The Past
Shrek nervous about what his father was going to tell him ran to the park. Shrek never ran anywhere and the fact that he did so this time attested to all that nervous engery pent up inside.
Shrek wished his father had picked not such an open spot. There were elements in this town that wanted to eradicate ogres like him. He looked around suspiciously.
Shrek: Dad, are you sure we are alone?
Barthus: Stop being paranoid you are fine.
Shrek: Dad, are you sure we are alone?
Barthus: Stop being paranoid you are fine.
Barthus Hi Shrek, Thanks for coming. I knew I could rely on you, you are a good son.
Shrek wary: Ok dad, stop the schmoozing and get on with the news I know I am not going to like.
Shrek wary: Ok dad, stop the schmoozing and get on with the news I know I am not going to like.
Barthus: feigning hurt: Why Shrek, what makes you think I have news you aren’t going to like?
Shrek: First off you didn’t come to the house, ergo you didn’t want Fiona to overhear what you have to tell me. Then you wouldn’t talk over the phone, and now you are blowing smoke up my butt with your fake platitudes.
Shrek: First off you didn’t come to the house, ergo you didn’t want Fiona to overhear what you have to tell me. Then you wouldn’t talk over the phone, and now you are blowing smoke up my butt with your fake platitudes.
Barthus:: Aww Shrek, I do believe you have misjudged me. I do think you are a good son.
Shrek impatient: DAD!
Barthus: Ok, Ok. When I asked you to take Fiona in and to marry her, I knew it was asking a lot, and being a good son you agreed.
Shrek rolling his eyes and thinking, if he says that one more time I will spew a great big ogre goober right at his mouth.
Shrek impatient: DAD!
Barthus: Ok, Ok. When I asked you to take Fiona in and to marry her, I knew it was asking a lot, and being a good son you agreed.
Shrek rolling his eyes and thinking, if he says that one more time I will spew a great big ogre goober right at his mouth.
Shrek: Well that was before I laid eyes on her. Dad she is not my type and I have decided that we just aren’t compatible. Fiona can stay as long as she likes in my house until you can make other arrangements, but this marriage is not going to happen.
Barthus: Look Shrek, it isn’t as simple as what you think. I have been putting off telling you this for as long as possible, but now since Fiona will be 18 in a little under a year and a half, I think you need to know why I agreed to betroth Fiona to you.
Barthus: Look Shrek, it isn’t as simple as what you think. I have been putting off telling you this for as long as possible, but now since Fiona will be 18 in a little under a year and a half, I think you need to know why I agreed to betroth Fiona to you.
Shrek exclaiming: I knew it! I knew there was a catch! You old scheming goat of an ogre. Forget it dad, I won’t give in to another of your hair brained schemes. I won’t marry her. I won’t.
Barthus ignoring Shrek’s outburst: I know you don’t know this, but she is the granddaughter of a queen.
Shrek ranting: I don’t care if she is the granddaughter of a queen. I don’t want to…..
Barthus knowing how Shrek could be, unperturbed waited for the news to sink in.
Shrek pausing: Wait a minute. Did you say the granddaughter of a queen?
Barthus ignoring Shrek’s outburst: I know you don’t know this, but she is the granddaughter of a queen.
Shrek ranting: I don’t care if she is the granddaughter of a queen. I don’t want to…..
Barthus knowing how Shrek could be, unperturbed waited for the news to sink in.
Shrek pausing: Wait a minute. Did you say the granddaughter of a queen?
Barthus nodding: She doesn’t know though. I thought maybe the news should be broken to her at a later time.
Shrek scowled: And by me is what you are saying isn’t it?
Barthus ignoring his outburst: Her parents kept that knowledge from her. They never wanted her to know.
Shrek scowled: And by me is what you are saying isn’t it?
Barthus ignoring his outburst: Her parents kept that knowledge from her. They never wanted her to know.
You see, Fiona’s mother Branwen was born to the Queen of Caroalae, a world full of fairies with some humans mixed in. Normally a female fairy ruled as queen, but Fiona’s grandmother, an outsider who moved there with her family while young, decided the evil queen needed to be over thrown and with the help of a few willing fairies became queen. Instead of staging a revolt, the fairies whose race was dying out, and tired of the evil rulers that had preceded her, decided that they would give this human a chance to rule with the promise that she would adopt and raise a fairy to be a good just ruler to succeed after her. The queen agreed, but as the months went by, even though she had adopted a fairy child, still being lonely for her kind decided to arrange a marriage with a neighboring royal's son. She didn’t know what the fairies would say, as that would mean the possibility of having a child and they wouldn’t like that.
In spite of the risks the wedding plans went forward. The news, not unexpectedly, got back to the fairies who were up in arms at the whole thing. To soothe the fairies, the queen promised them that she would have no children of her own. At first she intended on keeping her pledge of having no children, but then her heart started longing for a child of her own.
She knew that if she had one she risked losing the throne, but decided they had no right to deprive her of one. She was the queen after all. The king and queen decided with the help of her loyal lady in waiting Brianna, to risk it. It was agreed if she had any children they would say they were Brianna's kids. The queen knew it was wrong, but she had started to feel a child of her loins would be a better ruler than an adopted child. She believed the fairies trusted her and would not think she ever would betray them by having a child.
The day came rather quickly when the queen was pregnant and she went into seclusion until the baby was born. Unfortunately their best laid plans to have Brianna adopt the child as her own went awry.
An evil fairy slave, who resented the human queen, saw the child being born, and went to the fairies with this news. The fairies wanted to throw the queen out, but the only good prospects for replacing her was the fairy child she had adopted and she was but a wee bairn. Feeling betrayed, they decided the best way to get revenge was to go to the evil witch to cast a spell on the child causing her death.
Shrek spell bound in spite of himself: What happened?
Barthus: Brianna, who knew the risks the queen was taking, watched out for her and having her best interests at heart, found out what the fairies were planning. She knew the welfare of the queen and the child could only be protected by the good witch fairy. So taking courage in hand, knowing she was only a lowly slave and not worthy to ask the fairy witch for help, she went to see her. After much pleading for her help, the fairy witch agreed, but with a condition.
She gave Brianna a potion to give to the queen to save the life of her her natural child Branwen, because it would protect her from the curse of the evil witch. This potion would magically become potent with a word from the fairy witch, but that word would not be said until a decree was signed immediately making the adopted fairy child future queen. What she purposely didn't say was what the side effects of the potion would be. The queen afraid her child would die signed the decree. After the queen gave Branwen the potion the witch fairy appeared and told the queen the the side effects of it. She was told that all children born to Branwen would be born ugly ogres. The fairy witch wanting to ensure none of the queen’s children ever lay claim to the throne again, forced the queen to feed the potion to her son as well. The fairy witch knew cursing the queen’s grandchildren to a life of hideousness would ensure that they never could rule Caroalae. She then put a spell on the queen to close up her womb. The fairy witch felt she was being very fair, because she needed to be punished for her deception.
The queen was allowed to continue to raise Branwen, but was threatened that the child would die if the queen tried anything else.
The queen accepting their desires raised her son and daughter along with the fairy child. Branwen grew up knowing that she wasn’t going to be ruling after her mother, but always wondered why. One day Branwen asked her mother about this. The queen made up some lie to get out of telling her the truth, but the fairy heir hearing the question asked by Branwen, took her half-sister aside later and told her the truth out of jealousy. She knew the queen loved Branwen best so she gleefully told her the whole story. Branwen devastated at her mother’s deception to the fairies, and not sure her sister told the truth, went back to her mother and demanded to know if it was. Realizing she would lose her daughter if she did not confirm it, she conceded it was. What the fairy heir didn’t know though was the curse on Branwen and reluctantly the queen felt her daughter needed to know that as well. Branwen was of course devastated, and refused to believe it. Feeling wronged by her mother she left as soon as she was old enough wanting nothing more to do with her or Caroalae. She moved far away ensuring her mother would never find her.
The queen accepting their desires raised her son and daughter along with the fairy child. Branwen grew up knowing that she wasn’t going to be ruling after her mother, but always wondered why. One day Branwen asked her mother about this. The queen made up some lie to get out of telling her the truth, but the fairy heir hearing the question asked by Branwen, took her half-sister aside later and told her the truth out of jealousy. She knew the queen loved Branwen best so she gleefully told her the whole story. Branwen devastated at her mother’s deception to the fairies, and not sure her sister told the truth, went back to her mother and demanded to know if it was. Realizing she would lose her daughter if she did not confirm it, she conceded it was. What the fairy heir didn’t know though was the curse on Branwen and reluctantly the queen felt her daughter needed to know that as well. Branwen was of course devastated, and refused to believe it. Feeling wronged by her mother she left as soon as she was old enough wanting nothing more to do with her or Caroalae. She moved far away ensuring her mother would never find her.
Shrek: So that is why Fiona is the way she is?
Shayne: Yes, Branwen met Fiona’s father without telling him her past. Branwen thought that maybe somehow the curse would be lifted, and in spite of the risk wanted a child. She after many years of refusing her husband's pleas decided to risk having one. After she found out she was pregnant she told her husband the truth in case the curse was not lifted. In spite of that knowledge, when little Fiona was born, he loved her realizing that none of this was her fault. He had been upset at Branwen for not telling him the truth and it took a while for him to forgive her. They decided not only to not have any more children to have to be subject to the tortures Fiona was put to by others, but they also agreed never to tell her the truth. Her parents always told her she had a deformity that was genetic to keep her ignorant. They didn’t want Fiona to know about her mother’s past as they didn’t want Fiona to have anything to do with her grandmother.
Shrek: What happened to the queen?
Barthus: Well when the fairy came of age, she was forced to step down, and because she had done good by the fairies raising the fairy daughter to be good, they offered to let the queen stay. She refused and left never to be seen or heard from again.
Shayne: Yes, Branwen met Fiona’s father without telling him her past. Branwen thought that maybe somehow the curse would be lifted, and in spite of the risk wanted a child. She after many years of refusing her husband's pleas decided to risk having one. After she found out she was pregnant she told her husband the truth in case the curse was not lifted. In spite of that knowledge, when little Fiona was born, he loved her realizing that none of this was her fault. He had been upset at Branwen for not telling him the truth and it took a while for him to forgive her. They decided not only to not have any more children to have to be subject to the tortures Fiona was put to by others, but they also agreed never to tell her the truth. Her parents always told her she had a deformity that was genetic to keep her ignorant. They didn’t want Fiona to know about her mother’s past as they didn’t want Fiona to have anything to do with her grandmother.
Shrek: What happened to the queen?
Barthus: Well when the fairy came of age, she was forced to step down, and because she had done good by the fairies raising the fairy daughter to be good, they offered to let the queen stay. She refused and left never to be seen or heard from again.
Shrek: Well this was a nice story telling time, but I assume this has something to do with me.
Barthus:: Fiona’s father and I were kind of sometime buddies, and he knew that I had money. We weren’t close by any means, but he being desperate, and having nowhere to turn, came to me begging for a loan. Not knowing if I could trust him I said no. Then he made an offer that intrigued me. He proposed betrothing his daughter to you in exchange for the money, thinking a family tie would make him more trustworthy to me. Knowing his daughter was an ogre, having met her before, I felt it would be something to consider. I told him before giving him my decision that I would need to know how two human beings, could give birth to an ogre. He tried the genetic deformity bit with me, but I knew he was lying, as I being an ogre myself knew she was. I told him it is apparent you don’t trust me, and so there is no reason for me to do business with you. I started to walk away. Being at the end of his rope, he spilled the whole story, and hoped Fiona would never have to know. I couldn’t promise him that, but he was still willing. Finding out Fiona was descended from royalty was a godsend and that is why I agreed to the betrothal.
Shrek: I still don’t understand.
Barthus: Son, I let you believe we were the only two ogre’s left in the world, but we come from a whole world of ogres. It is called Ogrid. Right now your great uncle is ruler of Ogrid and is very evil. I took you away when you were younger, as your great uncle conspired to have you killed. You were a threat to his maintaining the throne. I never dreamed or had hope of you ever taking your place as ruler, because it is not enough in Ogrid to be of blood, but you need to marry royalty as well. Your uncle did marry a rather close relative in order to become King, but didn’t have children. Now your uncle is growing old and feeble, and the Ogridites are looking for another king. You Shrek, thanks to me are going to be that king. Once you marry Fiona, herself being an Ogre and of royal birth, your claim to the throne will not be contested. I informed the Ogridites of your existence and your betrothal. After being assured of your kindness, the Ogridites agreed wholeheartedly with letting you be the next king.
Barthus:: Fiona’s father and I were kind of sometime buddies, and he knew that I had money. We weren’t close by any means, but he being desperate, and having nowhere to turn, came to me begging for a loan. Not knowing if I could trust him I said no. Then he made an offer that intrigued me. He proposed betrothing his daughter to you in exchange for the money, thinking a family tie would make him more trustworthy to me. Knowing his daughter was an ogre, having met her before, I felt it would be something to consider. I told him before giving him my decision that I would need to know how two human beings, could give birth to an ogre. He tried the genetic deformity bit with me, but I knew he was lying, as I being an ogre myself knew she was. I told him it is apparent you don’t trust me, and so there is no reason for me to do business with you. I started to walk away. Being at the end of his rope, he spilled the whole story, and hoped Fiona would never have to know. I couldn’t promise him that, but he was still willing. Finding out Fiona was descended from royalty was a godsend and that is why I agreed to the betrothal.
Shrek: I still don’t understand.
Barthus: Son, I let you believe we were the only two ogre’s left in the world, but we come from a whole world of ogres. It is called Ogrid. Right now your great uncle is ruler of Ogrid and is very evil. I took you away when you were younger, as your great uncle conspired to have you killed. You were a threat to his maintaining the throne. I never dreamed or had hope of you ever taking your place as ruler, because it is not enough in Ogrid to be of blood, but you need to marry royalty as well. Your uncle did marry a rather close relative in order to become King, but didn’t have children. Now your uncle is growing old and feeble, and the Ogridites are looking for another king. You Shrek, thanks to me are going to be that king. Once you marry Fiona, herself being an Ogre and of royal birth, your claim to the throne will not be contested. I informed the Ogridites of your existence and your betrothal. After being assured of your kindness, the Ogridites agreed wholeheartedly with letting you be the next king.
Shrek appalled: Dad, you never told me this and now in less than two years I have to marry a woman I don’t love, and rule a kingdom I didn’t even know about?
Barthus: Shrek look, I know I should have been honest with you, but….
Shrek: Forget it dad. When you wanted me to marry Fiona, I agreed, because you have been a great dad, and I figured since there was no one else and someday I would have to marry anyways, no harm, no foul. One woman was as good as another, not realizing she was hideous. If I had known this scheme of yours, I never would have. Even with being unhappy at her looks, I decided that somehow I could maybe learn to look past that. Now this?
They don’t know me, how do I know that they won’t change their minds?
Barthus: The plans were set in motion when Fiona moved in with you. It is done, the contract is signed making you the next heir.
Shrek speechless: Ho…. No dad, absolutely not. It must be undone.
Barthus: I am sorry son, it can’t be undone. If the contract is broken, me as the promiser, will be put to death, all my assets including the house you are living in will be sold, and they will imprison you, and will try you for treason which will mean your death.
Barthus: Shrek look, I know I should have been honest with you, but….
Shrek: Forget it dad. When you wanted me to marry Fiona, I agreed, because you have been a great dad, and I figured since there was no one else and someday I would have to marry anyways, no harm, no foul. One woman was as good as another, not realizing she was hideous. If I had known this scheme of yours, I never would have. Even with being unhappy at her looks, I decided that somehow I could maybe learn to look past that. Now this?
They don’t know me, how do I know that they won’t change their minds?
Barthus: The plans were set in motion when Fiona moved in with you. It is done, the contract is signed making you the next heir.
Shrek speechless: Ho…. No dad, absolutely not. It must be undone.
Barthus: I am sorry son, it can’t be undone. If the contract is broken, me as the promiser, will be put to death, all my assets including the house you are living in will be sold, and they will imprison you, and will try you for treason which will mean your death.
Shrek: What will happen to Fiona?
Barthus: Her fate will be decided by the next king whoever he may be. If he is kind, he could choose if he desires to marry her and make her his consort, which is rarely done, as they feel any outsider could be a threat to their throne. He could make her one of his numerous concubines forced to live out her life in cloistered luxury, if she doesn’t commit suicide from the loneliness like many others have before her, or he could pass her around to any man he wishes to reward, and then have her enslaved in a brothel until she is too old to be wanted anymore. She will be let loose at that time to spend the rest of her days in degradation and poverty. These are the best of the choices the king will have. If he is not inclined to show mercy, he can do whatever he wishes to her making her long to die, but it would be denied. Shrek, if you don’t take the throne, another evil king could destroy our home world. As it is your great uncle has almost r.a.p.e.d. the people and our world of all its resources for his gain. You could turn Ogrid back into the beautiful grand world it used to be. Another evil ruler and Ogrid could cease to exist. Our lives and the lives of the Ogridites are in your hands Shrek.
Shrek stunned trying to absorb it all couldn’t find the words to express his rage and feelings of betrayal. He couldn’t believe his father had done this to him. He couldn’t, just couldn’t be the ruler of Ogrid. All he ever wanted was to be left alone to live his life in peace. He had never felt so trapped. It wasn’t bad enough he got saddled with ugly Fiona as his future wife, he now had a future kingship thrust on him as well. He needed time to think.
Barthus: Well Shrek, I know this is a shock to you, but you need to decide. This concerns Fiona as well and she needs to be told.
Barthus: Her fate will be decided by the next king whoever he may be. If he is kind, he could choose if he desires to marry her and make her his consort, which is rarely done, as they feel any outsider could be a threat to their throne. He could make her one of his numerous concubines forced to live out her life in cloistered luxury, if she doesn’t commit suicide from the loneliness like many others have before her, or he could pass her around to any man he wishes to reward, and then have her enslaved in a brothel until she is too old to be wanted anymore. She will be let loose at that time to spend the rest of her days in degradation and poverty. These are the best of the choices the king will have. If he is not inclined to show mercy, he can do whatever he wishes to her making her long to die, but it would be denied. Shrek, if you don’t take the throne, another evil king could destroy our home world. As it is your great uncle has almost r.a.p.e.d. the people and our world of all its resources for his gain. You could turn Ogrid back into the beautiful grand world it used to be. Another evil ruler and Ogrid could cease to exist. Our lives and the lives of the Ogridites are in your hands Shrek.
Shrek stunned trying to absorb it all couldn’t find the words to express his rage and feelings of betrayal. He couldn’t believe his father had done this to him. He couldn’t, just couldn’t be the ruler of Ogrid. All he ever wanted was to be left alone to live his life in peace. He had never felt so trapped. It wasn’t bad enough he got saddled with ugly Fiona as his future wife, he now had a future kingship thrust on him as well. He needed time to think.
Barthus: Well Shrek, I know this is a shock to you, but you need to decide. This concerns Fiona as well and she needs to be told.
Shrek angrily: Leave me alone dad! I can’t do it! I just want to be left alone!
Barthus: I am sorry son. I can’t do that. I need to know what your answer will be. Yay or nay?
Barthus: I am sorry son. I can’t do that. I need to know what your answer will be. Yay or nay?
Shrek angrier than he had ever been, stomped off roaring and foaming at the mouth in his rage.
Barthus had never seen him so angry, and knew that Shrek felt trapped realizing there was only one choice to be made and was raging against being forced into that choice. Shrek wasn’t ready to see that yet though. Shayne gulped nervously, he just hoped that Shrek would see it soon, because time was running out quickly for them all.
Barthus had never seen him so angry, and knew that Shrek felt trapped realizing there was only one choice to be made and was raging against being forced into that choice. Shrek wasn’t ready to see that yet though. Shayne gulped nervously, he just hoped that Shrek would see it soon, because time was running out quickly for them all.