YAY another chapter completed PLEASE Review ill love you forever + Penelo and Vaan ROCKKKK

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Penelo didn't like the boy's almost cocky posture and took a voluntarily step back. But her anxiety was calmed as Vaan stepped up in front of her, closing the gap in between her and the stranger. Suddenly the boy chuckled.

"My, my how touching. Better get out of the way you vermin; no one stops me from what I want. Do you have any idea who I?" the teen inquired.

Vaan tensed up but replied coolly. "I don't care and don't look at her that way," The boy howled in laughter and snapped his fingers. From behind him two heavily armored guards came clanking up to stand beside him.

"Prince Esca, your commands," One of them asked. The prince eyed Vaan slowly, disgust visible in his features. "Take him away," He ordered.

Penelo gasped and held onto Vaan's arm tightly. But her hand lost grip as the guards rushed towards Vaan and began to drag him away. Vaan put up a fight but the guards overpowered him easily.

"Vaan!!!" Penelo yelled, but before she could aid him the prince cupped her chin tightly and forced her back.

"Such a beautiful girl, become my bride," The prince announced.

Penelo struggled in his iron grip. "No! Vaan!" she cried. The prince thought only for a second before he offered. "If you grace my palace today, ill make sure your friend there will be safe,"

Penelo had no choice but to agree.

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The guards grunted as they threw Vaan into an abandoned alley, he sagged against the stony wall and sunk down onto the musky ground. The guards smirked.

"Stay away boy, or you'll be in even more trouble," One of them spoke and with a nod to his partner they stomped on their heels and were lost in the sunshine.

Vaan stood up; taking his arm he wiped away the blood stain on his cheek. The guards had delivered him quite a punch while trying to keep him in their grasp. It was foolish to fight against 2 royal guards; Vaan could have landed himself in deeper water so he purposely resisted the urge to fight back. All that mattered to Vaan was that right now Penelo was currently in the palace. And he had to get there.

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Penelo was led into the palace by the prince. As she walked tensely behind the swaying cape of his majesty she couldn't help but notice the dumbstruck stares of some of the maids and knights. Obviously they weren't used to such a common looking girl intruding on their upper class fineries. She stiffened a bit and tried to look proud, but the cold eyes were distinguishing the very thought. Moving about Penelo could see that the palace was a very large area, a place where she herself, a navigator would find hard to venture upon unless equipped with a map.

Suddenly the prince halted in front of her, and Penelo, distracted collided into his hard chest.

"Oww," she complained and started to rub the tender spot.

"You must be careful, my princess," Esca laughed and took hold of her arm. Penelo didn't bother to object his hold, the quicker he left her alone the better. Penelo had it planned out in her mind, when she had the slightest chance she would go search for the first clue and then escape to find Vaan. This was also the reason why she allowed herself to be whisked away to a foreign area. Normally she wouldn't stand up to some snobby prince and his demands, but the bargain present was a fair trade.

"Where are you taking me?" she asked.

"You not need to worry, today is a special event and there will be a palace dance. The maids inside will help you get ready," He answered and with a hand addressed the large entrance in front of her.

"I hope to see you there," His tone left no room for declination. With a wink Esca turned around and his dull footsteps started down the hall.

Penelo thought about making a mad dash for the nearest exit but then the large door in from of her opened and out came to young maids. They smiled brightly at her.

"Ah, you must be Penelo the prince had gushed about you and how we're suppose to treat you like a queen," one of the ladies told her while the other came and looped a arm in hers and practically dragged Penelo to the threshold of the room.

"Today is Prince Esca's 18th birthday and a royal ball is to be prepared and my lady you're very lucky. You're the guest of honour,"

The maids led her into the room and Penelo could see it was very spacious, even with all the beautiful furniture and abstract artwork neatly arranged inside.

"What are you going to do to me?" Penelo asked one of them who was bringing over a gold bowl of water.

One of the maids hurled in laughter. "My dear you make it seem like we're about to torture you! Heavens forbid! We're only here to doll you up love," she informed and then with a long finger she angled Penelo's face to stare straight into her lunar eyes.

"What a gorgeous girl! Esca made a very good choice this time. He's always bringing home girls, such a fickle lad,"

"I agree Kayline! Usually girls who are already in a relationship as well," The other maid interjected then she eyed Penelo with a playful grin. "Oh that reminds me who did he take you from?" she directed at her.

Penelo blushed ferociously and cast her eyes to the ground. Vaan she wanted to say but something made her choke back the words. The ladies giggled and patted her back.

"Don't worry we're use to girls coming and going or stolen back to their rightful loves," one told her.

"But right now we have a job to get you made up!"

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After the seeming endless torture of the "dressing up" process Penelo was shown to a mirror. She stood uneasy in front of the mirror; the image reflected at her was couldn't be her. While she did a double take on the elegant figure in the glass, the two maids stood triumphantly beside her both had huge smiles.

"You're stunning the prince will be pleased," Kayline praised. But Penelo still shifted awkwardly from foot to foot. The maids had decked her out in a gleaming dress embedded with shimmering beads and shear lacing. They had undid her common braids and styled it professionally to fame her petite face in wavy curls. To finish off the look and to strip her of her low social standings they coiled a magnificent silver necklace around her neck.

"Come! It's time for the party, Kayline will accompany you to the banquet in the main hall," One of the maids ordered then gave a nod to the other one.

Kayline gracefully opened the door and offered a hand towards Penelo. With a sigh, she accepted.

When they arrived at the banquet hall, Penelo could see that the whole room was filled with high class people all enjoying themselves. The hanging chandeliers created a warm and comfortable atmosphere for the many guests to just relax and mingle. But Penelo herself didn't feel like this was where she belonged. Never in her life has she had the honour of indulging in such riches and, well that didn't particularly matter to her.

As she gingerly cruised by the large tables packed with delicacies Penelo kept on noticing the many younger males stalking her with their greedy eyes. But their stares were swayed when the prince had finally spotted her. His smile was blinding as he strolled towards her.

"Ah! There you are," Esca gushed and then took her hands in his. He angled his head back gracefully and did a full inspection of her frame. "Always a beauty," He exclaimed then to Penelo's surprise he slowly caved in on her face, his lips aiming for hers.

"AHEM!"

Penelo was startled and craned her head to look over the prince's shoulder in which he had also noticed the interruption.

"Your majesty, the queen wishes to see you immediately, her grace awaits," the stranger informed.

This voice it's so familiar Penelo thought.

Esca reluctantly freed her from his grasp, and with a whisper of "ill be back" in her ear, he squared his shoulders and disappeared in the crowd.

To Penelo's surprise the messenger was still standing in front of her, eyeing her and then finally bursting into hushed laughs. She was taken back, she looked at the boy with annoyed eyes. She had noticed earlier that he had some type of masquerade mask on and the only visible feature of his face was his structured nose and blonde hair.

When his laughs seemed unattainable Penelo angrily stepped up closer to him and leaned in. The boy leaned back the opposite way, obviously surprised by her posture. When she was about 4 inches from his face, she stuck out her tongue and pulled a face.

"Hmph!" Penelo pouted. Then she turned around in a hurry to leave this situation but the boy had already placed a secure hand on her arm. Despite her struggle he tugged her towards his chest and wrapped his arms around her slim shoulders. Close to her ear, he whispered.

"It's me you dummy. Pretend we're dancing,"