Arguments and Charm

Prince Charming sat on the top stair as he saw the girl, Cinderella, being escorted out of the castle. He was relieved when she didn't turn and see him. She would have noticed the scowl he wore on his face. When she had gone he stood and went into the dining room in which his father sat.

"You just missed her Char. She was quite delightful." The king smiled.

"Yeah that's too bad." Char replied in monotone.

"I think I convinced her this was a good plan."

"Let's hope not." He grunted.

"Come Char, you didn't even meet her. You might have liked her." The queen said.

"I doubt that father. This whole thing is so ridiculous." He scoffed.

"Son, are you in love with Una?" The king asked him.

"That doesn't have to do with anything." Char avoided the question.

"It has everything to do with it! Now tell me, do you love her?" He asked again.

"I don't know." Char sighed. "But I was doing my duty as Prince to marry someone of royalty."

"Well think of this as your new duty! Duty to your country! A country that views us as tyrants and snobs! Trust me when I say you will have just as likely a chance to like Cinderella and you do or don't Una." The King went back to eating his meal and Char new that his father was going to say no more.

Char took a look at his mother who he knew was completely siding with the King. He rolled his eyes again and left the room. He walked to the stables and put a saddle on his horse. A guard looked worried as he watched the prince prepare his horse.

"You're not going out alone are you sire?" He asked the prince.

Char laughed and nodded his head.

"Of course I'm going by myself. I'm not a child and am perfectly capable of taking care of myself."

The guard just nodded and went about his business. Char took his horse and rode away from the castle. He didn't know where he was going exactly. He just needed some fresh air.

He went over things in his mind as he traveled. It's not that he didn't like peasants. They were his people, he loved them. But to marry one? He had always grown up with the belief that royalty marries royalty. Commoner marries commoner. Besides, commoners were usually dirty and sweaty and their hands were callused and dry from working all time. They were angry most of the time too because their lives weren't easy.

That's not to say that his life was easy. He worked hard. He learned politics and had a fine education. Royalty always had fine education, the best teachers only (another thing he disliked of commoners was their lack of education. Trying to have a conversation with a peasant about scholarly works always was a pain.)

No, Char wanted a wife who was kind hearted, beautiful, smart, funny and sweet. He knew that folks didn't see royalty in the best of light, especially since his father took over. A great King he was to be sure, he just never tried to include the people of the country with politics. Char would rule differently that is for sure. He'd visit houses in the city, play with children in the street, even create opportunities for men to come forth and speak of their cares and concerns.

But to marry one? No, that just wasn't right. Besides there WAS Una. He liked her, he really did. She was everything he'd pictured in a wife. She was easy to talk to. She was absolutely beautiful. She enjoyed discussing art, which was Char's favorite subject. The King had a great hall devoted to artwork of the most famous and talented artists. They spent a lot of their time together in that hall talking about their favorite pieces.

On the thought of Una being beautiful, Char's mind went over her seemingly perfect appearance in his mind. She had blond curly hair that shined and glistened. Her eyes were deep brown with specks of gold. Her figure was slim, and she was clean and well kept.

Yes, he liked her. But love? He wasn't sure if what he felt was love. Maybe he'd read too many stories of Knights and great tales of love and romance. He was attracted to Una but his knees didn't buckle at the sight of her. He didn't spout romantic poetry in his mind as she approached. But was that what love was supposed to be?

Char shook his head and decided to stop thinking about it for a while. Their was no point in stressing over it. He knew his father's mind was made up and their was no changing it. He'd have to go through with his father's orders. But he was not going to go down without putting up a fight.

Char's horse, Sir Steve, as he liked to call him stopped at a small pond to drink. Petting his mane, Char looked around. There was a weeping willow tree next to him. He wasn't sure if he'd ever been to this part of the village. He could see the misty trees of the Enchanted Forest in the distance. The image made him shiver just a bit.

When he made it back to the castle, everyone was asleep. He put his horse in his stall and crept to his room.

A/N- This chapter is quite short. Sorry. I think I struggled with this chapter a bit. I may struggle with the next couple chapters, up until I get to the parts I really WANT to write. Hopefully the chapters will be good enough to pique someones interest. :) Please reveiw! -Md