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| Enchanted |
Preamble: I remind you that the story follows the French version and therefore Oscar is believed to be a man by everyone, except for few people...
Part 3
Andr� galloped aimlessly, without knowing where he was going: he spurred on the horse in the forest and he arrived in a clearing. He dismounted and he let himself fall on the grass, exhausted. At last he could cry all his desperation. It seemed to him like he had lived a nightmare and that he was still living it.
Why she...she...and yet he loved her, even if she had inflicted on him this last cruelty. He didn't know what to think, this wasn't like her at all... had she changed so much? After having spent a very tormented night in consequence of the first conversation with Oscar and after all these tears, now he felt so weak, without strength: he fell asleep on the grass.
By chance that one was the clearing of the spirits. Soon the spirits of the flowers surrounded him, came out of their green hiding place. His sleep was so heavy that they weren't afraid of speaking loud.
The spirit of the yellow daisy looked at him with tenderness: �Poor sweet darling, it is very sad he suffers like that...we really have to console him...�
�Yes, you're right� the spirit of the colchicum said, bending down to look closer at his face �and look how handsome he is, a dark haired angel...what a pity he lost his left eye, he had eyes as green as the grass in spring...�
�Yes, yes...but then, what are we going to do about our little decision? What will we do to have him?� the impatiens said, faithful to her name.
�Calm down, my dear...we mustn't assault him...and we do need a plan, don't we? We have to think and not be overhasty...� the spirit of the field marigold said.
�Yes� the yellow daisy replied. �I have heard that new servants are needed at the mansion...We just have to materialize and disguise ourselves as maids... and then... he will be within our reach in a completely natural way...�
The four spirits of the flowers smiled.
�Well, my girls, you have really thought about everything!� a voice behind them said. The queen of nature was coming forward.
�Oh, madame reine, good morning� they all said in unison, a bit embarrassed for having been caught.
The queen looked at Andr� who was still sleeping and said: �Yes, maybe it is necessary console him, as you say...but he has also the right to happiness and this it isn't up to you to give it to him, you know that very well. So, it is more a whim of yours than a true desire to help him. But maybe this will turn out well in some way: you know girls...jealousy can move the mountains!�
She stretched her lips in a smile. And in a light fog that suddenly had risen up, they all disappeared.
Some hours later Andr� woke up. He had slept a black sleep without dreams: at least he had rested. He decided to go back to the mansion: he was on leave, but he had a lot of corv�es to do, anyway. He hoped not to meet Oscar again.
Meanwhile Oscar had come back to her room, and was about to vent on her poor piano. The squirrel had jumped from her shoulder, landing on the afore mentioned instrument, and had sat down on a pile of scores. Oscar began playing furiously, but she stopped very soon: some keys of her piano were not working well and a strange sound was coming out of it.
�Ah, my little friend,� she said to the squirrel �decidedly everything is going wrong today for me. Maybe it is better go back to the barracks, even if I am on leave. I have nothing to do here and I don't know how to stare Andr� out. He won't ever believe this story of the spell. I do not believe it, either!�
The squirrel looked at her, pulling a very offended face.
�Yes, yes, I am not saying that you are a liar...but there are still some things to find out and I don't know how...and you can answer to my questions only with some gesture of your head. But I should know which questions to ask you.�
The squirrel nodded.
�Well, then, you are coming with me to the barracks: I'll get ready and we'll go.� Saying that she took her uniform's jacket. She placed the squirrel on her shoulder and began going down the stairs and from above she saw Nanny walking back and forth with a big agitation.
�But what's happening, Nanny?�
The elderly lady turned around: �Ah, my dear child, I am very busy, because today I have hired four new maids and I have a lot to teach them.� And she whispered to Oscar who came closer: �They come from the countryside and I have to polish them up...�
Oscar, who wasn't interested at all about the house management, changed the subject: �Very well, today I have decided to go to the barracks, although I am still on leave. I want to do a surprise inspection. I don't think I will be back home tonight.�
Nanny asked: �What about Andr�? Where is he gone? Will he come with you?�
Oscar had no desire to answer and yet she had to. �No...he has left and I don't know where he has gone.�
Nanny raised an eyebrow (exactly like her grandchild used to do!) and was immediately sure that they had had an argument, as she had suspected, but decided not to say anything. Oh, well, those two rascals should settle everything on their own!
�Very well, Oscar, if he comes back to the mansion he has his job here waiting for him! Have a god day, my child!�
�Thanks, Nanny...ah, please, send for the restorer for my piano, there are a few keys that make a strange sound...�
�All right, my child.�
And while Oscar was leaving Nanny grumbled: �But for heaven's sake, it is the third time this week that we have called the restorer...she shouldn't beat up like that her piano!�
Oscar entered the stable to take her horse. �You have to meet each other, C�sar and you...the horse shouldn't be afraid of you...But...I don't know what your name is. I have to find one for you as well.�
The squirrel looked at her, perplexed. A name? This was really one of those strange ideas of the humans. Ah, well, if he really had to have a name he would have liked to have the General's name. However he knew very well that she would never call him by her father's name.
�Hum...� she said �I have named the horse C�sar...you may have the name of another great military leader of the antiquity�hum...what do you think of Scipion?�
The squirrel shook very strongly his head to say no!
�Then...L�onidas?�
The squirrel shook again his head to say his no; what a horrible name!
�Hum...you are hard to please my little friend...Hannibal?�
The rodent found this name terrible as well.
�Well, last chance: Alexandre!�
This time the squirrel nodded...at last, a name that was a bit more normal!
�C�sar� Oscar said caressing his horse muzzle �this is a new friend, Alexandre the squirrel.� The horse ran his moist nostrils on the poor squirrel: it was the beginning of a great friendship. Oscar laughed, and mounted the horse, holding the squirrel in front of her on the saddle.
�Hold on tightly to the horse's mane!�
They got off at a gallop. The squirrel after the first moments appreciated a lot this stroll on the horse, it was even better that travelling on Oscar's shoulder. But there was something that made him uneasy: the four new maids! Could it be they were the materialization of the four spirits of the flowers? He began to get restless on the saddle.
�Hey! What's the matter with you, calm down, we are almost arrived!�
In fact, after a few minutes, the barracks appeared on the horizon. They crossed the entrance to the barracks at walking pace and entered the parade ground, where a rather unusual spectacle appeared before Oscar's eyes. It was as if she had entered a circus ring: she saw her soldiers who were rehearsing numbers of acrobatics, or magic, or comedy. Even the squirrel was amazed, decidedly these humans were very much...interesting!
On the right, some soldiers rehearsed a number of acrobatics, the human pyramid, on the left, Lasalle was a juggler with many coloured balls. In another corner, two soldiers rehearsed a number of magic tricks with cards, and next to them the acrobats performed acrobatic exercises on horses. Fran�ois Armand was the human target of the exercise in which daggers were launched by a comrade and Alain walked on his hands, balancing a dish above his head, keeping it there with a straw he held in his mouth.
Oscar rubbed her eyes with her hand, closed them for an instant, but when she reopened them this surreal vision was still there. No doubt, it was real indeed!
�But what's this carnival?� she yelled, furious.
The soldiers were petrified, the human pyramid collapsed, the coloured balls of Lasalle fell to the ground and the cards flew in the air. The acrobats fell off their horses and Fran�ois Armand was nearly struck by a dagger. Only Alain kept his cool, took the straw with the dish above him with one hand, always balanced, and nicely greeted his Colonel: �Oh, good morning Colonel, we weren't expecting to see you today!�
�And I believe this, considering this masquerade! I want to know immediately what you are doing!�
�Well, we have the permission of lieutenant D'Agout...and after all, we are on leave, we all have done our guard tonight and we are at rest.� And he laid the straw and the dish on the ground. He came forward towards his colonel, always walking on his hands. �And therefore the use of our free time is up to us to decide.�
Oscar was amazed and was barely able to say: �But...but...why are you doing this?�
�It's simple: we are organising a charity show for some poor families.�
�Which ones?� Oscar couldn't keep herself from asking.
�Ours!�
�Huh?�
�Colonel, let's say that we don't earn enough money, don't you agree?�
Oscar didn't know what to respond to this. It was true, but she couldn't do anything about it. She dismounted from her horse and put her little companion on her shoulder. The squirrel, seeing the soldier approaching, although on his hands, gave him a perfect military salute.
Alain noticed it and said: �But Colonel, I don't see why you should reproach us: you could also take part in the show, with this squirrel! It is truly incredible how skilfully he performs the military salute...�
�We need just this!� Oscar roared. �Get up, please! I have had enough of seeing you like that!�
�Yes, Colonel� Alain said, getting on his feet again.
�Listen, you have every right to do what you want in your free time but...in this case don't wear the uniform! It is not decent, the barracks isn't the circus!�
�Yes, Colonel.�
�I understand your situation...and I am ashamed as your colonel to be unable to do anything to increase your salary. I am very sorry.� Oscar said with an expression of sincere regret.
This touched Alain: this little colonel was definitely quite different from the other nobles who played soldiers.
�Then, may we continue this thing in our spare time?�
�Yes. But today I'll give you a few hours after lunch to rest, because we will bring forward the military exercises of a few days: the weather is good and we must take advantage of it. We'll depart well before sunset.�
Alain saluted again: �Colonel, where are we going?�
�I think that the forest close to my mansion will be perfect.�
The squirrel pricked up his ears: the forest near the mansion? Everything may get complicated! A good or a bad thing? He didn't know. But it was necessary that Oscar and the man who loved her would get together in order to break the spell.
Oscar gave the orders to organize the military exercises and then she headed towards her office.
�I need to think for a while, my dear Alexandre.� She said, opening the door.
The squirrel looked around: the office was devoid of any elegance, containing only the essential. There were a few pieces of furniture: a desk cluttered with paper sheets, the chair and the bookcase, the only luxury she allowed herself.
Oscar put her squirrel friend on the desk and sat on her chair.
�Well, let's see...it seems that I am not able to tell the truth about my feelings anymore...but only if it relates to love. Because I was perfectly capable to express my feelings of regret and shame to Alain.�
The squirrel, sitting on the scattered paperworks, moved his head in order to nod.
�A spell, hm? I would like to know who did this thing and why...do you know it perhaps?
You have tried to warn me, but I haven't understood, have I?�
The rodent nodded again.
�Then have you seen who has done this to me?�
The squirrel got up on his feet and nodded with energy. Oscar smiled...she was on the right track to discover the truth.
�And also the reason why?� Once again the squirrel nodded.
�Well, who is my enemy: a man?� the squirrel shook his head in the negative.
�Then a woman...� Again he shook his head.
�But then...who? If it isn't a man nor a woman, who is? A ghost?�
The squirrel nodded, shook his head, waved his paws in a �more or less� sign.
�What? A supernatural entity?�
The squirrel began to jump nodding with his head.
Oscar was left open-mouthed: believing the spell was already too much for her spirit immersed in the philosophy of the Enlightenment, as one could see looking at her bookcase, but supernatural entities! It was really too much! She ran a hand through her hair, raising the lock that was falling on her forehead.
�Ah, well...and where is this entity? Ah, yes, you can't answer me this way...then...is it close?�
The squirrel nodded. Then he began to think, scratching his own head. Oscar saw him looking around, then saw his eyes light up: the rodent headed towards the inkpot and opened it. Then he stretched out one of his claws, that dipped in the ink and he began drawing on the back of the last report. Oscar was amazed: the squirrel could draw! And not bad at all! For a squirrel, of course.
On the paper appeared almost perfectly her mansion, then the squirrel again dunked his claw in the ink and drew the park, with its trees, and then the forest, with its clearing. With a last drop of ink the squirrel drew an �X� like the sign of the treasure in the pirates' maps. The squirrel, very proud of his job, moved in order to allow Oscar to take the paper sheet.
She looked at it: �Thank you my friend. It is in the forest near to my residence, isn't it?�
The little rodent nodded.
�Very well.� said Oscar recovering her warrior spirit �What a coincidence: we will have fun!� She got up and took her little friend in the hand: �We have to go to eat something: the battle awaits us and we must have all our strengths!�
And placing Alexandre on her shoulder she exited the office and headed to the refectory.
Note:
3) Third condition: Alain has to to walk on his hands during part of the fanfiction.
Thanks to Nisi who had suggested me to set the fanfiction in a circus... in fact I did something like that! ^ ^
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