A Changing World

A Dragon Slippers FanFiction

Hey people! I am still alive. I know, it's been forever since I have updated, but I have been kinda busy.

Anyways, thanks to Guest for my one review! Maybe this chapter could get two? ;)

Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Slippers, only some of the plot!

Chapter 2

I whistled merrily as I strolled down the avenue, the glare of the half set sun fading away into the glimmering silver of stars and moonlight. This was always my favorite time to walk, when the day creatures have gone to sleep and the animals of the night have yet to rise. It is one of the rare, silent, peaceful moments in a city with thousands of people.

I was just trying to find the constellation Jylla when I heard bickering around the corner. Hiding in shadows, I heard what seemed like a young women, with a faint northern accent.

"I haven't got a home, sir." I paused; she sounded nice enough. Why didn't she have a home?

"Vagrant, are you?" I winced, hearing the gruff sound of the head night man's voice. He would take a toddler into jail for taking a cookie out of the cookie jar. I wondered whether I should come to the maiden's rescue.

"Er, no. I've only just arrived in King's Seat. I'm looking for work, but haven't found the cloth-workers' district-"

"So you don't have work or a home? I'll have to take you in for violating curfew." I groaned. Seriously? She was obviously just in from the country; she probably hadn't even heard of the curfew until now. I had heard that it took a while for news like that to spread up north.

"Please, I don't understand," she pleaded. Her voice was a pleasant alto. "I've only just arrived; what is this about a curfew?"

Okay, it was probably time to help.

"What town are you from? The curfew, girl, the curfew!"

Oh geez, night man was getting angry.

The girl just looked at him blankly, so he continued. "The curfew 'til the crown prince's wedding!"

"What?" she replied looking more confused than ever.

I stepped out of the shadows. "Can I help?" I asked in what I hoped was a charming way. They both turned towards me, and I had to hold in a gasp.

The girl was beautiful. Her hair was amazingly straight, and the golden color of sunshine in summer shimmered down its length. Her eyes were as clear as the sky on a frigid winter day, snow and ice creeping in around the edges, making her eyes deeper colored around the pupils until they faded into an ice blue. There was a cute spattering of freckles across her face and arms, and they highlighted the bold colors in her eyes.

She was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen.

The night man pounded his fist to his chest in salute and said, "Your Highness!", shaking me out of my revelry. The poor girl looked even more confused.

"Another one?" she busted out, then stared at me in horror, as if she just realized how rude that might sound to some royals.

"Another one?" I questioned, then busted out laughing, putting two and two together. "Don't tell me you're the maid that faced off with Amalia this afternoon? The one she claimed tried to assassinate her lapdog?" She turned bright red and hid her face in her hands. I immediately felt sorry for her. What a rough first day in the city.

"Oh no, had the entire city heard that story? I wasn't trying to kill her dog! I swear!" I grinned. She acted like she was talking to a friend, not a prince, and it made me feel like I could trust her. I decided to have a little bit of fun with her.

"Oh, this is too wonderful. Did you hear that, Tobin?" I looked over my shoulder to where the big Moralienin was lurking in the shadows. My grin widened as I saw the girl and the night man flinch. Tobin's hulking figure was quite intimidating.

He was huge, taller than most men, me included, which is really saying something, as I am taller than most people I come across. Blue tattoos ran up his bare arms and across his scalp, and gold rings dangled from his ears. He had been my body guard for as long as I could remember, and I had long since learned that he looked much, much worse than he normally acts.

He laughed soundlessly, as he was a mute, and then looked at the girl with his kind blue eyes, shooting me a glance that said, have you seen this girl? She has spunk, brains, and beauty. I rolled my eyes.

Of course, the night man started being an idiot again. "This is the person who attacked the Roulani princess? I shall take her into custody at once." Okay, this guy was seriously starting to get on my nerves. He reached towards the girl, and she danced out of them way clumsily. I smiled. It made her seem more human.

"I didn't attack her! She was only…" She trailed off, and I could tell that she was rethinking what she was going to say. It was probably something along the lines of being a spoiled brat, but you know, could be anything. "It was a misunderstanding." There you go, already learning what to say and what not to say. Clever girl.

"Yes, yes," I said, waving my hands around tiredly. "My brother was quite satisfied that no harm was meant."

Suddenly, bells began to peal across the city. I winced; Father hated it when I was out past curfew.

"Its curfew, your Highness," the night man said, a trifle unnecessarily in my opinion. I saw the girl visibly pale. It tweaked at my heart.

"Indeed it is," I replied, trying to keep the mood light. "So I had best escort this young lady to her lodgings. Carry on there, guardsmen." I took the girls arm and led her down the street. I was taking her to the inn owned by Tobin's sister, but she didn't ask where we were going. The young woman was frozen with shock and relief, and seemed incapable of speech at the moment.

She had an air of innocence and vulnerability about her, yet she also exuded cleverness and strength. There was something strangely captivating about her, and I intended to find out what it was.

So, did I do good? Please let me know!

~Boogalee