"Lance," Hana addresses, still stiff and untrusting towards him. "Might I ask how you got your hands on the Lady's crown, when it's been locked away? " His voice is quiet, but it holds a challenge.

We are half way back to the castle now; I have Hana or Lance on either side of me, and I stop to stare at my brother.

Hana is right, my crown should have been given back to me by my mother or father, who hold the keys. I hadn't thought of that, and may not have unless anything was said.

The two handsome men stop as well; Hana with his sword ready to be drawn as he stares Lance down.

"Lance, what did you do?" I ask, fear striking me. What has he done?

He swallows, his eyes still on Hana's hand.

I silently pray that there will not be a fight, because I care too deeply about both men for either to be harmed. Hana, I know, would fight to the death for me.

"Nothing, I did nothing." He says, looking to me, eyes honest. "Your mother gave it to me, said that you were upset and that it might make you feel better if I was to come to you with it. I was only doing as the queen asked of me."

"She is no longer your Queen." Hana says, expression cold. His stance is no less ridged than before. "How did you know where my Lady would be?"

Lance sighs, looking up at the darkening sky. "I've known this child for many years; I've taught her everything she knows. Of course I know where she will go when she is upset. I would be a failure as a brother to her if I did not remember these things. " He looks to me at the end of his speaking.

I didn't steal it Lyra, you know me better.

"How can I be certain that you are telling the truth? The king suspects you a traitor. " Hana says, standing close to me.

"This man," I say. "Is no traitor. If he says he did not steal my crown, then he did not steal the crown. His word is enough for me."

Hana looks at me a moment before nodding and taking his hand from his belt. "If you believe him, Lady."

My entire Royal Guard knows better than to call me by my first name in front of other people, it is seen as disrespectful.

I nod. "I do, indeed."

He casts Lance a long look be for grunting in response and stepping between us. "Very well. I will escort my Lady to the ball and leave her with the rest of her Guard. Then," he continues, glaring side long at my brother. "You and I will speak to the Queen about this, if she will have us."

I would protest, but I know that Hana is only being cautious - no harm can really come of it.

"Now let us make haste - I do not wish my Lady out this night; I've a bad feeling about this dark."

I nod, and we hurry along, heeding Hana's words. He is not usually wrong when it comes to his feelings about certain things, and it causes the hair on my arms rise like the hackles of a wolf.

The night is chilled, and I look up at the bright moon in the cold, distant sky. The air seems to be charged with electricity, and a cold shiver slides down my spine.

I look behind us, but only the darkness looks back.

Several minutes later, we are joined by gay stragglers on their way to the ball, laughing and joking with each other until they notice me.

One lady and a gentlemen pause their flirtatious coos at each other to bow low and curtsy in our wake.

"My Lady, " The man says, head bowed.

He seems to be at least ten years older than his companion, a pretty brunette with unfairly large breasts; but she doesn't seem to mind the nobleman's age.

"Lady," The girl starts, cheeks flushed in the cool night air. "Your hair is fabulous - my friends and I are going to style ours just like it!"

I actually find this immensely flattering, as I though my hair looked rather horrid tonight. It is far too short for for that curling business - I look like a rabid animal, the way it was puffed up before it was pinned away.

Her companion shoots her a look, and she blushes even further, lowering her head a bit. "My condolences, you must be busy... You look lovely, Lady. " She says, before the smartly dressed man leads her away, passed us with a final bow.

He dresses like he is of noble blood- but I know every face in my kingdom His was never before among my people.

Hana was stiff, standing very close to me the whole while; handsome face stone. He clears his throat uncomfortably. "Milady," he whispers, his breath ticking my face. "I strongly advise you to stay away from them this night - please. There is a bad air about him."

The urgency in his voice makes my spine quake with another shiver, and I loop my arm around his. I nod. "I will."

Lance seems pained as he stares after the two, his jaw clenched tightly.

I agree with him.

I swallow. If Lance agrees as well, there really must be something wrong.

I feel a sudden tension from Lasreal as well, and I hear his scream from the stable.

My head flies in the direction of his call and my company stops, holding their breath.

They know it is Lasreal's call, as he is the dominant Vann Hest of the stable, and they have a distinctive cry. It is much louder and more predatory than the others.

I exhale, and my breath crystallized in front of me, whispering away into the night. "He's alright - he feels my tension. "

Lance swallows, Adams Apple bobbing in his throat. " Let's get Lyra inside."

-

Compared to out side, the ball room is startlingly warm and bright, filled with laughter. I feel the shivers flee from my body, and a smile creeping across my face.

We stop a few feet from the open doorway, and I slip my arm from Hana's as my second-in-command steps beside me from where he was guarding the doors.

"Michael," Hana barks. "Our Lady is to stay away from that man." He says, nodding in the direction of the nobleman. "I will be back shortly. " He says, bowing low and taking Lance by the elbow, leading him down the hall way.

I sigh, then look up at Michael, dwarfing me with his tall frame. He isn't very heavy, but as all of my guard, he is very imposing. "Well this should be interesting."

  He smiles at me, flashing white teeth. "Milady - let me bring you to your chair, I believe your father is waiting for you."

Michael isn't as handsome as Hana or Lance, but he is still good looking. Enough so, that he has himself a pretty little wife and a son.

Ball music pours out of the doorway, and I feel my stomach knot up with nerves. I was never one for these kinds of parties.

Michael steps a foot or two away into the doorway, and whistles, seeming to make a motion with his hand.

A moment later, two shadows join his, and he speaks to them in a lowered voice.

Michael returns, now with one of the two shadows, which I now see is another of my Guards.

He greets me with a wide smile. "Look who made it. "

I suppress an unlady like grin. "I guess I made it just in time."

The third Guard disappears back into the room, and Michael's post at the door is replaced by one of my Father's guards.

Michael strides over, his posture alert. He must have spread the word about the strange man to the other guards, and I'm sure by the end of the night, every armed man will be knowledgeable about his presence.

"The King is occupied, but I have been instructed to inform that you are to descend the stairs with Merlin and I at your back."

I nod, deciding that it sounds simple enough, then inhale deeply and start to walk.

The music is cut and the clamor ceases as I stand at the top of the stairs, my left hand shakily gripping the railing.

I smile as gracefully as I can, and remember all that my mother pounded into my head growing up.

People think that being a Princess would be so easy and lovely, but it's anything but.

Castles are damp and drafty, though mine has been somewhat updated: more and larger fireplaces, it is cleaned everyday by the maids, and my father no longer has his racing dogs inside with him.

Every day, I was raised with the sun, despite how little sleep I received. I was dressed properly by my maid, then had my hair done up so that pins scratched and stabbed all day. Princesses' are not allowed to speak at important meetings and gatherings, unless addressed, our mother's spent our childhood schooling us to be  ladies. We where taught that we aren't allowed to fight for ourselves, and that men are our masters.

I, of course, grew to be much different; and it started when Lance picked me up at age eight and put some sense into my mind.

My people clap as I walk down the steps, but my heart feels leaden, my smile fake.

I can never again be free as I was when I left- this is how it will be forever now. I'm going to be the Queen, and I'm going to be married.

By the look of the crowd, it would seem that my father (or mother) had invited as many young suitors as they could pack into the huge room.

And all of their eyes are on me.

----------------------

So you know (don't kill the writer, it won't solve anything! ) I made the King's point of view in his sexist against women issue so you can all see why he is so hard on his daughter.

That comment about Elizabeth the first- I agree! But this is actually a fictional place, not a real place in history any where, and they're has never been a single woman ruler before in their history. When I re-write this book, I'll be share to emphasise that more! A lot of things will change, and mode scenes added in...

A picture of Lyra and her bow!

Incase you haven't read the Sqorpio Races by Maggie Steivater Capaill Usice is pronounced like Coppil Ishka (or something similar to that) And no, I did not steal that from her enough for it to be called plagiarism (hopefully) because it is actually an old folk lore. 
I'll update again soon- there should be a lot of things going on in the next chapter:)

As for who Lyra will marry... you will all just have to wait and see what happens! Again I remind you- don't kill the writer!

Until then,

-A.