Chapter 1

Fire. Burning my nostrils, jerking me out of sleep. Horses screaming as the flames burnt the stable doors, setting the hay alight.

Father, banging on my door, yelling. He was yelling for me to run, to save myself, even as he died, run through from behind with a rusty blade. I heard his last gurgling breath, as I clambered over the windowsill, falling several stories before my legs hit the ground with a sickening crack.

Felt the pain shoot up my legs, as I dragged myself to the moat, palms bleeding freely.

Floating under the drawbridge, normally a beautiful creation of wrought iron and oak, now a mangled, charred wreck stained with the blood of our loyal guardsmen.

Sobbing as I used my hands to pull me up the opposite bank, to leave the palace, that place of death, behind. Feeling a rough palm on my shoulder, even as an axe bit into my side.

I woke suddenly, tears on my cheeks, the scar in my side throbbing. It had been 4 years since I had been given that scar, 4 years since that night, the night of flames and death. The flames that destroyed my home and the death that had befallen my loved ones, my family. I could feel more tears coming, but I pushed the memories away before they could fall. Today was to be a day of joy, as my best friend, Matthew, was to be married. I had known him ever since the death of my mother, Ella, 3 years before the fire that claimed the rest of my family.

On the day after my mother's death I had been sitting on the kitchen steps, sobbing, when a comforting hand was laid upon my shoulder. I looked up, into the dark eyes of a stable hand – Matthew. I was shocked, for normally no-one would dare touch me; I was, after all, of royal blood.

But it all became clear when I looked down at my lap again – I was wearing my grey tunic, the tunic I wore when I went to go help Mandy in the kitchens, or go fishing with Father. I must have looked like a very young scullery maid, albeit one who was devoted to the recently deceased queen.

Matthew had seated himself down on the step beside me, and then we had both stared down at the lake, lost in our own thoughts. When the horizon started to turn pink, he had stood up, dusted off his pants and then reached out a hand. I had taken it, and then we had slowly walked back to the main wing of the palace.

"I'm Matthew," he had said, "And you are?"

I looked down at the flagstones. Although he didn't know it, he was offering me a chance to become someone I wasn't – a personality I could assume when I was sick of all the curtseying and false smiles that accompanied royal life.

"I'm… Areida," I had whispered, still staring at the ground. I didn't know why the name of Mother's best friend had come to me, but it seemed to fit.

"Ah… so you were named after Her Majesty's friend?"

"Yes…" Yet more tears dripped from my eyes. He had looked uncomfortable then, seeming to battle with himself, but he had then surprised me by giving me a quick hug.

"Although it is a time of sadness, remember. Ella was never one to let despair engulf her, and she would be saddened to see one so young allow that to happen," he had whispered fiercely into my ear. "Do not forget that."

After that initial meeting, I had seen Matthew almost everyday. I was careful never to talk of things that a scullery maid should not know, for I was determined that he should never find out that I was the eleven-year-old crown princess, Her Highness Princess Arianne Elirabel of Kyrria.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters or scenery in the book, only the ones that you don't recognise here.

A/N Hey everyone! This is my first shot at a story, so please review! I need to know if this is ok, or if it sucks. So like, love or loathe, PLEASE read & review!

Love,

Ellie