The same version to this is on Wattpad, with the cast of who's in this fanfiction. Hope you all enjoy :))

Chapter 1

A swallow flew by Lorna Silverstone's window, landing gracefully on the stone that gave space to its small figure. The crimson red curtains in her room were slowly moving with the wind that came through the half-open window. The swallow chirped a little, its small head clicking its head around, allowing itself to get familiar with its surroundings. It hopped further towards the window frame, reluctant to come inside the house, afraid.

Lorna sat peacefully reading her favorite book by her desk below the window. She heard the chirps and glanced up away from her book to glare at the beautiful, tiny bird that stood near her. Still holding her book, she smiled up at the creature, hoping it would stay where it was. It seemed happy.

Turning away from the bird, she read more of her book while listening to the bird's chirp and the noises of the busy market outside. It was peaceful days like this that she would relax and read a book her mother would recommend to her. The book was about Elvish fighting techniques, something her mother was teaching Lorna recently. Although she was only half Elf, she still preferred Elvish tradition than dwarven, unlike her father who was a dwarf who preferred her to know the ways of dwarven culture, it wasn't something that interested Lorna at all. Dwarves were just brutes with stubborn attitudes. Whilst Elves were calmer and intellectual; they enjoyed the beauty in life, whereas dwarves only cared for their food and pick axes.

Despite this, Lorna had nothing against dwarves, after all, her younger sister, Bellaena is more dwarf than anyone Lorna has ever met - even more than their father.

Bellaena Silverstone, the younger sibling, with flaming red hair like fire - while her skin was pink covered in freckles like scattered stars. There was no doubt that she was beautiful, but not like Lorna. Lorna was starlight itself. She was exactly like her mother; vibrant white hair, crystal blue eyes, porcelain skin like a doll. Everything about her was perfect - and that's what drove Bellaena insane.

Bellaena only cared about herself, always talking about herself and making everyone know how spectacular she was. Borin, their father, didn't care much for what her personality was like, he was too proud that she was more dwarf than the rest of them. That would mean he could give her away to a wealthy lord of some kind, whilst Lorna wanted to do things with her life. She didn't want to be someone's wife, she wanted to travel the world and learn unimaginable things no one could ever dream of.

"Lorna, get down here now!" Lorna heard her father call from downstairs. Placing her book down on the desk, she carefully stood up - making sure not to scare off the swallow that sat peacefully on the stone. As she walked further away from the swallow, she breathed out a deep sigh. Whatever her father was shouting for wasn't going to be something good. He and Bellaena had been away the whole morning because they were attending a meeting with a lord to ensure whether or not Bellaena was suitable for his son to marry. Although Lorna was older and kinder, her father made sure to not let her interfere with these sort of matters. A dwarven lord would not want to marry an elf - despite her father being a dwarf himself, everyone knew she was more elf, more like her mother. And that was her curse.

Lorna sometimes wondered why her mother married her father. If he was so ashamed of marrying an elf, then why did he? Was it arranged? She remembered when she was a child how in love her parents were, it wasn't until Lorna began reading more into elvish culture did Borin suddenly grow bitter.

Making her way down the stairs, Lorna walked past Bellaena who immediately gathered up her skirts and rushed upstairs into her room. It was like fire on a candlestick, her dress being all white and her hair red. It was stunning. "Are you alright?" Lorna asked her, witnessing her sister turn away from her and huff slightly.

"Go away," Bellaena hissed before slamming the door behind her.

Not bothering to trouble her more, Lorna instantly knew why Bellaena was upset. The meeting with the lord didn't go well.

Nearing the kitchen, she could hear her father's grunts as he leaned against the bench, his arms folded across his chubby belly. Lorna was taller than her father, only slightly, though, and that was only because of her mother's genes.

"Where's your mother?" Borin asked, his voice low in anger probably. Like Bellaena, Borin had red hair. His beard was brushed through, like his hair, most likely because he was dressing to look smart for the lord.

Lorna replied, "gone out."

Borin snorted, "of course, never here in the bloody house," he muttered under his breath.

"Father, what happened today?" Lorna asked, praying to Mahal that he wouldn't burst out in anger and scare her. She hated it when her father was angry.

Suddenly he regained himself and calmed down, "your sister wasn't suitable for the lord's son," he told her, "it's the eighth time this year, Lorna!"

"Surely, you should just give it time till Bellaena grows more - m-more mature, I mean," Lorna stuttered a little, unsure of what to say to hopefully calm his nerves down even more.

"She's eighteen years old, Lorna," Borin said, "she's old enough."

That was true. Bellaena was eighteen and Lorna was twenty-one, and even though Bellaena was the right age to marry like every other woman their age, she still couldn't find anyone because she was too horrible. Lorna loved her but hated her at the same time. She could never understand her sister, she knew she was jealous of her but there was no need since Bellaena was beautiful herself. It didn't make sense to Lorna, at all.

Suddenly, the front door burst open. Lilanna Silverstone, Lorna and Bellaena's mother rushed in, her hair tangled across her face and her lilac dress at the bottom covered in mud. She must've run home, but why?

"Lorna, you have no idea what just happened! You are going to be over the moon once I tell you!" Lilanna's face etched wide, her blue eyes smooth like caramel now bright and energetic.

Lorna's brows burrowed together, curiosity and concern written all over her face. "What's happened?" She asked, her eyes flicked over to her father who too looked concerned.

Lilanna burst out in hysterical laughter, "you've got a job working as Princess Dis' handmaiden!" Lorna wasn't surprised, her mother worked as handmaiden to Dis' mother and promised Lorna from a young age that she would get her a job working in the palace.

Despite that, putting on a happy face, Lorna jumped in glee for her mother. Although she preferred staying at home and help her father around his workshop, she knew they needed the money, and so did she if she were to travel in the future like she always dreamed of doing.

"Oh my goodness!" Lorna squealed, "that's amazing-" she was interrupted by Bellaena who had clearly grown curious to the noise downstairs and rushed to see what was happening. Her hair was tied up in a loose bun, her white dress hung up somewhere so she wore her plain brown gown.

"Why are you happy?" She snapped, her golden hazel eyes flashed in anger. Standing in the doorway, leaning on the wall she appeared almost like a shadow.

"My darling!" Lilanna walked over to Bellaena and hugged her tightly, from Borin and Lorna's perspective Bellaena rolled her eyes, refusing to hug back. Lilanna didn't mind and looked back at Lorna, beaming down at her. "Lorna has got a job working at the palace, a handmaiden for the Princess," she paused and glanced back to look down at Bellaena, "aren't you happy for her?"

Bellaena looked at her older sibling up and down, envy reeked her eyes like a plague, "I can't contain my happiness," she replied, her voice dull and bored.

"Well, I for one are happy for you, little dove," Borin wrapped one arm around his eldest and squeezed her arm, Lorna smiled appreciatively.

"You work first thing tomorrow," Lilanna said, "so you must get to sleep earlier than usual."

Lorna went to bed that night full of anxiety. What was the Princess like? Hopefully not at all like Bellaena. She had seen the royal family only once. At some festival, they arrived in Dale to celebrate for. Lorna recalled seeing the three children. Of course, all of them older than her, but at the time they were all children. Dis was the youngest, and she remembered her always happy and smiling, then there was the middle child; Frerin who looked up to his older brother Thorin. Thorin was handsome, there was no doubt about that, Lorna always heard the women talking about him whenever she went out to the market. After all, he was the Prince - and everyone loved Princes. But not Lorna. In all honesty, she felt sorry for the royal family. They seem to always have pressure on them, everywhere they go everyone knows them. Must be tiring.

As she feel into a deep sleep, the last thing she remembered was Thorin - the regal prince.