~*~ Chapter 2 ~*~

"So here I am, and I am so flustered, I don't know what to do," Liz finished telling her story and looked at Cinderella. Her older friend was very good with advice, especially over tea. She didn't seem too sociable normally, but for some unexplained reason, she and Elizabeth had taken to each other when Elizabeth was just a toddler.

"Well, what is the problem exactly?"

"Well, I think I . . . perhaps . . . I'm not quite sure," Liz was a White. She knew, but she didn't understand, didn't know how to put it into words.

"You think perhaps you what?" Cinderella asked her. After a long pause, she decided to help Liz out. "Elizabeth, do you believe in love at first sight?"

Liz sighed. "Yes . . . How do you always know?"

"I can see it in your eyes. You have a very expressive face, you know. It doesn't take a genius to figure out when a White has fallen in love," with that Cinderella smiled at her, but Liz just blushed and looked at her distorted reflection in the silver tea pitcher.

"But there's more to it, is there not?" she asked Liz.

"Yes, there is."

"Well go on, child. I'm not getting any younger."

"Well, I'm known as Snow White's great-granddaughter, and that's perfectly fine, but no one really knows me as anyone else. I want to be remembered. How can I do that? I can't do anything important, and I just . . . I don't know. I feel overshadowed by my family. Every generation has been so memorable. And look at my name. Elizabeth. That certainly sticks out in your mind, doesn't it?"

"Oh, Elizabeth, it's not your name that matters. It's the person that makes the name, not the name that makes the person."

"I know, but it undoubtedly won't help me at all. I want to stand out. Be noticed. Like you were at the ball when you met the prince. Or shall I say King? Well, it doesn't really matter. I'll just go on like I always do. But, besides that, you're the only one that really knows me. That really understands me, and I . . . David, and Ethan, and Stratton are great, but I can't be oblivious to the fact that I can't talk to them about anything. They don't understand. And, Cinderella, Charles is going to be gone by the time I get back."

"Don't worry Elizabeth. If it's meant to be, it will work out."

"Cinderella, do you think . . . Oh, no, he would never . . . But it would be terribly interesting . . . But then again . . . Although I usually get my way . . . Of course, I don't quite . . ."

"Liz? Would it help if you spoke in complete sentences? To me?"

"Oh, yes, I'm awfully sorry. I was just thinking, it would be great fun to visit this place called New York. Oh, and I would utterly adore school. I'm sure of it! Do you think I could talk Father into letting me stay there for a while? Maybe Virginia, and Wolf, and David could come with me and we could stay at the house they own there."

"Well, I don't think he would like it, but if you're certain this is what you'd want, then you'd most likely get it. But don't let me talk you into talking him into it. I don't particularly love the idea myself. Although, it might be a very good experience for you. Hmmm . . . I would advise you to speak to Virginia about New York, and school, and if you are positive it's what you want, then you could try to talk to King Wendell. If you speak calmly and assure him that you've thought it through, and that it would be a good thing for you, he just might allow it."

"Oh, do you think so, Cinderella? That would be so divine. School, and New York, and Chas. Terribly wonderful."

"Well, you had better get going, hadn't you?"

"Oh, thank you, Cinderella! Goodbye!" Liz called as she hurried out of the room.

Cinderella watched her go, and hoped that Elizabeth would get her wish, and her love. She hoped also that she wouldn't have too much trouble on the way.

~*~

On her way back to her father's kingdom, Liz began to think about why this had to happen to her, and so quickly. Chas just had to come and ruin everything, didn't he? She wanted to go to the 10th Kingdom, but how would she prove to her father that it was a good thing for her? How would she prove to herself that it was a good thing for her? She knew she wanted to do this, but she wasn't sure why. Was it really such a bad thing to be formal? A personal maid did sound nice. Not that she couldn't do anything she wanted to. King Wendell said she would argue with a brick wall. Which didn't make any sense to her. He also said that she could persuade a troll to burn up their best pair of shoes. She didn't understand that well, either. Everyone knew that trolls didn't exist anymore, right?

When they finally got to Wolf and Virginia's Bed-n-Breakfast, Liz told the coachman to go straight to the palace without her. The kindly old man, still very bewildered, obeyed her reluctantly. Liz stepped up to the door and knocked, knowing that David wouldn't be there, for she could hear his basketball.

Opening the door, Tony looked at Liz in surprise, but Liz was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn't even notice that he was there.

"Hey Liz!"

"Tony! Hello! May I speak with you? I was thinking about something, and I might need a little help," she asked, smiling at him innocently.

"Uh-oh. Thinking again? Don't hurt yourself," he said teasingly.

"Honestly, Tony, I really need help. Puh--lea--se?" she looked at him with the puppy-dog face Wolf had just taught her to make.

"WOLF!"

Wolf walked in, looking like he knew he was probably in trouble. "Hi Tony," he said, smiling at him innocently.

"So you taught her that one, too, didn't you? And that pathetic little puppy face, didn't you?"

Wolf scratched the side of his head and said, "Huff puff, I don't know what you're talking about, Tony. Have you seen David lately? You should go talk to him." He laughed nervously, a sure sign that he was lying.

"Oh, get outta here."

"No, wait Wolf! Could you please stay? I might need your help, too. Is Virginia home?"

"Nope, my little lambkins isn't back yet, but she should be back soon." As he said this, Wolf's wife, Virginia, stepped in the door. "There's my little porkchop!" Wolf said as he went to greet her.

"Hi everyone. Elizabeth did you know Wendell is looking everywhere for you? Your parents are worried," Virginia scolded.

"No, I didn't know, but the coachman ought to be back by now. He knows where I am."

"Well, just the same, we should send David down to tell them," Virginia remarked.

"What a wonderful idea, Sweetums! I'll go tell him," Wolf said, on his way out the door. He was always ready to do anything for Virginia.

~*~

"All right, you might want to sit down for this," Elizabeth said, knowing she would never really be able to prepare them for what was coming next.

"Okay, we're sitting. What is it, Liz?" Tony asked impatiently.

"I've been thinking a lot about this, and . . . I want to go the 10th Kingdom."

The three of them just sat there staring at her. Finally, Wolf came to his senses. "Liz! I don't like that place! You know that's why we live here instead of--" He shuddered. "--there. It's really scary," he finished, whimpering.

"But Tony lives there! And you all have a house there that you go live in during the summer! Why couldn't you guys go there for a year, and then I can stay with you. It would be safer that way, and my father wouldn't mind me going so much, and David and I can go to school! Real school! It would be a good experience for me, wouldn't it? Besides, David's been there; I want to go too!" She used her puppy dog face again.

"You know, she might have a point."

"Dad!" Virginia cried. "How could you say that? She has no idea what she'd be getting into."

"Huff puff! Virginia, I think Tony's right!"

"Well that's a first! Elizabeth. Dad. Wolf. I refuse to let you talk me into this. We are not letting Elizabeth go to the 10th Kingdom. Even with us."

~*~

"Wendell, it would be a good experience for her. Just think about it this way. The real problems Dad and I have had in New York involved the 9 Kindoms. And it started with you jumping through that mirror and bumping into me," Virginia argued, accusingly.

"Yes, but it's very dangerous. I don't like the idea at all," Wendell said, his face starting to turn red, he was so angry.

"Wendell, you won't even let her out of the palace walls without a chaperone. Besides, Wolf and David would be there."

"That's what I'm afraid of."

"I'll be there, too. You trust me don't you?"

"Of course I trust you, Virginia, but--"

"Then prove it."

~*~

The traveling mirror was locked in a room in the castle. It would have been in Wolf and Virginia's home, but they wouldn't have the security they needed. Besides, they weren't sure they trusted David enough yet, so they had the one door leading to the room heavily guarded.

When Elizabeth got back from the 1st Kingdom--she had to go tell Cinderella the good news--she packed her hairbrush and her diary. She didn't wear makeup because Wendell wouldn't allow it, and she didn't really need it, anyway. She would have packed extra clothes, but Virginia had told her that Liz would borrow some of her clothes until they got to the 10th Kingdom and could get to a mall. Whatever that was.

When she finished packing, she opened her door, and David was standing there about to knock. "Hello, David."

"Hey, I've gotta talk to you." He stepped in her room, ignoring the guards' protests, and closed the door.

"What is it, David? You look upset."

"I want to give you a few pointers. I know I haven't been to school, but I've been around these people. I know most of 'em." He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. "You're smart, you know? There are gonna be people who want to be your friend so you'll help 'em get good grades. And there are gonna be guys who might ask you out. Now, I've gotta tell ya, this will happen, believe me. I'm not gonna lie to you, you're beautiful. And since you're smart, too, guys are gonna want to date you. But some guys are just . . . jerks. Not like me." He smiled. "They won't see the sweet, caring you that I know is inside there somewhere. They won't treat you like a princess for long. They're not gonna know you really are a princess--you're not gonna have guards and chaperones around you all the time. Listen, I just want you to know that if you ever need somebody to talk to, I'll be there. And if you're ever in trouble, I know people. Oh, and I'll have to tell them you're my cousin, staying with us for a while, so that's the story, okay, Liz?" He walked over to the door, but before he closed it again and walked away, he turned to her and said, "I also know Chas. I'll find him for ya."

She gathered her things and walked out of the door towards the mirror room. I had no idea David knew Chas. Wait, how did he know I'd want to find him? Was it that obvious? Does that mean Chas knows? Oh my. This is going to be an interesting journey.