Chapter 2

The merchant had been very quiet as he returned to his kingdom, thinking about his encounter with the lion. And as his castle grew closer and closer. He prayed the first thing he met wouldn't be Jackie.

Jackie had been very excited all day. She knew it was the day her father had returned home. She had spent the morning mopping the staircase in the foyer. Then Ingrid allowed her to change into princess clothes.

She changed into a simple sky-blue gown with white trimming. She ran downstairs excitedly to the foyer. Just as the merchant entered the castle.

The two hugged and he gave her the golden feather. Jackie loved the feather very much and put it behind her ear. She looked very beautiful.

But the merchant suddenly looked sad.

"What's wrong father?" asked Jackie.

"The feather has cost me my life," said the merchant sadly. "For I have made a promise to the lion in the forest to send him the first thing I meet when I return." He told Jackie about what had happened in the woods.

Jackie felt very sorry for her father.

"Father, I shall go to the lion," she said. "If I have to go. A promise is a promise. Mother always taught me that you have to keep your promises."

The merchant did feel proud of his daughter. He and Jackie's mother had always taught Jackie to be kind and keep promises. But he still felt worried.

"You can't go," he cried. "The lion might eat you!"

"I'm a believer in fate father," assured Jackie kindly. "My heart tells me I'll be fine. You and mom have always taught me to trust the feelings in my heart too you know."

What neither Jackie or her father know was that the lion was really an enchanted prince who lived in a secret kingdom in the forest. By day he was a lion along with his subjects. And would all turn into humans at night.

That afternoon Jackie left on a white horse to the forest. Her father and some of the servants sadly waved goodbye. Ingrid smirked wickedly as Jackie left. With Jackie gone, she was free to find eligible princes for her own two daughters.

Fiona also felt relieved as Jackie left. Aubrey on the other hand felt a little concerned for her stepsister.

"I'm worried Fiona," she said to her sister looking at the ribbons her stepfather brought her. "I hope the lion is kind to her."

"Why should we care if we see her again?" asked Fiona in a contempt tone, going through her jewelry box. "Now we'll have all the princes for ourselves."

The sun was setting by the time Jackie arrived at the edge of the woods. When she approached the forest. She climbed off her horse to see two male lions pulling a golden carriage.

Her instincts told her to climb aboard and she did. As soon as she sat down in the carriage the lions pulled it off into the woods with her horse following behind.

After some time, they approached a small village, though there didn't seem to be any people. There were lions of all ages. Muscular male lions with attractive manes, beautiful lionesses and even cute cubs running around the street. But she wasn't afraid.

The carriage arrived at a castle. Jackie walked inside, and entered the throne room. The walls were painted in a pinkish-purple color. On the walls were carvings of lion heads.

She then saw three lions coming to her. Each was carrying a basket with gifts. The first lion's basket was full of jewelry. The second lion's basket was full of silks and lace. And the third lion's basket had a golden tiara.

Jackie looked at the gifts in amazement. She then walked past the lions to see sitting on a throne was the same lion her father had met in the woods.

"So, my princess has arrived," said the lion. "I'm glad your father has stood by his promise. And I'm glad he did, for you'll make a beautiful princess."

Although Jackie melted by the compliments the lion prince gave her, she was confused to why he wanted her as his wife.

"But you are a lion," she said dumbfounded. "How can I marry you?"

Just then the sun set and as soon as the sun had almost disappeared, the lion transformed into a human prince. He had dark brown hair and wore golden robes.

"My name is prince Alexander," introduced the prince. "I'm really a human like you, but we were put under a spell years ago that makes us lions by day."

Jackie was charmed by the prince and fell in love with him immediately.

The wedding was held the next day. Jackie wore a beautiful pink dress with a gold in the middle of the skirt.

Jackie and Alexander, along with the other lions in the kingdom spent the days sleeping, and stayed up at night.

Over time, Jackie learned that the forest was also home to fairies. She befriended the three most powerful fairies. The sun fairy, the moon fairy and the wind fairy.

The sun fairy wore a dress in various shades of orange and gold. The moon fairy wore a dress in dark blue. And the wind fairy wore a dress in teal green.

"What happened to this kingdom?" asked Jackie. "How did Alexander and his people get turned into lions?"

The three fairies looked at each other and then the sun fairy spoke up.

"Years ago, another fairy lived in these woods," she explained. "She was in love with the prince and wanted to marry him. But he didn't return the feelings and refused."

"The fairy was furious and cast a spell on the kingdom turning them into lions since the royal family as you," joined in the moon fairy. "She then left the woods and we haven't seen her since."

"Couldn't you reverse the spell?" asked Jackie.

"No," said the wind fairy. "The spell was too strong to break. The kingdom was erased from the outside world's memories and time has stood still in this kingdom for the past twenty years, so nobody has aged. But I received a prophecy from the wind. Someday a girl from the outside would break the enchantment."

Jackie realized that she was the girl in the prophecy. But she wondered what she could do to break the spell.

Two months had past since the wedding and life was very kind for Jackie and Alexander. Though Jackie still hadn't found a way to reverse the spell on the kingdom, she enjoyed her life with Alexander.

One night Jackie was sitting in the parlor, when Alexander walked in and sat next to her on the couch.

"Your father and stepmother are having a ball tomorrow night," said Alexander. "Queen Ingrid is trying to find a husband for your oldest stepsister. Would you like to go to the ball?"

"I most certainly would!" exclaimed Jackie. "I would also like you to come with me."

Alexander wasn't sure. He hadn't left the kingdom in years and was a bit nervous about seeing the outside world.

"My father would love to meet you," said Jackie leaning close to Alexander. "He'll understand once we explain the whole story."

Alexander agreed.

Jackie told the fairies about the ball and that Alexander was leaving them in charge.

The sun fairy waved her wand making a beautiful golden gown.

"And if you need us, take this" said the moon fairy giving Jackie a silver bell.

That night guests were arriving at the castle. Ingrid, the merchant, Fiona and Aubrey were standing on the steps watching them arrive.

Ingrid wore a beautiful white gown and three pearl necklaces. Fiona had her gold hair tied in buns on the back of her head and wore and a deep dark purple gown and golden earrings. Aubrey wore a pale-yellow dress with pearls stitched on and jewels in her hair.

Suddenly, the white horse Jackie had rode on when she left the castle pulled in through the gates and they saw a golden carriage. The royal family watched in aww as it pulled to a stop in front of the stairs.

Then coming out of the carriage to their astonishment was Jackie wearing the golden dress the sun fairy had giving her. Alexander walked out beside her wearing a red tunic with a black vest.

"Who is that?" Ingrid whispered to her husband.

"I don't know," said the merchant. "But Jackie seems to know him."

"He must be a prince to own such a fancy carriage," said Aubrey who was mostly impressed. "And that dress is magnificent!"

"She's got more than she deserves!" huffed Fiona jealously. "Though she was impressed by the gown and the prince.

The merchant and the queen walked up to them immediately.

"Jackie," said the merchant happily. "I'm so glad to see you again."

"We've been worried about you dear" said Ingrid acting like she cared to see her stepdaughter again. She then reluctantly hugged her and Jackie returned it more caringly.

"Father, stepmother," Jackie introduced. "This is Alexander the lion prince and my husband."

She then told the story to her father and he was very welcoming to the prince. Aubrey was also interested in Alexander.

Little did she know was that Ingrid and Fiona had looks of jealousy and resentment towards Jackie and Alexander.

Author's note; I hope everyone loves this story, I plan to give everyone the best summer ever with this story and two other stories I plan to write the summer. Please read and review.