July 12th

Dear Diary,

It's only one more day until the wedding, and everything is a disaster! It's been so hard to find everything for the ceremony, and Virginia and Wolf had just decided on where they wanted to actually get married! I'm letting them get married in the great hall of my castle. But it took them over a week to decide whether they wanted it here or in New York! They are the pickiest people I know! And, as much as Wolf loves food, he says that "everything has to be perfect" and he wants to "sweep Virginia off her feet." I think he's already done that since she plans on marrying him! But anyways, I hope everything goes well; if I knew that their wedding would be this hard to plan, I wouldn't have agreed to help them in the first place! At least Damien's here, he's making everything less painful for me. I really don't know what I'd be like if he weren't here helping me with this. Well, there's a crisis in the great hall, and I have to be the one to fix it!

Leora

"NO RICHARD! I said pink orchids not purple! You have to return those immediately and get the right color! James, what are you doing? The chairs are supposed to be facing the stairwell, not the corridor!" Leora hustled around the ballroom trying to keep things as organized and on schedule as much as she could, but everyone seemed to be making the task difficult for her.

She had been working for the past two weeks to make this wedding happen. Leora had promised she would make all the plans and arrangements for the happy couple, and in return, Wolf promised to have the food prepared. But, he was far from it, so she had to help in that situation as well.

"Lady Leora! Where do you want me to put the centerpiece?" One of her servants asked as he walked into the room carrying a large sculpture of a swan.

"Put it in the dining room Lawrence!" Leora told him. She checked her list that the centerpiece had arrived.

Looking at the slip of paper, she scrolled up and down the list with her quill not believing what she was seeing.

"I'm done! I have everything! Well, except the flowers, but everything else is here and taken care of! I did it! Wait! Oh no! The invitations! I forgot to send them!"

Suddenly, from over her head a hand grabbed her parchment and quill and pulled it back behind Leora. She turned around to find Damien holding it high above her, out of her reach.

"Hey! I need that!" She said struggling to grow six inches taller.

"Oh no you don't! And don't worry about the invitations, I've already sent them." He said going to the nearest window and throwing the list through it.

Gasping, Leora stood face to face with him, "How dare you barge into my castle and throw out my list for the wedding that I planned!"

"The wedding we planned! You've got to calm down; this wedding has turned you into a monster, and it's not until tomorrow! Now come on, there's something I want to show you!" He took her by the hand and they walked outside of the castle.

"Where are we going? Damien! Come on, I have to get back, everyone will be looking-"

But she stopped as soon as they came up to the lake. There was a beautiful baby blue quilt lying on the green grass that had a bouquet of flowers, with assorted foods and desserts on it.

Smiling hopefully Leora finished, "For me?"

"Yes for you! I thought you deserved this after all that hard work you did." He led her to their picnic under a gigantic oak tree right next to the bright blue water.

Leora wasted no time waiting to dig in. Damien did too, but watched her puzzled but intrigued.

"You know, I love the fact that you're both a lady and a slob!" He said before taking a bite out of his sandwich.

"As slub?" Leora muffled through the stuffed turkey rolling around in her mouth.

Damien laughed at her, and nodded, "Yes. What I mean is, you make a fine princess, always showing poise and a polite but truthful speech to everyone around you, looking beautiful in your royal gowns; and on the other hand, you manage to eat the things you like, and not care about what people may think of you. And when you aren't on royal duty, you dress casually like you say everyone in the 10th Kingdom dresses."

Leora looked down at the cargo pants and brown sweater she was wearing. She touched her hair and noticed it was the messy bun that she had tied up that morning.

"And you like both these things about me? Wouldn't you prefer me as a proper and prestige girl all of the time?"

Taking Leora's hands in his, Damien looked into her eyes deeply and earnestly. "Leora, I think you're perfect this way. Both of these sides of you are...you! You're not covering yourself up; you're being yourself wherever you are! That's why I love you."

Leora smiled and felt all warm and fuzzy inside. "How is it you always make me feel so good when everything else is so bad?"

The charming prince grinned at her, "It's just a gift." He said simply.

He leaned over and closed his eyes. Leora did the same and held her breath. But then out of no where, "Leora! Oh Leora! There's a problem in the kitchen! Leora!"

Leora immediately opened her eyes, ballistic that Wolf ruined their moment. She dropped Damien's hands, stood up, and stomped over to Wolf who was walking over to her looking completely burnt. He had obviously been helping with the cooking.

"Huff puff!" Leora grumbled as she went over to her brother.

"My sweet little sis, I may have messed things up in the kitchen!" He dusted himself off from the smoke he was earlier consumed in. Then, he looked past Leora and saw Damien still sitting in the grass.

"Damien! Good to see yo-" But before he could finish, Leora shoved Wolf.

"Ugh! Could you for once not screw everything up? Gosh!"

Once he realized what he had done, Wolf apologized, "Oh! Sorry sis! Didn't know I was interrupting, I'll get Virginia to help me with-"

"Oh no you won't! You've already screwed up too much! My date has already been destroyed! Come on, let's go take care of that kitchen!"

"But I-" He studdered.

"I insist!" Leora urged as she pushed Wolf up the grassy knoll to the castle. Leora looked back and mouthed "I'm sorry" to Damien. But he just smiled, and waved as they left his sight.

"Those two really need some sibling counseling!" He said as he began to clean up the picnic.

Darkness grew around the castle and things began to settle down. Many of the guests had already arrived and were staying in various quarters in the enormous castle. People were already starting to go to sleep, but were soon awakened by all the noises downstairs.

Both Wolf and Virginia were having their bachelor/bachelorette parties. They decided a few weeks ago when Virginia explained what this party was about. And Wolf was obviously interested in it! Perhaps too interested. That night, all the men were in one of the rooms on the main floor.

"Want some more Dami?" A sluggish Wolf asked the prince as he spilled a wine jug everywhere.

"No, I'm fine with my first goblet, thanks!" Damien answered as he looked at his full goblet that he hadn't touched since the party started. He didn't like drinking very much. He sighed as he sat miserably on the couch next to Tony.

"Hey Wendell, want some more wine?" And off Wolf went to bother with someone else.

"Finally, I thought he'd never leave!" The prince sighed as he set down his goblet.

He turned to Tony and asked him curiously, "How is it you're going to let that thing marry your daughter?" He pointed at Wolf. "I mean, I know he's nice and that he means well, but he and your daughter, they're so-"

"Different?" Tony asked.

"No. They're-"

"Unbearable to look at?"

"No!"

"Complete opposites?"

"Yes! Complete opposites! I mean, they come from diverse backgrounds, and the first time they met, they wouldn't stop arguing from what I hear."

"That's for sure!" Tony agreed.

"He's clumsy, a slob, overexcited, and he apparently tried to eat her grandmother!"

"Yeah." Tony replied, trying to hide his smile; he didn't like Virginia's grandmother very much.

"And out of all of this, Virginia loves him, because he saved her, and he's been there for her. Just like a friend would."

"Yeah, I guess that's true. You know what? You're right! Wolf my not be...well, Prince Charming!"

Damien grinned and Tony continued, "But he has taken care of her. I guess I should be nicer to him. After all, he is going to be my son-in-law!"

The prince pondered about the subject a little longer, and Tony finally came to a conclusion.

"Hey, thanks Prince Damien! You've helped make this a little easier for me!" He shook the boy's hand and stood up.

"Oh, you can call me Damien sir." He responded.

Tony nodded and said, "I think I'm going to talk to Wolf."

"Are you sure you're ready for that?"

"I think so. I haven't been very nice to him since we met, and I think I should do that, once in a while." So, Tony left the boy and went over to Wolf and Wendell.

But still, Damien sat and thought about it. 'Wolf and Virginia. They are opposites, and they wouldn't stop arguing when they first met. But, they complete each other. They're met for each other!'

And Damien stood up and slipped out of the room, outside to the balcony; lost in his thoughts.

"What's does it feel like? Being the most famous princess in all of the kingdoms? I mean, doesn't it bother you that everyone knows you?" Virginia eagerly asked the girl.

"Oh, Miss Virginia! I've dealt with this my entire life! I can't help that I was born into royalty! I mean, look at me? I'm simply irresistible!"

Virginia had been talking to Princess Reena from the 6th Kingdom. She is known for her long, perfect blonde hair and egotistical attitude. She is the descendent of Lady Repunzel. Many of the women at the party were listening to her jabber on as well; all of them were actually, except one.

Leora stood in the corner of the room silent. She had been over there, listening to their conversation for a while, but quickly lost interest in the topic of 'perfect hair' and 'the right amount of makeup needed.' Leora didn't see how Virginia and the other ladies could be interested in someone like that.

"Of course every prince in all of the kingdoms wants my hand! But there are so many, I don't know which one to choose!"

Leora couldn't stand it anymore. She turned and left the room, where everyone held onto every word the princess said. Finding peace outside, Leora went up to the rail of the balcony and looked up at the stars. Virginia was the only girl she actually considered a friends here, and now she was too occupied with Princess Reena. She sighed and thought about the past, in New York. She didn't have many friends there either; and the ones she had always gone off to be with more popular people. So, Leora stood there on the balcony, by herself. She was alone in the shadows, once again.

Not standing it anymore, Leora began to softly cry. 'Why can't I ever have a friendship that works out? Isn't there someone out there that could actually get along with me, and be there for me?' But Leora's thoughts were interrupted by a noise. She heard leaves rustling together. She followed the sound to the far left of the balcony. And leaning over, she smiled as she watched Damien climbing up the ivy pipes to her. Leora struggled not to laugh, and went back to the place she originally stood, just so Damien would feel he surprised her.

After waiting a few long minutes, he finally came up behind her and rapped his arms around her;which Leora secretly suspected. But what she didn't expect was what he said.

"Leora, are we friends?"

"Friends? Why would you ask me that?"

"Well, I wanted to know if you considered us friends."

"Damien, I consider you more than a friend."

"No, I know that. But, do we still have a friendship? I mean, what makes a friend anyway?"

"A friend is someone you can always count on. Someone you can tell your deepest secrets to. And if you were to get in a fight, you'd forgive each other, because you care about them too much to loose your friendship."

"Then, we are friends, aren't we?"

Leora smiled and sat up on the rail. "Damien, you're my best friend. And actually," she looked inside at Virginia talking with the other girls. "You're my only friend."

Damien went up to her and held her hands, "What about Virginia? Isn't she you're friend too?"

"She seems like she's pretty content with those girls in there. And that Reena. All she does is talk about her hair and boys. Princes actually. I'd watch my back if I were you!"

Leora said jokingly as she poked Damien in the stomach.

"Hey! Well, don't worry too much about it. I'm sure everything will turn out fine between you two. Say, are you doing anything right now?"

Leora looked around, and whispered, "No."

Mockingly, Damien whispered back, "Do you want to get out of here?"

Leora smiled at him, and he took her off the rail and they climbed down the ivy covered pipes and walked off into the garden; talking.

The sun was beginning to rise as Leora and Damien sat in the grass by the lake. Damien was laying down in Leora's lap, looking up at her in content. Leora laughed at him when he made faces at her, and she held him as close as she could. She never once wanted to let this feeling go. With Damien, she was free.