I sighed, setting my pack down on the plush chair by the fireplace. The room conjoined to a bathing room and a study, both lavish and excessive, but fitting for a castle. The room itself was seemingly magical, warm and homely and perfect, but that feeling wouldn't last long- it never does. I didn't know when it would happen, but I knew that Valentine wouldn't stop until I was back in his hands, as his precious kin. I never knew why he wanted me so badly, why he kept such a close eye on me all the time, as if he was waiting for me to do something.

I sighed and began to undress, peeling off my long and heavy cloak first, then began to strip off my various weapons; the fire heated up my leather clad legs rather quickly- it felt quite nice. Four daggers were strapped to either side of my body- two hidden on my arms, one on my belt and another in my boot- a sword hung off my left hip and a poison shooter on my right, with darts hidden elsewhere on my person; a bow had been strapped to my pack with a quiver joining it. Once, everything was off, I opened my pack and pulled out my sketching papers. I had developed a habit of drawing my surroundings- people, places, things- from my mother when I was younger. She used it as a way of remembering, though hers were more refined, more detailed, than mine. I mostly drew my dreams now; pictures of bloody wars, dark terrifying places, angels that have fallen, and creatures of fire and ash- the sort I had been warned about when living in the forest.

A loud rap on the door made me jump, shaking me out of my reverie and making me drop my papers. I sighed again and collected them, setting them on my bag, before moving to the door. Cautiously, I opened it. Much to my own amusement, the person on the other side of the door was none other than the arrogant Prince. He held a tray of seasoned meat, warm steaming bread, cool milk, and melting cheese. I grinned mockingly.

"Well, look at this here… A Prince doing a servant's work. Isn't this my lucky day?" I said, snarkily, looking at him bemused. He blushed like a virgin girl in a brothel.

"Take the tray or starve, I don't care either way." He said, harshly shoving the tray into my arms.

"Why, thank you, your Majesty." I said, bowing slightly at him. He frowned deeply and I raised a brow at him. "What?"

"That was just a very...attendant like thing you just did. When you came here, and met me, you didn't so much as bow or curtsy fully at me. You confuse me, Miss. Fray." He answered, crossing his arms.

"You brought me food, that's enough to garner some pleasantry, if not, some respect towards your title as a Prince." I said, matter-of-factly. I set the tray down on a small sitting table and turned back to him. "I am far below you in status, but I will show you the same amount of respect you show me; which so far has been little. Your parents… they have shown me the greatest kindness I have seen since I last saw my mother. They have gained some respect through actions."

"And your trust?" He asked, a curious look upon his face.

I smiled slightly. "Not yet. It's far too soon for me to trust anyone, even your parents. My trust is something that is harder to acquire than my respect, mostly because to trust is to offer up something personal… and if I am being frank… I'm very closed off to this world." I looked up at him. "It's not pretty outside of this castle, my Prince, and trust is sparse among us commoners. We'd sooner rob each other blind than trust one another and that is a truly sad thing." He nodded, his brow furrowed in thought.

"I can understand that." He said, after a few moments. I nodded, absent-minded. "Well, I should leave you to your meal. I hope it is well prepared for you."

I chuckled. "My Prince, right now, horse's grain would be a more filling meal than what I've had in the past couple days." He shook his head and smiled a true smile, one without arrogance and charm. In that moment, he became even more beautiful in my eyes.

"You are very different than any other person I have met. You speak your mind, and you're witty. I like that in a person. I wish to get to know you better in the time that you stay with us." He said, his hand on the door. I nodded in agreement, albeit reluctantly.

"I think… that that would be alright. Though, I cannot promise you anything, for I've never actually had a true friend before." I whispered, staring down at my plate of food. I felt a warm hand on my shoulder and looked up. The Prince grinned cheekily.

"Then, I shall be your first and best." He responded. "And if we are to be friends, then you must call me by my given name. You must call me Jace." I grinned.

"I think I can do that."

I woke before the dawn had approached; the sky still a dark silky blue.

"But a storm is coming by the sight of those clouds." I muttered to myself, moving silently across the room to where the bathroom was located.

White marble with gold infused cracks made up most of the room, including the foreign styled basin with a gold water spout. Rose was the second predominant color in the room- same stone, but with black fissures instead of gold-making up the sink and parts of the floor. I started the bath, watching with fascination as water came out of the spout, before slipping out of my clothes. Bathing oils and soaps lined a side of the wall; I chose the least perfumed one, a sandalwood concoction.

After I was done bathing, I pulled on a slip and walked back across the room, moving into the closet. It was filled with hundreds of dresses on one side and corsets, trousers and blouses on the other, with shoes lining the floor. I headed to the blouses and trousers immediately. I put on a flexible steel-boned corset, dark fitted tunic, slightly worn leather trousers, and my pair of long boots- made out of a special hide with iron plating in the toes and shins. I wrapped my cloak around me and strapped my weapons back on my person, grabbing my bow and quietly slipping out of my room and down the hall. It was eerily quiet, not even the servants made noise indirectly chambers. I breathed in and made no noise, in case I was wrong.

Outside was foggy, wet and perspired with low looming clouds and minimal sun. The gardens became creepy and dark looking and the forest became something from a nightmare. It was the perfect coverage away from people; someplace I could effectively train without being interrupted. I shivered against the cold dampness of the fog and wrapped my cloak tighter around me, as I moved towards the woods. A tall oak tree, old and rough with a plentiful bunch of branches on its body, stood away from the surrounding pines. I put my bow on my back and began climbing it, grabbing ahold of its strong limbs and digging my feet into it,moving slowly upwards.

Once I reached a tall enough vantage point, I unhooked my bow and strung it, looking down at the foliage below. I listened. A cree of hawk to my right. A lone howl farther behind me. Light, thumping footsteps in front. That's where my focus went. Soon, a herd of deer came into a clearing just before the great oak. Two bucks guided a small group of deers, one at the front and one at the back. They paused to graze at the filling feast before them. As quietly as I could, I nocked an arrow and took aim… released… and watched the arrow weave through the trees, the silent runes on it working to my advantage. It struck true. I quickly nocked another arrow and fired again, hitting another deer, as the herd panicked and ran through the forest. I started down.