Two countries, Estella to the South and Stravos to the North, have begun a territorial dispute for the country Dasdona. Both countries intercepted letters of alliance for war headed to the country of Dasdona. Now, the Mahogany headed Estellites with their highly trained medicine men, and the bronze headed Stravites with their strong warriors, both of whom were once were once great allies in the past, are now pitted against each other. Their war has lasted almost five years, but now, the winds are changing……

CHAPTER 1

-Estella-

"Bella, no."

"But father!"

"Bella I said no. It is much too dangerous for a woman, much less a princess of Estella to be gallivanting about with a sword on a battle field meant for men!"

"But!"

"And what with that Stravian Prince military leader, Edward the Horrible, I certainly would not be able to live with myself if you ever came face to face with him!"

"That's not fair! You know that I am the best at the sword! I've even bested the teacher!"

"Yes, but that is practice! Not real combat…"

"You know as well as I do that he was also a military leader!"

"And not one of the best we have had, which is why he was laid off to become your instructor."

"I always knew there was a reason why he hated me… But that's not the point, the point is…"

"The point is," King Charles, my father, said in his 'this is the last word in this particular conversation' voice, "that you shall never see war, nor will you ever get a glimpse at a battle field, understood?"

My father looked at me, as if daring me to contradict him.

"Understood." I said, keeping my chin up to save some dignity. His hand, ruff from countless battles, found my head and patted it endearingly.

"You know how I hate leaving you here." He said softly, his eyes crinkling at the ends from his soft smile, "but how do you think I would fair if I knew you were out on one of those ghastly battle fields risking your neck just to be by my side, hmm? I know it's been hard, but wars don't last forever, and I dammed well can't wait for this one to be over."

"King Charles! Your troops are ready to leave to the North Quarter!"

I felt my eyes sting, knowing I had only a few seconds before Charles, or Charlie as I liked to call him, noticed I was about to cry. I tilted my head higher.

"Good God, Bells, why is your nose so high in the air?" Charlie's laughs filled the room as he went to retrieve his war coat. "Don't worry Bells, I'll come back, I always do." He finished off by grabbing me in his arms.

"I love you Bells." I felt the tears begin to sting and ache as they brimmed my eyes.

"I love you to Father." I whispered.

As he let go I turned away and looked toward the setting sun out the window, hearing him give the guards orders to watch my door as he left to meet his troops.

I ghosted to my bed and flopped down face first.

It was so unfair!!!

How could my father have any idea how absolutely…. agonizing it was to see him leave, not knowing if he would ever come back? After my mother, Renee, died from giving birth to me, my father had always been so protective; I was rarely ever let out of the palace walls. I was surprised he even let me begin fencing lessons considering how clumsy I had come to be.

But luckily, I picked up on it as if it were my second nature. I had bested much more than just my instructor- which I should have mentioned in my appeal to join the war- but also higher ranking soldiers who were on break to see their families, officers, and I even won the occasional three on one battles. So why can't I join that blasted war?

I would love to come face to face with that Edward the Horrible from the barbaric Stravos country. He, as I have heard, was ruthless and completely cold hearted. The ones who were unfortunate enough to see him in battle second hand said that all of his fights came out with him being the victor. I had been told that he kills his opponents slowly, making gashes along their body then finally moving in for the death blow; straight through the heart. Hell, he was even known to kill women and children! The thought of my father coming face to face with that sent violent shivers down my spine.

Suddenly, my door slammed open with such force that I jumped and fell off the bed.

"BELLA! BELLA!!"

Alice, my friend since infancy, was never known for her quiet entrances. But then again, neither was I. hers were just ten times louder.

"What is it Alice?!"

"I heard that your father just went off to the North Quarter."

"Did you now?" I really didn't want a reminder.

"Did you know it was to fight with another regiment?"

"That's normally what it is Alice."

"Did you know that regiment is headed by Edward the Horrible?"

"WHAT?????!!!!!!!!!" I shrieked as my eyes bugged with shock. Alice stepped back from me, her small pixie body moving quickly across the floor.

"Didn't he tell you?"

"NO!" I picked myself up and ran to the door, but Alice, quick as she was, headed me off.

"Bella, what are you planning to do?" I huffed impatiently at her.

"I'm going to stop him! That's what I'm gonna do!!"

"No you are NOT." She said in the same stern voice that Charlie used.

"I'm the princess! I can do whatever I like!"

"I couldn't care less if you were the Queen of planet Earth! Your father gave me orders to keep you here and keep you safe. So that's that!" she said while pulling me to the corner farthest from the door.

"But Alice!!! I have to fight!!! I have to go out there and help him!"

"I know."

I stared at her. My mind working hard to figure out what she could possibly mean. My father obviously chose not to tell me that he was going off to fight with Edward the Horrible because he knew I would have this type of reaction in me. But then, my best friend of seventeen years also knew that I would blow up like this.

"Alice…" I began slowly, "Why did you tell me this?" The once stern look on her face slowly gave way to one of fear.

"Bella, I didn't even know my parents, Charlie found me while he was taking you out on of his evening rides."

"I know that Alice but…"

"What I'm trying to say is, Charlie is almost as much as a father to me as he is to you, and," large tears began rolling down her eyes, "and I would feel just as lost as you if he died so… I understand that something needs to be done."

I grabbed my best friend in a tight hug, my mind made up.

"I'm going to need your help Alice." I whispered.

"I know. And I'll give it to you. As long as you promise me…promise me you'll stay safe. Because if you got hurt…" She didn't finish. "I'm only letting you go because I know what you are capable of."

"Don't worry Alice. The sooner I find father and show him how serious I am about him not fighting Edward the Horrible, the sooner we'll both be back home."

We held each other closer, not really wanting to let go. We were sisters, she and I. Maybe not by blood, but in every way that mattered. She knew she couldn't bear it if something happened to me, and I couldn't bear it if something happened to her, and this war was the one thing that threatened that.

Now, it was time for me to fight back.

Now, it was time for me to protect the ones I loved.

Will Princess Bella be able to save her father from a gruesome battle with Edward the Horrible? Find out in the chapters to come!