PhantasyDreamer: Hey, there, first of all sorry for the long wait. I was starting to get writers block but now I'm back on track. I would like to thank all of you who voted on which Princess I should use. It meant a lot to me. Well, enjoy the story and when you're done you'll find out which princess I chose.
The Forgotten Princess
Chapter 7: The Princess Arrival
Last time: On The Forgotten Princess
They were moving along smoothly until her horse started to neigh loudly and kick up its legs in the air. Although getting the instructions from Andrew that helped her out before she was so scared that she started to lose control of the horse. The horse galloped ahead passing both Darien and Andrew heading further into the woods. It continued to run heading straight to a high cliff. Selena hanged onto the horse for dear life as she watched as the horse speed towards the cliff. Not stopping and heading straight towards it. "Help!!" she screamed holding the bridle tightly as she looked at the upcoming cliff.
The story continues.....
The horse moved closer towards the cliff. Selena tried her best to get off the horse but it was no use the horse held her down.
'Oh no, I got to do something,' she thought moving to get off the horse.
She tried desperately one last time as she pulled the bridle. But it didn't work, finally she saw a branch leaning down up ahead. She reached out for it and grabbed it while the horse galloped away. Releasing the branch she fell to the floor. Andrew and Darien raced towards her as she struggled to get up.
"I'm very sorry, your Highness," Selena replied meekly bowing her head, "It was an acci-"
"Are you alright?" Andrew asked helping her up.
"I'm fine," she smiled embarrassingly.
"Let's get out of here, we have no more time to waste," Darien spat giving Selena a glare, "I'm late as it is,"
They galloped into the woods heading closer towards the town with Selena riding with Andrew on his horse.
TOWN SQUARE
People ran from all over the town to watch as Prince Darien galloped into the town square on his horse. Many bowed as he passed by and tried to touch him as if he was some kind of god.
"Your highness" a red hair lady came up to him beaming while bowing.
"Good day, my fair lady," he smiled as the young girl fainted by just the utterance of his voice.
Her mother carried her away whispering "I'm sorry your highness, she doesn't see royalty very often,"
"It is alright," he smirked moving towards the store.
Selena was shocked the least to see the way he was acting so nicely towards his people, so kind and gentle. And yet he would treat her so badly.
They all arrived to the clothes store later than expect since they got lost in the woods. However, they finally made it and Darien was truly happy now since he was blaming Selena every half a second. Andrew and Darien proceeded into the store with Selena traveling slowly behind. Her clothes were smudge with dirt and she was very angry with the Prince for his rude behavior towards her. She wore a black knee length skirt and a white blouse. Once inside they looked around until the prince started picking out clothes.
Andrew sat in a chair reading a book while Selena sat next to him staring at the Prince.
'Why does the Prince have to be such a jerk?' she thought questioning herself.
She gazed at him for a while he was quite handsome. Short straight ebony hair that extends to his ears and face and the most mysterious dark blue eyes she had ever seen. But most of the time he was so cold towards her that it scared her. It was as if he had lost someone that meant the world to him. The thought ran cross her mind, Serena, that girl in the picture must be the one that he had lost.
'Maybe if I act nicer to him he may act differently towards me?' she thought smiling.
"Uh, Selena shouldn't you be helping the Prince?" asked Andrew raising an eyebrow.
"Oh, yeah, my bad," she giggled running towards Darien who was in front of a mirror.
"Prince Darien may I help you?" Selena asked meekly looking at him with pleading eyes.
He was trying on a suit. He turned to her looking at her with warm eyes.
"Yes, you can help," he replied softly.
'What's wrong with me?' he thought confused, 'Remember she is not Serena!'
Selena helped the prince pick out some suits for his engagement with his princess. Several hours passed as the prince searched for a new garment. After trying on some more he finally put on a white suit with golden pattern design on the chest area of the jacket and on the wrist area. He also bought 4 other suits but his favorite was the one Selena had picked out for him.
"This is perfect!" she smiled at Darien who was wearing the suit that she had picked out for him.
"It's really nice," he replied sternly going back in the room to change his clothes, "We should go now my mother must be furious since my dad is coming home,"
Prince Darien sighed as he walked towards the counter. Selena wanted to talk to him about his depression but she was afraid of what he might say to her so she didn't. She just stood still. Andrew came up to her to help break her out of her gaze.
"He's a little bummed out about meeting his princess," Andrew smirked.
"Princess?" she asked shocked, "Why is he bummed out?"
"Because he's supposed to marry at age 21 but the princess he was supposed to marry is dead," Andrew whispered so that Darien could not hear.
"Oh, that's really sad," she replied realizing that the girl in the picture must be the one that he had lost.
"Andrew, Selena let's go!!" the prince shouted exiting the store.
They all departed from the store. Prince Darien climbed onto his horse while Andrew did the same helping Selena onto his horse as well. Selena and Andrew had not finished their conversation in the store and quite frequently she couldn't keep her mind off of it.
They headed towards the woods as the sunset and the place started to grow dark. When they got deeper into the woods, a log laid in their pathway blocking their path. Selena sighed as she looked at their predicament.
"What are we going to do?" she asked getting off the horse with a little help from Andrew.
"We have to get it out of our way," Darien whispered going towards the log with Andrew following behind.
"How hard could that be?" Andrew assumed.
Before the prince was able to move the log out of his way, a man sneaked up behind him clutching a sword close to his neck. He held it close making him nervous to move. Selena gasp at the sight of Darien being held by a thief while Andrew stood still.
"Give me all of your money!" he demanded in a husky voice slowly easing his grip on Darien.
Darien smirked, "Let me get it, it's in the horses' saddle," he replied as the man let him go.
His henchmen came up behind Selena and Andrew pointing their knives in their direction. They were both standing next to the black horse. Selena stood silent trying not to shiver or scream.
"Don't try any funny stuff," he warned raking his messy brown hair.
The prince walked slowly to his horse as he drew out his money. He threw it on the floor effortlessly. He watched cautiously as the thief itched towards it, as soon as he touched the bag Darien pulled out his sword ready for battle.
Andrew himself got the upper hand of the two other men who were behind him and he also drew his sword for battle. Swishing and clanging of the swords could be heard as the 2 men fought bravely against the thieves. The leader of the group saw this and was really furious. So he ran and grabbed Selena before the 2 guys could notice anything. Clutching a small knife close to her throat, he held her wrist making it impossible to move.
"No one move or the girl gets hurt!!" he yelled in a rough voice.
Darien turned around to see his maid being held hostage by a tall man, her hand gripping his wrist. He had long black hair that was held in a low ponytail and dark brown eyes. The 2 other guys who were knocked down stood up instantly cornering both Darien and Andrew.
"NO!!" he whispered in defeat.
AT THE PALACE
The King had just entered the palace after returning from his long journey to the Cyclone Islands for 2 months. He was greeted by his wife who ran to give him a big hug.
"Oh, Rudolph I'm so happy that you have return to us safely," she smirked.
"My darling, I'm so delighted to see you too," he smiled giving his wife a passionate kiss.
They both walked into the living room area each of them sitting down in their own chair.
Holding her hand he asked giving her a smirk, "Now, where is my son?"
"Darien, went to town to get new garments," she sighed, "you know he is meeting his bride-to-be tomorrow,"
"Oh, wow, my how time flies," he laughed raking his blond beard.
He chuckled for a while longer and then he started asking, "So how has he been?"
"Darien has been having some problems," she started shuttering at the thought of it, "he's been constantly talking about Serena, having nightmares and other things. And now he hired a maid who he purposively thought was Serena when she first arrived"
"Well, I guess you have me to blame for that," he chuckled, "besides I gave Darien the idea of Serena coming back to us someday but I never thought he would listen,"
"Rudolph how could you!" the queen shrieked.
"Excuse me your Highness," Raye busted into the room.
"Yes?" she asked irritated.
"Your majesty, the prince has not returned from his journey as of yet," she whispered bowing.
"Thank you Raye, that will be all" she forced a smiled ushering her to vacate the room.
'I hope Selena is alright' she thought exiting the room.
IN THE FOREST
"Please don't!" he pleaded trying to stop him.
"Give us your money and the girl would be set free," he replied loosen his grip on her neck.
"Okay," he sighed picking up the bag from the floor, "promise me the girl will be alright"
"Yes, she will," he smirked.
"Darien, No!!" Andrew screamed as a tall man also cornered him.
The prince signaled to Selena to hit the man right in his face with her fist. She waited for a while before she made her move. Sweat flowed slowly down her face as she watch Darien move closer to the thief. He lowered the knife away from her throat slowly; she waited till the knife was far away from her throat to make her move.
"NOW!!" he yelled.
She hit him hard making him cry out loud for his nose. Selena ran towards Darien and he ushered her aside as he finished battling with the remaining thieves.
Andrew and he continued to finish the battle but the leader decided to leave his mark on the prince. He used his knife to cut Darien right on his left arm. He cried out in pain as he looked up to see the thieves retreating. His vision became foggy as everything began to turn black.
"Prince Darien!!" was the last thing he heard as he fell to the floor unconscious.
Moments later he woke up to see a large fireplace in front of him where Andrew and Selena sat talking away. The breeze of the dark night was blowing lightly.
"Uh..." he muttered stiffening to the striking pain he felt in his arm.
"Prince Darien are you alright?" Selena asked noticing that he had just awoken.
She ran up to him since he was leaning on a tree trunk. She touched his arm and he screamed loudly. Andrew came up to Selena and smiled.
"Don't worry Selena, he'll be alright," he smirked as Darien looked at his bandaged knee.
"I hope so," she sighed.
"Wha...What happened?" he asked, "Where are the thieves?"
"There gone," she looked at his arm that was bleeding rapidly.
Andrew got up from his kneeling position as he said, "Selena, I'm going to find some more fire wood, I'll be right back"
As soon as he left she decided that she should find a way to stop the prince from bleeding to death. She loosened the piece of cloth that she had attached around his arm. The prince watched in amazement as she struggled to pull off his sleeve. Ripping the entire dark blue left arm sleeve off with a little help from Darien she quickly wrapped it again around his arm.
"Thank you," he whispered giving her a perfect smirk.
"Your welcome," she smiled getting up.
"Wait!" he yelled struggling to move but he fell back down, "Selena I'm sorry for treating you so badly. It's not your fault that you're not Serena. Can't we just be friends?"
"I appreciate, your honesty your highness but it is not necessary," she replied solemnly.
"Yes, it is" he made his way to his feet staggering a little, "I, Prince Darien of the Shields kingdom kindly ask for your forgiveness,"
"You are forgiven," she smiled standing right in front of him.
'Why does she have to look so much like Serena,' he thought starting to feel a little dizzy.
They were just standing a few inches away from each other and without warning he fell into her arms while his weight bearing down on her. Andrew came up on the scene to see the prince leaning on Selena as if ready to faint. He helped her move him to a nearby tree trunk.
"I'm sorry," he smirked when he was sitting down.
"Good night your highness," Selena smiled going to lie on the grass nearby the fire, "Good night Andrew."
The two boys whispered a good night to Selena and sat down to talk some more about the events that took place moments before. Darien still felt weak after losing so much blood but luckily for him the bleeding had stopped.
"So are you excited to meet her?" Andrew asked skeptically as Darien looked at the brightly lit moon above.
"No, I'm not," he sighed bowing his head, "I sometimes wish I could reverse what happened to Serena and I know I would be a lot happier if she was alive."
He forced a smile trying to hide his tears.
"It will be alright, Darien no matter who you marry, Serena will always be in your heart" he got up to lie down in another portion of the grass far away from Darien and Selena but close to the horse.
Selena lay silently as she thought of what the prince had just said. It saddens her to see him sad over Princess Serena but for some odd reason she felt as if she knew the kind of pain he felt.
THE NEXT DAY
The heat of the morning sun bare down on Selena as she stirred to move. She woke up to feel a warm cloth over her body. She lifted it up to realize that it was Prince Darien's cloak. As soon as she got up the prince woke up from his slumber.
"You were shivering," he whispered as she picked up the cloak.
"Thank you," she smiled weakly.
She plucked out the piece of grass that was stuck in her short neck length hair. After she was finished and Andrew had woken up they decided to head back to the palace. The ride back home was silent as all of them contemplated on what was going to happen when they would arrive home.
"Darien, you're home at last, I was so worried!!" his mother shrieked running up to his horse that abruptly stopped.
He got off of his horse and so did Selena and Andrew. Darien received a heart-warming hug from his mother.
"It's nice to see you too mother," he smirked seeing his father walk up to him.
"Come here son!!" King Rudolph smiled pulling his son into a strong hug.
"Father its good to see you too," the prince smiled.
"Darien what happened?" Queen Adena asked dragging her son towards the palace, "You have to get that your arm fixed right now and your princess is soon on her way,"
The King went over to talk to Andrew whom he hadn't seen in a long time. Darien and Andrew had been best friends from childhood and most often he would visit the palace occasionally. Right after Serena's disappearance Darien met Andrew in his swordsmanship class and the two had been best friends ever since.
"So, Andrew my son how have you been?" the King smiled giving Andrew a hug.
"I'm doing well," he started touching Selena's shoulder, "Have you met Darien's maid Selena?" he asked pointing Selena out to the King.
"Ms. Selena, it's a pleasure to meet you," he replied giving her a warm smile.
"Nice meeting you too, your highness," she bowed lowly.
"It is not necessary to bow," he smirked taking her hand and leading her inside the palace as if she was a princess. Andrew followed closely behind.
'She looks a lot like Serena; I can see why my son made the mistake' he thought entered the palace gates.
Minutes turned into hours as Darien got prepared to meet his bride to be for the first time. Selena helped him get ready as the other servants ran up and down to make sure that the palace was spotless. The announcement was made.
Men with trumpets played in the hallway as the princess walked from her carriage and headed slowly up the stairs. Darien stood anxiously at the end of the hallway waiting to see her face. He imagined to himself that it was Serena who was coming up the stairs but he quickly dismissed that thought.
"Well, here goes nothing," he whispered slowly.
"PRESENTING!!" a short man made his way in front as he spread a red carpet onto the floor, "YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCESS TRISHA MAYLO!!!!"
Yes, I have finished. At last!! Well, don't worry; I'm going to make the next chapter right now!!
So I'll see you later and please Review!!!
PhantasyDreamer