A/N: I swear this story is slow. I hope you're enjoying it so far. All I can say is wait for chapter ten and all will make sense. Considering how the story is coming along so far, it's now definite that it's going to be a lengthy story. Don't forget to review! ^^

Disappearance

A year had passed by, and both the king and queen were vexed by their son. Since his arrival to the palace last year, he had changed almost overnight. They could not figure out where the prince disappeared to everyday. The queen implored him to tell them of his destinations, but the prince would only shyly smile, and say that he did not know himself. The king would be angered by his replies, and ask him to explain his absences, but the prince would just ignore his father, and would disappear into thin air again. He refused to discuss any matters of marriage and avoided speaking to them about the issue. Once in awhile the king would grow impatient and call for the prince, and would only get an apology by those who could not find him. The king grew worried, for his health was depleting and his son was still unmarried. The kingdom needed a stable king, a king who was happily married and secure. Tristan did not fit the requirements, as of yet.

Winter had settled in the kingdom and the palace was full of people who had come to celebrate the New Year. With each turn he took, Tristan saw either a distant relative, or a noble. All the dukes, counts and barons had brought their daughters in hopes for a marriage agreement with the prince. Princesses from far off countries came to see if the prince would be a potential suitor. He knew there was no love in this. His aloof attitude had kept them away from him, to his delight. They were all the same to him, whether they were a princess or a peasant. They could not catch his eye as Evelyn did.

Ever since he first saw her, he felt it. The overwhelming draw she had on him, compelled him to see her and talk to her each and every day. Unexplainable feelings ran through his veins at the thought of her. His thoughts, dreams, and nightmares were filled with the images of Evelyn. Night and day, he thought only of her, and how he would be able to please her and to make her happy. A small smile of hers, would keep him awake all night. The distant look she often had in her eyes, grieved his heart. He watched her in concern as she gazed into the darkness. He felt as if she had left him, and was somewhere cold and lonely, where he was not able to reach her. Faithfully he would go to her everyday, not caring if he was not welcome. He wanted to protect her, and to be by her side.

He went down the stairs, and into the corridors that led to the west wing. He was happy to escape the parties and patted himself on the back for not being caught. As he grinned to himself, he looked up to see someone by the door.

"Do not be alarmed, Tristan." Tristan saw the figure come out of the darkness and into the light of the candles.

"Mother?"

"My son, is this where you have been vanishing to, everyday?"

"…I see that you have found me. I cannot lie, so, yes mother, I have been here… Um… May I ask you how you found out? I mean, I took many precautions; I cannot seem to figure out how you found out. Did you follow me?"

The queen smiled, "My child, you are not the only one who comes here. I was coming down the stairs when I saw you by the door, just last week. I do have better things to do than follow you around, my son."

"Oh…"

"You seem to have made friends with Evelyn, isn't that right? I don't see why else you would come down here."

"Umm… yes."

"I don't understand why you didn't just tell me."

"Well, because I thought you hated her. I mean didn't you force her to stay in the palace until she turned eighteen."

"I kept her here, because I loved her. She was the daughter I never could have. If I had left her alone, five years ago, she would have died."

"I don't understand…"

"I'm sure you don't. She has become cold and shut off. She was such a happy and charming girl when she was young. I hoped that by keeping her here, she would have seen that someone still cared for her, and that she wasn't alone, but each year passed, and she is still unknown to me… The far off look in her eyes… Now that I come to think of it, it's the same look, I saw in her father's eyes. You see, my son, dear Evelyn lived a life of grief. Her mother died when she was born, and she was raised by her father, who showed little care for the girl. He couldn't get over his wife's death, and in turn shut off the world around him. Despite his coldness, she loved him dearly…and when he died…"

"…she grew cold." Tristan thought of the times, he would wonder what she would be thinking about, and now it made sense. All the sadness in her eyes, he slightly understood now. The queen watched her son's heart grieve for Evelyn.

"Tristan…"

"Yes, mother."

The queen looked at him and smiled. "I was wondering…"

"Wondering what, mother?"

"Do you love her?" Tristan almost fell back. Love. Was it love? The thought struck Tristan. His emotions were wracked, as he contemplated the idea that his feelings toward Evelyn were love. His wanting to protect her to be by her side, to make her happy: was it all love?

"Tristan?"

"Yes?" he answered in a daze, "It must be…" A smile glowed on his face.

"It must be!" He ran into the west wing, leaving his puzzled mother behind.

"Evelyn!" he cried as he ran up the steps. "Evelyn!" His feelings were definite, and he had to tell her. He ran through the hallways and up the stairs. He felt his heart soar as he neared her room. He swung the door wide open, with a smile on his face.

"Evelyn!" He looked into the room and saw no one there.

……………………………………………………………………………………………

            The cold didn't bother her, in fact, she relished it. She looked back down the road, and felt regret pulling her back, but she could not return to the palace. She had kept her part of the deal, and now she was free… The thought of the young prince, made her wish she had stayed. She had grown terribly fond; maybe even grow to love him, the past year. Nevertheless, she knew that she would only be able to cause him pain. Until she could overcome the pain of her father's death, there was no way she would be able to live her life to the fullest and be able to love someone completely. As long as the pain remained in her heart, she couldn't come back. As long as it remained…