…And they lived happily ever after.
Or did they?
Well… perhaps happily, but not always peacefully. For life, with its troubles and disappointments and tears, with its laughs and stumbles and mistakes, does not end when the prince wins the princess. Or when the knight wins the lady. It continues on, bringing along with the chaos and occasional disappointments its delightful joys and beautiful days. And so, let us duck beneath that impenetrable curtain of "ever after" and take just one glimpse into the lives… the real, true lives of these beloved characters which we have followed so long.
It is a warm spring day, the trees are in bloom, the birds are singing, the sun is shining. The palace of Euphrania stands tall, imposing, impregnable, as always. In the meadow beyond, ever-changing but always the same, we find our happy couples. More happy now than they even were on their wedding days, for life beyond the altar has brought many new joys… joys they never before could comprehend.
Sir John dismounts from his old chesnut gelding, reaching up to his wife, the Lady Caroline, who leans down from her little gray mare Regina, to hand him the baby. Little two-year-old Ella with her mother's golden curls, her father's blue eyes, and baby dimples all her own.
Prince Edward has been riding double with his young son, the little Prince Jonathan who, at three years old, is quite a terror and yet, still a joy. He has his mother's dark hair but his father's roguish hazel eyes and a spirit of adventure that nearly outweighs both of his rather tired parents combined. Princess Cinderella is expecting another little blessing rather soon, but still insists on riding, despite her husband's worry.
Charles, Duke of Montague, and his beloved Princess Kate are there also, with their twins. Twins! Fancy that! Charles nearly burst with pride when he was presented with his young offspring… a little boy with dark, curling hair, enormous eyes, and a rather pompous air in spite of his scant three years and a little girl, pale, shy, and quiet… the very image of her mother. Although she has not quite yet mastered the art of graceful swooning. That will surely come soon enough.
Bringing up the rear of the little procession is Prince Edward's companion-at-arms and his young wife. Willoughby, or Will as he is always called, for he refuses to reveal his first name, is quite a different person than the one we first met for he has grown from a boy to a man. A more responsible, faithful, and dependable attendant could scarcely be found. And little Sarah, as cheerful and bouncy as ever, with the glow of motherhood in her eyes, as she has just shared the most precious secret of her young life.
Do not despair, Dear Readers, in bidding these beloved friends farewell. Tis only for a short time. Before long, all will be revealed and you will know why Lady Caroline has a distant sadness in her gray eyes, why her husband watches her more carefully than ever before. Why Prince Edward, in spite of the happy ending he at last received, seems somewhat worried. What rather undignified event happened when the Duke of Montague was brought the good tidings of the safe arrival of his twins. How Sarah met her match in conversation. What happened to the enormous chocolate cake in the palace kitchen. What delightful surprise was discovered in the loft of the stables. And how little Ella got so muddy and why Prince Jonathan was so victorious because of it. All this… and much more.
THE END
Finally =P Okay, that was waaaay more fun than I anticipated. And wow, did it grow from the one-shot that it was supposed to be! Boy, did I have such conflicting emotions actually changing the status of this story to "completed"... Don't know if I should cheer or cry. I can't thank you all enough for your continued support, you all made me so happy! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Love you all!
By the way, one of my fave reviews, nameless Guest, is the one that says "I was grinning like an idiot" LOL what do you think I do when I write this stuff? But don't worry. There will be LOTS more. LOTS and LOTS.
Now, gotta dissect a squid, do a geometry final... all that fun stuff, y'know. I am, unfortunately, only a teenager after all... and suffering mightily from my own education. But, thankfully, I am a little ahead, so keep your eyes open for updates to Sarah's Story! Actually, head over there right now, there's a new chapter up for you. Enjoy! (Yes, that's an order. Right now!) =D