Three Special Words

The moon lighted the way through the streets and avenues. I turned in and out, not sure of where I was headed. Finally stopping to catch my breath under the shade of a towering building, I stole a glance down the desolate street. It seemed that I had lost Princess Marigold, or whatever that witch's name was. Or perhaps I had not lost her? Maybe she was flying over my head this very minute. That thought sent my heart beating out of my chest. I backed deeper into the shadows, and crept to the end of the street.

I soon realized that Chris' apartment was on the other side of town. I cursed my luck and continued along, trying to stay as close to cover of the buildings as possible. It seemed to take hours to arrive. I crossed the street when I found the correct building number. I lifted my fist hesitantly, wondering vaguely how I looked, and knocked. I looked back into the barren street and hoped I wasn't too late. I waited several minutes before a small old man opened the door.

"You must be Isabella," he said in a much too strong voice for his age. I nodded, taking the man in. I could not help but smile. Robin Hood was dressed in his normal garb, green tights and all. Somehow, the man pulled it off. "Come in," he said, opening the door wider. I nodded again and walked into the cool kitchen. Robin Hood gestured towards a chair and I sat slowly. "What happened to you?"

"I …" I struggled, suddenly embarrassed with my soiled dress and hair. I probably looked mad. "I meet some trouble at the ball." His eyes lit up suddenly.

"Trouble?"

"Where is Chris?" I asked in a quiet voice instead of answering Robin Hood's question. If I looked crazy now, once I told my story of a metamorphosing witch, he would lock me up in a psyche ward.

"Um, he went to go look for you. Let me tell you Bella, I have never seen that one so crazy about anything."

"Oh,"

"Yes, but do not fret, he should be back soon."

"Okay, thank you."

"Would you like to get cleaned up? There is a washroom down the hall."

"That would be great Mr. Hood." He smiled.

"Just Robin please." I gathered my frail skirt in my hands and walked down the corridor. In the washroom, I tried to salvage what was left of my dress. It was completely darkened at the ends. The skirt was filled with ugly blotches of dust and dirt. I dipped my hands in the water basin, and cleaned the makeup that had dripped onto my flushed pink face. Several minutes later I heard the sound of voices outside. I smoothed down my skirt one last time, and opened the door.

Chris looked up and gawked as I walked towards him. Whatever he had been saying never made it out of his throat.

"You look," he began, his voice low. My hand went to my hair nervously, and I gave him a weak smile. Even after anything that had happened tonight, seeing Chris swept all those feelings away. Just having him smile at me made me brighten. "Absolutely beautiful, Bella." He gave me my favorite smile. Chris' eyes took in my dress, "what happened?" he asked, worry evident in his face.

"It is a very long story."

"Wait, I thought you did not want to go to the ball."

"Yeah well, that goes along with the long story."

"Are you alright? Are you hurt?"

"I am fine," I said, my hand motioning for him to stop. He took it and pulled me closer to him, placing a modest kiss on my lips. Robin coughed, and Chris rolled his eyes, his arms still around me. He kissed me again, in spite of his uncle. After a few seconds he pulled away, his blue eyes bore into my hazel ones. "I have a lot to tell you."

"As do I. Why don't we take a walk?"

"No." His raised his eyebrows in question. "I mean, it has been a long night. Can we just sit in here?" He nodded, his hand stroking mine.

"Of course Bella." He led me through the small, cluttered apartment. We finally stopped in front of a closed door. It opened to show a cozy room with a small bed along the wall, a couch along the other wall, along with other miscellaneous items. I took a seat on the couch and Chris stood before me. He grabbed hold of both my hands and sat on the floor, crossing his legs. I could not help but laugh. "What?" he asked.

"Nothing," I said softly, stroking his face. He kissed my palm. "You make everything so …"

"Wonderful," he finished.

"Exactly. Tonight was so," he shrugged. "crazy." Chris chuckled. "I went to the ball because, well, I should start from the beginning."

"That certainly is a good place to start." I playfully hit his arm.

"It's serious Chris. I have a situation. I made a wish, and this star came to grant it. So I had to go through with it, or else Astra would have never been able to get home. So then I went to the palace to try to get the Prince to fall in love with me, but then that went wrong. And, and then —"

"Wow Bella, what are you talking about?" I shook my head.

"I know it sounds insane." He motioned me for me to stop.

"Why don't you start again Belle, and try breathing this time?" I took a deep breath.

By the time I was finished with my epic, Chris looked perplexed. He blinked a few times before swallowing.

"That certainly is a long story," Chris said. "And an interesting one. The … witch this Marigold character, she's after you."

"I hope not. I lost her on my way here."

"Has Astra gone home?"

"I am not sure. I mean everything has turned on its head again. I am not sure want to do."

"We will sort it out Bella. I'll help you." I smiled.

"The Prince, do you have feelings for him?" he asked after a moment of silence.

"No Chris, of course not. He's an amicable man but I do not feel for him like I do for you." Chris winked.

"Do not worry. It will be all right." In one swift motion, he pulled me down onto his lap. "I love you Bella," he whispered, nuzzling my neck. I turned to look at him.

"I love you Chris." He kissed my neck, sending shivers down my spine.

"When all of this is done and over with, will you be willing to leave with me?"

"Leave?"

"Yes, I am going home soon. But I will wait for you if you wish."

"What do you mean Chris? Is that what you were going to tell me that was so important?"

"I just, I haven't been honest with you Bella. I am not from here."

"What do you mean?"

"I do not know how to explain it."

"You are not from Faylinn?"

"No, not from Brenna either. I am from another world,"

"My parents were both changelings,"

"Yeah, I guess it is something like that. But I must return soon."

"No one returns Chris."

"I am different. I was here on a cultural visit of sorts, but I must return or else …"

"What?"

"It's not important. I just want to know that when the time comes, when this is all resolved, will you leave with me?"

I closed my eyes, not really understanding what he said. I was still sitting on his lap, and his strong hands stroked my back. Could I leave with him? Could I just leave everything behind? I opened my eyes, and turned to look at his face. Of course I could. I nodded once. Suddenly there was a knock at the door, breaking our conversation.

"Yes," Chris said, standing. He helped me up before opening the door.

"The Hoods are outside," Robin Hood said. "They are looking for you."

"I will be right back Bella," Chris said, closing the door behind him. With him gone, I felt very alone. I was still shaken up from my close encounter with the witch. I wondered what had happened now. Whatever the Hoods wanted, it had to be important. Maybe they had caught the psychotic thing, running down the street after me. That certainly would be a relief, but I doubted it. Even if she had been caught, what was my next move? I could not go anywhere until I was certain Astra was gone. But if she was not, then I did not know what to do. Ways of getting the Prince to fall in love of me had expired. Then I had another thought, what of Benjamin and Lily. If I left with Chris, would I ever be able to see them again?

"Isabella," called a voice. I walked into the hall. I caught sight of about seven older Hoods squeezed into the den. "Belle!"

I wiggled my way past them to Chris who stood in the center. His eyes were wild with excitement. He held up a flyer and handed it to me.

It was printed in black and white, the writing smudged because of the haste it was written in. On the top of the paper 'WANTED' was inscribed. Below that was a very accurate drawing of a liquefied glass slipper. The text underneath the sketch read 'Have you seen this slipper? If you know anything of its owner or its pair, please contact the Royal Militant as soon as possible. Reward available for anyone with creditable information.'

"Something happened at the palace," one of the Hoods was saying, "my sister's husband was working as a driver tonight. He told me the whole story."

"Which is?" Robin Hood asked.

"Well the Prince was close to some Lady, but she was not into him. Beat him with her shoe."

"Nah, Cobbler, you got it all wrong!" another one shouted. "It was his local squeeze, a lower class gal. She expected him to ask her for her hand but when he said he was going to marry someone else, she flipped. Throw a shoe at him, and it knocked him unconscious."

"You guys are both wrong," Toby said. He smiled when he noticed me before continuing. "I asked the boy who was passing out the flyers: the real story is that the Prince tried to make a move on some cinder-girl. They were heard arguing outside, and when she tried to flee, one of her shoes fell off."

"That doesn't explain why there was broken glass," the first one who had spoken, Cobbler said.

"Course it does. The damn slippers were made of glass. Probably broke just from being worn." I swallowed and Chris glared at me. The argued for a little while longer before Toby finally said, "So Chris, you coming out or what." Chris began to shake his head. "Oh come on, the whole town is out tonight."

"A lot of pockets to pick," someone added.

"Okay, okay. But I have to get Bella home first. I will meet up with you later."

He pushed them out of the house, and turned back to me. "What have you gotten yourself into?"

"I have no idea Chris. I told you what happened in the courtyard. The witch must have gotten to him." Robin Hood scratched his head. "And I cannot go home, my step-mother will be the first person to sell me out."

"I will not be surprised if the guards start making their rounds tonight," Robin said.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that Bella's best bet is to get as far away from Faylinn as possible."

"Can't I just go to the palace and confess."

"No, no. They will never believe you." I sighed. "Don't worry Bella." Chris reached for my hand. "I meant it when I said I would help you. Even though things, amazingly, have escaladed since then." I nodded with a smile. He shared a few words with Robin before kissing me goodbye. "I am going to try to figure out how much the Royal Militant knows. Please stay here and don't worry. Everything will be okay."

"If you say so," I said, not convinced. Robin Hood left to the kitchen, and I took a seat on one of the plush chairs. Queen Evangeline had been kind when she let me leave the palace after knowing I had impersonated Lady Jacqueline. I doubted I would be so lucky a second time, especially since the allegations were that I attacked the Prince. I vaguely wondered if he was hurt. I had no doubt to the sort of damage witch Marigold could do. With a sigh, I buried my face in my hands, tired and alone once again.

Chapter 18!!! (Noise makers blare and confetti thrown about) So since I posted this chapter quickly, you should do me a big favor and review. All advice is good advice. In this chapter we got back to Bella and the sap between her and Chris (I love those two together). I know I did not explain too much about Chris, but I can't tell you everything. Till next time ~Iris Lily~

B.t.w - I just posted the first chapter of my new story called A Mermaid's Tail. Go read it!