Anniya

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* Important author's note!!!!*

Ok, I really hate to do this guys, but I've become desperate. I've asked nicely, I've begged, but as usual people just run over me * grins*. Sooooooo.........I've brought down the bat. Anniya is coming to a halt until I get more reviews on Mermaid. Is this blackmail? Yes. Am I serious? Yes. Is everyone who's reading this mad at me? Yes. * grins.*. thanks guys! Now onto the story.

****************************************************************************** Now it was only Anniya, of the four, who had no idea of Robert and West's connection. She was too busy marveling at the shadowy hall ways, and the decorative stain glass windows. As she and West crept past a room, Anniya happened to glance inside. A flood of memories came back to her. that was the place where Dame Olga had held her cotillion, and she had first danced with Robert. and where she had first tried chocolate.

Both memories brought a smile to Anniya's lips. The memory of the cotillion once again brought the memory of Hattie back into Anniya's mind. She grinned once again, thinking over her plan. She had remembered what Robert had told her about Hattie's hair awhile back. But what Anniya didn't know was how unbelievably similar her plan was to another girl who had wished to get back at Hattie, not so long ago...........

" Where are you going," West asked her under his breath as Anniya veered right. Anniya mouthed the word Hattie, forgetting once again that West had no recognition of the word 'Hattie.'

" I'll be back in a few moments," she whispered back, and left him with that explanation. She ran silently through the house.

It was something that often amazed people, including herself. When she wanted to, Anniya could be remarkably quiet, even while running. It was odd, especially when quiet was the exact opposite of her.

Anniya paused right outside Hattie's door way. she knew that what she was about to do was childish, and certainly uncalled for. But Hattie had caused so many things to go wrong. If Hattie hadn't abandoned Anniya that day in the market place, West and John would of never been taken prisoner. John would still be alive. Anniya would of stayed in Frell and would of been able to give the evidence to the King.

It might of still happened. The outcome might of been worse. But all in all, Hattie had caused, though not directly, a death of a friend. And what she was about to do was hardly West-like; she wasn't going to murder Hattie in her sleep. Although no court would probably convict Anniya( they'd probably give her a reward for doing them such a service), Anniya had no desire to end the wretched girls life.

Well, at least not Hattie's social life.

With those last thoughts, Anniya slid into Hattie's room.

The room was just as elaborate as Anniya expected it to be. The numerous rugs on the ground were colorfully gaudy, not matching anything else in the room. The bed was a soft pink, with veils hanging all about. There were several mirrors in it, as well as a large wooden desk with fairies carved into it. the fire place roared, and above it was a portrait of Hattie herself. Anniya studied it with amusement. The artist had obviously exaggerated Hattie's features. The portrait showed a lovely girl with a straight nose, numerous golden curls, and straight teeth. The girl in the portrait contrasted sharply with Anniya's memory of her.

A loud, harsh noise suddenly came from the opposite corner of the room. Anniya jumped and whirled around, prepared to defend herself. Her fists relaxed when she saw that it was only the girl in question, snoring loudly.

Cautiously, Anniya walked carefully over to Hattie, mumbling in her sleep. As much as she hated to, Anniya silently called to the wig. She couldn't afford to touch Hattie; she might wake her. A soft green light came over the wig, and it rose off the girl's head and flew into Anniya's waiting hand. She grinned, and walked carefully over to the fire, about to do the exact same thing another girl had once considered doing.

" I hope you find one before tonight's ball, Hattie," Anniya told the sleeping girl. She dropped the wig into the fire.

To Anniya's complete surprise, the fire roared up, and a particularly bad smell started flowing from it. Anniya looked around wildly. This wasn't suppose to happen!

Hattie shifted in her sleep, then yawned.

She's waking up, Anniya realized, suddenly terrified. She didn't bother to contemplate why this hair brained girl could possibly bring her stress when a fire breathing dragon couldn't. Although Hattie did have teeth that could rival a dragon's.

In desperation, Anniya darted into the closet and threw herself behind a mound of dresses just as Hattie opened her eyes. Anniya held her breath as the girl's eyes darted from corner to corner. Then, in one loud voice, she called.

" Ella! Ella! Get up here this instant you dirty creature! Been sneaking about in my room, have you," Hattie snapped, oblivious of her missing wig.

The name Ella struck a bell, but Anniya couldn't remember where she had heard it from. She hoped that West had managed to find himself some place to hide. Anniya burrowed back further in the mounds of dresses. To her surprise, emerald green silk brushed her cheek. It was from her gown, the one that she had borrowed from Hattie so long ago, for that time she had danced with Robert.

" Yes," a tired, fairly annoyed voice coming from the door answered. Anniya parted the dresses to see a tall, dark haired servant girl in rags. Her face was smudged with soot, and Anniya liked her just from seeing the annoyed expression on her face. Clearly Anniya was not the only one who wished Hattie gone from the world.

" You were sneaking around in my room again, weren't you, you wretched piece of filth," Hattie sneered. The servant girl's expression changed from annoyed to amused as she saw that Hattie's wig was gone.

" And what is that atrocious smell," Hattie continued, sniffing the air. Anniya couldn't contain herself, and let out a small giggle.

Hattie was too busy moaning about the insolence of her servants and the smell of the room to hear Anniya, but the servant girl had. The servant girl's gaze switched to the closet and met Anniya's green eyes with green eyes of her own.

Anniya stared back stupidly. She would be able to run faster then either of the girls, she should run for it now. How could she have been so stupid?

Just as Anniya was ready to burst out of the closet, the servant girl's eyes switched back to Hattie, and feigned horror.

" My lady! Your hair," she cried.

The little color in Hattie's face was sucked dry. Shaking, she slowly turned to look in the mirror. The scream shook the household.

" My hair! My hair! Oh my hair! Where is it, Ella you wretched little slut! My hair," Hattie wailed. Her sharp eyes switched to the fire place, and she screamed again.

" Not my hair! Not the fire! My hair! My hair! Get it out, Ella, get it out," Hattie screeched, racing toward the fire. Her attention was completely off Anniya.

At that moment, the servant girl's eyes turned back to Anniya, and she gave a slight nod.

Anniya wondered why the girl was letting her get away. The servant girl would obviously be punished. But Anniya still took the chance. Snatching her green gown and another blue one off the hook, she peered out the edge of the door. Even Hattie wouldn't be able to miss two large ball gowns going out the door.

But at that moment, Hattie chose to provide a wonderful distraction.

In all of her hysteria, Hattie had managed to catch her night gown on fire.

" Save me! I'm going to die, I'm going to die," Hattie screeched, and ending with a wordless shriek of despair. Anniya darted out the door way as Hattie whirled around like a frightened mouse.

Don't let me be seen, Anniya thought, and felt her magic pulsing. She cursed herself, wondering why she hadn't done it earlier. Servants rushed passed her, unaware of the magic guarding her from sight, and onto the shrieks of agony coming from Hattie.

" What's it going to be this week, a mouse? Perhaps a spider," one man said sarcastically to another. Anniya smiled, and hurried on down stairs.

West darted out from the shadows, searching wildly. He was carrying two suits, and several bags of gelds. He looked angry; being West, he had probably figured out why the house was in chaos now. But after a moment, he relaxed.

" Follow me, Anniya. I'll have to lecture you later," he grumbled, and ran swiftly to the door. Anniya frowned; how had he known she was there? Never the less, she hurried after him, leaving the wailing shrieks from Hattie behind.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A feeling of relief swept through Robert as Esperanza's jaw dropped open. After so many long years, the secret was finally out. West was the legitimate crown prince of Kellia. Robert was second born.

As soon as he had met this Esperanza girl, he had known that it wasn't long until she found out the truth. Anniya, having grown up in the wild all of her life, couldn't be expected to know that Princes and thieves could not be related.

Robert had been told by his Father about West when he was fifteen. That West was the real heir, and Robert would of never been born if not for a particular incident. It had disturbed Robert to know that the true prince of Kellia and his brother was out there, never knowing who he was. So Robert had set out on a quest to find West. And he had, two years before they had met Anniya. He had never told his Father. And as for West.....West had taken it well. When Robert had found West, he had been robbing for five years. West had liked what he did, and at first Robert had been almost envious of him. West had seemed like he had it all: Money, women, and always living on the edge. He didn't have an obligations, no duties as Robert had.

So they had become more friends then brothers. But as Robert came closer to the time he would ascend the throne, the rift had spread. A prince could not be friends with a thief; even if that thief was his half-brother. Even if that thief should of been prince instead of him.

Robert closed his eyes, and shook his head. Guilt had always racked into him when he thought of West. He still hated to think of how both of them were lying to Anniya. Beautiful, wild, Anniya, for all her willfulness, was still completely naive to the dealings of men in the world. But she didn't even know that West's name wasn't West.

Arien Westkander Di Calixte the third could of been heir to one of the most powerful countries in the world. Now, all records of him had been erased. The people of Kellia had assumed that he had been killed along with his mother. No one thought that he might of been whisked away to a peasant family and called West for short. No one but Robert and West himself. At least that was what Robert believed to be true.

" So your telling me that you're a bloody phony," Esperanza demanded. Robert stared at her for a moment, then laughed. Yes, this girl knew how to make a bad situation worse.

" I am through talking to you," he told her, and stood up. She leaped up as well, nearly his height.

" I don't think so! If your going to tell me something, it'd be lovely if I could get the entire story," Esperanza shot back.

Robert looked at her for a moment, the aberrant beauty she was, and wondered what it would be like to kiss her. The thought immediately shocked him. He loved Anniya, and that was plain and simple. If Anniya was in the room, he never even looked at the beautiful gypsy girl. Robert rubbed his head. He was extremely drunk.

" Look at me! I have swore that I won't tell a soul! Are you saying that West is your brother," Esperanza demanded again. Robert looked down into her furious blue eyes, flecked with green. In some respects, she was more beautiful.........................

At that moment Anniya and West burst into the inn. As he had thought, the mere glance of Anniya swept Esperanza away from his mind. Anniya held two ball gowns, while West held two suits as well as a passel of other things. Luckily, there were only a few other people in the inn downstairs, and they took no interest in the unusual pair.

" We'll have to alter the gowns a bit, but you and West should be about fine. We have everything, from slippers to gelds to-," Anniya began, out of breath from running.

" Do you have an invitation," Esperanza broke in.

Robert laughed. " I'm a friend of the family. They'll let us in." He shot her a glare as she opened her mouth to obviously say something about princes. Esperanza realized her mistake, and changed the subject.

" Well then. We have a ball to prepare for, don't we."

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The entire following day was bent on preparing for the ball. Their plan had been made; Anniya would go and tell Char, since she would be the most inconspicious. Robert would keep the Count in conversation, while West and Esperanza would keep look out for anything suspicious. Until that night, they would prepare.

Robert and West prepared in the morning; they did not take much time. Anniya saw Robert only briefly and West not at all as they went to find a carriage and spare weapons around one o'clock. They would meet the two girls at the ball, and would send a carriage to get them. That left Anniya, Esperanza, and two ball gowns.

Both girls stared at the dresses on the beds. Neither one of them were accustomed to the finery. Anniya finally spoke.

" I guess I'll take the green one," she said, reaching for it. Esperanza nodded, and grabbed the blue one.

After she dressed, Anniya examined herself in the mirror before turning to Esperanza.

" Do you think we should of bathed first?"

Esperanza swore, being even less lady like then Anniya. Anniya merely laughed at her friend, and went to request bath water.

Yes, they did have a ball to prepare for.

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Next chapter is the first BALL!!!!!!!! As this story is winding down to an end, there's going to be a lot of romance( Robert or West?), A LOT of action, death( yeah, a tear jerkers coming up), and final answer to Anniya's past--Why were her parents killed, and what were they doing in the Fens?

Ohh, and and at last, we'll see someone that people have been bugging for me to bring into the story......................

But remember, you may have to wait a verrryyy lonnngggg time if I don't get more reviews for Mermaid. *sigh* yes, I know, I'm evil.