Summary: A desperate monarch makes a pact with another king that will one day force him to give his headstrong daughter to the king's harsh son. Within the castle walls lay many secrets, including a deadly curse with one year to break. Let the fairytale begin.

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Chapter Eighteen: Part Two

Adrian's servants escorted her straight to her chambers, as Lord Adrian had also been informed of the ritual his bride was using. He was unsurprised—he had suspected she would be reluctant, but otherwise was so engrossed in his plans of revenge that he remained unsuspicious.

Ana came the next day, her spirits high in an attempt to lift her friend's, but once Cecilia told her about her father's attack, she visibly seemed to shrink. "I can't believe it," she whispered. "That's so much…"

"What is?" Cecilia frowned. They were in her chambers, getting her trousseau and wedding dress ready.

"Cecy," she said, "that's also Derek's birthday. You two need to be married by that day."

Cecilia sat, her hands covering her face. "Oh, Ana, I feel like my life is out of my control now. There is so much that needs to be done… what if we fail?"

Ana shook her head sharply. "We won't," she said firmly. "And since there is much to be done, it is best we hurry, no?"

Cecilia looked at her and stood up wordlessly, nodding. "Let's go."

The plan itself was relatively simple. One of Cecilia's maids would pose as her, which would not be difficult, due to the fact that Cecilia would be concealed under a veil until the wedding. Ana brought her lady-in-waiting and cousin to pose as her. The two had frequently been mistaken as twins when they were younger and Ana hoped that because many people had not seen her yet at Lord Adrian's, they would not know any different if her cousin, Penelope, posed as her. Cecilia and Ana would, in turn, pretend to be maids. Under the guise of gathering items for the wedding, they would go to the market. From there, Ana instructed a simple carriage—not ornate, for it would give away them as royalty—to take them directly to Derek in Fraanc.

They were to leave the next morning and Ana and Cecilia thoroughly instructed their imposters what to do and how to act. With all luck, the men would not realize a difference until the wedding itself. By then, Cecilia and Ana would be long gone.

To Cecilia's great surprise, the plan went without a hitch or hiccup. She had not expected to be so lucky. The two girls slipped past the guards easily, telling them that Princess Cecilia demanded such-and-such for her bridal day. Luckily for the guards, they failed to notice the large satchels the girls carried with them or the fact that they never saw their faces. It seemed that it was infinitely easier to leave the castle than enter it.

The carriage met them at the end of the village, after they purchased various fruits and breads for their journey and the girls, after looking for prying eyes, quickly entered and the carriage was off.

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Lord Adrian grinned to himself as he and Cesario toasted their good health and victory the night before the wedding. He was almost in awe that his plans were going so well. Tomorrow, he would wed Cecilia, a beautiful, if not stubborn, maiden. In good time, she would forget about Derek. After all, he thought to himself, nothing lasts forever, not even true love.

"My good man," began Lord Adrian, for he had a surprise for his ally, "I have someone I would like to introduce to you. He will be an invaluable resource in the upcoming battle, I am sure."

Cesario perked up. "By all means," he said, with a wave of his noble hand, "let us meet such an ally."

Adrian smirked and opened the door. "King Cesario of Italle," he said graciously, "may I introduce my father," a black cape swept over his shoulder, his eyes icy and blue, the darkly handsome man walked into to the room, "the Dark Mage?"

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Derek put his head in his hands. "I can't believe I let time slip away from me like this," he moaned. "How can it be the day before my birthday?"

Marguerite sighed miserably, feeling the urge to cry. She could hardly stand to see her son so forlorn and miserable.

"There's not much I can do now," Derek said bitterly. "Cecilia is hundreds of miles away and I have no plan, no resources, no nothing." He looked at his mother. "Rafe is still here, correct?"

Marguerite smiled at her son's forgetfulness. "Yes, dear. You saw him at dinner, remember?"

Derek sighed, giving himself a self-deprecating smile. "True." His eyes turned somber again. "May I… may I have some time alone, Mother? I just… I just need to think."

Giving her son a kiss on the head, Marguerite murmured, "Of course," and left the room. Closing the door behind her, she ran into someone. "Pardon me," she exclaimed.

"Oh, no," said the voice, and she could hear the humor in it, "pardon me. I was so excited to reach my destination that I did not see where I was going."

Marguerite gasped. "Does he know?"

"I am on my way to see him now," returned the voice. "So if you will excuse me, my dear Queen Marguerite?"

The two embraced, Marguerite laughing through her tears of joy, and let the other woman enter.

Derek, his head still in his hands, said tiredly, "Mother, please. Just… a few more minutes. Please?"

Two warm arms wrapped around him and he stiffened. "Are you sure you don't want some company?" asked a frighteningly familiar voice, her tone conversational and domestic. "I worry about you, darling. Have you been working too hard again?"

"Cecily?" Croaked Derek, turning around, and seeing that his True One was not a figment of imagination, he leapt out of his chair and, taking her into his arms, spun her around, laughing. "I can't believe this! How did you… what?"

Cecilia laughed, kissing him impulsively. "Ana and I escaped! I figured that you had enough to worry about here, so I thought that I might as well come to you."

"Clever girl," he said, holding her in his arms, looking appreciatively on his love. "Oh, Cecily, I missed you." He bent his head down, kissing her properly. She released a small, content sigh, and wrapped her arms around his neck, relishing in the feel of him, the security she felt in his arms.

They broke the kiss. "I missed you, too," she said, reluctantly stepping out of his arms. Holding out her hand, she said, "And I have one last surprise for you. So if you'll come with me?"

He took her hand without hesitation. He would go to the end of the world with her.

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The morning of Spring solstice dawned bright and clear. Cesario straightened his clothes, humming a merry tune. Oh, victory would be sweet. His eldest daughter married to a respectable and human man, his enemy vanquished and heartbroken, and overall, victorious. The troops had been dispatched that morning and in a matter of hours would be marching onto Freench soil.

A small voice whispered in his mind that perhaps he was making a mistake. The only thing he was doing was alienating his daughter and heir, destroying an entire kingdom, and losing was inevitable.

But Cesario brushed it away as he adjusted his boots. A small trickle of a frown, however, lingered.

He walked towards the small chapel that Adrian had in his home. Adrian's father, the Dark Mage (Cesario shuddered. He wasn't so sure what he thought about that,) and Adrian were already there. Cecilia and Ana weren't down yet. Where were those two?

The imposters were giggling away up in Cecilia's rooms as they spun in their finery. Grace, Cecilia's maid, spun around in the shimmering white silk gown. Cecilia herself cared not a whit about the dress—what was the point, when she would be wearing it for a man she hated?—and let the seamstress put as many frills and bows on it as she desired. The end result left Grace looking as extravagant as one could imagine. Taffeta, satin, and tulle adorned the once simple silk dress. Cecilia abhorred it but Grace, not used to such finery, adored it. Her veil was long and somewhat sheer, the ends outlined in satin bows. Penelope, Ana's imposter, wore a much more simple dress in dark blue, and had a matching veil as well. The two girls were looking forward to their roles, unconcerned with the danger. It was all so thrilling and exciting, participating in an epic, romantic plot of forbidden love.

Those thoughts in their head, the two girls went down to the chapel. Stopping at the door, their giggles ceased and they became solemn. How long would it take for no one to know?

Penelope walked down the aisle first with a random best man of Adrian's. Taking her place at the end, she glanced at Adrian. He was quite handsome, she thought, but something in his eyes wasn't quite right. She shivered.

Grace took Cesario's arm and came down next. She felt uneasy. She felt for the first time that perhaps she was betraying her liege. But, technically, she obeyed Cecilia, as Cesario had first instructed her when she first became Cecilia's lady-in-waiting.

Once everyone was settled, the priest began and soon came the time when Adrian went to lift Grace's veil.

The moment he saw her face, he let out a horrendous yell. "Cesario!" He demanded. "What in the hell is this?"

Cesario frowned and grabbed Grace roughly by the shoulder. She cried out and once he saw it wasn't his daughter, he promptly slapped Grace, who spun to the ground. "Where is my daughter?" He thundered.

Grace, feeling as bold as her mistress, shot the man a venomous glare. "Far away from you," she spat. "She is Frannc, with her true love, Derek."

Cesario rounded on Penelope. "Is this true, princess?"

Tearing off her veil, Penelope gave a smirk. "It certainly is. And I am no princess."

"Both of them!" yelled Adrian with a strangled growl. "Gone!"

His father, who had stood silent the entire time, now spoke. "Do not worry, my son," he said, an evil smirk curling about his lips. "We shall get her back." Grabbing his son by his robes, the two disappeared in a shock of black smoke.

Cesario's color drained. "Oh my god," he whispered. "The troops are heading straight for her. CALL OFF THE ATTACK!" he began to yell as he sprinted from the room. "Call it off! My daughter is there!"

Iago stopped him. "It is too late, my liege," he said. "They are already in Fraanc."

"No," whispered Cesario, seemingly oblivious to the tear running down his cheek.

In a moment, the tear was gone, and Cesario's face hardened. "I need some help," he muttered and sprinted off to find a stolen, little book.

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Miles away, Cesario and Adrian's troops reached Pareis. Derek and Tristàn's troops stood strong outside, waiting. Tristàn felt sick.

"Some of those men will be fighting their comrades," he muttered, his heart breaking for his people. "It is like a civil war."

Cecilia laid a comforting hand on Tristàn's shoulder. "I have heard that most of his troops come from imported Russhans, on his mother's side," she told him. "The only ones loyal to Adrian are ones who have obviously betrayed you, dear friend. With all good luck, the battle and the war will be over tonight."

Seeing his friend's hopeful face, Tristàn did not have the will to refuse her. "Perhaps you are right," was all he said.

Tristàn left then, giving his sister a tight hug, as he went to join Derek outside. Nervous, Ana, Cecilia, and Marguerite were to be kept safely cocooned inside, snaking through secret passageways and tunnels to remain safe and hidden.

Fate, however, had different ideas. "Well, my little princess," said a deep, darkly seductive voice. "You thought you could hide forever, did you?"

Whirling around, the three women gasped in horror. Standing before them were Adrian, and his father, the Dark Mage.

"Ay dios mio," whispered Ana. She knew who this was.

Cecilia swallowed. "What do you want?"

"Isn't the answer simple, darling?" Adrian asked rhetorically, slowing pacing around the room as a jaguar would its prey. His father stood completely still, his hands clasped behind his back, his stance wide and regal. "You. You have caused me a great deal of humiliation and consternation these past few months, but there is something about you, mi amor, something that draws me to you. Is it your indescribable beauty?" he looked at his father, who made a sudden motion and Cecilia was swept across the room, her arm in the tight grasp of both Adrian and his father. "Or is it simply your bargaining value?"

Cecilia began to struggle but to no avail.

Adrian shrugged. "To your credit, I'm going to have to say both." In a blink of an eye, the two men and Cecilia were gone.

Marguerite clamped a hand to her mouth in attempt to keep the tears and bile at bay. Would tragedy ever let her family go free?

The next time Cecilia blinked, she was free floating, at least fifty meters in the air. The battle had just commenced, she realized, but she found the Dark Mage (the Dark Mage!) next to her bellow, "HALT!"

Despite the sea of silver armor that assaulted her vision, Cecilia immediately spotted Derek, who was riding high on his horse, a dark blue cape strapped about his shoulders. His sword was out, slashing through the enemy. At the Mage's bellow, he stopped.

She knew the moment Derek spotted her. The raw fear she felt emanating from him scared her.

"Derek of Fraanc," boomed the Dark Mage.

Cecilia winced.

"Your family has ruined the lives and futures of those whom I hold dear. I think that it is only fair that I take the future of one whom you hold dear. Of course…" here his oily smile returned, "I am willing to negotiate."

Derek growled, though his body was still and tense as he deliberated silently. Finally, "Name your price," shouted Derek hoarsely, his heart pounding. Ilario, by his side, snarled menacingly up at the evil duo. On his part, Derek could not believe that he had been so naïve as to think that his troubles were nearly over, that his reunion with Cecilia would pave the way to better things. He was wrong.

The Mage's smile grew. "Your life," he spat out.

As Derek opened his mouth to answer, it seemed as if the sun exploded, for a huge ray of light beamed upon the people, and with a splash of stardust, the Enchantress appeared, floating above the ground and looking dangerously at the Dark Mage.

Last Edited: 6/29/10