A.N- Here's the thing. I know that you're all probably thinking "My god! This story SUCKS!" Well if you think so, REVIEW IT! I don't care if you say your opinion. Actually, I rather embrace them. At least then I know if people are reading my story. Also, DON'T READ THIS CHAPTER UNTIL YOU RE-READ CHAPTER 4. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CHANGES.
Chapter Five- Riding
"Lady Mercia, you should not speak of the Princess like that, for it is completely untrue and slanderous!" exclaimed an angry Lady Jane.
"Lady Jane, you are such a spoil-sport. 'Tis true; your dear lady Princess is an idiot."
"A comment like that could cost you your head," said Lady Anne.
"Oh hush it, Anne, before somebody hears about what you did with Sir Evander after the Twelfth Night Feast," threatened Lady Mercia. Lady Anne immediately shut her mouth.
They were speaking in the hall of the Ladies-In-Waiting. The shy Lady Alice, who was embroidering the bottom of what was soon to become a handkerchief, stopped to look ay the disagreement. Lady Mercia was always trying to cause some form of trouble. And sometimes it was interesting.
Lady Mercia shook her hair out, the dirty-blonde hair waves moving about in ripples. "Lady Mercia, stop being your usual boastful self. Everyone knows how you pine for Prince Stephen. It is not secret," said Lady Isabel, looking at her with contempt. "He's betrothed to the princess. Do you know what you have? An executioner's blade. High treason. That is what people who speak ill against the royal family receive, although I am quite sure you know of that. You remember Lady Adelaide, I am sure." Lady Adelaide was a popular Lady-In-Waiting, before she was caught speaking gossip against the Queen. She was put to death, and beheaded like a commoner.
"Our Princess does not even remember her own name!" exclaimed Lady Catlyn in Lady Mercia's support. "How bright could she be if she knows nothing?"
"Hush, Lady Catlyn! You know not of what you speak. If you were there, you would have seen her hit her head. 'Tis the stone's fault of her loss, and not her own," argued Lady Jane.
"Plain Jane, plain Jane. Do you ever think for yourself? Or are you just a Princess's puppet?" goaded Lady Mercia.
"Close your mouth, Lady Mercia. It will get you in trouble some day," said the redheaded Lady Isabel.
"Well goodbye ladies. Lady Catlyn and I have places to go, people to see. Lady Isabel, send our regards to whatever lowly Lord you are giving yourself to these days." And then Lady Mercia and Lady Catlyn went off.
"'Tis a great shame that one so noble and good as Sir Jaccob fancies her. It would be so much easier if he knew if she saw how truly horrid she is."
Lady Jane strung her arm over her best friend's shoulder. "Oh Isabel, she is not so bad. All of her good has been chased away by her lust for power. But she will never see the day she becomes queen, for it will never happen. That honor belongs to Princess Artemis. Do not fret. Sir Jaccob will see his love for you. He is an honorable man, and you an amazing Lady."
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Hermione opened her eyes, expecting to see the red-and-gold hangings of her Four Poster bed. Instead, I saw cream-colored walls, crimson hangings and a room that was definitely unfamiliar. Where am I? Hermione tried to rack her brain for an answer, and then it hit her. I'm not Hermione anymore! I'm some Princess of muggle England who's engaged to-
I'M ENGAGED TO MALFOY! This isn't good. I'll just march off to this King and tell him that it's off… And then have my head popped off. Oh Merlin, what am I to do?
"Good morning," chirped the always-happy Lady Jane. "Princess Sabine sends her regards, and inquires whether you are up to a bit of riding today. What shall I say?"
Oh god!
"Say that I'll…erm…be happy to ride with her today."
"I thought that you would say that. I shall just carry on the information, and then I shall get you ready. Shall I tell the Master Falconer to prepare Delilah, or does that seem unnecessary?"
Who's Delilah? It sounds as if she's a bird or something.
"I'll just be off for a second. Meanwhile, cook has sent up your breakfast. By the looks of it, I would have to say porridge with a smidgeon of treacle – your favorite, Milady."
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Lady Sabine sat on a chair in the stables. Her platinum hair was tucked behind a black French Hood, embellished with pearls and sapphires, which accented her icy eyes perfectly. Her dress was also black, and was adorned with sapphires all around. Her neck was strung with a single string of pearls. "I look ridiculous, don't I?" laughed Sabine. "My horrid mother made we wear this all to make a good impression!"
Hermione chuckled. So she's not as pompous as I thought she would be. And nothing at all like Malfoy.
A man came in to help them with the horses. "Milady," he said in a loud, boisterous voice, "Reine is over here. I changed her stall yesterday so that that it could be cleaned." He went into a stall and brought out a rich-chestnut colored horse with a chocolate mane and tail. She stood proud, shaking her mane out, as if she was trying to show off.
"Ah, the Princess of France. I had heard you were quite the rider, and I have just the creature for you," he said, turning to the French princess. He brought out a light-gray horse. "Her name is Snowe. Quite the challenge, though I assume you are up to it."
"Oh yes. There is naught I love more than I challenge!" she exclaimed, excited to get up onto the horse.
"I figured as much." The two horses were quickly saddled. Hermione's own saddle was green and gold – Princess Artemis's personal colors. They got on their horses, and were soon riding slowly down the path.
After about a few minutes of riding, Sabine finally exclaimed, Curses!" She then turned to Hermione and said, "My mother made me wear an outfit that I cannot ride in, and on the day when I get the powerful horse! Well that leaves me with just one other choice. Are you goody-goody?"
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Well are you very…proper?"
"Erm…"
"Well I'll take that as a no. Come with me, I hear water far down," she said, galloping further down.
Hermione chased the blonde down to wear she had heard water. It's a good thing that my mother taught me how to ride! She saw Sabine waiting for her, on her horse. "Seeing as riding is all of this is impossible, I'm just going to have to take some of this off," she said, smiling. She started to take her headdress off. Next came the necklace, the long girdle and the shoes.
"Much better," she commented, lifting herself back onto her dress.
"What if someone takes all of these jewels?" asked Hermione, very astounded by this peculiar princess.
"They won't if I hide them. Oh, you should take your jewelry and nonsense too! Your dress doesn't have jewels or anything on it – lucky you, might I add – so it won't be so hard."
Hermione seemed to contemplate this. What if someone takes all of these jewels? I would be in so much trouble. But she's right! There's no point in riding with all of this. "Fine. I'll do it!"
Sabine helped Hermione with her headdress and necklace. Hermione kicked her shoes off. "You're not as bad as I thought you would be," commented Sabine. "I thought you would be some stuffy, stuck up Princess. All of the ladies are so…boring. We should stick together, you and I. We're too alike not to."
"So tell me. How fast can you ride?" asked Sabine smiling.
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"This horse is powerful. She must be French, for your English horses are idiots!" laughed Sabine, patting her horse delicately, stopping after a short race.
"So is there a Prince or Duke somewhere waiting for you?" asked Hermione.
"Well…no. My mother is convinced that I scare them away. But I don't care. I don't want to marry anyway. I want to become queen, not as if a woman will ever rule."
You wanna bet? I wonder when Elizabeth comes in?
"What do you think of my brother?"
"Erm…" That I hate him and he hates me and he's a Death Eater and a murderer. Well at least his father is. "He's not so bad. I barely saw him, so I wouldn't really know."
"He's really an amazing guy if you get to know him. Trust me; he's my brother. I've known him my entire life. Although, I must say that he's a bit of a child at times. I'll race you back to the river, Artemis!"
By the time Hermione got to the river, Sabine was there. But so was someone else. It was a girl. She looked about their age. She was hunched over where they had hidden their accessories. Sabine unsheathed a sword from her saddle, and got off her horse. "Drop the jewels and walk away," she said, putting her sword to the girl's neck.
The girl dropped the jewels and turned around. Seeing Hermione's face, she dropped down to the floor, bowing. "My lady! Princess Artemis, I beg for your forgiveness. I meant no harm!"
Oh dear! What am I to do?
"Sabine, remove the sword. This is Princess Sabine of France, girl. Show some respect," said Hermione, trying as best she could to sound convincing. Oh Merlin! I feel so horrible about doing this! Are you aware that the penalty for Treason is death? You were just stealing from the Dauphine of France and Princess of England, and Crown Princess of France."
"My ladies! I beg for forgiveness."
"What do you think, Artemis? Shall we let her go? Or should her head roll?"
"Let her free. I cannot stand for young blood to be spilt on my account," said Hermione. "And I don't want to deal with that. My legs ache. I long to take a well-deserved rest."
"If you want," said Sabine.
"Oh thank you! You are most kind, your-" Sabine had slapped her.
"Just go!" The girl scampered off. Turning to Hermione, she said, "These girls are so tiring. All of that bowing and 'I'm not worthy.' And she really thought we would kill her! Just to see the look on her face was priceless!" laughed Sabine.
It was then when Hermione finally saw the connection between her and Draco Malfoy.
A.N- Yay! Finally done with that one! Here; I have a poll for you guys!
Should Hermione and Draco:
Get married in England and then travel to France.
Get married in France and just stay there.
Run away and not get married at all.
Get married in France and travel to England.
Just review an answer, because I'm really having an issue with that. Also, shout-outs to all readers!
SingForTheMoment: Is your life fulfilled now that you know that Sabine is based off of you? And Hermione does NOT sound like a ditz..okay maybe she does, but that's beside the point.
