Prologue: 10 years in the past.

Prince Daniel was sitting on his throne. For a 9 year old, he was more in touch with went on around him than others. It was only him and his two personal body guards. He was known throughout many kingdoms that he was the strongest young boy there was. Within the year, he would be old enough to join the royal military and then he would experience a real battle. It was the longest lasting traditions through his kingdom that the prince should be in the royal military for at least 3 years before he is given the throne. The Prince, unless his parents were to die, wouldn't be allowed to ascend to the throne until he was 20 at least. The prince found himself sitting in this room a lot lately and just to let his mind wander. "Sire, I hear rumors of the castle of Aqua being stormed tonight." His most trusted body guard said as he was getting tired of his prince just coming in here and sitting. The silence was almost deafening.

The Prince looked to his right, at his body guard. His statement brought Daniel out of his thoughts and into new ones. The Aqua Kingdom was the closest kingdom to theirs. From the castle, it would only be a day's journey if traveled by horse. His parents, the King and Queen, had befriended the Aqua King and Queen. They had even had a daughter that Daniel was friends with. The princess there didn't know it yet, for she was only 7 years of age, but they were betrothed and were to marry when they had both become of age. If, of course, Prince Daniel could win the Princess's heart in that time. "Does my father know of this?"

The guard shook his head. "They are only rumors and I didn't know if they were true or not."

The prince looked at his other guard. "Go and tell my father of this. He may be able to get in touch with them if the rumors are true, then the king and Queen will be safe and so will my princess." The guard, known as Jake, had nodded and left to find the King. Daniel then turned to his more trusted guard. "You are to go and ride by horse to their castle. If it is true, then you are to find the princess and make sure she is safe."

"Yes Sire."

"If she is with her body guard, then you shall work with them. I want to see her tomorrow alive and well. Their guards will know that you are my guard and will help. Now go. There is no time to lose."

"Yes Sire." The prince's most trusted and most faithful guard, named Cody, started for the door. As his guard left, the prince stood and decided that he needed to see his mother. She had found out that she was pregnant a month ago and he started to be around her more. He felt some sort of connection with the baby growing inside her but couldn't understand it yet.

Cody had arrived at the palace with an hour or two to spare as he saw the people beginning to riot and gather in the village closest to the castle. He had time to warn the king and Queen if they hadn't already been warned and he had time to take the princess back to his prince's castle as he was ordered to, if he wanted to that is. He found the secret getaway door at the back of the castle and had gotten in and waited until night fall to do anything. This night would be one to celebrate for Cody. All was going to happen as planned."

"Good Night sunshine. Sweet dreams." Her mother told her as she left the table to go to bed. Her body guard Ross followed her to her room and stayed there until she had fallen asleep. He then closed the balcony door and closed the curtains as he was supposed to after the princess fell asleep. Ross went out of the room to the kitchen to now eat his dinner and sleep.

It was about an hour later and the princess was fast asleep dreaming wonderful dreams when the sound of an explosion went off. She sat up, not wide awake and with fear running through her, she went to the balcony to see what was going on. When she saw the flames being set on her castle, she panicked and ran back to her bed's safety and under the blanket. She started hearing yelling from outside. Small three and four letter words she only heard the guards use were now echoing in her she unwillingly listened to the outside, she heard footsteps coming down the hall, echoing throughout the hallway and getting louder and heavier as they sped up. They stopped outside of her door and her door busted open. "Princess!" It was Ross. He sounded worried and he quickly walked over to her bed. With her blanket wrapped around her, Ross picked her up into his arms and started heading out the door. "Princess, we must get you to safety. Your castle is under attack." Princess Clair opened her eyes wide open. Did she hear him right? Under attack? By who? She wanted the answers but he couldn't make a sound, as her body was still mostly paralyzed with fear."Your parents." He paused and then looked around the corner they approached to make sure it was safe. "Are dead."

Now she found the ability to speak. "What?" She asked as tears started to form in her eyes. Her parents are dead? It couldn't be. It was impossible.

"I must get you to safety. You are to live with your mother's sister. She isn't well known and lives on the out skirts of the kingdom. You will be safe there. The King and Queen of Mel will be contacted by your aunt tomorrow." He was running down the halls. When they were almost to the secret exit, someone came around the corner. "Cody, Thank goodness you're here." Ross had a sigh of relief when he realized that it was Prince Daniel's guard that was the man in front of them. "Is it safe out there? Is the horse ready?"

"Oh, it's ready but it's not safe for you. Not out there, not even in here." Ross looked confused at Cody until he saw the gun in his hand as he raised it up. "Good bye Body guard." He said as he shot Ross in the neck, causing a fatal wound. As Ross fell to the floor, Princess Clair was dropped and she scooted to the nearest wall so her back was against the wall. She was curled up in the fetal position trying to protect herself. Her personal body guard was just killed trying to save her. "And hello princess Clair." He said smugly. His smirk was deadly, it seemed to Clair. "Don't worry, if you cooperate with me, you will see the daylight of tomorrow and even a few years after that." He held out his hand to pull her to her feet but Clair just looked at it. "Come on, your'e a princess. You can't be shy." Clair looked into his eyes. He was evil. She could tell that but there was something different about him. She hesitantly took the out reached hand and he, not so genitally, pulled her up. "My name is Cody."

Darkness came over her after he spoke those words. Cody took the unconscious girl out the secret doorway and got on his horse. They rode to his small house on the border to the two kingdoms and gave her to his house maid. She then put her on the top bunk of the bed as she slept on the bottom bunk.

Prince Daniel woke to a gleam of sunlight coming through his curtains and his thoughts immediately went to the safety of his princess. He sat up in his bed and quickly dressed. He went to his most trusted guard who was in the dining room. He looked pitiful. This wasn't helping the prince's hope. "Cody." He said in a demanding tone.

"I'm sorry sire. The rumors were true and I got there after it had started. Jake said that he couldn't find the King until late that night but it was too late. I had looked all over for the princess but couldn't find her. I did however find her bodyguard who had gotten shot in the neck. He had lost lots of blood and was quickly dying. The people who stormed the castle can't seem to find her either. There is no trace of her. I'm sorry I didn't get there in time." He bowed his head at his prince. Prince Daniel didn't like this news but it gave him some hope that his princess was still out there. She was just waiting for him to save her.