The 2009 Children's Fiction Writing Award WINNERS

‘Princess, They Have Been Waiting’ by Nicola

She wasn’t chosen to be the princess of the kingdom of Merlin at birth. To explain everything we have to rewind back thirteen years, when this young heir to the crown was born. As interesting as the story is, it does take a while to explain...

One day the Queen of Merlin set out to pick flowers in the meadow. She had to pick flowers herself, because her husband refused to bring them home for her, even when he was fighting dragons in the meadows of Dumbledore, which were covered delightfully with daisy upon daisy, her favourite flower.

It was a week ago when she was blessed with a child, a baby girl, who at the time looked nothing like her or her husband, yet she was beautiful as beautiful could be. So the Queen had decided that day to take her baby to the meadow with her. Of course she had to be careful with the odd dragon or kooky little elf that could come along and pry her daughter right out of her hands. Once in the meadow, the young Queen, whose name was Lyann, skipped through it, holding tightly to the basket in which her daughter Lilly slept peacefully. She placed the basket down and peeked through the tall, tall grass, where she saw a small patch of yellow daises. Looking around, she clambered through the grass and started picking flowers. As she was picking them she looked up and saw a reflection in the small glimmering creek in front of her. It was a man, about the same age as herself, unlike her husband, who was seven years older than she was, smiling and shaking his head. She giggled and looked back down, only to shift and lose her balance. She fell onto her side and felt her face turn bright red. The man helped her up and introduced himself.

"I’m Ducus Browning, pleased to meet you." He spoke with such a lovely voice that Lyann fell in love with him at once. She had never felt love before, even though she had been introduced to many princes. They had all been stuck up and rude, just like the man she eventually married. But this Ducus Browning was a delightful man. She decided to go back to his cottage in the woods, forgetting her young daughter.

It wasn’t until later that afternoon that the baker’s wife, Amelia, found the baby still in the bushes. She was flustered and did not know what do, but she came to the conclusion she had to take the baby home. The baker and Amelia were thrilled to have a baby of their own.

Meanwhile, at the castle, Queen Lyann and her husband were devastated. "I can’t believe you lost my dear daughter!" King Marcus exclaimed.

"Oh it wasn’t my fault!" Lyann wailed. "I was picking flowers since you wouldn’t pick them for me!" And the arguing went on and on. Finally, they came to the conclusion that they were better off forgetting each other and their baby. It had been an arranged marriage, and trouble had been brewing for a long time. After a few days Marcus left the castle and Ducus moved in, much to Lyann’s mother’s dismay.

After the young couple wed, they immediately started telling everyone about "their baby." They told everyone there was to be a reward for finding the baby girl and posted many signs around the kingdom. But no one knew what she looked like, as there were no pictures of her. But Lyann would not give up. She waited by the door, waiting for the knock that would let her know her baby had been found. Sometimes she counted the reward money, other times she read books. But no one had even seen a baby, except Amelia and the baker, Samuel, who hadn’t even thought about the obvious coincidence.

"Goochie Goochie goo!" Amelia had said, the first day she brought the baby home.

"What should we call her?" Samuel asked Amelia, looking down at the young child sucking her thumb.

"Melody," Amelia answered immediately. They both looked down to take a good, long look at Melody. She had brown curls and brown eyes that were so bright they lit up the dim bakery. Her fancy baby outfit stood out in the room. She was a beautiful baby.

Thirteen years later, she still was beautiful and definitely stood out in a room. "Happy Birthday, Melody!" Amelia and Samuel chanted. Her fancy clothing had long since gone, and she was now dressed in a peasant dress, but her face was still beautiful, and her eyes still lit up a room. Melody smiled and blew out the candles on the cake her father had made. If she had still been living in the castle, the cake would have been decadent, but this one was simple, a square white cake with a delicate pink frosting on the top. She knew how hard it was to find the ingredients for this pink frosting, and she was so very grateful for what she had. She had been living happily with Amelia and Samuel in the small bakery’s back room. Little did she know she was part of the royal family.

"Ducus, would you mind running down to the bakery and fetching some small, cheap desserts?" Lyann asked.

"Marcus’s mother is coming, and I don’t want to bother the chefs," she said with a wave of her hand, showing she didn’t have the time to care.

"She still comes, does she? It’s been thirteen years since Marcus left this castle, so why does she even bother to visit?" Ducus asked.

"She believes that her grandchild will be found one day. She believes that I’m at fault for losing her grandchild! It’s my daughter!" Lyann said.

Ducus just shook his head. He knew that it had been her fault, she was the one to blame, but he didn’t bother to argue, she always won the argument by sending him to the dungeons for an hour or so.

"I’ll go get the desserts, dear," he said with a sigh as he walked out of the room, leaving his wife to get ready with her personal maids.

Meanwhile, at the bakery, Melody had been asked to work for the day while Amelia and Samuel went out to make a delivery to the closest town, Flamel. She had started to look more like Lyann, and, oddly, she had started to realize that she looked nothing like Amelia or Samuel. She was busily filing some papers and posting the orders for the week on the bulletin boards when Ducus walked in. He looked around for a while, Ducus swiping his hand over the counter to reveal a thin layer of dust. Then he turned his attention to Melody.

"Miss? Would you happen to have a small cheap dessert?" Ducus asked her. Melody looked up from her work and gasped. The King! The King was in her family’s bakery! She had always thought she would come across him sooner in later, but in her family’s bakery!

"You’re the King! I mean your majesty." Melody paused to bow then continued, "You’re in my family’s bakery!! I can’t believe it! Well I suppose we have something, anything, to offer for you, your majesty," Melody started to go to the back room. She thought maybe she should bow again and turned herself around and bowed. Ducus chuckled. She ran off to the back room.

After crashing around for a few minutes, a flour-covered Melody came back into the main room with a platter of old looking scones in her hands.

"This is all I have at the moment. We have to make a new batch tomorrow and fill the orders," Melody babbled. "But, your majesty, have these. They were freshly baked yesterday."

"Yes, thank you very much, miss, I’ll take them," Ducus said as he sized Melody up. She looked familiar, but he couldn’t place her.

"That will be ninety-eight cents please, your majesty," Melody said, looking at him a little strangely due to the fact that he had been looking at her rather intently. Ducus handed her the money and walked out of the bakery. Melody tucked it away in the cash drawer behind the counter and then flipped her brown curly hair out of her eyes. Little did she know that Ducus was now looking at her through the small, broken window. She looks just like Lyann, he thought to himself. Then he sauntered away from the window, got back into the awaiting carriage, and headed back to the nearby castle.

Melody stood behind the counter and got back to work. She pulled out a pencil and started writing in the order that had come in with the customer before the King. She was busily writing on her clipboard when the little cow bell rang, letting her know that someone had just come in. She turned around to see a local boy she had known for many years walk in.

"Hello, Melody," the boy said. "Why hello there, Aaron," she said and smiled.

"I’m here to pick up my mother’s order and, um, ask you something," Aaron said. Aaron stood nervously while Melody went to get the order of bread.

"Here you are, Aaron," Melody said, handing him the bag,

"So what is it you wanted to ask me?" she said smiling.

"Oh, um, well, my father is taking me to see a dragon Count Marcus caught in Dumbledore. The beast is on display for a few days and I was wondering if you would like to go."

"Oh, that sounds like so much fun! I will ask my father and mother tonight when they get home from Flamel," she said. "So, how long would we be going for?"

While Aaron explained things to Melody, some horrible news was being told at the castle.

"Oh please, Mother Sabers, please don’t cry, just explain it again," Lyann asked Marcus’s mother.

"Well," sniffled Mother Sabers, "I heard the news from the Director of Dragons. Marcus died while catching a dragon!

He was supposed to show the dragon off to everyone, but someone else will have to replace him!" She sobbed. "First my one and only grandchild gone, and now my son! When will it all end?" Mother Sabers sniffled and blew her nose in a rather disgustingly over used handkerchief.

"Oh. Well, Lilly will one day be found, and when she is, she will be princess and we will all live happily," Lyann said in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Oh yes, but until then..." Mother Sabers got interrupted when Ducus came bursting through the doors. He had figured out who that young girl had been.

"It’s Lilly! I found her! She works at the bakery!" he panted. He took some deep breaths and put his hands on his knees. &

quot;No!" Lyann got up and started to scream, "I never thought we would find her!"

Mother Sabers just glared, thinking Lyann had misled her. Then Lyann, Mother Sabers and Ducus ran out to the carriage and headed down to the town.

Melody was finished packing, as she had started as soon as her parents had said she could go. They had come home from Flamel shortly after Aaron had left and had said yes, as they knew Aaron’s father. She waved good-bye to her parents then walked out the back door, where she was meeting Aaron and his father. She closed the bakery door behind her and waved to a waiting Aaron. She ran to the carriage, and off they went. Her parents then climbed into their own carriage and headed the other way. They were going to visit an uncle for a few days.

A second later, Lyann, Ducus and Mother Sabers rushed through the bakery doors. Panting, Lyann spoke to the young man who worked the night shifts.

"Is Lilly here?" she asked.

"Sorry, who?" The young man replied. "Oh yes, you must mean Melody, she was here earlier! Oh hey! You’re the King and you’re the Queen," he finished as he bowed.

"Yeah, Yeah, so where can we find her?" Mother Sabers asked. She was looking quite annoyed that Lyann and Ducus were getting bowed to at this time.

"Well, she said she was going out of town with a friend. But I don’t know where. Her parents are gone for a couple of days, so it’s just me, the trusty cousin and his three brothers."

"Oh," Lyann sighed. "Yet another false alarm." The three walked out, defeated and gloomy. They got in their carriage and rode home.

"As I was saying when Ducus rudely interrupted us, Marcus’s funeral will be held tomorrow, close to where the dragon he captured is being displayed. I will send you a carriage. That will be in Dumbledore," Mother Sabers explained as if she was talking to two four-year-olds.

Lyann sighed and Ducus rolled his eyes. Mother Sabers just pulled out her daybook. When they arrived at the castle, Lyann and Ducus got out of the carriage and Mother Sabers stayed in.

"Goodbye, I will see you tomorrow," Mother Sabers said. She waved as the carriage began to move, squinting into the sunset.

Meanwhile, Melody was looking at the same sunset. She, Aaron and Aaron’s father were still riding in the carriage. She had been to the magical town of Dumbledore before and thought it was a lot of fun. She especially loved the daises. She started looking for the sign, and a couple of meters along the road she saw it.

"Hey, Aaron, look! There is the sign! It has Dumbledore on it!" she squealed with delight. But all Aaron did was look at her. He smiled and she smiled back. Then Aaron scooted over closer. Melody just looked down at her hands. She had never felt this way before, with anyone. It was strange. But she scooted away from him, almost falling out of the carriage, but not quite. Aaron seemed to get the message and slid back over towards his father. The carriage seemed sort of uncomfortable now. Melody smiled to herself. That wasn’t the way she thought it would ever happen. But then a thought occurred to her. He fancies me! Then, from the corner of her eye, she studied Aaron. He had blond hair with a tint of brown showing. His eyes were emerald green, and Melody realized she sort of liked his eyes. I think I fancy him too, she thought to herself, looking back at her hands. The carriage rumbled on. Melody starting to drift off on Aaron’s shoulder, the place she realized she felt safest.

The early morning sun peeked through the castle drapes, into the King and Queen’s sleeping quarters. The birds were chirping and only to disturb that was a faint snoring that was coming from the Queen. That was, until the morning wake up bell sounded through the halls. Apparently, Mother Sabers had left an early morning wake up call for them with the maids. The King grumbled and sat up, peering down at Lyann. She felt his gaze and swatted the air, missing the King by an inch. She giggled and sat up.

"Mother Sabers," they both grumbled together. Today they would take the long carriage ride to Dumbledore for Marcus’s funeral. They would dress in black, with always a hint of blue to honour Merlin. Why they would honour the kingdom of Merlin at a funeral was beyond the thinking of the people who lived there. They just always wore a touch of blue to weddings and funerals. It seemed to be a way of life. The King and Queen both got out of bed reluctantly. The Queen went behind her changing partition and got dressed in her finest black dress with the blue lace around the collar, something Mother Sabers had most likely asked the maids to lay out. The King got into his black dress robes with the blue fringes on his shoulders. Both the Queen and King looked at each other. It was obvious they didn’t want to go. After all, Ducus never liked Marcus, and Lyann had been away from him for thirteen years before he died. They had no idea why they even still allowed his mother in the castle. But they got into the carriage and began down the long road that led to Dumbledore.

Melody stirred. She opened her eyes and peered up. She was still on Aaron’s shoulder. He was watching her with a big smile on his face. She never thought, being poor, that she would ever have a happily ever after. That was for kings,

queens, princesses and princes. But at this moment she felt that maybe she could have as close to a happily ever after as she could without being a princess or queen. Aaron laughed and nudged her head away, always being the joker and maybe trying to make things feel the way they used to.

"What is so funny? Is it my hair? Melody asked as she franticly patted it down.

"Oh, no. I was just laughing because you snore." He laughed again. Aaron’s father turned around to look at them.

"I do not!" Melody retorted.

"Oh yes you do. It is very faint, you can hardly hear it, but it is there," Aaron replied.

"Sure," Melody said, giggling herself. They had been friends ever since Melody could remember. She wondered how many laughs they had had together. Melody had never really played with the young girls in the kingdom, but always the boys. She would opt out of hopscotch and instead go play in the brook, splashing with the kingdom’s young boys. She always came home dirty, whereas the girls would skip home looking perfect, as if they had just had tea with the Queen. The only thing Melody ever seemed to worry about was the brown curls that sat perfectly on her head. She thought about her hair now and smoothed it out.

"It looks fine," Aaron assured her. Melody smiled. She then peeked out the carriage.

"Look Aaron! It’s a dragon!" Melody cried.

"Wonderful! Look at it! It’s red! Wow! And look at its wings!" Aaron exclaimed. Melody looked over at him. He had never showed that much interest in anything, well, besides

her. They pulled into a field filled with carriages moving in and out. It will be a fun day, Melody thought to herself. Meanwhile, the Queen and King were just approaching the sign. The Queen was sitting getting her nails done, while the King sat reading the newspaper, The Caster. He was reading about the dragon Marcus had caught, and the pictures were amazing. He knew secretly that he and Lyann were only excited about the dragon, and did not want to go to the funeral.

Melody, Aaron and Aaron’s father, Mr. Lacer, had stepped out of the carriage and into the bustling streets of Dumbledore. They went to the clearing where the dragon had obviously done some damage to what looked like a smashed pub. The bright red dragon was in a cage that had been enchanted to keep the dragon in.

"He could probably get through anything else," Aaron murmured. Melody nodded her head, but her eyes stayed focused on the dragon. She had never seen anything more magnificent. Its wings were a burgundy colour and the rest of its body was a gleaming poppy red. Melody forced her eyes away from the dragon as soon as she heard Mr. Lacer start talking.

"Okay children, you may wonder ‘round until night fall. Then you must meet me back at our carriage, number one eight nine zero seven six, as it is enchanted to leave at twentyone hundred hours. If I am not there, do not worry. But make sure you catch it," Mr. Lacer said.

"Yes, Sir," Melody said.

"Yes, Father," Aaron said. Then they split up, Mr. Lacer walking the opposite way Aaron and Melody had started.

"Right this way. Buy your souvenir Count Marcus doll today!" yelled a vendor as he shoved one in Melody’s face. Melody was in awe. Signs floating above the ground were pointing every which way, even to the sight of Count Marcus’s grave.

"Let’s go see the dragon," Aaron said, and then following Melody’s gaze, "Let’s see that later." The fun had already started.

"Oh my, when will we be there?" Queen Lyann asked Ducus.

"I don’t… Oh here we are," King Ducus said as they saw the hustle and bustle approaching. They turned down a small road before reaching the place where Mr. Lacer’s carriage sat. It was a private road, leading to where they would attend the ceremony and then visit the grave site, which was open to the public.

"Great publicity for the Count Marcus dolls," Mother Sabers had said. Lyann had just rolled her eyes in disgust. As they wound their way down this small road, the crunching of the fallen leaves reminded them that it was fall and the nights would soon be cold. But right now, it was time to think about the funeral. They climbed out of the carriage and into a small church, where too many people were squished in.

"We gather here today to remember someone who had courage, strength and a wonderful family as well," the pastor said. Mother Sabers had already started to blow her nose. The speech went on and on, to the point where Lyann had to smack Ducus to prevent him from dozing off. At the end of the ceremony, they all got back into their carriages and rode down another small road that led to a private parking place where they could easily access the grave without getting caught up in all the things that were happening nearby. The funeral party came out of their carriages and walked across the field towards the grave. By now, the grave was covered in blue and purple flowers (to honour both Dumbledore and Merlin) and black ribbons. It was very fancy, with silver plaques and such. Hard to see, yes, because of all the young children crowded around it. Lyann and Ducus lost their grasp on each other and they were soon separated. It was already dark, so Lyann couldn’t even see Ducus. Suddenly, she heard his voice.

"Lyann, it’s her!" Well, the Queen jumped up and down. She knew who "her" was; it was her daughter. But the crowd prevented her from getting away from the grave. Elbow time, Lyann thought to herself. She pushed and jabbed. Finally she was out. She spotted Ducus with a young boy and young girl. The girl looked just like her, with a tall, lean body, and a head of brown, curly locks. She ran towards them.

"Um, excuse me, your majesties, you have the wrong girl," Melody said, rather uncomfortable in the strong grasp of the King.

"Lilly, honey, no we don’t," said the Queen, almost bursting into tears of joy. Aaron spoke up immediately. "Her name is not Lilly, your majesties."

"Yes it is," the King responded.

"Could someone please explain what is happening here? And please let go of me," Melody pleaded.

"Why of course," the Queen said. "It all happened when you were very young, only a week old. I took you to the meadow with me. There, I forgot you. I am very sorry, dear. I have been looking for you for thirteen years," she explained.

"No! My parents are the bakers. We live in the bakery addon, and, well, I am not your daughter," Melody said. Aaron just stood there in shock, trying to put the pieces together in his head. That means you’re the princess," he stammered.

"Precisely," the Queen said.

"What is going on?" Mother Sabers asked as she ran over.

"We found your grandchild," Ducus said. Mother Sabers looked at Melody. She took her in her arms and squeezed her. Melody looked over at Aaron, with a "Go" look on her face. Aaron ran off to find his father.

"Oh my," Mother Sabers said, pulling Melody/ Lilly to arm’s length. "You beautiful girl!" Melody pulled away. She did not have to respect this woman as she did the Queen or King.

"You’re not my mother," Melody said turning to the Queen.

"Yes, yes I am," the Queen said back.

"Really? Then come home with me and talk to my Mother." Melody snapped. "And call me Melody not Lilly." She spoke these words as if they were poison.

"You must have more respect for me as your mother," the Queen said.

"Arg! Well, I have a carriage to catch," said Melody, glancing at the dark sky.

"We will be at the bakery as soon as we can tomorrow," Ducus cried out as Melody ran to find the carriage. When Melody reached the carriage, both Aaron and Mr. Lacer were standing beside it. Aaron had a sad look on his face, but Mr. Lacer looked confused.

"Sorry, Melody, my father said to wait for you," Aaron whispered.

"It’s fine," Melody said.

"Let’s go. Chop, Chop, children," Mr. Lacer spoke impatiently. Melody and Aaron climbed into the back seat, while Mr. Lacer sat in front. Melody just stared out the window for a moment, and then Mr. Lacer began to speak. "Melody, dear, I will be listening when you explain things to your parents, then I will have a chat with them," he said.

"Oh of course, Mr. Lacer. But there is a slight problem. The Queen and King are expected at my house tomorrow, well by me. So you’ll have to talk to all four of my parents!" Melody said, then burst into tears. Aaron put his arm around Melody, and held her close. She felt safe there, but she kept crying. She wiped the tears as they poured out. She finally stopped, but sniffled all the way home. She didn’t have a clue what to do.

"Yes! Thank the Lord! We found her!" Mother Sabers said. The group of three was walking back to Lyann and Ducus’ carriage. Mother Sabers kept making strange attempts to jump as high as she could.

"I’m so thrilled! So happy," Lyann said.

"So am I!" Ducus agreed. The two climbed into their carriage, while Mother Sabers promised that she would be at the castle as soon as possible. Ducus and Lyann felt they would forever be happy. They rode off into the darkness, where they followed behind many other carriages, either making their way back to Merlin or Flamel. Lyann could sleep happy tonight, knowing her daughter was safe and seemed happy enough. Lyann was tired and drifted off to sleep quickly, but Ducus stayed wide awake, too excited to sleep.

"Mother! Father! I am home!" Melody said, trying to sound as much like herself as possible. But her mother knew better.

"Oh Melody," said Amelia, "What is the matter?" Melody burst into tears once more. The story poured out of her. Amelia was quite shocked, she held Melody close. Melody felt safe in her mother’s arms. She was comforted by her mother’s love. She didn’t think she would ever feel that love with anyone else; that feeling that she was safe, loved and would always be taken care of. She didn’t think she could ever feel that way with the King and Queen. Although, it might not be her choice. All of this was running through her head. She loved this life, and wanted only a bit to be a princes, as all little girls did.

"It will all be okay," Amelia said, and Samuel put his arm around Melody.

"No it will not! I will be taken away to live with the Queen and King and never see you again!" Melody yelled.

Amelia looked deep into Melody’s eyes. "I will never let that happen to my little girl," she said. Melody looked away. She wasn’t Amelia’s. She was the Queen’s. As much as she wanted to continue to be Amelia’s little girl, she now knew that that would probably never happen. Melody ran off to the bakery add on. She was tired, confused and unhappy to have found out who she really was. But the King and Queen would be here the next day to figure things out. Melody shut her eyes, wished she could wake up from this nightmare, and fell asleep to the faint sound of Mr. Lacer and her parents whispering in the small living area.

Lyann and Ducus woke up early after only a few hours of sleep. Excited, they hopped into a carriage and rode down to the bakery.

"Uh! She lives here? She will be happy to come live with us!" the Queen said.

"Don’t be so sure," Ducus remarked. He remembered the day before when Melody was mad at him for holding onto her. She didn’t seem to want to live with them.

"Lilly will be delighted to live with us! Her hair will be done by the best, her clothes made by the best, and her life will be simply the best!" Lyann exclaimed. Melody popped her head out of the bakery as the royal carriage arrived.

"Oh hello," Melody said, not letting her uneasy emotion spread to her face. Ducus and Lyann spoke at the same time. Lyann said,

"Hello, Lilly," and Ducus said, "Hello, Melody." 60

"Thank you for calling me Melody," Melody said to Ducus. And with that the King and the Queen walked into the bakery, the Queen acting the way Ducus had the first time in the humble shop.

"Hello, your highnesses," Amelia said, as she bowed and led them into the small living area.

"Make yourself at home," Samuel added, and bowed as well. The Queen and King sat down on an old, muchrepaired couch. The Queen started talking, and the story came out, piece by piece. There was much arguing and crying among the four.

"Um, pardon me?" Melody asked.

"Yes?" Lyann and Amelia said at the same time.

"Where am I to go?" The question that no one had dared to ask had been asked. No one knew what to make of that, and the four adults looked at one another nervously.

"Melody, would you please leave the room?" Amelia asked. Melody went into her own room, where she blocked out the adults’ whispering. Meanwhile, the adults were discussing what was to happen.

"She could," said one.

"Well, yes, but maybe..." suggested another The squabbling continued, until Lyann called out to Melody.

"You may return, Melody," Lyann said, surprising herself that she had called her Melody and not Lilly. Melody entered the room and scanned the faces of the adults. Ducus had a smile on his face, but was looking down 61 at his hands. Lyann was looking everywhere she could without looking at Melody. Amelia was tear-stained, but a tiny smile broke out. And Samuel looked straight at Melody and nodded as if to say, it will be okay. Melody decided that the decision couldn’t be that bad, just by looking at the faces of the adults.

"First of all," Amelia started, "You will be calling Lyann and Ducus exactly that, and me and your, um, father, what you have been calling us all your life," Amelia said, and Melody looked up from her hands and grinned.

"Yes, Mother" Melody said.

"Second," Samuel started, "you will be called Melody, as all of us agree that calling you by the name you grew up with is best." Melody grinned harder, and then her face went back to the emotionless mask she had shown earlier.

"And last," Ducus said, "You will be living with us every third day for two days." He waited for a reaction. Melody knew what was coming next. She had already guessed it, even before she entered. He was just working up to the "And all the rest" bit. She would continue working at the bakery, of course.

"And living with your mother and father the rest of the time," Lyann continued for Ducus. Well, Melody’s smile lit up the room. She squealed. Yes, living in the castle would take some getting used to, but she would live with her mother and father the rest of the time!

"But, aren’t I your daughter?" Melody asked Lyann and Ducus.

"You are my birth daughter and Ducus’ step-daughter," Lyann answered. "But you will always be Amelia’s daughter because she raised you." Melody ran over to Lyann and gave her a big hug. Lyann was a little flustered at first but squeezed Melody tightly. Melody gazed up at Lyann’s face and smiled.

"I will tell you the whole story later!" Lyann whispered into Melody’s ear. Lyann gazed back down at Melody, and the same thought ran through both of their minds: we look alike. Melody broke away only to hug Ducus. She did feel safe and happy and loved, not only in her mother’s and father’s arms, but in Lyann’s and Ducus’ arms as well.

"Melody," Amelia said, "you will be starting off at the castle." Melody ran over to her mother and hugged her goodbye, then her father.

"Good-bye, Mother and Father!" Melody called out. She was guided out by Ducus and Lyann. She was just about to climb into the carriage when she remembered she wanted to tell Aaron.

"Lyann, may I run down the street to say a quick good-bye to my friend?" Melody asked.

"Of course!" Lyann answered so Melody ran down the street to Aaron’s house. She ran through the doors of the blacksmith shop and found Aaron there. She ran up to him and gave him a big hug. She then quickly told him the story and answered questions as she talked.

"And, Aaron?" Melody started, "come visit me at the castle." She then planted a quick kiss on his cheek. Aaron had started to blush, but he nodded.

"Of course I will, Melody; you know I will miss you too much not to visit." Aaron walked her to the door, holding her hand, and kissed on her cheek as she left. She turned around and waved, then ran back to her awaiting carriage.

"Princess, they have been waiting," Aaron said to no one in particular as he walked back inside.