Hello! Hello! Such a b-e-a-utiful day for a story! Yeah…so on with the chapter!

xoxoxo Chapter 4 xoxoxo You fight good, for a girl

The ride by carriage took longer than expected; they arrived early on the third day. It was going to be bright and sunny. A slight breeze was whispering through the trees. Necia and Mr. Peanut got out from the carriage in front of a beautiful gray stone castle and stretched, no matter how big the carriage was you still managed to get sore.

Bruce was quick to follow. He whispered in Necia's ear, "Remember to say happy birthday to the prince when you meet him, we had planed on being here for the celebration, but as you know things got rough at the boarder."

"No problem Brucie." She said giggling and stifling a yawn.

"I thought we had established on the way over that we weren't going to call me that." He said with a grin.

She just smiled and started towards the grand castle. He caught up with her easily and asked, "I thought we had also agreed that you weren't going to wear those." He said Pointing at my breeches…

"But Bruce!" I exclaimed.

"No buts missy." He said grinning.

"Fine but I will wear them sometimes!"

He just grinned at her, making her even angrier. She walked the rest of the way up the drive in a huff. The maid met them at the door. She took her bag and carried it up to the third level. They stopped in front of a mahogany door. She turned the silver doorknob. The room was breath taking, but why shouldn't it be? This was the palace after all.

She looked around, the maid put her bag next to her. She turned to say thank you but there was no one there. Quiet people make bad enemies. But even better friends. The room was decorated in bold reds and pinks and oranges. There was a matching mahogany chest, vanity (with lots of little bottles on it), bed, nightstand, and squishy deep red chairs. They were by a fireplace. Nice touch. She set her trunk on the bed and walked to the window. She had a beautiful view of the rose garden from here. She took out her dresses, shirts and breeches; a maid came to hang them up. No one was speaking to her here. She was like an outsider. She felt terribly alone.

Mr. Peanut I feel so alone. What is up with these people?

Honestly I don't know Necia. But whatever is up with them at least the got taste.

She grinned and went to her chest and reluctantly placed her bow and quiver, her special box, and her sword inside. Her shoes were placed by her bed for easy access. She now had to get dressed.

Her closet, as promised, was filled with beautiful dresses and shawls, AND SHOES!

She chose the deep blue dress from her trunk. She would have time to wear the new ones later. She was wondering how she was going to get this on when another of one of the many maids came and helped. I should put bells on these chicks! Once again the maid silently left once she had finished her job. Necia then went to grab her beautiful knives from the trunk. She placed one on each wrist in the spring-loaded bands, one in each shoe and three in the waist. All were out of view any totally unnoticeable. She checked her reflection just to make sure. She looked beautiful. She was also very proud of her disguise. She grabbed some boots and with Mr. Peanut on her shoulder she went to find the library.

It took her nearly a half an hour to navigate her way through the web of halls. But when she finally reached the library what she saw amazed her. Before her stood a massive room full of row upon row of shelves filled with books. There were many nooks scattered along the shelves for comfortable reading and note taking.

She breathed deeply, taking in the smell of books and ink. She loved libraries. They were her favorite place to be next to training grounds. Mr. Peanut hopped down from her shoulder to sleep in one of the armchairs while she went to the nearest shelve.

Hours past and still she was in the library looking for the next good book. She already had a nice stack waiting on her chair but she wanted to make sure. Besides you can never have too many. Soon she had a stack of fifteen or more and Mr. Peanut was getting irritable.

Necia? Can we go NOW? Fine nutty boy but you owe me one…

Thanks Necia. I want to play. Can we go outside?

Fine I'll bring these up to my room and then we can play. I've been needing to practice my shot anyway.

Thanks Necia!

No problem buddy. I'll have to change too.

Necia, along with Mr. Peanut and seventeen books made their way back to the room.

Necia set her books on her nightstand and went to change back into breeches. She made her way to her mirror, training ready. She looked as she fixed her hair by habit. She looked good. She had on a off the shoulder white shirt on that was visible under a corset style purple top. Her black breeches were tucked into her knee-high lace up front boots. Her quiver full of arrows and her bow was on her back and her blade was on her hip. None of her mini blades were on. If someone could kill her while she was armed with her sword he or she deserved to. Mr. Peanut hopped on her shoulder and they headed out the door towards the training grounds.

Ten minutes later she was drawing the string on her bow when a sweet yet rough voice called from behind her.

"What do you think you are doing out here?"

She quickly spun around to face a shockingly beautiful young man. With shortish black messy hair (a/n think skater but a lil shorter) and eyes that even she couldn't have copied. They were a deep, ocean blue with specs of frosty light blue in them. Towards the outer ring they turned to a light almost blue gold. They were stunning. He was about two inches taller than she and was wearing deep black leather breeches and a loose blue shirt with gold detail.

Mr. Peanut rubbed up against his leg.

I like him…

Shhh…I'm observing.

"What does it look like I'm doing genius?" She replied tartly. No matter how hot this guy was he almost messed her up.

"Women aren't allowed down here." He replied in the same manner.

Ok Mr. Hunky McDream Boat… "Oh and why not?" She asked raising her eyebrows.

"Rules, I don't make them. Besides even if you were allowed you'd have to beat me. Which isn't likely."

"Oh someone's sure of themselves. I can take you." She smiled wickedly, man this guy was in for it.

"Ok, deal. If you can beat me in archery and swordsmanship then you can train down here all you want."

She stuck out her hand. "Deal." She said.

xoxoxoxo it was on xoxoxoxoxoxox

He was at the line waiting to shoot. She gave him a nod and he fired once, twice, three times at the target. Almost all of them were dead center. This guy was good, but she was better.

She stood at the line, waiting. He gave her the nod and she fired one dead center, two dead center, and three dead center. She grinned smugly at her opponent. Who's mouth was agape in shock.

"How did you? " He asked stupidly.

She went and collected her arrows, dropping each one carefully back into the quiver.

"Simple," She replied. "I'm better than you."

She smiled as he was still in shock.

"Wow, I've never had anyone beat me before."

"Change is in the air." She replied.

With that he gave her a half lopsided grin. "You are pretty good, for a girl."

She grinned back. "So do you want to challenge me to that sword fight or would you rather save yourself the humiliation?"

He smiled again, if she had known who it was she would have realized how rare that smile was.

"Tell you what. I'll Still fight you but not for anything. Just for practice."

"So I'm in?" she asked.

"Yeah, you're in."

She grinned as she placed her bow and arrows on the grown and drew her sword.

"State your rules." She said to the cutie on the other side of the ring.

"First to get a 'kill' wins," he said.

"OK sounds good. Ready, Set, go!"

They battled for at least an hour. Her muscles burned her abs were on fire and sweat dripped from her brow making it hard to see. The only thing that kept her going was knowing that he was in the same shape as her.

They started to draw a crowd. People were forming a circle around them. They were all cheering for the guy. Yelling encouraging words to him. Like it would be treason not to.

Finally she saw a hole. He had left his neck open. She did a full 360 with her sword, causing his to spin from his hand. She placed the flat of her blade to his neck and sputtered,

"Kill."

It was silent He was looking at her with shock in his beautiful blue eyes; I lowered my sword and grinned. "Told you so."

She stuck her sword in its sheath and wiped the sweat from her brow.

"You fight good." She said

Someone from the crowd yelled as if in disbelief, "You beat the prince!"

She looked at him in shock, prince?

Oh crap…

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo