Chapter 1: My Horrible Life

Shirayuki's life was horrific.

But that was the life of a slave after all. She had to accept the facts and keep moving forward, no matter how hard it got. She had been a slave for over 9 years now. (She's 17 now)

She couldn't keep going like this, though.

So, she saw two options to end her fate.

She could end her life. It seemed so easy at times to just jump out a window or cut herself with a knife from the kitchen. Or she could jump in the lake during the winter. There were many ways to do it, but no matter how many times she thought about it she always found an excuse not to. The other option was to run away. She was terrified of it though. She tried before but was caught and beaten for it. She would probably be caught again any way so what was the point of trying.

She had many scars from whipping and burn marks from the chains around her arms and neck. She had hoped that she could be free soon. If I lived that long. She thought as she gasped. Her face landed in a man's cape. Great I tripped over my chains again.

The knight turned around and slapped her across the face. Shirayuki froze and quickly retreated back and hung her head respectfully. "My apologies" She murmured

The knight yanked harshly on her chains and she was forced forward. The long chain connecting t her neck and her wrists was dragging on the silky carpet.

Her "Master" was a rich noble around 18 years old named Shikito. He had bought Shirayuki at a slave market when she was 8. He had wanted her for her apple red hair and beautiful looks. She was decretive tool to him and she hated it. Once he thought she had cut her long hair and had whipped her severely for it, and he was even more ferrous when she showed him it was only tucked in her dress.

"Keep moving!" the knight yelled, snapping Shirayuki out of her thoughts. She was on her way to the dining room where there was a party being held. She was going to be shown off as a prize and was going to be the night's entertainment.

As she was pushed thought a door and her chains were handed to Shikito. He smiled down on her small figure and slowly made his way, pulling Shirayuki with him, to the head of the table. The group of high nobles stopped their chatter and stared at her.

She shifted her weight and stared at the ground, she never liked the attention. Her job was never hard though, just stand and be stared at nothing like the other servants. At least Shikito wanted her healthy, even if it was only to show her off. Then without warning two hands forced her to the ground, were her normal place was.

The party continued until there was a knock at the door and a messenger came into the dining room.

"Please excuse my interruption. My name is Sakaki, and I come from Prince Raji Shenazard, First Prince of Tanbarun. I have come to inform you, Shikito, to deliver that red-hair girl to the castle to become Raji's new mistress." Shirayuki slowly looked up to see Sakaki glaring at the messenger.

"What do you mean…" Sakaki grumbled, "she is a girl of humble birth. She is not worthy of the Prince."

"Well Raji has other thoughts, you have a month to send her to the castle. Please excuse me." With that the man left.

Mistress? Shirayuki thought. Shikito sharply looked at her with hate and fear. She quickly averted her eyes and braced herself for a punishment of some sort. As she thought, she was met with a hard glove across the face. With that the party ended.

Later that week

Shirayuki took a deep breath and lifted her gaze to a small broken mirror. As she examined her body she found many new scars up her arms and back. It was all from Shikito's anger of losing her, and was now treating her worse than before. Although he left her face alone.

It was time. Shirayuki thought. Tonight's the night I'm leaving! Shirayuki had a stash of food and medicine hidden with the help of the other servants. They helped her some much and she wished she could repay them for their help. They even said they would cover for her after she left. With her quick goodbyes she leaped out the window.

And so, she ran.

******Several Days Latter********

"Whoa!" The call stirred Izana. He looked up from his reports just as the carriage halted forward. The horses whinnied and the sound of their hooves stopped.

Izana's servants stopped as well. "What happened?" He stood and opened the carriage door sticking his head out. "Excuse us! There's a… um…. a…" an attendant stuttered looking back at Izana. "It's a girl. She has collapsed on the road in front of the carriage.

"A girl?" Izana stood and walked forward until he saw a young women lying directly in front of the horses. Her body was thin and her attire was falling apart. Izana's eyes were drawn to the girls bright red hair, which was tangled and dirty. Her head was faced away and she wasn't moving. Izana moved close and saw a chain tangled around her neck and wrists.

"Your Majesty, I think she's a slave." One of his aids pointed out, pointing out her chains.

"So she is." Izana looked around. They were at the bottom of a small ravine; she must have tripped and fallen. He couldn't see her chest move. "Is she still alive?"

One of his aids put his hand in front of her nose. He nodded. "Her breathing is slow but she's alive"

"What should we do with her?" Someone asked. "Well she's obviously a runaway slave. We should return her home.

"Hold on." Izana held up a hand. He knelt down and carefully too the hand of the slave girl and pulled her arm towards him. He examined her arm to see a series of cuts and scars. The sight annoyed him. This is why there were no slave in Clarines. The idea of slavery sickened him.

He noticed an area on her skin which was shimmering near a cut. He stuck out a finger and felt a sticky like gloop and smelled of… grass? "What is this?" he asked his attendant.

The man took a step forward and examined the substance. "Your Highness It's a poultice. The herbalist at the castle gave it to some of the men who got cuts during practice."

"Interesting" Izana smiled. Finally, he stood. "Aright. We'll take her back to Claines with us."

"What? Why?" His servants asked.

"I'd like to test my brother one more time, if you don't mind." Izana said with a sly grin. "Besides. If she possesses talent in the medical field, she shouldn't put those to waist. And she obviously doesn't want to return home." Izana added.

"Will she survive the trip?" One aid asked, looking over her extremely thin frame.

"We're only a few hours away from the castle. We can give her some water and food before we start heading back." Another one said.

As they settled into the carriage Izana's lazy smile melted as he stared out the window, at the trail the girl was on. I need Zen to understand the rulings of our neighboring countries. This girl may help him do that.

Authors Note- Hay, this is only my second story and I have to give credit to another person for the idea and I don't own any characters. Please review to receive more chapters or any ideas! Thanks