Hey, as you all know I've taken over this story. I am very excited to do this. As some of you know this is my FIRST FF, EVER. And I hope you guys like it. I love both The Swan Princess and LWD. I think they mesh perfectly together. Please be nice but if you think thing like my characterization is off or something, PLEASE let me know. I like to stay as close as I can to the characters as I can. No matter how far from there normal settings they maybe. Please enjoy!



1. Prologue

Long ago, there were two peaceful kingdoms of which the kings and queens were great friends.

So when one of the queens, Queen Abby, became pregnant, there was great rejoicing in both kingdoms. But the rejoicing was short lived; for on the day of their great hunt, King George, her husband was killed by a stray arrow.

At the news the two kingdoms were filled with sorrow. They loved their kind and generous king. But the sadness was eased by the birth of a baby boy named Prince Derek, after his father's middle name. They were so happy people came from miles around to see the new prince and future king.

It wasn't long till Queen Nora discovered that she was pregnant. She and her husband, King Dennis, were the happiest couple on the face of the planet. There was rejoicing in the kingdoms once again. People from all around were sending gifts and good wishes.

On the day that Queen Nora gave birth to a beautiful little girl named Princess Cassandra, once again the families and kingdoms were struck by heartache as Queen Nora died of a complication in childbirth..

When Queen Abby heard this news she immediately packed up her belongings, as well as Prince Derek, and left to soothe her friend in his time of need.

When she arrived, she and King Dennis began discussing what they were going to. He had no heir to his throne because in those days women could not
rule unmarried. It was unheard of and strictly forbidden.

So he and Queen Abby tried to think of who might be a possible suitor for his very young daughter. He never thought he would be thinking about this so early in his daughter's life but he really had no choice.

While they were discussing the situation, they both came upon the same idea. They would have their children be betrothed and join their kingdoms forever.

But there was one catch, if they did not fall in love the marriage was off and their kingdoms would not join. For they had a rule that if there is a betrothal and one or both people in question do not want the engagement it is null and void.

So they decided that if they would have them spend every summer together until Princess Cassandra turned , in hopes that Derek and Cassandra would fall in love.

One thing they decided was that they would wait until Cassandra was five years old. King Dennis needed time to reunite his very sad nation, as did Queen Abby.

So they spent the next five years rebuilding both their countries. And Derek and Casey, who didn't like people calling her by her full name, started to grow and change. Her hair was light brown with beautiful blue eyes. Her father would tell her the older she got the bluer they became.

Derek was growing into a young warrior. Even being only 6 years old he had become a great rider and an amazing marksman. He could hit a moving target
from fifty feet away.

Casey's father and Derek's mother had told them since they were old enough to understand that they were betrothed to each other. They had never met and were not happy about this ordeal. They didn't want to have their futures decided for them. They thought they could do much better and no matter what they would not fall in love.

It was late May and the day they were to finally meet. They were on their way to Queen Abby's castle. Princess Casey had begged and pleaded for her father to call the betrothal off and let her stay home.

"Father, please, don't make me do this. I want to stay home with my friends and people I know. Not with this kid you keep talking about.." She looked up at him with
her big beautiful blue eyes that she used to get everything she wants. But he wasn't going to give in this time so she sighed and sulked in her set.

I will never like him, she said over and over again in her head. She refused to have fun or give him a chance.

Little did she know that Derek was in kind of the same boat.

"Mother, why is she coming? I don't want her to. I won't be able to spend time with any of my friends, she'll ruin everything!" He said dramatically and threw himself on his bed and sulked.

About an hour later, his mother sent her closest adviser, Paul, to tell Derek they would be here any minute.

"Prince Derek?" Paul said in a soft yet steady tone.

"What?" Derek barked angrily.

"Your mother told me to tell you to come see her. King Dennis and Princess Cassandra should be here shortly."

Derek sighed and said, "Fine I'll be there soon." And with that Paul disappeared into the hall.

"Cassandra?" Her father said shaking her slightly.

"Hm?" She said as she woke up.

"We're almost there, honey." It started to all come back to her. While she was sleeping all her troubles went away and she had almost forgotten them. But when her father woke her up it all came flooding back to her. And she was once again sad and homesick.

Derek's mother made him dress in formal attire. He wasn't happy; he wanted to have fun and run around in the dirt not have to keep his hair perfect for some girl he didn't even know. It was unfair and not his idea of fun.

As Casey and her father pooled up in front of the castle she got butterflies in her stomach. She didn't know what to expect. She was scared to spend a whole summer away from her friends and her home. But this was it. She was about to meet her betrothed and she was only five.

They pool up and Derek started having butterflies in his stomach. He was about to meet the girl that he's been hearing about forever. The one he was betrothed to. He was only six and felt like he had no control over his own future.

Just then, a man got out of the carriage. He opened the door to reveal a small girl and her strongly-built father.

Derek was very taken by her. He thought she was quite beautiful. Her eyes were beautiful. Piercing, almost.

Whatever the case though, he wouldn't fall in love with her. Six year old boys do not fall in love. They chase girls, is all. He wanted to continue doing just that. Not... Whatever this was. This wasn't his idea of fun.

Casey's father picked her up and placed her feet on the ground. Casey fixed her little pink dress and then looked up. In front of her was a queen who seemed nice and a boy about her age who she thought looked conceited. She knew this wasn't what her idea of fun is.


Please review even though you might already have. They make write faster, even though I would update without them they make me want to write more. =)