Chapter Five:

The Beginning of the Adventure

(Note: if you have not read Glass Slippers, expect to be a little bit confused. I tried to make it understandable for everyone but I'm not sure if I succeeded.)

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"Trousers, check. Shirts, check. Chest wraps, check. Socks, check, Boots, check. Sentimental belongings I probably shouldn't be bringing... Check." Harriet ignored the thought of how they could get her in trouble, instead moving on to the next item on her list. She couldn't help bringing some things along. What if she never saw her family again? She needed them.

"Undergarments... not check," Harriet said, muttering to herself as she packed a bag for her trip. It hadn't even been a day since she and Mark had started to formulate a plan but with the military draft already underway, Harriet knew she had to get moving on lots of different things. Like packing, and debating whether or not to bring her own sword.

She knew that she couldn't wear her own armor, as it was feminine and so made room for certain feminine aspects making it obvious it was a female's armor, but she did have to think about bringing her own sword.

On the one hand, it would be nice to have something as familiar as her sword with her. Over the years it had become like an extension of herself and she loved it more than anything else she owned. However, on the other hand, any person who knew Harriet would recognize her sword. She was given it when she was thirteen and had used it for over six years. Basically, if someone knew Harriet, they would most definitely be able to recognize her sword.

Yet, as hard as it was to even contemplate leaving her trusted sword behind, she knew that she had things much more difficult to wrap her mind around. For instance how on earth she was going to disguise herself as a man. Cutting her hair was a no brainer, wearing men's clothes was easy, acting like a man was no problem, it was actually appearing like a man that was the problem.

Harriet wore men's clothes and acted like a male all of the time, so really she wouldn't seem that different. However, even with all of that, she still would look and seem very feminine. While Leopold hadn't seen Harriet up close for over seven months, Harriet knew how good his memory was. The chances that he wouldn't recognize her would be very slim. She'd just have to avoid him if she ever came across him.

Harriet flopped onto her bed, heaving out a sigh as she watched one of the curly tendrils of hair that had fallen over her face float in the air with the force of her breath. She was still having second thoughts about whether she should go at all, let alone try to trick everyone into believing she was a man.

She was undoubtedly not prepared to take a life, she was not prepared to face the horrors of the war that would no doubt come. Yet, even though she knew logically that she didn't have to be part of the war for the war to happen, she couldn't seem to come to terms with the fact that she couldn't or shouldn't go.

War, according to everyone she had ever talked to and every book she'd ever read on the subject, was not full of dignity, or honor. War was brutal, dirty, and demeaning. It was the kind of thing one would have nightmares about, but despite all of that, Harriet couldn't ignore the feeling that told her she needed to go.

Watching the messenger die at her feet his only comfort being that the message got there in time, had opened her eyes rather forcefully. She had seen the grief of his family, had realized the implications of his death for his country, but all the same, she knew that even knowing her chances of survival, she had to go to war anyway.

Harriet could remember word for word Leopold's words on bravery years ago, and while she was positive he wouldn't approve of the way she was applying his words of wisdom, they were nonetheless, right.

He had said that true bravery was knowing the possible consequences of your actions, accepting them, and having the courage to act anyway. She knew she could die, she knew her family would grieve, she knew her life would be cut short, or that all privileges would be taken away if she was caught, but she still felt a compelling sense of duty.

The messenger had died for the cause, for the safety of his people and his loved ones. Harriet might be female, she might have a loving family, she might have so many things she still wanted to do in life, but didn't she deserve that same chance to give her life for a cause that she felt was worthy enough? Wasn't it her right to leap for the dreams she'd had since she was a child?

She knew many people wouldn't understand if they ever found out about her plan. She wasn't even sure that Mark truly understood, but that was part of the possible consequences, and she accepted that. Every man joining the knighthood and fighting for their country had to make the decision of to go or not to go, regardless of the consequences, and while some might see her as a foolish child, they would not deny her the right to have the chance to make the same choice.

Going into the war was her choice, even if it meant not returning from it.

Staring up at the canopy that covered her bed she tried to picture what it would be like to fight in the war, but she couldn't imagine it. Pushing herself into a sitting position and then sliding onto her feet, she ran a hand over her face.

Harriet was tired and still feeling mildly conflicted, but not so much over the choice of whether or not she should go. She was currently pondering the implications of having to say goodbye to her family. She knew she had to at least subtly say goodbye, but how was she to do that?

A clock in the corner of her room began to chime and Harriet's eyes flitted over to it, before she came up with a quick plan. Her family all liked to have tea at around ten in the morning, and though Harriet didn't normally join them because she did not like tea and often had training at that time, she knew that it would be the perfect opportunity to both set the plan in motion and say goodbye.

With one last look at the clothes on her bed, Harriet strode from her room, moving through the hallways with purpose. It was as if someone had thrown a blanket over every person within the castle, as if every sound was muffled.

The new of the coming war had finally reached the staff, and as Harriet walked down the corridor to the East Tower Parlor where her family always took their tea, the usual chatter had been subdued to frightened whispers. Even the shadows seemed longer in the light from the overcast day that was coming through the windows.

The sounds of her footsteps echoed off the walls, and Harriet sped up her pace. She had no interest in dwelling on how much quieter the corridors would get as the war went on.

Turning a corner, she finally reached the corridor that led to the parlor and, stopping in front of the door, she did her best to straighten her shirt and trousers. In the back of her mind it dawned on her that this would probably be the last conversation she had as Lady Harriet Corden for a long while.

Harriet opened the door and walked in, trying not to seem anxious as she made her way to the settee across from her older sister.

"Harriet! What are you doing here? I thought you hated tea?" Clara asked, resting her own yellow tea cup on her large belly. Frederick was sitting next to her with his arm around her shoulders, Amelia was in the corner staring out the window at the courtyard, a distant look on her face, and James had his nose in a book about adventures in the desert. They all had their place in the parlor, but Harriet had never claimed one, so she shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

"I wanted to spend a little time with you all," Harriet replied, ignoring the raised eyebrow that Frederick was giving her over his wife's head.

"That's oddly out of character of you," he said, his greyish-green eyes fixing her with a calculating stare. "Normally you hate small talk."

"Yes, well, I figured I'd spend some time with everyone," Harriet said, pausing before continuing. "Mark has asked me to spend some time with his family as his younger brother will be going off to the war. He's worried that the work will add up a bit for his mother."

"I thought Mark's brother was younger than the draft age. Isn't he ten?"

"You're thinking of Benjamin. Mark's twenty-one-year-old brother, Harry, will be going instead. They agreed it would be better for Mark to stay home, as the first born son." Harriet schooled her face to look as convincing as possible.

"I wasn't aware their family cared about that," Clara said, taking a sip of her tea. Harriet swallowed, her throat dry.

"Normally they wouldn't, but with Rose not feeling so well, Mark needs to be around to help look after his siblings if anything is to happen. Harry isn't exactly the nurturing type, he's not really a family man."

Harriet watched as Frederick and Clara absorbed the information she had given them, and she was relieved to see they seemed to buy it.

"Ah, I see. That was nice of you to agree to help," Clara responded, before changing the subject. "Now, I want your opinion on something. If the baby is a boy, does the name Maximilian Augustus sound better or Xavier Samuel?"

"Erm- definitely not the first one." Frederick let out a loud laugh at Harriet's response and Clara briefly scowled at her sister and husband.

"I bet you can't guess which one your sister's leaning towards," Frederick said, his voice teasing.

"Not Maximilian?" Frederick nodded. "Why not do a mash up of the two instead, like Xavier Augustus, or Samuel Augustus?"

Apparently, Harriet's suggestion had spurred an ongoing argument, and soon, both Frederick and Clara were bickering over it.

"Do we have to name him something with Augustus in it? Can't we give him a normal name?"

"Augustus is a perfectly lovely name! That's what you told me your name was all those years ago, it's only fitting."

Frederick was about to come back with a retort when Harriet cut in, her eyes flickering to the clock on the mantelpiece before she spoke. "Not that I don't find this a very entertaining conversation-"

"Entertaining?"

"Yes, entertaining, but I need to go get packed and ready to leave for Mark's home. I don't know when I'll be back, so don't ask," Harriet said, giving her startled sister a tight hug despite her pregnant belly and then doing the same to her other two siblings, Amelia and James, as well as Frederick.

"Alright, Harriet. Will I see you in training at least?" Frederick asked, his eyes following her movements towards the door.

"Probably not. I thought it would be best to take a break from sword-fighting for a while. If I can't help, there isn't really a point to practice," Harriet answered, pretending not to see the shocked look on Clara's face. "Goodbye, I love you!" She called before anyone could stop her, shutting the door behind her with a snap.

For a moment she simply stood there, staring at the closed door of the room that contained her family. Part of her still felt that pulling on her heart that wanted her to rush back in and tell them her whole plan, but the other part of her knew she couldn't. Mark couldn't go to fight in the war, and Harriet was going to make sure he could be there for his family.

Harriet let out a small sigh, pushing her long red hair back behind her shoulder before she turned on her heel and made her way towards the maid's quarters. She would need a sharp pair of scissors to cut her hair.

Once she reached the maid's quarters, Harriet rifled through the sewing basket in one of the corners, finally coming up with a pair of scissors for her efforts. The blades of the scissors reflected the light and Harriet could just barely see her reflection in them. Hastily, she pocketed them and then left the quarters to go to her own room. She wouldn't think of doing it anywhere else.

As soon as her bedroom door had closed behind her, Harriet became aware of how loud her heart was beating. For the first time she truly realized what the was doing. Sitting in front of her manner, looking at how her hair cascaded over her back and shoulders, Harriet shakily brought the scissors up.

Taking a lock of hair between her fingers, she used her other hand to position the scissor's blades. With a gulp, she closed the blades and with a quiet 'snip' she watched as the piece of hair fluttered down to the floor. Harriet stared at it for a moment, before gathering herself and continuing with her job.

Strand by strand, she shortened her hair until eventually the reflection staring back at her showed a short and curly mass on her head instead of the lion's mane it had been before. Most of the hair just barely brushed across the top of her ears and the absence of the rest of her hair made her thin face seem fuller, her grey eyes were larger, and she definitely didn't look as feminine as before, but she still looked like a female.

She was still staring at her new hairstyle when her door flew open. Thoughts ran through her head of Clara and Frederick finding out her plan, or worse, Leopold coming back and finding out her plan, but as she turned to face the intruder, the sight brought her up short.

Looking at her with a small smile on her face was Gardenia Hedgeworth, Clara's 'fairy godmother' and the reason why Harriet had to wear the orange monstrosity to the ball.

"Gardenia, what are you doing in here? I could've been changing! You should've knocked," Harriet said, her words rushing out. Her heart thumped with the fear of Gardenia telling Clara about Harriet's new hair.

"It looks to me like you were changing," Gardenia replied eyeing Harriet with a searching look. "If I had to guess by the bag on your bed and your hair, I would say you were running away to join the army."

"Look, Gardenia, you can't stop me. I need to go, it's-"

"Your destiny," Gardenia cut in. Harriet raised her eyebrows.

"That was not what I was going to say."

"I know, but it is nonetheless true. You know how my magic works, I only help when I can and if I can. If it will interfere with what is supposed to happen I can't help, but luckily, this time I can help you. In fact, I've been encouraged to." Harriet's eyes widened as she realized what Gardenia was saying. Gardenia's magic was supposedly of the kind that as long as she didn't alter the way an event was to happen, then she could help, but Harriet didn't know much more than that.

"Hold on, you couldn't heal James when he was dying seven years ago, but you'll help me go march to my death?" Gardenia nodded, and Harriet's mouth hung open. "If Clara ever finds out, she's going to kill both of us."

"Then it's a good thing I'm here to help you make sure she doesn't find out until she is ready to handle the information."

"Wait, what? When she is ready?"

"It's not something I can explain, Harriet. Now, by the looks of it, you are trying to disguise yourself as a man," Gardenia said in lieu of explaining what she meant. Harriet nodded sheepishly. "Well, your disguise certainly needs a little help."

"Hey!"

"It's not a bad disguise, dear. You've clearly done your best with what you have. You just need a little help, a little push to influence people into believing you are who you say you are."

"What, use your magic? But magic can run out, you've said so on numerous occasions."

"Not this kind of magic, this is a one time spell, I cast it, and the power stays. Now stand up and turn in a circle."

Harriet hesitantly followed her instructions, slowly turning around in the center of her room. With a single wave of Gardenia's hands, Harriet's eyes went hazy and she felt as if her nerves were being set on fire, but as quickly as the pain started, it ended.

"That hurt! What was that? What is it supposed to do?"

"My apologies, it is the nature of the spell. It will not only disguise you as a male, but take away certain aspects of being female, at least for as long as the spell is working. Don't worry, you still have all the same bits and bobs, you just won't have some of the, uh, unwelcome side effects." Harriet was going to ask what that was supposed to mean, but decided it might be best not to. She didn't exactly want to have a conversation about the birds and the bees with a crazy fairy lady.

"It will also convince people of you being a male unless you tell them, or you tell them your true name. That being said, you need not worry about anyone recognizing you. If they already know your true name it will make no difference," Gardenia continued and Harriet walked over to her bed with shaky legs, sitting down in a heap.

"Okay, the first one makes sense, but why can't I tell them my true name? Also, what is my true name?"

"Your true name is just your name. There is ancient magic in hearing a person's true name from the lips of said person. It would undo the spell instantly, however it only applies once the spell is cast. So if someone has already heard your true name from you, you will still seem like a male to them, at least until you tell them it again," Gardenia said, before turning her head. "You should probably get going, dear. You want to be on the road before the sky turns dark."

Harriet glanced over at the window and then at the clock and frowned, the time had moved on at a terribly fast pace. She could've sworn it was just ten o'clock, but the clock now showed her it was two hours past noon. Harriet moved to look back at Gardenia, but her eyes widened as she realized the fairy was gone. She hadn't even gotten to thank her.

Getting to her feet, Harriet quickly grabbed one of her extra swords and attached it to her hip. With hurried motions she put on her cloak and then closed her bag and slung it over her shoulder.

Opening her door, she walked into the palace corridor and started to move on the way to the entrance. No one noticed her as she moved past, there were no nods of acknowledgement, she was a stranger to them.

She picked up her pace as she moved under the arch that led to the gardens. She had already said goodbye to Mark, to her family, even to her identity as the young female knight, Harriet Corden. All that she needed to do was get to the forest path and her journey as Harry Greenfellow, the younger brother of Mark and the new soldier of Ecrivenia, would begin.

With one last glance at her home of the past seven years, Harriet took a step off the well-trodden path and began her adventure. 

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What are your thoughts on Gardenia and her magic? Do you think Harriet is right in her thoughts on the war? Tell me your answers in the comments!

Those of you who haven't read Glass Slippers, let me know if the chapter was confusing or not. I want to make sure this is a standalone and I really need your feedback.

Anyway, sorry for the late update and I'll probably see you all on Tuesday to make up for this missed update last week!