The Prince and the Maid Meet

The landing was not as graceful as I imagined. Astra and I had not made it out of the dreadful room but were instead stuck in the floor boards. I moved around, my arms groping for anything to help push us out. The floor was slimy on my hands. I tried to use this to my advantage and wiggled to and fro, trying to pass through the hole. With a gulping sound the floor released us and we finally fell out of the room.

I was happy to have fallen on something as solid as cobblestone. Patting it with my hands, I took a deep breath. I laid on the cool stone until I heard the soundS of beams straining. I grabbed Astra by the collar and tried to get as far away from the perimeter of the dining hall as possible. Catching my breath once more, I heard and then saw the room slip away from the beams. The only thing that stayed was the wall on which the door was located. Wooden beams were what remained of the other three walls and the floor was nonexistent save for four planks. Astra looked up, awakened by the peculiar noise. She smiled faintly, her golden eyes much cooled before collapsing once again.

I had no idea where we had landed. It was dark and the moon, which I could see now, was the only thing that provided a faint light. We had been lucky that I was able to get away from the disaster zone so quickly. The floor and walls had landed with a soft thump, meanwhile the table came down with the sound of broken glass. I was glad to see the beautiful ceiling was still intact. At my feet sat the mess of it all.

My eyes grew accustomed to the darkness and I was able to make out two walls, one to my left and the other to my right. The walls were made out of the same cobblestones as the floor. Looking behind me, I could not see any other walls. That had to mean we were in some type of tunnel.

"Astra," I said nudging her. All I got as a reply was a soft moan. Her eyes were closed now. "Astra," I tried again, this time pushing her a little more forcefully.

"Mhm," she said. I put my arms under her, pushing her up so that she rested against me.

"How are you?" Her eyes fluttered open lazily. She turned her head around to face me.

"Tired."

"I know," I answered. We sat for a moment in silence all the while knowing that we had to find a way out of here. "Come Astra, let's start moving." She nodded. I helped her up and we struggled ahead. I decided to go away from the remains of the west dining room, the direction I vaguely remembered the exit to the palace was. Well one of them at least.

We walked in silence. After an immeasurable amount of time, I saw the faint glow of a flame. I pressed on, hoping filling me. Finally, a heavy door came into view. Two torches stood on either side of the door and I could now see that unlit torches lined the tunnel's walls. Quickening my pace, I prayed that the door would open. I reached it and pushed the latch. The door opened fluidly and I almost cheered. We were now in what I presumed were servants quarters. Slowly we made our way out of that too and finally waltzed into the open cool night.

******

After making it out of the palace we had walked to Bell Post Office, where Lily was anxiously awaiting us. Looking at Astra, I could tell she was drained. All of her former color was gone: her hair had lost its golden shine, her eyes were now a dull brown, and her normally tan skin was a sickly pallor.

It was ten o'clock when we arrived at the manor and I was exhausted. "Bella," Lily said, pulling back the curtain to my room. It was a sharp contrast to my suite in the palace. "I heard a carriage pulling up."

"My step-mother," I stated simply.

"I will stay with her," Lily answered motioning towards Astra and taking a seat on the other side of the small bed. I quickly changed out of Alison's now soiled dress. Pulling my hair into a tight bun, I nearly ran into Madison in the kitchen.

"There you are," she said, "my mother requests you." I nodded. "There are several parcels in the foyer, bring them to the attic. Oh, and can you scrounge something up for me to eat, I am dreadful hungry." She smiled wickedly before walking out of the room. I prepared a plate of small cakes drizzled with honey for the little wrench. It was hard balancing the plate and packages but I made it to the attic, where Madame and her two daughters were seated on a chaise lounge.

"You requested me step-mother."

"Yes," she said languidly. "I need you up early tomorrow; the girls have an event in the palace." Damn, I inwardly cursed. The Queen's breakfast was tomorrow. "I want a light breakfast ready before dawn, their hair and makeup most be done, and your chores, I want them finished by tomorrow morning or else." She narrowed her eyes at me. I bowed my head and turned to leave the room. "Oh and Bella,"

"Yes step-mother," I answered preparing for the worst. She got up from her comfortable seat and walked to one of the overstuffed wardrobes. I fought off the feeling of dread that was overwhelming me. She knew I took the dresses. I was officially dead. To my surprise she opened it and pulled out a gown, no, correction, my gown.

"I found this in your room," she said questioningly. "Do you know of it?" I nodded, my eyes boldly in hers. "Well, since you will not be attending the ball I have decided to dispose of it." I nodded again. Great, now I had nothing to wear to the ball.

"And bring more of these," Madison said, stuffing the last cake into her mouth.

"Of course," I answered and stole out of the room.

******

I would like to lie to you and say that I slept a little that night but the truth is I cleaned until dawn. Slaving away like the pathetic girl, I, Isabella Ashen, was. My nails were back in there disgusting manner, my hair was filled with dust, my stomach grumbled for food, but still I worked on. My heart was lifted when I finally entered my room in the early morning, seeing Astra looking better.

"Hey," I said. Lily had fallen asleep next to her.

"Hello," came the reply in that musical voice.

"What happened Astra?" She smiled.

"Well, in my world there is a fairytale," I gave her a curious glance and she giggled. "It is what the humans call them. Bedtimes stories about other worlds most are about this world actually. Tales of fantastic creatures, of princes and princesses, love and adventure. A popular fairytale in my world is about a house where everything is made out of the most delicious sweets. Two children wander upon the house. Imagine there amazement when they discover it is made out of candy. So they start eating and when the Madame of this house uncovers them, she locks them up in one of the rooms. The Madame does not like candy, she likes to eat little children, so she begins to prepare a cauldron to boil them in. But alas, the children soon discover the room they are locked in is made of sweets. So they chew their way out and escape into the main room where the Madame is. The eldest sneaks up behind her and pushing her into the cauldron."

"That is a little scary for a children's story." Astra laughed. "You turned the room into candy," I added, finally comprehending.

"Marshmallow floors and gum drop walls complete with sugar pane windows." Through my own window I can see the sun rising.

"I have to get the witches ready," I said after awhile. The star laughed again.

"And then I have to get you ready." I smiled and realized that I was going to miss her.

******

"Miss Madison and Miss Alison Ashen," the herald announced. The breakfast was just beginning. Prince Chadwick and his visiting princesses and ladies had yet to arrive. I am supposed to be one of them, I thought, standing behind my two charges for the day.

In the early morning I had attended to Alison and Madison, dressing them for this occasion. The two girls were dressed in matching garb. Madison in a simply appalling shade of pink and Alison in a similarly appalling shade of green. The two dresses were both the same style, a boat neck, which looked horrible on Madison, a tight waist, which happened to look loose on sickly Alison, and an erupting skirt made entirely of variously layers of tulle. Madison's hair was wild and loose, only held back by a burette, well actually, a huge feather that was manipulated into hold back a small section of her hair. Alison's was in a tight bun, so tight that the skin on her face looked stretched back, her mouth made into a scary smile. After I had applied their final layer of makeup, which I cannot be blamed for, they coached me the entire way through, Alison whined to her mother about how all the other girls that would attend had hand maids. So that is how I was forced into becoming their personal slave for the day. Just lovely.

It was actually a good thing that ugly step-sisters one and two had decided to drag me along to the breakfast I soon came to realize. At least now I would not have to worry about them noticing me.

I rest assured that Astra, now seventy-five percent bettered, was going to be returning to the palace soon. She would tell them that I had a terrible headache and would not be attending the breakfast. So, all I had to do was stay out of the Prince's sight, which would be easy enough. I could just hide in one of the girls dresses.

Two trumpeters walked out into the garden. The herald stomped his staff twice.

"Announcing the royal guests of the palace," the trumpets blazed, signaling for the people to stand. "Lady Marissa of Dons, Lady Autumn of Nichen, Lady Vivienne of Faris, and Lady Jacqueline of Talia." The ladies walked out accordingly, well except me of course. They stood at a long table similar to the one we had breakfasted at. Smaller round tables were positioned around this long table. "Princess Margaret of Terris, Princess Lila of Ager, and Princess Marigold of Aurum," the herald continued while the princesses entered, "our own reverend Crown Prince Chadwick, son of King Leopard II, and his mother, Queen Evangeline." The two strolled into the garden with grace and dignity. Prince Chadwick looked dashing in his Royal Militant uniform while the Queen wore a deep blue gown and a soft tote jacket.

The guests remained standing as the Queen began a speech of thanks. I tuned out, wanting very much to eat a scone that Alison had left on her plate. When she had finished, everyone was seated, and breakfast began. The Crown Prince was surprisingly quiet during the whole affair. I had a good view of him from my standing position. He stared down at his plate, not really eating much of the food. When he and his mother finished, they stood and took a seat on two thrones that had been placed in the garden. The thrones were both made of gold with a blue cushion on the seat. Small jewels encircled the handles.

"Let us go." Alison told her mother, almost jumping out of her seat.

"Wait darling, we will go soon enough." They were so many girls, probably around thirty in total that made their way up to the thrones to greet the Crown Prince and Queen. But I am sure Madison and Alison made the most lasting impression.

"Miss Madison Ashen, Miss Alison Ashen, and their mother, the wife of the late merchant Gregory Ashen, Madame Regina Ashen," the herald announced, looking rather bored. I smiled at the man who appeared to be in his mid forties and wondered how he remembered all these names.

Crown Prince Chadwick took each of their hands, laying a soft kiss on their knuckles.

"It is a pleasure to meet you Crown Prince Chadwick," Madison said sweeping into a deep curtsy. She swayed unsteadily and grabbed her mother's elbow to keep from toppling over.

"Good morning Crown Prince Chadwick," Alison quickly said trying to direct the attention away from her sister with an equally unsuccessful curtsy. It seemed the gown weighed too much for her frail body. I could not help but laugh out loud at the sight of the two of them stuck in their curtsies. Suddenly Prince Chadwick's bored expression lightened as he looked up at me.

"It is nice to meet you all," he said staring into my eyes. I smiled shyly before lowering my glance. As I soon as I did, recognition flashed through his face. By this time the girls had finished greeting the Queen. The herald tried to direct them away from the royal pair but they would not budge.

"Chadwick," Queen Evangeline said in a soft tone. The Prince finally directed his eyes away from mine.

"Yes," he answered, "I am sorry but you look very familiar," he told me after composing himself.

"Oh no, I am sure that is merely coincidence. Bella is my girls' maid," my step-mother tried.

"Bella," he repeated infatuated. The Queen looked at her son with a puzzled expression. Then it finally donned on me that this probably had to do with Astra's spell the day we arrived. She had told me that the Prince would be extremely interested in me. Or maybe Prince Chadwick realized that I and the Lady Jacqueline staying in his palace shared the same face.

There was an awkward moment of silence. The herald then insisted that the Crown Prince and Queen move on to the next girl. I walked away from the Prince, deep into my own thoughts when suddenly I saw a flash of red hair. I looked more closely and was able to make out two figures near the door of the palace. One was entirely dressed in black while the other had a huge puff of red hair and was dressed in a lilac gown. Prince Marigold of Aurum I mused. She was almost completely concealed by a pillar, but for a moment I saw a flash of her face. What it read was terror. I quickly walked away my step-family but by the time I reached the glass doors the two were gone. The doors led into a great corridor which then emptied to the palace front hall.

Walking more slowly now, I realized the grand hallway had several small hallways that flowed out of it, like tributaries to a river. I choice the first one I saw and walked down it, glancing at the numerous doors and passages. The walls were all adorned with portraits and trinkets. I walked on until I heard a voice behind me.

"What are you doing?" it asked. I turned around swiftly. Princess Marigold of Aurum looked me up and down. Her face now showed a very smug expression. Maybe I had seen wrongly? "What are you doing here?" she repeated looking annoyed.

"I…" I stumbled. "I just wanted to see the palace." I finished in a small voice. The little princess looked surprisingly threatening. I had this horrible feeling that something was not right.

"Hum. Well I would be careful. A girl disappeared light night," she said rather indifferently.

"What do you mean?" I asked startled.

"A visiting lady and her maid. The palace guards are looking everywhere for her, and several servants say they heard muffled screams coming from …"

"From where?" She smirked.

"A dining room in the west wing. There was an accident. The entire room collapsed. The palace is rather old and in need of repair. It's a shame, such a beautiful building, the Aurums would have never let it fall into this type of condition." I nodded not knowing what to say.

"Just be careful," Princess Marigold repeated. Her expression showing that I should be careful of her. I smiled warily.

"Well, I must be going," I said walking towards her. As I passed her cold hand touched my elbow.

"Goodbye," she whispered quietly. When I reached the end of the hallway, I turned back, but she was gone. Probably went into one of the rooms, but I knew none of them were hers. The way she said goodbye, she seemed almost afraid. And her hands were so cold and moist. What was going on? What was she doing here? I tried to retrace my steps back to the garden, but once I had walked a few paces, I heard a muffled noise. Glancing over my shoulder, I felt chilled to the bone.

Breath Bella, I told myself. You are worrying yourself for no good reason. I would see Princess Marigold this afternoon when I returned to the palace as Lady Jacqueline. I could not help but think about what had happened in the west dining room. Who had locked the door? Had Astra returned with the excuse about how gone into town and decided to stay at an inn last night. Once I walked back into the warm sunshine my mood instantly lightened, and I could not help but notice that the Prince had his eyes on me as I retook my place behind my step-family.

Hello readers! I know I have not updated in a long time, sorry. I have had this chapter finished for awhile. So I am not suffering from a case of writers block but too many ideas, I know where I want to go with this but I do know exactly how I am going to get there, and you poor readers are along for the ride. I hope it has been ok so far. Please tell me what you think, reviews are much appreciated. Xoxo ~Iris Lily~