Chapter 7:
The next day, Orlando burst into his parents' throne room. "We must journey to Minelia at once," he said. "Why?" his mother asked. "Because I may be able to save their princess," he explained. His parents dismissed their court to be alone with their son, but they did summon Matt. Matt hurried in as Orlando paced in front of the dais.
"How can you save the princess of Minelia?" Philip asked his son. Matt shot Orlando a "what-the-hell?" look. Orlando took a deep breath and began to tell his parents about Cryta. "Then, my curiosity got the best of me and I asked her to show me the princess. And it was Cecilia!" he said, finally pausing for a breath. It took the royal couple a few minutes to register the name while Matt's eyes grew big.
When Marie and Philip realized what Orlando was talking about, they gasped. "Matt, send a messenger to Minelia. Tell them we're coming. Then order a carriage for the four of us," Philip ordered. Marie grabbed her son. "Quick! We must prepare to leave. Packing needs to be done!" she shouted, like a general heading into war. She dragged Orlando out.
King Christopher and Queen Sophie were surprised to hear the tidings that the Purezi royal family were coming to their palace. Within an hour and a half, their guests were being announced to the court. King Philip and Queen Marie saluted Christopher and Sophie, returned by the Minelian monarchs. Orlando and Matt merely bowed to the king and queen.
Through their children's arranged engagement, the two sets of royalty felt connected. Marie rushed forward to embrace Sophie, who accepted the gesture. Christopher walked to Philip and the two clasped hands. Orlando eyed his lover's siblings, noting they all resembled each other and their mother. Matt kept noticing the evil glances the Minelian prince was sending his friend.
"Your Majesty, your Grace," Orlando addressed the royal couple. "May I please see your daughter?" Sophie nodded and grabbed his arm. She led him out of the throne room. In his hand he rolled the Alanaise flower he bought. Orlando recalled it was Cecilia's flower and he had often tried to pick one for her. She always refused it gently. Even if his kiss didn't awaken her, he would leave the flower to tell her he was there.
Sophie opened her daughter's door and let Orlando inside. She looked just like Cryta showed, except more beautiful in person. "Getting mushy, Orlando," he told himself. Remembering what he came in here to do, Orlando leaned down and kissed Cecilia. He had longed to do that for months and felt a pang of disappointment she wasn't conscious to experience it. He pulled back and watched her for a minute. Nothing. Dejected, Orlando left the room. He noticed Sophie wasn't there and started walking back in the direction he came.
If Orlando had stayed longer, he would've noticed some changes in Cecilia. Her eyelids began to flutter slightly before opening. She looked around and smiled, pushing herself off the bed. She walked to the mirror to check her hair. It was in her reflection she noticed the flower in her hand. The Alanaise. Not even Tina knew she liked this flower. Tina probably didn't even know it existed. Orlando. He was the only one.
Hair forgotten, Cecilia sprinted out of her room. She figured Orlando would be heading back to the throne room. She ran and ran, finally seeing him. He was dressed finely—as a prince would. Even from where she was, Cecilia could make out the Purezi seal. Things clicked and she ran faster. She reached Orlando and barreled into him, knocking him to the ground, her on top.
She began hitting him with the flower. "Why didn't you tell me you were a prince?" she demanded, her Alanaise attack relentless. "I could ask the same of you, Princess," he retorted. His comment caused her to slow down her hitting. "I guess that's true. So what happened?" she asked, now playfully tickling him with the flower.
"How can I answer that when you're tickling me?" Orlando asked between his laughs. "Try," Cecilia taunted, tickling his nose. "Fine. You basically followed the fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty," he said. "I remember a spinning wheel and somehow pricking my finger," she saod, scrunching up her eyes in deep thought. Cecilia held up her finger and saw a small, purplish dot. Orlando turned her finger towards his lips and kissed it.
"So, how long was I out?" Cecilia asked, trying to divert attention from her reddening cheeks. "Two weeks."
"And was I awoken by true love's first kiss?"
"Of course!"
"I was asleep for my first kiss?!" Cecilia banged her head on Orlando's chest. "Sorry, but it was the only way I could wake you. If it is any consolation, I had hoped you would be conscious for our first kiss," he comforted. "Care to remedy that?" Cecilia asked. Orlando laughed and kissed her.
Orlando escorted Cecilia into her parents' throne room. The two sets of parents were talking in a small huddle, Matt was having a staring contest with Sam and Cecilia's sisters were entertaining Alexander. Only Tina noticed their entrance and began sprinting across the room, startling everyone. Cecilia and Tina embraced each other, laughing hysterically. Sophie was the next to hug the princess. Soon, Orlando couldn't see her due to the whole royal family hugging Cecilia.
When everyone stopped hugging Cecilia, Sophie turned on Orlando. "Thank you, thank you, thank you…" she babbled. Orlando was smiling, but was slowly turning blue. "Mother! He can't breathe!" Cecilia yelled. "Oh, sorry dear," Sophie said, releasing Orlando. "So does this mean Cecilia's engagement is on?" Grace asked her father. Everyone looked at Cecilia and Orlando.
Cecilia gave everyone the one minute sign and pulled Orlando out of the room. "What?" he asked. "Is our engagement still on?" she asked. "Well, it was called off when you fell under the curse…"
"So now it's up to us whether we're going through this?" Cecilia asked. "It seems that way," Orlando replied, grabbing her hand. She looked at him, then at their hands and smiled. She pulled him into a passionate kiss. When they pulled apart, Orlando said, "I guess that's a yes." Cecilia giggled. The two began to go back in, with Cecilia singing, "We're going to the chapel and we're going to get married!"
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A/N: Thanks to Pabo, my latest reviewer. You're right; six thousand words and now three reviews. Not that I'm desperate…alright, I am. Please review with anything…please. ~*Mac*~