"Princess Ara?" A voice called through the hallways, "Princess Ara, where are you??"
A distressed, impatient maid scurried around a corner of one of the exquisite hallways with her hands stuck to the sides of her head. She looked around in a fierce panic and heaved a shrilly sigh. Where could that Princess be?!
Out of the stain-glass window, and down below, amidst the fresh trees of the Palace's Garden and the colourful flower beds, three young girls were dancing around a stone fountain and laughing brightly. Two of them wore plain, white dresses, whilst the other wore a grand peach gown and her blonde curls were held back from her eyes with a diamond headband.
"Ring around the roses!" The redheaded little girl sang.
"A pocket full of poses!" The blonde child giggled, skipping away.
Her other friend, brunette and blushing sweetly, advanced towards the end of the rhyme, "A tissue, a tissue!"
"We all fall down!!" They all yelled in unison.
The three young girls fell down to the ground where they erupted into a fit of laughter. Rolling left and right, and kicking their feet, they were hardly concerned of who could be frowning upon them at that moment. They were best friends, and having too much fun!
"Priiiiiinncceeeess Aaaarrraaaa!" A loud, worried voice sang through the garden.
The three girls stopped laughing immediately and shot upright like bolts within an instance. The little blonde girl jumped up and whipped her head left and right to try and find her caller. All she could see were jade trees, colourful flowers and a blue sky, and in the same sense, she could only hear twittering birds and the whispering leaves. What was she to do?
"I think it's Christabella, Ara...," The brunette girl suggested, "Is she calling you?"
The little blonde girl, Ara, looked to her friend and shook her head, with a prominent frown of disagreement, "Oh, no, Farren; Christabella just likes to call my name a lot, that's all..."
Her friends exchanged doubtful looks with each other, "Oh..."
At that very moment, a twittering, humming sound came into hearing and burst through the leafy head of a tree. Down came a small, metallic ball that possessed a single, huge glass-eye on its front that produced a red laser-scan upon Ara once it hovered down to her level. Ara sighed and rolled her eyes, trying to fwap it away.
"Princess Aaaarraaa!" Christabella sang out again, but this time, she was much closer.
"Are you sure, Ara? Maybe we should answer her..." The redheaded girl suggested.
"Oh, answer shmanswer, Penny," Ara huffed and stood up, pushing the searching device out of her face, "I want to play here, with you two. It's so boring in the Palace..."
"But Ara -- you're the Princess," Farren reminded her in an innocent surprise, "You have to go to the Palace!"
Ara rolled her eyes and sat herself down on the wall of the fountain. The small metal ball floated in the air and blinked its false eye sharply and curiously at the three young girls. It then opened up a hatch upon the top of its body and up shot a bold, red light to announce its position to Christabella. The girls sighed. Ara folded her arms across her chest in a little sulk and pouted at the floor. Farren and Penny looked to each other, concerned, and sat either side of her.
"Don't be sad, Ara," Penny reassured her, "We will always be able to play with each other."
"Yeah - we'll always be friends, Ara. Being the Princess just means we get to see you every day! My mummy always lets me skip out on collecting the bed sheets with her." Farren giggled.
"My mummy too!" Penny chirped, "She never makes me dust. So, then, I can see you, Ara."
Ara smiled warmly at her two best friends. Although they were all only 9, it was a rough world, and Farren and Penny had to be tough. Their mothers were maids in the Palace, and as an agreement, they were allowed to live there with their children, on the condition that they too helped clean and serve. Ara had become friends with Farren and Penny since the day she could walk on her own without the hands of her mother guiding her.
"Princess Ara! There you are!" Christabella panted with relief.
The 3 young girls looked up to see a short, plump woman wearing a blue and white frock emerge from a flowery pathway. She had wild, brown hair that was pinned up in an elegant, curly bun, and her lips were rouged brightly.
"So you were looking for me?" Ara asked in disappointment.
Christabella rolled her eyes, "Haven't you heard my calls? Who else in this Palace is called 'Princess Ara', silly girl?"
Farren and Penny started giggling at the flustered old lady. She narrowed her eyes at the two girls and pointed a finger at them, but which could only be respected in the most sceptical of manners. The girls only giggled louder.
"You had best watch yourselves, girlies," She warned them, "You should be off helping your poor mothers with the chores. I'd have a right mind to inform them of your cheeky attitudes."
The metal ball closed up its red light and swooped down into Christabella's hand, where it switched itself off and shrunk out of its iron layers and became the size of a pea. Farren and Penny slipped down from the fountain's wall and ran past Christabella, giggling. They waved a goodbye to Ara before disappearing into the colourful thickness of the garden, heading back towards the tall, exquisite Palace. Christabella placed her hands on her hips after slipping the locating device into her pocket and raised a scrutinising eyebrow at little Ara.
"And as for you," She began, and stepped towards her, "What has your father told you about playing with the servant daughters?"
Ara sighed, "But they're my friends. Why does it matter if they're servant daughters? They're just Farren and Penny to me..."
Christabella watched the young girl for a moment. She had to hold back an unimpressed, guilty frown as she mused over Ara's naive opinions. She was going to have to learn, someday, that class differentiated people, and mattered greatly. It was how the world worked. .
"I'm afraid, Princess Ara, it's just the way that it is..." Christabella sighed.
Ara splashed the cool water behind her, "Well it should be different..."
A little blue bird twittered in a tree nearby, and then took off into flight, and fluttered up into the sky. A buzzing bee hovered from one colourful flower to the next, smelling their sweet pollen, and the fountain's water splashed delicately and created a peaceful trickling melody. For that moment, Christabella just watched the young Princess, and Ara sulked. But that wouldn't get either of them anywhere. Christabella felt it best to move on.
"Well, Princess Ara," She began, "I haven't been calling you for no reason at all; it's time for your piano lessons."
Ara groaned slightly, "Oh, Christabellaaaaaaaa..."--
"No whining now. You will be grateful for these lessons when you become an intelligent, skilled young lady to impress the bachelors with." Christabella teased.
Ara jumped down from the fountain, "Ew, stop it! I'll never get married."
"Come on, you." Christabella chuckled, and placed a hand upon young Ara's back.
"Being Queen must be hard..." Ara huffed.
"Yes, but for you, it shall be the easiest place to get to." Christabella reassured her, leading her along the pathway.
"Do you really think so, Christabella?" Ara giggled.
"I know so. You are already on your way to becoming a great leader. Plenty of time. Not to worry, pet, it will all come as it shall." She replied.
But little could Ara, or anyone else for that matter, foresee the chaos that was waiting for her in the distance...
Ara entered the large, royal room behind her watcher, Christabella, and smelt the familiar scent of pinewood. Her mother loved it, and made sure to fill the Palace with its beautiful aroma. Because of this, the smell always reminded Ara of her.
"Ah, at last!" An impatient voice snapped.
"I do apologise, Ma'am. We had some... delays... along the way." Christabella explained.
Christabella glanced back at Ara in annoyance and Ara flinched guiltily. She knew she was in trouble, for the time being. Ara was such a mischievous Princess, but she didn't purposely try to be. She was just a free spirit.
"Oh, very well. Come along, Ara. Position yourself." The piano teacher sighed and placed a hand on her wide hip.
Behind her stood a grand, glass piano the colour of a dull, blue morning-sky. It shimmered in the reflection of the room, and Ara could see the strings inside of it through its outer transparent body.
"Um..." Ara uttered, and placed her finger to her lips nervously.
Her teacher blinked at her through the glasses which sat upon the end of her nose. Ara shyly glanced up at Christabella for help.
"What is it, Ara?" She sighed.
"I have to... use the bathroom." Ara announced.
Her teacher rolled her eyes and shook her head, "I see no point in you attending these lessons, Ara."
"Go on then, quickly," Christabella whispered, "And I mean quickly."
Ara nodded obediently and, turning on her heels, skipped out of the room, leaving the two women to try and find something to talk about as a means of passing the time. Ara skipped happily down the bronze, shining hallway whilst humming a tender melody to herself. Her crystal eyes scanned along the portraits of her family's bloodline members that ran along the walls. One day, she would be up there, with a beautiful crown upon her head.
Ara approached the end of the corridor, and just as she skipped around the bend of the corner, she noticed two dark figures huddling together. Why she hadn't continued skipping, she didn't know exactly... but her gut instincts were telling her to stay back. To watch -- spy. Ara brought herself to a sneaky stop and peered past the corner of the turning so that one eye could watch the scene unfold. One of the figures, tall and slim, was her father's advisor, Kaladar. The other, Ara had never seen before. But he was clothed in a dark, baggy cloak with a hood on his head, but Ara was still able to see his dirty beard and warty nose.
Kaladar looked around warily, and Ara jumped back with a little hasp. Had he seen her??
"Come. Let us discuss our business in a more... private... manner." Kaladar's snake-like voice suggested.
Ara heard their footsteps clicking further away from her. Where were they going? And what 'business' couldn't they discuss out in the open? Ara's curiosity had gotten the better of her. She was going to follow them. Tilting sideways a little, she peered around the corner again, just in time to see Kaladar walk through the liquid-like wall that existed in the doorway of the library, and his guest follow inside behind him. Kaladar's head poked back out to look up and down the hallway, as to search for any witnesses, and seeing no one, he slipped into the dark room, and the placid force-field in the doorway door rippled away, and turned to wood.
Ara nibbled on her bottom lip in deep concentration. She stepped out from behind the wall and scurried down the hall in a silent tip-toeing. She was so eager to hear their conversation; she didn't want to miss a thing. Ara arrived at the library door and carefully extended her index finger to place it upon the wooden door. She trailed it across the wooden door to create a circle shape, and where the wood had once been inside of it, now existed a small hole of rippling water again. Ara placed her ear against to the quiet hole, and covered her other one with her hand. She shut her eyes tightly and tried to make sense of the words being said...
"If my plan should succeed, you will be rewarded greatly. A King can afford to pay any price, after all." Kaladar sniggered smugly.
"So midnight, then?" The other cockney man asked, "I'll be waiting by the Pear Tree with the five of 'em. You had better keep to your word, Kaladar, or"--
"Or what?? How dare you threaten me! I'm doing you a favour, commoner - don't forget that. If you do your job, I'll do mine..." Kaladar spat, "When these puny royals are out of my way, you'll get your reward..."
"Meh. Sounds like you know perfectly well what you're doin', Kaladar." His partner snickered craftily.
"Oh, believe me, I do. That mousy little Princess and her mother won't know what hit them... of course, after seeing my dagger pierce through their precious Kings' heart!" Kaladar bellowed a dark, excited laugh that sent chills down Ara's spine.
Ara stifled a petrified gasp and slapped her hand to her mouth. She stumbled away from the door, her eyes wide and glistening with shocked tears. Shaking her head, she tried to make sense of it all... but what sense was needed? She had heard it perfectly. Kaladar was planning to murder her mother, father, and herself. It took a few seconds for Ara to accept what was going on and make a decision: she had to tell her father!
With a frightened whimper, Ara spun away and kicked off into a sprint down the hallway. Her breathing was heavy, and her heart racing. The decorations of the hallway flashed past her in colourful smears, and her footsteps cracked echoes upon the marble flooring. She had to hurry, or else Kaladar and his partner would leave before her father could get there!
Ara's mind was racing with thoughts and fears. Goodness, it was all so much for a little 10-year-old. But Ara was doing the right thing. She had to be.
Ara skidded around the next corner and nearly fell onto the floor, but a strong, warm pair of arms caught her securely. Ara let out a startled scream and tried to rip away from the grip.
"Ara! Ara, calm yourself!" Ara's father chuckled.
Ara froze, with a gasp, and looked up at her father. He saw the worried tears shimmering in her blue eyes and immediately stopped laughing. His eyebrows knitted together in concern and he crouched down before her, whilst holding her shoulders softly.
"Ara, what's the matter? Tell me, angel." He asked.
"K-K-Kaladar! H-h-h-he..."-- Ara cut herself off and gulped stressfully; she couldn't get her words out!
"Kaladar? What about him?" He asked curiously.
"I heard him. In the library. You've got to come, now, daddy!" Ara gasped, "Please, you've got to see them!"
Ara grabbed his hand and tried to pull him along behind her, but the King, confused, held his ground.
"Are, what are you talking about?" He scoffed calmly, shaking his head.
"Daddy!" Ara snapped desperately, tears now falling freely, "I heard him talking! He's going to kill you! He's going to kill you!"
The King's face was wiped clean of any scepticism or confusion. His eyes stiffened warily, and his lips hung agape as he stared at his panicked daughter. He could feel her trembling.
"Ara, who is going to kill me?" He whispered.
"Kaladar! Now come on, we've got to hurry! I'll show you!" She cried.
The King shook his head cautiously, "Ara, stop this, it isn't amusing. I know you and Kaladar have never been terribly close, but to assert such crucial allegations is a serious offence if untrue."
Ara yanked upon his hand, "It is true, daddy! I heard them! They're in the library, right now! Hurry, come on!"
The King observed his daughter for the few seconds that it took him to make a decision. She was clearly very disturbed and stressed -- so much so that it was very unlikely for her to be fibbing. And Ara wasn't like that. She was a good person, and never lied. How could he have even doubted her for one second? This was his daughter.
The King nodded, "Alright, angel. I believe you."
That day, Kaladar and his partner were arrested by the King's guards, and taken to the dungeons for further questioning. In the course of such actions, a whole gang of assassins were discovered through the sources of Kaladar's dirty henchman. The King held a grand feast to celebrate such a rescuing, and Ara was seated in the high seat, with a medal. Ara the Hero, she was. A soldier already. Everyone held her with high respect that no 10 year old could receive. The whole kingdom embraced her with gratitude and love. Yes, she would be a great Queen some day. As for her mother and father - they could never have been prouder. Ara felt like a shining star, and more than anything, was just happy that her family was safe.
But if only she knew. If only she could have thought ahead. Revenge.
A dessert best served cold.
And Ara would learn this, not eight years later, when all was slowly forgotten...
Uh oh.
Well, that's the very first episode of "Just To Get Back To You"; hope you liked it. In the results, there's a sneak preview at Chapter 2 waiting for you. Oooh, I'm so excited!
Sweet.
Sneak Peak at Chapter 02:
The older man, whom Ara couldn't take her entranced eyes off of, supplied her with a respectful little nod, "How do you do, m'lady."
Ara narrowed her eyes slightly, "Do... do I know you?"
The Count chuckled charmingly, "Unless you have been in Uthiera in the past ten years, I do not think so, your highness."
Ara blushed at her stupidity and retreated into herself. She had become a rather shy young lady. Her father pushed a button on the side of his shimmering, white desk, and up came a metal chair that unfolded into place for her to sit in, hissing and grumbling quietly from the engines below. Once Ara had settled herself in its white, arching figure, her father then sat down in the already existing chair beside her and placed his locked hands comfortably on the table.
Happy quizilling,
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Goddess
