"It's beauty that captures your attention; personality which captures your heart." - Unknown

Her light footsteps echoed as Thayet danced her way through the halls, humming a lively tune. The basket of strawberries was expertly blanced in on hand as she opened the door into the twins chamber. Clothing was everywhere, obviously they were not finding any of their gowns acceptable to recieve some stupid invitation from some over-rated prince during supper. Ugh. Stepping over the gowns Thay placed the basket on a side table next to the dressing mirror. Before she had a chance to look for the twits she heard a series of yells and something that sounded like material ripping. Step mother cared not for the estate and it's grounds. Instead she bought fancy clothing and numerous pieces of expensive jewels for the twins to break and shred when they both liked the same thing. Anyone of those gowns cost fortunes that would have brought the estate into glowing life but instead they tended to ignore the fact their rich life style was damaging the manor.

Pulled out of her thoughts a infuriated Larissa came stomping into the dressing chamber from Bianca's bedchamber.

"Ugh! Bianca just doesn't understand that her yellow dress would compliment my beautifully pale skin wonderfully! I mean seriously, what young women in the ton looks better then me in yellow?"

Thayet fought back another one of her famous unladylike snorts. Bianca looked terrible in yellow as did Larissa but for some reason they both didn't seem to understand that fact. Typical snots. Larissa's pretty blue eyes met with the basket of strawberries and within moments she was eating them. Larissa was an exceptionally pretty girl, the prettiest of the twins. She was shorter, something men seemed to adore of late, with pale pale blonde hair and rough blue eyes. Her skin was un-marred and soft, the expected of a well-groomed young lady. While her twin Bianca was short also but with black hair and brown eyes, she dulled in comparison to her twin. Both girls where a bit on the pudgy side but also males tended to like the more rounded. In Thays oppinon they looked like pigs. Especially when they ate.

Forcing down a laugh at her humorous thoughts Thayet watched silently as Bianca soon walked in, much more composed then Larissa. Bianca soon noticed Thayet in the room and tossed a torn yellow dress at her.

"Do what you were born to do and fix it!"

Gritting her teeth at the ugly twin Bianca Thay grabbed the yellow dress and studied it. A sleeve had been torn off and the stitching on the dress was complicated enough it'd take her hours to mend. Glaring down at the ugly yellow dress Thayet nodded solemly. Maybe the prince would come by, marry one of the nasty twits and she'd be free! They'd all move to the palace and Thayet would convince Step Mother to give her the manor and Thayet would spend the rest of her days slaving over other people in order to fix up the manor. Promises promises!

"Thayet! Go get my sky blue dress and air it out then mend Biancas' dress and then be up here in two hours to fix our hair! Now go!"

Thayet hated Larissa more out of the two. She was sarcastic, bossy, annoying, and way to obcessed with her looks to hold an intelligent conversation. The perfect match for the handsome Prince Alix! Humphing loudly Thayet moved out of the room, heading to her own shabby one room chamber. Settling herself comfortably on a chair she'd stolen from one of the unused parlors she leaned back and began fixing the yellow dress humming to herself. So where was her fairy god mother? When would she be saved from this torture? Never obviously.

Finishing the last stitch in the yellow dress Thayet held it infront of her, enjoying her handiwork she gently fingered the soft silk material. Wouldn't it be wonderful to wear suck a frock? To dance and be held in a mans' arms, swaying to the music in a bold waltz? Closing her blue eyes softly Thayet imagined herself in the Princes' arms, his attention settled only on her as if other couples didn't exist around them. Thayet felt beautiful, complete and he was charming and everything a prince should be. Her wonderful day dream was harshly closed when a screech came from the twins room.

Rushing to see if they'd killed eachother yet, if only, Thayet opened the door to see a very upset Larissa holding her sky blue dress, the one Thayet was supposed to have aired out. It was only an hour till supper and Thay could fill all heat draining from her face. Larissa stomped her foot and tossed the dress at Thayet who caught it with limp hands.

"MOTHER!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Wincing Thayet watched in horror as Step Mother came into the room, a frightfully cool look upon her aged features. Wonderful.

"Thayet didn't air out my dress like I ordered her too! And look at that sewing job on Biancas' dress! It's utterly horrible!"

Everyone's eyes averted to the sky blue and yellow dress Thayet held in her hands. To Thayet her job on the re-sewing of the sleeve was impeccable, it was obvious Larissa was just trying to get Thayet a switchin' that she now was most certainly bound to get. Step Mothers' eyes narrowed on Thayet and again Thay felt herself go numb with fear. She would never cower from Step Mother and never cried when the birch bark ate up her back but it didn't mean it didn't hurt.

"I see, Well! The Prince will be here in an hours time and you've made quite the mess, as normal. Mary will air out your dress and fix your hair girls. Thayet, you will see to it you make yourself unseen when the Prince arrives and when he does I want you outside, find yourself something to do you evil child!"

Step Mother reached out and hit Thayets pale face with a definate thud. Tears sprang into her blue eyes at the pain of the impact but she ignored it, biting her lip. Setting the gowns carefully down onto the dressing table she exited the room, dashing towards the servants' doors that lead outside.

Once in the fresh air Thay wiped silently at her eyes and gazed up at the sky. The sun was begining to set and Thayet figured the Prince would be arriving sooner then Step Mother figured. Laughing to herself Thayet walked silently towards the garden. Bending down she scooped up some of the dirt into her hands and slowly watched it slip from her fingertips. Prince Alix would probably marry Larissa, who was all dolled up by now. And then, then she would get something she always wanted, a home.

A slient pain echoed in her heart. She'd have a home but no one to share it with, no kind faces or comforting presences. It would just be her and the meager staff she could afford to have working at the house to clean it up. Pondering at the shrubs and plants in the garden Thayet moved onto the rose bushes, that were in full bloom. Dozens of colors popped from each bush, offering hope for the small garden. Here was life. Settling her lithe body onto a bench beside the roses she fingered them gently.

It wasn't long before the familar sound of horses' hooves coming up the drive drifted to her ears. Wiping her dirty hands on her plain servant dress Thayet snuck forwards to the edge of the garden where she'd be able to see Prince Alix when he got out of the carriage. Pretty boys always rode in carriages, spoiled brats. Her deep blue eyes watched in amazement as she saw the prince astride a beautiful black stallion. So the spoiled brat wasn't at all in a new white carriage? Interesting. Leaning forwards more to get a better image of him she felt her breath catch in her throat as he dismounted easily. He was tall, near six foot if not an inch over and lean. His body was well muscled Thay could tell that from the way his shirt was pulled tight across his back as he moved to lead his own mount to their sad excuse of a stables.

The Prince had Thayets full attention now as he was taking care of his own horse instead of handing the beautiful black stallions reins to their lazy groom. Within moments the Prince disappeared from her sight into the stables but returned moments later. Grasping the wrought-iron gate that ringed the garden Thayet squinted towards him. He looked nothing like the pig she'd pictured..he looked..insanely handsome. And totally too good for a servant girl! Anger immediatly rushed through her as she jerked away from the gate moving back to her bench that waited faithfully for her to occupy it.

Worthless Step mother! Here Thayet was, a servant in a home that should have belonged partially to her, ha. Snorting in a very unladylike fashion Thayet curled her legs underneath her as she settled in to wait for the ignorant Prince Alix to leave. Then she'd be able to get in and go to sleep in her straw mattress in her pathedic excuse for a bedroom.

"Stupid, rediculous Prince. What's so special about him? He's probably just a stuck-up know-it-all. What a jerk!"

Thayet voiced her oppions loudly as she leaned on the bench. It wasn't fair at all! He deserved to be stuck with the insufferably Bianca and Larissa as far as Thayet mattered. Infact, the faster this night progressed the better, then the twits would leave for good and Thayet could have her freedom. Well deserved freedom too!

A noise jerked Thayet from her thoughts. Someone was in the garden. Moving silently from her spot, she circled the rose bushes. Preparing to bash the intruder Thayet picked up a little branch. Not really thinking in too much detail what she planned on doing with it she rounded the bush and moved towards the vegetables. Whomever was in the garden was being extremly quiet but Thayet wasn't fooled.

"Whoever you are I su--"

Words flowed from Thayets lips and then suddently a hand was around her mouth. A masculine hand. Screaming but having no sound escape Thayet felt herself being pulled by her abductor towards the darkest corner of the garden.

"Shhh! I can't have them hearing you jabbering and have them come out here to find me!"

The masculine hand released her mouth and Thayet immediatly moved from her opponent. Turning Thayet prepared to give the man a full lecture on what she thought of this then felt her words stick in her throat. Her blue eyes rested on the gorgeous figure across from her. He had amazingly black hair, even in the dark it was obvious its color. His hair was in a messy array, as if he'd just woken up, its raven-black wings flying in different directions. His hair was short, not cropped short but also not worn in the prefered style of shoulder length. And his eyes. Thayets own blue eyes dulled in comparison. His were deep blue. So blue they were almost violet. The dark made his skin appear tanned, as if he spent most of his time in the sun.

"Sorry for giving you a fright back there, but those three mistresses in there are terrible. I've been all over the kingdom this week visiting every maidens home and personally inviting them to my coronation ball. And their all the same, more worried about ribbon and lace then what's best for the people and this kingdom!"

Thayet eyed him curiously. The man was gorgeous but making absolutely no sense to her. Straightening her spine Thayet lifted her chin a tad, her sky-blue eyes focusing on him in a curious manner. Who was this stranger? And why was he talking to a mere servant girl? Sure the night cloaked her as best as anything could but anyone would be able to see her blonde hair was pulled into a tangly mess of a braid and her clothing was thread-bare and covered in moth holes.

"Who are you?"

She felt the words escape from her throat, her lyrics floating between them softly as she eyed him warrily. Thayet was not one to quickly trust and anyone who dared touch her in a garden at night was not exactly on her best side.

"Names Alix, pleased to meet you. And you are?"

Realization dawned on her as he spoke. This was Alix. The Alix. Prince Alix. Talking to her. In the garden at night of all times! Red flushed her cheeks as she realized she'd also been eyeing up the man who wasn't even her equal. Great. If Step mother found out she'd be down for weeks, and have millions of chores to do!

"I'm Trouble..no in trouble.."

Her thoughts were lost somewhere in the black abyss of her brain. Her words slipped from her mouth easily and the Prince laughed softly at her, his laugh caused butterflies to flutter somewhere in her traitorous stomach.

"Well Trouble, if there's anyway I can help you I'd love too, but currently I need your help."

Thayet felt her thoughts and emotions slam back into her with force. The Prince needed her help! HA! Not being able to help it a strangled laugh burst from her throat as she watched him.

"Ha, of all the things I've heard about you, your Highness, never was I told you were humorous!"

Her sky-blue eyes danced playfully as he studied her with curiosity and something else..

"Yes actually, I do have quite the humorous side, but right now I'm begging for your help. Those maidens in there, Larissa and Bianca, are close to strangling me with unwanted affections, all I ask is you escort me out of here unseen."

Thayet watched him calmly for a few moments. So everyones beloved Crown Prince didn't like all the attention he recieved? Curiousity again stabbed at her but so did reality. Thayet had been speaking so disgracefully to him and he could order her hung! Feeling her anger and emotions leave her Thay nodded her head briskly. She'd just agreed to help her kingdoms Crown Prince escape from the Manor. Lord only knew what else would happen before the morning ruined the night!