Once Upon a ….. Sometime.

By Skyflame

Chapter Five

When Darien returned looking gloomy saying he had not found the 'princess' he was shocked at the way his sister-in-law treated him, and showed him no sympathy which was not her usual way of acting. He asked Andrew what was wrong with Mina, but he didn't seem to know but after the evening meal he found out as Mina took him into the library and yelled at him that he was a complete and utter fool and he deserved to be alone. Darien asked her what she meant and after she had explained and left the room, slamming the door angrily behind her, Darien dropped to the floor in despair and sat there in his shocked state for hours unable to even think anymore.

How could he have been so blind and stupid, and did his beautiful, spirited 'princess' really never want to set eyes on him again. It had showed her how much he cared when he had just ridden off while she was hurt, of course it had been a plan, but it had shown he really didn't care about her as she was and not as a princess.

And now he knew that she was both of the women he loved. And he had lost her, he knew that he would get no sympathy from Mina or from Andrew if he told him what had happened. So after visiting Serena the next day he would return home to cry on his sisters shoulder.


After laying awake most of that night Darien woke up late the next morning tired, with big black circles under his eyes as evidence of his restless night sleep. When Mina saw him she almost took pity on him but then remembered holding Serena while she wept, and changed her mind. As Darien rode through the forest towards the young maiden's house he felt the dread that she would turn him away, and upon arriving he was told that she wasn't feeling well and seeing no one.

It took a great deal of pleading with her mother for him to actually see her. It took about 20 minutes, which seemed like forever before she came down and curtsied before him with no life left in her face, it was if all the spirit and hopes had been drained from her and he knew that it was his fault. He made her sit then knelt before her begging for her forgiveness before she actually answered and said,

"What is it you wish me to forgive, your highness. The fact you left a young maiden hurt and stranded in the woods where anything could have happened? You coming in and disrupting the life of a commoner and giving her hopes of love when what you really wanted was a princess? Or the fact that you never really cared for the real me, but used me as a fill in while you tried to find your 'princess' who strangely enough was me" with a deep sound of anger echoing through her words while she saw that he had not slept either.

"My dear Serena, I do care about you, how can I prove it. I need you in my life and what I have done will hound me forever without your forgiveness" she responded to this by saying bitingly

"Then let it hound you, for I am not ready to forgive. I was ready to give you my heart and now you have shattered it and I can't forgive you until it has at least partially mended." Shock showed on the prince's face for he had not realized how much pain he had inflicted until this very moment, to shatter someone's heart, how could he even forgive himself. Darien then stood and said

"My angelic princess, believe me when I say I never meant to cause you any pain and because I am causing more I shall remove myself from your presence as I am truly not worthy. I shall be returning to my home if by any reason you should need to contact me. And Serena, I really am sorry" and with that he left and as he walked away he could hear her sobs, and it ripped at his heart to know that he had done this to the one he loved, and he could provide no comfort for her.


Darien then returned to the Chateau and packed up his things and wished everyone farewell finishing with his sister-in-law. Apologizing to her and asking her to keep an eye on his love to make sure she recovered, and with that he headed home to the comfort of his mother and sister, whom he hoped would not turn against him. Despite the fact that he deserved it.

After arriving home and saying hello to his mother, Darien went with his sister to his chambers to unpack and ended up crying into her arms and telling her the whole story. The young princess was worried, for she had never seen her brother in such a state, but while sympathizing with him she also felt sorry for the young maiden whose heart he had broken and she was glad that Mina could offer the young maiden support if she needed it. After her brothers tears were gone she looked at him and said

"You do know what you have to do know don't you." Darien just sadly shook his head so Amy snapped at him,

"Well for starters you need to quit moping, you caused this so you have to fix it. If you truly love her you have to win her back, and right now you need to think of how to do it, and as I know nothing about this girl I can't really help you."

As she finished she saw a twinkle in her older brothers eye that let her know he had a plan for her, that she probably wouldn't like, but would do it anyway because she loved her brother and would do anything for his happiness. Darien then informed his sister of the first stage of his plan that involved her and although she wasn't happy about it, it would mean she would get to meet the girl who had captured her brother's heart and turned him into such a wreck.


After a month of preparation Amy went to see her sister-in-law and brother which would lead into the prince's plan. Mina and Amy had conspired a way for Serena and princess to get to know each other without titles getting in the way, and two days after Amy had arrived the plan was put into action.

Mina turned up at the young maiden's house for their weekly walk in the village because since Mina had met Serena they had become good friends, when they 'accidentally' bumped into a slightly younger girl who appeared to be lost. Being the sweet caring person Mina knew she was Serena asked the younger girl if she had just moved here and if she would like some help.

Taking the heavy basket from her and carrying it herself while showing the girl around, and Mina watched the expression of shock on the princess's face disappear into warmth. Especially when Serena invited a girl she hardly knew back to her home for tea and cakes, and also spent the time serving her as if she was of higher class and not the villager she appeared to be. Mina left earlier giving Amy and young maiden time to talk, before Amy snuck back to the Chateau secretly.

As soon as Mina saw Amy she knew that Amy though that Darien had made a wonderful choice and then blown it. Amy told Mina how although she hadn't mentioned it, the pain was easy to see in her eyes. Over the following month Amy and Serena became good friends, and Amy could see the pain easing in her eyes as she knew her heart was beginning to mend, she sent word to her brother so he could put stage 2 into action.


The next week when Serena and princess were walking in the village they heard that the prince from the next kingdom had found his princess, the one from his dreams and that he planned to marry her within the year. Amy looked over at Serena and saw the shocked look on her face. Amy hid her smile and asked Serena innocently

"Serena what's wrong?" turning towards her new friend she said with a loss for words,

"I...I...Nothing. I need to go home now. I'll see you later" as she ran off, Amy saw tears streaming down her face and she knew that it was time to return to the Chateau and inform her brother.


When Serena got home she ran straight to her room and wept and wept, thinking about how Darien could have done this to her. He had said he needed her in his life, he needed her forgiveness and told her that he cared about her, but now he was going to marry another. Serena ended up crying herself to sleep but when she awoke the next morning she realized that she had no right to be angry that Darien was engaged for she had turned him away and he had never told her that he loved her, therefore he didn't belong to her.

Serena also realized she was at fault for she had never told him that she loved him either. Serena then began to cry again for the fact that if she had told Darien how she felt. Maybe then they would never have got in this mess in the first place, but after an hour of crying she realized she had to get over it because things couldn't change now.


Two days later Serena was surprised to walk out of the stable and straight into the prince. Seeing who it was she curtsied deeply and said,

"Please forgive me, your highness as I was not watching where I was going. I believe congratulations are in order on your engagement." Hearing the bitter tone in her voice on the last sentence, Darien could tell that she still cared about him and he wanted to pull her into his arms and tell her the truth, but then he forced himself to wait until the plan was properly under way.

"There is no need to apologies as I was standing in the way. Thank you for your congratulations, and before you ask, I'm in town to work on the arrangements of my engagement. Mina told me to ask you to come over for tea, since I was coming to see how you were anyway" he said trying very hard not to tell his love the truth. Serena said in response

"I'd love to see Mina as I haven't seen her for awhile and I miss her. Will you be accompanying me back?" and when he nodded his head she told her mother where she was going and got her horse.

As they began walking their horses through the forest towards the Chateau Serena asked,

"Why were you coming to see me, your highness?" Darien did his best not to look at her and said

"When I left you did not seem at all happy so I was coming to check that you were feeling better." He knew that if he looked at her he was likely to blurt out the truth. And that would spoil all his plans so he asked her

"Have you forgiven for me the way I treated you yet, or must I continue to apologize to you to try and get your forgiveness."

She thought awhile as they rode along in silence and as the Chateau came into view she said

"Yes, your highness I have forgiven you. As over the time you have been away my heart has mended and I can't keep a hatred for you in fears that you fiancée will come after me in vengeance for her love."

"Would you do that for the man you loved?" he asked her, she just nodded as they had reached the Chateau. As they stepped inside Serena said

"Thank you for accompanying me back, your highness now if you will please excuse me" before curtsying and heading up the stairs. Darien watched her go into the duchess's chambers before rushing to find his sister and tell her that Serena had forgiven him.


As Serena entered the room Mina came over to hug her and ask her how she was doing then told her to sit.

"I know you must be in total shock over Darien's engagement, I know I am, but the strangest thing is no one knows who the lucky girl is. He won't tell anyone, not even his sister and they are as close as two people can be" Mina said watching the amazement spread over the young maidens face, then Serena said

"He hasn't told anyone who she is? But he told me he tells Amy everything and she's the same so why didn't he tell her this" with an utterly bewildered tone in her voice.

Things were going exactly to plan and she knew that soon Darien would be able to ask her to marry him which was of course the third and final step in the plan. The two friends continued to talk awhile before Serena realized how late it was and became worried about riding home in the dark, Mina kindly offered to take her home in one of her carriages and then send someone over with her horse in the morning. Thinking about how dangerous the forest could be at night Serena accepted and wished Mina goodnight thanking her again for allowing her to use the carriage which was furnished in beautiful sunshine yellow satin.


The next day that young maiden was shocked when she saw Darien coming out of the forest on his horse with hers in tow. When Mina had said that someone would return her horse she had not expected it to be him, and when he saw her and smiled she felt her heart growing wings ready to take flight once more.

"Good day, your highness" she said politely curtsying before him.

"I'm returning your horse as you can see, but I would also like very much for you to come out riding with me today. I will wait for you if you have things to do first," he said. In return she replied

"Your highness honors me greatly by asking for my presence, and if you will wait a short while I would gladly accompany you on your ride" flashing him a brilliant smile that made his heart melt.

Darien watched his young maiden as she finished feeding the animals, retrieved water from the well and said goodbye to her mother, with love in his eyes before helping her up on to her horse. As they began cantering through the forest Serena asked Darien

"Who is it you are engaged to, your highness, that is if you don't mind me asking, because no one seems to know." Darien looked at her with wonder in his eyes and said truthfully

"I'm not sure if you know her, but she is the most sweet, most caring, most sensitive, most spirited and most beautiful young woman that I have ever met. She captured my heart the moment I saw her and from that moment I knew I had to make her a part of my life."

Darien could see the young maiden's anger rising even though she was doing her best to hide it and she questioned

"Is it true that Amy doesn't know her, or who she is?"

"I don't know where you got such an idea, in fact Amy is becoming great friends with the girl I am going to marry and she approves of her as does the rest of my family that has met her. The one person who doesn't know her yet is my mother, but I'm sure she will adore the girl I love just like everyone else" he answered before watching her face, for he knew exactly what his sister-in-law had told her and all she could say was

"Bu... But. Oh never mind."

They rode for a while longer before Darien said,

"It is getting late and I have to leave in the morning. Would you like me to accompany you home before I head back to the Chateau?" inquiringly Serena said,

"Where are you going? And I would very much appreciate it if you would escort me home for I don't like journeying the forest by myself when it begins to get dark." As they headed back Darien answered,

"I'm going home for a few months to sort some things out." He said nothing else until they got back to the house where he said

"Thank you for keeping me company today, I thoroughly enjoyed it." Curtsying deeply before Darien, Serena replied

"It was my pleasure, your highness for I enjoyed myself also. I hope you have a safe journey home and that your family and beloved are safe and well and that I learn who she is one day." Smiling down at her Darien said,

"Believe me you will find out who she is before the wedding, I promise. Goodnight fair maiden I'm glad we can still be friends and I hope that you sleep well" before riding off into the forest.


When Darien arrived back at the Chateau, Mina saw the smile on his face and said

"You've confused the poor girl even more haven't you" and she shook her head in regret as he answered

"Of course. I will be returning home in the morning but Amy needs to keep in contact with Serena, but I will go and tell her that now. I would also appreciate it if you would check on her every now and then just to make sure she is OK." Mina answered,

"You know I will check on her Darien, even if you didn't ask me as she has become my good friend and I love her. None of this plan must hurt her because you can never hurt her again, or I will make sure you hurt more than she does. And she hurts an awful lot." Darien kissed her on the cheek and calmly said

"Nothing will hurt her as I couldn't go on if I hurt her again, and thank you for everything, I really do appreciate it" before racing off to find his sister.


A couple of weeks later Serena and Amy were taking a weekly walk through the village when all of a sudden Serena dropped her basket and clutched at her chest as she began to cough and shake uncontrollably, before she sank to the ground. Amy was worried and yelled for help before turning to her friend and saying

"Serena, don't worry help is coming, you are going to be alright." Several of the village men came rushing, as did the doctor and when he saw her he said

"Quickly get her back to her house. I will examine her there." Two of the young men picked Serena up and quickly walked towards her house while the doctor and princess, who had both hers and the young maidens baskets, followed. Once they had her home and in her bed the doctor told her mother and Amy that he was unsure of what was wrong but she should be fine with a couple of days in bed.

Amy came to visit everyday and after a week of bed rest Serena could not stand and still coughed uncontrollably most of the time, Mina also came to check on her, which helped cheer Serena up and the coughing eased although she was still very weak and getting worse.

After two more weeks Serena could barely sit up and she was getting no better as she seemed to die a little bit more each day. When one day Serena whispered to Amy

"There is nothing to live for, as the one I love is marrying another, and I never told him that I loved him" hearing this Amy decided that it was time to take action. Telling her friend that she would return soon and asking Mina to keep watch over Serena, she grabbed her horse and rode as fast as she could towards her home and brother.