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I've noticed that this story's probably going to be quite short. I'm not going to beef it out in any way, but it will probably have a max of 13 chapters.

My sleep was restless, so I awoke in the morning as tired as I had been the night before.

I was working without thinking, doing what my body did, rather than what my mind told it to. By now I had a natural routine, and that was what I stuck with.

After my mrning job, I decided to explore. After my clash with Hiram, I didn't know who was or wasn't on my side, so I figured I better have a back up escape. I wasn't curious or enthusiastic like in my visit to the library the day before, it was simply a chore that had to be done.

My problem was the palace troubadours who were everywhere, singing out random songs that I hadn't heard before. I had to be careful to avoid them.

I came to the room I had first hidden in when spying on Arae. It was a type of office, and I wondered wo worked here.

There was a long crtain on the wall that I hadn't noticed when hiding the first time, and I eagerly pulled it aside to see what it was hiding.

There was awindow, beyond which was a very piteresque sight. I figured if I needed to I could climb through the window, though I didn't see how this could help me.

On pulling the curtain further over, I discovered a door. Well, I wouldn't have to climb through the window.

Outside I heard footsteps. I searched quickly for a place to hide. Had I been thinking properly I could have gone out the door, ut my sense of panic won over all sensibile thoughts. The only place I could see to hide was a small cupboard. I wasn't overly large, and could fit in quite easily, I figured.

What I hadn't considered was that the cupboard had no floor.

Or at least the floor was several feet below whaere it should be. There was no light, so I cold use only my hands to find my way along what I figured must be a secret passageway.

I wasn't to surprised, because our palace had several passages. My problem, though, was that I didn't know wher this one led.

As the room I was in had a door outside, I assumed it was the route out of the castle. I just didn't know where the route in took me.

Step by slow ccautious step, I found my way to where I assumed was another cupboard like the one I was in.

Luckily for me, the cupboard had the sort of handle that meant I could open it from the inside.

I turned it slowly, waiting for the creak that luckily didn't come, and peered carefully throught the small gap I had made.

I was, to my dismay, on the edge of the same hall that I had been in on the very first day of my arrival in Ontio.

I then felt relief as I realised it was empty.

Not knowing what could be going on outside, I followed the tunnel back to the study. I did, for the fist time that day, feel hope again.

It was a good feeling. But it didn't cancel out my fear or desperation or sadness.

I opened the door of the study to go back into the corridor. I would try to find more tunnels.

I opened the door, hitting Hiram on theface.

Oh, Hiram, your highness, I'm so sorry to have….I'll just-'

I didn't know what to say. I was sure his majesty would be offended.

'It's okay,'he smiled. 'You do seem to enjoy hitting me with the door though. This is the second time now.'

I had no idea what to say.

'I was just coming I nfrom outside' Iled.

He nodded.

I began walking, and he followed me.

'Were you visiting Anidori again?' I asked him.

'Yes. She angers me.' I didn't want to interrupt, so I waited for him to continue.

'Her horse has escaped. She ordered her men to track it. I hope they don't succeed.'

Her men? They were Ayorthaia's men.

'She is pretty, but vain. She can be kind, but it is all undone when she throws one of her fits. She seems loving, but only when it suits her.'

He was describing me. Well, me before tat fateful day in the forest. I realised I had changed now.

We sat on the ground in the sun. I would never have done that before.

'She tries to know to much. She doesn't know what privacy is. She abuses her power, uses it to hurt others. She worms her way into people's affection, then hurts them when they don't expect it.'

Had I been that bad? I thought I had.

'why are you crying?'

I realised he was right. I hadn't even noticed my tears until that point. Now I was aware of them, they came o nharder and faster. I couldn't take in everything that had happened to me.

He pulled me into his arms. I sat there, hunched in a little ball,wrapped in his body. I must have looked ridiculous to anyone who might have walked by, but at the moment I was to tired and overwhelmed and depressed to notice anything.

He held me until I could support myself again. I sat up, still close to him. I had to explain myself.

'I am no better than Anidori. Like her, I am selfish and horrible.' I sobbed. 'I try not to, but it happens, without my noticing.

'You aren't like her. I know it.'

'How do you know? You have hardly talked to me.'

I have seen you around others. I saw what yo were like about Falada. I know you are beautiful, brave and sweet.' He started singing softly. 'You are kind, you care about others, no matter how small they are. You make those around you laugh, and smile, and love you. And-'

He caught a lose strad of hair and tucked it behind my ear.

'You are beautiful.'

H e kissed me. My tears fell onto his soft skin, my hair mingled with his.

I was wrong, the night before, when thinking about Mubdi. I didn't love him; I couldn't, because it was Hiram I loved. I hadn't known it then, but I knew it now.

He pulled away, humming.

'Not only that, but also, I love you.'

He kissed me again, this time it lasted longer. I didn't pull away and neither di he, so we were together untl I stopped, needing to breathe.

'Is Anidori beautiful?' I knew the answer, but I hoped it would change.

He hesitated.

'Yes. But her beauty isn't worth her bad qualities. And she doesn't shine like you.'

He kissed my cheek

'Tell me more about yourself, Aiya.'

'I am six-no, seventeen, I think.'

He raised an eybrow.

'I have lost track of time,' I admitted.

'I have several brothers and sisters. One brother is older than me, but everyone else is younger. I miss them.'

He nodded.

'I would miss my sister If I left her for a week. She is only sixteen, and is the only person roughly my age at the palace, except for you and Anidori. We are very close.'

'I wasn't very close with my family, we fought a lot. There were so many of us, and all except one of us were girls. It made life hard. I wouldn't trade them for the world, though.'

'Emilia and I used to fight, but we have grown out of it now.' He laughed.

His face sobered.

'Soon I am to marry Anidori. My grandmother is trying to talk my father out of this decision, but I don't think it is likely.

'Samaiya, I don't want to marry her. I don't love her, I detest her. In all truth, it is you that I love, and you that I hope to wed. No-one could change my view of that, especially not Anidori.

'Will you come with me to the council meeting this afternoon, to change my father's mind?'

I was delighted. I couldn't think of a good way to tell him that and didn't try. Instead I leaned forward and kissed him again.'

When we had finished, he laughed.

'I'll take that as a yes.'

I smiled, and we sa talking until I was time for the meeting.

Hiram moved first.

'We need to go now.'

'Okay.'

I wasn't sure if what I was doing was a good idea. My intentions had been to stay quiet, not to draw attention.

Yet I loved Hiram, and for him to get married to Arae would be disasterous for both of us.

It was with the thought of arae in my mind that I walked towards the great hall hand in hand with Hiram, not knowing when I would be allowed to see him again after today,

I igured I should kinda end on a high for once. The next chapter should be up very soon.

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