A/N: I do not own Ella Enchanted or any of its characters.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Liana

Prologue

I smiled to myself as I looked out my bedroom window. It was truly beautiful outside. The flowers were just now blooming, and there was the gorgeous sunshine of an early afternoon in spring that dazzled my eyes. Mama and Papa would be home soon, and then we'd have dinner and go out for a ride in the meadow behind our manor. Everything would be just like old times.

I couldn't wait to tell them about how I'd beaten Eric at fencing, or how I'm now learning Gnomic, and I'd found a new fort behind the willow tree earlier this month! There sure were lots of things to tell them since I hadn't seen them since my seventh birthday a year ago. I hoped they'd bring me lots of pretty things from Ayorthia, where they had stayed for a year.

"Where has that child gotten to? LIANA?!" I heard the scream from my nanny, Addy. I must be in big trouble or she wouldn't be screaming. I suddenly remembered that I was supposed to be downstairs, all dressed up with my best blue ribbon in my hair. I quickly scanned my room for the bow. I scurried fell on my lavish four poster bed, lifted and lifted the mattress up.

"Aha!" I whispered to myself. I swiftly pulled up my hair and tied it. There, that would have to do, I thought to myself, examining my appearance in the mirror on my wall. My tight ebony curls framed my distinct face. Mama always said I had "high cheek bones, full lips, and big eyes." I think that's a compliment, but I always thought my head was too big for my body.

"There you are, you minx! Why do you always have to make trouble on the most inconvenient days?" Addy, my nanny, had appeared in the doorway, huffing and puffing in all her glory. She had a normally kind face, and gray hair that was always pulled up in a bun. Today it looked extremely tight, and her eyes blazed and flashed. I swear I saw steam come out of her ears. "Why are you always so inconvenient?" she asked again. I didn't know what convenient meant, and she looked to mad to ask anyway, so I didn't say anything. "Your parents will be here in less than fifteen minutes! Why are you standing there blankly? Get downstairs!"

She disappeared from the doorway and I could hear her running down the stairs, shouting orders to the servants. I took one quick look at my mirror, thinking I'm not going to get any better looking standing here . . ., and scurried downstairs to wait for my parents.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I was toying with my hair when the messenger rode up. I had been standing outside in the courtyard with the whole staff waiting for their arrival for so long I could no longer feel my feet. We had been waiting and waiting, but no one ever showed up.

"Madame?" the messenger said stiffly, talking to Addy. "Message from the Lord Aimond of Ayorthia who sends his best wishes." And then he rode off. Addy quickly opened the letter before gasping and dropping it to the ground, tears pouring silently down her round cheeks. I picked it up, and though I couldn't read it, I got the idea. My parents were gone, and not coming back.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is my first fan fiction, and it's got kind of lame plot . . . but it'll get better. PLEASE REVIEW!!

amelia