I AM SO SORRY. FOR THE SHORTNESS, FOR THE LONG WAIT. I WILL EXPLAIN IN NEXT CHAPTER'S AUTHOR NOTE. I WILL POST SOON! FORGIVE ME, PLEASE? IT'S ANOTHER AWFUL CHAPTER...

Chapter Seven

Corrine stared at the thick stone bridge looming in front of her. Rocking on her heels, Corrine studied her new, shiny boots. With the money she had earned in the past month, Corrine had been able to buy them. They were perfect - fit nice, looked nice, didn't squeak, and held her up. The only issue was the fact that they were a very, very, very dull brown.

Sighing, Corrine glances back up at the bridge. Her breath hitched as she carefully stood near it, leaning on her new boots. One step at a time, Corrine began to walk on the stone bridge railing. She held out her arms straight out to balance her weight, and hopped on. Slowly, like a toddler, Corrine took a larger step. Then another, and another, and another.

Yes! she cheered. Her boots were a success! Suddenly, Corrine gasped - yelping - as one boot quickly landed on a patch of water on the bridge. Corrine wobbled, knowing she wouldn't be able to balance herself. There was nothing to grab onto. Corrine began to scream as she tipped over and dropped into the freezing cold water beneath the bridge.

Gasping, Corrine's hand flailed to the surface, and she wanted to call out for help. But the other girls were back at the castle and no one else came around this area much.

"Grab my hand!" a familiar voice came out of nowhere. Panicking, Corrine blinked the water out of her eyes, shutting them tight, and grabbed an offered hand. Ignoring the tingles on her skin, Corrine gasped as she was yanked out of the raging fast water and onto land.

She was still knee deep in the river, but Corrine was able to hold the pulling away. Spitting out water, Corrine took a desperately needed breath. Despite Madam's training over the past month, balance was still out of Corrine's reach, but not by far. During their last match, Corrine almost beat Madam.

"Are you alright?" a soft voice asked quietly, concerned. Corrine tightened her eyes shut one last time, taking one last deep breath as well. Before she opened her eyes. But when she saw her savior, she wanted to die of embarrassment. Prince Louis crouched down in the grass, a hand in Corrine's still, and one on her back. His blue eyes were deep, and looked nothing like the snarky one's that had discriminated against females being fighters.

Corrine's temper flared, and she indignantly yanked her arm out of Louis's grasp. He blinked, surprised as Corrine stood and began to stomp away as she bitterly muttered, "Thank you, Your Highness."

"Hey-! Wait!" Louis called after her. Corrine kept going, not looking back. She was more than angry - she was furious. At herself, at the bridge, as Louis, at musketeers, and at Paris. This wasn't what she was expecting when she left home and Momma.

Was Paris really worth leaving for? Perhaps she should go back home where she belongs with Joanna and her mother.

Sighing, Corrine squeezed her hair. The dark blonde color drooped sadly like Corrine's spirit as she reluctantly trudged back to the apartments to go to bed. Aramina passed Corrine in the room and saw her mood. Lucky for Corrine, Aramina covered for her that night, saying she was sick.

As Corrine lay in bed, her eyes beginning to fall asleep, she remembered His Highness. He looked so concerned that Corrine's heart ached. Sighing, Corrine turned in bed, dampened the candle, and struggled to fall asleep.