I figured since Chapter 1, which is really more of a prologue, is ridiculously short I'd post a bit more.

Again, if you recognize it, it's not mine.

Chapter 2

Now over the years Princess Sarah had grown into a lady unlike any other. A curious person by nature, Sarah longed to know about everything. The isolated castle and the grounds around it presented the perfect opportunity for the princess to gain such knowledge. By the end of her second year she knew everything there was to know about the rocks and masonry of the castle. However, when it came to social skills, the Princess was lacking. Though she had the company of her friend Lady Delia and her cow-nurse, it was not enough for a princess, particularly one who needed to find love.

This presented another problem for Sarah; she did not know what romantic love truly was. Yes, she had seen the cordiality her parents displayed around each other, but that's where it ended. And the love shown in the tales of romance Sarah had desperately scoured over countless times? Well, she didn't believe it. The princess could not see how this kind of death-defying love could spout overnight; it did not seem logical. Now most people sharing Sarah's opinion may have simply given up on love and settled for something less. However, Sarah could not give up. Her country's fate and her only chance at living a somewhat normal life depended on finding true love. This proved to be quite a problem for the princess.

Sarah was pondering just this on a particularly gloomy day when she heard a knock at the door. As usual Lady Delia barged in without waiting for the princess's response. Delia's boldness had been apparent even at an early age. Perhaps her parents had agreed to let Delia go with the princess with hopes that the isolation would rid their daughter of this unlady-like quality. The opposite had occurred. Years of being around royalty and being relied on as said royalty's only link to the outside world had emboldened Delia even more. While Delia's stories and escapades may have overwhelmed many people, most people were not as curious as Sarah, who took in Delia's admittedly long-winded and occasionally colorful diatribes about the outside world with a certain amount of amusement.

"A man came by today," Delia stated without preamble. "He brought this letter for you." Sarah took the letter with the familiar royal seal from Delia with surprise. It was much too early for her mother's quarterly letter about the court affairs.

"Well are you going to open it?" Delia asked. The curious gleam in her eyes reminded Sarah why they had become friends so long ago.

"I'm getting to it," Sarah replied. She would not be rushed. Letters from the court were rare, and although she knew her mother's courtly letters were written for the sake of duty, she tried to imagine there was real affection behind them and treasured each one. This unexpected letter was no different. Ignoring Delia's huffs of impatience, Sarah slowly opened the envelope. She was surprised to see the letter was written in her father's spidery script instead of her mother's careful calligraphy. Delia noticed her surprise and jumped on the bed next to Sarah.

"Well, what does it say?"

Sarah spared Delia an annoyed glance before turning to her father's letter.

My dear daughter,

It has come to my attention that your eighteenth birthday is approaching. I send my congratulations for this and I am sure you have become an exceptional lady... (He went on to describe the qualities of womanhood he was sure she had attained, none of which she had since the closest thing Princess Sarah had to a governess had hooves.) Under normal circumstances the queen and I would be presenting you to society in order to obtain a suitor at this time. Because of your unique situation this is not possible. However, this will not deter us from finding you a proper husband. Within a week of this letter, a succession of suitors aware of your predicament will come to call. They are all exceptional men in their own right and are most certainly fit to inherit the throne. It is my expectation that you will select one to become your husband and break the Heratic curse. If you cannot find a suitable man to break this curse, I am afraid I must look to the future of the kingdom and begin your cousin Lord Matthew's instruction on the ways of the king. Of course, I am sure this will be unnecessary with the suitors I have sent your way. I look forward to seeing you and my future heir at the winter festivities.

Your father,

King Byron

Sarah dropped the letter and left the room without another word. She sped down the spiral staircase and out the doors leading to the courtyard. She kept on walking until the castle was a speck and she was surrounded by open fields.

Sarah slumped to her knees and buried her face in her hands. If she were a normal princess her situation would not be so difficult. She would simply pick the most agreeable of the men her father sent and present him as her husband at the court's winter festival.

However, her curse made things more difficult. There had to be true love between her and her suitor for there to even be a chance at breaking the curse. Sarah's father never bothered to become acquainted with his daughter. How would he know the type of man she could come to love? He most likely sent men of rank whose confidence and ambitions to rise higher overrode their fear of confronting a goddess. And in such a short amount of time! Sarah knew nothing of true love. Now she had to find a man who was willing to face a goddess' wrath in little over half a year's time. It seemed impossible! Yet her father's threat of what would happen if she did not succeed rang clear. She would be disinherited in favor of her cousin and would most likely be forgotten in her secluded castle.

Sarah then did something she had not done since her first year at the castle: she cried. These were not the graceful tears of a damsel in distress or a maid about to meet her fairy godmother. These were the tears of a person realizing that her last hope to returning to her rightful place was now so far away it would be near impossible to reach.

In most stories the cries of the heroine are eventually silenced by sleep. If only Sarah could have been so lucky. Her mind was far too occupied with the letter's contents for sleep to arrive. She wished she could have fallen asleep. One always felt a bit better after rest. Instead, Sarah sat in the grass as the sky got darker and the air cooler. She dreaded her inevitable trek back to the castle. Although she was relieved to know she would not have to tell Delia the letter's news (Delia was not one to wait for permission to read Sarah's letters), she was dreading the advice and encouragement her friend was sure to offer. So instead she sat in the grass and tried to ignore the increasingly cool wind that her cotton dress did nothing to block.

Finally Sarah gave in to her need for warmth and walked back to the castle. However instead of heading inside where she knew Delia was waiting, Sarah entered the stable. Even as a cow the princess' old nurse never failed to be a source of comfort for the girl. Just as Sarah expected, Tracy was waiting for her with concern evident in her large eyes. (Sarah was sure Delia had filled Tracy in.) One nice thing about cows was their inability to talk. Sarah sank down, leaning against Tracy for support. Words were not necessary between these two (she chose to ignore the fact that words were impossible for her companion). This is how Sarah eventually fell asleep.