AN: Ok onto the story, I hope you all enjoy it!

Chapter 1

Five months earlier

Sakura's eyes opened and slowly adjusted to the streams of sunlight coming through her curtains. She glanced at her door as a light knock traveled through the large and ornamented wood. "Lady Sakura?" A voice called softly, "Your father has requested you down in the dining hall for breakfast, are you awake?"

Sakura scoffed quietly at the mention of her father. Never before had he requested her presence at breakfast, or most any other meals for that matter besides dinner recently. Her father was a lord of great importance in the land they lived in. He ruled over it with an iron, yet gentle fist that was respected but not quite admired. Sakura's mother had died long ago, when she was only a child. She remembered loving her mother greatly because of her kind and ever-giving nature. Her death had made the castle and its inhabitants dull. There had even been a noticeable change in the servants, as though a shining light had flickered and died, leaving sadness in its absence.

"My Lady?" The servant spoke again.

"Yes, yes, I'm awake." Sakura said, pulling herself to her feet. The door opened and several maids came in to assist Sakura to get ready. They combed her long, pink hair (inherited from her mother) and pinned it back so it wouldn't hang in her face. They brought out different dresses until Sakura decided on a simple, red dress with white decoration.

She made her way down the many halls, admiring the architecture of years of labor. The stonework, however cold it may have seemed, was home to her, and she loved it. These walls had protected her and kept her under wraps for seventeen long years. Her footsteps echoed off of them like a melodious tune, played only for her ears, as she was the only one willing to find beauty in the thing that most found gloomy.

She came to the part of the castle she had been looking for- grand, double doors with intricate carvings that told the stories of the castles history. As a child, Sakura would sit in front of these doors and stare and their beauty. Though at the time she hadn't understood what they meant, it had fascinated her to no end. She knocked on the doors which would lead her into the dining hall and they were opened nearly on queue. She walked through them and saw the long dining table laden with numerous delicacies. Her father sat at the far end, staring at her with a hint of humor in his grey eyes (something Sakura had failed to inherit since her eyes were a sea foam green color).

The large room was lavishly decorated with paintings and ornamental pieces. Guards stood in every corner, and two on either side of her father. He offered her a smile as she came closer to the table.

"Daughter of mine, dear Sakura, will you not give me the pleasure of your company this very fine morning?" The lord spoke in his strange, calming tone.

"Of course, father." Sakura said, taking her place at the opposite end of the table, "But to what do I owe this invitation of yours?"

Her father was thoughtful for a second, his grey eyes turning upward towards the high ceiling as if he might find his answer written there. When he spoke, his voice was contemplative, as if trying to dance around a touchy subject. "I suppose I don't really have a decent answer, Sakura, besides a father wishing to see his daughter's face as it rises with the sun."

Sakura nearly scoffed and the corny reason, but bit her tongue. What has stopped you from ever wanting that before? Sakura thought bitterly to herself. "Fair enough, Father, I am always here to do as you wish."

Sakura's father mumbled something nearly inaudible. I wonder about that. He clapped his hands twice and two servants came to serve Sakura. "Dear daughter, it has been far too long since we have enjoyed a breakfast together. Tell me of how your days are going. How go your studies?"

"Well, Father." Sakura began. She would not speak too freely about the subject, as it wasn't the place of a female to have as much knowledge as she did. "I am learning of the trades of herders at the moment."

A well planned lie. She knew much about animal stock as it was, but in honesty, she had been reading a book on the history of the Celts and the creation of their Book of Kells (the history book hidden carefully beneath a floorboard under her bed. It was forbidden for her to know too much about any subject.

Although women weren't allowed to become scholars, ladies of the land were required to know some of the history of the country. How life was to be run by the nobles was also taught. Most schooling ended for children at the age of thirteen or fourteen, but Sakura had begged her father to allow her to continue on, claiming she didn't have the correct amount of knowledge to be sufficient as a lady of the land. He had obliged to her fallacy, not want to be disgraced by a daughter of lesser knowledge. Over the next few years, her father began to just allow Sakura to study as she wished, assuming it would be for the bettering of the land. Little did he know she privately studied history, sciences, mathematics, and literature. But to learn scholarly topics was not the only reason for her secrecy…

"An interesting topic!" Her father broke Sakura from her reverie with his outburst and continued, "What can you tell me that might be of interest to our land?"

Caught off guard, Sakura thought quickly, coming up with a foolproof answer less than a second later, "I've learned the importance correct animal separation, and the issues that may arise if too many of one animal are kept in the same area."

They spoke for a while on the subject of livestock, and Sakura could tell her father was impressed with the depth of her understanding. She reigned in her growing pride and ended the discussion with a few final notes. "And that's why merchants have been hesitant to buy livestock from east of the river."

"Well done, Sakura, you may have helped us to make necessary changes in our breeding." Her father said with an admiring smile.

Sakura's stomach knotted painfully. Her father didn't seem to dislike her, as she had thought for so many months of disinterest. There just happened to be more pressing issues in the land rather than talking to her. "I'm glad, father," She said with a light smile, "I'll watch over these lands some day, I better be prepared."

"Indeed!" The lord said. He clapped his hands as servants came to remove plates and dishes. "Sakura, I must attend to other matters right now. I will see you at supper, I trust?"

"Yes, father, you will see me there." Sakura said, almost looking forward to the affair.

"Excellent, then you are dismissed, dearest." The king answered as he himself exited the dining hall.

Sakura made her way back to her room and set to reading from one of her many history books. She poured over the text for the next 2 hours, only stopping when a light knock interrupted her mid-sentence. Sakura sighed softly and marked her book, tucking it away before telling the visitor to enter.

The same maid from the morning walked in and bowed. "Sorry, my lady, I just wanted to know if you were still to be expected at the stable today." She spoke softly, never making eye-contact.

Sakura, in all honesty, had completely forgotten that today was a day she had set aside to ride. "Maylene, first, don't be so timid, you've known me my whole life." She said with a smile, "Second, yes, please alert the stable keeper to my arrival in a half hour."

With another bow, the servant exited the room to allow Sakura some privacy to change and get ready. Sakura went to her closet and searched for appropriate outfit.

Fifteen minutes later, Sakura left her room and headed towards the Western exit of the castle. She wore a dark brown riding dress that had a slit up the front so she could sit more comfortably on her horse (she had the slit concealed for now, of course). Underneath she wore red pants (how a lady came about a pair of pants was not something she shared openly) and a pair of brown riding boots. She moved quickly down the final corridor and pushed passed the large Western exit.

She walked down the winding path that took her by numerous servant homes, gardens, and two of their orchards. As a child, she used to run through the orchards in the late summer, when the fruit was ripe and delightfully fragrant. It was spring now, and the blossoms were in full bloom- the cherry blossoms were her favorite to look at. She walked on still as the path turned from stone to dirt, the stable in sight, as well as a blond head bobbing through the stalls.

"Naruto!" She exclaimed as she came closer. The blond turned in surprise as a grin cracked across his face.

"Sakura! They told me you were coming, I'm so glad to see you!" He exclaimed, laughing all the while. He came and hugged the girl, lifting and twirling her at the same time. "It's been a good few weeks since you came to see the horses, they've missed you."

Ah Naruto- one of the very few people she could truly trust in this world. He was tall and well built, with blond hair and blue eyes. She had known him nearly her entire life. Although their classes were far apart, she had still fallen in love with this boy when she was younger, only to have them both realize after a while that their relationship was closer to siblings than lovers. They gladly fell into a deep friendship and had remained that way ever since.

"I know, I know," Sakura said, starting towards the stables, "I've missed them as well!" They came to the first stall and Sakura gave a satisfied sigh at the sight of her own horse, Elletelle.

The horse nuzzled its nose into Sakura's hand as she stepped towards the beautiful, dun-colored horse. "She really has missed you!" Naruto said as he opened the stall to let bring the horse out. Sakura went to the other stalls, petting and whispering to each of the horses as she went.

She came to the last stall which held a black beauty. The horse came and put its head to Sakura's. "Hello, my darling boy," She whispered softly, "Have you missed me?" This horse, Nightshade, was the wildest horse Sakura had ever come across. He bucked all off except for her. He was like the night itself- a mystery, ever evading, and enveloping. Sakura kissed his nose softly.

The horse gave a snort, causing Sakura to laugh. "Hey, leave Nightshade be and come ride Elletelle," Naruto said, also laughing, "She's been dying to see you for a long time."

Sakura came and mounted her horse, not paying attention to Naruto's blush as he noticed the slit in her dress. He mumbled something about ladies and being proper but Sakura only giggled. "I'll see you in a bit, Naruto!"

"Hey, I packed bread and dried meat in the saddle in case you get hungry!" He called after Sakura. She raised a hand in thanks as she rode out into the acres of land.

The wind whipped her face as she galloped across the land, taking in the beauty all the while. The air was crisp, the sun was bright, and the world was alive. They ran towards the southern acreage, where a dark forest loomed. Sakura slowed Elletelle to a trot as they came to a stream. She got off and allowed her horse to drink from the stream, walking to the edge of the forest herself. It was dark and ominous, but Sakura had always been fascinated by the way it pulled her towards it. She had heard fantastic stories of beasts and fairies that lived within its depths, as well as tales of the mystical lake buried in its center.

After eating the bread and dried meat Naruto had packed for her, she remounted Elletelle and headed back towards the stable. She thought of how one day she'd gain the courage to walk into the forest and search for the mystical lake for herself.

She rode into the stable and gave her horse over to Naruto, who said he'd come visit her later in the week. Sakura departed feeling much more calm and at peace than she had a few hours before. She walked back to her room and changed back into her original dress, shooing away the maids that tried to get her into a different dress.

It's later than I thought it was Sakura thought as she looked out at the falling sun. It cast an orange glow across the girl's face and warmed her senses. I must hurry then.

Sakura left her room and walked towards another part of the castle. After nearly 15 minutes of walking through corridor after corridor and climbing several staircases, she found herself looking at a tapestry of a young woman. The woman looked hopefully up as a tear was sliding down her cheek, a young babe in her loving embrace. Sakura gazed a second at the tapestry before casting a quick glance around the halls. Finding no one, she slipped behind the tapestry and felt for a door handle. She turned the handle and pushed gently on the secret doorway, entering into a room filled with light and color.

The room was a tower. It was circular, high ceilinged, with stained glass and plain windows covering the walls intermittently across the entirety where solid stone wall should be. Purples, greens, yellows, blues, reds, and every other imaginable color were reflected around her and off of the basic furniture as the dying sun shone through it. She walked to one of the plain windows and looked out across her father's land- her land- with awe. The fields were painted in orange and pink, while the forest in the distance turned a dark purple. She had found this room while her mother was still alive, it was her little secret- not even her own father knew it was here. It was her escape, the one place she could be dead to the world while still inside the castle walls. When her mother had died, she had come here often to feel close to her. Now she came only a few times a week to watch the true beauty of the land be revealed with the sunset… Or when she truly needed to be alone.

"I don't think I'll ever tire of this view." Sakura said to herself. She stayed like that for a while, watching the sun set below the horizon, before she left the room and headed towards the dining hall to meet her father.

I lead a good life Sakura thought, reflecting on the day. Boring, but good. She had dreamt of adventure, and in her younger years had played all sorts of adventure games with Naruto. Perhaps someday.

She entered the dining room once more and picked up conversation once more with her father. She relished the feeling of having someone to talk to once more. He spoke of the work he'd been conducting with the city merchants regarding the breeding. He didn't fail to leave out how Sakura herself had aided in that process.

"My daughter, you will be a great ruler some day." He said finishing his plate of food. "With your advise, the land will flourish."

They chatted a while longer, the lord speaking of other business affairs and how they could be expecting a visit from a neighboring lord soon.

"Thank you for your presence, Sakura." The lord said as he stood to leave.

"It was good to dine with you again, father." Sakura said as she too stood.

Her father came and grasped her shoulders, giving her a light squeeze. A flash of some emotion came upon his face but was gone before Sakura could identify it. He then smiled and spoke. "I will see you in the morn, daughter, sleep well."

He left the room and walked towards his chambers. Sakura left her room, accompanied by a few maids who would help prepare her for bed. Another boring day in the life of a lady. She thought sourly, yet she couldn't help but feel slightly satisfied. Boring, but good. She thought once more as she was lead into her room.

AN: Hello everyone! If you've made it this far and are crying your eyes out from boredom, please don't despair! It will get interesting, I promise, I just had to lay a little groundwork before I did anything too drastic. A few things of note though: one, I like to leave peoples outfits and personal appearance (beyond the basics that I mention) up to the reader. I really dislike spending half a chapter writing (or reading) about what a characters shoes look like. So please, interpret how you will! Second, although I don't mind the Naruto/Sakura pairing, this isn't a story for them, it's Sasuke/Sakura… AND IT WILL COME, I SWEAR. Third, the circle room is really difficult for me to put into words without it taking up a page. Just as long as you understand that it's a circular room that doesn't have walls but instead has windows, you'll be golden. Oh and some of the windows are stained glass.

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This is KIND OF what I was thinking except make the ceiling taller, the room circular, and add plain windows… yeah.

OK that's it I think! I hope you all enjoyed it, and are excited for the next chapter which should be up soon. Expect a little more ground work and then I'll start getting interesting! Thanks for reading!