To Shimmer or to Shine

By The Pearl Walrus

This ones for Fairley…

Fairy tales

--Chapter one--

The cool water rippled out from my feet as I lowered my feet into the river, from sitting on the cold stone of the bridge I could see the high guard towers of the palace, the sweet aroma of the blooms upon the many exotic, tall trees, hear the many birds singing their merry tunes and taste the blood from the blow that I had beenadministered not twenty minutes ago.

Sighing I reached down and felt the coolness rush over my fingers. Cupping my hands I splashed water on my face to clean my bleeding mouth. Smiling I reminisced about better times and better places, the speedy life of those with nothing better to do.

Walking slowly back up to the palace I saw someone waving to me from the archway of roses, 'Audrey! Hey! Wait up!' Campbell's face came into view and I ran, absolutely scarpered. 'AUDREY DAWN EBONY! I know what she did! COME BACK HERE RIGHT NOW!'

Now sprinting as hard as I could to get away, I headed towards the largest tree, an oak which was gigantic, with a vast trunk, it was over four hundred years old, and only a skilled climber could master the intricate pathways up the tree.

'Can't catch me, Cam!' I yelled now at the trees trunk. Wedging my foot on a knot hole, I hoisted myself onto the first solid branch.

'Please Audrey,' he panted finally reaching the tree as I came to my sixth branch 'don't do this ok? Not now. Not again. I'm not climbing up this time.'

Looking down at his sweat streaked jet black hair I saw him glance up, that puppy dog, pleading expression on his face. 'Sorry Camp! Not coming down till you go away. Shoo!' I called down at him.

'You can't let her get the better of you, just do what you always do, ignore it, don't let her see your pain. You know intelligence is like a river, the deeper it is, the less noise it makes.'

'Cut the metaphors ok? Really doesn't suit you and it never will. Plus I have never seen a river so I really wouldn't know.'

'Does it look like I care? Just come down, ok? RIGHT NOW!' he panted and collapsed at the foot of the tree.

'Not coming down!'

'Audrey you're going to bruise. Want an ugly purple bruise on your face?'

'Yes.'

'I know you don't.'

'Sure I do.'

'No,'

'Yes.'

'No,'

'Yes,'

'Yes.'

'No.'

'Haha! Tricked you!'

'Go away!'

'Come down and I promise you I shall go away. And stop giving me that dammed look!' she sighed, giving up and climbed down.

'Usually you don't give up easily.'

'Well I guess its just today.'

'Being hit doesn't suit your character. The Audrey I know would hit back.'

'The Campbell I know should close his mouth.' I snapped back at him, he can be annoying as hell sometimes.

'Rude, rude, rude child!'

Raising my eyebrows in contempt asI started walking briskly back in the directionof the palace. He came after me and linked his arm in mine, slowing me down and quite painfully too.

'So hows the Princeling going?'

'Hows your face going?'

'Fine thanks! Looking handsome wouldn't you say?' he said striking a ridiculous girly pose and luckily letting go of my arm.

'No.' and I sprinted, turning my head back at him and smiling. Already tired from being on the palace guard on the walls and protecting the castle he was far too tired and lazy to run after me. But he still gave me a glare of pure venom as he walked slowly in my wake.

I stopped as I neared the front door and contemplated going in or just walking back to my tree. But as I was just about to walk back the door opened and the one of the two people who I would kill the entire world not to see was on the arm of the one I wanted to talk to. Funny how life turns out so cliché…

'Lady Audrey. How nice to see you.' The prince looked at me, 'What on earth happened to your mouth!'

'My darling prince, do not worry yourself with such trivial matters such as the welfare of the those who are bawdy, artless, lumping and fawning.' The hard face of the Susana Duchess of Perimile stared coldly down at her, her dark eyes flashing maliciously, at eighteen she had mastered the art of two-faced-ness.

'But I beg to differ, she is hardly any of those things and even if she was, as heir to the throne I must address the problems of my country folk and loyal subjects.' His light brown eyes twinkled at her as he rolled them at me.

'Thank you my lord. Please excuse me.' At that moment Campbell came up behind me, placing a hand on my shoulder.

'Audrey.'

'Lord Campbell. Shall we?'

'Don't think you should leave. Lord Campbell can escort Lady Susana and I shall take thou to the healers. It is the most convenient way to do things.' The prince looked like he would kill the entire castle to fall out of favour with Lady Susana, she was not only scheming but ugly and very determined. Her long black her was always in tatters of what she thought was the fashions of the time.

'NO!' both Cam and Susana said at the same time.

Smiling I took the arm of the prince and we walked off, the look on Cams face was priceless, I winked as he mouthed rude insults at me from behind the princes back.

'You don't really have to take me to the healers, I really am ok.'

'I know. I just wanted to get away from her. How you were ever friends with her I am completely bewildered.'

'So am I actually. Where do you want to go now?'

'I have to go. I'm sorry but you know the war is an always eminent threat. I have to be near a barracks at all times and continue my training. The capitol is now a very dangerous place but more so are the borders.'

'So it really is a war then?'

'Sadly, yes.'

'And it's really all that bad?'

'It would be a lie to say it was doing well. They are pressing in on all sides and our numbers do not amount to half of there forces, we are dwindling. Oh and you didn't tell me who hit you yet. So who is the scoundrel? I can promise you they will pay for hitting a friend of mine.' he started to get worked up, it was rather sweet actually.

'Hardly anyone worth bothering about, your going to take this far to seriously I can just see it.'

'Why shouldn't I? No one should be hitting a lady and I want to do is protect the fair maidens in distress of our fine city.'

'I just act like a damsel in distress so my prince will come.' I smiled wickedly.

'Your not answering.' He said in a singsong voice.

'Well I must be off then, to dress for dinner.'

'Fine then you'll tell me at dinner. Sit next to me.'

'I'm sitting with Cam. I mean Lord Campbell DeLindsay.'

'He can sit on the other side of you.'

'Fine then. See you later.'

'Good day.'

Heading back towards my rooms I ran into the other person I didn't want to see, prim and proper with a tight bun and severe face stood my governess and teacher of the art of decorum.

well after the overwelming responce to the prolouge i felt rather guilty that the story isnt quite amazing as the intro! but after much procrastating i finally decided to post! well i hope you all arnt THAT disapointed :) I promise it will be more melodramatic next chapter.. that is IF you decide to keep reading :( and mabye review...

But thank you all:

Aurora Borialis- ceci honestly it wasnt that good.. and no wonder if your going to say things like 'Gooder than me.'

Hottyjessy- Your a ledgend

cokefizz-and-chocolate- Thanks

Beavergirl- UPDATE RIGHT NOW ELLE!

Moonlight Enchantments-i know it was soo annoying! i was like AHHH! no ones reviewing:(

Masked Dragonfly 0926- Dont worry ill still update everything, this is more an on-the-side project anyway.

Moon in Pisces- hm well, im not sure why i wrote that and im kinda sorry now because you have such a good quality story, but i re read it and i think its actually better than when i first reviewed. Sorry about the fact i didnt give much CONSTRUCTIVE critisim. thanks for you review though...

GreatMotherG-SOO SWEET! awww...

li'l bling bling- Always love the reviews but have you ever considered getting an account?

luv PW