I smile at the expressions on my sister's faces. We are all Princesses. Our father is the King, our mother his maid. I tell them.

"My father?" Olivia asked.

"My Mum?" I said.

Yes. We are all bound.

"Bound? What's that?" I asked.

Being bound is not so easy to explain...

"Out with it Alice!" Olivia cried impatiently, her upbringing coming through. .

It might be better if I showed you. Would you like that?

"Yes!" they replied in unison.

Alright, let me find it...

^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

The King was happy. Everything had turned out fine. His wife was sick, so she couldn't deny pregnancy. Just in case, he had kept the Fairy Day a secret. He had called the oldest godmother still in service, just in case. The King did a lot of things just in case. Better to be safe than sorry.

     The children's names had, (unfortunately) already been picked. Olivia and Leila were good names for princesses though. So was Alice, but they had a bargain.

     The air filled with the scent of roses and he thought he could hear birdsong. But this was impossible, because it was the middle of winter. The Fairy was here.

     Green wings, a rose petal dress. She walked delicately to the crib where the princesses lay sleeping. She looked closely at their features, finding no difference.

     Will that stand the test of time? She wondered. Something inside her told her the sisters would remain identical. She leaned over, wand in hand. She only needed a wand for the most powerful enchantments. She started a spell.

Sisters dear

Lying here

Sleeping away

Find each other

And recover

Exhaustion at bay

Inside a bubble

Brewing trouble

Finding Ghosts and Fay

Within 10 feet

You shall meet

To find her, today

Be drawn together

Stay forever

Wherever you lay

She finished the spell by tapping each girl's head. She looked at the King. "It is done," she said.

     She nodded respectfully at him, then disappeared. All she left was a faint smell of roses and two enchanted princesses. The King sighed. He should have known not to call a Fairy. Now the princesses were bound, for better or worse.

     You are backing away, far enough you can't see the King's face. So far, you can't see the room at all.

_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_>_

I was shaking. Not from cold (because the sun had chosen THAT moment to slip behind a cloud) but from something else. Not quite fear, but close.

That spell was something I'd remember forever. It was beautiful in itself, but the melody was haunting. It didn't help that the woman (Or Fairy if you prefer) was so old she should have been buried thousands of years ago.

Olivia? Are you alright? Alice asked. Olivia was shaking my shoulders.

"Yes, I'm fine," I assured them.

"Are you sure? You look a bit pale, even by our standards," Olivia joked. I smile.

So, how does that spell work? What does it mean?" I ask.

I don't know. Maybe if we wrote it down...

"OK Alice," Olivia said.

"Alright, let's see if I can remember it correctly," I say, even though I know it is permanently imprinted in my head.