Aisling

I missed Flora so much. She'd only been gone for half the day and already I couldn't figure out how I was going to survive without her here.

Ever since Flora was announced as one of the selected the house had been a flurry of activity and Malvolia had all but forgotten me. I willingly hid in the shadows as people came to prep Flora for the palace and the selection. I barely got to see her all week. I never even got to say goodbye.

Two days before she left Malvolia locked me away after one of the handlers recognised me. Malvolia must have explained it away somehow but I was only allowed out of the cellar after Flora and everyone else had left.

I was outside enjoying the sun high up in the treetops, as far away from Malvolia as possible. I was so hungry I thought I might pass out but I didn't dare try to get anything from the kitchen because I knew Malvolia had been in there all day drinking tea and bragging to her staff about her beautiful daughter.

Everyone knew it was a mistake, they knew Flora never attended the ball but they remained silent, afraid of Malvolia's wrath. I was too, but that wasn't the reason why I never tried to reveal myself. Flora deserved this, she deserved to go to the palace and enjoy herself for once in her life. She deserved to be carefree even if the prince never picked her and she came home in a week. She deserved the chance to live a little more than she did here.

I didn't deserve that chance and I didn't want it. My dreams had always been elsewhere. Far away from Illea and far away from the prince.

He popped into my mind again and I felt my heart warm involuntarily. I desperately tried to push his image from my mind, trying to replace it with images of the streets of Italy that were plastered above the wall beside my bed.

Flora and I had cut them out of her magazines whenever they had articles on Italy. Queen Nicoletta was stunning but it was sad to hear that she would never be able to have children. She looked so loving and motherly it seemed a tragedy that she would never be able to have a child. I often dreamed that she was my mother and the king my father. It seemed unfair that they couldn't have a child and my own father who did have one had rejected me so easily.

I was quickly pulled from my daydream by the sound of a car approaching. From my perch in my favourite treetop I saw it was a sleek, black limousine rolling slowly up the gravel driveway. Quickly, I jumped down from my tree so I could greet whomever it was inside.

I wondered if Malvolia knew she was having visitors and by the looks of it they were important ones too because they had two other cars with them that looked like security. One drove in front and one behind.

I raced across the grass and waited patiently in the shadows for the car to pull up, not truly interested in who might be inside.

Adam

'We're here,' Flora announced ominously from beside me. Thankfully, when we left the palace she had seemed a little better and after sleeping the entire flight here she seemed to be a little pinker in the cheeks and looked less like a corpse. Looking around her I saw the giant Manor roll into view. It was two stories tall and magnificently grand. It was obviously from a time long before today. Maybe even before Illea was born.

It had tall gleaming windows that sparkled in the dying sunlight of the afternoon. The boxes in front of the windows were bursting with all kinds of flowers in amazing colours, giving the house a sort of life to it.

Finally, we came to a stop at the front of the entrance and I felt my heart leap as if sensing her nearby. This was it, I was finally going to see her again. From my seat beside Flora I watched as a small maid hurried from the shadows and opened the door for Flora to get out. Flora gingerly got out smiling from ear to ear obviously recognising the maid. That was when I saw a flash of green eyes and golden hair that didn't quite hold its shine under all the dirt. My heart dropped in my chest and I felt all the air rush from my lungs. Suddenly, her musical voice drifted into the car and I was stunned into paralysis.

'Flora, what are you doing here?' She asked in alarm. 'Are you unwell?'

'No. no, I'm fine. I brought someone with me though.' Flora laughed a little mischievously and I took that as my cue to get out of the car.

'Aisling, I believe you have met the Prince.' Flora announced conspiratorially as I got out to stand beside her. Looking down at Aisling, I watched as her mesmerising green eyes went wide in horror and she stumbled back from her friend, releasing her from her hold. I watched, a little startled by her reaction, as her mouth opened and closed, frantically trying to form words but it seemed her mind wasn't cooperating.

I mistakenly reached for her, taking a step in her direction and stared helplessly as she spun on her heel and darted away from me.

She ran across the garden until she was out of my sight. I felt a pain slice through my heart looking at where she had disappeared to. Why did she run from me?

'Aisling?' I shouted after her but she was long gone and I dropped my shoulders in defeat.

'Well done Prince Adam.' Flora beamed from beside me and I looked at her wondering if her illness affected her mind.

'What do you mean? She ran from me.' I said, looking hopelessly after her, hoping to get just one more look at her.

'Yes, but I'm going to help you.' She announced still smiling at me.

'Why? I think she hates me.' I mumbled.

'No, she doesn't she's just afraid. I'll help you Adam. I know you care for her. I can see it in your eyes. You don't care that she is what she is.' She answered happily.

'She's perfect,' I replied fiercely, annoyed that anyone would see her any differently.

'I know, but most people don't see in her what you and I do.' Flora admitted sadly.

'So, how do I get her to come with me?' I asked, trying to calm my anger.

'Be warned young prince, she is not going to be easy to convince.'

'I don't care. I'm not leaving here without her.'

'Good,' she said firmly.

Suddenly, we were interrupted by a shrill voice coming from the front steps of the house and I cringed as it pierced my ears.

'Flora Avery, what are you doing home so soon?' She screeched hurrying down the front steps of the gleaming white house. Reluctantly, I turned to face her and she immediately recognised me and dropped into a low curtsey.

'Your highness, what do we owe the honour?' She purred and I stepped back instinctively but Flora quickly shot out a fragile hand and somehow wrapped it around my own, keeping me in place. I hadn't noticed before but the guards had gotten out of their own cars and were standing at attention watching the exchange closely. My father made me bring fifteen, which I thought was a little excessive but I wasn't going to argue him on it. He had let me come, which is more than I thought he would.

'I was unwell and the prince agreed to escort me back.' Flora explained, hiding the truth of the true nature of our visit. I was more than willing to play along if she thought this would keep Aisling safe long enough for me to get her to agree to come with me. I saw a look of displeasure cross the woman's face before she turned her fake smile back to me.

'I'm very grateful your highness, that you would bring my precious Flora home safely. I'm Malvolia Avery, her mother.' She clarified. 'It's a pleasure to welcome you to our home.'

'Thank you for having me,' I replied as politely as I could manage. It was times like these I wished I had mastered my father's impassive face. That way I would have been able to hide my disgust for this woman better.

'Will you be staying?' She asked hopefully.

'Only one or two nights,' hopefully one, depending on how hard it was to convince Aisling to leave. 'I'm afraid I have thirty-four girls waiting for me to return.'

'Yes, I suppose they are,' she answered distractedly looking for something.

'I'm afraid our maid seems to have gone missing. Worthless girl, never where she should be,' she hissed giving up her search as my body bristled beside Flora. She quickly squeezed my hand and gave me a slight shake of her head warningly before returning her attention to her mother.

'I'll send someone out for your things once we're inside,' she smiled widely.

'That's perfectly all right. I can manage.' I announced moving to the trunk of the car.

'Oh no, we can't have that. The crown prince of Illea carrying his own bags, what would people say? No, I will send someone.' She waved her hand dismissively before turning back into the house and leading us inside. I hesitated for a moment but I saw Flora shake her head almost imperceptibly again and I sighed returning to her side.

I took her arm in mine and helped her up the stairs, casting one more glance across the garden, searching for Aisling, but she was nowhere in sight.

'Remember Adam,' Flora whispered. 'You need to pretend that you don't know her. My mother's cunning, she will not want this to happen and she will do anything to ensure that it doesn't.'

'I just want to get her out of here,' I mumbled as one of the staff held the door open for us to enter.

'So do I,' Flora whispered. 'So do I.'

Aisling

What was he doing here? I knew Flora was up to something. The last time I saw her, before Malvolia locked me away, she had that scheming look on her face. I knew she had something planned but I never thought she would bring the prince back with her. He was here and he recognised me. I was in so much trouble. Malvolia was sure to kill me this time. She would never allow me to leave with him.

I cringed just thinking about the torment she would inflict on me.

The wind rustled soothingly through the leaves of the tree I had hidden myself in after my encounter with the prince. It was my favourite elm tree in the entire garden and it had always been my sanctuary. I remembered when Flora found me up here one day when I was finally big enough to reach the higher branches and see across the rooftops and trees around us. She had come out to walk around the garden and had looked up at me curiously, then asked,

'What are you doing all the way up there?'

'Catching dreams,' I had replied confidently, looking as far as I could and wishing I could see so much more. I often found myself lost in a daydream where I had the wings of a bird and I could fly freely from tree to tree. I would dream of flying until the manor was out of sight, my past only a distant memory and it couldn't hurt me anymore.

'What are your dreams Ash?' She had asked me with the name I had introduced myself to her, all those years ago. I often struggled when I was younger to pronounce my full name so for years that was the only name she knew me as.

When I told her the first time she asked me whether I lived in the chimney. We proceeded to inspect the chimney to see if anyone could live up there until we were both covered from head to toe in soot and lay on her bedroom floor giggling uncontrollably at our funny appearances. That was until her mother found us hours later. That was the first time I learned how harsh Malvolia could be. It was the oldest scar on my arm and the only one I could understand deserving.

I never did tell Flora my dreams that day up in the tree but I did years later when we planned our great escape.

Now I sat in that same tree considering young Flora's question again. However, this time I was more certain of my dreams. I was almost there, soon I would be flying to my freedom. I didn't have time for a prince and his ridiculous competition.

I'm not sure how long I sat up there among the treetops, so when I heard footsteps against the soft grass I assumed it was Flora coming to find me.

'Flora, you shouldn't have brought him.' I scolded, swinging my legs underneath me, not bothering to look down and confirm her identity.

'I'm not Flora,' a deep male voice announced and I looked down in alarm recognising it immediately. The Prince of Illea stood beneath me looking up curiously into the treetops trying to find me in the darkness that had consumed the sky.

'Oh, sorry your highness,' I muttered, shifting uncomfortably.

'What are you doing all the way up there?' He asked a little amused and I smiled at the similarity of the question.

'Catching dreams,' I murmured thinking back to Flora.

'Sorry, I didn't quite hear that.' He said shifting uncomfortably underneath me.

'Nothing, I just like it up here, it's freeing.' I replied spreading my arms wide, letting the wind rush through my imaginary wings.

'Can you come down please? You're making me nervous.' He requested anxiously and I glanced down to see a distressed look consuming his beautiful face.

'Why, are you afraid of heights?' I teased, feeling surprisingly comfortable around him. I got to my feet and balanced perfectly on my branch looking out further past the treetops, watching the rising moon light the night sky.

'Aisling, please join me, here, on the ground before I climb up there and get you myself.' He demanded.

'That would be a sight,' I muttered, doubting very much he would join me among the rustling leaves.

'Aisling,' he warned and I looked down at him appraisingly. What was he still doing here?

'Why are you here? How do you know my real name?' I asked dubiously.

'I've had a long talk with Flora, the real Flora.' He emphasised as I sunk back down on the branch, leaning against the trunk of the tree, watching as the stars started to blink into the night sky.

'And what have you found out?' I asked apprehensively, afraid he was here to punish me for lying or worse he was going to punish Flora. Suddenly, the blood rushed from my body and I began to sway slightly on my branch.

'Aisling, what's wrong?' He asked, concern lacing his words but I was too frightened to truly register it.

'You…you aren't going to punish Flora are you?' I stuttered, looking down at him with wide eyes.

'No, of course not. Is that why you think I am here?' He questioned, but I remained silent.

'Aisling,' he sighed. 'I'm here to take you back with me. It's you who should be in the selection, not Flora. It is you I danced with that night.'

'What?' I blurted, too shocked by the prince's words to answer any other way.

'I want you to come back to the palace with me.' He tried to clarify, a nervousness passing over him.

'Why?' I demanded bluntly, my mind still not willing, or able to process his words.

'Because, I chose you that night Aisling, not Flora.' He smiled.

'But I'm a maid.' I replied dumbly, still confused by his words.

'So, that doesn't define who you are. You are Aisling Zander and you are currently tormenting my heart. So will you join me at the palace so I can get to know you better?' He asked helpfully but I remained silent for a long time, completely paralysed by his proposal.

'Aisling?' He promoted anxiously, waiting bellow for my reply.

'No,' I finally answered, returning to my senses. I already had my dreams and never had they included a prince. I wasn't about to change them now.

Adam

'No?' I repeated disbelievingly. I knew Flora said she was going to be hard to convince but I didn't believe her words before now.

'No,' she confirmed, remaining up in that ridiculous tree, glaring down at me defiantly.

'Will you just come down here so we can talk, this is absurd.' I demanded, shaking my head, trying to make sense of any of this.

'No, I'm finished talking to you. I will not go to the palace. I refuse to be part of this competition. I don't want any of that.' She answered stubbornly.

'What do you want?' I demanded, feeling my frustration show in my words. Why couldn't she just come down here?

'I want to be free. I want to fly to Italy and be as far from Illea as I can be. I never want to return.' Quickly, she slapped a hand over her mouth and I watched as her eyes went wide in horror, as if she just remembered who she was talking to.

'I know about your plans Aisling,' I sighed. 'I'm asking you to change them.'

'No,' she answered firmly, looking away from me and instead casting her eyes to the night sky again. 'I have been dreaming about leaving for a long time. No prince is going to stop me from finally doing it.'

'You're right I am the prince and I want you in my selection,' I announced conceitedly, cringing a little with every word. Hating that I needed to resort to my public façade of arrogance, but I was going to get Aisling to the palace anyway possible. Then, once she was there I would do damage control. I just needed to get her there first.

'How dare you?' She spat, outraged. 'I never entered your competition, you can't force me to go with you.'

'No, you didn't enter but you did attend my ball, so by all accounts you are eligible to be selected,' I shot back.

'I don't want to be selected,' she replied angrily, flinging her arms wide in frustration. I shifted uncomfortably underneath her for the hundredth time, afraid she might fall.

'Please come down,' I pleaded. 'I promise, for the moment I won't force you to do anything you don't want to.' She eyed me warily before finally beginning her decent from the tree. I watched in awe as she leapt from branch to branch gracefully until finally, she landed lightly beside me. I quickly found myself fighting the urge to reach out and touch her, just to confirm she was real and not just another dream. I don't know how long I stared at her before her defensive voice finally broke through my thoughts.

'What?' She demanded, her body almost humming with her anger for me.

'That was impressive,' I admitted in a daze, she was even more breathtaking when she was angry at me.

'Thanks,' she muttered, shifting uneasily from foot to foot. That was when I realise how small she was, I didn't remember her being this small at the ball. Her head barely reached the centre of my chest and she was so thin I could see her ribs protruding from her tattered maids uniform. She had a ratty and stained apron tied tightly around her minuscule waist and I was afraid that one gust of wind would take her away from me.

'Stop looking at me like that,' she accused, crossing her boney arms over her chest defensively.

'Sorry,' I muttered, looking away uncertainly.

'So will you leave me alone now?' She demanded, trying to be imposing by straightening to her full height but it just made my heart hurt. She was so small. What had happened to her?

'No,' I answered firmly. 'I'm taking you back with me tomorrow. We leave early in the morning.' I wasn't going to let her argue and there would be no need for Flora's help to convince her. She was coming with me whether she liked it or not. There was no way I could leave her here.

I abruptly turned my back on her, leaving her standing there opened mouthed. I walked purposely towards the house, comforted by the knowledge she was leaving here with me tomorrow morning. As fast as I could get us out the door and on the plane.

I passed Malvolia on the way in and felt a cool chill wash over me but it didn't matter now Aisling was leaving with me, she couldn't hurt her anymore.

I gave her a tight nod as I passed but she didn't seem to notice me, her attention on something over my shoulder in the back garden. I was too tired to care what she was focusing on and instead just continued to my room, eager for tomorrow to come.

Tomorrow, she would be with me and heading back to the safety of the palace. Tomorrow, I could have Aisling by my side and I could begin making eliminations from this ridiculous competition. As far as I was concerned the girl in the tree was the only one I would ever consider becoming my wife.

Aisling

That arrogant, self-important, pig-faced-

'Aisling,' my internal tirade was interrupted by Malvolia's sickly-sweet voice floating across the garden. Fear immediately wrapped my body tightly, my limbs going numb from the constriction. She had to know he was attempting to take me away. It was too late to run, I knew she could already see me from the back steps of the kitchen.

Slowly, I dragged my uncooperative body towards her, fear filling my heart with ice, every step I took.

'Yes, madam,' I answered quietly, never raising my eyes from the four stone steps that stood as the only barrier between the two of us.

'I hear the prince plans to take you back to the palace in the morning?' She stated dangerously and my heart beat uncontrollably in my chest, knowing there was no point denying her accusations.

'Yes, madam,' I repeated, even quieter than before.

'He must be a fool to go to all this trouble for a worthless maid. How did you do it?' She demanded the control slipping from her voice.

'I'm not going,' I answered as if it might help, but I knew it wouldn't. She loomed over me menacingly and I felt my skin begin to crawl and my body tense.

'You selfish girl. It should have been Flora. She deserves this not you.' She hissed, moving threateningly down one of the stone steps, but my feet were stuck to the ground, paralysed in fear.

'I don't want it,' I pleaded, but it didn't stop her from taking another step. My heart was beating so fast and my breaths were short and painful as if I'd run a great distance yet I couldn't seem to get my feet to move. She took another terrifying step down the stairs until there was only one that remained.

'I should never have let him keep you. I should have cast you out on the street. Anyone else would have. Yet here you are, all these years later, betraying my generosity, you ungrateful child.'

'Please,' I whispered, hating how she could make me feel so small, weak and powerless. Why couldn't I be stronger? Why wasn't I ever strong enough to just run, to put up a fight?

'You don't deserve this. You don't deserve any kind of happiness. My beautiful Flora should be with the prince, but instead he throws her aside for a filthy, motherless maid.' Her words settled over me heavily, blanketing me.

They weren't lies, I knew this. I had known this all along. I was everything she said I was. Every last hateful word was a reminder of who I was, what I was. Worthless, motherless and now I was going to take Flora's happiness away. I didn't deserve any more than what I had. I was nothing but a burden. My own father didn't want me, why would a prince?

'You wretched eight,' she growled and all of a sudden I felt a searing pain across the side of my cheek as I crumpled to the ground with the force of her blow. I didn't even have time to stand or catch my breath before she landed a harsh blow to my side. I cried out, clutching for my ribs, gasping for air that never seemed to fill my lungs.

Suddenly, she pulled me up by my hair and I felt my scalp sting with the force and I knew she had taken out a lot of it. She dragged me viciously up the stone steps not even allowing me to get to my feet. I felt the scraps and cuts sting my skin as the harsh stone tore at it, until there was none left.

Once we were inside I knew where we were going and I desperately tried to pull myself from her hold. She held me firmly, dragging me toward the fire. My eyes immediately landed on the brand and I doubled my efforts to get away from her, my body flooding with adrenaline for once choosing to fight rather than admit defeat.

I couldn't go through this again, I just couldn't. In desperation I twisted my head sharply and somehow sunk my teeth into her wrist causing her to recoil from me, letting out a startled yelp. She cradled her hand to her chest and looked at me wide-eyed before the anger returned, but I wasn't going to wait around to see how dark her eyes could get.

Quickly, I spun and ran for the door back out to the gardens. I didn't have a plan, my only thought was to get as far away from her as possible. However, despite my body humming with adrenaline I could still barely manage more than a brisk hobble away from her. I clutched my ribs trying to quell some of the pain and increase my pace but my knees were just as uncooperative, as blood fell down my legs and arms.

I was almost to the door when something slammed into the back of my head. I felt the world tilt underneath me and I felt as if I was falling in slow motion. Even worse, my vision was going dark as the stairs came closer. I lost all sense of the world before my head even hit the ground. The last thought that ran through my mind was that she had finally done it, this was the time I wasn't going to survive.

As promised, the next chapter. I hope you enjoyed it even though I know the ending was sad. Thank you again for all your support, until next time my wonderful readers :)