Disclaimer: I didn't write the original fairy tale. If I did, I would be really, really old, and I'm not, so I didn't. Don't steal- it's not nice.

Summary: Elensar is a Princess who has been kidnapped by the dashing King Adrian of Delran, at the behest of her oldest sister, Evadne. Through her wry wit and cynical assessment of her situation, she tells her story, complete with romance, daring escapes, espionage and even a little public humiliation.

Warning: Language and innuendos

Rating: PG-13 (for the afore mentioned warnings and intense situations.)

Chapter Three: A Change of Plans

I made my appearance back into the court a week later. Thank to the ingenious Delrina healers, I was conscious after a couple of hours, sitting up and talking after a few days, and by the end of the week I could even walk without aid.

None other than the head healer himself escorted me to the throne room to present my healed self to King Adrian. The rest of the nobles were there too, the same way it had been the last time I had been in the throne room.

"Ahem." The head healer had a habit of clearing his throat loudly before he said anything. "King Adrian of Delran, I present to you the healed Princess Elensar of Meridian."

"Welcome back, Elensar," Adrian said, taking my hand and planting a formal kiss on the back of it. It made my antics from before seem childish. "I would like to introduce to you by name our present nobility." He gently turned me toward the nobles and I felt the head healer step back.

"I am," an older man dressed all in black velvet stood up, "Duke Garth Wrathlin of Nacre."

I gulped and smiled as best I could. A gentle nudge from behind prompted me to say more. "Nice to meet you too, Duke Garth." The poor man looked slightly miffed that I had paused. I heard titters from among the others.

The next to stand was a woman dressed in brightly shimmering silks, "I," she said with a dramatic flair, "Am Lady Elena Dubai of Northwood." She performed a flourish gesture and two more women stood up. "These are my daughters, Ladies Ilea and Jana Dubai." I looked at the two younger versions of their mother, both identical and obviously twins. Ilea wore her curling blonde hair down, while Jana had captured hers up into a cascade of stylized curls. All three had pale, milk white skin and crimson lips that made them look like a picture-perfect painting.

I greeted them as well, carefully pacing myself, making sure I didn't speak to quickly. Then came Duchess Karin Flan of Mountain Keep, a thin woman who could have possibly my age, but most likely a few years my senior. She looked as if she wanted to kill me, or just someone. Earl Marvin Dristan of Haddam smiled warmly at me when I was introduced to him, his smile not diminishing in the slightest as I only smiled stiffly back.

The Marquis and Marquise, Kelvin and Sallah Spinner of Willoway greeted me with a stiff formality that was not warranted, in my opinion. They also finished each other's sentences, which set me on edge.

Lord Raven of Shadow Fall was the oldest of the gathered nobles by far. His graying hair was pulled back into a queue that accentuated his beaky nose. I realized that I was not being kind in my observation of him, and that I was displaying it on my face, from the look of pure disdain that he gave me. "Greetings, Lord Raven," I said smiling somewhat nervously. I twirled a truant lock of hair between my fingers.

"Greetings to you as well, Princess Elensar. I hope that you enjoy your stay here." Lord Raven sat down.

"Now that all of you have met Princess Elensar," Adrian clapped me on the shoulder, "I hope you will enjoy her company."

"Thank you, King Adrian," I rolled my eyes. "I'm sure, with you here, my stay will be quite enjoyable."

Whilst I had been sparring verbally with Adrian, The nobility had snuck up behind me, as if in ambush. At their head was Lady Elena Dubai.

"Dearest Elensar," She simpered, her blue eyes as cold as ice. "Pray, come with us to our solar. We have entertainment waiting there."

"Oh yes, you must come," Ilea held out an entreating hand.

"It will be so much fun, Elensar!" Jana raised an eyebrow. "Everyone,"

"Will be there," finished Ilea.

"Then I guess I just must attend," I said, waving my hands in the air wildly.

"Please, Princess, do not wave your hands so." Elena looked pained. "It really isn't lady like."

Apparently, they had missed the heavy use of sarcasm, or just ignored it as some foreign custom. "Oh." I said shortly, dropping all pretenses of geniality.

"Elensar," I could hear the grin in Adrian's voice, even if it wasn't plastered on his face. "Please, remember to behave this time."

"Thank you, oh great King, for you warning." I told him, deliberately waving my hands.

"Actually, I prefer 'Oh great and beloved King Adrian.'" He smiled and nodded. "I thought that I would let you know that, for your future usage."

"Thank you." I turned around sullenly. Jana was smothering giggles and Ilea looked highly amused. Duke Garth and Lady Elena both had the same stricken expression on their faces. The Marquis and Marquise had disappeared, Lord Raven was walking stiffly away, and the Duchess and the Earl had carefully blank looks on their faces.

"I'm leaving," I announced to the whole room. Then, I angrily stormed out, aware of the scene that I was making. I could hear the titters, giggles and snickers that echoed through the Great Room. Loudest of all, I could hear Adrian's bellowing laugh. "They will regret this when Alyssa sends someone." Deciding that lady-like formalities were too much trouble at the moment, I swept up my skirts into my fists and ran down the hall, quite aware of what had happened the last time I had been running, and not caring in the least.

I slipped into my room, startling Ashleigh, who promptly dropped the linens on the ground.

"I-I'm sorry, milady," She stuttered as she picked up the linens.

"It's fine. Just pick it up and we'll pretend it didn't happen." I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. "I'll be in the study if anyone should want to call."

"Yes, milady," She said with a curtsy.

My plan had been to barricade myself in the study and avail myself of its library until I had to come out for dinner, which would be eaten in the solitude of my rooms, and then go back in until it was a reasonable time for me to go to sleep. What I hadn't counted on was Lord Raven.

"Milady," Ashleigh called softly.

"Yes?"

"Lord Raven of Shadow Fall is here to see you."

"Show him in." I groaned inwardly.

"My lady, Princess Elensar Kelledy, greetings to you." Lord Raven presented me a sweeping bow.

"And to you, Lord Raven." I smiled and curtsied for him.

"Elensar-oh, may I call you Elensar? Good! Elensar, my dear, I am here on behalf of all of us" – I took this to mean the nobility- "to council you." He patted my hand. "Your display, I understand, was quite the spectacle. You really must learn to keep your emotions in check, as it truly isn't ladylike of you to go about screaming and stomping." He paused for a moment to catch his breath.

"Lord Raven," I said formally in the pause, "Please, do not be offended, but I really do not need you council on these things. If I had, I would have asked." I smiled at the shocked look on his face and warmed up to my speech. "My spectacle, as you so eloquently put it, was merely an expression of reality, nothing more, nothing less. No one was harmed or had any damage done to their reputation except for perhaps myself. As I will be gone in a short time, I do not find the need to preserve my reputation in front of these people." I stopped to suck in a gulp of air and continued. "In fact, I may not even attend the gathering that is planned for Friday. I wish you all a good time."

"Princess Elensar, this will not do!" Lord Raven's voice sent shivers down my spine. "You must preserve your country's reputation, as well as your own! You must behave with the decorum that befits a Princess. As for the matter of the length of your stay, I am afraid you are wrong on the account that it will be short. As I am one of Adrian's councilors, I am privy to knowledge that you may not be. I can tell you that your stay will be far from brief, though." Raven glared at me. "The King himself commanded you to behave, and that is an order you must follow while you are in his kingdom!"

I stood up to match Lord Raven as he rose. "I beg to differ. I was brought here against my will, and I intend to leave as soon as possible. Whether it be on horseback or by sea, I will leave within and short amount of time, and there is nothing you, or anyone can do to stop me in this matter, do I make myself clear?"

"Elensar, listen to yourself! You sound mad," Raven clenched his teeth, exasperated, as he tried to reason with me. "You tell me your plans, and they will be stopped! You cannot escape your fate; try as you might." He calmed himself with a visible effort. "I believe that on Friday, your appearance at the ball will be greatly appreciated. There are a few young lords who you have not met, and who are very interested in meeting you, from what they have told me. I also believe that-"

I cut him. "Enough! You speak to me as if you have known me all my life. In truth, you have known me but a few scant moments! Stop counseling me as if it is your right to do so, for it most definitely is not! I insist that you leave my presence this instant!" I continued my rant, adding in a few crass insults to Adrian for good measure. I was so into my tirade, that it took Ashleigh more than a few attempts to get my attention.

"Milady," Ashleigh's voice quavered.

"What?" I asked sharply.

"King Adrian is here to see you. Shall I show him in?" He bowed her head subserviently.

I stared at the door, wishing I could just disappear. Lord Raven looked extremely smug from his cushioned chair, which he had reclaimed during my pre-occupation with Ashleigh's announcement. "Now. Of all times, now." I muttered, sinking down into my chair.

"Milady?" Lord Raven queried politely.

"Of course," I slouched, running my hand through my hair in aggravation. "Lord Raven, you are dismissed," I told him. He smiled triumphantly as he bowed to me, then departed.

"So, Elensar my dear, you wish to tie me to a rock, sink me in the River Lath, pull me out again and then send me, in a barrel lined with blades, over numerous waterfalls, all with jagged rocks for and aft?" Adrian asked in greeting.

"You forgot the rest," I replied, and then filled him in. "After that, I wish to have you tied to the post and have your back skinned while you are still quite alive, with a nice saltwater bath for you to wash all your wounds. Then, you shall be

"How kind of you. You are very clever with words, you know. Also, you are very…detailed." He said with a slight shiver, his face taking on an unseemly green tinge.

"Why thank you for your compliments." I hadn't offered him a chair, so he sat in the one that Lord Raven had been vacated.

"Anytime, my darling." He was sprawled out comfortably in the chair, the very picture of relaxation.

"Oh King, please, no need to flatter me with meaningless pet names. You should save them for the women that warm your bed. I'm sure Evadne would just love to hear your voice again," I said callously.

Adrian actually looked a little hurt. "That wasn't nice at all, Elensar. You shouldn't shame your sister so."

"It wasn't meant to be nice, and she shamed herself, not I," I objected. "You were the one who said it first, after all."

"Of course I did, because it was true. Since then, however…" He trailed off, as if unwilling to finish the sentence.

"Since then, what?" I asked, not entirely sure if I wanted to know.

"Do you really want the truth?"

"No."

"I thought not." He ran a hand through his dark hair. "I really don't know what to do with you." He sighed, frowning at me.

"You could always send me home," I suggested brightly.

"Would that I could. However," he gave a small, strained smile, "It is not possible, and therefore not an option for me to send you home. I really don't think that you want to be home right now, anyway." He closed his eyes and his smile grew larger.

My determination not to ask the inevitable why lasted the lengthy span of five heartbeats. "Why?" I blurted out suddenly. I drew my knees up to my chest and wrapped my arms around them, being careful to first tuck the front of my skirt under my bare toes.

"I was wondering how long it would take you to ask why," he chuckled. "At this very moment, Evadne is probably having a good row with your father the king about being married off to the youngest Prince of Chelan, Michael." He opened one eye to catch my expression. He laughed again, and much harder when he saw my open mouthed stare.

"Evadne? Married? When?" I asked him in a rush.

"Must you know everything?" Adrian sat up in the chair. "She's been married since she found out that this Prince got her pregnant. She's not very happy, I can tell you that."

I was speechless. Evadne had never let on to any of her frolics with high-ranking foreign visitors. She had always been discreet and careful not to get herself pregnant. Then, without warning, I started to giggle.

"Elensar?" Adrian asked. He was probably convinced that I truly had gone mad. "Elensar, are you well?"

"Oh, my dear Adrian," I managed to choke out, "I have never been better!" I continued laughing until I fell off the chair and onto the stone floor.

Then Adrian began to laugh. I pouted.

"What?" I asked, back to my sour mood.

"You, Elensar! You lighten my day so well!" He chortled. I glowered at him when he patted my head like that of a hound.

"Well, I'm glad for you." I grabbed onto his hand to pull myself up from the floor, which was difficult to do, considering the skirt that I was wearing. Adrian, unbalanced from laughing and not expecting me to use him in such a manner, fell on top of me.

"Oof," said I as his weight bore down on me.

"Damn it, Elensar!" He reached for the floor, his hand making unsubtle detours across my stomach. I wasn't too appreciative of this and so, in retribution, I was forced to slap him. That led to Adrian simply refusing to get up; he pinned me down with a good-natured smile on his face.

"Nowhere to go now, eh, Elensar?" He raised an eyebrow.

I rolled my eyes, but said nothing.

"Ah, so you admit defeat. I think you should have to do something that I say, now, don't you? After all, winners in a competition usually receive some sort of reward." He smiled.

"We weren't in a competition."

"But we were, dear Princess, and since I won, and have you pinned, I deserve a reward." His voice sounded almost sultry.

My eyes widened. "What sort of reward?" I tried to wriggle my way free, but to no avail.

"Well," he leaned closer, and I could feel his warm breath on my neck, "I think at least five dances with you at your ball on Friday will suffice."

"Five?" I sighed as he raised an eyebrow, "Oh, alright then." I relaxed slightly, but not all that much, for Adrian was still leaning close to me. "Would you, um, mind, getting up now?"

"Damn it Elensar!" Adrian seemed to sag closer for a moment, and then he rolled over and lay still on the floor next to me.

"Why am I always being damned?" I asked the ceiling.

"Because you deserve it, apparently," Adrian retorted, punching me lightly.

"Hey! What was that for?" I asked as I got up.

"For whining." He pinched the hem of my skirt between his fingers and pulled gently, as if trying to get me to come back.

"Let go." I aimed a kick at him, and he recoiled, dropping my skirt. "It's not nice to look up a maiden's skirt," I told him, looking as innocent as possible.

"Maiden? What maiden?" As I glared angrily at him, hurt and humiliation imprinted in my expression, he sighed and apologized. "I'm sorry, I have forgotten my propriety." Adrian brushed off his tunic as he stood up. "Unfortunately, I must depart your lovely presence, for I have a meeting to attend to." He brushed his lips lightly against my cheek and then left the room.

Author's Note: Well…it's Elensar. I thank you for all your reviews and hope you review again! ::smiles for all::

Review Responses:

-Wanderer1: I'm sorry that, for you, my romance has become unrealistic. Well, I wouldn't have even termed it a romance yet, because it's just teenagers being hormone controlled and driven. I will work on my characterization through later chapters, and try and make it seem a touch more to your tastes, perhaps. I'm rather disappointed that Elensar comes off as flighty. I was hoping more for "caught up in the moment" or even "in a new situation that she doesn't know how to handle and is therefore very confused." I am confused by some of your last statements, though. Beware that it doesn't become a means of self-gratification? Could elucidate, possibly? Also, thank you for the reading suggestion. I'm always looking for good books to read.

-MapleRose: I loved Cinders in the Fire (as I told you):D Adrian is just being…Adrian, I suppose. You'll find out!

-Flummoxed: A frisky little king? I like that! lol. I can't wait to get more of your story…and I'm glad that you like the complexity of Adrian. And yes, poor darling Elensar is knocked out. Hehe

-Raspberry Girl: Yay! I'm glad that my writing has become noticeably different, and better, since Runner of Syrlan. As for the exposition, I'm working on revising that to make it a bit more gradual.

-Aerinha: I'm glad you like my story! The picture…comes in later, yes, but you'll just have to wait and see, won't you? grin

Thank you all for reviewing, I hope you review again. I love reviews! Whee!