Story of a Princess Unknown - Chapter 10 - A Friend

Hi Everybody

As promised, here is chapter 10. I know it's short, but it's really only the second half of chapter 9 - I just separated it cause it was too long! I hope you like it - it was really fun to write! Quite sad though. To all who don't like Jared - I hope you will after this chapter.

Pippa - yeah I'm glad she did too! But Eve was sad. Luke is mean in this chapter. Hope you had fun at the dance - I'll chat to you today. Please can you txt Emma and tell her to REVIEW? ( I have some Diet L&P …)

Kat - Hey! A new person to review! Yay! I'm glad you liked it - sorry about the cliffy!

Just Writer - NO WAY! This is one of the BEST parts of the story!

Breathless74 - Hey I just looked on your profile and you have a horse! YAY! I have a pony! Pippa who shares this account has two ponies! YAY! You do eventing? I want to get into that when I've had my pony for a bit longer! I'm glad you liked the sharing secrets idea.

One girl - Yay! Another new person! Thanks for reviewing - you're not SUPPOSED to like Luke! He's the baddy!

Emma-J Riddle - YAY! You're back! Yes I've got the thought in Eve's head … hehe!

Lady Gwen - How did you listen to Brooke? On Amazon or do you have the CD? My auntie used to baby sit her when she was little! Thanks for the cool music ideas. I'm doing grade 5 piano. Yay I've ordered Brooke's music book and I'm getting it on Tuesday!

Littlelambug - did you review as Tami before? I know how you feel about losing your confidence - I had just had my new pony for a week and I took him out on the track with two friends. (Stupid me). We walked an trotted and he was fine, then we cantered and he took off with me. I fell off and I was too scared to canter even in an arena for ages. But now I'm doing show jumping and cross country with him and he's really good! So don't worry about it, it'll come back to you! You must be excited about learning to jump! I love it SO much! Have fun!

I forgive anyone who hasn't had time to review cause I only put the last chapter up a couple of days ago! BTW, can you all please check out my new story, A LIFE FORGOTTEN? Thanks. Now for the story.

Recap: "I'll do it," Eve spoke bravely but Jared could detect a tremor of fear in her voice.

He took her hands, reassuring her. "I'll take care of you, Enna. I won't let anything happen to you."

Eve wondered again how much he cared for her. They had become friends over the last few days - but something about the way he looked at her made her wonder - could there be something more?

"We need to be close to do this. Here." Jared pulled her so she was sitting, cross-legged, opposite him, and put his hands on either side of her head. "Do the same to me."

Eve placed her hands on his head. She'd never been so close to Jared before, and, as she looked into his eyes, she felt herself falling into them. Then - she could feel him inside her mind.

Jared was inside Eve's head. She showed him where to go, and he found himself sifting through her memories.

One in particular caught his attention.

A dirty little girl with long, dark hair and emerald eyes was kneeling by a grave. She had a torn, stained, drab brown dress on. The child couldn't have been more that eight. She was sobbing, tears running down her small face. "Anna, come back! Please, Anna - why did you leave? I need you so much, Anna, please, come back …"

Jared felt like crying along with her. Whoever this Anna was, obviously the girl had loved her a lot. He came to another memory.

This time, it was the same girl, but she was cleaner and looked happier. She now looked to be about eleven. She was walking through a village. Suddenly, she caught sight of a boy a bit older that her, with blonde hair and icy blue eyes, who was playing with his friends. "Lucas!" She called, her face breaking into a smile. He quickly came over to her, and began speaking, urgently and quietly. "Eve! I thought I told you! We CAN'T be seen together! It'll ruin my image!"

Eve? Jared thought. But I thought that was Enna? And what a jerk!

The girl tried to speak, but the boy cut her off. "No! Just go!" The girl's face no longer had any trace of a smile on in. The other children were coming closer. They began chanting, "Beggar girl! Beggar girl!" The blonde boy joined in. One called, "Where's your precious Anna now, wench?" A single tear ran down the girl's face. Then she walked, slowly and composed, away from the jeering children.

Jared couldn't believe the cruelty of the children. He looked through Enna's mind, slowly grasping who Anna was, and realising how important she and Luke were to Enna. He realised that Enna wasn't her real name. Eve, he thought. It suits you. He felt her smile, inside her head.

Jared saw Eve, after being late home, been beaten by Colin. He gasped - he had never seen anything as bad as this before. Your scars! She nodded. They abused you! There are laws against that!

But who would care enough to enforce them? She replied bitterly.

Then he came to the first memory of Lucas kissing her. He stiffened up - why was Eve letting that jerk use her? Then he heard Eve's voice saying mournfully inside his head, he was the only one who cared. Jared felt his heart wrench. He knew what it was to be alone, even when you were surrounded by people.

He saw Eve and Luke leaving the village, and laughed when he saw Eve's reluctance to sleep near Luke. That is SO like you! He thought to her.

Then he came to a section of memories that, when he drew near, Eve shut off from him. Not yet, she pleaded. I can't - just not yet, Jared. He sighed - but he had gained a lot of her trust. Now it's your turn.

Eve found herself in Jared's head.

She saw a small boy, about three years old, ignored as his father paced up and down, muttering like a madman. Then, she saw a him stealing along in the dark, hiding something under his cloak.

The next memory was of Jared sitting in a chair, his father pacing and screaming at him in turn. "I told you to STAY AWAY from that witch! She just wants your - your wealth, Jared! Don't let her go putting funny ideas into your already strange head, boy!"

For the first time, Eve felt Jared's pain, and saw what he was going through. She hadn't known he was so sensitive.

"But - father, please …"

"SHUT UP, you fool! Mordred screamed at his son.

Eve now knew why Jared resorted to jokes and teasing. He had been struck down so many times by his father for expressing his opinion. She tried to comfort him, and felt him say thankyou in his mind.

Then the memory changed. She saw him, only a year or so ago. He was in the dungeons below one of Kyrria's castles, arguing with his father. "But, Father, how can you be sure? Don't do this, I'm begging you …" Mordred ignored him.

A thin man with sunken cheekbones was brought out. Mordred spoke. "You are accused of plotting to overthrow me. You are sentenced to death!"

"No, I never!" The man gasped out. Then Mordred got up, beckoning Jared to come. The guards of the prison moved in behind them. He heard a lashing sound. The man's screams echoed up the corridor behind the. Then the man screamed his last sentence for all to hear, "YOU WILL BE CURSED FOREVER!"

Eve shivered. This man was obviously one of those that Mordred had executed, rightly or wrongly, for treason against the crown. The scene still haunted Jared's dreams. You will be cursed forever …

Then again, the memory faded, and was replaced. Eve saw how Jared tried to show off for the court girls - he just wanted to be appreciated. But even Jared knew that they didn't really care about him, just his title and wealth.

She went through the rest of his memories, but, as with she herself, there were some he didn't want to show her.

Then, just a she was about to pull out of his mind, an image came to both of them.

A dark haired man with strangely familiar green eyes was standing at the edge of a cliff above a river. He had been handsome once, but now his face was haggard and grey, far too old for his years. Tears were streaming down his face, and he tore at his hair, screaming, "ELLA! ELLA!" over and over again. Suddenly, Eve knew who this man was. Tears slid down her cheeks too - she knew what was coming next. The man straightened up, then seemed to make a decision. With a last look around, he flung himself over the cliff, and his body smashed on the rocks below, turning the churning water red.

Eve threw herself out of the vision, sobbing wildly. Father, father …

She vaguely felt Jared's arms come around her, and she buried her face in his chest, her tears flowing faster. "Enna? I mean Eve - what's wrong? Please - tell me - who was that? Did you know him?" She could hear the tears in Jared's voice.

"I … I can't!" She choked out. She could feel Jared's body shaking, but he wouldn't give into the tears. He tightened his arms around her, and her crying lessened - she was glad of the comfort he gave her.

Finally they both stopped shaking and Eve wiped her eyes. They lay there in each other's arms, just waiting. Jared spoke first.

"Thankyou for doing that, Eve. That day - that day I first saw you, I saw your scars, and I knew that something wasn't right."

"I'm glad we did it. I know more about you now - and now I understand why you behaved the way you did."

"Will you tell me what happened today?"

"I - I just had a bad day. I'm so alone here - and I'm scared that the only person in the world who I thought loved me now hates me. I'm certain he does." Eve told Jared all about her argument with Luke.

"Eve - I know you won't like this - but Lucas is a bastard, treating you the way he does."

Eve looked down again. "I know I shouldn't let him treat me the way he does. But I - I just needed a friend so badly."

Jared's cool fingers grasped her chin, forcing her to look into his greeny-hazel eyes. He gently smudged away the rest of her tears. Then he spoke softly to her, still looking deep into her eyes. "Eve - I'll be your friend."

Hope you guys liked it! Try and figure out which memories they didn't want to show eachother. Now you know what to do - read and review!

Thanks. Love, Amy