Declan was no longer jumping or acting as if he was in shock of her ability to touch him. While he was still fighting it hard, for his own fears of what Tinkerbell had done to him, the one thing he knew for sure was Oriana wasn't using him for something. While Merida's own pushing of him, Winston's hints, and now Draconus trying to get him to let go...he had no way of knowing Excalibur had forgiven him...he was still doing this for her and to ease his own guilt. In some way Winston was trying to show him that Oriana was Excalibur's answer for Declan's forgiveness...implying to the sorcerer that was the fate's answer.
There was a sense of relief that came over him when Oriana didn't think he had ulterior motives...he was deep down still that angry boy she saw taking the blame for what had happened to Eleanor, still trying to find his place and even in that same mind, he had at age of six...the hero's welcome, he was determined to face the world and all its harms...but the road had wandered and led him to Oriana for a reason....and he was going to see it through.
He'd watched her get ready for sleep, amused at her position on the bed, he didn't mind, there was enough room for him to sleep, though he'd need to move her arm slightly. Hopefully she'd not object to him draping it around him again. But he needed to eat...his nerves were on fire...not to the point he was shaking, but just the internal struggle. He knew every mile he was going on these labors was worth his while.
Room service had arrived, and he tipped them generously. Oriana by now was fully out cold, he ate a bit and then changed as well...his sleeveless shirt now exposed the mark of the dragon. He was unaware of that for whatever reason, he didn't care how far he said it a long time ago he could go the distance to redeem himself.
Now an old friend visited him, the famed Sand Man, all children knew him, he helped them fall asleep...he knew Declan would refuse to enter the dream realms...that was tough shit, Declan was going like it or not this time. The Sand Man blew a cloud of sleeping sand into the sorcerer's face, which put Declan out cold, but not before the Sand Man placed Oriana's hand on his arm...the mark specifically...it began to glow, at which point the Sand Man draped her arm over Declan again.
His duty done the San Man took his leave, Calliope tried to make it as comfortable as she could for Declan...even here Declan was feared. This time it was Taliesin accompanied by the vocals of Euterpe were to help the sorcerer. Taliesin motion for Declan to step forward into the light...Declan did, he was in his cloth pants, bare feet, and just plain short sleeved shirt, his mark visible under one of the sleeves. They elected him to look this way in sense of keeping him calm. To further help matters, he was given a guide as it kicked off, the one person who didn't fear him...Thumbelina.
The pixie took the sorcerer by the hand as the music began and Euterpe began...
"We know visions aren't your thing sorcerer...but tonight we present this great work."
"You know about Go the Distance and how you avoid it, well Declan Emrys...you cannot avoid this one!"
Declan offers no resistance, Thumbelina’s hand on his shoulder steadies him as the music begins and Thumbelina leads him through a beautiful archway that has lovely grape vines on it...the flames begin...as Declan hears Eurerpe...
The world was on fire and no one could save me but you:
The Halloween ball, their dance, he couldn't express it then, but it was his favourite part of the night. He can see Oriana's expression better than he could the night it happened, he sees the expression of conflict, she's nervous and he thinks she's pleased. The half-smile and nervous laugh is replaced with the look Oriana has seen from him now a thousand times, the stone face with piercing eyes.
There was a flicker, a younger Oriana was bent in front of Gothel with only one hand rubbing a sore ankle. Head bowed and face tired.
Declan knows that pain...Fergus, it's like looking on the other side of a mirror for him, the hurt doesn't go away for having a parent like that, his hands tense and shake. How can someone yell at a girl for not getting the dance correctly?
Thumbelina touches his forehead...they're moved in a flash of flames.
It's strange what desire will make foolish people do:
They’re at the Enchanted Park. Oriana is laying on a bench, with minimal belongings surrounding her and listening intently to Lancelot who ‘charms’ her and insists he’s only trying to help. She’s up. She’s walking behind him but not noticing the smirk on his face. So naïve, so young. Did she have to accepts help from the first good-looking man to approach her?
The shocked look Oriana has seen from him and the tenseness as he again sees himself in her sleeping rough in the Enchanted Park...during his own training he's had to endure this hardship time and time again...but he always had a home of sorts to go to. His hand is shaking as he wants to reach out and touch her...he cannot he's afraid she'll get hurt.
He cannot hear Lancelot, but he recognizes him, their paths only crossed once, when Declan was 12, still very much under his uncle Merlin's protection. Declan's gut is wrenched as if it was a horror movie...he wants to tell Oriana not to go with Lancelot but can't.
Thumbelina takes his shaking hand in a comforting manner and leads him through another ring of fire.
I never dreamed that I'd meet somebody like you:
For the first time in what seems ages, Declan smiles as if it wasn't an act it's a real smile and laugh, it was a comical night, one no one has seen from him in ages. He feels his heart grow three sizes after he sees what he didn't when this happened, Oriana more cheered and happier after she walks off, her night at Mushu’s hadn’t been a complete failure.
By now he's understanding this must be what Oriana saw for him...what she meant...still Thumbelina urges him to keep going down the road leading to Oriana. This time it's through darkness, with Declan being the light...
And I never dreamed that I'd lose somebody like you:
Once again, the feeling for Oriana is there, he's seeing his own losses and rejections in her, Rapunzel...how could she do that? How could Oriana be left behind? He's glad Gothel is hauled off, when he visited one of her summer parties when he was younger, he felt there was something off about that woman. He can't hear what Oriana is saying...but it must be something forgiving. She's alone...as Declan goes to place a hand on her for comfort Oriana turns to stone, with Thumbelina guiding him again, this time Declan feels the flames again and walks through a wall of them to see...
No, I don't wanna fall in love:
The wall of flames dies down to show Oriana surviving on basically water, Rapunzel is getting the food rations in the tower. Still Oriana is seen trying for Rapunzel’s birthday. A chameleon is sneakily placed on the balcony wall by the redhead. A friend for the sister who doesn’t know she exists.
He feels again for Oriana, relating this to Hamish, Hubert, and Harris getting the better treatment by his own father. He sees what he has always seen with Oriana, her heart.
He didn't like Gothel as a kid...now he wanted her dead, this was so against everything he knew. His hands now have been so tensed in fists, they bleed.
Thumbelina again offers comfort...this time Declan walks through a looking glass...the road is leading him to her...
No, I don't wanna fall in love:
Declan tries to turn away...he doesn't want to see Oriana in that state of working the VIP section at the Tea Party, not because he doesn't find her attractive or anything it's just his upbringing. Thumbelina gets his attention back on what he's seeing. He sees again that desire to help and heal, trying to stop the younger girls from degrading themselves at Alice's sick requests, clients, and plans. The same frustration he sees as she storms out of the Tea Party...it's himself determined to face the world's harms...and he begins to realize how similar the fates have dealt them cards.
He finds himself going after her, hands still bleeding, as he did the night at Mushu's.
Thumbelina getting the reactions she wants, is in tow as rain begins to fall...
With you:
Declan's hug to get a reaction out of Nottingham...he sees the look on Oriana's face...she didn't have Merlin to offer the comfort, nor Merida, or Eleanor...the disappointment isn't lost on him when he lets go of her.
His bloody hand reaches out to himself as if to say, 'hold her hand, take her arm, something you moron!'
Thumbelina pushes Declan back with a blast of energy to...
What a wicked game to play:
Flaming mirrors surrounding him, Thumbelina has him sitting in the middle of them, the symbol of the Phoenix is on the ground where Declan sits.
It goes fast, but he can see Oriana in her lack of control with her magical talents, things are blown up, destroyed, and burned to a crisp. He feels for her, he lacked control too when he was a kid. But what causes Declan's blood to boil is how Gothel reacts, the reprimands the same as he got from Fergus...monster isn't lost on him...as Fergus called him a demon. He can see Oriana's control getting worse with the negativity. He sees Gothel and blasts her image with his own powers...anger sheer anger...the dragon in him is calmed when the Phoenix illuminates below him, the shards of glass, change by Thumbelina...who is wide eyed at Declan's reaction.
To make me feel this way:
The shards turn into stars...Declan is on his knees now in that same 'forgive me' state Oriana saw him at with Excalibur...
He slowly pulls himself up, leaning on the wall of the Tea Party, he can see Oriana befriending Natalya, but it seems it's a one-way friendship...the only common ground is their dislike of the Mad Hatter...the irritating bastard.
The frustration is there again...Oriana cannot maintain or gain relationships, through his bloody hands Declan reaches for her as if to say, you never have to be alone again...he can't touch her...she vanishes.
Merida's voice can be heard, he whips around to see Oriana and Merida building their relationship, he looks on as if to say 'I knew you could do it'
Thumbelina creates a rippling pool of water for Declan to step through, which he does...his wall is coming down...he's seeing they aren't so different.
What a wicked thing to do
Oriana is six and sitting in the basement. A loud party is going on upstairs but Gothel shoves some food through the door and instructs her not to be seen. Declan hears a large bolt being shut from the outside. Oriana is locked in. No doubt, she will ruin Gothels ‘single and available’ image if seen. No one knows she exists. Oriana looks at the basement…and this is her bedroom. Sparse with some shelves, old books and minimal furniture.
A basement in gods only knew where, he feels as if he's back in Transylvania...alone and feared, with no way to contact Merlin. The spartan room looks more like a prison than a... child’s bedroom?! Declan's eyes begin to glow red as he instinctively goes to trace his mark with his bloody hands, he had it bad at six...but this was inconceivable to him how dare Gothel do this...party or not, loud locking sound and food being sent in or not there was no call for this shit! Thumbelina’s eyes go wide...this isn't what she expected, she's panicked that he's going to ruin the whole thing...until he sees a six year old Oriana...he can't bring himself to do it now...
Thumbelina quickly changes the vision.... he saw it when it happened, but didn't see it as he should have, with his wall down...Oriana was excited to have her own room. Now he knew why...he resolved to make his room her room and as comfortable as he could...that included her place at the Arcana Cabana.
A whirlwind took the sorcerer to the next part...Thumbelina breathe a sigh of relief at the averted disaster...
To let me dream of you:
Walking behind Oriana and was that Mr. Gold? The guy he bought several relics off?! Declan is following in a daze, ignoring his bleeding hands...now the scars have opened, and he bleeds more. He's feeling Oriana's pain and disappointment when Mr. Gold turns into Rumpelstiltskin, her quest to find her father hasn't ended the way she would have liked. Though at least she was out of Gothel's reach...small consolation.
Taking one last look at Mr. Gold...he turns and follows Oriana...with Thumbelina in tow. The path fades to...
What a wicked thing to say:
The part of the conversation Declan interrupted at the Halloween ball, and the smart ass comment Lancelot threw at him...which he batted away as asinine. Declan would protect her or die trying...
He sees his reassuring her after the Ripper, her fear of being a monster, she wasn't. Even if the world thought that of her, he'd not allow her to be seen that way.
Declan bows his head here...and mumbles "I will face it's harms..."
Clouds of fog begin to gather...Thumbelina this time is the light...
You never felt this way:
A crying baby, a clueless arrogant bird...that thought it was superior to everyone...just letting the infant cry...wow, just to see that Gothel only took the infant Oriana in to stop the crying...asinine...Declan could feel his rage pool up again. His dad was an ass, but it was Gothel who was the monster...if he crossed paths with her...she was dead woman.
Thumbelina before Declan can explode, encases him in ice...
What a wicked thing to do:
A warehouse, Declan is seated on crates with Thumbelina in front of him, he sees some exchange going on with several men to include Lancelot...Declan's eyes narrow...and he realizes that they cannot see or hear him...but the anger is there, he wants to blast the lot of them.
He's thrown back by the firestorm Oriana's fear causes, now his scars bleed profusely...he sees Lancelot take her to Gawain...who makes idle threats...funny Gawain was terrified of him and Merlin, it was comical to see him being a tough guy. Sense of pride hits Declan as she stood her ground, that's the girl he knew when given encouragement!
Thumbelina turns the memory like a page in a book to...
To make me dream of you:
He knows this...too well, it had just happened. Something about her touch...it calmed his pain and anguish.... he feels as if all he's gone through trying to find where he belonged...the hero's welcome waiting in... her arms?!
He's failed to notice his scars have stopped bleeding, but not his hands.
A bright light changes the scene...
This hasn't come to pass...yet...!!!
Declan has now thrown off one of his trench coats that is protective, and given Oriana the sword Excalibur and a kiss assuring her he'll survive this...as he's now been known to do he's protecting Oriana from Lancelot...for the final time...while Declan is no match for Lancelot's sword skills, the arrogant bastard failed to remember Declan's mark, and the fool had done what the sorcerer wanted...cut him. He's now using blood magic and unleashing his divine/dragon side. Tinkerbell to cause havoc goes to stab Declan again as she had with Mordred, but the result fails epically.
Oriana...her own blood magic...similar to his has awoken the Phoenix as he's awoken the Dragon. Oriana's hair now is like fires of Hades, and Tinkerbell has no clue what she has provoked. Mjondilir meets Tinkerbell's skull, while Excalibur encased in flames runs Tinkerbell through...Oriana twists Excalibur, which causes Tinkerbell to explode in a fiery mess. Fire meets Fate.
He doesn't see what he does to Lancelot...he's whisked by Thumbelina to...
No, I don't wanna fall in love:
That damn nosy arrogant bird...Declan is standing in the river, Thumbelina on his shoulder, he sees that damn bird locate Oriana and have Gothel drag her back...his hands bleed worse this. Worth keeping for what?
A flicker in time, Oriana is half-heartedly stopping Winston from tearing newspapers.
Winston always seemed to know something the rest of them didn't, he tried to laugh at that, he really wanted to her to stay now too...he catches her amused look too...
Declan and Thumbelina walk through the Arcana Cabana kitchen...to...
No, I don't wanna fall in love:
Gothel is a dead woman if Declan crosses her path. Sure, his education came from his uncle...the cracks are wider in Declan's wall now, close to crumbling, he's standing behind her trying to be the hero he's wanted to be since childhood...again he attempts to put a hand on her to offer hope...that vision goes up in flames while Oriana is reading.
He sees her confusion when he spoke Icelandic...nothing for her to be embarrassed about...she'll learn.
Thumbelina opens a door to Moby Dick's...it leads him down a dark path with the light of...
No, I don't wanna fall in love:
Oriana again. She won't accept defeat...he's impressed that she was able to sneak into the library after hours and teach herself the computer, he can see himself in the screen's reflection...he's pale now...and his own defenses are almost obliterated. He can see the list is her trying to find her father...maybe he can help?
Thumbelina blows dust in his face.
No, I don't wanna fall in love:
When his vision clears...his anger flairs to the point of using his mark...how dare Lancelot...that was bad form using chloroform and carrying her off...if what he thinks actually happened then there was going to be a mass murder...that would make the Ripper look tame. Tears...at her not knowing what had been done...though not normal tears...they were bloody...
He sees himself taking care of her as he did when she came over after the Ripper, it was the first time she saw him with the wall fully down.
Success! Thumbelina broke Declan's wall! The bloody tears say it all!
Declan's not had these tears since Excalibur. Thumbelina feeling for the sorcerer, takes him to something else, they're walking on water...
With you:
Declan has searched the world, faced it's harms, and now he's found his hero's welcome...waiting in Oriana's arms...he sees viewing what Calliope had shown Oriana...she's looking through the silver curtain, he doesn't know if she can see him or not but he stands behind her in the bloody tears and Thumbelina allows him to hug this vision of Oriana as he had done in front of Nottingham...though this time it's not an act, he keeps hearing "let it go, let it go" from Excalibur...but through the bloody tears...he sees something that nearly breaks his brain...there they are together, he's found his hero's welcome waiting in Oriana's arms...but there's a girl...her mother's curly hair...it's a blondish red...he cannot see her face...but the name Tigerlily is heard...he's gone the distance...she's fallen in love with him, though she didn't want to.
The music fades off and Thumbelina offers the last comfort by touching his bloody tears...
Declan always slept like a rock...he slowly woke up at this one, it was 0730...Oriana was still draped around him...though he wasn't crying the bloody tears, his hands were fine...but his wall was down...his fear wasn't...he wanted to embrace Oriana more...but he could hear the same thing till I find my hero's welcome waiting...in your arms going through his head...same with Oriana saying I don't want to fall in love with you he was conflicted, until he just allowed himself to move closer...he was hoping she'd embrace him further.