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Belle felt like her legs had turned to jelly. This steady sea voyage to Siam had suddenly turned into the kind of nightmare found only in books like Moby Dick. She kept an eye out just in case a giant white whale suddenly reared its head out of the pea-soup green sea and came rushing towards them. She steadied herself upon the deck and looked around. Ever since her Mother had received that letter summoning her to a position as schoolteacher to the King of Siam’s children, she and her younger brother Louis had imagined that the journey to such an exotic place, as opposed to sleepy little England, would be exciting and thrilling, and yet the reality of it was far from that. So far, the seas had been rather rough and the weather little better. She had retired early from her book, unable to concentrate on it with all the rocking going on around her and had come up for a breath of sea air.
“Please let us reach dry land soon,” she muttered, crossing her fingers as she glanced around the boat. There was sea on both sides of her, no rocks or cliffs in the distance, only open green water.
It was a scary feeling.
Then, she heard a shout from her Mother.
“Hang on, Louis!”
Belle whipped her head around to see her brother being pulled aboard the ship by the Captain and his sailors, and her Mother. Heart pounding, Belle ran up to them.
“What happened?” she cried, as Louis was finally pulled aboard, soaking wet but safe. She flung her arms around her brother in relief.
“Moonshee climbed over the side and fell in,” Louis told her, nodding to the monkey sitting on the Captain’s shoulder.
“I should have known it was your fault,” the Captain said to it.
Belle managed a smile. Ever since they had set foot on the ship, Louis had taken a liking to the little monkey, and small wonder, the little curious creature was rather a source of entertainment.
The waves began to crash against the side of the ship then, and everyone struggled to regain their balance as, out of the swirling depths, rose an enormous black creature. It looked something like a dragon, whilst at the same time looking something like a serpent, or some other fiery creature from the gates of Hell.
Anna, Belle, Louis and even Moonshee all gasped as it reared its head and glared in their direction.
“What is it?” Louis cried.
“I don’t know,” Anna whispered, wrapping her arms protectively around both of her children.
The Captain and his sailors stared in alarm as the dragon-beast began to slither through the waves towards them, hissing and snarling. Another sound reached their ears and Belle and Louis looked at their Mother in surprise.
“Mother, what are you doing?” Louis asked.
“I’m whistling!” Anna called back over the sound of the roaring. It sounded so loud to Belle’s ears, like thunder, making her head spin.
“Whistling?” she exclaimed. “Why?”
“That’s what I do when I’m afraid,” Anna replied.
The dragon-beast reared back and then blew a stream of flames at them, which encircled them all without touching as they pressed closer together for protection. Then, Anna began to sing, and inexplicably, like always, Belle began to feel safe. Whenever her Mother sang, to her mind, it always seemed to make things better.
“Whenever I feel afraid,
I hold my head erect
And whistle a happy tune
So no one will suspect
I’m afraid...”
The three of them gasped as the flames somehow turned the coils of rope at their feet into great black snakes. Anna quickly leapt over them and Belle and Louis did the same thing, Moonshee squawking in alarm on Louis’s shoulder. They ran to hide behind some barrels, which the dragon-beast’s fire promptly destroyed with its fire. Anna, however, leapt to her feet and struck a defiant pose even as the beast sent a spiral of lightning crackling around the ship.
“While shivering in my shoes,
I strike a careless pose
And whistle a happy tune
And no one ever knows
I’m afraid...”
Belle tried to calm down and listen to what her Mother was trying to say. She gave Louis’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze.
“The result of this deception
Is very strange to tell
For when I fool the people I fear
I fool myself as well!”
Boldly, Belle and Louis began to whistle themselves, and it actually began to help, even as all the sailors around them were cowering, covering their eyes and hiding wherever they could find room to. The beast looked rather infuriated that they were refusing to be intimidated by it but though it roared, it didn’t attack them.
“I whistle a happy tune
And every single time
The happiness in the tune
Convinces me that I’m
Not afraid!”
Even Moonshee was able to whistle as the four of them grouped together to form a brave little unit, defying the danger that was right in front of them.
“Make believe you’re brave
And the trick will take you far
You may be as brave
As you make believe you are
You may be as brave as you make believe you are!”
As the three of them glared down the fiery snakes, with Moonshee pulling faces at them, they transformed back into ordinary ropes again. Feeling much braver, Belle and Louis began to sing too.
“I whistle a happy tune
And every single time
The happiness in the tune
Convinces me that I’m
Not afraid!”
And then the Captain and the sailors began to join in too.
“Make believe you’re brave
And the trick will take you far
You may be as brave
As you make believe you are
You may be as brave as you make believe you are!”
And then, as quickly as it had come, the great dragon-beast from the sea was gone. The Captain and crew began to cheer as they congratulated themselves on having seen it off, and the Leonowens family hugged one another in relief and delight.
“Mother, that was a brilliant idea!” Belle laughed.
“Whistling is a good idea, isn’t it?” Anna agreed, happily.
“I don’t think I shall ever be afraid again,” Louis declared.
Belle giggled as Moonshee puffed himself up like a heroic warrior on her brother’s shoulder. “But Moby Dick is going right back in the library,” she added, stroking the monkey’s head. “I think I’ll read something a bit more cheerful the next time we decide to go to sea.”
By morning, the stormy weather had passed and the ship had made its way safely to Bangkok harbour. Belle stretched as she walked onto the top deck and then smiled to herself, seeing Louis standing over by the Captain.
“Take a squint, lad,” the Captain said, offering his spyglass to Louis. “Bangkok’s out there. Not you!” he added, as Moonshee tried to look through it too.
Louis giggled and then took a look through the spyglass himself. Belle walked up to him and then spotted a large dragon-shaped ship drifting across the water towards them. Louis gasped and lowered the spyglass.
“Is that the King?” Anna asked, coming up the steps to stand beside them.
“No, that’s his Prime Minister, the Kralahome,” the Captain replied.
Belle didn’t listen to the rest as her attention was grabbed by someone else standing aboard the dragon boat, barking instructions to the guards. Unlike them, his clothing looked more Chinese than Siamese and he wore no helmet, his black hair tied up on top of his head in a traditional Chinese style. Obviously he was some kind of authority figure, but why so far from home? What was his story?
“A thousand welcomes to Siam!” said the Kralahome, bowing as the boat neared them. “I trust the seas were calm?”
“Perfectly, thank you,” Anna replied, coolly, accepting his offer to help her aboard the boat.
“Have you friends in Bangkok?” the Kralahome asked.
“Oh, I know no one,” Anna replied.
“Oh, then should you have any problems, please turn to me,” the Kralahome replied, his gesture accidently knocked his servant Master Little in the face, inadvertently taking out one of his teeth.
“Oh, no!” Master Little groaned.
“Louis, come on!” Belle called, gathering up her belongings. A few of the guards had boarded to collect her Mother’s things and she smiled nervously at their serious countenances.
“Goodbye, Moonshee,” Louis said, sadly, as he untangled the chirping monkey from his shoulders. “I’ll miss you.”
“Well, maybe you should take the useless creature,” the Captain replied, holding him out to Louis. “I really wanted a ship’s cat to chase rats.”
Moonshee pulled a face.
“Can I?” Louis laughed. “Thanks!”
Delighted, Moonshee leapt towards Louis, only to accidently bounce off his hat and hit Master Little in the face, before springing back to Louis.
“You took a tooth from me too?” Master Little exclaimed. “Your time will come, monkey. I know torture.”
Belle giggled as Moonshee cuddled up to her brother and then smiled at the Captain. “Thanks.”
“It’s a pleasure, Miss Belle,” the Captain replied, with a bow. “Goodbye, and good luck.”
“Goodbye,” Belle replied, stepping off the ship and onto the dragon boat.
“Poor lad,” the Captain mused, “he’ll need a friend in that palace.”
Anna smiled as her children approached the Kralahome. “This is my daughter Belle, and my son Louis.”
“Pleased to meet you, Sir,” Belle said, politely.
“Likewise, Miss Belle,” the Kralahome replied, gesturing to the Chinese guard. “Shang! This is Li Shang, Captain of the King’s Guards, and your erstwhile protector on this voyage.”
Shang bowed his head in a respectful gesture. “Madame,” he said, and Anna made a small curtsey.
Belle felt a rush of something, although she couldn’t place what, at the thought of this man protecting her. Nevertheless, he seemed rather aloof and proud, though not intimidating. As he moved away from them, barking orders to the other guards, she put an arm around Louis and he grinned up at her, the pair of them looking ahead towards Bangkok. Compared to grey, bustling England, the whole city looked exotic and colourful, tall spired roofs jutting upwards towards the sky and shining like gold. Even Moonshee looked excited as the boat brought them towards the palace and when they stepped off, they found themselves in front of a sat of enormous doors in green and gold with great elephants carved into them.
They followed the Kralahome and Shang through the magnificent grounds, awed by the grandeur of it all, until they finally crossed the threshold through the palace doors and stepped into the great marble hallway beyond.
“You will be shown to your quarters,” the Kralahome informed them.
Anna frowned. “Oh, I was promised a house of my own, outside the palace.”
The Kralahome laughed as she produced the letter specifying just that. “Kings do not always remember what they promise.”
“Then I will remind the King,” Anna replied. “I shall take nothing less than what I was promised.”
“You will tell the King this?”
“I will tell the King this.”
“It will be an interesting meeting,” the Kralahome muttered to Master Little.
They stepped up to a large veil of sheer curtains which masked the room beyond. They were pulled back and Anna, Belle and Louis caught their first glimpse of the King of Siam. A tall man dressed in red with a pleasant enough face, he clapped his hands to summon someone forwards. Belle noted the large black leopard seated beside him and hoped that it was friendly.
“Burma sends a gift to the King of Siam,” the Kralahome explained as a small bowing man and a young woman approached the King.
Belle frowned. “I don’t see any gift, Sir.”
“Sometimes it’s rugs, once a cuckoo clock, this time her,” the Kralahome explained.
“That girl?” Anna repeated. “But she’s a person, not a rug!”
“A barbaric custom,” the Kralahome agreed. “The King loves it.”
“Tell the King what useful thing can you do,” the Burmese man instructed the girl.
“I can read, your Majesty,” the girl replied, defiantly.
Everyone else in the room looked shocked.
“Oh, my word,” muttered the Kralahome. “In Siam, books are forbidden to servants.”
Belle frowned as she saw the young woman’s face fall whilst her companion babbled to the King that she could arrange flowers. She felt sorry for her and wished she could offer her some kind of comfort, but something told her that it would be best for her to stay where she was, for now.
The Burmese man bowed, and it was at this point that, unfortunately, Moonshee decided to make some mischief, seeing that the man’s hat was filled with fruit. He leapt for it, grabbing most of it and startling the man. The guards ran forwards as Louis exclaimed “Moonshee!” and Moonshee slipped around the room on half a coconut, before accidently launching the fruit at the leopard. Louis ran forwards to grab Moonshee, just as a guard came runnign towards him. With a gasp, Belle ran forwards to grab her brother and their Mother leapt defensively between them and the guard with a cry of “Stop!”
The King clapped his hands as his leopard growled. “Who, who, who?” he demanded.
“I’m so sorry, your Majesty,” Anna apologized as the guard backed off. “They meant no harm.”
“Never hide behind woman’s skirt,” the King said to Louis, who was still standing behind his Mother. “Is not brave. Also, impossible to know when she sit down!”
Belle and Louis both laughed in relief.
“I am Anna Leonowens, your Majesty,” Anna explained, curtseying. “The schoolteacher you sent for. And these are my children, Belle and Louis.” Belle curtseyed and Louis bowed, Moonshee still cowering on his shoulder. “Now, there’s a matter we must discuss.”
“Yes, yes,” the King agreed. “You are to help me modernize Siam. Come, come, come!”
Belle glanced over her shoulder as the King grabbed her Mother’s arm and pulled her out of the room. Shang had gone over to the leopard and was stroking the top of its head. “Alright, Rama,” he murmured.
Belle approached them, cautiously. “Is he the King’s pet?”
“Yes, he’s usually friendly,” Shang answered. “But it doesn’t do to get him cross.”
Belle smiled. “I’m sure Moonshee didn’t mean to do that.”
“Your brother would do well to make sure that it doesn’t happen again,” Shang replied, straightening up.
Belle wondered whether that was a friendly suggestion or a warning.
“I’ll see that he does,” she replied, following her Mother and brother out of the room. The King had led them to his Lab of Science, which included his “Short History of Long Royal Family,” model railway that actually ran on steam, collection of fireworks and even a model hot air balloon, which Moonshee accidently set whizzing around the room towards them until they all ran outside again and the King closed the doors.
“Still working on details,” he explained. “Everything very scientific here, except for you.” He faced Anna. “You do not look like teacher. How old shall you be?”
“A hundred and fifty years, your Majesty,” Anna answered, flippantly.
Belle stifled a giggle at the odd look the King gave her.
“In what year were you birthed?” he asked.
“In 1712, your Majesty,” Anna answered, a joke, Belle and Louis both knew, but the King seemed to be playing a game with her here.
“How many years shall you be married?” he asked.
“Several, your Majesty,” Anna answered.
“How many grandchildren shall you have?” the King fired. “How many, how many?” When Anna looked flustered, he laughed and patted Rama’s head. “Perhaps bad manners to ask so many questions of such old lady.”
Anna laughed herself. “I appreciate the concern, your Majesty,” she smiled, “but now I have a question.”
“I will say when is time for questions,” the King snapped.
“No, your Majesty,” Anna countered, so firmly that everyone else was rendered speechless. “I agree to teach in the palace, but there’s the matter of my house.” She produced the letter. “You promised me a place where I may go in the evenings when my duties are over.”
“What do you wish to do in evening that cannot be done in palace?” the King asked.
“I won’t have soldiers at my door,” Anna replied, “etcetera, etcetera.”
“What is this etcetera?”
“Well, your Majesty, it means “all the rest.”
“Good!” The King waved a hand at a guard. “Have children brought for presentment...etcetera!”
“I want my house!” Anna exclaimed. “The house I was promised, your Majesty!”
“You teach in palace, you live in palace!” the King snapped, before he left with Rama at his heels.
“I did try to warn you,” the Kralahome murmured, slyly.
“Oh, stop!” Anna sighed, running after the guards who were taking her belongings off to her room.
“Oh, I’m sure a strapping young man such as yourself would enjoy a visit to the Royal Armory,” the Kralahome said to Louis.
“Oh, absolutely,” Louis said, and then “There you are, Moonshee!” as the monkey finally emerged from the Lab of Science.
Belle smiled at her brother. “Alright, just be careful. I’d better go and help Mother.”
She quickly hurried after Anna, wondering what their Father would do in this situation, were he still alive.
(I know I've already got several "Belle’s Adventures" ideas on the go so far, but this one just refused to leave me alone! Also, I love the idea of Anna as Belle’s mother, since they’re quite similar characters – they both love reading and can be stubborn, obstinate and have minds of their own, and they both have to break down their love interest’s tempers in their respective films – and I quite like the idea of her being Louis’s sister too.)