Hello all! I'm so happy you have found your way back to my story! I hope you enjoy the first chapter of the actual story!

Special Thanks to:

Fan or Follower-I'm so glad that you think so! I hope I don't disappoint!

SerendipityAEY- He makes a wonderful daddy doesn't he? *le sigh* I just love imagining it! BTW I love your story! I hope to see Elmont a daddy in your story as well! ^.^

Stargazer197- Thank you my dear! I really hope you like this chapter!

Chapter One: Isn't is a Bit Early for War?

The day my life changed was a day, just like any other day. I woke up and went about my chores in the palace. The rays of sunshine filter through the windows creating a peaceful environment. And despite my hate for waking up early, I know that if I'm not polishing the statues at precisely 6:01 in the morning, that I would miss sneaking a glance the Captain of the King's Guard, Captain Elmont. I heave a soft sigh as I grab the polish and a cloth and head to my current task.

'Ah, there he is... right on time as usual.'

I allow the furious scrubbing of the armor to slow for just a moment to admire him. He is tall with stormy blue gray eyes and red hair that always looks purposely disheveled, almost a bit roguish.

"Ella!"

I jerk out of my daydream and turn sharply to see Hilda. Due to my jerky movements I hit the armor and it sways precariously in its stand.

"Stop dawdling! We have a lot to do today!"

"I'm not dawdling!" I exclaim in offense.

"Problem ladies?" comes the smooth voice of Sir Elmont from behind me.

I whip around to face the captain.

"No sir!" exclaims Hilda, flustered by his prescience before glaring at me, as if this is my fault...

"No," I murmur cooly, "Not a problem at all."

Hilda elbows me in the side.

"Sir," I amend sending him a small curtsy.

"Very good," he nods.

….

"Are you telling me that used you to get up early just to get a look at me?" questions my husband smugly with a sly smile at me.

"Oh hush you! As I was saying," I reprimand.

…

After Sir Elmont had turned around and continued on his way I turn back to Hilda.

"Why is it going to be a busy day?" I inquire.

"You haven't heard about the messenger?! Where have you been?"

"Up until a little before six... sleeping..."

She frowns and rolls her eyes, "There was a messenger in the night!"

"Very exciting..."

"The neighboring Kingdom of Delphi has declared war!"

"Oh! Well that is something," I frown as I look down the hallway where Sir Elmont disappeared to. I can't help the worry that rises from the knot in my stomach to a tightening in my chest.

"And we aren't exactly in any position to be in a war."

"No..." I mutter as my thoughts drift else where, "We're not."

"I want you in the kitchen today, you are one of our best cooks and the lords will be coming tonight."

I just nod and head off toward the kitchen. I spend the rest of the day making a variety of dishes that are to be served tonight to the men who will be at the conference. At around noon, I'm sent up to take the princess her meal.

When I enter her chamber, I can tell this news is worrying her greatly.

"Everything alright Isabelle?"

She turns and gives me a small smile.

"Jack will be going off to war... I know I'm being selfish, but we are to be married soon. We are supposed to be planning a wedding..."

"Jack has faced giants before, he will be fine. Besides has he not been training with Captain Elmont? He is our finest knight."

"Well yes but...what if he doesn't make it back?! What will I do without him?"

I stopped as if considering this answer, "You would never forget him, no young maiden ever forgets her first love, but you would find another."

She nods and sits in silence for a moment, considering my answer, as I continue to set out her lunch and pour tea.

"Ella?"

"Yes Isabelle?"

"Why aren't you married?"

I stop what I'm doing and look up at her. She is a smart girl and I know that if tell her the real reason it could be dangerous if Jack doesn't come back.

I give her a soft smile, "I couldn't find one that would put up with me."

"That's ridiculous!" she laughs.

I raise a brow, "And why is that?"

She smiles, "You are very beautiful and smart! Why would a man not want you as a wife?"

I send her a sly smile, "Alright I lied... I couldn't find one I was willing to up with."

The two of us erupt into laughter and I'm glad that for just a moment she isn't worrying about Jack and the war.

I walk into the almost complete conference room. It still leaks in the wetter months and because of that, there is the unmistakable stench of mildew. I curtsy as I enter the room with a tray laden with only the first course of the miniature feast that was prepared for this event. I keep my eyes focused on what I'm doing as I set the plate down. Being one of the more capable in the room, in other words I've yet to spill wine on a nobel, therefore I'm more trustworthy than others.

After serving the King and some of the more esteemed lords, Sir Elmont among those. I quickly head back to the kitchen for a decanter of wine so to keep their goblets filled. Because that's exactly what we need... Drunk men making decisions concerning the safety of our kingdom. Correct me if I'm wrong...

I watch in slight annoyance, although you wouldn't know it by my perfectly schooled expression, as the nobles and knights argue back and forth about what they believe should happen.

'This isn't helping,' I think to myself as I study the map laid out before me.

I'm interrupted from my thoughts when Elmont catches my eye and raises his glass to be refilled. I hurry to his side and quickly refill the glass.

"That is quite a look you were giving that map."

I look over at him in surprise that he had noticed. I duck my head and give a shy smile.

"Just wondering where they would attack from..."

"Odd thing for a young lady to think about."

"With all due respect sir, it's not odd at all."

He gives me a stern nod, before his eyes dart to the map lying on the table.

"And where do you think they would attack from?"

I turn my gaze back to the map at hand and study it for a moment.

"Will if I was going to attack Cloister then I would attack from the west, where more of the major ports and cities are. Common sense dictates that there will be bases there that hold knights, and defeating them before either reinforcements could get to them. Also, they would be able to cut off supplies from outside nations. With the recent drought, we are more reliant on exports and therefore, cutting off our supplies would be more devastating than normal."

When I realize that the chatter around me has died down I look up from the map and glance around the room. Every man is looking at me with varying degrees of disapproval and surprise. I quickly duck my head, embarrassed at being caught analyzing the map in that way, and excuse myself.

"What was that all about!" Exclaims Hilda as she catches up to me.

I sigh as I look down, "He asked me that I thought..."

"Well you aren't supposed to be so... right!"

I look up at her in annoyance, "Well why not? Just because I'm a woman I'm supposed to be stupid!?"

"No, of course not... But you aren't supposed to be so smart either... That has always been your problem hasn't it? You're too smart, that's why you aren't married. No man will have a woman who's smarter than him."

I glare at her, a part of me knows she's right, that she isn't trying to be mean, but my pride is still smarting from my earlier embarrassment. I turn and continue on my way to my room. I've decided that I'm done for the day. As I pass a mirror in the corridor I pause for just a moment. I don't want to admit that her comment about my lack of a husband didn't sting. I know they all wonder...

I sigh as I take in my reflection, I'm not strikingly beautiful, but I'm not ugly either. My skin is pale and my dark hair frames my face in soft waves, not curles, that would be too attractive, but it's not flat like other girls. I look up into my blue eyes. My eyes have always been my favorite feature. I sigh and turn away and continue onto my room.

Today was a very long day... And somehow I feel that they are just going to get longer...

I hope you all enjoyed the chapter! Ella really is a piece of work isn't she? Speaking her mind and all that jazz and in front of the King and Sir Elmont at that! Who knows she may have caught someone's attention...

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