A/N: Hellloooo!!! I'm so sorry that this is not the action packed chapter that was promised but the next chapter will be better. Now, upward and onward! P.S. REVIEW!

Galasriniel (formerly known as Emerald-eyed-cutie)- Shorter and more often it will be! Sorry this one is VERY late, though. Yup, the younger sibling factor works like a charm. I also have two younger brothers and also a younger sister, so blackmail really comes in handy sometimes. ;) hee hee Who knew being in a big family involved so much strategy? By the way, I love your use of adjectives!

Hey- Actually I do have some Asian blood in me, but that's not really where I got the names from. I just used them because they were kinda exotic sounding and they fit the characters. I live in Texas, what country are you from? Thanks for the review, I hope you like this chapter! :)

Watrfairie- Awww...your review was so nice. Thanks for the vote of confidence. I think I just might keep the title. I'm glad you like where this is headed cause you're in for more in this chapter! Hope you enjoy! )

Horn-head- I must say, I am honored that you read my story! Thanks! Yes...sigh...as evil as they are, I do love cliffhangers. All I can say is that I think I'm going over to the dark side. Bwa ha ha ha!!!

Chapter 6- of picnics and pests

"So what have you been up to lately?" Carina asked teasingly, her eyes dancing. The turquoise gown she had on matched her eyes and her blond locks framed the delicate features of her face. Carina and Aurora had been best friends from the moment they had met. She knew how boring Aurora thought these court occasions were, especially since she shared those feelings herself.

"Oh, you don't know how much you missed," Aurora replied with a roll of her eyes, "For example, there was that most extraordinary lecture on the benefits of raw silk over watered silk, or some other equally life changing lesson." She had decided that morning not to tell anyone, even Carina, about her escapade the night before.

"Come on, Aurora, it couldn't have been so bad to spend the night with Madame Tomil's daughters," her friend said, grinning broadly now.

Aurora simply raised an eyebrow and together, they turned around to survey the troupe of tittering girls. In their midst stood an unknown person. He had his back to them and was politely nodding at the blushing girl beside him. Aurora felt a shiver run down her spine. Quickly, she turned away. It was him. She remembered the intense look in his eyes from earlier, as if he knew something she didn't.

"So, Carina," Aurora muttered, clearing her throat nervously, "What have you been up to lately?"

"Errmm..." her friend replied, still looking over her shoulder, "Nothing. Who is that guy, anyway?"

Aurora shrugged noncommittally. She really had no idea who he was, or how he could be connected to the court, or, for that matter, why her stomach flip-flopped every time she looked at him. Carina's father was the one of King Philippe's right hand men. He knew almost everything to do with the court, including all its guests. Shouldn't he know about this man?

"Well, let's go find out then," Carina said, grabbing hold of her friend's arm and pulling her toward the group of girls.

"No! Wait!" Aurora practically squeaked, "Actually I, umm...forgot! Yes, I forgot that I promised to do something...for Noori! Anyways, I'll see you later."

Quickly she darted away, before Carina stopped her.

If she stayed, Carina would want an explanation on why she didn't want to meet him, and then she'd have to tell her about last night, and then Carina would be mad at her for not telling her in the first place. No, it was much better to avoid that mess and just disappear for a little while.

Aurora let out a little sigh when she finally reached the hedge border of the Royal grazing fields, where the horses from the stable were left to graze during the day. She found an opening in the hedge and stepped forward to the wooden fence that kept the horses from roaming out. The field stretched out before her, a lush green, dotted with the colorful array of horses. Aurora raised two fingers to her mouth and whistled shrilly, as her eyes combed the field for Bonnie's red-brown coat.

"Damn those stupid trainers. I gave strict instructions to bring her out at exactly 9 o'clock everyday!" Aurora muttered angrily, preparing to storm off in search of her horse.

Before, she could go very far, though, the whinny of a nearby horse caught her attention. Standing a few feet away from the fence stood a beautiful young stallion. He was a light chestnut color with a white patch that resembled a star on his chest. Aurora stopped in her tracks; he was a magnificent creature. Quietly, she walked up to the fence.

"Here, baby," she murmured softly, looking through the shoulder high fence. Carefully, she climbed the slats and perched herself on the top.

"Aren't you a beauty? Now, come here, boy," she cooed holding out her arm coaxingly. She regretted not stopping by the kitchens on here way over here. The stallion whinnied and tossed his mane, before trotting to her.

"That's right, now just a little more," Aurora whispered. He looked at her and came within inches of her outstretched arm.

"You know, I do believe that you are even more stubborn than Bonnie," Aurora laughed before shifting precariously on the old wooden beam to stretch closer. She could feel his warm breath on her palm when he snorted.

"Do all noblewomen in Ayortha enjoy climbing fences and running away from Royal gatherings?" a voice came from behind her.

Aurora yelped and almost fell off the fence. The young stallion galloped away. Still, clutching the beam, she whipped her head around angrily and came face to face with him. He looked to be a few years older than herself with chocolate brown eyes were twinkling at her and lips curved up into a decidedly lopsided smile. His longish brown hair had a perpetually windblown appearance that only accentuated his roguish good looks.

"You stupid dolt, you made him run away," she hollered at the intruder, not caring who it was.

"I'm sorry, miss, but I still maintain that it was not my fault," he answered her smoothly, his smile now turning into a full blown grin. In fact, he rathered looked like he was enjoying this.

'Who does he think he is?' Aurora fumed as she climbed down from her perch, ready to give him a piece of her mind. 'First, he scares away the horse, then he doesn't even offer to help her get down (not that she needed his help, she was perfectly fine, thank you very much), and then he had the audacity to say it wasn't his fault. It was an outrage!

"Of course it was your fault, you-you, imbecile!" she shouted at him, at the same time noticing how he towered over her.

"Let me, clarify," he strolled closer to the fence and spoke as though they were talking of something as simple as the weather, "I have been standing here for the last five to ten minutes, so it was obviously not my presence that scared him away. However, he did run away, after your scream."

"Well, I wouldn't have screamed if you hadn't snuck up on me!" Aurora yelled.

"You would have known I had followed you if you hadn't run away from the picnic like that. What were you avoiding, anyway?" he countered.

Aurora stared at him in shock, how had he managed to twist their whole conversation around. And he looked as though he was enjoying himself quite thoroughly! He was lounging against the fence, now, letting the wind riffle his dark hair, his brown eyes laughing at her. Aurora snapped herself out of her reverie. She'd slug him, Aurora decided, the next time he laughed at her.

"That, sir, is none of your business," she said frostily.

"Oh, so now we're back to being formal. And a minute ago, when you were yelling at me, or should I say when you were roaring at me, it was dolt and imbecile?" He was grinning widely now.

That, Aurora decided, was the last straw. She balled up her fist and pulled her arm back preparing t-

"Oh, there you are!" Carina called from behind. Aurora froze for a second, before hastily putting her arm down and plastering a smile onto her face. Her friend would tease her for all eternity if knew what she was about to do.

"Finally, I've found you. I should have known I'd find you out here," Carina teased, and then stopping for a moment, when she spotted Alex, eying him curiously. Instantly, he got up from his lounging position against the fence.

"Oh, Aurora, before I forget, Noori wants you to know that the scouts have spotted your parents carriage. They should be here in an hour or so," Carina said truning back to her friend, shooting questioning looks at her the whole time. Aurora knew that Carina must be itching to know who this stranger was and what he was doing here, which brought her to the realization that she herself did not know who in heaven's name he was, other than that he was the biggest pest ever!

"I don't believe I've had the pleasure to meet you, sir," Carina said in her usual forthright fashion, she had never been one to stand on propriety, much to the consternation of her mother.

"Allow me to introduce myself, mademoiselle," he said, overlooking this and bowing gallantly over her hand. Aurora looked in annoyance as her friend blushed prettily.

"You can call me Tristan," he added.

Carina dropped into an elegant curtsy before replying, "I am Carina, Sir Robert DeCoulage's daughter. You are new here. How do you find Ayortha?"

"Well, this is the first time I've been to Ayortha," Alex answered with a smile. "I arrived here last night, so I haven't had much time to do much, but if everyone is as nice- and beautiful- as you."

"Thank you, and I wish it were true," Carina said turning a darker shade of pink, "I find travel so fascinating. Please, tell me where you are from."

Aurora rolled her eyes in silence. She couldn't believe they were ignoring her like this. And why in the world was Carina blushing and gushing over this dolt? She was acting almost as bad as Madame Tomil's daughters!

Alex hesitated for a moment, glancing in Aurora's direction; did he really want to do this? "Burnham," he said at last.

"Oh, them you must know the Marquis! I heard he caused quite a stir last night."

"Actually," once more there was that faint hesitation, "actually, I am the Marquis."

Aurora almost choked on her own spit. Had she heard right?

"You – you're the Marquis?!" Aurora sputtered at him, shock evident on her face.

He nodded, looking sheepishly at her. She bit her lip, suddenly feeling bad. If this was the Marquis, then it was no wonder why he had looked at her earlier and then followed her out here. He probably just wanted to ask how she was doing after the night before, and instead got yelled at. Even if he was insufferable, still she had no right to treat him that way.

"Wait a minute....You two know each other?" Carina asked looking between them curiously.

"NO!" Aurora said hurriedly before Alex could answer, "We ran into each other at dinner last night, and I thought he was someone else." She swallowed her pride and looked at him pleadingly. Praying that he would follow her lead.

"Ah, yes, I do believe we stumbled across each other in the rose garden," he said grinning devilishly and winking at her.

Aurora, to her consternation, found herself blushing hotly. But luckily, Carina didn't seem to notice.

"The rose garden," she chuckled, "yup, that sounds like the Aurora I know."

"It was a pleasure to meet you, my lord," Aurora interrupted, obviously irritated. Even if he had saved her life, that still didn't make him any less annoying, she decided, turning around and preparing to leave, all the while cursing her red cheeks.

"Oh no, allow me to escort you, lovely ladies back to the picnic –"

Aurora gritted her teeth and began walking briskly up the path, not waiting for him to finish.

"– and believe me, the pleasure is all mine," Alex said. Aurora missed the smouldering look he gave her as he said these words. All she heard was the chattering of voices behind her as they followed up the path.

Alex grinned to himself. He had successfully managed to charm her friend and was now sitting with them amid the picnic festivites. It figures, he thought, glancing at Aurora out of the corner of his eye, as she returned from getting a plate of food. She probably hated him, but he couldn't help it. He teased her mercilessly, and she got so riled up about it. Absolutely not afraid to let him feel her fire. The problem was that he wanted to get burned. She was so different from all the other simpering dandies, falling all over him. He remembered how her eyes seemed to throw daggers at him when she was mad. She was feisty, spirited, passionate...she was simply...Rose.

And he was going to win her back if it was the last thing he did.

A/N: Whew! Sorry this was waaayy later than planned, but these last few weeks have been CRAZY. Hopefully things are going to go back on track. Keep tuned!

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