Fractured fairytail
Once Upon a time when the world was young and filled with magic there lived a beautiful princess named Catherine, whom a handsome prince loved named Vincent. But theirs was a unique love. You see, Princess Catherine lived upon the earth in a castle made of gold and jewels. Prince Vincent's kingdom existed below the ground, in a place filled with dancing light from hundreds of candles. It was a kingdom made of love and dreams and it existed in the hearts of men. It was in this kingdom below her world that they met. Princess Catherine was loved and adored--beloved of all those who knew her. But she was prone to folly. One day she was out among the peasants when a cruel knight from the black castle accosted her. "Noblewoman, bestow upon me your jewels and I will safeguard you from these filthy peasants," the knight told her. Princess Catherine merely replied haughtily, "I need no protection from such as these, Sir Knight...but only from yourself. I shall take my leave of you." With her nose in the air, she turned to leave. "Not so fast, my fair lady. I WILL have your jewels." The knight's voice was hard and cruel as he grabbed the richly jeweled necklace from her slim, graceful neck. Princess Catherine grabbed at the knight's hand to no avail: her necklace was in his hands. Quickly, he slapped out with his armored hand, striking the lovely princess, who gracefully crumpled to the ground, her face bleeding from several cuts upon her face. Princess Catherine gracefully raised herself up upon her slender, pure, snowy white arm. ""Will none of you come to your beautiful,sweet and angelic princess' aid and destroy this dark-hearted black knight?" She pleaded, looking around at the few half- starved peasants, who merely turned and ran. She swooned. The dark knight laughed wickedly and told her, "Lady, I take leave of you now. And be grateful that I don't take YOU in the bargain." He turned and rode away, leaving the beautiful princess to mourn her fate and practice her swooning. As the despicable knight left, the peasants returned to see their beloved princess on the ground. "Oh Lord, the king will kill us all over this," said a toothless old hag. "You'd think a princess would go out with her guards."stated another disheveled-looking fellow. A tall, skinny young man said worshipfully, "She's our beautiful, lovely, angelic princess. If I'd come back earlier, I would have fought the dark knight." "Yeah," the hag mocked. "Just like most men...led around by your hormones instead of your sense. A strong wind would come along and blow you right over." "Enough of this!" said another, tougher-looking man. "There's only one thing we can do. Get rid of her body- -after we take her rings, of course." "Oh, you REALLY want us dead, Stupid," said the disheveled-looking fellow. "I know! Let's take her to Prince Vincent! He'll cure her and send her back to the castle! He's a sucker for these helpless sorts...and HIS hormones will go nuts over this one!" "All right," the bigger man said. "But can we still have her rings?" "No," said the old hag, "but we better hurry, drop Miss Beautiful off and high tail it out of here before her father, the King and his bunch of knights come looking for her and murder us all in the process. You!" she yelled, pointing to the young man. "Grab an arm." It took a handful of stick-like peasants to drag the princess Catherine to the entrance of Prince Vincent's domain. Dropping the now dirty, but still beautiful Princess, the hag said, "Gods, she weighed a ton." "I told you we should have taken her rings," the tough-looking peasant yelled back. "Oh shut-up," the old hag said, holding her back. "That designer dress laced in pure white pearls didn't help matters any." "Pure white pearls?" All the peasants looked at the beautiful princess' torn gown and then back along the path they'd dragged her. They sprinted up the path. "They're mine!" shouted the hag, shoving the others aside as she sprinted past the princess. They disappeared into the tall, dark forest. A few hours passed, and when the beautiful Princess woke she looked around her. She didn't see any one coming to her rescue. She became furious, and yelled out into the night, "I'm a PRINCESS, you peons! I should be rescued by a handsome white knight, not dragged like a sack of potatoes and dumped!" She looked down at her beautiful designer dress and screamed. ..then fainted again. It was then that a large, skinny mouse came out of the cave. But this mouse, whose NAME was Mouse, had shocking white hair and big blue eyes. He had come long ago to Prince Vincent's domain when he was just a young boy. The wicked black knight had caught him stealing the ladies chastity belts. The knight cursed him by changing him into a mouse, and having a group of cats chase him out of the castle into the dark and lonely night. But Prince Vincent found him instead of the cats and dragged him kicking and screaming down to his domain. Mouse stopped short and stared down at the lovely Princess. He smelled around her, but found no food on her, and after lifting her tattered skirt, decided that it was obvious HER chastity belt had been stolen long ago. Mouse decided to go to Prince Vincent and tell him to remove the Princess so he could go out and find something to chew on. When Prince Vincent came to investigate, it took him several minutes to heft the princess onto his shoulders (she HAD been overeating and not exercising of late). But, with his strong muscles and catlike grace, he lifted the beautiful Princess up in his powerful arms and cradled her like she was a tender bird. He looked down into her beautiful, sweet,anglic face--now marred by several cuts--and fell deeply in love, for Prince Vincent was an innocent. ..and in truth, his hormones WERE raging. Tenderly he brought her into his chambers and gently laid her down on his bed. The cuts that marred her beautiful face only made him love her more--for Prince Vincent was not as other men. Though beautiful, he was considered a monster by all who saw him because his face was cat-like instead of human. He had never had a woman love him. ..nor had he ever dared to love one himself. Vincent leaned over and whispered to the lovely Princess, "You are more beautiful than any woman I have ever seen. I love you." He ran his huge hand tenderly over her face and she stirred gracefully (for of course, she was a princess and she did everything with grace). Vincent was afraid that the cuts would become infected, so to keep them clean, he bandaged her entire face...even covering her eyes, because then she couldn't see him and be frightened. But since he was a good, kind Prince... even if his thinking WAS inhibited by his hormones--he doubled checked just to make sure that she had enough breathing space. It took Catherine three days to come out of the shock at seeing her designer dress torn. Upon awakening, everything was dark. She could feel the bandages around her face. "Oh God, my face. My beautiful, sweet, angelic face!" she cried in abject horror. Vincent came to her side and gently held her. His voice was soft and comforting. "Lo, beautiful Princess-- for that you must surely be. I am Prince Vincent. I am Prince of this realm. I promise you I will take care of you and protect you until you feel better and even after that." Princess Catherine laid back down in his bed. "Well, it's about time!" she thought to herself. Weeks passed, and as they passed, Princess Catherine was waited on hand and foot by Vincent. He read to her so she wouldn't be bored, had his friend, Mary bath her, and he tenderly spoon-fed her himself. Finally, it was time for the bandages to come off. Catherine requested the most beautiful handmirror available to gaze upon her beautiful face--the face that no man old ,crippled, lame, poor or rich could resist. .She wondered what her Prince would look like. As the bandages came off, Princess Catherine saw Prince Vincent and screamed. Poor Prince Vincent sadly walked away, leaving Princess Catherine alone. Sitting bolt upright in bed, Princess Catherine paused for a moment and looked around. "Okay," she thought. "so he's not the prince of my dreams. But he's cuddly and fuzzy and strong...and those teeth surely could come in handy. Of course, I can't take him out or show him off, but he DOES tell me repeatedly how beautiful I am, and look at me like I'm made of gold." It was four more weeks until the sweet beautiful Princess Catherine could return to her own kingdom and leave Prince Vincent's domain. After all, he had to get her dress repaired, find her a hairdresser and a proper makeup man.. .and of course, pledge himself to protect her from any harm from man or beast. As Prince Vincent led her back to her castle, he swore his undying love and kissed her hand and ran behind a bush as Catherine walked slowly to her castle. A guard yelled. The castle came to life with wild screams of "the Princess has returned. Riders set out on horseback to come for her. The knight who led the pack was Sir Elliot. .He reached down and swung Princess Catherine onto his horse in back of him and set out for the castle. Meanwhile Prince Vincent was despondent. His Father, good King Jacob tried to lighten the mood, but Vincent would only run off to his room and moan. He could think only of the beautiful Princess Catherine, who took his heart. Late at night he could feel his love for her and wondered if she felt it too. Princess Catherine, however, was none too pleased with Sir Elliot. "Elliot, darling," she said spitefully, "I know you love me, so why didn't you follow me and fight to the death for me?" "Come on, my beautiful one. I was busy with business. You should have told someone that you were going out alone. I thought you had some sense." He held up his hands in mock fear. "Oh no, dear! Don't pout! I should never have implied that you were asking for trouble." "Elliot, you're lucky that my loyal subjects didn't hear you, or you'd be flogged to death." She primped. "It wouldn't do to have the peons think I'm not perfect. ..I am, after all, the beautiful, angelic Princess Catherine and not at all replaceable. Not even death can replace me. I'll come back to haunt everyone." She glared. "Get it, Elliot? *** Days passed and Sir Elliot was back doing business, so Princess Catherine, who wasn't the center of attention bemoaned her fate loudly. Sir Elliot looked up from his papers. "Can you hold it down, Cathy?" "CATHY?," she stamped her foot. "Last night, I was your beautiful,sweet, wonderful, expensively dressed and accessorized Princess Catherine. You don't worship me properly. I'm going to have Joe Maxwell take me to the dance." Elliot merely waved her away, and although Princess Catherine was insulted, secretly she was wondering if she'd left her gold-inlayed, jewel-clasped, designer chastity belt (with the jade escape fastener) over at Joey's apartment. She swept haughtily upstairs, moaning that no one appreciated her. So, her first thought was to make herself feel better. Running into the East wing, Princess Catherine consoled herself with her rooms filled with clothes, jewelry , coats and shoes. "God,I feel better already," she said with a smile. But as she examined the clothes, she cringed. "Last year's clothes." She moaned and was about to cry when she caught sight of her reflection in the huge mirror. She primped, distracted from her misery. "God I'm so beautiful." After gazing at herself for a quite some time, she noticed a scuff mark on her dainty slippers. Letting rip with a loud scream, she shuddered and kicked the shoes off. Wrapping a soft fur around her, her thoughts turned to Vincent...and she wondered how his fur would feel...and if he'd make a good coat. "No," she told herself. "I'd much rather he moan and carry on over me. Besides," she added as an afterthought, "I've never made it with a cat...at least not that I know of." As she danced down the stairs, she thought, =Thank God I forgot where I put my chastity belt.= "He'll absolutely worship me." As she passed Elliot, busy over his papes, she told him, "I'm going out to bestow blessings on the peons." Elliot glanced up "Just wait a monent, Cath, and I'll come with you." And he went back to his papers. Princess Catherine cursed him under her breath, and left the castle unprotected. She didn't get far when a band of Diamond traders appeared. Princess Catherine, who knew them by sight, paused in her mission the peons. The fat one had sold her a flawed diamond. "How dare you come back to my kingdom after you sold me a flawed diamond! ME, the most beautiful, sweet, angelic Princess you will ever meet." She was most disgruntled. "But Princess," the trader reasoned, "you picked the diamond yourself." At that, Princess Catherine turned red with rage--which wasn't her color--and she screamed and screamed, and the merchant, frightened that the king would chop off his head, tried to quiet her by putting his hand over her mouth. His hands were very strong and the princess began turning Smurf-blue...which wasn't her color, either. Prince Vincent was still moaning in his room when he felt the Princess' fear. His lovely, sweet, angelic Princess was in trouble. With one great roar he dashed outside, down the hills and over the vales, only to see his beloved Princess Catherine kicking and struggling in the grasp of a grungy merchant. Still roaring, he promptly eviscerated the troublesome man and rescued his Beloved. Princess Catherine merely stood by and watched as her knight in fuzzy armor laid his sacrifice at her feet. The merchant's death didn't concern her. She was far more upset about the fact that while struggling, her hair was mussed.. .and she grimaced a bit as she stepped away from the blood: it wouldn't do to get blood on her dress or shoes.. .blood is SO hard to get out. Bestowing a chaste kiss upon the only part of her prince that she could find unbloodied (his nose), she told him, "That'll teach them to sell me flawed diamonds!" She had Prince Vincent pick up the diamonds the merchant was carrying. After all, diamonds looked better on her anyway. *** Prince Vincent, the innocent, almost passed out in rapture over the peck on the nose that lovely Princess Catherine bestowed upon him. =Gods,= he thought. =This is the best piece of lips I've ever had.= Dreamily, he went about gathering the diamonds scattered on the ground. "No! Not that one, Prince Vincent.. .over there," shrieked the demure Princess Catherine. =Gads, men are stupid...no matter WHAT they look like,= she thought. Using her little bitty, sugar sweet, baby girl voice, she said, "That one, there, sweetie" as she pointed frantically at a large stone glittering on the ground. When he picked up the wrong one, she stomped her dainty little size 10 foot (shoved into a size 9 1/2 because the shoes looked better that way). Prince Vincent picked only the most brilliant and huge diamonds he could find to give his beloved. As he held out the diamonds, Princess Catherine gasped in dismay, "God,at least CLEAN them. Look! There's a drop of blood on the third one." Batting her eyes at him, she squeezed out a tear..."I gave you everything I had...the pleasure of being near me...a kiss from my virginal, very full-bodied lips. And you try to get me dirty!" Prince Vincent fell to his strong, powerful kneesand hung his head in shame. "I'm so sorry, my angel." "Hum..Hum.." Princess Catherine said staring down at him. I'll forgive you this time." "My Love, may I escort you back to my kingdom.?" asked a Asked a love-sick Vincent who, being the innocent that he was, thought that when Princess Catherine said virginal she meant more then pecking noses. Princess Catherine looked down her long nose, drew her rather bushy, but still delicate eyebrows into one brow. This made Prince Vincent feel awful. Heaven knew he never wanted to see her unhappy. For some reason when she was unhappy a large caterpillar crawled up onto her forehead. =It must be a Princess thing,= Vincent thought to himself . Princess Catherine stared at Prince Vincent, who was covered in yucky blood. It wouldn't look good for him to walk her to her castle. Someone might see him, and after all, she had a reputation to maintain. "I think," she told him haughtily, "that I shall return to my castle, and in the meantime, you can yourself up and dress better and I'll see if I can come tonight. Remember to wash off those beautiful diamonds of mine." Princess Catherine turned to walk gracefully back to her castle...then she thought better of it. =He DID slay the diamond merchant for me...and he worships the ground I walk on.= She turned, and in a grand display, she blew him a kiss from her full lips. Vincent jumped into the air and caught really nothing, but since he thought he got something good, he wanted to relive it . He promptly slapped her kiss on his nose, and with a starry-eyed, toothy grin Vincent pranced back to his kingdom. Upon reaching his Kingdom he ran into Mouse the mouse. So happy was Prince Vincent that he scooped Mouse up in his powerful arms . He swung him around until they were both dizzy, then put him down so he could go tell his good King Father about his date with Princess Catherine and the virginal kiss she granted him. Good King Jacob was quite shocked to see his son covered in blood and smiling such a goofy smile. "'What happened to you son?" Prince Vincent threw his arms wide. "Father! I met Princess Catherine, and she offered me her virginal lips." Good King Jacob collapsed on his throne , stared at the sheer volume of blood covering his son and said, "God,she must have been a virgin for a heck of a long time." *** "Yes,Father and I love her."declared Prince Vincent. Good King Jacob stared at him and tried to remain calm. Until a huge black bat flew into his throneroom. He could hear the incoming army of bats flying down into his chamber. "Son, I think you better talk to me after you clean up, or we'll have every dang bat with in 40 miles high on virginal lovin..HAAaa!" yelled King Jacob as he swatted at bats flying around his head and bats diving after Vincent. "But Father I want to tell you of my love..." Vincent stopped to snag a bat in midair. "Don't you DARE eat that! Vincent, for Heaven's sake, get washed up and take those bats with you." King Jacob dodged a huge bat coming right for him. "MOUSE! New law! No real old virginal loving inside cave. Take it outside..And Mouse, I want SIGNS! " "Yes Sir!" screamed Mouse as he dodged low flying bats and dove out the throneroom's entrance, followed by Prince Vincent, who was being circled by bats. Good King Jacob straightened himself up and sat calmly back onto his throne. Looking around his throne room he was shocked! Batpoop was on everything. "MOUSE! MOUSE, IF YOU HEAR ME, BRING A BROOM AND MOP!." Mouse came running back with a large pooper scooper and started cleaning. "Good King, Mouse doing experiment.. .can keep the batpoop? "What a day,." moaned the King. "Yes, yes. Go for it, but get it out of HERE." Meanwhile, Servant Mary came wandering in and gazed lovingly at the Good King. "What happened, my lord?" she asked in a calm, meek voice. "You won't BELIEVE the day I had. You know that Princess Catherine?" he asked her. "Of course. The one Vincent dragged home to nurse?" Good King Jacob only nodded his head and fell quiet. At that time a wet-furred Prince Vincent came trotting into his father's throne room and announced happily, "Dad, I love the beautiful, wonderful, sweet, angelic Princess Catherine and she's coming over here tonight." His voice dripped daydream honey. "She can still walk?" King Jacob shook his head in amazement. Clearing his throat, he added, "Well, son...of course she's welcome. But...did you happen to use protection?" "Protection from what, dear Good King Father?" Vincent asked in total innocence. "You know...the bats and the rodents," whispered the good king. All three pairs of eyes turned to the king in amazement as they tried to figure out what he was talking about. After ten minutes of silent puzzlement Mouse spoke up. "OH! The birds and the bees!" He clapped his hands together in glee. Oh!" blushed Mary. Vincent still didn't get it. "We're in a cave, Mouse," Father said in disgust. "Do you see any birds or bees here?" "Well," Mouse added..."Did it outside." "Father," Prince Vincent said, "I have to get ready for Princess Catherine's visit." He could only think of looking his best for his Lady Love. Father only shook his head. "Mary, you DID explain the bats and the rodents to him didn't you?" Mary looked shocked. "I thought YOU were! I mean, no...I never did it. And I guess you didn't either. Oh dear." Then looking defensive, she added, "Well, you ARE his father, you know." King Father glared. "You're still upset with that artist friend of mine." "Oh the one who joined a traveling circus so she could draw them and change their wagon wheels? No." She lifted her nose to stare down at him in contempt. Prince Vincent shrugged his shoulders and left. Mouse just frowned and picked up batpoop. "Mary, lets not fight. I'm so upset." "I know but he's getting older, and yes, Princess Catherine is a royal pain. But he loves her so we have to give it a try." She patted the good king's back. "There, there." "Mary are YOU a virgin?" Good King Jacob looked down at his loyal faithful servant Mary. He always thought that at one time far off in the future they'd be together. Mary only blushed and looked down, took a step back and giggled. King Jacob motioned to Mouse, who scampered over, leaving his batpoop behind. King Jacob leaned over and whisperedin Mouse's big ear. "Mouse, make a note for me, so I remember. Mary's about three times older than Princess Catherine." Mouse started scribbling the message down on the King's desk, and King Jacob whapped him upside the head. "Don't write THAT, you fool. Just write "bring swimming wear ,bathing cap and wait until warm weather." *** Vincent spent the rest of that evening cleaning everything in sight and taking every precious stone and bauble out of the Kingdom's treasury to display for the lovely Princess. Everyone pitched in. Just as Vincent was finishing up, he coughed up a big hairball. =Father was right,= he thought, =I shouldn't have eaten that bat.= Not only was his stomach growling, but he got fur catch in his back teeth..yuck.. The beautiful, sweet, angelic Princess Catherine wasn't in a happy mood either. No one passed her on the dirt paths leading to her castle to admire her, or drop down to kiss her ruby, diamond, or emerald rings...and certainly not to kiss her dainty size 10 shoved into a 9 1/2 feet. She was feeling so dejected as she walked back to the castle. There was no fanfare, nor even one shout of "Princess Catherine!" That is...until she was just outside the drawbridge . "Who goes there?" a guard challenged from the tower. Princess Catherine was fit to be tied. "It's ME, your Princess!" "Nope," the guard said smugly, "she's visiting the east wing, so that means she won't be out til next Monday." . "Can't you see that I'm beautiful, you idiot?" she yelled back. "No, but I can hear that mouth of yours. I may be semi-blind but I don't have an hearing problem." "You won't have ANY problem, when your head falls off." "Oh Lorry, lorry you ARE the Princess." The guard turned around and screamed out "The Beautiful Princess Catherine is here. Open the drawbridge!" The castle came alive, with people screaming and yelling as the drawbridge descended. Beautiful, sweet, angelic Princess Catherine came storming into the castle. Sir Elliot was there to greet her. "My lady," he said with a bow. 'Elliot, I want that man beheaded!" She pointed a shaking finger at the quivering guard. He face was as red as a beet as she cried, "He couldn't tell it was me, the most beautiful Princess or girl in the world." She wailed and blubbered as Sir Elliot held her.. "Okay, okay. Calm down. Why don't you go inside, and I'll run up to the tower and slay him myself." Sir Elliot sniffed the air around him and then Princess Catherine's hair and wrinkled his nose. Princess Catherine was so distraught that she went straight to her room and to bed. Sir Elliot sent a guard to go fetch the wayward guardsman upon his tower. The guardsman slowly approached Sir Elliot and hung down his head. Sir Elliot smiled."You're doing a good job .Dad. Don't worry about the Princess just hide out till after she leaves for her annual trip to Paris for the new summer fashions...she'll never know the difference." "I'm sorry son." Part 7 It took Princess Catherine four hours to rouse from her swoon just sit up in her bed. The whole thing was just SO traumatic, but of course she didn't cry, because that would ruin her makeup. She idly played with her rings. ..which of course shifted her mind back to the diamonds waiting for her down in Prince Vincent's kingdom. =Well,= she thought. =Since no one bothered to check on me but but Dad,Elliot and Max , I'm going out to get my diamonds. 0 I worked for them, and there'll make me happy again. I wonder if they'll even know I'm missing?= she thought sourly. It took her another ten minutes to decide which of her many cloaks would look best with the setting sun. Meanwhile Prince Vincent was sitting hunched over, head spinning , sick and miserable. Mary ran her hand over his mane and whispered lovingly, "Vincent, you ate a bat, didn't you?" "No." he moaned as he looked up at her and turned blue. "But the beast did." "Oh,my little darling. Maybe we should get a message to your little friend and ask her to come tomorrow." "Oh, no! I'll be better, I promise you." Prince Vincent managed to add a small smile and sat up straight. But as soon as Mary left, he collapsed and laid his head on the table. It took a little while for the sweet, angelic Princess to walk down to Vincent's domain By the time she managed to arrive, the sun was being swallowed up by the earth darkness was falling across the land. The tunnels rang out their welcome. Citizens still half asleep waiting for the blessed event scrambled around to grab flowers and flower petals to throw as the Princess Catherine--the beloved of Prince Vincent entered. At each step she crushed the flowers that graced her path. Mouse watched with a frown, for he had to clean up the mess, and he cursed with each step she took. Princess Catherine was thrilled. =FINALLY the recognition she deserved!= She waved and smiled her Princess smile all the way up to Prince Vincent's outer chamber. Flowers, food and gems were laid out everywhere for her. Vincent sat behind the table and as she entered he stood to bow.. .and almost fell over. But she ignored the clumsiness because beautiful, clean, sparkling diamonds littered the table in front of him. "Vincent! Where are the servants?" She asked...for surely she'd need help carrying all this loot. "My beloved," he responded. "I asked them to leave us alone. For I have something to ask you." He sputtered and turned a brilliant pink, but he managed to force the words out. The chamber started to swim before his eyes. But he forced himself to remain conscious for his beloved. Beautiful Princess Catherine's eyes lit up as she gazed lovingly at the sparkling diamonds . They're beautiful! Almost as beautiful as me," she whispered, barely paying attention to him at all. "My beauitiful,charming, wonderful sweet, angelic Princess. I have told the King my father of our great enduring love." He paused, trying to focus on her.. .she seemed to have two heads...or four eyes...he wasn't sure which. "Um Hum," she murmured, her eyes filled with questions and her attention divided between him and the diamonds.. Vincent grasped the edge of the table to keep from sliding under it. He reminded himself NEVER to eat bats again. "Will you marry me, my beloved.? Princess Catherine eyed the diamonds. The only way over to them was through Vincent. She sighed. =Oh well,= she thought. "Vincent, It wouldn't work out. I know that I bring joy , beauty and happiness to everyone's boring lives just by allowing them the gift of my presence. Would you deny my peons that? And think of all the royal balls I have to attend so I can show off my new clothes and make everyone happy! Vincent, I can't leave my father's kingdom! That would be too cruel ." Vincent couldn't help but hang his head. "You're right. Forgive me my love, my beloved. Your life is up there in the sunlight, and our love must be shared in sacred stolen moments." Sadness beyond belief filled the chamber...at least for him. Princess Catherine just smiled and stated sweetly, "That's right, my love. I knew you'd understand.". She went to Vincent, who really couldn't get up, and patted his mane . The feel of his fur coat sent chills up and down her spine. "Oh God!" she whimpered as she continued stroking his fur. Fondling the soft fur reminded her of how she would throw her minks down on the floor and roll in them. She quivered. "Oh my God!" Princess Catherine cried out as her eyes rolled in back of her head. She stroked harder and harder. "Oh God...YES...YES..."Princess Catherine yelled out, her face flushed with excitement. ..as her legs gave out and she sank to the floor, utterly exhausted. Prince Vincent was almost unconscious. ..but not with delight. He was so sick he thought he was going to throw up. "My beloved .then you WILL marry me?" he said hopefully. "No,but I'll be back. God, look at you! You can barely see straight! I know it was as good for you as it was for me." With that, she kissed his sweaty brow. *** Mouse hopped, skipped and ran into the throne room looking everywhere for his good king. King Jacob came stumbling in. He looked a fright, with torn clothes, his crown sitting cocked on his head and a sign clenched tightly in his hands. He looked shell shocked. Mary met Mouse as he came in and she was leaving...she stared back at the good king. "I'm sorry, Jacob. We'll just have to do it another time." She walked slowly out. Mouse shrugged and said, "My good king, Mouse sealed hole that bats came into tunnels." The good king didn't seem to hear, and merely fell to his knees and began to pray. Hesitating, Mouse looked down at the king for a moment, then asked, "Are you okay my lord?" The king peered up through one closed eye. He nodded. "I'm thanking God, Mouse, that something can get so old it rusts shut." Carefully closing his eyes he continued with his prayers. Mouse was perplexed, "Mouse not understand." "God, Mouse," the good king said. "It all happened so fast! I was on the ground begging for mercy...I thought I was a goner." Mouse just nodded his head and backed away. ..only to have Mary grab him. "Mouse," she whispered, hissing a little. "Can you get into ANY chastity belt?" By this time Prince Vincent was waking up. He felt wonderful, for he'd slept off the effects of his bad bat snack and there, to his amazement, was the lovely Princess Catherine asleep on his chest. Her hair was mussed and from her precious, pouty lips a string of drool trailed. =Isn't that cute?= Vincent thought to himself. He laid there for several minutes watching his beauty sleep, then he woke his beauty up. "I love you Catherine...more then life." Princess Catherine only smiled as he helped her up to her feet. "Is it morning?" Princess Catherine asked a little nervously. "Oh,God...if it is, I'll be late to get ready for tomorrow's royal dance. I still have to pick out my jewels...but oh...your fur!" . Mouse gently knocked on the side of the entrance to Vincent's outer chamber. "Yes, Mouse?" Vincent called out. "Are you decent?" Mouse asked. Prince Vincent looked down and smiled at his Catherine. "Yes, we're decent. What do you want?" Vincent's voice was filled with love. "King says he'll be at least an hour late before he does his welcoming to Beautiful Princess Catherine." Mouse bowed slightly to the Princess as he took his leave. "Vincent! A welcoming for me to your kingdom! How nice." Princess Catherine said. "God, look at me! Do you have a mirror?" Mouse couldn't wait to leave this lovely dovey stuff..yuck. Everyone was going insane. =And they talk about Mouse and chastity belts!= Mouse returned to the throne room and found the Good King settled downed and practicing his speech. Like he really needed to. Everyone had heard it at least a thousand times. The trick was staying awake and keeping the king happy. But Mouse had an idea.... *** Good King Jacob was going to make his welcoming to the kingdom speech again. By this time, the king's subjects knew it by rote, and most of them fell into a deep coma just at the thought of it. As his subjects entered the great hall, Mouse greeted them, whispered in their ears and gave out a small bag for a copper apiece. Good servant Mary even bought a bag upon hearing Mouse's pitch. Soon, the Good King Jacob entered with Beautiful , sweet, anglic Princess Catherine--who was extemely flushed-- and Prince Vincent's--whose fur was matted at odd angles. "Good citizens of our Kingdom," Mouse cried out as he ran up on stage. "Introducing our Good King Jacob." Their were a few cheers coming from his subjects as their Good King Jacob came forward with a smile and started his speech. "Ahem. We are here to welcome the beautiful,sweet, anglic Princess Catherine to our kingdom." From behind the King , Prince Vincent and Princess Catherine, Mouse produced a sign that said, "No old virginal loving in the cave take it outside, by order of the king." Then, realizing his mistake, Mouse quickly turned the sign around. "Cheer, Applause" it said.. The Good citizens of the Kingdom cheered. The Good King smiled and waited for Mouse to put the sign down so they would stop on cue. Then the good king delivered his speech. "Now, this kingdom started a good many years ago, but before that I was born, and at the tender age of five I walked ten miles to the watering shed were I hid picture books and back again--not like the youths of today.......etc, etc. ad nauseum." The king was so engrossed in his speech that he didn't see all of the inhabitants sniffing a small bag. But when his speeches ended, there wasn't a dry-eyed subject to be seen...including Mary. Princess Catherine was the next speaker. "You peons are lucky to have me come. I will bring my dazzling light, beautifully done hair, sweet angelic face to you all. But since I am also a Princess to my own peons, and they would have no beauty and light if I were gone, I will only visit you from time to time to brighten your hum-drum lives." Princess Catherine gave a little wave, and walked back over to Prince Vincent. Mouse held up the applause sign and then produced a sign saying, "Dismissed." The citizens went wild with cheers and clapping, and Princess Catherine--who thought the applause was for her blew them little kisses. The citizens left. Good King Jacob was thrilled that his speech had been so well received. He decided that all his practice must have reaped great rewards, and figured he'd give it again to Mary and Mouse just to keep it fresh in his mind. Never mind the little mishap between him and Mary earlier. =It must have been the tone of authority he thought smugly and started all over again. Both Mary and Mouse smiled lamely and sniffed the small bags they held until the king ended the speech and left. Mary was about to pass out, her eyes bulged out and tears formed in them, but she grabbed hold of Mouse. "That's the best invention yet, Mouse! The 'How to stay awake during the kings speeches bag." Mouse smiled and said, "I told you that it would come in handy." =I'll have to be sure to gather more batpoop before the king's next speech,= Mouse thought wisely. Beauiful, sweet, a matted Prince Vincent escorted out angelic Princess Catherine of the tunnels. "I love you Catherine." He told her. *** And I love you,My furry little fur coat," Princess Catherine told him. "But I'm afraid that I have to leave you now . A princess' work for her kingdom is never finished." Prince Vincent tenderly and reverently took Princess Catherine's hand and escorted her away from his chamber. Prince Vincent was so engrossed in his Beautiful Princess that he didn't hear his Father starting to repeat his welcoming speech to Mary and Mouse. The good citizens watched the happy couple. Some just tried to keep from laughing. Others didn't care and chuckled anyway. The younger, teenage generation just pointed and gave Vincent a high five. But neither of them noticed...they were in their own little world as they exited the tunnels. "I'll walk you home, my Princess, for it's very late and very dangerous." Vincent told her with starry-eyed reverence. "It's about time people thought about ME," Princess Catherine told him. "Kind Prince, please do walk me to my father's castle, and I'll allow you to tell me how wonderfully beautiful I am." "Oh, thank you. Princess . But where to begin....." Prince Vincent and Princess Catherine walked hand in hand to her father's castle with Prince Vincent telling her how beautiful she was. They only stopped when they were a couple of miles from the castle. The drawbridge was down, as wagons and richly-dressed nobles arrived in preparation for the royal party. Princess Catherine placed her hand on Vincent's and his huge hand covered it. "Prince, we must part here. No! Before you speak, I must tell you...I can't see you for a while." At Prince Vincent's mournful look, she added, "I know your heart will be broken, so I want you to write me every day telling me how much you love me and how you would be happy to die and kill for me." Princess Catherine batted her eyes and slid her hand away from his. She blew him a kiss and he caught it and placed it on his heart. As Princess Catherine ran down the hill and joined the caravan, mixing with the crowd till she disappeared inside her castle, Prince Vincent wasn't thinking of anything but getting back to his kingdom and writing page after page of his love--pouring out his heart on murdered tree pulp paper. He daydreamed his way back to his kingdom, and upon reaching the entrance, he sat down and ordered Mouse to get him the best tree pulp paper and a pen. Mouse scurried away, and he returned, Prince Vincent wrote what was in his heart, and then fell into a deep sleep. The morning sun shining in his face woke him. His first sight was Mouse's friend raccoon, who held his lovely words to Princess Catherine in his paws. The prince crawled toward the raccoon, who backed away, hissing. "Come on, Arthur. Give it back to me." Arthur stuck out his tongue and ran away to sit and wave the paper at him. Of course, Prince Vincent gave chase, but he never managed to get close enough to grab the paper. With a flick of his tail, the raccoon disappeared into a thicket. *** Five months had passed since our beloved Prince Vincent had last seen HIS beloved Beautiful Princess Catherine--but each day he wrote her long love sonnets. The Good King Jacob was quite worried over his love-sick son, who never seemed to leave his bedroom chamber, and it was starting to get pretty ripe in there. The Good King sent Mouse to bring his servant Mary to throneroom. "Mary," greeted King Jacob....Mouse turned to leave but King Jacob barked, "Mouse! Where are you going? Stay put! That's an order." He sure as hell didn't want to be left ALONE with a horny Mary. In truth, he was scared to death of her. When he saw that Mouse was staying, he turned to Mary. "Mary, I'm worried about Prince Vincent. The only time he leaves his room Is to stare at the stars, yell at Mouse's raccoon, or get us to make more paper. Shouldn't he be over with this yet? I KNEW that girl was trouble." "Well," Mary mused..."he loves her. I've been going out every week with a bag of sonnets for her and giving them to her servant. All those sonnets, and all he got was a book and a used hankerchief. (sp?) But they seem to be enough for him. I'm not sure this IS just a phase. Since this really is his first crush, he's gone completely over the deep end. But time will tell." "Well," King Jacob growled, "I'll give him a week, then I'm ordering him out of his room. And if he doesn't come out, I'm having Mouse take all his paper. I'm determined to end this lovesickness once and for all!" =Yeah, sure= Mouse grumbled under his breath. =You're not the one he'll gut.= Back in his chamber, Prince Vincent was bent over his desk, furiously writing of his love. The fur on his fingers was stained with ink, and clenched in his left hand was a dirty hankerchief with an initial C embroidered neatly on it. *** Just before the big day came to welcome home Beautiful Princess Catherine's father, Beautiful Princess Catherine stayed in her room reading Prince Vincent's love sonnets. =,Oh how he worships the ground I stroll on= she thought with a smile. =I have him hooked , and hooked bigtime!= Sir Elliot was busy putting together the final arrangements for her father's homecoming, and everyone else was busy. =Just like Dad to make HIMSELF the center of attention,= she thought spitefully as she pouted. She decided she should really write Prince Vincent back and keep him spellbound in her enchantment. Princess Catherine reached beside her on the little pure golden table and grabbed a beautiful quill and some paper. Dearest One, Your heart betrays its overwhelming love for only me. And I miss you every time I stroke fur. As you should know, my Father is coming home, and he's getting all the attention. I am so upset that you're not here making a big fuss over me, that I thought of crying. All these peasants, including Sir Elliot, are only thinking of my father. You DO know that I am going to France for a couple of months? I shall have a life-sized painting made for both you and Sir Elliot and a smaller one made for Lord Maxwell. I know, I know.. .I am extremely generous, but you're worth it.. Love, Beautiful , sweet, charming, Princess Catherine Beautiful Princess Catherine left the note (and everything else) on the small golden table, knowing her servant would take care of it while she slept. She'd been so tired lately, and she slept like a log--it was the first good sleep she'd had in a long time, and it was was due to Sir Elliot, who scared away the person responsible for altering her dresses. Princess Catherine smiled. She'd always been so fortunate, being able to depend on the men in her life to overcome her problems. Beautiful Princess Catherine slept the whole day through, missing her father's homecoming--which didn't really matter, for he was stuck dealing with the local Princes. Only Lord Maxwell came to the ball to celebrate her beauty, and he was disappointed. In the meantime, her servant Plain Jane (Princess Catherine called her that) had taken Vincent's letter and given it to Mary, who dropped by with stacks of love letters. Prince Vincent was nervously awaiting Mary's return--hoping, praying for a letter or a small token from his beloved. Mary had just set foot in Prince Vincent's Kingdom when Prince Vincent ran over to her. Mary handed Prince Vincent a small letter, which he clutched to his heart, and grabbing Mary, he and gave her a big hug. Then, releasing Mary, he scrambled back to his room with his treasure, where he read her words over and over again. Ah, such pleasure and pain. Pleasure from her sweet words and knowing that she remembered him and thought of him, and the pain of knowing that she'd be gone for months. Prince Vincent roared out his pain. He roared until Good King Jacob ran into his son's room with his ears covered. "Vincent, shut-up! You're deafening me!" he screamed over his son's caterwauling. Prince Vincent grew silent with his features distorted in pain. Good King Jacob sat next to his son, and putting his arm around Vincent, he softly told him, "Vincent, you have to be reasonable! I know it's your first piece of...um. ..lips...but get a GRIP here. I've been through almost the same thing. I was very much in love with MY first, but she left me, and you know I found another that I loved better." "I can only love her," Vincent explained. "She told me so." Furious now, King Jacob whacked his son over the head with his cane and yelled, "Vincent that's IT! Now, I'm the King. Get out of this room, go outside and get some of that stink off of you! And you are coming to dinner and you WILL be happy. That's a Royal Order!" "But father." Vincent pleaded "NO! Now listen, I have my own problems. OUTSIDE NOW!" King Jacob ordered. Vincent bowed his head and left. Then King Jacob looked around and noticed he was alone. If Mary caught him alone.... "MOUSE!" he screamed. *** The morning was bright and beautiful, just as Princess Catherine would have ordered it to be (if she could have). Beautiful Princess Catherine felt wonderful when she stretched in her bed and opened her eyes. Today was the big day. She could hear the sound of fussing, wagon wheels turning onto the grounds and the sounds of horses. Throwing her bedding off and onto the floor, Princess Catherine yelled for Plain Jane to get her dressed for the big event. After dressing, Princess Catherine tried gliding down the stairs, but gave up with gliding because they groaned too much...so she did her best not to bob as she walked. She was greeted by Lord Maxwell and Sir Elliot. Throwing her arms around Lord Maxwell's neck she asked, "Oh, Maxie, did you bring me anything?" "Of course, how could I NOT bring the most enchanting creature on the face of this Earth a present?" Lord Maxwell took a shining green emerald as big as his hand out of his cloak and presented it to her. Princess Catherine snatched it out of his hand and eyeballed it. "It's beautiful,Maxie!" Tilting her head up she offered him her lips, which he gladly kissed. Sir Elliot just stood there, watching with amusement. 'How's Daddy?" Princess Catherine asked as she held the large emerald up to the light . "He's stuck with those barbarians. But, he didn't want his little Princess to miss her trip to France, so he sent me- -his royal advisor--to make sure you got there in time ." Slowly the little group meandered outside lines of wagons, which were lined up as far as one could see. Princess Catherine's clothes and jewels were being loaded. "Since you slept most of this day away and yesterday, I propose that we leave immediately." Lord Maxwell held up his hand letting the Beautiful Princess rest her hand on top of his. Sir Elliot in the back ground stuck out his tongue and waved over his head . Lord Maxwell led the Beautiful Princess over to the royal carriage and started to help her up. "UMPH!" he exclaimed. "You've gained alittle weight, my dear." Lord Maxwell said with admiration. "It's very becoming on you." ' The beautiful princess just sniffed. "It's just these dresses are fluffy. isn't that right, Elliot?" Elliot bowed. "Absolutely," he said with a wide grin. . After Lord Maxwell helped Princess Catherine up and got her situated, he smiled nastily at Sir Elliot. Sir Elliot smiled back and quipped, "Always liked those fat girls, didn't you, Maxie?" He mocked Catherine's voice. "Had I the time, Sir Elliot, I would challenge you ." Sir Elliot shrugged. "Big deal. My archers would strike you down before I even took the field of honor." Elliot smiled, which caused Lord Maxwell's veins on his forehead to pop up. Lord Maxwell tossed Sir Elliot an angry glance as he went around to the other side of the carriage and seated himself beside the Princess. Catherine leaned out the window " Forward!" she yelled. The coaches and wagons came to life and began moving. Prince Vincent waited up on the hillside, watching. Finally he spotted her carriage with Its flag rippling in the soft breeze as it slowly disappeared from sight. Prince Vincent roared. And roared. And roared. Back at the castle, Sir Elliot heard the pitiful roars and yelled at his guardsmen, "Will someone find that animal and put it out of its misery? It's giving me a headache." *** As the months slowly dragged by, a deep depression seem to settle over Prince Vincent's Kingdom. Prince Vincent himself snapped at everyone who bothered him when he was writing, which seemed to be all he was doing. The trees around the entrance to the tunnel kingdom seemed to be disappearing daily (used for paper pulp, most likely). Good King Jacob, with the ever-present Mouse barely managed to keep Mary at bay. There were some close calls for a while. But at the Kings castle, under the guidance of Sir Elliot, every day was a party as people tried to make use of the time without having to cater to Princess Catherine. They partied, wined and dined and formed new friendships. When Sir Elliot occasionally remembered Princess Catherine, he'd throw simply begin planning another party, and it always worked. He forgot all about her. But parties DO cost, and soon Sir Elliot found himself having to dig rather deeply into his pockets...so he formed an alliance with the Black Knight, Gabriel. Sir Elliot would inform the Black knight which hamlet to destroy, and then split the profits 60/40, with Sir Gabriel receiving the lion's share. It wasn't a bad life, actually. But all things good and bad must come to an end, for the Beautiful Princess Catherine and Lord Maxwell were on their way home.. .and before Sir Elliot realized it, the time was gone. 'Sir Elliot, Beautiful Princess Catherine and the king's trusted advisor are at the gates." announced the kingdom's town crier. "Ha... ya...I hear you!" shouted Sir Elliot, throwing his pillow out the window, hitting the crier on his head. Sir Elliot stumbled out of bed, crying, "Guard ! Guard!" HIs trusty weather-beaten guard came in. "Ha! There you are! I want you to get the others together. Make sure all the kegs of rum are hidden, and for God's misery, take the girls out the back while I stall," ordered Sir Elliot. The guard just stared at Sir Elliot's floor. "What are you looking at?" Sir Elliot asked as he followed the guard's eyes down to his floor. "Your whoopie cushion sir." frowned the guard. Sir Elliot kicked the whoopee cushion under his bed and addressed his guard with irritation, "You're dismissed." As the guard left, Sir Elliot furiously dragged his clothes on and ran down the stairs into the courtyard yelling, "Toss the banners down , and everyone cheer for your beloved Princess and the idiot with her!" Sir Elliot made it to the gate just in time as the drawbridge slowly lowered. As the carriage approached, Sir Elliot plastered on a smile. Beautiful Princess Catherine was the first to descend, with the aid of Sir Elliot. "Why, Beautiful Princess Catherine, France did wonders for you." =Thank God France worked the fat off her ,=he thought to himself. "Sir Elliot , you missed me!" she smiled and pouted. "And has such a beautiful Princess missed me?' he cooed "Oh, yes, I've missed such a handsome escort." she answered, placing a kiss on his cheek." But I have a surprise for you." Princess Catherine leaned back into her carriage as Lord Maxwell handed out a baby. Lord Maxwell's face looked down furiously at Sir Elliot. Sir Elliot gulped and fainted as two guards ran up to catch him. When Sir Elliot woke up in his bed, Beautiful Princess Catherine was sitting on his bed next to him. With vast relief, he whispered, "It was a bad dream--a baby." 'No dear," Princess Catherine answered. "I'll tell you all about it." 'But we were CAREFUL.'' he whimpered. "Well, do you want to see him?' 'Do I have a choice?" Sir Elliot asked, closing his eyes. Princess Catherine had Plain Jane carry in the baby, who was crying and very soggy. She handed him and his leaking diaper straight to Sir Elliot, who dropped the baby onto the bed in disgust. "It's wet!" As he stared at the baby, who was moving his arms around, Sir Elliot noticed that the baby's hands had small claws on the ends of his fingertips. *** This time it was Sir Elliot that stayed in bed thinking. He thought for a long time. He thought until his weathered beaten guard came in. "Damn it! What do you want?" Sir Elliot whimpered petulantly. "It's a message from the Black Knight, Gabriel. He wants to see you NOW." "Just line up the archers and shoot me." Sir Elliot was quite despondent. "Get my horse,Tell Princess Catherine...No, never mind. Don't bother. She's probably playing with her new clothes." Sir Elliot sighed. "I'll be down in a minute. You're dismissed." The guard bowed slightly and left as Sir Elliot rose to get ready for his ordeal. The castle of the Black Knight was cold and damp. Sir Elliot wrapped his cloak tightly about him as he was lead by a hunchbacked little man to the Black Knight's lair. The room was stark, with only a huge fireplace. A tall, lean snake of a man stood by the fire. "Gabriel, nice to see you." Elliot managed to say "Stop the small patter, Elliot. You don't like to see me at all." Gabriel's voice was low and cold, and it sent chill's through poor Sir Elliot, who was already miserable enough.. "I wouldn't say that. We work well enough together." Sir Elliot tried to seem unconcerned. "Do you know why you're here, Elliot.?" Sir Elliot shook his head and gave Gabriel a hesitant smile. "You're here because I want a son," the Black Knight told him. Sir Elliot looked down at himself and then over to Gabriel in shock before speaking "I don't think I'm your type." "Not YOU, You money hungry dimwit! I need a strong son to carry on my name." "But you already have a son, "Sir Elliot said, peering around. "No, my son died a manly death." " One on the battlefield?" "No." "Fighting over money?" "No" "Over a woman?" "No." "Well, then, how the hell else could he have died?" Gabriel grinned, and he looked like a skull. "I said he died a manly death in the heat of competition." Raising his eyebrows, Sir Elliot shrugged. Gabriel rolled his eyes. "My son farted into the fireplace and blew himself up." Sir Elliot looked down at the hard cold floor and tried hard to keep from laughing. He couldn't imagine...if HE farted into the fireplace, all it ever got HIM was scorched. The Black Knight Gabriel said, "I heard though my spies that a son born of a plain servant had claws. THAT is the child I want." "Well I don't think..." Sir Elliot began, but he was interrupted "Nobody asked you to think. You will get me the child, or else it's going to come out to your king that you've been telling me where to burn down hamlets that housed certain items." Sir Elliot took a deep breath and felt a certain relief. =Oh well. Children do die everyday.= He figured he could just pay off the servant, Plain Jane, hire a doctor to tell his Beautiful, unfaithful, fur-crazy Princess that her child died, and buy her some new clothes. It could work. "You have a deal. Can I go now?" Gabriel motioned to the small hunchback , who grabbed Sir Elliot's hand to lead him out. Gabriel wasn't done yet. An old wizard of a man came forward. Well, seer," he said, "You know what to do. I will have the child of Princess Catherine and Prince Vincent. And if she does come as you predicted, deal with her." Gabriel laughed an evil laugh. The old wizard disappeared back into the darkness he came from. *** While Sir Elliot was bribing Plain Jane and the Doctor, Beautiful Princess Catherine was on her way to Prince Vincent to tell him of his son and ask him to raise the baby. She figured that because the baby was born with claws the people, both rich and poor might take it as an sign of evil. Prince Vincent meanwhile had received news of his Beloved coming home, and was going into the woods to await her arrival. Beautiful Princess Catherine was halfway to Vincent when she was appoarched by an old man. Going up to the lovely Princess, the man bowed slightly. "Never have I seen such a beautiful Princess in this or any other land. I am your servant, my Lady." "Oh arise, peasant," she said happily . "You may kiss my ring, for you have greatly pleased me...just don't drool on it." She held her hand out for the old man to kiss her ring. "Princess," he told her, "I am but a poor wizard, but I have great powers. I shall grant you three wishes for a diamond." The princess started to laugh at the old wizard. "I'm no fool. Give me your three wishes first, old one.. .and THEN I'll give you a diamond ring." He bowed "Your wishes are my command ...but only two wishes, then the diamond. ..a diamond so perfect and pure. ..and only then will your last wish be granted." His eyes twinkled in merriment. "My first wish is to have the most beautiful dress in the world." PUFF a puff of smoke and the Beautiful Princess Catherine was now wearing the most beautiful gown she had ever seen. She jumped up and down in excitement. "My second wish is a white seal cloak to cover my beautiful dress." PUFF a second puff of smoke and Princess Catherine was wearing a long white seal cloak over her beautiful dress. Princess Catherine was beside herself with sheer joy. "It is done," the old man said, "and now for my payment, for I have kept my part of this agreement." Beautiful Princess Catherine frowned and eyed the old wizard up and down, appraising him. At this ancient age he must be senile, she reasoned, remembering the old chipped child's diamond ring her father had given her .She pulled off that ring and handed it to the old wizard, who took it in his twisted old hand and clenched it tightly. "Now for your last wish," he said, a tinge of spite echoed in his words. "I wish that I was young and Beautiful forever" The old man laughed. "So might it be," he snarled. Gabriel was right. She was vain and empty-headed. Princess Catherine began to slowly freeze and turn into a crystal statue, but her mind screamed out for Prince Vincent, who always rescued her. Prince Vincent was still waiting for Princess Catherine when he heard her heart screaming inside him. The beast within him roared in fury. He made it to the little clearing in under a minute--a record time. And stopped dead in his tracks, for there before him was the beautiful Princess Catherine turned into crystal. The old wizard who was on the other side of Catherine didn't see Prince Vincent.as he raised his voice to the heavens: "You are cursed to be as you wanted--young and beautiful forever! Only three magic words can free you unless..." Prince Vincent roared out at the old wizard,who turned to run. only to be lifted up into the air with his feet dangling. '"Remove the curse!" Prince Vincent roared into the old wizards face. The man was petrified. ..he started gasping for breath, turning blue, his eyes popping out. "My heart," gasped the wizard with his last breath, and died from a combination heart attack and ancient age right in Vincent's hands. "Aaaaaah!" Vincent cried out as he dropped the old dead wizard to the ground. Prince Vincent fell to the ground beside him. "You must live!" The old wizard began to crumble, turning to dust and was being blown away in the wind. Prince Vincent collapsed and roared. He looked up at his Princess...now cold crystal . He wanted to die. *** Darkness descended, and with it Vincent's mind...which retreated into the darkness of his own soul, leaving Beautiful, cold crystal Princess Catherine to stand her lonely vigil. Sir Elliot, who knew nothing of these events , carried a tiny, wailing baby to the castle of the Black Knight, Gabriel. He was greeted by the strange hunchback, who smiled toothlessly and said, "Master will be pleased." The gnarled man took the small squirming bundle away from Sir Elliot. "Follow me." Sir Elliot followed a short distance from the hunchback, and soon he found himself before the gaunt-faced Sir Gabriel. The hunchback disappeared, carrying the child with him. "A deformed child- -a seed of evil, these stupid peasants will call him," Elliot said. "Also some of your friends," Gabriel stated matter of factly. Elliot shrugged. "Well, I look at it this way--I only have one handsome hide but I can still have lots of kids...and they'll probably not have claws. "I know," Gabriel said, eyes glittering with malice. The look in them made Sir Elliot cringe. Gabriel tossed Sir Elliot a bag filled with gold coins."Our transaction is finished, and you should know your way out by now." Gabriel turned to the fire, presenting his back to Sir Elliot. =Dismissed!= Sir Elliot thought furiously. =He actually just...dismissed me!= The angry thoughts buzzed furiously through Sir Elliot's mind, but after the last week of stress and worry, he was willing to let it go. Just so he didn't have to worry about that kid. All he wanted to do was get out of this castle...this nightmare...and get roaring drunk. After Sir Elliot left the castle, he rode his horse over a ridge, and before him stood a crystal statue of Princess Catherine. The detail was incredible! "My God!" he exclaimed. "It almost looks alive! I MUST have this! This should pacify her for losing the kid! She'll forget EVERYTHING when she sees this!" Sir Elliot galloped his horse as fast as he could back to the castle and ordered a group of men to convey the statue to the kingdom's garden right outside beautiful Princess Catherine's window. =That should shut her up,= he thought with satisfaction as he ordered several of his bigger (not brighter) guards to the task. When the guards finally reached the crystal Princess Catherine, they were also amazed and in awe. At first. Then they were VERY unhappy. The oldest of the guardsmen peered over his horse's head at it. "God, it's life sized! If I haven't got a hernia from carrying all her fancy junk I will now." "What are you complaining about," said another. "Let's just tie it up and drag it back behind a horse." "And CHIP it? God's bones, you idiot! Sir Elliot would have our hides!" the older one answered. Sighing and with obvious resignation, he got off his horse. "Come on, you pea-brained dogs.. .let's get the dang thing back home...at least this one can't be as big a pain as the original." Each one tried in vain to lift the crystal statue. "Well," the older guard said as he wiped sweat from his brow and gasped for breath. "Looks are we ARE going to drag this thing back." "I told you we shoulda got a wagon, " a skinny guard complained. "You did NOT," another said. "Yep, I did I said...." The old guard interrupted. "Will the both of you just SHUT-UP and help me tie this rope around Miss Monarch here?" Eventually , after several tries, they managed to secure the rope around the crystal Princess. They backed off to survey their handiwork. "Not bad. It should hold," the older one commented. The smallest one grumbled. "I shoulda stayed back at the castle and got drunk with Sir Elliot. Why should HE have all the fun?" "Cause he's a SIR, you dummy," the other one said, while whacking him on the head with the end of the rope. "Don't call me a dummy!" The older guard pulled out his sword and with the flat side hit both of the quarrelsome guards. "Can't you two stop for five seconds?" "Well he..." each pointing the finger at the other "NO! STOP NOW!" the older guard yelled. "I'm gonna get on my horse now and pull this monster over. I want you two to make sure its goes gently onto the ground so it don't break. You nitwits got that?" "Yes sir, " they said in unison. For the first time today they were in agreement. Each of the guards braced themselves as the older guard got onto his horse and started the moving slowly forward. With the cystal Princess tilted halfway over, the rope holding the Princess came untied...and the statue fell to the ground to break in a hundred shattered pieces. They all stood silent for a long moment, their mouths hanging open. Then the bickering began again. "Oh Lordy, Lordy...you done broke her." "No you did". "No, YOU tied the rope " "YOU tied the end that came loose " The older guard was in a state of shock. He tumbled limply off his horse and sat with his hands on his head peering at the shattered pieces. "He dropped her," he muttered. "Oh Lordy...Sir Elliot is gonna kill us. First he's gonna skin us. ..then draw and quarter us. Then burn the pieces." "HE broke her--I didn't" "OH SHUT THE HELL UP!" The old guard--whose name was Derek--screamed. "I'm thinking." =I'm thinkin' that maybe I imagined it.= He closed his eyes, squinching them shut as tight as he could, then opened them carefully. Nope. She was still in pieces. Derek picked up a small piece and tried to fit it together with another one, but they just wouldn't fit. "Well boys I done come up with a solution," he said, finally. "And what's that?" "Well, boys...I got one thing to say. Knowin' my son, Elliot...I'd say RUN! He ain't gonna be none to pleased with ME, neither!" After looking at each other for a minute, they all three jumped on their horses and rode away at a gallop, leaving behind a crystal-littered clearing. If they'd stayed a few minutes more, they'd have seen a huge white vapor rise from the ground and the crystal and dissipate into the air. *** "Sir Elliot!" Lord Maxwell's voice vibrated through Sir Elliot's whiskey soaked brain, bounced around in his head and settled. "Lord Maxwell, will you please talk softly ?" Sir Elliot murmured in pain. "You're a pitiful excuse for an human being, and an inept one to be the kings surrogate." "Huff." Sir Elliot said, shaking his head to clear it--then regretting the movement. =What was Lord Maxwell saying? Something about the king.= Lord Maxwell kept talking. "But I have more pressing problems right now than your ineptitude.. Where is the Beautiful Princess Catherine?" Sir Elliot groaned and held his head. "The beautiful Princess Catherine is probably in the East wing playing with her new clothes, or outside staring at her statue." "What are you babbling about?" Lord Maxwell asked. "There are no statues in the garden! And I already checked the east wing while you were passed out. I called on my guards and yours to search the castle grounds. Remember. ..it's your head. Seems you'd be a bit more concerned about keeping it." Lord Maxwell gave Sir Elliot a sly, menacing smile. Cold sober now, Sir Elliot looked up at Lord Maxwell. "I hate my life." After Lord Maxwell left, Sir Elliot cried for his guard. "GUARD! GUARD?" His loyal, weathered beaten guard came instantly. "Yes sir?" "Are those guards I sent out back yet?" "No Sir. Maybe they be out looking for the beautiful, ,cough vain, Princess Catherine." Three days and two nights passed, and Sir Elliot was beside himself. Beautiful Princess Catherine was gone, three guards ( including his father) and that neat statue were missing...everything gone like a puff of smoke. It didn't help any when Lord Maxwell appeared every so often singing, "I don't have nobody," causing Sir Elliot to touch his own neck in panic--making sure it was still safe ,sound and untouched. *** Days passed into weeks. There was still no word. Castle guards went out day after day, hour after hour, to find the Beautiful Princess Catherine and the wayward guards--only to come back empty-handed each time. A tall, lean guard leaned over his horse to tell his friend, "I'm getting sick of this stupid horse. My butt hurts. I bet the dear Beautiful Princess Catherine is shacked up somewhere." His companion beside him stretched out his arms and groaned. "I'd bet a copper piece she's out buying a new chastity belt with jeweled escape catch." The tall, lean guard laughed. "Okay, you're on. A copper says she's shacked up with some lord or sir, or else she dropped dead when she broke her fingernail." "That's too many choices...." his companion began, then whispered, "Hush! it's Lord hotsy-topsy himself...our second great Lord, Lord Maxwell." Lord Maxwell approached, sitting stiff and straight on his saddle. The pure white horse pranced over to the guards. "You men have any luck?" he asked, looking around. The guards also peered dutifully around."No Sir. We didn't see her." "Well then," Lord Maxwell commented, "We'll have to go to plan B." "Plan B ?" questioned one of the guards fearfully. "Yes plan B! We ride into the closest hamlet and kill every peasant we see, but a few we'll torture the information out of." Lord Maxwell bellowed. The guards looked at each other maybe it wasn't going to be a bad day after all. They had suggested that plan early on, but Sir Elliot refused. He didn't want too many peasants hurt, or else that would hurt their tax revenue. Lord Maxwell was working himself into a frothing fury, screaming, "We will find the Princess or kill everything in our paths!" The guards were impatient to get on their path of destruction and they followed Lord Maxwell to the castles drawbridge. But as soon as the drawbridge opened into the spacious brilliant daylight and then fanned out into the contrast of dark woods, uneasiness filled their souls and clouded their minds . A strange silence filled the air which was only broken by an occasional, earsplitting caterwauling of pain. The first time this happened, horses bolted every which way and chaos erupted among the men . Strong hearts failed, turning the powerful guards into frightened children. Sir Elliot burst into the middle of all this chaos. Grabbing Lord Maxwell by the cuff of his shirt, he pulled him to one side. "What's happening?" he yelled. "Your men are cowards Sir Elliot," Lord Maxwell jeered. "They are children afraid of the dark! God in heaven, how will I EVER find my beloved Beautiful Princess Catherine with these idots?" Another ear-splitting roar echoed through the trees. Sir Elliot didn't answer Lord Maxwell, for everyone knew that the elite guards were pulled away to accompany the King to his northern provinces. All that were left were the guards who were used as servants to the Beautiful Princess Catherine, and most of them didn't particularly want her found. They were far more interested in who was going to win the bets going around as to where she'd finally turn up. However, Sir Elliot knew that the only person who might know where Beautiful Princess Catherine was, was the Black Knight, Prince Gabriel. Only half-listening to Lord Maxwell, Sir Elliot was busy thinking of ways to get the informaiton from old hatchet-faced Gabe, grab the Princess and bring her back--which would not only save his NECK, but would save Cat as well. Lord Maxwell was saying, "We need a hunter. When I was up north with the king, we heard about great hunter who has a quick mind and who is completely unafraid." He shouted loudly, "Guard!" but most of the guards merely ran past him in a panic until he finally stuck out his foot and tripped one. The fallen guard peered up at Lord Maxwell , then back to the ground as he pushed himself up. The guard reminded Lord Maxwell of a rodent, or a weasel. Shaking his finger at the guard, he told him, " I want you to get a message to the Lady Diana and tell her I need her immediately! Do you think you're capable of getting that message up north?" The guard looked dazed, and Sir Elliot tried to think of anyone named Diana. "Lady Diana? I don't think I know her." =She must be a real dog, if I haven't heard of her before now,= he thought. Lord Maxwell looked down his nose at him. "Lady Diana is in one of the northern provinces. I met her once on a trip with the King. The people of her country have the highest praise of her abilities." Sir Elliot sneered. "A girl? You're sending for a GIRL?" *** Sir Elliot was furious! Lord Maxwell thought a GIRL could out-do him! And his guards were chuckling as Lord Maxwell gave the selected guards their final instructions. With a grumble, Sir Elliot whirled his horse around and left. While heading to the castle of the Black Prince Gabriel, he passed the small clearing and looked around for the beautiful crystal statue of Beautiful Princess Catherine, he found only crystal fragments littering the ground. With a frown, Sir Elliot kicked at a small piece of crystal lying by his foot. "That's it! When I capture those guards- -and I will--I'm going to have them drawn and quartered and the pieces burned!" Then, Sir Elliot remembered that one of them was his father. He slowly shook his head . =Okay, I'll just draw and quarter HIM, but since he's my Dad, I'll just feed his dismembered body to the dogs and bury the leftovers later. Sir Elliot lelaned over, picked up a piece of crystal and stuck it in the pocket of his cloak. After all, Princess Catherine always loved anything that sparkled. He kept the piece because it reminded him of her...and after all, they'd had some good times. He smiled dreamily as he jumped back on his horse and continued his trip to the Black knight's castle. When Sir Elliot arrived at the castle , he didn't bother to stop to wait for the hunchbacked, toothless wonder of a little fat guy to lead him into the dark castle of the Dark Prince Gabriel .The tall lean vulture was standing in the same place by the fireplace...just as though he'd never moved since Sir Elliot had left. "Where is she? The lovely ,charming Beautiful Princess Catherine?" Sir Elliot demanded from the figure at the fire. As the lanky skull like features of Gabriel turned toward him, the mouth moved and he asked, "Did I summon you here?" Sir Elliot's courage was fading fast . "Well, no. But listen...I'm sorta responsible for her safety. I can lose my head over this,and I want to keep it. I don't care about the kid. ..it's probably not mine anyway, but my head I care about!" "Calm down, Sir Elliot!" Gabriel smiled thinly. "You're under my protection here. Plus, the Princess brightens up that small clearing." His smile widened evilly. "Clearing?" Sir Elliot barked. "I just passed that clearing! There's nothing there but a lot of broken crystal from the statue of the Beautiful Princess." His voice was tight and he felt frightened. But the Black knight began laughing a dry cold laugh. "Well, you see...it seems our beautiful Princess Catherine has gone to pieces." "Pieces?" What are you...." a fire burned in Sir Elliot's head--a dawning- -as he fished out the small piece of crystal he'd placed in his cloak. He stared in mezmerized horror at the colors glistening and glinting in the lovely crystal and dropped it to the floor, not wanting to touch it any longer. Lord Gabriel chuckled. "It seems that our little vain Princess just can't keep it all together." Then another hideous laugh echoed through the room. Overcome with emotion, Sir Elliot gripped his dagger and was about to pull it out when a chill overcame him, sending him into shivering convulsions. The Black knight Gabriel walked swiftly over to Sir Elliot and took hold of his hair and yanked his head up so he could stare into his eyes. "Get a grip! She isn't of any use anymore. She dead, and nothing can bring her back." Sir Elliot felt his legs give way. "Now," Gabriel asked cheerfully as he released his hold on Elliot's hair, "what's going on back at the castle?" "Nothing!" Sir Elliot croaked hoarsely. "We...we were all out looking for a Princess." With a sadness he hadn't expected to feel, he bent to retrieve the crystal. Fascinated, he stared at it as he absently whispered, "Oh...and Lord Maxwell sent word to find a certain lady Diana." "Ah! Lady Diana! I'm impressed. The huntress! I'm very impressed that anyone was smart enough to call for her." "She's just a woman," whimpered Sir Elliot, as he started to cry, then wail as he ran the crystal over his face. "Oh, my precious, precious one." The black knight shook his head in disgust, drew his sword and promptly ran Sir Elliot though. Sir Elliot's eyes bulged as he stared at Gabriel in astonishment. Gabriel gently pushed Sir Elliot's shoulder and watched him crumple to the ground. Taking a handkerchief from his waistcoat, he muttered, "Hate to see good men turning to mush after a woman." He peered down at Sir Elliot's crumpled figure, the crystal pressed into his cheek ,cupped in his hand. *** The hunchback peered down at Sir Elliots body, kicked it to see if it would move. "I see we have another for dog chow." He grinned toothlessly at Lord Gabriel. "Shall I feed him to your pit bulls, my sovereign?" Lord Gabriel turned away and glared deep into the fire. "No, don't. Sir Elliot would be spoiled meat. I don't want my little ones to get sick. Just toss him down the well with the others." Turning back to the flames, Gabriel wondered if he ever get warm. He could hear the hunchback dragging Sir Elliot's body out of his chamber. Drifting in from distant breezes came the sounds of wailing . Gabriel smiled, thinking to himself that he SHOULD send someone out to check the traps, but the sad cries of a creature in pain calmed him. Meanwhile, only a forest away, the Kingdom of Price Vincent's was an echoing nightmare of caterwauling, moaning and hysterical whimping. When Mary entered the Good King Jacob's throneroom, she yelled, "Good king Jacob!" but the good king just sat there, totally oblivious to her. Mouse stood near the king with huge cottonballs stuffed in his large ears. "GOOD KING!" Mary screamed again over the whimping wailing that was coming from Prince Vincent's chambers. By jumping up and down and waving her arms around, she was finally seen by the good king. He said something to her, but she could only see his mouth move... the words were swallowed up by Vincent's lamintations. Good King Jacob motioned to Mary to stop as he grabbed cottonballs from his own ears. "I can't stand this anymore," he screamed. "Why is it that when he finally falls in love, I had to pay for it? I tried to talk to Prince Vincent, even ordered him to stop...but..." He threw his arms up into the air. Leaning closer to the Good King to scream into his ear, Mary told him , "While I'm sorry that Princess Catherine didn't come back, we...I mean YOU have more pressing problems! The good citizens who love Prince Vincent have had enough! They want to leave the kingdom in order to find a quieter place to live." That was the last straw for the Good King. He jumped out of his throne, and taking his cane in hand, he marched straight down the tunnel to Prince Vincent's room, pausing only once to place the cottonballs back into his ears. Upon entering Prince Vincent's chamber, he saw that papers were throw on the floor, the bedding was ripped to pieces, and Prince Vincent was lying in the middle of the mess, his head bowed to the floor. He was moaning. The Good King walked over to his son. "Vincent?" he called loudly. When Prince Vincent ignored the Good King because he couldn't hear him over his own loud moaning, the Good King grabbed him by his shoulder. Prince Vincent stared up at his father through mist-blurred eyes. "Father, I have lost my life and my beloved." King Jacob grabbed Prince Vincent by his ear and pulled him up to his feet . "Do you know that most of the good citizens of our kingdom, including myself, are very close to becoming deaf or running away because of this nonsense? I'm sorry she didn't come back, but it's been four days now, and I've had ENOUGH! I hate to do this to you, son but for the good of my kingdom, you're going to have to leave if you don't stop this...and stop it NOW! Prince Vincent sniffled and gingerly took out a quarter-sized piece of crystal that he had found stuck to his clothing. It had to be something of Princess Catherine that had fallen off during her transformation. Holding it up, he forlornly examined the piece of his love--or maybe a piece of her dress, or her shoe. Or was it a clasp from her cloak? King Jacob snatched the piece of crystal from Prince Vincent's hand. "She's gone forever," Prince Vincent sniffled as he watched his father hold a piece of his beloved. "Oh , she'll be back," the King said. "I can't see that one leaving a diamond behind...she took everything- - including all the silverware--when she was here last time. I'm still eating with my fingers." Shaking his head slowly, Good King Jacob went to hand the crystal back to Prince Vincent--but it slipped from his hand and shattered on the floor. Vincent howled loudly and Good King Jacob stepped away in surprise, only to have Prince Vincent run insanely past him into the darkness--still howling. Prince Vincent now held on sparkling powder in his hand .Instinct alone was leading him back to the crystal statue of the Beautiful Princess Catherine just to try to figure out which part of her fell off--and hoping it was a part she didn't need. *** Prince Vincent was a sight--his fur matted, clothes torn. What he saw when he reached the clearing broke his heart--for there on the ground, scattered in thousands of glittering pieces was his Beautiful Princess Catherine. Over there and there and over there. Prince Vincent sank down to the ground as he mournfully picked up the shattered pieces of his love and stacked them into a large pile. His mist covered eyes searched the immediate area for the small remaining pieces of his beloved. Tears flowed freely down his face. He clawed at the soft ground in front of him slashing with his claws--viciously ripping into the earth until a good size hole was made, into which he delicately placed fragments of his Beautiful shattered Princess Catherine and after a few seconds he tenderly covered her. Prince Vincent threw himself upon the mound of dirt which covered his beloved and moaned. A silent witness to the prince's grief was Mouse's raccoon, who sat on a broken tree stump, busily playing with a glittering piece of the Princess with his furry little paws, tossing it high up and catching it when it came down. A fortnight had come and gone. Lord Maxwell was going mad over everything that had taken place: Beautiful Princess Catherine, a dead baby, three guards, and at last report Sir Elliot had not yet returned from his little excursion. Princess Catherine and Sir Elliot were two people who were too self centered and accustomed to the good life to disappear deliberately, and as for the three guards he could really care less about them. They didn't matter. In the long run, subordinates never did. He knew that most of the guards were talking behind his back since he sent for the huntress, but they were also scared each day and night as the sounds of inhuman cries filled the air. Currents of fear tingled in every nerve cell in their bodies, including Lord Maxwell's. To face men in battle was one thing, but to face the unknown--a demon--was another. In reality Lord Maxwell could neglect the citizens' and guards' pettiness. Sir Elliot was reckless about keeping his head attached to his shoulders, but Lord Maxwell wasn't. =Thank God the king had sent word that he was spending at least a year in the northern provinces with his new wife, the Princess Robin. He didn't mention his daughter, the Princess Catherine once. *** Time passed and there was still no real news of anything at all. Their only hope was the Lady Diana. Each expedition sent out met with nothing. No Catherine, no guards. It was discouraging. Days and nights tended to blend in together. Only Lord Maxwell could see the light- -she was coming, the Lady Diana. He was surprised to find himself missing that rat, Sir Elliot--who you couldn't trust as far as you could throw, the bastard- -but at least he'd been someone Lord Maxwell could have talked to about the situation. Right now, he couldn't trust anyone. At least with Sir Elliot, he'd known what ratpack he was in. Just outside the kingdom in a little village, one of Gabriel's henchman was posing as the Black Knight Gabriel. A lure for a huntress. The false black knight saw a horse approaching, ridden by a tall, thin woman. She stood before him on her horse, unafraid...her fiery hair flowing free in the breeze, a blue line painted across her forehead. He watched her in admiration. "Well what do we have here? Money? No, you look poor enough...no gold, no jewels...but you have the most enchanting eyes. I shall take YOU, my beauty!" The Lady Diana simply smiled at the false black knight. "Then you're out of luck," she told him, her tone showing her contempt at the statement. The Lady Diana slid off her horse and faced him. The peasants ran for cover as she smiled calmly and coolly. The knight took a step toward her, and she moved slightly off to the side...the knight followed, and stepped into a small snake hole. Just as Diana had known he would do. She kicked out, connecting with his midriff, knocking him over. She knew from experience that a knight's armor would make it impossible to get up by himself once he was down. She leaned over the fallen knight and told him in a silken voice, "I'm sorry, but I'm only a girl and can't help you up." Proud and defiant, the Lady Diana mounted her horse again and rode over to the knight, who was still struggling to right himself. "Don't worry, my lord, no one has bested me yet. You aren't the first to lie at my feet." Deep currents ran through her statement--promises of what would happen if there were man or beast strong enough to defeat her. Wailing animal cries echoed though the forest, but Lady Diana had no time to investigate. She had been summoned to do a job and she would not turn from that until it was done. Diana raised her bow high up into the air in a gesture of triumph, and as she did, she saw a movement on the distant hill--another knight...and instinctively she knew it was the REAL Black Knight Gabriel--mimicked her gesture. The small handful of peasants that the black knight or the kings men hadn't killed, came forward, clapping and cheering. She rode past them on her way to the great castle to meet with the Lord Maxwell. As Lady Diana approached the castle, the guards lowered the drawbridge and Lord Maxwell came out to meet her. "Lady Diana, my pleasure." Lord Maxwell bowed and extended his hand to help Diana down, but she ignored him and jumped from her horse. "Lord Maxwell." It was more like a statement then a greeting her tone was cold as ice. "Shouldn't we discuss the business at hand?" The Lord Maxwell, more accustomed to women like Princess Catherine was a bit unsure how to handle this amazing creature with her direct blue-eyed gaze and sense of power. It made him feel awkward...but he tried to compliment her. "If you would follow me this way, lovely creature of the forest, I will tell you of our plight." He offered her his arm, but the Lady Diana ignored it, looking straight into his eyes... then she entered the castle throneroom ahead of him. Lord Maxwell followed, feeling a bit foolish and wondering if it was worth the effort to try to woo and bed her. But as she turned back to him, the light struck her and his mouth went dry. His mind screamed... =Yes...oh, yes. It was worth it.=" *** "So what do you want from me, Lord Maxwell?" Her voice was calm and professional, without a trace of coquettery. "In a word, we need your abilities to find someone." "And who am I to find? I'm not here to play a question and answer game." "The beautiful Princess Catherine and Sir Elliot," he told her. She smiled. "I know Sir Elliot. He kept drooling on me and calling me his ' wood fairy'. I don't much care for men who drool. Why would you possibly want to find him?" She looked at Lord Maxwell as if he were mad. Feeling defensive, Lord Maxwell told her, "I have no choice in that matter. He is the king's accountant and loyal friend." He almost choked over the "loyal friend" bit. "Well," she quizzed, "what about this Princess Catherine? Can I see her room.?" "Sure," Lord Maxwell said, blushing a little. "But it's all of the east wing. The last seven rooms are filled with her clothes and stuff." Diana slowly inclined her head as Lord Maxwell held out his arm to escort her up the stairs. She disregard his arm and in one swift motion turned to the staircase with Lord Maxwell advancing straight behind her. He cautiously judged each word he was going to say, trying to paint himself in the best light and unattached to this bewitching lady. "My Lady, Princess Catherine was a beautiful Princess of this kingdom. She was a true woman...she cared for her looks and the pleasure of men who took care of her." Lady Diana gave no indication of listening to him as Lord Maxwell continued. "We had just come back from France. She was in high spirits and she had received a lot of presents from her many admirers..." He stopped short, his attention drawn to the work of art in front of him--the wispy figure of the Lady secure In her quiet solitude of her intellectual mind. Lady Diana was beginning to get a picture of the Princess Catherine, and she knew that this so-called Princess wouldn't run unless it was into the arms of another caregiver. There was no ransom note or else this stuffed peacock would have mentioned it, and since he sent for her she already knew that the so called Beautiful Narcissistic Princess hadn't been found. There was only one other possibility: she was dead. Lady Diana stopped abruptly, which caused Lord Maxwell to accidentally brush against her--something he took full advantage of. A dagger was in her hand before he could breathe. They faced each other eye to eye until he lowered his eyes and moved away from her. Lord Maxwell had never felt so powerless. He rather liked the feeling...having some of the burden of responsibility and decision taken off his shoulders. He waved his hand toward the eastwing. "I shall take my leave of you, my beautiful, ferocious mistress. I'll wait for you down the stairs. I'll be the one wearing the dog collar ." His eyes sparkled with the thoughts of this amazon woman. Diana watched in amusement as Lord Maxwell ran down the steps, taking two at a time. =Men are strange creatures,= she thought to herself as she proceeded to the eastwing and Princess Catherine's rooms. It was easy to find Princess Catherine's room. Mirrors gilded the walls, the room boasted an elegant canopy bed and golden table. Diana eased her way over towards the table. Everything was clean and fresh. Lady Diana touched the table gently with her fingertips after putting her knife down onto its golden surface. But nothing came to her...no impressions. Slowly she pulled herself away, gathering up her knife and placing it back in her belt . After a further search that yielded nothing in the bedroom, Lady Diana proceeded to the smaller adjacent room, only to be greeted by a large golden table with every square inch of table space covered with makeup and bottles ,a large velvet chair which was pushed delicately in as if awaiting its mistress' return. =Nothing but vanity,= Lady Diana thought, shaking her head in total astonishment. Lady Diana closed her eyes and waited until something briefly tugged at her mind. Following her intuition, she found a small room down the corridor, three doors down from Princess Catherine's room. This doorway led her to a pile of letters in the middle of the floor. Each letter bore the seal of a cat. Some were opened, while others remained with their seals intact. Diana picked up one of the closest letters to her, and then another and another, scanning the lines. Each one started out the same way: "To my Beloved." Sonnets and poetry--all love letters.. .elegantly written...each ending with, "My Beloved, you hold my happiness and my life within your two delicate hands, and I swear my life and loyalty to you yours, Prince Vincent." This was one name Lady Diana hadn't heard. She spent most of that day and evening reading Prince Vincent's words to Princess Catherine. The Lady Diana became lost in the words. Whereas Princess Catherine had seen them only as pleas of how Prince Vincent would love and protect her, Lady Diana saw them as a man pouring out his soul to a no-good little brat who didn't deserve the love he was sending to her through his words. The letters touched Lady Diana's heart--which made her extremely uncomfortable. The emotion penetrated the barriers Lady Diana had built so carefully through the years. She read one letter after another, and after reading all of them, she leaned back, closed her eyes and tried to picture the Prince that could have sent such sweet words of love...but no form came to mind. She knew that for some reason Princess Catherine had gone to Prince Vincent --but she always returned to her own life without him. Perhaps she felt she was needed by her own people...from what she knew about Princess Catherine, she knew Prince Vincent must be rich, elegant and a protector. And he must be nearby. As the Lady Diana sat, lost in her thoughts, a small noise behind her alerted her to someone's presence. She turned, and a small, tearful woman greeted her. "My Lady, Lord Maxwell would like you to join him."she bowed her head. "Thank you," Lady Diana answered. "Did you know Princess Catherine?" "Yes my lady. I was her personal servant." A tear fell from her eye. "What can you tell me about Prince Vincent?" Diana asked. "I don't know," she whispered, bending her head. "I'm not here to hurt your precious Princess. I'm here to find her. Can you at least tell me which way she traveled when she left the castle?" The maidservant didn't look back up but kept her eyes on the floor."West, my Lady." Lady Diana followed the maidservant down to dinner, where a strange spectacle presented itself. The dining hall was clear except for Lord Maxwell--wearing rags and a dog's collar, heavy manacles bound his wrists. Lady Diana tried to keep from laughing at the rather ridiculous bid for attention. '"My lady," Lord Maxwell cried, prostrating himself before her. He looked up at her hungrily. "The meal is undone... for that I must be punished." he hung his head low. "I don't deserve such a beautiful woman to grace my presence." Diana calmly shook her head. "Get up! I don't have time for this!" She gripped Lord Maxwell's hair and pulled him to his feet. "Is anyone normal in this land?" He stared at her in ecstacy and she sighed. "Lord Maxwell, I'm not that hungry. I think I can find your Princess, but I have to go now." She struggled to keep the amusement from her voice. "But...my mistress! I am your slave to do with what you will!" She backed away, holding her hands up to fend him off. "I REALLY have to go, and one day I may have to beat you...but not now. Okay? I can only think of getting your Princess back." He hung his head. "Be careful. Evil is out there. I shall have my guards accompany you." "No! No...that's not necessary. Really" she told him as she continued backing away. What ever she faced out there was probably less crazy then it was in here. Lord Maxwell's eyes followed her in adoration. Lady Diana slowly walked out of the dining room. She couldn't wait to face the cool, rational night. Just then, horrible wails came from outside the castle walls. Lady Diana took a deep breath, pulled herself straight as one of her arrows and walked out to the stable. Her only job was to find the Princess and nothing was going to stop her . End of part one-next week part two will come out.The characters belong to their creater But the story belongs to me.....Diana Garcia
Part two-Fractured fairytale -Beauty and the Beast. Lady Diana was grateful to leave the confines of the castle,for as the Drawbridge closed behind her,fresh clean air greeted her..along with The ever-increasing sounds of a wounded animal in the distance.Her Horse became more and more skittish as she drew closer to the sound By the time she reached the edge of the forest,the animal's cries were Deafening,and the horse was getting difficult to control.the rest of the forest was silent;not even a bird chirped. Lady Diana knew that if she came across the pitiful animal,she had two Choices-either to mend the poor thing or to shoot it with one of her Arrows,ending its painful existence. The animal's cries had diminished To moans.Lady Diana continued toward the sound,until suddenly a loud, Piercing scream tore through the forest,sending her horse into a Panic-almost throwing her to the ground. Since Lady Diana was a skilled rider, she was able to bring the horse Under control."Easy...easy." she cooed to the mare.Sliding off her Nervous mount,Lady Diana gently rubbed the horse's nose,and removed her bridle to set her free.She knew that the poor animal was terrified,but it irked her to lose this mare-she was the best she'd ever had.Diana released her,watching as the horse snorted, lifted her tail and bolted back the way they'd come.Now on foot,her bow and knife at her side,she continued her quest. The forest thinned to a clearing and in the center of this clearing was a powerful figure-man or animal,she wasn't certain-lying on the ground. Diana's keen mind clicked as she examined the sight before her.The man/animal seemed to sense her approach and lift his head.The hair was a matted golden mane..but it was the face that astounded her-a cross between lion and man,with the most incredible blue eyes she'd ever seen. Through she recognized the power and possibility of danger in approaching the creature,there was no fear in her,for she could see kindness ,nobility and pain etched into the face..she knew who it must be, and that he wouldn't harm her. As she approached,she noted that the tattered,torn clothing was at one time quite splendid."Prince Vincent?" Lady Diana asked gently as she cautiously approached. Prince Vincent slowly turned towards the lovely voice that called to him.Out of his pain and fever he saw a wood nymph-beautiful, long red hair flowing freely,tall,proud, and blue eyed..a mark of the sky itself blazed on her forehead.Prince Vincent tried to stand,and watched with amazement as the lovely vision floated towards him.Only in his father's stories had he heard of the beautiful creatures that haunted these woods.He could feel darkness overcoming him as his vision touched him. Lady Diana was amazed at the size of the man as Prince Vincent dropped his feveredhead to her shoulder.She tried to support him,but he was simply too heavy,and his massive frame sent them both to the ground.Prince Vincent fell on top of Lady Diana..her long,lithe legs wrapped around him.Her thoughts turned towards her ancient mother,who wanted her only daughter married and happy.Diana gasped in a fit of humor, ''Mom,you got your wish-I'm gonna die with a man between my legs''She knew she was going to suffocate,he was so heavy.."Umph.."She began to wriggle beneath Prince Vincent as she tried to free herself.She grasped his lolling head between her hands and shook him. "Vincent!Prince Vincent!"Slowly,his blue eyes opened."You can..ugh.get off of me any time now."she gasped. Prince Vincent managed to lift himself to where he was stradding her.His eyes showed a spark of intelligence. Grabbing both of her small wrists in his massive hand,he drew them over her head. "You're a wood nymph! Grant me one thing and I shall let you go back into your forest." His words were still slurred and a bit weak.Diana stared up at him,her mind whirling.She knew he was delirious with fever,and with his strengh,she couldn't very well fight him off.With a smile,she let her body go limp beneath him. "You got me,Prince Vincent.What is your wish?" Perplexed,Prince Vincent asked,"You know me, wood nymph? Of course you do." Diana could see the faraway look in the Prince's eye as he gently eased his hand away from her, releasing her hands.But he still remained straddling her.With her hands free,Lady Diana searched the ground beside her,and finding a palm-sized rock,she gripped it. She hesitated a long moment..she really didn't want to hurt the Prince,but he wouldn't get off her! Staring down into her beautiful face,he told her fiercely,"I shall never let you go until my wish is granted.I want the beautiful Lady Catherine back." Diana stiffened at his words"Where is she?" she asked. "They have destoryed her-my life." He peered painfully down at his captured wood nymph and passed out,falling sideways onto her. "Oh,just great."Lady Diana moaned. Lady Diana struggled once more to free herself of Prince Vincent's crushing weight.Finally, she wriggled her way out from under him,and turning herself over,she pushed herself off the ground.Arrows from her quiver had pinched into her back,she tossed them to the ground. Going over to Prince Vincent,she pushed and pulled until he rolled over. His clawed hand grasped at Lady Diana,gripping her arm tightly."I can't let you go free."he moaned. Diana pulled and pulled at her arm,trying to free herself from his grasp.When she couldn't,she looked around for a rock she'd dropped earlier..found it and picked it up.Gazing tenderly at Prince Vincent she said sadly."This is more for your benefit than mine." She hauled off and knocked Prince Vincent upside his head with her rock..again. Prince Vincent groaned once and managed to say."You hit me." Then he passed out.As he released her,Diana leaped to her feet and whistled for her horse.As she waited for her horse to respond,she took Prince Vincent's tattered cloak from around his neck,and taking off his cowl,she pushed it away from his neck.Grabbing an arrow Diana stuck it though the cowl at its neckline. Now the Prince was lying on his cloak, and the arrow provided a brace to tie her rope to. Diana's horse whinned as she approached. Diana was sweating with exertion by the time she caught the horse and took the rope from her saddle horn.Her blue face paint was running in her eyes,and she wiped it away. "Damn!" She tied one end of the rope to the arrow snagged in Prince Vincent's cloak,then wrapped more around the cowling just to be sure, then tied the other end to her saddle. She then eased the horse forward, dragging the unconscious Prince Vincent behind. Lady Diana remembered passing a small, burned down hamlet a couple of miles back and towards the east.Evening was descending and gold,red and blue light filtered through the beautiful crisp foliage of the trees.the blanket of night had just fallen by the time she dragged the Prince into the small burned down hamlet.Only fragments of huts stood where once a proud,thriving hamlet once stood.Diana walked her horse over to one of the less destroyed buildings and stopping out front,untied the rope and set her horse free with a slap to its rump.The horse galloped off in search of food and water. Lady Diana,sore and tired,stumbled back towards Prince Vincent.Dropping down on her knees,she untied Vincents cowl,which was now almost over his mane.Lady Diana tugged and pulled with all her strength trying to get the cloak off of Prince Vincent.She rolled him over and over till she got the cloak off him at last.==Now to wake him up enough to get him into the hut!=she thought. Pulling a small flask of water from her belt,she knelt beside the fallen prince. for the first time,she took the time to study him.She delicately stroked his golden mane away stared the first time intently into his face.=He's actually quite beautiful in his own way,=she thought.Lady Diana gently ran her finger across his lips and down the sides of his cheek.For the first time in her life,she dared to care.He looked like a fairytale dream and at times,she found herself afraid that if she closed her eyes he would disappear back into her imagination. Prince Vincent started to awake and Diana pushed herself away from him.How odd it felt for her to shy away from anything..let alone a man.His eyes opened,wavered a moment,then focused."Wood nymph," he said,pointing to her. "No,"she said quietly."I'm Lady Diana, from the Northern provinces.I'm here to find your Princess Catherine." Diana swallowed her feeling for this man/beast.She had read his words of love to his Princess.It didn't matter that he was more man than anyone she'd ever met in her life..he wasn't her man.She edged towards him hestantly lifted his head and placed it onto her lap.Tenderly Diana lifted up the water flask for Prince Vincent to drink.After a mouthful,Prince Vincent looked up into her eyes.. "Thank you,my lady."he said with a bit more coherence."My poor,beautiful Princess Catherine's..." tears rolled down his face. Diana didn't feel like really listening to all this self centered whinning.The stupid bitch wasn't worth it.She pushed his head off her,and his head hit the ground. "Ouch...!" Diana grabbed Prince Vincent's muscular arm and tried to help him up.=Like most men=she mused.=I end up doing most of the work.=With a little help from the half-conscious prince .Lady Diana managed to get him into the interior of the small hut. Bracing him with her right leg,she eased him gradually down onto the warm earth of the hut's floor.A quick scan of the surroundings told her that only a small,ugly table and crooked chair had survived the bittered fighting that had taken place only a month earlier while the hamlet had been under attack by the Black Knight.Although bitterly tired,Lady Diana urged her body into motion.The first thing was a warm fire..something to keep the Prince warm and alive.The first was no problem. Diana made a small circle on the flooring with rocks and then small twigs but it did take her a bit longer to get the fire going,as she had to go outside to gather wood. By the time the fire was going,Prince Vincent was sleeping..and making a soft,contented purring sound=Well,= she mused.=At least someone is going to sleep tonight=Settling herself beside him.Lady Diana watched over him ...guarding him. The Prince slept peacefully..seemingly without dreams,and she wondered if he'd slept at all since losing his princess.However,the more "contented" the prince seemed to become,the louder his snoring became.Lady Diana was having trouble hearing the outside noises.=This won't do,=she thought with irritation.She moved to the threshold of the hut so she could watch for any approach,and yet still tend her sleeping patient. When Prince Vincent woke,his fever had broken-but a dream remained behind of a beautiful wood nymph who saved him by knocking him unconscious.As he took in his surroundings,realization dawned on him as he stotted the beautiful wood nymph from his dream. Prince Vincent closed his eyes and gently touched the side of his head where she'd struck him.=No dream=he thought.=That HURTS= He turned his gaze again toward the front of the hut-only to find the wood nymph gone. Prince Vincent sat up slowly.His head was still swimming.As his eyes focused ,the wood nymph reappeared.Their eyes met and locked.Her cool gaze seemed to pierce though his very soul. After a moment of silence,she walked over,thrust a small handful of berries into his hands,and said."Here." Then she sat, crosslegged,before him. Prince Vincent watched her through half-closed eyes as he ate the berries. She didn't speak,but watched every movement he made.Finally Prince Vincent realized she was waiting for him to speak. Bracing himself agains't the pain from his head,he asked,"So you are the Lady Diana from the Northern provinces and you're here to find my love,the beautiful Princess Catherine?" "Yes," she answered solemnly. Prince Vincent found himself speaking freely to this enchanting creature before him.He'd never felt such a easy kinship to anyone before.She showed no fear of him and the look in her eyes was one of intelligence and a strange,exciting power that tingled through him whenever he made contact with those incredible eyes. Lady Diana listened for hours upon hours and was about ready to hang herself from the nearest tree.She felt as if her smile was becoming very stiff.=Ye gods but I'm tired of the Beautiful,Adorable,Magnificent Princess Catherine.=But, he seemed to be on a roll,so she let him talk .At last he spoke about the Beautiful Princess being turned into a crystal statue and somehow along the way getting broken,and some of her parts missing..and he broke down crying. =Oh,well=Lady Diana thought with relief. =so she croaked.The greatest tragedy of the century.=She shrugged as she patted Prince Vincent's shoulder and gave him a small smile.Immediately,Prince Vincent grabbed Lady Diana into a huge bear hug and cried all over her shoulder. Prince Vincent was overcome with emotion as he held tightly to his little woodland nymph. =How strong,soft and warm she is,=he thought. Lady Diana wasn't quite sure how to react.This was something of a frist for her,the first time someone had grabbed her and held on for dear life.It would've been really nice,but she knew all those tears were for the dead princess,and they sickened her a bit.=Such emotion over a used princess!= Eventually,the prince released the Lady Diana.She patted him gently on his back and handed him a tissue to blow his nose.She wanted to help him get over the Princess Catherine ,but her heart told her that she should move on-there would be nothing but pain if she stayed to be with him.Her job was over-she'd found out what happened with the vain,foolish Princess.Slowly, regretfully,she walked outside the hut and whistled for her horse.She could sense Prince Vincent behind her..his soul invading the corners of her mind..a vast feeling of love and warmth. She wondered briefly if he could feel hers as she could feel him.But the thought was only wishful thinking.She had nursed him to health and let him cry out all the pain he carried over Catherine's breakage.His need for her was over,just as her job was.Slowly,she mounted her horse as Prince Vincent emerged from the hut. "You have to leave my Lady?" he asked "I cannot thank you enough for bringing me back from the abyss."His eyes were sad..this time at the thought of her leaving. Before she could change her mind, Diana spurred her horse on.She'd had a job to do and now it was finished,the only thing left to do was to report to the odd Lord Maxwell. While Diana was nursing Prince Vincent, the Black knight Gabriel called a meeting for his second-a dark overseer of the damned.This man had the face of a vulture and the small cold eyes of a rodent.There was an aura of evil around him."You called me ,my Lord and Master?"he asked as he bowed slightly. "I have a job for you."Lord Gabriel told him."The Lady Diana searches for the Princess Catherine.I have been told she has arrived and is most likely in the company of Prince Vincent.To secure the child for myself,I must have them both killed." "Your wish is my command." The overseer responded in a low,ugly voice as he turned to go. "Not so fast,fool!" Gabriel growled. "I do not wish to find you flat on your back like the last time you two met."Gabriel pointed his long bone-like finger towards his second's face."I want you to find the Lady Diana and bring her back to me ALIVE." "my Lord,she is only a woman-easliy killed.Last time was simply bad luck."he protested. "Lady Diana is a very intelligent woman-that's what makes her so dangerous.Now,go and bring her back.I have use of her..but after her deed is done..then and only then can you kill her,not before. ""urning back to his raging fire,Gabriel warmed his hands. The overseer stuck out his tongue at Lord Gabriel's back and grumbled under his breath as he left the room. As Prince Vincent found his way home,the good citizens of his realm were notified of his approach and each ran in different directions trying to locate their old cottonballs to stuff in their ears-just encase he decided to howl again.The Prince found himself surrounded by the citizens of his realm, who were all intently watching his mouth so they could read his lips.Eventually,they realized he wasn't going to start howling again,so they pulled the cottonballs out and cheered their Prince.Prince Vincent made his way to his good father's throneroom. The Good King Jacob looked up from his throne and hesitied for a moment, readying himself for Price Vincent's outbursts.When none came,he relaxed the death grip he had on the arms of his throne."Son! You've came back to us.Are you....better?"he asked gently, trying not to upset his son. "Yes,father,I am.I have met a woman from the North." The Good King was dismayed."A.. .a woman?"+Oh,gods..not another one!=he thought. "Yes." Prince Vincent continued without noticing his father's comment. "She's is intelligent and resourceful. She was sent to find my Princess Catherine...but alas,there's nothing she can do to save her now.However, there's something very special about this woman.She has saved my life." For the first time,King Jacob saw a sparkle in his son's eye and he knew that the worst was over. Mouse stood quietly by the King's chair until the king motioned for Mouse to come closer to him.With vast relief,he whispered to the boy."Tell our good people that their Prince is back..and they can toss away their cottonballs and retrieve their families from the high country." Meanwhile,back at the castle,Lady Diana was meeting with Lord Maxwell in the company of two guards.She was relieved to see the two guards,as Lord Maxwell almost seemed sane when others were around.Lord Maxwell seemed more or less to be sane at the moment.He greeted her with a bow as he thought of how he was going to tell the King of his daughter's demise."Lady Diana," he told her,"since you are known throughout many lands as an honorable huntress,I know that you tell the truth.I know that your duty to me is conclued,but since this development.I would appreciate it if you would find the assassins of Princess Catherine and whatever parts are missing so that she can be properly buried-or at least glued back together for a garden statue.She would have loved that."he said, and at that thought,he wept. Lady Diana looked Lord Maxwell straight in his eyes."I will do as you ask,Lord Maxwell..but with two provisions.The first is that I have my own place outside the castle walls.And second,when I have news I will come to you.You are not to come to me.If you agree to my terms,I will in time fulfill your request." Lord Maxwell nodded his head in agreement to her terms.Lady Diana turned and walked out without waiting to be dismissed.Her mind was on finding a small hamlet to take up residence in.She stopped by the king's stable and retrieved her horse,glad that she hadn't lost her permanently due to Prince Vincent's howling.She would've been hard to replace. Lady Diana spent almost the whole day on horseback,riding from one tiny hamlet to another.Still she found herself drawn to the burned out hamlet where she nursed PrinceVincent,but she still had one more hamlet to check out..the one where the fake black knight accosted her.As she rode into the hamlet,she was greeted by an old hag with snaggly teeth.Lady Diana slid off her horse. "Ha."the old hag croaked."The lady who bested the black knight!We welcome you to our home."the old hag shook her bony fingue at her."I only wish that I'd known you would best him-I would have made a lot of money on you ,young lady." Lady Diana smiled,amused by the hag."So,old mother..is there any lodging around here?"She tossed the old hag a coin from her pocket. "Well lets see."the old hag muttered as she peered toward the huts.She pointed at one."That one-he died last week of terminal iron poisoning.Someone ran him though with a sword.Caused quite a mess in there." Diana glanced at the flies which still blanketed the hut."Er..no I'll think I'll pass on that one." As the old hag moved,Lady Diana caught a glimpse of a single pearl aoround her neck.There was no way this simple peasant could own a ring let alone a fine pearl.That only meant one thing-that she must have run into Princess Catherine.And knowing Princess Catherine from her reputation.Lady Diana doubted she'd give the old hag the time of day...let alone one of her pearls! She narrowed her eyes, considering. Tact might be best here.Her job was now finding the killer or killers...not the less fortunate members of the kingdom who may have taken advantage of the Princess at some time.Or not.Maybe later she'd question the old woman on how she came into possession of such a fine pearl. The old hag touched Diana's forearm to get her attention."How about that one over younder?" "Anyone die of iron poisoning in there?"Lady Diana asked "Nope.Bashed over the head with a club.It's a bit cleaner."She whistled though aged gums and grinned a gummy smile. Just then,the back of Lady Diana's neck tingled.Grabbing the old hag, she told her "Listen,I want you to warn of the others and stay in your huts.Something evil comes." The old hag gasped as she stared up at Diana,noting the smeared blue line."Ah!A Northern seer!"Immediately ,she ran towards the rest of the huts,yelling as she went."Get into your huts!Danger!" Skinny,half starved peasants ran this way and that.None dared to stop to question the old hag.Lady Diana grabbed her bow and arrows and planting herself in the middle of the hamlet she waited.
Fairytale 3 Lady Diana didn't have long to wait before danger made itself Apparent.The sound and vibrations from about a dozen horses filled the Thick air around her.The possibility of her destorying or evading such A force seemed highly unlikely.One or two she could have handled-but So many,never.Lady Diana held tightly to her bow and surveyed the area surrounding the small hamlet.Her eyes fell on a poorly made structure That the peasants used to cover a part of their marketplace..it stood, Shaking,on only four thin poles,its thatch roof dropping pieces as it Trembled.Diana smiled. The horsemen,all wearing the black colors of Lord Gabriel,came into view. Their leader was the same man she'd bested before.=Oh I'm gonna enjoy This!=she thought.Her smile became a grin.If the plan worked,the Knights would be too busy with her to hurt or even think about any of the Peasants.As Lady Diana watched,their leader approached her on his Prancing stallion,only to stop abruptly a few feet away.He unsheathed His sword. "Lady,drop you bow.My master wants a meeting with you!" "I know you," the Lady Diana responded."At first,I didn't recognize you. The last time I saw you,you were on your back." The burly knight flushed. "And why would I want to see your master?I have no business with him." The leader motioned for his guards to follow him and started forward. In a dead run,the Lady Diana ducked under the shakily-thatched roof,and She was followed by seven of the twelve knights. As the knights made it under the thatched roof,Diana hit the side pole As hard as she could forcing the brace and roof down onto the knights Knocking them off their horses.Slinging her bow in back of her.Diana placed her hands in back of her hips and looked back."Oooops.." she Commented smugly.Some of the knights were fighting to get up while others were having problems keeping their terrified horses under control. Lady Diana slowly walked into the forest,and behind her she heard the cheers of the peasants as they came out of their hiding places. She turned.=stupid peasants!They should've stayed hidden!" She could hear the old woman giggling and telling another peasant."I told yoy!Now you owe me!Let's settle these bets." An argument started and what Diana feared the most became reality;one of the knights swooped down on the peasants,picking up the old woman as the other peasants scrambled away. "Don't breath on me old woman!"the knight said."Your breath could melt my armor!"He shook the old woman like a rag doll,then she went limp.the knight's voice rang out:"I know that you're still here. Lady Diana! Give yourself up to me and I promise that this hamlet will be spared.Our Lord,the Black Knight.Gabriel only wants to talk with you." "Damn."Diana had no chioce ,and she came out of the forest."You win, for now."she told him."But let them go.I will go see your High Lord. "Diana only stopped once,glancing at the still struggling knights on the ground beneath the thatch.She spotted the same knight she'd bested before,and looked down at him."You just can't seem to keep on your feet,can you?" The peasants watched in silence as the Lady Diana grabbed one of the downed knights 's horses and gracefully jumped on.She watched as the other knights rope their fallen champions and started to drag them back into the woods with Lady Diana beside the new head knight. The old woman pulled herself off the ground and looked around.She spit on the ground and wiped her mouth with her hand.The smell from her mouth made her eyes pop and water as the other peasants crowded around her."I want my money,you toothless old hag!" yelled a weathered,loose skinned man. "She bested them!" the old hag protested."I don't own you a thing, you rat faced fart."others were crowding around and she yelled. "She beat them-the redheaded wildcat-she only went with them willingly!They don't beat her!" "If she went with them,they won!" The clearing erupted into a melee of clubs,fists,spit and hair pulling.Only the old hags voice could be made out over the fray. "Don't touch me pearl!" And shortly after that a man's voice..."Gods woman!Shut your mouth,your breath smells like a buzzard died in there!" It didn't seem that long until Diana and her escorts made it back to the Black Knight Gabriel's castle.Half the knights were being dragged by the others...a sad sight.A small, misshapen hunchback came out to greet them.He looked with awe at Lady Diana,who sat straight and tall on Sir Winsome's horse,her red hair floating on the breeze.The small hunchback pranced around the fallen knights,pointing at the fallen Sir Winsome,he chuckled."I see you got some dents in your armor.Gabriel's gonna make you pay to get these dents hammered out.Maybe he'll hammer you inside." Sir Winsome mumbled something and took a heavy swing at the hunchback,but was way to slow,and the hunchback easily danced away.=Gods,how I like this beautiful redheaded amazon.=he thought. The lead knight motioned to his men to drop their ropes,leaving the fallen knights on the ground,while the hunchback-after years of abuse danced around the fallen knights singing loudly. Lady Diana walked in silence,but the two knights besides her weren't silent at all.The largest of the knights started to belly laugh. "I' don't know which was funnier.That old hag trying to get into your armor or the look on Sir Winsome falling off his horse again..or maybe us telling Lord Gabriel that Sir Winsome was back on the ground." The knight turned to Lady Diana. "Your one fine wildcat.If there's anything left of you after Lord Gabriel gets through,it's mine." Diana stopped abruptly."You couldn't handle even a part of me,little boy." The knight only smiled under his helmet."At least I'd die happy,my little firebreather." He grabbed Diana's elbow and pushed her into Gabreil's chamber ,where the fire blazed brightly.Gabriel's skull-like features cracked into a sinister smile."Sir Weatherby,where is Sir Winsome?" The smaller knight smiled faintly."He's outside.He's on his back again." Gabriel only nodded to Diana."Your doing?" "My pleasure," she said flatly."What do you need from me?" "I could just kill you,but your right.So beautiful,and with brains too.I warned=Sir Winsome that you were dangerous. How many of my knights have you upset?" "A few." Gabriel motioned to the knights behind her.Diana could hear their retreating steps. "My dear,"Gabriel said."I just wanted to speak to you, since you are so well known here.I want you to find Prince Vincent and give him this message.I will trade him for his and Princess Catherine's son." Diana kept her emotions in check."How do I know that you have his son?And why would you trade?" Gabreil placed a long,bony finger under Ladys Diana chin. "Just tell him.Ha !The look in your eyes!You don't believe me."he turned his head towards the door and as if on cue, the small hunchback entered holding a child. Diana pretended disinterest."It could be anyone's child. How could I tell?" "Yes ,indeed.Beautiful and smart."Gabreil motioned the hunchback towards them.As the hunchback approached,he uncovered the child's hand exposing claw-like nails. Diana breifly checked the child over.It had to be Prince Vincent's.Lady Diana's jaw tightened slightly."I'll tell him." Lady Diana couldn't wait to take her leave of Gabriel and deliver his little news flash.She couldn't understand why she was so angry.But all men are pigs-even the one she cared for!A baby! Why that two timing good for nothing man/beast!Diana kept her temper in check.Out of all that talking he'd done,Prince Vincent went on and on about the Princess Catherine,but he never mentioned a baby. As she stomped out of the castle,she was amazed to see Sir Winsome was still flat on his back on the ground, with a tablecloth draped over him.and the ugly hunchback sitting beside him eatting a fine meal of fruits and berries.Upon seeing Lady Diana the hunchback smiled. "His Lordship,the wonderful High Lord said I could have a picnic out here..since there was such a convenient table available! "Would you care to join me,beautiful nymph?" Diana studied the odd sitution and smiled."Do you have a brother,hunchback?" He grinned."Several,and we all love tall women." Diana tossed her head back and laughed at the irony. "Well,I should get something out of this.Pass me some apples,hunchback and I'll be on my way." The small hunchback tossed Lady Diana the most beautiful apple he could find,Diana smiled down at Sir Winsome.He really did have an ugly,hawk-like face."Thank you,Sir Winsome...Please...don't get up!I can leave on my own. "Lady Diana whistled loudly,for she knew her mare would be nearby..probably jealous that she ridden Sir Winsome's gelding over here.Diana smiled as her horse appeared from the forest and came right up to her.Diana gracefully leaped atop her ,mare and smiled down at the hunchback. She wished him well,but not his master-and she was off. Lady Diana didn't really know where to find Vincent or even if she'd ever see him again.But she had given her word, even if it was to a nasty,egotistical jeck.But her word was her bond and the sooner she could rid herself of Prince Vincent,the better.Lady Diana only had one clue as to his possible where abouts..the old hag with the Princess's pearl.It didn't take her long to make it back to the hamlet,but what she saw shocked her.Bruised and beaten peasants littered almost every path.Diana then saw the old hag and as the old hag saw Diana,she jumped up and down with joy while others only groaned. "WON,WON,I WON!" the hag screamed. Lady Diana slid off of her saddle as soon as she got within inches of the old woman."Old woman,I want to find Prince Vincent.Can you help me?" The old hag puckered up her lips."Let me think-you do know that Prince Vincent doesn't have a good reputation with women?The last one sorta fell apart on him." "So I've heard" Diana said dryly gripping the old woman's pearl.She stared into the woman's eyes and obviously the hag knew she meant business. "Well then."the hag muttered."If you're gonna be like that!I'll show you where he lives.His castle is beneath the ground.It's right over there."The old hag pointed a shaking finger towards the east. "Thank you." Diana jumped back onto her horse."I owe you one." The hag peered up at Diana and took several coins out of her pocket.She grinned,showing one blackened tooth . "Just keep beating those black knights and we're even." As Diana made her way to Prince Vincent,her heart grew heavy with the knowleadge that it wasn't him she was mad at.He owned he nothing at all..it was just that she'd let her guard down.=Dreams are for fools.They don't come true.she thought sadly.She was a realist.He had merely upset the delicate balance between dreamer and realist within her.She made up her mind;she'd deliver Gabriel's message and a warning.but she wouldn't try to involve her life with his.It would only lead to pain and heartache.She came to a pleasant clearing and the month of a cave opening.When Diana examined the ground carefully ,she could see several errant pearls hidden away in the slipped off her mare and walked over to the cave's mouth.where she noticed a movement.Standing outside she yelled."I'm the;Lady Diana.I have an important message to give to Prince Vincent!" Only silence answered her.Frustrated she kicked at one of the pearls.Then she saw him.She wasn't dreaming..had never been.He was real.Tall,strong and golden,his thick mane tossing in the breeze and every muscle indicating controlled power.But it was his sad blue eyes that melted her heart. "How did you find me,Lady Diana?" His voice was soft and gentle,stirring those hidden dreams to life. "I'm a hunter.It's..what I do."Diana barely managed to say "I wanted to thank you.I've never really had anyone but father looking out for me,caring for me...so I wanted to tell you how much it meant to me."His words were a purr,causing Diana to shiver. Diana forced herself back to reality."I'm here on business. I ran into the High Lord Gabriel." Concern filled his face...swept over her. "Diana ,you must be careful." "I'm not Catherine." She said..not meaning it to come out so bitter "I can take care of myself." Immediately afterward Diana wanted to bite her tongue off. "I know that.No one can be like Catherine,my wood nymph. Nor is there anyone like you.We are all unique." "Why does he do that?"Diana wondered=Turn everything around to make you feel special,even when you know you're not..not to him=Diana lowered her eyes."I was sent to deliver you a message.Gabriel will exchange your son..for you." "My ..Son?A child?How?" he stuttered,his gaze blank. "You know..." she told him sarcastically.Surely he wasn't so innocent."The bird and the bees?" she peered up at him shyly. Without looking at her,he waved the comment off. "No...you mean the bats and the rodents.Father told me all about that...but....we didn't..I didn't...I mean.. ." He looked confused. She shrugged "Well whatever." Finally,his eyes met hers."You're very special to me,but I have to leave.I like you..aa lot..but in a different way from how I loved Catherine.But I never kissed her lips like that.It must've been the way she petted my fur." Diana shook her head and backed away."I gotta leave .This is getting too weird,even for me."Just be careful,Prince Vincent." "Just Vincent,Diana." He said with a toothy grin. She grinned back."Yeah,whatever..Vincent Diana.I'd call you Rover if you'd come.Add I'd do more than pet your coat. .you can be sure of that!" Diana couldn't believe what just took place.=Maybe I'm dreaming, =she thought.=That has to be it.Nobody could be that innocent. =Then,her mind begin to focus on Vincent's powerful,musclar arms around her the feel and smell of him.The power of the mare underneath her,the power of Vincent's arms around her. Surrendering.=NO!= her mind screamed=You can't ever see him again!He's dangerous to you!= Diana shook off this odd feeling =This weakness is your own fault.And a minutes weakness may have destoryed everything.=She promised herself to find Catherines pieces and return them and search for her killers.She wanted it finished as soon as possible so she could return to the Northern provinces ,her life her work. Prince Vincent went straight to his chamber.He was concerned= What happened out there? He asked himself.He loved Princess Catherine with all his heart.She'd touched him in a sweet way he'd needed.But Diana had touched something else within him.He could live his life knowing that she was fine,and deep within he felt that he was bonded with both Catherine and Diana. He had been able to feel Catherine's needs..but couldn't Diana's. Yet he could tell by the look in her eyes that she knew him on a level that tied her to him the same way he had been tied with Catherine.Two very different women had touched his heart.Up to now,Catherine had claimed all..but Diana was making her own place.He knew if he ever needed her she'd be there for him,no matter what the cost to her. Prince Vincent looked deeply within himself and started to write down his feelings for Princess Catherine.She'd been gone a year..but they had a child.A child that he must save.He wondered sadly if his life was ending,for he would have like to have seen where his feelings for the wood nymph would taken him.As it was he was drawing on Diana's strengh to make it though Catherine's death.But he 'd seen the fear in Diana's eyes a few minutes after they kissed.He only wished that Catherine would have kissed him like that just once. Vincent smiled as he set down his words on paper.After he was finished Prince Vincent called for mouse,who came scampering in."Yes,Prince Vincent?" 'You know that beautiful Lady-my wood nymph .That you saw outside?After,I leave-and if I don't come back,give this to her.And her alone,do you understand? "What you think Mouse dumb?He bared his rat like teeth at Vincent,who shrugged."No my friend,I just want her to know something.And tell father that I have to leave." Mouse eyed him suspiciously."Catherine again?" "In a very important way,my friend."Vincent handed his note carefully over towards Mouse,who gingerly took it. High Lord Gabriel was not shocked or surprised to hear Prince Vincent's voice ringing out below his castle wall.A smug smile replaced his customary scowl.Just thinking of all the knights he had sent out-who could accomplish nothing but finding one little slip of a girl,who managed to best them all of them-when all he had to do was invite him with a little blackmail.He shrugged=Ah well,one lives and learns =he thought.He didn't need to look back to know when the hunchback entered."well,you ugly little troll,the beauty and brains of a mere slip of a girl has again bested not only mere men but the beast as well.Send Prince Vincent Up to me,but make sure that he is heavily chained like any dangerous animal. "Your wish is my command,my Lord."He bowed slightly and started to leave. "Did I say you could leave?" The hunchback trembled slightly."No,my Lord Highest." "Get that brother of yours,the ugly one.I need a footstool, and bring in my throne." "By myself,your High Lordship?It may take a couple of um...days." "No ,you idot!Why am I cursed with fools?Get some of those worthless knights to help you..and bring my heaviest and warmest cloak to me." The hunchback bowed again,but hurried toward the freedom of the castle's corridors.He only wished that the redheaded amazon could put his high Lord on his ass.He wasn't too thrilled with the high Lord using his little brother as a footstool,even if he did claim he was helping him out by pushing his hump in.=It never worked with me.=he thought angrily. It didn't take long for the hunchback to convey his High Lordship's orders,since knights littered almost every corridor. Conclusion of Fable Gabriel sat tall and straight in his stone throne,his skeletal features sharpened by the shadows from the raging fire beside him.His feet rested on an ugly hunchback whose features showed strain.Knights surrounded the chain Prince Vincent as they escorted him to the High Lord Prince Vincent looked over his immediate surroundings.Then,almost casually,toward High Lord Gabriel."I have kept my promise and have come to you to secure the release of my son."His voice was steadying ,strong and fearless. Gabriel stood,still resting one of his feet on the hunchback."It seems that you have no one with you to take care of your son. What kind of a man do you take me for,that I would endanger a child?" He eyed Prince Vincent coldly. "Perhaps if your lady,the huntress,were here,I could hand over the child to her." He smiled "The child can hardly walk home alone." Prince Vincent stared back at his enemy. "I know not where the lady is,but if you leave the child in the village of Dragon's Breath,my people shall find him," Vincent told Gabriel,not giving an inch to the mad man in front of him. "Yes,that's where we took your lady from the first time.You have good taste.I like women with spirit.Did you know that your Amazon bested most of my knights?She's a clever little wisp." At that Prince Vincent raised his brow Gabriel laughed and stomped his foot down hard,pushing the hunchback underneath him. "I have you-a splendid animal-all you need to do now so I can release your son is to tell where Lady Diana is,so I can get a message to her to come for your son.I am not an unreasonable man.Besides..don't you think that your huntress could take care of herself after downing several of my knights? At the look of awe on Vincent's face,Gabriel laugh."Ha,the little huntress hasn't told you Prince Vincent?" "I don't know where she is." Vincent said coldly. "I want to see my son." "And you will-once you're safely behind cell bars."Gabriel motioned the knights to take Prince Vincent below.Prince Vincent had little choice, for if there was only a small hope of getting his son,it lay with the Lady Diana..but with him locked away,how could he make contact with her to tell her of his need?" The knights with Prince Vincent were fearful as they hustled him down damp dark corridors which led into dimly lit halls-each lined with cells full of half starved humans and deformed creatures of the night. He was shocked into pity as he saw one after another lying motionless on dirt flooring or shivering in the cold air.After what seemed like a eternity, they entered a small room, where only one empty cell stood .The knight Sir Winsome, produced his keys and unlocked the cell, motioning Vincent inside. Nothing greeted Vincent inside except the smell of death and pain .Locking the cell ,the knights turned to leave, but Sir Winsome stopped short. "Prince Vincent," he sneered. "Prince of the deformed .I hope for your sake that we find that hellcat Diana.I'd hate to see your child rot here like the rest .So if you do know where she is.I'd tell Gabriel."Vincent just stared down and touched his heavy chains .Sir Winsome smiled and walked away."Well I guess I'll have to find her on my own."His tone was sinister and the implication ugly. Try as she might to keep her promise to herself,the farther Lady Diana got from Prince Vincent,the colder she felt.She couldn't believe what happened just before she whistled for her horse.Deep down,she knew Gabriel was leading Vincent to his destruction.Everytime she closed her eyes,Diana recounted their last minutes together=Yeah,whatever,Vincent=Diana thought=I'd call you Rover if you come, all right,and I'd do more than pet your coat,you can be sure of that!=Then, without even thinking,she walked straight up to Prince Bincent,pulled his head down and kissed him-not just a kiss,but one where she could taste his tonsils=Diana flushed and smiled just thinking about it.She didn't know who had been more shocked-him or her.She could kick herself ,wondering if it was worth it.But the answer came back to her and she grinned. "Damn straight it was!" He'd been so cute with his mouth hanging open as she jumped on her horse to leave.She'd left him wide eyed and drooling."Damn."She pulled her mare up short."I guess if I want more of that I'd better save him. If I never get next time,I'm gonna suck his tonsils right out of him for putting me though this."Shaking her head,Diana turned her horse around and headed back to Prince Vincent's domain. Before Lady Diana was half way there,a huge rat crossed the path in front of her,causing her to pull her horse to a stop.Grabbing her bow and arrow,she aimed. The mouse Mouse stopped and yelled. "No! Friend Vincent's.Here's letter he wrote you."Gingerly,Mouse approached Diana,and shakingly handed her Prince Vincent's note.Diana grabbed it from Mouse and without looking at it,she stuffed it in her pocket."Rat?" "No,Me Mouse,not rat."his little red beady eyes were on hers.She shuddered=God.Vincent has some ugly friends=She wasn't too thrilled with rats or mice whatever he was."Mouse,do you know where Prince Vincent is?" "He go do Catherine stuff again. "Mouse said with a sigh and a notable disgust. Diana's heart was gripped in fear. "Gabriel." She could feel her heart fluttering in her chest. Mouse whose large ears caught even a stir on the breeze,said angrily, "Gabriel no good! Turn me into mouse Me steal ladies chastity belts." He nodded sadly. Diana peered down at him"Gabriel let you into his castle?"her mind whirled with possibilities. "No." Mouse shook his head."Secret way.Want Mouse to show you?If Mouse shows you he gets chasty belt? "Hell,I'll buy you one after you show me the way in,deal?"Diana placed her hand down,and Mouse grabbed at her hand and pumped it up and down. "Deal" he smiled Lady Diana wasn't far behind Prince Vincent when he started out on his suicide mission. Diana shook her head as she rode,thinking that he was either the most noble of the nobles or the stupidest man she'd ever met. Diana and Mouse started canvassing around the castle just out of sight of guards and knights-pitiful creatures who cried out in torment which encompassed her heart,clouded her mind."Where is the opening? No opening, no chastity belt." She whispered softly to Mouse. "Mouse thinks he remembers."Mouse whispered back. With each step and minute that passed a growing apprehension gripped at her.She could perceive no opening,no hidden doorway or escape route hidden around, but she knew deep within herself that there was one.There had to be one.She would except nothing less."Mouse,if you don't want to end up mouse under ground you better find it!We've been looking for hours." As evening approached,Diana knew that Prince Vincent would not return on his own."Damn!" she kicked out at the ground beneath her feet."I warned him, honorable,noble fool."But deep down she knew that if he had done anything else,she would have lost all respect for him.Watching the sun descend,and then disappear into the earth,she and Mouse continued their search. As late evening approached,Diana's temper was frazzled and she was suppressing the desire to rip Mouse's ears right off him.After a couple of deep breaths,she smiled slightly and asked sweetly as she could manage."Mouse,you know,Lord Gabriel probably has some more chastity belts in there. "Its too bad you can't remember where the opening is." Mouse edged his long nose closer to the small patch of bushes and sneezed.A smile of pure delight spread across his rat-like features. His wickedly long front teeth chattered and he jumped up and down gleefully, pointing under the bush."Oh,Oh!." Diana grabbed the bush at its base and yanked as hard as she could. The bush gave way,uncovering a small dark hole.She eyed Mouse"After you. " She muttered and pointed towards the opening.Mouse just squealed and jumped inside.Diana took a deep breath and followed him,though she barely fit through the opening.But suddenly,like a cock pulled out of a bottle.Diana popped through and plunged straight down into a under ground tunnel,and landed on top of Mouse.Standing hastily and glaring down at the little rodent,she told him."Mouse-touch my chastity belt again and I'll rip your arm off!Do I make myself clear?" Mouse scrambled away from Diana and gulped,his voice small and high pitched. "Yes,ma'am." Diana glanced around the tunnel=Well=she thought to herself=your traveling with a rat..Whatever...and you end up in a rat hole. Spiderwebs,damp,mildrew and pitch darkness surrounded her.Hands on her hips,she surveyed her surroundings.She turned back to Mouse,who was scrambling to his feet. "Isn't this place neat?"he asked cheerfully Diana looked around."Yeah,kid.Really neat.Now..which tunnel leads us to the cell?"She pointed at two branches of the tunnel up ahead.Mouse seemed quite in his element and started hopping towards the right tunnel. "This way."he said stopping long enough to turn his beady rat eyes toward her the darkness. Diana could feel her skin crawled as she stared into those eyes. .light from the tunnel's opening made his beady eyes gleam red. Shaking her head,she quickly followed him. Meanwhile.Prince Vincent was down in his cell chewing on his claws. He could feel his child somewhere above him and knew the baby was sleeping peacefully.Prince Vincent sighed only looking up when a menacing presence invaded the small room where his cage was housed.Lifting his eyes,he saw Gabriel with Sir Winsome excourting him. The two men slowly approached the cage."Are you comfortable,animal?" the hatchet-faced Gabriel asked. Vincent only stared up at Gabriel and quietly addresses him."You said I could see my child." A nasty smile played across Gabriel's lips."So I did,but I lied.And you're in no position to do a thing about it. Beast.As soon as I get that hot blooded, red-headed filly of yours.You'll both die of course,but that's after my knights and I have a little fun with her."He shrugged."I'm surprised she's not here already.Perhaps I've over-estimated her." Vincent growled."She doesn't even know I'm here.And from what I understand,you and your knights have already had a tough time with her.Are you so greedy for more?" Gabriel smiled slightly and started to slowly turned around-only to stop and crane his vulture like head back. "oh...and I am sorry for Princess Catherine-turning her into a statue and all.Such a shame.She just seemed to go to pieces after that didn't she?" Gabriel's evil laugh filled the room. Prince Vincent could feel his head spinning"You killed her?" Gabriel only laughed again."In a manner of speaking.By the way. .your son-or rather,my son-will watch you die slowly along with your precious Lady Diana,after we have our way with her in front of you beast.I will catch her. " Gabriel left Vincent alone with his thoughts,but after they were out of earshot,he grabbed Sir Winsome by the throat."You can take care of the girl,can't you?" "Of course."Sir Winsome choked out. "Of course I can.High Lord!" Gabriel pushed his bony finger into Sir Winsome's chest."If you can't handle her,just kill her!She's far more of a threat than Prince Vincent!" Prince Vincent sat alone in his cell,contemplating all the things that had happened to him in these last days.He covered his face with his clawed and furred hands.Images danced in his mind of his Princess smiling and checking out each gem with the skill of a gem dealer.. .thought of her constant need for his aid and the way she'd disappeared only to become a crystal statue,and then how she was condemned-however indirectly-by his maddness to stay a statue and finally be broken into pieces.Then,to find out he had a son! It was such a shock! Then his thoughts moved to Diana..and it was odd to him that when he thought of Diana it wasn't of her needing him but rather him needing her.He held little fear for her eventual safety...but the thought of Gabriel touching her made Prince Vincent physically ill.And the thought of his son being raised by that creature from Hades was insuffable ! He wailed in despair. Meanwhile,Lady Diana was praying for the end to this endless trek though the tunnels.Mouse was no help at all. He seemed to pause every couple of feet and sniffed the air around him. Diana wondered what scent he had picked up,but he remained quiet.Finally he stopped,and eyeing Diana said "I think we took a wrong turn." Diana murmured under breath."Just great! I should have left you top side." Shaking his head to and fro,he wrinkled his nose and his eyes watered"Dirty Diaper.Yek!" It had to be Vincent's son!At first, Diana was excited,then the child's smelly diaper ordor hit her as it drifted through the tunnels.With it trapped between the walls,the stench was odiferous.Diana gagged' "Okay," she managed through the stink. "If we can't find Vincent,at least we know where his son is..if nothing else,we follow the smell,right .Rat?" "Mouse!Not Rat!" Mouse interjected. "Whatever.I want you to get Prince Vincent's child.I'm going down to see if I can get into the cells from down here." Diana disappeared into the darkness before Mouse could say a word.Mouse was about to yell out but thought better of it.=Maybe I already told her about the traps Gabriel has set=he thought hopefully. Diana felt her way along the damp wall until she came to a rotten fence that blocked her way.Diana noticed small,well placed cuts in the wood.She sat down and kicked at the rotten wood until it cracked beneath her feet.Suddenly a chill swept through her,chilling her mind.It was too easy-why the well placed cuts? Diana sat up and peered between the slats.A gleam caught her eye..swords interlaced the wood.Diana pulled her arrows from her quiver and placed them on the ground.Placing her hand in the leather quizer,she hit the wooden fence..which bent outward,causing the sword-laced plank above collapse down in front of her-she pulled her hand out just in time.Grabbing her arrows and putting her bows back into the quizer's sling,she edged around the wall of swords. As she stepped beyond the wall of swords,an unearthly silence greeted her-then taking a few steps forward, she heard moaning,screams and cries of pain.Bracing herself for her ordeal, Diana forced herself forward. Mouse stopped and wrinkled his nose. .the smell of a dirty child's diaper drew him up the righthand tunnel.He felt around the wall as he remembered a catch that triggered a door.His hand felt a thin rope."That's it!" Mouse squeaked as the small opening appeared by his knee.He dropped down, and sticking his mouse head through the opening,he saw a baby,fast asleep now in a tiny crib.Mouse leaned in to far and -thump-,fell right on his face.An elderly midwife with her grey hair done up in a untidy bun came running to check on the tiny child,only to see mouse hanging upside down. Screaming hysterically,she grabbed a small pillow and started swinging it with all her strength at Mouse,who was desperately trying to free himself and stand up-right.Holding his hands up over his head,he yelled"Your hurting my!Stop that!" At that the midwife threw the pillow down and rolled her eyes in terror. Pointing and backing up at the sametime, she managed to scream."EVIL DEMON!" When she reached the corridor outside the child's room.she turned and ran away,still screaming.Mouse scampered over to Vincent's child and grabbed him from his crib,causing the small, stinky little bundle to wake and scream out at the top of his lungs. Lucky for our heroes that most of the knights were out chasing Diana, who by this time was just about through the wall in front of Vincent's cell.Prince Vincent heard the child's wailing cries echoing down the thick layers of corridors and they pierced his heart.His soul cried out for his son.The few knights left guarding the cells came rushing in as Prince Vincent roared,ripping his chain from the wall and his limbs from their manacles.His maddness was indescribably as he ripped out the cell door.Knights scattered in terror of the monster before them,and those who stood their ground were dispatched with a swift and terrible blow from Vincent's claws. As Vincent tore up the stairs after his crying child,Diana heard the terrible commotion and hurriedly groped around in the dark and found the lever to free herself.As the door swung open,her eyes and mind were shocked at the savage being before her.Diana glanced into another corridor filled with cells-dirty, starving and crazy ,the remnants of human beings stared back at her. She could hear Vincent's roaring as they rolled down the stairs behind him.Looking around,Diana grabbed a key from the severed arm of a daed guard who's fingers still held tightly to the cell door keys. Diana swiftly ran down the lined up cells and tossed the keys to one of the newest arrivals,and as he freed himself,Diana gripped his shirt and told him."Make sure to free the others,or I will hunt you down."The man nodded and Diana took off after a raging Prince Vincent. Diana raced up several staircases.The carnage left in Vincent's wake littered the small landings.She followed the screams,roars and crying to a small room.Surveying the scene around her,she found Mouse trembling and holding tightly to Vincent's crying child.Prince Vincent-completely mad with rage-faced Gabriel,who had come to see what the commotion was about.Prince Vincent held his clawed hand dangerously close to the sworded Gabriel. Vincent and Gabriel circled each other, each taking the measure of their prey. Diana watched this strange dance of death.She had to stop this maddness and bring Lord Gabriel to justice in Lord Maxwell's court.As the deadly dance before her continued,suddenly Vincent stopped and lowered his hand. His fierce growls stopped as the baby cried.Vincent turned to check on his son.Mouse yelped and Diana watched horrified,as Vincent turned away from Gabriel Diana grabbed an arrow and placed it on her bow,then as High Lord Gabriel lunged towards Vincent,she let the arrow fly.Gabriel grabbed his chest as he slowly sank to his knees before Prince Vincent. The room was silent as Diana dropped her bow and approached Vincent,She touched his arm lightly and he turned to her,his madness spent. "Vincent,your son needs you.Mouse will show you the way out."Their eyes met in silent understanding and sorrow.Diana turned to Mouse. "Mouse,showed Prince Vincent the way out from the cells." Prince Vincent looked sadly at Diana just once as he walked over and gently took his son from Mouse. Diana watched as he held his son for the first time-his face was transformed by a mystical softness.He lifted his eyes to Diana's and murmured. "Thank you." As Mouse led Vincent away.Diana walked slowly over and knelt beside High Lord Gabriel.She checked his pulse to be certain that he was dead,then went to the child's crib and grabbed some diapers and a blanket.Then she followed the stairway back down to the cells.By the time she reached the opening to leave the castle,Vincent and his child were there to greet her..but there was no sign of Mouse.As if he could read her thoughts.Vincent smiled and told her "Mouse went back for chastity belts.I couldn't stop him. He said he'd meet us at home." =home?=Diana thought in momentary confusion..then decided he was merely speaking of himself."Okay"she said. "Guess we'd better hurry then.Don't want to run into any of Gabriel's knight." "Diana,"Vincent said quietly "Thank you for what you did for me." He gazed down at his son."For us." Diana flushed and looked down at the diapers and blanket which were still clutched in her hand.Then she smiled as she handed him a diaper. "Well..if you really want to thank me..." Lady Diana and Prince Vincent finally made their way back to Vincent's kingdom.High Lord Gabriel's knights were conspicuously absent.Diana knew that she would have to face them again in the future,but she figured she'd worry about that later.They stopped so Vincent could change the baby's diaper,for neither of them could stand the smell any longer. Vincent tried to con Diana into changing it,but she pleaded the need to scout ahead and returned just as he finished the job=Good timing is critical to a successful mission.=she thought with relief. As they approached the kingdom down below,Diana-who had been watching Vincent with his son for some time-decided that now that the baby didn't smell so bad,he was really cute."Can I hold him?" she asked the proud father. Delighted that she'd asked,because he was getting a cramp in his arm from carrying him.Vincent handed the baby over ....and decided Diana looked pretty good holding a kid instead of a bow.He told her, "When we get Below,we'll give the baby to Mary." "Who's Mary?"Diana asked a little suspiciously.After all.she 'd gone to a lot of trouble to rescue this brat..didn't want to hand him off to just anybody. "She raised me along with father. I think you'll like her.I'll introduce you." As they entered the Kingdom Below, they had to run a gauntlet of citizens who came to greet their dear prince and to check out the new arrivals. They found Mary standing outside the King's thorneroom."Mary,I want to introduce you to the most intelligent,beautiful,independent lady I know-the Lady Diana."Vincent smiled brightly and added.."And my son."Diana held the baby out for Mary to see. Mary gasped-a look of sheer shock passing over her gentle features. "Vincent---does your....father....know?" Mary's voice seem to fade with every word. Prince Vincent shook his head and smiled as he shyly took the baby from Diana and handed him over to Mary."I'm going to tell him now.Mary.Can you escort Lady Diana to my chambers and then return with my son to my father's throneroom?" Mary only shook her head as she gazed at Lady Diana.Finally, she said softly"Please follow me Lady." Diana soft touched Vincent's arm in a tentative gesture of good luck and followed Mary to Vincent's chamber.Prince Vincent took a deep breath as he entered Good King Jacob's thornroom. Diana was surprised at Vincent's chamber,for it was spare with only a bed,table,chair and a bookcase. But the bookcase was littered with stacks and stacks of books.Diana ran her finger over the book's spines poetry,plays,romances and historical non-fiction.Diana cocked her head and smiled.So there was more than Just looks there.He was a man with intelligence..a rarity indeed.Diana slipped her hand into her pocket and pulled out the letter from Vincent.Unfolding it.Diana walked over and sat down in Vincent's chair.Smoothing out his letter to her,she started to read. My beautiful fairy wood nymph Diana Song birds sing their sweetest notes in my wood nymph's ear.Hopefully she's dreaming still and she's dreaming that I am there.And when you wake her,birds...make sure she thinks of me,as my need for her is true.Then while she listens to the soft winds blow,say it in slow music so softly tenderly and low.And when I hear her soul's song back-my heart it trembes so.Moon and stars above shine when my wood nymph sleeps and still in dreaming lies.Shine through the heavens and wooded forest for her sake and mine..and send your light to kiss her brow and say it is from me kissing her very gently as she wakes.No matter where she wanders near or far from me,tell her of my secret love.Through mornings die and the stars and moonshines far less brightly than before my lovely wood nymph was near..my love shall endure,though it finds no tongue to say.I shall always need you. Your Loving servant Vincent Diana smiled and flushed.It embarrassed her,but charmed her as well. Meanwhile,Good King Jacob smiled from his throne."Son! It's good to see you home at last!Are you back for good now?" Vincent's blue eyes where bright. "Father,I have something to tell you." King Jacob closed his eyes and leaned back heavily into his throne."No,please.Just tell me no lips or fur rubbing with anyone?" Prince Vincent looked embarrassed "Only Catherine,Father...and of course Lady Diana from the North." King Jacob just shook his head and cradled it in bhis hands as he groaned.Just then Mary burst in carrying Vincent's son in her arms.The Good King spread his fingers and peered at Mary. Prine Vincent broke the silence by saying proudly."Father,I want you to meet my son." Good King Jacob almost fell off his chair."Mary!"he bellowed."You never told me how FAST those girls from the Northern provinces are! This is the end of my fractured fairytale. And supposedly,they all lived happily every after,but I tend to doubt that. I hope you enjoyed my tale.Thanks to Rhonda Collins for editing this . Diana Garcia
