• Cordelia had snuck away from her scullery duties again. She knew she wasn't supposed to be in the palace garden during chore time, but it was the only place where she could read her book in peace. "Give me the child," she read aloud. "Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered, I have fought my way here to the castle beyond the goblin city to take back the child that you have stolen. For my will is as strong as yours, and my kingdom is as great-"

    She was interrupted by Mallory, her young servant friend, running through the canopied entrance as if her pants were on fire practically screaming, "Cordelia! Cordelia! Your parents' carriage was sighted at the gates. You'd better hurry back to your chambers; otherwise, the king will have my head for sure!"

    "Calm down Mallory," said Cordelia in and even voice. "I'll try and see that his "majesty" doesn't do anything to you. Besides, it's me he'll be mad at."

    "I know you will, but please princess don't go running off like that. You know it worries me half to death."

    Sometime later, Cordelia, having changed into clothing more suitable of her rank of princess, was in her room, with its sandy yellow walls, candelabras, a lush canopy bed with red velvet draperies and assorted toys scattered on the floor, gazing in wonder at the storm outside. (The storm had started after Mallory had brought her back to the palace, just drizzling then, but now the rain was coming down in thick sheets.) The princess turned her head towards a heavy knocking upon her door. "Go away," she said indignantly. "I've punished myself for you by locking the door to my private quarters and saying I'm not going with you to do something special."

    The old king replied, without much feeling, "Listen. Blaire, your sister, is taking us to a dinner for the botanical society and the servants have the night off. This means you have to babysit the servants' children tonight. We do have to leave now, but we'll be back around midnight." The king knew that Cordelia would do this gladly because she was a kind and caring person, to her people anyway.

    "You really wanted to talk to me, didn't you?" Cordelia spat out haughtily, "practically broke down the door!"

    She flung herself on her bed in despair, glancing to her special stuffed animals for comfort. But wait... one was missing: Gawain, her favorite stuffed rabbit. "Gawain!" Cordelia exclaimed. "Someone has been in my room again! I hate that. I hate it!!!" [Not far off, someone watched with loving pity as she hurriedly ran out the door in a fury towards the servants' quarters.]

    'I was right,' Cordelia thought arriving, quite out of breath, at the doorway to the servants' quarters, where their children were quietly conversing with one another. 'Robyn did steal Gawain. If it weren't for the other children, I'd tell her that I hate her with all of my fury!'

    The children turned their heads at the sound of heavy breathing and immediately smiled when they saw their helpful and kind princess. "Cordelia!" they shouted in elation, running towards her to embrace her bountiful, green velvet skirts.

    "Yes children," Cordelia replied with all of her anger cast aside for the moment, for she was rather fond of the children. "I am here. There is no need to fear this storm any longer. Do you want me to tell you a story to make you feel not so afraid?"

    "Yes!"

    "Alright then, gather around," she said, addressing each of them by name. "Sam, Jasmine, Giselle, Robyn, Toby, you too Tony."

    The children complied and she began to spin the tale of a young girl, her baby brother, and the trouble caused by one wish.

    To be continued...