Everyone turned and faced the troll.

“You’re Madame Potts?” Queen Henrietta exclaimed, and then she literally clapped with joy. “Really?”

Julian considered the revelation. It would certainly explain how Gerda had caught an arrow to the face before it hit her in the face, and how she’d ‘discovered’ the poison in his tea. He kept his hand on her shoulder. Just in case.

The bridge troll tried to wave off the accusation. “Who, me?”

“Yes, you!” Guild Mistress Alice shot back. “Madame Potts called me out in a Cast after the attacks in Peldeep. I thought that meant that she, you, were in the Emerald Palace, but I also destroyed a bridge during my escape–”

“After you are done with her, it’s my turn.” Their Royal Highness whispered softly to Julian’s mother, and Calisto nodded her agreement.

“--but then some random bridge troll finds Julia before everyone else? And frees her?” Alice ranted. “Not only that, but you also found all of my traps like you already knew where they were!”

“You saved Julia?” Julian asked.

Sir Tully exclaimed at the same time, “She won the game? No fair if Madame Potts was competing!”

“Ah. Well…” Gerda shot Julian a look he couldn’t read before addressing the room, “That is pretty incriminating evidence… but so what?”

Gerda shrugged, and Julian fought a grin when she gave the celestial a smug smile he knew all too well.

“Even if it were true,” the troll looked down on Alice, “Madame Potts has saved every person in this hall, except you.”

“Or me.” Julian added.

Gerda drew breath to correct him… but then she narrowed her eyes at his innocent look, noticing the trap. Gerda had saved him from poison yesterday, not Madame Potts.

“As you say…” Gerda acquiesced, and then resumed her speech. “So whether I’m the elusive, beautiful, charming and brilliant Madame Potts, or just some random bridge troll, it doesn’t matter, does it? I still beat you.”

“You cheated!” Alice yelled. “You’ve ruined everything, and I’m left to clean up the mess you made of Fate! None of this was supposed to happen! Their Royal Highness was supposed to die by Molten Ash Vane. The Dark Enchanted Forest should be an undead army by now, and the Heroine of Justice should've teamed up with one of her fated mates to face off against the threat.”

“Nobody cares.” Gerda snapped at the guild master, and Julian covered his mouth to hide a laugh. “So what if things could have gone that way. Fate is not predetermined - Madame Potts proved that. And Henrietta has every right to be with whomever she chooses.”

“The Dark Lord is not one of her fated mates!” Alice argued.

“Don’t listen.” The Dark Lord reached out and covered his wife’s ears, knowing it wouldn’t do much.

“It's alright.” Henrietta reached up with one hand and placed it on his. Keith dropped his arms, wrapping them around his wife, and she looked up at him with a reassuring gaze. “I’m very happy with my choice.”

“You married a demon!” Alice spat. “He’s a monster! With horns!”

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“A demi,” Keith corrected. “I'm not even half demon. And you’re one to talk, celestial.”

“I like your horn.” Henrietta said, then blushed.

“And I’m lucky you do.” Keith said, also blushing.

“See? Everyone’s getting their Happily Ever After.” Gerda smiled, “Besides, Fate’s plan was dreadful - is her storyline even worth fighting for?”

“You dare!” Alice fought Visha’s hold, trying to physically attack the troll but unable to do so with her lowered stats.

“If I have to live in this world, then I have to dare.” said Gerda, her voice darker and resolute.

Julian felt the weight of her words on his chest. He released her shoulder so she could step forward and speak her peace to the angry celestial.

“You lost because you thought it was OK to force people down a path not of their choosing. But people always have a choice. Even when it seems hopeless.” Gerda lifted her manacles and Julian felt self-conscious that he held the key. “Even if you’re trapped. There is always a choice. I could try to run, or fight, or walk out of here with my head held high. That is how the world works. Fate and Luck walk hand in hand, and nothing is certain.”

Alice narrowed her eyes at the bridge troll. “Is that who put you up to this? Luck is the only one who has as much control over the story as my goddess - are you her Champion?”

“Why can’t I be working with Fate herself?” Gerda countered. “Perhaps she’s grown tired of her own plot?”

“Ridiculous!” Alice snarled. “Utterly ridiculous!”

Sir Tully added from the corner, “Is it though?”

“I’ve heard enough.” Duchess Calisto stated. “Visha, you may escort Guild Mistress Alice to the Elkhorn Hall.”

His mother was sending the Guild Master to her personal dungeon; the most heavily enchanted prison in the duchy. Apt.

Calisto snapped her fingers and the world shifted as the arcane level enchantments she’d set up creating a pocket space around the Sanctuary released them.

“I hope you enjoy your Happily Ever After.” The Keeper of Fate told them as she was being taken away. “Because Fate isn’t going to just sit back and watch.”

With that threat, she was gone.

Gerda looked back at Julian. “So where am I being interrogated? And does it come with lunch?”

“No need for that I think, Miss Gerda... or should I say Madame Potts.” Julian pulled out the key to her manacles. But she surprised him.

“Don’t unlock my manacles based on what that psychopathic murderer said!” Gerda chastised him, moving her hands out of the way of the key. “You should unlock these because you know that I’m amazing and discovered the Keeper on my own, and you were wrong to ever doubt me. Then you can unlock them, and apologise.”

Julian couldn’t hide the amusement on his face as he reached out and easily caught the troll's bound hands.

He dragged them back and unlocked them.

“Thank you for saving my sister.” He said, sincerely. “I’m sorry for doubting you.”

“I’m not.” Tully said to Pram from the other side of the hall. “She’s right; we should detain anyone suspicious.”

The selkie elbowed the human in the ribs. Julian offhandedly planned further punishment for Tully when they returned.

Gerda rubbed her wrists, glaring up at Julian. “Who said I actually saved Julia? Or that I'm Madame Potts. I'm just your average overpowered bridge troll.”

She didn't sound convincing and Julian opened his mouth to tease her.

“I have proof.” except his mother cut in, matter of fact.

“You do?” It was Their Royal Highness that reacted the strongest, turning on the Duchess with a frown.

“Not that she’s Madame Potts.” Calisto corrected, “But that she saved Julia.”

At the trolls' raised eyebrows, his mother gave her a gentle, pitying stare, “You honestly thought I didn’t have enchanted golems spying on every part of my castle during the festival?”

“Ah,” Gerda accepted readily, looking sheepish. “Sensible of you.”

“Especially when somebody foretold trouble?” Calisto teased.

Gerda drew breath to reply, but then looked around and everyone who was left and gave up. "I guess I should explain."

“I think,” King Keith stated, “that we should move this elsewhere. Does anyone want a cup of tea?”