Chapter 5: Run In

Many hours later

Ansel pulled back a curtain that hung in front of the carriage window, seeing his 40 story white castle with a golden roof, and a tall, large, stone wall that surrounded the castle's borders.

He pulled back the curtains in front of the window, giving a sigh of relief.

'We're finally back,' He thought, feeling tension leave his mind.

He looked down, seeing Gabrielle resting against his chest, he smiled softly, whispering, "We're here Gabrielle, welcome to your new home."

He kissed the top of her head gently, allowing her to continue to rest.

Half an hour flew by and the carriage slowed down, coming to a complete stop, in front of the castle.

The door to the carriage opened, and a servant man stood by the doorway, reaching his hand out to help Ansel get out of the carriage.

Ansel looked down, seeing Gabrielle still resting, scooped her up in his arms, and carried her out of the carriage.

In front of him stood several servants lined against the castle, guards standing around surrounding the carriage, and an old man standing beside the guards.

The old man had dark brown eyes, salt and pepper colored gentleman cut styled hair, and salt and pepper straight colored eyebrows. He wore thin gray metal, rectangular shaped glasses, black butler uniform, and black dress shoes.

"Welcome back your Majesty," The old man greeted, "I take it the takeover was successful."

"The takeover was successful, Kingdom Holden is no more," Ansel announced, watching as his servants and guards beginning to cheer.

Ansel looked at the old man. "Cobsworth have you and 3 other servant women follow me, have everyone else attend to their duties," Ansel commanded.

Cobsworth nodded, turning to the servants and guards. "You heard His Majesty," Cobsworth said, picking out 3 servant women, while everyone else attended to their duties.

Ansel walked into the castle as Cobsworth and the servant women followed behind him.

"Who is this woman, Your Majesty," Cobsworth asked.

"Her name is Gabrielle, she will be living in the castle from now on, and she is to be addressed as Milady," Ansel answered.

Cobsworth and the servants nodded, continuing to follow Ansel to a bedchamber.

Inside the bedchamber was tall windows that had white curtains, a circular detailed floral white rug that sat underneath a light brown wood canopy bed, a light brown wardrobe, a white vanity that had a mirror, a brown bookshelf, bedside tables that sat on either sides of the bed and had candles on top, and another door that led to a personal bathroom. The colors off the walls were manilla and had pictures hanging on them. The floors were solid and colored dark gray.

Ansel walked over to the bed, pulling back the white comforter and sheets, and placed Gabrielle on the bed, not allowing himself to wake her. He tucked her in, pulled the curtains closed that were hanging around the canopy bed, and left the room as the Cobsworth servants followed behind him.

Ansel looked at the servant women. "Find her our finest dresses and jewelry and fill the wardrobe and jewelry box with it. When she wakes, help her dress in whatever she likes and bring her to me," He commanded, closing the door to Gabrielle's room.

The servant women nodded in compliance and Ansel looked at Cobsworth.

"Follow me, I have an important task for you," Ansel said, walking away as Cobsworth followed behind him.

"Cobsworth you are my most entrusted servant and one of my closest friends. You've been with me since I was a child," He praised, turning to face Cobsworth, "So I want you to take care of Gabrielle. See to it that she gets whatever she needs, whatever she wants. Also as Majordomo I want you to inform all the other servants of Gabrielle and how she is to be addressed."

He bowed, saying, "It shall be done, Your Majesty."

A couple hours later

Gabrielle slowly woke up, feeling the warm sun beams that peaked through her curtains shine down on her face.

She sat up, looking around her.

'Where am I?'

She tossed the covers off of her, pulled back the curtains, and got out of bed, marveling at the room.

'I've never seen this place before… I should find Ansel.'

She walked over to the door, feeling the cooling floor on her feet.

She placed her hand on the door knob, trying to open the door.

Click

Her eyes widened, 'It's locked, I'm locked in here… Have I been kidnapped… I should've never fell asleep in the carriage, Ansel could be in danger and its all my fault. I have to find Him, I have to find him now…' She thought as her heart beat against her chest.

She continued pulling on the door knob and began beating on the door, shouting for someone to let her out.

Whoosh, THUD

The door to the room swung open making Gabrielle fall to the ground.

"Oh Milady, are you alright," A servant woman asked, bending over to help Gabrielle up.

She looked up at the servant woman, recoiling from her.

"Don't be afraid," The servant woman frowned, "We aren't here to hurt you."

Gabrielle looked around her, seeing more servant women coming towards them with jewelry and dresses in their hands and guards dressed in Holden style peasant clothing.

Tears filled Gabrielle's eyes. 'I knew it, I'm in Kingdom Holden… They got Ansel… He's a prisoner… I have to help him…" She thought, panicking in her mind.

"What's all the commotion, we heard yelling," A guard said.

"Milady is just frightened," The servant woman (from earlier) responded. She looked at Gabrielle, holding out her hand towards her. "Come Milady, let me help you up," She hummed, trying to comfort Gabrielle.

Gabrielle pushed her hand away, stumbling to her feet, "What have you done to him," She shouted.

"Done with him," The servant woman asked, puzzled, "What do you mean, Milady?"

"Don't play stupid," Gabrielle fumed, "Where is he?"

"Please calm down Milady," A guard pleaded, "We don't understand what you're asking."

Gabrielle pushed past the guards and servants. "If you don't want to tell me, I'll find out myself," She shouted.

She began running throughout the castle's decorated hallways, calling out for Ansel as the servants and guards chased behind her.

"Ansel," She called, "Ansel, where are you?"

She paused, watching as guards dressed in Holden style peasant clothing ran towards her, blocking her path. She turned around seeing more servants and guards catching up to her.

'There's no escape, I'm trapped.'

She looked to the side of her, seeing a decorated, clay vase sitting on top of a brown hallway table.

She grabbed the vase, gripping it tightly.

"Everyone back up right now or else I'll throw this at you," She threatened holding the vase in the air.

"Please calm down," A guard begged, "Just put the vase down and tell us what's going on."

"Ansel," She shouted, "Ansel where are you?"

"Is that what this is about, please let us explain," A guard pleaded.

"No," She exclaimed, "You Holden people are all the same! Murderers and violent people! I hate you all! Bring me Ansel right now or I swear I'm going to…"

"Who dares cause a commotion," A woman interrupted.

The guards and servant cleared a path revealing a young strawberry blonde haired woman who was followed by another young chestnut brown haired woman.

The strawberry blonde woman had her long thick hair styled in chin grazing layers. She wore a floral, spring green ballroom gown with matching heels. Her eyebrows were perfectly arched and she had no blemishes on her face.

The chestnut brown hair woman wore her long hair up in a braided bun. She wore a plain empire styled dark green dress with black flats.

The women rushed over to Gabrielle.

"What gives you the right to disrespect this castle the way you have," The strawberry blonde woman scolded, "Have you no manners? Are you a savage?"

The strawberry blonde woman turned to the guards and servants, shouting, "Shame on all of you for not stopping this disastrous scene. His Majesty will be very displeased."

She turned to face Gabrielle, her eyes filled with fire.

"What business is it of yours," Gabrielle lashed, "I'll do as I please."

"You dare challenge The Lady of the Castle? How dare you," The chestnut haired woman argued, "You will suffer harsh punishment for such disrespect."

In the distance Ansel and Cobsworth stood, seeing and hearing all the commotion, they rushed over.

"I don't care who you are or what you do to me," Gabrielle cried shaking from anger, "If you want to beat me go ahead, if you will kill me so be it, but I will tear this castle to shreds, I will break everything in here until I see Ansel. I want to see him now and I promise you if he's not okay as harsh as you think you are I'll be 10 times worse."

The strawberry blonde woman rose her hand. "How dare you," She shouted, "I'll teach you a lesson for your disrespect."

She swung her hand getting ready to strike Gabrielle as Gabrielle swung the vase getting ready to hit the woman. Before they could, Ansel stood in front of Gabrielle holding on to her wrist, preventing her from swinging the vase any further while Cobsworth grabbed the strawberry blonde woman's wrist preventing her from swinging.

"Your Majesty," The strawberry blonde woman bowed alongside the servants and guards, "I did not mean to disturb you, this woman was causing a terrible scene, even threatening to destroy the castle."

Gabrielle looked into Ansel's eyes, still holding on to the vase.

"You know if you're going to hit someone, you might want to be quicker, especially if you're holding a vase," He soothed.

Cobsworth looked at the strawberry blonde woman, "What did you think you were doing Hattie," He scolded her.

"My job, I mean some lady rushes into the castle and threatens to destroy the place while everyone stands around doing nothing. I mean I as Lady of the Castle should not have to stop a mad woman," Hattie huffed, pulling her wrist out of his grip.

"You were not given that title," Cobsworth warned, "You are no different than a servant."

"Do you hear that," Hattie whined, "He called me a servant, do something Your Majesty."

Ansel ignored Hattie, continuing to look into Gabrielle's eyes, seeing them filling with tears as she dropped the vase onto the floor.

"When I saw the men dressed in Holden styled clothing I thought… I thought they got you Ansel…" Gabrielle sniffled, burying her face into his chest, "I thought they got you and I would never see you again."

He placed his fingers underneath her chin, tilting her head up to look at him. "Kingdom Holden is no more. You'll never have to worry about them ever again," He assured her, scooping her up in his arms.

"Hear this and spread the news now, Lady Gabrielle is to be held in the highest regard. You will all treat her as an extension of myself, there will be no exceptions for anyone," Ansel announced, walking away with Gabrielle in his arms as the servants and guards nodded and Hattie gritted her teeth.

"You understand that," Cobsworth scolded, "Don't think your fake title will save you or your servant woman Nylah. You two will respect the rules of the castle."

Hattie turned away, looking at the chestnut brown hair woman, "Let's go Nylah, I have no time for this."

She walked away, Nylah following behind her, as anger and jealousy consumed the both of them.