Title: The Snow (1/1)

Author: AngelicTorture.

Disclaimer: I own nothing and no one you recognise.

Rating: PG13

Pairing: No pairing in this one.

Spoilers: none.

Notes: Response to Kori's emotions theme challenge posted at litafics on LJ. I'm going the 10 separate one shots route. This is oneshot No. 3. The theme for this one is Lonely. I've gone all A/U with this one. I blame this one on 4 things: I need more practice with A/U, I can't sleep, I've been listening to Evanescence all night and I have a slight obsession with fairytale princesses.

Summery: A morning walk in the snow…

Lita walked slowly, the hem of her long red dress brushing over the snow covered ground. People bowed their heads and curtseyed as she past them, most of them were used to seeing the young princess on her morning walk. Lita smiled at each of the faces around her though the smile never seemed to reach her hazel eyes. She couldn't remember the last time she'd left the confines of the palace, her home that became more like a prison to her every day.

She didn't blame her brother for wanting to protect her; she was the only sister of the king after all. Her brother, King Hunter had assumed the throne when their parents had died 6 months earlier. This had left princess Lita as the only heir to the throne until the king had children of his own. This also made the pretty redhead a target for those who wanted the throne for themselves, something her brother pointed out to her on a daily basis.

As much as she understood the king's reasons for wanting to protect her she had protested stubbornly against him appointing guards to her. It wasn't that she minded Sir Edge and Sir Shawn, she knew they were both good loyal men who would protect her at the expense of their own lives if needed but they were always there, at her side.

It wouldn't be so bad if they ever spoke to her but they strongly believed they were there to serve the princess, not talk to her. The other members of the court seemed to share their feelings, Lita could be surrounded by people but still she felt completely alone.

The princess sighed softly as she continued her walk. Everyday she would walk through the palace gardens alone and every single day she wished someone would stop to talk to her. The most she ever got was the occasional "Good morning your Highness."

Her brother told her it was good for the people to see their princess out and about which would be true, if any of them ever really saw her. All they noticed was the tiara on her head and the faint smile painted on her face. They didn't see her, they didn't know her. She wondered sometimes if any of them even knew the sound of her voice, other than her brother or Lady Trish.

Lady Trish was the closest thing the flame haired princess had to a friend. She was her head lady in waiting and was always very proper and polite to the young royal. Even the court jesters, Cena and Orton would only speak to her if she spoke to them first and that would often only consist of a mumbled "Yes your Highness" or "No your Highness."

Snow had started to fall again, large flakes landing in the princess's hair, sparkling like stars against a night sky. Lita made her way over to one of the carved stone benches in the gardens and sat down, her deep red velvet dress arranged perfectly around her. She liked being out in the snow, the cold snowflakes landing on the exposed skin of her face reminded her that she still existed. The snow didn't care who her parents had been or who she was and it didn't know she had been born royal.

A small smile flashed across her face as she watched some of the children of the court playing in the snow. One little girl was trying to catch snowflakes in her hands. Lita wished she could be so innocent. Sometimes she felt like she was destined to be miserable, never allowed to see the beautiful things that ordinary people saw in life.

The crown she wore brought with it a life of loneliness and cold. No one would ever smile at her and mean it, on one would ever take her hand in theirs. No one would ever know her, she would always be anonymous.

With a heavy sigh and one last look at the playing children the lonely princess made her way back to the palace, her guards as always escorting her to her duties, back to her prison.