Before I begin this, I would like to announce two things. First, I have made a facebook account entirely dedicated to my writing where I keep updates on how much I've written of a chapter, along with previews for upcoming chapters, and I always post a new link to the new chapter or story. If you want to friend me on facebook go to my profile for the link, or also you can type in Paige Earthfae into Facebook.

Second announcement, I have a new original on my fictionpress account. It is Earthfae same as on and it is a dark romance/Sci-Fi story, called Black Moons and White Suns. I will warn you it is not a fluffy romance and if you don't like dark themes in your romances, I don't suggest you read it. But if you sometimes (or often) like a bit of bittersweet chocolate then take a bite of it.

Gabrielle tried to avoid talking to the prince, but when a royal wants to talk to you and you are their subject, you have little choice, but to listen, or create a minor scandal. If it got out she was rude, or cold to the prince in anyway Isodara would likely punish her. However, if it got back to Isodara that she was too friendly with the prince, that would also likely come back on her. Also, the things that Rosella must have been writing to her mother...oh she didn't want to think about that. She was so lost in her thoughts she almost didn't notice Adrian handing her a plate with her share of the boar. She took it and thanked him in a small voice.

Adrian had taken a rather modest piece of the boar, even though being the prince would have entitled him to a richer share, he sat next to her, as he ate. The Adrian the prince on her left and Seth the musician on her right. She was caught between a tiger and a puppy, she felt that.

"You aren't eating." Came Adrian's voice, snapping her out of her thoughts. She turned her head to the white haired prince and gave a weak smile.

"Oh, I was just lost in my thoughts, forgive me, your highness." She said, as she stuck her fork into the boar and pried a piece of meat off its bone, and placing it into her mouth.

"No need to apologize, I was just afraid you had lost your appetite, Lady Gabrielle." He gave her a smile, which just felt mocking to her. He knew very well, his appearance and finding out her secret was the cause of her silence. She chewed, as she looked out on the crowd of soldiers and hunters, and spotted Kianda talking to a group of man who had the same dark skin as hers. Gabrielle could slightly overhear them talking and they were talking in a language she couldn't understand. It would be rude of her to interrupt them. She swallowed.

"Lady Gabrielle," Began the prince again, in his usual smooth, but masculine voice. She imagined his voice only added to his charm of being the prince amongst most of the ladies, noble and peasant alike, and Gabrielle admitted she was not immune to his voice. She wanted to be that special woman who was immune to the charms of a prince, but at last she was not. He was truly the prince of war, handsome, charismatic and the air of mystery about him. However, he didn't have to know that. She turned to the prince.

"Yes, your highness?" She said, in a neutral tone.

"What made you pick up the staff?" His question was innocent, for him, at least. However, it stumped her. What did make her pick up the staff and learn the arts of fighting? She had never dreamed of being a warrior maiden, even as a child when she read the myths and tales of them, and she was a rather imaginative child. She was not a tomboy by any means, and she didn't envy the male gender role, or have any desire to be treated as a man in anyway. She was happy and satisfied with being feminine and a girl. So why was she here now; in men's clothes, sweat from her training, and heating a roasted boar that was fresh from the hunt. She must have taken too long to respond, because Adrian asked her

"Something wrong, Lady Gabrielle?" This took her back out of her mind, and she shook her head.

"No, your highness...it's just I can't think of an answer to your question. I really don't know why I asked Kianda to teach me." She looked down, feeling fairly embarrassed. She had done something that was scandalize by most court standards, yet she couldn't answer to why she had done it. She took a shy glance at the prince after his confession and his pale blue eyes gave away a look that told her he was complementing.

"Mmmm..." He finally broke the silence with a sound, "So you say you don't know?" He looked at her, but his expression was not accusing, but thoughtful and the blonde nodded in response.

"Well now..." He trailed off for a moment, "May I offer my theory?" Gabrielle paused, before nodding, not sure if this would be good, or bad. Her heart was beating fast. "Most would suspect that a woman who wanted to fight had a degree of boyishness about her, or a desire to be treated differently from a lady. Usually, they would be right, but I know very well that is not the case with you. Gabrielle, you are a very feminine woman and femininity is actually a rare trait in women." He said with a grin, and Gabrielle looked up with surprise.

"But those ladies in court they are very fine, with their grace and manners. How can you call anyone of them masculine?" She said with disbelief. She saw beautiful and fine ladies everyday in the court. With their hair done without a hair sticking out, graceful walks, and lovely gowns and jewels. How could he say they weren't feminine? The prince just shook his head.

"If you dress a hog in silks, jewels, and face paint would that make is lovely or feminine?" He asked,

"No...but-" Before she could continue he cut her off.

"Think of those ladies in court and those you heard about in those precious books of yours. Do those hogs in silk resemble or act like anything in those books."

Gabrielle opened her mouth again, and then closed it. The blue eyed girl turned her gaze away from him. He did have a point...though she would not admit it to him. The noble girls of court could put on the graces of great ladies, and even look the part, but that did not hide the cruelty she often saw in them; jealousy, gossip, and just mean-spinelessness. It was not a wonder that she never spent time mingling about the court since that meeting with Lady Annetta.

"You see?" He had a look of triumph in his eyes, which Gabrielle wished to take away, but couldn't. "Well back to you and your desire to fight. You have no desire for men's rules...so my guess is that you simply asked Kianda to teach you on one of the many interesting traits of yours."

"And what trait would that be, your highness?" She both dreaded what he thought, but also had a burning desire to know. Curse this already cursed man and the mixed emotions he could draw out of her.

"Curiosity." He said, simply. This caused the blonde to give a slow blink, this had not what she had been expecting. She looked up at him, her expression clearly bewildered and asking him to explain further and it was clear he was happy to oblique her.

"Curiosity is one of my favorite traits in a woman. I know I did not speak of your gender in the best light, but I won't admit my gender is any better. Many men in court are shallow and only care for a girl's beauty, her father's wealth, her obedience...and less polite factors." He gave a sly grin at the last one which caused a light pink blush on her cheeks, "However, a curious woman has a certain thrill to me, a desire to see the unknown...to explore and understand the world. Curiosity is not limited to femininity or masculinity, or even people. As the saying about cats go." Her cheeks went back to normal and the girl now had a thoughtful expression on her face.

"You think I am curious?" The prince simply nodded, "Why, what have I done that is curious?"

"Well, let's see your love of reading. Good reading habits are a tell-tell give away of a curious person, your willingness to face a bloodthirsty prince to save a traitor, and your sneaking into a ball despite the dangers from your family. I say you are more feline than girl." Gabrielle was silent as she thought this over. Was she curious? She wasn't truly sure. She looked back at the prince.

"I am not going to agree with you, or disagree with you. When it comes down to it; it is impossible for a person to be completely objective to themselves and know their subtle personality traits well. So I can't speak for because; because I am myself." Adrian had a bit of an amused look on his face at that and went back to eating, Gabrielle decided to go back to eating as well. To her surprise Adrian didn't speak to her until again until the soldiers had finished eating and started to pack. He got up and offered her his hand, and she took it, politely thanking him.

"The day is still rather young, only an hour, or so after lunch." the prince commented casually on the surface, but Gabrielle knew better than to think it was a throwaway comment.

"So it is, your highness." She replied, in an even, but still respectful voice.

"Lady Gabrielle, I want to invite you to spend a few hours at the lake with me." He smiled and held out his hand in invitation. The girl froze, knowing she would cause gossip that would reach her stepfamily's ears if she went with him, but also knowing it was one of the unspoken rules of the court that you could not refuse a request from royalty without a good reason. Unfortunately, my stepmother and stepsister would skin me alive would not count as an excuse here. So instead she looked into those pale blue eyes that both scared and mystified her and nodded.

"Yes, your highness I would be honored." She humbly bowed by her head. The prince quickly, but gently took her hand and brought it to his lips and kissed it.

"No, Songstress, the honor and pleasure is all mine." He grinned at her, and Gabrielle looked away before he had the chance to see a blush. Gabrielle went and said good-bye to Kianda. Adrian then turned to Kianda and the other soldiers and told them that he was taking her to the lake and to loan them an extra horse.

"If it's not too much trouble." Gabrielle quickly added, not wanting to inconvenience any of the soldiers. The prince turned back to her and only grinned.

"My lady, would you like to ride with me on the front of my horse?" Gabrielle must have been made red instantly by his comment because the prince gave an expression like he was holding back a laugh. She averted her gaze and Adrian turned back, and secured them a second horse which a soldier had graciously loaned her. She asked Hestia to bless that soldier's bread, as she went into the stirrup of the horse. Then she realized, she was in men's clothes! Well, she already knew that, but it would look silly for her to ride side-saddle, even though she hadn't rode in years. If she rode the horse like a man would the prince comment on it? If she rode it like a woman would he laugh. When the soldiers were gone, he turned to her and said.

"No, need to do it side-saddle. Just get on it practically." She felt relief at his approval and saddled the horse with it between her legs. She had never rode a horse like this...and it had been years since she rode a horse at all. She tried to remember the last time she had ridden and was struck by the sudden realization that it had been with Aaron to save his brother's life...from the prince. That suddenly brought her back to the reality of what the prince was. He was not called the 'prince of war' for no reason and not to mention his curse...

"Something wrong?" The prince's voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Oh, nothing, your highness." She took a breathe and lead the horse forward and the prince lead the way. It was a quiet ride, but Gabrielle welcomed the silence, after what had transpired between them earlier, and was getting use to the bumpy feel of riding a horse again, and in a new position as well. She looked around at the scenery of the forest, she loved being outdoors in truth, but she hadn't done much of it since her father's death, except to do errands and such. Finally, the reached the lake and both the prince and lady dismounted and tied up her horse. Gabrielle made sure to pet and thank her mare before going off and joining the prince. A short distance away was a small cabin, Adrian turned to her and told her to wait. She did so without compliant and she looked out into the lake and noticed many kinds of water fowl from humble ducks to glorious swans. Oh, it had been so long since she had seen a swan.

She soon heard footsteps approach and turned to see the returning prince with a bow and arrow in hand. Gabrielle looked curiously at the weapons and asked him,

"Are you planning on hunting?"

"Not exactly, my curious feline. Just follow me and see." He offered her his free hand and she took it, couldn't refuse a royal request, even a non-verbal one, after all and together they walked hand in hand. She mused to herself to anyone looking on it might have seen romantic, a prince and a noble girl holding hands and walking around a lake of swans, but that viewer would have to be ignorant not to know of the prince's curse and reputation. They went on a small trail, a short distance from the lake. Where she could see a slightly faded arrow target painted on a trunk of the tree with a few battle scars on its bark. The girl turned her gaze to the prince.

"Are you going to target practice?" Did he bring her out here to watch him? Perhaps to show-off? Though she had no doubt that he was a talented in most war arts, including arrows.

"No, Songstress, but you are." Her eyes widened.

"You...want me to shoot?" She said, bewildered. He just gave a smirk and nodded, and handed her the arrow, which for reasons she couldn't explain, she took.

"Wait-wait-" She protested, "Just because I am training in staff fighting, doesn't mean I know everything about weapons."

"Of course, I don't believe you know how to use ever weapon, but I at least want to teach you something. Think of it as a way of me trying to be helpful to you."

"Helpful?" She said in a voice that said she didn't believe he could be.

"Why yes, and who knows it could come in handy one day." That comment of her made her worry, did he think she would have to know how to shoot a bow and arrow for some kind of reason? He did mention her being something in this game. He seemed to read her thoughts.

"Now, I don't want you too, but I believe in always being prepared. I have taken precautions to make sure you never need to, but at the same time, I don't believe you should be helpless and I don't think you want to be helpless." She looked up at him, her shoulders relaxing. She didn't want to be helpless, she had been helpless for so long against her stepmother, but would an arrow help her against her stepmother, or perhaps more importantly what scheme Adrian seemed to be putting her in.

"Now, let's begin. Now watch my stance." He began, and she wordlessly followed his instructions. As she did everything he said and got in the right stance, pulling the string of a bow required more strength than she thought, and adding it with balancing the arrow on it made her arms shake. However, she also knew if she hadn't been strengthening her arms with staff drills she likely couldn't have pulled it in all the way, anyway. She finally managed to release a very unsteady arrow that missed the tree completely and went off into the bushes. She felt embarrassed at this, however Adrian's words were simple at her failure.

"Do it again." She wordlessly followed, and aimed several more arrows and none hitting the tree. She gave a sigh of defeat.

"I am sorry your majesty, I just can't do it." She slumped her shoulders and sighed. She didn't hear the prince respond, but she heard the footsteps behind her. She felt hands hold her arms and raise them back into shooting position. She glanced behind her to see Adrian, and his hands positioning her arms, and using his strength to pull back her arm. Had she ever been this close to Adrian before, she thought and turned her head to the front to hide any possible blushes.

The girl felt the prince's hand on her elbow, straightening the shaking, and adding his strength to hers. Slowly the arrowed steadied.

"Do it again." He repeated, she automatically did so, and released the arrow which for the first time went flying into the trunk at the bottom of the painted target rings. She gasped at this, but felt pride.

"Now again." She heard him say again, and she loaded her arrows again and he guided her hands again, and they did it again, and again until her hands became much more steadier, as time went on. She smiled in pride at him, and he smiled back. She went to recover what arrows she could, before they headed back to the lake. Gabrielle gazed at a beautiful rose bush as they walked past and stopped there. There was silence as they walked, but a peaceful one. This time she broke it.

"Thank you...your highness, for helping me."

"You can just call me Adrian here." He told her, and she gave him a curious look, and watched as the prince picked a large petal of a rose, and rubbed it gently between his forefinger and thumb.

"Are you sure...isn't that too much? You are still a prince and I am a lower noble woman." He looked at her, petal still in hand. Then suddenly, he put the petal to his lips and then removed it and swiftly, with both gentleness and firmness pressed it on her lips, before removing the petal ad letting it fall to the ground.

"Yes, I am quiet sure" He responded,

"Adrian..." She started, "What was that with the petal?" She asked in confusion at his actions.

"You are a smart girl, I am sure you can figure it out if you think about it enough." He then turned away and started walking forward again. Gabrielle stood in confusion for a moment, before following behind him. What was that with the petal? She touched her lips where the petal had kissed them...kiss...what was it! He had kissed the petal before placing it over his lips, it was an indirect kiss. The girl was startled at the revelation, but wondered why he didn't just take a kiss, if he wanted it, he was the prince of war, or maybe he was just teasing her. Either way, she didn't like the game at all.

They finally came to the cabin and the prince put the bows and arrows back inside of it.

"Are you ready to go?" He asked her, and she gave a slight nod. They went back to their horses, and Gabrielle mentioned the cabin where she left her women's clothes at, and Adrian informed her that he knew where it was and they would stop by. When they reached the cabin she dismounted from her horse, and went inside to change while Adrian waited for her. Knowing that she had the prince waiting she changed quickly and brushed her hair down with her fingers before coming back out. She mounted her horse again, this time side-saddle. Gabrielle know missed her men's clothing and was reminded at how uncomfortable side-saddle was, but she didn't voice her complaints at all, and they arrived back at the palace stables.

Prince Adrian dismounted from his horse first, and helped her down, and she thanked him, before saying her goodbyes. She quickly went to her room in the royal chambers. Gabrielle thought back on her day, there was sure to be gossip about her know and her warrior training, and her going off with the prince, thanks to the soldiers. Oh well, let her be the object of gossip the only people she really interacted with at the palace was Estelle, Kianda, and the prince.

The next morning her breakfast came with a surprise, a present and letter, it didn't say who it was from, but she had a very good guess at the identity of the mysterious sender. She opened the envelope and found a royal pass to the stables that gave her the ability to request a horse from the stables anytime she wanted. This further sealed the identity of the sender in the blonde girl's mind. She finally opened the package and gave a gasp at what she saw a white bow that was obviously finally crafted and many arrows, lined with white feathers, on closer examination she realized they were swan feathers. There was also another royal pass for the capitol arrow maker for her to be able to receive arrows whenever she had need of them, free of charge.

Gabrielle wondered if she should send such find gifts back, but she really didn't want too and reasoned that the "mysterious" sender wouldn't want them back. The arrows would become part of her routine. One days she didn't practice staff with Kianda, she would take the royal pass, get a horse, and go to the lake where she would practice arrow shooting.

Gabrielle didn't spend much time in the palace, and she was glad for it since it got her away from the gossip and looks that surrounded her wherever she went, but she made sure to have meals with Estelle during the week.

"I still can't believe you are really learning the arts of fighting." Commented her stepsister as she took her tea. She had confessed the staff lessons to her sister, but not the arrows and prince. Gabrielle was still not ready for that step.

"Well...I really can't believe it myself." She admitted.

"Just keep up the good work." Her sister encouraged with a grin. It was nice to have lunch with Estelle, especially when Rosella was now avoiding them. Not that she could complain, however this afternoon. The door opened and Rosella came in with a letter in hand, she was grinning like a mad woman and Gabrielle's stomach started doing flips. There was no way Rosella could be this happy, without harm having come to her.

"I got a letter...from mother and she is coming." The curly blonde looked straight at Gabrielle, "And she is very eager to talk to you, whore." She said the last word low with so much venom and the color drained out of Gabrielle's face. Had she really been called that.

"Not my words." Explained Gabrielle, "But mother's." She grinned, and Estelle looked like she was about to say something, but Rosella turned and left.

"I am so sorry, Gabrielle, I can't believe..." Estelle tried to comfort her, but Gabrielle was lost in her mind. These last few weeks had been a dream, and Isodara's coming was like a nightmare returning. She excused herself and went back to her suite, where she stayed in all day, missing lunch.