Back at Cheri's manor, Rory was upstairs, packing her only satchel with her meager belongings. Her stepmother was sending her to stay with her family in Camelot permanently.

'Not that I really care,' thought Rory, 'I have had enough of this, Cheri bossing me around. Georgia constantly degrading me.'

Rory threw her bag on the bare bed and sat down to cry, remembering what she would lose. She would miss Sir Jess dearly, her one and only true friend in London. And then there was Prince Tristan, the secret admirer she knew and loved, her soul mate. Rory did leave a note for Jess, explaining that Cheri was forcing her to leave, and that she was glad to go.

'I need to find a fate other than the one I have now, one of servitude and unrequited love. Joseph and his family will treat me like an equal,' she thought. A knock on the downstairs door startled Rory. She heard the sound of an over-familiar voice, the voice of her dreams.

'Tristan,' she knew for certain, 'Georgia will most likely get to him first, using her sluttiness to make poor Tristan see what she wants. I know he came for me though. But then, he's probably better off with a rich noble than a poor peasant. At least Georgia would be able to understand him, being noble.'

Rory sighed and pulled her brown hair out of her face and tied it back with a strip of ragged cloth. She grabbed her bag and the letter to Aunt and Uncle, then headed downstairs.

'I'll just slip out the back, this way he won't ever find me. Cheri and Georgia won't care, as long as I'm gone. I'll leave Tristan to a life he deserves. I'll come back someday though,' Rory promised herself.

Upon reaching the kitchen, Rory turned to take one last look at the Prince, talking to Cheri and Georgia. The Prince's gaze met hers and Tristan began to take a step forward, Rory just stood there transfixed, watching him come closer and closer to her, until he was only a breath away. He gently lifted her face towards his and kissed her passionately. Cheri stood there shocked, not believing her eyes. Georgia stood ready to intervene, when Rory quickly stepped away.

"Good-bye Prince Tristan," she whispered and turned to run from the manor, from Cheri and Georgia, towards a new life somewhere else.

"Rory, Rory wait!" Prince Tristan called after her. He turned around to face Cheri and Georgia.

"Where is she going?" he demanded.

"I sent her to live with her family in Camelot. They are good people and will take care of her." Cheri replied, not wanting to offend her prince. Tristan looked back at where Rory was running. He was ready to go after her, not wanting to let her go, not now that he had finally found his dream girl. 'Come back,' Prince Tristan thought in his mind. And, as if to answer, Rory turned her head to take one last look at the love she would have to leave behind.

"Let her go," Georgia told the Prince and put her hand on his shoulder, as if to restrain him.

He whirled around, "Don't tell me what to do. I am the Prince, your Prince. Now, please, leave me and go about your daily business," Tristan yelled at her. Cheri grabbed Georgia and the two of them headed back inside the manor as Tristan set out after Rory, along the dirt road.

I did a double update, since the other chapter was so short. I'll have another chapter tomorrow for you all. Enjoy and review!!!!