A/N) Ok, so this story is less than semi popular. Can someone tell me why though? Did I do something wrong? Is my writing style really that bad? I thought this story would be a really great and fun to write and read. I am really confused why nobody finds it interesting, except maybe four people . . . Which I am totally grateful for.
I'd like to know if I should continue this or not.
It's kinda disheartening when people don't like a story that you had so much fun writing for . . . but like someone once said, 'if your audience doesn't like what you do, it doesn't make sense to keep doing it' . . .
Kind of depressing.
But anyway, let me know if I should continue or scrap this whole thing.
Thanx
Lloyd started freaking out. He couldn't find her anywhere. He'd resorted to asking around, but nobody had seen the pretty girl. Besides, even if they had they wouldn't remember what she looked like. She was wearing a hood.
He squashed down his fear as he noticed the sun setting lower in the dimming sky. Shoot! Mother and Father will be home any moment and Ashlyn's gone! And she told me to stay out of trouble! He was growing more and more worried as thousands of different scenarios played in his mind.
Oh god, what if someone kidnapped her! Or killed her, or - or - or . . . he started to loose his calm demeanor, breathing became harder.
Wait! Maybe she was looking for me and when home!
That was his best bet. He knew nothing of this village, so . . . home it was.
He swallowed hard and dared to hope. Heading towards the looming castle, unaware of a shadowed figure watching him closely.
Beautiful hills rolled past, one melded into the curve of the other, trees, shifting in height and colored decorated them like stars decorated the sky.
This land was beautiful. A lone stream weaved in and out of the hills like a sliver thread. The sky was splashed golds, pinks, and purples as the sun set over Ninjago.
He took a deep breath and leaned into his velvety cushions. Tomorrow, tomorrow he would be at the long imagined palace, meeting the long formed picture of the girl he was going to marry. Tied to marry since birth. At first it went against all his romantic notions when his parents had told him of his betrothed at the age of thirteen.
But as time and studies when by, he had grown into the sensible fact that this was obligatory if his fathers kingdom was to survive.
Especially since recently trouble had been stirring in the northern parts. He needed to marry this girl, whoever she was, in order to strengthen their kingdoms powers and fight back whatever threat was attempting to rise.
Jay smiled to himself, at least the country' s beautiful. He thought sleepily. Exhaustion from traveling so far and long was getting to him.
The coach ran over a rock and jumped, shaking him out of his thoughts.
Hopefully his future wife, if nothing else, was at least as pretty as the land. He didn't hold much out for her personality. He'd suffered one to many 'admirers' and they all had the same snobby, plastered, fakeness about them.
He doubted this one would be much different.
Oh well, Mother did say she liked to read. Maybe that was a plus . . .
He was petrified.
Lloyd couldn't handle it, as his father glared daggers and bellowed a thousand words a minute at him.
". . . AND FURTHER MORE, IT'S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT REASONS! DISOBEDIENCE GOES AGAINST ALL OUR VALUES!" The king was furious, especially when Lloyd had finally broken after being caught and interrogated of his whereabouts, he finally spilled the fact that he had absolutely no idea where Ashlyn was.
His mother had paled and went to her chambers. Usually she'd be the stern, not screaming at him, but still reprimanding him type.
But her sudden departure had shocked the boy and he couldn't understand why.
Finally his father sentenced him to his room and practically doomed him to the dungeon if he ever tried this again.
The young prince slowly made his way upstairs, up the spiraling stone steps into his grand bed room. No servants were here, at least that was good. He was still suffering from being yelled at by the king. He didn't need any nosy servant to see his red, forlorn face.
He undressed and slipped into his night shirt sullenly. The moon was starting to rise. The boy swallowed thickly as tears threatened his eyes.
He walked out to his balcony and took in the night sky and air. The land stretched out under the dark. His eyes scanned the village as if hoping to find something from up here. Where are you Ashlyn? Are you ok, alive at least? He felt his heart ache. What could have happened to her?
He lost himself in his miserable thoughts as he lay hopelessly in bed.
Not even noticing as a shadowed figure slipped in through his opened balcony doors.
Ashlyn was growing uneasy as she followed the young musician in and out of the now darkened village streets. He seemed to know the way very well, but the way to where is what she wanted to know.
The boy - Cole, she liked his name, reminded her of hidden treasure, Cole hadn't said much yet after he'd taken her away. Even though She hadn't explained her problem at all. He just up and was helping her. Why, she couldn't fathom. From what she noticed so far, people around here weren't very helpful. Especially not that chicken lady that looked like she wanted to beat the girl for ruining her precious stock.
So why was he helping her?
"Um . . .sir?"
"It's Cole, I'm not a sir." He said softly.
She nodded to the dark, "My apologies, I was just wondering, where are you taking me?"
She gasped as He stopped so abruptly, she almost smashed her face in his back.
"Where ya going mama's boy?" A tall man with a mean looking face and muscles that bulged whenever he moved sneered at Cole.
Ashlyn peeped from around Cole back, the boy had tensed immediately, his easy nature gone. She wondered who this man was.
"None of your business Sanders." Cole snapped and took her hand, trying to lead her away from the glaring man.
Sanders watched them pass like a snake then he caught Ashlyn's face. A slimy smirk spread on his broad face making Ash shiver in revulsion.
"Aw, you got your old man another maid?" He snickered, "When you get tired of the old coot come by anytime princess." The way he said the last word made her tense in fear. He couldn't know . . . could he? Nobody knew what she looked like . . . at least she hoped so.
Cole ignored the jerk and continued to walk away, Ashlyn clung to his hand tighter. When they'd finally gotten away from the man she felt a breath of relief come over her.
"Who-who was that?"
"John Sanders. Biggest jerk on the block. Hates my guts. Jealousy mostly. Just don't talk to him and you'll be fine."
She swallowed, "Um . . . about where your taking me-"
"Home."
She hiccuped, "Wh-what?" He didn't know where she lived. Right?
"My home. Since you don't know where you live and I don't, you can stay here. It's not much but I have a spare bed. Besides I'm pretty sure the Westing Brothers would love to get their chance on you again."
She shivered, those horrible bandits . . . find her again. NO WAY! She'd rather be lost and with Cole than lost and alone. Even if she didn't know him so well.
He slowly led her up a small flight of rickety steps and opened the door to a dark house. She couldn't see a thing even when he lit a candle up. But it felt comfortable enough.
"Come on." He whispered and motioned to a door. She complied.
"There's the bed, you go ahead, in the morning we'll figure something out." He said quietly.
Ashlyn nodded, hardly believing this was happening to her. She never dreamed in all her royal days would she be talking, walking and STAYING with a random commoner boy. She rather liked it actually.
"If you need anything-"
"Thank you," She whispered back, the candle flickered in her eyes as she looked up at him, the dim light setting a soft serene glow on his rugged face. His eyes seemed to glitter. She caught her breath. The dark suddenly washing over her.
"Your welcome." His voice had deepened considerably, making a delicious tickled run through her, she had to stop. Before something she could never live down happened.
Clearing her throat she nodded, "G-good night then."
" 'Night." With that he left, leaving the candle on a little table.
Ashlyn stood there, mesmerized. Staring at the candle tying to decipher the sudden feelings that swarmed inside her.
Her heart was beating fast with no effort. My god! She swallowed, she felt light headed. Never had this happened to her . . except the first time she saw him.
Reality struck.
She was here. In a poor house. While who knew what happened to Loyd! And surely Mother and Father had found out she wasn't there and . . . oh the horrors of their reaction.
She'd really done it now.
The figure slipped towards the unsuspecting prince.
Carefully placed steps near him. The moon shone over the prince, who'd fallen into a uncomfortable sleep. The figure smiled and slid near the item it was here for.
A glittering crown encased in expensive glass on a marble stand next to the young mans bed. With swift movement the crown was out of it's protective, or not so protective, case and into the thief's pocket.
There, that should make him even more miserable. With quick feet the figure jumped out into the balcony. Suddenly the wind whooshed past, slamming the doors shut, making the glass shake. The thief gasped as its cloak caught in the closed doors.
Before it could escaped the doors flew open sending the thief into a rolling pile, hitting its head against the marble railing.
Lloyd stood there fear flashing in his eyes, before he covered it with imposed anger, "Who are you!?" He questioned.
Why hadn't he called for guards yet? The thief knew the penalty for stealing, especially from a royal.
"Speak"! The prince bellowed and snatched the thief's cloak. It tore as it whirled away, tripping and falling under a beam of moon light, the crown clattering out of reach.
"Who are-" Lloyd stopped. That girl. The thief in the village! She was glaring murderously at him from under her strewn blond hair, that shimmered sliver under the moon. Lloyd actually felt sick.
"You're the girl - I - how-" He couldn't speak, something this girl did made his tongue tie. She must be a witch or something!
She stood up, squaring her shoulders and walked closer.
Lloyds eyes caught his golden crown on the marble floor, "You came all this way to steal my crown!" He cried out angrily now, finding his words.
Both their eyes flitted then instantly both dove for the object. Snatching it at the same time, they struggled and tugged at it. Lloyd had advantage because he was bigger than her, he managed to twist it out of her reach, "Hah! Now you've really lost!" he jeered.
Why didn't he just call the guards? She wondered angrily.
Then she realized why. He wasn't thinking clearly. This might be a game. She let a sweet, practiced smile grace her freckled face, she could play games.
Before the prince really could start thinking clearly, she flipped forward and landed directly in front of him. Lloyd gasped, his green eyes widening when she grabbed him by the collar and slipped her small lips over his. The boys body tightened then practically melted against her. Smiling victoriously she pulled away, then climbed on the marble railing, glancing back at his swaying form, with a quick wink the girl saluted and literally jumped off.
Lloyd gaped and ran to the edge, "What-" She was gone . . . he was dizzy . . .
And it wasn't until he'd stumbled back inside that he realized the crown was gone too.
