Adam

Where was she? I had searched everywhere. I even broke the rules and burst into the women's room, risking my mother's wrath and she didn't disappoint.

'Adam Dale Schreave,' she screeched. 'Not only did you come in here without my permission but you come in here dressed like that.' She motioned, furiously to my Aisling creation, and I heard a few of the girls giggling behind her. I didn't really care what they thought right now because I still couldn't find Aisling.

'Mom, please can you just tell me if you've seen her?' I said in a low voice, so the others didn't hear.

'She hasn't been in here, she hasn't come in here since she arrived.'

'Oh, then where could she be?'

'She wasn't in her room?' Mom asked in concern.

'No,' I answered exasperatedly.

'What did you do to the poor girl?' My mother asked, and I could hear the amusement in her tone.

'Nothing,' I replied quickly and my mother raised her eyebrow at me accusingly.

'I-I…I tried to…kiss her,' I mumbled incoherently.

'What?' She laughed, stepping closer to me so she could hear me better.

'I tried to kiss her,' I breathed, but her puzzled expression told me she still didn't understand.

'Let's go outside and discuss this,' mom laughed, looking over at the other girls, who were discretely trying to hear what we were saying.

'Fine,' I sighed, not particularly excited about having this conversation with my mother.

'So, what is this all about?' Mom questioned, shutting the door to the women's room behind us.

'Well, Aisling completely destroyed my room,' I started.

'Are you sure it wasn't Marinda? I heard she released some canaries in your father's office.' Mom asked accusingly of her middle daughter, but I saw the amusement dancing in her eyes. That girl could get away with anything.

'No, it was Aisling. She signed my wall,' I answered remembering her messy scrawl on my bedroom wall. I think I was going to leave it there even when my room was righted again.

'Okay,' mom drew out the word and I knew my explanation wasn't rectifying her confusion over the situation.

'Look, she nearly slipped over when she was getting out of the jelly-bath and I caught her but then I tried to…' I trailed off uncertain of how to broach the subject of kissing with my mother.

'You lost me at jelly bath,' she laughed obviously enjoying my discomfort.

'I tried to kiss her, all right,' I said through clenched teeth.

'What?' She almost screeched as a massive smile spread across her face.

'Mom,' I hissed, as my cheeks started to flame. This was so embarrassing.

'Sorry,' she said lowing her voice exaggeratedly.' Continue.'

'So I tried to…you know. Then just as I was about to she pulled away from me and ran from the room. Now I can't find her anywhere,' I finished in frustration. However, my mother didn't share my emotions because she had burst out into fits of giggles beside me.

'Mom, what's so funny?' I demanded looking around in case anyone came and found out what we were discussing. However, my mother couldn't answer me because she was too busy laughing to even catch her breath.

'Mom, this is serious,' I complained as she finally started to breathe again.

'You are just like your father,' she gasped in between giggles.

'How is that an answer?'

'Did I ever tell you about my first official date with your father?' She asked wiping the tears from her eyes.

'Yes, you yelled at him, the whole country knows,' I replied impatiently.

'No, Adam, on our first date I assaulted him,' she laughed losing herself in the memory before continuing. 'We were walking around the palace gardens, alone, and I was nervous about how close he was getting to me. I wasn't ready or even in the right frame of mind for what I thought he wanted. So in defence I kneed him in the groin.' She answered shyly, looking away from me at the end.

'Mom,' I replied, aghast.

'Look, my point is maybe she wasn't ready. Princes can be very intimidating,' she smiled at me.

'I don't think Aisling is intimidated by me,' I grumbled remembering the train wreck that had become my room.

'You'd be surprised. I was,' she admitted.

'Wait, you were afraid of dad?' I asked a little shocked.

'No , it wasn't that. I didn't want to be part of his selection, in fact I didn't like him very much at all,' she laughed nostalgically.

'What? You didn't love father from the start?' I asked, stunned by my mother's admission. I had always thought they fell in love on sight. Dad had always led us to believe that.

'Oh no, in fact I thought he was an arrogant, cold and distant prince. It took him a while to win me over. It was especially hard because I was suffering from a broken heart.'

'Dad, wasn't your first love?' I asked reeling from all of my mother's revelations.

'No,' she confirmed guiltily. 'Before I came to the selection I was in love with a boy who promised me the world. The only problem was it wasn't his to give and he knew this. He wanted more for me so he, along with your very persistent grandmother convinced me to join the selection. Reluctantly, I entered and on the night before my send off he broke my heart. I came to your father that first night broken and sad. I told him I didn't think I could ever love him, but thankfully, your father being the stubborn man that he is, never gave up on me.' She smiled, her eyes distant as she recalled how she fell in love with my father.

'Mom, how does this help me?' I asked pulling her from her memories.

'Adam, you need to know that maybe not all of these girls will be as charmed by you as you think they should be.' Sometimes my mother made no sense. Why wouldn't they like me? They attended the balls, aren't they all here for the same reason.

'I don't understand. Are you telling me to send her away?' I asked, outraged.

'No, sweetheart, I'm trying to tell you the ones you need to fight the hardest for are usually worth the trouble.' She answered, patting me on the shoulder before turning back to the women's room.

'Where are you going?' I demanded, more confused than before I had this conversation with her.

'I'm going to leave you to it. You obviously have a girl to go and find.' Then she was gone. I let out a frustrated groan and leant my forehead against the wall. Sometimes, this was exactly what it felt like when I was talking to either of my two parents. They seemed to have a secret language that only the two of them knew. I may share their genes but when they were at their best you often found yourself an outsider.

Aisling

After I cleaned all the green jelly off me and got changed I made the decision that I couldn't remain in my room all day. It didn't help that I knew eventually a certain prince would come back looking for me and the others would see my absence as confirmation that he was spending all his time with me.

I left my room in hopes of finding the women's room, because my maids had told me that was the one place he couldn't go. I was planning on hiding in there, the only trouble was I had no idea where it was. This coupled with my terrible sense of direction meant I, instead ended up roaming around the palace for an hour. I thought maybe if I didn't know where I was going I might stumble upon the women's room but I was wrong. It only meant I was more lost that usual. It wasn't really surprising and at first I wasn't worried but then the time kept ticking past and I was afraid I wouldn't be able to make it back to the dining room for dinner.

'Aisling?' I startled at the sudden voice and quickly turned to face the owner before cringing and turning away again. 'Where have you been?' He chastised, as if it was my fault I couldn't remember if I had turned left or right at the end of the last corridor.

I could hear his footsteps moving rapidly towards me and I knew there was no escape now.

'I don't know,' I sighed as he came up beside me and I looked around the corridor wondering if I had walked down this one already, maybe several times.

'Are you lost?' He smiled, linking my reluctant arm with his. Luckily, he had cleaned up since I last saw him. He had even somehow removed the tap from his hand.

'Unless this is the women's room?' I asked hopelessly as he led me back down the way he came.

'This is definitely not the women's room. My mother has already scolded me once today for being in there without her permission. I don't plan on doing it again,' he chuckled, turning the corner to reveal another corridor that looked the same as all the rest.

'Was I at least close?' I asked doubtfully.

'Not even warm, in fact you're so cold there's not a jacket in the world that could keep the chill out.'

'Great,' I muttered.

'You wouldn't be going to the women's room to hide from me, would you?' He questioned, raising his eyebrow at me knowingly.

'It was a leading factor,' I admitted, looking away.

'I'm sorry about my behaviour Aisling. It was a hasty move on my part. You weren't ready for that.' He said as if he had all the answers.

'Adam, I'm never going to be ready for that with you,' I mumbled.

'I still have time to convince you,' he replied arrogantly.

'Are we nearly at the women's room?' I asked trying to change the subject as I looked helplessly at the corridor we were currently walking down.

'Aisling,' he said gravely looking down at me. 'We've been down this same corridor three times already.'

'Oh, they all look the same,' I answered, embarrassed that I hadn't noticed.

'You're hopeless. I'm never going to be able to let you wander the palace alone,' He smiled pulling me closer.

'It's not my fault I have a terrible sense of direction,' I complained, trying to put some distance between us as his warm scent caused my heart to go haywire.

'And it's not my fault my compass always leads me directly to you,' he whispered against my ear, before placing a light kiss on my cheek. Immediately, my body flooded with a liquid warmth and I swayed slightly towards him.

'I believe I have delivered you safely to the women's room lady Zander,' he smiled, stepping back and lifting my hand to his lips, pressing a warm kiss against my already flushed skin.

'What a gentleman,' I murmured, a little dazed.

'Goodbye Aisling,' He chuckled, walking away from me and I watched him the entire time until he was out of sight. I quickly shook myself, trying to dislodge his charming smile from my mind and dispel his smell from my senses. He didn't belong in my thoughts. I felt the anger begin to fill my body replacing the warmth he had left and I quickly turned to open the doors to the women's room. If that was in fact where he had led me.

Immediately, I regretted entering as the room fell silent and just like breakfast all eyes were on me. I liked to hide in the shadows away from others eyes, so I was definitely uncomfortable with all this attention. It was as if a spotlight was shinning on me and everyones eyes were drawn to me.

'Lady Aisling,' someone said from beside me and I turned to find Alice bouncing over to where I stood motionless. Her cowboy boots clicking against the wooden floors with every step she took, echoing around the silent room. 'I'm so excited you decided to join us today.' She beamed and I gravitated towards her hoping the eyes would stop watching me.

'Lady Alice, it's nice to see you again,' I muttered as she took my hand and led me over to a group of girls who were all watching me closely, whatever they had been doing before forgotten on the table between them.

'Everyone, you all know lady Aisling,' Alice announced, oblivious to some of the girls hostile glances in my direction. 'This is Tiana Navine,' Alice introduced indicating to a girl with a dark complexion, dark brown hair and matching brown eyes. She looked like she was evaluating me, trying to figure me out and I felt uncomfortable under her intense gaze. 'Jade Manderson,' Alice continued, motioning to a hazel eyed girl with auburn hair who was looking at me strangely, as if she wasn't looking at me at all, but through me. 'Liberty Roseland,' who wasn't looking at me anymore but was instead focusing her attention on the magazine in her hand that had exotic destinations plastered across the front cover. 'And-,'

'Hi,' before I knew what was happening a girl with golden hair wrapped me up in her arms almost lifting me off the ground with the force.

'Hi,' I offered nervously when she set me back on my feet.

'Oh, I'm Aurora Phillipson, I'm from Dominea,' she announced enthusiastically. 'Come and sit with me.' She said and suddenly I was being pulled away from Alice and tugged into a plush chair beside the overexcited girl who continued to bounce in her own seat.

'So, mysterious one, I want to know everything about you,' she gushed and I pulled away from her slightly afraid by her over exuberance. 'What was with that whole mix up that had the prince flying across the country to get you? Who's Flora? Is she your sister? What's the prince like? He hasn't spoken to me yet but I think he's so dreamy. I can't wait to spend some time with him. Do you like him? Your eyes are so amazing and-'

'Aurora, let her breathe,' Piper scolded beside her, I hadn't even noticed she was sitting there before.

'Right, sorry. I get a little excited.' She smiled at me sheepishly.

'Its fine, I just can't answer any of your questions when you say them that quickly,' I smiled at her nervously.

'Sorry, but you're such a mystery. Even the magazines have no idea about you. You're simply the girl who ran from the prince at the last ball,' she said picking up one of the magazines in the centre of the table. I realised a lot of the other girls were listening in and I shifted uncomfortably at all their attention.

Looking back at the magazine I saw it was the same picture of me running away from Adam at the ball, they obviously didn't have anything else on me, which I was glad for.

'Did you lie to the prince?' She asked eagerly, shuffling to the edge of her chair so she was closer to me.

'No, well yes but I didn't want to go to the ball. My friend Flora made me,' I answered, stumbling over my own words.

'So Flora is real, is she your friend, your sister?'

'Friend,' I muttered as the sadness washed over me.

'She was here the first day,' someone piped up and I looked over to see Tiana watching me. 'You took her spot didn't you? How did you convince her to give up her chance with the prince?' She asked accusingly.

'I didn't,' I mumbled, wishing I could just run away from them all and hide up in a tree, watching the world change from a distance.

'Then why are you here?' Jade asked, accusingly.

'I don't know,' I muttered, feeling the room start to spin with all their questions.

'Hey, leave her alone,' Piper spoke up warningly to the other girls. 'She's here and that's all that matters now.' I looked over at her in surprise. She didn't seem like she would ever side with me after our conversation this morning but I was grateful she had.

The other girls seemed to settle after Piper's outburst and I shot her a grateful smile before slumping back in my chair trying to make myself as small as possible. I looked up a little while later and noticed the queen was watching me with a curious expression and I felt uneasy under her scrutiny. Why was she watching me?

'She spends a lot of time with all the girls. I think she feels bad that Adam can't seem to find the time to get to know any of us,' Alice said from beside me.

'What's she like?' I asked, pulling my eyes away from the queen's and looking at Alice instead.

'She's wonderful, she treats everyone like an equal,' Alice smiled.

'It would be nice to meet her,' I mused looking back over at her as she approached a group of girls warmly. She looked so motherly. I wondered what it felt like to have a mother like queen America?

'I get it Aisling,' Alice said quietly beside me and I looked at her a little alarmed. What did she get?

'It's obvious the prince likes you. You shouldn't hide from him.'

'Aren't you angry that I stole your chances with him or something, like everyone else,' I muttered, gesturing to the rest of the room.

'You can't steal something that was never theirs to begin with,' she smiled. 'A heart knows what it wants and I can almost hear his calling for yours but it seems that yours is deaf to all his attempts.'

'No, he's just calling for the wrong one.'

'You can only remain ignorant for so long Aisling.'

'Why are you here Alice, don't you want to try and win the prince's heart?' I asked.

'He's not mine, no matter what colour I paint him he will always be your white rose whereas my red one is still out there waiting for me.' She answered and I smiled at her strange mind. She may be wrong about my heart but there was no denying I liked her.

'The poor princess, he's always playing one trick or another,' Tiana said looking disapprovingly at the front cover of a magazine, drawing my attention from Alice who had already disappeared into her own little world.

'Yes, but he's very handsome and I bet that British accent is so smooth it could make your knees buckle,' Aurora replied dreamily.

'I think he's sweet, look what he did for all those children. They have the biggest smiles on their faces.' Jade announced, pointing at the front cover where I saw prince Anthony of England standing among a sea of children with the brightest smiles on all their faces. There was no doubt that he was handsome, but that wasn't what was so attractive about him. He was free and that's all I've ever wanted to be. I envied him, wishing I wasn't here.

Amberly

I'd been staring at the cover of the magazine for an hour now, still uncertain of how I felt about it all. He had pulled another stunt but this time I saw who benefited from it, it wasn't just disruptive. The children were just so happy. Did that make what he did good? No, it couldn't. It made him popular. There was more to being a ruler than popularity, I thought firmly. Then doubt crept in through the cracks and my mind fell into a whirlpool of confusion. How did I know if he wasn't good at the other things that made a good ruler? I'd barely spent any time with him since arriving. Except when he was pulling a prank and that was why I hadn't spent any time with him, because he was irresponsible.

I looked down at the magazine again. I hadn't made it past the front cover yet because I dreaded what I might find written inside. Would it make my mind more confused or less?

Groaning, I threw the magazine on my bed and got up, crossing to my window to look out at the dark, cloud filled sky. It was definitely going to rain again today. I had never seen so many clouds or so much rain. It hardly ever did this in Angeles. I guess it was just another adjustment I needed to make, at least I liked the rain.

Suddenly, a knock came at my door and it opened before I had a chance to turn around.

'Amberly, let's go,' Anthony announced, quickly crossing over to me and grabbing my wrist before pulling me from the room.

'Wait, what?' I asked trying to get my thoughts straight. What was happening?

'We're going somewhere,' he answered vaguely, dragging my reluctant body down the corridor.

'Where? Why?' I demanded weakly, a little dazed by his sudden behaviour.

'Shoot, I forgot something,' he said hitting his forehead then turning to me. 'Don't move.' He instructed and I couldn't even if I wanted to.

'Anthony?' I asked after his retreating back but he didn't turn around. He went back into my room and came out with the book my grandfather had given me and my drawing supplies. I looked at him baffled by what he was doing.

'Ready,' he announced, taking my hand again and moving quickly down the corridor.

'What's going on?' I asked, but he didn't answer. I followed along behind him a little annoyed that he wouldn't tell me what was going on or why he had my book.

When we were outside and he started pushing me towards the waiting car I finally found my voice.

'Anthony, what are you doing?' I demanded, crossly.

'It's a surprise,' He answered with a mischievous smile and immediately I began to suspect the worst. Surprise to him meant toads in your bedroom, water falling from the ceiling and an impromptu paintball war.

'Don't fret love, no tricks today. I promise,' he smiled holding his hands up defensively as I eyed him accusingly.

'You promise?' I tried to confirm.

'Do you trust me?' He asked.

'No,' I answered flatly and saw a hurt look cross his face before his smug default returned.

'Just get in the car love. What's the worst that could happen?'

'You're kidding?' I laughed humourlessly, thinking about how badly this could go.

'Look you'll never know what I'm planning if you don't get in the car,' he tried to convince me but it wasn't working.

'Then I don't want to know.' I answered firmly, putting both my hands on my hips defiantly.

'Either get in the car willingly or I'll throw you in. What's it going to be princess?' He asked patronisingly and I felt the steam start to escape my ears.

'You wouldn't dare,' I growled.

'Oh wouldn't I?' He asked in a low voice taking a few threatening steps towards me, but I held my ground. He wouldn't do it. Would he?

'Amberly, last time love, get in the car,' he breathed, his face inches from my own. He was so close now I could feel his warm breath dance across my face and an involuntary shiver went down my spine.

'No,' I answered less defiantly than I intended.

'I warned you,' He smiled evilly and I lost my resolve completely. Suddenly, his arms were around my waist and my feet had left the ground.

'What do you think you're doing?' I shrieked as he slung me over his shoulder. I was slamming my fists against his muscular back trying to get him to put me down but it didn't seem to be having any effect on him.

'Exactly what I said I would,' he chuckled, dropping me into his arms so my face was inches from his and I was firmly pressed against his chest. For half a heart beat I thought he was going to kiss me and all my breath rushed out of my lungs in one quick gust but then he smiled widely and placed me gently in the seat of the car. He quickly closed the door, running around to the other side and slipping in beside me. I was too stunned to move so I just sat there staring at the back of the headrest on the driver's seat. What had just happened? More importantly, why was I a little disappointed?

'How you doing love?' He asked smugly, obviously too aware of the effect he had on me. I didn't answer I just sat beside him stunned, refusing to even look at him.

'Ready, your highness?' Someone asked from the front seat and I vaguely heard him answer in the affirmative before the car rolled into motion.

Suddenly, he slipped his hand into mine and I looked over at him in alarm and then anger, my mind finally remembering how to work and send messages around my body.

'Who do you think you are?' I demanded trying to tug my hand free.

'Anthony,' he shrugged, amused by my outrage.

'You're dead,' I growled menacingly, narrowing my eyes at him but he only laughed at my threat.

'This isn't funny,' I whined like a petulant child, barely stopping myself from stomping my feet in frustration.

'You'd be laughing if you were sitting where I am.'

'You can't just pick me up and put me in a car against my will,' I yelled.

'I think I just did, so this discussion is redundant,' he answered calmly looking out the window. I couldn't restrain my frustrated groan and it only caused him to look even smugger and I couldn't even see his face.

'You're impossible,' I groaned turning away from him but he didn't answer me, instead tightening his hold on my hand.

Anthony

She was breathtaking when she was in full flight and beyond amusing when she was frustrated with me, but I didn't have a trick planned for today. I was taking her somewhere special and I knew she was going to love it.

When the car finally rolled to a stop I looked over at her stiff posture and smiled to myself. She was too beautiful for her own good.

'Ready love?' I asked but she still refused to look at me.

'Does it matter?' I heard her grumble and I tried to stile my laugh.

'Not really,' I answered arrogantly, tugging her towards me so she slid across the seat into my chest. She flung her hand out to brace herself against my shoulder, her eyes wide in shock. 'Let's go then,' I whispered in her ear and revelled in the shiver it sent through her. She couldn't hide behind her mask when we were this close and I loved every second of it.

Before she had a chance to say anything I opened the door, pulling her out with me until we stood before the skeleton of what was once the palace where the royal family lived.

'Where are we?' She asked, looking up at the building curiously as I reached back in the car for her book.

'It used to be Buckingham Palace,' I informed her, turning around and pulling her towards the building.

'What happened to it?' She questioned.

'In the third world war it was attacked by one of our enemies. It was the only thing that was ruined and it was never rebuilt. Instead, the king at the time built a new home where we live now, just outside the city's outskirts. They said it was because he didn't want the people to be at risk of another attack when their enemies were looking to kill the sovereign. He didn't want to risk innocent lives.' I explained watching her reaction.

'But, I thought the king was meant to keep himself safe above all else?' She asked, confused by the story.

'That's true but the way he saw it, he was just another person. One who was easily replaced. His life didn't count for anything more than that of his people. He even argued that the people's lives were more important because they were the ones who the nation was built on and built for.' She nodded her head in thought, stopping to look at the building intently and I saw her fingers twitch slightly and I smiled, glad my plan was paying off.

'Come on,' I said pulling her closer to the once magnificent palace.

'Where are we going?' She asked nervously.

'Inside,' I replied simply, pushing aside one of the boarded up windows.

'Is it safe?' She asked looking dubiously at the crumbling building.

'Of course,' I said without conviction and I laughed when she looked at me with startled eyes.

'We can't go in there,' she said adamantly pulling away from me.

'Come Amberly, live a little,' I teased.

'That's exactly what I want to do, live.' She emphasised looking up at the palace as if it might fall in on her at any moment.

'It'll be fine,' I tried to reassure her and I watched as she thought about it for a moment before sighing in defeat.

'Fine,' she breathed and my smile grew wider as I pulled her through the window.

Once we were inside I heard her sharp intake of breath as she took in the room.

Right at the very centre was a magnificent chandelier covered in dust and soot and god knows what else, but still light danced across it from the numerous holes in the roof from the explosion and decay over the years. There was a grand staircase that was crumbling beneath it, with only a couple of stairs without holes in them. Everything was covered in dust, dirt and grime after years of neglect yet still amongst it all the chandelier drew your attention to it, demanding you to recognise its beauty.

'It's beautiful,' she breathed, looking up at the long forgotten light in wonder.

'I knew you'd like it love,' I smiled finally giving into temptation and kissing her lightly on the cheek, but she was too enraptured by the chandelier to pay me any attention.

'I could sit and draw this for hours and still not capture its elegance,' she whispered pulling away from me and walking around the dancing light to look at it from every angle.

'Then you better get started,' I laughed holding out her drawing materials.

'What?' She asked a little dazed, looking back at me.

'That's why I brought you here,' I smiled. 'I want to see another one of your drawings.' Slowly, I walked over to her and handed her the book and pencils and she looked down at them then back at me. I could see in her eyes that she was desperate to start capturing the scene before her.

'Go on then love, draw,' I whispered and she quickly ran off and found the perfect spot, a determined smile on her face. I followed after her and sat beside her, content to watch her as she became completely engrossed in what she was doing, her tough exterior slipping away until it was just her. No barriers, no walls.

I didn't know how long we had spent there and I didn't care. When she was like this I couldn't help but fall in love with her all over again. She was so relaxed and completely lost in her sketch that she didn't even protest when I wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close to my side playing with one of her loose, silky curls. Letting it fall through my fingers as my eyes were trained on her face.

'Anthony,' she murmured not looking up at me, but keeping her attention on her sketch.

'Hmm…' I mumbled back.

'It's hard to keep focused when you're looking at me like that.' She said, finally looking up at me with her piercing blue eyes.

'I can't help it,' I smiled, pulling her closer.

'Why don't you do something?' She complained.

'I am doing something,' I murmured and watched as her cheeks flushed pink. She was so beautiful.

'Other than watching me,' she replied shakily.

'What would you like me to do love?' I asked, amused.

'Why don't you draw something?' She offered ripping a page out of her precious book.

'I can't draw,' I replied, laughing at her suggestion.

'Anyone can draw,' she scoffed, resting the blank sheet in my lap.

'Sure anyone can draw, but not everyone should.'

'Just try,' she prodded, handing me a pencil, which I reluctantly took.

'Fine,' I sighed. 'But only because I like you.' She tried to hide her smile by ducking her head but I saw it and it made my heart beat a little faster. Finally, I was getting somewhere.

I watched her for a little longer until she elbowed me playfully in the side, pointing down at my blank sheet and I held up my hands defensively. I quickly picked up my pencil and started drawing the only thing in the room that would ever hold my attention.

Amberly

'Let me see,' I begged trying to take his drawing from him.

'No, it's embarrassing,' he complained standing up and holding it out of my reach. 'I told you not everyone should draw and I'm one of those people.'

'It can't be that bad,' I answered playfully, standing on the tips of my toes, reaching up for the piece of paper.

'It is that bad, I'm protecting you. If you saw this your eyes would explode love,' he said gravely.

'Don't be so dramatic,' I laughed, trying to use his shoulder as leverage to get higher.

'Well, don't blame me when you lose your sight,' he warned defeatedly, lowering his arm so I could take the drawing from him.

As soon as I saw it I couldn't stop the laughter from rising in my throat and cascading from my mouth all at once. It was as if a three year old had drawn it.

'This is what you've been working on for the last hour?' I asked, trying to catch my breath.

'I told you I wasn't very good,' he grumbled with a pouty face.

'You weren't lying,' I laughed as I looked down at his stick figure again.

'You're being mean love,' he said with an odd look on his face. I couldn't answer him however, because I was still laughing at his attempt at sketching.

'I love your laugh, love,' he said quietly, wrapping his arm around my waist and pulling me against his hard chest.

Immediately, my laughter ceased and I looked up at him in shock as my heart began to race.

'I could listen to it all day,' he whispered against my lips and my head began to spin as if I couldn't get enough oxygen to it.

All of a sudden, his lips were on mine and the world melted away as my senses tried to absorb him. At first I tried to fight him, but he was so demanding and eventually I lost the will. My body was too responsive to him and it frightened me. Just when I thought I was going to pass out from lack of oxygen he pulled away and rested his forehead against my own, his breathing as heavy as mine.

'You kissed me,' I whispered looking down at his chest, my mind feeling as if it were free falling with nothing to slow the descent as I tried to understand what had just happened.

'You were doing pretty well to return the favour,' I barely heard the smile in his voice over the pounding in my ears from the blood pumping rapidly around my body.

'You kissed me,' I repeated, unable to form any other thought.

'Yes love,' he chuckled, pulling me in so my head was pressed securely against his chest.

'You…' I couldn't finish the sentence as he ran his fingers through my hair. I looked down and found that I was still clutching his now rumpled attempt at a drawing in my hand and I realised he was trying to draw me. I felt my face twist into a perplexed expression but I let him hold me.

'Come on love, let's head back, it's starting to get dark and my parents are probably wondering where we've gotten to,' he said softly taking my hand in his and pulling me back to the boarded window.

'Wait,' I almost shouted pulling free from his hold and running back for my leather book. I quickly shoved his drawing inside and closed it before turning back to him.

He had an amused look on his face as I ran back to him and he quickly took my hand in his.

I didn't say anything the entire trip back to the castle. I was too absorbed in my thoughts to form any sentences. I wasn't sure about anything and I couldn't talk to him about it. I could feel his eyes on me the entire way back but I ignored him. It was too much, my mind was too muddled to understand what had just happened. I was just so confused.

Harmonia

'Justin?' I shouted into the stables, he usually came here on a Saturday to help his father so I was certain I would find him here. Someone came out from one of the pens and I jumped back at their sudden appearance.

'Oh, Mr Woodwork,' I gasped. 'It's just you.'

'We've talked about this Harmonia, its Carter,' he smiled warmly and I returned it distractedly, looking around for his son.

'Is Justin here?' I asked.

'Of course, he's with Nancy,' He laughed. 'Why don't you go in and tell him its time for a break?'

'All right,' I smiled skipping along to find Justin.

Nancy was my horse. Justin always looked after her the best and I found him beside the chestnut horse brushing out her mane whispering soothing words in her ear.

I had been friends with Justin ever since I can remember. He was two years older than me and we used to play together when my mother and his mother Marlee would have their gossip sessions in the kitchen where his mom worked. Apparently, when I was younger I would trail after him everywhere, spending hours out in the gardens with him searching for fairies in the flowers and trolls under the bridges. He was my best friend.

'Hey Nia,' Justin said stepping away from Nancy who nudged him, unhappy at being ignored.

'Hey,' I beamed stepping up beside him and running my hand through Nancy's brown mane. 'How's she doing?'

'As needy as ever,' he laughed putting his brush down.

'She just likes being the centre of attention,' I smiled as she tried to nuzzle me around Justin but instead pushed him so I was trapped between him and her stomach.

'Ouch,' I laughed pushing on Justin's chest to get him to move. I looked up to find his brown eyes looking down at me strangely but he quickly turned away, running his hand along Nancy's nose.

'So,' I announced eagerly. 'There's this secret passageway.'

'And you want to go and explore it,' Justin laughed as some of the tension fell away from his shoulders.

'Well, yeah but Adam won't go with me and your dad said you could have a break.' I told him eagerly.

'So you thought you'd con me into going with you,' He said crossing his arms over his chest.

'It'll be fun I promise,' I begged tugging his hand.

'Fine,' he sighed dramatically.

'Let's go,' I said excitedly, pulling him from the stables, waving a quick goodbye to Mr Woodwork.

'You lied to me Nia,' he scolded playfully as I held his hand, pulling him through the palace, as far away from the secret passageway as possible.

'I didn't know there was going to be a massive spider hiding in there,' I answered shuddering at the memory. It had so many legs.

'It wasn't the spider that was the problem,' he laughed, dragging his feet behind me. 'My hand is the problem, I'll never be able to brush Nancy again. I think you broke it.'

'Don't be overdramatic, it'll be fine,' I dismissed trying to get the sight of the spider out of my head.

'Overdramatic?' He exclaimed. 'I wasn't the one who screamed like a little girl and crushed the bones in my hand to dust.'

'I am a little girl,' I shot back at his whiny face.

'Poor little Harmonia, can't handle a little spider,' he teased.

'Shut up,' I grumbled looking out at mom's garden. 'That's odd.'

'What, did you find someone whose screen is more piercing than yours? Because that really would be odd.' He laughed.

'Shut up,' I muttered moving closer to the glass doors that led outside. 'Do you see that?'

'See what?' He asked.

'There's something up in the tree, can't you see it?' I questioned, squinting a little to see what it was.

'Its…it's a person,' he said in disbelief.

'A girl,' I muttered, but how did she get up there? Looking at the tree I realised it was Adam's tree, the one mom planted when he was born just like she did for each of us. I laughed lightly that of all the trees in all the garden's she had somehow made her way up Adam's.

'What's so funny?' Justin asked impatiently.

'That's lady Aisling,' I told him.

'The one your brother went looking for?'

'Yeah, her,' I confirmed stepping closer to the glass doors.

'What's she doing in a tree?' He asked in confusion.

'I don't know,' I answered, distractedly. 'But, I'm going to find out.'

'I need to get back,' Justin said throwing the girl a disapproving look. 'Don't you go climbing any trees.' He instructed and I rolled my eyes at him. He had always been a little over protective.

'I won't,' I assured him but he didn't look certain.

'Promise?' He asked raising his eyebrow at me.

'Promise,' I confirmed turning and pushing the door to the gardens open.

'I mean it Nia, no tree climbing,' he warned as I let the door fall shut. How did she get in here? The guards at the door didn't let anyone in but my family, yet there she was up in the tree.

'Lady Aisling,' I asked curiously, but she was so high up in the tree that she couldn't hear me.

'Lady Aisling,' I shouted a little louder and she looked down in alarm.

'Princess Harmonia?' She asked as if it was a surprise to find me here when she was the one up a tree in my mother's garden. 'I'd curtsey but…' She motioned to the branch she was sitting on and I giggled lightly at her.

'What are you doing in that tree?' I questioned.

'Can I tell you a secret?' She whispered loudly, as if someone might walk in on us at any moment. I stepped closer eager to hear her secret, maybe it was about Adam.

'Of course, I promise I won't tell anyone,' I assured her, eager to hear what she had to say. I wanted to climb up the tree too but I promised Justin.

'I'm catching dreams,' she whispered loudly.

'What do you mean catching dreams? You can't catch a dream,' I answered as if it was the most ridiculous thing I had heard in the world.

'Of course you can, you just need to be high enough,' she answered and I thought about her words for a moment.

'It's impossible, you can't catch a dream,' I replied with less conviction. I had stopped looking for fairies in flowers a long time ago, grown ups didn't believe in such unbelievable things.

'Have you ever tried to catch a dream?' She asked as she slowly made her way down from the tree branches. I noticed she was leaning heavily to her side and it must have had something to do with her injuries. She'd stop every few branches and catch her breath before continuing until eventually she was on the ground beside me.

'You're short,' I blurted out because she was only slightly taller than me but she was four years older.

'I know,' she smiled. 'So have you?' She asked but I could only look at her in confusion.

'Have I what?'

'Tried to catch dreams?' She laughed, a warm and wonderful laugh.

'No,' I answered firmly.

'Then how do you know it's impossible to catch them?'

'I'm twelve lady Aisling, not eight. I know you can't catch a dream, just like you can't find a unicorn hiding in the woods.'

'Maybe you just haven't been looking hard enough?' She countered.

'How do you catch a dream?' I asked skeptically.

'You have to be really patient,' she explained.

'And climb a tree?' I asked eagerly.

'Yes,' she giggled. 'But it doesn't always need to be a tree. The world's always so much clearer up there.'

'Can you see everything?'

'Not everything, the world's a very big place, but you can see things others miss.'

'I want to catch dreams,' I told her excitedly running for the tree.

'Maybe not today,' she laughed walking over to me.

'Why not?' I asked in disappointment.

'Well, it's almost time for dinner and I don't think I'm allowed to miss anymore meals.'

'Fine,' I sighed. 'But will you take me with you the next time?' I asked hopefully.

'Of course,' she laughed brightly and I quickly snuck my hand in hers. She looked at me startled but I didn't let her go.

'Let's get to dinner then,' I announced pulling her along. The guards at the door opened it when we passed and looked down at her in alarm. They clearly had no idea she was in there.

'I'm glad you found me Princess Harmonia,' she said after sometime of silence.

'Why?'

'I would have gotten lost otherwise,' she admitted sheepishly.

'Really?' I asked amused.

'It's been a day of wrong turns,' she smiled.

'You're really pretty lady Aisling.'

'Oh, thank you,' she replied, taken aback.

'I can see why my brother likes you.' I said confidently, pulling her down another corridor. I heard her mutter something behind me but I didn't ask her what she said.

'How do you remember which corridor's which?' She asked as we turned down another one.

'I have lived here all my life. I've had twelve years of walking these corridors,' I answered smugly.

'I could live here twelve lifetimes and still not know which way led to my bedroom,' she grumbled.

'Maybe we should mark them all, so you know which one leads where,' I suggested.

'That would definitely help,' she laughed.

'You know lady Aisling, if you married my brother you would be my sister?' I announced.

'What?'

'You would be my sister and Marinda and Amberly too. Michael would be your brother and my mom and dad would be your mom and dad,' I answered knowingly. Amberly had explained it to me before she went away. She had said she was going to get married and get two new brothers. I told her that wasn't a good thing, she already had two brother's why did she need more. She just laughed at me but if Adam married lady Aisling then I would be very happy that she would be my sister.

'I'm not sure we're going to get married,' she answered quietly, a sad, lonely look on her face.

'If you do and you are my sister, you can live with me in my room. We can have slumber parties every night. It will be so much fun,' I answered excitedly already moving everything around in my room so I could fit her bed in.

'I'm not sure that's how it works,' she laughed and I looked up at her in confusion.

'What do you mean?'

'I think when you get married you're meant to live with your husband,' she explained.

'But then you would have to live with a boy and they're smelly and messy and loud.' I replied crinkling my nose in disgust.

'Your parents live in the same room, don't they?'

'Yeah, but they're my mom and dad,' I answered.

'I would love to stay with you Princess Harmonia,' she sighed, a tiny smile threatening to grow bigger and consume her face.

'My brothers and sisters call me Nia,' I announced beaming at her.

'Okay, Nia,' she said awkwardly but I could tell by her smile that she liked it.

'So, I can call you Aisling then?'

'Of course, between you and me I'm not much of a lady anyway,' she whispered loudly.

'You're going to be the best sister ever,' I gushed pushing the dinning room door open, her hand still in mine.

As promised a cute scene between Anthony and Amberly, I hope you liked it and I apologise for Harmonia I really wanted to write from her point of view but well, I'm not twelve anymore so it's hard to remember how a twelve year olds mind works even though it really wasn't that long ago. Needless to say I will never be writing from Elliot's point of view.

Maxon's Rose, I hope you enjoyed the little Amberly/Anthony scene but we should be getting to their engagement ball soon, so there will be some more between them very soon :)

I'm sorry I don't like referring to you as guest, its so plain but to the guest who is completely hooked, I'm really excited to hear that. I hope you continue to enjoy it :)

Maxerica I promise you I will continue it till the very end because I don't like leaving things half done and I know how frustrating it can be as a reader to get a half story. Thank you for your review :)

And finally to the guest who said one of the nicest thing of all, that she wasn't bored :) I'm glad you really like both of the stories, I'm desperately trying not to lean to one more than the other but it's hard. I hope you don't hold Harmonia's view point against me. I was going to write it from Aisling's point of view but she had already talked so much already so I needed a new view point and I mentioned Justin a few chapters back and I didn't want to just leave him as a bodiless character, and I wanted to include Marlee and Carter's kids, although I haven't gone into depth yet.

Again, thank you to everyone who has been reading and reviewing I love getting your feedback, it really helps. Until next time wonderful readers :)