Chapter 9:
The two didn't elope. The Master left them, saying he would deliver the news to Cecilia's parents in Minelia. Meanwhile, Tina, Orlando, Diana and Matt were extra careful with Cecilia and sharp objects. Needless to say, this was driving the princess insane. She was starting to feel smothered by their mollycoddling. To escape the suffocation, she began to pay more attention to her younger future in-laws, especially Emilie.
Yet Cecilia was still shaken from her second experience. Perhaps her joy at being reunited with Orlando never let her heal from the first time. She distanced herself a bit from her friends, believing all she needed was some time to reflect by herself.
Her actions worried Orlando, however. He realized that maybe all the attention they were giving her was doing more harm than good. Concerned, Orlando approached Cecilia reading in the garden. "Cecilia?"
"Hmm?"
"Why are you out here?"
"Fresh air to read my books." Cecilia tilted up her book. "Can't prick my finger doing that."
"Paper cut."
"Doesn't count," Cecilia replied, promptly sticking her tongue out. "How royal, Princess Cecilia," Orlando responded.
He sat down next to her and took the book from her. "I want to talk."
"Uh oh." Orlando couldn't help but laugh at that response. "I just want to know something," he said. She hesitantly nodded. "When you awoke the other day, you mentioned how you didn't want to go 'back there.' Where's there?" he asked, watching Cecilia begin to squirm.
"Alright. Everyone assumes I'm just asleep, right? Of course, I get deathly cold which would tip someone off that that isn't true. It's dark and scary and cold. There are shadows everywhere, holding me captive, reaching, grabbing me. I try running, but where to? And that laughter—always so maniacal and always present!"
By this time, Cecilia was shaking in Orlando's arm. Tears streamed down her cheeks as the two just sat there. Finally, Cecilia wiped her eyes and looked Orlando. "Thanks for listening. I think I just needed to tell someone that ordeal," she said, kissing him.
Two days later, Sophie and Christopher came to bring Cecilia and Tina home. They came personally to discuss some things with Philip and Marie. Namely, a way to make sure that Orlando would be available in case of an emergency, like if she pricked her finger. Orlando and Cecilia exchanged looks at the formality of their parents' discussion. "How about this: You have my word that I will be there," he whispered to her. "Good enough. Problem solved," she whispered back.
Cecilia said her good-byes to everyone in the Purezi palace. It took both Orlando, Philip, Marie and Matt to pry Emilie off the departing princess. "I'll write. I promise," Cecilia promised the younger girl. Emilie was still pouting, however, as the carriage made its way to Minelia.
Back at home, Cecilia was greeted by her younger brother. "He's been waiting all day for you," his nurse explained as the six year old wrapped himself around his sister. "Missed you that much." Alexander just held on as tight as he could. Eventually, Alexander left Cecilia for his mother, whom picked him up.
Grace and Michelle were ecstatic to see their sister again. "I go away for a week and you two fall apart. What will you do when I'm married?" Cecilia asked during a lull in their incessant chattering. Even Sam was more quizzical than usual, causing Cecilia to put her defensive barriers. She slammed her bedroom door in his face, but that didn't stop them. "I just want to know!" he called out.
"You don't have to know anything!" Cecilia called from inside her room. "What would you have to know?"
"Master Onadi explained everything."
"He said he would. So?"
"So…you and Orlando didn't plan to…break the curse…right?"
"Of course we did. Do we look stupid to you?" Cecilia opened the door and faced her brother.
Sam's face reddened rather quickly. "I will kill that-that…"
"Same, for the love of the Ado, what are you talking about?"
"Did he put you up to this?"
"Put me up to what?"
"I do not believe you would do something immoral like that."
"Sam, now you are just babbling on and on and have lost me. What are you talking about?"
Sam stalked off, leaving Cecilia to puzzle her younger brother's words. Plan to break the curse…put you up to this…something so immoral…The words echoed over and over in her head. Break the curse…something immoral…break the curse…immoral…Suddenly, everything clicked in her mind. She didn't know whether to scream or run after her brother. In the end, she decided for the latter.
The castle staff was surprised to find the princess tearing down the hallways. After all, she had finally learned to walk properly after a six week session with Lady McGrail. The only reason why she would be running was because she was upset. They gravitated over, hungry for the gossip this would cause.
Cecilia came upon her brother practicing in the exercise room. Focused on his punching bag, Sam didn't notice his enraged sister until she stopped the bag on him. "Are you insane?" she demanded. Sam glared at her. "I should be asking you that." The two glared. "For you and Orlando to do that…"
"You pervert…we didn't do that at all!" Cecilia screeched. "For you to believe that…it hurts me. I'm your sister."
"You said you were planning to break the curse."
"Naturally. We were planning our wedding…things starting to click yet, or do I have to paint a picture for you?"
Sam looked sheepish. He could barely make any sounds. "I can't believe you still don't trust him! He isn't some big, bad foreign prince come to steal me away. I love him, he loves me, get over it, Sam," Cecilia said, ready to knock out her brother if he dared to contradict her.
"You're my sister. I have to be overprotective of you," Sam explained. Cecilia shook her head. "I'm going to be queen. I think I can handle myself." Cecilia stalked out of the room, barely noticing her audience. Lady McGrail followed the princess, ready to lecture her, but was cut off by Tina. Sophie followed her daughter into her room. Cecilia collapsed on her bed, stomach side down. Sophie sat down next to her daughter.
"He is so annoying," Cecilia said. "I can't believe how annoying he is."
"He's your brother," Sophie soothed. "He's supposed to be annoying."
"Do you know what he had the audacity to suggest Orlando and I did?"
"No, but judging by the volumes of your voices, I'm guessing it was bad."
"Oh, it was bad. Extremely bad."
"He thought you two eloped didn't you."
"Ha! That would be a picnic compared to what he accused us of."
"He didn't…"
"Accused us of sleeping together!" Cecilia cried, sitting up now, facing her mother. Sophie shook her head.
"Orlando is an honorable man. He shows no signs of being otherwise whenever I've observed him. And that's more than he is aware of. Your father and I perfectly approve of him. I wish I could say your brother has behaved more honorably lately. He's accused Orlando of many things, and I think he is just trying to hang on to you for some more time," Sophie explained. She fixed her daughter's hair. "Now, fix up. I'll handle Sam. And it will be a talk he won't soon forget."
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A/N: Sorry for the short delay. Other things happening. Thanks to my new reviewer…but, AJ, you didn't like the song? Oh well. Hope you all enjoyed my story!! Review please—it adds to my spring fever high! ~*Mac*~