Me: Blah! I know I have taken forever in writing this but I have excuses! One: During the summer, I go away to a place where I don't have a computer. Two: My teachers have been loading me with homework since school started. Three: I have had no insparation. I wrote like three chapters and deleted them all cause they sucked. So here is the next chapter, by popular demand. And btw, I am now going to make the song of the day one written by my band, Random Massacre.

Hold onto my hand

I'll take you away

Say you love me

I'll never let you down

Only you could make

This moment last forever

Saying of the Day: Is it so wrong to want to spend forever in your arms?


The next morning, Adriane did not want to get out of bed. Her insides seemed to clench and unclench like a bow string being pulled and released. Kara and Emily tried their best to find something to make the princess feel better, but she would not take anything they offered her. Medicines would not help the hurricane of feelings she was enduring. Eventually, her mother swept in, a healer on her tail.

"Adriane, love, what is the matter?" the queen asked, sitting on her daughter's bed. She gently brushed the dark hair from the girl's face.

Adriane rolled away from her mother. What could she tell her? That she had been sneaking out and had kissed a "lowly peasant"? No one could know of her nightly adventures lest she be shipped off and locked inside a stone prison for the rest of her life. She would rather jump off the highest tower to her death.

"I just have bad cramps. I will be fine in the morning." the dark haired princess turned her tan face to her mother and gave a reassuring smile.

"Then drink this tea and get some rest." Queen Willow took a cup from the healer and placed it on her daughter's bedside table. She leaned forward to kiss the girl's cheek before standing and leaving the room, the healer, Emily and Kara following in her wake.

Adriane sniffed the tea and wrinkled her nose. She locked her door, poured the tea out her window and crept through the servent's stair into the servant's quarters. She changed quickly into a tan shirt, brown tunic and breeches. She finished pulling on leather boots when she heard footsteps outside the door. She took off, slipping out the gate before anyone saw her. She did not stop running until she was in the forest.

She stopped and breathed in the cool air. Her dark eyes took in the peaceful scene before her. She wished she could go to her grandmother's hut somewhere out there. There she could be free to live as she wished and not have to marry a man she did not want.

She shook her head to clear her thoughts. She had to find Zach and tell him she could not speak with him anymore. But the problem was that she felt she might die if she told him this. She sighed and steeled herself. She had to do this, no matter what. She strode from the wood towards the market place. Her eyes searched for his golden hair and his cart filled with skins.

She saw him, exactly where he had been the day before. He saw her too and gave a faint smile. Something was wrong, she realized and picked up her pace.

"Zach, can I speak with you for a moment?" she asked. He nodded and followed her through the heavy traffic of people. She pulled him into the edge of the forest, out of hearing range.

"Look, I'm sorry but I can't see you anymore. I was found out and I'll have to go far away sooner than I had ever wished."

"Is that so, princess?"

She froze, her heart stopping for a moment. She could do nothing but stare. "How did you…?"

"I heard you last night. So when will the soldiers come to chop my head off, your highness?"

"Zach! Please understand, I never wanted things to be like this! When I met you, I was running from my parents. I was trying to get a taste of freedom, but I met you and don't you understand, if I get caught, I will be living in a room with I man I barely even know for the rest of my life!" She looked down and murmered under her breath, "Of course that happens either way."

But he had heard her. His hand reached out and gently grasped her chin, turning her face to him. His sky blue eyes searched her face for a moment. He smiled slightly and leaned forward, his lips meeting hers. She stiffened for a moment before she relaxed and kissed him back. Shock made him step back, his eyes dancing in slight fear. She grinned, giddiness flooding through her. She closed the distance between them, kissing him fiercely.

When they broke apart, he whispered, "If this is how I am going to die, what a hell of a way to go down." She laughed and kissed him again.


The next few days, Adriane was floating on air. Her friends and family interpreted her mood to that she was happy to be married soon. But she had no wish to even talk with her fiance. He seemed to notice, but took it as shy exitement. Everynight, she snuck out to be with Zach. When she was with him, there was no one else in the world. There were no titles, no laws and no kings to stop them. And the best part was, no one knew who she was, so no one could hold them down.


Me: Short chapter I know, but I have no insparation really. Plus I don't want to start all the fun action yet. That is for next chappie.