Meeting the Prince

The market was packed to the brim with people. Each vendor was fighting for their attention, calling out the goods they had. As our carriage halted, people looked up trying to see who we were.

"What are you gawking at child?" my step-mother asked. "Get out." The carriage door opened and a footman helped me down, but then pushed me away to assist my step-family.

Overhead the sun was hot and beaming. I felt uncomfortable in my gown. I probably looked like a fool or worse, like one of my step-sisters. My step-mother was talking to me, but like always I was not listening. She handed me a coin purse and left, ugly step-sister one and two trailing her. Ben thought my outfit was the funniest thing he had seen in a while and repeatedly reminded me of how ridiculous I looked.

Ben and I had been working our stall for hours, when a curious looking man walked up to us. He was smartly dressed and spoke only to me.

"You are a beautiful woman," he said, running a figure up my arm. I backed away.

"What can I get you sir?" I asked.

"I am Lord Cadaver."

"Pleasure," I replied sarcastically. "We have potatoes, yams, squash, pumpkins,"

"Darling, I am not interested in any produce," he said, cutting me off.

"Oh." This man was beginning to disturb me. He had dark brown hair and looked to be in his mid-thirties. His face was rugged, as if he had not shaven in a while and he had a scar right below his left eye. Every good villain needs a scar, and this man defiantly looked like the villain. I actually have no idea why your fairy tale left Lord Cadaver out, he is a positively dreadful man. Just at the moment, Ben, being the fantastic brother that he is, called me over, saying that he needed help with a customer.

"What was that about?" Ben asked.

When I did not answer, Ben raised an eyebrow. "Ben, leave it alone." I told him. Ben glared at me and only stopped when Lord Cadaver walked away. "I am going to take my break," I reasoned. Taking off the horribly ugly apron that I had been wearing, I left our stall and went to go find Lily.

******

We browsed most of the stalls. Lily chattered away while I walked next to her, admiring all the beautiful things. We came to a stall where a greedy man sat, hording over all his merchandise. A little pauper boy hungrily reached out to touch the jewelry. I looked at the boy and he winked at me right before slipping a golden bracelet into his pocket. The boy slithered away into the crowd. It all happened so fast, the next thing I knew the merchant grabbed me.

"You're workin' wit' te boy," he said. I shook my head.

"I don't know him."

"Liar," the man snarled. "I saw he wink at you."

"No," I squealed, struggling to get away from him.

"Leave her alone sir, we do not know that boy," Lily said, grabbing my arm and pulling me back. People had begun to gather around us. Thieves were common in the market, still the crowd was excited to witness any spectacle. I scanned my eyes, looking for the boy.

"You'll pay for what he stole," the man said. "Do you know what the penalty for robbing in these parts is?" I shook my head again and turned around, searching for a way out of the crowd. I caught the gaze of a group of boys, who looked as raggedy as the boy who stole the bracelet. Their leader, I presumed, nodded to me. I guessed the boy was one of them. Lily pinched me, obviously seeing our exchange. I glanced up at her.

"Really sir, I do not know that child. I swear it." Some people around me rolled their eyes while others looked sympathetic.

There was a moment of tension and then noise. People were pushing to get a better look, but not at me, something in front of me. I backed away from the stall. I was confused for a moment, looking at Lily and trying to understand where the uproar was coming from. A man appeared behind me, the one who had nodded to me. Within moments he had my arm and we were running away from the greedy merchant's stall.

"You get back here!" the man called, finally seeing me, unsure about whether to leave his jewelry to chase after us. Some people turned away from whatever had happened just in time to see me running away from the market. We ran for a while, twisting into side streets, making sure that no one was following us. I laughed, and Lily looked like she was going to kill me. When we reached the River of Dreams the man stopped. As we had been running boys and young men had joined in with us and sitting on a rock, wadding his feet in the River of Dreams, was the boy who had stolen the bracelet.

The leader of the group scowled at the boy, playfully hitting his head. I sat down, leaning on the cold stone of a building, and Lily sat down next to me. The leader smiled at Lily and I. We were on a street I had never been down before, far from the bridge. Big buildings shaded the entire street. At the other end, the River of Dreams was blocked off by massive rocks. After I had caught my breath, I managed to squeal out a thank you.

"It was Roger that got you into this mess," the leader replied. The boy, Roger, looked up from the glistening bracelet in his hands. "My two mates, Cly and Toby, caused the fight that distracted the people." I smiled.

"Well thank you."

"You're always asking for adventure," Lily said grumpily. "Had to drag me into it." I gave her my best forgive me smirk that always works with Ben. The leader laughed.

"Jem, why don't you get these two ladies some water?" He suggested. Jem a boy of about 14 years old got up and went into one of the buildings. Lily and I spoke quietly to ourselves until Jem came back with two jugs of water.

"Thank you Jem." I told the boy. He nodded, and while looking down spilled some of the water on me.

"I'm so sorry miss'," he stuttered. His cheeks beamed bright red and the group laughed at him. After he gave Lily her jug he backed away hurriedly, stumbling. The boys laughed even harder.

"Forgive Jem, he gets nervous around ladies," the leader said, still laughing. I grinned. This man was like my brother, his smile was contagious.

"Where are we?" I asked after sometime. My step-mother was probably sick with worry or more realistically, thinking of ways to kill me.

"This is Hood territory." I raised my eyebrows not understanding what he meant.

"You're a Hoodlum?" Lily asked nervous.

"Yup, I am the leader of these parts," the man said, rather proud. He was covered with dirt and dust and smelled disgusting. Underneath the dirt however, I could see very handsome features. He had a strong square jaw and full lips that were broken. His nose was pointed slightly at the tip and fit perfectly with his face. His eyes were a disturbingly bright blue. When I meet them, he smiled once again, realizing that I was studying him. I lowered my head quickly, embarrassed.

"A Hoodlum?" I asked unsure.

"You hurt my feelings girl; I thought we were rather famous. Hoodlums after our patron and creator of this gang. Who that be man?" he asked the group.

"Robin Hood," they replied smugly. I smiled.

"Robin Hood, the thief," I said, my tone teasing. Lily smacked my arm.

"Watch your words, Robin Hood the defender of the poor and yes, thief of the rich. I am Chris, and Robin Hood is my uncle. Tired old brute now but he caused quite the bedlam in his day." Chris said grinning. "You are?" he asked mischievously.

"Isabella." He nodded. "And this is Lily," I added. Lily glared at me. I did not see the harm in it, he had saved me from the vendor.

"We have to go." Lily said, getting up. Her dress was as dirty as mine. She tried to clean some of the grime off it but it was no use. Lily grunted, and I had to laugh, she hated being dirty.

"Where do you girls live?" Chris asked us.

"Down on Avenue D." Lily answered curtly.

"I can walk you." He was caught off from whatever he was going to say next by the sound of two boys running towards us. He turned around to face them. They were out of breath and struggling to tell him something. The older one who looked to be about my age spoke first.

"In the market, a terrible lady, she is looking for" He breathed in. "Isabella." Chris looked at me.

"What did she say?" I asked, shrugging my shoulders.

"If we know where her step-daughter was, because she saw you run off with Chris."

"She was fuming. Scariest thing I've seen in my life," the other boy said, he looked to be about fifteen. Chris laughed.

"Thanks Cly." Cly smiled. "I think it be wise if we get you home then," Chris said, looking at me. "Toby," he told the older boy. "Would you mind walking Lily home?" Toby walked towards Lily.

"Not at all." He said smiling. Lily rolled her eyes.

"Good, I'll walk Isabella home." I told him where I lived and it was settled. The other boys begged to be allowed to come with Chris but he refused. Just he and I walked along the river, until we came to the bridge. The sun was beginning to set and he took my hand, pulling me close to him.

"So do you live with your uncle?" I asked.

"Yah, my parents died when I was really young."

"I don't have my parents either," I whispered. He squeezed my hand.

"Do you get along with your step-family?" he asked.

"I wouldn't say that." He laughed. "They are horrible."

"It can't be that bad." We continued on in silence. "Look, the first star," Chris said after a while. We looked upwards and he put his arm around me. "Make a wish," he whispered. He sounded so sincere, his pure eyes glistening. I hesitated for a moment before closing my eyes and making a wish. It was a foolish wish, and I should have known better.

"I wish for a way out of my horrible life, no more maid work, no being married off. I wish for a knight in shining armor, a prince to rescue me," I whispered silently.

Chris moved closer to me and gave me the slightest kiss. "Goodnight," he said his mouth still near my lips. We were before the gate to my manor. I glared at him, shocked. "Please forgive me for stealing a kiss maiden, but I am a thief," he said laughing. Chris backed away hurriedly and bowed before swiftly running off. If I had opened my eyes I would have seen my prince right in front of me.

A.N. - Hope you liked this chapter. What do you think of Chris Hood? Lol I was proud of myself when i thought of that. Anyway please review, good or bad comments. Tell me who you'd like to see more of, Lily, Ugly-Stepsisters, Sir Lawrence, who ever. Thanks for reading ~IrisLily~