Nixiesocean: I'VE BEEN FOILED! ScoutcraftPiratess has discovered my fairy tale! Noooo! In any case, since it's already been guessed, I'm writing a story based on The Lion and the Frog.

:-D

Responses:

Ardelis Mercy: I found my flash drive yesterday (the 18th of Feb)! In any case, you could, I suppose, ignore the above and continue reading. :-P

Dark Ninja of Mount Hope: Yeah, but I'm one for very little plat-background and writing a story where the action starts right away, so this is going out on a limb.

ScoutcraftPiratess: I've noticed you reading more of my stories and graced me by adding comments (thank you thank you thank you!) So, I suppose (hehe) I could allow this to slide (wink).

You can stop listening to my useless drabbles anytime you want…

Don't forget to review!

EDIT

I took out the part about Mercy and the corset (thank you Bingo5 for pointing that out, I'm so used to characters that aren't 8 and more like 18).

/ EDIT

Chapter 2: A Princess of Bavar

Marcus and Mercy were sent off to bed. Their bedchambers were next to each other, allowing the bored children to drill a small talking hole. They were dressed for bed and in them, the lights turned out. Mercy spoke first.

"Marcus? You there?"

"Yes." He whispered.

"Good. Are we going outside tomorrow?" She said, though it had a hint of pleading.

"I guess." He replied. "What do you think of this southerner princess coming?"

The thought of another princess irked Mercy. "I think Mama wants to marry you off."

"I'm only ten!" He muttered.

Mercy shrugged, even though she knew her brother couldn't see it. "Negotiations take forever. Maybe they're sending out feelers – you know like bugs?" Mercy said. "Maybe Mama and Papa are getting a feel for what type of girls you like."

"I don't like girls!" He hissed. When there was no reply, he added hastily, "Except for you and Mother."

"Thanks." Mercy grinned. "Anyways, where're we going tomorrow?"

"I don't know. Where do you want to go?"

Mercy laughed quietly. "The forest?"

"No!" Was Marcus' reply, "Too dangerous; we'll stick to the fields."

"Why?" Moaned Mercy. "I want to!"

There was only the flapping sound of a person getting under the covers. Mercy pouted and slid under her own covers after saying, "Good night, Marcus."

- - - - - - - - - -

Princess Hannah of Bavar sat under a layer of fur and blankets in the bouncing carriage. She saw white covering the land. She shivered. She would bet her jewels the white stuff wasn't the same as the warmth of her southern country. Her parents were unable to come; the politics of Bavar hadn't allowed them to come.

Her personal maid, a manservant and her personal guard had come. Sir John of Diamond Coast was her guard, Marie, her maid, and Marc, her manservant. Sir John told her that the capital of Hanor would be within sight in a few hours. They would ride through the city and then, in another ten minutes, the group would arrive at the Palace of Rettleburgh, the capital.

Marc sighed and buttoned his coat further. "John," Hannah commanded. "Tell me about the white stuff."

Her guard nodded. " 'Tis called snow, my lady." She sighed and watched as the small flakes of snow drifted down to touch the ground. "You may not like it, Your Highness, it melts fast and makes you shiver with the cold."

"Snow?" Hannah asked. "I want to touch it. How long until we reach the palace? I want to meet these royals. What are their names again?" Hannah flipped her dark brown hair.

"King Jonas Matthew, son of Matthew Marcus, holder of the lands of Hessex." Sir John began for the thousandth time since they left Bavar nearly two weeks ago. "Queen Anna Lilly, daughter of Duke Harold Lee and Duchess Lilly Mae. Her brother currently runs the lands of Greyington near the border. Crown Prince Marcus Jonas of Hessex. Princess Mercy Anna of Hessex." He ended.

Hannah's eyes were alight, like any time she learned something new. "Do these northerners always name their children after themselves?"

Sir John, who wasn't a native of Bavar, but instead of the country between Hanor and Bavar, called Unquat, sighed. "I believe it is custom to give their first name as the child's second name. Then, as a first name you use a name from the family."

"Oh." Hannah said, crawling deeper under the covers. "Is it this cold all year round?"

John sighed. "Mostly, my lady, I have heard that for a few weeks each year Hanor is covered in pure darkness, and another few weeks pure daylight."

Hannah gasped. "But… how do they sleep in pure light? How do they go about their duties in pure darkness?" John only shrugged. "I shall ask Prince Marcus about it. Marie, add an extra layer of cloth to my clothing. I believe I shall need it." Hannah covered her nose with the cloth and warmed her nose. "I am going to sleep."

- - - - - - - - - -

Mercy threw a ball of snow at Marcus, who dodged and threw another at her. They laughed merrily while the sun shone. Marcus stopped and watched the horizon. Mercy threw a snowball at him. It hit him but he didn't notice.

"Marcus, what's going on?" She struggled to her feet and carefully walked over to him, crunching the thick snow beneath her feet.

"I think it's her." He whispered. "Look at the carriage! It's all royal-looking."

The princess laughed. "You're in love already, Marcus, she isn't due-"

"MISTRESS!" A voice yelled over the white snow.

"Uh-oh." Mercy said. She leaned down and strapped the snow boots onto her feet. "I better be going. Nurse will be mad."

Marcus laughed while he bent and strapped his snowshoes onto his feet. "I think she already is. I'll see you in a bit, sis."

The princess of Hanor headed inside. Marcus was left staring at the carriage of the princess of Bavar. What is she like? He wondered. Rapidly, he changed his question. Why is she here? Mercy Anna of Hessex merely shrugged at her brother's staring and kept tromping through the deep snow.

She was met inside with a very mad looking nurse and a lot of furs. "Nurse!" She moaned. "I'm fine!"

Her heavy-set, grey-haired, steel-eyed nurse shook her head. "You won't be telling me that when you're sick in bed with head-fever." She muttered while rubbing the snow off the princess. "Besides, Your Highness, we need you dressed and presentable to Her Highness of Bavar."

Mercy rolled her eyes. 'Dressed and presentable' meant uncomfortable, formal gowns with tight hair. It meant high necklines and no playing in the snow! Her etiquette lessons haven't been for nothing!

Despite future plans, Mercy Anna was stuffed into a formal gown, of which was put on by a grumpy Nurse. Her dress was fashioned to reflect the northern climate and landscape, and her wavy black hair was plaited into loops of braids that formed so many circles that even Mercy wasn't sure where one ended and the next started. A tiara was woven into the braids and she was lightly dusted with golden flecks.

Nurse declared her beautiful. Mercy thought she looked like a doll with unreasonable hair that would fall out the instant she got hit by a snowball. She hoped the princess of Bavar wouldn't have this much trouble.

- - - - - - - - - -

Hannah was seated as close to the fire as possible. Her brown hair was drying from her near-scalding bath. Her maid picked out the dresses from a trunk. She drew out a dark blue dress that reminded the young princess of the skies above Bavar.

She was a slight girl. Her hips weren't very wide, giving her a straight frame and, due to lack of sun, her skin was a paler shade than normal, although her people had naturally darker skin. She would stand out among these northerners, that was for certain; her slight frame and darker skin would immediately give her away, even if her brown hair with a red tint didn't. The dark eyes that were so natural around Bavar now were odd. Even the guards at the gates had the lighter eyes.

A thought crept into her mind.

What is this northerner prince like?

- - - - - - - - - -

You know the drill, folks.

Review please!