Amberly

'Love, what was that?'

'I don't know,' I mumbled uncertainly, already up from my chair, much like the rest of the guests. My brother had just run from the ceremony shouting another girls name. It was surprise enough to see him standing at the altar and I could only assume that Aisling hadn't made it in time. Then he seemed to make a decision and started moving down the aisle, ignoring everyone around him, including his family. When I looked down the aisle and saw Aisling's tear stained face I felt even more confused. Had he rejected her?

Then, something changed. The confusion in the audience changed to shock and fear as my brother let out a sound so heart breaking it was as if you could hear his heart shattering and after looking back to where Aisling had been I saw she had disappeared. When I was able to pull my eyes away from the empty space, Adam was already running down the aisle and back inside the palace.

'Maxon?' My mother asked in distress and I turned to see both my parents on their feet looking worriedly down the aisle along with the rest of the guests. I watched as he whispered something to my mother and she shook her head before looking up at him helplessly and I felt my heart speed up. That look was never one you wanted to see on your parents' faces. They were meant to have all that answers.

'Did you see Aisling?' Nicoletta asked worriedly from my other side, an agitated Tony standing beside her. I nodded, but didn't offer any further explanation as Tony muttered something in Italian. His tone laced with anger and fear.

'No, Tony we need to let them sort it out.' Nicoletta tried to soothe, placing her hand on Tony's chest to stop him from moving. I was just about to tell them I thought something was amiss when I noticed my grandfather moving down he aisle after my brother.

'Grandfather?' I asked, feeling my forehead crease.

'Something is wrong,' he answered and I already knew his mind, like my own, had jumped to the worst of conclusions. 'I'm just going to-'

'I'm coming with you,' I cut across him, moving past a confused Anthony to walk down he aisle with my grandfather.

'Love, I don't think you should get involved.' Anthony said worriedly, but I waved him off as I continued to hurry down the aisle after my grandfather.

'What do you think is happening?' I asked as we walked inside the cool palace. It was refreshing to be out of the Angeles sun but immediately I felt something off inside the once familiar walls of my home. I heard raised voices and immediately the two of us moved in their direction, not wasting any time with conversation.

'-New Asia will rise Adam. Once I am queen, they will have control. That was always the plan,' I heard a hysterical voice explain and I felt my eyes widen as I looked up at my startled grandfather.

'Please, just let her go,' I heard my brother plead and I felt my heart sink. They had her. Somehow, Aisling always managed to find herself in danger.

'You know the deal Adam.'

'But, you'll kill me and her as soon as you get what you want,' Adam shouted desperately.

'I may not even have to. The Elite, or whomever they call themselves will get you and your family eventually.'

'You're…you're not working with them.'

'Of course not,' the girl scoffed as I heard a defenceless whimper. 'At first they were making it very difficult to keep you alive, they nearly got you once.'

'Those men, the ones that saved me. They work for you?'

'I heard we nearly lost you that day,' she sneered, and she almost sounded sad that he had survived. 'I guess once we're married I'll just let them kill you and your family. It won't be hard.'

'You can't,' Adam shouted before he was quickly cut off by a stifled cry.

'Not another step Adam,' she warned and I felt sick. What was happening? I looked over to my grandfather and saw that he had moved closer to the door and was looking through the tiny keyhole.

'Grandfather,' I whispered, stepping up close beside him. 'What are we going to do?'

'She's volatile,' he answered, his forehead furrowed in concentration. 'She'll kill them both before this day is out. We need to distract her, we need-'

'What?' I asked worriedly as he suddenly stopped talking.

Adam

'No,' I breathed, taking an unconscious step towards Aisling.

'You should have never been allowed to be prince Adam,' Medea chuckled, my eyes quickly snapping back to her and then resting on the gun that was held casually at Aisling's temple. I was about to take another step towards her when I heard the rebel alarms ring out through the palace and immediately Medea looked around as if people would come crawling down from the walls.

I was about to move to Aisling while she was distracted when the door behind me flew open and all eyes fell on the people standing in the doorway. I didn't give it a second thought, as soon as Medea was occupied I darted the few steps towards Aisling and covered her body with mine.

In all the commotion I hadn't registered the gunshot until I felt a blinding pain spread through my side. I heard Amberly shout something incoherent as a scuffle broke out and I looked up just in time to see Amberly slam her fist into Medea's face. Her body crumpling to the floor as Amberly turned her attention to the other two girls who had been holding Aisling.

I watched with detached amusement as they raised their hands above their heads in surrender. Amberley quickly bent down and picked up the gun with a disgusted look on her face before she passed it to my grandfather who had come storming over with several guards by his side. My vision was starting to blur as I looked down to see red oozing from my side.

'Adam,' Aisling gasped and I finally looked down to see her beneath me. Her eyes were bright with fear, the tear tracks prominent on her cheeks as she reached for my side.

'I'm fine Aisling,' I thought I said, but I wasn't sure.

'Get him somewhere safe,' I heard my grandfather's booming voice but it seemed quieter than usual. Suddenly, I was pulled from the floor and my world began to spin, darkness swirling through my vision.

'Aisling,' I tried to call but I could sense myself slipping, before suddenly my vision was black and all there was, was silence.

Clarkson

'Amberly, are you alright?' I asked, moving quickly to my granddaughter.

'I'm fine grandfather,' she answered defensively, as if trying to prove her bravery. 'What are we going to do about them?' I looked at the three traitors with distaste but I signalled to some of the remaining guards to move them somewhere safe as well. We could deal with their treachery when the palace wasn't under attack.

'Sir, we need to get you and the princess to safety,' one of the guards spoke up of those who remained.

'Of course, Amberly, Aisling we need to move.'

'Where's Adam?' Aisling asked, pushing herself to her feet and trying to hide the emotions attempting to escape across her face.

'They've taken him somewhere safe, somewhere they can treat his wounds without the threat of being attacked.'

'Will he be alright?'

'He's going to be fine,' Amberly interjected coming to my side and nodding at the guards to lead us to safety.

'Come on Aisling,' I encouraged noticing the lost look in her eyes but thankfully the threat of tears had passed. She looked at me hesitantly, her eyes flickering to the door where there was shouting and fighting and I knew she didn't want to go out there.

'We're going to be fine, little one,' I soothed, stretching out a hand and taking hers in mine just like I did when Amberly was younger. Aisling's fingers were cold in mine and I squeezed them tightly trying to reassure her but I knew she wouldn't be all right until she saw Adam safe and well. My son had been the same when he had come back from the Southern provinces all those years ago, when we all thought he was dead.

Hesitantly, we all began moving to the doors, the remaining guards flanking us on all sides, guns raised and eyes alert.

They pushed the door opened and checked the corridor before motioning for us to follow after them. I kept Aisling close to my side and watched Amberly closely as she tried to remain calm and collected. I marvelled again at my granddaughters bravery. Even after she had been kidnapped and threatened with death she remained strong. She was, for many years, the only thing that had given my life meaning.

As we moved down the corridor I heard the fighting and chaos start to increase and felt the guards around us tense. Their hold on their guns tightened, their movements measured and calculated. It was easy to tell we were walking into a very dangerous situation and there was no way of avoiding it. I glanced down at Aisling to see her bright eyes focused intently on the corridor ahead. She clutched my hand tightly in both of hers but she didn't cower as the gunshots got louder and I felt a small smile on my face despite the dire situation we found ourselves in.

I looked up to see the front two guards checking around the corner of one of the corridors only for them to drop to the floor moments later. Instinctively, I reeled Aisling into my chest, shielding her eyes from the devastation in front of us. Immediately, the rest of the guards moved to fill the gap left by the two fallen men, but I knew we were running low on protection. There was an entrance to a safe room only a few paces up the hallway but it was going to be impossible for us to get to it if there were intruders advancing on us.

'Sir, we need to go back,' one of the guards ordered and I looked over my shoulder uncertainly. The hallway was long, we would never be able to outrun them if they were only moments from turning the corner.

'I don't-' I was cut short as several more gunshots rung out and then there was only one guard standing, his gun shaking as he glared down our attackers. My eyes widened as another shot rang out and the final guard lost his life, slumping to the floor with all the others who were charged to protect us. I noticed Amberly duck out of the corner of my eye and I frowned but I didn't take my glare away form the two who now pointed their guns at us.

'Well, looks like they came to us darling,' Celeste purred, flicking a smug smile to Kota who stood beside her, grinning maniacally.

'My niece always was efficient.' He chuckled as Amberly slowly got to her feet, her hands clasping something tightly behind her back, a slight tremble to her features that hadn't been there before.

'Uncle Kota?' She asked, keeping the tremor out of her voice. When I heard the second round of gunshot I had hidden Aisling behind me to shield her but now she was trying to see around me.

'Oh and who is this?' Celeste cooed, taking a step forward and for a moment lowering her gun. Aisling looked up at me with wide eyes but made no move to get behind me.

'Oh this is my nephew's favourite. What luck we seem to be having today sweetheart. We can rid the world of both the false royals and the scum who dare to believe they can sit upon the throne.' Kota sneered, shifting his gun to point at Aisling.

'At least I am brave enough to dream of a new world rather than try and tear down others hopes and fantasies for a brighter future,' Aisling replied and I watched as her spine straightened, her hands fisted tightly by her side. I was distracted by the grating cackle emanating from a girl I had once thought was what this country needed.

'Look at her Kota, she actually thinks she is better, than us. How precious?'

'This is why the caste system needs to be reinstated so people like you remember your place. You should never be allowed to stand on the same level as those who have earned their power, their privileges. You are unfit to even breathe the same air as my wife and I. You agree, don't you Clarkson?' Kota challenged. 'I always thought you were the perfect king, keeping those of lower breeding from ever breaching the top echelons of society and tainting it with their vile blood. You knew how to crush the dreamers.'

'You forget yourself, Kota, you were just like this girl here. Just because you bought your status doesn't mean you belong to the Elite of society,' I shot back, feeling Amberly's eyes fall on me with disapproval.

'Grandfather,' she hissed, shaking her head as if I had just confirmed something in her mind. 'I thought you said you had changed.'

'Amberly-'

'Changed?' Celeste coughed obnoxiously. 'This man could never change and you were naive to think he could ever accept the lower ranks of society when he was the one that championed their adherence to the structure he, and his ancestors constructed.'

'You're wrong,' Aisling shouted, stepping closer to the two volatile traitors. I tried to reach for her but she had already gone too far. 'Mr Schreave is a lovely man who has showed me nothing but kindness.'

'Really?' Kota asked, his eyes flashing dangerously. 'You know Clarkson, I had thought we could convince you to come over to our side, maybe you might have even had a hand in re-crafting the world you had so stringently created, but it appears you have become soft in your old age.' His gun remained trained on Aisling but she didn't flinch.

'The people will not want your world,' Aisling answered firmly. 'Not now that they know how they can live.'

'I don't think you truly know what the people want, little maid.' Kota sneered, tightening his hold on the trigger and I felt all the muscles in my body tense. I couldn't let her die. She needed to live, the world needed to see the hope in her. I wanted the hope in her to survive.

'Put the gun down Uncle,' Amberly said calmly and I looked beside me to see my beautiful granddaughter holding one of the guards guns tightly in her hands.

'Kota?' Celeste asked uncomfortably, her gun still resting by her side.

'You wouldn't shoot me Amberly,' he scoffed.

'Are you certain?'

'You don't have that kind of strength.'

'Amberly,' I started worriedly but she remained focused on her uncle who still had his gun pointed at a distracted Aisling.

'The Elite deserve this world, not people like this girl.'

'You already tried to kill me once, but I'm not going to let you hurt more people's lives.'

'We never tried to kill you Amberly. Your families enemies are many. You should ask you brother's bride who kidnapped you,' he smiled.

'What do you mean?'

'Kota?' Celeste said again worriedly and this was when I realised there were several footsteps coming towards us and I could only hope it was help for us, not them.

'I guess our time is up here,' Kota stated calmly, refocusing his attention on Aisling. 'Our world will have no room for maids who think they can live above their worth.'

'Don't you dare,' Amberly growled, her hands tightening on the gun in her hand.

'Don't worry Amberly, it will be your turn soon,' he smirked as the footsteps got closer. Celeste shifted uncomfortably and I could tell she wanted to run. They mustn't have had enough reinforcements to sustain an attack on the palace and were just going to come in make a hit and leave, before waiting out the aftermath of their destruction.

'You will be first uncle,' Amberly shouted and then suddenly pandemonium broke out. The footsteps were finally upon us and my eyes darted to the guards rounding the corner as Amberly's gun fired, I saw the flicker in Kota's eyes and ran for Aisling as his gun shook in his hands. I slammed my body into hers until we were both on the ground, her small frame engulfed by mine.

Amberly

I watched in shock and horror as my uncle fell to the palace tiles, blood gushing from the wound I had made in his chest. I had been aiming for his head but I didn't care right now. The only thing going through my mind was, 'I've just killed someone.' I felt the gun fall from my limp fingers and I looked up to see my grandfather covering Aisling.

At first she was still and so was he but as the chaos reined around us her arms and legs started to flail and I felt a sickening thought rush through my mind, quickly invading my body. Before I even knew what I was doing I ran to my grandfather, pushing at his heavy body as Aisling struggled.

'Grandfather?' I shouted, as I finally managed to roll him off of Aisling. After the initial shock of being freed Aisling looked over at grandfather, tears gathering in her eyes.

'Clarkson,' she whispered, tears falling feeling down her already tear-stained face.

'Aisling?' I asked in confusion before turning back to my grandfather and noticing the blood seeping through his white dress-shirt.

'Grandfather,' I gasped, grabbing his hand and pushing it into my chest.

'Amberly,' he croaked as the tears started to run quickly down my face.

'Grandfather,' I shouted, moving closer and he reached up his other hand to cup my cheek.

'I'm sorry, for everything I've done in my past.' He gasped, struggling to get the words out and it only made me hold his hands tighter.

'I know,' I cooed, wishing there was something I could do to stop my grandfather bleeding out in front of me, but I could already see the light fading from his eyes.

'I'm not what I was before Amberly,' he coughed, shutting his eyes against the pain and I waited anxiously for them to open again. 'I changed Amberly…I changed the day you were born and I never went back.'

'I know grandfather,' I whispered as his eyes started to droop and my tears started to flow even faster.

'I'm going to be alright my beautiful Amberly,' he whispered, his eyes falling shut. 'I'm going to make your grandmother happy.' A faint smile spread across his lips before his hand went limp in mine and I knew he was gone.

'Grandfather,' I wept as I felt someone come up beside me. Small arms wrapped around me and I reluctantly look down to see Aisling with her eyes dry, looking down at the man I had always looked up to.

'He's gone,' I whispered, letting his hand go and sitting stiffly in her hold.

'I know,' she breathed, tightening her hold on me and turning her face to press it into my side.

'He's really gone,' I repeated as guards rushed up to us and tried to pull us apart, to get us moving. Instead I wrapped my arms around Aisling and pulled her closer, feeling the despair of loss settle heavily in my chest.

So, I finished this a few days ago and then forgot that I had and came back to it thinking I had a lot more work to do, then realised that all I needed to do was to edit and voila, the chapter was complete. Exciting, right? On an even more exciting note, I saw Cinderella yesterday. I couldn't breathed when I saw it, it was so amazing. I don't even know where to begin because everything about it was perfect and I want to see it again and again and again. And again. Gosh, I loved it so much. Although, I am a sucker for an epic fairytale and Cinderella is one of the classics. Is anyone else excited for Beauty and the Beast? I'm beyond excited, I mean I know they have only just announced the cast but even that already looks perfect. Gosh, I can't wait. Beauty and the Beast was always my favourite and I can not wait to see what they do with it :)

To the frightened guest, I hope you weren't too scared and I especially hope this chapter hasn't frightened you away, but I think I'm done with the ugly for now. After this it's just the clean up and my favourite kind of scenes. The cute ones. I already have one lined up for Aisling, Tony and Nicoletta. I just can't help myself, I am a sucker for the cuteness.

Magicalnerd, that's lucky because he is her son. Although, that means he's more annoyingly frustrating that beautifully frustrating like Maxon. Man that boy was frustrating but you could never hate him because he always managed to turn it around and steal your heart all over again :)

To the beautiful guest who can't wait to find out what happens, I kept you waiting longer than I intended (as is becoming the norm with me, gah) but at least I hope I answered some questions you may have had and started to tie up some of the annoyingly loose ends. I think this has taken me so long because I kept forgetting all the problems I had introduced and then I couldn't figure out how to resolve them. It always sent me on a procrastination binge just thinking about all the problems I needed to solve. Kind of like my French homework in my final year of school. Ruined my life.

To the wonderful guest who ships Adam and Aisling (Thank you ;) ) I'm beyond happy that this is your favourite fanfiction, that is awesome and makes all the hours I spend staring at a screen filled with incoherent words totally worth it. Adam is definitely a total idiot sometimes, but I think that's a trait all boys possess so we'll try not to hold it against him ;)

To the amazing guest who is desperate for me to finish this story, don't worry I will finish it and very soon I hope. I realise I started it almost a year ago now and I definitely want to get it finished soon. God, I can't wait to hit that complete button. It's so satisfying, you have no idea :)

As always beautiful people thank you for reading my story and giving me your amazing thoughts. You are all wonderful :) Happy reading story lovers!