Amberly

All of my muscles were locked, my eyes scrunched closed and my heart beating wildly trying to replace the blood I was certain was pumping out of my body from the wound the bullet left. I waited for the pain, but it never came.

'Princess,' the man whispered beside me urgently but I barely heard him over the ringing in my ears as the gunshot still reverberated through my mind. Immediately, I flinched away from him, my eyes shooting open when I felt his cold, clammy hands on my arm. It was then I realised the shot had never hit me. The gun had been fired but the bullet had never burrowed into my skin. 'This is all I can do for you.' He explained and I looked up at him in confusion.

'Why?' I stuttered looking between him and the gun still smoking slightly in his hand.

'They would have heard the shot. They won't come back to check.' He continued as my mind repeated the same phrase, 'I'm alive,' over and over again.

'Thank you,' I whispered, finally looking into the terrified eyes of the man who had saved my life.

'Once they find out I've messed up again they'll kill me,' he muttered, releasing my arm and stepping back from me.

'Wait, please,' I begged, shifting my burning wrists and ankles. 'Untie me, the ropes…they're unbearable.'

'I can't,' he answered hurriedly casting an anxious look over his shoulder as if expecting the others to return to the dimly lit room at any moment. 'You'll run.'

'What if no one finds me?' I asked desperately. 'If what they say is true and Russia did attack then they won't have time to look for me. Please release me. I promise I won't run until I'm sure you're out of sight, please.'

'I'm sorry princess, I just can't risk it,' he whispered before disappearing through the open door. The only noises were his rapid footsteps against the damp concrete floor until the silence swallowed them too.

For long minutes I sat there, the quiet pounding against my ears. I worked at the binds around my ankles and wrists until the pain was too much and I knew I wasn't making any progress. My mouth was dry with thirst and my stomach growling with hunger. Everything ached, but if I was focusing on the pain, then I wasn't thinking about the helplessness of my situation.

My body was weak and I could feel myself drifting no matter how hard I tried to keep my eyes open. Slowly my chin dropped to my chest and my eyes fell closed until darkness enveloped me. The last thought I had before the world fell away sent my heart plummeting. No one was coming for me.

I stirred at the sound of hurried footsteps but I couldn't muster up the energy to be afraid. My head lolled as I tried to focus on the noises but I was too tired to even hold it up. My arms were numb and my ankles were on fire. Shouts rang out around the small space and I felt a flutter in my chest as I imagined a familiar voice among their numbers. I could only assume that my delirium was taking hold because I knew no one was coming for me.

Suddenly, my small room was alive with movement and shouts of discovery reverberated off the damp walls. I struggled to keep my eyes open as more men moved into the room until I saw a dark head of hair push through the crowd. It couldn't be.

'Amberly,' he breathed falling to his knees beside me and taking my face gently in both his hands. 'I knew we would find you.'

'Anthony,' I choked out, my voice dry and coarse.

'Oh love, what have they done to you?' He muttered, running his thumb across the tender spot on my cheek where they had struck me.

'My hands,' I croaked, as his eyes ran over every inch of me. He looked up at me in confusion for a moment before realisation hit him and rage flashed behind his familiar hazel eyes. He quickly moved behind me and released the blinds on my hands and my arms fell forward limply, a new pain washing over me. He was quickly by my side holding me up as my tired body slumped forward. When I was stable he worked on my ankles and finally I was free.

'Amberly,' someone shouted and suddenly a familiar set of blue eyes were on mine.

'Adam,' I whispered, looking up at my frantic brother as he knelt at my other side. Despite everything that had happened to me I couldn't help but notice the change in my brother. The lines in his face had never been there before. He looked older somehow and I wondered what had made him that way. I also noticed a bruise blooming on his jaw but I had little time to ponder where it came from.

'Amberly I was terrified. No one knew what was happening,' he said almost bitterly before shooting a look at Anthony who I realised was watching the exchange with guarded eyes. His hand gripped mine tightly and Adam held my other with equal force.

'Adam, this is no time for fighting,' I heard a familiar scolding voice cut across my brother and I shifted to look for its owner.

'Mom?' I asked the crowded room and suddenly there she was, a relieved smile on her face. She strode forward, scattering both Adam and Anthony. She easily lifted my tired body from the chair and enveloped me in a smothering hug. I breathed in her familiar scent and felt a sense of calm wash over me. My body was finally ready to relax and I felt the first tears fall as everything from the time they took me filled my mind.

'Mom, I was so afraid,' I whispered as the tears fell freely from my eyes.

'Shh,' she hushed. 'You're safe now.'

'Queen America,' Anthony prompted beside me and I turned my head slightly to look at him. 'We should get her back to the castle. I don't think its safe for us to linger here.'

'Of course,' my mother agreed stepping back from me and I stumbled slightly from the lack of contact. Anthony was quickly beside me, his arm wrapped tightly around my waist, holding me closely to his chest. I looked up into his worried eyes and smiled weakly but I was too tired to do much else. My body fell slack against him, my head resting heavily against his chest beneath his chin and I took comfort from his warmth.

'Come on love, let's get you home,' he murmured, placing a gentle kiss in my hair and helping me from the room. I stumbled several times before we reached the door and my ankles were burning from the effort of supporting me.

'Anthony,' I gasped. 'I can't.' Several tears escaped my eyes and I didn't care who saw.

'I've got you,' he answered and suddenly my feet were out from under me and my head was resting against his shoulder. I didn't protest because I knew I couldn't get out of here any other way and that was all I wanted to do. I saw Adam scowling at Anthony for a moment before my eyes drifted shut.

'I love you Amberly,' Anthony whispered and then the world fell away.

Anthony

When I lifted her into my arms I thought she would protest but instead she relaxed against me. I thought I would be elated that she would trust me to protect her but all I felt was overwhelming anger and then sadness. What had happened to her to make her this way? Who had done this to her?

I looked down at her resting face and felt comfort to have her in my arms. I ignored the rope marks on her wrists where she had struggled to break free and held her tighter, afraid to ever let her go again.

'She's strong Anthony,' queen America said softly beside me as we left the building and were engulfed by the rare English sunshine. 'She'll get through this.'

'I know,' I muttered, but on the inside I knew I could never suffer this loss again. She could never be taken from me again, I could never lose her. I heard Adam mutter something beside me and storm off for the cars, his mother watching after him sadly.

'I'm sorry about Adam,' she apologised. 'He doesn't blame you, he's going through a tough decision right now.'

'I would never let anything happen to Amberly,' I answered fiercely as I settled her gently in the back of one of the cars, following closely behind her, afraid to be separated from her for even a moment.

'I know Anthony and so does Adam.' I nodded before one of the men shut the door and led the queen away.

The car rolled into motion and we were on our way back to the castle. Amberly's head rested in my lap and I couldn't help but let my fingers run through her dirt encrusted hair as she rested.

I couldn't believe she was back in my arms and I never wanted to see her anywhere else again. I didn't care about her hostile brother or the Russian's attacking our shores. In this moment all I cared about was her, everything else could wait.

Aisling

'Aisling,' Alice shouted, running across the foyer and crashing into me. 'What's happening? Someone said you were leaving for Italy with the Italian royals?'

'I am,' I answered flatly.

'What, why?' She exclaimed. 'Is it because of the attack?'

'Adam doesn't want me here anymore,' I sighed.

'That can't be true,' she replied in disbelief and I nodded my head sadly in confirmation. 'It doesn't make sense, what happened during the attack?'

'I don't really want to talk about it,' I muttered looking away from her. 'It doesn't matter now anyway. Adam doesn't think I'm enough to be his princess and I agree. I was never meant to be here.'

'What do you mean?' She asked outraged. 'Adam would never say that.'

'He didn't need to, it was obvious,' I mumbled as king Tony and queen Nicoletta entered the foyer followed by their guards. The man who had saved me was by their side and he eyed me curiously as they came to a stop in front of me.

'Are you ready passerotta?' Nicoletta asked and I nodded my head sombrely, stepping away from Alice.

'Aisling, you can't leave,' Alice said desperately. 'Adam doesn't really want this.'

'I don't see him here now asking me to stay,' I replied, the hope in my chest fluttering weakly. I had hoped he would come and change his mind but I hadn't seen him all morning.

'Aisling,' came more shouts from across the foyer and suddenly I was wrapped in a flurry of red hair, strong arms holding me tightly to their chest.

'Michael,' I groaned, trying to push free from his hold.

'Dad said you were leaving,' he accused putting me back down only for his sister to wrap her own arms tightly around me.

'You weren't even going to say goodbye,' Marinda scolded before releasing me.

'I-I…'

'Why are you leaving?' Michael demanded and I looked over at Alice for support but she had a rare guarded look on her face.

'Adam said that I couldn't stay here anymore,' I huffed, not really wanting to share the details.

'What why would he do that?' Marinda demanded.

'He didn't even come to say goodbye,' I replied bitterly looking out at the foyer again hoping to see his blue eyes.

'Adam left,' Michael explained, shocked I hadn't known.

'What?' I asked my eyes darting to the red haired prince.

'He left late last night with our mother. Amberly was kidnapped.'

'Princess Amberly's missing?' I asked in alarm.

'They found her a few minutes ago and that's when we found out you were leaving.'

'So Adam isn't here?' I asked for confirmation and both Marinda and Michael shook their heads slowly.

'Lady Aisling, we must leave now,' the man who saved me instructed pulling my attention away from the twin prince and princess.

'Aisling, you can't go,' Marinda implored, taking one of my hands in both of hers.

'I don't have a choice. I was never meant to be a princess. I'm not good enough for Adam.'

'Aisling, you're stronger than this. Fight for him, make him see.' Alice said fiercely stepping up beside Marinda a determined look on her face.

'No,' I replied loudly, tearing my hand from Marinda's. 'This is what Adam wants. I'm going to Italy and nothing you say will make me change my mind.'

'I'm going to miss you Aisling,' Michael said softly as both Alice and Marinda watched me with angry eyes.

'I'll miss you too Michael.' Then before anyone could say anything else I turned my back on them and followed the Italian royals out into the warm sunshine. I ignored the sad looks the two were giving me and sat quietly in the back seat between them both. They shared worried glances over my head the entire trip to the airport but I simply stared straight ahead.

When we arrived at the airport Tony got out of the car first and when I went to follow Nicoletta gently rested her hand on my arm.

'Aisling, you can stay,' she said softly as I turned back to look at her. 'I don't think you understand why Adam is sending you away.'

'It doesn't matter now, he left and he doesn't want me anymore. The least I can do is leave after everything I have put him through. I owe him this.' Then, I quickly ducked out of the car before she could say anything else and looked up at the plane in awe. King Tony was only a few steps away, obviously waiting for us to join him.

'Have you ever been on a plane before Aisling?' He asked with an amused smile and I shook my head, my mouth slightly ajar at the realisation I would get to be in the sky.

'I wasn't conscious the last time,' I muttered as Nicoletta came out to join Tony. I saw them share a confused look out of the corner of my eye but I was too busy trying to contain my excitement.

'Your majesties,' someone prompted and I saw Tony nod in acknowledgement before he turned to me.

'Aisling,' he said and I looked over to find he had extended his hand for me to take. I stared at it for a moment, hesitant of how I should react. I looked from his hand to his eyes and was met with an encouraging smile. Gingerly, I rested my hand in his and he gave it a tight squeeze as a huge smile spread across Nicoletta's face.

'Let's go mia cara,' Tony said, gently tugging my hand to get me moving.

'What's flying like?' I asked looking up at him expectantly.

'You'll know soon enough passerotta.' Nicoletta smiled, looking over her shoulder at the two of us.

I smiled widely up at her as Tony and I followed close behind, my heart racing with excitement. When we stepped inside the cabin, I saw all the chairs had the Italian royal crest on their head rests and I immediately moved to one of the windows pulling a chuckling Tony along with me.

'Can I sit here?' I asked hopefully, looking back at Tony.

'You can sit anywhere you want,' he beamed and I quickly looked back at the window in anticipation. I pulled my hand from his and leaned in close to the window as the men and women finished up the final preparations for the plane.

'Aisling, we'll be leaving soon. You need to put your seat belt on before we take off,' Tony instructed as he took the seat beside me. I quickly clicked it into place and caught Nicoletta watching the two of us with an odd expression before my curiosity drew me back to the window.

I could feel my body humming with anticipation to be among the birds and the clouds when the plane finally began to move. I felt myself start to bounce in my seat as my energy tried to escape.

'We're moving,' I said excitedly, looking back at Tony who had been watching me. He nodded before looking back at Nicoletta and sharing a look before I went back to watching the world as it moved beneath the wheels of the plane.

When we were finally in the sky I felt a hollowness mix with my excitement and my chest deflated slightly. I watched the world start to shrink in front of my eyes and I felt the emptiness in my chest grow.

When I saw the palace I felt a heavy weight settle over me as my eyes began to burn. As it disappeared into the distance I realised something in my mind I hadn't known before.

Somehow, even after such a short period of time the palace had become my home. I'd never really had one before and now I was leaving the only one I had ever known.

As the plane continued to carry me away I watched as the palace grew smaller and smaller in the distance until it was nothing but a mess of trees and a distant rooftop.

I silently said goodbye as a single tear fell from my eye. I wasn't sure I would ever see this place again and I felt an overwhelming sense of loss wash over me. I had always thought the day I left Illea I would have no regrets but now that I was faced with the prospect of never returning again I couldn't shift the discomfort in my chest.

For those of you (and I know there were many) who were desperate for news on Amberly, there you go. How do you think Anthony is going to react to having her back? And what's up with Adam? Oh dear, I don't think we've seen the last confrontation between those two.

theoneforever, Happy Birthday! :) I wanted to update for your birthday but I just wasn't fast enough so please accept this update as my belated birthday present and I hope you enjoyed the reunion :) I hope you had a wonderful birthday and were spoilt by all your friends and family. If you're anything like me I would have demanded to be spoilt over the entire weekend ;)

Lily, Amberly and Anthony are back, hope you enjoyed their reunion despite a hostile Adam raining slightly on their parade. Maybe we can get back to the romance but there are still a lot of issues to nut out before we reach that, especially for Adam and Aisling, obviously because she is on her way to another country :) Somewhat reluctantly.

As always thank you wonderful people for reading and reviewing my story you're all amazing and I hope you enjoyed the latest update. Happy reading beautiful people :)