Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Author's Note: Original-Red-And-Pink-4ever, here he is. Finally. It took a few chapter, but he made it. Although sorry it's not a long part for him just yet. So sorry that it's taken me so incredibly long to update. First it took me forever to figure out how to write any of my next chapters, then I started re-reading the Harry Potter series so that I could read through Half Blood Prince before I went to the Midnight showing, which the movie was absolutely amazing! I also went on a vacation. Hopefully I'm done with that. Thank you for those still reading this; I do appreciate you for being patient with me. I hope you enjoy this next chapter. Anyways, here's the next chapter and I hope that it won't take as long to get the next chapter up.

Accepting One's Fate

Syd slowly opened her eyes. Her room was already filling with the warm sunlight. She sat up and stretched. What did she have today? She pursed her lips together as she began thinking about what she would do. Maybe she and Bridge would be able to meet, there was a place that he had said he saw…he said it was beautiful.

A knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts, "Come in."

The door opened and Elsa came in, "Good morning Princess Sydney. And how are we today?"

"Just wonderful. I had a wonderful sleep and outside," she looked outside and at the sun, "well it's just beautiful."

After Syd was dressed and had breakfast she decided to go for a bit of a walk. As she was stepping outside she saw a procession coming from the North. Syd took another step closer, "Is that…" Could it be Z? She truly hoped so. It shouldn't take that long to get here and yet…it already seemed to be going slower.

"Princess Sydney!"

Syd turned around back to the hall just inside the doors one of the pages, Lucy, was hurrying towards her, "Yes?"

"Your Father wishes to speak with you."

"Thank you."

Syd turned back and looked longingly towards what could be her best friend, her sister coming and then sighed and turned back and went inside.

She made her way to her Father's library; he was sitting at his desk writing something on a parchment. After the guard shut the door she moved closer, "You wanted to see me Father?"

The King set down the quill and then looked up at her, "Yes Sydney. I have something I wanted to talk to you about." She wondered what it was that her Father was going to tell her, something that required all this privacy. "You know how your sister is betrothed?" Syd nodded. "Well I have news for you, so are you! You're already betrothed, but…for various reasons I was waiting until now to tell you."

"Betrothed? Why? To whom? When?" All these came out in a quick sentence and Syd remembered Bridge and everything between them. This wasn't fair. Not at all.

Syd looked at her Father and saw his stern face, "You're betrothed because you are. That's how things work out. It's to one of King Anthony's sons'. He is not sure yet which one it will be, but one of them. And as for when, well I suppose when things work out. Since he's a bit unsure of the timing, well we'll just have to go with that."

"I don't understand, why doesn't he know yet?"

"Kind Anthony has been fighting a war…a war that none can help in. He will know when the time is right and at that time, I suppose it will be whoever is not greatly affected by this war."

"War?"

"It has nothing to do with us I assure you.

Syd was quiet for a few minutes before she spoke again, "What about if I don't want to?"

"I'm sorry Sydney, but that's just the way it is."

Frowning Syd turned and left as she felt the tears roll silently down her checks. That wasn't right. She already had found Bridge. Bridge was who she wanted to marry. Now she understood how Z must have felt about Jack. She hurried to the front doors again bumping into someone causing her to fall.

"Watch where you're going yo—Princess Sydney," Juneston bent down and took her hand and helped her up, "I am so very sorry about that."

"Thank you." Syd said as nice as she was able to. She tried to pull her hand form the older man's grip but he held on tighter. Lifting it up he kissed her hand and then slowly let it go.

"You have grown up to be an," he paused as he looked her up and down, "even more beautiful woman. So glad to have bumped into you."

Syd waited until he walked past her brushing his arm against hers before she shuddered and ran as fast as she could until she was outside. Hurriedly she made her way to the stables. The carriage was there that had been sent to retrieve her sister, but Z was nowhere near. "Where is Z?" she asked one of the stable boys.

"Princess Elizabeth went inside."

Surprised Syd asked, "When?"

"Just a few minutes ago."

"Before I got here?"

"Yes. I'd say just a couple of minutes."

Syd frowned, how did her sister get past her? That didn't make any sense. "Which door did she enter the castle with?"

"The eastern door your highness."

"Thank you." And with that Syd took off back to the castle.

She headed to Z's room only to find it empty. Where could her sister be? It didn't make any sense that she was gone. As she looked out the window she heard the door open, turning she saw Elsa. "Princess Sydney, whatever are you doing in here? Are you alright?"

Syd knew Elsa was only concerned about her so she dismissed the first question and how it could have seemed to outsiders, "I'm fine."

A realization came across her face, "You're looking for Princess Elizabeth aren't you?"

"Yes. She wasn't in the stable and she's not here."

"She is speaking with your Father. I came to make sure her room was fine. Her things are being brought up now."

"Oh." Syd glanced back out the window and then turned back to the older woman, "I can wait for her here."

"Whatever you wish."

Syd nodded and Elsa moved about straitening things and making sure things were put back as they should be. In just a few minutes a few servants came in with some trunks and Elsa instructed where they should be and began putting away the clothes.

By the time Elsa was done with putting all of Z's things away Syd saw her sister come through the door.

"Z!"

"Syd!" Z and Syd hurried to each other and hugged. "I've missed you."

"I missed you. It was boring here. Nothing really to do."

Z laughed, "Well I'm here now." She then turned her attention to Elsa, "It's good to see you too."

"And you Princess. I trust your journey and visit were well."

"Yes."

"Very good." Elsa smiled at the two Princesses and then took some of Z's dresses and left.

As soon as the door was shut Syd turned back to Z, "So, how was it? How was spending time with Jack by himself like?"

Z shrugged, "Like anything. He's a great guy."

Syd nodded, "So do you still hate the fact that you're going to marry him?" Syd couldn't wait for her sister to go into how much she thought that marriages were wrong. Then she could tell Z all about Bridge.

To Syd's astonishment Z shook her head, "No, it's going to happen and Jack is a great guy. I'm luck to be able to be with someone I like."

"But…but Z you said you didn't want to marry him!"

Sighing Z nodded, "I did say that, but Syd, really, he's a great guy. Father did right in how he handled this."

"Oh…well…"

"Are you alright?"

She could barely keep anything in, she didn't want to tell Z now, she would only scoff at her. She would tell Syd that there was a Prince waiting for Syd. "I'm fine, I'm tired actually."

"Oh."

"I'll see you at dinner."

"Syd wait."

Z tried to reach out and grab Syd's arm but she shook her head, "No Z, I am tired, please. We'll talk later."

Z closed her eyes and nodded and Syd left the room.

Sky knew the cottage should be coming into view any minute now. He glanced behind him and to the right; that was the brook over there, which meant…he smiled as he came into the view of the cottage.

Peace.

That's what this place meant to him.

It was away from the loud noises and more importantly away from all those annoying people. He knew that he couldn't be out here long, but…it should be just long enough before he had to get back to his life.

To an empty and soon pointless reality.

Still, no one would look for him here. His friends' parents had lived here, but they were dead and he and his friend shared it. Well actually his friend shared it with him. It was far enough from his home that he wouldn't have to worry about who was going to find him and how soon it would be.

No one knew about the connection with his friend, so really he was safe…for a little while. He couldn't stay out here indefinitely. Besides he had pressing engagements soon enough…ones that he would like to forget.

Sky looked at the cottage again, it wasn't entirely huge, but it was big enough. It was right in the midst of trees and so well enough out of sight. The sun shone through the trees, but missed the cottage so that it didn't stand out in the small clearing.

Getting off his horse he picked up his bags and brought them inside.

There was a large room on the ground floor; it had a small kitchen with a table and then another room with some chairs including a small library, which was good since he loved to read. He hoped that his favorite book was still there. He still remembered when his parents would allow him to come with his friend. They would usually be off playing, running, fighting, practicing, but there were times, at night, when Sky would enjoy sitting and reading. He had one book. He would look for it later.

Upstairs there were three bedrooms. He would take the one that had been his whenever he visited.

After putting his things away he pulled out some bread and cheese and set it down at the table. He moved to the book shelves and quickly spotted his favorite book, it was about the Laws of the Land. Sure there were people who had jobs that were just there for knowing the laws and of course certain people had to know quite a bit, but he wanted to know them all.

He sat down at the table and begin reading.