntsmen, ... realised; both male and female on horseback.

“Dreams and nothing more.” The female ... said, her voice soothing. “They come to take the thoughts of their royal masters off to chase. It will give you a good opportunity to see them while they sleep. But I trust that when you rise to high position and power, you will show a grateful heart.”

The male ... clicked his beak. “You’ve no need to say that, love.”

The female ... apologised, and they entered the first room. It was decorated in rose-coloured satin that was embroidered with flowers, and the dream shadows moved so fast now that ... couldn’t see the lords and ladies.

Hall after hall bewildered ..., each one so magnificent that he wondered how ... had managed to make it here.

And after what had felt like forever, the female ... led them to the royal bedroom. The ... did not enter, but ... as he silently stepped into the room; heart slamming against his chest.

Just like every other room in the Palace, it was finely decorated, and in the middle was a large bed with two sleeping figures; one of which .... ... careful as ... pulled the blanket back from the face of the one he could tell had curly hair, and the moment the face was revealed the lamp fell ... and hit the floor with a clatter; the young man’s eyes snapping open at the sudden loud noise.

“Who the -”

“What on Earth is the matter?” The female ... had swept into the room, .... “Is it not who you were looking for?”

... to think that ... would have been here, only based on three traits that they shared?

And that was all they shared, really, because ..., this man’s hair was unruly, messy, dark looser curls.

“Hey, hey, what’s wrong?” The man had climbed out of the bed quickly and rushed over, clamping his hands down onto ...’s shoulders.

The other Prince woke up, and his voice was groggy, laced with sleep as he spoke. “Richard,  what’s going on?”

Richard had managed to calm ... down long enough that they (they being him and his husband William) could convince ... to get into the bed in their place and sleep. .... They were surprisingly not angry that some young stranger had broken into the Palace with the help ... and had woken them up in the night.

In fact, all they could feel for ... was sympathy. They had even praised ... for such a noble deed, but had asked for them not to do it again.

“Poor thing.” William said, looking over his shoulder at the sleeping .... “He has travelled such a long way.”

“Maybe there’s something we can do to help him.” Richard said, raising a hand to stroke the head ... on his shoulder. “We can’t just let him leave dressed like that. He’ll never survive the winter.”

So the following day, they had dressed ... to ... heels in silk and velvet, and had even made sure to get ... some boots and gloves. They had arranged for a carriage to take ... to the next town, where the Prince there would be able to help him further (or so they hoped).

... as Richard helped ... into the carriage. “I hope you find your friend. He’s lucky to have a friend like you.”

“If you find him, be sure to send your raven friend back.” William said, one hand curled around the carriage door. “We would love to hear how this tale turns out.”

“I will.” ... assured them. “Thank you for all your help.”

Part V: The Robber Girl

... had stayed with ... for the first four miles of the carriage ride before he’d decided to go ahead and wait in the next town; a chance to really stretch his .... This left ... alone in the carriage, on the path that rolled into a dark forest. And being made of gold, the carriage caught the attention of some robbers who couldn’t bear it.

They sprang forward, seized the horses, killed the footman and the driver, ...

Once again, Beverly (the only girl of the group, with short fiery red hair, her body looked broader ... in the shoulders. Her skin was tanned softly and her eyes were so green that ...  felt like she had the whole ocean in them.) ... “Now, tell me about ... adventure again. ... Were those Princes really nice? ...”

Part VIII: Epilogue

moments before a young woman with short fiery red hair came riding towards them on a magnificent horse that ... recognised belonged to the two princes.

Beverly now sported an array of pistols and blades upon her person, and had grown tired of living with the robbers, so she was setting out on a journey to the North. She ....

... he would catch up with them once he’d been to the Princes’, to tell them of ...’s tale and how ...’d finally found .... ... thanked him for keeping ... company for most of the trip before they parted ways.

(NO MENTION OF THE HONEYMOON IN THE EPILOGUE OF THIS AU; btw the version of TSQ-IV that served as source material is doubtless Jean Hersholt's: the fic like the translation gives 'uhyre klog' as 'uncommonly clever' adding 'and it's no wonder!' and 'navnetraek' as 'the initials', 'by' is rendered as 'town', 'den store allée' becomes 'the wide promenade'... the list of references is endless -- BUT THE "BY" IN THE KINGDOM IN THIS AU BEING A PROVINCIAL TOWN WITH A FOUNTAIN IN ITS ONLY SQUARE AND THE PRINCE/PRINCESS COUPLE BEING GAY, COUPLED WITH PRINCE WILLIAM, THE "PRINCESS" CHARACTER --IN CANON, WILLIAM DENBROUGH FROM STEPHEN KING'S IT 2017--, BEING AN ABSOLUTE MONARCH IN FAVOUR OF FREE LOVE WHO GOES THE EXTRA MILE RESPECT TO GUSTAVUS III AND FREDERICK THE GREAT... <3 OH AWWWW FOR PART IV: THE TWO PRINCES <3 <3 <3 THE KINGDOM SETTING -TOWN, GARDENS, PALACE-, THE PAIRING, THE GAYNESS IN THE QUEERING OF THIS TALE, AND THE NAMES OF THE TWO PRINCES BEING SO SHAKESPEAREAN; AND WILLIAM DENBROUGH/RICHARD TOZIER REALLY HITTING THE SPOT... I CAN PICTURE MYSELF THAT FRONT PAGE WITH THE INITIALS W.D. IN ROCOCO STYLE AND THAT BORDER OF HEARTS... AS WELL AS THE FATEFUL TEST-INTERVIEW... SQUEEEEEE!!! FANART OF WILLIAM AS AN 18TH-C PRINCE AND RICHARD AS A ROMANTIC POET WITH A PINCENEZ?)

leighwritesSat 25 Aug 2018 01:22PM EDT

Ahhh, thank you so much for this comment! The Snow Queen is my favourite fairytale ever (frozen? never heard of 'er ;) ) and I knew I just HAD to do it so I whipped out the book and got to work on rewriting it to fit the losers! I'm glad you enjoyed it as much as you did! :)

tinyarmedtrexSat 25 Aug 2018 01:13PM EDT

Loveeeddd this. you did such a great job of working all the losers into it!!!

leighwritesSat 01 Sep 2018 11:50AM EDT

Ahh, thank you! It's one of my favourite stories and I knew I had to au it sometime.