Entering his castle, he strode forward until he reached his room. Flinging himself forward and twirling himself around, he landed on his canopy bed with a thunk. As he stared up at the red velvet, he thought about the mysterious girl that he met for such a brief moment.

There was something about her, an air of innocence maybe, or it could just simply be her beauty, but he was drawn to her. It was like there were strings around his heart and when he first laid eyes on this beauty, they tightened and began to pull. He shook his head, standing to change into his nightclothes, and get ready for sleep.

Lying in his bed his mind was replaying the whole 15 minutes he spent with her. It was a shame he didn't know who she was, but he was going to go back to that town until he learned. Final decision. He would learn who this girl was, get to know her, and if the feeling in his gut was right (which it usually was) and he could possibly love her, Prince Tristan Janlen DuGrey the Forth was going to make a princess out of the peasant.

"Jeffery," annoyed, Tristan sat at his dining table, his advisor and friend on his left twittering away as usual.

"You need to pick a princess your highness, soon, if you do not have a bride---"

"Jeffery, I know, I ha--" Tristan tried to gain the elder's attention, but it seemed futile.

" you forgo the throne. And you know just as well as---"

"Jeffery, please--"

"your father would not approve of that, and---"

"Jeffery, will you please stop--"

"we do not want your cousin Logan Hunts-something-or-other---"

"I know, Jeffery, just give me a--"

"the throne. He is much to irresponsible. And for another thing---"

"Jeffery! Will You Please STOP?" There was an awkward lull in the room as Jeffery's eyes widened and he immediately seized talking. Tristan took a deep breath before starting again, "Thank you, now I'm sorry for raising my voice, but you really do not quit are you aware of that? Now as I was trying to say before, I have a plan…I met someone."

"Really! Oh that is quite wonderful. Who is she! Please do not tell me it was Duchess Louis. She is quite the little vixen if I do not say so myself."

"No, um, I don't exactly know if you know her…she's from a far of kingdom that I haven't even heard of. Uhh…you know, across the ocean. Rich. Yes, very rich. And royal and beautiful. Jeffery, she is so beautiful! She has this deep brown hair, and big blue eyes…she's perfect." Tristan's eyes lifted towards the ceiling, a small smile across his face as he remembered what little he knew about her.

"Is she smart?" Jeffery asked, glad that Tristan found…someone. Tristan's eyes stayed toward the ceiling as he continued on.

"Smart? Yes she's smart. Brilliant even. She loves to read. Just yesterday I found her reading Utopia. And she's friendly and so innocent too. Perfect. And I just met her…" His eyes closed gently, thoughts about her flying through his head.

"What's her name?"

Good thoughts gone.

Tristan's eyes snapped open and his head dropped toward Jeffery. "Her…name…oh…uhh, look at the time. I promised to go…uhh…see…Mary. Now. Before lunch. Yes, I'm to go see Mary today, now, before lunch. I will see you tonight at dinner Jeffery." His eyes fluttered around, avoiding looking Jeffery straight in the eye. And then he turned, leaving Jeffery alone and confused as usual.

On his horse, Tristan galloped as fast as he could toward the town. When he arrived, he hopped off his horse, pulling it by the reigns and hoping to stand out less in his darker clothing. Unfortunately, it did not work.

Fluttering around the village, he looked at the wares and surveyed the people around him. There were couples every where, happy children, laughing adolescents. A plump red-head stumbled forward, dropping all the goods she carried in her hands onto the dirt road. The brunette he almost rode over yesterday came running up behind her, quickly picking up the pastries scattered all over the ground.

"Sookie, sweets, you know I love you. But you have to be more careful! We can't afford you hurting yourself all the time!" She placed the food on the near by stall's table, offering her hands to the red-head, Sookie, "One, Two, Three, up! Now lets go."

The brunette waved to many people as she walked on, and Tristan was oddly reminded of the mystery girl. But it was probably a coincidence that they were both similarly beautiful as well as enticing.

Tristan sauntered on, looking around and not paying attention to where he was going. He walked on and on, looking every where for her, but coming out fruitless. His eyes wandered the streets and he didn't realize he was about to run into someone until he rammed face first into a very tall, brooding boy with floppy hair and dark eyes.

"Excuse me." the boy muttered walking on. Tristan rolled his eyes. The blue orbs then landed on a small building with wide windows and a cheerful setting. Hoping to find someone that could help him, he entered, finding a small brightly lit pub. Tables were placed all around, and at the bar, sitting beside that dark-haired boy…Jess, a dark-haired girl, and the scruffy man that the brunette he ran into was chasing, was her, chatting happily.

He smiled brightly, walking forward, back straight, and simply sat down beside her. The dark haired girl looked over, obviously shocked, and offered her hand. "Hi, sir, my name is Lane Kim. What brings you to Stars Hollow?"

She looked over at Lane, her eyes growing large, her mouth dropping a little. Tristan chuckled, looking around, "Well, Lane, I've come to meet your friend here," he gestured to her, whose eyes grew wider and cheeks turned bright pink. Lane's eyebrow rose, and the scruffy man and Jess began to pay attention to the conversation too. Tristan locked eyes with the beauty before him, and continued, not breaking the connection, "My name is Tristan DuGrey, and yesterday I was passing through, and I happened to come across this beauty here." She blushed, looking away, Tristan smiled, glad to get a reaction, "and you see, your friend left before I got a chance to learn her name. And I just have to know it. So please, fair maiden, will you tell me your name?"

Her eyes grew, and she turned a bright pink color before looking back at him, "My name, is Rory." and that was all. Tristan's heart fluttered when Rory spoke, and he jumped off the stool, offering his hand to her as he stood, "Well, Rory, would you like to go on a walk with me, please?"

Rory's eyebrow shot up, and Jess and Luke both straightened, crossing their arms over their chests and staring Tristan down. He stood a little straighter, but when Rory tried to duck her head, he bent down catching their eyes again and bringing her head up to look at him. "Please, Rory?"

She nodded slowly, looking over at her friends before standing up. The scruffy man began walking forward, but Rory shook her head, "It's fine, Luke. I want to go. I'll be back before tonight. Just do not start anything until I'm there, understand?"

The scruffy man nodded, with a small smile, "alright, Rore," he turned to Tristan, his face automatically switching from soft to hard, "Protect her. She is the most important thing in this town and I'm trusting her with you. Feel honored. I don't care how rich your buttocks are, if she gets hurt in your protection I will hunt you down and kill you myself."

"After Lorelei of course." Jess piped, talking for the first time since Tristan arrived. Luke nodded, then turned back to wiping down the bar.

Rory took Tristan's still offered hand, pulling him forward and out into the streets. His horse grazed the grass near the edge of the road, so Tristan lead Rory that way. When they reached the horse, Tristan jumped up, offering his hand down to Rory. Her eyes grew again and she shook her head, backing up a little.

Tristan extended his hand further, smiling, "Rory, please, I won't let anything hurt you. I promise." She bit her lower lip, weighing the options, until finally she made her decision.

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