A/N: Wow, I'm overwhelmed with the reviews! But before that: The Disclaimers: Everything from Ella Enchanted is owned by the great Gail Carson Levine. I wouldn't even think of stealing from her. I, however, do own the rest that is not mentioned in the book. That is all. Keep reviewing and enjoy!

Two

If there's one thing Jerric couldn't stand, it's being the center of attention. Unfortunately, a small group of well-wishers had already assembled in front of the castle to see him off. As much as he was almost reluctant to leave, he couldn't wait to jump onto the carriage, away from eyes of the crowd.

As soon as the last piece of luggage was brought in the coach, the members of his family took turns in saying their goodbyes one by one.

The first was Charmaine. "I'd like a pwetty pink unicone." she whispered in his ear. "Mama thaid I thouldn't be athking you to bwing me thomething, but I weally want one. If you'll give me one, I pwomise I'll be a vewy good little pwintheth."

Jerric tweaked her button-nose. "I'm not sure if there's a pink unicorn in Ayortha, but I'll try."

The twins said their goodbyes, and secretly hinted at the latter part that they both wanted swords of their own (even if King Char had mentioned that there would be no swords nor daggers for them until they reach fifteen.)

Elaine, who was the spitting image of their mother, said nothing. She just gave her brother a hug and a pat on the back.

"What would you like me to bring home for you, dear sister of mine?"

"You know I'm too old for that." she said wryly.

Before he could comment on this, a huge barrel of Tonic was suddenly thrust into his arms.

"I could've given you a year's supply, but I pity the horses that would take you to Ayortha." Mandy, the cook and his fairy godmother, said jokingly. "Once in three days should do the trick."

He nodded, handing the barrel over to the coachman. "Thank you, Mandy." He actually liked Tonic, even if it felt slimy down his throat. That is, if he didn't have to take it everyday.

Beside her, his parents handed him a wrapped package.

"Something to remember us by." Queen Ella said.

He shook it. It felt solid hard. "Is this a book?" he guessed.

The queen smiled secretively. "Not just any ordinary book. It's fairy book. Mandy gave it to me when I was a little younger than you are now. Don't worry," she added, upon seeing the uncertain look flicker in his eye. "It grows on you."

"But it's a loan though." King Char put in before he could speak. "I haven't seen Ella part from it since."

The queen elbowed Char playfully in the ribs. "I did so!"

The king raised an eyebrow, implying that he didn't believe it.

"Okay, so maybe just once… twice. But still!" Turning to Jerric, she advised, "Just take good care of it and don't show it to anyone. And yes," she lowered her voice in mock discretion. "It is a loan."

Jerric laughed. His mother always had that effect in people. "Don't worry. I will take care of this."

Beside his parents stood Jacqueline. Jerric didn't want to give the people more speculations, so he made the goodbye quick.

"Milady, what do want me to bring for you from Ayortha?" he asked formally, but his eyes laughed as if they shared a secret they themselves could only understand.

Jacqueline shook her head playfully. "Nothing, Your Highness. Just come back in one piece."

He nodded. Then, he turned to his parents, whose faces betrayed a hint of mirth upon watching his conversation with Jacqueline. He bowed respectfully. "I'll see you all in a year."

After last minute reminders were repeated (to which Jerric moaned that he wasn't a child anymore), he turned to the small crowd at the gate and bowed as an acknowledgement to their presence. Then, he boarded the carriage and left for Ayortha.

The trip was fairly insignificant and dull. Probably the most exciting thing that happened was when the coach passed by the Elves' Forest and chanced upon some elves arguing with a group of merchants over an intricately carved spoon.

The weather grew colder as they neared Ayortha. After a few days, it began to snow. Jerric was glad that he had anticipated this and brought with him a couple of heavy clothing to keep him warm on the trip.

They reached the Ayorthaian border in less than a week. Looking out of the window, Jerric was struck with a feeling of loneliness. The kingdom was indeed beautiful, blanketed in snow, but there was something missing. Even if the passing Ayorthaians smiled at him, a foreigner, their eyes betrayed a certain tiredness and pain. There was one incident when they got lost and had to stop to ask a vendor for directions to the castle. At first the old woman seemed friendly enough, but upon hearing the word "castle", her face darkened and her speech became abrupt and cold.

Jerric was pondering about the reaction of the old woman when they suddenly stopped in front of a majestic castle. They had finally arrived. A few moments later, the coachman hurried to help his master out of the coach.

The great castle door flew open as soon as he stepped into the snow. From it, the servants rushed out in a flurry, most probably out to greet him. He was about to raise a hand to stop them, as he didn't want to make a big deal of his arrival, when they suddenly formed a straight line from the door to his carriage. He could only watch in dumb wonder as the queen finally stepped out of the castle and glided regally in the middle of the formed line.

What was the best way to describe the queen? First, he noticed, was that she glided, not walked. She wore a thick fur cape and a glittering black gown underneath it, which was the most extravagant piece of clothing he had ever seen even in Kyrria. She was utterly beautiful. He couldn't quite put a finger to it, but even so, her beauty was in contrast to Jacqueline's. Whereas the countess' was all light, hers was somewhat dark. He didn't know what made him think it. Perhaps, it was the clothing, or perhaps she seemed too perfect to be true. Nevertheless, both of them had the same effect on people. They wouldn't know what hit them.

"Emmarve! Apiffa orunto upu anja ubensu!" It was a wonder how the queen managed to curtsy successfully without tripping on her clothing.

He had known enough Ayorthaian by his tutor to understand what she was saying. It was: "Welcome! We are honoured to have met you." Or something to that extent.

He bowed and replied in kind. The queen then took his arm and ushered him inside. "This is your home for now, feel free to ask for whatever you wish. The servants are at your disposal." she cooed in Ayorthaian.

But seeing the servants' hardened eyes made him feel otherwise.

The castle had never been in such flurry of activity.

"I don't know why Her Highness had to put on airs just for a prince's stay. She's the ruler of all Ayortha. She managed to rob the people blind so why hide her true colours from a visiting prince?" Soleil muttered to her friend, Amara. They had been scrubbing the floors for hours and still it hasn't been deemed shiny enough.

Amara stopped scrubbing for a moment to look at her gently. "Why do you hide behind the dirt and the servant's garb when you are truly royal?"

Soleil looked up at herself to the mirrored walls in front of her. Staring back at her was a dirty little nobody, whose skin was streaked with dust, successfully concealing the whiteness beneath. Her long curly midnight hair would have looked lovely on any other person. Years of neglect had made it as wild as an overgrown abandoned garden. Her lips, which were once as red as a rose in full bloom now looked as pale as her skin because of fatigue. In short, she was not a pretty sight.

Yet, if someone really looked closely, he would see that there was a certain fire in her dark blue eyes and a grace in her actions that made her stand out from the other servants.

Why was she really hiding behind this façade? She knew the answer to this question. Because nothing would change. Everyone was scared of her stepmother because of the rumour that she practiced dark magic. None even tried to stand up against her so what chance does she have against her? She sighed. "Everyone's scared of her, even me. That's why it's better to stay this way."

Amara snapped her fingers as if her answer had proven her point. "Exactly. It's the same with her. You see, Ayortha may be a big place, but Kyrria is more powerful. If the rulers of Kyrria decided to wage war against us, Queen Avila knows she would be squashed like a bug. She knows that the people, although they follow her, wouldn't actually support her. She, too, is scared of Kyrria, but she'll be too proud to admit it."

"Let them wage war, I say!" Soleil laughed grimly, raising her wet rag as if it were a sword. Then, she sobered up. "I met the king and queen of Kyrria once. Long, long ago. I couldn't remember much, except how they looked and that they were very nice."

The conversation was cut short when they heard the sound of hooves pounding outside. The prince had arrived. The servants started panicking and cleaning up the remnants of their work. In the midst of it all, a shrill voice sliced through the air from on top of the staircase. "What are you stupid people doing! Hurry up and greet the prince!" Queen Avila shrieked.

"B-but… it's too cold…" one servant reasoned. She looked down to her ragged garments.

The queen turned her icy violet eyes at the one who had spoken. "You will not question me, wench!"

The servants lowered their heads meekly and scrambled outside to form a straight line. Soleil was pushed nearer to the carriage because nobody wanted to be too far from the door. The farther one was, the longer she would be staying outside when they would finally be admitted in. It really was extremely cold, and the blasting wind was not making it easier for them. Her teeth chattered.

When they had finally settled and the queen began to make her debut entrance, Soleil took that opportunity to observe the prince. Her first thought was, he looked like his mother. Queen Ella of Kyrria. They had the same dark hair and green eyes. But upon closer scrutiny, she realized that he also looked like King Char. They had the same freckled nose and swarthy skin. She wondered if he was just as nice, but ever since her father died, she began hating all royalty, thinking them to be as bad as her stepmother. King Char and Queen Ella had been an exception, but she was very young when she had last seen them so she didn't know whether or not they had changed their attitude by now.

She couldn't hear what Queen Avila was saying to the prince. However, she noticed that she appeared to be all coy and kittenish. She realized with a start that she was flirting with the prince. Involuntarily, she made a face. The queen didn't look it, but she was almost twice his elder! She saw Amara, from across her, making the same disgusted face.

But then, it might be a good thing, she wanted to tell Amara. Perhaps with a new preoccupation, the queen wouldn't be as sadistic.

She had this new hope in her when they were finally told to come back inside.