Disclaimer: I do not own anything written by the fantastic Gail Carson Levine. The only things that are mine are anything that you do not recognise – i.e – most characters and the plot.

Summary: Sarah, Ella's daughter, is kidnapped on the night of her debutante ball. At first she does not know what her captors want from her, but when she does her life is changed forever. What follows is an adventure featuring magic, mayhem, romance, elves, balls and a prince in disguise!

A/N: I would just like to say a HUGE thank you to my reviewers - you guys rock! All of your reviews have been really encouraging. I will not be able to update for about a week or so after Christmas because I will be away. :(

I hope you guys all enjoy this chapter - it is shorter than the previous one but hopefully just as good.

Again, I am sorry if there are any typos – I will probably go over the chapter again and correct any mistakes that are there!

You guys finally get to find out a little bit about Damon. (I hope I do not disappoint you guys – there is a bit of twist though and there is a cliffhanger – I'm sorry!)

Chapter 10:

The Queen's Secret

-

The man that had entered the room looked exactly like Christian.

Sarah turned to the man sitting on her left. He was definitely Christian. So, who was this imposter?

Christian saw Sarah's confused face and laughed.

"He looks quite a bit like me, doesn't he?"

Sarah turned back to Damon, ashamed a little by her reaction.

She noticed that he did not look like Christian as much as she had originally thought. He was shorter, wider and his hair was a bit darker. They both had the same eyes but Christian's skin was darker. They still looked very alike though.

"Hello, Damon. You always like to make an entrance." Christian chuckled.

"I just love all the attention." Damon said sheepishly. He then went over to Sarah and greeted her.

Sarah's heart beat faster as he took her hand to kiss it. Christian and Damon looked like brothers, not cousins.

Damon, however, seemed much colder and there was an air of meanness about him. When they made eye contact, Sarah shivered. She blinked and the room before her a transformed into some sort of dungeon.

The damp, cold air clung to her skin. She could hear somebody screaming from some intense sought of torture. Sarah squinted and could see the back of the person that was suffering.

Before Sarah could see anymore, the room disappeared and she was back in the dining room.

She had had another vision! She had not gotten anymore since the night of the attack - and had not gotten one while she was awake in years.

Everybody was studying Sarah with concern. She wanted to tell them what had just happened but decided to save this information for the King, Queen and Christian.

Sarah could see Damon and thought that he looked worried. The question was, was he worried about Sarah or about what she was thinking?

At least Sarah had found an explanation as to who was with the blonde girl that other night - it must have been Damon. Sarah suddenly felt guilty for doubting the Prince.

"Are you alright?" Scarlet inquired.

"What- um, yes, of course. I am just a little tired."

The rest of the dinner was quite uneventful, though the conversation was by no means boring.

"Rapat has many spies. They are everywhere. One must be careful that he does not know of our plan." An old Duke was saying.

"Yes. It has even been rumoured that there are spies within the palace." Another person offered.

"What nonsense! This palace is the most heavily guarded place in all of Linnarch. I would know if there was a spy inside it." The King exclaimed.

Sarah, on the other hand, looked doubtful. What if there was a spy in the palace? Sarah shuddered.

She must be on guard.

The topic changed to a more frivolous subject - that of the upcoming Annual King's Ball.

"Everybody gets dressed up in lovely clothes! It is a masked ball and at midnight, the masks come off." Scarlet reminisced.

Sarah grimaced. She did not have a great experience at her last ball.

Christian looked excited as well. "The ball is going to be really great. Remember the last one? High Chancellor Ryan drank so much that he ended up vomiting in the middle of his speech."

"Just as well! He was saying just about every single vulgar joke that he could possible think of during it." the Queen put in.

Sarah looked a little startled. The Queen reminded her so much of her mother. Sarah suddenly became homesick again. She so badly wanted to see them. She never knew that she could miss somebody so much.

Dinner ended a little after midnight. Sarah's head felt heavy and she desperately wanted to get some sleep. Christian was obviously thinking the same thing because they both hastily made their goodbyes and left straight away.

Once they were alone, Sarah told Christian about the vision she had had.

"What do you think it means?" he asked.

"Maybe Damon is working for Rapat. There is something about him..."

"How can you even suggest such a thing? Damon is like a brother to me. He is a good person and would never do anything that would harm Linnarch and its people." Christian's eyes were blazing.

Sarah turned away. Why didn't he trust her? She walked on ahead of Christian.

"Hey, wait!" he called out.

Sarah quickened her pace. She did not see the object that was lying on the floor in front of her and tripped over it.

She started to fall but Christian caught her before she could land on her face.

"You should be more careful. How many more times do I have to tell you that before you finally decide to listen?"

"Shut up." Sarah looked at the object that had caused her to fall. It was a duster. "Shouldn't your servants be more careful where they place such things in the first place?" She retorted.

When they reached Christian's bedchamber, the strain between them was stronger than it ever was before.

"Goodnight!" Christian said gruffly.

"Goodnight yourself."

And that was how the night of the dinner ended.

The following morning, Sarah was arguing with Christian yet again. She wanted to have some privacy while she was having her bath. Christian insisted that he was her bodyguard and could therefore not leave her.

"You are just saying that to annoy me! Can't you leave me alone for just a few minutes."

"A few minutes are all it takes for something bad to happen." Christian yelled back.

It was at this point in their bantering that Lydia walked in.

Christian did not bother to put on his charming act from yesterday and just ignored the maid.

Sarah asked Lydia to make the Prince see some sense.

They finally agreed on the Prince just waiting outside while Sarah cleansed herself with Lydia to look after her.

Sarah threw a pillow at the door as it closed behind Christian.

"He always gets on my nerves!"

"Most men do get on people's nerves." Lydia mused.

Sarah took off her nightgown and crawled into the hot water that the other girl had poured for her.

"I wish I was young again. I want to go back to the good old days where my biggest worry was whether I got whatever doll I wanted at the time. I want to go back to the times that I used to crawl into my parents' bed in the mornings. I miss climbing on top of my father's shoulders." Sarah said.

"I know what you mean." Lydia comforted Sarah.

Sarah wanted to ask Lydia a question. Though she was not her favourite person, Sarah felt that the servant might know something that was bugging her. After all, servants usually gossiped to each other about their masters and mistresses. Sarah knew that the servants in Kyrria did.

"I noticed that Christian and Damon look so alike." she started.

Lydia's face took on an expression of eagerness. "There is more to that than just coincidence. I do not know whether I should tell you this." she whispered so Christian would not be able to hear what she was saying.

"You do not have to if you do not want to-"

"But I do. The present queen was actually in love with Damon's father, John. They were even going to get married. They were poor aristocrats - much closer to peasants than other nobles. All they had were their titles.

"Apparently, the Queen was in the city markets one day and the King happened to see her. She was incredibly lovely and he at once fell in love with her. He wanted her to be his wife.

"He asked the Queen's parents for their daughters hand in marriage and they jumped at the chance - it is not everyday that you get offered to marry the King.

"The Queen was devastated. She wanted to marry John and was actually crying at the wedding altar.

"She tried to settle John. She tried to stay away from him but they still indulged in a very scandalous affair.

"A few years later the queen was pregnant."

Sarah's eyes grew as wide as saucers.

"It is rumoured that John was the father of Christian, not the king. Damon, Scarlet and Philip and the twins are all siblings of Christian. That is why he and Damon look so much alike."

Sarah looked stunned. She remembered how when she had first met Christian and Scarlet she had thought that they were a couple. She knew now that such a thought was ridiculous.

"Are you sure? Maybe they just look alike..."

"I can understand that there might be some family resemblance between cousins, but Christian and Damon look too much alike. Besides, pretty much everybody in Linnarch knows about the Queen and John."

Sarah wondered if Christian knew about his Mother and John. If he did know, then how did he feel about it?

Sarah would probably be ashamed if this had happened to her, even though it would not have been her fault.

"Enough of this sordid talk now. Lets discuss the upcoming ball." Lydia suggested, not whispering anymore.

"Do you know if the dancing in Linnarch is very different to the dancing in Kyrria?"

"I have no idea. But I am sure that Prince Christian will be willing to teach you any dance steps that you do not know. He is quite the dancer, and if I may say so myself, quite the charmer." Lydia's eyes sparkled.

Sarah imagined herself dancing with Christian. It seemed highly unlikely; he was barely speaking to her at the moment.

"I cannot wait to sort out what dress you will wear. You will be the most beautiful lady there..." Lydia rambled on about the ball until Sarah's ears started to ache.

Sarah soon finished washing herself and was thankful that she did not have another vision.

She wore an orange dress that on most people would look atrocious but on Sarah looked ravishing.

She had another dispute with Lydia over her hair. She ended up wearing her hair tied back at the nape of her neck in a simple knot.

When she exited the chamber, she noticed that the Prince was still there, sitting on the floor.

"Good, you are finally here. I cannot wait to have breakfast." he barked.

"You are so impatient. I cannot wait till my lessons with Tom start if it means I do not have to put up with you."

"I feel honoured. And I believe you are supposed to call your teacher Mr. Lastrange, not Tom."

Sarah clenched her fists. Why was it that he always had the ability to make her upset? She could not believe that she had ever had a crush on that arrogant creature.

After breakfast, Sarah decided to go on a walk. Christian had to walk several paces behind her, even though she wanted to be by herself.

She went outside the palace gates gleefully and started singing.

(The following is an excerpt from "Mobile" by Avril Lavigne).

Everythings changin' when I turn around,

All out of my control,

I'm a mobile

Everthings changin' out of what I know,

Everywhere I go

I'm a mobile

I'm a mobile

Hanging from the ceiling

Life's a mobile

Spinning 'round with mixed feelings

Crazy and wild

Sometimes I wanna scream out loud

Everthing's changing everywhere I go

All out of my control

Everything's changing everywhere I go

Out of what I know

Yeah yeah yeah

La la la la la la la la…

A boy that Sarah recognized from last night blocked her path: it was Scarlet's younger brother Philip.

"Hello, how are you?" she asked politely.

Philip turned around to check whether Sarah was talking to him or whether there was somebody else behind him. When it turned out that it was indeed he who she was talking to, he blushed.

Sarah looked at him and suddenly the truth dawned on her. It was she that was causing him to blush. (A/N: Sarah is a bit thick, I know. But most people that I know sometimes are in these kinds of circumstances!)

"Hello. I am well. I trust you are as well?" Philip responded.

This was the longest sentence that he had ever spoken to Sarah and he looked quite proud of this achievement.

"Yes, I am. The weather is lovely. Quite good for walking."

"Indeed it is. Where are you going?"

"Nowhere really. I am just walking around. Would you like to join me?" Sarah asked. She could see out of the corner of her eye that Christian's body had stiffened.

"Y-yes." he stammered.

They walked together down a path by the sea. Sarah did most of the talking - Philip was incredibly shy.

Christian hung back and at certain times she could hear him grumbling behind them.

He finally interrupted them, "Sarah, I am afraid that it is nearing lunchtime, we have to go." He may have spoken the words politely, but Sarah could tell by his eyes that he was not happy.

Philip said goodbye and before Sarah could say anything back to him, Christian dragged her away.

"Why do you have to be so rude?" she shouted.

"It was sickening having to watch you two for the past few hours."

"If I did not know you any better, I would think that you were jealous."

"Me, jealous? I do not think so. I just hate having to wait around for ages, bored out of my brains." He reacted spitefully.

Their conversation continued on in a similar manner until they reached the palace again.

They were greeted by Lydia who was breathing heavily.

"Sarah! You must come and see the Queen quickly, it is important!" she panted.

Sarah's heart filled with dread.

The Queen looked gravely at Sarah.

They were all standing in Her Majesty's royal chambers. Sarah had been surprised to find that the whole room was red – the curtains, the floor, the bed.

The Queen handed over a letter to Sarah. Sarah's hands shook as they opened it.

The letter read:

Dear Sarah,

I hope you will receive this. Your mother is in a very poor condition. She was attacked. We do not know who did it but we have a feeling that it was linked to you.

Do keep safe.

I know that you are to stay at Linnarch but is it possible for you to come back for a while? It would mean a lot to your mother. Whenever she is conscious she asks for you.

We have told the people of Kyrria that you have been sent to a distant finishing school as an excuse for your being away (they may wonder why we at first held a search to find you when you were kidnapped but we have just said as an excuse that you had run away because you did not want to go to finishing school.)

Please do be careful.

Love,

Father.

"Oh no! Was it Rapat who attacked Mother?" Sarah cried.

The Queen nodded. "It was he or a follower of his. They must know who your parents are. I have sent for the King but he is away at the moment."

"I have to go and see her. Father would never ask for me to go unless it was serious." Sarah pleaded.

"I am afraid that we cannot possibly do that. It would be too much of a risk. What happens if you were to be attacked? Or maybe an outsider might find out about Linnarch?"

"But I have to! My mother could be dying."

"No!" the Queen's voice boomed.

Sarah wondered how she could be so heartless. Before she could stop herself, she yelled out, "How would you know how it is to love somebody so much? You, who have no morals and had an affair behind your husband's back! How can you even pretend that Christian is the King's son?"

The Queen turned white.

Sarah immediately regretted what she had just said. Christian looked staggered.

"So is that what they say? That I had an affair. Perhaps I deserve it for my deceit. Christian, I am afraid that you have been living a lie. You have probably heard rumours. I did not want to tell you what happened because I did not want to drive you away from me but I think that after all these years I must finally tell you my secret. Not even the King knows about it. You may hate me when you find out the truth but I think it is about time you did."

Christian and Sarah exchanged glances.

"Christian, I am not your mother."

A/N: Here are just a couple of questions from different reviewers that I have answered. Sorry if I did not answer them before!

Chrisspy: yeah, it was a cliffhanger. Not a great one though…

Leah: I am going to try to make Sarah a more in-depth character (Keyword is "try"). Thanks for the advice. I love constructive criticism.

Shima and Tempis: I'm glad you like this fic!

Naughty Little Munchkin: Thanks heaps for your comments, they are really great!

Dragon21: No, I have not read "Dominion Jewel" in "The Lioness of Tortall Series" but I think I will now that you have mentioned it.

Ells: I do not really know where I got the name for Tom. Well…I was reading a book by Ken Follet called "Pillars Of The Earth" and there is a character called Tom in it. That might have been it.

Again I would just like to thank all my reviewers! I can't believe I have 95 reviews.

luv,

marina eyes.