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Once upon a time in the land of Negrida lived two princesses, the Lady Cassandra and the Lady Mira. The Lady Cassandra and the Lady Mira were close as two sisters could possibly be- maybe even more. The Lady Cassandra had long blonde hair with blue eyes. The Lady Mira had long red hair that she always wore up with brown eyes. Cassandra looked more like their father because of her blonde hair and Mira looked like their mother because of her red hair. The girls talked about everything and always were in trouble. Both would tell each other the other was feeling or about boy who tried to steal their heart that day. Lady Mira already knew her sister was in love with someone else Prince David from a neighboring kingdom. Cassandra knew that Mira changed her mind of what boy she was in love with, but one thing was constant she fell for the musicians.
Then Cassandra’s world came crashing down when she heard from Prince David’s father, King Marcus that David had become missing. Lady Cassandra and her family had preparing for their wedding since the made the announcement that they were to be married a year previous. David and Cassandra had been in love since they were children and nothing could have kept them apart or so Cassandra had thought. Everyone from both kingdoms had searched for him with no luck. For nearly two years Lady Cassandra’s Father let her mourn over David and kept the engagement notice up to keep away if David ever was found or came back. But once the traditional two years ended and it ended pretty quickly for Cassandra, she had to start looking for a new suitor to marry. Since she wasn’t that interested in doing it herself her father felt he had enough of her disobeying him and found one for her. When her father, King Dorian, told her that she was to marry Prince Gregory, she begrudgingly agreed.
When he told her that she was to marry him she couldn’t believe her father would find someone disgusting, spoiled, and had no form of manners at all. He thought himself to be quite the lady’s man. She never wanted to argue with her father before, but now she did. She told her sister after it happened and Lady Mira couldn’t believe it either. Both of them couldn’t believe that their father would stick to that old tradition anyways and couldn’t believe that he wouldn’t try to help find Prince David anymore. Cassandra thought that her father loved David like the son, but after this she wasn’t sure anymore. After that she didn’t talk to her father much on this matter, because she felt she couldn’t trust him with her feelings anymore. Now more than ever both girls wish their mother was still alive and had not died after Mira was born.
Within a year after announcing the engagement, Prince Gregory and Lady Cassandra started preparing for their wedding in their respective lands. Also in the land of Negrida the country had been preparing for the 21st birthday of Lady Cassandra. Her father had hired a local group of bards who called themselves The Monkees and was going to pay them 7 silver Negris for playing. She knew her father had to raise the price a couple times for them to agree to play, but she really didn’t care. Her father had invited everyone from Prince Gregory’s kingdom as well as inviting David’s father, King Marcus of Lanea to come. During the past three Cassandra had been repeating the same line to herself that her and David had made up when they were thirteen years old to keep herself going on. In those three years no one could convince her that he was dead and that’s what kept her alive as well. She knew if anything had happened to him she would have known it. She wouldn’t even let herself stay in a room three minutes with her current intended.
The night of the party both girls were in their chamber getting ready for the party, when Mira walked over to her sister and said, “Cheer up my dear sister it’s your birthday party tonight and besides David wouldn’t want you to be sad on this special occasion. The man you are going to marry is here, you must be happy when you see him.”
“That is not the man I am meant to marry nor do I want to marry. Father is just forcing me to marrying him because I don’t want to marry anyone else except David. Nor do I want to give up finding him,” Lady Cassandra said.
“But David is dead and if he isn’t he might as well as not come back because of the pain he is causing you.”
“Maybe he can’t comeback maybe he is being force to stay wherever he is at.”
“Calm down sister. I only want you to be happy and taken care of and so does Father.”
“Fine I will get ready and put my happy face on.”
Both sisters were dressed in their best gowns. Cassandra wearing a blue flowing dress that reached to the floor and Mira wearing a green flowing dress matching her sisters. When everyone noticed that both ladies were entering the room the musicians started to play the Negridan traditional birthday march. Soon Prince Gregory came an embraced her and kissed her on the cheek. She just wanted to push him off and tell him to leave but her father was there so she had to deal with the pleasantries.
Prince Gregory said, “How is my lovely betrothed doing today?”
As she listened to his question she felt he seen as prize he had won and how it sickened her. Once again she bit her tongue at what she really wanted to say and said, “Oh, I’m doing just fine. You’re neglecting my sister you must say hello to her as well.”
“Hello Lady Mira. You’re growing up to be as lovely as your sister,” Prince Gregory said shamelessly flirty with her sister. Of course, Cassandra knew Mira was not interested in Prince Gregory.
Cassandra and Mira began to attend to the guest at the party. All the guests were congratulating Cassandra on her recent engagement and wished her happiness in the marriage. Every time someone would mention her impending marriage she would want to walk away and pound her head against the wall, but Mira knowing her sister so well kept bringing her back. Every once in a while she would listen to the band and thought there was something familiar in the voice of the lead singer, but she never looked at him. Finally after greeting all of the guests, she finally had time to herself. She began dancing with her sister to relieve the stress of the evening for the moment.
After the song ended she actually decided to take a look at the bards that her father hired. No sooner she had looked at the face of the short one with long brown hair, she knew it was David. The hair didn’t change anything, but then fear was creeping up and told that it was just a coincidence and that her imagination was just playing tricks with her. She told herself that it was no coincidence that it was him, because not only did it look like him, but sounded like him too. She decided to tell her sister, “Mira, There is something familiar about the lead singer of the bards.”
“Which one?” Mira asked.
“The short one.”
“Oh, maybe, why?”
“Doesn’t he look like David to you? He does to me.”
After taking a better look Mira said, “Oh my god he does. What’s he doing here? I mean if that’s him. How are you going to prove that it’s him?”
“I have a way of making sure.”
Since dinner was about to be serve, everyone including the bards had to stop what they were doing and prepare for the dinner. Cassandra thought this would be the perfect time to prove that it was him. She knew it was him and she needed no proving of that. When she reached the bards’ quarters for the evening she walked in lucky for her David was the only one in there.
She said in a soft but loud voice, “If I said I am lost in the woods what would you say?”
Surprised at the voice that was talking to him and wanted to answer with all his heart. He wondered how she had known it was him. Then it came to him: his voice and his face. Finally he answered, “I would say that I would travel the ends of the Earth for hearts to reunite.”
When he answered she knew it was him. She walked over to him and asked him, “My love where have you been, I have been lost.”
“Cassandra I can explain,” he said. “I had gotten into an argument with my father and left. I just couldn’t take it anymore living with him at the time. In a way I was tired of being Prince David.”
“You could have at least told me,” she said, “Why did you come back tonight my father’s here, your father’s here, and on top of that my current betrothed is here with his father. That wretch is probably flirty with girls at my party. Do you think this was the smartest night to play?”
He stood up embraced her like he never wanted to let go and kissed her. Then David’s friend Michael walked out and said, “That explains so much, Prince David.”
“Explains what?” David asked. Cassandra giving both David and his friend a questioning look.
“When you came wondering to our home looking for a place to stay. The way you acted the first month you lived with us. Oh and how could I forget, you decided not to go out too much the first few months you lived with us in disguise until you hair was a certain length,” Michael said, “Oh and let’s not forget You Didn’t Want to Sing Here!”
“David, why don’t you tell your father that you’re fine that you’re alive, please,” Cassandra begged and finally realizing the last thing Michael said, “What you didn’t want to sing here?!”
“I can’t. Not right now. I will though. Let me do this,” David said, “Well I had a feeling you would recognize me and say something.
“Yeah, well you sure could have fooled us. You didn’t even tell us and we’re supposed to be you’re best friends,” Michael said.
“I’m sorry if I wanted to keep it a secret for a while,” David said.
“For three years!” both Cassandra and Michael said and Cassandra added, “If that’s what you thought then you don’t know me very well!”
“I wanted to tell you someway somehow,” he said to both.
“But know this my feelings for you never changed,” David told Cassandra and grabbed her hand to hold it tight.
“Really, what about all those girls the past three years. If I was in love with a girl and betrothed to her whether or not I disappeared off the face of the Earth, I would have been faithful,” Michael said.
“Is this true, David?” she asked.
“Yes i-” said Michael before being interrupted Cassandra.
“Shut up or you won’t get paid for tonight,” she said as she felt her anger rise even more.
“Is she being serious, man?” Michael asked.
“Yes, once she gets mad and she decides on something she sticks to it,” David replied.
“I have influence over my father this evening. After all it is my birthday, what I say goes,” Cassandra said. “Now answer the question, David.”
“Yes, but I wanted to be with you, but I have regretted it. I just wanted to be with you so just any girl would do at the time to fill in the space or so I thought,” David said. “Do you forgive me?”
Michael not believing a word of it and rolling his eyes. Cassandra knowing him longer knew that he meant it and said, “I’ve already forgave you and I always will.”
She walked back over to him. He embraced and kissed her. At that moment her father walked in.
“What is going on here? My daughter with the bard when her fiancé is at the dinner table waiting on her?” her father asked.
“Father, I just came in to tell the bards that the birthday feast is to be served soon,” Cassandra said.
“That explains why you are here but not why you were kissing the bard. You know a lady of your station can not marry a bard. Even if you could you are already betrothed to somebody else now go to the feast with the rest of your guests,” her father said. “I shouldn’t even pay them for the sight I had just seen.”
“Father pay them. They’re great bards do not punish all of them for one of the bards misdeeds. Please it’s my birthday dinner after all,” Cassandra said.
“Oh all right. Perhaps I was a bit harsh. Go join your dinner guests as I had said before,” King Dorian said.
Cassandra quickly leaves the room as her father says. Shortly thereafter her father leaves.
“What are you doing man she’s going to be married soon,” Michael said.
“Yes, I know, but he’s a jerk. I know Prince Gregory, he’s just sees women as a trophy and Cassandra is no different to him. Besides his only problem was that I was in the way and once I was out of the way she was an easy target. I should have taken her with me,” David said.
“Would that have solved anything. And what about the rest of the guys, they will want to know. Are you going to tell them or am I? No better yet, I’ll just leave it to you,” Michael said.
“I’ll tell them don’t worry. I’ll tell them when we get home,” David said.
“All right we better get to that feast, my friend or the guys will wonder where we went off to,” Michael said.
After the feast and once the sisters put their half brother to bed with their stepmother, the stepmother escorted them to bed. Their stepmother Queen Jada said, “Good night girls and thanks for helping put Hector to bed tonight,”
Both girls said, “Good night, Stepmother. You’re welcome.”
As soon as they knew the coast was clear, they lit a few candles to see better.
Mira said, “What happened when you went to the bard’s room?”
“Well,” she said as she proceeded to tell her sister what happened.
“Is that what happened? When is he going to tell his father?” she asked but one final and the most important question came up, “Are you sure it’s okay to tell me?”
“Yes, that’s what happened. I don’t know when he’s going to tell his father. All I know is that it’s not right now. Yes I’m sure it’s okay for me to tell you. He knows I tell you everything,” Cassandra said.
“You know the bard Michael that was with him?” Mira asked.
“Yes,”
“He was good looking wasn’t he?”
“Yeah, he was,” Cassandra said knowing there was more to the story than that.
The heard footsteps coming down the hallway and they knew the footsteps belonged to their father. So they quickly blew out the candles and laid down. Soon the door opened and they heard the concerned voice of their father, “Is everything all right girls?”
Cassandra answered, “Yes, Father. We are just exhausted from the party tonight.”
“Oh all right. Good night then.”
Once they knew their father couldn’t hear them, they started to laugh but only loud enough for just them to hear. They eventually laughed them self to sleep. --------------
Once the lads settled in after their long journey from the palace, David was thinking of the best way to tell his friends of his situation. Michael sensing his what his friend was feeling gave a quick glance to David that was noticed by Micky.
“What was that for? You never look at Davy like that and you only give that look when you expect one of us to tell the rest of the group something,” Micky said.
“Well that’s because I do have something say,’ David said, “You know the Lady that we were singing for? I know her.”
“What girl don’t you know and besides hasn’t Lady Cassandra been betrothed twice? So how could she see you?” Micky said.
“Well that’s because I’m Prince David,” David revealed.
“There’s no way. He’s dead,” Micky said.
“Oh, yes it is. Remember when I showed up here that was around the time “Prince David” disappeared,” David said like he was stating the obvious.
“And he did the things he did when he first moved here,” Peter finally saying something.
Realizing the truth Micky said, “OH right. So that’s way you didn’t what to sing at the palace tonight. Too many people there to recognize you, but since your hairs long nobody did right? I mean I know your father was there and Lady Cassandra.”
“Cassandra was the one to recognize me, by my voice and my face. My hair being longer did not help,” David said.
“And some poem they made up as kids,” Michael said.
“I’ve got to see her again guys,” David said.
“You can’t. I don’t see how she would see you again. You did leave making everyone after awhile think you were dead except for Lady Cassandra and she getting ready to marry Prince Gregory. Obviously man she’s moved on,” Micky said.
“No she hasn’t you guys don’t know her as well as I do. Besides I know how I can see her. Almost everyday she comes to town disguised wearing a cloak and is escorted by her long time governess on her father’s wishes. Every once in a while she comes to town as herself. She’s been disguising herself since she was 15,” David said.
“Whatever man I know we have all forgiven you for not trusting us, but we don’t want you to be hanged because you’re messing with the king’s daughter and she’s not betrothed to you,” Micky said. “I don’t think this plan will work.”
“Come on guys help me,” David said.
“Guys we got to help him. He would do it for us, and besides he loves her,” Peter said. “Or are you afraid that once he tells his father that it will be the end of the group and our friendship. It will happen anyways.”
“Thanks Peter,” David said.
“No problem, you just need to get on the right path again and that’s leads straight to her and being Prince David again,” Peter said.
“I don’t think I’m ready to be a prince again,” David said.
“I think you are you just don’t realize it yet, but you do realize your place is next to Cassandra’s,” Peter said.
“It always has. I’ve known it always has for along time.”
“That’s all you need to know. Besides guys you are my best friends. I don’t want our friendship to end. It will always be important to me. And realize that Cassandra is the most important person to me. Please help me.”
“All right but not because you asked us twice Shorty,” Micky said.
Before The Monkees went to bed, they decided to make a plan for tomorrow just incase Cassandra showed up in town.
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