Discalimer: the bits of fairy tales that you recognize aren't mine, what you don't recognize as anything already written/published/copyrighted is. :o) on with the story!
~*~
In the morning, when I woke up, Cedric was sitting on the bed just looking at me. "What?" I asked him sleepily.
He just smiled mysteriously and walked into a room connected to the bedroom. I stretched, enjoying not having to get up right away. I looked at the chair, and I saw a dress laid out across it. There was a note attached: Something fit for a Princess. Put it on, Princess Sparrow.
"Cedric?" I asked, turning to the doorway. The door was closed, and stamped my foot in annoyance. "Well, I might as well," I said to no one. The multi-colored gown from yesterday landed on the floor in a heap. I slipped the new dress on and shivered as it pooled around my feet.
"You look lovely." I spun around, and saw Cedric standing in the doorway.
"Thank you," I said, blushing a wonderful red. "Why did you do that?"
"Because I love you," Cedric walked over to me and held me tightly.
"I love you too," I said, and stood on tiptoe to kiss him. His hand grasped mine, and I felt a cool metal band slip onto my wrist.
"Will you marry me, Sparrow?" I looked down at my wrist; on it was a delicate silver bracelet, with small star-stones embedded in it. It was a promise bracelet, something that lovers gave to their betrothed.
"Cedric, but I'm a peasant! You're a Prince!" I felt the hidden doubts spill out like a river set loose. "It just wouldn't be right! I mean, what would people say?" I started to sniffle, and Cedric pulled me closer.
"I can make whatever choice I want, Sparrow. I want to marry you." He kissed me lovingly. "Will you marry me?"
Having spent all my fears, I smiled at him, "Yes, Cedric, I will." We smiled and kissed once more before being interrupted. I wondered in frustration why all the romantic moments we had together always seemed to be interrupted.
"Prince Cedric, Lady Liana, would you please attend an audience with the King-Elect." The stuffy Chamberlain bowed reverently toward us. I noticed wryly that his attitude toward me had changed after hearing the rumors about me.
"We would be delighted to attend," I said genially.
"This way please." The man turned and we followed him through the hallways.
I stepped into the audience chamber with a gasp of amazement. While it was not nearly as big as the Lamaran ballroom, it was still huge in its own right. King-Elect Corbin sat at the other end of the chamber, beckoning us closer.
"Lady Liana of the Tower and Prince Cedric of Lamar." The Chamberlain announced.
"Welcome, friends." Corbin stood and held out his hand for us to bow reverently over. I am afraid that I did snort derisively, but rather softly, as I brushed his hand with my lips.
"We are pleased to be here, my King," I said with a polite smile.
"I should have you imprisoned, you know. You are very disrespectful of your sovereign. In fact, that is a high crime, punishable by death. I see by the shocked look on your faces that you didn't," Corbin said dryly.
"Death?" Cedric stuttered out. His face was as pale as mine felt. "Why is that punishable by death?"
"Because of all the damage that that could incur. The lovely Liana here could incite a riot, or do some other dangerous thing. Of course, that is all on suspicion." I could sense the imposing presence of the guards that were surrounding us.
"Why would you punish me by death?" I asked him coyly. I could feel rage at this ingrate beginning to well up in my mind. "I just saved your country, you little Sky-damned bastard. I hear now, these poisonous words coming from your lips that you want to save the one person who just saved your whole damn country! You ungrateful worm!" I hissed at him through clenched teeth. "You call some simple act of putting a spoiled child in his place disrespect of a sovereign? You had much more fatal unrest right beneath your eyes. Where is your prized General? Has he fled to where he belongs?" I smiled a predatory smile.
"Sparrow, calm down." I felt Cedric's hand on my shoulder. "Listen to yourself! Do you know what you're saying?" My ears picked up the same odd quality that had filled his voice in the Kirin Gardens.
"What is going on?" I heard Corbin ask indignantly.
"Calm down, Liana," He didn't even sound like himself now. Instead, I found that he sounded more and more like Sky.
"Cedric?" I asked, feeling my breathing return to a more normal rate.
"Ah, Liana, you know who I really am." Sky smiled at me through Cedric.
All of Corbin's protests faded into the background as Sky talked to me. "Liana, Hate is the only thing that can stop you now form your goal. You must not succumb to the temptation of it. Stay strong, my dear Chosen, and love. Remember, above all things, you must love." Sky kissed me on the cheek, in a fatherly manner, and receded from Cedric.
"Liana, please explain what has just happened!" Corbin demanded shrilly.
"Well, um…never mind, your highness. Don't worry your royal head about it." I said, smiling nervously at him.
"Oh," said Corbin, looking rather miffed.
"Yeah, um…so why did you want to see me, other than that fact that you wanted to kill me?" I took some deep breaths to calm myself before I started to yell at him again. "Would you elaborate, please?"
"Why yes," The King-Elect said, looking like the proverbial cat that had swallowed the proverbial canary. "I wanted to thank you, after all, for saving my country." I was in shock. He seemed to have forgotten entirely my whole escapade a few minutes earlier. "I mean," he continued pompously, "If it hadn't been for you, I wouldn't even have a country! Of course, I would still have a country that I belonged to, but it wouldn't be my own personal country, but that's beside the point." I felt Cedric's hand gently pushing up my jaw.
I looked at him, and he winked subtly. Now I knew why Corbin was just prattling on, not even mentioning my tirade. Sky was a wonderful help. I smiled gratefully in his direction.
"…And, as you know, saving a country is a heroic deed, so you must be properly rewarded. I have the perfect reward in mind, too…" I stopped listening to Corbin blathering on, instead choosing to think of my whole trip.
I had started out a simple Runner from the country. My home had been destroyed, my family killed, and myself kidnapped. I had run away from Jake, leaving him to his death, and met Sienna. I had watched Sienna die at the hands of the Lamaran Outriders. One of them- Dominick- had almost raped me as well, until I found out my true calling from Sky. Then, I had been taken to the Lamaran Palace at Kith, met the Royals, and fallen in love with Cedric. I had attended my first ball, had my first kiss, and died. All in all, I had saved my country, talked back to my sovereign, and saved another country.
I sighed dramatically, reflecting that all this had happened within two months, from the beginning of spring to the start of summer.
"…I think that I will make you the Lady of your original home lands. It is currently under the rule of Lord of Carrel, but he has too much land anyway. You will have a small province called…" Corbin trailed off, looking perplexed.
"What about Minaret?" Cedric suggested. "Lady Liana of Minaret." He smiled, and said, "It sounds good." Our fingers twined together as King-Elect Corbin nodded emphatically.
"Good, good. Lady Liana of Minaret." The King-Elect looked pleased with himself, as if he had thought of it. "I like it. Lady of Minaret you shall be."
"Thank you, oh gracious King." I curtseyed awkwardly. Wishing I had some innate grace so I wouldn't look utterly foolish.
"If you would excuse my interruption, but may Sp-Liana and I share the title?" Cedric's had tightened around my own. "We are to be married within the month."
"Of course, of course!" Corbin said with unreal jollity. "I congratulate you on your love." He frowned, the little lines etched across his forehead growing deeper. "I should marry too. I believe. Syrlan needs a Queen and an Heir. I'll have to think on this. Chamberlain!" Corbin seemed to be back to his normal self, thinking of his country.
I smiled at Cedric, and walked out of the audience chamber.
One month later, we were married in the hills of Minaret. It was a grand affair, with everyone who could make it there. As we recited our vows, we smiled like fools at one another.
"You are bound this day, as not two, but one, and you shall live now and forever more with love in your hearts, Finale." Sky smiled at us, and we smiled back, sharing a secret that only we knew. To the rest of the crowd, he looked like a little old wandering priest who chanced upon a wedding.
Cedric lifted the gauzy veil that whipped about my face in the wind. "I love you," He whispered as he pulled my face to his. A great cheer went up, dancing through the wind, celebrating the union of Lord Cedric and Lady Liana of Minaret.
~*~
A/N: Sniffle, sniffle. Besides the fact that I have a cold...that was such a happy ending! For all of you who throught that that was the end...there's more. Hah hah.
One...sniffle...last...sniff sniff...chapter.
I think I'm going to cry. No, sneeze is more like it.
I'm sorry that this is kind of late, but I had marching band on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sturday this week. I was dead, and so was my hand. I nearly froze in the nippy temperatures of 30 something degrees. It didn't help that my shoulder was already numb from the sousaphone. They didn't give us a break for TWO WHOLE HOURS! That's a long time to hold a tuba on a shoulder. Brr. At least that's (almost) over now.
I have one more chapter that should come pretty quickly. Have no fear! And then it is...sniffle...finished!!
I am planning on a sequel. I need ideas on what you think it should be. Tell me please!!!
I love all my reviewers who have stayed with me from the beginning! Whee!
...Frozen EvenSong...
~*~
In the morning, when I woke up, Cedric was sitting on the bed just looking at me. "What?" I asked him sleepily.
He just smiled mysteriously and walked into a room connected to the bedroom. I stretched, enjoying not having to get up right away. I looked at the chair, and I saw a dress laid out across it. There was a note attached: Something fit for a Princess. Put it on, Princess Sparrow.
"Cedric?" I asked, turning to the doorway. The door was closed, and stamped my foot in annoyance. "Well, I might as well," I said to no one. The multi-colored gown from yesterday landed on the floor in a heap. I slipped the new dress on and shivered as it pooled around my feet.
"You look lovely." I spun around, and saw Cedric standing in the doorway.
"Thank you," I said, blushing a wonderful red. "Why did you do that?"
"Because I love you," Cedric walked over to me and held me tightly.
"I love you too," I said, and stood on tiptoe to kiss him. His hand grasped mine, and I felt a cool metal band slip onto my wrist.
"Will you marry me, Sparrow?" I looked down at my wrist; on it was a delicate silver bracelet, with small star-stones embedded in it. It was a promise bracelet, something that lovers gave to their betrothed.
"Cedric, but I'm a peasant! You're a Prince!" I felt the hidden doubts spill out like a river set loose. "It just wouldn't be right! I mean, what would people say?" I started to sniffle, and Cedric pulled me closer.
"I can make whatever choice I want, Sparrow. I want to marry you." He kissed me lovingly. "Will you marry me?"
Having spent all my fears, I smiled at him, "Yes, Cedric, I will." We smiled and kissed once more before being interrupted. I wondered in frustration why all the romantic moments we had together always seemed to be interrupted.
"Prince Cedric, Lady Liana, would you please attend an audience with the King-Elect." The stuffy Chamberlain bowed reverently toward us. I noticed wryly that his attitude toward me had changed after hearing the rumors about me.
"We would be delighted to attend," I said genially.
"This way please." The man turned and we followed him through the hallways.
I stepped into the audience chamber with a gasp of amazement. While it was not nearly as big as the Lamaran ballroom, it was still huge in its own right. King-Elect Corbin sat at the other end of the chamber, beckoning us closer.
"Lady Liana of the Tower and Prince Cedric of Lamar." The Chamberlain announced.
"Welcome, friends." Corbin stood and held out his hand for us to bow reverently over. I am afraid that I did snort derisively, but rather softly, as I brushed his hand with my lips.
"We are pleased to be here, my King," I said with a polite smile.
"I should have you imprisoned, you know. You are very disrespectful of your sovereign. In fact, that is a high crime, punishable by death. I see by the shocked look on your faces that you didn't," Corbin said dryly.
"Death?" Cedric stuttered out. His face was as pale as mine felt. "Why is that punishable by death?"
"Because of all the damage that that could incur. The lovely Liana here could incite a riot, or do some other dangerous thing. Of course, that is all on suspicion." I could sense the imposing presence of the guards that were surrounding us.
"Why would you punish me by death?" I asked him coyly. I could feel rage at this ingrate beginning to well up in my mind. "I just saved your country, you little Sky-damned bastard. I hear now, these poisonous words coming from your lips that you want to save the one person who just saved your whole damn country! You ungrateful worm!" I hissed at him through clenched teeth. "You call some simple act of putting a spoiled child in his place disrespect of a sovereign? You had much more fatal unrest right beneath your eyes. Where is your prized General? Has he fled to where he belongs?" I smiled a predatory smile.
"Sparrow, calm down." I felt Cedric's hand on my shoulder. "Listen to yourself! Do you know what you're saying?" My ears picked up the same odd quality that had filled his voice in the Kirin Gardens.
"What is going on?" I heard Corbin ask indignantly.
"Calm down, Liana," He didn't even sound like himself now. Instead, I found that he sounded more and more like Sky.
"Cedric?" I asked, feeling my breathing return to a more normal rate.
"Ah, Liana, you know who I really am." Sky smiled at me through Cedric.
All of Corbin's protests faded into the background as Sky talked to me. "Liana, Hate is the only thing that can stop you now form your goal. You must not succumb to the temptation of it. Stay strong, my dear Chosen, and love. Remember, above all things, you must love." Sky kissed me on the cheek, in a fatherly manner, and receded from Cedric.
"Liana, please explain what has just happened!" Corbin demanded shrilly.
"Well, um…never mind, your highness. Don't worry your royal head about it." I said, smiling nervously at him.
"Oh," said Corbin, looking rather miffed.
"Yeah, um…so why did you want to see me, other than that fact that you wanted to kill me?" I took some deep breaths to calm myself before I started to yell at him again. "Would you elaborate, please?"
"Why yes," The King-Elect said, looking like the proverbial cat that had swallowed the proverbial canary. "I wanted to thank you, after all, for saving my country." I was in shock. He seemed to have forgotten entirely my whole escapade a few minutes earlier. "I mean," he continued pompously, "If it hadn't been for you, I wouldn't even have a country! Of course, I would still have a country that I belonged to, but it wouldn't be my own personal country, but that's beside the point." I felt Cedric's hand gently pushing up my jaw.
I looked at him, and he winked subtly. Now I knew why Corbin was just prattling on, not even mentioning my tirade. Sky was a wonderful help. I smiled gratefully in his direction.
"…And, as you know, saving a country is a heroic deed, so you must be properly rewarded. I have the perfect reward in mind, too…" I stopped listening to Corbin blathering on, instead choosing to think of my whole trip.
I had started out a simple Runner from the country. My home had been destroyed, my family killed, and myself kidnapped. I had run away from Jake, leaving him to his death, and met Sienna. I had watched Sienna die at the hands of the Lamaran Outriders. One of them- Dominick- had almost raped me as well, until I found out my true calling from Sky. Then, I had been taken to the Lamaran Palace at Kith, met the Royals, and fallen in love with Cedric. I had attended my first ball, had my first kiss, and died. All in all, I had saved my country, talked back to my sovereign, and saved another country.
I sighed dramatically, reflecting that all this had happened within two months, from the beginning of spring to the start of summer.
"…I think that I will make you the Lady of your original home lands. It is currently under the rule of Lord of Carrel, but he has too much land anyway. You will have a small province called…" Corbin trailed off, looking perplexed.
"What about Minaret?" Cedric suggested. "Lady Liana of Minaret." He smiled, and said, "It sounds good." Our fingers twined together as King-Elect Corbin nodded emphatically.
"Good, good. Lady Liana of Minaret." The King-Elect looked pleased with himself, as if he had thought of it. "I like it. Lady of Minaret you shall be."
"Thank you, oh gracious King." I curtseyed awkwardly. Wishing I had some innate grace so I wouldn't look utterly foolish.
"If you would excuse my interruption, but may Sp-Liana and I share the title?" Cedric's had tightened around my own. "We are to be married within the month."
"Of course, of course!" Corbin said with unreal jollity. "I congratulate you on your love." He frowned, the little lines etched across his forehead growing deeper. "I should marry too. I believe. Syrlan needs a Queen and an Heir. I'll have to think on this. Chamberlain!" Corbin seemed to be back to his normal self, thinking of his country.
I smiled at Cedric, and walked out of the audience chamber.
One month later, we were married in the hills of Minaret. It was a grand affair, with everyone who could make it there. As we recited our vows, we smiled like fools at one another.
"You are bound this day, as not two, but one, and you shall live now and forever more with love in your hearts, Finale." Sky smiled at us, and we smiled back, sharing a secret that only we knew. To the rest of the crowd, he looked like a little old wandering priest who chanced upon a wedding.
Cedric lifted the gauzy veil that whipped about my face in the wind. "I love you," He whispered as he pulled my face to his. A great cheer went up, dancing through the wind, celebrating the union of Lord Cedric and Lady Liana of Minaret.
~*~
A/N: Sniffle, sniffle. Besides the fact that I have a cold...that was such a happy ending! For all of you who throught that that was the end...there's more. Hah hah.
One...sniffle...last...sniff sniff...chapter.
I think I'm going to cry. No, sneeze is more like it.
I'm sorry that this is kind of late, but I had marching band on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sturday this week. I was dead, and so was my hand. I nearly froze in the nippy temperatures of 30 something degrees. It didn't help that my shoulder was already numb from the sousaphone. They didn't give us a break for TWO WHOLE HOURS! That's a long time to hold a tuba on a shoulder. Brr. At least that's (almost) over now.
I have one more chapter that should come pretty quickly. Have no fear! And then it is...sniffle...finished!!
I am planning on a sequel. I need ideas on what you think it should be. Tell me please!!!
I love all my reviewers who have stayed with me from the beginning! Whee!
...Frozen EvenSong...