A Royal Mess

"Let go of me," I screamed. The prince emerged before me. The man behind me tightened his grip around my arms.

"Thank you Lucas," Prince Chadwick said. "You can release her." Lucas did as the prince commanded. I lost my balance once my arms were freed. The prince stepped forward and caught me. "Are you all right?" he asked, his brown eyes showing his concern.

"Yes. I am fine," I said, smoothing down my skirt and refusing to meet his eye. Chadwick placed a hand under my chin, forcing me to look at him.

"I know you." I nodded. "What is your name?" I debated over what to tell him in my head. If I said Lady Jacqueline then I would have the problem of what to do about the Queen who knew my real identity. Or I could say Belle but that could turn out even worse. As Belle I was wanted for threatening the life for the prince and my affiliation with a certain glass slipper. "You have no reason to be afraid," he encouraged.

"It's Isabella," I answered honestly. "Isabella Ashen."

"And how do I know you Isabella?" I gulped. That was certainly a long story that I had no desire to explain.

"I … I do not know."

"Curious."

"What would you like for me to do your highness?" the guard asked me. The prince raised a slender finger. Inwardly I prayed he would let me go. He was about to say something when we heard the sound of heels clicking on the mausoleum floor. The prince turned around swiftly and I would have made a run for it if the guard was not still stationed behind me. Princess Marigold stomped into view. When she finally reached us she smiled graciously at Prince Chadwick and over his shoulder gave me a nasty look.

"Princess Marigold," the Prince began, "I hope you were not alarmed by the ruckus. I assure you everything is all right."

"I feel very safe around you, your highness. I was merely coming to warn you about our intruder." Chadwick lifted his eyebrows.

"Whatever do you mean?"

"This woman is none other than Belle." Since Prince Chadwick still looked confused she continued. "The woman who attempted to kill you last night! She was running from me! I found her rummaging through my rooms. She left it in shambles." The guard behind me stood at attention and took hold of my arms once again. Chadwick blinked, a look of hurt washing over his face. "And furthermore she is also Lady Jacqueline. You see Prince Chadwick this plot has been a long time in the making. This dreadful woman has twisted your emotions so that she can have control of your crown. You mother even knows of this. That is why she sent Lady Jacqueline away."

"No, Lady Jacqueline left to mourn Queen Ana. The festivities were too much to bear."

"It is that what your mother told you dear. She is simply trying to protect you. No. This girl, this manipulative girl has been pulling at your heart strings attempting to dazzle you. Unfortunately she would have if it had not been for your mother and I, of course."

"How, how do you know all this?" The Prince asked.

"Um, the maids talk." Prince Chadwick turned to look at me and Marigold gave me a victorious look.

"Is this true Isabella," he asked sincerely.

"No, not really."

"So why don't you explain it to me?"

"I did impersonate Lady Jacqueline and I am Belle but I never meant to hurt you. That you must truly believe."

"You attacked me," he accused.

"No!" I shook my head furiously. "That was not me Prince Chadwick. I swear."

"Then why did you come here in the first place. What is this all to you?"

"I … I wanted to meet you. I wanted you to fall in love with me." Princess Marigold laughed out loud at my words.

"You see she is practically admitting it. All of this has been a game to her. You should lock her up."

"Where?"

"In the dungeon of course!" The prince looked divided. My heat ached. I never meant to hurt him. I never meant to hurt anyone. All I wanted was to get my poor star friend back home. The guard did not wait for Chadwick's reply.

"Come on then," he said in a gruff voice. The guard then led me away and all I could do was look at Prince Chadwick's betrayed face.

A few hours later found me sitting in the disgustingly filthy dungeons. Absentmindedly, I played with my hair. Lily had overdone it with hairspray and now I was sure it looked like I had been struck by lightning. I laughed aloud at that thought.

"Oh no, she has already gone mad!" a familiarly irritating voice shrieked.

"Took you long enough Blue Jay," I groaned, crawling toward the bars of my cage. The small bird fluttered towards me. He easily passed through the bars of the cell.

"Forgive me; it is not exactly easy getting into a dungeon. No windows."

"Do you speak to Lily and Astra?"

"No,"

"No? Why not Blue Jay? Was that not the plan?"

"I searched through the tunnels but they were not there." For some reason I highly doubted he words. Where in the world could they have gone? Suddenly I heard footsteps descending the stairs. I returned to my place leaning on the wall furthest away from the bars and prayed this was a friendly visit.

"Hello," the witch said. "Ugh, it sure is dirty down here. How are you?" she asked with a smile.

"Fine psycho, how about you?"

"What was that?" Her smile fell and her hands curled into fists.

"Nothing. What do you want Marigold?"

"You said you would leave if I returned that girl."

"I was in the process. You could have given me more time."

"You could have given me more time," she mocked. "It is too late now. Can you imagine the look of surprise on the Queen's face when she learns that you have returned? Something tells me she will not be happy. I mean, surely people have been hung for less."

"No, Prince Chadwick would never let that happen."

"Oh no? I am sorry to inform you of this but I have that little prince of yours wrapped around my finger."

"Liar!"

The sound of someone on the stairs interrupted whatever she was going to say next. Her face twisted into a snare and her eyes burned with malice. She put her index finger to her lip.

"Princess Marigold?" whoever had descended questioned. She turned and curtsied. "What are you doing down here?" It was Prince Chadwick.

"I merely wished to visit the prisoner. It is so dreadful that such a young girl would commit such travesties. Death shall be her only solace." Prince Chadwick mumbled his agreement.

"May I have a moment to speak to her?"

"Oh, of course you highness." Marigold moved away from the cell.

"Alone perhaps?" he added.

"Oh," the princess gave him a nervous giggle and then fled up the stairs.

"Sorry about that," Prince Chadwick said once she had gone. I grinned knowing that at least I was not the only one who thought her annoying.

"You are not angry with me?" I asked him gently. "I honestly meant you know harm."

"I know – I fear I am not sure what to call you."

"Isabella, my name is Isabella."

"Very well then Isabella. But please answer me this, why did you lie to me?"

"I … I had to. I do not know how to explain the mess I am in."

"I assumed such. Sometimes one gets involved with the wrong people and then before you know it, they are forcing you into some twisted plot. "

"No. No one forced me into anything."

"I understand Isabella, I do. Perhaps by putting you on trial the conspirators will emerge."

"Trial? Chadwick please! This is a mistake."

"I will vouch for your honesty, love. I am sure everything will work out. The courts are merciful. They will desire the real masterminds behind this. Until then, I have to get back to work. I wish we could keep you in more accommodating conditions but a prisoner is a prisoner. The fact remains that you attempted to kill me."

"That was not me!"

"Was it not your curious slipper?"

He had me there. "Yes, but, Prince Chadwick, I tell you it was Princess Marigold."

He chuckled. "Princess Marigold?"

"Yes! The girl is a witch. She is absolutly insane."

"Isabella really, Marigold would not hurt a fly."

"No, she would probably eat it! You must believe me. You know there is something not right."

"The fact that you have lied to me and decieved us all. I trust that you were not behind it all alone but do not feign innocence Isabella. You have to be a part in this awful plot against my life. Do not try to lie to me any longer." His face was stained with hurt and my heart ached.

"Chadwick!" I shouted as he backed away from the cell. He gave me a short bow before hurrying up the stairs. I wanted to scream. The prince was a dimwit. How could he believe that I really wanted to hurt him? On the contrary, I wanted him to love me! Only then could Astra return home. I leaned on the cold stone wall opposite the bars of the cell and sighed, wondering about Lily, Astra, and Chris. Wherever they were, they were definitely in a better position than me.

After a few minutes of frustrated silence Blue Jay emerged from his perch on the bared window.

"He seems charming," I laughed. "Humans have an intresting way of showing love."

"It is useless. Blue Jay you have to find someone to help me get out of here. You say you searched for Astra and Lily."

"Yes."

"Well, they have to be somewhere in the palace. Chris would not leave without me. Right?" The bird was silent. I stood, pacing back and forth. "Blue Jay, what am I going to do?" He still did not answer. So, I continued pacing near tears and utterly hopeless. I had to think of a plan. Throughout this whole adventure I had been in tighter spots then this. Well, okay maybe this was the tightest, I thought studying the bars of the cell. but it could not end here. I had a star to return, I had Chris awaiting me, and I had a crazy step-mother probably seeking my blood as of now. I shuttered, realizing I had not thought of her motherly madness in days. I sat down. There is always a way. If I had learned anything with being with Astra I had learned that. If Chadwick wanted conspirators that is what he was going to get.

"Blue Jay,' I said with a renewed determination, "I need you to deliever me a message."

Hey all,

I had a hard time writing this chapter but now I have gotten back into the flow of this story so expect updates a lot more frequently. Please tell me what you think! Thank you to all my readers and reviews, I really hope you are still enjoying Broken Glass. ~ Iris Lily ~