His Eyes

Princess Isabella Swan stood in front of the wall sized mirror, gazing at herself. She was wearing a long white silk gown: tight at the upper portion, then swaying out downwards, more like a ballgown. Strings of diamonds and pearls decorated her maghony hair, which fell in curls past her waist.

She fingered a curl of her hair, biting her lip, thinking hard as cool evening air brushed past her.

A maid, in her early twenties, dressed in plaid grey skirt and tailored shirt, came in. a pair of silver heels in her hand.

"These are for you to wear, Princess. Lady Cope sent these." she said.

Isabella sighed as she turned to look at her servant.

"You did tell her that heels are not my preference in footwear, didn't you?" she inquired, irritated at her.

"I did, but she said that these heels were made specifically made for this dress…it won't be complete until you wear these".

Isabella rolled her eyes, sat on the ivory stool, and such her foot out. The maid bent on her knees, and helped her put them on. Once the heels were on, Isabella stood and tried to walk few steps. She was finding it quite difficult, given the height of those heels. But she managed to anyways.

When she turned back, the maid was gone.

"In a while she'd return and accompany me to where my father and suitors are waiting. And then…the same traditions will be repeated...the feast, the music, the dance and then...My answer. I won't choose anyone of them.

I want to marry for love, yet father wants me to choose the prince who'll gift me most lands, which will be passed to my father, helping him to bring most of Europe under his control."

She smiled bitterly at the end of her thoughts. Her father had changed, since the death of her mother—Queen Renée. Isabella had been 12 at that time, sensible enough to understand what had caused her father's immediate with drawl of affections from her. He had lost the love of his life…and somehow had believed that Isabella was the cause of it. Isabella visibly shivered, remembering the night she had lost her mother…..

Green…Green eyes…Sparkling like emeralds in the reflected moonlight…The face hidden beneath a mask. And the way warm and strong arms had gripped her, as if promising to never let her go. How she had hid her face in her captor's chest as she had cried silently, listening to the cries of her mother as those…..those monsters had taken her mother's life. She had fallen asleep crying, only to wake up and realize that she was alone now, her captor had long gone. She had stumbled through the forest, with the feeling of being followed. Though she wasn't sure if it was her imagination. She had run forward, listening to sound of horse troops as they suddenly came across her front. ..They were men from his father's army. She had fainted as soon as they had spotted her.

Isabella opened her eyes slowly, not wanting to remember the awful nightmares she'd had after her mother's death. Infact, she still had them now and then, being chased away by Green fire in a dark forest….she shook her head, as if wishing to get rid of these thoughts forever…..

A servant's voice made her turn around. She was supposed to attend the feast now. Isabella took a deep breath, and walked out of her room, through the long corridors and hallways. She stopped in the doorway that led to the feasting hall, her eyes cast downwards. She didn't wish to see all the men who were staring at her. She'd always been shy, not used to attentions of opposite sex, since her father rarely showed her any affection.

Prince Michael Newton stood up quickly, his breath caught as he gazed at the brown haired beauty who stood in the doorway, twisting her hands shyly. She was perfect, Michael thought. Her body was slender, with curves that emphasized her femininity. Her hair shone as the diamonds glittered in it.

He barely heard Charles' Introductory Speech. He just gazed at her, wondering that whether such an angel was fit to be wandering on Earth. Her beauty came from the heavens.

Isabella got uncomfortable with all the eyes on her. She raised her eyes in one direction, and they met ocean blue eyes. A man, probably in his early 20s, with blond hair and blue eyes was staring at her. He was tall and muscular, with pale skin and straight nose. The way he was looking at her made her uncomfortable. She looked down at the ground again, moving forward to sit behind her father.

The feast began as her father discussed many issues with his guests. Particularly the rebels who had caused great chaos among the areas where the rich ministers resided.

Isabella ate half heartedly, never looking up. As the music began, the ladies rose up, accompanied by their partners.

A hand was offered to her suddenly. She looked up in surprise. It was the same man, the one with the blue eyes.

"I am Prince Michael Newton, my Lady. Please honor me by accepting me as your partner for this dance". His voice was smooth and comforting, yet Isabella didn't feel calmed by it. Something was eerie about this man…

She looked around hopelessly, only to find that her father was looking at her sternly.

She accepted his hand. They waltzed around slowly, Isabella quite uncomfortable with dancing in her heels.

Michael made small talk and Isabella answered his inquiries about her—and her father. Isabella found it strange that he'd question her about him. If he was invited, he'd had to be in good relations with her father.

They parted a song later, with Isabella excusing herself to go to only came back after the dance had ended.

She walked back to her room,changed into her night robe and climbed into her bed…just then,a servant knocked at and entered her room.

"The King has sent you the message that he'll not be in the state the following week…yet, Prince Michael Newton will meet you tomorrow with his mother. His Highness also advised to not go deep into the forest in north,for there is quite a trouble there."

The servant left.

Isabella cried.-Her once loving father didn't want to even see her before he left for another he expected to her see Michael Newton along with his family!without him being there!

After a while,she calmed down,rubbing the purple silk sheets of her bedspread under her eyes. She fell asleep after a few minutes,hoping to find some peace.

But little did she know that her fears would follow her her nightmare, she was chased by those emerald eyes and then woke up with a gasp, clutching her bedsheets against her chest.

It was then that she made the decision to go to the forest in the north—the place where her mother and she were chased by those murderers. The place where her mother had died.

If I'm going to ever get rid of those nightmares, I'll have to—do it by myself. No one else will help me, because no one else loves me. She thought, her stubborn side—the characteristic she'd inherited from her mother—now overpowered her.

She knew she had to go to that place again, the north of the great forest that stretched beyond her father's kingdom. If she did this then maybe... she'd find peace.

She laid back. Once she'd made the decision, she was calm again.

She slept soundly.

No jade eyes chased her in her dreams again.