When was the last time I saw my mother? Years? I couldn't remember. She had been gone for so long, I forgot what she looked like. I figured she looked like me. I mean, she must look like me, I was her daughter after all. Wasn't I? Or, was what everyone said true? That I was only her niece and that I was really a princess of a fantasy world? I wasn't sure with what had happened. I was hit over the head and my world went black…

All I remember when I woke up was the pain, insufferable pain. I felt the steady stream of blood worm its way down to my eyes, clumping my eyelashes. I opened my eyes at a squint, not being able to see anything besides the solitary light bulb on a pull chain from the ceiling.

I couldn't see four feet in front of me and everything on me hurt, everything. I felt a throbbing in my leg like a toothache and I looked at it, seeing a bruise the size of a newborn kitten. What size weaponry had I been hit with? A club? I couldn't stand to see my leg like that, so I closed my eyes and leaned back in the straight backed chair I was bound to. I heard a door open and I opened my eyes. A guard with straight black hair came in and stood in front of me. He couldn't have been much older than I was and his blue eyes held a slight mischievous glint to them.

"Where am I?" I said timidly.

"That is for me to know and you to never find out. Understood?" he said.

Those eyes were blindingly blue, almost sapphire. I nodded, or tried to. When your head was splitting, and there was so much blood, I was thinking I was dead, you can't really nod.

He untied me and picked me up. I fought and fought, but his arms were strong. I was instantly comforted by the man that was imprisoning me. He was pale, and it made his eyes stand out even more. I kicked him, and he didn't flinch. He laid me down on a bed that was rusted and creaky. I sank about two feet into it, it was that broken down. It made me wonder how many people had been imprisoned here.

"Could you at least tell me what your name is? Please?" I asked, finally finding my voice around him.

"Edward. And I already know yours, Samantha."

"Don't call me Samantha. I go by Sam."

He nodded and smiled slightly as if he thought that fact was funny. It was true, my mother's name was Samantha. Whoever in the crap she was.

I stared at him from the bed. His uniform was a crisp black with pleats in the pants. He turned to go.

"Wait! Edward! I have one last question. How old are you? Sixteen?" I said.

"Guess." I figured this would get real awkward real fast. He smiled crookedly and I stared at his retreating figure.

Next morning, I was somewhat rested and I felt a little better. Though, meeting Edward was still leaving me spinning. My head felt better and I could actually sit without puking. I took this as an advancement, considering it only happened a day ago, I thought. Edward popped in every once in awhile to give me food and water, but other than that, it was solitary confinement. I tried looking for ways to get out of my cell, but to no avail. The walls were stone and the door was steel. I wasn't sure how loud I could scream, considering. I tried it, and I passed out. The air had rushed out of me faster than I expected it would. I hit my head, making it bleed again.

Edward must've picked me up, because I was tied to the chair again. Only, this time, I was mobile. Wheelchair? No, it felt like smoother than that.

"Samantha? Open your eyes now," Edward said.

I did as he told me, it was almost mechanic. I saw that I wasn't in the holding cell anymore, I was on a plane. So, my guess was right! Anyway, I was sitting up with out a rope tied to my arms. I moved my arms around to make sure they worked. They did. I noticed my wrists had rope burn and scratches on them. They had been rubbed raw. I gaped. Edward strolled over to me, his hands on the seats to hold himself up.

"Explain to me why we're on a 7-47? Enlighten me." I stared at him and originally crossed my arms, but the pain became unbearable. I uncrossed them and stood. I realized I was strapped in and I fell backwards. I unbuckled my restraints and stood.

"It's not a 7-47. We are taking you to your rightful home. Not that humanoid house. I will tell you about your rightful home if you promise not to get angry with me." Edward looked like he always did, severe.

"I promise. Now tell me!" I said.

"Alright. Samantha, you are a princess. All the things you were told as a child are lies. In fact, your name is a lie, even. Your birthmother had known the mother you were put with for years, in fact, she used to live in Trolla. Your real name is Princess Noella Vanessa Marie Katherine Olivia Everly, not Samantha," Edward said.

I gaped. I'd only known my name as Samantha Collins. Now it was whatever he said? I took all this in.

"So, I'm a princess?" I said. My eyes glazed over. Edward nodded and smiled. I laid my head back on the seat and I felt shocked tears roll down my face.

"Shall I continue? Obviously, since you are a princess, you will inherit Trolla. If your powers come in soon, perhaps, the throne will be yours sooner than you'd expect. Your mother is expecting us within the day. Please, come meet the King." Edward waved me over and I felt like I couldn't stand, so I held out my arms for him to pick me up. He rolled his eyes and picked me up anyway. I snuggled into his shoulder and inhaled. He smelled like cologne and I was instantly calmed.

He carried me to the cockpit of the plane.

"Wait, the king? As in my father?" I asked.

"No, uncle. Unfortunately, your father died when you were born. We couldn't give the throne to you, since you were so small, so your uncle stepped up." Edward lowered his voice. "Just between you and me, your uncle has been the best king in Trolla history."

Edward put me down and I stood in front of my uncle, the King.

I was instantly shy, as I had always been around new people. I studied my uncle. He looked like me; the same dark red, almost brown hair and the hazel eyes, only his had more green in them than mine. He smiled at me.

"Noella! I haven't seen you since you were the size of a pup! Come here, child!" he held out his arms to me. I looked at Edward, who nodded. I awkwardly hugged him.

"Call me Uncle Louie. I think that Louis business is just too formal. Even for a king," he said with a childish glint in his eye. I smiled, instantly comforted.

"If I have to call you Louie, can you call me something besides Noella?" I asked.

"Alright, Noella Vanessa Marie Katharine Olivia. How's that?" he joked. I rolled my eyes.

"Thanks, but no! Just call me Noella." I laughed.

"I'll bet you're dying to know all about Trolla, huh?" He waited for my opinion and when I nodded, he continued.

"Well, Trolla is an ancient kingdom of fae. You are the princess, but Edward obviously filled you in on that. Your father had been the king for two years when he and your mother were married. She was a lower royal from another kingdom, though she was still respected. You were born a year after they were married and then your father was assassinated six months after. The reason you were sent to the house you were raised in is because the assailant came back for you. I took the throne to make sure Trolla wouldn't end up like other kingdoms."

Uncle Louie turned and walked back into the cockpit. The co-pilot had whispered something to him and he got instantly severe. I glanced at Edward, who shrugged.

"Please go sit down, Edward and Noella. We are having some-" Uncle Louie couldn't finish his sentence before the plane jerked for the ground.

I slid down the aisle and landed in a heap in Edward's arms. He held me to him and when I felt someone pulling us apart, I cuddled closer. I opened my eyes and saw the plane was mangled and burning. An EMT stood over us and I felt his hands on my arms, pulling me away from the comfort of Edward's arms.

"No! Let go of me!" I shouted. Uncle Louie crouched next to our huddled figure.

"Noella, let go. Edward needs medical attention and so do you. Look, that injury you suffered is bleeding again. Now, come on little one." Uncle Louie held his arms out and I climbed into them.

Maybe this princess-stuff may work. I get people to carry me wherever and whenever I want. I huddled against my new-found uncle and he carried me to a squad. I was put on a gurney and taken to the Fae hospital. I don't remember much of it, except that Edward was no where near me. Doctors gave me sleeping pills and pain pills and every other kind of drug to keep the princess drugged and quiet. Would that have been treason?

The next time I wasn't drugged, I picked up a newspaper and read this:

PRINCESS NOELLA VANESSA MARIE KATHERINE OLIVIA FINALLY FOUND!

The kingdom's princess in hiding is no longer hiding. Noella was brought back to Trolla in a plane yesterday afternoon. However, the plane itself suffered major damage and the cause is unknown. She had gone into hiding as an infant when her father, King Byron was killed eighteen years ago. As of Friday, Noella is still in the hospital after her injuries she suffered getting kidnapped reopened.

Where the princess is hospitalized is unknown.

Princess Noella was only six months at the time of her father's killing. Her uncle, King Louis has known her whereabouts in the human world since she was taken there, though he refuses to disclose this to the press.

Doctors remain hopeful that Princess Noella will be released from the hospital within the week, for her debutante ball is next month.

I slammed the paper down and it ripped. How did they find out about this when I'd only been in Trolla for 24 and a half hours? My door opened and Edward walked in, completely unscathed from the crash.

"I thought you needed medical attention?" I asked.

"Nope. Your uncle just wanted us to pull away so no press saw us like that. Can you imagine a princess with me a-" He caught himself before he said what he was. I felt a confused look cross my face.

"A what? Aren't you Fae?" I asked.

Edward changed the subject until a doctor came in.

"I don't think the Princess needs any distractions, sir. Please. Get out." The doctor pointed with his clipboard to the door. Edward stayed by my bedside. "I believe when I said that, it meant now!"

Edward waved and rushed out the door. I glared at the doctor.

"Can I get you for treason since I'm a princess?" I asked.

He laughed. "No."

"Dang. I tried."

"You will be able to go home today on medication. Here are your discharge papers." The doctor held out the papers. I took them and looked at them. It said in the doctor's sloppy pen, Discharge with extra care, head injury. No strenuous activity until... He didn't put the date.

I hopped out of the bed and ran out of the room. Did that count as strenuous?

I looked for Edward and when I left the room, but all I saw was Uncle Louie. He smiled and enveloped me in a hug. "Feeling better little one?" he asked.

"Eh, can't complain. I'm just glad I'm outta here." I said.

We started walking towards the limo- wow. I said that way too casually. The chauffeur opened the door and I slid in.

"I don't have any clothes here, and I've been wearing these Hello Kitty pajamas since a week ago," I said. Uncle Louie smiled.

"You think we don't already have clothes for our Crown Princess? Hah! Surely you jest!" he said.

"I don't and don't call me Shirley," I said laughing. Uncle Louie rolled his eyes.

"Oh, shut up."

It took a few hours to get to the mansion where I would meet my mother for the first time. The oak French doors were gilded with lion heads. "That's the family crest. Three lions for the three original kings of Trolla."

I nodded. We walked in and I was instantly shy. My clothes seemed too poor for the rooms, even the foyer. I looked at all the paintings and tapestries and vases that had to have been Ming. They were painted in blues and whites with storks and water lilies. They were goregous. Uncle Louie had noticed me staring at everything in the vicinity, and he pressed a button.

"Hello? We need some help in the foyer. We have the princess with us." Static crackled and two girls that were probably ten or eleven appeared out of thin air practically. They looked at me, smiled and curtsied.

"You don't have to do that. I'm not a full princess." I smiled.

Uncle Louie led me to my room and the girls were turned loose on me when he left. They undressed me and I became embarrassed. The one picked out a pink sundress and left the other one standing by my vainty getting countless hair products, leaving me standing there naked. I shivered.

The one held the dress out to me and I gladly took it. It was soft cotton and fit me perfectly. The other swept my reddish-brown-gold curls up and brushed them out. "We have to get you ready to see your mother, Ma'am."

"Don't call me ma'am. You make me sound old." I giggled like a shallow princess. Wait, I was a princess. I shook my head. The hairdresser tied a ribbon in my hair and I looked at my reflection in the mirror. I actually looked normal.

My skin had a slight glow to it, and the girls noticed and explained that was because my Fae powers were coming in. I nodded, as if I knew this. I didn't. My helpers finished and rushed out of the room. I stood and Edward knocked on the open door. He smiled. I knew he was my Secret Service almost, but he was still hot. I smiled back.

"You look gorgeous, Princess Noella."

"Thanks. Edward? Why is my name so long?" I asked.

"Well, your mother's name is longer than yours. I guess all the women's names are long if you're a royal."

"What's your full name?"

"Edward Tanner."

I smiled. "That's better than mine. Noella Vanessa Marie Katherine Olivia Everly? Are they serious?" I said.

"Technically, it's Princess Noella Vanessa Marie Katherine Olivia Everly. But only if you want to be exact."

I punched him lightly on the arm. He rubbed the spot and grinned, showing the dimple in his chin. His eyes lit up and that black hair fell in his eyes, instantly making me want him to envelop me. He reached over as if he was about too, but he stopped and his arms fell like lead at his sides.

"Sorry, Princess. It's time for you to meet your mother. Come along." He reached around me and opened the door. I walked out and he ushered me to the ball room. A woman who must've been my mother stood looking out the huge floor to ceiling windows. Edward cleared his throat and she turned.

She looked like me. The same hair and eyes, even the same facial shape. I stared at her. Her eyes filled with tears.

"Is this her? Noella! Of course it's you! Oh my God," she said.

"Yes, Ma'am, it is Noella Vanessa Marie Katherine Olivia." Edward glanced at me with a smirk.

"Hello- Mom? Can I call you that?" I asked.

She nodded. "Of course! I am your mother. You are so beautiful." She hugged me and I felt my blush creep up my neck.

"I can not believe that after eighteen years, I finally get to see my daughter. Welcome! I have so much to explain to you!"

She sat down and I sat, too. Edward had left me with the lady I was supposed to call "Mom". I was starting to think she was insane.

"Where to begin? Well, I guess from the beginning. Trolla is a very ancient kingdom of Fae. You are obviously the princess, and God-forbid when your uncle dies, you must take the throne. I couldn't when your father died, as I was married into royalty. I was a duchess in my old kingdom, but they were oblierated seven years ago.

"I named you after your grandmothers and aunts, and you hadn't been christened when all that happened with your father. The date was set for the day after his murder and we were forced to continue, with or without him. There was an outlash for not being in mourning when he died and the kingdom went up in arms! So we did the christening and then we took you away to the Humanoid house you were told was your home. I knew your adoptive mother and she took you in with open arms. In fact, she was Fae herself."

Mom stopped and smiled. "From then on, you know the story. They changed your name to where it sounds normal for an American girl. What was it again?"

"It was Samantha Rose. Was is the key term there." I rolled my eyes. Mom noticed that.

"Noella, that wasn't a proper action for a princess." She glared at me. I blushed and dropped my head.

"That isn't either, A princess always holds her head high when she's next in line to the throne. But, of course you'll learn all this in the next few days. Edward!" she said.

"Yes, ma'am?" He rushed in, in normal clothes instead of the uniform I was used to seeing him in. He looked hot in the A&Fitch t-shirt he was wearing. I smiled, but he didn't return it.

"Take Noella to your room to hold her until the tutor can get here." She waved us off and Edward led me by the elbow out into the hall.

"Well, she is not nice. Are you sure she's my mother?"

"Yep. She and your father- you know... um, got intimate...and umm," he answered awkwardly.

"I know what causes babies. Don't worry!" I told him. We had reached a door with paint splatters that didn't look like it belonged in the house.

"Welcome to the Casa del Edward. You can just sit on the bed." Edward pointed and I sat. I sunk three feet and I looked at him. Hmm. Deja vu.

Edward laughed. "Didn't that happen with the other bed, too?" He sat next to me, making his side sink and it made him slide into me. I looked at his lips and he leaned into me like he was going to kiss me, but he shied and pulled back.

"I'm sorry, Princess. I don't know what caused that. I let my head go too fast."

I smoothed my skirt and flipped my ponytail over one shoulder. "As a princess, I can tell what to do and not to do, right?" I asked. Edward nodded.

"Then don't call me Princess. Noella will be fine. And I have a question. What's my mother's name?"

"Cruella," he answered.