I have this chapter done a day early, so here it is!

TrudiRose: Thank you very much! I'm so glad you like it. If you want to know the honest truth, I actually was about halfway through that scene when I was like, "Hey! This scene's in the Disney movie too!' so I guess it all worked out in the end, eh? Yeah, I didn't want the story to be 'they met, they fell in love, the end' so I tried to add another element.

EreshkigalGirl: Yes. Yes it does. :c)

stubble96: Well, she's a little embarassed about it. Plus, she is trying to hid from her sister, and to say that she's under a curse she'd have to also reveal that she's a princess, and she doesn't really want to do that. But don't worry, Robbie'll find out.... Eventually.

Lollipop5: I think Chemistry has been the hardest element in this story. I'm trying to create this 'chemistry' without making it too creepy because Lia's old. :c/ Also, I hate it went things drag on forever, so I tend to have very abrupt writing. So I'm sorry if the love comes too quick.

Shards of Dawn: I loved the movie too! It was my second favourite movie as a kid. (My first was Aladdin). I watched it every other day. (Except for the part where the Beast finds Belle's father in his chair. I always fast forwarded that part because it scared me :c(

Black Sheep Alone: I didn't really want to expand on those two years because basically, Lia lives alone, except when Lark visits, she heals some people, and gets a reputation for good veggies. Plus, I really wanted to introduce Robbie. XcD

Yay! Emotions! Oo! Cliffhanger!

See you next update!

-Lulai

Chapter Seven: A Faerie Visit

"Do you have any Floden?" Robbie asked, stirring the soup for dinner. He held out his other hand, not taking his eyes off the bubbling soup.

"Here," said a voice that definitely wasn't Lia's. Instinctively, Robbie whirled around, brandishing his soup spoon.

"No need for violence, young man!" the man said, holding his hands up in front of him, laughing. The man pushed back his hood to show a young face surrounded by flowing blonde hair. His eyes were the lightest blue Robbie had ever seen.

Robbie lowered his spoon sheepishly and took the proffered Floden.

"Who are you?" he asked curiously.

"Don't you recognize me?" the man grinned. "I met you almost a week ago."

Robbie looked at him closely. Then he knew. "You're the man who brought that note about my brother!" he exclaimed.

"Ah! Correct!" the man laughed, clapping his hands together. "And what would your name be?"

"Lark!" Lia called before Robbie could answer. "I haven't seen you in almost a week!" She had a streak of dirt across her forehead, which was creased in a deep frown. She placed her hands on her hips and glared at Lark. "Where have you been?"

"Oh, here and there," he said. Suddenly, his face went sombre. "I need to talk to you, Lia," he said without a trace of his normally laughing voice.

Lia nodded, her hands dropping from her hips. "Watch that soup, Robbie. I'll be but a moment."

Robbie turned back to the soup and added the Floden, but couldn't help but look at the door which Lark? and Lia had gone through. What were they talking about? What was Lark's connection to Lia? He forcibly tore his eyes off the door. It wasn't like Lark was Lia's lover or anything.

Robbie couldn't explain it, but a deep anger grew deep inside him at the thought of Lia with a lover. He shook his head to dispel the feelings. It wasn't like it was any of his business.

It was just that Lia was a good friend, possibly the best friend he had ever had, and he didn't want her to get hurt. During their talks, he had told her things that he wouldn't tell another soul. He had watched her heal people, from the sick of body, with her herbs, to the sick of heart, with her advice. During it all, Robbie had been beside her. Sometimes, they seemed to work like one unit with one mind. They laughed about the same things, and discussed story after story that they read together before the fire. All in all, they had grown quite close in the past week.

Robbie continued to muse about Lia over the bubbling pot of soup.

"What is it, Lark?" Lia asked as soon as she had closed the door to the library.

"I'm afraid I have some bad news," Lark said severely.

"How much worse can it get?" Lia laughed bitterly. She stood on the stood and reached above the shelf to get the vase that was hidden behind a large dictionary. She stepped back down.

"I have only one petal left on my rose," she said sadly, holding the vase up for him to examine. "I doubt anything that you say can make me feel more upset than I am right now."

"Well," Lark , "your sister has found this place. I'm afraid she might try to come after you."

"Let her come," she said putting the rose on the table. She collapsed into a chair feeling frustrated, angry, and simply tired. "I don't care. My sister's taxing the entire population into starvation, in a few days, I'm going to permanently be an old woman, and I might love a man whom I can never be with." After the words tumbled from her lips, Lia realized what she had said, and her hands flew up to cover her mouth.

Lark was taken aback. "That boy out there?"

"Robbie's not a boy," Lia said without thinking. Her mind was numb again. Did she love Robbie? She had barely known him more than a week. However, she had shared things during that week that hadn't even told her nursemaid. He had become a daily part of her life until she couldn't imagine her life without him. She felt as if he knew her down to the bones, except... he didn't. Not while she was still under the curse.

"Lia," Lark said, leaning down in front of her. "Do you love him?"

"I don't know," she whispered. "I've only known him a week. Surely that's not enough time..."

"That's plenty of time," Lark said, leaning back and smiling.

"But," Lia said, feeling dangerously close to tears. She fought them back; she hadn't cried over her condition since the night that Lark had found her on the street. "But... how can I love him if he doesn't love me back?"

Lark shook his head. "Sometimes, the heart is smarter than the mind." His face grew serious again. "I would suggest you leave this cottage before the mob arrives. They might burn you at the stake."

Lia nodded, tears beginning to fall from her eyes.

Lark wiped them with the edge of his cloak. Then he took her hand and squeezed it tightly. "I'll leave you a moment to collect yourself." Lia nodded, mopping up the tears with the back of her free hand.

"Robbie?"

Robbie jerked back at the sound of Lark's voice.

"Yes?" he answered, standing up.

Without his smile, Lark looked older, serious. He reached into his cloak and pulled out a bright sword in a beautiful leather sheath.

"Here," he said, handing the sword over to Robbie, who took it carefully. "Use this to protect yourself."

"But I have no skill at all with a sword," Robbie protested, holding the sword out in front of him.

"This sword is special," Lark said. "If the wearer is Good and True, the sword will hit its mark every time."

Robbie's brow furrowed as he thought about it.

Lark broke into a grin. "Don't think so much," he said to Robbie. "Sometimes this," he poked him in the chest, "is smarter than this," he said tapping him on the forehead.

Robbie eyebrows lifted in confusion, but he nodded anyways and strapped the sword onto his belt.

"I will do my best," he swore solemnly as he walked Lark to the door.

Robbie stood in the doorframe and watched Lark disappear into the woods. But what he saw when he turned do go back into the house chilled his blood.

Off in the distance, down the path, were the distinctive pinpricks of torches. And below those, he knew, was a mob that would threaten both their lives.