The prince was coming of age and soon he would be married off for the good of the kingdom. Although he was aware of his fortune to be raised in such luxury, given the state of his future inheritance and his people he would one day lead. Henry could barely stomach riding through the villages with his grandmother Queen Snow at his side and the inhabitant's conditions. They were a hardworking people and proud but had little to show for it thanks to the former King Leopold's money squandering ways. More often under his control than at any other time in the White Kingdoms history did investments and negotiations fail. He was weak-willed and rarely took risks. And each time Henry traveled throughout their lands the cost had been too great.

He resided in a castle while many lived in mere shanties. They often didn't have access to clean water or enough food. Snow White had been born during their harshest winter and had thrived. She believed that the kingdom would recover. After all she had, hadn't she? They would too if they dared to hope.

Today the freedom of the forest had been a call to great to resist. He filled his lungs to capacity holding in the scent of foliage and releasing it only when the possibility of fainting arose. Flanked on either side by a White guard it was the best he could wish for. How he longed to be free. To use his wit and words to inspire the nation to achieve everything that it was capable of. His people deserved that much of him.

"Your Highness we approach the border of Valencia."

Valencia was everything Henry wanted to maneuver the White Kingdom to become. Their Cora "The Queen with Heart" Mills was a charismatic, intelligent leader who was revered among her people. Never one to back down from a fight and protect what was hers she rarely needed to fight at all. Rising from a miller's daughter to Princess in her early adult years she was only recently widowed in the past spring and now taking on the helm of Queen. Natural causes the whispers said. Such a shame Henry had thought, having met her deceased husband during a celebration not long before his demise. The King of Valencia had been kind but soft spoken. His eyes shone with such joy and light whomever he would speak with.

Prince Henry urged his horse on planning to enjoy the ride into the rolling countryside. Though the two kingdoms were close they enjoyed many differences. His personal favorites involved the food and music. Theirs was a kingdom at peace and joy. He prayed to the God above that one day the White Kingdom would flourish as in days of old to enjoy the same.

"Care for a bit of sport Jefferson?" The prince asked deftly jumping over a fallen log.

"If I win?" Jefferson inquired as always from beneath his helmet but Henry knew a crooked and slightly off smile hidden within.

"If you win I shall declare before all of the guard that you are King of Guards."

"And if you win sir?"

A yell tore through the trees as a young woman nearly collided with the mini-royal convoy. As quickly as she appeared the brown blur of woman and horse was moving out of sight her shouts of panic the only things spurring heir to the White Kingdom into action. Jefferson was at his side and the second guard bringing up the rear as the two men raced onward and quickly gaining. Silently the two men took either side of the spooked horse as the female rider struggled to regain her posture. Somehow her boot had become entrapped.

"Miss, your hand!" Jefferson reached for her but had to retract upon looking up in time to dodge a massive tree crowding the current beeline of the runaway horse.

"Everything will be okay!" Henry shouted keeping steady and getting a strong arm beneath her aiding her onto his steed as carefully as one could in a hide speed horse chase. The owner's horse maintained its trajectory and kept a riding boot firmly in the stirrup as the followers slowed to a halt.

"I don't understand. Nothing like this has ever happened before. I have been riding since I was near old enough to walk!"

"It is okay. I'm just glad I was able to help." Henry stated earnestly as he extended a hand to help the poor woman down. Ebony hair braided neatly, a lovely blue riding jacket with tan breeches and he had forgone his own riding boots to allow her not to have her bare feet on the ground as it was improper.

Shaking his head the voice that echoed faded to the background. "I didn't catch your name."

"Regina of Valencia." She said with a courtesy, "and what would your name be?"

"Henry."

"That was a daring rescue of a stranger Prince Henry. What brings you to the kingdom?" Regina's brown eyes sparkled with mischief.

"I….."

A cloud of purple smoke appeared nearby as Henry barked the order unsheathing his sword and stepping in front of the woman, "Protect Lady Regina as if she were our own!"

His guards took their fighting stances swords at the ready and hearts beating wildly beneath chainmail and armor. In their time serving under the White flag there hadn't been much excitement yet today's adventure was surely going to rectify that as the purple smoke slowly cleared and revealed none other than the Queen of Valencia herself.

Henry's eyes bulged. His sword was at the throat of another kingdoms Queen. This would surely be viewed as an act of war as he quickly placed it on the ground and knelt with downcast green eyes and his mind racing nearly as fast as his heart.

"Your Highness I …I meant not harm. I only wanted to protect the woman."

"Rise Prince Henry." Cora commanded with an understanding nod and soft tone and she chuckled softly at his puzzled look. "Yes, I know who you are and that you are often a visitor in our markets and festivals. Regina, dear, Rocinante was found near the stream by the Daniel with your boot but no you. I worried something terrible had happened."

"Mother, I can explain, something happened to Rocinante! I know not what but I was mounting up when he took off and I lost control. Prince Henry lent his assistance," Regina stared down at the too large riding boots causing her mother's gaze to follow, "as well as his boots knowing not who it was he was aiding."

"Is this true?" Queen Cora asked peering deeply into his eyes as he nodded.

"It is your highness. Again my deepest apologies…."

"It would seem Prince Henry that it is Valencia who is in your debt. You saved my beautiful Regina, the only reminder of her dearly missed father and were ready to protect her to the last breath."

He could only stare up into her eyes blankly mouth slightly agape as she gave him her best smile. Regina was the princess? "Rise Henry and let's return to the castle. It seems we have some celebrating to do."

"The first time is always a bit rough dear." Cora says lending her arm to the young man who had nearly lost his footing and chuckling once more. As soon as they had appeared in the common room of the castle Regina was sent away to prepare for dinner after graciously thanking Henry and bowing out of the room.

The palace was even more beautiful inside than Henry had ever heard it described. In the foyer there was a huge painting of the royal family. Center-stage was the former King with his wonderfully comforting smile. To his left was the Queen Cora and Princess Regina on his right. The picture seemingly portraying the perfect and perfectly happy royal family of Valencia though it failed to capture the life Princess Regina held in her dark depths. Henry would most certainly enjoy a similar painting at home; perhaps he could speak to a local artist in exchange for extra rations and a small amount of gold. His mother refused to leave her bedchambers and had nary spoken a word since his father had disappeared out of thin air when he had been just a boy. Maybe his luck was about to change.

Servants came to fit him in the finest leathers and silk money could buy a sure show of a kingdom well off. When the knock came they filed out wordlessly allowing the Queen to enter and coo over the freshly shaven Prince.

"Now that is a Prince!" she said holding his hands at arm's length and admiring his clothing. "I've already sent word to your Grandmother, your family knows you are safe and will be here by tomorrow Eve."

"Tomorrow Eve?"

"In exchange for your heroism I am investing in the White Kingdom."

Henry felt tears spring to his eyes as he swallowed them back. Gratefulness welled up in his breast as he knelt before the Queen. "It is what good people do Queen Cora. I did not do it for personal gain."

"Be that as it may my daughter is everything to me. What you did cannot be repaid. This is only the beginning for our two kingdoms."

Again he felt joy in his heart. Even the possibility of hope, his grandmother had said time and again, was a very powerful thing. "I want nothing but for my peoples payments at the hands of my great grandfather to be finished. Teach me your ways so that I may return to them and bring with me the tide of change."

"You shall do more than that dear boy."