A/N: So I apologize, this chapter is kind of rushed. There was a lot I wanted to cover in a small amount of writing. I hope it all makes sense. It should....hopefully. :) I wrote it a lot differently then previous chapters. This one is written in three different points of view. Again, feel free to review and tell me what you like and dislike. I had one review that requested better explanation of characters, I know this chapter doesn't do so, but I promise to try and do better in upcoming chapters! Thanks ya'll! -Md

The Truth Comes Out

"Are you kidding me?" Katy said with eyes that began to glaze over.

"No." I whined and put my head in my hands. "I already went to him and said I'd do it, so I can't possibly take it back now."

Katy just kept looking at me with her mouth wide open. She had found me by the lake pacing back and forth. I'd just been to see the King who was absolutely delighted by my decision. Right after I'd told him, I'd instantly regretted it. I was emotional. Once the shock of what happened with Nate wore off I new it was the stupidest thing I'd ever done. I'd gone to the lake afterwards to try and work things out in my head. Nate had told Katy about our little "talk" and she came to find me right away. Boy was she surprised by the news I had for her. The King still wanted me to keep it a secret, but I had to tell her. I needed someone to help me.

"Ok, so go over this one more time for me. How is this going to happen? What is the King's plan, and please, use small words because my brain is on overload." Katy said slowly.

"There is going to be a ball next week. It's going to be the "great ball where the Prince will choose his bride." That's what he's going to tell everyone. Then I will go, all prettied up and crap, then the Prince will choose me as his bride. Then oh my goodness! It turns out the bride is nothing more than a commoner. Then I guess this is supposed to bring about much rejoicing by the towns folk and peasant-royal relations will suddenly blossom and all will be well… Supposedly." I added on the end.

"El! Why on earth would you agree to this?!" She shouted.

"Shh! Keep your voice down! If people find out the King will not be happy at all with me."

"Oh El, you don't even like or respect the King!"

"I know I know, but I've been, um, emotionally unstable this week. And he promised to take care of my family. Have you seen my house? Have you seen the filth that my family has to live in? We barely survive from day to day. If I do this, they'll never want again. And I guess, if it works out the way the King imagines, it'll be a good thing for everyone." I nodded my head in determination.

She sighed heavily. "You know I love you and I'll back you up on anything. No matter how ludicrous. But just promise me one thing, promise that you are not only doing this because Nate turned you down."

"It's not." I lied a little. "I promise."

"Ok, well just tell me that you aren't going to forget me." Katy said in a small voice.

"Are you kidding?!" I laughed, "you are my best friend and you'll be visiting me everyday. Heck, I'm going to be the Princess. I can do whatever I want right? If I want you to be my personal assistant, you can!"

"Um, No." She teased. "Just because you are going to be Royalty does NOT mean I'm going to wait on you hand and foot. Nope, you'll always be poor, dirty Cinderella to me."

"Awe, that's sweet, really." I batted my eyelashes.

****

The Prince paced back and forth in the Castle's Foyer. Una was going to arrive any minute and he had to break the news to her. He'd once again put up a fight when his father told him this common girl had said yes to the scheme. But in the end, his father threw the "it is your duty as heir to the throne" garbage in his face. He'd tried to throw hypocrisy back at his father by telling him that he'd grown up with his father shoving the fact that all Royalty must marry Royalty down his throat. That didn't even phase the King.

Char in all honesty didn't think it was the worst idea in the world. Once he'd thought more about it of course. He just didn't want to be stuck with some crazy, green eyed peasant the rest of his days.

"Hello Char." Una said sweetly as she entered the castle.

She was followed by the three gaurds who were always with her. They were very large, burly men with beady eyes. They all looked like they could be twins. Char's stomach gave a little twist. He'd been hoping they wouldn't come with her. He nervously wondered what it was going to be like when his head would go through the wall.

"Hello Princess." Char bowed to her and she returned a curtsy. "Please, may we take this discussion into the dining hall….alone." He eyed her gaurds.

"Certainly my Love." She widened her eyes so they looked more innocent. Like a puppy.

"Thanks."

They moved into the dining hall and he held a chair out for her at the great table.

"Well, I'm just going to get straight to the point." Char said as he sat down next to her. "We can't see each other anymore."

Una kept the smile plastered on her face, those he could tell her eyes widened a little, giving her a slightly crazed look. She stared at him for a good minute before she spoke.

"Why?" Her voice was a higher pitch then normal.

Char then went on to explain to her what the situation was. Una laughed when he finished.

"You're so funny Char, that's why I picked you." She said, though Char didn't understand what she meant by the last part.

"I'm afraid this isn't a joke, Una. Please understand I mean no disrespect to you and I hope this will not sever connections with our Kingdoms. I would be glad if we could still be friends."

As Char said that he did wonder passively about the fact that he nor his father had actually met the King and Queen of Una's country. She would always come to him. The thought though was fleeting and he shrugged it off. Una's face had become confused. She pulled her eyebrows together and started to shake her head.

"How can this be? It makes no sense." Her voice wasn't directed at Char.

She seemed to be more curious about the situation then angry. Though he wasn't really relieved by that fact, he was glad that she wasn't throwing things or yelling at him.

"I, I must go." Una said.

She stood before Char could say anything and she walked out without looking back. Char followed her into the Foyer where she snapped for her guards to follow. They left without a word.

"Huh." Char said to the empty room. "That was…..strange."

****

A glass vile full of green mist flew at the stone wall and shattered. An old woman screamed in frustration. Three burly men stood silently and motionless around the room.

"How could I have mixed the wrong potion. I didn't, I KNOW I didn't. I remember specifically putting in every ingredient in the perfect proportions. Why didn't it work on him?" The woman was talking to herself really, the three men made no sound in agreement or otherwise.

She walked over to a mirror that hung on the wall.

"I thought that maybe looking and acting like this Princess Una would be enough to trap him," As she spoke her image changed into that of the beautiful princess Una. "But, I knew I had to be sure, so I mixed the love potion and I've been giving it to him for the past month! Obviously it hasn't been working! If it had been, he would have refused this monstrosity of a scheme his pathetic father has conjured up. Even to the point of death he'd have refused."

She turned from the mirror and went to a book that was on a small pedestal. She flipped furiously through until she came to the page she was looking for.

"It must have been wrong. Or maybe it wasn't strong enough." She fingered each word carefully.

"Yes, I will make it again. This time stronger. There will be no getting away from me this time. It worked on the other Princes and I have their kingdoms now. I will have this Kingdom. I will, I promise you that."

She opened a large wooden cabinet that was filled with roots and bottles of glittering liquid. She began pulling different ones off the shelve and pouring them into a large black cauldron. All the while whispering to herself: "Yes, I will have this one. I will."