His majesty looked fondly upon his daughter, "It is a rather rash decision..." he began. Briar Rose looked ready to argue, but he continued, "but... I will allow it." He turned to Prince Valcourt, "Keep her safe. We await your safe arrival."

* * * * *
Briar Rose hastened up to her room to find some more suitable clothing for journeying in. This man she was now supposed to call father. She didn't think she liked him very much. He reminded her of mother's cookie dough. Easy to manipulate while soft, but once they've been set in their ways, they'd rather crumble than bend. She threw one of her school dresses into a luggage case.
It wasn't like her to be quite so impulsive. A lot of things that had happened lately didn't feel quite like "her" either. She wasn't sure she liked this new her... Briar Rose held one of the dresses up in the full length mirror in her elaborately decorated room. The sunlight streaming in caught on her tiny silver ring. She admired it with a smile, then shook her head. She didn't have time for her thoughts to be straying. She just had to finish packing, kiss Lark, Oli, and her mother goodbye, then head out into the world. It was a frightening and exciting thought. She supposed she didn't really have to go on this journey. Afterall, her story was already written, already happening. The only thing left was for her to live happily ever after. She supposed that was assurance enough that she at least would make it safely through this journey. A selfish thought, but it brought her some comfort.
She threw a few more accessories into the bulging luggage bag before opening the door to her room and gesturing for one of the guards standing outside to take it down to the waiting horses. She dusted her hands off and started down the carpeted hallway, lined with beautiful tapestries and timeless pieces of art. She had to stop a couple of times and ask for directions, but she finally found the rooms where her "real" family was staying.
"Bri..." it was a soft voice. Her mother's. There was a hint of sadness that she could tell her mother was trying to hide. She walked over and sat beside her and the twins cautiously approached as well.
"Bri... we don't like it here..." Oli whined.
"Yeah, it's boring..." Lark added.
Briar Rose ruffled Lark's hair, "Me either. I think we should get outta here."
Her mother looked confused, "You know we can't do that Bri... You're... the princess. We can't just go back to our old home... and..." she paused to glance quickly at the boys, "time isn't what it was..."
Briar Rose let out a small sigh, "I know... I know... but... that's why I came to say goodbye..."
"Goodbye?!" the boys shouted in near unison.
"You can't go!"
"Why are you going?!" the boys started to cry, hiding their tears behind their sleeves.
"We don't want you to go..."
"Don't you like us anymore Bri?"
Briar Rose pushed back tears of her own and gathered the boys up in her arms. "Listen. It's only for a little while. And when I come back, we'll go back to the way things were. No more stuffy palace."
Oli sniffled and looked up at her, "Really?"
Lark crossed his arms, "No! That's what Daddy said and he never came back! I don't want you to go!"
Briar Rose smiled sadly, "I promise. I'll be back. Have I ever broken a promise to you?"
Lark shook his head. "No..."
She gave him a squeeze, "It'll be alright."

After some tearful goodbyes, Briar Rose was finally ready to set out. The sun warmed her face, giving her a small sense of joy, of hope. Some of the servants brought the horses and various luggage and supplies around to the front of the castle, where the horses pawed at the ground, eager to get moving.
Ethan gave her a small wave as she approached, but before she got near him, Kelly Valcourt was there, with his perfect hair, his perfect clothes, and his perfect, charming smile. He was riding atop his perfect white horse, his hand outstretched, "Ah, Princess Briar Rose. You look radiant. Please allow me..."
She drew back a few steps and walked around him, "I can ride my own horse sir prince."
Kelly's face fell, just noticably, "very well."
She mounted the horse and soon they were ready to leave. The servants strapped the last of their belongings to the horses and waved them goodbye. In moments they were outside the gates and on their way.
They were nearly to the edge of town when Briar Rose heard someone calling out to them from behind. She pulled the horse's reins and it slowed to a stop.
"Wait!" came the plea. "Please wait!"
The others slowed their horses as well as the young woman caught up to them.
"The prince... I must speak with him..." she managed.
Kelly looked the girl up and down and was about to speak to her, but was interrupted as she ran to Christopher. "Sir... I heard you're the legendary Frog Prince..."
Christopher looked uncomfortably at the ground, glad to be hiding behind the safety of his mask, "y... yes... that's me..."
Kelly coughed in disbelief. This couldn't possibly be the legendary prince! The one who had played just one magical concert before fading into the darkness.
The girl looked at him with anxious eyes, "I have a request of you... I know I am but the daughter of a countess, but my great grandmother... she doesn't have much time left. She's always talked about you... She was there at your performance... I was hoping... I don't know... that you might... you might..."
Christopher nodded slowly, "I will see her." He looked to Ethan before casting his gaze on the ground once more. "You go on without me. I'll catch up."
The girl's eyes lit up, "really? sir, I can't thank you enough!"
Christopher held out a hand to her, "You can ride with me, it'll be faster that way."
The girl blushed and took his hand as he pulled her up onto the horse and they began to gallop away.
Briar Rose just watched in concern as they started back down the trail again. "Should we really have let him---"
Ethan nodded, "He knows what he's doing."

It was long past dark when they finally stopped to rest. Kelly threw some coins at the stableboy and helped Briar Rose down from her horse, much to her dismay. Ethan eyed the prince warily as they walked into the warmth and quiet of the small inn. Prince Kelly sauntered up to the slightly dirty man who Briar Rose assumed was the innkeeper. He placed a few more coins into his man's hand and simply said, "Your best rooms."
The man jumped and hurried about, "yes... yes sir! Right away!"
Briar Rose rolled her eyes. Was this idiot prince trying to impress her by flashing his money around? Remember... her inner voice told her, it wasn't too long ago that you would have fallen for just this type of guy. What changed your mind? How can you suddenly be so condesceding?
Briar Rose frowned, lost in her own thoughts. Ethan reached out and shook her just a bit, "Bri, come on, the room is ready."
Kelly handed Ethan their bags and motioned for him to carry them up to the rooms. Ethan just stared right back at him and carried his own and Briar Rose's bags, leaving Kelly to carry his own.
As soon as they'd reached the privacy of their room, Prince Kelly scowled and stormed over to Ethan, smacking him hard across the face, "You will not address Princess Briar Rose or myself so informally and with such little respect. I don't know what they put up with back in your little village, but where I come from, royalty are treated with honor."
Ethan put a hand to his stinging cheek. "Look Mister... I don't care if you're a prince and I'm a pauper... I-"
Kelly didn't give him the chance to finish his response before taking another swing. Ethan ducked this one and swung out a leg to trip the prince. Unfortunately, Kelly was ready for it and side stepped it neatly. But it was all the time Ethan needed to summon one of the Rune Arts to his command. A sphere of wind whirled in his hands and he threw it forcefully at the prince. Kelly took the hit in the chest and was pushed back against the far wall with a slam! Ethan stood straight and wiped the blood from his lip.
Briar Rose glared angrily at both of them, "Stop it right now! I won't tolerate this childish behavior!"
Kelly stood awkwardly on his feet, "What wizardry is this?" He raised an eyebrow and walked closer to Ethan, "It defies the laws for one who is not of noble birth to use the Rune Arts..."
Ethan looked disgusted, "What are you talking about? You pompous royalty aren't the only ones who can use magic."
Briar Rose stood between them, "I said stop it! Both of you!"

* * * * *

Christopher tried to stay calm as he entered the modest home of this young girl and her family. The girl ran ahead excitedly as he was left in the small entranceway. There was excited chatter in the next room and an older woman motioned for him to follow. Through the door and down a hallway was a small, but well lit room. There was very little furniture and he was forced to stand beside the small bed.
Christopher wasn't sure the woman that lay beneath the sheets was still among the living until she opened her eyes and turned her gaze toward him. Her eyes were set deep in the sockets and the skin wrinkled with age. Christopher knelt close beside her bed and she smiled.
"You... are..." her voice was barely a whisper.
Chris smiled at her, "Your grand daughter told me you once saw me play, a long time ago..."
Her eyes lit up with recognition, "Yes... I know who you are..." she paused to gather strength to speak. "You probably don't remember me..."
Chris looked carefully at the eyes that stared back at him. The eyes were so very familiar. While the body had aged, those eyes had not.
"You were the girl... who asked me to dance..."
The old woman's face broke into a tiny smile, "yes..."
Chris swallowed hard, "I... "
"where did you go dear prince?... I waited so long... but life has a way of passing us by..."
He lowered his head, "I'm sorry..."
She just kept smiling, "I knew you were magical... to stay so young and handsome after all these years... no mortal man could match the way you sang..."
Christopher tried to smile. There were lots of things he wished he could say, but he couldn't find words for them.
She looked at him with those same eyes he remembered from not so long ago. Why did things have to change... to become like this? She took a breath, "would you... grant a selfish old woman's request?"
Christopher nodded and smiled fondly at her, "anything for such a beautiful girl..."
"would you sing for me? One last time?"
Chris smiled, "of course, but I---"
She raised a withered hand to point to the far end of the room. A familiar piano sat in the corner, collecting dust. It was worn with age, but Chris remembered it like he would the face of his own mother.
"My piano..."
The girl who had led him here finally spoke up. "Gran got it many years ago. From a couple that said they were your parents... they had a hard time letting it go, but when they saw how much Gran loved their son's music, they just let her take it... She makes sure we keep it tuned and..." the girl stopped as Christopher sat on the small wooden bench before the old piano and began to play.

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