A.N.- alright this is my first try at a story and I would love to hear any feedback you have...pleasant feedback is always best but i can take criticism too...to the story then.

Disclaimer. I, unfortunately don't own Twilight or any of its characters.

It all seemed like a normal day. Same as always. I was out for a walk in the gardens, something I love to do. I could hear the sounds of my brother's laughter. Emmett has quite the laugh. You could hear him from a mile away, I swear. I heard the sounds of horses stamping at the ground and knew Emmett was working his jousting skills again. He aspired to be a knight. I rounded the corner and saw the most beautiful man I had ever seen. He was standing next to Emmett and his horse. He looked to be about my age, a little older maybe but certainly younger than Emmett. He was brushing Emmett's horse and steadying his spear while Emmett was talking animatedly about something as he tended to do. I watched them for a moment more before I saw Emmett turn towards the garden. It was odd, ever since we were young, we always had a sort of 6th sense about the other. We always knew when one of us was close. Of course that had to be in effect now. He looked up and a huge grin spread across his face. There was a wicked glint in his eye and I knew that if I went over there things would not end well. So I began to turn and walk away before he could call me over. He called me before I even had a chance to round the corner.

"Bells! Bells, come over here!"

Oh, this will not be good. I'm about to walk over and strike up a conversation with my brother while a gorgeous man is standing next to him. I was never going to be able to form a complete sentence with this man around. I'd run out of time to think, I was already about 10 feet away. I walked the rest of the way there, surprisingly without tripping, and curtsied to Emmett and the handsome stranger.

"Emmett."

"Bella, this is Edward. He's my squire this season and will be training to be a knight himself for next season. I'm training him. I figured you would want to meet him since you've been staring for 5 minutes."

Emmett smiled his evil smile while I stared at him, mouth slightly agape, and eyes wide. How could he say such a thing, in front of Edward no less. I looked at him from the corner of my eye and saw him looking down, cheeks aflame. Maybe this was as bad for him as it was for me. Awkwardness filled the conversation for about half a minute before Emmett cleared his throat and spoke.

"Alright, awkward! Edward, shall we take James back to the stable and then retire for lunch?"

Edward cleared his throat and looked at me from the corner of his eye before speaking.

"Yes, your highness, that sounds lovely."

"Oh Edward, I've told you. Emmett. Just Emmett. I don't do well with that 'your highness' stuff. Too much of it and I'll get a big head."

I laughed out loud before answering.

"Really Em, you'll get one? I thought you already had one."

Edward laughed and then attempted to hide it with a cough as Emmett glared at me.

"Very nice, young one. Run along and go play with the dogs or something."

I scoffed at him, eyes wide, my mouth set in a furious frown.

"Alright, Emmett, lunch?" Edward clapped his hands and stepped into our quarrel quickly. He was impressive though, already knew where to hit Emmett to get him to soften up.

I was about to yell at Emmett for his comment but he began to walk away first. When Emmett is upset, he doesn't talk about it, he stalks away. That left me and Edward, standing in awkward silence for a moment.

"So, your highness, do you and Emmett always quarrel so?"

"No, not usually. He loves to embarrass me though so it seems as if we may. But please, do call me Bella. I'm not a fan of the your highness stuff either. Are you staying with us for the summer?"
"Yes, I am. I'll be with you the rest of the summer and a bit of the fall. Emmett and your father feel that it would be best for me to finish out the season before getting training of my own."

"That sounds wonderful. How exciting it must be to-"

"Bella! Bella!"

My best friend Alice ran over to me at that exact moment. She had a frantic look in her eyes, one that she got very rarely.

"Alice, what's wrong?" I shot an apologetic glance at Edward. He just smiled back warmly.

"Oh Bella, the most terrible thing. Jasper's locked in my closet again! I thought I could get him out this time but I can't. I need you to help me! I couldn't find anyone else."

"Alice, not again! You know I'm not strong enough to get those doors unstuck. I don't know if I can help here."

"If you don't mind, I could help get his highness out of the…closet. If it's a matter of doors getting stuck, I can easily help you to open them." Edward's cheeks turned a slight pink color after he spoke of getting Jasper out of the closet. None the less, I was quite anxious to accept his offer, if for nothing else but to spend more time with him.

"Oh, Edward, that would be lovely. Thank you so much. I'll show you where it is. Alice, run ahead and tell Jasper we have help coming."

Alice ran towards the castle again. I was left with Edward. We had started moving and were walking side by side toward the castle, in no rush.

"If you don't mind my asking, why is his highness stuck in a closet? And I believe I heard the word 'again' used as well?" Edward was always so polite; it would be hard to deny him anything.

"Jasper and Alice are together, a couple. They go to her closet, which is the size of her room, and they engage in whatever activity it is that they do. Occasionally, I think she has him dress up. She loves to do that to everyone, him especially. She dresses him up in his finest suits, coats and tails, and any other type of finery she can find. He doesn't care much for it, but he loves her so he goes along with it."

I loved telling this story. Jasper didn't mind, as long as I didn't paint him in a compromising position, which I never did, and as long as I didn't tell the wrong people.

"And may I ask your relation to both?"

"Alice is my best friend. Her father is the duke of the country to the north. She comes to visit every summer and I visit her in parts of the winter and spring. We have been playmates since birth and our fathers were close before that. As for Jasper, he and I are twins. Fraternal. He was born a minute and a half before myself. He never lets me forget it either."

Edward chuckled at the slightly frustrated tone I held at the end of my speech. I looked at him and he smiled a heart breaking crooked smile. I fell harder for him in that instant.

"And yourself, may I ask about you?" I wondered aloud.

"I am from somewhat noble heritage. My father is the duke of the country to the east. My father and your father have been acquaintances for some time and when your father learned of my interest in jousting, he called for me at once to come and learn from his son. I embraced the opportunity. I've heard of your brother, Emmett. He is quite the idol when it comes to jousting in my country. After his victory at the games last year, everyone knew his name. He was all they talked about for months, so when the opportunity came to train with him, I couldn't refuse. Word of his highness, Jasper, gets around about his amazing talent for archery and hunting. I thought perhaps I could speak with him and learn some of his secrets before the season was over. I'd also heard that this castle was home to one of the most beautiful women in the land. I am pleased to say that rumors are not false."

He looked at me full on and my face turned a dark shade of crimson at his words. I turned my eyes down as we continued to walk.

"I'm sorry, was that out of line? Too forward of me? I'm sorry to have insulted you." He stopped and bowed deeply in front of me.

I grabbed his shoulder and pulled him from his bow.
"No, no you haven't insulted me. On the contrary I'm quite flattered. You simply caught me off guard. My apologies." I curtsied to him and he grabbed my hand. He brought it to his lips and kissed it softly.

"It seems both of us think we are at fault here. The comment is stricken from the record but the truth remains. You are the most radiant woman I have ever seen." He my brought my hand to his lips and kissed it a second time. He lowered our hands but still held onto mine. I took a step closer so we were mere inches apart. I looked up into his piercing green eyes as his face drew closer to mine. We were centimeters apart when we heard it.

"Bella! Bella! Hurry!"

Curse Alice and her timing! I pulled back and looked at Edward sheepishly. His eyes were wild and fearless.

"Another time, perhaps." He spoke in a low husky voice.

"Yes, another time." I agreed in a breathless tone.

He held onto my hand a moment longer and then dropped it as we headed back to the castle, walking closer to each other than we had been before.

We arrived in Alice's room moments later and Edward had the door unstuck in a matter of a moment. It was incredible to watch the way he moved as he pulled the doors open. Jasper stood frozen for a moment upon seeing Edward, but recovered quickly and walked out of the closet. Edward bowed.

"Your Highness."

"Please, call me Jasper. Thank you so much for getting the doors open. I don't know how they keep getting stuck. If you wouldn't mind, could you possibly keep this between the 4 of us? If Emmett hears about this he will eat me alive. Well, figuratively anyway."

"It will be my pleasure to keep this here. I must be going though. Emmett will be wondering where I am. Jasper, ladies. May you have a pleasant afternoon."

He shot me look as he spoke that made me think I would be seeing him sooner than later. My heart ached for the time when I could next stare into his green eyes and lose myself completely in them.

Please let me know what you think... : )