(slight filler with purpose, but I couldn't write more- I have to get a job tomorrow or else I am in huge financial trouble- ipso facto- good nights sleep!)

She opened the door and took a small look around once her eyes had cleared, and the redness had faded somewhat. Empty cobblestone hallways stretched in either direction, the opposite wall mere lattice stones, covered with climbing plants and blossoms. She would have gasped if the next thing she noticed hadn’t been the two burly men staring down at her around the doorframe. With a squeak she jumped out of the door and backed away against the ivy, glancing at them both as if she expected them to make a grab for her. Instead, they remained as still as statues, staring ahead with one-minded resolve. She glanced around.

There were no other people around, and without her jeans, she could probably make better time than these guys with the hundred pound swords could. She took a small step to the left, and glanced back at them. They didn’t move. Okay? She could leave? She was about to take another step, when one of them spoke, his voice loud and booming and completely startling.

“It’s a good thing there are guards posted at every corner of the halls, isn’t it?”

“Oh yes,” the other responded. “Or else who knows how many people would try to run around the palace.”

Ah. So that was why they didn’t move. Darkly, she muttered a few curses and insults under her breath, and shot them looks, which they ignored. In fact one of them almost seemed amused, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. Unlike Caybiam, they had dark hair cut very short, and dark eyes. Perhaps they were brothers or cousins, they looked so alike. A sudden shriek startled her out of her pout, and she followed their gaze to see a small girl in a raggedy dress run full tilt towards them from the other corridor. Seconds later, three guards appeared, all chasing her with weapons drawn.

“Stop, you little thief!”

“Help!” she cried, and without thinking, Stephanie snagged her as she ran by. The girl clutched her legs in a vise-grip and buried her face in the cloth desperately. “Help me my lady!” Panting and huffing, the guards made a motion with their swords, and made a grab for her.

“Come here!”

“No!”

“Hey!” Stephanie snapped, holding the girl’s head to her hip. “She’s just a little girl!” No warning given, the head guard slapped her roughly, and she staggered back to avoid falling, her eyes wide in shock. They grabbed the girl, who began screaming at the top of her lungs, and fighting back with all her worth. Stephanie blinked back painful tears, and suddenly pushed the one who had slapped her off the girl. “Leave her alone, jerkoff!” This time she didn’t even see it coming, but when the black stars faded she was staring at the boots of the guards, and the little girl was crying. This time, the guards at her door had moved, and were in a face-off with the other three, all five with drawn weapons.

“-And I say you get back, or we will be forced to violence!”

“What is the meaning of all this chaos?!” Stephanie mentally cursed. It was Caybiam. He strode down the hall until reaching the group, and took in the scene. Stephanie was on the floor, his guards were all fighting, and a girl in rags was squalling and kicking like a stuck pig. “Why do I get the feeling this is your fault?” he asked his future wife codly.

“My lord,” began the leader, “She was most disobedient and rude.” The two from her doorway cut him off loudly.

“My lord forgive us our trespass but we did not feel it our place to move from our duties until Captain Forv hit the future Queen to the floor. We felt it was then necessary to act.” Caybiam said nothing, but tilted his head at Stephanie, and offered her his hand. Did she have to? Mustering as much grace as possible, she got to her feet with his help, and embarrassedly brushed the dust from her legs.

Again he said nothing, but moved forward and yanked down the face covering she had finally figured out how to redo, and all five men turned away immediately. Long seconds went by in which she felt he was way too close for her comfort. His eyes were so close to hers as he inspected her face, and brushed a thumb over her cheek hard enough that she flinched . That would be a bruise, she figured, and seethed. Never before had she been hit, and all her instincts said to kick that man where the sun didn’t shine with all her strength. His eyes met hers for one brief second as he fixed the covering back to her face, then it was gone as he turned.

“Forv. Are you aware of the penalty for touching, let alone hitting, my Queen?”

“But sir!”

“ARE YOU AWARE!” the prince shouted suddenly, whirling on him. Stephanie took a step back, and even the girl had stopped making even the slightest sound. She didn’t know Caybiam, nor did she want to, but she knew that tone of voice. She had heard it from her father once or twice when he was beyond the boundaries of angry. You didn’t push that tone of voice. Not even the slightest.

“Yes, my lord.” the man admitted, turning white. “It is death.”

“Wait, death?” Stephanie exclaimed. “That’s a bit harsh!” Caybiam turned and twisted her wrist so tightly she thought it might break, but looking into his eyes again, this time seeing the rage brimming there, she shut her mouth tightly.

“You. Will not. Speak at all. Do you understand me, or do I need to let the whip explain it?” Mutely she nodded. He wouldn’t really whip her, would he? That was inhumane! “As for the rest of you.” he dropped her hand and dismissed the captains others. “What has the girl done?”

“She stole bread from the kitchens, my lord.” The little girl started sobbing again.

“I don’t want to be dead!” They couldn’t kill that little girl. If he even DARED say that was the penalty, Stephanie was going to have a word or two about that.

“You are not going to be dead,” he snorted. “But you will be punished. How old are you?”

“Six years, your highness.” He looked down at her thoughtfully.

“Why were you stealing?”

“My father got hurt and they stopped giving us food.” She looked on the verge of breaking out into tears again, and Stephanie couldn’t help but to swoop down and give her a hug. The feel of the lean fingers clasping her neck made her feel fiercely motherly. They wouldn’t dare hurt this girl!

“You will receive one lash for the one theft, and one lash for the disobedience of thinking you can steal. Terref.” One of her doorway guards looked up.

“Yes, my lord?”

“Insure the girl’s family is supplied again with food, and get her father to a healer. Take her.” Stephanie shivered at the ultimate lack of warmth in his voice, but reluctantly let the guard take the little girl away. Except for the one guard still remaining by her door, they were alone again in seconds. He let out a controlled sigh, and pointed to the opposite hall.

“Walk with me.” As much as she hated to, she obeyed, and began walking with him near the wall. “You cannot keep causing trouble.”

“Me?” She sputtered hotly, “Your guards were going to kill her! Back home, I do not allow people to beat up little kids!”

“You are not,” he said quietly, “back home.” He wasn’t just whistling Dixie, she grumbled. Then an idea formed.

“Caybiam…why me? I really don’t want to marry you, and you won’t like me, why not pick a girl who wants to marry you? They have shows for this kind of thing!”

“There is no time, and there is never a willing female. I chose you because-” he bit off the sentence so abruptly, she couldn’t help but notice.

“Because why? Surely not because I’m just so beautiful.”

“That is true,” he said, ignoring her gasp of indignation. “Of all women there, you were the only who did not look away.”

“I didn’t know who you were.” she lied dryly, then forgot the argument. Before, just as the turned the corner, was a beautiful garden, filled with flowers she recognized, and one or two kinds she didn’t. Some were as large as dinner plates, other flowers were smaller than her fingerprints, but they were all lovely. “Holy cow!” she whispered, and ran to the wall closest them. It was a courtyard, almost reminding her of a secret garden, except it was here in plain sight, yet no one even looked at it. Caybiam almost smiled behind her back, but made a sharp sound when she tried the gate.

“You cannot go in!” Startled, she took a step back.

“Why not? I just want to smell them…” Caybiam took her elbow and led her away.

“You may look from afar, but you may not go in. It is forbidden.”

“But why?” His aggrieved sigh made her shut her mouth. He was still trying to calm down, and she could see she was annoying him. “Nevermind. Sorry.” She turned and started going back to the room, feeling slightly put out, for all new reasons. Can’t even touch the stupid flowers, and sue me for asking!

“Where are you going?”

“Back to my room!” she said over her shoulder. Except when she looked up, she didn’t recognize the hallway, and it split into three other directions. Egad. “Where is it, by the way?” Caybiam caught up with her, and took her by her elbow, taking one on the left.

“Nevermind your room. Come with me.” Wondering if she should even trust him, she realized- what choice did she have?”