A/n: Thanks to all my reviewers!
babyjayy: Thanks 4 reviewing ~ glad u liked the chapter. It's starting to get more interesting! Hope u like this chapter!
XkpsesamewrittenX: I'm glad u like Lela's personality. I like her character too . . . it's so much more fun & interesting when the characters aren't all meek and obedient! A loud attitude ~ spices up the story, and yes, just like Ella! Everyone likes Ella and her personality! Well, anyway, thanks 4 the review, and hope u enjoy!
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Life became entirely boring. I thought that I had hated it when I was only a princess, but I was wrong. Then, at least I was a free princess. Now, I had an armed guard of five men following me around. So much for my freedom.
I was really mad at James. Every time I saw him come towards me, I would turn around and go in the opposite direction. Every time I spotted him, I pretended he wasn't there, and would flounce right past him. If he was going to make my life miserable, I would make his life miserable too.
I was sick of the five who were always with me, following me around like silent shadows. I couldn't even meet a stranger without the shadows resting their hands on their swords, therefore successfully scaring off the other person. With a friendly, social personality like mine, it was a heavy blow.
I tried to talk to them, to see if they could talk. They could, but rarely did, unless it was to tell me that I wasn't allowed to go here or there.
This was going to be unbearable.
*~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~*
I watched silently as the knights who made up my guard sparred and practiced their weaponry. The two nearest me were fighting bare-handed, and though they looked engrossed in their work, I knew that they were watching me. Another was practicing archery, shooting arrows into the wooden target that they had set up on a fence. The last two knights were practicing sword fighting.
I stared, enraptured. The blades glittered and flashed, catching the sun's light, as they two men wove patterns through the air. I wanted to be able to do that more than anything.
I turned my head to look at the other end of the training ground. Two young pages were being taught swordplay, and currently, they were fencing with thick wooden staffs. I sighed, watching them enviously. I wished I could learn, or have someone to teach me. I knew I could do as well as them.
A shadow fell across the ground in front of me. "Lela."
I heard my voice whispered, but, recognizing the voice as James, I ignored him and pretended not to hear.
"Lela, we need to talk." James stepped in front of me, blocking my view of the pages' training.
"Go away. I don't want to talk to you." I muttered, moving so that he wasn't in my way.
"Lela! Listen to me! I'm sorry! Okay? Does that make you happy?" James said, exasperated.
I knew it had cost James a lot to apologize to me, even if it wasn't what I had hoped for. He was too proud to ever apologize to anyone, so I should have been glad to get that apology. I wasn't.
"You told my parents, when I specifically ordered you not to. You've been keeping secrets from me, scared off someone who was trying to help me - and now you apologize!" I was fuming, not caring what I said. "You got me stuck in this entire thing. Now a bunch of annoying guards are following me around everywhere! I can't even go anywhere without them!"
James looked angry as well now. "Well, you obviously aren't thinking about anyone else! Don't you realize that a kidnapping attempt also means danger to the rest of the royal family? Or are you just trying to be stubborn, and fix everything yourself?"
I glared at him, and then turned my back to him. "Go away." I snapped. "I don't want to talk to you."
I felt him hesitate, and I knew that he was hurt. "Lela, please." He said, voice pleading.
"What?" I asked, annoyed. "Look, I don't want to listen to you, or talk to you! You ruined my life!"
Instantly, I regretted saying that. James would flip over that. But only silence met my scathing remark.
I turned slightly. James was staring at me, horrified. Then, he whirled around. "Fine, Lela. All I wanted to do was tell you I was sorry. And that I'm leaving. I guess you wouldn't care, anyway." He stalked away.
I was stunned. He was leaving? I didn't want him to leave - I wanted to run after him and say I was sorry - but my stupid stubbornness kept me rooted to the spot.
I wrestled with my thoughts for a minute. What if he never came back? That kept coming back to haunt me.
I raced after him. "James, wait!"
He didn't stop.
"James, I'm really sorry! I didn't mean to say that - it just slipped out - I didn't mean any of it." I said breathlessly.
He turned, opened his mouth to say something, and then shut it again. "Fine." He said brusquely.
I stopped. He wasn't like this usually. But then again, I hadn't talked to him in a while. Maybe he had changed in those few days. Finally, I just called out, "Bye James. I'll miss you."
That stopped him. Slowly, he turned to face me. "What did you just say?"
"I said bye. And I'll miss you." I said, sniffling a little. I didn't usually cry, and I wasn't going to cry right now. I blinked back my tears.
James crossed over to me. Then, he wrapped me in a big hug. "I'm so sorry Lela. I just didn't want anything to happen. I should have listened to you. I'm sorry. Forgive me?"
I buried my face in his shoulder. "I'm sorry too. For being such a brat. I hated when we didn't talk. I missed our fun times together. And I guess you were right. You listened to your heart. It's not your fault."
James only nodded.
"Are you still leaving?" I asked tearfully. I wanted to leave too, right NOW.
He looked uncertain. "I really was going to but . . . I don't want to. I don't know . . ."
"Can I go with you? Please!" I said despairingly.
"I can't bring you Lela!" James said. "I wish I could but everyone will think I kidnapped you! Or, they'll think you ran away because you hate them."
"I do." I muttered. Then, I decided that I'd try something else besides the pleading. "Oh, come on James." I coaxed. "Let's just treat this like another new adventure. No problem."
He looked torn for a minute, then grinned. "Well . . . only if you promise that if you don't like it, you'll come back to the palace."
"Okay. Promise." I said.
He grinned, a bit of the old James showing through. "Okay, then what are we waiting for?"
*~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~*
I stepped into the kitchen. "Mandy?"
My fairy godmother (yes, she had told me all about that) emerged from inside a large pantry, holding a rolling pin. Her frizzy graying hair stuck out of her bun, and her sharp eyes looked me over. "Yes sweet?"
"Um . . . what would you say if I . . . well, if I wanted to try something new? I mean, like Mother was always doing odd things, and trying new ways - what if I did too?"
"What do you have in mind, sweet?"
"Well, I want to try something daring. Have an adventure. I mean, mother and father had so many adventures, and they're legends in Kyrria! Even Charles is starting to go to Ayortha for peace movements, and he's fighting ogres, and patrolling Kyrria's borders - I want to do something extraordinary too. Be someone. Do something." I said dreamily.
"Does your mother know about this?" Mandy asked sharply.
"Oh, no!" I said, stricken. "Don't tell her, Mandy. I don't want her to know."
My fairy godmother sighed. "Well, I think it'll be a good experience for you . . . is it safe? What you're planning, I mean. Will it endanger you?"
"No! It's just one small adventure!" I protested.
"Well, I guess its okay. A small trip, you mean?"
I nodded vigorously (even if it was a kind of a lie).
"Well, bring your Tonic and your fairy book, so I can contact you. Make sure you have everything."
I grinned. "Thank you, Mandy! I can get everything with the fairy box. But don't tell Mother or father, please!"
"All right." Mandy said rather grudgingly. "Be good. Stay safe. I won't tell your mother, unless it's a dire emergency. Okay?"
I nodded, throwing my arms around her and giving her a big hug. "Thank you, thank you, and thank you again!"
*~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~*
I packed a small bag with a few of my simple gowns, a set of boy's clothes (I stole it from Charles' room), my fairy book, fairy box trinket, and some money. I wore mother's necklace, not wanting to leave it behind, but I left the gown and pendant that Mother had given me in my wardrobe. I figured that I would be able to call up any other supplies I might need with the fairy box.
Casting a last glance around my room, I headed towards the window.
I met James at the edge of the woods. He had his stuff with him as well.
James' mother thought he was going on a trip. The guards thought I was already asleep in my room. Mandy wasn't going to tell. No one would know until the next morning, but by then, hopefully we'd be far away. Everything was perfect. After all, it was just another small adventure. No problem.
As I stepped lightly through the forest, I had no idea how wrong I was. This "small adventure" would turn out to be a BIG adventure. With LOTS of problems. I had no way of knowing it then, but my life was about to change forever. My life - and many others - as well as the sake of Kyrria, would depend on this "small adventure". I was about to change everything. This would be more perilous than anything my parents or brother had ever faced. All of Kyrria's future would depend on me.
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A/n: Okay, I'm done with the 5th chapter of my fanfic. R/R ~ 10 reviews (meaning 4 more) will get you the next chapter. Until then, I'm not writing any more. Thanks to all who have reviewed or read, or whatever . . . please bear with me, this will get more interesting as we go along, I promise! Luv you all! *~*~AryaWinds~*~*
babyjayy: Thanks 4 reviewing ~ glad u liked the chapter. It's starting to get more interesting! Hope u like this chapter!
XkpsesamewrittenX: I'm glad u like Lela's personality. I like her character too . . . it's so much more fun & interesting when the characters aren't all meek and obedient! A loud attitude ~ spices up the story, and yes, just like Ella! Everyone likes Ella and her personality! Well, anyway, thanks 4 the review, and hope u enjoy!
*~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~*
Life became entirely boring. I thought that I had hated it when I was only a princess, but I was wrong. Then, at least I was a free princess. Now, I had an armed guard of five men following me around. So much for my freedom.
I was really mad at James. Every time I saw him come towards me, I would turn around and go in the opposite direction. Every time I spotted him, I pretended he wasn't there, and would flounce right past him. If he was going to make my life miserable, I would make his life miserable too.
I was sick of the five who were always with me, following me around like silent shadows. I couldn't even meet a stranger without the shadows resting their hands on their swords, therefore successfully scaring off the other person. With a friendly, social personality like mine, it was a heavy blow.
I tried to talk to them, to see if they could talk. They could, but rarely did, unless it was to tell me that I wasn't allowed to go here or there.
This was going to be unbearable.
*~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~*
I watched silently as the knights who made up my guard sparred and practiced their weaponry. The two nearest me were fighting bare-handed, and though they looked engrossed in their work, I knew that they were watching me. Another was practicing archery, shooting arrows into the wooden target that they had set up on a fence. The last two knights were practicing sword fighting.
I stared, enraptured. The blades glittered and flashed, catching the sun's light, as they two men wove patterns through the air. I wanted to be able to do that more than anything.
I turned my head to look at the other end of the training ground. Two young pages were being taught swordplay, and currently, they were fencing with thick wooden staffs. I sighed, watching them enviously. I wished I could learn, or have someone to teach me. I knew I could do as well as them.
A shadow fell across the ground in front of me. "Lela."
I heard my voice whispered, but, recognizing the voice as James, I ignored him and pretended not to hear.
"Lela, we need to talk." James stepped in front of me, blocking my view of the pages' training.
"Go away. I don't want to talk to you." I muttered, moving so that he wasn't in my way.
"Lela! Listen to me! I'm sorry! Okay? Does that make you happy?" James said, exasperated.
I knew it had cost James a lot to apologize to me, even if it wasn't what I had hoped for. He was too proud to ever apologize to anyone, so I should have been glad to get that apology. I wasn't.
"You told my parents, when I specifically ordered you not to. You've been keeping secrets from me, scared off someone who was trying to help me - and now you apologize!" I was fuming, not caring what I said. "You got me stuck in this entire thing. Now a bunch of annoying guards are following me around everywhere! I can't even go anywhere without them!"
James looked angry as well now. "Well, you obviously aren't thinking about anyone else! Don't you realize that a kidnapping attempt also means danger to the rest of the royal family? Or are you just trying to be stubborn, and fix everything yourself?"
I glared at him, and then turned my back to him. "Go away." I snapped. "I don't want to talk to you."
I felt him hesitate, and I knew that he was hurt. "Lela, please." He said, voice pleading.
"What?" I asked, annoyed. "Look, I don't want to listen to you, or talk to you! You ruined my life!"
Instantly, I regretted saying that. James would flip over that. But only silence met my scathing remark.
I turned slightly. James was staring at me, horrified. Then, he whirled around. "Fine, Lela. All I wanted to do was tell you I was sorry. And that I'm leaving. I guess you wouldn't care, anyway." He stalked away.
I was stunned. He was leaving? I didn't want him to leave - I wanted to run after him and say I was sorry - but my stupid stubbornness kept me rooted to the spot.
I wrestled with my thoughts for a minute. What if he never came back? That kept coming back to haunt me.
I raced after him. "James, wait!"
He didn't stop.
"James, I'm really sorry! I didn't mean to say that - it just slipped out - I didn't mean any of it." I said breathlessly.
He turned, opened his mouth to say something, and then shut it again. "Fine." He said brusquely.
I stopped. He wasn't like this usually. But then again, I hadn't talked to him in a while. Maybe he had changed in those few days. Finally, I just called out, "Bye James. I'll miss you."
That stopped him. Slowly, he turned to face me. "What did you just say?"
"I said bye. And I'll miss you." I said, sniffling a little. I didn't usually cry, and I wasn't going to cry right now. I blinked back my tears.
James crossed over to me. Then, he wrapped me in a big hug. "I'm so sorry Lela. I just didn't want anything to happen. I should have listened to you. I'm sorry. Forgive me?"
I buried my face in his shoulder. "I'm sorry too. For being such a brat. I hated when we didn't talk. I missed our fun times together. And I guess you were right. You listened to your heart. It's not your fault."
James only nodded.
"Are you still leaving?" I asked tearfully. I wanted to leave too, right NOW.
He looked uncertain. "I really was going to but . . . I don't want to. I don't know . . ."
"Can I go with you? Please!" I said despairingly.
"I can't bring you Lela!" James said. "I wish I could but everyone will think I kidnapped you! Or, they'll think you ran away because you hate them."
"I do." I muttered. Then, I decided that I'd try something else besides the pleading. "Oh, come on James." I coaxed. "Let's just treat this like another new adventure. No problem."
He looked torn for a minute, then grinned. "Well . . . only if you promise that if you don't like it, you'll come back to the palace."
"Okay. Promise." I said.
He grinned, a bit of the old James showing through. "Okay, then what are we waiting for?"
*~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~*
I stepped into the kitchen. "Mandy?"
My fairy godmother (yes, she had told me all about that) emerged from inside a large pantry, holding a rolling pin. Her frizzy graying hair stuck out of her bun, and her sharp eyes looked me over. "Yes sweet?"
"Um . . . what would you say if I . . . well, if I wanted to try something new? I mean, like Mother was always doing odd things, and trying new ways - what if I did too?"
"What do you have in mind, sweet?"
"Well, I want to try something daring. Have an adventure. I mean, mother and father had so many adventures, and they're legends in Kyrria! Even Charles is starting to go to Ayortha for peace movements, and he's fighting ogres, and patrolling Kyrria's borders - I want to do something extraordinary too. Be someone. Do something." I said dreamily.
"Does your mother know about this?" Mandy asked sharply.
"Oh, no!" I said, stricken. "Don't tell her, Mandy. I don't want her to know."
My fairy godmother sighed. "Well, I think it'll be a good experience for you . . . is it safe? What you're planning, I mean. Will it endanger you?"
"No! It's just one small adventure!" I protested.
"Well, I guess its okay. A small trip, you mean?"
I nodded vigorously (even if it was a kind of a lie).
"Well, bring your Tonic and your fairy book, so I can contact you. Make sure you have everything."
I grinned. "Thank you, Mandy! I can get everything with the fairy box. But don't tell Mother or father, please!"
"All right." Mandy said rather grudgingly. "Be good. Stay safe. I won't tell your mother, unless it's a dire emergency. Okay?"
I nodded, throwing my arms around her and giving her a big hug. "Thank you, thank you, and thank you again!"
*~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~*
I packed a small bag with a few of my simple gowns, a set of boy's clothes (I stole it from Charles' room), my fairy book, fairy box trinket, and some money. I wore mother's necklace, not wanting to leave it behind, but I left the gown and pendant that Mother had given me in my wardrobe. I figured that I would be able to call up any other supplies I might need with the fairy box.
Casting a last glance around my room, I headed towards the window.
I met James at the edge of the woods. He had his stuff with him as well.
James' mother thought he was going on a trip. The guards thought I was already asleep in my room. Mandy wasn't going to tell. No one would know until the next morning, but by then, hopefully we'd be far away. Everything was perfect. After all, it was just another small adventure. No problem.
As I stepped lightly through the forest, I had no idea how wrong I was. This "small adventure" would turn out to be a BIG adventure. With LOTS of problems. I had no way of knowing it then, but my life was about to change forever. My life - and many others - as well as the sake of Kyrria, would depend on this "small adventure". I was about to change everything. This would be more perilous than anything my parents or brother had ever faced. All of Kyrria's future would depend on me.
*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*
A/n: Okay, I'm done with the 5th chapter of my fanfic. R/R ~ 10 reviews (meaning 4 more) will get you the next chapter. Until then, I'm not writing any more. Thanks to all who have reviewed or read, or whatever . . . please bear with me, this will get more interesting as we go along, I promise! Luv you all! *~*~AryaWinds~*~*