I paused outside the great hall, contemplating running away again.

"Don't do it, Princess Evelyn."

"What, Charlene?" I asked.

"I know what you're thinking. Just go in and do as you are supposed to."

"I always do what I'm supposed to do. That's the problem," I muttered.

I turned to look at the girl. My maid. My friend. "Don't you ever want to throw off that gown that is forced on you and just run free?

"Of course, Ellie. We all want to just run about and be carefree. We can't though."

"Why not?" I pouted.

"That's not how the world works. We all have jobs and stations in life. My station is that of a handmaiden. A third daughter of a third son of a duke. I can only hope to find a husband higher in life than myself."

"We should want more out of life."

"Evelyn, I can't understand why you are so against your parents. They only want what's best for you."

"No, Charlene. They want what is best for them. They want me to be this perfect princess. Do as they say. Marry who they choose."

"You were told of your mother's past, weren't you?"

"Yes, Charlene. I know that my mother was this assassin or something."

"Not just an assassin. She was one of the top assassin's. She did something that no other assassin was able to accomplish. She killed one of the leaders of the Guild."

"How do you know this? And who is this Guild?"

"There are some things us servants know that others don't."

"Tell me! Please. I need to know," I begged, grabbing her hand. "Help me understand that infuriating woman there."

"Queen Joselyn grew up as Lady Joselyn. Her parents, your grandparents, were the duke and duchess of Suffolk. They were a powerful family. Your grandmother continued pushing your mother for things throughout her life. When she was six the queen was sent to France to learn and grow under Queen Marie."

"Yes I know all of this."

"What you don't know is that the king and queen of France recruited your mother to the Guild. What they didn't know was just how evil those people are. Your mother had to swear an oath to never fall in love, to sacrifice everything to protect the king, and to follow everything the Guild says without question."

"What happened?" I asked.

"Your father."

"What?"

"He fell in love with your mother. He wanted to marry her."

"What did she do?"

"You're standing there aren't you?" Charlene asked.

"Yeah." I looked at her and she arched her eyebrows. "Oh."

My mother gave up everything to be with my father.

"She confronted the Guild and killed the youngest of the brothers who lead the assassin's."

"You know a lot about this."

"Like I said, Evelyn, we servants know everything," he said, knocking on the door.

"I'm not done asking questions!"

"You can learn more later."

"Yes?" a man asked, popping his head out the door.

"Princess Evelyn is ready to be announced."

"Yes, ma'am."

The doors swung open and Charlene vanished down the hall. "I'll see you after dinner."

"The Princess Evelyn," the court hearld shouted out.

I stepped forward as a trumpet sounded and all heads turned towards me. The women curtsied and the men bowed as I walked by.

I took my seat to the left of my mother. James was seated to the right of my father. I accepted a goblet of wine from the steward and a plate of food from one of my mothers hand maidens.

"I'm glad to see you decided to finally join us," my mother whispered loudly.

"Charlene wanted to make sure I looked respectable."

"She did well. The dress is lovely."

"Thank you."

I picked at the food set before me. The meat looked warm, if that, while the vegetables were steamed to mush. I sipped the wine and watched as people moved toward the center of the room, twirling about, laughing and giggling. I rested my chin in my hands, sighing heavily, as dignitaries from various lands came to the table to pay their respects to my parents. It was all perfunctory. I hoped my father could see through the fake smiles and flowery talk.

"Smile, Evelyn."

"I will once I can leave."

"You haven't touched your dinner," my mother said, looking at my still full plate.

"Look at it, why would I eat it?"

"Oh for heaven's sake, Evelyn!"

"What, mother?" I slammed my hands on the table, sitting up straight.

She shook her head and looked at my father. "Evelyn, stop antagonizing your mother."

I curled my lip and rolled my eyes.

"If I may, your majesty, ask your daughter to dance?" James asked.

"You actually want to be near her?" my mother asked, surprised.

"You know I'm not so awful!"

"You act so ungrateful, Evelyn."

"I want to have my own life, mother."

"I'm sorry but that is not an option when you're a princess and who you are."

"That is so ridiculous!"

James stood and grasped my hand, dragging me away from the table.

"I beg your pardon!" I exclaimed to him.

"Just smile and look as though you are having a grand time."

"Why should I? I'm not."

"Why are you such an impossible child?" he asked.

"I am not a child. I am nearly eighteen years of age."

"Your age matters not, Princess. The way you are acting is absolutely ridiculous." He shook his head and looked about the room.

I furrowed my brow and bit my lower lip. Nobody, besides my mother, had ever spoken to me in such a way. "Who do you think you are to berate me in such a way? And in my father's court no less."

"It's something you need to hear. You should be grateful for what you have."

"And what do I have? Since you are so keen on my life," I asked as he spun me about the dance floor.

"You still have both of your parents who love you dearly despite the fact that you never obey a word they say. You have everything you could ever want. You're not hungry. You get to attend all the balls, parties, and happenings at the palace. You have fine clothes. You inherited your mother's beauty and have the most remarkable ocean blue eyes I have ever seen. In fact, they almost glow."

"Did you turn your insult toward me into a compliment?" I questioned, turning my attention to the prince who held me tight.

His cheeks turned a crimson red and he averted his gaze elsewhere. "No. Of course not."

"Thank you," I whispered.

"What was that?"

"Thank you. For saving me from my mother. It was very nice of you. You didn't have to whisk me away and you did."

"You're thanking me?"

"Yes. I'm not as awful as I seem."

"I never thought you were. I understand what it's like growing up as a royal. It is rough. Our lives are not as easy as they may appear to others. However, you do need to listen to your parents."

"Even if it means marrying someone you don't know?"

"Yes." I could feel him push away from me a bit. "Do you think that I'm okay with this? Do you think there isn't someone else I may have feelings for?"

"Oh." My heart actually grew heavy at the revelation.

I never thought about anyone else being affected by this arrangement.

"There's no saying we can't grow to love each other in time though."

"I don't want you or me to have to grow to love each other. I want to marry someone I already love. Not to mention the possibility of you being unfaithful with the woman you already love."

"I'm not going to be unfaithful, Evelyn. I take my duties seriously."

"I am not a duty! I am a woman. I will marry someone that I love. And I don't love you." I broke from James's grasp and stormed from the great hall.

I slammed the door to my chambers shut behind me. Everything was dark and quiet. I crossed the room and sat in a window seat, staring out over the gardens. The roses were in full bloom, the dew that collected on the delicate petals glistened in the moonlight. Sighing heavily I kicked off my shoes and unlaced the stays of my bodice and skirt. I let the fabric fall to the ground, smiling at the release of all the weight on my hips. I stood in my petticoats when something glistened on my desk in the dying firelight. Cocking my head to the side, I strode toward the object. A beautiful silver tiara of hematite and garnet. I couldn't take my eyes off it. The blackness of the hematite streaked with blood red veins. The garnets almost shone in the pale firelight. I removed the tiara I already wore and held the new one above my brow.

"Do not put that on your head." My mother stood in the doorway, staring at my new headpiece.

"Why not?"

"Where did it come from?" she asked, arching her brow.

"I assumed you and father had it made."

"I'd never use hematite and garnet together."

"Why?" I asked.

"Hematite is the gem of war and garnet is a very complex jewel. It takes many minerals working together to make it. The Guild had it sent."

"How do you know?"

"I know them. It was probably Agnolo. He has a fascination with beautiful objects." My mother took the tiara from me and turned to leave.

"You're keeping it?" I asked.

"It's getting locked up. Evelyn, don't think I do this to punish you. Trust me for once when I say you want nothing from them."

"Then why are they sending it?" I asked.

"They're coming for you," she said sadly.

"Coming for me? Why me?"

"You're my child. That's why."

My mother shut the door; it clicked softly as she left me in solitude. I didn't know what to think or how to feel about the latest revelation. How long would it be until they came for me? Would I have to use the skills that I'd been taught for so many years finally?

Oh God, is my mother right?

I sat near the window, hugging my knees and staring at the roses. A light rain began, tapping against my window.

"Evelyn?"

"What, James?"

"I, um, I said some things I shouldn't have. I didn't mean to say that I didn't, or couldn't, fall in love with you."

"Now really isn't the time, James. I appreciate the sentiment, but your timing is not right."

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"Some things just came up that I need to figure out."

"Let me help. I want to try to make this as happy a union as I can."

I sighed heavily and stood.

"Oh. You're not decent!" He turned quickly and shielded his eyes.

"It's fine. I still have my petticoats on."

"I'll come back tomorrow. We can have breakfast together." He headed for the door without turning around again.

Now isn't he quite the gentleman?

"Princess Evelyn?" Charlene called, walking in after James. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine."

"What did Prince James want?" she queried.

"Nothing. Just to talk. I left dinner early."

"Yes. So I heard. You left after yelling at the prince."

"Hmm. Yeah. He said some rather horrible things."

"He's going to be your husband."

"Don't say that. It's not set in stone yet. There hasn't been an announcement or anything."

"It's inevitable," she said, picking the discarded clothing up from the floor. "Do you want to wash up before bed?"

"Yes." I sat back down waiting for her to finish up and get my water.

Charlene jumped at the sound of a crash in the hallway. "What was that?"

I stood and listened as someone was screaming just beyond the door. Charlene grabbed my hand and gasped.

"What is happening?" I asked.

I shrugged and pulled out of her grasp. "Don't!"

"Shh," I whispered.

I crept to the door and placed my ear to the wood trying to listen. Things had gotten very quiet. Quieter than normal. I couldn't hear the usual whispers of the guards who marched about the castle.

"Something's not right."

I hurried away from the door to a bookshelf on the far wall.

"What are you doing?" Charlene asked.

"We're sneaking out of here."

"Is that necessary?" she questioned.

I reached into a crevice behind Erasmus' book Praise of Folly. A small lever activated a mechanism within the shelf, allowing me to pull it away from the wall.

"Come on." I grabbed Charlene's hand and pulled into the small room.

I quietly shut the shelf as my chamber doors burst open. Muffled voices drifted from beyond. Charlene stood behind me sniffling as she cried.

"Are we going to die?" she asked.

"No," I whispered. "Be quiet so they don't hear you."

I crossed the room and pushed on a brick that was caved into the wall. Another door popped open leading to a staircase.

"Come on." I motioned for her to follow me.

"Where does this go?" she asked, keeping her hands on the wall.

"It goes to the throne room. We will be safe there."

"What if the intruders are there?" Charlene asked.

"Then we wait here in the tunnel. Either way we'll be safe. Don't worry."