Author's Note: This is just the prologue for a multi-chapter fic. I've started a blog for some of the details and inspiration for my stories. If you're interested, please check out the link in my profile. Oh, and if you find any typos or mistakes, please feel free to let me know. :)

Vapour out.

Jane stared out the window and tried not to think about how uncomfortable the carriage was or the purpose for their journey. Instead, she thought about the comforting weight that leaned against her.

She glanced down at Lavinia, a smile forming on her face. The princess had been lulled into sleep by the swaying of the carriage and the rhythmic clopping of the horses' feet. For a minute, she didn't mind that she was trapped inside instead of riding a horse.

The late afternoon sun flashing between the trees drew her gaze back out the window. The beauty of it all was lost on her—she focused instead on detecting movement within the forest. Their kingdom had never been afflicted with many robbers and brigands—rumors of a terrible, fire-breathing dragon tended to keep people of such repute away—but as they drew closer to the border, the fears would subside and temptation would win.

If she craned her head—not too far, for fear she would wake Lavinia—she could just make out her father, riding alongside the carriage. His shoulders were slumped as if he carried the weight of the kingdom on them. In a way, he did.

Jane let out a soft sigh. If only…

There were so many if onlys, enough to fill the entire castle twice over.

Sweat trickled down her spine, reminding her that the carriage was hot and stuffy, and the dress she had been forced to wear didn't help the matter any. She tried not to squirm—the princess hadn't been sleeping well of late, and Jane didn't want to wake her.

She glanced down and was surprised when she met the princess's dark eyes. "Oh, Princess. You are awake."

Lavinia sat up and nodded. Her face was grim—she hadn't smiled in days, ever since she heard the news. "Where are we?"

Jane looked out the window, as if all the answers she sought could be found amongst the trees. "We are close to the border, Princess. We will be stopping soon. Then we must pass through another kingdom before we arrive."

The two women fell silent.

After several long minutes, Lavinia spoke again. "I am frightened, Jane."

Jane looked over at the younger girl. Her hands were clasped so tightly in her lap they had turned white. Her face nearly matched, the effect multiplied by the face powder she had begun wearing not even three moons ago.

The squire didn't know what to say and so she said nothing.

"I wish Cuthbert were still alive."

Jane nodded. "As do I, Princess."

If only…

She studied Lavinia, remembering the joyful days long gone, when the princess had wanted nothing more than to be a dragon, a knight, a legend. When she had been as old as the princess was now, thirteen with the whole world before her. When none of them had had a care in the world.

Now their cares had caught up with them, forcing them to grow up and face a world they weren't familiar with.

Jane was a knight—well, a squire—and she knew why she had to grow up. But the princess… Still just a child, but this cruel twist of fate had stolen her childhood from her.

She let out another sigh and turned her gaze back to the window. "We will reach the inn soon, Princess."

If only…