Disclaimer for the entire story: I do NOT own Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, etc. Nothing that comes from anything from Stephenie Meyer belongs to her, no copyright infringement intended.

I got this idea for a story I want to do, but I'm going to try to resist until I finish Bella's Thirst at the very least, and get to work on Raindrops and Day Late. So, this is a test run. If you like this chapter and would like me to write the story, then you can review saying so, and if I get enough people who are interested, then I'll keep it up and write the story.

Edward's Point of View

I opened my eyes to stare at the cold, stone ceiling in the dank room. The bed was high, with posts that extended to the ceiling, and drapes shielded the rest of my room from view, but the ceiling was still exposed to me, bleak and cold. I sat up, pushing aside the sheets and cover in order to stand, bare footed on the cold stone floor that matched the walls and roof. I dressed quickly, wearing simple golden-brown breeches that would allow me to ride and walk comfortably, and a white shirt with a red tunic over it, gold threading lining the seams and outlining a lion on the front. Looking briefly in the small mirror that was set against the stand beside my bed, I ran a hand through my hair, making a poor attempt to smooth down my disheveled hair. It was unlikely that it had ever or would ever be anything but thick and in disarray.

Leaving my room, I stepped into the hallway to be met by two guards who were posted outside my chamber. Both had been leaning against the wall, but as I came out they snapped to attention. Afterward I began walking and they followed like annoying lap dogs.

The walk down to the courtyard was long; I looked at the heavy, elaborate rugs and drapes that lined the walls and floors as I went. It was a relief to get outside into fresh air where I could see the blue sky. Reasons such as these, along with his distaste for the intruige of politics, were a few examples of why he was glad to not be King of England. Not to mention that such a desire would ruin the close friendship I had with King Henry, who was one of my closest friends. He, along with Thomas and Luke and myself, were nearly always in each other's company when not busy.

Swinging up on to my chestnut stallion, which was held ready for me by a groom, I urged it into a trot, leaving the courtyard with a clatter of hooves on rock before turning the reins, and horse in response, to the right field. Henry, Thomas, and Luke were already waiting for me.

"Slept in late, have we?" Thomas teased, wheeling his gray mare around in one place.

"Just wanted to make sure I was rested for banquet tonight," I commented lightly. The banquet tonight would be larger than usual, as many guests were arriving to discuss the opportunity and reasons for war with France.

"Well, Lucas and Henry were fairly late as well," Thomas allotted, smirking at the two to his left.

"We wanted to be rested for the ladies-in-waiting coming in tonight for the queen," Lucas said, defending himself and Henry, who nodded in affirmation. Though Henry was married, he was not involved with his wife except in public, nor did he make any secret of his affairs with many women. Lucas, who was not married and had no cause for secrecy besides discretion and his safety from the fathers of his liasons, was well-known among men and women alike for his flirtations and liasons, for lack of a better word. Thomas was an idealist, and a strict Catholic who kept his morals in line, and though not the closest to me of the friends, the one who I often got along best with. .

"Well, as they are not coming in until later in the afternoon, can we get on with out ride?" I demanded. We were planning on heading up the bluff for a gallop before heading to meet the other courtiers for a hunt. The other three laughed and we turned toward the rising land, kicking our horses into a wild gallop and racing each other to the top. Poor Thomas fell slightly behind in the race, while Lucas, Henry and I competed to be the first to crest the hill. Luckily for me, I had the least duties and so more time for pleasure, as a result spending more time outside and riding than the first two. They were close behind, and I could see when I glanced to my right that Lucas's face was alight with fun-filled determination to win, and to my left Henry's face was angry at his failure to throw us all in the dust. He grew neck and neck with me, our horses blowing from the weight of our muscled, youthful bodies. Leaning low over my chestnut horse's neck, butt rising out of the saddle, I whispered in the horse's ear, "Come on, don't let them win." And my horse took off, strides stretching farther and faster to eat up the ground and carry me ahead of my competitors to the top of the bluff, where I passed over and continued downward a ways, unable to stop my horse before.

Trotting back up to the top of the bluff, I looked over the edge and saw below an expanse of green, the grass soft, lush, and inviting from up here, where the dust had predominantly taken over the top of the bluff, the grass remaining sparse and dry, as it always was in the beginning of spring.

"I would have beat you," Henry claimed angrily. I said nothing, knowing well my friend's temper and pride. Lucas looked like he was about to protest, but I looked at him quickly, brows raised, and he said nothing.

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Our little foursome trotted back into the courtyard in high spirits, except for the fact that Lucas and Henry weren't speaking to each other, each face lined with anger when he caught the other looking at him.

"Well, you three head off to dinner. I don't think I'm going." I'd never had any particular liking for the way dinner was run; I preferred my mid-day meals quiet and small. Thomas' head turned my way and I nodded in silent agreement-Thomas could come as well. Lucas and Henry shrugged before walking off toward the grooms that were waiting, obviously their argument forgotten in their mutual displeasure at our unsocial behavior. Chuckling to myself, I clucked and my horse walked toward another set of two grooms. "I'll be back," I assured one. He couldn't have been more than ten, dressed in the green livery of the stablehands, and barely able to control a full grown horse.

Thomas and I took the servant's staircase down to the kitchen, where we procured a small lunch by some inevitable light flirting on my part, despite my obvious discomfort. Soon Thomas and I were on our way with several large legs of a turkey and some plates full of various greens and sweets. I don't know how the grooms packed it into the saddlebags, but Thomas and I swung up onto the horses, his a dark bay, and walked at a casual pace out the gates so as not to disturb the food.

We walked a ways on the road before turning out horses onto a hidden trail that I knew and ended up at a small clearing that was surrounded by trees. Sprawled out on the grass with our horses tethered to trees, we ate in silence for a while before Thomas spoke.

"Do you think we will always be able to do things such as this, Edward?" he asked me.

I thought about it for a while before answering. "It's likely that I will, being only third in line to the throne and with the others in perfect health, in all my life not be missed much no matter what I do. Being the king's cousin will provide me with duty and status, but yes, I think I shall be fairly free to do as I please." It took me a while to figure out what to say to Thomas. "Your father is the king's general. While you are not held to anything at the moment, it's possible that you will be called upon to join the navy, or else assigned to some other duty that pleases Henry."

"And when we are married," Thomas said, "hopefully we shall not have to spend time out here, and can spend more time with our wives and family. I said nothing, but thought to my distant future as a married duke, likely with a household full kids. I did not look upon the coming years with joy. No one had yet to inspire a passion in me that made me ache for her presence. Unfortunately, my duty would likely include marrying someone from a foreign land to forge an alliance with said land.

"I just like the peace of things," Thomas continued, and I nodded with agreement before finishing my dinner.

"We should get back," I suggested. "Henry and Lucas will never let us forget it it we me miss the coming of the queen's new ladies in waiting." Thomas laughed before nodding in agreement, muddy brown hair ruffling in the wind, though not long at all. My own copper lock blew about in the wind, long and thick, and covering my green eyes.

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Men from all over the palace, married and unmarried alike, though young, single men dominated the crowd, came to the hall and lined the sides where the multitude of women would pass. Lucas was at the front of the line, but leaned casually against the pillars than were spaced. Moving closer to him, I asked, "Why aren't you more eager to see the ladies?" Lucas would consider these a new source of entertainment, fresh young women who were more than willing to do anything to gain the attention of an attractive man.

"Seeming desperate for them is pathetic," Lucas said with a careless wave toward the many men who were gazing toward the door with hungry eyes. I had to agree with him.

"Women will drift toward the men who are drooling for them like dogs." I watched as the doors opened, everyone there, including the king, straightening. Watching without paying that much attention, though I was curious, my gaze turned toward the women who began to file in.

The majority of the women were blonde, likely according to the king's usual preference. Most walked with they sly, knowledgeable eyes catching the gazes of men. They knew they were attractive, and they flaunted it. Men from all over the would would die for the attentions of such women, and many had. Their confidence bordered on slutty in some, and all put me off. Most of their faces looked the same, with the same features that were generically pretty, but none stood out to me.

Then she walked by.

Her eyes caught my attention first. They were large, thickly lashed like a cow, and unlike all the other women's. Though they held knowledge- I could tell by their dark, chocolate brown depths that she knew very well the goings on of the noblemen and what her purpose would likely be in coming here- her eyes also held an innocent light. She was optimistic, young, fresh, and not going to be taken advantage of my men seeking a one night's pleasure. Dark brown hair that shone in the light filtering in through the windows glinted off her locks as they waved down to her waist, the top layer pulled back and done into an elegant style that wove several strands into her thick mane. Her body was perfection; her tiny waist opening wider into small, but definitely curved, hips and the perfect chest. She had a long, graceful neck. She was shorter than most of the others, maybe 5'3", and her pale skin was unblemished, standing out against her dark violet satin dress.

Our eyes connected for just an instant before her gaze shifted and she looked straight ahead, leaving me to stare at her profile.

I looked, stunned, to Lucas and then Henry. Both were staring after her.