Chapter 15

Elvira smiled as she stared at her grandson. He was the spitting image of his father, especially in that uniform. She couldn't get over how well he had fit into it, not to mention how well it stood up to the test of time. Not a mark on it, not a moth bite, nothing.

"Is this really what my father looked like? Eugene admired himself in the mirror.

Elvira nodded. "Yes, it is, especially when he was your age." She moved closer to straighten out a few wrinkles in the fabric, but then she stepped back to check out her handiwork. She nodded her approval.

"He was a good man and a excellent guardsman. The three of you were a close knit family. Will and Elizabeth died of pneumonia when you only 2 years old. "

Eugene smiled as he stared into the mirror. "The only thing I remember is the orphanage. It wasn't that it was so bad; it was more like something kept nagging at me to get out of there. I couldn't wait until I was out on my own and that's when I found you."

"Didn't you find something else?" Elvira asked.

Eugene nodded. "A baby, a little baby girl with big green eyes and the cutest face I've ever seen. She was crying and screaming until I picked her up and when we made eye contact…"

He trailed off, then shook his head. "I'm a peasant and a thief, Elvira. I don't deserve to have her. I've been dreaming about her all my life and all I've ever met is one of her ladies who is supposed to introduce to me to her."

He turned back to the mirror. "This is all a sham, nothing more. I'm not worthy of her, she'll never have me. I'll just be one of many. So I saved her, so what? They'll give me a medal for bravery and send me on my way."

He turned again to face his grandmother. "A thief doesn't marry a princess, Elvira, no matter what I've done. Royalty never marries for love; they marry for political reasons only."

Elvira smiled and smoothed out his uniform once more. "You don't know, Eugene. You must remember that your mother was a Lady in Waiting to the Queen. There is nothing to be ashamed of. You did a brave thing by returning the little princess to her proper place and I know that the King and Queen will never forget that. I know that they're will be forever grateful."

She stepped back again and nodded her approval. "Come, we've got only a few hours left. We've got to get you there before the other suitors. We need a head start and we've got the best transportation in all of Corona."

Eugene stared at her as she rushed him out of the tower and down the steps.

Elvira smiled as she walked over to the horse that had been tied to an old birch tree opposite the tower.

Eugene's eyes widened. "Maximus?" he said, smiling. He remembered the beautiful white horse in Elvira's stable, how he used to care for him and ride him endlessly.

"It's his son, Eugene, but I've named it Max because he looks exactly like him. He's the fastest horse in all of Corona. He'll get you to the castle in time. Meg will be there to greet you and take you inside to meet the Princess. Your lifelong dream will come true."

Eugene smiled and jumped on Max. "What about you?"

Elvira smiled again. "I'll be there, Eugene. I'm not your fairy grandmother for nothing, you know."

Her grandson smiled down at her. "I don't know how to thank you."

Elvira looked up. "There's no need. Now go, before you miss the ball altogether."

Eugene nodded and spurred Max on.

It wasn't too long afterwards that Elvira followed. She hoped that Michael and Gabriel Starz had carried out their part of the bargain.

XXXXX

Flynnagan Rider was furious. There was no way to blame the Stabbingtons for robbery and no entrance to the castle, not ahead of time anyway. Nothing was going right; all his planning was for nothing. There had to be another way in there, he couldn't let his ancestors down.

He had to destroy the Royal family and the Gothel's had to be in control. His descendents were crying out for revenge.

They were in the woods; the tower was too far away from the castle. He needed to be close, close as he could possibly get.

He turned his attention toward the twins, still sleeping beside him. Rider just shook his head. They weren't worth his time or energy anymore, the two bumbling fools. What good were they? No, he would have to revise this plan and do this alone.

And this time he was going to do it right.

He had no time to lose, it was still early yet. He ran towards the castle, but stopped when he reached the barracks. Rider smiled. The idea just hit him. Some of the guards would be sleeping. All he needed to do was somehow borrow a uniform and sneak his way into the castle. It would work, he knew it would, but he'd better hurry. His time was running out.

XXXXXX

Eugene and Max flew like the wind with Elvira close behind them. The three were only steps away from the gate when Eugene noticed something lying on the cobblestone street.

"Hold up, Max," Eugene said, as he jumped from the white horse and walked over to the object. He picked it up and held it in his hands, turning it over and over.

It was a shoe, but not an ordinary shoe. It was a lovely glass slipper with a fur lining inside for comfort. There was silver bead work and other precious jewels that adorned the outside of the shoe. The heel was less than an inch long. It was nothing like he'd ever seen before.

And it could only belong to one person. It had to be the Princess, he was sure of it; no one else would wear something like that.

But where was the other one?

Placing the slipper inside the waist of his trousers, he jumped on Max and made for the castle. He had just gained his entry into the castle.

Elvira smiled as she looked on from above. The plan was working fine.