Title: A Slightly Different Turn

Chapter One: No Hill Folk

Summary: What if the Hill Folk had never come to Remalna-City and turned Flauvic into a tree? This is the story of what would have happened starting from when Vidanric has to choose whether or not to help Flauvic with his assumption of the throne. Can Danric and Mel defeat him or will they forever be under his rule? (Italics are from page 451 of Crown Duel.)

Rated PG-13 for allusions to rape and for situations that may come up in later chapters that would involve violence, language and/or slight sexual situations.

Author's Note: I've been wanting to write a story about Crown Duel for a very long time, but I've had trouble thinking of something more original than "how Mel and Danric tell everyone that they're in love," blah blah blah sort of stories. Not that those stories aren't fun to read and not that I haven't written unoriginal stories before (my L/J HP one is VERY unoriginal), I just wanted one for this book to be original. So I was rereading the book and thought of this, so I hope that everyone likes this. Also, for some reason, I have more trouble getting the facts right for this book than any other, so if I get something wrong, please bring it to my attention. Thanks! Hope you enjoy!

"I fault no one for ambition. If you wish, you may gracefully exit now and save yourself some regrettably painful experience. I like you. Your ignorance is refreshing and your passions amusing. For a time, we could keep each other company." I stared at Flauvic, outraged. How could he think that I would be his toy? Surely he thought I was better than that. 'But maybe I'm not,' I thought to myself. I did spend my childhood roaming barefoot in the hills. Then I mustered some dignity and tried to sting him with my own remark.

"Unfortunately, I find you boring." I almost laughed at the slight tinge of color that lit his cheeks, but any joy in that was quickly dashed in his next remark.

"I will enjoy breaking you, little colt." Vidanric started towards Flauvic in outrage, but I stopped him with a glance. He looked at me quizzically, but couldn't hide his expression in enough time for Flauvic to miss it.

"Ah," he said, "I see that former enemies have now become more than friends. This will make things much more interesting." I opened my mouth to say something in reply to that, but Vidanric beat me to it.

"We're not. We have had to work closely together for several days now to defeat your mother's army, and so have come to understand each other. Nothing is between us." I almost cried in outrage at what he had said, thinking that he had just gone over to the other side, but realized that he was saving both of us. If Flauvic thought we had a more than friendly relationship, he would use that to his advantage. I turned to smile at Danric for his thinking but then realized that a glance like that would nullify his statement. I looked up to find Flauvic frowning and thought that he probably wasn't used to being wrong. He then looked back up at the Marquis.

"Well, Vidanric?" asked Flauvic, "Will you turn over the crown to me willingly or will you make it hard on yourself? For your soldiers will be here soon, and let it be known that I can control you, so it's either on your terms or mine." At this Vidanric's forehead crinkled in thought. Flauvic was still looking at him, so I took the opportunity to look around for a diversion, or something to hurt Flauvic with. The only thing that caught my eye was the shards of what had been Duke of Grumareth on the floor. There were some sharp shards, but unfortunately the former Duke lay closer to Flauvic than to me, and he was sure to see my movements. Oh if only I had learned magic or something! Or if I had thought to tell someone about Flauvic's "illusions".

"Well?" Flauvic's voice broke through my concentration on the stone shards. "Have you decided? Or will I have to decide for you?" Vidanric looked up, and I could see suddenly just how tired he was. I jumped in to stop him from doing the foolish thing which he was going to do.

"He will give you the crown willingly," I said. Vidanric's head snapped around to look at me. I looked at him and tried to give him a glance that said that I would try to explain to him. Somehow he figured that out and relaxed somewhat. Flauvic looked at me as if Christmas had come early.

"I had no idea that you were so cowardly, Meliara," he said. "You certainly didn't show it when you killed the King last year. Or was that a lie?" I jumped at the chance and nodded meekly.

"I didn't kill him." I figured that someone as power hungry as Flauvic wouldn't understand why I would deny that I had killed someone. He would want to claim as much glory as possible. I counted on that and hoped that Vidanric realized that too.

"Maybe you won't be as much fun as I thought," he said, and I sighed. He wouldn't use me as a toy! "I suppose I'll just have to lock you up then." I groaned, and tried to not roll my eyes. That was almost worse. But, I amended, I had lived my childhood in bad conditions. It was certainly better than the former plan. "Well, my dear cousin," Flauvic said, turning to Danric, "I will leave you two here for a minute to get the papers, and we will get this over with. And the building will be sealed, so if you try to get out, you will die a horrible and painful death." The horrible smile on Flauvic's face as he left was almost worse than the implications of leaving the throne room, and I shuddered.

"Mel?" Vidanric asked when Flauvic left.

"Be quiet!" I said, suddenly afraid, "He'll have us bugged with his magic." Vidanric just smiled calmly.

"Meliara, my dear, you didn't spend enough time with our dear, departed King to realize that people like him and Flauvic are overconfident. Flauvic thinks he has us all figured out and so doesn't think he needs to have us watched. I must admit, you're show of cowardice was quite a move. It helps us with our case that much more. He doesn't think he has to watch you now. And he won't have his hands all over you," he added as an afterthought, looking at me lovingly.

"And," I added, "He won't kill you." At that, however, Vidanric frowned.

"I'm not as sure of that as you are, my dear countess. As long as he sees me as a threat, which I assure you he does, he will try his hardest to get rid of me. This matter of him having magic makes things all the more complicated. He will get me to sign the papers and then do something. He won't kill me totally, though, I don't think. Even though he is a remarkable diplomat, he will need to parade me around sometimes in front of ambassadors and the like so that they are assured of my willingness to step down." I looked down at the floor as he said this and then looked up to find him close to me.

"I don't want to lose you," I said fiercely. "I've only just found you." Vidanric laughed at that – a remark that I realized probably sounded much like something Tamara and Savona would say to each other. Thinking of them made me think of all the other people that I might not see again and tears pricked my eyes. I put my arms around Vidanric and kissed him passionately. He kissed me back just as passionately and realized that even though he showed no emotion on his face, he was just as worried as I. I tried to deepen the kiss, fire building within me, but Vidanric pulled away. I looked at him, breathless and confused.

"He might come back. I don't want him to think that our relationship is anything more than two people who have learned to work with each other without quarreling every other moment of the day." I nodded in agreement, and as if Danric's words had summoned him, Flauvic returned. He held a roll of paper in one hand and he walked with the grace and surety of someone who knew he was a victor.

"Sign," he said, thrusting the papers into Vidanric's hands. He took them carefully and opened them, reading the print that I could not see clearly from where I was standing. He frowned subtly as he started reading, and it deepened noticeably as he read more. Once, he glanced over at me, worry clouding up his gray eyes, but finally he took the pen and signed. I sighed, hoping and praying that nothing too terrible had been promised.

I looked then at Flauvic and my heart sank at his evil expression. He met my gaze and held it. I tried to look away, but for some reason I couldn't. He walked towards me, his expression unchanging except for a more pronounced smile. And it didn't look like a nice smile. He came up behind me and placed his hands on my shoulder and I tried to suppress a shiver. Unfortunately, Flauvic noticed.

"What? The little countess doesn't like my touch?" His voice was low and husky and it sent more unpleasant shivers down my spine. I shook my head. "But," he said, "I kissed you once before. You liked it then." My head snapped to where Vidanric was standing, but his expression was stony. "No Mel," Flauvic said, "he won't respond to you. He's under my control now." I wrenched myself from Flauvic's grasp and looked at him. That's what Vidanric had agreed to. He was being controlled by Flauvic. I felt the world spin around me and I knew no more...

A/N: I hope it's not too terrible and there aren't too many mistakes, but please tell me if there are! That would be great!

Crystaltambaia