Title: Bearskin
Author: Shadow/Phantomness
Pairing: Championshipping (Lance x Red)
Fandom: Pokémon
Theme: #32, Scullery Maid
Rating: R
Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfiction belongs to me under international copyright laws and taking it is plagiarism. Thank you. *Phantomness bows*

Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks

Warnings: AU, het, character death

Once upon a time, there was a king who had three beautiful daughters. He loved them all very much, but one day, after he had drunk much wine, he was feeling old and tired, and needed reassurance, so he gathered his three daughters around him.

“Now darlings,” He said, with a smile. “How much do you love me?”

“I love you as much more than I love the sun, the moon, and the stars.” The youngest daughter said.

“I love you more than the number of stars in the night sky.” The second daughter said.

He turned expectantly to his eldest daughter, Red, who smiled and said, “I love you as much as I love salt.”

This reply enflamed the man with anger! Salt? How dare she compare him to such a common, cheap item? In an instant, he roared and grabbed her by her arm.

“You impudent wretch! How dare you! Get out of my sight at once!”

The eldest daughter was chased out of her home, and told never to return. The door was slammed in her face, and after she had gone, the father told his two daughters that because they loved him so, he would divide his wealth equally among them. Keeping only the crown and his fifty best knights, he settled down and planned to retire in his old age. Within days, he left on a tour of the country, satisfied.

Meanwhile, the two sisters who had received the throne proudly married princes, who advised them to overthrow their father and retrieve the land for their own. This seemed a marvelous idea to them, so they agreed to perform the coup in secret.

And what of the eldest daughter, who had been cast out? Finding herself out on the road, all alone, she was soon deep inside a forbidding forest. There, she came upon an old hunter, nearly blind, who was skinning a bear he had caught.

She offered him her golden bracelet for the bearskin, and he accepted, rejoicing at his good fortune. When he was gone, the maiden, who was clever and resourceful, used her sharp hairpins to pin the bearskin around her, in the shape of a crude garment, with the head of the bear acting as a hood to cover her long dark hair, silvered with pearls. Thus disguised, feeling safe that no robber would set upon her and kill her for her fine clothes and jewels, she set out in search of lodging.

For many days the maiden walked, living on berries and nuts she found in the forest, until finally, she reached a fine castle all lit up. She asked for work there, and the cook, who was short of staff, agreed to let her have a supper of bread and milk and a place to sleep near the fire, if she would help with the dishes. And so, Princess Red became a scullery maid, whom everyone called Bearskin for the strange garment she wore.

Red hid her fine clothes and jewels in a hollow tree near the manor, and was given a clean cotton frock to wear, but she still hid her features behind the bearskin, so it was assumed she was uncommonly ugly. For months she swept and scrubbed and cleaned, and the cook found no fault with her.

Then one day there was a great to-do. The Prince, who had been traveling abroad, was returning home. The cook prepared all manner of delicacies for him – rich savory stews and soups, fresh baked bread and pastries of all kinds, and an entire roast hart garlanded with baked quails in sauce.

Red did not see the Prince, but all the servants gossiped about how handsome he was, with long red hair and piercing golden eyes, and she wished she could have seen him too.

Not long afterwards, the Prince was wounded in a duel with a foreign swordsman, and though he had killed his opponent, he was so weak that he lay in bed nearly insensible with pain. The Queen fretted, and sought for a maiden, well-mannered and discreet, to tend him, and Bearskin – Red – was chosen, for surely the Prince would never fall in love with such an ugly, common maiden.

The first morning, Bearskin brought up a silver tray with a goblet of gruel on it, for it was not wise to feed the Prince else at the moment. She found him lying in bed, and caught her breath. He was very handsome, and though his features were sharp, his eyes were gentle.

“Good morning.” Prince Lance said.

Red dipped in a short curtsey, and placed the tray within easy reach of his arm. The Prince sat up and began to eat slowly. After he had finished, he thanked her and returned the goblet to its tray. As he sat up, she had noticed thick bandages wound around his chest; some of them bloodstained, and felt pity.

She wondered if it would be permissible of her to ask why he had dueled, but reminded herself that she was now a servant, not a Princess, and should not be addressing him. But he had been quite reasonable…

He asked her to bring him a book, which she did, and then dismissed her. She went back to the kitchen, and instantly, the gossip began.

“How is the Prince?”

“He looked quite ill.” Red reported.

There was a chorus of heartfelt sighs.

“Well, perhaps you’ll get to bathe him later.” A laundress suggested with a sly wink. Red flushed, though her bearskin hid the color in her cheeks, and ducked her head.

She returned to the preparations for their noonday meal, checking on the bread, scrubbing the saucepans, and thought little of it until she was summoned up to the Prince’s room that afternoon.

The Prince was waiting for her. She paled as she realized that there was a tub full of steaming water, cleverly hidden behind an Oriental screen. The Prince looked as uncomfortable as she, and coughed.

“This is quite unfortunate, but I am afraid you will need to assist me.”

Red nodded, trying to keep her unraveling thoughts in order. She had never seen a man naked before!

What was going to do? What if he raped her?

She helped him remove his embroidered vest and shirt without much difficulty, then the skintight leather breeches. It was difficult to keep her eyes downcast, but she tried her best.

There was a cruel scar across his chest, the skin puckered and reddened underneath a swathe of bandages. It continued up to his shoulder.

“I cannot believe this.” The bearskin-wrapped girl confessed. How horrible!

“Does the sight frighten you?”

She nodded.

He shrugged. “Well, could you please help me into the tub?”

Red did so, her thoughts now even more jumbled than before. So Prince Lance was wounded, after all! But why did his parents employ her?

Perhaps they thought her immune to a man’s charms, being ugly. It did not make much sense.

She tried not to stare as Lance soaped his body. She had to confess that he was handsome. He had just wrapped a towel around his body when a knock came at the door.

Red hesitated, but he gave a nod and she answered it.

The maid giggled as she presented a tray with a pot of chocolate and soft white rolls, before leaving.

She closed the door firmly and locked it, and put the tray on the small writing desk. She tried hard not to peek as Lance dressed, but it was difficult. She was not sure why. It could be curiosity. Men were like an alien species to her.

He was well-muscled, and part of her wished she could have remained a Princess, as so to wed him.

She had never quite had to deal with anything like this before!

Lance poured chocolate, not one, but two cups, and offered her one. Red was so startled that she almost dropped the cup she was given, but took it up to her lips and sipped. He watched her with a smile.

After coaxing another cup of chocolate and two of the soft rolls into her, Red protested that she had work to do and left the room.

Why was the Prince being so nice? Was it a bribe to keep the extent of his injuries a secret, and so, keep him safe?

She wished she knew… because she felt warmth in her belly whenever Lance smiled at her. He was certainly charming. But the food had been delicious, certainly softer on her stomach than servant’s fare. She had been a Princess after all, and though scrubbing was hard work, it was none as bad as the food.

For almost three weeks following, Red brought Lance his meals and bathed him. He was recovering – the sword thrust had gone through his shoulder and then the broadsword had swung down, attempting to cleave through his chest, and it was slow work, but things were definitely on the mend.

Every day, Lance would talk to her, and Red would allow him to feed her, not protesting. After all, why fight it?

She did not think he was fattening her up to eat, in any case.

One day, she was brave enough to ask Lance the reason for the duel. The Prince answered readily enough.

“A minor Count suspected that I had designs on his wife. I protested, but he refused to believe my innocence. A duel was necessary to preserve the honor of all involved.” Lance shrugged. “That is all. Moreover, he is dead and I live yet, so I daresay tis none as bad as it could have been. In addition, the court physician has declared that I cannot father children, so I have no worry of bastards.”

“Will you marry?” Red murmured, troubled. Part of her wanted to know, if she had any chance.

“I swore a public oath not to marry, lest it was the fairest woman in the land, and not until my twenty-first birthday. That is still a week away.” Lance shrugged. “At that time, I shall then announce that none of them are fair enough, and leave them bitterly disappointed.”

Red openly gaped. Lance handed her another slice of almond torte.

She chewed thoughtfully for a while, still stunned that there could be machinations that cruel. “What will happen then?”

“Then, I shall wait. When a girl’s father offers a large enough dowry, my parents will choose the one I wed.”

“Is there no room for love?”

Lance chuckled. “Princes and Princess never marry for love. Should an heir be required, I am sure the Princess can find someone other than me to produce a child with. It is that simple.”

Red nodded. She knew that all marriages were for convenience and consolidating wealth, but even so, to hear Lance speak of it…

How cruel!

“But if by heaven’s grace I find a maiden to wed – which I doubt, for who would accept me?” Lance gestured at his body, “I shall love her and treasure her, though I shall be unable to give her sons. That is all.”

That was all…

Lance poured Red another cup of tea. “What of your own life, maiden? What story do you tell?”

“I shouldn’t…” She began, but he chuckled.

“But you have every right to, Princess Bearskin – or should I call you Red?”

“How did you know my name?” Red gasped.

“I recognized you.” He smirked. “We met as children, once or twice.”

Well yes, but that had been years and years ago, and she was wearing a bearskin!

“Your manners are first-class. I suspected, but when I heard that Yellow had inherited the kingdom, well… I wondered where you had gone.”

She swallowed, unsure as to what to say to this revelation.

“And besides,” Lance purred, “You are very beautiful.”

Red was stunned as he leaned over the table and kissed her. Conflicting feelings raced through her mind. What should she do? Deny it? Accept it? Or, just let go?

Lance kissed her again, slowly this time, and she moaned as his questing tongue entered her mouth. She could feel fire racing through her body, and as he gently caressed her, she gasped.

“We-We should not…”

Lance stopped, removing his hands. “My apologies…”

“No.” Red flushed. “I enjoyed it. I wanted you. It is just that, I am nothing but a penniless scullery maid now, Prince, even if I was a Princess in the past.”

“I see,” He said quietly. “Will you at least come to the ball?”

“You are inviting me to your birthday celebration? I would love to.”

Lance smiled, and Red smiled also. After a few moments of silence, she gathered up the tea things and took them downstairs.

Perhaps… perhaps things would not be so bad after all.

She endured the rest of her chores in silence, and finally, the evening of the ball donned. After the dinner had been served, all the servants scattered, and so Red slipped away unnoticed. She bathed clean in the stream that ran near the hollow tree that had hidden her clothing, and dressed once more in fine golden cloth, her long hair slivered with pearls. Up to the castle she went, and at the ball there was none fairer than she. The Prince caught her eye immediately, and they waltzed and danced until the early hours of the morning, whereupon she slipped out silently, changed back into her bearskin, and pretended she had slept all night long.

The next morning, the entire castle buzzed with news of the beautiful maiden. Lance’s parents were quite glad that he had taken a fancy to one, and so, they arranged to hold another grand ball two days hence, in hopes she would return.

Return she did, and all night long, they danced, though she again slipped away before dawn.

In desperation, the parents held a third ball, and this time, before she left he slipped her a ring made of finely wrought electrum. Red smiled, and kissed Lance gently, knowing what her lover was planning.

They had danced all night underneath the stars, and oh, it had been grand to feel like a Princess once again. If they played their cards right, she could marry Lance, whom she truly did love, and well, she did not care much for a child.

The King and Queen searched high and low for the mysterious maiden, who the Prince declared he would marry, but found no sign of her. Lance began to grow thin and pale, for he would eat nothing. The Queen became increasingly certain that he would die for love, and prayed with all her might that the maiden would reappear.

The only sign of her was the ring that the Prince had given her, and the King privately doubted they would ever find it.

Such a pity…

Perhaps they ought to start looking for a replacement now.

The Cook made delicious tarts and pies, sautéed fish and delicacies from foreign lands, but none of it would the Prince touch. Finally, the housekeeper came and begged that she would make him some gruel, for he might take that.

While the Cook left the room to find a goblet, Red stirred the gruel, and within it, slipped the ring of electrum Lance had given her. A manservant, who begged that the Prince taste it, served it.

Lance would have rejected this food, but he was feeling weak and dizzy, and so, he drank it, and at the bottom, found the ring that he had given Red, and smiled a secret smile, before he sent for the Cook.

The Cook came, wondering what all the fuss and bother was, and lo, Lance showed her the ring.

“Where did you get this?”

The Cook stuttered and stammered, and finally admitted that she had no idea from whence the ring had sprung. Yes, she had made the gruel, but Bearskin had stirred it.

Lance now sent for Bearskin, and as the King and Queen watched, she slipped the ring onto her finger and the bearskin off her, and there she stood, radiant in her glory, diamonds winking in her bodice as she swept a curtsey.

Lance’s parents were overjoyed that their daughter-in-law was of noble birth, and best of all, she already knew Lance’s secret, and so they held a magnificent wedding feast. And so, the young couple lived happily for several months.

One evening, however, there was a disturbance, and they found an old, old man outside. Three knights were supporting him, all in varying stages of injury. There was a circlet of beaten gold on his head, and his face was a mass of wrinkles, but Red stifled a gasp when she saw him.

What was her father doing here? He looked so old!

Lance’s parents graciously invited him in as a guest, and Red slipped into the kitchen. She whispered to the Cook to dress the dishes tonight without a touch of salt. The Cook was surprised at the request, but begrudged the new Princess nothing.

As the food arrived, the guests ate greedily, but soon their faces fell, for without salt, the food was bland and tasteless. Tears began running down the old man’s face, and Lance, with a sideways glance at Red, asked him what was wrong.

“Oh, I am such a fool!” The old man said. “I had a daughter, who I loved, but when I asked her how she loved me, she said as much as she loved salt. I was so angry that I drove her away, and no doubt she is dead now, torn by wild beasts! I left my kingdom to my two daughters, Crystal and Yellow, for I thought that they loved me, but they have driven me out of my home!”

“Perhaps you are not as unfortunate as you assumed.” Lance said quietly.

“Perhaps your daughter is right here.” Red continued.

The King stared at her, and his heart felt ready to burst with joy. He begged her on his knees to forgive him, and she graciously did so.

That night, Lance used the dark magic that was his heritage, and called to him the wild dragons that roamed the earth, and the next day, they triumphantly bore Yellow and Crystal’s bloody heads back as trophies. The kingdom was the King’s again.

The King was grateful, but he was far too old to rule, so he bequeathed the land to Red and Lance, and as King and Queen of their own country, they remained childless, but still lived happily ever after.

End Fic

Completed 7/29/07

Edited 11/10/09

This is the King Lear-style version of Cinderella. And since I got a request of Lance as Prince… ^^ though she’s really a Princess! *Smirk*