More than a pretty face: Chapter 3

Hi everyone! Sorry this took so long – I've been busy lately with my new Grade 8 workload :s… I just have a warning for you: I want 10 reviews before I put up chapter four. So if you want me to update, you have to review. HAHA!

Luna

Shauna had been deeply disturbed by Tagguns' vivid retelling of his sisters' death. Two of his sisters had been married; one, as he had told them, had died, one was alive but rather miserable and taking no comfort from her three ugly, fat, spoilt children; one had not yet been married, and was nearly scared out of her wits at the prospect. She was 12 years old and had already tried to run away, to get to Essalia where Taggun would protect her, but she had been caught. Her father had not even beaten her, because he did not want to give her scars that might mar her chances of getting married. Instead he had given her no food for a week.

Apparrently, one of Taggun and Athroatens' hobbies was plotting to free his sister from his greedy father's clutches. Taggun was actually hoping that his reign would begin before his father attempted to marry off his sister – he couldn't till she was 16, much to his dismay. And it did seem rather likely that he would retire within 4 years, leaving responsibility to Taggun.

Rose's father was in a rather bad mood that day, and no one seemed to know why. Earlier that morning, a beat-up looking messanger had arrived and demanded to see the King. He had said it was an emergency.

Pretty much all day, everyone spent their time guessing about what the messanger had said to King. Lunch was like one big guessing game. And at the end of dinner, the King stood up.

"I have an announcement to make." He hesitated a moment.

"You all noticed the messenger earlier today. He came from Shankone." Another hesitation.

"Their King has been murdered. A war has begun. They need Taggun back, and with him their new Queen."

"We are to be their allies in war with Imperia."

Their was a collective gasp from everyone in the room. Imperia was one of the largest nations on the continent – mainly because it had taken over about 4 others.

Preparations quickly began to return Taggun and Rose to Shankone. Taggun, of course, was taking Athroaten, and Rose was taking Shauna, to her delight.

Taggun was torn between being glad that his reign was finally going begin, terrified that his rign was finally going to begin, and being thrilled that his father wouldn't get to marry off his youngest sister.

Everyone neglected to mention that no one seemed to care that the old King was dead.

The next day, they left in a long train of carriages. Rose and Taggun had one to themselves, but Athroaten and Shauna had to share with the messanger from Shankone – a rather unpleasant character. He was blatantly rude, arrogant, and self-centered, and expected Shauna – the only girl in the carriage – to be impressed by his 'courage'.

"You bein' a girlie an' all, you wouldn't unnerstand wat it's like ta' work…" and along the lines of that. It was beginning to get very offensive, not to mention the fact that girls often work as hard as men, and Shauna couldn't wait until they got to Shankone.

Hours passed. The messenger fell asleep midsentence and was now snoring like a mill saw and drooling out of the corner of his mouth. The carriage was filled with awkward silence except for the mill saw snoring of the messenger.

After what seemed like weeks, they finally stopped for a break. The messenger didn't wake up.

They left again. Still, he didn't wake up. Not even when he fell off his seat to hit the floor with a THUNK that shook the entire carriage, at which point Athroaten and Shauna had to work together to heave back onto the seat.

Finally, they reached Shankone, and were freed from the disgusting messenger – not before he implied something dirty to Shauna, of course.

They met up with Taggun and Athroaten.

"Princess Rose," said Shauna, "I think your first order of business should be to fire that messenger." Athroaten told what had happened, and everybody had a good laugh.

Then they entered the Shankone Palace: Tagguns' new domain…

End Chapter

Sorry this is so short :s… I'm just not good at writing long chapters… but I hope you like it!

Thank you to all my reviewers so far: iloveme2815, Lulai, Miss Inocent, mistyqueen, Ardelis Mercy, SmileyFacePerson and Fightincomet! I love you all! hugs Especially Miss Inocent, or my friend trashbin… ITS NOT FAIR! YOUR IN HIGH SCHOOL AND I'M IN GRADE EIGHT! I MISS YOUUUU!

Sorry… none of you will understand that… :s

Oh well…

Thanks for reading!

Luna