The Missing Princess

Disclaimer: I do not own Pretty Little Liars or take any credit for it.

England

1068

A/N

I know they don't have medieval names, but I kept them in to avoid confusion. A may or may not be Mona.

Person one was late. He or she was running, and was trying not to attract attention as she/he crept out of the castle. It was midnight and the ground was already sprinkled with frost. She/he could see the air come out of his/her mouth. Why did they agree to meet on such a cold day? She/he wrapped her/his cloak around her/him.

Person two was going to be furious.

She/he was now out of the castle and heading into the woods. They'd brought a sword with her/him for protection. It wasn't just spies you've got to be weary of. When she/he made it to the clearing- he/she saw person 2. Relief flooded in their system- she/he was worried they'd been stood up.

"Where have you been?" hissed Person two, "I've been waiting for a good hour"

"I had trouble getting out of the castle undetected" Person one answered.

They both drew close- being weary of spies. The wind was whistling round them. They just wanted to leave as soon as possible.

"Is everything in place?" Person two asked.

"Everything was done as you instructed" she/he nodded, "What do you want done about…"

"Shh!" Person two shushed, "You never know whose listening"

Both looked around to try and see or hear if anyone was listening. They heard and saw nothing- but that didn't stop them worrying.

"I wrote it down" Person two assured Person one.

Person two handed the other a note, who hastily put it back in her/his pocket.

"Read it in a safe place…and burn it" Person two instructed, "Don't worry we will be avenged"

The two smiled coldly at each other.

…

"You four have been given the honour of serving Princess Alison of England" Lady Gladstone told them, "I hope you will prove worthy of your station"

Princess Alison, was William the Conqueror's youngest daughter, and is looking for girls of high birth to be her ladies. Lady Emily of Kent, was the daughter of the Duke of Kent, she was chosen because of her powerful family and beauty. It is said she was quite the swimmer to boot. Lady Hanna, was the only daughter of the Duke of Northumberland, and the only heiress to a powerful fortune; many men desire her for her beauty as well as her vast fortune.

Lady Aria of Lancashire was a beautiful and intelligent woman. Her father was a man of learning, and had passed it on to both his children. Her brother was set to inherit everything when her father died. The last girl was Lady Spencer who was the granddaughter of the King of Scotland through her mother. Her father was the Duke Dorset, a man who expects nothing but the best. She was incredibly beautiful as well.

These were to be the Princess' ladies-in-waiting. They were but 16- as they head into the English royal court. The woman in front of them was Alison's nurse, she'd practically brought up Alison. All women were in their finest clothes as they waited for their mistress to appear.

"Princess Alison of England!" announced a servant.

All bowed as she entered the bed chamber. She walked in like she owned the place. The Princess was very beautiful, with her pale skin and long blond hair. Her dress had diamonds sowed into the fabric. She wore a deep purple- the colour of royalty, and a purple tiara on her head. The Princess looked at them all like they were inferior beings.

"Well get up" she scoffed.

They all rose and met her eyes. Emily was amazed by her beauty. Aria was thinking that she loved her dress. Spencer was wondering if she was an academic, while Hanna just hoped she's be a good and kind mistress. They were all here to get good marriages- but for now they had to obey the Princess in everything.

"Your names?" Princess demanded.

"Lady Emily of Kent" Emily bowed her head.

The others did the same-bowing to the new mistress while introducing themselves. When they were done- the Princess scoffed and ordered to be alone with her ladies-in-waiting. Everyone was quick to obey her. When the place had cleared she spoke again:

"I thought that old bat would never leave us alone" Alison grinned.

All the other girls burst out laughing.

"Have you girls ever gambled before?"

The girl's soon found out their new mistress was far from the stuffy, uptight princess they were expecting. However, she could be cruel and cold sometimes, and occasionally she'd run into the night and not come back until the morning. Spencer had taken to spending some time in the library, to catch up with her academic reading. Emily could be very secretive too, but Alison seemed to know exactly what was going on.

Aria liked spending her free time learning the latest dance moves, to impress the entire court. She had a love of reading the latest poems and tales from whenever entertainers would entertain the court. Hanna, was more interested in the latest fashions for the mainland Europe- especially France. Alison and Hanna had spent many a day going over the latest fashions.

The four seemed happy until that fateful day six months later. Alison's father was planning a marriage between her and a French Prince. However, the Duke of York was no friend to the King. They hated each other, because William the Conqueror had promised Alison's hand-in-marriage and then changed his mind. When Alison and her ladies-in-waiting had been riding through the woods, the Princess had galloped ahead of them. She galloped so fast that she was taken.

"Where's Alison?" Emily cried.

"I've no idea" Hanna answered in a panicked tone.

"Let's keep looking" Aria suggested.

"She's been taken!" Spencer guessed.

The ladies looked and looked- but couldn't find their Princess anywhere. The King was so angry that Alison had been taken. His precious daughter was in York's hands. The four women stood in front of the King ready to face his wrath. The room was filled with people, courtiers, servants, knights, ladies…etc. It was a simple Norman main hall- with pillars that are simple looking, but do the job. They held up the grey stone walls, and the throne was in the centre with William the Conqueror looking like he wanted to kill something.

"Find her!" he ordered his servants.

They bowed hastily, and made their way out. The King fixed his gaze on the four ladies.

"You were supposed to take care of her!" William the Conqueror raged, "I want the four of you removed from my sight!"

He was not a man to be questioned. His eyes were a mix of sorrow and anger. The ladies did not dare defy him. Emily was just thankful that they weren't for the chop. Although, the idea of going home in disgrace didn't fill them with happiness. All they could hope for was that Alison would be found soon. They all bowed and left- none of them spoke until they left the hall. When the great door banged shut, the tears started to fall.

"Poor Alison!" Hanna whimpered, "I can't imagine what they're doing to her"

"He'll be forcing her to marry him" Spencer deduced, "What a horrible fate, I hear he's a pig"

"I don't want to think about it" Emily told them, "It's too horrible"

"What's going to happen to Alison…and us" Aria wondered, "Here, we had a future. Now, Alison is trapped in a forced marriage, and we're all disgraced"

"The King will save her right?" Emily asked hopefully.

"I'd hate to be York when he finds him" Hanna smiled.

All the others have a brief smile. They knew the road ahead wasn't going to easy.

"We may all have to join a nunnery…" Spencer began.

"Oh, please!" Hanna said, "If anyone will be married it's you, you're a wealthy heiress remember?"

"I don't want to rely on my brother for money" Aria confessed.

They all looked at each other sadly- they knew it was going to be a while until they saw each other. One by one, they left the castle to their banishment.

…

One Year Later

Lancashire

Aria was dancing rapidly to the fast tune. She stepped and clapped as she danced with her maid. A man was playing a flute as she danced to the tune. She only felt truly happy when she was dancing. There was a huge smile on her beautiful face. This was the latest song from court. Aria was desperate to learn it.

It had been one year since Alison's disappearance. Aria was now a girl of 17, she'd grown more devoted to her books and dancing. It was her greatest joy. This year has been extra hard for her, her father had died, and Alison has not been found. She's hasn't heard any news of York marrying her- it's like she just vanished. Now Aria is stuck there- forgotten and without prospects. She hardly ever sees a man who isn't a relative or a servant. Aria was seriously thinking about the nunnery. So she threw herself into these things to distract her from her troubles.

A servant came in with a letter. To Aria's surprise it had the royal seal on it. Why was the King writing to her? Didn't he hate her? She thanked the servant and took the parchment. Aria quickly opened it and discovered a summons welcoming her back to court. Why was he doing this? Did he have some ulterior motive?

Aria didn't have a choice- she was going back to court.

Kent

Emily was taking in some fresh air. She was sitting in her favourite spot in the garden. It was a beautiful day, so she decided to relax in the sunshine. Emily had taken up drawing, and was actually very good at it. She found it filled her time, when she wasn't helping her Mum around the house and when she wasn't…well she's not allowed to think of that.

She was currently drawing the scene in front of her. The castle was on the coast so she was sketching the sea and sky. Emily tried not to think of Alison but it was no use. She always imaged getting news of her and York's wedding, but she never did. It seems they've both disappeared. Emily felt so helpless, she wanted to help so badly and there was nothing she could do.

There was a servant coming from the castle with parchment in his hand. Her eyes narrowed at the sight. Was there a message for her? When the servant came, she smiled and sent him away. Why did it have to royal seal on it? That so strange. Hastily, she opened the letter- it was a summons…

She was going back to court.

Northumberland

Hanna was currently making the perfect dress. She was inside creating a dress to greet the handsome Sir Leon. He was the son of one of her father's friends and he was coming in a week's time. He was very handsome, so she wanted to impress him. Hanna was sowing, up the back of the dress. It was green and made of damask. Hanna had started to design it when she heard of his visit.

Her year had been nothing special, she just concentrated on the dress-making- or anything that took her mind off Alison. She was deeply worried about her- Hanna sometimes wondered if she was alive. With this in mind, she concentrated on the beautiful dress she'll wear to meet Sir Leon. Hanna was so excited to meet him- finally something to look forward to!

A servant knocked on the door, she let them in and she gave Hanna a letter…with the royal seal. What's going on? She opened it up.

Hanna was expected at court.

Dorset

Spencer was sitting in her room, reading Plato. Reading always gave her peace and comfort. She threw herself into her reading those type of books. She wasn't interested in fiction books- this Lady liked books that made her think. Her year has been pretty dry. She loved writing her own papers-even though they could never be published. It was hard not to think of Alison, and wonder if she's alive or dead.

She had actually received a marriage proposal- but he's died before it could come to pass… Spencer felt sorry for him, but she was happy that she didn't have to get married just yet. She hated that men only cared for her fortune instead of her. A few minutes later, a servant had arrived with a letter baring the royal seal.

Spencer had been summoned to court.

What was going on?

…

The Dungeons of William the Conquers Castle

Toby has never been so hungry in his life. He was starving so much that it was causing him physical pain. He could hear his stomach growling loudly in the crowded cell. The dungeon was filled the brink with peasants like him. There had to be at least thirty men all bound for a horrible death tomorrow.

You're probably wondering what his crime is.

They all think he did something terrible…and he was going to pay for it with his life.

…

Aria arrived in front of the castle with a new sense of purpose-although she was curious why she's been invited back. On her arrival she was given a letter with no seal. That was strange. Aria opened it up and was surprised at what she saw.

Welcome back vixens!

Welcome back to court old friends/rivals. How have you been? I expect we'll see more of each other in future. Remember- I know all your secrets, and I'm not afraid to tell.

Dance monkey's dance

-A

All of them had gotten the same letter.

…

Constantinople, Byzantium Empire

"Make way! Make way! For Princess Mona of the Byzantine Empire!" called the herald.

Princess Mona was in her carriage- which was going towards the ship waiting for her in the dock. She was due to marry an English Prince. Mona was not that thrilled at the prospect- she'd heard these Normans were ruffians and brutes…not to mention the famous English weather. Her father made her go because of some trade and military deal with them.

Truth be told, her father just wanted her out of the house. He thought she was bat shit crazy.

And you know what…he's right…

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