Summary

Aria is princess and she wants nothing more out of her life than to be able to decide what to do with it. But fate (and her mother) have another plan. What will our headstrong heroine do when she finds out she is betrothed to the prince of another land? And what happens when sparks fly between them and she finds herself falling hopelessly in love with him?

Responses

-Elariel Erestorion :Thanks, I'm glad you like it.

-Lulai : About the "I'm taking Aria with me" line, I was watching Legally Blonde and I was on the phone with my best friend as I was editing. He thought it would be funny to put a line when Reese and the fat lady got to the fat lady's husband and she says 'I'm taking the dog' somewhere in there, so I was just humoring him. Sorry 'bout the confusion. I can be confusing sometimes.

-warrior-wolf : Glad you liked it, this chapter is a bit shorter than the rest but at least I wrote something. I'll update by the weekend. :-D

Enjoy the chappie

:-D

I knew I was dreaming about him.
We were on a beach and we were just walking hand in hand he leaned over to kiss me, I closed my eyes reading myself for his sweet kiss AND... and the stupid maid woke me up at the crack of dawn.

I remembered that if Marcus and Izzy were going to get married today, I had to get moving no lounging about in bed. I groaned dramatically, (I am such a dramatist I should have been an actor) then swung my feet out from my nice warm covers, and onto the cold stone floor.

I shivered and ran over to my dressing room, where the floor was carpeted (my slippers were) and it wasn't so friggin COLD! I dressed quickly, and quickly slipped out of my room.

I had my riding habit on, it's green and pretty and, I don't think you really care what my dress looks like.

I walked, more like creped down the hall to Marcus's room, when I got there I did the secret knock on the door, 'tap' 'tap' 'tap 'tap,tap' 'whack', I know it's stupid but it's fun. Marcus's manservant opened the door and let me in.

I walked in to Marcus's sitting room, and they were all there, Rigel (handsome as ever, wait shouldn't think that), Izzy sniffling a bit with Marcus's handkerchief in hand, mopping her red eyes and Marcus sitting next to her trying to stop her from sobbing.

I hope this plan works because if it doesn't were all going to hell. In a matter of speaking. I really hope my brother knows what he's doing because I love him and I don't want to see him unhappy for the rest of his life.

I know I said last night it was a 'perfect' plan, but that was just an excuse to kiss Rigel. Now I'm worried what if the guards search us and what if Marcus and Izzy don't get out of the castle and what if mother catches us. I need to stop with all these what ifs, if I don't stop, I'll 'what if' myself to death.

I strode over to Marcus and Izzy and said, in a lofty voice "So did you perfect the plan whilst I caught my beauty sleep."

I smiled. Marcus laughed, surprisingly everyone else did too. Rigel stood up shaking with laughter and pulled me over to sit next to him.

I didn't think I was that funny. Izzy was the first to stop laughing and explain to me that it was so funny how I said it, the tone in my voice that they couldn't help themselves, and they really needed a break from all the planning.

"Aria" Izzy said, "We have been working for so long we would have laughed at anything."

"Yes Aria," Marcus put in with a wry grin "we're so grateful you finally grazed us with your presence, I was about to send Rigel in to wake you up."

I blushed furiously and Rigel choked on his orange juice. I knew what he was insinuating, so did Rigel it seemed. We ate breakfast quietly after that, well not so quietly, because Izzy broke out in tears halfway through and Marcus calmed her down.

I knew she thought the plan was hopeless, I thought the plan was hopeless. It seems Marcus and Rigel are the only ones that believe in our psychotic plan. It's sad; it really is, a princess a duchess and two crown princes can't come up with a better plan than that.

Rigel and I were to take Marcus's best tunic in our picnic basket and Izzys wedding dress, (she had one made when she was 15, how silly is that?) It was romantic in a stupid, idiotic way.

I knew that I would take the heat for Marcus eloping, but I didn't care, "You would do it for me," I told him when he protested.

He sighed in defeat and kissed Izzys head. Marcus and Izzy were going to Orkney to see our Grandfather and Leuce (Aijia's fiancé).

If you could say one thing about my Grandfather it was that he was as stubborn as a ox, and he did the same thing when he was younger so he wouldn't let mother take Marcus away from Izzy. Or vice-versa.

We (Rigel and I) would just have to deal with her wrath. Again not a fun thing to do. I didn't look forward to our return to the palace. But the good thing about the plan was that I would see my big brother getting married to the woman he loved.

I just prayed that father didn't disown Marcus, Aijia would be queen, not that she wouldn't make a good one it's just that she is a bit ditzy when it comes to making hard decisions. Well I guess I am a hypocrite because I'm not too good at making them either.

We finished the planning and breakfast, I kissed Marcus and Izzy goodbye and wished them luck. I told them it would all be fine but I still though that there were many things wrong with our stupid plan.

Rigel and I walked to the stables flirting shamelessly all the way down. You know, for a boy I wasn't too thrilled about marring, He was turning out to be a good, kind man. Someone I really wouldn't mind marring.

We were actually going to have a picnic, so if my mother had the guards search the bags, because that's something she would do, there would be food in it.

(I put a cloaking spell on the clothes, if I put one on us it would take up too much magic and it would run out quickly) If they didn't find anything (because I haven't been able to practice this spell so I might not have done it right) and mother didn't have the guards search us the hard part would be convincing my mother to let me go.

(She really doesn't trust me, Hmm I wonder why) I mean, I could totally guilt trip her about springing this 'surprise' engagement on me. She usually spent the morning out in the courtyard with my father; and we have to ride by the courtyard to get out. Not to mention we would be on two separate horses, I usually share one when I go for a picnic with father or Marcus.

(Marcus is taking my horse as his getaway-horse, so when we get back, right away she'll know something's up when we went out on two.) We rode out to the courtyard saw my Mother& Father and King Devion.

There was no way we could get past them without them seeing us. It was the quickest (not to mention safest) way to get to where we were going. I glanced at Rigel he grabbed my hand and squeezed it to give me some confidence; I took a deep breath and sighed I checked my cloaking spell hoping that it was working properly.

Then the two of us rode over to our parents/grandfather, and before we could say or do anything my mother spoke up "Arianna," I flinched I really do hate my full name, especially when she says it like that.

"Where do you think the two of you are going?"

"Mother I am taking Rigel out for a picnic."

She scoffed "At ten thirty in the morning didn't you just eat breakfast?"

"Well yes, Mother, I thought since I am marring him in oh lets see, SIX WEEKS, I would like to get to know him a bit more. We were going to talk a bit then we were going to eat."

She scowled at me, "Aria if you keep eating the way you are your going to get FAT, and you won't be able to fit into your wedding dress."

My mouth hit the ground; did she just call me fat? "MOTHER!" I screamed, "I am not getting fat, and I don't eat that much!" I knew I was a bit stocky but I was not by any means 'fat'.

And I like my stockiness; you know some people would call them curves. "I certainly hope not Aria; it won't be my fault if you pass out halfway through the ceremony because we had to pull the corset strings so tight."

I was going to throw up or cry. My own mother thought I was fat. I didn't know if I wanted to kill her or sob because she not only though I was fat, but she said it front of my betrothed.

That's kind of embarrassing. I am not fat. Rigel sensing my discomfort said, "Don't worry your majesty I won't let her eat too much." My mother argued with Rigel a bit more but I stopped listening and tried to decide if I really was fat.

I didn't really know, I at least I don't devour the whole kitchen. I had a healthy appetite, so therefore I looked healthy. I wanted to get out of there because she hurt my feelings and if she caught us in our little scheme because my spell failed, I really think she'd beat us into oblivion.

She sighed in frustration and let me out the gate. "Don't do anything that would make me ashamed of you." I rolled my eyes at her and kicked my horse forward. Did she really think I had no pride?

"Aria" she cautioned, I turned around and pulled on the reins "don't be out after dark, I trust you to be responsible, young lady."

I groaned. SHE trusted me, (even if I was fat) too bad after today she would be so pissed at me that she wouldn't let me see the light of day until my wedding. I bet the same would go for Rigel after the little stunt we are pulling.

I bet we would only be 'get to know each other' in her company, we would never be alone. I shudder to think.

How will he ever forgive me if were never alone. I'm not a terribly private person, but there's just some things you just don't say in front of your mother.

Oh well Marcus owes me, BIG TIME. I looked at Rigel and he looked back at me. He smirked and spurred his horse into a gallop, I followed suit.

I rode ahead of him and took him to Marcus's and mine favorite spot. You know that place where you can see the castle and the ocean. Yadda yadda yadda, who cares.

Anyway, when we got there he helped me off the horse even though I knew how to get off a horse. Such a gentleman.

He held me in his arms for a moment and for a millisecond I saw hurt in his eyes. I furrowed my brow, and as quickly as it came it went and he had the same smirk he always did.

I was angry with myself that I had acted like such a total dumbass. He was wonderful, he is wonderful, and I ruined it. I always wondered why he liked me so much but my thoughts were interrupted when he started to kiss my neck.

I pushed him away and he pouted a little. I rolled my eyes at him and spread the blanket on the ground. I wasn't going to eat for another hour or so. I was worried that I was fat. I didn't want to faint halfway through the ceremony that would be very embarrassing.

My mother would probably pull the corset strings so tight that I did faint just, for punishment and her own sick twisted pleasure.

We were supposed to rendezvous twelve pm at the little church with Marcus and Izzy. We would unpack their clothes, (take the cloaking spell off) I would help Izzy get dressed and Rigel would help Marcus. It was their problem to get out of the castle unseen.

I know Marcus stole mother's almost-invisibility-cloak, so that would help him there. But don't think mother's a dolt she still may have a few tricks up her sleeve. She could have anti-theft spells on it. I did give Marcus s few good luck charms but I was still worried.

All Rigel and I had to do now was wait. Make conversation, get to know each other and wait. However, waiting is not one of my better qualities.

Please R&R I hope you liked the chapter.