Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Long ago and far away in a Kingdom high on a mountain top, something amazing was occurring.

In the kingdom garden the young Princess, Anneliese was listening to her older brother's science lesson. She was hidden from sight in a rose bush, thorns poking her through her dress but she leaned into them to get a better view. Anything was worth it if it meant she could learn just a little bit more.

In the village fair below the castle, a young indentured servant was carefully pushing a needle in and out of the hem of an elegant gown. She brushed a dark strand of hair out of her face as she hummed a melody slowly forming in her mind.

Neither were aware, or could even imagine their lives would become intertwined.

*ERIKA*

Erika felt the table shake, her thread and fabric spending a moment in the air before crashing down.

“Madame Carp!!” the girl shrilled as she sent the needle through her flesh instead of the gown, covering her mouth too late to block the outburst.

“Mind your mouth Girl!” Madame Carp hit the table again, before straightening her poster. “Sorry..” Erika mumbled averting her gaze.

Madame Carp.. the woman her father indebted her too. She understood why it was necessary… but she still wished for a kinder master. Still she would not lose hope, and hold her father's last words in her heart before he left on a voyage to amass his wealth.

He places a large hand on her shoulder, “I promise, I’ll buy you back and still have enough for a life where all you have to worry about is singing.”

“You are coming with me to the castle.” Madame Carps voice cut through, taking Erika back from her fantasies of the life she would live as soon as her father returned.

“The Castle?!” she repeated, not fully hearing the words.

“Yes, the castle. For the annual royal fitting. Normally I’d take a shop girl, but the last one eloped last Saturday and I don't have time to hire another.”

Erika raised an eyebrow “What about Bertie?” she asked, gesturing at the older woman with red hair, who looked up from the gown she was ironing when she heard her name.

Madame Carp made a sound that she imagined a cat would make if it was choked. “Bertie? I’m not taking an invalid to the castle. Now shut up and get ready.” She was still making the cat choking sound as she left the small basement.

Erika leaned back in her chair, it was hard to think a 13 year old indentured servant would be chosen over an experienced seamstress. She glanced over at Bertie, watching her skilled hands fold and iron, the only thing wrong with her was a twisted ankle she said she was born with.

“I’m sorry Bertie… she really should be taking you to the castle.” she said, offering the woman a sad smile.

“Don’t worry about it Erika-” she picked up her cane to walk close to her and ran a hand through her hair. “I’m glad you get to go, young people need to see beautiful things. And there isn’t much beauty down here.” Bertie gave the girls hand a squeeze before taking a step back.

“Now, Let me help you pack.”

~ANNELISE~

The young princess leaned too far forward, having to catch herself before she toppled from the bush. Her brother looked up, looking to see where the noises were coming from when he met his sister's eyes. He rolled his eyes and sighed, moving so she’d have an easier time reading over his shoulder.

She smiled, her heart warmed by her brother’s actions. Prince Chester was three years older than her, but he never got annoyed when she wanted to follow him to all of his lessons or steal his science books.

“Annelise?”

The princess froze as she heard her mother’s voice, turning around to come face to face with her.

“Mother!” She let go of the branch that was the only thing keeping her in the bush sending her falling towards her mother who thankfully caught her in her arms. The Queen took the girls face in her hands.

“Are you okay? Are you hurt?” she frantically searched for any sign of a scrap or cut. Anneliese let her mother do so, assuring her with a small “I’m ok”. The queen was still wearing her mourning dress, it had been nearly six months since her father had died, but it affected her mother more than anyone in the castle.

Anneliese gently released herself from her mother's frantic hands, smiling. “It’s okay, I’m really ok.”

The Queen didn’t seem convinced, but Chester drew their attention as he vaulted the rose bush, stumbling as he recognized his mother. He put a hand behind his head laughing sheepishly.

“Hey… Mother.. Oh and your-- here too Anneliese, who would've known…” He offered a smile when it was clear he wasn’t believed.

The Queen looked stern for a moment, but shook her head with a laugh. “I don’t know what I’m going to do with the two of you.” she pressed her hand to her check as she looked at her two dirty monarch children.

With a sigh she took Anneliese's hand, “We have a fitting to get to, and you pay attention to your lesson.”

Chester smiled, and gave her a solute before climbing back over the bush.

“Use the path!!” The Queen yelled after him, but he was over before she could stop him. Anneliese giggled, stopping as she felt her mother eyes on her.

“Yes, yes, let go so I can try on dresses.” she said as she let her mother lead her down the path, only pausing briefly to gaze longing back.
Erika

The wagon ride was long, and uncomfortable. She had to sit up front with the coachmen while Madame Carp word in the cabin with the dresses. Still, she wouldn’t give it up for anything. As they got further from the town, the air got cleaner. She could smell the wild flowers growing on the side of the hill, and see the bright blue sky.

She wish she could run away, travel the roads away from the small poor town that stood in the shadow of a castle removed from strive. Erika could see herself, walking with a guitar slowly strumming and humming until she got to the next town where she would sing and make just enough money to get to the next town.

A content sigh moved with her body as she relaxed in her seat, watching the sea disappear behind a nearby mountain. She couldn’t leave, not until she paid back her father’s debt or he came back. That was the only town her father knew to look for in.

The castle finally came into view when the sun started to reach the middle of the sky, she waved the slip of paper that would let them through the gate, and jumped down when the couch parked.
It took three trips to get all the necessary dresses and platforms into the room they were using. Madame Carp didn’t bother helping, and sent a glare at any servant who tried. Erika mouned, as she set down the last mannequin, staring daggers at the woman. She was… evil. The girl was sure of it as she wasn’t allowed even a moment to rest before she was made to dress the mannequin and arrange them around the platform the princess would stand on.

She leaned over with her hands on her knees as she finally finished, and with fifteen minutes to spare.

“It’s not horrible.” Madame Carp snared, handing a servant her cup of tea. She stood in front of the platform, motioning for Erika to stand next to her. “Now don’t say a word. Don’t even move. The servants will dress and pin the princess for us.” Erika nodded, wiping her brow of sweat before clasping both her hands in front of her.

They stood in silence for the fifteen minutes, then ten more, then five more before Madame Carp lost her temper. She grabbed a servant by their collar sneering in their face.

“Did you lead us to the wrong room? Have you made us late for the royal fitting?!” she nearly spat, she spoke so forcefully. Erika cringed as she saw the terror in the poor servant eyes.

“No-no ma’am! Thy must just be late!” the servant mumbled, holding his shirt to avoid being choked.

Madame Carp let go, and regained her composure, straightening the front of her dress before turning back to smile at the servant. “Please go see what the issue is then.”at her words the servant fled.

Erika looked away to hide her face from the woman. It wasn’t right but she couldn’t say anything, or she and the servant would be punished. Madame Carp was overreacting, she was wealthy so she wasn’t used to being treated like nothing. This was what Erika expected from the people so rich they were called royalty.

It was only a moment before the servant returned, announcing The Queen and the Princess. Erika watched the transformation in Madame Carp from terrifying mistress into a servant happy to smooche up to royalty.

The girl and Madame bowed deeply to the two crowns, before Madame Carp gently pushed Erika to the side of the room and began her show.

“Your Highness, I am so honored to be in the castle today, I have four dresses with me today, all hopefully worthy of dressing a princess.”

Erika rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest, slipping behind the flurry of servants that entered with the Queen and princess. Then a strange feeling flooded her heart when she met the gaze of the princess.

A strange heat flushed in her cheeks, her heart seemed to forget how to beat properly. Her face framed by honey colored hair, her bright eyes glowing with a small small that started to form on her lips. Erika choked and quickly looked away, clenching her hands in fist as she willed her face not to look so red.

When everyone in the room was distracted by the first dress, she took the opportunity to slip out of the glass doors leading out to the garden. She closed the door quietly behind her and leaned her head back against the wall.

It was nice to be free from that room full of people, glad to be able to breathe fresh air again. She would have to go back to the town soon, back to spending hours in the small basement underneath the Boutique.

She kicked off the wall, stretching her arms to the sky. This was what life would be, she was going to work to make it happen. She laughed, as she ran down the gravel path keeping her arms in the sky.

There was nowhere in town she could do this without hitting someone or getting choked on smog. She ran until she hit a railing that stopped her from toppling over a cliff that overlooked her home.

It was so small from way up there, she couldn’t even tell the building apart from each other. Erika rested her elbow on the railing to hold her head, it was humbling to see. She closed her eyes as the melody she’s been playing with in her head all day swelling in song.

~ANNELIESE~

The Princess kept her composer, resisting the twitch going through her leg begging her to move. She took a breath and let it out slowly, using that moment to return the smile to her face.

The words of her mother and the seamstress were lost on her, she knew there wasn’t much of a personal choice when It came to these dresses. So It was easier to let her mother take the reins. Instead she would spend her time looking over at the girl in blue hiding against the back wall.

Anneliese couldn’t explain the feeling, only that something about the blush across that girl's cheeks made her heart pound. The scientist in her wanted to dissect that feeling but the thirteen year old getting poked and fussed over, welcomed the distraction.

After the third dress was draped over her, she was tired and hungry and wanting to be free of the constant attention. She signed and glanced over where the girl had been, only to find she was gone and the door was slightly ajar. Anneliese felt her heart fly into her throat.

It was rare for the princess to do anything genuinely disobedient, she was considered an agreeable well mannered girl. So when she pulled her dress high around her legs and ran out the door, everyone in that room was too stunned to move before she was far out of sight.

“Anneliese!” she heard her mother call as she ran barefoot along the gravel path, hoping to spot the girl in the blue dress and they could have a moment to talk where she didn’t have to play the part of princess.

A laugh ran through her as the feeling of freedom sent a shiver up her spine. Just in time for her foot to get caught on a petite coat and send her falling. She hit the ground hard, her elbows and knees blossoming with blood.

The pain was shock, not something she was used to at all but her mind was quickly averted when she heard a sweet sound. She stood up,dusting off her torn skirts and followed the sound careful not to trip again.

When she got to the end of the path she found the girl in blue who was singing to the world from the clift. It was hard not to let her mouth fall open in awe. It was easy to see that girl was born to sing.

Anneliese plucked a rose from the hedges and held it behind her back as she slowly approached.

“Hi..” she mumbled, holding out the flower with an awkward smile. The girl stopped sing stumbling backwards to catch herself on the railing.

“Princess?” she gasped, her face twisting from confusion to horror. “Oh! I’m not running away! I’ll go right back, please don’t-” her words faded as she grabbed the princesses arms in desperation.

Anneliese giggled, gently freeing herself from the girls grasp and offering the flower again. “I did run away… I wanted to ask your name…”

The girl froze, looking at the princess in shock for a moment before giggling herself and taking the flower. “Well, Princess… my name is Erika.”

The princess blushed, “Erika.. You can call me Anneliese.” She tucked a strand of misplaced hair behind her ear as she leaned on the railing. “What were you singing?”

Erika relaxed, leaning on the rail beside the princess, turning her face to the sun. “I was singing about freedom.” She sighed before looking up at the princess. “Want to hear it again?”

Annelise nodded and was quickly caught up in awe as the girls voice filled the air around them.

*ERIKA*

The girl sang until the sound of running feet disturbed them. They both stood up turning around to see the Queen and a handful of servants running towards them yelling the princesses name.

Anneliese reached out to grab Erika’s arm “It’ll be ok!” She whispered before running to meet her mother. Erika watched them, holding her arm where the princesses hand was. She knew no matter what she said, Madame Carp was going to use this opportunity to punish her, more likely than not she would end up working three times her normal workload. She took one last look out over the clift and at her home below before turning to face her fate.

“You! Girl! What did you do to the princess!” One of the servants ran forward grabbing her arm. Erika tried to pull away but was pulled harshly forward. “I didn’t do anything!” she protested, “I’m fine!”

The princess called pulling away from her mother to stand between Erika and the servant.

“You are anything but! Look at your arms, your dress!” The Queen called, wringing her hand in worry.

“I promise all I wanted was some fresh air! It’s so rare in the town… the Princess found me!” Erika pleased, still trying to pull away.

“Erika! What did you do!”

The girl cringed as she heard Madame Carp’s voice. “Nothing I swear, I just got distracted.” Erika said. The woman took in a deep breath “This will be added to your debt.” she snarled before turning back to the queen with a deep bow.

“A thousand apologies to my highness. I will be happy to supply you with all three dresses-” she clenched her teeth. “-Free of charge.”

The Queen relaxed, offering Madame Carp her hand to kiss. “That seems appropriate…” she hummed. Erika felt her heart sink as Madame Carp sent her a burning glare. “Looks like I’ll probably be paying for your dresses, princess.”

Anneliese looked from her mother to Carp to Erika, her face sympathetic. “I’m sorry…” she sighed, starting to walk back to her mother. Erika didn’t blame the princess, she looked down at the rose, she only felt sad that she would probably never be allowed at the castle again. Today would be the last day she would sing with fresh air.

They packed up quickly after another round of apologies, promising the dresses would be delivered within two weeks. As Erika predicted, she wouldn’t be sleeping much in the next few weeks.
She pushed the ache that bloomed from the thought of all that work away, focusing on simply loading the wagon.

“Erika…” she turned around to see the princess standing behind her.

“Princess!” Erika smiled, stepping closer before hesitating, not wanting to cause more trouble. “What are you doing here?” she asked, a good distant away.

Anneliese reached out, grabbing her hand. “I’m sorry for everything… but I hope you’ll come back… I hope to hear you sing again, Erika.”

The girl smiled, stepping out of reach as she saw Madame Carp come out of the castle.

“Maybe.” She grinned, jumping up to take her seat next to the coach man.

Chapter Text

Erika pulled her cloak tighter around her shoulders, as she braved the cold morning breeze. The ocean stretched out far past the horizon, and the stench of fish and sailors made her feel almost nostalgic. 

It had been years since she let herself imagine her father. What he would be doing as he sailed the world when he would come back for her. When her life could begin. 

“Ye just gonna stand there?” The man selling fish called her attention back, and Erika pushed a tear from her eye as she picked up the proper fish for Madame Carp's breakfast before handing him the appropriate amount for it. 

Fine. It was fine. She’d pay for her own way, and she’d spend more time imagining the day she could hand Madame Carp the full amount of her and her parents' debt and take her freedom herself. 

She bought the rest of the ingredients and made her way back to the shop. Everyone was still asleep, giving her just enough time to put everything away and grab a half-empty tin can from the pantry. 

Eating the rest of the lima beans in the can Erika made her way to the spot she sang every morning. Right in the center of town, where the old emporium was before it shut down.  

It wasn’t the most ideal time, hardly enough foot traffic to make anything more than a few coins but people knew when she came out. School children expressly like to stop and listen to her sing. Sometimes they would leave sweets in her tin, that she would save and give back when she came back in the afternoon. 

But still, Erika sang, if not for the chance of money, for the love of performance. She sang until the sun peeked over the building and it was time to run back before Madame Carp sent someone to search for her. 

Carried the last note, pushing herself and the note until she ran out of breath. To her surprise, the silence that typically followed the end of one of her songs was interrupted by applause. 

Erika looked up, surprised to see a woman in a heavy hooded cloak standing in front of her, beaming at her while she clapped louder than anyone had applauded her before. She couldn’t stop herself from laughing. 

“Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed it.” She did an exaggerated bow, snatching up the tin as she went. “I’m here twice a day! Three Hundred and sixty-five days a year.” 

“Oh really? So you’ll be back tomorrow?” The woman's voice was soft and lyrical, each syllable properly pronounced. Erika frowned, focusing on her face a bit harder than she had before. 

The woman was beautiful and clean, her long blonde hair lacking any tangles and her skin perfectly smooth with no blemishes. Whoever she was, she was not from the village, maybe a merchant's wife? It had been years since any merchants of means had visited the port. 

“Yeah, I will.” She looked away, uncomfortable. She could be someone in Madame Carp’s circle. A lady from the neighboring city that Carp hired to make sure Erika was trying to ‘steal’. 

The woman clapped her hands together in glee. “Oh good, I’ll see you then.” she pulled a small bag out of her cloak and popped something in Erika's tin before disappearing into the growing crowd. 

She watched after her for a long moment before looking at what she gave. Her eyes grew wide as she reached in and pulled out an emerald the size of her thumb. Quickly she shoved the gem into her corset under her dress before heading back to the shop, her head full of wonder at who the beautiful woman was. 

The rest of the day was filled with fabric and needles and thread. There weren't too many people left who could afford such fine dresses, but Madame Carp would take them to other towns and villages to sell. Erikia wasn’t sure they made dresses for anyone local anymore. Other than the Castle of course. 

The door slammed open and one of the shop girls ran down the stairs, excitement in her eyes. “The princess is getting married!” 

Erika was surprised when a needle pricked her finger and a strange feeling pierced through her gut. “She’s getting married?” 

It wasn’t right for her to feel, any, type of way about it. But even as she tried to shrug the feeling away an old memory of a girl handing her a flower floated to the front of her mind. “What’s that got to do with us?” 

The shop girl rolled her eyes, “of course, you wouldn’t understand. But if the princess gets married it means there will be guests! Visitors, Wealth will be reintroduced into the kingdom. And!” She reached across the table messing up the blouse Erika was working on. “We get to make the wedding dress.” 

Erika made a face, wedding dresses were big and bulky and so so much work. She could only assume the Princess would want a wedding dress twice as big and complicated. 

“You mean I have to make the dress.” She mumbled under her breath. 

“Yes you are, that’s why Madame sent me down here, give all your normal work to Bertie, you are working on the wedding dress from now on.” 

Erika leaned back in her chair, doing the math to figure out how many yards of fabric they’d need, where would they get it? It didn’t matter, Madame Carp would figure it out, and… She crunched some numbers in her head. If she only used the money she earned from singing to eat, and the Princess did in fact get a big enough dress. 

Erika sat up, her pulse quickening as she realized. She could pay off her debt, it would take months to make the dress, and with her being the only one to work on it… she could even do some normal work. 

Quickly she scrambled to write it all down, checking her math again and stared in awe. After nearly twenty years… after giving up on her father… deciding she was going to get her own freedom… a wedding dress was going to save her.