The Hidden Princess and the Sword

Epilogue

Annika took a deep breath before pushing the tall oaken doors apart.

"Anni!" cried Anabel, running towards her sister.

They collided in a tight embrace. Anabel finally took a step back to look at her sister.

The soon-to-be queen was wearing a long black dress, adorned by an equally long, black, fur-lined cloak that the weather did not particularly permit. Atop her caramel-bronze locks was the tiny princess tiara.

In comparison, Annika noted that her once-cream-colored dress was ripped and torn at the ends, and blood stained the fabric. She was crown- and cloak-less, and hadn't combed her hair in over a week.

"Never do that again," Anabel said tearfully. "That's a royal order."

Annika had to hug her twin.

~One Week Later~

"Princess Annika, will you do the honors?" The Captain of the Guard presented a now shining and well-cleaned Sword of Mountain Stars to her, kneeling as he did so.

With only a murmured "thank you", Annika took the blade daintily with both hands. The light streaming through the windows into the Great Hall glinted off and a collective inhalation swept through the audience.

Raising it over her head, Annika brought the mighty sword down and shattered the Soul Sword. A horrible wailing sound filled the air as several smoky figures floated towards the heavens, and slowly faded away.

Applause echoed in the hall. Annika swept them a curtsy. Two fully armored soldiers took the shards away, and all three - the soldiers and Annika - left.

Johann met her in a hallway. "Nice work back there. I'm glad you got Anabel to pardon my crimes, or else I wouldn't have been able to watch."

"Is that all you wanted, was to watch me kill a sword?"

He paused in his strides.

"I always want to watch you, killing swords or otherwise," he said, and swept her into a kiss that still tasted of salt and ocean spray.

ILY ALL FOR STICKING WITH ME!!!! I know this story needs some serious revising, and the last three chapters were a teensy bit rushed, but hey I got fall break for that.

Please vote and comment your hearts out! And tell everyone you know, it would mean the world to me.

So I have this AH-MAH-ZING idea for a story about a girl who basically gets to go everywhere I've ever wanted to go and have the adventures I've always wanted to have. It's called Road Trips and it'll be pretty long, but I want to finish up as many of my other loose ends (stories) as I can before I get started writing.

Hugs (AND ILYASM),

Redde :)