AN* *Looks at her reviews in absolute shock* Only one new review on my last chapter? Where is everyone!!! *sigh* Sorry it wasn't that good, this one was also forced but it is a new chapter.

     

             Since only ONE person actually reviewed me I don't have any questions to answer... So on with the story!  *Shakes head and mutters* only one review.... only one?!?!  

           

* This chapter is dedicated to           FairySpirite              Thank you for reviewing!!! *

            Jasmine looked into the mirror, her mother had walked off talking to the seamstress about the perfect amount of ribbons Jasmine was to have, and the two older women walked out to find the right essentials to make Jasmine look like the princess she should be.

            Her pink gown fell full and beautiful to the floor. She bought pink satin shoes with a tiny bow on the front of each. The satin of her gown was covered with a thin layer of sheer lace that had sparkles within it and she glittered when she moved. A thin smile played at her lips. I will be beautiful, even more beautiful then Estrella. She thought to herself. A million visions came into her mind and she saw the young gypsy dancing with the prince, with her prince! Jasmines tiny fists clutched together in anger and she gritted her teeth at the thought.

            "Ah yes," Mari said walking in with the other woman, Nana, breaking through Jasmine's thoughts. "Now I want the back to lace down instead of up with this ribbon and make a bow at the base." The seamstress nodded and undid the ribbon she had first used and replaced it by the other.

            Mari inspected the dress. "Lace it a little tighter," she instructed. Nana nodded and Jasmine was forced to suck in her tummy even more then she already had. She looked back at the mirror and smiled. She looked far more perfect this way. Mari kept instructing the seamstress and Jasmine stood patiently and lady like waiting for this session to finally be over.

°*°*°*°*°

            Estrella walked towards the towns square to dance. She was in a terrible mood and took her time, she hoped beyond hope that somehow she would be able to go the ball – she even thought of ways to disguise herself as someone from a far away land to go, but it was all hopeless. She reached the square and danced. Her dance was nothing magical, nothing splendid or awestricken. It was simply a dance, and she was paid very little for it. She reached into the small bag (which had soon replaced the hat so that she could carry her instruments as well) and pulled out her flute. She danced and played for several hours.

°*°*°*°*°

            Please don't let them see me. Angel felt as if he was a small scared child, he was so tired of women trying to get him to ask them to the ball, they seemed to swarm him more then they did the prince! It was probably his size, or even his noble looks; the blonde hair and blue eyes of which the prince seemed to lack.

            "Angel." Said a woman from behind him. He gritted his teeth and frowned but when he turned he smiled politely and, unconsciously, flirting.

            "Hello," he said thinking hard to retrieve this girl's name. Oh yes. "Jeni."

            "Oh," she giggled in a high pitch girly giggle that made his head hurt. "I am so flattered that you remembered my name! We only met just once." She stopped talking for a moment, then glanced seductively at Angel. "I hope I made the same wonderful impression that you made on me." Angel shifted uncomfortable.

            "I believe probably so," he lied. "Please excuse me, my lady. But I must –" He thought for a moment " – go and finish my business here in town." He turned and walked hurriedly away.

            "Angel!" Said another of those ridiculously high pitched voices. He hurried his step and pretended not to hear.  He stopped watching where he was going to get away from the girl and ran into another knocking her completely off her feet.

            "Oh," he cried out as he nearly toppled over her. He saved himself (and her) the pain and uncomfort of falling directly on top of her. He quickly jumped to his feet and held, slightly pulling, her arm to help her stand and regain her balance.

            "Please forgive me, my lady!" He said glancing at her up and down to see if she was hurt. He noticed her being a gypsy and stood still, not quite knowing how to act from here.

            "I am not hurt sir." The gypsy girl stated, eyes staring at the ground as if she knew that he thought she was a lady and not a gypsy. She was politely giving him a way out of the embarrassing situation. She thinks I will hate her for who she is. Angel realized as he watched how she stood, staring down at the ground. Angel was always one to prove people wrong.

            "Are you sure, my lady." He said the word 'lady' slightly louder so there was no way for her to miss it. She looked up into his face, she looked terribly confused. Angel stared down at her beauty. No she wasn't the prettiest thing in the world, she was actually slightly thick and had larger cheeks. But she looked – he searched for the word – innocent. Almost childish, her eyes where a lovely shade of deep brown, but they held sorrow, but joy seemed to dance around as well. Her long black mane fell in perfect curls and her skin was oddly pale white, but healthily so. She was beautiful.  

            "I am no lady sir." The gypsy girl looked back down. Angel knew tears were probably forming within those beautiful eyes.

°*°*°*°*°

            Estrella kept her eyes down. Why was he being so nice to her! First that man on the horse now this man, why are they both treating me so kindly? She curtsied, then turned and walked away, tears were falling from her brown eyes ands he wanted no one to see her cry. She felt the man staring after her and she wanted to be away from everyone. She was sad, and began to fill slightly ill. She wanted to sleep.

            Estrella flopped down on her bed. She didn't get paid enough to smuggle some of the money and her mind drifted to her gypsy band. She missed them and wanted them back. She stood and walked over to her chest and opened it. She dug through the several things until she retrieved her money. She counted it quickly then replaced it into is bag and stood. She breathed in heavily, finding the courage to run with the small amount of money. She nodded and walked towards her door.

            Her door swung open and Mari walked in. Anger playing in her eyes which brought fear to Estrella.

            "What is that you are holding child?" Mari asked, that wasn't the reason she was mad, but Estrella knew that if she found out Mari's anger would become ten fold.

            "I –" Estrella choked but then stood tall and handed over the bag. "I did a dance in the square today, I suppose everyone liked it so much because I was paid very much." Estrella took another breath, this was more painful then anything else in the world. "I didn't want to leave it on its own on the table so I held it until I could give it to you in person madam." Estrella handed over the bag Mari's anger was replaced  with greed... Estrella's last thread of hope fell to the dirt, and she, after Mari left, cried her sorrows into her pillow.

°*°*°*°*°

            Miyara frowned into her ball. Estrella was nearly free, she would have come back to her home and her friends and life would be better for her! Why did it have to turn out this way? Because Estrella is not to come back that way, you know this Miyara! The old woman thought to her self. She knew what was to happen, however deep in her heart she felt she would someday see Estrella again. And her part of helping in this prophecy thing was going too slow for her liking – she wanted to help Estrella now. She sighed inwardly and walked off towards Jarrek. She had to speak with him about the future of their home and what she, being the wise one, thought it be best to do.

            Anton looked out at the clearest blue sky he had ever seen. It was a beautiful day and he felt no will to be part of it. He sighed and looked down at his hands. His mother was drilling into his mind the sort of woman he must have.

            "I of course," she said snapping Anton back into attention. "Would prefer you to find a lovely woman with hair of blonde and eyes of blue, however I do know that your father, (God rest and give peace to his soul), was quite different and much more along the lines of your looks." The Queen studied Anton's brown hair and gray eyes before continuing. "So it makes little difference of that however she must be beautiful." The Queen seemed to be thinking back and remembering and Anton found her eyes lit with a blaze of beautiful fire, sadly it soon died and she went to her normal trance like emotionless face.

            "Never the less, even though every woman is invited to the ball you should only choose a noble, not a commoner."

            "Mother?" Anton looked into his mother's eyes, he opened his mouth to say more but could not find the words. He shook his head and smiled and waved his hand for her to continue.

*°*°*°*°*

            A woman was in his arms, an extravagant lovely woman. Her blond hair was pulled up into curls atop her head as was the fashion. She wore a long pink gown, it sparkled as she turned in his arms. They spoke as they danced, and she smiled and giggled only as much as one should. She was no doubt a noble woman, and a probably the most beautiful woman here at the ball. Yes, she was defiantly the woman he was to marry.

            Anton woke, forgetting his dream but feeling strangely good. He washed and dressed quickly and headed out of the castle. He walked through the market and off in the distance he saw a woman. Her long blonde hair fell down about her waist and the top was pulled up in style. She wore a deep red that matched her ruby lips and complemented her pale skin. She glanced over his way, her soft blue eyes smiling into his, making him stare at her, not letting him look away. Anton was amazed by this woman's beauty, could she truly exist?

            "My lady," Anton said politely as he brought her hand up to kiss it.

            "This is my daughter, Jasmine de Los Angeles," introduced the woman's mother, Mari, whom he remembered from her previous visit to the queen.

            "It is a pleasure," he said, still unable to keep his eyes from Jasmine. He knew her, somewhere... how did he know her!

            "The pleasure is mine, Sir, I am sure." Jasmine said curtsying elegantly. Mari smiled pleasantly; she had been training Jasmine all her life to be a proper woman, to be a noble, to be a princess... a queen.

*°*°*°*°*

            Estrella danced in the square. Her dance sad, more sad then ever before for now her life had ended. She was a slave and nothing more. Before she had had a chance to run, she would be back safely in the arms of those whom loved her and would call her family. She thought, whilst she danced, that she would never again do a dance of joy, only of sadness, forever. Dancing wasn't even like it was before, she couldn't do it and enjoy it. She could move her body, arms and legs, but her soul had left her.

            The end of her dance came along and money was thrown into her bag. As she was gathering her flute to do another dance with music she noticed Jasmine off in the distance talking to a young man. He was so handsome. Perhaps the most beautiful man I have ever seen before in my life – Estrella's eyes grew wide at the thought, it was the man that had saved her that day in the woods, the man on the horse! Her stomach leaped at the thought of him being anywhere close to Jasmine.

            She pushed the tears back from her eyes and lifted the flute. She played a song of sorrow, joy once had but lost and never to return. Before when she played and danced she had hope mixed into the sorrowful notes, but now it was only sorrow. A large crowd watched her and some even had tears form in their own eyes.

*°*°*°*°*

            "Look at such a large crowd," said Anton as he walked with Jasmine. "I wonder what the commotion is about."

            He and Jasmine moved closer and took a look at the gypsy girl dancing and playing a flute. Anton gasped, and Jasmine heard it. He thinks she is more beautiful then I! Jasmine thought at the sound of his intake of breath. She gently slid her arm through his and he looked down at her and smiled, a handsome smile and moved his arm so that her arm fell into a more comfortable position.

            Anton watched Estrella dance, he remembered her from the woods and could not seem to take his eyes off of her. He felt a slight tug on his arm and obeyed to Jasmine's plea of departure.  

*AN: I am going through a terrible writers block! I forced up this chapter ..............Please be patient with me on the next chapter, and if you have any ideas or comments please feel free to tell me!

Pllleeeeeeeaaaaaaaasssssseeeeeeeee     Please review!!    (I know I shouldn't beg but if I have to dang it I will)     *Gets on knees*     PLLLLLLEEEEASSEEE REVIEW MY STORY!           I'll give you a cookie!!!