Brietta's POV;

I turned back to the four very, very large horses, who were tossing their heads in protest to the way their owner was yanking ruthlessly on the reigns.

I looked into the man's eyes; there was a fear in them, one that could only be born of real danger. We both knew I was just seconds away from dying

I closed my eyes in defeat. There wasn't any was I could save myself… there wasn't even any way I could save Stephen.

The horses reached me much quicker than I had expected, but instead of trampling me as I thought they would, it was more like they collided with me.

The back of my head slammed against something hard. Dizziness was the first sensation that hit me after the pain faded slightly. I still couldn't really feel anything other than my hurting head and the dizziness.

I suddenly felt like I was falling again, then my right side smashed up against something, it felt like several of my bones cracked. All my breath left me, and I had trouble getting it back.

Then I lost all consciousness. But not before I heard multiple voices shout my name.

~*H*~

Prince Damian's POV;

Riding aimlessly through the streets clearly wasn't the best plan I had ever come up with.

It was hours past lunch and I hadn't stopped once since I had left the castle. I was about ready to give up.

No one I had asked knew anyone named Brietta. And the one time someone did know where a Brietta lived, I knocked on the door to her house, and it turned out to be an old woman that someone could accidentally mistake for a male… I made that mistake… It didn't end well.

I slid off Thunder; he had patiently walked through Rhenia while I fought the insanity that was trying to overtake my mind.

I held Thunder's reigns while I walked. Not that I needed to, he would just follow me anyway, but I needed something to busy my hands so that they wouldn't start fidgeting again.

Frustration washed through me, I hurried my pace, hoping maybe if I was quicker I would find her or something like that. I wasn't even sure what part of Rhenia I was in right then. I didn't even know which way the castle was.

Suddenly, a cry came from straight ahead; I came to attention before sizing up the situation. A girl and a boy were standing in the middle of the road, while a carriage came charging at them. I saw how the carriage couldn't possibly slow enough, because of the steep slope it was flying down. Then the brake snapped as the driver tried in vain to stop the horses.

I jerked into action, running as fast as I could. I dove for the girl and the boy, catching the girl around the waist, and grabbing the boy's shirt as I went down, pulling him with me. I flipped around right before I slammed into the ground so that I wouldn't crush the little girl, and I would take the impact of the fall.

I realized as soon as we hit the ground that we hadn't gone far enough, and the oncoming carriage wheels could very well still amputate our legs. I also knew I wasn't going to be able to move quick enough to help anything.

Someone's hand closed around my collar, I was flung away from the road by a strong arm. I slammed into the wall of one of the shops beside the road. Pain registered through my shoulders, but also an immense relief rushed through me as I saw that I had kept a good grip on both the boy and the girl.

The girl was half on my chest half off, because of the way I had grabbed her. Her hair was tickling my chin, I looked down at her to make sure she was okay; she hadn't moved an inch. Judging by her height and weight I would have bet my life that she was fourteen or fifteen. But I'm also the guy who mistook a woman for a man…

I decided to nudge her a bit. Not wanting to force her to face the world yet, but wanting to make sure she was alive. As my arm moved her head rolled slightly, her hair fell away from where it was covering her face.

The face was pale and unconscious, but I knew who it was right away.

"Brietta!" I exclaimed in alarm and relief. But my voice wasn't the only one that had said that name.

I looked up into the face of someone who looked like he could make a very nice husband for the girl that was currently lying against me.

~*H*~

Jeremy's POV;

I crouched, ready to fling myself at Brietta and Stephen, but before I had the chance someone else was already holding them at my feet.

I glanced at the path the carriage was still on and stiffened. Then I snatched a hand out and grabbed the tall man. My arm muscles felt like they were tearing as I suddenly flung the weight of three human beings across the sidewalk. The pain didn't stop even as I let go, my muscles seemed to have stretched, and were now trying to go back to their original position. Which was extremely painful.

"Brietta!" I said, as I realized how little she was moving. The man that was still holding her against his side had said the exact same thing at the exact same time. He whipped his head around to face me. His surprise was reflected on my face I'm sure.

I frowned, but returned my thoughts to the frail unconscious girl in front of me.

She moaned, and her hand slowly started moving up to her head.

"Brietta?" The man whispered tenderly. Something twisted violently inside of me as I realized this could be someone very special to her. After all, I had just met her that morning, and all I really knew about her was that she had many siblings, and she looked like she should be from Eldemari.

She could be engaged to him, or they could be married for all I knew.

I moved closer, not wanting his face to be the first she saw. It was a childish thought, but I didn't care.

Her eyes fluttered open, and she looked dazed for a moment, but then she focused, first on him, then on me. She looked confused, and then she gasped. She shot up in his arms, looking around frantically. Her eyes finally landed on Stephen, and she visibly relaxed.

It touched me in a strange way, how she was worried so much about whether Stephen was safe or not.

Stephen slowly put his arms around her. He was shaking. I stood there, shocked that he was actually making physical contact with someone he barely knew. He had been one of the shyer of the four children.

Then the other kids suddenly burst in on the hug. I was astonished, even Sarah had her arms wrapped securely around Brietta's neck. The younger three had huge tears rolling down their faces, Aaron wasn't crying, but he was still clinging to Brietta and Stephen like they were going to go somewhere and leave him behind.

The man slowly stood and joined me as I watched from a safe distance. From the look on his face he wanted to be in on that hug too. Which was the same feeling that was going through me at that moment.

I finally gave in, I didn't care who the man was to Brietta or what he thought of me, they could have died, but now they were safe. I wrapped my left arm around the cluster, I tried wrapping my right arm too, but it wasn't cooperating very well. It was still extremely sore from the sudden strain I had put on it.

"Brietta? Is that you? What on earth are you doing?" I looked up to find a woman staring down at us with an astonished look on her face.

"Lady Berggren?" Brietta asked. I could tell by her voice that she didn't want to turn around to find out if it really was her.

"What a disgrace!" A younger woman said in an awful annoying voice, from her place off beside the older lady.

"Drizzela." Brietta breathed in dread. I frowned, if these women made trouble for Brietta I was going to personally make them repent.

She untangled herself from the multiple arms that were clenched around her, and turned to face the women with a brave glint in her eyes. "What a… pleasant… surprise!" She said with an uncomfortable smile.

"I can see that you are feeling well enough to be traipsing around with stray men. I assume you will be on duty bright an early tomorrow morning." It wasn't a question

The way she made it sound like Brietta's honor was being trampled upon made my blood boil. I could already tell how much I hated this lady.

"I believe I have more than two weeks of dirty dresses that need to be washed. And you know… I think I could find more things for you to clean and fix, since you have all this spare time on your hands and whatnot." Drizzela drawled, even as her eyes trailed almost greedily over me.

I could have choked the both of them when Brietta's face turned bright pink.

But when she glanced over at the other man I realized that I wasn't the reason she was embarrassed, it was him.

~*H*~

Prince Damian's POV;

For the first time in my life I felt like punching a lady… If they could even be called that.

I wanted to fix all the pains in her life; it seemed that those women were hurting Brietta's feelings. But I hesitated, because of the other man. He was looking at her protectively, and I felt that I would be overstepping my boundaries if I showed how much I had fallen in love with Brietta by protecting her before the other man had the chance.

I felt confused, and over all cheated. I had gotten my hopes up that Brietta could have also fallen in love the short time that we were together, but then I saw the way the man looked at her. In much the same way I must have looked as I watched her perfect face. I knew that I wasn't the only one in love with her.

I watched her smile sheepishly at the man as the women trooped away. "I don't have a chance." I thought to myself.

Thump.

That was the sound of my heart… It just did a face plant. Love must really enjoy hurting me.

Hey guys!

How is everyone doing? (I really want an answer to that question.)

I'm sorry this chapter is so short, I didn't know what else I should add...

Someone should really put up a, "Warning, don't trip on love sign." for Damian... poor guy.

I love all of your beautiful faces!

Pokemonchen; I understand what you're saying. Thanks for sharing your coolness!

Spongbox1; Yeah, I'm terrible to Damian... But I still have to torture him just a little bit longer! :)

Booksnake; Welcome to the story! Thanks so much for reviewing, faving, and alerting! You're freaking awesome! Only time will tell what will happen between who. :)

Have an amazing and magical week!