Chapter II
“Dianna”
“Dianna”
“Wait! Don’t go! Please!” I said as I was running after them, going farther, farther away as I became slower and slower.
“I’m sorry princess I have to.” He said with pleading eyes.
“Please! Don’t leave me alone!” Tears were forming in my eyes.
“Please don’t cry princess-”
“NO!” I said cutting him off “You mustn’t go! You can’t leave me!”
“I’ll be back princess. And I’ll find you.”
“NO!”
“Goodbye Dianna”
As he was fading I saw an angelic face in great pain, pale cheeks streaked with continuous tears, beautiful eyes staring at me, staring into the very depths of my soul, gorgeous lips made a shocked painful expression, who was this beautiful boy?
I woke up “A dream…” I felt tears running down my cheeks, the covers drenched. I’ve had that dream before. Who was that fading away in the distance? I shrugged the dream off and went into the washroom to wash my face and brush my teeth. I put on a simple blue gown and tied my hair with a blue ribbon and went off to have breakfast.
My siblings were seated in their usual chairs waiting for the food. Mother and father were in the other room discussing something of which I do not know of. As the servants entered, the room was filled with the smell of fresh baked bread and delicious milk. They placed baskets of fruit and bread on the table and filled our glasses with creamy milk.
My younger sister Charolet whispered in my ear. Her straight golden hair cropped up to her back. Her sparkling green eyes filled with joy and hope, probably to be able to start some new story. And her perfect lips stretched across her face for a happy smile. “I heard their talking about you. Someone told me you’re going to be sent to do some training.”
I let out a laugh “Like that’s ever gonna happen. They never let us stray away from the castle remember? And if they do we are surrounded by over ten guards.”
“Maybe you’re right, but still it’s not wrong to dream”
I rolled my eyes “Dream on little sister”
I sliced open a loaf of bread and spread some butter on it. My younger siblings were going on about what they think mother and father were speaking of while Charolet, Ruke and I sat quietly eating. I suppose I may have crushed my sisters spirits about what must be happening out there.
It is difficult to be a princess in the kingdom of the east, the land of fairies, never being able to stray away from the palace grounds and enjoy, though there are rare occasions when mother and father allow us to leave with them, we may do nothing else but smile and wave. Sometimes I feel that I am not a princess, but a prisoner, a prisoner in my own home. And that is why, I run away, run away from my prison, run away from my home, at least until, I must return for my scolding.
I found in my chamber waiting for me, my best friend and lady in waiting Andrea. People usually say that we look alike and often mistake us for one another. It was like we were twins. She sat me down on a chair in front of the mirror and started to fix my hair.
“Are you sure you want to do this again? Your father is going to throw a fit.”
“Do not mind him for he is all bark and no bite when it comes to us.”
“Still, it is unsafe for a princess to be roaming around in such a time as this.”
“But I shant be a princess there, there I am just Dianna.” I said smiling at the mirror “Please help me.”
She sighed “Very well. You are lucky we look so much alike or no one would ever believe me when I attend to your royal duties.”
I rolled my eyes and we laughed.
“Thanks for helping me with this Andy.”
“’Tis no problem Dana” She helped me into my simple thin little dress and said “Done. Now help me to look as dazzling as you do dear princess ” I rolled my eyes again and made her look more like me. (If that’s even possible)
* * *
“There, I am done.”
She nodded. “Let’s go.”
We ran to the servant’s quarters where there was a secret passageway through one of the walls. I said the incantation and pressed against the wall. It opened and showed a dirty hallway filled with cobwebs and dust. I hugged my friend goodbye.
“Try not to get caught this time.” she said “If you do your father will have my head”
“I wont get caught, and even if I do father wont be furious with you” I gave a mischievous grin “I’ll take care of it.”
She gave a worried smile and I went off into the passageway. I heard the door close behind me and the figure of my friend was gone. I went farther into the tunnel and found the huge stone door. It had different colored jewels on it. I said another incantation and the doors opened. I gasped as I saw outside the castle. It is always so beautiful however many times I see it. I unfolded my wings and flew into town. When I arrived, I felt eyes staring at me as I walked down through town on my way to the fountain. The wind was blowing my hair around and making my pale blue dress sway. When I sat on the edge of the fountain and felt the wind on my face. I caught a group of boys watching me laughing and urging another boy to come here and speak with me. He finally came and smiled shyly at me.
“Hello there. Uh are you new to the village?”
“Why yes, but I am only visiting though.” I saw his face become disappointed but I do not know why.
“My name is Joshua by the way” he smiled
“I am Dianna”
“Well since you’re here, would you like a tour of the village?” His face filled with hope.
“Very well” I said with a gentle smile. Though I have already explored the whole village on my won time but in different disguises, there is something very familiar about this boy, though I cannot put my finger on it so I allowed him to show me around.
It turns out I was correct to allow him to be my guide. As we walked I could feel him becoming less and less shy, he even begun calling me Dana and I called him Josh. The places he showed me were wonderful. He first brought me to town square where there were children playing. They looked like they were having so much fun I wished I would be able to be a child again and join them in their merriment.
“To be a child again would be so fun wouldn’t it Dana?” He said suddenly
“Yes, I sometimes wish I had the power to attain such feats.”
“Someone once told me that childhood does not end at a certain age” He touched his chest “but when your heart says that it is time for you to grow up.”
“That’s very nice Josh” I smiled “If only I were still a child at heart.”
“You could still be” he grabbed my hand and we ran to the group of children “Hello there, May we join your game?”
The child’s impish face was confused at first as he looked at us from up to down, but then he grinned and looked to his friends who had the same reaction “Sure why not?”
“I don’t know about this Josh” I was trembling with my hands wide as they threw the ball at me.
“Relax Dana, You’ll be fine” He grinned.
They threw the ball at me and I caught it. I laughed “I caught it!”
He came near me “See I told you there was nothing to worry about.”
This time outside the castle was amazing, I have snuck out before but this is the most fun I had in a long time. Running around and playing, I would never have even thought about doing this without Josh here to guide me. There were times we fell down and our clothes got dirty but we didn’t care, we were free to go about as we chose because we didn’t have anyone watching us making sure we were safe inside a prison for princesses. But as time went by I heard Josh’s stomach rumble.
“Are you hungry?”
“Not really” He said blushing, I would have believed him if I hadn’t heard it rumble again.
“Not really hmm?” I smirked “Let’s go get something to eat”
I brought him to a bakery and took some loaves of bread for us to eat. But as I brought out my purse he made me put it back down.
“I’ll pay if that’s alright.”
We started eating the bread and it was good.
“So, how did you like the grand tour?” Joshua asked
I laughed and said “It was… Great.”
He was about to respond when I saw his face turn pale. He was shocked to see my body guard Gabriel behind me. His white teeth spread across his tanned face in a huge grin..
“You really should stop sneaking out like this princess.” Gabriel said.
Josh’s jaw dropped.
“When will you learn that I am capable of taking care of myself?” I snapped
“I know princess, but if I let you roam around too much unattended, your father will have my head.”
“You sound just like Andrea.”
He blushed and shrugged it off. “We must be going now princess, your father is awaiting your company.” He turned to Josh, smiled and said “Thank you for taking care of the princess while she is off being mischievous. I am sorry if she has caused you any trouble.”
Josh gulped and said “No problem sir.” He seemed intimidated, but then again who wouldn’t be when they are facing Gabriel, my loyal bodyguard and good friend. He faced me and let out a sad look. “So I guess this is goodbye?”
I grunted and said “Oh please”
He laughed but there was still sadness in his eyes.
I smiled warmly. “Not goodbye. Just…” I struggled looking for the right thing to say. “See you later.”
He blushed and went back to the shy boy I met earlier. “Yes, see you later princess.”
I frowned. “Please. Just call me Dana.”
“Yes, Dana”
And with that, I hurried to the carriage and frowned as I saw it pass Josh by with his sad expression outside the window.
* * *
I was upset as I went on my way up the stone stairway to the palace. I would have liked to stay with Josh a little longer. When I reached the top of the stairs, the first person I saw was Andrea, smiling, about what? I haven’t the foggiest idea.“Did you tell him where I went?” I asked appalled that my best friend would sell me out to my other best friend who she obviously had feelings for.
“Yes, I just could not wait to tell you the news your father told me thinking I was you.” She said not an ounce of guilt in her tone for ruining a perfectly good moment with a new friend. Then again she didn’t know what I was doing, usually I just tell her that I stayed and watched people when I go out.
“Well? What’s the news?”
“Ask his majesty.”
They lead me into the throne room where mother and father looked both disappointed. My father’s green eyes stern on his usually happy tanned face. His blonde hair Cropped short seemed to have frizzed with his worry, mother’s blue eyes sad with worry her long light brown hair becoming a bit messy.
“You wanted to see me?”
“We are very disappointed in you Dianna.” My father said “You disobeyed us again and went into the village unattended.”
“I am sorry father, mother. I just cannot stay inside this castle forever. I feel like a bird trapped in a cage. I must be free to roam around without people telling me not to do things they feel is unsafe, which is mostly everything.”
Mother’s face showed sympathy for me but father was still upset that I had worried him.
“Even so,” he continued “If you continue doing this I’m afraid I might have to cancel your trip to the human world”
I flinched. “Hu-human world?!”
He smiled “Yes I’m sending you there next week to start your training. There will be a feast starting tonight until the night before you leave.” His smile faded. “But I have received news that the Demons are sent Prince Demitri there. You must be careful dear daughter.”
Anger struck me. Demons, they are the one of reasons I am not allowed outside the castle. They are a horrible people who are dangerous and might try to injure us were we caught alone by them.
I nodded. “I’ll be careful. Thank you for allowing me the honor of being able to go to the human world father, mother.”
They smiled “Now run along to join your siblings in sword fighting class.
I smiled and left the room.
On my way to join my siblings I jumped and twirled because of the news I heard. Andrea and Gabriel were having a hard time keeping up with me.
“Be careful princess!” Andrea called
“Slow down princess!” Gabriel Said
But I couldn’t slow down, I couldn’t stop smiling. I was too happy, too excited to go to the human world. I joined my siblings in the garden and saw Ruke and Charolet were sword fighting. Charolet and Ruke were good sword fighters, I had a hard time to defeat them, but they have yet to do so to me. As I walked in Charolet glanced in my direction and Ruke took this opportunity to defeat her.
“Very sloppy sister,” Ruke said “should this have been a real fight and had I been your enemy I would have sliced your head off.”
Charolet glared at him face turning red with fury. Something mush have happened while I was away. Ruke brought out a hand to help her up but Charolet, being the hardheaded girl she is, ignored it and stood up on her own. The thing with Charolet is, she rarely gets mad, and when she does, she explodes in rage but it dies out soon after.
I grabbed my sword and stood next to my sister Estelle, she is very intelligent and well trained in the sword, her warm dark brown eyes behind her glasses, always studying not only lessons but also how people react and what they do. Her long dark brown hair reaching her back was tied in a low ponytail, the beauty of my sisters always overwhelm me.
“Estelle, why is our Charolette so angry?” I whispered.
“Ruke has upset her deeply with his strange and cocky ways,” she sighed “he told her that we’re all going to get separated, that you’re leaving for somewhere far away and we won’t see you for a long time.” I froze. Ruke always had the ability to see the future. Had he seen me going to the human world and told the others? “He said that you would leave us behind,” I caught a glimpse of a tear on her eye “that it won’t be the same ever again, even when you come back.” She rubbed her eyes “He’s wrong right sister? We won’t be splitting up and everything’s going to be the same as it was right?”
I hated seeing her so sad. I smiled faintly and patted her on the head “Everything’s going to be okay Stella”
She blushed and gently pushed me “I told you not to call me that” and we laughed.
Ruke and Charolette were still arguing, or at least Charolette was, Ruke just stopped caring and started blocking her out.
I sighed. “Okay break it up! Let’s see Ruke take me on.”
Charolette brightened and Ruke smirked. “You won’t beat me this time little sister.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever you always say that.”
* * *
Defeating Ruke was easy. There was something wrong with him today. He was a little out of it. He seemed sad. I knocked his sword from his hand and he fell on the ground.
“Nice one.” I said. I offered my hand and he took it “maybe next time big guy.”
“Hmph!” was the only thing he said.
Charolette’s mood seemed to have brightened, for she was no longer glaring at Ruke. Instead she just laughed. “That’s what you get big brother.”
Ruke just picked up Charolette’s fallen sword and gave it to her. “Let’s see you try to beat her.”
I heard Charolette gulp and glance at me. She was shaking. “Su-sure”
I didn’t want to fight Charolette. She was still tired from her fight with Ruke. I glanced at Estelle who gave a worried stare. “I think that’s enough for now.” I said finally “I must pack my things early.” The words slipped out before I had a chance to stop them I covered my mouth. They all stared at me.
“Where are you going Sister?” Estelle asked
“Well um-” I could not explain myself. What was I going to say? I had promised Estelle everything would be okay and there she stood in front of me with a shocked tearful stare.
“I knew it!” Ruke said “I knew she was gonna leave!”
Tears were forming in Charolette’s eyes. “Sister, is this true?”
I couldn’t say anything. I was worried that I would say something other to upset them. So I bit my tongue.
“Say something!” Charolette cried
“I-I” I had to say something “their sending me to the human world for training.” It had occurred to me that Charolette wasn’t as thrilled as she was this morning about me being able to leave for training. Perhaps she was hoping she could join me there. But surely, she couldn’t for she is only fourteen years old and our father would throw a fit were she to insist that she join me.
“I see…”
“Charolette-” but she cut me off and ran away
“Everything will be okay…” Estelle said but still, she could not hold back her tears “everything will be okay… Are you sure sister, that when you return everything will be the same?”
“Estelle…”
She forced a smile “If you say it be so, then I believe you sister.”
I looked at Ruke whose face was blank but in his deep blue eyes I could see the pain and sorrow. His short cropped black hair becoming messy, that is a trait we inherit from our mother. Our hair becomes messy every time we are worried or concerned though it is not very obvious through the eyes of the unobservant.
“I regret mentioning the points in my vision.” He sighed “If I hadn’t done this she would not have been so upset, but I had no control,” he shuddered “it was as if I was being forced to say those words. I must study this further.”
He started to leave but Estelle grabbed his arm. “We must comfort our Charolette,”
“That is true” I said “we must go after her.” I said
“I am sorry but I cannot join you,” Ruke said “please tell her that my visions aren’t always correct, that it can be changed.”
“Will she be alright?” Estelle asked
Ruke closed his eyes and pondered for a moment and tilted his head, he did this every time he checks the future. “She’ll be alright” He said with a smile.
Ruke went off to his study and left Estelle and I to run after Charolette ourselves. We ran to the direction she went and found her sitting under a tree by the lake with her face in her knees. We approached her and she didn’t seem to notice us.
“Charolette” I said finally
She peeked from her position “Go away!”
“Sister…” Estelle said
“I said go away!”
“Sister!” Estelle shouted “I know you are upset, but this is no way for a princess to act.” She said stern.
“Watch your mouth girl!” Charolette glared “You may be more mature, but I am still older than you”
“Then you must act it dear sister”
“Charolett, I am sorry if I have upset you.” I said “but you must understand that I must do this, I must go and pursue my dream and go to the human world. This may be my only chance to leave the castle grounds without constantly being watched.”
She nodded “I know. It’s just… I’ll miss you so much.” Tears were still rushing down her face “I’m afraid that Ruke will be correct, that everything will change.”
I sat next to her and smoothed her hair. “It’s alright Charolette, everything will be okay.”
She smiled and I hugged her, but I wondered, if Ruke said everything would change, did he mean for the better or worse? Ruke was seldom wrong about his visions.
* * *
I decided to go around the palace grounds to see everything before I leave. Estelle and Charolette decided to go with me. We rode our Pegasuses to the park and the saw that there were children playing.
“They look like their having so much fun.” Estelle said
“I would like to join them” Charolette said with wishing eyes
“Don’t be silly sister. You are much too old to do that”
“I suppose you’re right”
Then I thought of Josh and what he told me today.
“Someone once told me that childhood does not end at a certain age” He touched his chest “but when your heart says that it is time for you to grow up.”
The thought made me smile
“Why don’t we join them?” I asked
“We mustn’t sister, you and Charolette are too old and we are of royal blood” Estelle said
“Someone told me something today,”
“When you snuck out?” Charolette grinned
I laughed “Yes. Well he said childhood does not end at a certain age, but when your heart says that it is time for you to grow up,” I smiled “so come on, let’s join them!”
We glanced at Estelle,
She sighed and smiled “Very well, at least no one will judge me for my age, I’m only thirteen”
“Yes, but you act older than both of us” I laughed
“Hmph!”
I grabbed their hands just as the way Josh had mine and pulled them towards the children.
“Hello there,” I smiled kindly
“He-hello princess” The child said. Her freckled impish face suddenly shy and intimidated unlike when we were watching her. “Is there anything that I may do for you?”
“Well I was just wondering if we could join you”
She gave a puzzled look when she saw Estelle trying to break away from my grip then grinned “Of course princess!”
“Well actually-” Estelle tried to leave but I pulled her back
“Thanks!” I said while hitting Estelle with my elbow
Playing with the children was fun though remembering to when I played with Josh I enjoyed that more. My sisters reacted very differently to this experience. While Estelle was panicking and kept on being hit by the ball, Charolette looked like she was having the time of her life. Laughing and doing everything perfectly, she is very athletic carefree. And when we were done we were covered in dirt and made fun of Estelle while she moaned and complained.
“That was tiring” Estelle moaned. “Why did you make me do that?”
“Stop complaining” Charolette laughed
“You know you had fun” I said as we were hopping on our Pegasuses.
“I guess you’re right” Estelle smiled
We rode to the castle to wash up. When I was done I decided to go to the library and meet Estell but when I went outside my chamber Charolette was at the door.
“Sister, we must go to Madame Linda and choose our dresses immediately” Charolette said
“Can’t we just just pick one out of my closet?”
She pinched my cheek “but sister, we shant be seeing you for a while you must look look your best.”
“But I have perfectly good dresses in my closet” (she was trying to make up an excuse to start getting new clothes again)
She raised her index finger in front of me. “Very well”
She pulled me to my closet so she could go through my things.
“Goodness no sister!” She said as soon as she saw my clothes “None of these items are suitable for the feast tomight.”
“What are you talking about? All my clothes are perfectly-”
She grabbed my arm and darted for the door cutting me off. “We must get new things for you sister, we must look perfect for the feast mother and father are planning”
“We?” I grinned
“Of course I would like to look good as well”
I grinned “I knew it”
We laughed and ran to the sewing room hand in hand.
Upon our arrival saw Madame Linda waiting for us. Madame Linda was a plump old lady with golden curls running down the sides of her round head. Her sparkling blue eyes were always cheerful and her face showed no signs of age. She always knew what size clothes we needed so we never had to stay for long.
“Yes ladies? Is there anything you need?” She said in a shrill high pitched voice.
I nodded “We just came by to look for new dresses for the feast tonight”
“Of course ladies, I have just the thing”
She brought us to a big well lit room with purple curtains and a big purple couch. (Personally I don’t quite enjoy the color purple) She brought out a line of beautiful dresses all fitting us perfectly.
“Choose whichever you like” She said, proud at our expressions.
Charolette quickly ran to the dresses very excited to see each and every one,
I was going through the dresses while hearing Charolette saying “This one! No this one! No!” The sight of my sister made me smile. It was like seeing a child going through a toy store and can only have one.
That was when I saw the perfect dress. It had long sleeves that reached almost completely over the hands. The top half was powder blue with navy blue ribbons and a V-neckline. The flowing skirt was navy blue with waves of electronic blue on the bottom. Madame Linda saw me staring at it and let out a light giggle. “Have you chosen a dress miss Dianna?”
I nodded and reached for the dress.
“Excellent choice Miss,” She took the dress from me and gave it to a servant girl to be sent to my chamber “and I have the perfect pair of shoes for that one” She showed me a pair of flat shoes with silver straps and silver lilies.
“Their perfect” I said suddenly excited for the feast
“I knew that you would choose that dress Miss” She smiled hugely “And have you chosen one Miss Charolette?”
Charolette was going around the dresses looking crazy “Yes! I mean no I mean Yes! This one! No wait this one!”
“My sweet sister” I said not particularly to anyone “What about this one?” I said reaching for an emerald green dress with a square neck line and a dartmouth green skirt with streaks of jade going from the waist down. The sleeves that reached up to the wrists had pine green vines and transparent honeydew and tea green lace on the bottom.
Charolette’s eyes widened “It’s wonderful!” she took it from me and pressed it against her body in front of the mirror. She twirled and let out a huge grin. “I love it!”
“Excellent princess now if you could just choose a pair of shoes-” Madame Linda was cut off by Charolette who wasn’t listening anymore
“I have the perfect pair of shoes to match this” She ran out of the room giggling excitedly
“Sorry Madame, she gets this way when she’s excited” I said
“I completely understand Miss” Madame Linda said
“I’ll go follow her”
“Your dress will be ready in your chamber by the time you get there”
“Thank you”
* * *
I found Charolette in her chamber rummaging through her closet making a mess while throwing clothes that she didn’t need over her shoulder. Her dress was spread across her bed.
“Amazing Charolette” I shook my head and laughed “You’ve managed to lose me while running here when I was close behind after you left”
She straightened and laughed “It’s a gift”
“So have you found what you were searching for?”
She shook her head “I know its here somewhere”
“You would probably be able to find it were you not so untidy”
“I am not untidy,” she said defensively “this is completely normal”
“This” I gestured toward her room “isn’t very normal”
She looked towards the room and her eyes widened “Um, I may have overdone myself” she blushed
“I’ll help you look, what is it you’re looking for anyway?”
“My green and gold flats,” She grinned “and I know my gold necklace is somewhere here”
“Perhaps you should check your dresser?”
“Oh right”
I sighed “You’re incredible”
“Just like my big sister” She smiled
“I’m really going to miss you”
She winced “I’ll miss you too, don’t be gone too long okay?”
“Yes”
This is chapter 2 Dianna tell me what u think redface I'll put chapter 3 "Almost there" in demitri's mind soon biggrin
