I'm so sorry it took me so long to update. I wasn't actually supposed to update today because my Mid-Year Exams is on the week after next. It the second most important exam for us so I have to make sure I do good. Oh, I got fourth for my running! Wooo. But we got third (out of four teams) for cheerleading. The first two teams tied and we lost by only 1.7 points. It was really close.

I got new kittens! They're called Bella and Ally. And, no, I didn't suggest the name Bella - my brother did. Ally, who has has white fur with brown and black patches on her and has the same coloured eyes as Golly is Golly's sister. Cool, right? And Bella, who looks like Golly with Black fur but less vibrant yellow eyes and has a flat nose has the same father as Golly and Ally. Bella also licks - just like Golly! Ally doesn't though. But no matter what, I'll always remember Golly. :)

Anyway, I present to you, chapter 3:

Disclaimer: -sees a shooting star-

Me: Oh, now I can wish for anything! I wish I owned Twilight.

Deep Voice From Above: Sorry, anything but that.

Me: -sulks and walks away-

"Oh, you must be the new guard," said the most beautiful voice I had ever heard, pulling me out of my silent reverie.

I turned around and gasped.

In front of me stood a beautiful woman. No, scratch that. A beautiful goddess. She had beautiful, long brown hair and luscious, full bright pink lips; my mind wondered to how my hands would feel, threaded through her soft hair while her kissable lips were moving against mine.

Then, my eyes met hers. I nearly fainted at the intensity of her gaze. She had the warmest brown eyes I had ever seen; each second I stood there staring at them was drawing me closer and closer. I felt like I was drowning in them.

She had a small, petite figure which made her look so fragile — so breakable. I felt like holding her in my arms and never letting her go. Her skin was so white and creamy and looked as if it were glowing. I felt like extending my hand and stroking her smooth cheek. What was with these strange feelings of mine?

I heard someone cough. Quickly snapping out of it, realizing that the woman whom I was staring at, transfixed, for the past, oh, I don't know, five minutes was alive and was staring at me as if she were questioning my sanity. I would too if someone stared at me continuously with a dumb expression on their face.

I then remembered what had said and quickly answered before embarrassing myself any further. "Uh, yes, my Queen," I then quickly got on my knees and bent down, bowing.

She giggled. "Thank you, but I'd rather not you call me 'Queen'. Call me by my name — Bella,"

I looked up and saw her smiling at me. She looked beautiful with a smile on her face. Actually, she looked beautiful all the time.

"Yes, my Que—I mean, Bella." She giggled again.

"Come on, let me help you up," she said, offering her hand. Too afraid of hurting her feelings, I took it and she pulled me up. She pulled so hard that she tripped backwards. My hands instinctually flew around her waist, stopping her from contacting the ground.

Time seemed to stand at a still — again.

I was holding her waist.

I was holding her.

I was touching her.

I was touching a goddess.

I stared into her eyes and found myself drowning again in those depthless pools of chocolate brown. She stared back, her lips slightly parted.

I snapped out of it again and cleared my throat, letting her stand up on her own.

She stood up and straightened her dress, her eyes not meeting mine. Her head was bent down but through the thin curtains of her hair, I could see that she was blushing profusely.

"Umm, so," she said breaking the awkward silence in the room, "Now that you know my name, what's yours?"

"Edward—Edward Anthony Masen,"

"Hmm, Edward. I like it. So, Edward, how long have you been working at the palace? I mean, I'm glad you are. Those who are working outside the palace are very unfortunate. The slavery in our country is very unjustified. Unfortunately, my dear husband," she had a disgusted look on her face, "doesn't think so."

"It's my first day working here actually. I know what its like to be working out there. Working at the palace seems like a walk in the park compared to what I previously did," I said, shuddering at the memories, though it was not more than a few hours ago. My hand rose and traced the scar on my hand.

"Oh, I see," she said, looking at me sympathetically.

"Bella?" I called.

"Yes?" she said, looking up at me.

"How old are you exactly?" I asked. She looked no older than twenty but it was hard to believe she was younger than that too.

"I'm eighteen," she said, smiling brightly.

That took me by surprise. She looked more mature than the normal eighteen year old. That meant that Bella was about our age. Except Emmett, who was twenty and Carlisle and Esme who were twenty seven.

"Okay, now let me guess you age. Hmm," she said, tapping her chin with her index finger.

"Twenty four?"

"Nope," I shook my head.

"Seventeen?"

"No, still wrong,"

"Hmm," she said, tapping her finger more forcefully now as she stared pensively at the floor.

"Fifty three?" she joked with and innocent smile on her face.

I decided to play along. "How did you know?" I gasped mockingly.

She let out a giggle. "It must be all the wrinkles on your face," she teased.

"Yeah, must be," I said chuckling. She looked extremely beautiful when she was happy like this.

"Oh, I just remembered! I was going to visit the children's house today," Her face lit up.

"Alright then. As your personal body guard, I guess I'll have to accompany you," I grinned. I liked the idea more than I should have.

"Why is it that it sounds less creepier when you say than with Mike?" She joked. But inside, my heart was fluttering when she said this.

I followed behind her as walked through the hallways, turning at the right places. If someone were to tell me to find my way back to Bella's room again, I wouldn't have had a clue on where to go. The whole walk there, I stared at Bella, mesmerized by her graceful movements — each step she took made her dress flow elegantly behind her as her soft hair swayed slightly from side to side.

"Ooh, just in time for their lunch," she squealed when she saw all the children coming out of the building and onto the courtyard, lining up to get their food.

The memory of this place hit me like a ton of bricks. I remembered it all. The night when they had stolen me from my parents. Mom was crying violently that night, holding me tight in her arms. Dad just held mom and me, trying to be strong for us, I guess. At that time, I didn't know what was going on exactly. When I asked mom why she was crying, she just kept muttering, "My boy. My lovely little boy," while crying.

Then, the door burst open and two very big men snatched me away from my mothers arm. She struggled to get me again, but one of the men held her back. My father was shouting at the man, whose face remained completely stoic. The then pushed me into the group of kids who most of which were crying.

After a long walk, we came to the children's house and the boys were forced into a large room where a lot of other boys were while the girls were forced into a separate room. That night, I sat in the corner, staring at the moon while tears ran down my cheeks.

I then snapped out of my thoughts when I felt someone tugging the bottom of my shirt. I looked down and saw a little boy with smudges on his face and blonde hair tugging my shirt. He looked up at me with his bright blue eyes.

"Hey, mister," he asked, his voice so small and innocent.

"Yes?" I said. I felt sad for the boy. He looked young and by the sadness masked in his eyes, I could tell that he had recently been snatched away from his home.

"W-Will you play with me?" he asked, swinging his body in a rocking motion.

I smiled. "Sure," I took him in my hands and he squealed and I lifted him to sit on my shoulders. I then started running in circles, feeling like a kid again. We both started laughing.

"Look, Queen Bella. I'm flying! I'm flying!" the little boy said. I turned and saw Bella looking at me with admiration in her eyes. I jogged up to her.

"You are really good with kids," she praised.

"Not really. I just know what they're going through right now. It's a tough time and I'm giving him the support I never had," I said, nonchalantly.

"It's very cruel, isn't it? Snatching away the children from their families and bringing them here to be taught to work. Nothing else but work. They should be educated. They should be loved," she said as she picked the little boy from my shoulders and carried him, holding him close to her body.

Bella — who knew she was so kind? I watched as the little boy pulled her by the hand and drag her to his friend. She then sat down with the little boys and started telling them stories. I could hear sobbing coming from behind me. I turned and saw a cute, small girl who was crying in the corner. I approached her and knelt down.

"What's wrong, cutey?" I asked, rubbing her back.

"I - I miss mommy and daddy," she sobbed. I hugged her tightly to me chest and carried her to where Bella was telling stories. I sat down with them and placed the little girl on my lap. She had to stopped crying and was listening intently to the story. I had my arms wrapped around the little girl and she leaned on my chest. Bella looked at us and smiled. I smiled back.

After a while, a large woman with a strict face approached us. "I'm sorry, my Queen but their break is over. It's time for them to get back to work." she said in a sickly sweet voice.

Bella just nodded and kissed all the little children on their forehead. "Goodbye, children. I'll come as soon as I can, alright?" they nodded excitedly but it all disappeared when they saw the strict lady.

"Inside, children," she ordered in a strict tone.

They glumly made their way into the building, some of them waved a final goodbye to Bella. She waved back and sighed.

"I wish they could have a happy childhood. In my old country, the children were free to run around in the lush green meadows and were loved dearly by their family. It was so peaceful, my country. At least until King Jacob and a few of his men invaded the country. They came to an agreement — they said that peace would be restored if I were to take King Jacob's hand in marriage. So I did. The cruel man," she said, with pure hatred in her eyes.

But deep inside, I knew that she was overwhelmed with home sickness, rather than her hatred for the unjustified king.

Well, that's it. It's nothing much, but its how their relationship develops. Unfortunately, I wont be able to update until the end of May because of my upcoming exams. I'm sorry.

There are two new story ideas up on my profile. Check them out and tell me what you think.

And if you have spotted and grammatical mistakes or spelling errors, please tell me so that I can annihilate them. Review and tell me what you think. Is it okay? Does it suck? Please tell me what you think. Constructive criticism is always welcomed.

-Sabrina-