• Chapter One

    "You know what I dream of, Matthias?"

    The young man it was directed to, with red hair straightened up to look at the other man who sat across him in the beautiful library. With a heavy sigh, he replied, "No, I don't. What do you dream of, James?"

    "I want to meet the royal family one day. I haven't even seen a portrait of princesses." James answered. James, a young man almost of age, looked very out of place with his dressings in the library. Ragged clothes, dirty hair and shoe less feet was all he had worn in his life. Matthias, who was the Noble's son, wasn't allowed to give him the basics but food, and he was risking forty lashes having James in the house. But James was his closest, and only true friend.

    "James..." Matthias started, "I haven't either. Father never takes me when ever he must discuss matters with the Royal Mother, nor does he tell me anything when he comes home. I do know of one that has however...by mere chance also. She is friends with Princess Amelia, the middle child that is just a few years younger than us."

    "Who has met her? I wish to know! So one of my life long dreams may come true..." James said, even though he knew the chances were against him, there was still some hope. Still some hope to leave the streets, to not have to beg for money or food. He wasn't just a peasant...he was homeless. James was abandon at a young age by his father, he wasn't the son his father wanted, so he left without a trace. His mother, who tried so hard to support her son, couldn't because of her illness. Soon, she passed away when James was twelve, to be buried in a potter's field and leaving James all alone.

    Matthias saw no hope however, a pessimistic man he was, how he was treated as a child and now as a man. He always saw the bad side of things, and rarely saw good. The only soft spot in his heart, however, was for James. Acknowledging he had to bite his tongue, he answered James question; "Athena, the daughter of the royal family's doctor. She met on sheer chance when they were just girls when she came with her mother on a trip to the castle. From what she's told me, she is quite close to the princess."

    James stared at Matthias, he couldn't believe it. "Athena? I've known her as long as he has! And she never told me? Geez, it sure shows how close we are..." he thought, finally he spoke. "Matthias."

    "Yes?"

    "We're visiting Athena tomorrow, no ifs, ands, or buts."

    "Ugh, all right. It's not like I have anything better to do, I suppose. But you must leave now, father is coming home soon." Matthias said, and with that said, he rushed out of the library only to come a few minutes later, with warm bread wrapped in a cloth. "Here, take this and sleep in the barn tonight. It's suppose to rain."

    James took the bread, and jumped out of the window he originally crawled through. He looked back at Matthias, "We meet at her house when the sun is highest in the sky, all right?"

    "Right, now go, hurry!" and with that, James headed off to the barn. This be one of the few times where he slept with a roof over his head.

    Chapter Two

    The girl that sat on her bed, adorned in jewels and fine cloth, stared at her feet. This was suppose to be the day after all, the day she was suppose to meet the man she was engaged to. "I wonder what he looks like, I wonder how he is. But the question is...I wonder if I'm ready for something like this?" she asked herself. Turning her head to look out the window beside her, she saw what looked like horses with their riders a top them. She knew who they were, and why they were there.

    Suddenly there was a knock at her door, startling her. She had spaced out while looking at the beautiful scenery. "Come in." replied to the person behind the door. The door open to reveal another lady of the same age, long reddish-brown hair, wearing glistening silver armor. Carrying her helmet under her arm, and sword in her hand, she bowed precariously to girl on the bed. "Princess Amelia" she addressed her, "The prince is here to meet you. I know you do not look forward to this Amelia...but if it will benefit the country, I believe you must do this for your country."

    "Bella...I don't even have a choice. Don't speak in terms which may give me hope to somehow escape what is inescapable." Amelia replied irritably. "I know what I must do, even if I hate it. My mother did it, my grandmother did it, and now I will do it. Oh, I wish I was barren like my sister!"

    "Amelia! Don't wish that! You told me once when we were little girls that you always wanted a family, and that you wanted to be queen. Just remember m'lady, I would take this sword and drive it through that prince if he did anything to you that would harm you or this kingdom." slashing the sword only inches from princess.

    "Geez, Bella. If I didn't know how well you handle the sword, I would of sent you to the dungeons. Kidding. But I would of certainly have flinched. Thank God we have you as the High General, I don't want to think if commander Tiberius was High General. Knowing our luck he'd take the legs off all the cavalry."

    "I think if Tiberius was High General, this fine country which is Statua, would be half dead. He's just not the brightest." Bella said with a chuckle, but then her face turned serious. "Enough chit-chat your majesty, it's time. Kevan, Lady Kathrine and your maidens are waiting."

    With a soft sigh, Amelia moved off her bed and headed towards the door.