OK, a Ella Enchanted Fan fic.....not exactly sure where I'm goin with this one. Review and tell me what you think. Name, Summary, and parental rating are sure to change.

Summary: Cayden is the Second Prince of Kyrria and Char's younger brother. He wishes for adventure and to be away from the confines of palace life. Dana is a poor, abused girl on the run after committing a terrible crime. But there seems to be more than just her town's law chasing her.

Disclaimer: I do not own Ella Enchanted but I do own most of the characters in this story. I don't own Jenn or Frell either.

Not only did Cayden witness the wedding between Prince Charmont and his bride Ella, he took part in it. As Second Prince to the Royal Family and Char's brother he was the best man. Princess Cecilia and Third Prince Christian had also taken part in the wedding along with various other family members and Ella's friends (strange though they were.)

Cay stood throughout the whole ceremony with Christian to his left and Char to his right with Ella. Cay didn't know much about her other than her story. Actually, Cay wouldn't have been surprised if all of Kyrria knew her story. Gossip and rumors had spread like wild fire from the royal family to servants and then the Frellians. There was no way to know how far from Frell the story had traveled. But Cay still didn't know what to think of her. She was pretty, that was for sure, but she had only been around for a month and Curious Cay had yet to find a chance to talk with her.

Cay looked at this smiling brother. He was happy for him but once in a while he couldn't help but feel a bit envious. Char was handsome, was marrying a beautiful woman, and would be king. Not that Cay minded much. He was used to being the average looking Second Prince. He was even glad he wouldn't be king. He didn't even want to think of what sort of responsibilities that would take. And probably a lot of desk-work, too. Curious Cay would rather be out exploring, riding, or fencing. He even hoped that his father, King Jerrold, would allow him to join the guard or maybe even the army. Cay longed for adventure. Thought he still wondered sometimes what it would be like to be First Prince.

The wedding was over in what seemed like both forever and no time. Now would come the family party. No chance of practicing archery today.

Dana bit her lip trying to ignore the pain in her bruised arms as she lifted the heavy water bucket over the stone well's edge. Papa had been especially drunk the night before and it showed on Dana's arms. Or at least it would have shown if her gown had short sleeves.

Dana balanced the bucket on the wells edged and looked ahead of her at the road. Ma wasn't home yet. She had been gone for two days now. Dana wasn't exactly worried. She had been gone longer than this before. She was probably at some man's house. But still, Ma was kinder than Papa and would sometimes even convince him to calm down. Sometimes.

"GIRL!" came the loud bellow from within the house making Dana flinch. She remembered her task and lifted the water bucket and made her way slowly back to the house as water splashed down her gown, showing a little relief on this hot day. Papa lay on the stone floor where he had passed out last night after his drunken rage. Dana knelt beside him with the water bucket and dipped a tin cup into it. She then held the cup to the man's lips and he drank somewhat awkwardly with the water spilling down his already messy beard. Suddenly the man stopped drinking and spit the water out, right at Dana's face and knocked the cup from her hand. "This water is disgusting! Where did you get it from?"

"From the well, Papa," Dana said wiping her face on her sleeve.

"That well is old and dirty. Another one must be dug. But for now, go to the stream and get water from there. And be quick about it girl! I have a terrible headache." Dana stood and half ran with the weight from the still full bucket slowing her down. Once outside she dumped it and was able to run with all her speed, the bucket bouncing against her side.

This spring was five minutes from the house at a run. When Dana got there she dropped the bucket and leaned over, massaging her side and panting heavily. When she could breath evenly again she picked up the bucket and filled it in the stream. After drinking a couple of handfuls of the cool water Dana hoisted the bucket and once again half ran back the way she had come.

It took longer to reach the house, about ten minutes longer. When she was still a minute away Dana started hearing shouts coming from within the wooden walls. Ma was home. Dana picked up her pace slightly. Water splashed over the bucket's side, but Dana's gown was already soaked. Dana reached the door in time to see Papa, who was standing shakily on his feet, deliver a punch into Ma's stomach. Dana dropped the bucket as her ma fell to the ground and water spilled across the floor. Without another thought Dana threw herself at her father, knocking him back against the wall. Papa recovered quickly and grabbed Dana by the hair.

"You dirty little wretch. You'll probably end up just like her. Better fix that now." He pulled a dagger from his belt and started to raise it. Suddenly the water bucket collided with his head with enough force to knock him out. Dana backed away from him, her hand to her sore scalp. She looked up to she her mom, doubled over, clutching her stomach.

"Ma!"

"H-he didn't believe it was his. I told him it was...but he didn't believe me."

"Ma, are you ok?"

Ma was looking in horror at her husband. Dana looked too and noticed for the first time the blood coming from the back of his head. His eyes were open but he didn't seem to be awake. Dana knew he was dead.

"P-papa...."

"Dana," Ma said, "you need to go away now. Far away from Enjia. Go north, towards Jenn."

"Ma?" Dana was confused.

"Stay in Jenn. Take the money hidden in the slats beneath my wardrobe. There should be enough to get you there and enough to rent a room at an inn until you find work. You understand." All Dana could do was nod. "Go as soon as possible." Ma fell to her knees, still clutching her stomach.

"Ma!?"

"Go, I'll be fine. Don't worry about me. I'm just gonna rest right here for a little bit. I'll follow you there eventually. Now go."

Dana nodded once more and ran up the stairs and into her mother's room. Opening the wardrobe she pushed the clothes aside. She started trying to lift different boards from the wardrobe's bottom. Eventually she found two that lifted at her touch. Feeling into the hole she found the small cotton pouch weighed down with coins. As she was pulling it out her hand bumped something else. Reaching her hand back in she found the thing and something else and pulled those out too. One was a small diary with entries written in Ma's handwriting. The second thing (which was what her hand had bumped) was a thin chain with a small silver box hanging from it. The chain was old and rusted but the box seemed to be real silver. The box had a clasp that Dana tried to open but it was stuck tight. Instead she undid the chain's clasp and put it around her neck. Then, grabbing the diary and moneybag Dana ran out of her mother's room. After grabbing the few clothes she had from her room Dana ran back down the stairs.

Ma wasn't in the entrance hall anymore, but Papa was. His eyes were cold and staring. Dana looked away quickly and ran through the door. She wanted to look for Ma to make sure she was alright but ran when Ma's orders echoed in her head.

A/N: There ya go...chapter one.... this is my first real fic so please be nice. And I think I have some ideas what to do now.