"Why are you wearing that same dress?" Manny asked her the next day as they got ready to leave.

"Well it's the only nice dress I have, I don't want your parents to see me in rags also this is my favorite. You know it was my mother's when she was a girl."

"Figures can't say I'm surprised that it looks so good on you. You and your mother do look a lot alike."

"I don't get why people say that. I mean I don't see the resemblance, my mother was a beautiful woman and I'm...I'm just me."

"Yeah you're just you, the most beautiful woman of all."

She blushed again.

"So did you ever meet my mother?"

"Once. I was about two years old."

"Do you remember her?"

"Not really but she used to be friends with my mother and she told me a lot of things about her."

"Like what?"

"That she was smart and kind and that your father loved her very much."

"I knew that. So you sure your parents don't mind me coming?"

"Of course. You know they love you, you're like the daughter they never had."

"Can't wait to see them, they've always been so kind to me."

"Yes but don't pay too much attention to what they say."

"Why?"

"Well I sent them a message about my plan and now they think it means you and I will be getting married soon."

"What? That's crazy." Frida laughed.

"That's what I told them. But then Father started making wedding plans and Mother is talking about how she couldn't wait for you to bear her three grandchildren."

"Me bear three children? I'm not even engaged and she's already talking about me going through childbirth?"

"She and Father have been pushing me to settle down for awhile."

"Eager much?"

"Ya think."

"For once I'm glad my father's not here, if he was and he knew about this supposed wedding he wouldn't stand for it."

"Your father never did like me. He only let us be friends because our mothers were so close."

"Remember when my father and my stepmother got married and at the wedding I was so mad about the whole thing because I didn't want a new mother so you we decided to run away together?"

"I remember that. We tried to get the priest to marry us before we left."

"Your parents thought it was so cute."

"Your father didn't, he tried to have me thrown in the dudgeon for kidnap and I was only nine."

They laughed at how silly and ridiculous their parents could be. However unknown to Frida, Manny was considering popping the question but he wanted to wait til Frida had time to settle in and live with them for awhile but he forgot that neither one of his parents could keep a secret. He only hoped that wouldn't blow his surprise when they got there.

"Listen I have an idea. Before we go let's skip a couple of stones?"

"Bet I can beat you."

"Oh if you're so sure let's make this a little interesting."

"Okay if I win I get your sword."

"No way! You could cut yourself!"

"If you can learn to use it so can I."

"Alright but if I win you have to give me...a kiss."

She blushed harder than she ever had in all her life.

"Deal." She said smiling shyly.

They went to the lake and began skipping stone's across it's surface. Unaware that their plans would be put on hold because at that moment Tonio and Chakal, Zoe's most loyal servant were getting ready to perform her evil order.

"I don't think I can do this." Tonio said.

"If you don't it will be your head." Chakal said.

"But I've known her since she was a babe, I watched her grow up."

"So did I and in my opinion she was always a brat. Now I'll take out the prince you lead the young lady away from here and do as your told."

"Oh may God forgive me." Tonio sighed.

"Ha! I win!" Manny cheered.

"You cheated! You have a stronger arm than mine." Frida protested.

"Doesn't matter I won so..."

They were both blushing all over, after a moment of shy silence Frida closed her eyes and gently leaned in with her lips ready. Manny closed his eyes and leaned in as well. Their lips had nearly touched when...

"Excuse me Princess Frida." Tonio interrupted making her step back in embarrassment while Manny slightly growled under his breath.

"What is it Tonio?" She asked.

"I need you to come assist me with something."

"With what?"

"The queen craves stew so I need to get some herbs but they ones needed grow in a patch of thorns and my arm is to large and thick to reach them. Would you mind gathering them before you leave."

"Sure I'll be right back Manny."

She left with Tonio to do as he asked. However Manny couldn't help but suspect something was off. Tonio was very pale, sweaty, and somewhat shaking. Like he was afraid of something or about to do something very bad.

"Hey wait a minute Frida- Oof!"

Chakal had knocked him out with a nearby tree branch.

"I always thought you were a brat too." He scoffed at the unconscious boy.

Tonio led Frida over to a secluded glade and directed her over to a patch of thorns. While her back was turned he pulled a dagger from his belt and stalked toward her. When she heard a stick snap from him stepping on it she turned around and let out a small scream when she saw the sharp blade raised toward her. Paralyzed with shock and fear she could only close her eyes and hope that she wouldn't suffer any pain. But Tonio was unable to harm one so beautiful and innocent.

"I can't! I can't do it!" He dropped the dagger and fell at her feet. "Forgive me! I beg you your highness! Forgive me!"

"I don't understand." Frida said confused. "Tonio why are you-"

"She's mad! Jealous of you! She'll stop at nothing!"

"Who?"

"The queen."

"The queen? Zoe?"

"She ordered me to kill you!"

"What? So am I to be killed like my father?"

"Your father was a very good man, he had always been very kind to me. So in return I'll let you live. You must run! Run far away from here! Run! Hide anywhere! But never come back!"

"But what about Manny?"

"Being with him puts him in danger of the queen's wrath! Now! Go! Hide! Run! Go!"

At his word she began running through the forest. She didn't understand what was happening or why. She always knew Zoe didn't like her but would she never thought that she would want to kill her. God bless Tonio, the man looked scared out of his mind by Zoe's order and even more scared if she had discovered that he let her live. She ran and ran until she tripped over a root and fell down sobbing. What was to become of her now? She couldn't go home, she couldn't go back to Manny, what could she do? She continued to cry until she was startled by the sound of wings fluttering. She looked up to see a bluebird perched on a branch.

"Oh hello." She said. "Where did you come from?"

The bird only chirped. Frida got up and walked toward it, instead of flying away like most birds it just fluttered into her hand. She remembered servants telling her that her mother always believed that if a bird didn't fly away when you went near it, it considered you a friend and would help you one day.

"Listen I don't know if you can understand me but I'm lost and I don't know where to go, can you help me?"

The bird chirped again then flew off of her hand and spread it's wings out to tell her to follow it. Which she did, hoping it would lead her to somewhere she could rest.