A/N: It may seem like babble but bear with me, it's an intro.

Chapter ONE

"Damn it! Why must they keep us out!" Keiro shouted, pacing the marble floors of the main entry hall. Attia ignored his outburst and kept her ear pressed to the crack of the large extravagantly carved mahogany doors. Although, it was difficult to eavesdrop with Keiro's foolish heeled shoes clicking on the floors. Her vision followed the boy's paces, the sound drowned out the important conversation taking place inside the dining hall. Beneath his feet was hardwood and mosaics, both inlayed between the marble of the floor. Waste, she thought.

The entire wardendry had been not only renovated but now it was three times it's original size. In less than a month it was complete and Attia hated the extravagance the home had. What was this useless excess proving?

Up high above the homes entrance, tattered tapestries of the Havaarna coat of arms draped the walls. The retrieval of the hanging from the deteriorating palace had been the only thing Finn had ordered since escape. Large red velvet divans were placed strategically throughout the main hall, beneath them oversized oriental rugs and large chandeliers hung from the ceiling unlit. Along side the sofa was a pedestal table with a large bouquet of flowers and green indoor plants scattered in ever corner. Every room in the estate manged to have a floral arrangement in it, yet Finn had done nothing to benefit his kingdom. His neglect infuriated Attia, but who was she to say anything? As Keiro delicately put it, she was nothing but a dog-slave that put the prince on a pedestal. And so what if she did? He saved her life but the halfman claimed she put the prince in a foul mood and just as she was a deadweight during Finn's journey to escape, she was hindrance to this kingdom . Half the time, she believed Keiro but she did not need him to remind her that she was but an obligation to Finn, she was his onus. Overall, she was nothing to Finn but Finn ignored most everyone, not just her.

In the last few weeks, Finn had seemed to have forgotten everything. Not quite literally, but recently his mind has been elsewhere. He still had the occasional seizure and following his fits, he gets angry and violent. After throwing fists and destroying the nearest object, he then detaches himself even more from his surroundings. At times it seems as if he had forgotten how much help he had to escape Incarceron and he fails to realize that those people care for him. The confused young man needed time to adapt to his new role, and the dog slave understood that but what she witnessed was his character completely alter. Sadly, it seemed like the strong, kind and somewhat confident Finn she knew disappeared and in his place stood Giles. This new person seemed weak, impatient and uncertain of almost everything he did.

Days flew by and weeks passed and all he gave Attia was avoidance. If he wasn't with Claudia, he was at court and if he wasn't at court he was locked away in some room isolating himself from the world. The little time she was allowed to spend with him was hunting and even then Finn was quiet and remote. He only offered his appreciation for her riding skills and gave praise for her sharp shoot. If he had time for these things, surly, he had time for her, and even Keiro but the prince rarely spoke to the either Incarceron natives. This made the girl even more sure that Finn, was not only disinterested in Attia, but he did not seek a friendship with her. This smashed the girls' lonely little world into a million shattered pieces.

To keep her mind of the prince's aloofness, Attia spent any free time she had with the Equerry, Andrew. Standing tall and sturdy as a tree, his hazel eyes always sparkled with joy. His brown hair matched her color, it was even longer than hers and his lean muscles didn't sit upon his bones the way Finn's did. All that included, he was older, nearly a decade but Attia could not help but be drawn by his charisma, he reminded him of her eldest brother.

Keiro repeatedly commented on the man's fondness of Attia, but again, she ignored the halfman's comments, because Andrew continuosly spoke of wishing to court a girl in the nearby village. It took much persuasion from her but last week he spoke to her. After a few weeks of tending to the horses and continuing to learn the most she could from the Master of Horses, she was allowed to ride and was even given several lessons in Equestrianism. Andrew declared Attia with natural horsemanship, talented in stunt riding and jumping. He encouraged her to do show hacking but she did not wish to do events, all the girl wanted to do was ride, to be free and to forget of the aching in her empty heart and above all she wanted not to worry of rules. Because of this she rode often, hoping that these thoughts of Finn would disappear. Unfortunately, when she rode he was front and center in her thoughts.

Often toward the end of a ride, she would travel along the side of the nearby lake . On one occasion, she directed this particular horse to a shallow bank, for drinking. The sun beating down on Attia, was something she was not used to for Incarceron only had artificial light, and the air usually cold. With the back of her hand she wiped the sweat from her brow, then held her hand as a visor to block out the bright sun so she was able to take in her surroundings. The lake reflected the sun making it appear as if there was a pond of golden liquid. Squinting, her vision pannned the scenery of tree covered hills and across the lake was the forest the hunts were held in. Looking directly at the golden waters, she noticed a shadowy silhouette of a lone boy, sitting in a tiny row boat out in the center of the lake. It was most likely someone from the Wardendry and Attia had every intention to say hello, but this was not just any boy. It was Finn, sitting with his head in his hands. Clearly, he was agitated and glum. Instead of calling out to him, she trotted away, upset that he did not wish to confide in her with his problems.

The main thing on his mind that day and every other day after that, was his kingdom and how he was to prove not only to be the rightful heir but to be worthy of governing the Realm. The thought was continuously poking at him. How could he prove to be strong when he was apparently still ill with seizures? The young man was frightened and insecure, that he would never measure up. Without Claudia, he felt helpless and was sure he could not be king. Being betrothed to her must have been heaven sent because unlike he, she was so confident, intelligent and sure of herself. She helped make his decisions and Finn admired her for her sureness in the choices she has made.

Attia and Keiro, however, did not care for the new role Claudia had taken. Controlling and manipulative was how they saw her. While Attia loathed her because she took great advantage of Finn, Keiro hated her because she completely overlooked his existence all together.

Right now Attia could hear the proof of Claudia's authority over Finn and his Court. In the reception room, the court gathered to hold a political meeting. Inside were the most important political figures of the Realm and all Attia could hear was the abrasive voice of the warden's daughter. The only thing the girl had accomplished was the renovation of the wardendry and to the former dog slave, it was all shear waste. The second action was to dissect the royal court. Claudia had continuous conversations with her father about who was apart of the Steel Wolves, a conspiring group against Havaarna monarchy. The excess was carved out lik fat but Finn kept import figures such as sapients, the main steward, the chamberlain, servant's and etcetera. These were things Attia did not care for, titles and nobles were ridiculous in her eyes. However, she found that politics in the Realm were important. It was why she always eaves dropped on court meetings.

" Shouldn't I have a say in how my kingdom is ran?" Keiro questioned still parading around.

Attia pried her head away from the large wooden doors, even more irritated by the tapping of Keiro's shoes.

"It's Finn's kingdom. Or Giles," she corrected tugging at the bottom of her waistcoat, "If he wanted us apart of the meetings he would have invite us."

Pressing her ear back to the door, she heard Keiro rant again. "I deserve to be in there just as much as her!"

Every fiber of her being wanted to shout at Keiro, to tell him to stop bitching and she would stomp her riding boot to the cold stone for good measure. However, it was not the time for such childish antics. Instead she laced her brows together and growled, "Keiro, if you shut up and stop prancing around like a damn horse, I could hear what they're talking about."

Immediately, he stopped and sank to the floor. It was second nature. He and Attia were still not used to the luxury of furniture.

On the vibrant rug, he messed with the tassles of the rug, while observing Attia's attire. She wore a navy form fitted waistcoat, made of thick velour, sleeves that stopped at her elbows, beneath it was a lace camisole and black breeches clung to her thighs like a second skin. Keiro decided these clothes revealed that her petite figure held more curves than he originally thought. She almost appeared like a woman. And if she acted as a girl, stayed out of the dirty stables and got a good scrubbing, she could becoma a girl that Keiro found appealing.

He peered up at her as she tucked a short piece of hair behind her ear. Because the length it didn't stick and fell back into her face.

"Claudia wants them to find a way to separate Jared from the glove, to bring him back to the Realm," she said, her ear resting against the doors and her tawny eyes staring off into the distance, "It's the courts last concern though."

"She's egocentric."

"You're one to talk," she responded not taking her ear from the door.

"She is. She's the only reason we're not allowed in on the Court meetings. This morning I was prim and proper, 'Good morrow, Lady Claudia,' and how do you think she replied?"

"I don't care," she snapped, "shut up."

"Nothing, she said nothing."

Minutes past and he settled himself upon a accent chair, while Attia remained on her feet tuned into the meeting inside the reception room. Servants passed by, and this particular time it was a female, so Keiro winked. She quickened her pace through the mainhall and up the stairs, blushing and smirking. Attia scoffed at him but he only told himself she was jealous that he payed no mind to her. Then he could see the disgust on Attia's face, was not with him, it was with what she was hearing from the court meeting.

Attia stormed off, with fist clenched, seething in annoyance. Keiro lifted himself from chair and chased after her up the main stairs, down the servants corridor ,and into her chamber, the only one on the lower floor. Even here, outside of Incarceron, she had been excluded from people. She lived in the slave halls until Jormanic choose her to be poison checker. Then she was always alone, until Finn came along.

"What? What were they speaking about?" Keiro asked once she stopped in the dead end of her room.

She settled onto her bed, staring at another gigantic bouquet of flowers that were set in front of a massive sized mirror with filagree framing. Peeking behind the flowers was her reflction. Unable to turn her gaze away, she sat up and stalked closer to the floral arrangement as she informed Keiro of Claudia's plans.

"Apparently, we're incompetent and we are just dregs of Incarceron and Finn didn't say a damn word to defend us. On top of Claudia's request to be reunited with Jared, which probably should happen, he's the only one that keeps her in check, they want to rebuild the Havaarna Palace, in Rococo architecture, with molding of filigree with trompe l'oeil paintings as if this great estate isn't enough. They'll have great pathways going through a luscious garden, royal walkways, with fountains and a great canal. They may even relocate to find a river that will could separate the royal grounds from attack. It will only take a year, and construction has already begun. All this will prove the kings nobleness."

"Sounds amazing," he stated, fixing the ribbon in his hair making sure all hair was nicely held it. For some reason it just dawned on him that his light hair was so much longer than her dark fringe, everyone's damn hair was longer than hers.

Attia turned, seeing Keiro standing at her bedroom's threshold. Wrapping her arms around herself, she grumbled, "How is this amazing? The king does not need millions of rooms to prove his nobility. It's ridiculous! There are people out there that need a reliable government, if this shit keeps up be prepared for revolt."

"You think they'll rebel?"

"I know they will," she affirmed with the greatest sincerity. One thing she knew as a dogslave was how people would become feed up with the neglect, the lack of food and horrible conditions they were in. Countless rebellions had happened and failed because they killed the rebels leader, but the Realm was different, the people could win Outside. In all honesty, Attia only feared that Finn's life could be put in danger.

She continued, "And if they have a crafty leader, someone like Rix, he could start an uprising… and they'll win."

" No way. They'd never go against Finn, he's ended protocol."

"It doesn't matter!" she exclaimed facing away from Keiro, "the kingdom should know their king!"

The rogue stepped closer to Attia. She clenched her jaw knowing at her back Keiro stood. He was so close she felt his breath on the back of her neck.

"They will," he reassured, "They've used device that takes realistic pictures, no paint or canvas. It could print on paper and they'll print Finn's picture in the papers and the Realm will know their king"

Folding her arms, she stepped away from him feeling odd. Why was he trying to pacify her?

"They shouldn't know him by his face! They need to know him by his works and his charity!" Flailing her arms about she shouted, "Not by the architecture of his palace or his physical appearance."

"He's ended Protocol isn't that enough? What else is there for him to do?" he inquired in the harsh tone, that was purely Keiro, "Seriously Attia, what more could he do?"

"I'm not sure, an expedition, or a mission. He should be traveling seeing his kingdom, not worrying about his coronation, the building of his palace or even the wedding. He should journey from village to village, examining every-" She pivoted on her foot to shout to Keiro's face, but paused went she saw Finn standing behind him. She went wide eyed and covered her mouth as if she couldn't control what she was saying.

Keiro rotated to see where Attia's line of vision was going.

"No continue," Finn urged.

Her heart thudded in her chest, when he gazed into her eyes. It had been so long since he held his vision with her own and spoke directly to her at the same time.

"It was not my place," she curtsied then pass both young men, "Excuse me."

"Attia," Finn said, grabbing her by the wrist. Looking back at his tanned hand around her scarred wrist, she froze. "Tell me what you were about to tell Keiro."

"I gotta eat something," the halfman man chuckled and started out the room. Attia, looked to him, pleading with her eyes, hoping he wouldn't leave her alone in the same room as Finn. "You two have a nice little chat," Keiro finished and shut the dooor behind him.

Attia lost all the breath she could hold in her lungs. This was the first time she has ever been alone with Prince Giles. It seemed familiar but he was not Finn. With that in mind, she tugged and collected her wrist back, scowling at Giles.

"Speak to me Attia. What is it you have to say?"

Being prideful, she decided to treat him, the way he's been acting towards her. She straightened her posture, raised her nose at him and with formality she declared, "It was nothing your greatness, now please leave my bedchamber."

Shockingly, Giles stepped forward, with one foot, then the other. In two large strides, he stood before her and took her small hands into his bulky ones.

"I have the highest regards for you, Attia."

"Do you?" she wondered, cracking the slightest smile staring at his hands. This small gesture, gave her hope, perhaps he saw something in her. Men in the Realm didn't just clutch a woman's hands that way, it was not proper.

" Yours, may be the best idea I've heard since the end of Protocol."

Lost in her own thoughts, Attia gazed over at the rust orange callalillies, blood red roses, and hypericum was a rich blend of warm tones, that reminded her of the Fall season. However, her favorite of the bunch was the brown roses, they reminded her of the murky colored flowers of Incarceron.

"Those bouquets seem useless do they not?" she asked, stepping away from Giles, her hands slipped from his. Many things rolled about her brain, like a spinning wheel. Should debated as to whether or not she should express her deepest feelings for him, or merely tell him what he wants to hear? He only asked about her personal opinion about his Realm.

"But I love them," she continued rearraanged the floweres and greenery, then sniffed the scent. "The colors, the fragrance. The toffee colored roses are my favorite."

Finn listened, sure there was some moral to her babbling.

"How come," she started and spun her body around to face Giles, "there manages to be bouquets throughout the wardendry but in your Realm, there is still stuggle...and heartache?"

"What do you mean?"

"You should not worry about a great palace to show nobility, you have a kingdom to govern and people who are suffering."

"I know," he pleaded stepping closer towards her, " How can I show them I am a worthy leader?"

Stepping back she said,"End Protocol."

"I did. I plan to have a proclamation delivered to each town after my wedding."

She frowned, feeling a head ache come on."And if you jumped into a freezing river your body would go into shock."

"What?"

" Protocol may be diminished here at your palace," she started, then pulled a misplaced flower from the bouguet, " but you cannot remove protocol from your people so quickly, even if that is what they want. They will be in shock so, you must tread lightly."

Giles, paced over to her bed and sat. He inclined forward and rested his face in his hands. That was a pose he had mastered. "It seems no matter what I do, there will be criticism."

Attia walked over towards the bed, witht the brown flower in hand. "It may cause backlash because all they've known has changed, not everyone welcomes changes even if it's in their best interest. Sometimes these people need to open their hearts, see that there are other options."

"Besides the end of Protocol what do they want?"

Sitting at his side she replied, " Lower their taxes for one. Everyone has seemed to overlook that Sia raised them in the last year of her life. No doubt to support Caspar and I'm sure she told him where she hid her treasure."

"I don't care for treasure, I need to set this kingdom straight and I don't know what to do. I only want to be the best king, I want people to live in a paradise."

"I was never educated," she declared handing Giles the rose, "I wish I was- but not everyone is a lucky as you or Claudia. I wish I had education, some sort of proof that I am intellegent, but I had orphaned siblings to raise until… These are only my opinions and my judgment may not be the wisest. I know people. I lived in a slave hall, watching and observing. Whether they be halfman or organic as I, I've seen them love and hate and betray. I empathize with each of them because I understood most everything they did, good and bad. It's all in their minds, you must know the mindset of your people. I know in my heart, that if you want to be a great king, you must know your people. You should know me and what I feel."

But Giles did not catch the clue. "Is that what you had in mind when you suggested I go on an expedition? To talk to the people, to hear their pleas?"

"Yes," she said slouching in disappointment, "You need to nurture and treat these matters with the utmost care. In Incarceron everyone wanted stability, security and here in your Realm, it's no different. Stabilize their economy Giles, give their towns purpose, such as agriculture or industry. Each village could thrive in a specific field, but you must help them, listen to them. You may even need to take sapient to analyze the best purpose of each town."

"Brilliant," he exclaimed jumping to his feet, " I have to tell the court. Thank you."

"Sure," she retorted. He quick stepped his way out but paused and turned when Attia called, "Giles? Some hearts are grieving and bitter, and they'll remain that way for a lifetime, you can't make a paradise for everyone, but you can certainly try."

He smiled and her heart leaped and thudded in shock. She's never seen him smile that way at her. "Thank you Attia."

"Finn? Do you ever think of when you saved my life?"

He scowled, stepping back into her room. "Not so much, no."

She figured this would be her last attempt to explain her love, to give him the chance to make her feel of worth. "Why did you save me?"

" I killed Maestra and saved you, things are even now."

"You saved me twice. The second time you saved me, when I ate the poisoned apple, you shed tears for me. Why?"

" You're young and loyal, you have so much to live for, I couldn't let you die."

"That's it?" she queried, unhappily. He did not save her because he cared for her, or because she was his friend. It sounded as if he only didn't believe someone as young as she should pass away. And he didn't want to feel guilty about whatever happened with the women Maestra. Maybe he loved her? she thought.

"Yes, what other reasons would there be?"

"Because-" Attia started then stopped. She didn't see the point. Why even try when he still plans to marry Claudia Arlexa, when he couldn't even declare her a friend?"I don't know but thank you."

"I'd do it again,' he responded and smirked, " Have a good day Attia."

"Likewise."

"If I don't see you before the sun sets, good night and I'll see you tomorrow. I believe Claudia was going to fetch you, to try on your dresses for the coronation tomorrow and the wedding."

He left her in that room, feeling more empty than ever before.

A/N: Poor Attia, she tried to give Finn/Giles the open door to declare her as his friend but he he failed. : (

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