Candice sighed down from the tower, a deep, heavy breath. Her days in Delorel had been pure bliss, she had learnt all the dances of a true Dutchess, ate all the traditional bread buns on display and best of it yet, there was enough gossip for all the girls in Gauberhodgy. It was everything she had hoped for as a princess but still, she found herself staring out the window. With an overpowering feeling of boredom.
Wondering of her other companions.
Alia would no doubt, be searching for a way to get back home. And Rwen, well she could not exactly tell. So long as she kept her eyes clear of the Baron, Lord Oldin!
She wanted to be back with them so badly, Delorel had lost its appeal, and the more time she spent, the more she felt a crippling sense that this was not a dream at all. There were also the rumors of shadows among the outskirts of the city, a fretful whisper that Lord Roland was preparing to attack.
It all came suddenly, at the rising of dawn the city gates were shut up and she was hurried along with her green tailed companion, who she had further learnt, was called Stella Rivers. A descendant of a line of Mer folk. Up, they were ushered into the strongest tower to wait out the siege.
"Seriously, and after we were having such a good time!"
"Yes" Stella agreed, the end of her tail glowing furiously "though it's you they want!"
Candy's head snapped around so she could stare her friend into the background of the drab gray stone wall and dusty closet. The warm memories of their short time together, whispering in the pine gardens, cutting a rug on the dance floor, gobbling down those 'u' shaped tarts called umbread. It seemed to her that all this time Stella's grin had held some amount of poison!
"Wait how is this my fault". Her frustration was quickly breeding anger.
"Lord Roland only wants you, Princess Orpha, to use you as a shield in the pursuit of the crown". Carefully she progressed, her tail held straight and stiff, a sign she was on the offense.
A panic rose in her chest as she watched the girl approach. She felt the rush of air through the open window to her back. It was a fatal fall. And she desperately wanted to change her position. Holding her two arms out and brandishing polished claws she decided to meet her attacker head on.
It was a poor scuffle, her opponent was agile and only leapt forward snatching the tiara from her head and skipping back just in time to escape Candy's fingernails.
"Hmph! Only you are not princess Orpha, admit it, you are a fake, a fraud. Until I decide otherwise". She smiled a grin of curving canines, white as snow.
A few guards entered the tower and Stella stepped aside turning her back on an astonished Candy. The guards took her carefully by the wrists and lead her struggling weakly, for the gates.
"Unhand me! This once, don't you know who I am? I'm a princess! I command you!"