Disclaimer: I don't own the story Goose Girl or any of the countries mentioned, but the characters I made up (Alex, Kelv, Captain Mulcimer, the king, and the minister are all mine). The plot is also my own. R&R please :)

Chapter 1: The Stable Hand's Best Friend

This tale takes place long after the Goose Girl, a tale scarcely known throughout Kel. It is forbidden to know of the story, especially since Tira conquered Kel. The Tirans feel that telling the story is like reopening a wound. Although Kel is currently under the rule of Tira, it's still called Kel. The streets swarmed with guards for years after the war, until all the people of Kel became as docile as cows. By then the soldiers were no longer needed and they left. The royal family was put back on the throne, but they had to take orders from Tira. Any decision regarding trade, politics, or anything else the Tiran want had to be run by the Tiran king before it could take action. Bayern has managed to escape Tira's rule because of their alliance with the ever-growing country of Kildenree. Tira had always eyed Kel and it's large mines and great ports. But enough history, our story comes to a sixteen-year-old girl, Crown Princess Alexia.

As Crown Princess, Alexia has many duties to fulfill especially now that she is at marring age. Her father wants to marry her off to a Tiran prince so that maybe the country will be able to make an alliance with Tira and gain its independence. When ever Alexia gets the chance she goes beyond the city limits with her best friend, Kelv, to escape the formalities and duties that come with being Crown Princess. Somewhere in a clearing beyond the city limits of Moltley, the capital of Kelv, a sixteen-year-old boy searches for his royal friend. They had escaped the royal escorts hours earlier and it was time to go back to the palace before the entire army came looking for the Crown Princess and her friend, the stable hand.

"Come on Alex!" yelled Kelv. He wandered through the woods, the trees towering above him.

"Alex? Alex! Alex where are you?" yelled Kelv, louder this time. He ran back to the clearing, searching for Alex. The clearing was surrounded by tall bushed, like a wall protecting the small sanctuary. Small red and purple flowers dotted the grass that slowly grew in the clearing. It was the only place the grass grew because in the trees, hardly any sunlight hit the floor. A small cherry pit flew from the trees hit the back of Kelv's head with a bop.

"Ouch!" cried Kelv, grabbing the back of his head where the pit had hit him. He heard giggling come from the trees. He eased his sling from his hip and quietly loaded it with a small rock. He spun around and let it fly at the giggling. Alex fell out of the tree and lay limp on the ground, unmoving. Her long, brown curls spread out like a halo around her head. When ever they went out to the clearing, Alex would always let out her hair. It have her a sense of freedom she cherished and often craved.

"Alex?" asked Kelv disbelievingly. He started walking over to the unmoving corpse. "Come on Alex. You're just playing right? It wasn't that big of a rock." Panic seizing him, he ran over to Alex's body and started to shake it. "Come on Alex, this isn't funny. Go on get up. Alex?" The body just flopped with this shaking. Kelv looked desperately around for help. Alex jumped up and pinned him to the ground.

"Ha!" cried Alex looking down into Kelv's bewildered face. She bent forward with a sly grin and whispered in his ear, "I win." She popped back to her feet and set out at a dead run towards an empty shack a few yards away, with an angry Kelv yelling after her. The abandoned storage shack was a few miles from the main city. She pushed open the creaky door and walked to the back room.

Kelv reached the storage shack while she was still inside. He waited patiently for her to emerge. He didn't like this shack, it had an eerie feel to it. His thoughts changed once Alex emerged form the door. She was wearing a dress again. It was one of her more modest gowns. The jade dress flowing down to her feet with a swoop neck. A thing golden string was tied around her waist. A small sapphire droplet rested on her brow held by a silver circlet. The precious gem was surrounded by a silver crescent moon. He hair was back up, but some curls had escaped the vicious attack and were hanging down. Kelv took in the sight of her, quite frankly she was beautiful.

"Crown Princess," bowed Kelv mockingly, trying to hide his discomfort. Kelv and Alex had been friends since they were young kids. Kelv's mother was the Queen's lady in waiting, and Kelv, now that he's sixteen, worked either in the royal stables or in the kitchen, washing dishes. Mostly he worked in the stables as a stable hand.

"Oh stop it!" said Alex nudging him with her shoulder. He staggered backwards, but Alex thought it was to make her feel strong. Such was not the case since Alex only reached Kelv's chin. Alex started walking towards the place where they had left their horses. Once mounted, Kelv noticed a troubled look on Alex's face. They started forwards and soon Kelv couldn't stand the expression anymore.

"What? What is it Alex? What's wrong?" asked Kelv. They were approaching the city gates and they saw Alex's guards bewildered and standing guard.

"Crown Princess," said the captain, galloping over to her, "Where have you been? The king—"

"Captain Mulcimer, I assure you, I am in good of hands and I will deal with father on my own, thank you," said Alex irritated. The Captain shot a glare at Kelv and proceeded to follow Alex into the city. Alex in the lead, followed by Kelv, and a respectable distance away, was the captain and his men. When they reached the palace's gates, Kelv dismounted and helped Alex dismount. He then led his and Alex's horse back to the stables. Alex started to follow him, but a hand on her shoulder stopped her.

"I have orders from His Majesty to bring you to him as soon as I had found you," said Captain Mulcimer.

"I'll see you later Kelv!" yelled Alex after him. He turned back and nodded. Alex followed Captain Mulcimer the throne room where the king was sitting in his grand throne conversing with some ministers. The ministers saw them at the door and they immediately stopped talking. The king turned and looked to where the ministers were staring and upon seeing his daughter, beckoned her forward and dismissed the ministers. Captain Mulcimer followed Alex in the throne room and stopped a few feet away from the crown princess.

"Father, I can explain. You see—"

"Silence!" bellowed the king, "You will speak when spoken to. You are no longer a child, you are the Crown Princess. I expect a bit more respect from you." Alex bowed her head and curtsied, falling silent.

"And you! How did you loose her?" he yelled, pointing at Captain Mulcimer.

"Your Majesty, I—" He paused for a moment and then an smug grin came over his face. "Your Majesty," he started again with a flourished bow, "It was her friend from the stables. He was the reason why I lost the Crown Princess. I believe his name was Kelv, was it not Crown Princess?" Alex felt her hands close into fists as she glared at Captain Mulcimer. Ever since her mother had died, Alex's father had seen less and less of Alex. It wasn't that she didn't want to see him, it's that he didn't want to see her. She looked to much like her mother and although it had been five years since her death, Alex's father still didn't feel comfortable looking at Alex. She knew he would take the captain's word over hers just as long as she would stay out of his sight.

"Who?" asked the King, staring at Alex for an answer. But after looking at her, he quickly gazed away, realizing who she reminded him of.

"Father—" Alex begins, but Captain Mulcimer cuts her off.

"Your Majesty, he filled out rum bottles that morning with some sort of evil potion and it was as if we were all under his spell. By the time we came through, they had taken off and we had no choice but to wait and send a scout team retrieve them. We were so grateful when they turned up safely."

"Father! He is lying! Kelv did nothing of the sort! I ran—"

"Silence! I have no patience for this. Crown Princess Alexia you are confined to your room until further notice. Guards, please escort her out. Captain Mulcimer, bring me this… boy."

"Father!" pleaded Alex. He wouldn't look at her. He motioned to the guards.

"Now!" roared the King. The captain bowed to his king and nodded respectfully to the Crown Princess with a sly, evil grin. A hand gripped Alex's upper arm and started to lead her out of the throne room. She pulled her arm away.

"I can walk on my own, thank you!" she snapped at the guard. Alex stomped out of the throne room. Had she not been under guard or the Crown Princess, she would have run to her room and slammed the door. Instead she obediently walked to her room and once inside gave a cold shoulder to the guard. He closed the door behind her and she heard a click of the lock before his steps told her he had left. Alex ran to the window and pushed it open. She ran to her closet and searched for the rope. It was gone! How much does that Captain know? Thought Alex roaming around her room. Under the chest at the foot of her bed there was a trap door. It lead down to a secret system of tunnels beneath the palace generally used by the servants. Alex pushed her chest aside and pulled open the trap door. She pulled up her skirts and jumped, not bothering to take the ladder. Alex hit the ground running. She knew the way to the kitchen by heart, so she didn't need to take a candle into the dark tunnels. She emerged inside the storage closet which was mostly full of sugar and flour. She knocked three times in the door and waited. Three more knocks followed and she flew out of the closet, out of the kitchen and towards the stables. She could already hear voices by the time the stable was in view.

"You will come with me this instant, you insolent boy!" yelled a man's voice. It was Captain Mulcimer.

"I will not. It was not of my doing. I—" yelled the boy's voice but it was suddenly cut off. There was a sharp slap and a dull thud. Letting out a cry of despair she pushed herself faster.

"You will be hanged for this. I will see you hang." Alex burst inside and saw Kelv on the ground against the stable's wall and Captain Mulcimer drawing his sword. Kelv had his hand up to his face.

"Stop!" she screamed. What are you doing? She thought, are you insane? You're not supposed to be here, remember? Captain Mulcimer spun around towards the commanding voice.

"You!" he spat.

"You will not address the Crown Princess in that fashion Captain," said a voice behind Alex. Kelv and Alex froze.

"Minister Silphon," said the captain bowing his head respectfully.

"Minister, I came here to check on my horse and I found the captain threatening this stable hand," explained Alex quickly, gesturing at the captain. Captain Mulcimer sheathed his sword quickly.

"I see," said the Minister rubbing his long, white beard.

"Sire, I have orders from the king to bring this boy up to the palace. He has been accused of kidnapping the Crown Princess," explained Captain Mulcimer with a false calmness to his voice.

"Well Captain, I don't see the problem. The Crown Princess is right here. And pray tell, why would a criminal show himself if his crime has been discovered? Hum? Shouldn't he be in hiding?" asked the wise, old minister. He had been the king's best friend since before the king had become Crown Prince. They were as thick as thieves and he was like a second father to Alex.

"Sire— I—uh," babbled the captain. Kelv covered his mouth to suppress a laugh and Alex contained her giggle like royalty.

"Now," said the minister, "go tell the king that you were unable to complete his request because I needed this stable hand for another use."

"Yes, sir," growled the captain as he left the stable. He left, but not without giving a death glare to Alex, Kelv, and the back of the minister's head.

"Now tell me, what is the Crown Princess doing here?" asked the minister raising an eyebrow.

"I..." said Alex, looking for an excuse.

"She was coming here to check on her horse. And I..." saved Kelv.

"And I found the captain threatening this stable hand, so I came in to stop him," finished Alex.

"So you've said child," said the minister stroking his beard. "Well then, I have other duties to fulfill. Good day master Kelv, good day Crown Princess Alex," he said with a wink. Alex and Kelv stared after the minister, dazed. As soon as he was gone they collapsed in the hay laughing. When they stopped, they stood up and hugged.

"I was so scared that you were going to be in so much trouble. That captain is a sly fox, and he's evil. Next time, you're not coming with me. Ok?"

"What?" said Kelv pulling away. "Of course I'm coming with you!"

"Please Kelv, I don't want to get you in trouble. Promise me you won't come," pleaded Alex.

"I can't make a promise I won't keep."

"Fine," sighed Alex. "I'm not going to save your neck again," she said punching his arm playfully.

"Oh crap!" said Alex, slamming her hand to her forehead. "I have to go. I'm supposed to be confined to my room and Captain Mulcimer saw me here. I have to get back! Meet me at the gate tomorrow at noon. Bring the horses!" said Alex running out of the stable.

"Alex wait!" yelled Kelv running after her. "The secret entrance through the kitchen!"

"Right!" yelled Alex back to Kelv without missing a step. When she reached the kitchen she sprinted to the cupboard and jumped into the hole. She clambered through the trap door in her room, closed the door and slid her chest back over it. She sat down in front of her mirror, let down her long locks of brown hair, and started to slowly comb them. Her olive skinned hand followed the comb as it slid down her hair. She heard a lock click and in came the king, Minister Silphon, and Captain Mulcimer.

"As you can see, your Majesty, she isn't—" started the captain, but upon seeing Alex he let out a startled cry.

"Good afternoon Crown Princess," said Silphon. Alex got up and curtsied to the men.

"Good day gentlemen," she said. "Hello father."

"Listen Alexia, I'm sorry for yelling at you earlier. It's just that Tira wants me to turn over troops so they can go to war again with Bayern," said the king. He still wouldn't look at her. He stared straight ahead at the bedpost across the room. The lines on his face had grown deeper and he let out an exasperated sigh.

"It's alright father, I understand," said Alex with a smile. Her father relaxed and she thought she saw a smile glimpse of a smile. It had been awhile since the king had smiled and just now he remembered how much he liked it.

"Let's leave her to her peace," said the king. The minister and the captain left her room. Before closing the door, "You're not confined to your room any longer Alexia, but please, be a bit more considerate or your father's tired old heart." He looked at her, she saw the frown coming, but suddenly he grinned. Alex couldn't help smiling back. The king slowly shut the door behind him. Alex sighed and fell onto her bed. Maybe he would be able to look at her again and she her and not her mother. Relieved, Alex fell into a deep sleep.