A Changeling Queen: A Princess meets a Prince

Chapter One: A Princess meets a Prince

 

 

 

 

            “Stop fidgeting!”  The Icejin woman snapped. 

“But mama, I’m nervous!”  The little girl protested.  Her mother was trying to get some bobby pins in her hair and the girl was not cooperating.  “It will be alright Crystal, the Cold’s are nothing to be frightened of.” 

“I’m not frightened, I’m just nervous!”  Crystal explained.  Her mother frowned at her.  “Hush now, and let me finish your hair.”  Crystal thought she was ready enough, but her mother kept fussing over the way her hair looked.  “Its too bad you don’t know how to transform yet, that way you can just transform into your hornless form.” 

Crystal made a face.  “But I like my horns.” 

“Didn’t I tell you to hush?”  Her mother said.

Crystal bit her lip.  She wanted to throw a temper tantrum right then, but figured she would get into way too much trouble if she did that.  Finally her mother was done tugging at her hair.  “Stand up now and let me see how you look.”  Crystal did as her mother asked and got up off the chair.  She stuck out her lower lip to show her mother just how unhappy she was. 

Her mother sighed.  “I guess that will do for now, your horns make your hair crooked.  “But I suppose that can’t be helped.” 

“How come you don’t have hair mama?”  Crystal suddenly asked.  It was strange that she had hair, but most other Changelings did not.

“Because sweaty, I’m in my final form.”  Her mother explained.  “Now stop asking questions, and come with me.” 

Crystal stomped down the hall after her mother.  She didn’t want to see Chill Cold and his son, Prince Cold.  She just wanted to go hide in her room and play. 

They came to the end of the hall were a large Changeling with massive horns sat on one of the many cushioned chairs that were in the room.  A smaller, almost identical version of the Changeling King was pacing.  It was Prince Cold.  Crystal’s mother hissed at her to curtsy, and Crystal did so, just like she had been taught.  Crystal’s mother curtsied as well.  Chill Cold got up from the chair he was sitting and approached Crystal’s mother.  She held out her hand and the King bent over and kissed it.  “It has been a long time Telea, how have you been?”  He asked.

“I have been doing well your majesty.”  Her mother said. 

“Ah this must be your daughter Crystal.”  Chill Cold. said, a big smile across his face.  “Cold, come here and say hello to this little lady.” 

The boy grumbled something unintelligible and walked over to Crystal.  Crystal looked at him curiously.  He was big for his age, with big black horns and purple skin.  “Hi.”  Prince Cold said.  He looked back up at his father.  “When can we leave?”  He whined.  Chill Cold glared at his son.  “Have I not taught you any manners?”  The Changeling grumbled.  “Go sit and be quiet if you don’t want to socialize.”  Prince Cold stomped over to a chair, sat down and crossed his arms over his chest.  Crystal looked over at the mad Prince and back at her mother.  “Me and Chill have some things to talk about, go over and sit with the Prince.”  Crystal’s mother said.  “I’ll call for you two when supper is ready.”  With that She walked down the hall, Chill Cold right beside her.  Crystal watched them disappear behind a corner and went over to the sulking prince. “You should stop being such a big baby.”  Crystal said.  “This is my house, you should be playing with me.” 

 “Go away.”  He mumbled and sunk further in his chair.

“Oh no, I’m not going away until you play with me.”  Crystal said.  “We can play hide and seek.  That will be fun.”

“I don’t wanna play!”  Prince Cold snapped.

“You’re going to play with me whether you want to or not!”  Crystal said.  She reached over and tugged on his big purple arm.

“Don’t touch me!”  Cold screamed.  He pulled his arm away from her.  Crystal lost her balance and fell on the floor.  Crystal started to cry.  “I’m telling my mommy on you!”  She screeched tears falling down on her white cheeks.  “Go ahead, I don’t care.”  Cold said.  Crystal flew down the corridor in a mad attempt to find her mother.

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Telea sighed.  “Don’t you think it’s a little too early to be talking about this?”  She asked the large Changeling King in front of her.  “She’s only a child.”

“My son will need a strong wife, time goes by fast Telea, soon enough the girl will be old enough to mate.”  Chill. explained.  “We might as well talk about this now, she needs to be prepared to be Queen someday.”

“I still think it’s far too early to be discussing this.”  Telea said. 

“If your husband were still alive, he would agree with me.”  The king told her. 

“But he’s not.”  Telea pointed out.  “I’m in charge of Crystal now.  I decide what is best for her, not anyone else.”

“You are a stubborn woman Telea, that is why I find you so fascinating.”  Chill said.  He took a finger and ran it along side her smooth white face.  “There are so few of us left.”

Telea didn’t like the King touching her, she wanted to smack away his hand, but knew better.  He was not a man to be crossed with.  “You know as well as I do that because of the radiation exposure I cannot bear anymore children.”  Telea growled.  “That goes for most of the female Icejinn.” 

“But Crystal was not exposed.”  The King said.  “She is the only young one that was not exposed to the radiation, she will be able to bear my son a child as soon as she is old enough.”  Chill Cold leaned in closure to Telea.  His lips were about ready to touch hers when Crystal came running into the room.  “Mama!”  She cried.  “Prince Cold is being mean to me!”  Chill immediately turned his attentions away from Telea and let his hand drop.  Crystal ran to her mother and clung tightly to her leg.  “I thought I told you to stay in the sitting room.”  Telea sighed. 

“I didn’t want to stay in the same room as that meanie head!”  Crystal whined.  “He wouldn’t play with me, and then he shoved me on the floor!” 

“We will discuss this later Cold.”  Telea said as she bent over to pick up her daughter.  Crystal wrapped her arms around her mother’s neck.  “My servants will have dinner prepared for us soon.”  With that she walked out of the room carrying Crystal. 

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            Dinner was a silent occasion.  Crystal kept glaring over at Prince Cold who glared back at her.  Crystal’s mother was conversing with Chill Cold, but Crystal hardly heard a word they said.  She really didn’t care though.  She thought grownups talked about boring things anyway.  When her mother wasn’t looking Crystal stuck her tongue out at Prince Cold.  Prince Cold took his fingers, widened his mouth and made the most awful face imaginable.  He ended up with a slap across his head.  His father looked down at him disapprovingly.  “Watch your manners young man, or else.”  He growled.  Crystal had to surpass a giggle; she liked getting the young prince in trouble. 

 

 

            When dinner ended it was time to say goodbye to the Colds.  Crystal was very glad to see them go.  Prince Cold was mean, and had not wanted to play with her.  She hoped she would never have to see him again.  The Cold’s left on their space ship, and it was time for Crystal to go to bed.  He mother tucked her in, and kissed her on the forehead.  “Mama, I don’t like that Prince Cold very much.”  Crystal said. 

“You will learn to like him in time dear.”  Crystal’s mother said. 

“But why do I have to?”  Crystal wondered aloud.

“You’ll find out when you get older.”  Her mother said.  “Now go to sleep.”

Crystal didn’t know what her mother meant when she said she’d find out when she was older, but she didn’t let it bother her.  She closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.