*More changing of spacing.
~ Several days later, the last day of her seventeenth year, Leaura learned the
significance of the high-class carriages.
".princes are for extra precaution," Queen Rhiana Vanne's voice floated out from the royal couple's chamber.
Princes? Leaura wondered and she suddenly froze when she heard her own name.
"But what ever will we tell Leaura?" It was her father, King Daron Vanne IV.
"I have said this before, and I will say it again: tell Leaura the truth." The
eavesdropping princess recognized this voice as Eleanor, her fairy godmother.
"What, and say that she is going to fall into some trance on her eighteenth
birthday?" Rhiana asked shrilly.
"She has a right to know!"
Leaura could hear heels clicking across the marble floor. "That is why I sent for
the princes. There has to be one of them that can kiss her and wake her up. At least that
was what Lavender had said. And of course, protocol dictated that she will have to marry
her rescuer, and that will solve the whole suitor problem."
So that explains the carriages - KISS, MARRIAGE? The subject of the on going
discussion gasped in horror as the idea finally processed through her mind.
"But Rhiana." Daron protested weakly.
"Fine, you can do what ever you want, Rhiana! But it's up to you to explain to
your daughter!" Eleanor stormed out of the chamber and came face-to-face with Leaura
who was still paralyzed with shock.
Leaura soon recovered and her green eyes flashed angrily. "What was that all
about? Princes? Marriages?" she spat out every word as if they disgusted her.
Eleanor returned the fierce gaze of her goddaughter with a weary look of her own.
She gestured for Leaura to follow quietly. They tiptoed to Eleanor's chambers nearby.
"I think that you do deserve an explanation." She turned to face the still fuming
redhead. She sighed and recounted the events of Leaura's naming-day: from when
Percillia had appeared suddenly, to her curse, and ending with Lavender's alternative to
the enchantment.
"Percillia?" Leaura echoed, confused. "I thought Percillia was from a myth."
"Yes, that was what most people had assumed. Even many of the fairies believed
that Percillia does not exist anymore. The myth is actually a true story and it happened a
thousand years ago. You see, one of your ancestors, Dyanna Vanne - she was half fairy
led the humans and the fairies against Percillia the Witch. She was able to defeat
Percillia by trapping her in her own magic."
"But what does that have to do with me? And isn't the witch dead?"
"I said trapped, not killed. Well, apparently, Percillia was able to escape after a
thousand years. I don't think that she has recovered completely, but her magic is still
very powerful."
"So you're telling me that this crazy woman is trying to make me sleep forever or
something? But that doesn't make any sense!" Leaura protested.
Eleanor shook her head. "I don't know either, but I don't think that is her true
intent. I remember her muttering something about the Fairy Oracles or something." Her
expression was grave as she spoke, "You should be careful tomorrow. I'm not saying
that your curse can be avoided, but be wary. Truthfully, I don't even think that the
enchantment can be reversed by a kiss of a prince. Percillia must have been prepared for
something like this. Seriously though, if Percillia regains her power, the world will be in
chaos."
Leaura swallowed hard, "What should I do then?"
"Just be careful," Eleanor had a faraway look in her eyes.
The princess nodded and was about to walk away when Eleanor spoke up, "Do
you want to know what my gift to you was?" she asked softly. Leaura nodded again.
"I gave you hope."
TBC.
~ Several days later, the last day of her seventeenth year, Leaura learned the
significance of the high-class carriages.
".princes are for extra precaution," Queen Rhiana Vanne's voice floated out from the royal couple's chamber.
Princes? Leaura wondered and she suddenly froze when she heard her own name.
"But what ever will we tell Leaura?" It was her father, King Daron Vanne IV.
"I have said this before, and I will say it again: tell Leaura the truth." The
eavesdropping princess recognized this voice as Eleanor, her fairy godmother.
"What, and say that she is going to fall into some trance on her eighteenth
birthday?" Rhiana asked shrilly.
"She has a right to know!"
Leaura could hear heels clicking across the marble floor. "That is why I sent for
the princes. There has to be one of them that can kiss her and wake her up. At least that
was what Lavender had said. And of course, protocol dictated that she will have to marry
her rescuer, and that will solve the whole suitor problem."
So that explains the carriages - KISS, MARRIAGE? The subject of the on going
discussion gasped in horror as the idea finally processed through her mind.
"But Rhiana." Daron protested weakly.
"Fine, you can do what ever you want, Rhiana! But it's up to you to explain to
your daughter!" Eleanor stormed out of the chamber and came face-to-face with Leaura
who was still paralyzed with shock.
Leaura soon recovered and her green eyes flashed angrily. "What was that all
about? Princes? Marriages?" she spat out every word as if they disgusted her.
Eleanor returned the fierce gaze of her goddaughter with a weary look of her own.
She gestured for Leaura to follow quietly. They tiptoed to Eleanor's chambers nearby.
"I think that you do deserve an explanation." She turned to face the still fuming
redhead. She sighed and recounted the events of Leaura's naming-day: from when
Percillia had appeared suddenly, to her curse, and ending with Lavender's alternative to
the enchantment.
"Percillia?" Leaura echoed, confused. "I thought Percillia was from a myth."
"Yes, that was what most people had assumed. Even many of the fairies believed
that Percillia does not exist anymore. The myth is actually a true story and it happened a
thousand years ago. You see, one of your ancestors, Dyanna Vanne - she was half fairy
led the humans and the fairies against Percillia the Witch. She was able to defeat
Percillia by trapping her in her own magic."
"But what does that have to do with me? And isn't the witch dead?"
"I said trapped, not killed. Well, apparently, Percillia was able to escape after a
thousand years. I don't think that she has recovered completely, but her magic is still
very powerful."
"So you're telling me that this crazy woman is trying to make me sleep forever or
something? But that doesn't make any sense!" Leaura protested.
Eleanor shook her head. "I don't know either, but I don't think that is her true
intent. I remember her muttering something about the Fairy Oracles or something." Her
expression was grave as she spoke, "You should be careful tomorrow. I'm not saying
that your curse can be avoided, but be wary. Truthfully, I don't even think that the
enchantment can be reversed by a kiss of a prince. Percillia must have been prepared for
something like this. Seriously though, if Percillia regains her power, the world will be in
chaos."
Leaura swallowed hard, "What should I do then?"
"Just be careful," Eleanor had a faraway look in her eyes.
The princess nodded and was about to walk away when Eleanor spoke up, "Do
you want to know what my gift to you was?" she asked softly. Leaura nodded again.
"I gave you hope."
TBC.