::Chapter 13: Lucinda::

"I miss you. . . I miss you. . . I miss you-"

Suddenly I felt a warm hand on my shoulder. "I miss you too."

I felt my heart leap in my chest. Mother?? No. . . but it wasn't her voice. Then who. . .?

I lifted my head slightly, and slowly turned around, almost as if I were afraid to see the owner of the voice.

I spotted a pair of honey colored eyes staring back at me. I squinted, and made out a mop of light brown hair.

"Nate. . .?!" I half choked and sobbed at my words. For the first time since his visit, I wasn't disappointed to see him.

"Amena. . ." he said softly, kneeling on the wet muddy ground beside me. "I miss you too."

I wiped the mixture of mud, rain, and tears from my face with my sleeve. "W-What do you mean?" I whispered.

He gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze. "I-I miss our friendship. You know. . . I mean we used to be the best of friends, and, well, you changed. Don't you remember all those fun times we had sliding down the banister when we were younger, and trying to climb over the palace gates? Well, I remember clearly, and I miss that."

My heart sank as he spoke.

"You act as if you hate me, and all you do now is push me away."

I wanted to laugh out loud. ME pushing HIM away? The way I saw it, it was him who did all the teasing. . . although he DID change a bit since he first got here. . .

"Can we start over?" he continued. "Can we be friends again?"

Suddenly I felt new warm tears fill my eyes. "I thought I told you to stay away from me," I whispered, still staring into his eyes.

He looked startled. "Wh-What? Yeah I know, but. . . why??"

I DID remember all those things we used to do when we were younger. Sliding down the banister and trying to climb over the palace gates were only a few on the list of fun memories I had with him. I wanted to start over. I wanted to be friends again. But. . . I couldn't."

"I don't want anyone to get hurt. . ." I replied softly.

He raised his eye brow questioningly. "What do you mean? What makes you think anyone's going to get hurt?"

At first I myself didn't even know why I said that. But know I knew.

"Because. . . I think I'm falling in love with you. . ."

And with that I sprang to my feet and sprinted off.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I passed the kitchen as I headed towards the stairs to my bedroom, when I overheard something going on in the kitchen.

"I want you to go in there and take it away from the poor child now!"

Was that. . . Mandy?? I gasped in shock. Her voice was almost unrecognizable, for this was the first time I've heard Mandy raise her voice in that manner.

"What do you mean?" spoke another voice.

Out of curiosity I tiptoed over to the kitchen door and peeked in through the small crack that it was open. Along with Mandy, I spotted another elderly woman, with long flowing white hair that almost reach the floor. The scent of lavenders filled the air.

"You know EXACTLY what I mean!" Mandy bellowed again. "You take that horrible birth gift back from the child right now."

Horrible birth gift. . . child. . . could this be who I think it is?? Despite the previous events, I couldn't help but grin. Mandy was going to get the fairy to rid of my curse!!

"Ohhh. . ." the other lady spoke. "I can't do that. . . you KNOW I gave up big magic. . . and also-"

"You have always been a fool of a fairy, Lucinda, do you know that? If you gave up big magic, what were you THINKING of when you gave poor Ella's girl the gift of honesty??"

The old lady's eyes widened. "W-What?? You think I. . .? Oh no no no no noo. . . I never did such a thing!! I remember like it was yesterday living as as a squirrel . . . you were THERE when I swore off big magic!!"

"You are a fool AND a liar! You are a disgrace to our kind. Yes, I DO remember turning you into a squirrel, and don't think I won't do it again! Now unless you take back that awful 'gift' of yours, I swear that-"

"But, Mandy dear, I told you. I can't."

Mandy was furious. "What do you mean you can't?? Do you want to know that it feels like to be a victim of one of your little curses?? Why I ought to- "

"Mandy! Hush, woman. I didn't do it! You KNOW I wouldn't do such a thing. . ."

Mandy sighed in frustration. "Lucinda, are you trying to tell me that you're denying something I saw you do with my very own eyes?!"

"Honestly. . . I-I didn't do it. . ." Lucinda's voice grew softer. "Really, I promise you. . . I didn't do it. . ."

Mandy sighed again, they time a little more gently. "Lucinda, I saw you do it. I was right there!"

Lucinda shook her head. "I-I don't get how that's possible. . . I didn't do it. The last awful gift I gave out was over 30 years ago at a young giant couple's wedding. . ."

They stood silent for a moment. Mandy finally spoke up.

"You're really telling the truth, aren't you?"

Lucinda nodded.

"Then who could have done it?? I couldn't have sworn it was you. . ."
A/N: PLEASE REVIEW!!