Chapter 18

A few weeks later, Amelia put her head down on the table after she finished reading a chapter of her history book. She had one more chapter left to read before she would be done with her lessons for the day, but the teenager was finding that she had no desire to keep going.

The Princess closed her eyes and shifted slightly in her seat to get comfortable again. After a few minutes, Johanna reentered the room and shook her head upon seeing Amelia resting on the table. She then made her way over to her charge and patted her arm. "Are you finished reading yet?"

"No, one more chapter," Amelia mumbled, making no attempt to move.

"Well, what are you waiting for? The grass to grow? It won't read itself. Finish that chapter and then you may leave," Johanna said. She then went around to the other side of the table and began organizing the Princess' study materials while Amelia slowly sat back up, grumbling as she did so.

"Johanna?"

"Yes, sweetie."

"Do I have to keep reading this? I mean it's just so boring."

"Oh, well, I'm sure the people around your age who died in the Ogre Wars would be glad to hear you say that."

The Princess rolled her eyes at her nanny's comment and gave her a look. "I didn't mean it like that."

"I know," Johanna said. "And don't roll your eyes at me, young lady. Study."

"But my head hurts," Amelia said.

"Oh, really?" Johanna questioned, not buying her excuse, not even for a minute. "Then I guess, I'll have to cancel your horseback riding lesson this afternoon."

"No!" Amelia said a little too quickly.

As soon as the word left her lips, the Princess realized her mistake, and knew that her nanny caught on about her lie. So she looked down at the table for a minute, before she glanced back up at Johanna with a nervous smile.

"Amelia Rose, if you don't finish that chapter, I'm going to have your lesson cancelled," Johanna said in a firm voice.

"Okay, okay," Amelia sighed.

"And, Amelia, enough with the attitude."

"I'm sorry." Amelia tried her best not to roll her eyes again. She then started reading over the first page of the last chapter, while Johanna walked around the room and putting books away.

"That's a good girl," Johanna said, as she looked back and saw that was Princess was indeed reading.

Just as Amelia neared the end of the chapter, there was a knock on the door, breaking her concentration. Amelia sighed as she spun around just in time to see a guard slowly enter the room. "Sorry to disturb you, Ms. Johanna, I was just wondering if the Queen was in here."

"As you can see, she is not. Have you checked her study?" Johanna questioned.

"No, I can't say that I have. Thank you, Ms. Johanna."

Amelia then got up from her seat and made her way over to them. "Excuse me. May I ask why you're looking for my mother?" Amelia asked.

"Amelia," Johanna warned, wanting to keep the Princess out of the Queen's business—which wasn't always an easy task, especially these days.

"It's okay," the guard assured. "The Queen has a visitor."

"Where?" Amelia couldn't help but ask, as she was intrigued by this new information.

"She's waiting in the entrance hall."

"Well, let's hope you locate the Queen then. If she's not in her study, I'd check the library or in the garden near the apple tree," Johanna suggested.

"Yes. Thank you, Ms. Johanna. Princess." The guard then bowed to Amelia before leaving the room.

"What did he mean that Mother has a visitor?"

"Well, your mother is allowed to have guests over, Amelia."

"Yes, but why wouldn't she tell me?"

"Oh, I don't know, maybe she forgot. Now tell me, how many pages do you have left?"

"Like four."

"Excellent, come along, dear. You best get back to it, I bet Lilah's itching for some exercise right about now." Johanna took the teenager's arm to lead her back to the table.

"Yeah, I guess your right…" Amelia trailed off as she continued to look at the door where the guard had just exited moments ago.

Johanna then felt the Princess slip away from her grasp and by the time the nanny turned around, she only caught a glimpse of Amelia's green dress as the teenager left the room.

The nanny let out a long sigh and looked over at the table. "I swear, between the two of them, these princesses will give me gray hair," she said to herself.

After leaving her nanny, Amelia hurried down the corridor, not wanting to give Johanna the chance to catch up to her.

The Princess then turned a corner and headed down the main staircase. As she started down the last flight of stairs, she caught sight of the visitor and as the visitor turned around, her blue eyes locked onto the Princess' brown eyes.

When she reached the landing, the Princess stared up at the woman, standing in the middle of the floor. The fourteen-year-old was slightly unnerved by the tall woman looking directly at her, but her curiosity was getting the best of her. To Amelia's knowledge she hadn't met this woman before and she very much wanted to know whom this visitor was. Especially since the Queen and Princess didn't get many visitors these days, with the exception of her grandfather Henry.

"Hello," Amelia greeted with slight hesitation in her voice.

The tall woman then smiled at the Princess, "Hello, you must be Amelia."

"I am, yes. How do you know my name?" Amelia asked and then realized that might have been a dumb question, seeing that she was a Princess after all.

"Well, you look so much like your mother. I couldn't not have seen the resemblance."

"You know my mother?" Amelia questioned, and the woman nodded. "Oh, that's right, you're here to see her, aren't you?"

"Yes."

"Well, she should be along soon," Amelia said. "So, how do you know my mother?"

"Oh, your mother is a dear friend of mine."

Amelia's eyes widened at hearing this piece of information. "I didn't know my mother had any friends." Amelia's eyebrows furrowed and looked away for a minute as she realized how bad that sounded. Though it was true, Regina typically kept to herself it seemed, at least she had for many years.

"Well, I can assure you she does," the woman said. "And I have to say I'm so happy to finally meet you, Amelia. Your mother speaks of you often."

"She does?" Amelia asked with a big smile on her face.

"Oh yes, I can tell that loves you very much."

Amelia gave the visitor a nod, "Oh, I'm sorry I almost forgot to ask, but what is your name?"

The visitor then let out a little chuckle, "My name is Maleficent."

"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Maleficent," Amelia replied, with a curtsey.

"Likewise." Maleficent then reached out to take hold of the Princess' chin. "You are such a lovely young lady."

"Thank you."

"And I believe you have a birthday coming up, is that correct?"

Amelia nodded, "Yes, I'll be fifteen in five days."

"Well, happy early birthday to you, Your Highness," Maleficent said, and then all of a sudden a necklace with a purple heart-jewel appeared in her hand. "Here, a gift for you."

Amelia took a step back in surprise, as her jaw dropped, and then hung open for a minute. "How did you do that?"

"Magic, of course."

Amelia stepped forward and reached out to take the necklace from Maleficent. "I've never met anyone who could do magic before."

"Is that so?" Maleficent mused.

The sorceress raised her eyebrow as she glanced behind Amelia just in time to see Regina coming down the stairs.

"Amelia," Regina called, announcing her presence to her daughter.

The Princess then spun around to face her mother. "Oh, hello, Mother," Amelia greeted. "Maleficent gave me a birthday present, isn't it pretty?"

Regina then came over to her daughter, in order to get a closer look at the necklace. "It is indeed. That was very kind of Maleficent," Regina replied while looking over at her friend, who gave her a nod. "I hope you thanked her."

"Oh, right. Thank you, Maleficent," Amelia said with gratitude.

Maleficent then bowed her head to the young royal, "You're quite welcome, Princess Amelia."

"Amelia, sweetheart, how about you go finish up your lessons while Maleficent and I chat? I'm sure Johanna is looking for you," Regina said.

"Okay," Amelia nodded, trying to hide her annoyance at having to finish her lessons. She turned her attention back to her mother's friend. "It was very nice to meet you."

"So nice to meet you, Amelia. Goodbye, Your Highness."

"Goodbye." Amelia gave the adults one last smile before heading back up the stairs.

As the Princess' footsteps retreated, Maleficent spoke, "She's a lovely girl, Regina. You must be very proud."

"Thank you," Regina said, glancing in the direction of the spot her daughter had just vacated. "Shall we go talk?"

"Right, of course," Maleficent agreed. "Tell me something, Regina."

"Yes, what is it?"

"She really has no idea does she, about what you did? About what you can do?"

After a moment of silence and a deep breath, Regina looked back over at the stairs, before finally answering. "No, she doesn't."

Once Amelia left the two older women, she went up the stairs until she arrived at the next floor. She then proceeded on back down the corridor to the drawing room. As she walked along, the Princess spotted a guard walking in her direction.

"Good afternoon, Your Highness," he greeted.

"Good afternoon," Amelia replied politely and heard a very familiar voice.

As the fourteen-year-old passed him, she opened out her hand slightly, and a moment later felt a piece of paper slipped into it.

"Good day, Princess."

"And you."

The Princess didn't share another look with a guard as he went down an adjoining corridor. Then after checking to make sure no one else was coming down the corridor, Amelia stuffed the paper into the front of her dress.

Now with the letter in her possession, Amelia continued on to the drawing room and went inside.

"There you are," Johanna greeted, appearing relieved.

"Hello, Johanna, sorry. I had something to do."

"You mean, go and snoop."

Amelia gave her a nervous smile. "Well, kind of."

Johanna spotted the necklace in Amelia's hand, "Oh my, what have you got there, Amelia"

Amelia lifted her arm and looked at the necklace, she had nearly forgotten she was still holding it. "Oh, Mother's friend, the visitor, gave it to me."

"Well, that's very thoughtful of her," Johanna said, coming closer to the Princess. "Here, allow me."

Amelia handed the necklace to her nanny and let her put it on her. "Thank you."

Amelia then spun around to face Johanna, who nodded with a smile on her face, letting the Princess know that the necklace looked good on her. The teenager reached down to hold on to the heart jewel part of it, as she admired her new necklace.

"You're welcome. Now that you're all sorted out and finished snooping, are you ready to continue your lesson?" Johanna asked, placing her hands on her hips

Amelia chucked, "Yes, of course."

"Good. Well, get to it."

Amelia went over to the table, with a slightly quickened pace and then sat down to finally finish the chapter.

"Amelia, I'm going to go get some tea," Johanna announced a few minutes later.

"Okay."

"Don't go anywhere," Johanna said, eyeing the Princess as she walked over to the door.

"Okay," Amelia replied, with another chuckle as her nanny exited the room.

After the door closed, Amelia reached into her dress and pulled out the letter that the guard had given to her. She then smiled to herself as she read over her sister's newest letter.

The following day, Amelia stood in her room as the seamstress hemmed her new ball gown. In honor of the Princess' birthday, Regina had decided to throw a ball for her daughter. The ball itself would take place the day after her birthday but even so Amelia was really looking forward to it.

"Is the color to your liking, Your Highness?" the seamstress asked.

"Oh yes, it's very pretty," Amelia replied, looking down at the light blue fabric.

"Very beautiful indeed," Johanna added. "You always do look beautiful in that color."

Amelia gave her nanny a little smile and then went back to watching the seamstress continue her work on the dress.

A few minutes later, Amelia heard the door open, followed by Johanna and the seamstress standing up and bowing.

"Your Majesty," Johanna greeted.

The Queen walked into the room and paused when she laid eyes on her daughter. Amelia turned around and offered Regina a smile as she met her mother's eye. "Oh, sweetheart, you look beautiful."

"Thank you, Mommy."

"Would you two give us a minute?" Regina asked, turning her attention to the other two people in the room.

"Of course, Your Majesty." Johanna and the seamstress then filed out of the room.

"Look at you, Amelia," Regina sighed wistfully, coming closer to her daughter. "You look so grown up."

"Is that a good thing?"

Regina chuckled, "Of course, it's a good thing. You're becoming such a beautiful young lady and I couldn't be more proud."

Amelia then noticed tears appear in her mother's eyes but knew that they were happy ones. So the Princess smiled in reply before she opened her arms to give her mother a hug. Regina closed her eyes for a minute, as she held her daughter. When she opened them again, she remembered why she had come to Amelia's room in the first place.

"Amelia?"

"Yes?" Amelia questioned, as she lifted her head from her mother's shoulder.

"So I've been thinking that maybe you could go to the Summer Place and spend a few days there before the ball."

"I'd love that."

Regina smiled, "Great."

"So when are we going?"

"Oh, sweet girl, I'm afraid I won't be joining you," Regina said.

"You're not?" Amelia questioned, as the smile disappeared from her face.

"I'm sorry, Amelia, truly, but I have to take care of some things before the ball. And make sure everything goes well with the setting up for it. That type of thing."

"Oh, okay."

Regina then reached out her hand and tilted Amelia's chin upwards. "But, you understand don't you, Amelia?"

"I do," Amelia nodded, since she did understand. She didn't like it but she knew her mother should stay to oversee the preparations for the ball.

Still, Regina could sense that her daughter was still feeling a little disappointed that she wouldn't be going with her. So she tried to find a way to cheer the teenager up. "Tell you what," Regina spoke up. "If I finish what I need to do early, I'll come and join you for a day or so."

Amelia's eyes then lit up, "Really?"

"Of course I will, but I make no promises, all right?"

"All right," Amelia agreed. "But you will try?"

"I will."

"Fair enough."

"There now, that's my good girl," Regina said, moving her hand back to touch her daughter's chin. "Oh, I can't believe you're almost fifteen-years-old."

"Neither can I."

Two days later, it was time for the Princess to go on her brief trip to the Summer Palace, to give her time to rest before her birthday ball. Before she hopped into the carriage, Amelia gave her mother and nanny a hug before departing.

The journey went very smoothly and Amelia sat contently in the carriage, as she looked out at the various tresses of the forests. When they were about halfway to the palace, the carriage came to an abrupt halt, which made Amelia go forward in her seat. Luckily she managed to brace herself so she wouldn't fall on the floor. Then just before the fourteen-year-old could ask what had happened there was a knock on the carriage.

"Stay inside, Your Highness," one of the guards who was accompanying her on the journey said.

Amelia nodded, though he couldn't see her. Amelia did as she was told and sat back in her seat, and took in a couple deep breaths. Hoping, they would help her recover from the rough stop.

Meanwhile, outside the guards stared at a fallen tree and began talking about how to move it. In doing so, they failed to notice the hooded figure that was approaching the carriage from behind. When the figure finally reached the door, they carefully swung it open.

Inside the carriage, Amelia gasped and turned toward the door as it opened. Then the worry left her face when the figure standing there took of their hood and she came face to face with very familiar hazel eyes. "Snow," Amelia said in disbelief.

"Hi, Amelia," Snow greeted, smiling. She then turned to look at the guards who were luckily still distracted, but she knew at some point one of them would turn around. "You'd better come with me. Now."

"But…"

"Come on, Amelia. We must go," Snow said, extending her arm to help her sister down from the carriage.

Amelia glanced down at the hand and then back at her sister. Amelia nodded, and without a second thought, the Princess gave Snow her hand and climbed out of the carriage. And before Amelia could even process what was happening, Snow was pulling her into the forest, and away from the guards.

Thanks for reading.

The sisters are reunited, yay! I have a feeling that Regina won't be happy about this though. Let me know what you think of the chapter.