I tried to recall the last thing I said to him. Did I tell him I loved him? I wished I could turn back time and talk to him more during our carriage ride to Sherwood Manor. There was so much I needed to say. At the time, all I’d done was think about my spoiled self when I should’ve been appreciating the man who was attempting to save me.
Tears followed a steady line from the corners of my eyes down my cheeks. The moisture cascaded down my neck, but I no longer cared enough to wipe it away.
When I finally saw the castle in the moonlight, I covered the cry that tried to spring from my mouth. Wanting to get as close as I could, I grabbed onto the window frame of the carriage and leaned out. Nate rubbed my back with small circles as the horses pulled us the rest of the way to my home.
Not waiting for the carriage to come to a complete stop near the stone stairs of the castle, I opened the door and hopped out. From the echo of footsteps behind me, I could tell Nate and Abby were quickly following.
As they saw me, the guards opened the huge wooden door. “Where is he?” I breathlessly asked one of them.
He motioned to the right. “The king is in his bedchamber, Your Highness.”
I nodded my thanks and hurried past. My feet only slid once, and I was immensely grateful for my modern attire that didn’t hinder my run through the castle. I didn’t stop until I came to my parents’ bedchamber. The door was closed, and I took a deep breath before I slowly pushed it open.
My father was alone in the room, lying on his bed. No one was by his side cooling his forehead with a wet rag. No doctors stood at the foot of his bed watching over him. Nobody, not even my mother, sat next to him holding his hand.
I hiccupped a sob as I rushed to his bed. I sat next to him and grabbed onto his hand.
I’m too late! I cried silently.
“Please don’t die, Dad. Please don’t leave me.”
Pain stabbed through my chest as if my heart was breaking in two.
“I love you, Daddy.” I squeezed his hand and waited for his double squeeze in return. I thought his hand moved a little, then decided it was probably my imagination, When his hand moved again—and it was definite this time—I noticed it was warm.
With a happy gasp, I looked up at my father’s face. His eyes were tired and he looked like he had recently been close to death’s door, but he smiled and said, “My Dani Girl. You’ve come home.”
“Daddy,” I exclaimed and threw my arms around his neck.
My body shook with each sob, but they were the happiest sobs of my life.
“Aurora?” It was my mother’s voice at the doorway. I didn’t look up, but a few seconds later I felt her arms wrap around me.
“Mom?”
“I’m here,” she said. “Everything’s going to be all right.”
“Is it finally over? Is Daddy going to be okay?”
“Yes, dear, it’s over. Your father has a long road ahead, but he woke up a few hours ago, and the doctors are very optimistic about his recovery.”
I scooted closer to him, while my mother went to sit at the other side of the bed. My dad wrapped us both in his arms and said, “I’ve never known greater happiness than in this moment.”
“I love you, Dad and Mom,” I whispered through my tears.
“I love you, Dani.” My dad kissed my forehead, and the three of us embraced for several minutes, weeping our thankfulness.
Again it hit me. The curse is gone. I won’t have to sleep forever. My father didn’t die. Jack slew the giant.
I was finally home. As I sat there with my parents’ arms around me, overwhelmed with joy, I composed the most magnificent song in my head. Filled with elation, struggle, delight, and surprise, my masterpiece was about my life—about my experiences. And the ending was breathtaking.
I was in charge of my own destiny. No longer did I need to live in fear of a curse. I would live in the blessing of another tomorrow, because I was Sleeping Beauty, aka Aurora—“Goddess of the Sun.” I would live for another sunrise.
Epilogue
Royal Family Etiquette
The royal household is responsible for exhibiting good form, etiquette, and protocol. People must be addressed properly, communications composed perfectly, decorations placed correctly, jewelry worn appropriately, and proper behavior exhibited at all times. Members of the royal family must be the ultimate examples of what is expected of the citizens of the kingdom.
Fenmore Falls’ Inaugural Masquerade Ball
Straightening my purple dress, I glanced in the mirror one more time. With gold glitter around the edges, the mask perfectly matched the dress, which featured gold glitter at the bottom of the full skirt. I was happy my parents had finally agreed to allow everyone to join in the celebration, regardless of title or station. Since each guest must wear a mask (of course that was my idea too), identities would be secret and therefore everyone would be equal.
I had always wanted Jack to attend the castle parties, and I was excited that he and Abby would be at the ball. They were heading back to Idaho in the morning. She needed to return with her parents, and Jack, not wanting to remain here without her, was going with her. I would miss my best friend, but I was ecstatic that he had fallen in love with my good friend Abby.
When I finally left my bedchamber, my dad was waiting for me outside my door. “You look lovely, Dani girl,” he said.
“Thanks, Daddy.” I dove into his arms and breathed in his familiar, comforting scent—the outdoors from his morning ride, peppermint from his favorite candy, and soap from his freshly shaved face.
It had been two weeks since we had returned to the castle, and he still had fainting spells and chest pains. While it killed me to see him weak and brittle, I was grateful he was still alive. I would treasure every moment I was blessed to have with him.
I pressed my hand to his weathered cheek. “How are you feeling today, Dad?”
“Quite well. You don’t need to worry about me.” The crinkles next to his eyes deepened with his smile. “How are you? Are you ready for this?”
“More than ever.” I smiled, unable to hide my giddiness.
“Are you sure about this boy?”
“Of course I’m sure about Nate.” I laughed a little at my dad’s informal reference. “Stop being so overprotective.”
“I’ll never stop. It’s my job.” Dad’s eyes twinkled.
“Thanks for always being there for me, Daddy.” I gathered him into another embrace and we stood there for a minute.
He finally pulled back. “Let’s do this.”
I shooed away the guard who was waiting to help my father walk. Instead, I put Dad’s arm over my own shoulder, and we walked down the hall in contented silence.
In the throne room, Nate stood in front of my mom, who sat on her throne. He turned toward my dad and me as we entered the room. My boyfriend’s crooked grin made my stomach do its usual flip-flop. I would never get tired of that smile.
Once I helped my dad step up to his throne, I turned to stand in front of Nate. I lifted off my mask and handed it to the guard next to me. Another guard approached and handed me a long sword. With as much royal authority as I could muster, I said to Nate, “Please kneel.”
He leaned in close and whispered, “I’ll get down on my knee to ask you one more time. Will you be my girl?”
Remembering his proposal at the fair, which seemed like so long ago, I couldn’t help the smile that came over my face. My parents would probably chastise me for what I did next, but hopefully they could forgive me.
I handed the sword back to the guard, threw my arms around Nate’s neck, and kissed him soundly on the lips. He returned the kiss and even picked me up to spin me around.
Oh, blessed day! The sweetest song played in my head, and the joyous melody flowed through my body. No matter how long I lived, I would never be able to fully express my love for this man. It could never be captured with pen and paper. It was a symphony I never wanted to end.
A few breathtaking mo
ments later, Nate stopped and leaned his forehead against mine. He sighed. “Third rule—stick to rule number 1.”
“Rules, what rules?” I exhaled a deep breath.
My dad coughed to get our attention, but when I looked at my parents they both smiled.
“I better do this right,” I said once Nate removed his hands from my waist.
He gave me a wink and got down on one knee. The guard handed me the sword again. I touched Nate’s shoulders with the flat edge, one at a time, and bestowed knighthood upon him.
My heart filled with gratitude that he had decided to stay in my kingdom and be a part of my life. He could’ve returned to Idaho and continued to run the farm, which he had inherited, but he wanted to be with me. With Mr. Haney gone, Dorothy and Hank were no longer indebted to him, and Nate had given them his farm to take care of. They were finally living their dream.
As for Nate, in finding Sleeping Beauty, he found a new life—a life filled with fairy tales. Whatever our next adventure would be, magic or not, I was glad we’d be together.
Six Years Later
On the other side of the kingdom, a bitter woman lay in hiding. Her husband had been locked in the castle for many years. The knife wound he had received before his prison sentence was allowed to fester over time, and it finally took his life. Upon the news of his death, she vowed to exact revenge on the person who had ruined her life.
Sleeping Beauty knew her as Cathy, but her full name was Catherine. You may also know her as Lady Catherine, Cinderella’s evil stepmother.
The man who murdered her husband had gone on to kill her stepdad, Rumpelstiltskin, the only father she ever knew. She planned to take away the happiness of the person who had stolen hers.
His name was Jack.
About the Author
Tarrah Montgomery has loved writing stories since she was a child. She earned an associate’s degree from Ricks College and a bachelor of science in education from Utah State University. Tarrah currently lives in Arizona with her husband, Ryan, and their five young children. She loves to travel, and many of her story ideas have come from seeing the ancient castles and architecture around the world. Some of her adventures have taken her to Paris, London, Rome, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, South Korea, Thailand, and Jamaica. Tarrah teaches preschool and enjoys reading, spending time with her family, and playing the piano.
The Princess Chronicles began with Tarrah’s first novel, I’m Not Cinderella (2013). Finding Sleeping Beauty is the second book in the series. Learn more about Tarrah and her books at tarrahmontgomery.blogspot.com. She enjoys hearing from her readers and may be contacted at [email protected].
Discussion Questions
Danielle’s mother makes a deal with a wizard in exchange for a potion that will help her have a baby with her husband. What kind of risks would you make for something that was important to you? What would you sacrifice?
When Danielle meets Nate for the first time, he seems rude and annoyed. How have you misjudged people by your first impressions of them?
Shelley High School is nothing like what Dani is used to. Some of the kids dress immodestly and treat her unkindly. How do you think today’s society has gotten worse when it comes to etiquette and conduct? Why do you think it has changed?
A guy named Brian is interested in Dani and keeps harassing her. How could she stand up for herself better with a pushy boy like Brian? What could she do or say to protect herself from someone who doesn’t want to take no for an answer?
Dani’s friend Jack is overly cautious about her safety while staying in Idaho. When he finds evidence to prove she may be in danger, she is reluctant to believe it. Could her growing attraction to Nate be the reason she’s willing to risk her safety? How can infatuation sometimes put us in danger?
The three fairies—Dorothy, Wendy, and Miss Alice—have all visited Fenmore Falls before. What secrets do you think they keep, and how are the fairies connected? How can having similar experiences form a strong bond between friends?
Mr. Haney ends up being the wizard, Rumpelstiltskin, but he’s also the giant in Jack and the Beanstalk. How has a problem in your life seemed to turn into two? Do things always seem more difficult when you are in the middle of trials?
Do you think Nate will have a hard time acclimating to the magical kingdom of Fenmore Falls, when all he’s ever known is his modern home in Idaho? Or will his love for Dani overshadow any hardship he might. face? How does love strengthen us so we can meet adversity with courage?
Finding Sleeping Beauty is a foreshadow to the book I’m Not Cinderella. Can you see the hatred and anger that has built up in Cinderella’s future stepmother, Lady Catherine, when everyone she loves is torn from her? Instead of exacting her anger on the person she blames for her misfortune, how could she instead live a fulfilled life? Is there ever a time when anger is justified?
Seventeen-year-old Brinlee is a modern girl living in Idaho. When she discovers a secret portal in her attic bedroom, she accidentally swaps places with the main character from her favorite fairy tale, Cinderella. Lost in Cinderella’s world, Brinlee threatens to ruin one of the world’s greatest love stories. New mysteries surround the characters of the beloved tale, and Brinlee is determined to uncover the secrets. Once she entangles herself in the affairs of Cinderella’s family and meets not one but two dashing men, can she keep this celebrated romance on track? You’ll love this fun reinvention of the classic story Cinderella.
Readers’ Praise for I’m Not Cinderella
Title
Copyright
Acknowledgments
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Epilogue
About the Author
Discussion Questions
Finding Sleeping Beauty Page 19