A/n: A good chapter. Gets back to the Sleeping Beauty story. I'm also currently working on my newest Ellafic. Wouldn't you like to know what it's about!

Chapter Sixteen

It was growing cold and dark already, but I was unafraid. I stood in the center of the road, the gates to Frell in clear view behind me. A cold breeze whipped through my dark hair, and cut through the simple white dress I was wearing. The green shawl I had around my shoulders did about as much to protect me as my weapons, now no where in sight. I glanced calmly at the rustling bushes to my side. A pair of wide, green eyes pierced mine. I nodded. I heard it too. The horses.

Before I knew it, I saw the seven horses and their large riders coming towards me, carrying the banner of the burning Kyrrian crest. I felt my heart leap, and instinctively reached for my sword. But there was no belt about my waist, and no sword to protect me. This is how I wanted it.

As the horses grew closer, I noticed that the men riding atop them were not in full armor, but had no helmets on. This caught me off guard as they slowed to a stop in front of me.

"Move, girl," one of the cried. "Let us pass."

I remained where I was standing. "No," I replied simply.

"Are you brainless, lass?" another yelled. "Move!"

"No!" I cried. "I know what destruction you plan to bring to Kyrria. And I'm here to stop it."

I stared at the one in the center. His hair was long, a bit past his shoulders, and his face was pinched and worn. I knew he was the one in control. As I continued to stare at him, he got down from his horse and walked towards me. He placed both his hands on my shoulders and looked at me. As he lingered there, it took all of my power not to punch or kick him. Something within my wanted to injure this man.

"Well, men," he finally said. "We've got quite a surprise on our hands."

"What is it, Captain?" they called.

"The Princess of Kyrria herself," he replied smartly. "Isn't that right?"

I curtsied as deeply as I could. "Crown Princess Nora Rose, gentlemen," I said. "At your service."

"At our service?" the Captain said.

I laughed. "You wish," I replied. "What gave you that idea?"

"You said 'at your service,'" he explained.

"No, I didn't," I retorted.

"Yes, you did."

"No, I didn't. I think I'd remember what I said."

I had no idea what I was doing. But as I watched the Captain's face grow red, I developed a plan in my head. Irritation.

"Well, Princess, I think you'll be pleased to know that the Fairy Lucinda wishes for your presence at her castle," the Captain said, wrenching my arms behind my back and tying them with a piece of crude rope.

"Oh, goody," I replied. "I've always wanted to meet Lucinda."

The men laughed. "She's always wanted to see you again," he replied. "I'm Captain Marcellus."

"Why?" I asked. "She's met me before?"

He nodded, mounting his horse. "Come up," he replied.

I laughed. "Look at my hands," I said. "Do you think I can get myself up like this?"

He heaved a sigh and leaned over to pull me up. I offered no help, almost struggling to keep myself on the ground. Finally he called two other knights down and they pushed me up behind him, sidesaddle. Once they were finally settled back onto their horses, I "accidentally" slid off again.

"Damn you, Princess!" Marcellus cried.

I pouted. "It's not my fault I can't stay on, Captain!" I retorted.

It took another five or six minutes to get me back upon the horse, sidesaddle, with my ankles tied together but my hands free. It was almost laughable. It was quite a task, not laughing. The Oderians may be amazing knights, but they certainly lacked common sense.

Just as the sunset faded, we rode off to Lucinda's castle. It wasn't very far away, at all. On the contrary, it took less than an hour to get there. It was very daunting, made of dark stone. It seemed gnarled and chilling, covered in weedy vines and dimly lit. I immediately felt fearful about going into it. However, I hoped my big mouth would save me.

Captain Marcellus and his men rode straight into the castle, over the moat and throw the drawbridge. They dismounted their horses and handed their reigns to awaiting servants.

"Come," Marcellus barked, beckoning for me.

I gestured towards my feet. "Easier said than done, Captain M," I replied.

He groaned and knelt down next to me, untying my feet. "There," he said when he'd finished. "You certainly are a helpless princess. And don't call me Captain M."

"Got it, Marcie," I replied. "Where are we going now?"

His face grew red. "To see Lady Lucinda, Princess," he stammered, plastering a fake smile on his face.

"Of course!" I cried as we started walking. "I've been meaning to ask her what her qualm with my parents is."

Captain Marcellus laughed. "I think you'll find that out," he replied.

He pushed through a set of heavy double doors, which opened into a large hall, drafty and shadowed. At the far end of the hall sat a woman, a very attractive woman, dressed in lilac. Above her hung the banner the Oderians had carried- the Kyrrian crest in flames.

Captain Marcellus announced, "My Lady, may I present to you-"

"Princess Eleanor Daria Marguerite Cecilia Rose," I cried, walking towards Lucinda and curtsying with flourish. "But I suppose you can call me Princess Nora Rose."

She rose, and I got a better look at her. Her hair was dark like mine, but straight, and peppered with gray streaks. Her skin was dark but not aged or blemished, and hr eyes black and cold. She smiled at me strangely.

"An honor, Princess," she said, holding her hand out. "I am Lucinda."

I bit my tongue to keep from spitting on her hand. Instead, I ignored it. "I assumed you'd be," I replied.

"Princess," she said, "do you know why you're here?"

I shook my head. "No," I said innocently, with a hint of sarcasm. "Why?"

Lucinda laughed. "Well, my dear Princess, you're cursed," she explained.

"Are you lying to me, Lady?" I asked.

"No," she replied, someone shocked. "No, I'm not. You are cursed."

"No, I'm not," I protested. "You must be thinking of someone else."

"Yes, you are," she replied. "I cursed you."

"No, you didn't."

"Yes, I did."

"No, Lady, I think you're wrong."

"No, I'm not!" she screamed. "You are cursed!"

I laughed. "Well of course I am!" I cried. "Why would I be here if I wasn't?"

"Exactly," she replied, irritating.

"So why are you saying I wasn't cursed?" I asked, looking confused. This was becoming fun.

She got red. "I wasn't," she said through gritted teeth. "You were."

I shook my head. "No, I wasn't," I replied. "You were."

Her face got redder and redder, until finally she burst into a scream. A cloud of smoke went up around her as her scream got quieter. I kept my smile on the inside. I knew exactly what I was doing. When the smoke had cleared, it revealed a very different Lucinda. Her hair was frizzy and gray, her face creased and old, and a large mole glared at me from her upper lip.

"Listen to me, you spoiled little Princess," she cried, taking me firmly by the arm. "I don't know what kind of game you're playing, but I do know that you're going to regret it. You could irritate me all day, but it doesn't matter, because soon your mommy and daddy will be dead, as well as all of your little friends and your blessed aunts. And you'll be stuck here, asleep. And there's not a damned thing you can do about it."

She threw me to the ground and began laughing, but stopped abruptly when my laughs began to mingle with hers. "What in the Lady's name is so funny, girl?" she spat.

"You," I said, conviction filling me. "You think you are so clever, Lady. Well, you're wrong. My 'little friends' are currently on their way to the Frellian Castle, to alert my 'mommy and daddy' of you and your little scheme. They're they most bright and cunning group of people in Kyrria, so if I were you, I'd be a bit more afraid. And my aunts? They're already in Frell as well, advising the king and queen. So, Lucinda, what conclusion have we arrived at? Oh, yes. You may have the Princess, but you haven't got the force to back it up. And I would rather sleep for one hundred years than see Kyrria in your hands!"

She sneered. "We could make that happen, my dear princess," she replied, looking at Captain Marcellus. "Have you forgotten so soon? Your birthday is tomorrow."

Dread filled me. She was right. I was to turn sixteen tomorrow. "S-so?" I stammered. "Its less than a problem."

"How the tables have turned, Nora Rose!" she cried. "Do I sense fear in your voice."

Suddenly, Sam's voice filled my head, recalling the night before last. "The Lady is on our side, and that the tables aren't turned against us."

I glared gallantly at Lucinda. "No," I replied. "But I do sense fear in yours."

She gasped. "Get this girl out of my sight," she spat, scowling.

Two guards ran up behind me, taking me by the arms and dragging me out of the hall. "The Lady is on my side, Lucinda!" I screamed, echoing my voice throughout the hall. "You can't win! You can't, you can't, you can't!"

"Take her to the tower!" she shrieked. "With a spindle…it's bound to happen sometime!"

A/n: A bit short, but that was a fun chapter to write. Review!!