The third installment of my second LLL fan fiction- please, tell me what you think! Lady LovelyLocks is acting strangely...what could be the reason behind it?

Part Three

Maiden FairHair glanced at the clock, a concerned look upon her face. She turned to Maiden CurlyCrown, who was engrossed in her collection of bugs.
“That is odd…” FairHair remarked, “Lady LovelyLocks should be downstairs by now! She is never late.”
Maiden CurlyCrown shrugged her shoulders, flicking through her colour-plated book filled with illustrations of rare magical insects.
“Perhaps she cared to sleep in…?” She suggested brightly.
Maiden FairHair looked unsure.
“But she would not normally sleep in…she knows we have much to do today! Something is not right, I should see to her.”
CurlyCrown looked blissfully unconcerned as she wandered out into the garden, in search of the rare and beautiful gossamer butterfly. FairHair, meanwhile, climbed the grand staircase, in search for the reason why her Lady was so late.

“Lady? Lady LovelyLocks…?”
Maiden FairHair knocked gently on the double doors leading to her mistress’ room. No response. She knocked again, waited, and then opened the door. Hesistantly, she peeked around the corner.
“Lady…?”
Maiden FairHair’s shoulders slumped as she saw that Lady LovelyLocks was still asleep, peacefully snuggled against her pillow. FairHair sighed and shook her head, entering Lady’s pastel pink bedroom and closing the door behind her. PixieBeauty, PixieShine and PixieSparkle hovered about their mistress with anxious looks upon their faces.
“Maiden-ix!” PixieShine’s ears perked up as she tugged at Lady’s nightgown sleeve. PixieBeauty had a lock of Lady’s hair in her little paws and PixieSparkle was weighed down by Lady’s limp hand.
“Maiden-ix FairHair-ix! Lady-ix does not-ix want-ix to get up-ix!” PixieSparkle squeaked as she tumbled back onto the pillow. PixieShine strained as she pulled harder at Lady’s sleeve. Lady LovelyLocks’ fair eyebrows drew together, her expression drowsily annoyed as she sighed and waved away her Pixietails, batting PixieBeauty in the process. Lady nestled further under the covers, pulling them up over her head, only her beautiful rippling tresses indicating her presence. Maiden FairHair lifted a finger, her expression puzzled.

“This is not like Lady LovelyLocks at all! Lady…? It is time to get up now, it is a beautiful day outside…!” Maiden FairHair leaned over the huddled lump that was the reluctant mistress of the land, beckoning her to rise. She saw the figure shift, moan and mumble something inaudible.
“Lady-ix! Wake up-ix!” The three Pixietails exclaimed in unison, jumping up and down on the bed, their tails sparkling. Lady gave another moan.
“This is strange.” Maiden FairHair sighed, her hands on her hips, “Perhaps I should summon Maiden CurlyCrown or Prince Strongheart…”
“Prince Strongheart?” The covers were suddenly thrown back, and a very alert looking Lady LovelyLocks sat up, suddenly attentive. Maiden FairHair blinked, surprised. She did not seem to notice that Lady’s eyes were strangely glazed over. Lady skipped out of her bed, twirling around.
“Where is Prince Strongheart…?” She sighed dreamily, hugging her shoulders, her blonde streaked locks swimming about her figure, “Is he here?”
Her eyes sparkled with a vacant blue gleam. Maiden FairHair hesitated. Something did not feel right.
“You must get dressed Lady LovelyLocks, we have a lot to do today, the kingdom-“ Maiden FairHair started.
“No, Maiden FairHair! I want nothing to do with the kingdom today! I only want Prince Strongheart…” Lady LovelyLocks giggled as her Pixietails swirled about her, shrugging her shoulders.
“But Lady, the kingdom needs you….”
“The kingdom can wait Maiden!” Lady gently waltzed out of her bedroom. Her tone of voice was light and airy…almost as if she was not present. Maiden FairHair rushed to the hallway, where Lady LovelyLocks, in her nightdress and bare footed danced down to the main staircase, giggling to herself.
“But Lady, you are not even dressed!”

“Where is my Prince Strongheart…?”

“It is extremely odd! Lady LovelyLocks is never like this at all!”
“She did not touch her breakfast-“
“-and she refuses to see anyone from the kingdom!”
“She has been ignoring the Pixietails…poor PixieBeauty is so sad!”
“And all she asks for is Prince Strongheart…”
“It is like she is not here at all-“
“-like she is in her own little dream world.”

“What are we to do, ShiningGlory?”

ShiningGlory’s silver brows drew together as he pondered this strange behaviour of the princess of the Land of LovelyLocks. The two Maidens shared worried looks. The usually bubbly and energetic Maiden CurlyCrown was fraught with worry, her brow creased, her usually dancing green eyes heavy with anxiety. Maiden FairHair, determined to find a reason to Lady LovelyLocks’ absent-minded behaviour, dry washed her hands, flattening her pale blue bodice. PixieShine and PixieSparkle, their ears drooped, their expressions cheerless, tried to perk up a sniffing PixieBeauty.
“Do not worry-ix PixieBeauty-ix.” PixieShine comforted her magical friend.
“Lady-ix will be herself-ix again-ix.” PixieSparkle added. PixieBeauty only gave a miserable little sniffle and squeak, all the twinkling shine in her tail gone.

ShiningGlory shook his head, confounded and concerned.
“This is most odd.” He noted, “Where is the Lady?”
“In the observatory, with her embroidery.” Maiden FairHair sighed despondently.
ShiningGlory’s worried expression lessened somewhat.
“Well, that does not sound too worrisome, Lady LovelyLocks usually embroiders…”
CurlyCrown shook her head.
“Lady LovelyLocks is usually a careful and skilled embroiderer- it is her favourite past-time…but today, she is-“
“Ouch!”
An exclamation from Lady LovelyLocks in the next room caused both the Maidens to wince.
“…careless.”

The conversing company hurriedly entered the LovelyLocks observatory, the highest room in the castle, surrounded with glass-paned arches and a glass roof which allowed the ruler of the land to look upon her kingdom at every angle. A map of the Land of LovelyLocks and the surrounding lands was unfurled on a golden stand in the corner. Usually Lady LovelyLocks would go to her observatory to contemplate or survey her kingdom. This room had been the place of many a discussion between her and ShiningGlory in both peaceful and troubled times. ShiningGlory entered the room behind the two Maidens and was quite surprised to find the princess with her back to the magnificent view of the Land of LovelyLocks. She wore an expression of befuddlement towards her sampler of embroidery. Maiden CurlyCrown had been right- Lady LovelyLocks’ embroidery was very careless. Silken strands were tangled together, some had frayed, other knotted, some stitches were pulled too tightly, others too loosely. But Lady was concerned about other things. Great glistening tears watered in her wide blue eyes as she held up her index finger.
“What is the matter Lady?” Maiden FairHair rushed to her side. Lady held up her finger for all to see. She had pricked it with her needle, and where it had been pricked, a ruby drop of blood welled up.
“I hurt myself.” Lady LovelyLocks whimpered in a small voice. She looked, strangely, close to sobbing!
ShiningGlory exchanged a confused look with Maiden CurlyCrown, who shrugged her shoulders. Lady LovelyLocks would normally not be fussed by such a trivial matter! Maiden FairHair dabbed her friend’s finger with a neatly embroidered handkerchief, as if she was fussing over a child. Glittering tears started to spill down Lady’s cheeks for no reason.
“It is ruined! It is all ruined!” Lady sobbed, burying her face into a shocked Maiden FairHair’s shoulder, clinging onto her friend’s pale blue bodice. Maiden FairHair gasped, taken by surprise as she dumbly patted Lady’s shimmering locks comfortingly.

ShiningGlory approached, gently laying his palm upon Lady’s forehead. Surprisingly, Lady LovelyLocks was so busy weeping she did not seem to notice the sorcerer’s presence! ShiningGlory frowned.
“I cannot feel a temperature, she is not ill.”
“Then what else can explain her strange mood!” Maiden CurlyCrown asked, exasperated. ShiningGlory inhaled. Somehow, he could feel a throb of magic about Lady LovelyLocks…but he was not sure where it was coming from.
“The only thing we have not contemplated…enchantment.”
“Enchantment…?” The Maiden’s echoed in unison. CurlyCrown looked confused, but FairHair looked doubtful.
“How could it possibly be enchantment, ShiningGlory? As far as we know, Duchess RavenWaves and Hairball have not been up to any tricks since the Royal Engagement Ball…” Maiden FairHair disentangled herself from the clinging Lady LovelyLocks, her finger raised to her mouth as she pondered.

“This is a magical kingdom, Maiden FairHair, there are plenty of creatures capable of mood-altering enchantment.” ShiningGlory’s wizened voice reasoned.
“But who would wish to cause Lady LovelyLocks harm other than Duchess RavenWaves? She must be up to something…” Maiden FairHair insisted, her mind set as to who the culprit was.
“Well…we did have a visitor from NeptuneWaves yesterday…” Maiden CurlyCrown piped up. Maiden FairHair shook her brown waves, dismissing CurlyCrown’s comment immediately.
“Sir GlistenGill left at sunset, Lady LovelyLocks was perfectly normal when she went to bed. And why would Sir GlistenGill want to put Lady LovelyLocks under a spell? It is not very nice to assume that a stranger who was nothing but kind and generous to us is the reason behind this mysterious spell, Maiden CurlyCrown!”
CurlyCrown’s shoulders slumped, her green eyes fell to the floor as she was rebuffed by her normally more sensible friend.
“Oh…I just thought that maybe the gift he gave Lady might have had something to do with it…never mind me…it was silly of me to suggest anything anyway.” CurlyCrown muttered, her cheeks turning the colour of her hair as she burned with shame, her usually bubbly voice becoming very little after FairHair’s reprimand.
“Gift…?” ShiningGlory suddenly interrupted, his pale eyes glimmering with interest, “Tell me about this gift, Maiden CurlyCrown.”

An expression of annoyance crossed Maiden FairHair’s features. She should be the one with the answers! She was far more sensible than Maiden CurlyCrown, who was more often than not chasing those silly little bugs of hers!
“Oh it is nothing, ShiningGlory!” Maiden FairHair interrupted, stealing the words from CurlyCrown, who had just parted her lips to speak, “It was merely a Mermaid’s Song…”
ShiningGlory wore a look of genuine surprise, his brow creased as he pondered…then things started to fall into place.
“You must not underestimate this gift, Maiden FairHair…a Mermaid’s Song is very powerful Sea Magic, and if in the wrong hands…” ShiningGlory gestured over to the brewing clouds surrounding Castle RavenWaves in the distance. Maiden FairHair, who prided herself on usually being right, felt her cheeks become hot as she was proved wrong.
“Oh…how silly of me.” Was all she managed meekly, her brown eyes falling to the purple-ringed carpet under her blue satin slippers. She looked up as she felt Maiden CurlyCrown touch her shoulder tenderly.
“Do not worry, Maiden FairHair, you were worried for Lady LovelyLocks. It is quite understandable that you would think Duchess RavenWaves would somehow be involved! But remember…we are all concerned for the Lady.” Maiden CurlyCrown offered comfortingly to her humbled friend. FairHair smiled gratefully at the strawberry-curled maiden, who although sometimes could become a little light-headed and lively, had a heart as gold as the colour of her dress!

ShiningGlory, however, cared for some urgency. He could feel something was amiss…an ill-feeling about the kingdom was brewing. Maiden FairHair and CurlyCrown glanced up and shivered as they found the sun that previously streamed into this glass-roofed observatory on this fine spring day was blocked by black looming clouds. Maiden CurlyCrown’s mouth fell open slightly, she held her shoulders as she shuddered with unease.
“I know those clouds.” Maiden FairHair’s brown brows drew together, the two Maidens with Lady’s Pixietails huddled together as lightening flashed off in the distance, “When Lady LovelyLocks stayed away from the kingdom for too long, those clouds started to arrive…”
A forceful gust of wind howled about the glass of the observatory, the sound sending chills up their spines.
“But how could that be? Lady LovelyLocks is right here with us!” Maiden CurlyCrown’s unease became distress as she did not quite understand this situation. Everyone looked over to Lady LovelyLocks, who had now seemed to have forgotten her sore finger and resumed her embroidery, completely oblivious to the stormy state of her kingdom.
“Lady LovelyLocks may be physically present with us, but this spell must have her mind distracted. Tell me Maidens, has she been to her Looking Room today or received anyone from the kingdom…?” ShiningGlory internally shuddered as the kingdom of LovelyLocks started to feel cold and desolate in his magical senses.
“Well…no…” CurlyCrown shrugged her shoulders, “She has refused to see anyone from the kingdom and she has not been anywhere near the Looking Room!”
“The only person she keeps asking after is…” Maiden FairHair started.

The doors to the observatory burst open, causing the two Maidens and the three Pixietails to jump with fright. A windswept Prince Strongheart entered, disentangling himself from his cape and pushing his blonde cascade of hair out of his blue eyes. He looked quizzically about at the anxious faces that greeted him.
“You summoned me Maiden FairHair? Is something the matter with Lady LovelyLocks…?”
Before Maiden FairHair had a chance to respond, a voice brimming with glee interrupted her.
“Prince Strongheart!”
ShiningGlory and the two maidens were almost bowled over when Lady LovelyLocks sprang from her chair, her pink slipper-ed feet darting over to the Prince and catching him unawares as she leapt into his arms. Lady nestled into her Prince’s shoulder, her expression glowing with contentment.
“Ah…good morning my love!” Strongheart gasped as he struggled to regain balance with his fiancée in his arms. It was not the matter that Lady LovelyLocks was heavy- for Prince Strongheart she was as light as a feather- but the matter that he was simply not expecting her to be so…enthusiastic!
“I missed you!” Lady cooed up at her Prince, her blue eyes brimming with adoration as she stroked his cheek. Prince Strongheart melted as he looked into his love’s eyes, forgetting all that was around him- the worried faces of his friends, the threatening clouds above.
“I missed you too.” He whispered softly, placing a gentle kiss upon Lady’s forehead and setting her down. But his state of bliss was not to last.

“Prince Strongheart, you must help us!” Maiden FairHair’s voice insisted, causing his brows to furrow.
“Lady LovelyLocks is not herself!” Maiden CurlyCrown echoed.
“She has been enchanted, and the kingdom is in danger!” FairHair continued. The trio of Pixietails nodded and twittered in unison. Strongheart huffed, put out by this distraction.
“Well, she looks perfectly fine to me!” He caressed Lady’s soft cheek with his hand, drawing her in for a kiss.
“But she is merely love-struck, Prince Strongheart! Look at the kingdom- all is not well and Lady is not doing anything about it!”
Prince Strongheart rolled his blue eyes, turning back to Maiden FairHair.
“Just because Lady LovelyLocks is not interested in the affairs of the kingdom for one morning does not mean it is going to fall apart! I cannot see anything wrong with her…maybe she just wants to spend time with me for a change!”
Lady LovelyLocks snuggled closer to her fiancé, her expression that of complete worship towards the Prince.
“I never want to leave your side!” She giggled suddenly, “Come on, let’s go for a ride, it is a beautiful day!”
Lady skipped out, dragging Prince Strongheart with her.

“But Lady, storm clouds are brewing!” Maiden CurlyCrown dashed out to the landing, calling after the princess. Maiden FairHair heaved a heavy sigh.
“She is not going to listen to you, Maiden CurlyCrown…I am afraid to say that Lady LovelyLocks is completely love-struck. And there is nothing we can do about it without the Prince’s help!”
Maiden CurlyCrown wandered back in, dejected. Then she brightened. Her green eyes were lit with determination.
“Surely there must be something we can do!” She declared.
ShiningGlory, easing himself out of a high-backed chair, answered CurlyCrown’s expression of resolve.
“There could be a solution Maidens…”
The pair and the Pixietails perked up.
“What is it?”
“What can we do?”
“…but it would require you to travel a great distance.”
ShiningGlory finished. Maiden FairHair looked doubtful, huffing a ringlet of her brown hair out of her eyes and folding her arms. Maiden CurlyCrown, however, had lost none of her determination.
“We will do anything to help our friend and her kingdom, ShiningGlory! Tell us what we can do!” CurlyCrown’s tenacity cheered Maiden FairHair up some.

ShiningGlory pressed his lips together, pondering the best plan of action.
“The only person capable of undoing such a spell, for this is advanced Sea Magic, is the person who created it…”
“Sir GlistenGill?” CurlyCrown piped up hopefully.
“No, Maiden CurlyCrown…Princess AquaCrest created the Mermaid’s Song.” Maiden FairHair reasoned, “Do we have to travel to the kingdom of NeptuneWaves, ShiningGlory?”
“It looks likely, Maiden FairHair, I cannot think of any other way. Maiden CurlyCrown, can you find the map to NeptuneWaves in the LovelyLocks gallery? And Maiden FairHair, I need you to bring me the box which held the Mermaid’s Song. We need to work swiftly before this situation becomes worse!”

- I am also looking for advice with FanFiction.net if anyone knows about it. I was recommended to put these LLL fictions up there, which I thought would be a brilliant idea...only problem, there is no Lady LovelyLocks category- and I don't know how to create one! Anyone with any expertise on this subject would be greatly appreciated...!
Aura