Chapter 2

I understood the message father was trying to portray in those few brief words. The holding of the hand was a sign to tell me that the discussion was to be really involved and important for me to be a part of. The words "after dinner" meant that he wanted to talk as the town dined at my sister's feast. He was sending a clear message that I was more than willing to accept. Anything to get away from Beatrice, William, and too many toasts to the newly betrothed couple.

I asked my maid to get me into my nightgown before she went down to dine at the feast. She told me that since I had told her I wasn't feeling well, I should get some rest so that I could recover quickly. I was glad to be out of the corset and as soon as she left the room I left to father's room through the secret passage way. This was so I wouldn't get caught not supporting my sister when I was faking sick.

I made my way to father's room and I felt a sort of nervousness as I opened the hidden door to see him. The door creaked open and before me sat my father at his common room table. In front of him were two cups of tea and a small kettle. I walked over and sat in the chair across from him.

Father was unusually pale tonight and looked almost as though he were dead. He was usually a strong man with the most golden blonde hair one had ever seen. Tonight he looked as though his hair was the only bright thing about him. He coughed violently as I sat down.

Father started speaking slowly with a very weak voice, "My beloved daughter Celestria. I must tell you now that I am dying. My body is growing weak and my days are getting colder. But we're here to talk about you. I have heard you are upset with William and I am willing to give you a chance to prove to me that I should break off your engagement. If you convince me then you can try to convince him and his family. But until the issue of breaking the engagement is settled you will not be married. Please tell me why you do not wish to marry William?"

I was shocked at the opportunity to tell my father how I felt, "I wish not to marry William because I have an extreme distain for him and I love another. I love another named Prince David who you passed over for the right. I know that if I marry William I will not be happy like all the princesses have in all the good fairy tales. I wish to have a happily ever after and not a glum ending to a beautiful story."

"I, as your father, wish for you to be happy. I want you to get your happily ever after as you phrase it because I do not wish for you to live like a slave to your father's will but to be as happy as your mother. May she rest in peace. She was the woman of my dreams and she loved me so much. I know that you will take my place when I die and that with William you will be unable to rule. I will talk to them tomorrow to call the engagement off. Until then, my little angel, get some rest."

With that note I left Father's room and went to my own. I sat down at the mirror and began to brush out my long brown hair. I gazed deeply into the green eyes I had that were so much like Mother's. I looked at the painting of her hanging on my wall. I looked so much like her. I missed her

I left my vanity and got out my book of fairy tales. My father got it for me for my birthday less then a year ago. I was so glad that he was willing to spend that money on that book. Father told me that he had the finest nun at the St. Peter's Convent copy down the words. The book was worth a fortune and it was one of about ten in the entire castle.

The other books in the house used to belong to my mother. They were used to teach all of her girls. My mother always thought that women should not be empty-headed drones. She was displeased with Beatrice all the time. Beatrice didn't want to learn from Mother at all.

I read the story of Sleeping Beauty. It was so pretty. I always love the part when she was kissed to be awoken from her deep slumber. I wondered what I would have done if I were her or her mother. The ideas kept buzzing in my head until finally I was asleep dreaming about them.