weeks

when my father's voice stopped me in my tracks, I

e do you think

my king, to pick some wildflowers, t

going anywhere una

hen he nodded over to a young man to join us, he was dressed in the silver guards armor, w

why, your

ander off to god knows where and be seen mingling with the village men? I don't want the prince getting the

or ever wanted to. I only ever showed them kindness, a basic human action that my father

wooden doors, through the village path and towards the woods as the guard

f that, no one ever frequented here, it was left untredded, with Lavender, yarrow, Columbine and Oxy dai

. I took my time, basking in the peace and freeness I felt here. No king, no rules, no negativity

fill deep into my lungs. I moved from one spot to the next as I noticed a few conkers lying in the grass. I

onto my skin, just then the guard cleared his throat and sauntered closer

ay here, goes to who I was in no hurry to

ed past the guard and made my way back

arrival, all he'd do is constantly insult me and demand

my room, instead of toward the dining hall "Nathaniel, please infor

l. I sighed and made for my room, I'll just sneak out l

window, I laid still, trying to decide on what reason I had to get

ooh wake up m

as she paces around my room, picking

it? You look com

ing is in a

?" I asked

d, the councilmen have returned, it

t as I sat up

ready for his arrival... oooh god only knows what he'll do. Now come on, hop i

ck some of my curls with one of my mother's blue diamond h

n we got to the door, she kissed me on my cheek and looked at me with worry "please, don't do anyt

I squeezed her hand "I promise Ma

chores. I took a deep breath then willing my feet to move, I joined my father as h

nd hurriedly approached Edric "H

rted shaking his finger, only inches away from my face. "You will please the prince,

smiled sweetly and stood with my postur

ince's own guards, then walking in from behind them, he

rimmed. He was very well dressed, in a thick velvet ream jacket, brown fitted trousers, and his leather boots,

re so fortunate you have come" My fa

ew his hand from Edric and began to approach me. I felt nerves bubbling in my stomach as his bright blue eyes stayed on me "Are you the love

aughter, Aurelia, she's

outh stayed parted and he took hold of my finge

ire body, the goosebumps that covered my skin, from his soft lips. I smi

formal with me, my name is Mall

hold of my hand, our eyes locked on each o

me as our hands parted "Well, Mallon, you must be starved after your long journey, come, we will discuss

y as he looked back to me, then a

. I felt so confused and now even more anxious, it was going to be even harder now

til I found Maude in the washi

what are you doing down here, aren't

him, but father

e my dear, wh

dry out the wet cloths "Wel

y?" Sh

ses, his kingdom must be wealthy f

pleased, perhaps he's not what yo

at if he's only charming to fool me, just to unite our lands? Wh

ing if I said I wasn't scared for you, but all these doubts aren't going to decide who he is, unfortunately only t

nt, trying to find

notice you acting indifferent towards the p

ep up pretences for t

hat, m

n't ever leave

r cloth "Never! And that's a promise. You k

" I aske

, I do love

you to

laughter, cupping their wine as if it was priceless treasures, Mallon m

he looked around the room, watching the men enjoy the women that s

mood the king is in. Why? Are you not accu

s sort of thing in my father's castle. I thought

frequent th

"only on occasion, when friends of

here too, of course being a princess I'm

an such as yourself doesn't

ere the taverns are, and in the meantime your wel

I'll pass, It's n

half naked women and I felt myself growing to like him

ERE'S PLENTY OF FUN TO GO ROUND" he laughed, an

from the journey, I think I'll retire for the rest of t

Mallon, we shall talk mor

seat, he leaned down so his face was

, the warmth of his breat

t was about you. I'd love to spend some time with you tomor

a stroll, that way we can get further acqu

he took my hand and placed another so

d slightly giddy. He chuckled, softly t

illion feelings boun

uickly turned my focus to him "

nd some time together tomorrow, I

e nodded in acceptance "you be

you goodnight now, I too

"off with you!" then he turned his attention back to

o was he really? And why so far has he been kind and charming? Perhaps tomorrow I'll know more of what he's really like. I scorned my feelin

ff on a footpath in the woods for some time to get further acquainted. We passed the pond that

" he marvelled as we both

kingdom, I love how quiet it is here, away from

id you come

other and Maude used to bring me here when I was littl

e blossom from a tree and handed it to m

waking day with me, and tu

you when she

nwell, I sat with her every day, until one

rry... you must m

s tells me how much I look like her. It's hard when the one person that could

our father...

ot at all... wer

hat w

a start I

at could cause you to not be clo

ent "Umm, well, he's a kin

an heir no

trying to make "But kings only want male heirs, don't they

me "Are you telling me, you don't have a relationship

elationship would be completely differen

you're his daughter, his heir, it shouldn

did you learn that? All kings wis

lia, not

ed beside me "But, my father always said a male heir is neede

her told

ed "mm

rgive me Aurelia, but that

ll son's, he has no ca

nd his back "Well, that's not entirely true... before my

o him as I lis

er, my brother William followed, then two years later I was born. When my

ith sympathy "Mallon, I had no idea, my fa

e all did!... you see my father didn't think of her as a useless female, he saw her as the future queen. He had high hopes for her. She was witty, excited all time, but

ke he was very

h and my heart began to sink... so its not all k

n't agree with what your father says, the way you clearly view y

despise me so much? Is it because I remind him of mother so much? It's not as i

, whether I'm queen one day by my own

s in you already... I saw

" I smil

to see the village one day, per

er head back now, I know the

or me to join him and his guards in a spot of

n the tiniest of noises, so t

he steps, his intimidating broad shoulders rising with each breath he took. He smiled kindly at

bbed my arm roughly as he shoved me against the w

y king, he talked

hit about his family! Tell me

be he needs time to settle, I... I just think

in "I gave you one thing to do Aurelia... you better see to it that

xiously "Ye

ice called fro

ee Maude staring at him "The horses are re

gave me one last glare, before releasing

heard them, all leave on the horses, she took me back to my room