The Idiot Strikes!
Mari stared hard at the floor, not wanting to meet her mother's eyes. Getting her mad was one thing. Disappointing her was the worst. Cedric was trying not to cry. Mari scowled. He didn't have to make it more distressing!
"I thought you two understood the rules." Queen Ella's eyebrows were knit together in displeasure. I thought it was obvious that romping about wasn't acceptable at a time like this."
"Oh Mother! I'm sorry! I lost my head again. I keep longing for adventures, but true knights think of others! True heroes protect people and consider the consequences. As for me." Mari was truly remorse at this point.
"Come here, sweet. The both of you." Ella drew her children to her chest. She didn't want to fight anymore than they did. She and Char tried to share deep bonds with their children. As many know, the balance between understanding and discipline is a tricky one.
"I suppose people considered me an unruly child as well. I know what it is like to want to do as you see fit, but don't you know that sometimes I say things for your safety? If you take precautions first, then it will make having fun even more enjoyable. And it will certainly get you in less trouble." Ella whispered. Mari knew this speech was for her. She had had many others quite like it.
"I'm nine now. I should know better. Besides, everyone knows I'm the responsible one." Cedric sniffled. Mari elbowed him, but it was true. Cedric had always been somber. He liked to read, think out plans completely, and hated too much noise. The polar opposite of Mari.
"Another thing!" Ella drew away so she could look at her son. "Why are you so tragic about everything?! Lighten up, dear. No one will detest you if you do." Ella's eyes sparkled at her second oldest. (The twin babies stayed with Mandy in the nursery.)
"I suppose. What did you want to see us about, Mother?" Cedric asked.
"You're father is coming home tomorrow morning! He's done seeking allies against the ogres." The family became gleeful at this. Things were always less droll without Char. "Of course, your father will help me decide your punishment." This quickly shut the children up.
"Yes ma'am." They sighed together. With a last hug, Ella sent the two back to Lady Sarah for the rest of the afternoon's lessons.
While they worked on their arithmetic, Mari looked out the window. The problem she was working on was giving her a headache. She thought of the day's events. She had gone about the whole thing the wrong way. Being noble was exhausting!
"Despite that, despite everything, I will make my self worthy of it! I'll go on missions, just like Mother and Father!" Mari's voice reached a crescendo. Cedric and Lady Sarah glanced at her sharply. "Before you do that, O' Great One," Lady Sarah's eyes were a twinkle, "I'm afraid you'll have to get through me and word problems."
* * *
The faster you go to sleep, the faster he'll come, Mari urged herself. Making a cocoon out of her sheets, she tried hard to reach slumber. Thinking of her father's return only made her restless. Mari burrowed further into her bed. Think of absolutely nothing, the girl chided herself. But sleep only took her when the fatigue of a princess's schedule caught up with her. Fitfully, she fell asleep.
As soon as Mari dropped off, Teal crept out from behind the bedroom curtains. The evil little nymph had been hiding there all day. She was glad the little monster had finally taken to the Beddy Bye dust. Now, Teal could begin her terrible plan. Now, she could finally start the horrific curse all over again. Hiding a cackle, Teal raised her willow wand over the still form.
But wait..Did Teal really want to bestow obedience on this child? Yes, she definitely needed it, but there were worse spells. Far worse, indeed. At this new option, Teal faltered. What to use, what to use?
I could make her turn into some disturbing animal at night. Teal sat down in a chair to think about this. What about freezing her vocal cords? If that wasn't good enough, there was always disfigurement. A crooked back, an ugly haircut, or a huge hairy mole.. This was going to be difficult! Teal fidgeted with indecision.
"Sooo many wonderful selections. Giant warts or claustrophobia? I just can't determine which one to bestow upon the child!" Teal croaked wickedly. She was so intent on her evil plans that she didn't see the quilt of the bed move.
"Ugh! I guess the best choice is.amazingly strong body odor! It's disgusting and will cause the royal family quite a few problems." Teal rose from the chair and strutted back to the bed. "Here goes nothing." She grimly raised her wand.
Suddenly, the princess leaped from her past position. Mari had in fact, been awake the whole time. She squinted at the fairy. She wouldn't allow herself to smell atrociously. The girl opened her mouth to scream.
Teal didn't know what else to do. She threw the rest of the Beddy Bye powder into the princess's opening mouth. The girl's hands immediately went to her throat with alarm. Teal knew Mari was choking, but didn't bother to worry about that. This is dreadful! Now what am I suppose to do with her?! Teal was panicking, and pacing the room as Mari continued to gag.
Finally, Teal gathered her resolve. She turned to the girl and threw her over her shoulder. Mari began to kick vigorously at this. She managed to nick Teal in the head once. Teal ignored this, and hurried to open the window. Extending her depleted fairy wings, she and the girl toppled out the two-story window, and into the cool night air.
* * *
Ella was barely awake when Mandy and Lady Sarah rushed into her bedroom. She struggled to sit up. The other two women looked at each other anxiously.
"You tell her. You're her best friend." Lady Sarah whispered to Mandy.
"How very fair of you, Governess." Mandy scowled. "Well, someone tell me what brings you two here so early?!" Ella demanded. Becoming queen had given her a bit of impatience when it came to certain matters. Being waken up so early, was a good example.
"Princess Mari is missing. The twins and Cedric, however, are safe." Mandy placed a timid hand on Ella's shoulder. Ella was cold through and through. She tried to breathe, to speak, to fathom what had just been said. Her baby! Missing!
"Char has also arrived, and wishes to see ALL of his family this instant." Lady Sarah nearly wailed. Ella, tiredly, raised a shaking hand to her face. It's going to be a long day..
Mari stared hard at the floor, not wanting to meet her mother's eyes. Getting her mad was one thing. Disappointing her was the worst. Cedric was trying not to cry. Mari scowled. He didn't have to make it more distressing!
"I thought you two understood the rules." Queen Ella's eyebrows were knit together in displeasure. I thought it was obvious that romping about wasn't acceptable at a time like this."
"Oh Mother! I'm sorry! I lost my head again. I keep longing for adventures, but true knights think of others! True heroes protect people and consider the consequences. As for me." Mari was truly remorse at this point.
"Come here, sweet. The both of you." Ella drew her children to her chest. She didn't want to fight anymore than they did. She and Char tried to share deep bonds with their children. As many know, the balance between understanding and discipline is a tricky one.
"I suppose people considered me an unruly child as well. I know what it is like to want to do as you see fit, but don't you know that sometimes I say things for your safety? If you take precautions first, then it will make having fun even more enjoyable. And it will certainly get you in less trouble." Ella whispered. Mari knew this speech was for her. She had had many others quite like it.
"I'm nine now. I should know better. Besides, everyone knows I'm the responsible one." Cedric sniffled. Mari elbowed him, but it was true. Cedric had always been somber. He liked to read, think out plans completely, and hated too much noise. The polar opposite of Mari.
"Another thing!" Ella drew away so she could look at her son. "Why are you so tragic about everything?! Lighten up, dear. No one will detest you if you do." Ella's eyes sparkled at her second oldest. (The twin babies stayed with Mandy in the nursery.)
"I suppose. What did you want to see us about, Mother?" Cedric asked.
"You're father is coming home tomorrow morning! He's done seeking allies against the ogres." The family became gleeful at this. Things were always less droll without Char. "Of course, your father will help me decide your punishment." This quickly shut the children up.
"Yes ma'am." They sighed together. With a last hug, Ella sent the two back to Lady Sarah for the rest of the afternoon's lessons.
While they worked on their arithmetic, Mari looked out the window. The problem she was working on was giving her a headache. She thought of the day's events. She had gone about the whole thing the wrong way. Being noble was exhausting!
"Despite that, despite everything, I will make my self worthy of it! I'll go on missions, just like Mother and Father!" Mari's voice reached a crescendo. Cedric and Lady Sarah glanced at her sharply. "Before you do that, O' Great One," Lady Sarah's eyes were a twinkle, "I'm afraid you'll have to get through me and word problems."
* * *
The faster you go to sleep, the faster he'll come, Mari urged herself. Making a cocoon out of her sheets, she tried hard to reach slumber. Thinking of her father's return only made her restless. Mari burrowed further into her bed. Think of absolutely nothing, the girl chided herself. But sleep only took her when the fatigue of a princess's schedule caught up with her. Fitfully, she fell asleep.
As soon as Mari dropped off, Teal crept out from behind the bedroom curtains. The evil little nymph had been hiding there all day. She was glad the little monster had finally taken to the Beddy Bye dust. Now, Teal could begin her terrible plan. Now, she could finally start the horrific curse all over again. Hiding a cackle, Teal raised her willow wand over the still form.
But wait..Did Teal really want to bestow obedience on this child? Yes, she definitely needed it, but there were worse spells. Far worse, indeed. At this new option, Teal faltered. What to use, what to use?
I could make her turn into some disturbing animal at night. Teal sat down in a chair to think about this. What about freezing her vocal cords? If that wasn't good enough, there was always disfigurement. A crooked back, an ugly haircut, or a huge hairy mole.. This was going to be difficult! Teal fidgeted with indecision.
"Sooo many wonderful selections. Giant warts or claustrophobia? I just can't determine which one to bestow upon the child!" Teal croaked wickedly. She was so intent on her evil plans that she didn't see the quilt of the bed move.
"Ugh! I guess the best choice is.amazingly strong body odor! It's disgusting and will cause the royal family quite a few problems." Teal rose from the chair and strutted back to the bed. "Here goes nothing." She grimly raised her wand.
Suddenly, the princess leaped from her past position. Mari had in fact, been awake the whole time. She squinted at the fairy. She wouldn't allow herself to smell atrociously. The girl opened her mouth to scream.
Teal didn't know what else to do. She threw the rest of the Beddy Bye powder into the princess's opening mouth. The girl's hands immediately went to her throat with alarm. Teal knew Mari was choking, but didn't bother to worry about that. This is dreadful! Now what am I suppose to do with her?! Teal was panicking, and pacing the room as Mari continued to gag.
Finally, Teal gathered her resolve. She turned to the girl and threw her over her shoulder. Mari began to kick vigorously at this. She managed to nick Teal in the head once. Teal ignored this, and hurried to open the window. Extending her depleted fairy wings, she and the girl toppled out the two-story window, and into the cool night air.
* * *
Ella was barely awake when Mandy and Lady Sarah rushed into her bedroom. She struggled to sit up. The other two women looked at each other anxiously.
"You tell her. You're her best friend." Lady Sarah whispered to Mandy.
"How very fair of you, Governess." Mandy scowled. "Well, someone tell me what brings you two here so early?!" Ella demanded. Becoming queen had given her a bit of impatience when it came to certain matters. Being waken up so early, was a good example.
"Princess Mari is missing. The twins and Cedric, however, are safe." Mandy placed a timid hand on Ella's shoulder. Ella was cold through and through. She tried to breathe, to speak, to fathom what had just been said. Her baby! Missing!
"Char has also arrived, and wishes to see ALL of his family this instant." Lady Sarah nearly wailed. Ella, tiredly, raised a shaking hand to her face. It's going to be a long day..