Nixiesocean: Hello, my fine readers. How are you? I'm fine, thank you for asking.
Responses:
ham337d: I've learned, over the time-span of a year, I've learned. If you want super-good stories, read authors like Piratess of Summer, Ellea Dawn, fairygirl716 or Bingo5. They're my inspiration!
Piratess of Summer: Don't deny it! You're a waaaay better authoress than me! (Onto your review) I know, I was hoping no one would own it also (big mistake). "My" book is actually my dad's. I stole it from his library. He has the paperback edition. Hannah and Mercy are meant to be similar, almost like twins. Hannah is the southern version of Mercy, which is why they get along. Mercy likes fun more than Hannah while Hannah loves learning. Mercy, obviously, likes the outdoors more or she'd not escape with Marcus. Mostly, Hannah is meant to be a sweet girl.
Dark Ninja of Mount Hope: Thanks. I love writing my stories, they're a good escape.
FaylinnNorse: It was pretty much a random find in the book. I went "y'know, I want to do a little-known fairy tale and turn it into a story". So, here I am, writing The Lion and the Frog. The brother/sister friendliness was part of the original story. Once you get later into it you'll figure out why it's so essential.
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Bingo5: I've seen 4th and 5th graders with boobs. It is slightly different, I agree to see 5th graders with boobs, and Hannah's the age of a 5th grader. I assume Hannah is a late bloomer. Also, Hanor is like a Germany. Remember Germany's girls? They traditionally have bigger chests and they bloom earlier. : - )
Really? Because I've had boys (since they're not fit to be called men) when I was her age that hated me right from the start. (Blonde hair perhaps?). It isn't surprising for Marcus to 'hate' Hannah. I see it less as hatred and more of annoyance. Marcus loves the outdoors, to be drug inside for a foreign princess that doesn't know what the heck snow is would be really annoying and he'd probably have a bad first impression of her.
Remember, also, that being royalty, they're expected to grow up faster. : - ) We are spoiled in this day and age to be able to have our childhood last up until about eight, nine or ten. The royalty of old times would've had their childhood up until about the age of six or seven, even as early as five. Even girls, because they had to take etiquette lessons, dancing lessons, sewing lessons et cetera, et cetera.
Whew. Long explaination.
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Enough of my blabbering! Read, enjoy and please review!
Chapter 3: Formal Introductions, Secret Thoughts and Royal Letters
The Crown Prince of Bavar was hot, uncomfortable and unwilling to make due in these silks. This princess better be a beauty because he was annoyed at having to come inside when he loved the outdoors so much.
He wanted to play with his hunting dog, Pine and Spots. Both were big dogs, wolf-bred, and faithful to the death. Both were puppies of the same litter and near copies of one another. Even his sister had trouble telling the difference. Pine was slightly darker, more bark-like. Spots had a lighter shade of brown. Both puppies had a blue-gray sock on their right paw. Both puppies also had green eyes. He loved those dogs he'd raised since last year's winter.
Princess Mercy Anna, his sister, entered. She looked stunning in a pale blue-white dress with a thin line of white fox fur for trim. Her black hair was done up in endless loops of braids and a small tiara was braided into it. Although the princess was only eight, she had a sort of beauty not normally possessed by anyone of her age. She didn't even seem awkward in her child-sized body.
She took her seat next to her brother in the line of power. King Jonas Matthew, Queen Anna Mercy, Prince Marcus Jonas and lastly, Princess Mercy Anna. The herald came up to the door. He pounded it for silence. The other nobles who made up the court silenced.
The herald coughed and spoke loudly. "Her Most Royal Highness Princess Hannah of Bavar, daughter of the Duke of Diamond Coast." As soon as the herald said "Her" the doors opened. Princess Hannah was, needless to say, not a beauty. She had a straight frame with no curves, even at the age of nine. Her blue dress didn't help her stature at all. She wore long sleeves and a thick mantle of black bear fur. She looked positively scared to the prince.
He stood, as was custom. He gave her a bow. This was all well rehearsed. "Princess Hannah of Bavar, on behalf of my family and the nobles of Hanor, I present to you, the Court of Hanor." She curtsied.
The queen of Hanor stood and spoke next. "We will take refreshments in the next room." The tense atmosphere dissipated and the nobles went to the adjoining room. The king and queen spoke quickly with their children; then left the three royal children to their devices.
Prince Marcus was at a loss for words. All three were left standing, not speaking a word.
The princess of Hanor finally broke the silence. "I've heard it rarely snows in Bavar, Princess Hannah, is that true?"
Hannah nodded. "Yes, it is. Until my journey north, I had never seen… snow."
"You've never played in snow?" Marcus asked, incredulous. He knew he wasn't acting like a true prince, but it was all too impossible. "Never thrown snowballs… never walked in snowshoes?"
She blushed deeply. "I'm sorry… but what's a snowshoe?"
Mercy's eyes lit up. "We'll have to show you! Are you too tired to go outside?"
The elder princess stared at Mercy. "Go… outside? In the cold?"
Marcus sighed. "Mercy's just joking, Your Highness." He gave his sister a glare and left with a bow.
Hannah nodded. She turned to Mercy. "Call me Hannah. If I'm to stay, I insist on your calling me by my first name."
Mercy curtsied. "Call me Mercy. I'm sure Marcus won't mind."
The Barvan princess' dark cheeks flushed. "Propriety demands that His Highness give me leave to call him on a first-name basis, Mercy."
Mercy, a paler, shorter princess, blushed also. "Yes, of course. Would you like to see the library of Hanor?" Hannah responded by smiling broadly.
The two princesses headed off toward the library.
- - - - - - - - - -
The prince has nerve. Hannah thought silently. She had enough etiquitte training not to let her irritated thoughts show through to Mercy. He certainly knows well enough of mannerisms to be polite enough to bow. Mercy chattered on and on about the snow. She shuttered at the thought of the cold things. He cannot be a chivalrous knight of yore.
Even at the young age of nine, Hannah had read stories of knights that rescued damsels from furious monsters.
And father said it might be a possible marriage! Impossible I told him!
Hannah bit her lip chapped from telling Mercy about her thoughts.
I will never marry this barbaric northerner!
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Mercy knows I don't think of this princess fondly. Marcus told himself. She knows I don't approve of this ignorant southerner. She knew and insisted on a first-name intimacy! How far did this southerner travel to get so far south she never knew snow? Snow is as commonplace as… rain
It comes, and stays, every winter. How can she not know that? Why did she come so far north? In any case, if marriage is her intent, I refuse to court – or ask – this straight-framed princess to have my hand! Marcus emphasized his thoughts by slamming the door to his private bedchamber.
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Why doesn't Marcus approve? Hannah is perfectly amiable. She is kind and knowledgeable. She values new information and her eyes light up at the mention of new facts – so long as she doesn't have to venture out into the snow.
Mercy chattered mindlessly, her thoughts elsewhere, as they looked around the library. Hannah nodded and interjected, her mind obviously elsewhere.
I shall have to speak with Marcus tonight. She is perfectly fine. Why doesn't her accept her?
Is it because she is dark-skinned and we are pale?
Is it because he fears her?
WHY
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Dearest Royal Cousin,
This meeting with our respective children has proven fruitless. My son, Crown Prince Marcus Jonas, has met, and is distinctly – no pun intended – cold toward your beauteous daughter.
My daughter, Princess Mercy Anna, has proven a wonderful friend for Princess Hannah. They spend much time together.
I pray, Dearest Cousin, to allow your daughter to stay longer. Perhaps my son will warm up to your daughter and a marriage at the age of eighteen still plausible.
God bless you, Cousin.
Jonas Matthew of Hessex
King of Hanor
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Fondest Cousin,
You letter grieves me. I had hoped this union to settle any past wrongs our nations might have done. I give you leave to allow my daughter to stay longer.
Maybe up to a year. My lady yearns to see Princess Hannah, but we understand that the need for a husband for our daughter is much more needful. Keep the posts in good supply.
God bless your judgment,
Darrin of Diamond Coast
King of Bavar
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