A/N: i've always figured there has to be one of "these" scenes in any Ella Enchanted story (you'll know what i mean when you read this chapter.) thanx to Duchess Strawberry, my friend from my old town for her awesome review, and to amec05 for their awesome review as well. ttfn and hope u like chapter 6!

Chapter 6

When we reached the stables, we were, once again, trying to catch our breath. When we were breathing normally, we went and tacked up our horses. Tess, my dapple-gray pony, was very spirited and only listened to me (on a good day), and began the ride with a bad start because she was spooked by a raven. Jem and I cantered out into the bush and quickly found a trail.

We were walking down the trail, our horses sweating from the canter.

"Why were you on your way to Ayortha, and why didn't you tell me you're going to rule it someday?"

"Well, I would have, only I just found out myself that day you found me in the woods."

I gaped at him. Not knowing you were royalty and then suddenly finding out has got to be worse than growing up with it all.

"I'm sorry," I whispered.

"For what? It's not your fault," he said bitterly. "It's...nevermind."

"So, why were you travelling alone? If you're the prince and all, shouldn't you have guards and that?"

"I would, but my "aunts and grandmother" can't afford much more than a horse, and I'm supposed to be undercover, which I totally blew back at the inn."

SNAP

A twig snapped behind us and echoed through the silent forest. We turned and looked right into the eyes of six ogres. I was scared stiff. They went for Jem first. Grabbing him, they whacked him smartly over the head with a club. I screamed as I watched him slump off his horse and fall to the ground. The ogres then turned to me. Grasping my arms tightly, I struggled against them. Seconds later I was unconscious.

I woke up a few hours later with my head feeling ready to burst. I glanced around the ogre's campsite. Jem was slumped against a tree, eyes half open. I panicked, but then watched his chest rise and fall. He was alive.

A boulder landed not even a foot away from me. Shrieking, I jumped to my feet. My head pounded with the sudden movement. Jem's eyes snapped open and I ran/crawled over to him. The pain in my head was tremendous.

"I thought you were dead," he whispered.

"Well, who wants to go first?" a fat, tall ogre called down to us from high above.

Jem moved infront of me, glaring at the monster.

"Right then," the ogre laughed. His voice changed, was suddenly persuasive. "Red, if I could just get you to place your head on this soft, comfortable stump..."

Jem began to rise.

"No! You're..." I stuttered in Ogrese. "You're too full to eat," I said, coating my voice with honey and oil the way mother had taught me.

They stopped for a moment. Jem noticed what I was doing and plugged his ears.

"You've just eaten nine courses of delicious elf necks and fat ladies. You'll just cause yourselves indigestion by eating us."

They all looked dazed and happy. One even sat down. It was working!

"All of you, lie down and sleep off that huge meal." I commanded gently. They all sank to the ground, snoring loudly.

"Let's go!" I mouthed to Jem. He nodded and we ran from the clearing.