Here's chapter 3! Two free periods in a row and this is what I do with 'em. I need a life. I just came up with an alternate eneding and now I don't know which one to use! :( The choices of an author...lol

Chapter 3

Sarah collapsed on the wooden floor, exhausted. Her entire first few days had been filled with etiquette lessons, dancing lessons and a fencing lesson or two. She had barely eaten anything at lunch and now her limbs were protesting from lack of nutrition.

The fencing teacher had only just left, announcing to the empty room that Sarah "would do" protecting the queen, should she need to.

When she wasn't in lessons, Charlotte taught her some magic, Fae and Fairy. The most important thing, Charlotte had told her, was to look for loopholes. For instance, iron chains held back Fae magic, but did nothing against Fairy magic.

There was also the rather simple process of changing bodies Sarah had had to learn on her first day. Simply, your body could change to that of someone from another race. You were still of whatever you were originally, but in the body of another race. It's all in the technicalities. Sarah had taken on a Fae body to blend in. Charlotte had told her to change into an 18 year old blonde fae. Now Sarah's long blonde hair moved with the slightest gust of wind, as opposed to her dark brown, heavier hair she was so used to. The only thing that remained the same about her was her eyes. They were still the same shape and color. If Sarah and—some hot blonde guy—ever had a child, this was one quite possible outcome.

A shadow cast over her and Sarah opened her eyes to see Charlotte smiling down at her. "Laying down on the job already, are we?" she teased.

"I apologize, your majesty, I'm just absolutely exhausted."

"It's Charlotte, and yes you are." Charlotte offered Sarah her hand. Sarah took it and allowed Charlotte to pull her up, suddenly feeling much better. "Well, at least your lessons are over. Feel better?"

"Much," Sarah replied, smiling.

"Nothing a little Fae magic won't fix," Charlotte said, smiling."And I can fight. I don't know why they made you learn to fence."

Sarah shrugged. "Formality, probably."

"Ah yes, the age old 'royal women are too weak to carry a pocket knife, let alone a sword. Six hundred years ago I fought to survive daily and now I'm not allowed to carry a dagger to defend myself."

Sarah grinned. "Life must be so difficult for a proper lady like you."

Charlotte rolled her eyes, leading Sarah into the hall. "And that's only the beginning. Have I shown you the Crystal Library?" she asked suddenly.

"No," Sarah replied, confused.

"This way." Charlotte led Sarah down a few hallways and into a massive polished white marble room. Rows upon rows of wooden shelves held crystals instead of books. Sarah felt her jaw drop. Crystals were flying everywhere. A large crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, purely for decoration.

"It's incredible," Sarah whispered.

"I've seen what's inside every single one," Charlotte added, smiling at Sarah's shocked expression.

"How?"

"It's the payment. We control a very important pass. It's one of the very few ways to get from the East to the West. Otherwise, you have to walk around the mountainside. In order to gain usage, you have to provide some new information for the library in the form of a crystal. As a result, every single legend is told tenfold. Every single story from when the world came to existence to two weeks ago is here."

"What happened two weeks ago?" Sarah asked.

"My husband magically blocked the pass. As long as there is a ruler in the Fairy Kingdom , the blockade holds until the ruler takes it down by choice. Also, there's no burrowing under it or walking around. It ends at a very treacherous mountain, so there is no way around unless you want to add another few months to your journey."

"Mom! Mom!" Three boys ran up to Sarah and Charlotte, eyes wide.

"What is it?" Charlotte asked, looking worried.

"The goblin forces have been spotted advancing towards us," the eldest said, slightly out of breath.

Charlotte swore in several different languages. "Alexander, alert the troops and ready the army for attack. Darius, Evan, get everyone who can't fight into the palace. Move!" All three boys nodded instantly and took off. "Thank goodness my husband only took half the army."

"What's going on?" Sarah asked as she ran after Charlotte. She followed Charlotte to the stables where two horses were waiting.

"Mount quickly," Charlotte instructed her. "We need to know what we're up against. Damn them for choosing right now." She grabbed her necklace, muttered for a second and then let it fall as she mounted her horse.

"What did you do?" Sarah asked.

"Tell my husband we're about to be attacked. He should be coming back within a few days. He's off fighting with the elves against the second half of the Goblin Army."

Sarah stayed quiet as they both kicked their horses and galloped. Sarah had no idea where they were going. The horses wound up a small mountain path to the top. Charlotte conjured a spyglass when they dismounted on the top of the mountain and looked towards the horizon. Charlotte sighed.

"Coward," she muttered under her breath.

"What?" Sarah demanded.

"Take a look." Sarah took the spyglass from Charlotte and gazed in the direction Charlotte had been looking.

An army of thousands was advancing slowly towards them. They definitely weren't the goblins who'd 'attacked' her in the labyrinth. This army looked deadly. She scanned the army again, seeing a muscular man with broad shoulders and short dark-brown hair leading the army.

"The king's not leading them," Charlotte supplied to Sarah's confused look.

"How does that make him a coward?" Sarah asked.

"Well, I wouldn't call love a weakness, but it gets in the way."

"What are you talking about?"

"A very long story involving my—the Goblin King's daughter. Come on, we should be going." Charlotte turned, remounted her horse and after Sarah had done the same, they rode back down the mountain to the castle.

SSSSOOOOOO...what do you think? Let me know!