A/n: A small change of pace. Hope you like; I think it's quite interesting, actually! By the way, I've noticed a few Ella/Sleeping Beauty fics, like mine. I had no idea an of them were being written, and I wish their authors all the best. Also, I noticed a few Daria/Jerrold fics too, right after I finished mine. Am I a trendsetter, or what? Just kidding.

Chapter Six

Ophelia sat on Quickstep, nervous. Nora Rose hadn't come home last night, and she was filled with anxiety over it. What if she's hurt? What if she's been captured? Stop it, she told herself. There's no need to play the 'what if' game. She's fine. Ophelia felt almost dazed; time had moved so quickly. Was it just a few days ago that she had been sitting on the streets of March, begging? Now she was in the forest traveling to Frell to save a king and queen. With a prince. Who would have thought?

"Are you okay, Ophelia?" Sidney suddenly asked. "You seem somewhat bemused."

She nodded. "I'm fine," she said. "I'm just worried about Nora."

"She'll be fine," replied Sidney. "I've known Nora Rose for a long time, and she can defend herself very well."

"If you say so," Ophelia said. "Shouldn't we be going?"

Sidney nodded. "Yes, we should," he said. "Are you all packed up?"

Ophelia nodded, and began to trot off. Sidney mounted his horse and followed after her. They galloped through the woods for a while, and then slowed to a stop where they began to talk.

"What's it like?" Ophelia asked. "Growing up as a prince?"

Sidney paused. "Honestly? It was good. I always had what I wanted, when I wanted it. Lucky for me, though, I didn't have to learn how to be king. That was my older brother, Ronald's job," he replied. "I'm not going to lie to you and say how much I hated it, or how it's a lot harder than people think, because it's really not. I can't really compare it to anything else. It's all I've known."

Ophelia laughed. "I see," she said. "So you did enjoy it?"

"Yes," replied Sidney. "I did. Not to sound arrogant, but I have a good life and I enjoyed it. But what about you? What's your life like?"

Ophelia snorted. "I really don't have much of a life. My parents were killed on a journey to Frell a little over a year ago. My brothers, Cedric and Simon, and I were left on the streets to beg and steal to get what we need. A few months ago, we found an abandoned baby. We called her Eva, and we made a family," Ophelia explained. "It's nothing like your lavish life in Ayortha."

"I'm terribly sorry about your parents," Sidney said. "It must have been hard for you."

"It was…" she replied softly. "But I had Cedric and Simon-"

Suddenly, Ophelia's eyes closed and fell off her horse. She didn't hit the ground normally, but sort of rolled around until she was sitting cross-legged. Sidney stopped his horse and got down next to her. He touched her hand, and it was warm and seemed to be glowing.

"The one you've lost is safe, so fear not," Ophelia said in a wispy voice. "She will return to you in a short while, joined by others who will benefit your cause."

Her eyes opened and stared in horror at Sidney. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I-I should have told you."

Sidney sat across from her. "You're a seer!" he cried. "How remarkable!"

She shook her head. "No," she replied. "I'm not. I'm a medium; I communicate with the Lady. She sends me instructions."

"How long has this been happening?" asked Sidney, shocked.

"Since my parents died," replied Ophelia, pausing. "At least Nora Rose is safe. I'm assuming that's what the Lady meant. I don't always know though."

Sidney sighed. "I assume it can be useful?" he asked.

Ophelia laughed. "Only if you're going to save Kyrria with a forgotten princess and a handsome prince!" she replied.

Sidney laughed. "You know, Ophelia, for an eleven-year-old, that comment was quite flirtatious," he said. "Especially because I'm five years older than you."

Ophelia blushed. "I'm sorry," she said quietly. "I'm not trying to be coy."

Sidney cupped her chin in his hand and brushed his lips against hers. "Don't try to be," he whispered. "Your innocence humbles me."

"Sidney, no," Ophelia said, pulling away from him. "We can't do this. You're Nora Rose's true love."

He snorted. "Yes, of course," he said mockingly. "I've got to do everything for Nora Rose, all because of her stupid curse."

Ophelia stood up. "Sidney, don't be like that," she replied calmly. "Nora is your friend. You want to help her, don't you?"

"Yes, yes I do," Sidney said. "I love Nora Rose, I really do. But not in a passionate way. In more of a brotherly way. I could never imagine marrying her. And I want to help her, but I kind of want something out of it."

"Really?" Ophelia asked. "Like what?"

Sidney shrugged. "I don't know…" he replied.

Ophelia hugged him. "I'm sure you'll find what you're looking for, Sidney," she whispered.

They both moved back over to their horses and climbed on. At Sidney's signal, they both began riding again. Ophelia's thoughts were cluttered. She certainly liked Sidney, he was a great boy and she certainly enjoyed his company, but she was confused as to why he'd be interested in her. I'm just some poor girl, she thought. Why would prince be interested in me? She missed her siblings greatly. Why me, Lady, why?

Suddenly she grew very lightheaded. Somewhere in between her ears, a thundering erupted, louder than a thousand horses. Ophelia…someone whispered. Ophelia…come to me. In front of her eyes flickered an image of a beautiful woman, smiling and holding out her arms.

"Mother…" Ophelia whispered. "Mother!"

No, came a familiar voice within her head. Ophelia, resist. Please, please resist! Ophelia clenched her jaws, determined to obey the Lady. In her mind, she imagined an empty meadow, sunny and clear. She was in her imagined meadow, dancing. She was singing and dancing, alone. More! the Lady cried. More, my dearest! With a flash before her eyes, her lightheadedness was gone, and she was galloping away. Well done, Ophelia, the Lady whispered.

In front of her, Sidney was suffering as well. In his mind all he could think of was Ophelia's smiling face, her radiant hair, and her bubbly speech. Her musical laugh tinkled though his head. Struck by lightheadedness as well, a voice whispered to him, I could make her yours, Sidney. He closed his eyes. She could be yours…

Just as Ophelia had done earlier, Sidney rolled off his horse and onto the ground. He laid sprawled on the grass for a moment. Follow me, Sidney…the voice kept saying. Follow me. He opened his eyes and began walking towards the woods mechanically.

By now Ophelia had gotten off her horse and was running to him. "Sidney!!" she screamed. "Sidney, stop!"

She ran in front of him and put her hands on his shoulders. He pushed against her, as she looked into his eyes. They were dilated and glassy. Sidney pushed her to the ground and began walking towards the woods. Ophelia, tears in her eyes, stood up. I've got to stop him! She ran at him as fast as she could and tackled him around the knees. As they were untangling themselves from each other, Ophelia climbed on top of him and pinned him down.

"Sidney, please!" she cried. "What will make you stop?"

"Nothing," he said involuntarily. "Nothing will."

Ophelia took a deep breath. She knew what she had to do. "You have me," she said, and bent over, kissing him with as much passion as she can muster, denying to herself that she enjoyed it.

He instantly sat up, caked in a cold sweat. Ophelia fell backwards and looked up at him. He looked around, confused. "How…how did I get here?" he asked. "What are- why…oh, my head hurts!"

Ophelia stood up and offered him a hand. "You seemed to be possessed, Sidney," she explained. "You were walking toward the forest like a mad man, your eyes all glassy."

Sidney closed his eyes. "There…there was a woman speaking to me," he said softly. "She was telling me to come with her…to follow her."

"I know," replied Ophelia. "It happened to me a few moments ago as well."

Sidney suddenly shook his head and gave her a funny look. "Did you- kiss me?" he asked, laughing.

Ophelia shook her head. "No," she replied, smiling. "You wish!"

Ginny stood up again and began walking around the table. "This is wrong, this is wrong…" she repeated.

"Ginny, sit down," said Allegra. "You've nothing to worry about."

Ginny gaped at her. "Nothing?" she cried. "Nothing? What if Lucinda and these Oderians find her? What if she finds a spindle? What if… What if…"

Allegra nodded. "That's right, Ginny. It's just what if's. Nothing is going to happen to her," she said.

"Sit down, dearie," said Estelle, pulling out her seat.

"Do you think we should alert Ella and Char?" Ginny asked.

"Dear Mother, no," replied Estelle. "They've enough on their minds as it is, what with Nora's sixteenth birthday approaching."

"Okay, okay," Ginny replied, sitting down.

Allegra nodded. "Ginny, you have nothing to worry about," she said. "Even if Nora Rose does find her way to a spindle, at least we have a plan in place so we'll know how to handle the situation."

A/n: Okay, that was extremely bizarre, I know. Fear not, though, because I've got the explanation coming up soon!! By the way, I can't remember who corrected me about Eva's birth and Ophelia's parent's death. But as it was illustrated in this chapter, she's not really related to the three of them. There you go, an explanation!