Author's Note: Hey guys! I took your advice and edited this chapter better, I've also went through and edited all old chapters (one of the reason I've taken so long) thanks for the reviews and advice … it keeps me writing

Fire and Ice

We entered the door to find the queen pacing back and forth in the room.

"Thanks goodness you're here Katherine. I haven't been able to sleep any. Henry just told me, that Peter is back," the queen said. "He didn't give any news of my brother, Rowland. though"

Katherine quickly walked away from me to comfort the queen. "Don't be upset your majesty, I'm sure Sir Rowland is ok," She said.

I was really confused about what to do but I didn't want to just stand in the doorway. So, I decided to quietly shut the door and come inside. After closing the door I started looking around the room for something to clean but the room was spotless, even the full size coffin of a bed.

"What on are earth are you looking for", the queen asked.

"I'm looking for something to clean. You wanted me here to be a maid, right?" I asked, even more confused. I had barely finished my sentence when the two of them burst into laughter.

"Why in the world would you think that Scarlett," Katherine asked between laughs. "Humans, especially full blooded humans make the worst maids. It takes them an hour to do what a vamp could do in five minutes.

"Well, what else did you want me to do," I asked a little bit annoyed butforcing a smile.

Katherine stoppe laughing just enough to make it across the room to pull a small journal out of a desk. "This is for you and the queen wants you to take very good care of it," she said outstretching her hand with the journal.

I stared at it for a long second before walking to Katherine and retrieving it. It seemed to be made of a dark brown leather material and there was a pen attached to the cover. I had never had a journal of my own. Any paper that my father bought had to be used for school. He considered writing anything else, besides a letter, a waste of time.

The queen's voice interrupted my thought. "Scarlett I don't want you to be a maid dear, I want you to serve as sort of a secretary. I wish for you to accompany me on many important events and document the day. It doesn't have to be word for word accounts of, especially if nothing eventful happens. I've heard that even the strongest vampires have a shortage of memory from the last years before resting, and I do attend on resting soon," she said, all the sweetness gone from her voice. "I would have asked a vampire to do it, but there isn't one that I trust enough and they bore so easily. Plus," she started, "I'd like to keep an eye on you for…" before she finished her statement there was a strong knock at the door.

Before the knocked was finished Katherine had taken a protective stance in front of the queen. "It could be one of the prisoners", she said over her shoulder. "Should I call for the guards"?

She looked so nervous that her behavior made me want to panic. The queen, however, seemed unfazed. "Don't be silly Katherine," she said. "It is only Peter."

"You may enter Peter." She said barley raising her voice. "And what would you have done if it was an intruder," she asked Katherine fixing her dress. "Charmed them to death with your looks. I don't pick the ladies on my court for their war abilities. " Peter smiled as he entered the room. He must have heard the end of the conversation.

Before Peter could speak Katherine was curtsying. "Good morning Lord Peters," she said.

"Same to you Katherine." He said barley not even looking at her. "Your majesty… I mean auntie I have urgent news for you.

The queen seemed too caught up with Katherine staring at the ground to even notice Peter was speaking. "Peter," she asked smiling

"Yes Auntie"

"You and Katherine have known each other for so long. I think it would be a splendid idea for you not to have her address you so formally."

"O Auntie, Katherine knows she was born with the right to call me be Peter and Peter only. I am no heir to throne and have no land or real home to call my own. My father's passions are only given to me by the king's grace."

"Peter you shouldn't speak so lowly of yourself isn't that right Katherine?" the queen asked.

"Yes my queen. He's quite polite person and I've heard he's a magnificent warrior." She finished. If Peter's skin could have allowed him to blush he would have.

That's when it hit. The queen was attempting to push them together. I couldn't believe I hadn't noticed earlier. Although I didn't let it show, this bothered me a little.

"Thank you for your kind words lady Katherine, but I have urgent news for you auntie. I've just returned. I was barely half way to Gordo when I met your brother, Sir Rowland mid way. He was headed here with princess Victoria's family held as prisoners."

"O my goodness," she queen said covering her mouth. "What did you do"

"I had to take all of them into my custody, including Sir Rowland. He didn't like that idea very much and threaten to fight us but he calmed down after finding out who I was."

"Of course he did," she said still shocked. "Don't be too proud Peter," she said patting his shoulder. "My brother has been a lot of things, but he's never been a coward. He was probably more concerned with hurting you," she finished. "come along now, I must see him at once," she said, heading towards the door.

"I have orders to not allow visitors to Sir Rowland," Peter said blocking the her path. I could hear the unsteadiness in his voice.

The queen's face lit up happily. "Well I guess you'll have to stay behind and keep Katherine company. It would be so rude of me to leave her alone, after she came to visit so early."

Peter sighed, but said nothing more. He couldn't argue with her. She was the only mother he'd known. He stepped aside as they existed the room. His eyes then fell upon me. "Perhaps you should head back to your room. Victoria's family is upstairs and they aren't very fund of humans.

"Neither are you," I said as ugliest as possible. I wasn't going to give him the chance to be mean first tonight. "So what's the difference"?

"I have no desire to taste any part of you, that's the difference," he said simply.

I could feel the tears swelling up in my eyes.

"Are you about to cry," he asked confused. "Does me not wanting to drink you dry upset you," he continued walking towards me. "Humans are the most bazaar creatures. You lust for the affection of you predator."

"And what would you know about affection. I can't imagine anyone lusting over you, that's why Anna…" I stopped mid sentence but the expression on his face told me there was no need to finish. I had almost said that's why Anna betrayed him but my mind had finally caught up to my mouth. I wanted to be ugly but not this ugly. He didn't say another word, as he existed the room but I could tell that I had just truly hurt his feelings. Silently and shamefully I followed him down the hall and upstairs. The queen and Katherine were both waiting for us outside of a huge stone door.

The queen seemed annoyed by our tardiness. "Did you all crawl up the stairs Peter," she asked, moving aside for him to open the entrance way. Ignoring her, he unlocked the door.

The queen had barley taken two steps in to the room before screaming with joy. "Rowland," she said, rapping her arms around a man much shorter and rounder than her. It would have been a stretch to call him fat but an even bigger stretch to call him skinny. "O how I've missed you."

"I've missed you to sister. It's been too many years. You've got to come visit more," Rowland said. "He was just as tan as the queen but had short long dark longs. Although he was aging, he was still undeniable good looking. There were four women, all appearing to be vampires and William in the room.

"I see you've met some of my maids," the queen said disapprovingly. "Ladies you are all excused", she then turned to william. "They were your idea I assume"

William sat on a desk with both feet on the chair in front of him. He finished his glass before responding. He was just as breath taking as I remembered. I had to look intently at my diary not to stare at him.

"Mother I was only trying to show uncle Rowland a good time. He hasn't visited since the wedding, would you rather I treat him like a prisoner."

Rowland laughed at William's comment, whiling pouring more wine into his own wine glass. "You two don't quarrel on account of me. "William has always had the best test in female company. Until recently," he added sourly.

"That was not polite," the queen said.

"And neither is she or her family," Rowland added, still smiling. "Why back in the old days if you couldn't produce an heir within the first three years of marriage we would have you,"

"That's quite enough Rowland," the queen snapped.

"Maybe the fault is not the women," Peter said now pouring himself a glass.

William growled. "Maybe you should mind your own damn business."

"Boys, Boys," Rowland said. "there is no need for arguing. Rowland walked up to Peter to study him more closely. "My, my how you've grown. Do you remember you mother would bring you to visit for the winters." He looked down at Peter's hands "How are you gifts?"

"What gifts," William asked laughing. "He has absolutely no fire skills. William pointed to the fire place and a ball of fire lifted and flew into his hand. He bounced the ball up a few times before tossing it at Peter's head. Peter raised his hand and caught the ball. Only, his hand was frozen. The ball of fire melted into a puddle of water.

I stood there jaw dropped amazed. I had never seen anything like this before.

"Wonderful, wonderful" Rowland said through claps. "I never get to see fire and ice together like that."

William didn't seem as thrilled. "At least someone is excited. You wouldn't be able to imagine my father's appointment. His brother was one of the strongest fire throwers alive and Peter was born an ice throwers. Makes us all wonder if he's really his son."

"That's it!", Peter shouted. He would have lunged at William if it wasn't for Sir Rowland stepping in.

"This is not the place gentleman," he said.

"Nowhere is the place for them to be fight," the queen added.

"That's their problem my sister. There not allowed to test their strengths playfully so they use them hatefully.

William laughed. "My mother fears Peter's weakness".

"I don't think peter is weak at all," Rowland said. "His father was pretty strong, but imagine how stronger his mother had to be for her powers to be more dominate.

"Whatever you say uncle," William sarcastically said. I will be in my quarters if anyone needs me.

He started to walk to the door but Sir Rowland's comment stopped him. "My goodness sister, is this who I think it is," he asked, starring at me. It was if, he was staring at me in disbelief.

"Whoever she is or whoever you think, Scarlett is no concern of yours she answered.

Rowland took a few more steps towards me and I took just as many backwards. "There is no denying it, he continued. "She smells just like her, if not better."

William stepped in front Rowland, stopping him in his tracks. "My mother is very protective of this human. She does not wish her to be harmed. Scarlett you should leave."

I love the way my name sounded on his lips. As bad as I wanted my feet to move they were glued to the ground.

"Don't worry," William said. "I will escort you back to your room." William took my hand softly and walked outside. I heard the queen objecting but the door was already closed.