CHAPTER ONE: A Reason To Stay

She leaned over the balcony, peering into the darkness. She knew the guards were heavy beneath her. There must have been at least eight below her terrace. And believe it or not, all eight guards were necessary. Often she was caught trying to escape her quarters; running through the corridors, hoping to go unnoticed. She had tried the stunt more than enough times. And, like always, she was captured by the guard at the end of the hall. The watchman in turn would alert her father and her plans for escape would be ruined, sending her back to her bed. And so, she waited again for the next setting sun.

As the wind began to blow her dark brown locks, Elena, first daughter and princess of the House of Leoness, spoke gently to her lady in waiting.

"My last night," she said slowly. A long sigh followed her words.

"Yes, Milady," began the old woman from inside her mistress' room, "'tis a horrible thing to see you go." She looked toward Elena quickly then continued her task of folding the pile of towels at the foot of the bed. "You will be surely missed."

"I should think my people would miss me, Faye," said Elena, a hint of amusement in her voice, "however, I have been thinking."

"Have you Milady," asked Faye, her head turning quickly, knowing perfectly well what her lady was thinking.

"Yes, I have."

Elena moved away from the balcony and entered the room, pushing the silken lavender curtains as she passed through the archway. She gracefully took a seat on the edge of the bed, by the mound of towels Faye was currently working on. Elena grasped a small wash cloth and began to fold it as she spoke.

"I have been contemplating something," she said calmly. "Long and hard have I thought about." She folded another towel before she continued. "What if I choose not to leave?"

Faye sighed heavily, shacking her head. "All theses years you have been trying to escape this place, and now you wish to stay?"

"It wasn't a matter of escaping, Faye." she said. "I only wanted a little time to myself. And I can never find it in this place."

"Be that as it may, Milady, you have no choices left."

Elena rolled her eyes, her tone changing. "Well perhaps I should leave right now! Runaway this very moment!"

"Milady," said Faye softly, "you cannot think in such a way."

Elena raised her brow. "You speak to me as though I am a child, Faye."

"Milady, you are only but nineteen-"

"I shall be twenty in another month." said Elena defiantly.

"Yes, but you do not act as though." Faye paused before she continued. "You have been warned not to speak about this subject, Milady. What is done is done? If your father were to hear you-"

"My father will not hear me." said Elena quickly. "That is, as long as certain servants keep their mouths closed."

"Yes, Milady." She gave a slight bow of her head and began folding another clean handkerchief. "No one shall hear it from me."

"Good." she said simply. Elena paused a moment, grabbing another towel, unable to sway their current conversation. "I'm getting pushed out the door by my own father. I never knew he could be this cruel. Maybe I should just…leave on my own."

Faye crinkled her brow. "You hesitate."

"What? No, I didn't."

"Yes you did, Milady-"

"Of course I hesitated!" whaled Elena, falling backward onto the bed in frustration. "Do you think I'm a fool! I do not wish to leave! I love it here…" She picked herself up off the bed and walked over to kneel in front of Faye. "If I asked him at least, do you think my father would reconsider?"

Faye smiled wearily. "I do not see how my thoughts would be relevant, Milady. What does it matter?"

"It matters to me." said Elena, grasping the old woman's hands lightly. "I've always valued your opinions and thoughts." she said smiling. "Why should this be any different?"

Faye shook her head as she picked up the stack of folded laundry to her right. She walked over the dresser on the far side of the room, leaving Elena sitting on the floor. "Milady, I am more than happy to give you my thoughts on a new dress or help you with your hair in the mornings." She pulled open the first drawer as she continued, "But such an opinion I shall not give."

"Why not?" she asked standing up. "Why is this so different? Is it because you know I am right? Deep down inside you know as well as I this is wrong." Faye said nothing, only continued her task. "Faye?" She said nothing. Elena sigh in defeat, though if she really wanted to she could derive an answer from her. She just wasn't in the mood.

Elena stretched her limbs, then took notice of herself in the full length mirror that sat next to her bedside table. "Very well." she said slowly. "I shall leave you with the laundry then."

Faye watched as the young maiden looked at her reflection. She had a solemn look on her face. Lately, it was a look that she possessed more than usual. And Faye knew exactly what it meant.

"Why do you think so poorly of your husband?" she asked.

Elena's ears perked at the sudden question and stopped fooling with her hair. "I do not have a husband." she replied simply.

"Not yet-"

"Not ever!" interrupted Elena, as she left the room and ran back out onto the balcony. She felt like screaming. She merely clenched her hands and slammed them against the terrace. Faye joined her on the balcony, standing just by the entrance.

"I will not listen to this!" she yelled into the darkness, not caring if the guards down below heard her.

"You have been promised."

"Every promise can be broken! No one can hold me to it!"

"Milady," began Faye just as gentle as she had before, "you should not runaway. It is no good."

"Now you wish to give me your opinion!" yelled Elena. "And why should I not!" Her head dangling, and she asked again, her tone completely changed. Softer. Weaker. "Why should I not?"

Faye shrugged, though Elena could not see it. "Because it is a woman's duty." Even Faye was unsure. "You must focus on your marriage to Lord Dominic."

"Lord Dominic," sneered Elena, eyes piercing the darkness. "He's probably not even worthy of the title."

"How do you know that?" asked Faye. "You have never met him."

"Exactly! He is a man I have never met! The very thought of marrying him makes me sick!"

"Milady-"

"To marry this man is insanity," began Elena softly. "A man I have never spoken to, a man that means nothing to me is to be my husband. How is this fair? How does this benefit me?" She paused and let out a long sigh then proceed to speak again, her voice rising.

"And a Roman no less." She turned and began to approach Faye, her arms crossed about her chest as she passed her maid by. "Tyrants. Murders. Invaders of this island. I can only imagine what their manners are like?" Elena mused for a moment, thinking on just that. "Men who speak with their mouths full, no less. How attractive they must be to the eyes," she said sarcastically.