Okay...yeah...I'm starting another story... Sorry, y'all, but I really needed to get this out there before anyone else comes up with the idea. :P

Enjoy!


Jerome Clarke mounted his horse swiftly and guided the large animal to the bridge that led outside of the castle walls. It was nearly dawn, the time of every brand new day that he would venture into the forest and ride out to the cliff on the left side of the kingdom.

Atop the cliff were the ruins of the previous kingdom and no one was ever there. It was a quiet place, peaceful and serene. Jerome liked to sit on the edge of the cliff and watch the sun rise over the ocean. It was a time when he didn't have to do anything; when he didn't have to think.

He slid off his ride and ran a hand through his dirty-blonde hair. He took his normal seat, right on the edge of the cliff, overlooking the hundred foot drop to the water below. His deep blue eyes glowed as the rays of the sun peeked over the horizon, and he smiled. The warmth of the morning star spread over him and he sighed, lying back on the green grass.

Jerome was the prince of a kingdom in northern Abinia (obviously a made up country); Legayn (also made up). And as the first born, and only, son of the royal family, he was meant to be the ruler of the kingdom when the time came. At a young age, Jerome had learned that he was to be betrothed to a princess one day, and that day had come.

Legayn was across the sea from Viassa (that's made up, too), another powerful kingdom. The princess of Viassa was his betrothed, to bring the kingdoms as a symbol of peace and strength.

When the king and queen had dropped the bomb of the betrothal, Jerome didn't say a word. He stared blankly at his father, standing tall and proud, and nodded in understanding before he retired to his bedroom for the night. He hadn't slept at all; he lay awake wondering how his parents could do such a thing.

The princess was unknown to many. In the past, she had been kidnapped, held for ransom, threatened, and nearly killed. It wasn't like a fairytale where she was locked away in a tower for her own protection, awaiting prince charming to rescue her; but no one knew what she looked like; no one knew her name. She was a mystery to everyone, and that made Jerome angrier at the situation.

He didn't want to marry a girl as a form of a peace treaty. He wanted love. His parents had been betrothed, but they had known each other since they were young, and that had given them time to fall so deeply in love with each other. Jerome couldn't have that and it upset him.

But on the cliff top, he had complete serenity, and the princess and the betrothal and the kingdom and the entire world no longer existed.


Jerome opened his eyes and frowned. The sun was no longer in front of him, but rising above him. He cursed under his breath and shot up, mounting his horse quickly and galloping down the hill.

His mother was going to kill him if he was late for lunch.

But that thought was gone in an instant when he halted suddenly. He back tracked a few feet and hopped to the ground. A body was lying on the grass. A dark blue cloak wrapped around the girl.

He carefully brushed her long, dark hair away from her tan face and swallowed. He didn't want to admit it, but his heart skipped a beat.

She was beautiful. And unconscious. He gently lifted her from the ground, finding that she wasn't heavy at all. He made sure he could keep a tight grip on her before he mounted his horse once again, draping her legs over one side and holding her to his chest as he slowly made his way back to the castle.


Jerome kept his head down as he entered the dining room. He could feel his mother's piercing gaze in the side of his head as he took his seat on the right side of his

father at the long, wooden table.

"I suppose you have a good reason for being late, Jerome?" Joan spoke.

"Yes, ma'am, I found a girl in the woods; I took her to the infirmary." He replied, dishing himself a plate of food from the feast before him.

"Really? Is she okay?" John asked.

"Trudy said it was just a bump on the head; she'll be fine."

"How old is she?"

Jerome looked away from his father and to his little sister Poppy.

"I don't know; about my age, I guess?" he sighed.

"Why are all the girls nineteen?" she grumbled, looking down at her plate.

Poppy was a little lonely. After all, she was the youngest of the Clarkes, and all the children of the kingdom were younger or older than her. She didn't want to play with five year olds, and nineteen year olds didn't give her the time of day, even if she was the princess. She was fifteen. She didn't know any fifteen year olds.

"Well, let me know when she's better. And we'll invite her for dinner." Joan smiled.

"Sure, mum," he chirped and the Clarke family continued their lunch.


"Trudy," Jerome smiled, stepping in front of the short woman as she left the infirmary.

The forty year old woman with the bright smile and loving brown eyes looked up at her prince. She had worked for the Clarke family as a nurse since Jerome was a young boy, and she had become a second mother to him. If he couldn't reach his mother, he would turn to Trudy, and the nurse would always be there with open arms.

"How is she?" he asked, referring to the only patient in the room behind Trudy.

"She's fine. Her head is a little sore. She's resting now." She replied. She slipped her arm into his hand patter his shoulder as they journeyed down the hall. "Now, tell me, dearie, why are you so interested in this girl?"

Jerome shrugged, "She was hurt, I helped her; of course I'm interested. I want to make sure she's okay."

"Oh no, that's not it. You've been trying to see her since you brought her in. Sweetie, you're betrothed; let's not fall in love, okay?"

"Don't worry, Truds, I won't. I'm just curious, that's all." He promised. He quickly pecked her cheek and then waltzed on down the hallway without her.

Trudy shook her head with a small smile. She had a feeling this was going to get complicated.


I'll update again as soon as I can. :)

Review?

Q: The second couple in the story should be...?

I love you, Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. -Psalm 18:1-2

-Rachel