Once Upon a ... Sometime.
By Skyflame

Chapter Two

As Darien awoke, he made the decision that he would wait in the forest all day if he must in hopes he would see the girl again. Mina who he had always thought of as another sister and often called her as such, suggested he ask around the village if they had seen the golden haired princess. After half a day of no success in the village he decided to take up his vigil in the forest in hopes she rode through there daily,
then he could find out her name and if she was attending the ball.


After spending most of her day with her friends deciding what she would wear to the ball and how she would get there Serena, Raye and Lita had decided on the perfect dress. They would all travel together and they would pick her up on the way as they would be attending the ball also, and she would ride in their carriage. So after carefully placing her dress, shoes and jewelry for the ball in her horse's saddlebag she waved goodbye to her best friends and headed towards the forest that would take her home. Urging her horse to go as fast as possible since she was running late, she had not expected to just about crash into a familiar regal horse with an exceptionally handsome rider.


He had heard a horse racing through the trees and so he forced horse to walk towards the direction of the sound. He found out too late that it was again the girl about to collide with him. The shock must have shown on his face because as soon as she gained control of her horse she bowed, while still seated upon her horse and apologized,
stating that she hoped that he wasn't hurt or too alarmed. Then after apologizing again she started to head back into the forest, but Darien could not let her get away again. For if he did he may never see her again and he knew that she was something special.

"Wait" he yelled hoping that she would stop, but apparently she had not heard him so he took off after her so he could cut her off which didn't take long since her horse was only walking now.

As he cut her off he repeated his command to wait, her response was shock and then she said with her angel voice to go with what he could today see was a totally angelic presence about her

"Please your highness, I'm late and must get home."

Darien replied "I just wish to speak with you for a few minutes, then you can go. You have me at a disadvantage though because you seem to know who I am, but although I thought I knew every princess in the kingdom, I don't know your name."

Serena blushed, "I'm flattered that you think so highly of me your highness and I wouldn't mind speaking with you if I wasn't so late. I will be in trouble if I don't get home so would you please excuse me,
I'm sorry for my rudeness but I must be going."

After a couple of seconds of thinking Darien finally said "I will allow you to leave, if you promise to meet with me tomorrow" Darien watched as a smile lit up the young maiden's face and he thought that it was as beautiful as watching the prettiest sunset.

When she said that she would meet with him tomorrow, down by the lake and he thought that all the parts of his heart that she hadn't captured during their brief meetings, melting and added to those parts that already belonged to her. He agreed to meet her after lunch for a short time as he had to return to his brothers to help with the preparations for the ball, which was to be, held the day after tomorrow.

After that he allowed her to go, as she galloped off she yelled over her shoulder "Thank you your highness, I look forward to tomorrow."


As he watched her ride away with her long hair flying behind her he felt as though his heart had been soaring and all of a sudden the wings had been ripped off it. He hardly knew this young maiden, he hadn't even had a proper conversation with her or know her name, but he felt like he was falling in love with her. It was like he could and would do anything to have this beautiful, spirited princess by his side, and she was definitely spirited.

Most princesses would have fallen at his feet and told him of how wonderful he was and what a good wife they would make him. But this girl emphasized the point she had to go and rode like the wind, which no girls he knew would do. Then a sudden thought hit him, what if she was engaged already and he could not have her as his own, it would kill him, for he was beginning to believe that she was the girl from his dreams.

Every night for longer than he could remember he had dreamt about a girl who made him feel complete and loved beyond belief. She was more beautiful than could ever be described and seemed to glow as the moon did. He knew in his heart that they were destined to be together even though he didn't truly believe in destiny. He had never really seen her just a vague outline and a few colors, but he had felt the warmth of her love radiating from her soul and it was the only thing that made him feel at peace. The one thing he did know was that she had the clearest eyes he had ever seen and they shone brighter than any star in the heavens.


After the scolding from her parents for being late, going off for the day, and finishing her chores, Serena was free to take the beautiful dress and hang it up carefully and imagine wearing it to the ball and shocking everyone. She dreamt of having the prince take her in his arms and tell her that not a single other princess could compare to her beauty. Then the thoughts came back to reality, and she couldn't believe she had agreed to meet with him tomorrow.

He had caught her off guard by calling her as such, and she had started dreaming that she could pretend that she was not the poor young maiden she actually was. But she would meet with him tomorrow for two reasons, the first being that she would not break her promise,
and the second was because she couldn't stand the thought of never seeing the wonderful prince again. After laying awake for several hours that night trying to decide what to say to Prince Darien, and also what to wear to meet him she finally feel asleep and entered a dream world where she was forever at the prince's side.

The next morning the maiden awoke early so she could do her chores quickly and not be late for her meeting, but as she put special effort into her appearance she arrived at the lake late and fluster from riding so fast. When she arrived Darien was already there because little did she know that he had been there since breakfast since he would not miss her should she leave because he wasn't there. As she rode up, he took her horses reins and tied him up, commenting on what a beautiful horse he was while helping her down.


He was surprised to find that she rode astride like a man instead of side-saddle like a lady, but he wasn't shocked,

"I'm glad you decided to come" he said while staring at he beauty of this girl. She was different to any other girl so had a unique kind of beauty unlike other princesses who all seemed to be the same.

"I promised that I would come and I don't break my promises, your highness," she said curtsying deeply.

He looked down at her and then took her hands forcing her to rise, and said "Please don't bow before me because someone as beautiful as you should not bow. It is I who should bow in your presence", before bowing deeply and kissing her hand, causing her to blush deep red.

"Your flattery is overwhelming, your highness, but I don't deserve it as I am not what you think I am." Darien looked puzzled then suggested that they sit in the shade and talk, he laid down his cloak for her to sit on but she chose to sit on the ground, which confused him, but he said nothing of it.

Then he asked her name and if she was attending the ball and Serena decided that it was time that he knew the truth about her.

"Your highness" she began "I must thank you for your kindness, but I think you should know right now that I am not a princess and never have been, now if you please forgive me for taking your time, I will leave. I'm most honored that I got to meet you milord but I will not take up your valuable time any longer. Farewell" she said before curtsying deeply and running towards her horse.

At first Darien was shocked but then he realized that he didn't care and didn't want her to get away. He wanted to get to know this young maiden as she was unlike anyone he had ever met, he ran after her and pulled her away from her horse telling her he didn't care and wanted to get to know her anyway.

Serena couldn't believe her ears so she said to the prince "You do realize I just said that I was a commoner, a very plain, dull commoner don't you?"

"Of course" he answered while pulling her back under the tree, "But I still want to know all about you. For starters will you be attending the ball and what is your name?"