****sigh. been sooo fricken busy its not even funny! i had 2 different play practices (for 2 different plays, mind you) practically every day after school till like... 7... and then i had this HUGE 500 page book thats really old and boring and it uses big words to its hard to read and then i had like... other... stuff... my head hurts... anywho i dont own ella or char or... uhm... areida... or any of the other peoples you recognize from the book... but everyone else is MINE! MINE, I SAY! BACK OFF! hehe read******

After I danced with Sam, we headed back over to where his family was. The king and queen had taken up dancing for themselves and the other children were off frolicking about, so it was just us and Areida and William. We sat down on a row of chairs so that it was this order: William, Areida, Me, and Sampson.

An uncomfortable silence followed our seating, and I was eager to break it. I stammered for a second, wondering what to say, then ended up saying the wrong thing. "I heard about your baby girl, Areida," I said, pinching myself a moment or two later. "I am so very sorry."

"Thank you, Zoi," said Areida quietly. "I trust that Sam here explained our odd mannerisms to you," she added with a smile, perhaps trying to cheer herself up.

I blushed and nodded.

"Please forgive us," requested William, leaning over his wife. "But it WAS a hard loss for us, and you DO remind us strongly of her."

At that moment something clicked in my mind. A man had kidnaped Cloi, but didn't have her when they captured him. They executed him for kidnaping AND other things he had done... Perhaps including... Treason to the kingdom? Like my father had been?

"Zoi! Zoi!" exclaimed Gracie, rushing up to me, her face shining with tears and her chest heaving. "They've got momma! It's all your fault!"

"What?" I said, following her and trying to remain calm. She led me out of the ballroom and into the main hall, where Mildred was being dragged in by a few guards.

"What's going on?" said Sam from behind me. "What are you doing with that woman?" Areida and William, plus the king and queen, had followed us, gathering around the commotion.

"Beg pardon," said one of the guards--a rather large, beefy man--to King Charmont and Queen Ella. "This woman 'as posession of a kidnaped child, milord."

"Zoi?" said Sam.

"Who told you this?" asked King Charmont.

"One of the guards, who went and inspected the situation his'self," said the other guard. "This 'ere young madam is supposed to be Lady Clarissa."

"Clarissa?" I whispered, turning to Sam.

"Cloi for short," he whispered back.

"I DIDN'T KIDNAP ANYONE," screeched Mildred. "AND THAT'S NOT ANY LADY--THAT'S MY DEAD BROTHER'S DAUGHTER!"

"Yes, yes, we know," said the beefy guard. "The man who went to your 'ouse told us so, lady. But you still have a kidnaped child, you know."

"I don't think she should be punished for that," said Charmont, coming forward. "Even if this IS Lady Clarissa, which we have no way of proving."

"There-there might be a way," said William.

"What would that be, Will?" asked Charmont.

Areida blushed violently. "A birthmark. She would have a birthmark in a certain place."

I felt the blood draining from my face. Oh, no. Not in front of all these people. I had a large birthmark on my lower back. I mean my lower LOWER back.

"And what place would this be?" asked Char calmly.

"Her back," said Areida.

"Do you have a birthmark on your back, Zoi?" asked Sam.

I nodded slowly. "I don't want to show it, though."

"THAT DOESN'T PROVE ANYTHING!" Mildred screamed at King Charmont. "THAT LADY COULD HAVE JUST SEEN MY BROTHER'S DAUGHTER!"

"Let her go," said Charmont. "She's done nothing wrong."

The guards released Mildred at once, and she fell to the floor, looking pathetic. She rose to her feet and brushed off the front of her dress, glaring at everyone one. "Come, Gracie. Zoi," she said.

I started to walk forward, but Charmont grabbed my elbow.

"I'm afraid she won't be going anywhere, madam," he said, continuing in his calm state. "She will stay here, where she will show Areida her birthmark"--I blushed--"and tell us all she can about this matter."

I looked up at him.

"That is, if she wants to," he said, smiling good-naturedly at me.

I nodded.

Mildred adjusted her dress and seized Gracie's shoulder. "Fine. Come, Gracie. We're going." And with that, she walked out the door.

"Well," said Charmont with a sigh, "it looks like you'll be spending the night here. Let's get you into a room."

*********************

sigh...... that chappie wasnt so good.............

oh well... i tried.........

next chapter will be better. i promise...

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE review!! agh!! if no one is reading the story, im just gonna stop writing it...

have a nice day. ta!