[A.N.] Hello everyone! I welcome you and thank you for checking out my second attempt at a fairytale fanfic involving my most favorite GUndam Wing Couple! So far there are no warnings as i want you to read and enjoy and please let me know what you think! Your comments help more than you know, especially on these sort of fics. I hope to give you more romance in this one because i know Pure As Snow was lacking in that department(it's in revision) that being said, I hope you enjoy!

~Serene

Heero Yuy relished the thrill of the hunt. The sun was just right in the sky and the late spring weather was just warm enough without being overbearing. He never really hunted for sport; he would give his kills to the local village to help feed his people, a small act of charity compared to what they truly deserved. His father and mother, the king and queen, had been fair and just and the kingdom had prospered under their rule. Twelve years ago a blight had befallen most of the lands: the sun never shown as brightly and the crops never great and bountiful again. It was soon after that disaster had befallen the royal family taking the king and queen from the world and leaving behind the young prince to be raised by his father's trusted old friend Prime Minster J.

Life had been far from easy adapting to his role as the 'king to be'. J had had him train in all the forms of self-defense and weaponry to help ensure that he would be able to defend himself should someone try to end his life. It was against the old man's wishes that he go out and hunt on his own but he found that the more men he took with him on his hunting excursions, the harder it was to find any sizable game.

He had heard rumors of a large white stag, greater in size than any previously known. A beast that big, if it truly existed, would make a more than a decent contribution to the food supply of his town. He had made the necessary preparations, caused the necessary diversions, and made his way out of the palace grounds towards the forest where the beast had been rumored to run. However, hours had passed and it seemed that whatever blight affected the land extended deep into the population of the wildlife as well. He had yet to see a rabbit, let alone the great stag.

It was as he was about to turn back, however, that he caught his first glance of the beast, alabaster fur glinting in the fading light of day. It raised it great head, ten pointed rack and all and looked at him. Heero had never seen such a color blue: ice and snow incarnate. He grabbed his bow and an arrow from the quiver at his side. He knew it would probably take more than one shot to fell the beast if his aim wasn't true. He, however, was the greatest archer in the kingdom and thus relished the challenge. Upon his movement, however, the stag took off into a run, sprinting around the trees and through the brush: a white streak among the forest greenery. He continued to chase, making hurried shots that barely missed, each burying themselves deep into whatever was unfortunate enough to receive them. This animal was faster and seemed far smarter than any he had pursued before. Suddenly, he felt a searing pain shoot through his whole body, surging through him to his core. The last thing he saw before he collapsed was his horse galloping off into the darkness.

"Heero! Heero, buddy! Where are you?" Duo Maxwell, Captain of the Prince's personal guard called out urgently. "Oh man, If J finds out we let Heero go out alone again we're all toast."

"Speak for yourself, Maxwell. Some of us were at other more complicated guard posts yesterday." Wufei, Captain of the castle guard snapped. The two had been out looking for the Prince since his disappearance the day before.

"I just hope Quatre and Trowa have been able to keep Counselor J from figuring it out."

"Sure, Maxwell. The Prime Minister will definitely not notice that the crown prince has been missing for the last twenty-four hours."

"Hey, Heero's gone out hunting before!" Duo quipped back.

"If you would spend more time keeping track of Heero and less time fliriting with the maids, this wouldn't have happened. So, get your act together, quit whining. Keep your mouth shut and your eyes open." The only sound between the two men after that was the occasional disgruntled mumble from Duo.

Blindingpain surged through his body. He tried to move but his body refused to obey his instructions. His eyes seemed to be sealed shut for all his attempts to open failed. The last thing he remembered was hunting on the outskirts of his kingdom before a pain like he'd never felt before sent him reeling off his horse and his world went black.

"Is he alive?" He heard a female voice like liquid honey penetrate the darkness.

"Yes, his heart still beats, but his breathing is very shallow. We'd best leave him here." Another woman answered.

"I cannot simply abandon him. You know all too well there are creatures in these woods that would harm him."

"My lady, I beseech you. We have tarried here too long as it is. We have done all we can to make him comfortable."

"Sally," The voice from before was now more stern with an authority he almost felt. "I am staying. Return to the others and let them know I am fine and shall be there before the moon sets." There was a tense silence that followed.

"Very well, my lady, but please be careful. You know what HE will do if you are not there when he arrives."

He heard the second woman's footsteps retreat slowly and knew then that he was alone with this strange young woman. He felt what he guessed was a cool cloth press against his forehead and heard her humming, a sweet melodious sound that soothed him: the pain leaving his body with every wonderful note.

"I'm so sorry." He heard her say, though what exactly she was apologizing for he could only guess. If only… He felt his eyes opening slowly, soft moonlight illuminating his world. He saw her then, bathed in the silver glow on her honey colored hair atop a heart-shaped face that gave almost the illusion of a halo. Her lips, pink and supple were curved down out of concern. Soft, cerulean eyes the color of a sea before a storm stared down at him.

"You're awake." It was a simple statement, but the concern in her voice warmed him. This couldn't be real. SHE couldn't be real. Never before had he been so relaxed, so taken off guard. It was too good to be true; almost magical. That thought put him on alert. He jumped to his feet, pulled out his sword and stood ready.

"Who are you?" He demanded. His eyes locked with hers, midnight to sky blue, before letting her eyes examine her for any threat. Her dress, a simple blue gown that nearly matched her eyes draped down her slender form, clinging in the usual places. He saw no weapons on her, however.

She showed no sign fear, just confusion and-perhaps-even hurt.

"Who arranged this assassination attempt?" Being the crown prince and soon to be king of his land he had a lot of enemies and would-be pretenders to the throne that had tried to kill him ever since his parents died long ago.

"I assure you, I mean you no harm." Heero looked around for any trace of unwanted company. She had had someone with her earlier; reinforcements may be nearby. Female assassins were uncommon but not unheard of. She could have been sent to lure him into a false sense of security to help the others catch him unaware. The area around him, however, was far different from the rest of his land. The darkness shrouded the numerous trees that surrounded them like a cloak of shadows. Though the moon shone, it couldn't fully pierce the gloom.

"Where am I?" She paused as if in thought, began to speak and then paused again. What is she hiding?

"You are in a clearing near Silver Swan Lake. You are lucky that my friend and I found you when we did."

"Why?" He watched her carefully.

"There is little time to explain. You were unfortunate enough to run into one of the many magical traps that surround the lake. Luckily, it was one of the less harmful ones."

"If it's so dangerous, then why are you here?"

"I…" She started to say something but stopped, almost as if something were forcing her silence. "That doesn't matter. What's important is that you return to where you came from as soon as you can. Follow the path lined by the Silver Night flower. It will keep you free of the traps and lead you safely home." She turned from him then, and he felt his breath catch.

"Wait." She paused, her body rigid. "Tell me who you are." She looked at him from over her shoulder, a sadness in her eyes that struck him to his core.

"I am someone best left forgotten; that is all you need know." She paused again and reached out her hand. His horse, seemingly well taken care of, came towards her. "Here is your steed. The poor thing had been terrified by the trap, but otherwise unharmed."

"How-?" before he could get his question out, however, she turned away once more.

"Farewell." And just like that, she walked off into the woods, disappearing into the surrounding shadow.

"So, tell us Relena, was he as handsome as I've heard?"

"Yeah, was he tall dark and dreamy or light and steamy?" Two of the other girls teased her as she made her way back into the clearing. The mists above the lake were beginning to settle and the cool evening breeze did nothing to help the sour mood she already felt.

"Leave her alone Hilde. Honestly, Cathy, you should know better."

"Oh, come on Sally. It's the first man to enter this forest besides old Bird Brain that one of us has seen since our imprisonment here."

Relena continued to make her way over to her sleeping area. Each one of the girls had their own little pallet of soft blankets and fur, however, hers was the most luxurious if any of them could be called such. Sleeping in the ruins of the castle that lay beyond the lake was simply not an option; a painful reminder of what once had been that ever loomed in the background.

She sat down, trailing her fingers through the edge of the crystal, cool water and instantly, the chatter of the other girls ceased.

"Relena…?" Sally voiced softly.

"It was him, Sally."

"Who?"

"Heero…" The gasps of the other girls followed her statement.

"But… then… did you tell him? Does he know?"

"No…" Relena looked at her reflection. "The curse worked. He had no idea who I was."

"But—"

"It's okay, Hilde. I didn't expect him to. It's been twelve years… we've both changed so much that the curse wouldn't have had to work too hard." At that time, a cold wind blew across the clearing. A dark shadow blotted out the moonlight before descending upon them. The man-sized bird, no breed known to humankind, flapped it's wings to land just beyond he edge of the lake before a dark purple magic spiral enveloped it. When the glow faded, in place of the bird stood an older man in distinguished garb. Around his neck a dark purple amulet hung from a stand of silver links.

"Ah, Princess Relena… As radiant as the moonlight itself." Relena deliberately turned away from him. "Oh, now, is that the way to greet your lord and master?"

"I see only my jailer before me." She retorted.

"That's rather harsh, don't you think? I take care of you, keep the weather tolerable, the pests away, and you never go hungry. I am your provider and caretaker. You should show a little more gratitude. I even let your handmaidens remain here to keep you company."

"It matters not how many kindnesses you think you have given me, Duke Dermail. I will never give you what you seek. You may as well set us all free."

"And waste the effort I've put in all these years. I am a patient man, Relena. I can wait many more for you to change your mind." Relena rolled her eyes and stood in irritation, walking away from him.

"Why must you prolong the inevitable, my dear? Do you wish for yourself and your friends to continue to endure the same fate? How much longer will you keep me waiting?"

"The only one keeping you waiting, Dermail, is you. I have been more than clear on my answer. You just refuse to accept it."

"Don't test me, Princess."

"Or what? You'll destroy me as you did my entire life? You killed my family, ruined my kingdom and took from me everything I hold dear! There is little else you could do that I haven't wished on myself a million times!" The silence that followed was thick and deafening. She stared up into his eyes, a stand-off to beat them all.

"All I ask is that you be mine!"

"And the only answer you shall ever receive is the same as it has been these last twelve years! Never!" Dermail took a deep breath and released it in a growl. He shook visibly for a moment before coming to an eerie calm.

"I had hoped tonight would be the night that you would agree to be mine, but I see that you clearly need more time to consider my generous offer." He turned from her then and she felt as relieved as she did anguished. "I shall return once more on the night of the new moon. Perhaps by then you'll have come to your senses." Just like that, in a purple swirl of light, he changed and flew up into the sky, disappearing into the dark without a trace.

Relena fell to her knees and released a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding as a sob.

"Relena…"

"I am alright, ladies… Please do not concern yourselves with me." Just as she said these words, a giant white stag emerged from the shadows. He approached her and she reached out her hand to him. He came and placed the tip on his nose in her palm. He hadn't killed her whole family, but he may as well have as the form of her approached. "Milliardo… I am so sorry." The cool blue eyes, the eyes of their father, stared back at her sympathetically. He made his way behind her and lay down on her pallet. She leaned back on him, tangling her fingers in his alabaster fur.

"Can you believe that buzzard? Night after night it's the same thing! He really doesn't know the word 'quit', does he?"

"Hilde, you're not helping." Sally responded.

"She has a point though. He's been asking Relena to marry him since she was barely old enough to wed."

"Be that as it may, she is obviously upset enough as it is. Let's leave her alone."

"But—" Sally glared at the two girls and both became silent and walked to their own beds. Relena sighed and buried her face within her brother's fur. It had been another depressing night, but at least something comforting became known. Heero was alive and had grown into quite a handsome man. That thought gave her enough comfort to close her eyes and relax for the first time in weeks. Sleep slowly took her away with the image of midnight blue eyes firm in her mind.