A/N:Yellow people! Before you begin reading I have to thank all of you for reviewing and subscribing and everything! It means a lot! :) So keep doing that but if you don't...well you can just use your imagination ;)

Roselynne

I ran. He might've saved me from an angry noble but that doesn't mean that I should trust him. So I ran away, and across the bridge with Addy by my side.

"Wait! I'm not trying to hurt you!" I heard the cloaked man call from behind us. I still didn't trust him, I didn't really trust anybody except my family, my best friend Airynne (pronounced like Erin or Aaron) and most likely Addy, so whatever he did, I wouldn't ever trust him at heart.

"Rosie, I really don't think he's trying to hurt us! He sounds genuine," said Addy,"Don't you think?"

I thought about it, and he actually did sound genuine but like I've said, I didn't trust anyone, living on the East Side teaches you that. But I stopped anyway, called it destiny, call it fate, I called it my conscience starting to sneak up on me.

I turned toward the cloaked man as he started walking forward. His face was still obscured by his annoying black cloak. Why would you need to wear a cloak when the suns out?

He was atleast 5 feet away. Much to close in my opinion.

"Stop," I said, "What do you want?" Ok, I'll admit it, I was slightly scared. Scared that he wouldn't answer. Scared he would hurt me. Scared he would hurt Addy. A long story short, there was a bunch of things to be scared about so you can't blame me.

But he did stop, though he didn't answer my question verbally. Instead he reached inside his cloak as I anxiously guessed what it was. For all I knew it could be a dagger but instead he took out a teddy bear.

"Celeste!" Addy called out and ran forward. I tried to stop her, a million things ran through my head that could go wrong. But none of them happened, the hooded stranger just handed Addy the teddy bear like everything was good in the world which is a complete and utter lie.

Addy stood in the middle of us, though closer to the stranger for my liking, that's when the stranger asked the question I was dreading to ask him.

"What is your name?"

I didn't want to answer that so I shot back at him,"I'd like to return that question," I smirked but immediately hid it under a mask of, nothing really, totally unfeeling.

"I am," He then hesitated,"Tristan," Lies. I'm pretty much a lie detector, I can pick up traces of nonverbal motions and verbal notions that normally wouldn't be there if you were telling the truth. No one really knew I could do that, it wasn't a super power or anything but it was a talent I could keep to myself. But since he lied, so shall I.

"I am..Coriander," I finished, it was my deceased grand-mothers name, I didn't know her well but what I've heard of her implied that she was a nice, caring woman.

"But I thought," Addy started but I instantly cut her off with a look that meant, if deciphered, 'if you say another word...' the rest you would have to use your imagination.

"Uhh...Well I'm...Adeline," She said instead, bowing her head bashfully, "Uhm, well, thank you for returning me bear..." She looked rather cute like that.

I glanced up at the man, whose name was 'Tristan', I swear I saw him flash a smile. I then realized he might not be a man at all, maybe even a teenager. But not too young, maybe 17-18 at the least.

"You're welcome Adeline I-" He said but was cut off.

"Come Addy, we need to get you home, it's getting dark," I cut in as said, then I gave him the sweetest most fake smile I would ever give,"Well. It was nice meeting you but we need to go now."

"Well bye Tristan!" Addy called back over her shoulder as her short legs skipped over to me.

"Ya, bye. Now let's go," I said with finality. I hoped he got the clue as I turned and started walking away, my hand in Addy's, or more technically, her hand in mine.

I wished silently in my head for 'Tristan' to get the clue that we didn't want anything to do with him. Well, at least me. My wishes quickly diminished to a pile of dust made from dead skin cells.

"Wait!"

"Darn(A/N:sorry, I don't cuss xP)" I hissed under my breath as I heard steps rapidly approached from behind. I quickly put on a mask.

I turned around,"What?" I said with a drop of venom. He still didn't get the clue much to my dissatisfaction.

"I uh, do you guys know where you're going? I could uh, help you," Pathetic.

"Thank you for your offer but-" I was cut off.

"I live in a big white house, do you know where that is?" Guess who. Yep, it was Addy, I gave her a glare exactly how a lady shouldn't.

I saw 'Tristan' hesitate as if he was having an internal battle. Not that I cared really.

"Yes, I know that house," Weren't we lucky.

"You do! Did you hear that, he knows where my house is and can take us there!" Addy called out to me, though I was right next to her, bursting me out of my thoughts.

I contemplated my options and consequences silently, I finally sighed as I reached a decision,"Lead the way."

'Tristan' stepped forward so he could lead but as he moved next to me I hissed in his ear,"If you hurt me or her, I will hurt you. If you come from the East Side then you should know the no one trusts anyone anywhere, and this isn't an exception."

I hoped I sounded convincing since it was kind of an empty threat, I knew most men could easily over take me. Especially when I was in a dress.

I saw 'Tristan' half nod and continue to walk forward. Once he was in front he didn't do anything, he kinda just stood there, thinking.

"Well are we going?" I snapped at that moment. We weren't on very good terms so far.

We crossed the remainder of the bridge silently, I think each of us were in your own thoughts though I think Addy would have preferred a nice conversation, but I guess she felt the dark feelings radiating (A/N:Oxymoron!) off of me, directed toward 'Tristan'.

Going into the West Side was very different than the East Side. Everything was peaceful and not as loud, though we did receive some cold stares. No, scratch that, we received a lot of cold stares, plus many more suspicious ones.

We arrived at Addy's house after a good deal of time. It kind of surprised me with it's splendor. I was looking over the house when I noticed that the royal palace in the background. I suddenly scowled at the thought of all those nobles and earls and what not, holding their head up high at nothing but their social standing. Pathetic.

I came back to reality after a good 30seconds. I glanced at Tristan again, I could only see the back of his hood. Curse that hood.

"Well thank you for your help Tristan but I think we'll be fine from here," I said after a few more seconds of dead silence, excluding the outside noises of other people and animals.

He seemed to have an epiphany just as I finished my sentence.

"Uhm, right, I'll be off now," Then he quickly walked down the street before either of us could say a farewell, though it'd probably be Addy to say it. I followed his black figure as it suddenly sped up to a sprint. Odd.

I then turned back around to Addy dead staring at me. Her blue eyes boring into mine, it surprised me with the intensity of it.

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing," She replied in her childish voice then gave me a sweet smile.

"Uhm, well, I don't know how we're going to able to get pass these gates...do you know?" I was in a dilemma. The events that could happen raced through my head.

I was anxiously in my own thoughts as Addy replied something when three people came riding toward the gate on a brown colored horses. My heart started beating with apprehension.

"Rosie? Are you alright?"Addy said, tugging on my dress sleeve as the three riders came ever closer.

"I'm fine Addy, just fine,"I muttered the latter under my breath.

We watched silently, though Addy had a huge smile plastered on her face, as the two riders on each side came forward, farther than the third one, and got off their horses (A/N:I forgot what the word was, any help?) and came to the gate. They were guards as far as I could tell.

The last rider came through the gate as it was opened by the two men, he got off his horse also and walked toward us. I could tell that he actually wasn't that old, maybe 17?

"Adeline!" He said with a big smile on his face.

"Casper!" Addy called out and ran ahead and hugged, who was obviously, Casper.

I heard him laugh and swing Addy around, kinda heartwarming actually. I look down at the ground, feeling out of place, I guess Adeline was missed around here. Of course she was. I glanced back up and saw Addy leading Casper over here. Oh joy. My heart plummeted.

"Hello My Lady," Said Casper when he was close enough, I have to admit he was kind of handsome with the same blue eyes as Addy.

"Good afternoon my lord," I said courteously and bowing my head. This was embarrassing. I had no sense of what kind of courteous sayings I would use around here or the manners I should use. I had manners of course but those of the nobles were a great deal hyberbolized. (A/N:I have no idea if that's even a word..but it should be!)

"Please, call me Casper," He said with that smile, I couldn't tell if it was real or fake.

"Than you can call me Roselynne, for I most certainly am not a lady, I am from the East Side," I replied, might as well tell him now. The cat is out of the bag.

"Well thank you Roselynne for returning Adeline here, we've been looking everywhere for her since dawn struck," I smiled, sweet little Addy.

"My pleasure," I said awkwardly, what was I supposed to say? "Well, I think I'll be off now."

"Nonsense, you must come and meet our mother, she's been frantic and I think she would feel more assured to meet her daughter's savior," My thoughts drifted oddly to Tristan.

"Well, I don't want to barge in or anything," My courteous grammar slipped.

"All is well, you must come!" He said with that smile again.

"Please Rosie! Please!" Came Addy's pleading for me to come. I gave in.

"Okay, I shall come," I said with a defeated sigh.

I followed them into they're house, it looked perfect from the outside and was the same inside. There were servants and maids cleaning and preparing food.

"Casper! You have found her!" I heard a voice, I looked up to the top of a staircase. There was a petite woman with brown-blonde hair and deep blue eyes, her skin was pale as if she hadn't went outside in a while. She came down the stairs fairly quickly and ran to us, well to Casper and Addy. Behind followed a petite girl she looked around the same age as Marinna and had the same blonde hair as Casper and Addy but I could see that they all had the same eyes as their mother.

"Thank goodness Adeline! You had me so worried, and your father was too! How could you ever do such a thing to us," She said as she hugged Adeline, her sky blue dress getting traces of dust and dirt on it.

She eventually stood up, while the girl behind her came and hugged Addy and whispered something in her ear that made Addy giggle, probably her sister. Addy's mother surveyed her youngest daughter then her eyes slid over to me, I was standing kind of off to the side and behind Casper in the door way.

"Why hello there, who might you be?"

I curtsied,"Lady, I am uh, I'm Roselynne," I stammered in a quiet voice.

"She returned Adeline here mother," Casper put in. Thank you Casper.

I smiled quaintly, I wasn't sure if I should speak but I was tongue tied so it didn't really matter.

"Well don't be shy, come out here and let me have a look at you,"Said Casper's mother nodding.

I stepped out from the wooden door way and held my hands behind my back, I diverted my gaze to the ground.

"Look at me," I looked at her.

"You're an odd one aren't you, red haired and hazel eyed like those cursed Orynians, I even heard that Prince Romeo was going to marry one," She said in disgust. I felt my cheeks go hot and red. It wasn't my fault that I got red hair and hazel eyes. That's who I was.

"Lady, I-" I started to say.

"Mother..." Casper and his sister said at the same time.

I saw his mother's face soften,"I am sorry Roselynne, please forgive me, my emotions got a hold of me and please, call me Lady Clarice," I guess everyone wanted me to call them by their first name.

I nodded once with a small smile, "Lady Clarice. Well it was very nice meeting you all but I must go now, my mother will start missing me if I do not."

"Yes, of course,"Clarice looked over me again,"You're from the East Side aren't you?" I felt my cheeks go red again but I nodded a yes.

Then she nodded,"Right well, I think you will be off now, would you like some one to escort you home?"

"No, no, it's all right, I'll just walk,"

"Nonsense,"She sounded just like Casper,"Casper will escort you back."

"No! Don't go Rosie!" Addy suddenly called out. She then ran and hugged me, I was surprised but hugged her back.

"Don't worry, I'll see you again," I said reassuringly. Addy looked up and nodded but didn't let go as Lady Clarice gave her a look.

"Come Adeline, let us get one of the maids to run you a bath. You stink," Addy's nameless sister said in a sweet soft voice.

Addy gave me a smile and let go before replying, "Caila, that's mean!"

"You know I'm just joking with you," Caila responded as she took Addy's hand and took her upstairs.

"I guess that settles it. Have a nice ride home dear," Lady Clarice bid me farewell, not paying attention to Addy or Caila.

Casper led me outside and got his horse, he told me it was a bay but me being inexperienced with horses had no idea what that meant.

"Okay Roselynne, you ready?" I was sitting behind him in the saddle. Side-saddle style (A/N:Major alliteration).

"I guess..."

"Hold on," He said before taking off at a trot. I have to tell you I was scared at first but after a couple minutes I got used to it. This wasn't as bad as I thought but I still held my arms tightly around his waist which was probably most unLady like.

We made our way across the bridge and back through the thick crowd, it parted as we went then closed back up as we passed. I felt people staring an pointing, a lot of shop owners knew me in this part.

-*Time lapse of some deal of minutes*-

We arrived at my small run down, grey stoned house, with it's straw thatched rood. It was a disgrace compared to Addy's. My family was out in front in complete shock. They were all standing in a line, my father, Adrian, on the far left. My Mother, Ava, then my brother Brendan. Last was my younger sister, Marinna.

Marinna and my mother both had their mouths agape while my father and Brendan had their eye brows raised, actually my father only had one eye brow up.

We rode up closer to where my family stood, Brendan, who had recovered from the surprise helped me off of the horse.

"I wonder how I'm your brother," He muttered to me as I jumped down next to him. I simply smiled.

The greetings and courtesy appeared. All of them bowed after knowing Casper was the Duke's son. Casper soon left after my mother offered for him to stay for a while but he politely declined, saying that he was to go back as soon as he dropped me off. She nodded in understanding. It's not like she nor I expected him to stay.

After Casper was out of earshot my mother went ballistic.

"Rose! I tell you to go get some vegetables and you come back on the horse of the Duke's son?"

"Uh.." Was all I said as my father chuckled on the side.

"I demand you tell me exactly what happened!" My mother went on giving me her famous piercing stare.

And I did. Mostly. I left out the mysterious Tristan and the angry noble, saying I just found Adeline wandering alone on the streets and helped her get back home. Everyone believed me, except maybe Marinna. She could always tell when something was up.

I lay in bed that night with the owls hooting outside and the howling wolves far in the mountains. I thought about the events of the week and just about everything else in my life. A thought struck across my mind that troubled me deeply.

It was when Clarice told me about my red hair and hazel eyes. I hadn't really thought about it but now I do realize it. My mother and father both had blonde hair and light blue eyes, so did Brendan and Marinna. How was it that I acquired red hair and hazel.

I went asleep pondering and wondering.

Thinking of all the different people with blonde hair and blue eyes. There were a few with red hair and hazel eyes but that was rare from 150 years ago when we weren't enemies with the Orynians and when our borders were still open to anyone. But that wasn't now. Everything was different from the stories of how it was.

And I guess things were going to stay like that.

A/N:And here I finish! :) I'm getting better at making longer chapters aren't I? ;D 3,ooo words...I am proud of myself xP ya. Anyway! Review and tell me what you think! xDDD

Your very loving author..sorta

-Jess