Chapter 1: The Lady
Soft footsteps echoed in the great halls as a young man walked trough them. His red hair outlined his boyish face. It was Prince Roy. He hurried down the halls to his destination; His older brother's chamber. Roy was looking for the lady of the house, Elincia. However, Roy had been unsuccessful in finding her. He hoped that his brother knew where Elincia was. He swung open the door to his brother's chamber. "Marth!" Roy's deep voice rang through his older brother's room.
"Must you shout brother?" a dark form rose from a near by bed. His dark hair hung limply around his face. This was Roy's older brother Marth.
"I can't find Elincia!" Roy whined.
"Why do you seek her?" Marth asked amused.
Roy looked away, but not before Marth saw his cheeks flush red.
Marth smiled and said "She is in the gardens with Soren."
Roy turned to leave but was stopped by a hand on his shoulder. "Good luck." he heard his brother whisper. With a final blush, Roy broke free of his brother's grip and ran to the gardens.
"Oy!" Roy yelled as he took a step onto the dewy grass of the garden Butterflies fluttered lazily in the shade of the leafy trees. The small pond in the center of the clearing rippled as a fish snatched an unsuspecting bug. Near the pond, a small boy sat on a rock, reading a thick book. He was small for his age with long black hair tied back in a braid. He looked up at the sound of Roy's shout. Though the garden was peaceful and lush Roy had never been fond of it; the teenage prince preferred to explore the wood along the palace with his bother.
"Hello Roy are you and Marth going to be sparring today?" the young servant boy asked Roy.
"I think not Soren." replied Roy. "Have you seen Elincia?"
Soren smiled and answered "She just left. I believe she is in the stables." Roy blushed and thanked the servant and ran to find Elincia.
As he ran, Roy went over what he was planning to say to Elincia through his head one more time. As he approached the stables he slowed down to open the door. "Elincia?" the stables were damp and cold on the warm morning and the smell of dung was overpowering.
"Oh Roy! Would you like to take a ride with me?" Roy knew the voice ,it was the young lady Elincia. As she answered she turned to see Roy. Elincia's long green hair matched her emerald green eyes. Her gown was orange and drageed the floor.
"But of course. But if you don't mind me asking, where are you going?" Roy questioned Elincia.
"I don't mind a bit; I'm going to the market in Nevassa." Elincia answered.
Roy was surprised; Nevassa was a three day trip from Kakariko.
"Why such a long trip?" Roy felt wary going so far from the palace. Everybody knew that this was a dangerous time to travel. With the war going on, no one would think to make such a trip!
"I need to get some more coriander for the Queens soup. She won't eat it with out coriander! And she's already weak because the Senkinalis, you know that. So will you come with me?"
Roy was not looking forward to having to travel with the war but he knew he couldn't let Elincia go alone.