Anastasia' Point of View

A/N: I'm trying to retype all my editing as fast as I can so if you are still reading then please bear with me.

Chapter 2

I was in the village completing yet another one of Ella's neglected chores, and just rounding the corner onto the main street when a carriage rushed past, splashing me with mud and causing the groceries I was carrying to fall. I was too busy trying to salvage what was left of the damaged food that I had not noticed that the carriage had halted and it's occupant had stepped out.

"I am terribly sorry for my careless driver, please allow me to assist you in gathering your possessions."It was a smooth male voice, and a hand wrapped in red velvet handed me a turnip. When I looked up to see the most handsome man I had ever seen. He was taller than me, with tawny hair and the brightest blue eyes. He wore a crimson velvet jacket over a white silk shirt, and black pants. I stared at him, until my mind returned and I realized who he was.

"Your majesty." I gasped as I began to stare once again.

"Please do not damage your lovely eyes on me, fair lady." He said smiling, and oh what a wonderful smile he had. When he smiled I felt a warmth rise up inside me, and it seemed I would float up to the clouds. Then I realized once again I was staring and immediately swept into the best curtsy I could, eyes down cast. That is when I saw the horrible state my dress was in. I had left home in a beautiful forest green dress, my favourite. It had the most wonderful embroidery of ivy leaves on the bodice, and skirt, and the sleeves flared as they went down my arms. Now it was just a heap of dust, green material and mud. The prince noticed my anguished face a look of concern had spread across his face.

"Are you hurt?" he asked worriedly

"Oh. no. I'm not hurt at all majesty, it's only my dress that seems to have gotten the worst out of this." I responded meekly, and regretted sounding to much like a hopelessly vain maiden
"Well we wouldn't want your dress to be hurt now would we? Do you think we should rush it to a healer?" he laughed, his laugh being somewhat mischievous and even more pleasant than his smile. And before I could respond I was swept into his carriage and we were off to the castle.

When we arrived at the palace I almost fainted in awe. I had never seen the castle this close before, and it splendour was like that of a fairytale. We stepped out of the carriage and headed up the stairs, and stopped in front of two huge oak doors rimmed in gold. I was so overwhelmed by the appearance of the castle that I had completely forgotten what time it was, and as I looked up at the darkening sky and began to turn away from the castle.
"What's wrong?" said the prince, as he took my hand and looked at me quizzically.

"Oh nothing is wrong, except. I really must go home, my mother and sisters are waiting for dinner. And I am already terribly late."

"I am sure your family can wait until you are clean." He smiled once more.

"Oh no, I was supposed to be back hours ago. And I don't think they will mind my clothes, since I can always change into new ones."

"But wouldn't you rather have a royal dinner in the palace?" His smile had dulled, and his voice now carried a trace of irritation.

"I am really very sorry. I would love to eat dinner in the palace..." His smiled brightened. "But...I really must return home. My family is probably worried about me." His smile had once again lost its sincerity.

"Then allow me to escort you home in my carriage, we simply cannot have lovely young maidens such as yourself wandering the streets alone at night." He said half-heartedly. I curtsied.

"Thank you your majesty"

"Please, call me Philip, I do get tired of hearing 'your majesty' or 'your highness' all the time." He said playfully, flashing that marvellous smile of his. I could feel my cheeks grow red, and looked at my feet.

We travelled in silence and when I arrived home later that night both my sisters were outside waiting, and I could tell even from far away, that Ella was jumping up and down after seeing the royal carriage.

After prince Philip had left she came up to me asking all sorts of idiotic questions, like how rich he was, and how handsome he was, and so on. I was too tired to answer and handed her the basket of groceries and headed to my room for some well-needed sleep. But even in my sleep I could not stop thinking about him, but I knew that there were no fairytale endings in store for me.