Sat, May 19 2012
| TITLE: | Queen Victoria and the Giant Mole Missing Scene |
|---|---|
| AUTHOR: | Sherry Thornburg |
| CATEGORY/TYPE: | Bracelet Workshop |
| RATING/WARNINGS: | PG, Gen |
| MAIN CHARACTERS: | |
| DESCRIPTION: | Bracelet Workshop Entry |
| STATUS: | Complete |
| SUMMARY: | 'Queen Victoria and the Giant Mole' missing scene |
FROM THE MIDDLE OF “QUEEN VICTORIA AND THE GIANT MOLE” MISSING SCENE TWO
Phileas Fogg had finished his teasing of his cousin Rebecca and reminiscing with the French agent to head back to the Aurora. The young Frenchman Verne was helping Passepartout in the sewers with the placement of the mole detectors. “This is almost like old times when I was the senior agent in charge of a mission,” Phileas thought. “It is old times,” he then reminded himself as his mood changed from jovial to sour almost instantly. He had never wanted another mission. His getting drafted back into the service on Her Majesty’s request was galling but not to be refused. “The price of being a loyal subject.”
Moving across the lawn of the Emperial Palace, Fogg entered the Aurora after giving a nod to the palace guards that were standing about it. Upon entering the parlor he discovered a presence inside. Her Majesty Queen Victoria was sitting in his parlor apparently very at home tatting a strip of lace. A momentarily stunned Phileas recovered from his surprise and quickly bowed to her. “Your Majesty, I… I am honored.”
“Phileas,” she said in a relaxed greeting, not standing on ceremony for the moment. “My visit is informal and as such there is no need for formalities. Please be seated.”
At a loss, Phileas did as he was bid. He sat in the chair in front of the Queen that had been pulled from the castle to serve the purpose. All the Aurora’s furniture was bolted to the floor. As such, moving things around for the Queens purposes had not been possible. The Queen had taken the comfortable wingback for herself, which was the only such piece in the parlor. There was a divan under the windows, but that would not do for her comfort and was too far away for a cozy talk.
“We would thank you for accepting our request that you attend us on this trip to France,” the Queen started. “You are not required by position, only by your own acceptance.”
“I am always your loyal servant Your Majesty.”
Dropping her shuttle after the end of a sequence, the Queen boldly reached out and touched Phileas’ hand and then slipped her fingers under the sleeve. It was there, she discovered with pleasure. She moved the chain down so she could see it peaking out from under his sleeve. It was still as shinny and beautiful as it had been when she had first given it to him so many years ago. “You honor me.”
“The honor is mine Your Majesty,” Phileas acknowledged quietly. The valet’s attention to detail may get him a bonus today, Phileas thought with silent thanks, remembering what her gift had looked like before it had been polished. He could not be grateful enough that his queen had not seen her present as it had been a week ago.
“At the time this was all we were allowed to offer you,” she said straightening to look into his face again. “We could make this official now. There is no need for secret honors. Accept your place in our service again and it will be done.”
“I… thank you your Majesty, truly… but no. I seek no accolades and I wish no official position. Being in your service as it is presently, at your request as a private citizen is all I wish.”
For a moment all formality was indeed dropped. Queen Victoria looked back on the years and perceived an injustice she was determined to see righted. This man deserved better than was given him and she was set on seeing him properly rewarded. “It is not as we wish however,” the Queen said as she stood. “Our most loyal subjects should not have their acts of fidelity shrouded in secrecy! When you saved my life, I should have been allowed to knight you on the spot. But mother still held the power to decide how things were done back then. She does not now and neither is your father about to tell me you are too young for the honor. Nor, to my grief, is my Albert who also counseled secrecy. Are we… Am I not Queen of England? Do I not have some say in these matters?” She asked indignantly.
At this unexpected show of his monarchs anger, Phileas Fogg became equally upset, but for different reasons. Sitting before his monarch, he was both humbled to his knees at her regard for him and filled with terror at what she might have in mind to honor him with. “What might she do to put him under obligations he had thus far studiously avoided?” In disowning his father after Erasmus’ death, he had thrown aside all position and duties. Now with one command she might undo all that, and he was not anywhere near ready to even consider that.
“Your Majesty… Please! I beg you only to grant me one thing,” he said thinking quickly. “One thing that is in you power to give.”
“And what is this?” She asked.
“Time,” Phileas pleaded. “Time to heal. Time to rest. You surely can understand the need to heal after losses.” For a moment Fogg was certain she would drive over that request, but then she backed up a step instead and went silent.
“Phielas Fogg had indeed suffered a number of losses of late,” Queen Victoria allowed. “He had lost his brother before his very eyes as the report had read. He had given up his position, a loss of a career that had been his for twenty years. Then he had lost his father with angry words; words not taken back in time. Father and son had left that chasm standing by Sir Boniface’s untimely death. Well, perhaps this was not the time,” she then thought on reflection.
“We understand,” she said quietly, putting a wealth of meaning into the words. “We will grant you time, but not unlimited time Phileas Fogg. Rest and heal, but come back to us. We will not… I will not do without you. Men of your loyalty and fidelity of service are too precious to us to spare.”
“You do me great honor Your Majesty. Thank you.” Phileas then came off his seat to kneel and bowed over the royal hand deeply. He had won his boon.
“Rise Sir Phileas Fogg, and resume your momentary favor to us,” the Queen then said with a smile. “We will not require more of you for now. But in time . . . when you are ready . . .”
With that, Queen Victoria left the Aurora, leaving Phileas drained but grateful. In the quiet of the now empty parlor, he raised his arm and looked at the token of a very young queen’s gratitude again. On the top of the engraving plate was the date he had saved her life. On the back were two lines nearly faded away.
By Royal Declaration
Sir Phileas Plato Fogg
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