Lets start at the very begining...


Chapter 1

"Emma-Louise!" screamed her little brother in delight as Emma rounded the corner. Sighing Emma feigned a laugh and stretched her arms around her younger sibling as he threw his body against hers. She buried her head in his shoulder as she lifted his tiny body up off the floor and tried to hide her tears. He smelt like lavender, he had been in the gardens again.

"Tom! It's good to see you to!" she said as she placed him gently back onto the floor and let him grasp her hand.

Tom was only four years old. He had light bouncing curls which entirely contradicted his older sister's dark ringlets, he had piercing blue eyes as deep and meaningful as the skies. He glanced up at Emma, his eyes full of delight at being near her but they quickly altered to concern as he saw her deep green eyes full with tears.

"Em-Em?" he whispered as he tugged on her hand "You can't cry now! It's your birthday!"

Emma smiled down at his small face and squeezed his hand but still looked troubled as they approached the ornate cream stairs. It was her sixteenth birthday, she would have to forget her problems and ignore the tears which threatened to spill from her eyes. She was about to face the entire court, she had to be strong.

Emma stopped for an instant to compose herself before she entered the hall and was bombarded with people watching her, disappointed, fascinated and some even disgusted at the sight of her. Tom saw her passionate, young face quickly fade to a mask devoid of all the emotions that had covered her features instants earlier.

He gripped her hand harder as Emma was swamped by her elderly lady-in-waiting who tried to straighten out the creases in her dress where she had pulled Tom into her seconds earlier.

Feeling Tom's hand constrict she let her mask slip for an instant to give him a sly smile and wink. Tom instantly felt better and his young mind was content.

Emma adored her brother, he was her whole world. When her Mother had given birth to him five years ago, Emma was only eleven. She saw his little, frail body being presented to the world, his birth was full of hope and promise very unlike her own. She was the one who was with him when he took his first step, said his first word, they were each others security blanket.

She shifted under the gaze of her maid as she lifted her silver crown to her head. Emma sighed as the familiar weight pressed down into her hair, the brought out emeralds her eyes as she stared straight ahead willing herself not to cry. She had her long hair draw back into a harsh bun and her blood red ball gown set off her sun kissed skin and crimson lips. The green in her eyes and the emeralds in her crown, clashed with the red but none of these factors could change that she was stunning. Just like her mother had been.

"Thank you Anne," She said confidently her voice not giving away the emotional turmoil she was going through inside.

Anne made a stiff curtsey. She saw her knee crack and a trickle of sweat run down her back. Emma looked straight at her and saw a shiver pass through her old maids body. Anne, her maid had never gotten used to her piercing stare. Anne alone noticed the Princesses hard, unsettling gaze only ever softened when she looked at her brother and the Prince was only ever happy when he was in his sister's presence. Anne alone noticed her small grins and winks directed at her brother which gave away her true nature under the royal façade.

Anne stumbled as she walked away but quickly hurried onwards, glad to be away from the pair.

Emma starred at the stumbling, nervous woman. She usually had that effect on people.

She suddenly felt overwhelmed and felt like a bird in a cage. She glanced down at Tom, his eyes shining at the prospect of having a whole night with his sister. She made an instant decision based on her feelings alone, not her mothers, her fathers or her kingdoms.

Emma knelt down beside Tom and looked pleadingly up into his little face.

"Tom" she said smiling "Can you promise to keep a secret?"

Tom look confused and a small frown appeared between his pale brow, even at his age he knew the importance of secrecy in the Royal household.

He stuck out his chin, "I promise Em-Em!"

The Princess's smile widened as she grabbed his hands and looked over her shoulder quickly.

"At the moment we are waiting to be escorted down to the ball." Emma whispered excitedly "But I have absolutely no intentions of going. It's all for publicity and glamour, we had our real celebration of my birthday this afternoon." She said referring to the small cake that she and Tom had shared together.

Tom's eyes widened at what she was suggesting.

"But… But Em-Em!" he stammered "Mother was the one who wants you there and she always gets her way"

Emma shook her head in frustration at the mention of her stepmother.

"Don't worry about her! She might be your Mother but she's not mine! This is one of the last opportunities that I will get to go out there!" she said gesturing out of the glass window down to the city below "To go out into the real world, even for just a night, before I…"

She broke off and stared at a point above his head.

"Before what?" he said raising his eyebrows.

"Err…Nothing! I just have to get away for the night!"

She looked at him silently pleading with him "All you need to do is tell them that I feel ill and have retired to my room! That should give me enough time to slip away"

For a slit instant Tom considered it. He looked at her bright face and then remembered the mask which she had put on for the court and realized he hated seeing her like that. He would do anything to make her happy, even defy his mother. So without thinking about the consequences he nodded his head so forcefully he almost dislodged his small crown.

Emma's eyes widened and lit up as she gave him a tight hug.

"Whatever you do, don't tell mother or father where I have gotten too!"

Without waiting for a reply she ran down the stairs lifting her dress hem high out of the way of her fast moving feet.

All her life she had been waiting for the opportunity to get out there. She longed to be outside the walls of the palace and the gardens. Emma for as long as she could remember had been drawn to the city out side. The inhabitants had so little rules, regulations and edicts which restricted there lives. For years she had explored the palace gardens to their furthest reaches and learned the names of all the plants, birds and creatures which she came across. She learnt about the vines which climbed the outer walls, the bugs which relied solely on the roses which lined the path ways and learnt how to easily climb every tree which she came across.

Her favorite tree was a large old oak that had been there as long as anybody could remember. It had low branches which made it perfect to climb and thick foliage which made it a perfect hiding spot. In autumn it had bright red leaves which reminded Emma of fire and in spring its leaves opened and it burst into flower. All these qualities were grand but what drew Emma to the oak was its view over the city. From its highest branch she had a vantage point over the market and new all the comings and goings of its inhabitants. She knew of the cooks who brought vegetables from the stall owners every two days and the young men who worked in the inns would gather every Friday around the well and exchange gossip like old women. She felt like was a part of there community and would spend as long as possible watching them, and yet it wasn't the same as being there.

She dreamed of a life beyond the palace and out of the hold of her overbearing parents, a life of her own. Instead of learning about counts and princes of far off countries she dreamed of roaming the country side. Instead of concentrated during her dancing practice, she day-dreamed of a life where she was free to choose her own path.

She ran down the deserted corridors which lead towards the kitchens. Emma reached a worn brown door, threw it open and stepped inside quickly shutting it behind her.

"For goodness sake Belinda" said the plump cook from the corner of the room who had her back to Emma "We are already run off our feet preparing for the Princess's ball. Show some…"

She turned around suddenly, as the large kitchen fell quiet, the twenty or so workers stood in shock. Emma smiled and curtseyed at the red cook.

Suddenly everyone in the kitchen bowed or curtsied low and the head cook gasped.

Emma looked around in frustration "Oh Stop being silly! Stand up all of you!"

The kitchen was like a furnace and wonderful smells came from pots all around the room. It was plainly decorated and around the sink dishes stacked up ready to be washed. The maids, waiters and cooks were dressed in the palace uniform, a long, unflattering black dress for the woman which was pleated and paired with a cream belt. The men wore black leggings and a dark brown loose tunic which reached their elbows.

Self consciously she glanced down at her intricately designed dress which was an dark shade of red with cream embroidery. It reached the ground and tapered up into a tight waist and was paired with her delicate locket hanging of her neck which had belonged to her mother. She had been here a few times, but only when she was visiting her best friend Belinda, the assistant cook and even then they were the only two in the room. Even that was rare, as her step-mother kept her on a short leash and monitored her progress in despair and discourtesy. She had never grown fond of Emma-Louise.

"P… P… Princess… I though, I though you were Belinda…" stuttered the cook.

"Stop please!" Emma begged, acutely aware of the little time she had to exit the palace "I just need a favor!"

Eager to please the cook hastily nodded "Anything, your Highness!"

"I need one of your dresses, just a spare one and a new pair of sturdy shoes." Emma thought for a second before adding "And please send someone quickly to get me a horse!"

She was provided her clothes quickly by the jumpy, whispering maids and changed into them in the pantry, pulling off her heavy ball gown. She pulled on the simple blue dress, it fitted tightly around her chest and waist with a rounded neckline. It tapered out from her hips to the floor. It was carefully embroidered in silver thread which lined the neckline and the ends of the short sleeves Emma knew at once that this was the best clothes that they could find, probably a maids party dress. A whole years pay possibly went into the purchase of this dress. Emma immediately felt ashamed. She mentally cursed her empathy, deeply aware of the little time that she had remaining to escape the palace.She came out of the pantry, pulled of her crown and twisted pulled her hair out of its tight bun and let it tumble down around her shoulders and down her back. She handed her crown and gown to the maid who had smuggled the cake out of the kitchens for her and Tom earlier that day.

"Can you put this somewhere safe until I return?" she questioned.

The young maid swallowed and nodded.

"Your horse is here." Called a waiter from the opposite doorway, which led outside.

Emma made her way quickly over to it and quickly scanned then room "Oh I almost forgot!" she said "Don't tell any one I've been here, not even my parents," she didn't like doing it but she then gave one of her rare orders "That's a imperial order! Not a soul must know! Agreed?"

She heard a unanimous yes and saw many of the servants heads nodding before she turned her back on the stunned group and walked out the open door.


A/N: Review if you please :D