It was 10pm when Rachel began to see the fire light of the Forrest. She had been travelling in the carriage for five hours as they had to take the back routs to make sure they had not been followed. Only Rachel, her fathers, the carriage driver and her cousin Kurt knew where she was to be. She had asked Kurt to come along for the journey with her as her father's could not risk accompanying their daughter.

"Kurt, what if they hate me? Or worse what if I get them all killed? I cannot be the cause of more bloodshed in this land…" Rachel sighed as she stared at the window at the approaching village.

"Rachel Barbara Berry look at me….you are a kind and generous lady, with killer legs and there is no way they won't all fall in love with you"

Rachel giggled

"Seriously Rach you know they all swing that way here, watch out!"

The two laughed some more and Rachel temporarily forgot her fears. But then sadness grew.

"I am going to miss you Kurt, can't you stay with me?"

"You know I can't Rach…who will look after your fathers" The boy smiled sweetly at his cousin. The pair gave each other a bittersweet smile and hugged as the carriage pulled to a stop. The carriage drive peeked his head through the back window and huffed "we're her your highness"

Rachel breathed deeply as she surveyed the outside village, which was hardly a village in her mind. She saw huts made out of anything and everything you would expect to find in a forest and although they were impressively large and sturdy looking they did not compare much to her palace. She could see many of the tribe's women approaching the carriage with curiosity in their eyes. They were all so tall and beautiful she thought to herself as the crowd grew larger.

Rachel suddenly became very conscious of her dress and all she had packed as she looked at the women wearing barely any clothes and what they did wear reminded her of the dress worn by the ancient Greek warriors she had seen in school books. Then she looked down at her flowing white dress and golden arm bands and knew she would stick out like a sore thumb.

"Rachel stop your daydreaming you have to go" Kurt gently pushed the scared girl towards the carriage door. "I will see you in a few weeks once this whole thing blows over" Rachel nodded at the boy and gave him one last hug before making her way out of the carriage.

She was immediately greeted by an older regal looking woman who gave her a small curtsy before saying "welcome your highness, we are so pleased you have arrived safely. I am the leader of this tribe Judy Fabray. We met once before when you were much younger" Rachel smiled and nodded in response. Even though she usually loved the attention of the crowd at this moment it was all a bit much for her.

But she knew she had to address this group that had formed around her. She began to speak to all the women "I would just like to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking me in during this difficult time. I know you are putting yourselves at risk to help me and I will never forget the mercy you have all shown". The group smiled and gave general comments of "welcome" and "for Lima!" But one girl caught the eye of the princess.

A brooding blonde stood next to Judy looking unimpressed with the Rachel's arrival. Rachel was immediately taken aback by how beautiful this girl was, her brown eyes mesmerized the brunette. The two shared an odd moment just staring at one another. The crowd began to disperse when Judy noticed her daughter and the princess's intense stare.

"Oh your highness"

"Ummm…I think out here you could probably just call me Rachel" The short girl told Judy.

"Oh yes..Rachel…this is my daughter Quinn, you two would have met when you were both very young. She is the same age as you and she has offered to help you settle in here"

Quinn visibly rolled her eyes at her mother's lie about her "offering to show the princess around". This was not lost on Rachel as she fidgeted awkwardly with her dress. Judy nudged Quinn with as she stared her down. Quinn gave in and brazenly put her hand out to shake the shorter girls.

Rachel was shocked. No one had ever shook her hand, everyone knew it was formality to curtsy or bow to the royal family. But Rachel took her hand and shook it because she didn't know what else to do.

"Nice to meet you again Princess" Quinn said casually with a cocky self-confidence. Rachel was taken aback. She had never been treated so casually. But she didn't dislike it, she was just confused by it.

"Nice to meet you Quinn I am sorry I don't remember our first encounter but I am pleased I will be getting to know you and you fellow women over these next few weeks…and please call me Rachel"

Quinn smirked a little at the princess's odd way of speaking. She had expected the Princess to be more of a Diva as the rumors went but this girl seemed the opposite. She must just be tired from the journey I'm sure her divaness will come out soon enough Quinn thought.

"Ok princess"

Judy gave her daughter another annoyed nudge and turned to Rachel "now Rachel you and I will meet tonight to discuss some logistical issues of you being here. We will also have a safety briefing with the Warrios tonight. You will be sleeping in one of the single huts next to Quinns and in the morning Quinn will take you through the village and help you understand how it all works here. You will also be given a role in the village tomorrow. Every women here must work for her place"

"Well she is obviously not going to be a Warrior" Quinn quipped looking at the girl's small frame.

Rachel looked confused for a minute then understood and tried to stand taller stretching her body up slightly

"Well…no we can't have you fighting with us it is too dangerous…but we will find you a role. Does this all sound OK to you your high….I mean Rachel?"

"Yes it sounds completely reasonable Judy"

"Great well come with me then. Quinn we will see you in the morning"

Quinn nodded and began walking away but quickly whipped her head around and said pointedly to Rachel "Better get a good sleep princess tomorrow you are going to work" Rachel frowned at the girls sarcastic tone but tried to shake it off. Why did this Quinn girl dislike her so much? She worried about what tomorrow would bring and dreaded spending it with this girl who seemed to hate her.