dorkeegirl168 ~ LoL, u have a point. Thnx 4 reviewing and voting!
Amanda ~ Thnx 4 voting & glad u luv the story!
Aviastar ~ Hehe, yeah, they probably would . . .
babyjayy ~ Okay . . . so, back from the dead. Maybe Ted gets spotlight, but who r u voting 4?
Kari Kaiba ~ Thankies! Luved the review! Hmmm, is it just me, or did so many more pplz like that chapter than my others? *looks indignant* LoL. Thnx anyways! Luv ya!
Sheba, Queen of ~ Omg, I'm surprised at how many pplz actually like James, considering the fact that no one seemed all that much to mind when he was dead . . . LoL, I'm not killing James off again. I like him a lot 2 . . . Lela? Innocent? LoL, Lela's like Ella, she's way too rebellious to act innocent!! But thank u sooo much 4 ur review ~ I'll keep ur useful tips in mind! Thnx!
Stormcloud ~ Thank you 4 taking time to review each chapter! You rock! I really enjoyed ur reviews!
luv*a*lot ~ Wow, thnx! Ur review was so . . . uplifting! I'm sooo happy that pplz like my story! Oh, BTW, ur story was GREAT!! Don't forget to update it . . . Yay! U like my writing style! *does a little dance* Sorry, I'm hyper . . . Hmmm; u forgot to vote . . . oh well.
Alcapacien ~ Aww, you didn't really think I would kill off one of the main characters, did you? Well, he's back to life. And I can't wait to see what my reviewers chose for Lela, either. LoL. Enjoy!
Kassi of Pirate's Swoop ~ Thank you sooo so much, I really loved ur review!! *beams and dances around* that's just so nice!!! I'm gonna cry . . . that review totally made my rainy, snowy, gloom-filled day bright!! Thank you!
WingedWanderess ~ Cool! Another person . . . *makes a tally mark* LoL . . . ok, I ran out of smart or funny or creative or interesting things to say, so I'll leave it at that. Enjoy this chapter!
Gothamin ~ Hmm, another vote for them?? Okay . . . don't worry; maybe ur vote will come true!! We'll see . . .
Darkangle4056 ~ Thank you and I will!!
*****
A/N: WOW!!! You guys are AWESOME; I got sooo many reviews last chapter!! Ur all the best *hands out virtual candies* ~ that was my most reviewed chapter ever! And . . . It's a snow day! No school! I'm hoping to write out a lot of chapters today . . . please R&R this chapter! Luv ya!
*~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~*
Unable to say anything, my heart pounding, I looked towards Lord Donovan.
"So?" he asked, with a wide smile on his face. He knew my answer.
But I wasn't giving him an answer. I wasn't sure what to do. I was too amazed to see James alive again.
James must have realized what I was feeling, because he said softly, "I'm real, Lela. I didn't die . . . I thought I would, but I didn't."
Sobbing, I flew across the room and grabbed him a hug. He responded equally warmly.
"Never, ever do that again." I scolded. "I was so sad . . . I thought you were really gone . . ."
"You blamed yourself, didn't you?" James asked.
"Of course I did!" I said indignantly. "It would have been my fault if you died."
"Aww, really, that is so sweet, but I'm afraid I must interrupt the happy reunion." Lord Donovan said in a sugary voice.
James glared at him defiantly. "You just had to ruin everything." He spat.
"Now, now. Is that the gratitude I receive for saving your pathetic life?"
"Do you expect gratitude from every one of your prisoners?" James retorted.
"When I get home, I'm making sure you're stripped of all your land and riches." I muttered under my breath at Lord Donovan.
"Oh really? But did you consider the fact that you might not ever get home?" He smirked.
I glowered at the obvious threat.
"But you can. And everyone will be perfectly fine. All you have to do is persuade your parents to abdicate their throne. Its easy enough." he coaxed.
"And let you take rule?! I think not!"
"Oh, I won't be taking rule. I'm only but a servant of the glorified Queen Maydria." Lord Donovan said, surprising me. "She will become Queen."
"Who IS this Maydria, anyway?" I asked, partially stalling for time and part because I was curious to know who had such power over a lord.
"She is all-powerful. A fairy, cast out in disgrace from her race, because she used her power for bad."
"Lucinda used big magic too." I objected, interrupting him. "She gave spells of obedience, and turned people into squirrels! She wasn't cast out."
"But did Lucinda use magic to kill off entire clans of elves and gnomes, because she got a little angry?" the lord countered.
"N-no. Maydria did that?" I asked, stunned that someone could kill off such friendly races without another thought.
"Not only that. Queen Maydria cast spells on the ogres. They once didn't eat humans. They were ugly, but a peaceful race. Maydria befriended them, and persuaded them that if they ate humans, they would become as beautiful as humans were. She gave them powers, like the power of persuasion, and swiftness. She rules all of the ogre tribes now."
"I didn't need to know that." I said, making a face.
"Just give me an answer." He said impatiently. "I want you to write to your parents, the king and queen of Kyrria, and tell them to abdicate their throne, or else!"
"What's going on?" James demanded, looking from me to the lord, confused and lost.
"Nothing but - James, he wants me to tell my parents to abdicate the throne!"
"You wouldn't." he said, staring at me, horrified.
"I don't know anymore. I don't know what to do. Everything I do is wrong. Ted's probably looking for me now, because I got lost in the woods because we had an argument because he said he killed someone and I thought it was you but you're alive so I got mad at Ted for nothing and then I got lost but I forgot and left everything behind -" Everything came tumbling out of my mouth, mixed up and jumbled together.
"Okay, Lela, slow down please. I'm really lost." James admitted. "And, talking about Ted, where did you say he was?"
I shook my head. I didn't want Lord Donovan to know. "He's in the village." I said loudly, so that he could hear.
But he shook his head. "I know where he is. You don't have to try and fool me, Princess."
I winced. I still hated that title. "Where is he then?" I challenged.
"Right here," said a voice from the doorway.
I turned in shock. Ted couldn't be here too! But he was, and to make things worse, was being followed by two guards.
Lord Donovan turned also, and said smoothly, "Theodore Lexian Mildred. How nice to see you at last." He grinned evilly. "Do you remember me?"
Ted stared at him in part shock, part revulsion. "No."
"Oh, well, that's too bad. I was hoping you'd at least remember your parents' arch enemy."
"What?!"
"Oh, yes," Lord Donovan said, with the air of someone who is telling a great secret. "We were rivals. I hated them, and they hated me. They probably still do."
"They're dead." Ted said viciously. "They can't STILL hate you, they're way past that."
"Oh . . . of course," the lord said, his smile widening. "Did anyone tell you how they died?"
"Nobles killed them." Ted said flatly. "But that was a lie."
"Oh, do you really think so?" Lord Donovan said with uncontained glee. "I started that rumor myself, just so you know. I never thought you'd actually believe the fact that you were a thief. Imagine!" He laughed at a joke that only he understood.
"Imagine WHAT, exactly?" Ted said, fuming.
"The fact that the son of the most prominent noble of Kyrria, thought that his parents were thieves!"
Well, I thought to myself, put it that way and it would sound stupid.
"They - they really . . ." Ted stammered.
I guessed he hadn't believed James and me when we told him that he was a noble, before.
"Yes, they were. Would you like to know your past?"
Ted glared. "How much do you know of MY past?"
"Oh, almost all," was the easy reply. I could tell it totally stumped Ted.
"Well, let's see . . ." Lord Donovan said thoughtfully. "Your parents were nobles, Lord Edward de Mildred of Bast, and Lady Julia Rosanna Lenore of Bast. They were spies for the King and Queen of Kyrria, and loyal to the Kyrrian throne."
I tensed. I was on pretty thin ice here. James noticed, but didn't say anything. He, too, was interested in what Lord Donovan had to say.
"Well, they worked undercover, and helped to rid Kyrria of many bandits and ogre clans. Then, the king gave them another mission, to find a renowned bandit. His group of outlaws and bandits had been stealing, murdering, and terrifying villagers for several years. His name, of course, was Erik."
"The guy you were talking to about Lela and Ted." James stated, comprehension dawning on his face. "Black leather guy."
Lord Donovan nodded, pleased. "Of course, I found out, being a well-known noble, and I warned him. I even let him and his groups stay in my mansion as the knights and other people searched all over for them. He owed me then, but I told him that as long as he followed Queen Maydria, he wouldn't owe me. And, of course, as soon as he met Maydria, Maydria put a spell on him, so he would follow her orders forever."
"What does this have to do with my parents?" Ted prompted, interested despite himself.
"I was getting to that. They, of course, searched for Erik. And of course, they didn't find him. Well, one day, they found out, from someone, I still don't know who, that I was the one who was hiding them. They publicly accused me, and that's where our first hatreds started."
He leaned back, relaxed, while Ted fidgeted nervously, wanting to know the rest of the story.
"And then, the King and Queen issued an order for them to search my mansion. They of course, happily complied. What they didn't know, though, was that someone - someone in the palace - had heard the plans and warned me. So I set a trap for them."
"Who was the one who warned you?" I inquired. I didn't remember anyone who seemed suspicious in the palace. But then again, I wasn't even born yet then.
"Oh, he was found out and imprisoned. No one you would know." Lord Donovan said dismissively.
Ted shot an inquiring glance my way, but I avoided looking at him.
"What about the rest of the story?" James said.
"Oh, well, the nobles walked right into my little trap. Bye-bye nobles! And all because they were so eager to serve the wonderful king and queen." He gave me a wicked grin.
"Which - which king and queen?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
"Oh, King Charmont and Queen Ella, of course. You should know." He said, his eyes dancing with malevolent glee.
I was shaking. All of a sudden, I remembered, that day, when we were in the cave, sharing stories . . .
*****Flashback*****
"Nobles killed my parents." Ted said viciously. "Maybe it was your parents that killed them!"
*****End of Flashback*****
Now I felt horrible. Could it have been - were my parents really tied in with the death of Ted's parents?
"How should she know?" Ted said, confused. "What's going on?"
Lord Donovan looked from me and James, to Ted. "You never told him!" he said in merriment that no one could fathom.
"Told me WHAT?" Ted said in a low and dangerous voice.
I closed my eyes. I really didn't want Ted to find out about my identity. I wished I could sink right through the floor.
"So many secrets from each other," said Lord Donovan in obvious enjoyment. He leaned towards Ted and said conspiratorially, "Why, you are standing in the presence of the Princess of Kyrria."
*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*
A/n: YAY! I've been waiting forever to write out this chapter, where Ted finally finds out Lela's identity!! So . . . how was it? Love it, hate it? Just press the little button thingy at the bottom that tells you to "Submit Review" . . . thankies to all!
Amanda ~ Thnx 4 voting & glad u luv the story!
Aviastar ~ Hehe, yeah, they probably would . . .
babyjayy ~ Okay . . . so, back from the dead. Maybe Ted gets spotlight, but who r u voting 4?
Kari Kaiba ~ Thankies! Luved the review! Hmmm, is it just me, or did so many more pplz like that chapter than my others? *looks indignant* LoL. Thnx anyways! Luv ya!
Sheba, Queen of ~ Omg, I'm surprised at how many pplz actually like James, considering the fact that no one seemed all that much to mind when he was dead . . . LoL, I'm not killing James off again. I like him a lot 2 . . . Lela? Innocent? LoL, Lela's like Ella, she's way too rebellious to act innocent!! But thank u sooo much 4 ur review ~ I'll keep ur useful tips in mind! Thnx!
Stormcloud ~ Thank you 4 taking time to review each chapter! You rock! I really enjoyed ur reviews!
luv*a*lot ~ Wow, thnx! Ur review was so . . . uplifting! I'm sooo happy that pplz like my story! Oh, BTW, ur story was GREAT!! Don't forget to update it . . . Yay! U like my writing style! *does a little dance* Sorry, I'm hyper . . . Hmmm; u forgot to vote . . . oh well.
Alcapacien ~ Aww, you didn't really think I would kill off one of the main characters, did you? Well, he's back to life. And I can't wait to see what my reviewers chose for Lela, either. LoL. Enjoy!
Kassi of Pirate's Swoop ~ Thank you sooo so much, I really loved ur review!! *beams and dances around* that's just so nice!!! I'm gonna cry . . . that review totally made my rainy, snowy, gloom-filled day bright!! Thank you!
WingedWanderess ~ Cool! Another person . . . *makes a tally mark* LoL . . . ok, I ran out of smart or funny or creative or interesting things to say, so I'll leave it at that. Enjoy this chapter!
Gothamin ~ Hmm, another vote for them?? Okay . . . don't worry; maybe ur vote will come true!! We'll see . . .
Darkangle4056 ~ Thank you and I will!!
*****
A/N: WOW!!! You guys are AWESOME; I got sooo many reviews last chapter!! Ur all the best *hands out virtual candies* ~ that was my most reviewed chapter ever! And . . . It's a snow day! No school! I'm hoping to write out a lot of chapters today . . . please R&R this chapter! Luv ya!
*~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~*
Unable to say anything, my heart pounding, I looked towards Lord Donovan.
"So?" he asked, with a wide smile on his face. He knew my answer.
But I wasn't giving him an answer. I wasn't sure what to do. I was too amazed to see James alive again.
James must have realized what I was feeling, because he said softly, "I'm real, Lela. I didn't die . . . I thought I would, but I didn't."
Sobbing, I flew across the room and grabbed him a hug. He responded equally warmly.
"Never, ever do that again." I scolded. "I was so sad . . . I thought you were really gone . . ."
"You blamed yourself, didn't you?" James asked.
"Of course I did!" I said indignantly. "It would have been my fault if you died."
"Aww, really, that is so sweet, but I'm afraid I must interrupt the happy reunion." Lord Donovan said in a sugary voice.
James glared at him defiantly. "You just had to ruin everything." He spat.
"Now, now. Is that the gratitude I receive for saving your pathetic life?"
"Do you expect gratitude from every one of your prisoners?" James retorted.
"When I get home, I'm making sure you're stripped of all your land and riches." I muttered under my breath at Lord Donovan.
"Oh really? But did you consider the fact that you might not ever get home?" He smirked.
I glowered at the obvious threat.
"But you can. And everyone will be perfectly fine. All you have to do is persuade your parents to abdicate their throne. Its easy enough." he coaxed.
"And let you take rule?! I think not!"
"Oh, I won't be taking rule. I'm only but a servant of the glorified Queen Maydria." Lord Donovan said, surprising me. "She will become Queen."
"Who IS this Maydria, anyway?" I asked, partially stalling for time and part because I was curious to know who had such power over a lord.
"She is all-powerful. A fairy, cast out in disgrace from her race, because she used her power for bad."
"Lucinda used big magic too." I objected, interrupting him. "She gave spells of obedience, and turned people into squirrels! She wasn't cast out."
"But did Lucinda use magic to kill off entire clans of elves and gnomes, because she got a little angry?" the lord countered.
"N-no. Maydria did that?" I asked, stunned that someone could kill off such friendly races without another thought.
"Not only that. Queen Maydria cast spells on the ogres. They once didn't eat humans. They were ugly, but a peaceful race. Maydria befriended them, and persuaded them that if they ate humans, they would become as beautiful as humans were. She gave them powers, like the power of persuasion, and swiftness. She rules all of the ogre tribes now."
"I didn't need to know that." I said, making a face.
"Just give me an answer." He said impatiently. "I want you to write to your parents, the king and queen of Kyrria, and tell them to abdicate their throne, or else!"
"What's going on?" James demanded, looking from me to the lord, confused and lost.
"Nothing but - James, he wants me to tell my parents to abdicate the throne!"
"You wouldn't." he said, staring at me, horrified.
"I don't know anymore. I don't know what to do. Everything I do is wrong. Ted's probably looking for me now, because I got lost in the woods because we had an argument because he said he killed someone and I thought it was you but you're alive so I got mad at Ted for nothing and then I got lost but I forgot and left everything behind -" Everything came tumbling out of my mouth, mixed up and jumbled together.
"Okay, Lela, slow down please. I'm really lost." James admitted. "And, talking about Ted, where did you say he was?"
I shook my head. I didn't want Lord Donovan to know. "He's in the village." I said loudly, so that he could hear.
But he shook his head. "I know where he is. You don't have to try and fool me, Princess."
I winced. I still hated that title. "Where is he then?" I challenged.
"Right here," said a voice from the doorway.
I turned in shock. Ted couldn't be here too! But he was, and to make things worse, was being followed by two guards.
Lord Donovan turned also, and said smoothly, "Theodore Lexian Mildred. How nice to see you at last." He grinned evilly. "Do you remember me?"
Ted stared at him in part shock, part revulsion. "No."
"Oh, well, that's too bad. I was hoping you'd at least remember your parents' arch enemy."
"What?!"
"Oh, yes," Lord Donovan said, with the air of someone who is telling a great secret. "We were rivals. I hated them, and they hated me. They probably still do."
"They're dead." Ted said viciously. "They can't STILL hate you, they're way past that."
"Oh . . . of course," the lord said, his smile widening. "Did anyone tell you how they died?"
"Nobles killed them." Ted said flatly. "But that was a lie."
"Oh, do you really think so?" Lord Donovan said with uncontained glee. "I started that rumor myself, just so you know. I never thought you'd actually believe the fact that you were a thief. Imagine!" He laughed at a joke that only he understood.
"Imagine WHAT, exactly?" Ted said, fuming.
"The fact that the son of the most prominent noble of Kyrria, thought that his parents were thieves!"
Well, I thought to myself, put it that way and it would sound stupid.
"They - they really . . ." Ted stammered.
I guessed he hadn't believed James and me when we told him that he was a noble, before.
"Yes, they were. Would you like to know your past?"
Ted glared. "How much do you know of MY past?"
"Oh, almost all," was the easy reply. I could tell it totally stumped Ted.
"Well, let's see . . ." Lord Donovan said thoughtfully. "Your parents were nobles, Lord Edward de Mildred of Bast, and Lady Julia Rosanna Lenore of Bast. They were spies for the King and Queen of Kyrria, and loyal to the Kyrrian throne."
I tensed. I was on pretty thin ice here. James noticed, but didn't say anything. He, too, was interested in what Lord Donovan had to say.
"Well, they worked undercover, and helped to rid Kyrria of many bandits and ogre clans. Then, the king gave them another mission, to find a renowned bandit. His group of outlaws and bandits had been stealing, murdering, and terrifying villagers for several years. His name, of course, was Erik."
"The guy you were talking to about Lela and Ted." James stated, comprehension dawning on his face. "Black leather guy."
Lord Donovan nodded, pleased. "Of course, I found out, being a well-known noble, and I warned him. I even let him and his groups stay in my mansion as the knights and other people searched all over for them. He owed me then, but I told him that as long as he followed Queen Maydria, he wouldn't owe me. And, of course, as soon as he met Maydria, Maydria put a spell on him, so he would follow her orders forever."
"What does this have to do with my parents?" Ted prompted, interested despite himself.
"I was getting to that. They, of course, searched for Erik. And of course, they didn't find him. Well, one day, they found out, from someone, I still don't know who, that I was the one who was hiding them. They publicly accused me, and that's where our first hatreds started."
He leaned back, relaxed, while Ted fidgeted nervously, wanting to know the rest of the story.
"And then, the King and Queen issued an order for them to search my mansion. They of course, happily complied. What they didn't know, though, was that someone - someone in the palace - had heard the plans and warned me. So I set a trap for them."
"Who was the one who warned you?" I inquired. I didn't remember anyone who seemed suspicious in the palace. But then again, I wasn't even born yet then.
"Oh, he was found out and imprisoned. No one you would know." Lord Donovan said dismissively.
Ted shot an inquiring glance my way, but I avoided looking at him.
"What about the rest of the story?" James said.
"Oh, well, the nobles walked right into my little trap. Bye-bye nobles! And all because they were so eager to serve the wonderful king and queen." He gave me a wicked grin.
"Which - which king and queen?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
"Oh, King Charmont and Queen Ella, of course. You should know." He said, his eyes dancing with malevolent glee.
I was shaking. All of a sudden, I remembered, that day, when we were in the cave, sharing stories . . .
*****Flashback*****
"Nobles killed my parents." Ted said viciously. "Maybe it was your parents that killed them!"
*****End of Flashback*****
Now I felt horrible. Could it have been - were my parents really tied in with the death of Ted's parents?
"How should she know?" Ted said, confused. "What's going on?"
Lord Donovan looked from me and James, to Ted. "You never told him!" he said in merriment that no one could fathom.
"Told me WHAT?" Ted said in a low and dangerous voice.
I closed my eyes. I really didn't want Ted to find out about my identity. I wished I could sink right through the floor.
"So many secrets from each other," said Lord Donovan in obvious enjoyment. He leaned towards Ted and said conspiratorially, "Why, you are standing in the presence of the Princess of Kyrria."
*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*_~_*
A/n: YAY! I've been waiting forever to write out this chapter, where Ted finally finds out Lela's identity!! So . . . how was it? Love it, hate it? Just press the little button thingy at the bottom that tells you to "Submit Review" . . . thankies to all!