Story of a Princess Unknown – Chapter 12 – Secret Out

Well here's the next chapter – my riding lesson got canceled so I have done my homework already! Some people are in trouble – EMMA! TAMI! No reviews yet! Grrr.

Emma-J – Aw. I know. Aw.

Lady gwen – hey catherine. It's not going to my head, don't worry. I love fluff too! I AM a hopelesss romantic as well as hopelessly insane – if you don't believe me ask Pippa or read Horses of Balinor!

Pippa – Sorry about the flat L&P. I DO NOT spend all my time in the library – just when I have an insane Avril with me looking for Jesse McCartney posters in Dolly magazines I may seem like it! Oliver James rocks SO much more.

Justwriter – I know. I'm still debating whether to have a happy ending or do a sequel.

StardustPixie – Aw, I know. I'm trying to keep them coming!

tinkaroo009 – YAY! New person! Jess, thanks for reviewing! Glad you like it so much!

Breathless74 – how did you do at the show? The show season's ended here already – I'm so depressed on weekends! Can't wait til August when PC starts up again!

Lorrie – thanks for reviewing matie! It's a mighty fine story I know! I'm talking to you right now on MSN, but I won't be by the time you read this!

QUESTIONS FROM MOI: Would you guys rather have a happy ending or a sequel? (YES taintedpromises I KNOW what you want!) Has anyone here read the Sweep series by Cate Tiernan as I am thinking maybe a crossover for the sequel? PLEASE tell me what you think about this in the reviews. Oh and also who is better? Oliver James or Jesse McCartney? Whoever says Jesse means a longer delay in chapters! Hehe no just kidding. ANYWAY: Story now!

The same scene was coming again. The same man, the same river. The same scream. And just when he was jumping – Eve sat up, dripping with sweat, her breathing harsh and fast. Her cheeks were wet again. She had thought that she was finally coming to terms with her parent's deaths – but she was still grieving inside.

She spent hours trying to get back to sleep, but she couldn't. She was terrified that the vision would come to her again. It haunted her during the night – during the day when she had been with Jared, or thinking about Jared, it hadn't seemed so bad, but in the night it was much more real and terrifying.

When the sun finally rose, Eve got up and got dressed. She went down to breakfast to hear Lady Cythera once again criticizing her appearance – she probably looked awful because of her nightmares. Eve wanted to see Jared so badly, hear his comforting voice and feel his arms around her.

But though she waited all morning, he never came.

Eve planned to go for a ride after lunch. Lady Cythera made her promise to be back – dry – by two o'clock to get ready for a ball. They were supposed to be there by five o'clock for a banquet first – but Eve didn't see any reason for it to take more than half an hour to get ready. But as she was supposed to be a noble now, she just had to go along with whatever Lady Cythera said.

After lunch she went and saddled up Frankie by herself. Then she took him into the forest. After a good gallop, the wind blowing her unruly black hair about and turning her cheeks a rosy red, she felt much better. She was sad that Jared hadn't turned up – she would have loved to spend more time with him. But he's probably busy with the ball. Eve resigned herself to being alone.

She returned to the manor at two o'clock, dry, for once, and not feeling quite as annoyed about having to go to a ball and spend time with people like Alexandra.

Then, she had to spend two hours having her hair done and getting dressed for the ball. It's just a stupid ball! Eve thought. I wish I never had to be a noble – not if this is what it involves!

But even Eve was impressed with the end result. She barely recognised the girl in the mirror as the same thin, beaten girl of a few weeks ago. She looked beautiful.

Eve wore a simple green silk gown with a plain bodice that brought out the clear green of her eyes. The sleeves were long and pointed at the ends. Her hair was done in a simple knot at the back, with tendrils loose around her face and some at the back. She looked like she would never had imagined. I wonder what Jared will think, she caught herself thinking, and smiled.

Then it was time to get into the carriage with Lady Cythera and her husband. Lord Eric looked Eve over then said kindly, "You look lovely, my dear." Then they set off for the palace. Eve was feeling a bit excited now in spite of herself.

The sight of Jared and his father in the entrance hall made Eve feel two opposite feelings at once. She felt her heart jump when she saw Jared – and she knew that she loved him already, even though she had only met him week ago. And when she saw his father, she felt pure, utter hatred. Hatred so deep and powerful that it rocked her to her very core.

She tried to forget about it – she wanted to have fun tonight. Jared caught her eye and came over. He looked preoccupied and worried, she noticed. Then he took her hand.

"Eve, I'm so glad you came. I needed to see you so badly. You look – beautiful."

"I needed you too. I missed you," she replied softly.

He seemed about to say something more, but the butler called, "Dinner is served!"

Jared smiled apologetically at Eve, squeezed her hand, then had to catch up with his father. Eve too made her way to the banquet hall. As she neared the door, she was shoved so hard from behind that she nearly fell over. She picked herself up, then angrily turned to confront whoever it was.

I should have known. Alexandra of Greenhedge was standing right behind her, looking icy with her blue dress and blonde hair. She smiled at Eve. "SO sorry, Lady Enna. Didn't see you there."

"Yes, I'm sure you didn't." Eve couldn't resist it. "Hag." She muttered under her breath.

"We saw you chatting there with Prince Jared," Alexandra said chattily. "He's promised to let me know when he's finished with the palace slut."

Eve felt her anger and hatred of this arrogant girl grow. "How DARE you!" She gasped. Then, before she could stop it, he hand flew out and slapped Alexandra on the cheek.

The girl spluttered in indignation. But Eve had already sailed in the banquet hall like a true lady.

Inwardly, she breathed a sigh of relief. And smiled. They had been the last ones coming into the room – so luckily no-one had seen her slap Alexandra. But she deserved it!

Eve was shown to her seat by one of the servants. She was seated next to a nice enough elderly couple who didn't seem to speak Kyrrian very well. Jared, at the far end of the huge table, looked utterly miserable. He had his father, who was ignoring him, on one side – and a certain Alexandra on the other. The girl was edging steadily closer to him and whispering coyly in his ear between bites. Jared caught Eve's eye across the table, made a face, and then smiled at her. She felt her insides melt. Jared would never say anything of importance to Alexandra. He'd never say anything like that about me.

After the meal, they went into the ball room, where there were thrones for the King and Prince, doors leading into balconies overlooking the gardens, assorted small tables and chairs, and a huge space in the middle for dancing. Eve had just sat down at one of the tables, feeling lonely, when the band started up. She noticed the servants of the nobles standing by the walls – and felt a jolt when she recognised a familiar blonde head.

I knew he was going to be here. Why am I so shocked? And, as much as she hated to admit it – Eve felt guilty as well. She'd told Luke that she had no feelings for Jared – and yet she had kissed him the same day.

Then she noticed that Jared was coming over, and, after shoving her thoughts about Luke to the back of her head, she smiled at him. He smiled right back, and Eve's heart jolted again – but for a very different reason this time.

"My Lady, may I have the honour of dancing with you?" He asked formally. Eve could see his eyes twinkling with mirth – but she could also detect the same worry and sadness that she had seen before.

"Certainly, your highness," she replied, before taking his hand and being led to the dance floor. Once their, Jared turned around and pulled her close to him to dance. Eve didn't really have any idea how – but Jared guided her and she felt confident that she wouldn't embarrass herself.

In fact, as they kept dancing, Eve felt herself slipping away from the ball altogether. Gazing into Jared's eyes, she felt that there was no one around but the two of them. Jared felt the same – and he lifted his hand up from Eve's waist and stroked her cheek to let her know how he felt. Eve felt a rush of love for him at his sweet gesture. I wish I could never leave him.

Then she remembered where they were – and that they were being watched. She broke away. "Jared – we can't. Not here." She said quietly to him.

He looked embarrassed. "I'm sorry," he whispered. Eve smiled at him to let him know it was alright. But she knew that she had to leave him before anyone – like Luke, for example, got suspicious.

As she walked away, she saw Jared's look of horror as Alexandra began making her way over to him. She's like a spider. She wants to ensnare him and catch him.

Eve felt that it was too hot and stuffy inside – and she didn't really want to watch Alexandra being sugary and sweet to Jared. She decided to go outside to one of the balconies.

Outside the night air was cool and sweet after the over-perfumed women inside. Eve breathed a sigh of relief – finally some time on her own. She was relaxing when she felt someone roughly grab her arm and spin her round. "What do you -" She exclaimed – and then fell silent as she saw the face in front of her.

It was a face she would have once said – only a few weeks ago – that she knew as well as her own. But now that familiar face was almost unrecognisable, twisted with pain and hate. "Lady Enna," Luke said mockingly.

"Luke! What are you doing? Callum said that I wasn't to come near you!"

Luke ignored her. "Did you really mean what you said the other day?"

"About us? Luke, please, don't make me say it again. I feel bad enough already."

"No – I meant about having no feelings for Prince Jared. Because when you were dancing in there together, you two could hardly keep your eyes – and hands - off eachother. You lied to me, Enna."

Eve felt guilty. She had said that to Luke. But she was angry as well. "And why would you care, Luke? Maybe I do have feelings for Jared – maybe I more than like him. He's kinder to me than you ever were – at least Jared isn't ashamed to be seen with me! You never cared about me, Luke – admit it!"

Luke couldn't think of anything to say to that.

"I don't care about you anymore, Luke. It used to matter to me what you thought about me – I trusted you, we were more than good friends. I thought you were someone I could depend on – but I've given up on you. So just leave me alone."

Eve turned away from Luke and went back inside. Luke was left outside alone – his mind still churning with hate and anger at the girl he had grown to love. I refuse to believe it's me. I'm not the one who's changed. It's Eve.

Eve was feeling awful. She hadn't meant to be so harsh to Luke – but she was so angry with him for ignoring her and then acting like it was all her fault. She felt a flash of defiance again – I don't care what Luke thinks. He's not part of me anymore.

Jared was feeling awful too. He'd tried, really tried, to tell Eve. But he just hadn't had to heart to out on the dance floor, in such a public place. She had looked the happiest she had been in a long time.

And now he was going to ruin it. She would hate him forever after this. He'd made one desperate last attempt to make his father change his mind, but to no avail. It's not like he gives a damn who I marry. As long as it brings him allies and money.

Eve was feeling lonely again. All the noble girls were allies of Alexandra – so naturally, they ignored her. She was just going to go and ask Lady Cythera and Lord Eric if they could leave soon when the King stood up, Jared next to him. He seemed to be ready to make an announcement. The room full of people fell quiet. He spoke.

"No doubt you are all wondering why you have been brought here tonight. It's a very special ball – for a special reason. I am extremely proud to announce the engagement of Alexandra of Greenhedge -"

Eve felt her heart beat faster.

"- to our very own Crown Prince Jared."

No. It can't be. Jared would have told me if he'd known. He can't have been playing me – it's just like that awful girl said.

Eve was so shocked she could barely breathe. She felt as thought something inside of her had died – and still her mind was frantically trying to think of a reason that this was wrong. A memory came back to her. Alexandra gazing coyly at Jared and saying secretively "looking forward to the ball where we, announce our, well, you know."

It felt like an eternity since the king had spoken, but it had really only been a few seconds. Eve's eyes met Jared's. He flinched when he saw the look of utter hurt, sadness and surprise in her eyes. Everyone in her life's let her down. Including me. He felt so guilty, causing someone he loved so much pain. He had to try and explain.

Eve looked into Jared's eyes as well. She saw something there that she would never forget. From what she could see there, she knew she had an answer to the awful question she had wondered before.

He had known. All along. And he hadn't done a thing about it.

Now review! Hope you like it!

Love Amy