This is just a start up to the story. Sorry i needed to get you backed up a little so that you knew the character and her family because they are important. Please keep reading and tell me what you think.

Love reviews!

Javel sat in his office looking over some ledgers as he heard a young girls squeal reach his ears.

"Adalaina! Get back here!"

He only smiled and shook his head. Hearing Hasten move in the corner he finally looked up.

"She's fine Hasten. Karen must have shown her the dress for tonight."

Readjusting his glasses he looked back down at the books and continued writing.

"Are you sure about this Javel? She is still very young. It may damage her in ways you can't even imagine."

Looking up again, this time completely removing his glasses, he rubbed his temple.

"I can't think of a better time. Her age has nothing to do with it. She doesn't get to see her grandparents often and I want them to be there when she finds out about her mother. I would hate to have to deal with her alone if she were to find out on accident."

Hasten began to protest but Javel heard the tiny footsteps getting closer.

"Would you get the door? I would hate to have to replace this one again."

Adalaina had already broken over 5 doors this year. Most of the torn strait off their hinges. For an 8 year old she was tremendously strong. In fact for a grown man she was strong. Hasten contributed it to the curse, but he would never know since his wife's parents didn't talk much about her childhood. Sure enough just after Hasten opened the door Adalaina came charging in full speed. That is another strange thing about her. She was incredibly fast and agile. Coming to a not so graceful halt after realizing that nothing was in her way she dodged back behind her father's desk and under his chair. She motioned for him to be quiet and hid her face in her lap. Karen came in the room out of breath moments later. She was a young girl no more than 23 but she always had a hard time looking after Ada.

"Sir, I'm sorry. She escaped my clutches." Pausing for a second she added, "Again."

"It is quiet alright Karen. Not many people can keep up with her as it is and you have been trying for 8 years. I was actually hoping to see you today to offer you a week vacation."

Karen froze for a second in pure bliss as she mulled it over.

"Are you sure? I mean with Mrs. Katherine's parents coming into town I was sure you would need me double time."

Javel shook his head chuckling a bit again, "No I think that with the four of us we can handle this little rascal."

With that his foot nudged her in the side and made her squirm.

"Hey!" The child protested loudly as her position had been uncovered to the enemy.

"Not fair! You are supposed to be on my side!"

Crawling out of the space she stood showing her full view to everyone, undergarments and all. Adalaina was a small girl, well I should say slender. She had long arms and legs though she was a little shorter than her friends. If you need a picture think of an elf with their delicate features but firm frames. Her sharp sky blue eyes glared daggers in Karen's direction while her mess of dark red curls stuck ever witch way.

"Now why is it that you are running around with no clothes on darling?"

Javel bent a little over so he could be eye level.

"She tried to put me in pink!"

"But sweetheart daddy was the one who picked out the dress."

Shock reached her eyes.

"But pink! I hate pink!"

"You look so pretty in pink my love."

'Nuh-huh. I look like a girl!"

Hasten laughed aloud at that one.

"You are a girl Adalaina."

It was then that Adalaina truly noticed Hasten

"Hasten!"

Running to him her force into his body drove him a little back. And he was not an easy guy to push. With 6'5" and 300 lbs. of basically pure muscle you had to catch his just right to even budge his arm. Spinning her a second before placing her on the ground she continued to giggle.

"Did you bring me a present?"

"Did I bring you a present? Why would I do that?"

"Because it is my birthday silly."

"But you had a birthday last year."

Ada's laughter filled the room again.

"I have a birthday every year silly."

"Are you sure?"

She nodded silently.

"I guess I must have gotten you a present then. But you can't have it till after dinner. Just like last year."

With that Adalaina bolted out of the room yelling,

"Bet you won't find me."

Karen sighed knowing exactly where the little stinker had gotten off too. Hasten turned his attention to her this time.

"How are you doing Karen?"

"I am well, just tired. You know that the other day I could have sworn that she warmed up her own bath? And then that she was floating a bit when she was jumping around outside. I think that this time off will do me some good."

Hasten's face had gone blank and his eyes were no longer concentrating on the conversation.

"Are you ok yourself?"

She noticed the detached look in his eyes. Shaking clarity back into his head he responded quickly,

"Yea. Just tired from my trip."

Every year he went on a voyage across the seas when the leaves began to change, and every year he was back just before Adalaina's birthday in the spring. He never told anyone but his crew where they were going and even then it changed almost every year.

"Ok then. Well I best go and find her. The grandparents will be here soon and I'm sure they want her dressed."

Leaving the room and shutting the door Karen walked to the one place she knew she would find Ada, her mother's drawing room. Opening the door she saw Ada sitting the cross legged staring at the same half-finished picture of a skyline.

"What did my mom look like Karen?"

The little girl said without looking away. And without fail Karen responded with the same thing that she always did.

"You baby. She looked just like you."

Adalaina wiped her face and stood up.

"Did she like pink?"

"Yes. Your mother loved pink. It reminded her of the sunrise. She used to say that it was the color of new beginning."

Adalaina huffed as she hoped that Karen would say no she loved green and purple just like you.

"I guess I will wear the dress."

She said as she stomped towards her room.

After an hour of wrestling a brush through the mat of hair Karen pulled the curls back into a pony tail with a purple ribbon to subdue the now restless child. Just as she put on her shoes hoofs were heard on the gravel outside and Adalaina bolted for the stairs down the hall. Once down the stairs she skidded to a halt next to her father who held a hand out to stop her and took her little hand in his. Impatiently biting her lip Ada bounced a little as the door opened to show her grandparents standing on the stoop.

"Christian. Jasmine."

Javel said in delight as Ada giggled.

"Papa, Mima."

Running into their arms she laughed out loud again. She was such a happy child that Javel hoped this news wouldn't ruin that.

"Dinner is ready if you both are hungry."

"Absolutely famished Javel. Thank you."

The house maid took their bags upstairs as the headed into the dining room adjacent.

"Hasten how lovely to see you again."

Hasten stood and offered Jasmine a seat next to his and the head of the table. They all sat and dinner was placed in front of them. The evening was a joyous one with Ada chattering nonstop about her friends and the animals that roam around the house. Soon of course she was bored with sitting and wanted to see her presents, dragging everyone one into the den where cake and coffee had been laid on the small end table. Her grandparents had given her a few small tokens from her mother's childhood that they thought she would enjoy, a small doll, a few books. They also gave her a locket with her initials engraved in it. A.M. Adalaina Masters. Hasten presented her with a small gold chain bracelet with very interesting intricate design to it, though it only kept her attention for so long. Javel presented her with a list of riding times he had signed her up for in the future. It was after cake that everyone became a little uneasy. And Adalaina sensed it.

"What's wrong? Why is everyone so quiet?"

Javel cleared his throat.

"Sweetheart we need to tell you something very important."

Adalaina sat very still barely even breathing.

"The truth behind your mother's death is not what we have told you in the past."

"Wh-what you do you mean?"

This is when Hasten spoke up.

"Your mother did not die during child birth Adalaina. She was killed."

Adalaina's eyes began to water.

"What do you mean? Who killed her?"

"Not a who Ada. A what. Your mother was killed by a dragon. We were on our way back from visiting your grandparents when the caravan was attacked. The only reason you survived was because your mother went into labor. After you were born the dragon began to make its way over to her and she forced me to take you and run. I barely got away alive. Luckily a horse was left unscathed and it carried us to safety."

Adalaina was standing now.

"You lied to me! How could you!"

With that she ran from the room and out of the house. She didn't stop running until she came to the stable at the end of the property. It was one they shared with a few neighbors and she knew no one would be there. So angry at everything she picked up a stick and began attacking the beam next to her. She continued at this for a few moments until she heard a voice behind her,

"You won't get very far with such a dull blade."

Adalaina spun around stick poised in the up position. There stood a boy about 9 or 10 with dark brown hair and green eyes.

"Who are you? And what are you doing here?"

"Maybe I should ask you the same thing. You are scaring my horses."

"Do you own these?"

"No, but I am the stable boy so I think of them as mine to keep safe."

Adalaina dropped her stick a bit.

"My name is Adalaina. My father and I live in the house up the hill."

"So you are Javel's daughter. I thought I saw a little girl running around up there."

"I'm not little! I am 8 now!"

The boy laughed.

"My name is Zane, and you are not going to get very far with holding your stick like that not so little Adalaina."

He took a hesitant step towards her and motioned for her to keep her stick up.

He showed her a few sparing motions for a little while till her arms got tired.

"How do you know all that?"

"I want to be a knight when I grow up. Right now I am in training. That's why I work in the stables. Soon I will work in the stables at the palace and then for a knight as his squire. Then I can finally become a knight on my own."

Adalaina stood in awe.

"So what made you so angry when you first come down here Adalaina?"

Her head dropped a bit and her voice crackled,

"I just found out my mother was killed by a dragon when I was just a baby."

Her mood changed drastically to one of defiance.

"But I am going to learn how to fight and kill the dragon myself when I grow up!"

Zane pondered for a second and then made an exclamation.

"I will train you."

"What?"

"I shall train you in the arts of a knight so that you do not get killed in the process of avenging your mother's death."

"Really?"

Her face lit up and she began jumping for joy.

"But I'm not going to go easy on you just because you are a girl."

She stopped mid jump,

"Of course you won't. And I won't go easy on you because you're a boy."

Zane laughed and stuck out his hand. "Once a day then, shall we say just after dinner?"

"Deal"

They shook hands and the beginning of a great friendship began to blossom.