The rock made a loud splash as it hit the calm water. Raina had never been so furious and humiliated. She had spent the entire day polishing weapons and cleaning the stables. Raina pelted another rock, cursing under her breath. No one else had to fight Antonio for their knighthood, so why did she?

Raina had wandered into the deepest parts of the forest surrounding the Order, her place of refuge. The trees formed an undisturbed radius for miles, and no one could hear her screams of frustration except for a few frightened creatures. Raina's reflection stared back at her in the lake as she fell to her knees, exhausted from her emotions. For a second she saw her brother's face in her own, and it seemed like he was the one standing there, not her. Raina pulled out a golden circle-shaped object from her pocket and clicked the button that opened it up to a picture of her family. Her father had the dark features characteristic of the Aragonians: ebony hair and olive eyes. On the other hand, her mother had the light hair and eyes, characteristic of the northern kingdoms she was descended from. Her brother was darker than Raina herself, but they shared the same pointy facial features and oval face shape. Her brother's kind eyes seemed to transcend time, and she felt he was right there by her side. But there was another person in the picture, someone she didn't recognize. A little girl with a toothy smile on her face squeezed her brother's hand, and she wore a puffy dress with her hair done into an elaborate braid. Her sparkling brown eyes gazed into Raina's soul. Surely that girl couldn't have been her?

"Oh don't look at me like that," Raina muttered and snapped it shut. Her heat panged in her chest as she quickly shoved away the memories. She was not that girl anymore, and she had promised herself that she never would be again. Not after that night. It was better that she forgot.

Raina drew her arm back to throw the picture, but she couldn't follow through. Her fingers clenched the object even tighter, and finally, she resigned and placed it back on her person. She could hold on just a little longer.

There was a sudden rustling of leaves, and Raina listened as the steady pattern of soft footsteps crept closer.

"Go away," she groaned at Antonio's reflection in the lake. "I don't want to talk."

Antonio ignored her and sat on the soil next to her.

"Just so you know, I didn't come here to apologize."

"Well, I hope you didn't come for an apology cause you're not getting one," Raina huffed.

"No, I know you're too stubborn to ever admit you're wrong," he chuckled. "Just like my son when he was your age."

Raina perked up at the mention of his son. It was a touchy subject for Antonio, a subject forbidden by anyone to mention or even allude to. Raina had made the mistake of asking about him in her first few weeks living with him, and she learned quickly never to do it again. The only thing she knew was that he used to be one of the most skilled knights in the history of the Alton Order, trained by Antonio himself. Then he left one day, and no one dared speak of him again.

"He was passionate, tactful, and had all the makings of a knight of legends, but power is useless if you don't know what do it with it. I failed to teach my son what honor meant, what responsibility came along with his strength, and in that respect, I failed too. I just want you to realize that battles aren't always won with the sword."

"Well, it's a good thing I'm not your son," Raina quipped. "I'm different, and you should treat me different."

"You're right, you're not my son. You are much more important than that. You're the last heir to the throne, and it's my job to protect you. I can't do that if you're constantly running off!"

Raina let out a sardonic laugh. "An heir to what? An heir to a kingdom that doesn't exist anymore? I'm no princess, and it's about time you stopped treating me like one!"

"Raina-"

Antonio was cut off by a quiet but familiar sound in the distance. He lifted his head, concentrating on the sound and trying to figure out if it was what he thought it was. His heart began to hammer in his chest, his palms grew sweaty. It was the soft chime of bells in the distance, and Antonio was counting the chimes on his fingers, trying to convince himself it wasn't a mistake. Because that sound could only mean one thing: someone had found them.

Antonio's eyes darted to the vacant spot behind him and caught a flash of movement out of the corner of his eye.

"Raina!" He called after her as she took off, but Raina was too fast and had disappeared into the depths of the forest.

Raina's breathing was hard and fast. She knew those bells were a signal that someone dangerous was approaching and that she was supposed to hide, but she was sick of letting others do the fighting for her. This was a chance to prove herself to Antonio, prove that she was capable of taking care of herself. She checked over her shoulder, making sure she had lost Antonio before slowing down to a slow walk, careful to keep her footsteps silent. She wanted to surprise the intruders in order to get the upper hand, especially because she was currently swordless. If Antonio was right, she wouldn't need a sword to take down her opponents.

From her current position, she had a view of the stone building where she and the knights lived, as well as the stables. If she remembered correctly, there were watchmen on all three paths leading to the fort. One came from the path on the opposite side of the mountain to the end of what used to be the borders of Aragona and Mirandola, the other two came from the center of Aragona and Ladon occupation, a southwest and a more western path. Those would be the passages to check for unwanted visitors. Raina crouched and pushed forward, blending in with the wildlife around her.

The western path was the best bet. If anyone was approaching and looking for her, they would want to stay hidden. The western path wasn't really a path any more. Grass, bushes, and trees had grown into the once clear road. Raina had to step over overgrown tree branches and push through overhanging branches to get to it, and even then it was hard to recognize from the rest of the woods if one wasn't familiar with it.

Raina pulled a dagger out of her boot and stabbed it into a thick oak tree with thick branches and leaves that would cover her. The rough texture of the tree bark dug into her palms as Raina hoisted herself into the upper branches. The dagger gave her a foothold on the otherwise slim surface, and she quickly bent down to pull it out the trunk. It was her only weapon right now, and therefore her best chance in a fight. She would have to make do with what she had. That's what a knight would do.

Raina's chest heaved and she forced her breath to be silent. Her muscles were tensed and the adrenaline was pumping through her veins. Sweat from her palms covered the dagger handle as she clutched it in her hands, and she sat poised in the shadows, ready to strike when the time came. Hours seemed to drag on in her waiting, when, finally, she heard hushed voices travelling on the path. Raina held her breath as two figures turned the corner. The first was lean and tall, but didn't look like much of a fighter. His hair fell along the side of his face in wavy strands, so Raina couldn't quite see his face. He wore all black with no armour, not the clothes of a Ladon soldier. The other stranger was young, his jet black hair jetting out at weird angles. His thick eyebrows were pulled down together, and his lips were pushed into a firm line. He seemed more muscular than his partner, but not more so than any of the men she had trained with for the past six years. They were both armed with swords buckled at their waist.

They definitely weren't typical Ladon soldiers. Were they assassins? Raina leaned forward, her curiosity overpowering her fear for a moment. Suddenly her foot slipped, causing her to reach for a neighboring branch to save herself. Her teeth clenched in order to prevent a yelp from escaping, but it didn't matter. A crack had resounded into the otherwise quiet forest. The voices stopped, and the teenager whipped around, his calm, hazel green eyes seeming to stare right up at her. The hair on Raina's neck rose, her heart thumping rapidly against her chest.

"Is something wrong?" The man dressed in black asked his partner.

"I just thought I heard something," the boy muttered before moving past his partner. "It was probably just my imagination."

The other soldier stayed put, and Raina finally had a clear view of his oval face and jade green eyes. She squinted at him, a strange feeling of recognition forming in her chest. Did she know this man?

He studied the surrounding area for several minutes, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. Raina remained perfectly still, not even daring to breath. Finally his jade eyes rested upon her hiding spot, and Raina stared back, studying his reaction. His eyes widened, and in one swift motion he pelted a dagger right at Raina. She gasped, cowering behind the trunk of the tree in time to watch it hit where her head had been. The man raced forward, but he stopped in his tracks as Antonio lept from the bushes, his sword drawn. The man in black drew his sword in a flash, countering Antonio's in the blink of an eye. They were on par with each other, thrusting and blocking, their feet moving to a steady rhythm. Raina grunted as she jumped from the tree.

"No Raina!" Antonio screamed at the top of his lungs, his voice laced with anger and desperation. "Run! Get help!"

Raina ignored her guardian, instead choosing to block the path of the younger stranger from reaching Antonio. His sword collided with the small blade of her dagger, and Raina instantly felt him overpowering her. Her arms wavered against his strength, and she met his hazel eyes, which were already locked onto hers. He lept backwards, backing down from the confrontation, much to Raina's surprise.

He gave her a sly smile. "A girl, huh?"

Raina gritted her teeth. "You have a problem with it?"

Her eyes wandered down to his chest, where his bare skin peeked out from his tunic. She had never fought anyone from outside the training grounds before. This was real life and death, so then why did she feel so at ease?

"Not at all." He threw his hands in the air. "Just want to let you know I can't go easy on you. You know, for equality."

Raina rolled her eyes and dove forward, aiming for his left side, but he caught her. The air left her body as she took a knee to the chest, and her knees buckled. Her eyes widened in horror as the boy stood above her.

"Stop! You idiot!" A scornful voice caused Raina's attacker to freeze, before dropping his arms to his side. Raina turned to see the man in black take several steps back from his opponent, obviously frustrated. "Antonio, it's me, Pierce."

Antonio continued to hold his sword in front of him, sweat beading down the scars on his temples. Obviously, the stranger had put up a fight, which surprised Raina as Antonio was twice the man's size.

"Pierce," Antonio whispered, his eyes suddenly widening with recognition. However, Raina could see more fear in his expression than relief.

"They're over here!" Arthur, Percy, and Leo, dressed in suits of armour, emerged from the trees on their horses. Antonio held out a hand, stopping the newcomers in their tracks. Soon the whole guard had arrived and were exchanging confused glances amongst each other. Only a few seemed to recognize the jade-eyed man, but they ignored the questions of their younger comrades. While they recognized him, they didn't really know how to answer the question themselves.

"It was a false alarm," Antonio explained to his men. "These two should be treated as guests. Go and prepare for them immediately."

The knights hesitated, but one by one they headed back up the mountain. Raina went to join them, but Antonio had her arm in a death grip in about two seconds.

"Not you." His voice had reached a dangerous tone. Antonio was angry, and if she thought she was having a bad day already, it was about to get much worse.

The boy she had previously been fighting was now leaning on the hilt of his sword, a bored expression on his face.

"Can someone please tell me what's going on?" He whined and glanced at Pierce. "You dragged me all the way up here without telling me anything."

Antonio and Pierce both ignored the boy and stared at each other in awe. Antonio hadn't even recognized the man, who was free of wrinkles and had grown long hair since the last time he had seen him. A heavy feeling rose in his chest at the memory of the last time he had seen Pierce. He was a bad omen, a bringer of bad news, and Antonio couldn't help but feel that little had changed in six years.

"Why are you here Pierce?"

The teenage boy looked helplessly between the two. "So no one is gonna tell me what is going on?"

"Yeah actually, I would like to know too. Especially since, y'know, they tried to kill me." Raina gestured to the dagger still imbedded deep in the tree.

"I'm sorry princess. I thought you were a spy. My orders were very specific about making sure nobody is following us," explained Pierce.

Raina's breath caught in her throat. Did he just call her what he thought her called her? How could he have known? No one knew except for the Knights of Alton. The memories came flowing back, the ones she had forced away for years. The flames, the screams, the soldiers, her brother, and then the man with the cold jade green eyes.

"You," Raina gazed at him in wonder, "you were the one who saved me that night." Pierce smiled at the girl, but his expression was anything but happy.

"Wait a second." Pierce's partner raised his hands in the air. "You're telling me, that she is the princess? The girl I just beat up?"

Raina glared at him. "You didn't beat me up. If we hadn't been interrupted, I would have knocked you into tomorrow."

Pierce grinned at the princess before giving the boy a look of disdain and hitting him hard on the back of his head. "This is Lance Luciano. He's useless except for being a pain in the-"

Pierce stopped himself, remembering the princess was present. Lance stared at Raina in disbelief, like if he looked away, she would disappear.

Pierce was Raina's enemy by blood. He worked for the Luciano family, a vicious group of criminals who had caused trouble in her family's kingdom for centuries. They had attempted multiple assassinations on the royal family since the very beginning of their reign. So, one could only imagine Raina's surprise when the group had come to help them the night the Ladon Empire had invaded. A feeling of contempt rose in Raina's chest at Lance. Whether his family had saved her or not, she couldn't forgive years of family strife and lives lost at the hands of their bloodline.

Lance, however, was overjoyed to actually see the princess alive in front of him. It felt like a dream, a really good one at that. He could imagine the children's faces in the orphanage once they found out their favorite fairy tale could become a reality. She gave him hope.

The group trudged up the hill, an awkward silence plaguing them. Antonio felt uneasy, and any anger he had subsided. He was more worried about what Pierce's arrival meant for Raina, who had become like a daughter to him. He had always been a tough man, a veteran, able to handle any challenge that came his way. However, Raina's arrival had changed things. While he didn't like to admit it, the girl had made him soft. He was no longer so ruthless in his hunting, only taking what he needed for food. He treated his men differently, using less brutal tactics in their training. He had stopped drinking. Raising Raina had given him the compassion he had lost all those years ago, and he didn't know if he could get it back if he lost it again.

Raina had a similar anxiety rising in her chest. She had started a new life, and now here was the man who had saved her all those years ago. Why would he come back here if it wasn't to save her again? She observed the tall stone building growing closer as they pushed themselves up the steep mountainside. Moss grew on the edge and in the cracks, and the windows were narrow and dark. Spires pointed to the pale blue sky, and a large brass bell dangled high above them. This was her home. This was where she had learned to fight, where she had held a sword for the first time. Where she had met Antonio. She didn't want to leave this place.

The group walked up a steep staircase that led to the front door of the castle-like building. Pathways went to either side of the door, an overhang laced with flowers trailing the walkways. A large wooden door opened into the dim interior, and Raina had to blink several time before she could see anything clearly. The ceiling curved upward, giving it a dome-like shape, and it was covered in historical drawings and murals. Pillars reached up into the ceiling on either side.

"Wow," Lance whispered, as if he had just entered some sacred place. "This place is beautiful. Some of the stuff in this room is probably worth millions." He squinted his eyes at one of the paintings that hung from the wall.

Raina eyed him suspiciously. "Yes, the Knights of Alton have preserved some of this artwork for generations. I would advise that you don't touch it." Lance threw his hands in the air and took a few dramatic steps away from the painting.

They continued into the dining room, where a long table was set and ready for a feast. A strong smell had drifted from the kitchen. Most of the older knights, Percy, Gerard, and Richard were already sitting at the table, letting the younger knights do the work. Raina could hear the boys in the kitchen clanging pots and pans, yelling at each other. A loud crash caused her to jump, followed by more screaming. Eden quickly emerged from the kitchen, his eyes glowing mischievously. Leo and Arthur followed, not looking impressed with their comrade.

Raina exchanged a look with Leo before sitting next to him at the table. Lance fell into the seat directly across from Raina, his plate already full. His elbows were on the table, and he was shoving the food into his mouth as if he was famished.

"Are you going to eat anything?" Leo questioned, concern evident in his steel-blue eyes.

"I think I lost my appetite," Raina muttered, glaring at Lance, who didn't take any notice of his foul manners.

Leo nodded and dropped the volume of his voice, "What's going on?"

"I'm not really sure," Raina responded. Raina didn't wish to discuss her feelings, and Leo didn't push the subject any further. The night had continued on in the same manner: uncomfortable, silent, awkward. Lance every once in a while would make an attempt at conversation, and no one would respond except for the occasional glare from Raina or Pierce, prompting the room to silence again. As plates grew empty, so did the table, and Raina watched helplessly as Leo stood up to follow the rest of the men.

"Good luck," he mouthed as he disappeared into the hall that led to the knights' living quarters.

The only four left sitting at the table were herself, Lance, who was still eating, Pierce, and Antonio. The chair screeched against the floor as Antonio suddenly stood up, and Pierce and Raina quickly followed. Lance, who was slouched in his chair, pushed his feet into the ground and ended up falling backwards.

"Oh boy." Raina rubbed her temples, pondering how this could have been the same boy she fought earlier.

The group followed Antonio to his quarters, which remained at the end of a long corridor, isolated from the rest of knights' rooms. The room was empty except for a twin-sized bed and a table. Dust flew into the air, tickling their noses. Antonio didn't really spend much time there any more, as he was busy during the day. At night he slept on the worn-out couch outside of Raina's room down the hall, much to her frustration. There was no arguing with Antonio once he had made up his mind.

Once the door had closed behind them, Pierce reached into his satchel and pulled out a sealed envelope. Raina studied Antonio's expression as he ripped open the letter. His eyebrows fell, his eyes wide as they scanned through the message.

"He can't be serious?"

Pierce nodded. "King Augustus has spies infiltrating our ranks, and we discover more every day. They're obviously planning something, and any day now they could strike and end everything we've been working towards for years. We need the princess to return."

Raina stumbled backwards. "Wait, what?"

"We need the princess to return and lead our people. In order for us to secure allies with other kingdoms, we need to insure a real royal can take back the throne. Your return could very well turn the tides of the war in our favor, but we have to be quick."

"No," Raina started. "I already decided that I wasn't going back."

Pierce opened his mouth, trying to say something in response, but the girl had said her words with such finality he wasn't sure what to say.

"What do you mean you aren't going back?" Lance's voice was laced with anger, making it sound like the deep growl of a beast. His calm, hazel eyes had become ferocious, his stare unrelenting.

"What's not to understand? Whatever war there was ended when my family was slaughtered in cold blood," Raina shot back, her tone growing sharp.

"Actually," barked Lance, "people have been dying trying to restore the Aragona Kingdom while you've been hiding here, feasting like some spoiled brat!"

An image of all the children at the orphanage, starving for food, flashed through his mind. Keaton on his deathbed, clawing for every breath. Mrs. Marino praying that the empire would show some compassion and give them the medicine they needed. Then there was the old slave being stabbed for questioning his master. This was the world he lived in, the world his father had spent his life trying to change, while their "hero" princess was living a life of comfort and luxury.

Raina scoffed. "Of all people, you are trying to tell me what's right? Your family's dynasty was built on fear and suffering. I may be a spoiled brat but at least I'm not a murderer."

"You are welcome to think what you want of me and my family. You're welcome to call us murderers and thieves, but I have watched my father scrape up enough money to buy starving children food. I have watched my brothers bleed fighting off Ladon soldiers in raids. You think by doing nothing, you aren't murdering people?" Lance's voice grew sharper with every word. "Because you are more despicable than every bad deed my family has ever done if you don't go back."

Raina and Lance held eye contact for a long time, until finally, Raina looked out the window where she could just barely see Aragona's castle on the horizon.

"I'm sorry, but I can't go back. You're going to have to find someone else to be your princess." Lance stared at the girl in disbelief as she rushed out of the room. The princess had just been a dream after all.

Hello reader! I hope you are enjoying the story so far. What do you think of Raina's decision to stay in hiding?

Don't forget to vote and comment! They're greatly appreciated! :) See you next week