A/N: Well, this is my first fic so PLEASE be nice! : )

I absolutely love the story of the twelve dancing princesses and I can never find any thing on them so I wrote this. Constructive criticisms welcome! Even flames! Please R&R. thank you. ^_^

Chapter One

The Stage is Set

I was young when the war started, about 19 I reckon', but when it finished, I was old. Not old in years really, the war only lasted 10 years, which is relatively short in our land, but old in spirit. I had too many friends die in my arms, saw too many bloodstained fields. When the war was over I cursed the eyes that saw the horrors and the feet that brought me into battle and the mind that would not let the memories fade.

Therefore, I traveled.

I lived hand to mouth, doing an odd job here and there enough to earn me a piece of bread and a glass of milk to wash it down.

And I was content. Not happy but satisfied. I should have known my luck would change.

****

It was mid-summer when I decided to drift towards the King's City. Not because I had some sort of patriotic feeling, or I wanted to see the sights, or meet the people but because I'd heard that the King was giving the soldiers from the war free land up in the north. I didn't have any illusions about the land up to the north, it was said to be icy, dangerous, and roamed by beast like the dragon and the great white bear.

Nevertheless, a big piece of land.

All my own.

Sounded good to me.

So I went.

****

A week or two later I was stopped at an ancient well. The old woman in front of me didn't have enough strength to pull up the bucket, filled to the brim with sloshing water.

"Here, let me help you, Ma'am." I offered politely.

The old woman gratefully handed the rope over to me.

"Ahhhh…" She gave a sigh of relief. "Thank you, young man."

I shrugged and turned to fill my canteen.

"Are ya' headed for the castle then?" She persisted.

"Aye." I grunted. I took a deep swallow from the canteen and licked my lips. This well water wasn't bad!

"Going to save the princesses are you?" She went on. "Well, you're not the first and probably not the last! Still, I feel sorry for those poor lads." She sighed and lapsed into silence.

"Save the princesses?" I asked, feeling bewildered.

"I thought as much," said the old woman taking my strangled question as an answer. "But you won't get very far without…." She trailed off then brightened. "Of course! Here I am wishing I had someway to help ya' and I plum forgot about the cloak!" And with that, she pulled out a plain dusty black cloak. She gave it a cursory glance then held it out to me.

I looked from her to the cloak in confusion.

"Go on, son. It's perfectly harmless but even better because it'll keep you safe from harm!" She cackled at her own joke and impatiently pushed it towards me.

"It may not look like much but its gotta good invisy-inves- One o' those I'm-not-here spells."

She was looking a little annoyed so I reached out and took it.

Hmmm…

No tingle, no thunder crashing and no flash of lightning.

I opened my eyes relieved. Sometimes these foreign spells do funny things to a person.

The old woman was shaking a finger at me.

"Now you be careful. Those princesses are smart girls, they are. You make sure you're a gennel'man and no sassin'."

And with that last administration she patted my hand and limped away.

I stood by the well, black cloak in one hand, canteen in the other, staring openmouthed after her. A shepherd, his flock of sheep hurtling towards the well, yelled at me to get out of the way. Broken from my reverie, I quickly looked around. No old woman. I looked down at the cloak then shoved it in my bag. Looking around once more, I shrugged.

What can I say?

She was possibly insane.

I filled the canteen once more, then started walking.

****

OK, What do you think? Any thing you could suggest would be great! Any preference about what princess he should like? R&R!