Just as they promised the two children met every day for the next 10 years rain or shine. Zane was quite impressed with how quickly Adalaina picked up her training. It wasn't long after her 15th birthday that she began beating her master. In return for his training Adalaina taught him how to ride a horse so that he would have a step up on the competition when he began his squire training. The two became the best of friends and told each other everything.

Well almost everything. Adalaina never told him of the mark across her back since she could not comprehend it herself. Hasten had told her soon after her return to the house on her 8th birthday that she was a very special and different little girl. He said that every year he had been searching for a dragon guru who could help with her special condition. After promising never to tell a sole Hasten told her that the dragon had cursed her as they ran. Cursed them both actually. Due to the curse she had a scar with the shape of wings on her back that grew every year. This made it very hard to cover up. Especially in the summer. By her 18th birthday the mark had grown to the size of a full pair of wings and she knew it would not be long before someone noticed it. Hasten also told her that the guru claims that her unusual strength and speed came from the curse and that the bracelet he gave her would help her control such things. She never took it off

-Adalaina's 18th birthday-

A knock on my door startled me from my day dream.

"Adalaina. Dinner."

"Coming father."

Looking at myself in the mirror I straitened my dress and messed with my long locks. I still could never manage them properly. I do miss Karen, but I am happy she was able to find a husband so late in life. I let out a huff at the site of my dress.

"Pink. I hate pink"

Ever year father presented me with a pink gown. The only reason why I wear them now is because they are my mothers. My grandparents bring one each year for me to wear, and other than a few hemming's and patches they fit perfectly. My mother and I were just a like. Or so I am told. With one last brush I slipped on a pair of heels and pranced down the stairs to greet my grandparents.

"Papa. Mima."

"Darling, you look beautiful." My grandmother hugged me tightly as I saw a small tear drop from her eye.

She cried every time she saw me in a gown that had belonged to my mother. I wish I had known her.

"Are you hungry?"

I asked her the same thing every year. And every year I got the same response.

"Famished my darling, thank you."

Dinner again was the same every year. Don't get me wrong. I love seeing my grandparents but since I only see them one week out of the year it is the same thing each year. I tell them about all my new friends and how my old friends are doing. They tell me about the farm and what crops will be good to stock up on. Family stories are traded and we retire to the den where coffee and cake are served. Thought this year there were no presents. Which was odd. They always gave me something that was my mother's when she was my age. That was when I remembered that my mother was married at 17. Everything she owned I had.

"No presents this year?"

The laughed as they sat down and Charise the maid filled them a cup of coffee.

"Of course there are dear. Just nothing that you can have right now. "

Grandmother paused as she took a sip, nodding to Charisse that the coffee was perfect she continued.

"Your grandfather and I have decided that this year's present will be a dowry." Raising a hand to stop my father from talking she continued. "I know it is customary for the father but we so want to give her a good dowry so that she can find a husband soon. We are also getting older and have no need for many of the things that we own. So upon marriage Adalaina will receive 10 head of cattle, 15 pigs, 20 sheep, 300 gold coins, 6 hand sown blankets, and her great grandmother's wedding ring. And upon our demise the house will be handed to her as a gift to our only grandchild."

I could not breathe. That was an amazing gift. I knew that my father had a large dowry set up for me in the first place. Most of it was my mother's jewelry along with my own horse and 500 gold. This would definitely allow me to marry most any man in town. Young or old. For some reason my head flickered the face of Zane, but I shook it out quickly.

"Thank you Mima. Papa." Hugging them both fervently I excused myself from the room. I had a training session I was late for.

"Does she ride every night?" Grandfather asked aloud after I left.

"Yes, she is quite diligent. It is most definitely why she is the best rider in town. Many a times I have had to stop her from challenging one of the king's guards to a race. She has such a spirit that one."

Father never knew that the challenges he was implying to were not ones of just horse racing. He never would know the truth behind my early nights in the stable.

After changing into a comfortable pants and loose shift I darted outside through the servants entrance and down the long hill. Soon seeing lights I was glad that Zane was able to get away. This past year was hard on him because he was at the end of his squire term and they were beginging tests for a knight.

"I was told by my aunt,
I was told by my mother
That going to a weddin'
Is the makings of another.
And if this be so then
I'll go without a biddin',
Oh kind providence
Won't you send me to a weddin''

"And it's Oh Dear Me! How will it be,
If I die an Old Maid in the Garret?"

I joined in on the last two verses. He loved singing that song to taunt me since I had yet to find a suitable husband. The truth is that no one that has purposed marriage has wanted me to be anything more than a glorified, un-paid maid. And I was just not ready to settle for that.

"Glad you could make it on such a glorious day."

I punched him in his left arm and as he grabbed for my hand I kicked his feet out from underneath him. Landing with a big *thunk* I laughed and offered him a hand.

"How do you expect to make knighthood if you can't even beat a girl."

After getting up and dusting off his pants he looked my strait in the eyes and responded with,

"You are no girl. I'm convinced of it."

I laughed as I looked him over once. He had sure grown up. Years of stable work built him a nice figure. 6'2" he stood almost a foot taller than me. Not that it ever stop me from taking him down a notch. He never really cut his dark brown hair so it always grew tangled in his eyes until I could pin him down with a sheathing knife. But those eyes were as sharp as ever. They looked like emeralds in the ground through his mess of a mop.

"So what is on the agenda for the day, sir knight." I mockingly bowed.

"I figured we would take horses into the woods and battle in that clearing that we found."

After I was 13 and the fights started getting a little more rough we had to move to a more secluded area. And even then we had to start changing areas because farmers would come looking for the source of the noise.

"Sounds good to me. Wanna race?"

I reached my tan stallion just in time since he had already mounted his own horse. Well it was technically my father's extra horse but I let him ride it.

Soon we were gallivanting through the woods laughing a trying to run each other off when I heard more hoof beats. Motioning a stop I took off my bracelet and listened closer. From about 20 yards away a gun sounded and dogs began to bark. I looked at Zane with wide eyes. The closer the hoofs and barking got the more skittish the horses acted. We took off towards the clearing that was just around some trees and waited. He dismounted and clasped the handle of his sword.

A man came galloping through the trees and jerked the horse to a halt in front of us. Too much of a halt and the horse spurred sending the man off the back and onto a fallen log. The horse took off leaving its rider and towards the sound of the dogs barking in the distance.

I jumped from my mount before Zane could stop me and ran to the man's aid. Knocked unconscious I searched for any signs of bleeding, but it looked like he had just bumped his head a little hard.

"Help me get him on my horse Zane."

"But what if he is a thief, or a rouge."

"I don't care. We can't just leave him here."

With that he hesitantly joined me and lifted him up after me onto Lightning. We took a slow gallop back to my house where Graven the man servant stood perplexed.

"Help me into the kitchen Graven. This man is unconscious."

Soon the two other servants and my family were standing around the kitchen table where a dusty stranger awoke.

"Wh-where am I?"

"You're safe. Your horse was spooked and threw you. I took you back to my father's house. Do you know your name?"

The man sat up slowly and looked around. He was tall and blonde with dark gravy brown eyes. They were deep and perplexing. He opened his mouth but a banging at the front door stopped him from speaking.

"Answer that Graven's"

My father pointed out the room and Gravens darted out quickly. We all followed slowly and there stood the royal guard.

"Mister Masters?"

A guard pointed directly at my father.

"Yes?"

"We have reason to believe that you have the Prince."

"The Prince?"

He began to protest but recognition came to his eyes as he glanced back into the kitchen and me in the doorway.

"Right this way."

Pointing them into the kitchen I scooted back over the table were the strange man sat.

"Prince Daniel. We are so glad we found you."

The knelt at the edge of the table and the man waved them up.

"You should be thanking this kind lady for saving me. I'm not sure how quickly you would have found me if not for her." Pausing he looked at me with a swoosh of his long blonde hair. "What is your name my fair lady?"

"Adalaina Sire. Adalaina Masters." I curtsied and kept my head down in respect.

The prince reached over and lifted my chin looking me strait in the eyes.

"No need for that. You saved my life. Also I don't ever want to have to look away from your beautiful eyes again."

I blushed and curtsied again. This time not leaving his eyes.

"Thank you sire."

He smiled a dashing smile and looked towards my father.

"You must join us for dinner tomorrow night. I will not have it any other way. I wish to introduce you and your lovely daughter to my father tomorrow night."

My father froze and could barely get out a nod before the Prince hoped down from the table.

"A carriage shall be here tomorrow at 5 to take you to the castle. I shall arrange for attire to be brought here in the morning." He paused for a second after glancing around the room. "Not that I do not think that you do not have such attire being that you are the highest paid smithy around, but I wish to bestow a gracious gift upon your entire family."

Stepping to my grandparents he shook hands with my grandfather and father and placed a kiss on my grandmother's hand. Then he turned towards me.

"To be continued my Lovely."

With a deep swoop he placed a gentle kiss on my extended hand and sent shivers across my back.

Throughout this whole time I did not notice a set of green eyes staring daggers into the princes back. I don't think I ever would have either since I never knew Zane's true feelings.