Aly knew what she was doing was wrong, even as she moved silently out of her parents sweet in the castle. It was midwinter, and she was just fourteen. Had she been any body else's daughter she would have done something with her life by now. But no, she couldn't be a spy. She defiantly didn't want to be a knight – or a warrior for that matter. She didn't yet know what she wanted to do with her life and knew that her parents would probably choose for her. That's probably the main reason she was going where she was going for comfort. Her mother the famous King's Champion and she had gotten yet another fight. She had held the tears in but now she just wanted arms to hold her. Strong arms, dark black hair to fold her hands into. And it was probably her mother's fault that she fell for those blue Conte eyes.

Roald opened the door when she slipped the single Lilac petal under the door. It had been their flower since the first time they kissed. The day after he had left from Pirates Swoop and there had been a single Lilac on her favorite thinking place. He noticed immediately the shinning tears in her eyes and he quickly kissed them away.

"I hope you know I am still in love with you." She had whispered it not able to look into his eyes. They both knew this shouldn't have been happening – he was a prince and she was a noble's daughter not a princess. Her family was not even in the book of gold, yet when her eyes meet his he couldn't help but forget about his country.

"I will always love you. You would make a great queen." He had asked her to marry him before; she shook her head again this time.

"She is upset because I haven't done anything with my life yet; Alan and Thom are succeeding in everything they do, if only she knew I was being offered the whole kingdom." She laughed even as she stepped away from his arms goings to look out the window.

"You know they aren't better then you. You are so much smarter; you can quietly slip out of your father's room which you will need to teach me to do a little spy. And not to mention you are so much more beautiful." He came up and put both arms around her waist, kissing her neck softly when she leaned back and laughed.

"You know you almost make me believe it."

"It's true, especially the more beautiful part. Stay with me tonight." She turned her head from looking at the moon to look into his eyes. She danced away from his touch, running her hand across his arm. Aly opened the door without a creak and sneaked out of the royal suite – trying to ignore the monarchs snoring. As she ran down the hallways she made sure to make noises every so often- not loud enough to wake anyone but just loud enough to make sure Roald didn't lose her. She knew he was running slower not having the training in running silently as she had. Finally they were outside the palace walls and she showed him how to sneak by the guards. There were people out in the city but she knew the ways to keep them from being seen.

"Maybe you should try harder to stay with me silly prince." She flirted with her eyes as she took his hand.

"So tell me about last time I saw you oh beautiful lady."

"Same as usual, the boys at Pirate's Swoop are good kissers but nowhere as near as good listeners as you. " She looked up at him in till she felt a soft tugging at the purse belt she had on. She turned catching the little hand softly but strongly then bent down on one knee so her face was the same level as the little girl's. "You know it's rude to eavesdrop sweetie, as for trying to steal my purse I will overlook it if you join us for a meal." The little girl looked between the two of them, tried to get her wrist away then nodded, her dark hair falling over her silver eyes.

"She looks to be about five or six." Roald whispered in Aly's ear.

"Me Seven actually." She looked up at the two of them her eyes piercing. "E'Lana" Aly laughed at Roald's stunned expression.

"Hello E'Lana, I'm Julie, this is Rome." Aly smiled toward Roald, hinting at him that they would use the same code names they had for years when going to the city. "Would you like to go to the Dancing Dove?" E'Lana nodded and started skipping next to Aly as they started walking again.

"It Lana for shor' " Roald smiled at her smile even though she seemed to be wary of him.

"So Lana have you meet the current Rogue?" Lana stopped for a minute looking up at them then nodding yes to Aly.

"He is a'ight I guess. He gave us young uns' a room in the Dove, he Drew's dad. Drew make sure we ok though."

"Oh I want to meet this Drew fella, he sounds nice." Lana looked up at Roald tilting her head to the side then nodded a small smile gracing her lips.

"I think he was a noble, he teach me how to talk. He only umm one and a half hand old. He can even read some " Roald tilted his head to the side thinking this over while Aly just smiled at the little girl who held up both hands putting half her fingers down to count how old he was. "How old are you?" Aly bent down and stopped their walking to shape Lana's hands to hold all ten fingers out then held out four of her own. "Almost tree whole hands." Roald was amazed that this little girl had just not even a bells time ago been trying to steal from them and now was talking in a mix of Noble toddlers and young lower city cant.

Aly reached over and took Roald's hand, smiling at him. He realized that no matter how far apart they got he would always love her.