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Fantasy Dolls

 

The Wedding

Princess Alissa couldn't believe it. In a few hours, her father would be getting married. In a way, she couldn't help but be happy for him.
He'd raised her, alone, from the time she was a baby,right after her mother died. His wedding would give her the mother she'd alwayswanted.
Up until then she spent a lot of time in the palacekitchen with the head cook, who was as much a mother to her as anyone. It was this lady who listened to
her every time she came, who often patched her bruises every time she fell off her horse or one of the trees surrounding the castle.
She recalled the day he and his bride-to-be met. It was right after the post-war treaty had been signed. Arcadia had formed an alliance with its neighbor to the west, Thalia, and Alissa herself had made sure that had happened by preventing an overzealous jester from poisoning the Thalian ruler's drink.
Arcadia had been at war since before she was born. At the banquet celebrating the Treaty of Alliance that finally ended the war, her father noticed a
delicate-looking woman with long golden brown hair sitting alone. He asked her to join him. She'd told him she was the sister of the king of Thalia, whose husband had perished in the war. He revealed that his wife had died while having his daughter, who was now nearly eleven years old.
The pair talked long after the banquet had ceased, and within weeks they had become inseparable.

Early one morning Alissa talked about this with the cook. "There they are, in the courtyard again," she sighed wistfully as she peered at them from the window.
The cook took a long look at Alissa's glum face. "You have to be happy for them."
"I am, it's just that --"
The cook again looked at the child she'd almost come to regard as her own daughter. "I know what's bothering you!" she exclaimed, her eyes widening.
"All this time you've had the king to yourself, and now that Lady Evelyn is here, she takes his time too."
Alissa said nothing.
"I know this is going to take some time to get used to, but you're a strong girl, you can handle it."
Bidding the cook farewell, Alissa disappeared through the entrance hall and ran toward the horse stables.

A bruised Alissa tramped inside, her day gown soiled from a fall from her horse, and walked to the great hall just after dinner had started. "Lady Evelyn,"
the king said, calling her attention, "I'd like to introduce you to my daughter, Princess Alissa."
Evelyn daintily placed her finger over her nose. "The pleasure is all mine," she politely said, extending her hand to Alissa's. "Your father speaks of nothing else."
"Same here," Alissa replied, performing her most elegant curtsey.
Alissa and Evelyn returned to their seats, Alissa sitting directly across from Evelyn and glaring at her. She watched Evelyn's every sneering motion,
every sly glance she gave. Suddenly the king cleared his throat.
"Alissa," announced the king, standing over his meal and holding Evelyn's hand, "Evelyn and I have decided to wed."
Alissa could not believe what she'd heard. As her mouth flew open, her dinner fork fell out of her hand and onto the floor. She stumbled to pick it up, all
the while keeping her eyes peeled to her father and his new fiancee.
"The engagement will be announced officially tomorrow evening, at this very hour, in the Great Hall." Lady Evelyn, sitting next to the king, leaned forth and kissed him on his lips. Ugh, Alissa thought to herself as she excused herself from the table without eating a bite.

She walked through the entrance hall toward the royal gardens, where she often went when she needed to think. She found herself overcome with tears -- of
anger, of betrayal, of frustration. She cried until she was all cried out. And then, just as suddenly, she wiped her face and blew her nose with her skirt.
"Why am I crying?" she said to herself. Just then her father appeared. "What happened?" he asked, gazing at his daughter with his twinkling blue eyes.
Alissa began lashing out at her father. "Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Tell you what?"
"Tell me you were marrying Evelyn."
The king put his hands on his daughter's shoulders.
"I -- I wanted to make sure it was official before I announced it. I proposed to Evelyn this afternoon -- and she accepted."
Alissa turned her back to her father.
"I realize this must be a shock for you, but -- I love Evelyn. She makes me happy."
"And I don't?"
"Alissa --" The king took a deep breath. "You make me happy in a different way."
Alissa shook her head. "It still doesn't make any sense! You can't marry her!" Fighting back more tears, she shouted, "Father, you're making a mistake!
Don't you still love -- don't you still love my mother?"
"Honey, of course I do. It's just that -- " He paused for a moment. "It's just that things change. You're growing up now, and you -- well, you need a woman around to teach you how to be a good queen."
"I already know how to be a good queen. I've watched you for years, Father."
"You know what I mean." He stared at her soiled clothes. "This is what I'm talking about." Alissa frowned. "What are you talking about?"
"For starters, you can work on being more presentable. I had hoped to present a lady to my queen-to-be."
Alissa hung her head. "I'm sorry for disappointing you, Father." The king smiled and lifted her head from her chest.
"You are my daughter. Never hang your head."

Alissa remembered those words as she scurried downstairs. "Slow down, child!" shouted the cook.
"Lia will be here at any moment with your gown."
"Do I have to wear it?"
"As the daughter of the groom, you most certainly do."
Just then Lia, a redhead with hair as straight as Alissa's was wavy, called her. "Alissa! They're waiting for you!" As Lia grabbed Alissa's hand, the two girls headed back up the staircase.

The Great Hall began to fill with people that evening. Every noble in Arcadia and neighboring Thalia seemingly were there, awaiting the bride and groom.
Minstrels, jugglers, and other entertainers lined the walls, ready to do their duty to their guests. When the king entered the room, with Alissa by his side, they ascended the twin thrones placed at the front of the hall. Finally Evelyn arrived. She wore a stunning powder blue ballgown. Her forehead was newly shaved, and her hair was pinned up with soft curls. She wore a gold circlet around her head. Everyone in the room remarked how lovely she was.
As the king rose to receive his bride, a priest tied both their hands together with a symbolic ribbon and anointed both their heads in oil. Throughout the ceremony, Alissa's mood alternated between sadness and anger as she shifted in her seat.
The priest then blessed the couple in Latin and pronounced them married.

Alissa tried to enjoy herself at the wedding feast but couldn't. All night long she fought this sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. She couldn't enjoy the jester's jokes and the minstrel's stories. She couldn't eat, couldn't stand to even look at the couple.
Finally, she'd had it. In the midst of the banqueting, she threw up all over her plate and the fresh flowers cut for the occasion. After throwing up, she fainted.
"M'dear, are you all right?" screeched the guests surrounding them.
The King halted the festivities and rushed to the scene. Kissing his daughter's forehead, he called for servants to carry her to her bedchamber.
Evelyn was furious. Calling her new bridegroom aside, she tore into him. "She did this on purpose!" she shouted. "She intentionally ruined the wedding feast.
My wedding feast!"
"Evelyn, there is plenty of time for celebrating our nuptials," said the king in a patient voice. "I'm going to see about her --"
"But it's our wedding night, m'lord," Evelyn cried, grabbing the hem of his robe as he turned around.
"Let us be merry!"
The King grew angry. "That's my daughter they just carried upstairs. As her parent, I'm going to see what is wrong with her." He jerked away from his new bride and headed out of the great hall and up the spiral staircase.

When Alissa awakened, the only other person left in the bedchamber was her young chambermaid and best friend, Lia. "You're not happy about that wedding, are you?" Lia correctly intuited, her grass-green eyes gazing right at Alissa. She tried to sympathize with her friend, but found it difficult, because both her parents had been together at least as long as she'dbeen alive.
Alissa rared her head back on the pillow and nodded sadly. "It was all so sudden. She showed up and suddenly she's now his wife."
"Look at it this way. At least now you have a mother. Isn't that what you've always wanted?"
Alissa shook her head. "She hasn't been very motherly so far."
"Give her a chance. Give her some time."
Why did Lia have to be so sensible, Alissa thought to herself. Then, the door opened.
"Your Majesty," greeted Lia, bowing to him on her way out. Then, turning to Alissa, she said, "We'll talk later."
The King then asked Alissa how she was feeling.
"Better I hope?"
Alissa nodded. "A little." The King pulled a chair from somewhere in the room and sat directly beside Alissa's bed and stroked her forehead. "You know, Evelyn -- Evelyn isn't too happy that you left the wedding banquet."
"I am sick and tired of hearing about Evelyn!" Alissa shouted.
"She is your new stepmother and you are to show her the utmost respect."
Shaking her head, Alissa turned her back to her father. "You promised -- that -- that you would never marry again." Tears began to flow down her cheeks.
"Sweetheart, the situation is -- rather complicated."
He explained to her that one of the stipulations of the Treaty of Alliance was that he wed the Thalian king's widowed sister. He told her that often marriages between nobles are arranged for political and financial reasons. He also told her that he didn't expect to fall in love with Evelyn as he had.
"You won't understand, probably, until you're older," he said as he once again kissed her forehead and bid her adieu for the night.

by Jill Simms
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Princess Julia

13 year old Julia Topanga Garcia was often called 'Raven' because of her long, sleek, jet-black hair. One day, after she came home from her swiming class, her mom called her into the family room. "I wonder who is here?" Raven wondered, well knowing that the family room was only used for guests. Right now, there was a lady sitting straight and tall,with longer,sleeker,more jet-black hair than Raven's next to Raven's mom. "Mom?" she asked. "This is your dad's sister, Maria Topanga Anastasia Romona." She explained. "Topanga Anastasia Romona Maria? No wait, that's not right. How do I say it?" Raven asked. Maria laughed. "You're not the first person to get my name mixed up." she said "I usally go by Maria or Topanga." Raven took a second glance at her aunt. "My middle name is Topanga!" She said. "Yes, Claire told me that Topanga is your middle name, Julia." Even though Raven had never been called by that, or ever heard her mom called that, somehow she knew who her aunt meant. "Your aunt is royalty, a Queen, Raven." Claire later told her daughter, after Maria had retired to her room. "She wants to take you with her to give you the training of a Princess." "What?!? Me????? Training of a Princess? I can barely stand sitting for an hour at my desk! " Raven told her mom, shocked, but not surprised. "As for her being a Queen, She was at my swimming class today and told all of us. But I did not know that she is my aunt." Raven finished. "We will talk it over at supper, Julia, I mean, Raven. Can you go get the door for your dad, please?" Claire replied. Giving her mom a quick hug, Raven dashed down the hall to the front door.

Later that day, when they were all at supper, Maria addressed her brother (Raven's dad), Conrad. "I'm sure Claire told you my intentions for Rose." she began. Conrad only nodded. "Can I have your thoughts on the matter, Conrad?" Claire looked at her husband. When she saw his look, she responded. "We don't mind if you take her, but we are going to let Raven make the desision for herself. After all, it is her future we're talking about." Claire said. "Very wisely said, Claire. Julia, what do you say?" Maria asked. Raven just stared at her plate, obviously thinking hard."Raven, please answer her, dear." Conrad said. "I...um... can...no, could I.... Could I think about it?" Raven stammered. "Yes, Julia, you may. I don't have to go home till Friday, and that is still three days away."

The next day, she told her aunt that she accepted the offer. "Will I be able to see my parents?" Raven asked. "Yes, quite often. I'll make sure you see them every other week, sometimes every other day. It all depends on how quickly you learn." Maria said.

About six years later, Raven was no longer called 'Raven', but Julia, and very rarely, Topanga. She had finished her lessons, and unless Maria, Claire, or Conrad told them, a stranger wouldn't know that Julia had once lived on a city border in a farmhouse. She acted like her aunt in a lot of ways. And just like she promised, Julia had seen her parents alot more often than Julia had expected, she saw them every day.

By Rachel Koppleberger
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Isabella's New Beginning

Her mother told of the pageantry when she went to marry. The fine carriages and horses followed the long road between her childhood home and that of her betrothed. It seemed to stretch for miles. Her Lady Mother rode with her and her ladies. Each passed the moments hearing of her courtship and marriage two decades before. The stories had helped her anxiety. Isabella's own Lady Mother once rode in a splendid carriage to meet a stranger whom she would marry.
Bella thought of her mother and how she would have been beside her if she could have traveled. Her mother had been there for the wedding by proxy which had taken place a few weeks earlier. Isabella and the King's messenger stood before the cleric and repeated wedding vows as Prince Alton had stood, miles away, in front of his cleric repeating the same vows. She was now Princess Isabella on her way to meet her husband, his kingdom, and their home.
The journey would take at least a week and preparations took far longer. Everything took time- the carriages for her and her ladies, her dowry, and her belongings. There were new garments, not only for her but also for her father's men escorting her.
Finally, all was packed and ready. Fifty men rode fine sorrels while the gilded wheeled carriages rolled awkwardly down dirt roads. Her mother's health had kept her from accompanying her and it saddened her very spirit to leave her Lady Mother.
Bella watched her home fade out of sight and fixed her eyes firmly on her brother, Philip leading the entourage. At least he had been to White Side Castle. Philip had even met Prince Alton and could tell some of what to anticipate. She could not imagine what to expect, living so far from the sea and her family.
How did her sister do it? She had married two years ago and Bella could still see the procession in white and silver. How happily her sister had kissed her cheek and that of their parents before she left their home for the western hills. Bella wrote once and asked about the landscape. Her sister replied with an aching to see the white capped waves. She said the pale yellow flowers covering the hillsides could not compare to the endless ocean. Bella's mother chastised her for asking such a question and had told her how she had never seen the sea until she arrived to marry. Bella had watched the waves, ships and gulls for years and could not conceive the emptiness of having it so far away.
The carriage proved to be crowded and uncomfortable. Her ladies were well spirited for the adventure, but after being stuck in the mire daily, stopping either at low inns or making camp along the road, they had lost their wittiness and enthusiasm. Two hours earlier, as they stopped yet again to pull the carriages from the ruts in the mud, Bella had announced to Philip that she had had enough of the carriage and would ride her horse along side him. Philip had sighed and repeated that they would reach the castle by nightfall.
"You can't be riding along the men as enter the gate. Ladies do not act as such here and I am sure a princess would not even contemplate it," he said as the men got the coach free.
"Philip, I will gladly get back inside long before we enter the gates or even the sights of it. I need to ride. As you say, as a princess I may not have the opportunity for a while." Her large cobalt eyes pleaded with him silently and he untied her bay.
The miles were more enjoyable out in the open. When the velvety mist turned to a soft rain, Bella rode on beside Philip. He told her of the cold mountains that she would be able to see from the north in White Side castle. He told of the snow and ice that clung to the gray stone wall all of the winter and spring, and even some of the summer. He told her that Prince Alton, when he knew him years before, was a kind youth who had loved to fence. Bella drank each description and waited for more.
An early dusk deepened the sky and Philip whispered, "It is time for you to reclaim your carriage seat, Princess Isabella."
Bella sighed as she nodded, but before she could answer him voices of their entourage called out, "Stuck again. We're stuck again."
At that moment more voices rang out and arrows cut through the air. Cries of dismay surround them as their father's fifty men were quickly overpowered and outnumber.
"Secure your hood," hissed Philip as he turned his horse around.
Bella barely had time to fasten it as a strange horse bolted from the brush, upsetting both her bay and Philip's. They stumbled off the road through the muddy ruts and Bella and Philip found themselves on a wet stone bridge. They stood up as the stranger rushed them. Stepping back, they fell from the slick stones, into the brush and were out of sight. The stranger started to call out a word of warning but was silenced by an arrow.
Philip and Bella tumbled to the bottom of the ravine. With their eyes toward the embankment they heard more shouts, a long low horn blast, and the sound of horses and men retreating the area. The curious accents of the strangers were co-mingled with that of Bella's ladies and father's men. Bella's heartbeat thundered and it took her a moment to comprehend her brother.
"Are you all right?" he asked again.
She looked down at her torn and muddied cloak and spied a her left shoe was missing. She stood up and looked up the gorge. "I don't think we'll be going back up that way."
"No," Philip's eye followed his sister's. " I guess you are all right." The sharp thunderclap echoed in the valley and rumbled through the sky. Raindrops cascaded across their faces and Philip pulled his hood up and stepped back. Bella turned around examining the brush, the tangle of thorns, and the dark gray stone that lined the ravine. She noticed an opening.
"Look. Is it a cavern?" They pulled back the undergrowth and looked into the dark mouth of the cave.
"It looks drier than out here," said Philip as he crouched inside. Bella followed. "We'll wait until the rain lets up before trying to scale back up."
"That was not quite the welcoming party I had envisioned," stated Bella.
"I can't believe how quickly our men were overtaken."
"They were pulling out the carriage, as they'd done dozens of times along this road."
"Ill prepared," scoffed Philip. "Common bandits out to steal you or your dowry or both."
Bella thought back to the waves of voices and remarked, "They were well organized and armed for common bandits. I didn't think they assembled in such large groups. There seemed to be one hundred men."
Philip peered back out and listened to the rain. "I have got to get up there. You wait here and I'll get the men to get you out."
"What are you talking about?"
"I am leaving you here to get help. You are bleeding Bella and I'll get the men to help you out."
Bella looked down and saw the maroon blood dripping down her arm. She looked at Philip with wide eyes and grabbed his shoulder. "And what if there are no men left? You saw them fall. You "
"Listen. This was a robbery. They wanted your dowry. They swooped down while we were off guard and unorganized. They may have gotten a few of the men, but the others would have quickly grouped and remembered their training. I should have been beside them to give the call, but I am glad I was beside you to make sure you were safe. And you are safe from the attackers, but you are wet and cold and bleeding. You need aid. I'll be back."
"And if you aren't?"
Philip turned and touched her pale cheek. In a soft voice he answered, "And if I am not, you are to try to climb out or call for help. Tell them you came from the next town for the wedding blessings. Tomorrow hundreds of young girls will make there way to the castle for blessings. Such is the gift of royal weddings. You will find your way to the court and to the King's Messenger who married you in proxy. He will see to you as a princess. I will find you at court, Bella, if I do not find you here."
Philip left her and Bella found herself drawn back into the cave, longing to listen to Philip's footfalls, but instead hearing only the rain. A streak of lighting illuminated the cave's mouth momentarily and Bella shielded her eyes. The cut on her arm made her catch her breath and she pulled back her cloak and gown to examine it.
As she stood in the dimness she noticed a strange flicker of light from the depth of the cave, as if lightening had been trapped under ground. She watched and saw the faint orange glow take shape. Bella's heart hastened as she saw the faltering flames. "Am I in the robbers' lair?" she asked herself.
Creeping forward she peered down the darkened corridor. A smoky residue coated the stone walls. Bella took another step forward and her stockinged foot tread upon a sharp stone. Her cry echoed in the chamber and she jerked her head up towards the light.
Immediately the shadow of a large dog appeared. Bella grabbed her waist belt and found the small knife hidden in the folds of her dress and waited. The dog came no closer and she watched it's shadow.
"Who is there?" questioned the dog.
Bella could not find her voice. She had heard stories of talking dogs but thought they were fable and fairytales told by nursemaids. She looked around and wondered if she had perhaps hit her head as she crashed down.
Again the shadow of the dog asked, "Who is there?"
Bella clutched her blade and answered, "I fell." She paused, unsure about going on. "I fell and it is raining so I stepped into the cave."
"You aren't alone. I heard another voice a moment ago."
"My brother. He fell, too."
"Clumsy family."
Bella's eyes widened and she opened her mouth to silence the insolent beast, and then she remembered she was talking to a dog. "He's coming right back."
"Who are you? Where are you from?"
Bella took a step and tried to peer around the corner. The dog's mouth was not moving when it spoke. She thought of the shadow puppets she and her sister would make in the soft glow of the candlelight.
Louder and more pressing the voice repeated his questions.
"I was traveling." She thought of Philip's advice and added, "I am here for the wedding blessings. My brother brought me for the wedding blessings. There were bandits on the road and we lost our horses and fell down here. He went for help." Her voice echoed off the cold, rocky walls. Her eyes stayed on the shadow. It had not changed in size, but it looked a little different. She wondered if whoever was casting it was getting weary.
"Who are you? I can't place your accent."
"I am Belle. I once lived near the sea. Now I live" her voice trailed off and she wished she could think of one village in Prince Alton's kingdom. "I lived near the sea, but now I live near the mountain."
The dog disappeared in a flurry of fingery shadows. The voice was softer as he said, "Not Belle. That wasn't what I heard, but Bella. You didn't just once live by the sea. It is all you know. You are Princess Isabella."
Unable to contain her curiosity, Bella concealed her hand which held her knife and stepped forward. She looked beyond the rocky outcropping to the small fire pit and the lone figure before it. Heavy shackles bound his ankles and wrists. The shackles were linked to a heavy chain that was joined to the wall. A small stack of wood was off to his right and a heavy stein to his left. On a rocky shelf sat an unlit tallow candle. It's wick was charred and black.
He wore dark green colored trousers and a black vest. An embroidered egg shell colored shirt was spotted with flecks of dried blood. His thick black boots where scuffed, but quite new looking.
Stepping closer, but beyond his reach she echoed his question and asked, "Who are you? Where are you from?"
He jerked his head up and looked and Bella. Her cloak had fallen from her head and her thick, damp hair cascaded across her shoulders and down her back. Her dress was muddied, torn and stained with blood, but the iridescent blue looked like soft, rippling waves of the sea. Strands of pearls lined her bodice and hemmed her gown.
"You are not Princess Isabella. You are an angel."
"Who are you? Why are you imprisoned?"
"I am Prince Alton. I am not sure how to explain what happened. How I got here." He looked and around and sheepishly looked back to her. "You're bleeding!"
"It is just a scratch."
"I have some water," he offered her the stein. Bella declined. She looked into the face of her unknown husband.
"I am not sure what to tell you. I am not even sure how it all happened.
"A few months ago I was betrothed to Ryenn, daughter to Lord Wilson of River's End. Less than a week before we were to marry it was called off. I was told her father's men were too week and too few. We needed a strong alliance. The King's Constable and messenger left the castle and within a few weeks a word arrived with news of our engagement.
"I was told of your beauty, your grace and your intelligence. I was told you could ride a horse better than most of my men." Bella smiled and a faint blush colored her face.
The Prince continued, "We prepared for your parties arrival when another messenger arrived with news of the marriage by proxy." A smile touched his lips and he gazed into her eyes. "We've been married over a month and now we meet.
"Two days ago I was summoned to see my father. He has been ill and was concerned with several matters. On my way I overheard a private conversation. The commander of my father's men is Ulrich. He was talking about how few men your father has, how the numerous ships and sailors could never be a threat to our kingdom so far from the sea. He was talking of our deaths. My father's, mine, yours. How they could kill us all and seize the throne."
Bella did not speak immediately. She found her voice and asked, "How would your people, your men allow this to happen?"
"My Cousin Karl would ascend the throne and take the crown. He is young. He would be a puppet for Ulrich and the others. No one would question it. A tragedy would befall us and the clerics and people would be thankful that he was alive to keep a coup from seizing power.
"The other voiced argued to keep you alive. You would marry my cousin. Your father would be too far and powerless to dismiss such a marriage and since you would be queen, he would most likely not question it.
"Judging on the reception that met you on the bridge, I can only guess the plan changed again."
"We have got to get out of here. We must alert your father and any faithful men he still has. We need to warn the King's Constable of the plot and summon my brother and my father's men who escorted me. We must -"
"Listen to me, Bella. The other voice, the one talking to Ulrich, was the King's Constable. He is involved. He was the one who saw me. He was the one who deduced I had over heard them. He is the one who had we bound and brought down here to die. He is the one. There is no way we can go to my father. He is watched by them both."
Bella stood in the dancing firelight and listened to Prince Alton's words reverberate off the walls. She thought of her Lady Mother. Her kind green eyes sparkling as she spoke of the adventures before her when Bella was leaving her homeland. This was not the endeavor either of them had envisioned.
"Prince Alton, there is more to this plan than what you know. They haven't killed. They left you firewood and water. There is much more to this plan."
While he contemplated what she said, Bella moved closer. He saw he knife and stepped back. Laughing, Bella told him, "Me killing you is not the plan either. I want to see if I can work the lock with this blade." Relief flooded his soft green eyes and he offered his wrist to her.
The blade snapped, breaking not the manacles, but the sharp edge. Bella looked about the cave and then down at her dress. The bejeweled broach on her cloak caught her eye and she quickly unpinned it. Before the Prince could question her actions, she set to work trying the lock.
"If the knife won't work, what makes you think that -" The Prince was silenced as the lock clicked and the shackles fell with a harsh and heavy thud. In a few more moments he stood unfettered for the first time in days.
"I don't know how to thank you." Prince Alton grabbed Bella tightly. The close embrace surprised her.
"You can thank me, by getting us out of here and getting us to my brother and my father's men. All will be fine."
"Yes," said the Prince. He rubbed the raw the skin around his wrists as he continued, " I know of a few friends I can trust. We will go into the castle. You will go to the house of God. As you said, maidens will come tomorrow for the wedding blessing. You will go and tell them you are there for the blessings. You can say you came early to spend the night in prayer. It is an old custom that has fallen out of favor. So few will be there. You find Stephan. He will be in the house of God. He is an old friend who keeps records for the cleric and he will help us. You will tell him where to meet me and he will come and together we will gather the trustworthy along with your brother and his men. We shall than overtake the King's Constable, Ulrich and any who stand with them."
Bella nodded. It sounded so simple. She and followed the Prince not to the mouth of the cavern, but toward the back where another fracture split the rocks. He took the fat tallow candle and lit it from the fire. Cupping one hand to the flame he motioned for Bella and they advanced into the inky darkness. The ground was smooth in some spots but in other locations it was laden with tiny outcroppings and loose rocks. She hobbled behind him, silently yearning for her other shoe.
By the time they arrived at the opening of the tunnel, dusk was falling. The wintry rain kissed her face and she pulled her cloak closer. He had pulled her close to him one more time before they parted. She had kissed his cheek and stared into his eyes. The eyes, not only of her husband, but also her future.
Bella tried not to think of all the things that could go wrong, and instead concentrated on her part yet to play. She was not far from the guard's tower and gate at the castle entrance. She watched Prince Alton wave one last time as he headed beyond the stone wall. He knew of a secret path that would take him near the kennel where he would wait for Stephan.
Bella took a deep breath and pulled her cloak tighter. She recalled the troupe of actors who had entertained last summer. They had pretended a reality and it seemed so genuine and authentic. She had believed the actor playing the daft, old man was undeniably a daft, old man. After the show she and everyone else was amazed to discover that the performer was a spry, young man who did not walk bent over or have arthritis. Bella had to be a performer now. She was a maiden from Dellvy. She was here for the wedding blessing. She carried a bouquet of wildflowers that the Prince had picked at the mouth of the cavern. He had told her an offering of flowers tied with a white ribbon was common. She had no ribbon, and she silently prayed no one would notice that or even her.

She arrived at the guard's gate and thought of the directions to the house of God. She hurried to the overhang and was met by a fatigued watchman and a wet sentry. When she spoke she looked at the flowers and willed herself to speak slowly so her accent wasn't so strong. Neither man seemed to listen, nor did they notice the absence of the white ribbon or her left shoe. The sentry made way for her to pass while the watchmen wrote Dellvy in his log. She nodded a thank you and crossed into the castle grounds.
In the rain, it took over fifteen minutes to get to the house of God. The boggy ground sucked at her only shoe and threatened to take it into the mire. She kept her cloak about her and her flowers raised to cover her face. She did not want to be seen by the King's Constable, nor any of the King's men. She wanted to blend in as a simple maiden and took care to keep her gown out of view. No maiden from Dellvy would have such attire. Her cobalt eyes searched for any signs of her party, but she never saw a carriage nor a lady or man from it.
To her left rose a white stone building. She smiled as she crossed the slick, wet steps. The wooden door was heavy and unmanageable. Clutching the flowers, her cloak and the door was too much. Bella wanted to cry out, but instead bit her bottom lip and juggled the bouquet and the cloak. She was rewarded and relieved when it opened wide.
Inside the house of God a row of candles lined the back walls and the front alter. Bella lingered, listening to the rain. No one was around. She went to the back row of carved pews and sat down. Her garments were soaked. She clutched her cloak and sighed. She looked around again and noticed the scene had not changed, she closed her eyes, bowed her head and began to pray.
"My child" the voice trailed off as Bella's eyes flew open and she found herself leaning away. Beside her stood an aged cleric wearing a simple muslin shift of coarse black material. His gray eyes reminded her of the sea after a storm.
She smiled a weary smile and remembered the wildflower bouquet. She offered it to him and he nodded.
"Ah, one of the 'true faithful' who remembers the night of prayer before the blessings. You must be 'true faithful', indeed, to travel on such an evening. I see you are wet and chilled. Come to our chambers were there is a fire." He turned from her, reasoning she would follow. "Ah, you have lost your white ribbon. I will see if we can replace it."
He was several pews away before she followed. She looked about and discovered they were alone. She was cold and she was quite wet. If he knew who she was and if he was assisting the King's Constable, then he could overpower her in the house of God as easily as in the clerics' chamber. She sighed and followed. Her muddy footprints trailed behind them both.
The cleric's chamber was to the rear of the house of God and to the left. It had no door. A thick fabric curtain of crimson gave it little privacy, but what need did a cleric have for seclusion.
The cleric led her to a seat near the fire. "I've a cleric's robe you may wear while your cloak and dress dry. You seem to have lost a shoe." He handed her the black robe. "I will see if we have any stockings you can don. I doubt anyone would have shoes to fit you." The cleric left through the crimson curtain.
Bella took off her cloak and hung it near the fire. Her ladies always helped her dress and undress and now she was alone with buttons, ties and clasps. Her cold fingers were clumsy with the numerous buttons down her back. She warmed them briefly and tried again. Soon she managed to undue enough to slide the gown down and step out of. Her first layer of undergarments were also damp, so she removed them, too. She pulled the black robe on and tugged off each ruined stocking. She quickly hung up her gown and undergarments under her cloak. She did not want the clerics or anyone else who entered their chamber to see the rich fabric trimmed in pearls.
The cleric's voice startled her from the other side of the drape. "I found some knee stockings. I will leave them by the curtain. When you are done dressing simply tie back the curtain."
Bella thanked him and reached for them on the floor. The thick woolen stockings warmed her icy feet. She looked at her hanging accouterments and could see no trace of the gown. She tied back the curtain and sat by the fire.
Bella did not know what time it was. She was not sure how long she had sat in the pew praying. She did know she had to find Stephan. Uncertain how she would find him, she decided to ask the cleric.
Standing up, she was surprised to hear his voice as he entered the chamber. "The keeper of the records has a sister who might have some shoes you can borrow. I don't know if they will fit. But any pair would be better than not. I told him a 'true faithful' walked through this weather for the evening of prayer and lost a shoe and he told me that for a 'true faithful' he would find something."
"Your keeper of records?" she asked, making a marked effort to control her accent. "Would that be Stephan?"
"It would be, though we call him Sir. How do you know him?" The cleric's tone almost implied that perhaps she was not a 'true faithful.'
"My brother. My brother is a close friend. An old friend and I have known of Stephan before he was a 'sir.'"
The cleric's face softened and he smiled. "He will be pleased his errand was for not only a 'true faithful,' but a friend as well. I must attend to other matters. Please stay before the fire as long as you need. Your night of prayer will wait." He nodded again and left her to take a seat and watch the flames.
Prince Alton had told her what to tell Stephan so he would know whose side she was on. It seemed the threat of rebellion had happened in the past and they had devised a plan as mere children. She and her husband had quibbled over what her next step should be. The Prince wanted her to remain in the house of God. No one would look for her there. She would be safe. Bella wanted to go with Stephan and meet Prince Alton. Together, the three of them could gather their allies.
"You said, 'Together we will gather the trustworthy along with your brother and his men.' Do you not remember?"
"I remember'" he said. " I just met you. I don't want something to happen to you, Bella. I want there to be days, months, years before us. I can't have you taking a chance of such. I want you at the house of God."
"And I just met you. And I want days and days to stretch before us. And since you just met me you don't realize I can not just sit and wait. I was not fostered that way. I know women don't ride horses in this part of the world and they don't fence or swim. Women do all that and more where I come from. I am skilled with a blade. I am skilled with a bow."
"I assume you swim like a fish," said the Prince.
"Undine is my middle name," said Belle. "I am also a graceful dancer and can play a lute. Don't you see, Ulrich and his henchmen would never dream I could take care of myself."
Bella laughed out loud recalling her words. 'Take care of myself, indeed. I could barely get out of my gown by myself."
Footsteps quieted her snickering and she turned to the curtain. It seemed a crimson shroud and her laughter died on her lips. She stood up and waited for Stephan.
The keeper of the records did not keep her waiting long. He had a tawny colored satchel in his hand. He looked at her for a moment before speaking.
"The cleric said I am known to you. That I know you brother? I dare say I would remember you." His brown eyes surveyed her in the black robe. "I can't believe your family allowed you to be on the rode in this weather. You can not be so desperate for a wedding blessing. You must be a 'true faithful.'"
Taking a breath she replied, "The gate is now unlocked."
Stephan was still gazing at her and took no notice of her words. "I brought some shoes. My sister's."
Bella smiled and took them from his outstretched hand. "Thank you. The gate is now unlocked."
Stephan warmed his hands in the fire and said, "You aren't Jon's sister? You hair is as fair as his."
Bella sat down and squeezed her feet into the leather shoes. They were tight, but better than none.
"Stephan," she captured his attention quickly. He was not use to strange, lovely ladies calling him that. "Stephan, The gate is now unlocked."
His eyes flashed and he looked about the chamber. Finding his voice he asked callously, "Who are you? Where are you from?"
"You and Prince Alton ask many of the same questions."
"Don't toy with me," said Stephan as he took s step towards her.
"The gate is now unlocked. He is waiting for you at the kennel. He said you would know where to find him. He was taken by the King's Constable and the Commander of the King's men. He is not sure who to trust. I hope you are one we can depend on."
"I am. I will go at once." He turned to leave but stopped as she followed. "Who are you?"
"I am Bella and we must get Prince Alton and warn the King." She put on her damp cloak and bundled up her undergarments, ripped stockings and her gown. She forced all the apparel into the satchel the shoes had been in.
"Come with me," said Stephan. "The gate may be unlocked, but we shall bar it closed."

The rain stopped and the heavy clouds that screened the sky parted. The deep navy colored sky embraced dozens of gem-like stars. A faint breeze whispered encouragement.
Wooden planks had been placed in the muck and mire. Bella jumped from board to board. Few people ventured out and those that did kept to their own business. No one paid them any attention.
"Women are not allowed at the kennel," said Stephan.
"What about clerics?" she asked as she pulled up the hood on her cloak.
Stephan looked at her in the black robe and stockings and nodded. "I believe clerics are allowed. But you mustn't speak to anyone. Or even raise your head. Any fool would see your beauty and know you weren't a cleric."
Down the footpath they went. Soon Bella could hear dogs. Around a final stone building they came to the kennel.
They crossed to the back of the kennel and Stephan signaled to a few men talking by a pen. The men nodded and went back to their conversation. Stephan and Bella went into the kennel and preceded to the back niche. A tall ladder loomed ahead of them and Stephan started up. He rapped upon a hinged hatch and Bella could hear the sound of a bolt being drawn back. The hatch swung up and Stephan proceeded up the ladder and into a loft. Bella looked about and saw no one else. Quickly she climbed up the ladder and through the hatch.
She stood on the ladder rung and saw Prince Alton and Stephan standing near a small table with a few benches. A lantern illuminated the room. Prince Alton had a list in his hand that he quickly gave to Stephan as he crossed to help her.
He closed the hatch and drew a heavy bolt in place.
"I was not sure when I would see either of you," the Prince said. He embraced Bella. "You are the bravest lady I have ever met. You found Stephan and a cleric's disguise."
"I am glad you made it here safely," said Bella. She removed her cloak and placed it on the floor next to the satchel. "What is this place?"
"As you know, everyone has a vice," said Prince Alton.
"Or two," added Stephan.
"I must confess our greatest one is the love of gaming. Stephan and I have used this loft to play sirk since we were young boys. We have a small group of friends that join us. The kennel men have been handsomely paid over the years to never come up here if the lantern is in the gable. I thought this would be the safest place to be," said the Prince.
"Sirk?" asked Bella. "The card game?"
"Yes. I know it is forbidden," said the Prince.
"Why is it forbidden? I played it for hours with my ladies on the road to the castle. Each winter there is a large tournament at our home and players come from all over to try their luck."
Stephan and Prince Alton looked astonished. How did a lady even know the rules or strategy to play such a complex game?
"It is not forbidden? Our clerics preach on the evils of gaming," said Stephan.
"Our head cleric was the tournament champion one year. I believe he preaches not to lose oneself in games, but does not frown upon the sport." Bella sat on an empty crate and asked, "Does that mean I will be forbidden to play it, too? I guess we can worry about that another time."
The Prince smiled briefly and said, "Perhaps we can talk to the cleric." He turned to his childhood friend. "I take it she told you we can not trust the King's Constable or the Commander, Ulrich. That is a list of men I am sure we can trust."
Stephan looked over as Bella said, "We must find my brother and my father's men."
"Who are you, Bella?" asked Stephan.
"I believe you mean Princess Isabella," corrected Prince Alton. "It is a long tale, Stephan. Right now, we must gather allies and get to my father."
"I will gather these men. We will come for you both and together storm the great hall. We will demand to see the King," said Stephan.
"I will come with you. The men will believe the plight if I am there," said Prince Alton.
Bella looked at her husband and his friend and said, "You can't go out like that." Someone will see you and tell the wrong people. There are far too few names on that list to storm anyplace."
Again, the Prince and Stephan looked astonished. Women of the mountain did not fence, ride, swim, or give input on battle plans.
"It is just like playing cards. When you play sirk, you do not let anyone see your hand before the final. You can not be seen and have it reported to the Commander or the King's Constable. Likewise, you can't let your numbers be known. If you storm in with twenty men or thirty men," said Bella, "Or even one hundred menthey will know your strengths and weakness. Will they back down or crush you on a whim?"
"What are you suggesting?"
"If you must go out, go in disguise. I have a lovely blue gown or a cleric's robe. The cleric's robe got me into the kennel, and I believe women are not allowed there." Her eyes twinkled and she continued, "Gather your forces, but have the men assembly in small groups at the hall. It will take your enemies by surprise. If a storm arises they will be interspersed and not easily overtaken. During the melee, you must get to your father," said Bella.
It took only a few minutes for the trio to hash out the plan. Bella slipped out of the cleric's robe and put on her damp cloak. Prince Alton donned the black robe while Stephan found an extra blade that had been hidden in the loft. Stephan gave the Prince a dark hat to hide his face and the blade and they were ready to leave.
"Draw the bolt back after we leave," said the Prince to Bella.
"I am not staying up here after you go."
"You can't go out in your cloak or your gown. Stay here and we will return for you."
Bella quickly, but sloppily braided her hair. "I am going to wear you clothes. I am going to find my brother. I will meet you both in the great hall in an hour."

The Prince's trousers were long and loose on Bella's slight frame. She gathered three pieces of rope and tied the pants at her legs and waist. She hoped no one would notice she did not have proper boots. She slid on the Prince's shirt and rolled up the shelves. Next she put on his vest. He had been in a smoky cave for a few days, and the clothes harbored a noisome odor. She covered the ensemble with her damp cloak. It did not improve her aroma.
Bella looked around for a blade to take with her, but found nothing. She listened at the hatch, took a deep breath, and drew back the bolt. In the shadows below loomed the ladder. Each rung took her closer to unknown.
The dogs in the kennel sniffed her with great interest. She crooned softly to the hounds and headed to the door. She opened it a crack and peered into the night. No one moved in the darkness.
Bella left the kennel and headed back towards the guard gate she first entered. She knew she needed to get to the great hall and hear news of her brother. She had a plan to get there.
"Where are you going in such a hurry?" asked a voice ahead of her.
Bella blinked and stared into the dark. She saw the figure crossing the wooden walkway much as she had done earlier.
"Where are you off to in such a hurry?" questioned the advancing stranger.
Bella needed to be an actor again. She thought of how she had previously fooled the sentry and watchman. She thought how neither the cleric nor Stephan had guessed her accent. She would be an actor.
She lowed her voice and said slowly, "I am a messenger."
"Messenger? How did you get past me at the guard gate?"
Ah, this was the fatigued watchman who scribbled down in his logbook everyone who entered the grounds.
"Did you not take leave at some point tonight?" she asked in her husky voice.
The watchman looked at the messenger. The youth was right. He had stepped away and the sentry was a useless fool used more for force when needed then for any records. "I did but-"
"That is how I got past the guard gate. I have an important message I must deliver," said Bella. She was relieved that the darkness covered her.
"A message. Who are you? Whom do you represent?"
Bella's mind whirled. Should she say the king? If she said the king, would she be sent to the King's Constable? Should she say the Prince? Maybe his cousin, Karl. Bella wondered if she should say her brother.
"It is a private affair," she stated, unsure if her lack of an answer would work. "It is from Lord Wilson of River's End. It is most pressing."
The watchman was not in his element. He was use to standing in the guard gate looking down upon all who entered. He was use to his logbook and the light of a strong lantern. In the darkness, standing on wooden planking so far from his realm of comfort, he did not notice that she had not answered his question.
"River's End. Yes. I understand. You are headed to the hall? It is difficult to find the correct pathway," he muttered and pointed her in the correct direction and quickly returned to his post. Bella could picture how hastily he would write 'River's End' down in the log.
His instructions took her past the stables and on through an empty market. Soon she was at the entrance of the stronghold. The great door was ajar and light spilled out in every direction. Bella pulled her hood closer and felt the bejeweled broach she used earlier to undue Prince Alton's constraints. She unpinned it and loosely fastened it inside her cloak. Once it was out of sight, she was ready.
Bella noted the number of people inside the castle. Servants carrying bundles appeared from one entry way and crossed to a staircase. Guards trudged past her and disappeared down another hallway. People passed without noticing her.
Voices bombarded her. Snatches of conversation danced upon her ear.
"Of course, I saw the beast. Large and scaly, he was."
"Perhaps if you tightened you scabbard."
"Did you see that dagger?"
"No one could miss it with those stones in the hilt. What were those white, round rocks?"
Bella jerked her head around to follow the last two men as they withdrew to another chamber. The white, round rocks had to be pearls. Philip's sword had pearls in the handle. They had to have seen it. Bella prayed that they had not only seen it and her brother, but would lead her to him. She followed silently.
She soon stood at the entry to the great hall. Tall, wooden crates stood to the left and Bella meandered to them. She scrutinized the entrance, the hall and everyone she could see inside.
The great hall was a grand room. It had high ceilings and massive fireplaces at either end. Fat candles dotted the lengthy tables that ran down the center. At first Bella was thrilled by the lack of illumination; she saw it as an advantage. It proved to be more of a hindrance. She could not clearly see the parties exchanging stories over drink.
Trying to blend in, she grabbed a mug and walked toward a hearth. She looked around and took a slow drink. She did not see the men she had followed. Some how they had exited. Time was wasting. She put down the mug and crossed to the entrance.
At the door a young steward seized her arm and said, "What is that you are wearing?"
Bella pulled her arm away and replied, "I am a messenger."
"No," he hissed as he drew closer. "Who's vest are you wearing?"
Her hood still covered her head and face, but it had swung open revealing the cream colored shirt, black vest, and green trousers of the Prince.
"Your vest has the royal crest. I can tell you only three people by right can wear it. You are not one, Messenger."
Bella took a hasty step back. The steward advanced. No one witnessed their exchange. Weighing her odds, she saw one possibility.
Bella cleared her throat and the steward stood his ground. His hands went to his blade. Bella tilted her head to speak, but instead pivoted and ran. Though caught briefly off guard, the steward rushed after her.
Bella raced through the doorway and started down the steps when she felt a jerk from behind. The steward held onto her cloak as she tumbled down the stairs. They landed in a tangle at the foot of the stairs. Bleary eyed and bleeding, Bella could hear the steward growling questions at her. She was still lying on her stomach as he dragged her to the candlelight. He stood with his boot firmly planted in her back.
" Paul," the steward cried. "I have the impersonator. Help me to take this to the antechamber. This must be seen at once."
She wanted to protest. She tried to talk, but her thick tongues refused to obey. Bella felt them lift her from the cold floor. One of them complained about her pungency and the other agreed. Darkness encased her.
They dropped her roughly to the floor and Bella woke up. Her hood had fallen over her face and she could not see. She could smell a fire and hear the crackling embers. The cold of the floor radiated through her body and she did not feel the fire's warmth.
Voices merged together and she could not follow their course. Fragments of the conversation swam within her reach and she caught whatever words they might be.
"I stopped him because of the vest."
"He said he was a messenger."
"What is the message? Whom did he intend to see?"
"I do not know whom he intended to see."
"Wake him up. He will answer to me."
The sharp kick surprised Bella. She tried to curl into a ball, but the hand forced her up.
"Who are you? Where are you from?" asked a figure seated by the fire.
Bella snickered. This was the third person to ask her these questions. Before she could form her tongue around an answer she was struck from behind. If they had not held her, she would have hit the floor.
"Who are you? Where are you from? How did you come by those clothes? Who is your message intended for?" The rapid questions swam in her head. She was not sure if she would cry or vomit. Neither activity seemed fit for a princess.
Instead Bella thought of her Lady Mother and could almost hear her voice, "You have an adventure before you. You have been raised for this very journey. Embrace it and make it yours."
A blow struck her from behind again. She staggered under their hold.
She threw her head back and found her voice. It poured out of her in a roar! "I am a messenger. I am from -"
"Remove his hood. Be mindful of weapons on him."
Bella felt them pull her cloak off.
"Do you recognize him, Dennis?"
Bella forced her eyes to focus and glared about the room. The steward who stopped her was on her left. He was addressed as Dennis. The one he had called Paul was on her right. Four men stood at the doorway brandishing shining swords. Two older men sat by the fire. One had a short gray beard and the other wore small, round spectacles. No one wore a kind expression. No one wanted to hear her actor's story of being a messenger. It was over.
"Please, release my arm," she asked the stranger. He looked at her blankly. "I can not run anywhere. Please." She turned to the ones seated and said, "I will answer all your questions."
Dennis waited until both men nodded and then he let go of her arm. The cut she had sustained falling down the ravine had reopened and blood colored the Prince's shirt. Bella was not use to losing.
"Messenger, answer my questions."
She reached behind her back slowly. Arrows of pain shot through her body. She pulled her hair from inside the back of her shirt. She slowly unbraided her hair as she spoke.
"I am Bella," she began. "No, I am Princess Isabella. My carriage, my ladies and my father's men were attacked before we entered the city. I was knocked from my horse and ended up at the bottom of a ravine." Bella shut her eyes remembering the shouts and cries from her ladies and her father's men. "There was a cave I took shelter in. Inside the cave was Prince Alton. He was bound. Chained at both his wrists and ankles.
"He told me he'd been kidnapped by the Commander and the King's Constable. We came to the castle to warn the King and find out the fate of my brother, my ladies and my father's men."
The fire crackled as the minutes lagged by.
"I apologize for not answering all your questions. I came by these clothes when Prince Alton and I needed disguises." She added, "I am sorry, but I have forgotten your fourth question."
A somber voice answered, "Who was this message intended for?"
Bella tried to nod, but the action was met by another sharp pain in her back. "No one. I have no true message. I was just trying to get to the great hall and thought impersonating a messenger would draw the least attention. I had a mission.
"Do you not understand your sovereign King and Prince are in danger?" Bella's voice rose in tone and pitch. The men still looked at her.
"How do we know you are whom you claim?"
"What other woman would stand here in the Prince's pants?" screamed Bella.
The old man closest to the fire removed his spectacles. He cleaned them with a white cloth and put them back on. He cleared his throat and began, "The wizard came to us days ago. He claimed that a rebellion was at hand. He could clearly identify some of the individuals involved, but not all. He mentioned that we would be in the presence of a young lady who would either save the Prince, or bring his downfall. We would know whether to heed her warning or banish her based on a sign."
A look of dismay crossed the faces of the guards and of the stewards. Clearly, none of them had heard of the wizard's warning.
The old man continued, "Do you have a fish?"
Bella's bright blue eyes flew open. "A fish? Why do you ask?" she inquired.
"The sign we are to find is a fish."
"She has no fish," grumbled Paul. He stepped forward to grab her arm.
"I do," she said, backing out of his reach. "I am a daughter of the sea. I have a fish." Bella bent down and gathered her cloak. The guards by the door advanced as if she had unsheathed a knife. Instead, in her hand was her broach. The shimmering gems made the outline of an angelfish.
"Stand back," stated the old man. "Where is my son, Princess Isabella?"
Within moments Bella was seated beside the King. She told him of Prince Alton's and Stephen's plan to gather reinforcements and go to the great hall. The King nodded and told the guards to stay with her. The King took but his own sword and made ready to go meet his son.
The Chancellor stroked his short gray beard and bowed before her. Paul and Dennis followed his lead. Bella nodded slightly, aware of the pain cavorting across her spine.
There was nothing indecisive about the King's plan. The Commander and one hundred of his men had left before dusk as a welcoming party and had not returned. The King's Constable had been named by the wizard and immediately placed in confinement. The King would meet his son in front of his subjects. No more lies of an illness would hover over the throne. Together the loyal and royal would eliminate the insubordination
"I thought my brother would have been inside the castle walls by now. You have had no news?" asked Bella.
"I will send news. The watchman reported a caravan at the south entrance. He was given a dagger with pearls in the handle as compensation. He was told to show it to the Princess," said the King. "Am I to guess that that will be your procession?"
"That sounds like Philip's sword," cooed Bella. "But what of your Commander and his rogue men?"
"All shall be righted before your wedding feast."
They left her. Dennis, the steward, went to get her a tray of bread and cheese. One guard went for a apothecary and the others stood watch. She closed her eyes overcome with fatigue. She was hungry, exhausted and battered. Somewhere below she could hear raised voices followed by a cheer.
She woke up to the footsteps in the hallway. The heavy door swung open.
"My Bella."
"My Princess."
Before Bella stood her husband and her brother.

By Rachel Lilley
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Casualty of the Crusades

Written, with moonlight in her hair,
Were vows of love, a pledge they share.
He kept her heart and gave a ring.
Her soul, with love, would often sing
Of futures lucid, pure and clear:
Devotion, admiration, cheer.
Alone she waits her love's pursuit
Of clash and conflict, war's dispute.
Each man must rise when he is called
By combat cruel, which can't be stalled.
An argument between a few
Is now a conflict with those who
Were bound and chained by destiny
To fight and follow, not to flee.
Their armor is in disrepair,
No longer shining, now threadbare.
Surrender? Never to the foes
Whose disagreement caused their woes.
His leaders seize all that they see
To overtake malignancy.
She wonders if he did concur
With ruling words that blind and blur.
Her knight is gone. Her day is done.
Who truly wins when war is won?

By Rachel Lilley
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Princess Alissa and the Dressmaker

Princess Alissa needed a new dress. So her father and soon-to-be stepmother sent her to the dressmaker's shop on the other side of the first floor of the castle. Alissa had never been there, so she was
curious to find out what was there anyway.
Clutching her floor-length burgundy gown, Alissa peered inside with her translucent turquoise eyes. She saw strips of luscious velvet and brocade fabric all over. Lace strips littered a nearby wooden table.
Even some miniature jewels could be found, if one looked hard enough. "Who's there?" whispered a lady with graying hair as she pored over the hem of another stunning gown.
Alissa slowly came forth. She said nothing, allowing for the lady to drink in a long look."Why, that can't be the little princess who was in diapers a few years ago, can it?"
"'Tis me," Alissa shyly replied. The lady couldn't believe her eyes. "How old are you now?"
Alissa straightened up and smiled proudly. "Almost eleven."
Beckoning Alissa to come in, the lady sent her daughter to get some measuring tape. "I think we're going to need some new measurements."
The daughter marveled, "You look even taller now than you did at Easter!"
"Oh, and by the way -- call me Gert." Alissa smiled.
"So, Their Majesties tell me you need a new wardrobe."
Gert's eyes twinkled. Shaking her head, Alissa laughed. "No, just one new dress." "At the rate you're growing now you're going to need a whole new wardrobe in no time." Gert managed a grin as she and her daughter measured Alissa's height, width, and girth. After her daughter wrote down the numbers, Gert went through her piles of fabric for something to suit the soon-to-be-eleven-year-old princess. "Well, since you're growing up now, I have to make you look like that. No more little girl dresses."
Alissa once again straightened up. But a part of her was apprehensive. What kind of gown would Gert make for me? she wondered. Maybe a beautiful ballgown?
Alissa sat in wonderment as Gert carefully sewed the hem of the latest fashionable ball gown. Suddenly she came to an idea. "I want a gown like that," she said. After Gert completed the hem of the gown, she unfurled it to show to Alissa, who was enraptured. The gown was white silk, with silver trim and sparkles all over. Nodding her head in approval, she decided, "Yes! I want a dress like that."
Gert decided that a gown like that would indeed suit the princess.
Every day after her lessons, Alissa would sneak around the other side of the castle and peer into Gert's room to see how her new dress was coming along. Every day she would find a new stitch here, a new hem there, and generally see that Gert was working on it.
One day Alissa surprised the dressmaker as she came in from her lessons. "Lady Gert?"
"Yes, Your Highness?"
"Could you make me a pair of breeches too?"
Gert was flabbergasted. "Breeches? What for?" "So I could climb the trees outside the castle after the dancing's over with."
Gert couldn't help but laugh while looking back at the dress she was sewing. "Yes, yes, it's possible."
Alissa left the room in glee. She couldn't wait until her birthday.
Finally the morning of her eleventh birthday arrived. Alissa awakened, as usual, opening the curtains of her bedchamber to let in the faint sunlight pouring in from off the mountains. Her parents each gave her birthday smooches on her cheeks. "There's a surprise for you," her maid Julia said, tugging her arm and nearly pulling her down the staircase.
Waiting downstairs were her other maids, Emma and Isabella, and members of the royal household, who sat gleefully around the banquet table. Noticeably absent were Gert and her daughter
While Alissa opened present after present -- a gilded mirror and hairbrush, a box of paints, and a wooden keepsake box were among the highlights -- Gert and her
daughter appeared with a long box with a gigantic bow on top. Alissa reached for the box, and when she untied the ribbon, she could not believe her eyes. A gorgeous ballgown with silver trim. Hers. All hers. "Go try it on," Gert grinned.
The gathering waited around for about an hour. While they waited, someone played a lively lute and everyone began dancing around the room.
Meanwhile, upstairs Alissa gawked at herself in the mirror. She was impressed with the way the dress seemed to glide on her, but also how grown-up she
looked in it. One of her dressing-maids added her tiara to complete the look.
Then Alissa decided it was time to make her entrance. Wearing the glistening ballgown, she elegantly slid down the staircase, to the surprised gawks of her
family and friends. "Come on, let's dance!" shouted Julia.
And they did, all night long.

by Jill Simms
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Pixie

Mandy leaned her head against the cool glass of the van window. She watched listlessly as rolling hills covered in pine trees and pale green grass whizzed by. With a heavy sigh, the eight-year-old turned toward the front and started chewing on her dark brown hair. Ten-year-old Meaghan caught on to her sister's boredom, and spoke for the both of them.
"When are we going to be there?" Meaghan asked.
Daddy glanced quickly from the road to the clock on the dashboard. "Not for another hour or so, Cherub," he replied.
At that, Mandy sighed again. "Can't you drive faster, Daddy? I want to see Kassidy." The family was driving down to see the girls' Aunt Sam and Uncle Ian, and their cousin Kassidy, who was just Mandy's age. The two had been best friends as well as favorite cousins since they were babies.
"I can't drive any faster because that would be dangerous, Pixie. We'll be there soon enough, though."
Mandy slumped back in the seat and glanced over at her sister before looking back at Daddy. "Daddy?" she asked. "I've always wondered Why do you call Meaghan 'Cherub', and me 'Pixie'?"
Daddy looked at Mommy and smiled. "Well," Daddy started. "I call Meaghan 'Cherub' because she's a miniature version of your mother, and Mommy is an Angel."
"No she's not!" Mandy laughed. "She's a human, just like the rest of us!"
"Ok, ok, she's not really an angel," Daddy confessed teasingly. "But I've called her 'Angel' since before either of you were born. And she's certainly as beautiful as one," Daddy winked at Mommy, and Mandy could see Mommy smirk at his remark.
Mandy often heard her father call her mother "Angel". And both Meaghan and Mommy had light chestnut hair and dark brown eyes. They did look very much alike.
"And why do you call me 'Pixie'?" Mandy continued.
"Because you're special in your own way, and a miniature and girl version of me."
"Then what are you?"
"I'm an elf," Daddy answered with another teasing grin.
The girls both laughed at that. "Like Peter Pan?" Meaghan asked.
"Yes, exactly like Peter Pan."
Mandy looked at her sister, and Meaghan looked back at her with amusement in her eyes. "So we can all fly!"
Daddy slightly cocked his head to the side at the insight. "Yeah, I guess we can!"
Mandy looked back out the window. It would be so cool if she really was a pixie and could fly for real. She could just imagine her feet leaving the ground, and herself souring through the air and swooping low over the treetops. They drove past a small canyon and Mandy could imagine the excitement of catching the wind and suddenly seeing the ground fall from beneath her. But she would be safe and sound on her flittery wings.
"Potty break!" Mommy interrupted Mandy's daydreaming. "Now this is the last stop before we reach Aunt Samantha's, so even if you don't think you have to go, at least try. Ok girls?"
The girls fidgeted as Daddy pulled the mini van into the rest stop and parked. "Let's clean the van out now," Daddy said. "Put any trash into this bag." Everyone gathered any trash they could find in the van and put it into the grocery bag. They climbed out and Meaghan and Daddy ran on ahead, but Mandy held back with Mommy and the bag now full of trash.
"Can you take the keys, Angel?" Daddy asked as he turned around. He tossed his keychain toward them, but not very well because it fell onto the pavement and skidded a few inches. "Sorry, Love," Daddy apologized with an embarrassed grin. Mommy sighed in frustration as she bent down to pick them up. Feeling shy with so many strangers around, Mandy took Mommy's hand as they continued their way into the rest area. They lingered for a moment by an information sign before throwing the trash away and finally using the restroom.
A few minutes later the family was heading back to the mini van and Mommy handed Daddy his keys. He fumbled a bit with them and suddenly a look of dread appeared on his face.
"Where's the car key?" he asked, looking at Mommy. She shook her head and stepped closer to take a look for herself. The car key was gone!
"When did the keychain come unscrewed?" Mommy asked.
But Daddy wasn't quite sure how to answer. "It could have been any time, I suppose. It's an old keychain."
They looked through the keys on the chain one more time before Mommy sighed. "I can't believe this! We've got to find that key!"
The girls were soon in the search for the missing key. On the street, over the paved walkway, through the grass beside the walkway, in the bathroom. No luck. But it had to be at the rest area somewhere! They were all getting more and more frustrated by the minute. Finally Mandy spoke up.
"The keychain might have come unscrewed when it fell on the ground. It fell pretty hard," she stated.
Mommy gave Daddy an annoyed look. "She's probably right."
Daddy nodded shamefully. "Ok, so it fell off after I thew it."
They looked some more for a moment when Mandy remembered something else. "Mommy was carrying the keys in one hand and the trash in the other at first, but when I took hold of her hand, she switched the trash bag to the same hand she was carrying the keys in. It might have fallen off the chain and into the trash bag."
Meaghan looked at her younger sister. "So you're saying she might have thrown it away?"
Mandy shrugged. "We can't find it anywhere else. It might be in the trash."
They returned to the information sign and the large trash barrel where Mommy had thrown the trash away. Meaghan gave a scowl of disgust at having to search through it, but Daddy was brave and reached in and managed to grab the grocery bag filled with the trash from their trip. He searched through it for a moment. "I don't see it"
"We should dump it out," Mommy suggested. "A key would be heavier than all this paper stuff. It would have made its way to the bottom."
So they dumped it out onto the pavement. Ignoring the curious glances from people that passed, the family sorted through granola bar wrappers, muffin cups, empty bottles and tissue until they found something shiny amidst it all.
"There it is!" Mandy shouted.
"And another one!" Meaghan added as she picked up a second key. "What's this one for?"
Daddy took a little shiny key from her, and stared at it in astonishment. "It's to my desk drawer at work. Wow, my job might have been in jeopardy if I had lost this one, too."
After they were sure there were no more lost keys, they started re-stuffing the bag and soon thew it back in the trash barrel. As they made their way back to the van, Daddy put his arm around Mandy's shoulders.
"Way to go, Pixie, for being so observant. Thank you!"
"You're welcome," Mandy smiled up at him.
Mommy approached Mandy's other side. "She may have your good looks," she teased Daddy as she looked into Mandy's hazel eyes. "But I think she's got my brains."
"I'm sure," Daddy humbly agreed. Mommy kissed the top of her daughter's head and snickered at her joke.
After unlocking the van, the family was soon on the road again. Mandy passed the time again by imagining herself flitering over the trees and rooftops that they drove past. About an hour later they finally pulled into Uncle Ian and Aunt Sam's driveway. A little girl suddenly dashed out of the front door of the house and down to the driveway. She jumped up and down excitedly until Mandy swung the van door open.
"Hi Kassidy!" Mandy cried as she jumped out. She gave her cousin a giant hug as her aunt and uncle joined their daughter in meeting them.
"Well, it's about time you got here!" Uncle Ian teased as he shook Daddy's hand in greeting and Mommy gave Aunt Sam a big hug.
"Sorry, we had a little hold up an hour north of here," Daddy explained. "But Mandy was using her head, and we were soon on the road again."
Aunt Sam gave Mandy a big hug from behind. "That's my niece!"
"I guess so," Mandy said bashfully.
"It proved that I need my Pixie if I'm going to fly," Daddy grinned proudly.
Both Uncle Ian and Aunt Sam gave Daddy confused looks. But Kassidy grinned.
"Can pixies swim?" she joked with her cousin. "Because we fixed up my new pool out back."
"Sure we can," Mandy played along as the family made their way into the house. "I'll just use my magic pixie dust and change into a mermaid for a few hours."
The girls giggled as they closed the door behind them, and a fun weekend had begun.

by Lynnette Dawn Chime
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The Missing Queen

It was a very hot afternoon and Grimalkin and Pixie were sitting in Pixie's aunt's living room, trying to get cool. All day they wandered around the house looking at stuff they couldn't touch until they could not stand the heat any longer. Pixie's aunt was so fussy that she wouldn't even let them go outside, for fear of bringing dirt into the house. Now they were sitting on the couch in the living room admiring a Monet water lily painting.

" I wish there was a pool around here, but we can't leave the house," said Grimalkin wiping away the sweat on her forehead. " I think we just lost four gallons of sweat." The two girls looked into the cool, blue painting, wishing they were there. They looked at each other and grinned. You see, these two girls had a secret that was not ordinary, they could jump into paintings and become a part of it! " Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Asked Pixie. "I think I'm thinking what you're thinking." answered Grimalkin. " You want to?" Grimalkin asked."Sure." answered Pixie. And they jumped into the painting. The next thing they knew, they were standing in knee deep water. "Hey Grimalkin, look at all these pearls!" exclaimed Pixie. The girls looked down and saw exquisite pink pearls amongst the lily pads. For the next 30 minutes, the duo picked up the lovely pearls. Suddenly, a dragon,
swooped downward. " What are you doing with my scales?" He asked. "I am a Lukdragon and these are my scales! When they touch water they become pearls." the Lukdragon said. " Sorry, we didn't know." said Pixie starting to cry. " I'm sorry," he said . " I didn't mean to make you cry. By the way, my name is Moon Flower, and I am in a Lukdragon tribe called The Moon Children." " Is there a village near by?" asked Grimalkin who was trying to comfort Pixie. Moon Flower nodded his head and said : " Follow me." and started off with the duo following him. When they were quite a ways away, Moon Flower asked: " What were you doing in the pond anyway; kissing frogs?" Grimalkin and Pixie were rather stunned with this question, and neither one of them spoke for quite a while. Finally, Pixie spoke with a rather displeased tone. " Actually, we were looking at your scales." she replied angrily. The rest of the journey was silent. When they arrived, the 2 girls and the Lukdragon overheard some men talking. Their voices were not that clear so they moved closer. When most of the men's conversation was clear they stopped. After listening to their discussion this is what they pieced together, they even got the name: their queen, Gramarye, has been kidnapped by an evil sorcerer whose name was Zeldore. He lives in a castle shaped like a hand. There was supposed to be a ball, but the ball was canceled because of the missing queen. " We have to do something, right?" Grimalkin said. " Of course we have to do something!" Pixie said in a-matter-of-fact way. Moon Flower was silent throughout this conversation. "Are you O.K. ?" asked Grimalkin. "Fine, just fine . Don't worry about me." Moon Flower answered. " Moon Flower, could we ride on your back because we are going to save Queen Gramarye?" asked Pixie who was becoming courageous. Moon Flower nodded and Pixie and Grimalkin jumped on his back. After a 20 minutes the trio spotted what looked like a hand. Grimalkin shuddered. "Don't be afraid girls" Moon Flower whispered. Moon Flower landed and as he did so, they heard a laugh that went straight to the bone. "Are you sure we should be doing this?" Pixie squealed. "Pixie, I'm disappointed in you! Any way, we have to do this and I know what we're doing!" said Grimalkin severely. They told Moon Flower to stay out there until they came out with Zeldore. Pixie and Grimalkin would put him on Moon Flower's back, and he would fly him to the lake and drop him in. The girls would be waiting for Moon Flower with Queen Gramarye, and the three of them would return her to her home. Pixie and Grimalkin entered the castle. There was two stair cases each leading to different places. All they knew was that while one set of stairs led to the chamber where the queen was, the other was a trap. They took the left stair case. Grimalkin and Pixie would later describe it as feeling like a stair case of doom. When they finally reached the first landing they found the Queen, and Pixie told her not to worry and that they would be back for her. These were the right stairs! At the next landing Pixie found the sorcerer. Amazingly, they had no trouble getting Zeldore onto Moon Flower's back. Grimalkin lifted Zeldore's cloak and threw it over his head. As he struggled to see, the duo pushed him on to the dragon's back. Moon Flower carried out the rest of the plan, and that took care of that. Queen Gramarye said she was in their gratitude and would do anything for them. The only thing they wanted was to know more about this Zeldore. "Zeldore use to be the King's sorcerer and wanted to be his successor but the King named the prince. After that he turned evil and has been terrorizing the country for years and he has finally been caught, thanks to you." she said. That night in celebration of the queen's return, the king held the ball after all and Pixie and Grimalkin were the guests of honor. But poor Pixie was so tired that she fell asleep in the middle of the dance floor. The next day when everyone was rested, their new friends accompanied then to the pond. They grinned as the girls waded out into the pond. As their friends waved good-bye, the duo joined hands, closed their eyes and jumped. When they opened them again, they were back in Pixie's aunt's hot, muggy living room. "Sometimes I don't think our adventures are really real." sighed Pixie. " Oh yeah!" said Grimalkin, pulling out all of the Lukdragon scales from her pocket. " Pixie, Grimalkin, where were you? I couldn't find you anywhere." said Pixie's aunt. "Nowhere Auntie, nowhere."

by Julia Silverstein (9 years old)
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