"It's a girl!" A maid screamed through the halls. Sweat ran down her forehead, just missing her eyes avoiding what would be a stinging sensation. Her heartbeat raced faster, not used to the amount exercise her muscles were getting.
"It's a girl! It's a girl!" The short woman's voice bounced off the rock walls as her feet echoed through every corridor. Other maids, knights, witches, and dungeon guards ran to meet the woman who helped the queen give birth to Gallagher's first princess since twenty years. They looked at her with wide eyes, already planning a christening in their minds.
Food, the best in all of Gallagher would be share among the kingdom. Entertainment will be lively, everyone would want to dance and sing. Gifts would be given to the child, welcoming her to their kingdom and to the world.
It would be wonderful.
"Can you believe that man!" Cathrine Goode shouted as she watched the event take place through her mirror. She crossed her arms, her breath ragged in anger as her green eyes burned in fury.
"How could he!" She swiped her had across a metal table, dishes and glass beakers crashed down on the stone floor. Shatters of glass flew out in every direction, spiking through windows and sticking through cracks in the walls from the force.
The woman's fiery red hair glowed brighter the angrier she got. She paced the small dark room, ignoring the men and woman now cooing over a stupid baby through the large oval shaped mirror.
"Damn to him! Damn to the whole kingdom!" Her anger, though intense, slowly subsided as an idea came to her head.
Well she'll be quite a beauty. She thought with humor. Though we always look best when asleep.
~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~
The kingdom had finished setting up for Princess Cameron Ann two days later.
Everyone from the kingdom was there. Serfs to nobles, maids to knights. Fairies from all over came to see the wonderful new child that would one day rule over them. Music played throughout the ball room; happy and carefree. People danced, laughed, and sang with happiness. All the while, a small baby laid in a golden cradle. She stared at the ceiling of the large room, not knowing what she was looking at, but knowing the interesting designs imbedded in gold and silver were strange and new. She smiled and reached up, wanting to touch it.
"My Cameron." Someone whispered above her. This grabbed her attention so she moved her bright, crystal like blue eyes to whoever made the strange yet familiar noise.
A man smiled at her, so she gave a gummy smile back as if playing a silent game of Simon Says.
Cammie reached up for the person who looked familiar and safe. The man leaned his head down to kiss the Princess on the cheek. Cammie gooed while she swiped her small soft hands across his scruffy face.
The baby's eyes drifted shut and she quickly fell asleep, unaware of the party going on around her.
King Mathew picked the sleeping baby up to cradle her in his arms. She weighed nothing to him, only as much as a fairy's wing really. He smiled at his daughter; somehow falling in love even more with her than when he first laid eyes on the girl.
A chiming came from the castle bell, telling the people it was time for gifts. The most important people only brought something for the babe, knowing the serfs and nobles had nothing for her.
One by one men and women gave their Princess gifts of food and clothes, some even the rarest of all flowers, but none would compare to gifts three fairies would give her.
Macey, Rebecca, and Elizabeth. They flew a long way from their home land of Utmost, wanting to give the best of any gift to their Princess.
The three fluttered over the baby, everyone quiet, watching, observing, wondering.
The first to speak was Macey. She was the tallest of the the three yet still the size of a tall bug. This fairy was beautiful with long thick, silky black hair and fair skin. She landed on the sleeping baby's chest, smiling brightly.
"My gift, for you my dear child, is beauty. You blonde hair will grow almost golden with delicate curls that will never get tangled. Your skin won't ever gain a blemish and will always stay light. You will be healthy, radiant, and the apple of anyone's eye." She kissed Cammie's nose before flying up to her friends.
Rebecca was the next to land on the princess' chest. Her dark, milk chocolate colored skin stood out against the girls light baby skin. Rebecca crossed her arms with a smirk. "My gift for you is strength, emotional and physical. If anyone decides to talk down to you, you will put them in their place. Even the best dragon slayer will be no match for you. Though, your physical strength must come from the heart. If you do not believe in yourself, you will be no stronger than anyone else." Rebecca fluttered over the baby and kissed her cheek before flying next to Macey.
Elizabeth was next to give her gift. She slowly flew to the baby, before landing on her shoulder.
"For you, I would like to-" But before the fairy could finish, the doors to the ball room burst open with a strong gust of wind. Screams erupted out of women's mouths as men drew their swords. The slow click of heals were heard before anyone saw the intruder.
Slowly, a woman that had red hair brighter than fire walked in. She was wearing a long black dress that flowed as she walked. Red stitching gave the dress hidden color. It's movement reminded people of flames from a fire; how they moved so delicately, as if in a dance.
Her eyes were shut into thin slits, a bright green glow just peaking out through her lids.
Cathrine.
Everyone knew who she was. A woman who use to be the queen's right hand lady but was only ever a traitor; planing to kill Queen Rachel and her husband to take over Gallagher.
King Mathew stood up, drawing his sword. His eyes were as cold as ice, showing every hateful emotion known to man.
"Cathrine!" his voice boomed, "You have been banned from this kingdom! Leave before I slit you into so many pieces not even the strongest witch and wizard could save you." He moved in front of his newborn, ready to strike what offense Cathrine was ready to give.
"Oh Mathew," Cathrine hissed out, "you know me. I don't like to obey rules that ruin my fun." She laughed, so high pitched even the crows cowered in horror.
"I think it is my turn to give the child a gift." She said. A few people gasped, whispering worried words to their spouse and friends.
Cathrine walked up to Mathew as Rachel watched with a careful eye from her throne, not knowing what else to do.
"Go home." Mathew ordered with defiance and anger in his voice. Cathrine only smiled, not worrying about Matthew's sword two inches from her chest. Her snake like eyes looked over Mathew's shoulder, towards the sleeping child. She sneered, jealous of the baby's peaceful look.
"You will be adored by all who have even the smallest bit of selflessness. Life will be kind to you, only throwing in the occasional obstacle." Quiet breaths of relief filled the room but Mathews stance never faltered, knowing Cathrine wasn't done.
The witch's eyes shifted from the cradle to Mathew. Her hair flew in the air like live flames. Fire swarmed her, spinning off in all directions. The burning flames cracked loudly through the people's' screams of horror. Mathew stepped back, pushing the cradle behind him.
Cathrine spoke out in a loud voice, it's boom echoed through the large room.
"But before the sun sets on your sixteenth birthday, you will prick your finger on the needle of a spinning wheel and fall to an endless sleep. Not even the strongest spell in the world can save you from your fate." Mathew yelled and raised his arms to strike the witch. Blood dripped from her arm down to her elbow before pouring down to the ground. She screamed in pain and stepped back.
A cloud if smoke surrounded her, engulfing her and the flames into it. Suddenly, Cathrine was gone.
The ball room was quiet with no evidence of the witch's presence. Not even a mouse dared to squeak.
All eyes were on the king and his baby as the queen silently cried in her seat.
Mathew stood straight, his jaw tight.
"Someone!" He boomed through the room. "Someone please lift this curse from my daughter. I will give you anything you want if you save my daughter. Please." Tears rolled down his cheeks as he begged, not knowing who had enough power to save Cammie.
Elizabeth flew to the king from her hiding place, sorrow covered her face like a mask.
"Your highness." She bowed to him, showing her respect. "Cathrine has made her spell un-breakable. But perhaps, I could alter my gift. No one can undo what has already been done, but I could try to twist the curse laid upon the Princess." She was hopeful, wanting to help the baby any way she could.
"Do what ever you can." Mathew moved aside, slowing her access to his daughter.
Elizabeth, the smallest of the three, flew to the baby, landing by her ear.
"Your fate has been decided for you in an evil way. You will live your life only to have it be taken away from you too soon. My gift for you, my dear baby, is for you to waken again. But for this gift to be fulfilled, you can only be woken by true loves kiss. A kiss so powerful, you can be set free of your curse and live forever with the one who thought your life so important. That is my wish for you." Elizabeth blew the baby a gentle kiss before meeting the kings eyes.
He was pleased with her gift, but not enough for him to sleep well at night. A true love was a rare thing. What if Cammie never found her true love before she falls to her sleep like coma?
"It is time for everyone to leave." He spoke out. "Except for you three fairies. Come with me." Mathew grabbed his daughter and walked quickly to his private meeting room.
Once the three fairies were in, he locked the door and lit a candle to give the smallest bit of light.
The walls were rugged and old. The room was small, barely fitting the old wooden desk that sat inside. It was suffocating, but the only private place they could talk.
"She is not safe here. You three must protect my Cameron. Take her someplace safe. Someplace no one will ever find her. Bring her back the day after her sixteenth birthday and never let her touch a needle or even be near one before her birthday. Am I understood." The three nodded in understanding.
"We will take her to the mortal world, Your Majesty." Elizabeth spoke. "To a small town where no one will even think to look!" The king nodded.
"Do so quickly then. We have no time to waste."
~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~
"The mortal world and true loves kiss?" Cathrine laughed as her son are his dinner that consisted of rice and dragon meat. "What a trite decision dear Elizabeth." She continued to watch the three make planes, unknowing of the dark eyes watching her. "Very trite indeed."
~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~
"Are you ready girls." Macey asked from the princesses room. Rebecca and Elizabeth nodded. "Then let's go."
The three opened a window and flew to the woods, Cammie floating behind.
"Roseville Virginia will be a wonderful place." Elizabeth explained as she watched over the sleeping baby. "Cammie will fit in well with the mortals there." Elizabeth looked down to at her body. "But what about us?" Rebecca and Elizabeth stopped in their tracks and looked down at their lead clothing and at each other wings.
"We will have to make us look human then." Rebecca said. The girls carefully lowered the Princess to the ground with their fingers before standing a few feet away from her. "Well Liz, you're the one with the brains. How do we do it?" The smallest one shrugged her shoulders.
"Just think about it I guess." So they did. Slowly, the three began growing until they stopped. Their wings have faded away and their clothes laid down next to them, a large rip down the side.
"Now for the clothes." Macey walked over to a tree and ripped it's bark off. "Mortal clothes. How hard can it be?" Macey imagined what she wanted to wear, hoping her magic would transform the wood into mortal clothes. And it did. In her arms, she held a leather jacket, black skinny jeans, a pair of black heals and a red shirt along with black underwater and bra. Rebecca ad Elizabeth gasped.
"What on earth is that?" Elizabeth asked in horror. Macey shrugged.
"Well, the last time I was in the mortal world, I saw a girl wearing this. I liked it." Macey then ripped two more long pieces of bark of two other trees and turned one into a yellow sun dress for Elizabeth along with white flats and a pair of black skinny jeans as a blue tank top and a pair of black high tops along with undergarments for both girls. The shrugged their shoulders and out the new clothing on.
"I feel rather silly." Rebecca grumbled. Macey rolled her eyes.
"Listen girls. We won't age like the mortals do. So, we must stay hidden until Cammie is close to our mundane age, seventeen. That means, we have to find Cammie a family to stay with. Do you have any ideas on the type of family or individual?" The three girls thought for a moment.
"Well, they would have to be nice and kind, and ready to raise a child." Elizabeth pointed out.
"And they have to be able to protect her." Rebecca added.
"211 Creek Road." Macey shot out. She quickly slapped a hand over her mouth, not understanding what she just said. Rebecca looked at her like she had two heads.
"Excuse me?" She asked. Macey slowly lowered her hand from her mouth.
"I said, 211 Creek Road. I don't know why, but that's where I want to take her." Elizabeth and Rebecca looked at each other. Macey huffed in anger and annoyance. "Oh, you two know my hunches are always accurate, even if I don't know where they come from."
"Fine, we'll go there then. But scope out the place first." Rebecca picked Cammie up from her cradle and made Elizabeth carry the woven basket.
"Okay girls, let's visit Roseville, Virginia." The ground caved in creating a small hole. The girls jumped down it before reappearing in a dark ally between two stores.
"Okay Mace, where is this place?" Macey shrugged.
"How am I supposed to know, Liz?" she asked. "We just have to find it."
The girls walked down the sidewalk, not fully used to using their legs for transportation. Their feet ached, their legs hurt, and Cammie decided to wake up in a not so friendly matter.
"Make. Her. Stop!" Rebecca complained. Elizabeth bounced the child in her arms while patting her back.
"I think the baby needs a diaper change." She said worriedly. Before Rebecca could get anymore upset, Macey yelled the most comforting words to ever enter their ears.
"I found it!" She ran up to the steps of the wooden porch and looked through the window. "There's a man. He's wearing a uniform that says 'police'." The baby suddenly became quiet, her eyes were wide and curious.
"Oh thank gosh." Rebecca mumbled. "What's his name?"
Macey looked closer, hoping he wouldn't look their way.
"His name tag says Joseph Solomon." The girls looked at each other.
"He's a protector. That's what police people do I think. They protect people." Macey looked through the window again.
The guy was eating something while watching TV. He seemed tired and bored.
"He perfect." Macey whispered.
~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~
Joe shoved another handful of popcorn in his mouth while he watched the si-fyi channel. He usually makes fun of the non-reality in these movies though, there's always the thought of there being nothing more exciting than watching sharks swim in tornados.
Another women was in the wrong place at the wrong time. The shark had finished chewing her whole when the doorbell rang. Joe got up from his chair, wondering who would be at his door so late at night.
Joe opened the door. A nice cold wind brushed past him, the sound of crickets and frogs chirped and croaked adding to the beauty of night.
No one was there.
Joe's eyes shrank into slits.
"Alright kids, of you disturb people this late at night, I can take you to the holding cell for the night and call your parents." he thought for a moment. "Not to mention you're trespassing!" Joe went to close the door but a small sneeze stopped him.
The officer looked down, coming face to face with a baby. It was obviously a girl because of her pink silky pants and shirt. She was a new born, Joe could tell. He quickly grabbed her out of the cradle she was in and shut the door, holding her delicate body softly in his arms.
"Good Lord, who dropped you off here." Joe rocked the tiny child in his arms. Cammie squeezed her eyes shut and sneezed again. Her lips puckered up as she moved her hands in attempt to itch her nose. Joe smiled at her.
Beautiful. That was the first word that came to mind when Joe looked at the baby in his arms.
After a few minutes of holding her, Joe went to his couch and laid the girl down, putting blankets beside her to keep the child from falling off. He then walked back to his front door and grabbed the cradle, hoping to find a note, picture, or something that explains why some own would drop such a beautiful baby off on a mans door step.
He tipped the cradle upside down. The small pillow that supported the baby's head fell, along with a single folded sheet of paper.
Dear Joseph,
Her name is Cameron Ann. You're probably wondering why we dropped this baby off on your doorstep. ...
…
A/N: Don't worry guys, I'm still doing ASC. Anyway, what did you think? Now, I'm not going to tell you what's gonna happen and stuff like that but I will say this:
This is a mixture of Cinderella, sleeping beauty, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Repunzel. Whether it's with personality, events taking place, or physical description, etc. There will be mixtures of everything in here.
Sorry for spelling and grammar mistakes.
Sooooo, what did you think?
questions?
concerns?
Suggestions?
Thoughts?
Please review! My goal is to get 10-15 on this chapter whether it's in review form or PM form. Reviews and PMs on my stories really really motivate me to write as well as make me happy. Plus, I need the feedback so I know you like this story and so I can get any thoughts on it. So again, please review!