I didn't know why I ran. Remember I told you about how there was only one man I had my eyes on? Well that was him, Prince Chenate.
"Annabelle! Annabelle, come back! I'm sorry for whatever I said! Just please come back…" He cried.
I felt bad for him, just running off like that. I still loved him, but what if he told my father and the witch where I was?
Regardless, I stopped and turned around. Why was I running?
"Annabelle? Why are you looking at me like that?" The prince went from relieved to shocked.
"My name is Snow White…" I answered.
"What? Snow White isn't real…" The prince looked confused. I didn't blame him.
I ran back to him and clasped my hand together. "Look. I ran away from home. Don't tell anyone. Please!" I begged.
Chenate looked very shocked. "Why?" Then he thought better of it. "Where are you going?"
"I- I don't know…" I stammered idiotically. I really had no idea. Wow my plan sure seemed dumb now. Where else would I get food? When will I stop? Where will I stay? Do I have enough money? Uh oh…
Changing the subject, I scratched my neck. "So, what brings you here to Penepia? It's a pretty small town here." I commented.
"Oh, yes. Please pardon my foolish behavior!" The prince bowed and grinned as he mocked himself. I laughed heartily.
"You are excused," I replied snottily, imitating an ogre, pretending to pick my nose and slouching horribly.
The prince chuckled in return. His eyes smiled back at me, and I looked deep into his jade- green eyes. Those eyes…
"Annabelle?" The prince called, bringing me back to the planet.
"Yes?" I squeaked, twirling a piece of my thick black hair with my index finger. I bit my bottom lip slightly.
"How are you doing?" he smiled.
"Let's sit on one of those benches." I motioned to a beautifully carved bench near us. "So, you never answered why you were here in Penepia." I cocked my head to the side.
"Right. My father wants to give my sister her own small cottage for her birthday, and wanted a house, not unlike the ones here in Penepia. Beautiful here, aren't they?" The prince pointed to a pinkish- lavender finished house in the shape of a grand conch shell.
While he pointed, his arm brushed against mine, and my heart fluttered. It's been long since we last saw each other… too long…
"Yes, they are beautiful." I agreed, nodding my head furiously. "But which sister? Aster, or Ciella?" I asked.
"Ciella. She will be turning fifteen on the 30th of September." The prince sighed.
"Well how old is Aster then?" I asked, confused. Isn't Aster older than Ciella? And I thought Aster was only fourteen.
The prince bit his lip and lowered his head. "She has gone to rest in the heavens now…" The prince mumbled.
I gasped and kneeled. "Oh your highness! I'm so sorry!" My eyes widened in shock. Can you say 'oops'?
"Its okay, I didn't want her to suffer as much as she did. She caught the same sickness as the late Saturnalia Snow. The chocolate…" He trailed off.
The late Saturnalia Snow. Mother. I bit my lip again, very hard. It took much willpower to not cry in front of the prince. I tried to comfort him and myself, by patting him on the back.
Well what else could I do?
The prince brightened slightly. "But Ciella's house is not the only reason I'm here. My father needs an alliance with the country Cavereta. I'm betrothed to Cavereta's princess."
I nearly died on the bench.
"What?"
The prince smiled weakly, his wavy-curly brown hair spilling onto his forehead.
"Yes, I'm to marry the princess Tavetina. My knights and I are due in Cavertera in two months. I can imagine it now. The priest will stumble on my name, and the wedding will fall to a disgrace!" He laughed
Deep inside, I felt like I was dying. I managed a smile. "Your name?" I repeated.
"Yeah. Didn't I tell you what a long name I had? My parents are crazy. My full name is Darren Chenate Costolello Juno Istanium Adan of Tantua."
"Wow."
The prince laughed. "Yes, I know."
"Do you love her?" I asked shyly.
"Well, I haven't met her yet, but I'm sure she'll be as wonderful as everyone makes her out to be." Chenate answered mildly.
"I see…" I gathered, trying to cover up the disappointment. "Well I hope you have fun, I wish you the best!" I covered up brightly.
"I bid you farewell, your highness." I said and curtsied again. I ran from him again, my diary in hand. Turning my back on him, I retreated where I could be alone.
I had to get out of this place.
Soon after I ran off from the prince for the second time, I hastily bid farewell to Velatine's latria and packed my few belongings. The wonderful elves gave me a horse and a fairy mirror gift, like Desdemona's, wrapped in paper.
"Thank you for the horse! You are too gracious!" I curtsied.
"There is no need! We are always and forever in debt to you for returning the governess's children!"
I nearly choked on those last words. Governess's children? Wow.
Regaining my conscience, I asked; "But why the mirror?"
"It is another gift. Miss Velatine asked for you to have it. It would be a great honor if you would accept it." The elf bowed deeply. "You see, Lady Snow, before Elves came to live in Penepia, fairies used to live here. They left behind great treasures that we elves have treated as our own."
Tears began to dab at my eyes. Don't ask me why, I was just probably upset from the whole Darren Chenate Abadoogy Shabadoo thing already. If I weren't so levelheaded, I would have been emotionally scarred.
"Lady Lahina?" The confused little elf asked.
"Oh. Yes. Sorry. Thank you all very much for these gifts!" I must be off now. Thank you…!" I called as I rode out into the distance.
***
Dear diary;
It's been three days since I left Penepia. I should be arriving in the outskirts of Ralene soon. The mirror is beautiful. It is the size of my hand, with my fingers outstretched. The gold frame is rich and wondrously carved by gnomes. I looked into it, just to make sure I looked slightly presentable.
The next thing I know, the face of my mother is talking to me! Well, I dropped the mirror and screamed. The horse stared at me like I was crazy. You can't blame me, really. As much as I love mother, she's still dead.
Anyways, I peered over the side of the mirror and mother calmly told me she wasn't really my mother. It's foolish, really.
"Mom?" I asked.
"No, I'm just an illusion of your mother. You see, to everyone who owns a magic mirror, the soul inside takes the image of someone you love most," My 'mother' explained.
"So what do I call you then?" I questioned. This was so strange…
"You can call me Cerdames. That's what the fairy who made me named me, anyways." She replied.
"Oh. Well I'm Annabelle Snow, but please call me Snow White…" I said, cautiously.
"Oh yes I know all about you running away and all. I'm magic, remember?" Cerdames smiled. Cerdames… is quite peaceful- looking, but then again, she looks like mother, who looks like me, so I guess I can't say much about that.
"Do you know everything?"
"Yes, my child. I do."
"Then tell me. What is my father doing right now?" I asked slowly.
"He is gathering a search army to find you. The Duke has gone to King Juno in hopes of gathering as many soldiers as he can to find you." The mirror said promptly. "He wants to make sure that you are safe. Especially from ogres."
Legend has it that ogres can charm you as if you were puppets and they were the masters. One look into his eyes, and you believe he is your friend. After a couple sentences, you were in love, and you would forget every flaw.
If he asked you to kill your family, you would do it, because you were so enchanted by him.
Which is why the King Juno of Tantua, Chenate's father, is working on killing all ogres.
"Does Desi know that I ran away?" I asked dryly.
"Yes. She found the note and never told your father about it."
THAT BITCH!
"Well does she know where I am?"
"Of course. Her mirror told her!" Cerdames chuckled.
I cursed in Elfish. Diary, I know that cursing is bad, but it is necessary at times. It was one of those times. I wrote.
"Thank you Cerdames. I should be going to sleep now." I sighed, bid Cerdames farewell, and I am getting ready for sleep, in the dark woods, hoping that everything will be good soon.
Peace, Love and Chicken Guts,
Annabelle Snow.
***
I woke up the next day, uncomfortable and stressed. Then I remembered Cerdames. She seemed nice, as mirror souls could be, I guess.
Riding bareback on the pony, I talked to Cerdames.
"So… can mirror souls lie?" I blurted.
"Nope. We can avoid the question, change the subject, but we can't lie."
"Oh." Was all I could manage to say.
***
The horse, Cerdames and I were only five miles outside of the outskirts of Ralene! Though I wasn't exactly thinking of that, I was more focused on the pain in my thighs. Groaning, I pulled the reins for the horse to stop.
Faintly, I heard hooves behind me.
"Owww… my legs!" I whined.
A branch snapped behind me, and I turned around slowly.
Something silver glinted dangerously. A knife?
"Pray quickly and we shall both be done with it. I always did love a quick, clean kill."
~*~*~
Review galore!
Love Alyssa Madison,
Little old lady of 13.5 years old
P.S. MY BIRTHDAY IS ON THE 30TH OF SEPTEMBER (Like Ciella's) SO PLEASE GIVE ME A REVIEW OR TWO FOR MY BIRTHDAY PLEASE :)
PPS: If you have an account on FictionPress.com, can you please review this story under BrokenIce instead? Thanks a bunch!