(Just to let everybody know, there is magic in the fic, it just comes in later on...so just clearing that up coz a lot of people seem confused about that)

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The Evans had been the best horse breeders in the kingdom for generations past. No other horses could match theirs, not in appearance, nor in quality. Nobles from all over the kingdom insisted their stables had horses from them. And the reputation was nothing if not well deserved. The Evans' household started their day at 5 am, finishing only at 11pm. The long days were devoted completely to the care of their horses.

It was therefore no surprise when the Royal messenger knocked on their door a month before the young Prince's twentieth birthday, informing them that the prince and some other courtiers would be arriving to see some horses for their stables. Nevertheless, the excitement in the household was almost tangible, after all, it wasn't everyday that they got a visit from the prince himself.

"Lily! Hurry up and get down here! Come, I have something to tell you!" Albin Evans was shouting up the stairs to his daughter.

"I'm coming father, I'm coming!" Lily replied, hurrying to see what her father was so excited about. "What is it? Please tell me Petunia is not coming back…"

"Be respectful, Lily, she's your sister." Her father chastised, without much conviction. "But no, she's not coming back." He continued, with an audible sigh of relief.

"Then what's the big news father?" she asked, thanking her lucky stars Petunia wasn't returning.

"It's the prince, Lily, he's coming here!" her mother answered. "To choose a horse, in two weeks! We haven't much time, we must prepare everything, it has to be presentable. And the house looks like a ruin, we can't have the prince see it like that! Our reputation would be…"

Lily ignored her mother's ranting and looked at her father for confirmation.

"I think your mother might need some calming draught or she would be a nervous wreck by the time the prince arrives." He replied, his eyes twinkling.

"No!" Lily exclaimed, unable to believe it. "Really? You mean the prince is actually going to be here? Here, at our house? To actually-"

"Yes, darling, now stop babbling like your mother and try and get the horses ready, we only have two weeks. We must find the best in the lot and get them trained and ready before he arrives." Her father replied, resuming the role of her stern mentor. "Oh, and for goodness' sake put Lillith somewhere solitary so she doesn't spook the other horses…or the prince!"

Lily raced out to the stables, too excited to reply. All the girls in town talked constantly of how handsome and charming the prince apparently was. None of them had seen him, of course, but that didn't stop them gossiping. But now, he was coming to her house and she was going to see him, in the flesh! But that wasn't nearly as exciting as knowing that he was coming to buy some of her horses, something she had put so much effort into. She and her father had trained those horses since they were born, putting in everything they had. Of course, they had sold horses to other noblemen, but the prince was just a whole level above that wasn't he? And to think she would get to show off her work in front of the second most powerful man in the kingdom!

Lily yelled at Augustus to help her move Lillith to a stall in the old stables to keep her away from the other horses. She had always thought that her father had named their most notorious horse after her, not that her father would actually admit it. She thought it was a bit unfair, especially considering she wasn't notorious at all. If anything, the mare should've been named Petunia, she thought, after all, it was her who hadn't followed in her father's footsteps. Unlike Lily, she hated working with the horses, she thought it was a man's work, not for a lady

"Oh no! We just moved her here last week!" Augustus said as soon as he was within Lily's hearing range. "If we move her now, she won't settle for days!"

"Gus, the PRINCE is coming here, everything has to be absolutely perfect!" Lily replied, looking more excited than ever before. "And besides, she's just a horse, if you can't handle a horse you shouldn't have become a stable hand!"

Gus finally agreed and, with a slight 'Hmph', helped her move the large mare. When they returned, her father was already there and was looking for the best of the horses. Lily and Augustus set to helping him find the horses for the prince and his entrouge, even though Lillith was the best horse in Lily's eyes. But they couldn't sell her to the prince, of course, because she and her father were the only ones able to ride her.

Two weeks later, they were all set. The horses had been scrubbed and scrubbed and then some and looked magnificent. Lily herself was wearing her best riding dress, while her father was wearing his breeches and tunic. Her mother, as it happened, had turned into a nervous wreck and had decided to rest rather than greet the prince. Of course, this ended up worrying her even more, as she didn't want to seem rude to the prince. She couldn't seem to decide until the last moment and then Lily had to 'help' her with some rather… 'strong' calming draught.

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(Author's Note: first - the disclaimer: anything you don't recognise is from my own imagination. Also, the idea of Lily's parents' occupation IS NOT mine, i borrowed it from another fic n wud like to thank its author i'm sooo sorry but i don't rem. the name :-(

And, this fic is, obviously, very completely AU, so ye, it may not be everyone's thing, i know, but you've been warned!

Now to the fic:

Augustus isn't a stable hand, he's training at the Evans house so that he can be knighted when he's old enough. Also, Lily isn't in love with James or anyone else, in fact, she thinks he's just the medieval equivalent of a rich party boy with no values...yeah...so that's all for now...but I'm definetely updating soon)

PS - Love it? Hate it? Some 'crick' in my writing? let me know!! REVIEW!! I'll give you an internet cookie if u do!!