Author : Genevievebarbie
fonte : fanpop.com
Author's Summary : Prequel to barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses. The story of how Prince Randolph and Lady Isabella faced hardships and difficulties and later on, fell in amor and got married. This is my first fanfiction so please no flames. Lastly, please read and review!
Rating : T
Category : Romance, Drama
Disclaimer : The main characters of the story are owned por Mattel. I own all the supporting characters and the plot.

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Chapter 11 : Athena's Arrival

2 months later, a shimmering blue carriage with 4 sparkling white cavalos made its way into the gates of the gardens of the Royal Palace of Avolania, as the King and queen – Peter and Lucinda – awaited at the steps of the castle. Their son, Randolph, was a few feet behind them, as he observed the carriage and the decorations made in the hallway, in preparation of Kattendelle's Royal Family's arrival.

Isabella poked her head out from behind a wall. Under her face, were three others – Ilana's, Lalaina's and Natalie's – also poking out. The four conversed in hushed tones, even though they were well out of earshot from the royal family.

"When do you think they are coming?" asked Isabella.
"They should've been here," said Ilana, brows furrowed.
"Well, I don't see them," was Lalaina, staring at the castelo steps.

"Anybody notice how utterly bored the prince looks?" asked Natalie.
"He's probably hiding his nervousness, after all, this is his fiancé," remarked Ilana, rather cautiously.
"I can't wait for the wedding! " Lalaina squealed quietly.

Isabella chose not to say anything, as she knew the prince was actually miserable about the whole thing. The only one who she talked to about this was Ilana, and she too kept it a secret. The lesser people knew, the better. Gossip spread around the castelo like wildfire, Isabella knew from past gossips she heard. If something like this was leaked, who knew what would happen. It wasn't that she didn't trust her best friends, she just wanted to be careful.

"Do you hear that?" Natalie asked suddenly, breaking the silence.

"Hear what?" asked the remaining three.

"That!" said Natalie, as the sound grew louder.

"It sounds like horses," Isabella guessed.

"They're here!" squealed Lalaina, nearly giving their hiding spot away. Ilana clamped her hand on Lalaina's mouth, "Ssh. Come on, that's our queue," she said.

The 'queue' was actually them having to look presentable and immediately go to the guest's rooms, as Isabella and Lalaina were Princess Athena's ladies in waiting, and Ilana and Natalie were the same for queen Adrienne.

As they quietly hurried down the hallway, they could hear both Royal Families greeting each other, and por judging Adriene's tone when she spoke, it was pretty clear she was going to be a lot of work.

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Isabella smoothed her saia out for the umpteenth time, ignoring Lalaina telling her to stop doing that as it was getting on her nerves. Isabella herself was nervous. And when she was nervous she always smoothed her skirt.

The meeting with Athena had gone smoothly – even though Isabella was a minuto late –, and Isabella actually liked her, but in just an hora of meeting her, Isabella found out from Ms. Annoying-head-maid that she and Ilana were to serve chá and snacks for an upcoming meeting.

This meeting was to introduce Athena and Adrienne to the highest nobility of the kingdom. This meeting was most definitely going to have Miranda, anastasia and Drizella in it. And that was why she was nervous.

Right now, she didn't need to worry, all she needed to do was find and iron the perfect dress for Athena, and she would be done.

The problem of that long meeting – which would probably have her getting into a nervous breakdown – would begin after another long hour.
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Unfortunately for Ilana, her meeting with Adrienne didn't go as smoothly as she imagined. In fact, it was downright horrible.

The first order that was thrown upon her and Natalie was to unpack her luggage. When they had barely begun to do that, she told them to undo her hair. Why did she even wear it up that high if she didn't know how to undo it? Couldn't she just wear it in a bun, like Lucinda and Athena?

And when Ilana found out Isabella about that wretched meeting, her coração sunk. That meeting meant many things. One, mais chores from Adrienne. Two, mais chores for the meeting. Three, seeing Miranda, anastasia and Drizella.

Worst of all, Adrienne made her iron her dress 5 times, claiming it had wrinkles!

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After carefully donning wigs, which made Isabella and Ilana have black hair. They slowly entered the meeting room – with Isabella being a little late, as usual – and quickly scanned the place, searching for their 'family'. They weren't there. Luckily, no one seemed to notice them or else, they would have been in trouble.

Isabella's eyes fell upon the Queen, who looked a bit confused, but managed to recognize her. Lucinda gave a subtle nod, telling Isabella that her 'family' wasn't here yet. Seemed like her lateness rubbed off on them. She smiled and continued on with her work.

Her eyes met with Randolph's, but luckily he didn't give any indication of whether he remembered her. And the longer they gazed at each other, her into his blue eyes, the mais her stomach got borboletas in it. "Snap out of it, Isabella!" she told herself, breaking eye contact.

Everything was fine (ignoring the fact that she knew Randolph was looking at her)until she was serving the person who was closest to the door of the room, with her back turned to the door.

"Excuse me, dear, but would you mind moving a bit? You're blocking the way," said a voice, speaking to her from the doorway.

Isabella nearly dropped the teacup, xícara de chá she was holding in shock. Miranda was right behind her. Her breathing became shallow and fast, and her whole body tensed. Carefully, she managed to maneuver out of Miranda's way without turning around. And she realized something. Now, she would need to serve Miranda.

As Isabella approached her step-family, she took a deep breath. She could do this. All she needed to do was serve the three of them – yes, anastasia and Drizella had come as well, in obnoxious dresses – and then, she would be done. But just as she finished pouring the tea, Miranda stood up.

"You!" she almost screeched, nearly grabbing a hold of her wig. A hushed silence fell over the room.

"Your grace! Could you please explain why you almost attacked one of our maids?" Lucinda asked, breaking the tension in the room.

"Your maid?! She's.. She's.." Miranda tried to explain, but it was obvious that she didn't know what to say.

"She's what?" Lucinda asked again.

"She's new here, isn't she?" Miranda shot back, "She's an absolute scoundrel I tell you.." and she began trying to make up a tale about Isabella, who in the meantime, was looking out for Ilana. As it turned out, Ilana was at the opposite end of the room, close to the other door, and hadn't caught Miranda's eye yet.

"Amelia, would you please leave, along with your sister?" Lucinda politely asked.

Confusion swept over Isabella, who was Amelia? She caught Ilana's eye, who discreetly pointed towards Lucinda, and then she realized. She was Amelia!

"Yes, your highness," she said, curtsying, as Ilana did the same. As they both left, they heard Lucinda telling Miranda that "Amelia and her sister" had been maids "for 6 months now" –even though it had only been 2 months now.

"The queen is amazing!" gushed Ilana.
"I know," Isabella replied. She should remember to thank Lucinda for her quick thinking.

"And someone has a crush," said Ilana, in a sing-song voice.
"What are you talking about?" asked Isabella.
"You, obviously. Wait until Lalaina finds out you like the prince!" said Ilana, in a teasing tone.

"I..what..no!..." Oh dear, she had a lot of explaining to do.

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Randolph had been watching everything very closely. Something about this Amelia seemed odd to him.

And when he caught her gaze, he noticed that her eyes, were just like Isabella's. As she left, he noticed it. A single strand of reddish-brown hair fell from beneath the black hair. Was it actually Isabella, just wearing a wig? And why? And hang on, was that a dimple she had on her cheek? She looked beautiful when she smiled. Wait, what?! Where did that come from? He didn't like her that way! Sure, they chatted a lot when they were free, nearly every day, even though they were almost complete opposites, but surely...

What he didn't notice was that Miranda was sent back início with her daughters. Or how everyone tried to calm Adrienne down as she made a huge fuss about Miranda's behavior. Or how Athena was noticing the way he was looking at Isabella.

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A/N: oi guys, how was chapter 11? Did you like the little amor sparks? And gosh, this chapter got longer than expected! Anyway, please comment your thoughts, favorito this story. A big thank you to all readers for reading. Laterz!