-----------------------------------------Flashbacks to the Past----------------------------------------

=Fourteen Years Old=

I bounced in my seat, excitement flushing my cheeks. I was going to meet my betrothed, Prince Jerrold! I was betrothed to him last week, and now I would meet him. Finally! A week may not seem like a long time, but it felt like torture to me. Who wouldn't think it was torture, knowing that each day is another day away from your Prince, your happily ever after?

I glanced over at mother, who was looking out the carriage window at the landscape. I gazed at her enviously, marveling in her ability to keep a calm outlook at such a time. I knew that inside she was just as excited as I was, maybe even more so!

The carriage lurched to a stop, and I got out, managing to look graceful even in my state of frenzied excitement. After all, that is what I have spent my whole life practicing for. This moment. The moment I meet my true love.

Mother and I walked up the path to the Palace Gate, where Prince Jerrold and King Jonathan waited. Both were mounted on horses. Prince Jerrold's steed was pure white, and King Jonathan's was black. I stopped in front of Prince Jerrold's horse and curtsied. The Prince dismounted and bowed at me. I curtsied again, giggling slightly as the horse nosed towards me, snuffling at my face.

Gently stroking the horse's snout, I heard Mother saying something, something about how pleased we were to be here. I stole a glance at Prince Jerrold and saw him looking at me, smiling. I smiled back.

"Jerrold, why don't you bring Lady Daria for a stroll in the gardens or something? I'm sure you young ones wouldn't like to listen to our chatter." The King winked, gesturing us away.

Taking my arm in one hand and the horse's reins in the other, Prince Jerrold led the way to a sunny field around the side of the Palace. "I'm sorry if you had wanted to visit the Gardens', my Lady. But I can not afford to let Cast munch on our plants, especially some of the ones with a more magical nature." He sat down on the grass, the horse lying beside him.

I smiled, "No, not at all, this place is just as nice." looking at the horse, I asked. "Why do you call your horse Cast, your highness? Surely he deserves a more noble name than that?" I blushed. "Begging your pardon, your highness, I had not meant to-"

"Call me Jerrold, we are to be married, are we not? We can't very well be so formal to each other! And as for Cast, it's short for Castimonia, which is Latin for purity. Is that a fitting enough name for the great Lady Daria?" He looked at me, eyes twinkling.

Realizing he was joking, I replied airily. "Oh yes, I suppose that will have to do." He laughed, then took off his cloak and laid it on the ground beside him, gesturing for me to sit. I stared at him incredulously. "It's almost winter! You'll surely freeze to death! Put that cloak back on, I can deal with a bit of dirt. And besides," I continued mischievously. "It's not like I'm cleaning the dress, is it?"

He smiled, "Ah, taking advantage of the servants now are we, Lady Daria?"

"Of, course, your highness."

Jerrold frowned. "Didn't I tell you to call me Jerrold?"

"Well I don't see you calling me Daria, informality can't just be one-sided, you know."

"Very well, Daria." Grinning, Jerrold gestured for me to sit down again. "Please sit down, it hurts my neck to look up at you."

I pretended to huff. "Well, you shouldn't sit down until after the lady sits, anyways." Laughing at the mortified expression on Jerrold's face, I sat down. "But we're allowed informalities, remember?"

=Fifteen Years Old=

Without a warning Jerrold grabbed me around the waist and threw me up onto the horse. He slapped it on the back, telling it to take off. The horse moved no faster than a wagon that was stuck in mud, but I was still terrified. I feared horses above all else, it was just a thing I had.

Giving a shriek, I clung onto the reins, knowing I must look ungraceful bouncing around in the saddle. I didn't care; I had to get off this thing! "Jerrold! This isn't funny! Stop the horse! Please!" In my fright, I kicked the horse in the side.

It jolted off like lightening, and I was left clinging on with all my might. However, the horse leapt over a log, the sudden forward motion ripped the reins from my trembling fingers and flung me off the horse itself onto the grass. I landed on the soft grass of the palace fields, but that didn't matter. It wasn't my back that was hurt. What was hurt was my dignity.

"Jerrold! How could you? You know I can't ride! You could have killed me! I trusted you! And you promised! You promised you wouldn't make me do anything until I was ready, you broke your promise!" Tears welled up in my eyes. He saw my greatest weakness, he was probably laughing inside.

On the outside though, he looked genuinely sorry. "Daria, I didn't know! That horse usually is so tame, I though you'd be safe, I really did." He came closer, looking me over. "Did you get hurt? Are you all right? Any broken bones? Oh Daria, I really am sorry, I could kill myself." He gently picked me up, and held me to him, his face hidden in my hair. Defiantly, I broke away.

"You're not sorry! You're laughing at me! Stupid Daria, doesn't even know how to ride her own horse! Why am I betrothed to her?" I looked away, crying freely now. "You promised! I thought a prince never breaks his word, how could you?"

"Daria, I didn't mean it, I just thought that you would never do it by yourself, and I wanted to show you that horses are nothing to be afraid of!" He forced me to look at him. "And I was the one who picked you to be my betrothed," He gently stroked my cheek. Kissing my forehead, he said. "I would never regret it."

His words were sweet, but I refused to listen. "I don't believe you! I can't believe I ever trusted you! You're an insufferable brat who just likes to make fun of people!" I suppose that was a bit too harsh, but riding was my one weak point, and I was not going to let him see how much he had hurt me. "I'll never ride again, for the rest of my life! You can just go galloping off and sweep some other maidens off they're feet, you pretend to be sweet, but all along you're just waiting for you're chance! I hate you!"

At that he drew back, his face-which had been pale with worry-turned red with anger. Then, just as quickly, he dropped a mask in front of his eyes, rendering his face expressionless. "Well, I'm sorry if you feel that way, Lady Daria. I promise you I will never bother you again. In fact, I shall just leave you alone from now on, how about that." He stepped forward and bowed. "Your Prince bids you farewell." He took my arm, his expression not changing. "But not before he escorts you back to the palace to see the doctor."

I wrenched my arm away from him. "Let me go! I'm fine. And there's no point in promising me anything, your promises are worthless, like you."

I glared at him, then unclasped the cloak I was wearing and handed it to him silently. That cloak was the one that he had laid down for me to sit on when we first met. He had diverted my attention from it by teasing me, tricking me into sitting down on it. He was nothing but a trickster. Why'd he do that anyways? It's not like it helped him any, he'd caught a chill afterwards! Just a stupid trickster.

Jerrold looked at me, reflected in his bright brown eyes was a look I couldn't understand. Then his eyes grew cold. Turning around, he prepared to stalk away.

Suddenly, he stopped and turned back, kissing me on the cheek, he whispered. "I'm sorry, Daria."

I slapped him and ran away.

=Sixteen Years Old=

"Daria, I need you for something!" Jerrold the Brat looked up at me, eyes twinkling. He was currently sitting down in one of the cushiony armchairs in his bedroom. I was standing, seeing as he had ordered me to. He was now smiling and doing that annoying sing-songy thing again, teasing me.

I sighed. "Yes, your highness?"

"I want you to clean my shoes."

"No way!" I stared down at him, eyes blazing.

"Yes, I, as the Prince of the realm want you to do it. And I always get what I want." He was still laughing, how I hated him.

I gathered myself up. "And I, as your betrothed am not going to do it! I am your equal, and the future Princess of the realm. Clean them yourself."

"But darling, you should grant me this act out of love!" He stretched the word love out, knowing it would irritate me.

"I don't love you! I hate you! And I'll always hate you! Forever!"

Jerrold laughed harshly, the mirth disappearing from his eyes. "And I'll hate you forever too!"

He smirked. I smirked. Then, as if on cue, borne from long years of practice, "And the thing with forever is that it never ends."

Thank goodness for that!

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Yay! I finished! Don't you think Jerrold's the sweetest? He's so nice. Oh well, females have a gift for being stubborn. At least in fairy tale stories. Now, can I get fifteen reviews before I update? I'm asking for more this time 'cause I did give you two chapters… So yeah.

dreamerdoll: Oh yay! My first review for this fic! Are you still awake? You might be, 'cause of the time zone thing. You should know that it is currently 1:34 in the morning for me right now, so if I have any mistakes, it's the sleepiness' fault.