Nixiesocean: Sorry! I know, I know, I haven't updated since a while ago… please don't kill me! Oh, and I got my first filling today… half my tongue isn't there… /grumble stupid numbing stuff…

Anyways, please please review? I have 9 Reviews (a record tied with my first story) and I'd like more feedback. And no, I won't tell you how the story comes out, you'll just have to wait like the patient fans you all are. Thanks!

Oh, and have you noticed the name 'Tristan' tends to be the name of a lover? I thought it funny…

And yes, there is some cussing in this chapter, but when you read it, you'll understand why.

Chapter 5: First Impressions

a.k.a Destiny

"Sweet, how far are we?" Ditri asked her lover, Tristan. He was saddened, even without asking, she knew they weren't far. It was storming outside and she was huddled on his bare chest. He was warm.

"How far are you, Tristan?" Perhin asked. They both knew Perhin was in love with Ditri, it was obvious.

"A few hours, lovely." He said aloud. "A few hours, liege." Ditri started to cry. She hated Perhin. She loved Tristan. It was as simple as that. She had given Tristan her heart. She had left Perhin the angry side of her. It was saddening that she would be marrying the Crown Prince rather than the one she loved. She lifted her tear-streaked face to Tristan's depressed one. After they arrived at the palace, the only time they could see each other would be when Ditri was around the Prince. Then she'd have to be civil. And how she dreaded THAT fact.

Arrival in the capital wasn't what it should've been. People gaped rather than rejoiced, the city wasn't in a tizzy; they were suspicious of this princess from the lands they'd never heard of. She, unlike the people of Auszin, was plain. She wasn't lavish (save a few gems and jewelry) and didn't like the spoiled princesses of other countries. Though, she wasn't perfect, she had a terrible temper and found it hard to overcome biases. That was just the beginning.

The prince met them at the palace gates. He was as Tristan had described. He was a tall man with a prominent chin and was very serious-looking. He had green eyes and brown hair, not unlike Tristan's though his was slightly different. She adored Tristan's short-cut curly hair. She hated, even from a distance, Perhin's straight, longer-cut hair. It looked like a mop.

"Welcome, my princess." Perhin greeted. Ditri smiled and walked past. She hated Perhin. "Uh, yes, onto the guest rooms, a wonderful idea, princess." Perhin quickly followed, glancing back at Tristan who was emerging from the carriage. "You said she was nicer, valet!" he accused.

"She was, my prince, I do not know why she is so rude. Maybe she is-"

"Don't mention it, Tristan." The lovesick valet tried in vain to convince his prince that the princess truly was nicer, she must be having a bad day… In his heart, Tristan knew why she was being discourteous to the prince. And he didn't think it right.

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Perhin was surprised at Princess Ditri's rudeness; Tristan had said she was nicer. "May I be of assistance?" Perhin asked with a bow, he was trying to show some kindness.

"No." Ditri said shortly. Perhin's mouth dropped. Then she pretended to think about something. "Oh, yes you can." He closed it. "You can release me from this DAMN MARRIAGE!" Perhin's mouth dropped again, did the princess just cuss?

"Excuse me, princess. I didn't know you knew commoner words." Then again, so did he, so that was a lame come-back. "And I was under the impression you were nicer!" Perhin stormed out, Ditri followed.

"And I was under the impression that I was the one with anger management!" She shouted down the hall. Servants scurried wide-eyed. Perhin turned.

"You are in my home, girl, and I will not be treated so rudely." Perhin said, grabbing her arm. He knew he was in love with her, but she infuriated him! "So you will turn your ass around and march back into your damn guestroom and sit there quietly until I come back, you got that?" Perhin yelled. Ditri stared at him defaintently in the eyes.

"I will not, my most wonderful fiancée!" She responded, anger turning to more hatred. "This is my home too, ass hole, so you'll just have to deal with it!" The halls were empty. Perhin, fed up with the yelling, lifted the weightless Ditri and walked down the hall to her room. He shut the door. She clenched her chin, she was furious that this, this beast had picked her up like a bag of flour and taken her to her room. "You have no right to treat me like a bag of… of flour!" She balled her fists.

"I have every right, love-" Ditri screamed.

"DO NOT CALL ME THAT!" She ran toward him, blinded by fury and hate. Perhin caught her and arms-length from his… ahem… and pushed he to the ground.

"I can damn well do what I want, bitch!" Ditri's eyes went wide and she started to cry. No one had called her such a mean term since the time back in the streets when a man had tried to assault her. Perhin got up. What had he just done? Ditri stood up and ran out, crying harder. She knew she didn't know her way around, but she guessed, from the way she had come in. Running out to the stables (she saw them from the carriage) she went to the hayloft and wept harder. She heard movement and wiped her nose, it was running. She had never felt so terrible. She hated him, resented that man. She cried. It had been a terrible day. What a first impression…

"Ditri?" A voice called softly. "Are you here?" She stopped crying.

"Yes…" Who was it? She looked down, it looked like a stable hand, but right before her eyes he changed into Tristan. Which was who? "Who are you?"

"It's Tristan, sweet, please, where are you?" How could she know it was he?

"How do I know it's not someone else?" She asked gently. "How do I know it's not Perhin?"

"Because, Ditri, I love you." He said. In her heart, she knew it was Tristan.

"I'm in the hayloft." He climbed up. He saw where she had been crying. He held her tightly, whispering comforting words and soothing her aching heart. When she was done, Tristan looked her in the eyes. Both knew this would be the last time for such intimate relationship. They kissed, loving the feeling of each other's lips and loving the feeling of such a relationship. It was wonderful. She could never love Perhin. But, fate has terrible timing.

"Princess?" They stopped kissing. "I heard crying… and I'm sorry, I shouldn't have called you a… a bitch…" Tristan was alarmed. He mouthed 'He called you a bitch?' She nodded. Then, as destiny may have it, he looked up. He saw Ditri in the arms of Tristan.