Chapter 10:

Sam absolutely refused to talk to Cecilia for the next week. "Grace, would you please tell a certain somebody to pass me the salt," he asked his sister.

"Don't worry, Grace. Here you go, Sam," Cecilia responded, tossing the salt shaker at her brother.

"Our dinner table is now a three ringed circus," Christopher sighed. "Oh no, dear," Sophie replied, "just a two ring."

Things were tense around the castle. Everyone was carefully moving sharp objects out of Cecilia's way. The princess wasn't even allowed to try on her own wedding gown. It was feared that Cecilia would be poked and the curse would take effect again. Lady McGrail dragged Tina into the fitting sessions, as the two were the same size. Cecilia helped Tina nurse her pin wounds. "I think she jabbed me harder after I said you wouldn't like all that lace," Tina moaned as Cecilia groaned.

Sam wasn't any better either. He was no longer talking to anyone save his personal servants. And they wanted him to stop. "All day, Cecilia-this, Cecilia-that. I'm sick of Cecilia—no disrespect to the princess," one maid complained to Tina.

Neither side was approaching the other with an apology. "I don't own him one! He owes me," Cecilia stated firmly. Sam held the same belief concerning his sister.

To make matters worse, Orlando and his siblings arrived one day. "With our little circus, I forgot about their visit!" Sophie cried, ordering servants to prepare the rooms. Cecilia was happy to see them. Emilie ran up, Cecilia's letters in hand. The two hugged until Cecilia heard Alexander's "humph" behind her. Grace, Michelle, Faith and Rose were on the road to being fast friends the minute they met.

To escape the chaos of the palace, Cecilia brought Orlando out to the lake behind the castle. A frog hopped in view. "Kiss me. Kiss me," he croaked, or seemed to to Orlando.

"Sorry, I'm taken," Cecilia told the frog, pointing towards Orlando. "But he does have a sister." The frog hopped away. Screams filled the air shortly after.

"I don't think I can ever get used to all this magic. And you don't even blink an eye," Orlando said.

"I grew up with it. You think Diana will kiss him?" Cecilia asked.

"Kiss a frog? I don't think so. Do you know that—what are they, amphibians? I can never keep them straight."

"They're amphibians. Don't worry, neither can I. But, as for knowing the frog—Little Jimmy. Well, he wouldn't be so little anymore, now would he? If he were human that is. He was turned into a frog because he messed with the wrong member of the Onadi," Cecilia explained.

As the two stood there, the sky suddenly darkened. "That's funny. There wasn't a cloud in the sky before," Cecilia commented. "Well, I guess a little summer shower never hurt anyone. Except that witch of the mountains."

"What witch?" Orlando asked. But before Cecilia could reply, a thunderclap broke. Cecilia screeched and jumped into the arms of her prince—how romantic. "Scared?" he teased, knowing full well it was up there on Cecilia's list of things she feared, right after "Madame Crow." He put her down and started running with her through the downpour.

A lightening bolt crashed before them, revealing Cryta. "Oh no," Orlando said, unknowingly shielding Cecilia. Cryta smiled and moved towards the couple. Pushing Orlando out of the way, she confronted Cecilia.

"You don't know how miserable you have made my life!" she screeched.

"Miserable I've made your life!" Cecilia was indignant. "You cursed me and now every time I prick my finger I'll fall asleep. And it isn't a pleasant place you send me to!"

Cecilia and Cryta were now in a staring competition. Orlando struggled against whatever magic shield Cryta placed around him. He didn't know what Cryta would do now, and he wanted to protect Cecilia. "I love him," the rogue sorceress declared.

Cecilia burst out laughing. "You love him? What do you know about loving him?" Cryta remained silent. "Do you know anything about him?"

"Know about him! Of course! He's handsome, strong, destined to be a king. That's him!" Cryta replied.

"But what about his favorite color? The thing he is scared of the most? The name of his favorite childhood toy?" Cecilia asked. Cryta remained silent. "You know nothing about him," the princess said, crossing her arms. Defeated, Cryta disappeared.

Orlando was finally able to move. "At least nothing happened to you while I was indisposed," he told her.

"You weren't indisposed. And I handle myself," Cecilia told him. "That force field was all psychological."

"What?" Orlando asked, following Cecilia into the castle. This ignited a fight between the two down the hall.

After a good sword fight and Orlando being beaten fair and square by Cecilia, all was good in the universe again. Except for Sam, but his sister tended to forget he existed, so it was all good.

A/N: Sorry this took so long to post. The teachers at my school absolutely refused to let my class get "senioritis." They piled paper upon paper, powerpoint upon powerpoint, project upon project on us. There was also the fact that a crazy muse-friend wanted me to write some Harry Potter fics. (Now, I will beg you all to go read it…please?)…Mac