Kari Kaiba ~ LoL, I know. I didn't say that it wasn't. And yeah, well, with
Lela's rebellious personality, she was going to get into an argument sooner
or later. At least people agree with the "sparks". LoL. Dramatic death?
Yeah, a little more pomp and ceremony, and lots of virtual tissues and
stuff would help . . . I'll keep that in mind the next time I need to kill
off a character. LoL.
marina eyes ~ Thank you! I know . . . I'm always getting interrupted when I'm reading. Homework, and sibs, and everything else . . .*sigh* the world is against us . . . LoL.
Sheba, Queen of ~ Oh! I get it! Hehe, I'm a little naïve sometimes, you'll have to forgive me for that . . . and yeah, if I were Lela, I wouldn't exactly trust Ted either. Killing someone? Scary. Thanx for reviewing!
Gothamin ~ HOW COULD YOU?! No . . . why would you like James dead? Is he THAT bad of a character??? Humph. Thanx 4 reviewing, even though it wasn't exactly . . . well, let's just say that was kinda unexpected. Hehe.
babyjayy ~ Hmmm, am I getting predictable? Well, that's not good . . . yep; I noticed the change in the review. LoL. Thanks.
candiecrazie ~ Thanks 4 reviewing! Do u really? Well, take a look at this chapter and see if u were right!
*****
A/N: I'm only going to post 2 more chapters after this one. In Feb, I'll resume this fanfic, but I still have to update my other ones (Shattered Dreams, Midnight Moon). Also, I'm swamped with tests, projects, midterms, etc . . . how annoying is that? Anyway, if there's anything that you want me to include in this fanfic, tell me and I'll try to add it in. Oh, BTW, I'm starting another Ella Enchanted fanfic. This one (Hidden Shining Stars) is my first real attempt at fanfiction, so its not so good, but this new one is going to be a lot better. Whew! Okay, on with the story . . .
*~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~*
"Ted?" I called tentively. No answer. "Anybody?"
I listened hard, but heard nothing but the silence that hung over the forest at night. My words seemed to hang in the air. A strange stillness seemed to settle over the sleeping woods.
I shivered, cursing myself and wishing I wasn't always so impulsive. I had just walked out of camp with no supplies with me! I mentally berated myself for my idiocy and rash behavior.
Shadows loomed all around. Trees stretched out long, grotesque, branches, seeming to want to grab me. Mysterious shadows flitted furtively from tree to tree.
I sank to the ground at the base of a sturdy old oak tree. It felt a little better to be leaning against something - at least I felt better that nothing would sneak up behind me.
An owl hooted somewhere, the cry echoing through the trees and shattering the silence. I jumped at the sound, and then settled back down, my heart pounding rapidly. I was spooking myself.
How could I have gotten myself into this dreadful mess? Burying my face in my hands, I cried, pouring out all my distress and frustration.
Everything was going wrong. James was dead. Ted was off somewhere in the forest, probably furious with me. My family was vulnerable, somewhere in the palace, which wasn't safe anymore because of Darren. My country was in danger of losing its monarchs. And I was lost in the woods, in the dead of night, by ogre territory.
Wishing I had never left the palace, I curled up in the soft grass and leaves to wait for the dawn, when I could see properly, and go to camp to set things right.
Drowsiness came over me, and sleep wrapped around me like a warm blanket. My last waking thought was: I want to go home. Then, I drifted off to sleep.
*~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~*
In my dream, I was being chased by ogres. I was running through the forest, searching for something, but I didn't know what it was I was searching for.
"Don't run. We're friends. You want to be eaten." Honeyed tones came from the ogres pursuing me.
"No!" I screamed. "I don't want to be eaten!"
"Yes you do. You endangered everyone." The ogre's voice wasn't smooth and oily anymore. Now it was accusing, and it sounded like . . . Ted.
And then the palace was looming before me. How had I gotten here? I raced into the halls of the castle. "Mother? Father? Charles? Where are you?" My voice echoed, seeming to mock me.
I skidded into the throne room . . . and stopped dead. My father and mother were lying on the floor. There were pools of red beside them. Upon closer examination, I saw that it was wine. They were obviously dead - they must have been poisoned. My breath caught in my throat. I looked around and saw Charles, with his sword still in his hand, sprawled on the floor. He had a gaping wound in his side.
"Lela, I didn't tell them. You told me not to! It's your fault." Mandy was suddenly in front of me.
"No!" I shouted. I whirled around, hearing laughter behind me.
Darren stood there, laughing evilly. Rage welled up in me - he had done this.
I flew at him in anger, but he disappeared. Lord Donovan stood in his place, his laughter shaking the walls.
He advanced towards me, drawing his sword. I was then suddenly holding a sword. How had that gotten there?
When he swung his sword at me, I ducked. I searched my mind for the moves that Ted had taught me. I could remember none. I ducked as he swung again. I rolled over, onto a stone, and felt a sharp pain in my shoulder . . .
*~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~*
Gasping and sweating, I woke up. It took me a few minutes to recollect myself. It was then I realized that my shoulder was throbbing. I put up my hand to it, and rubbed it. I must have rolled over onto a sharp rock while I was asleep.
Everything the night before rushed back, and I groaned. The argument, me leaving, and then getting lost in the woods . . .
Trying to banish the thoughts, I rolled over - onto cold stone. Who put that there? I thought blearily. I opened my eyes, and sat bolt upright with a gasp.
The floor was stone. I was in a room.
I looked around, feeling close to panic. There were no windows. I got up and ran over to the door. It was locked.
Where was I? What had happened? How had I gotten here? And where was Ted? Questions whirled in my mind.
As I pondered these questions, I heard the sound of a bolt being pulled aside, the sound of a key in a lock, and then the door creaking slowly open.
A guy peered through the crack. Seeing me awake, he grunted, "Good. Finally you're awake. Come with me. My lord wants to see you."
I felt a rush of relief. Any lord would probably recognize me and help to send me back to the palace, where I belonged. I could leave this place behind - leave everything behind. Any lord would help . . . except one.
"You should feel honored that Lord Donovan is very eager to meet you," the guard smirked.
My heart sank. The very one who wouldn't help me was the one I was stuck with. Wonderful. How exactly had I gotten myself into THIS mess?
"Come ON." The guard (I supposed he was a guard) said impatiently.
I decided not to flood the guard with the millions of questions I needed to ask. I would ask the boss. I doubted the guard knew anything about his boss' diabolical plans, anyway.
With as much dignity as I could muster, I stalked out of the room and followed the guard.
We went up a long flight of stone stairs. Then, we walked through a long, narrow hallway, took a turn, and walked some more. Then we went up another flight of stairs. Finally, we emerged in a warm, lit corridor. The guard strode purposely through the hallway, up to a room and knocked twice.
"Come in," said a cold, hard voice.
The guard now looked nervous. He opened the door, bowed into the room, and said, "May I present to my lord Princess Lela."
I was shocked. How had he known my identity?
There was no time to ask him. He stepped aside and held the door for me. I stepped inside the room and looked around.
The room was richly furnished, with plush red velvet draping and silken tapestries. The carpet was soft and deep, and there were carved chairs and table, and a fireplace decorated with designs and pictures, all carved into the smooth wood.
Before the fire sat a man, with a dark beard and dark hair, shrewd, piercing black eyes, and a scrutinizing glare. He was, as Ted had said before, sinister looking. He was also dressed richly in robes of gold and purple velvet, a fact which I noticed almost immediately. He stood and walked over to me. When he stood, he seemed to tower above me; he was tall.
"Well met, Princess," he said quietly. His tone was polite, but his voice icy cold.
"I wish I could say the same." I replied equally coolly. "Lord Donovan."
The corners of his mouth quirked into a small smile. "Ah. So you've realized that your status is nothing here?"
I hated to admit that I was powerless. My title had always meant power. "I have other ways than status to get what I want." I answered politely but coldly.
He regarded me for a minute. "I think we have to talk." He said after a while.
"I should think so. Nice furnishings. I see you also have Agulen carvings." I nodded to a few beautiful carvings on the mantelpiece. I sat down on a comfortable velvet chair that he held out for me. I didn't trust him, but I wanted to appear relaxed and unsuspicious and gossipy. The typical princess attitude.
He nodded agreement, and then seated himself across from me. Leaning forward, he said, "So. Did you know that at this very moment, the lives of the rest of your family are at stake?"
"It appears to be so. Treacherous people have been plotting against them." I said, as formally as possible.
He grinned, reminding me of a wolf baring its teeth. "Exactly. But since I'm going to give you an alternative . . ."
"Which would be . . ." I was definitely suspicious now.
"For them to abdicate the throne."
"My parents would never do that!"
"Even if your life is at stake?"
"Even if." I responded, though I wasn't all that sure anymore.
"What if YOU asked them to?"
"Why would I ever?" I asked, scandalized. "I would never ask them to do such a thing!"
"Even if someone else's life was at stake? Someone close to you?"
I was silent. Did he mean what I thought? Where WAS Ted, anyway?
Seeing my hesitation, he smiled. "Guard!" he called loudly. A different guard poked his head into the door. "Yes, my lord?"
"Bring up the prisoner."
I was completely nonplussed. Did he mean Ted? Had he gotten caught too? Now it would really be all my fault. I would be responsible for everyone's death - James, Ted, my family.
The guard came back up, huffing and dragging someone along.
I didn't want to look up, to meet Ted's accusing glare. To see how I had failed in everything and gotten everyone in trouble. But I heard someone say, "Lela?" The voice didn't sound angry or accusing, but rather, astonished.
My heart gave a painful thump. Slowly, I looked up. My eyes widened. It couldn't be. It wasn't possible . . .
He wasn't dead?
James stood before me.
And he wasn't dead.
He was alive . . .
*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*
A/n: Yay! He's alive!! For those who are wondering, I killed James too early, I just realized that. And besides, it was so sad having him dead *sob*. Okay, so James is back to life. And now, Lela's going to have to choose between Ted and James. You have to have romances in these fanfics! So . . . now I'm asking all my readers to vote . . . Lela/Ted or Lela/James? Maybe I'll kill off the one who isn't voted . . . *evil chuckle* I'm just kidding. Vote, please! And to do that, you have to press the little purplish-blue button that says, "Submit Review" . . . thanks everyone!!
marina eyes ~ Thank you! I know . . . I'm always getting interrupted when I'm reading. Homework, and sibs, and everything else . . .*sigh* the world is against us . . . LoL.
Sheba, Queen of ~ Oh! I get it! Hehe, I'm a little naïve sometimes, you'll have to forgive me for that . . . and yeah, if I were Lela, I wouldn't exactly trust Ted either. Killing someone? Scary. Thanx for reviewing!
Gothamin ~ HOW COULD YOU?! No . . . why would you like James dead? Is he THAT bad of a character??? Humph. Thanx 4 reviewing, even though it wasn't exactly . . . well, let's just say that was kinda unexpected. Hehe.
babyjayy ~ Hmmm, am I getting predictable? Well, that's not good . . . yep; I noticed the change in the review. LoL. Thanks.
candiecrazie ~ Thanks 4 reviewing! Do u really? Well, take a look at this chapter and see if u were right!
*****
A/N: I'm only going to post 2 more chapters after this one. In Feb, I'll resume this fanfic, but I still have to update my other ones (Shattered Dreams, Midnight Moon). Also, I'm swamped with tests, projects, midterms, etc . . . how annoying is that? Anyway, if there's anything that you want me to include in this fanfic, tell me and I'll try to add it in. Oh, BTW, I'm starting another Ella Enchanted fanfic. This one (Hidden Shining Stars) is my first real attempt at fanfiction, so its not so good, but this new one is going to be a lot better. Whew! Okay, on with the story . . .
*~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~*
"Ted?" I called tentively. No answer. "Anybody?"
I listened hard, but heard nothing but the silence that hung over the forest at night. My words seemed to hang in the air. A strange stillness seemed to settle over the sleeping woods.
I shivered, cursing myself and wishing I wasn't always so impulsive. I had just walked out of camp with no supplies with me! I mentally berated myself for my idiocy and rash behavior.
Shadows loomed all around. Trees stretched out long, grotesque, branches, seeming to want to grab me. Mysterious shadows flitted furtively from tree to tree.
I sank to the ground at the base of a sturdy old oak tree. It felt a little better to be leaning against something - at least I felt better that nothing would sneak up behind me.
An owl hooted somewhere, the cry echoing through the trees and shattering the silence. I jumped at the sound, and then settled back down, my heart pounding rapidly. I was spooking myself.
How could I have gotten myself into this dreadful mess? Burying my face in my hands, I cried, pouring out all my distress and frustration.
Everything was going wrong. James was dead. Ted was off somewhere in the forest, probably furious with me. My family was vulnerable, somewhere in the palace, which wasn't safe anymore because of Darren. My country was in danger of losing its monarchs. And I was lost in the woods, in the dead of night, by ogre territory.
Wishing I had never left the palace, I curled up in the soft grass and leaves to wait for the dawn, when I could see properly, and go to camp to set things right.
Drowsiness came over me, and sleep wrapped around me like a warm blanket. My last waking thought was: I want to go home. Then, I drifted off to sleep.
*~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~*
In my dream, I was being chased by ogres. I was running through the forest, searching for something, but I didn't know what it was I was searching for.
"Don't run. We're friends. You want to be eaten." Honeyed tones came from the ogres pursuing me.
"No!" I screamed. "I don't want to be eaten!"
"Yes you do. You endangered everyone." The ogre's voice wasn't smooth and oily anymore. Now it was accusing, and it sounded like . . . Ted.
And then the palace was looming before me. How had I gotten here? I raced into the halls of the castle. "Mother? Father? Charles? Where are you?" My voice echoed, seeming to mock me.
I skidded into the throne room . . . and stopped dead. My father and mother were lying on the floor. There were pools of red beside them. Upon closer examination, I saw that it was wine. They were obviously dead - they must have been poisoned. My breath caught in my throat. I looked around and saw Charles, with his sword still in his hand, sprawled on the floor. He had a gaping wound in his side.
"Lela, I didn't tell them. You told me not to! It's your fault." Mandy was suddenly in front of me.
"No!" I shouted. I whirled around, hearing laughter behind me.
Darren stood there, laughing evilly. Rage welled up in me - he had done this.
I flew at him in anger, but he disappeared. Lord Donovan stood in his place, his laughter shaking the walls.
He advanced towards me, drawing his sword. I was then suddenly holding a sword. How had that gotten there?
When he swung his sword at me, I ducked. I searched my mind for the moves that Ted had taught me. I could remember none. I ducked as he swung again. I rolled over, onto a stone, and felt a sharp pain in my shoulder . . .
*~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~*
Gasping and sweating, I woke up. It took me a few minutes to recollect myself. It was then I realized that my shoulder was throbbing. I put up my hand to it, and rubbed it. I must have rolled over onto a sharp rock while I was asleep.
Everything the night before rushed back, and I groaned. The argument, me leaving, and then getting lost in the woods . . .
Trying to banish the thoughts, I rolled over - onto cold stone. Who put that there? I thought blearily. I opened my eyes, and sat bolt upright with a gasp.
The floor was stone. I was in a room.
I looked around, feeling close to panic. There were no windows. I got up and ran over to the door. It was locked.
Where was I? What had happened? How had I gotten here? And where was Ted? Questions whirled in my mind.
As I pondered these questions, I heard the sound of a bolt being pulled aside, the sound of a key in a lock, and then the door creaking slowly open.
A guy peered through the crack. Seeing me awake, he grunted, "Good. Finally you're awake. Come with me. My lord wants to see you."
I felt a rush of relief. Any lord would probably recognize me and help to send me back to the palace, where I belonged. I could leave this place behind - leave everything behind. Any lord would help . . . except one.
"You should feel honored that Lord Donovan is very eager to meet you," the guard smirked.
My heart sank. The very one who wouldn't help me was the one I was stuck with. Wonderful. How exactly had I gotten myself into THIS mess?
"Come ON." The guard (I supposed he was a guard) said impatiently.
I decided not to flood the guard with the millions of questions I needed to ask. I would ask the boss. I doubted the guard knew anything about his boss' diabolical plans, anyway.
With as much dignity as I could muster, I stalked out of the room and followed the guard.
We went up a long flight of stone stairs. Then, we walked through a long, narrow hallway, took a turn, and walked some more. Then we went up another flight of stairs. Finally, we emerged in a warm, lit corridor. The guard strode purposely through the hallway, up to a room and knocked twice.
"Come in," said a cold, hard voice.
The guard now looked nervous. He opened the door, bowed into the room, and said, "May I present to my lord Princess Lela."
I was shocked. How had he known my identity?
There was no time to ask him. He stepped aside and held the door for me. I stepped inside the room and looked around.
The room was richly furnished, with plush red velvet draping and silken tapestries. The carpet was soft and deep, and there were carved chairs and table, and a fireplace decorated with designs and pictures, all carved into the smooth wood.
Before the fire sat a man, with a dark beard and dark hair, shrewd, piercing black eyes, and a scrutinizing glare. He was, as Ted had said before, sinister looking. He was also dressed richly in robes of gold and purple velvet, a fact which I noticed almost immediately. He stood and walked over to me. When he stood, he seemed to tower above me; he was tall.
"Well met, Princess," he said quietly. His tone was polite, but his voice icy cold.
"I wish I could say the same." I replied equally coolly. "Lord Donovan."
The corners of his mouth quirked into a small smile. "Ah. So you've realized that your status is nothing here?"
I hated to admit that I was powerless. My title had always meant power. "I have other ways than status to get what I want." I answered politely but coldly.
He regarded me for a minute. "I think we have to talk." He said after a while.
"I should think so. Nice furnishings. I see you also have Agulen carvings." I nodded to a few beautiful carvings on the mantelpiece. I sat down on a comfortable velvet chair that he held out for me. I didn't trust him, but I wanted to appear relaxed and unsuspicious and gossipy. The typical princess attitude.
He nodded agreement, and then seated himself across from me. Leaning forward, he said, "So. Did you know that at this very moment, the lives of the rest of your family are at stake?"
"It appears to be so. Treacherous people have been plotting against them." I said, as formally as possible.
He grinned, reminding me of a wolf baring its teeth. "Exactly. But since I'm going to give you an alternative . . ."
"Which would be . . ." I was definitely suspicious now.
"For them to abdicate the throne."
"My parents would never do that!"
"Even if your life is at stake?"
"Even if." I responded, though I wasn't all that sure anymore.
"What if YOU asked them to?"
"Why would I ever?" I asked, scandalized. "I would never ask them to do such a thing!"
"Even if someone else's life was at stake? Someone close to you?"
I was silent. Did he mean what I thought? Where WAS Ted, anyway?
Seeing my hesitation, he smiled. "Guard!" he called loudly. A different guard poked his head into the door. "Yes, my lord?"
"Bring up the prisoner."
I was completely nonplussed. Did he mean Ted? Had he gotten caught too? Now it would really be all my fault. I would be responsible for everyone's death - James, Ted, my family.
The guard came back up, huffing and dragging someone along.
I didn't want to look up, to meet Ted's accusing glare. To see how I had failed in everything and gotten everyone in trouble. But I heard someone say, "Lela?" The voice didn't sound angry or accusing, but rather, astonished.
My heart gave a painful thump. Slowly, I looked up. My eyes widened. It couldn't be. It wasn't possible . . .
He wasn't dead?
James stood before me.
And he wasn't dead.
He was alive . . .
*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*
A/n: Yay! He's alive!! For those who are wondering, I killed James too early, I just realized that. And besides, it was so sad having him dead *sob*. Okay, so James is back to life. And now, Lela's going to have to choose between Ted and James. You have to have romances in these fanfics! So . . . now I'm asking all my readers to vote . . . Lela/Ted or Lela/James? Maybe I'll kill off the one who isn't voted . . . *evil chuckle* I'm just kidding. Vote, please! And to do that, you have to press the little purplish-blue button that says, "Submit Review" . . . thanks everyone!!