CHAPTER FIVE: Royalty

Jamie walked off of the clearing and into a thin forest, the floor covered in purple leaves. Jamie walked, for what seemed like hours, until she came upon a marvelous maze of bushes. As she looked from side to side, she saw more garden.

"Hmmm…" She said,"Which way should I go? Left is a garden, the same with the right." Jamie paused and then said, "But... forward is a maze." She looked from side to side again, and, being the curious girl she was, jogged forward into the maze.

When Jamie had been in the tall, bush maze for a short 15 minutes of time, she began to get somewhat thirsty, seeing as she never really touched her tea(since it was purple…). As she approached another rounded corner, she saw a fountain with candy red fluid spewing from it's spouts attached to the bush 

wall, and a table next to it with small glass cups. She walked a little faster towards the strange sight within the green walls. When at the table and fountain she noticed a small sign beside the fountain saying "Drink Me". At the sight of the sign, she turned her head to one side as a dog does when confused. As she peered closer to the white sign, she saw smaller writing on the bottom: 1. Take cup, 2. Fill, 3. Drink Me, 4. Put cup back. Jamie grimaced at the thought of drinking out of an unwashed cup, but when she looked at the glasses set upon the table, they were sparkling clean, not a spot. She walked the short distance to the table and picked up a beautifully etched glass, dipped it into the flowing liquid, and pulled it out when it was almost full to the brim. As she held the glass in front of her face, she said, "Bottoms up!" and gulped it down. When the glass was empty she thought to herself, "That's peculiar, it's 

red…but it tastes of chocolate!" She then felt a tingling sensation and closed her eyes, she was becoming dizzy. The maze was spinning, becoming more confusing than ever. The next thing she knew she felt a great thrust against her body: two hands. She fell to the ground with a THUMP.

"What's going on here?!" A shrill, young voice exclaimed from above her. "I beg your pardon, miss," Jamie replied as she began to stand back up; a bit wobbly, but with a new found energy, "But I believe I could ask you the same thing! You are the one who pushed me!"

"Well you drank my Energy Drink!!" The strange girl said angrily.

"Well, whoever you are, when you post a sign that says 'drink me' it usually sends the message to drink it!" Jamie looked the 

young girl over. She didn't seem much younger than she, but there was something about her that added an important presence. She was dressed in formal white dress that gently brushed the ground. On her torso was a large, red diamond. The dress was strapless, but her red gloves wet up to about 4 or 5 inches below her shoulder; and the skirt portion puffed out at the waist down . Her hair was long, perfectly straight, and dark brown. Neatly placed on her head was a thin, diamond tiara with a moderately sized diamond shaped ruby in the middle. Her face was fair…except for the fact that it was angry.

"And maybe," the girl yelled, "I didn't' put that stupid sign up in the first place!"

"WHY NOT TAKE IT DOWN THEN?!" Jamie screamed back. This girl seemed very stupid, it was hung on a bush anyway!



"Maybe because I've tried!!"

"How could you be so weak? It's posted on a bush! " Jamie stomped over to the sign that said "Drink Me" and gave it a tug, but to her surprise, it wouldn't budge. Another thing to her surprise, the girl shrieked!

"How dare you touch my property! I shall have you tortured for your unruly deed! AAAAGGGGGGHHHH!!"

"I think little miss diamonds is loosing her temper. "

"Well excuse me, but any subject of mine should know that I have the right to loose my temper."

"Well, I'll have you know that I'm no subject of yours! I would rather dislike that position!"Jamie looked around aimlessly, preparing to take her leave.



"You'd better pay attention to me when I speak to you!!"

The girl stared at her, nostrils flaring, looked like she was going to punch Jamie. "Well, I don't think we should play together unless we know who the other is you know! So I shall introduce myself to you. My name is Jamie. May I ask yours?" Even though Jamie was still a little skeptical of the idea of her mood swinging so quickly, she curtsied. The strange girl pursed her lips, "Well, Jamie, my name is unimportant. You can just call me Princess of Diamonds... actually, since I like you, you can just call me Princess! "

"But isn't it a bit more polite to introduce yourself by name?" Jamie said, her mother's lessons kicking in.

"I suppose so..." The princess thought for a second. "Fine, my name is Laurissia, Princess of Diamonds, Daughter of the Queen 

of Hearts. " Laurissia smiled, obviously proud of her title. Jamie was left agape. Was she really speaking with a princess? For a moment she felt a bit of humbleness, but realized how rude Larissia had acted before, "Then now we know each other! Do you have a game in mind?" "Yes...we shall play my favorite!"

"Which would be...?"

"Badminton!" Princess Laurissia said excitedly. Badminton? This should be good... Jamie thought. After the two girls walked through the maze for a while more, it opened up into a beautiful open area; and right in front of them, was a beautiful Badminton court with a golden net and silver rackets.

"Come on!" Laurissia said, grabbing Jamie with her soft, gloved hand and pulling her to the opposite side of the court. She picked up the racket from the racket holder along with Jamie 

and fumbled around for the birdie. When Laurissia finally took charge and served it herself, she found that Jamie was absolutely horrid at playing

"Why, haven't you had badminton training before?"

Jamie was quite embarrassed, "No, I haven't. But, maybe I'll get better soon enough…." Jamie paused a moment.

"So were is the birdie?" Jamie asked.

"Oh it should be here any moment now..." Laurissia put her hand to her head and looked to the sky, as if looking for something. In the sky? Jamie thought, Why would a birdie be in the sky? I thought it just came back down right after it was hit... But her thoughts were interrupted as she saw a giant bird diving for her racket. "What in the WORLD!" Jamie yelled in 

surprise. After five seconds of freaking out she saw the birdie and, with out thinking, swung her racket and hit the bird! A moment after Jamie felt the impact on her racket she looked out from behind it and saw the birdie flying up into the air.

"What was THAT supposed to be!?" Jamie yelled half anger and half fright.

"That was the birdie, of course!"

"Larrissia, I don't think this is the game for me. How about I stand on the side while you and another friend play?"

"No, I will not here of it! I'll have a tutor meet you here at two" And the princess skipped off through the maze. Now's my chance! I can get away, Jamie thought. And with that thought, Jamie dropped the racket where she was and sprinted into a 

forest on the side of the castle. She didn't stop running until she reached a narrow path, where the forest thinned out.