Year 243.

The air was crisp, the moon hanging high in the night sky. Stars glittered around it, promising guidance to night time travelers. Men shouted as they were pushed out of inns that were closing, no longer giving them ale. The pitter patter of feet echoed around the tall walls as people ran home, hoping to get to their doors before the curfew bells tolled. Bells that hung loosely around wondering animals necks ringed into the city that sat below the massive castle. Its tall towers casting shadows where the moon's bright light shone on it, making the cold cobblestone look eerie.

A group of dirty children whispered among themselves as they ran down the dirt road looking for scraps; anything that would stop the gnawing hunger pains that they felt. Their leader let out a shrewd whistle and the children scattered as the night guards marched by. Their iron covered feet thudded against the ground and the spears that they carried in their hands moved up and down as they walked in time with each other; their eyes scanning around, under their helms, looking for trouble makers.

Blue eyes watched as the gleaming men walked by, the child pulling himself closer to the wall, hiding underneath a table. As they walked out of view, the dust settling, he hooted like an owl giving the all clear. They dashed out, skinny hands going over empty tables.

"Over here!" a young girl whispered harshly. The handful of kids surrounded her, their eyes eager to see what she was hovering over. A basket was sitting there, the smell of food wafting out of the blanket that was covering it. With a shaking hand she lifted it up and broke out into a grin. There sat six large loafs of bread, warm to the touch, the smell making their mouths water. A tall boy grabbed a piece of paper that was sitting on top of the amazing prize and read it aloud, since he was the only one that knew how to read.

"To the gang of children that run around during the night: have this and stay warm. –R.I."

"Who's R.I.?" another boy asked, grabbing the paper out of the other's hand.

"I don't care!" the girl whispered back, grabbing a loaf and breaking it up, passing the pieces out, making sure the youngest got bigger sections. They all froze as a shrill scream echoed out. The boy who read the letter whipped his head around, looking for the source of the cry when it came again.

"It's coming from the castle!" the girl said as they all looked up to a glowing window high up in the tallest tower. The sound of the guards coming back made the children grab the basket and scatter running to their hide out, happy about the bread from the mysterious person.

"Please my lady! You must calm down, you could harm the baby," a medicine woman said soothingly to the Queen. The dark blond haired woman threw back her head, screaming loudly, her hands gripping the sheets on her bed, sweat trailing down her forehead.

"Where is my husband!?" she called out, her eyes wide with pain.

"His Highness is out in the hallway," the small woman said, placing her hands on the Queen's stomach. "The baby needs to be birthed now My Lady." The Queen gapped at the woman before nodding her head as the medicine woman spread her legs, aiding her in the delivery of her child. The Queen's screams covered up another woman that was in pain.

Down into the servant quarters another woman was screaming, her large stomach towering over her frame.

"Push, you have to push." The light-brown haired woman grunted, her teeth pressing against each other. "That's it. I can see the head keep pushing."

"Maria! You- you have to get his father!" the woman panted, her hand gripping the arm of a dark skinned girl.

"I can't, you know I'm not allowed-"

"You must!" she cried out again as pain raced through her body.

King Francesco paced the hall way, the screams of his wife making his face white, his hand pulling on the ends of his beard. Someone running up the stairs and to him made him jump.

"I'm sorry Your Majesty, but she's going into labor and requests your presence." She curtsied low to him, looking down at the ground. The King knew who she was talking about, he opened his mouth to ask something when his bedchambers doors were opened and three more women came bustling out.

"Is that…?" the King trailed off. The woman in the middle, with a bundle in her hands looked up into his face, forgetting her place. She looked grim, offering the blankets up into his arms. He looked down with worry, a sob catching in his throat. The baby was pale, its eyes closed, chest frozen.

"I'm so sorry Your Majesty," the eldest of the women said. "It was a boy." Not taking his eyes off of his dead son the King asked,

"Does my wife know that our child is… is…" He couldn't say the word.

"No she doesn't, we told her that the father must see the child first." He handed the blankets back saying quickly.

"Dispose of it and do not tell my wife, I must attend to something quickly, tell her something, anything. But don't speak of our son." Without waiting for an answer he turned on his heel, following Maria down the torch lit corridor, his clothes billowing behind him as they descended the stairs.

"It's a girl," the servant spoke softly, a smile on her face as she placed the fussing girl into the dark haired womans eager hands. The baby's arms flailed wildly, her mouth open, a cry coming out of it. The door blew open, making the new mother and the other servant jump. The servant curtsied bowing her head as the king walked in. His eyes were wide and fierce, dark shadows underneath were prominent, his beard was uneven at the end, where he had been pulling on it.

"It's your daughter Frank," she whispered. "I'm naming her Jane, after my grandmother." The King stood there frozen for a second longer before leaning down and ripping the child away from her hands. "What are you doing?!" She screamed at the man, moving through pain to get her baby back, the girl screaming louder. He turned already heading out of the door when he felt someone grasp his gown. He twirled around, his eyes cold and hard, voice coming through clenched teeth.

"If you know what's good for you servant," he spat the word out. "You'll stay quiet about this." He left without another word, leaving the woman sobbing.

He clutched the blankets to his chest, the little girl stilling, her hands gripping against the buckles of his cape. He looked down; her eyes were open but unfocused, black hair coating the top of her soft head.

"Jane…" he cooed, his legs taking him quickly up the steps to his chambers where his wife waited for him.

Eight years later.

"Daddy!" the blond haired girl called. She had a stick in her hand, a fierce look on her beautiful features. "Guard yourself." The older man chuckled, picking up the other stick that she threw at him. She ran at him, her small legs giving her surprising speed. She carefully waked the stick her father was holding who smiled, stepping back.

"Whoa there fierce knight! What have I done to earn this mighty fight with you?!" he asked, faking pain as she hit his leg. He fell over with an "oomph" and the little girl placed the tip of the stick to his heart.

"You're an evil man, Dark Mage!"

"Well if that's the case…" he trailed off, standing up faster than the girl expected, knocking her fake sword out of her hands, her scream was happy as he picked her up throwing her up in the air, her stick laying forgotten on the ground.

"Daddy! Daddy!" she yelled between screams of pleasure.

"I use levitation to get out of this duel!" He set her down as she gave him a stern look, just like her mother.

"Daaad," she dragged out. "That's cheating; you know Mommy gave me a necklace to prevent magic from hurting me." She pulled on the golden chain that was around her neck, letting a heavy red jewel fall out of the dirty shirt she was wearing.

"How could I forget Sir…?" The child puffed out her chest.

"Sir Maura to you, Dark Mage." The man laughed again.

"Maura sweet heart, you know girls aren't allowed to be knights. You need a convincing name." Maura scuffed the ground with her boots, only eight years old and already having unreachable dreams. He tapped his figures against his lips thinking, "How about Sir Alex?"

"Who's that?!"

"He was my father, your granddad. He was a strong man; they say he could lift a whole cow over his shoulder." Maura brightened, looking up into her fathers' face.

"A whole cow?" she asked with awe only a child could have.

"A whole cow." She nodded her head, determination washing over her face.

"Right. I'm Sir Alex of the Kings personal guard." He smiled down at her, ruffling her golden hair. She grumbled flattening it out making sure it was just right.

"Paddy Doyle!" Someone yelled from over their fence. Maura turned, looking at the man who stood there, her eyes widening. His chest plate gleamed in the sun, gloved hands gripping an unsheathed sword that was longer than she was tall. A helmet was pulled down over his face, red fur sprouting out of the top of it. Two other men were also in armor flanking him, all standing like they were going to attack.

"Are you a knight?" she asked softly, never before actually seeing one.

"Maura go inside, go to your mother." Scared by his tone Maura ran inside the house, the setting sun casting shadows.

"Mommy! Some men are outside." Her mother stood up from the table running to the back door, opening it a bit, her hand going to her mouth, gasping as the three men circled her husband. The knight speaking harshly to him, one of the iron clad men noticed Maura's mother standing there and started walking towards the house; she whipped around grabbing her daughter hard on the shoulders.

"Remember that game that we play, were you hide and I try and find you." Maura nodded eager to play a game with her mother it being so long. "Alright, I want you to hide, pick someplace really hard and don't come out, no matter what you hear, don't come out. I love you Maura, I love you so much." The blond girl was confused but accepted her mother's kiss on her forehead. The honey blond child dashed off, running past tables, tall bookshelves that held endless quests for her to read. She dashed up the stairs, the lit candles lighting the way, the setting sun already causing the house to darken. She passed her father's suit of armor, a dinged sword resting against it. Looking around Maura spotted a door and ran for it.

The closet was dark and it scared her a little bit. She drew her knees up to her chest, hiding behind a well bucket, her ears ringing with the silence. There came a shout followed by someone screaming. Maura gulped, resting her forehead on her knees. Thuds shook the house, making Maura whimper with the loud noises.

"I am Sir Alex and I'm not afraid of anything!" she whispered to herself, trying to calm her pounding heart. Maura didn't know how long she was in there, her young mind still un-able to tell time very well. Her eyes started to droop and soon her head was resting against the wall, fast asleep. Someone opening the closet door, allowing sunlight to stream onto her face is what woke her. A dirty boy stared inside seeing the child there.

"Over here!" he called, a womans face looked at her next, Maura staring back not saying anything.

"My names Alice, what's yours?" she asked Maura.

"Maura…" the childe dragged out.

"Come here Maura." She slowly bent down placing her hands underneath Maura's armpits, lifting her up. The child didn't question what was happening, used to strangers picking her up, coming and going when they talked to her father. She felt the woman place a hand on her head, willing her to bury her face into her neck. "Close your eyes," she said. Alice smelt dusty; when Maura pressed her lips against her neck she could taste her sweat there. She started walking, Maura's feet dangling around her waist.

Another smell wafted towards her nose, this one not coming from the woman that was holding her. Disregarding what Alice had said she opened her eyes. They were just walking out of the front door but she saw everything. Red covered the walls and floor; it was dark and smelt like iron. Her mother was lying in the middle of the red, her gown torn open, and her face blank.

"Mommy!?" she called, expecting her mother to laugh and stand up, pulling a prank on her. Alice broke out into a run, trying to get the innocent child away from the devastation as fast as possible.

The black haired girl ran through the gardens, her mother sitting on a bench, a young boy sitting on her lap, keeping a watchful eye. The girl giggled as the plants around her moved in the direction of her, the flowers turning towards her like she was the sun. She spotted a butterfly, soaring around a growing apple tree. She laughed gleefully, running after it, her dress flapping around her legs.

"Jane, sweetheart, don't wonder off to far now!" The child huffed watching the butterfly go outside of her reach.

"Ma! I almost had it that time!" she whined, walking back to her mother.

"I know honey…. Oh Jane!" she cried looking down at the girls dress. "Look what you did! You know we have to meet with the Earl and his wife later on." Jane tried to squirm her way out of her mother's grasp, who was trying to straighten her dress.

"Ma, I don't want to go. Adults are so boring," she dragged out the word, finally getting out of the crippling hold. Her mother sighed, letting go of her daughter. She rested her hand on top of Jane's younger brothers' chest.

"Jane, a princess must-"

"Must be respectful and always present," Jane finished, rolling her eyes. "Yeah I know Ma." The queen smiled softly at her daughter. Disregarding their conversation like a child would, Jane walked forward placing a hand on top of her brother's head, playing with the hair there.

"Ma, why does Frankie have blond hair like you and I have black hair like Pop?" The Queen ran her hand down the black curls that cascaded out of her daughters' head, the small silver crown barley staying in place, the thick hair pushing against it.

"You got your Father's hair." Jane gave her a bashful smile at the mention of her father, unknown dimples peeked out, the cleft in her chin started to peek out. The Queen gulped, trying on a smile to distract her child from seeing her inner thoughts. "Go Jane, wash up. I want you to be ready for our guests." Jane threw her head back groaning. A tall man in black leather stepped out of nowhere, his belt hanging low, a sword weighing it down. She skipped happily; grasping the man's gloved hand.

"Come one Vince, let's go!" He laughed at her, gripping onto the small hand. He caught the eye of the Queen who smiled at Jane's bodyguard, knowing he would give his life for her girl.

Maura stood there shivering with fear. She had no idea where she was and the house she was standing in was massive and crowded. They walked into a hall, a rug worn down lag on the floor, tables were pushed against wooden walls that had paintings hung up on them. Children ran around, some going up the stairs that sat on the far left side, others going farther down the hall, disappearing into the never ending doors. Alice gripped Maura's hand, making Maura grasp her skirt, trying not to get overwhelmed.

"Where am I?" she asked but before the woman could answer the tall oak doors on their right burst open, reveling a tall older woman, her black hair pulled tight against the base of her skull.

"Alice… who's this?" Alice stepped forward, Maura coming with her refusing to let go of her skirts.

"Constance, we found her house ransacked, here family…" Alice trailed off.

"Orphaned?" Maura looked between the two women, trying to keep up with the conversation.

"Yes Ma'am." Constance walked over, kneeling down before Maura who hid behind the Alice's skirts.

"Shh shh, there, there young one, you're safe now." Maura peeked around the fabric. "What's your name?"

"Maura Doyle…" she said shyly.

"How old are you?"

"Eight," Maura whispered. Constance's broke out into a smile at the child's shyness.

"Well Maura, I'm Constance Isles, it's a pleasure to meet you."

"Pleasure to meet you too," Maura said, taking a small step away from the skirts that swallowed her up. The black haired woman laughed softly at the girl's manners, so rare in a young one. She stood up looking at Alice.

"Take her to a spare room, get her washed. I want to her to the castle when my husband and I go." Alice looked down at the blond girl.

"Is that wise Constance?" Alice asked before Constance could leave.

"Are you forgetting that the King needs to sign off on the adoption papers?" Constance scolded Alice. "If what you say is true, I want to in role her in school as soon as possible.\

Maura allowed herself to be scrubbed. Alice didn't speak much Maura noticed. Shivering slightly when the woman washed her hair Maura asked,

"Why am I here?" The hands in her hair froze before moving again.

"Maura…" Alice dragged out as she moved around the bathtub so she could face the girl. "Your mother and father… Needed to go away for a bit, just for a little while and they wanted us to look after you." Alice cursed to herself, lying to the child was no way to gain her trust.

"Oh… Where did they go?"

"That's not important, what's important is that we get you nice a clean." Maura stood up, water trailing down her body as Alice wrapped a towel around her, drying her off. As she was drying her hair Maura asked,

"But I saw Mommy in the living room when we left and she…." She scrunched up her face trying to understand what her mother was doing.

"Forget about that Maura." She quickly handed the girl a short dress needing to distract her, Maura grimaced at it.

"You want me to wear this?" Alice looked at the blonde child.

"Constance expects it from you." Slowly Maura slipped it on, having some difficulty with it.

"Here my child, you need to put it on like this," said someone from behind her, she looked over her shoulder and saw Constance walk in, helping her with the dress.

"There, fits better now doesn't it."

"Yes…" Maura looked down at the ground, fidgeting with her hands.

"Ah ah ah! You mustn't fidget Maura; we don't want you to have bad manners around the King now do we."

"Am I really going to go see the King?" Her eyes widened her face priceless.

"Not if you don't hurry up." Maura grabbed Constance's' outstretched hand, being pulled off towards something she never thought could have happened.

Jane yelped as her maid poured hot water into the bath.

"Really, Princess I don't know how you manage to get so dirty!" the woman scolded. Jane smiled at her, pushing her face out of the way.

"It's simply really Angela, it's not my fault, it's the plants." Angela raised her eyebrows watching the girl scrub her arms.

"The plants?" Jane rolled her eyes as if the answer was obvious.

"Yes, they're the ones that get me so dirty." Angela sighed; this child had such an imagination. She helped Jane dry off, toweling down her wild curls. After slipping a new dark purple dress onto the moving girl, Angela grabbed the silver crown, bending down to place it on her head, Jane jumping away.

"No! I don't want to wear that thing, it hurts my head! Can't I wear my hair up?!" she whined at Angela's frowning face.

"How about we put your hair up; but you still have to wear your crown?" Jane rolled her eyes walking over to her table that held all of her jewelry and accessories. She pulled out a long black ribbon, going to place it around her hair.

"Don't you want a better color than that?" Angela grabbed a dark pink one, grabbing the black one out of Jane's hands.

"I hate pink," the child grumbled, crossing her arms and pouting.

"Well, it goes lovely with your dress, don't you want your mother to be pleased with what you're wearing." Jane mumbled something so low Angela almost missed what she said,

"I don't care what my mother thinks." Angela pulled the child around, dropping down to one knee.

"Princess, you mustn't ever say that! Ever!"

"Why?! It's not like she cares about me anyways. Always 'Jane do this Jane do that,'" she said, mocking her mother's voice.

"You can't say that! Your mother loves you dearly and she's just setting you up to successful Queen, she wants' you to be the best woman that you can be-"

"I'm only eight!" Jane piped in, not wanting to be labeled a woman just yet. Angela stood up, grabbing Jane's hair again, wrapping the ribbon around it.

"She just wants you to be the best person that you can be. It may not seem like it but the Queen loves you with all her heart." Jane looked down at the floor.

"How do you know?" she whispered.

"Because I hear how she talks about you, making it seem like you're made up of nothing but sunshine and butterflies." Jane beamed at the taller woman hearing about what her mother says about her. Angela just barely got the crown in place before Jane ran off, her bodyguard jogging after her to keep up.

Maura gasped as they walked into the main chamber of the castle, the walls were lined with stained glass that told stories of fierce knights fighting for their Kings. Flags hung low, their dark red making the room look darker than it was. Guards stood along the wall, their spears pointing up to the never ending ceiling. People milled around, some sitting along the four massive tables that sat there, talking and eating among themselves; servants ran around, carrying baskets and buckets full of water, trying to get a day's work done. As Maura's group walked down the carpeted floor Maura ran her hand across one of the long table, amazing at the smoothness of it.

Constance stood at the head of the group along with a man who introduced himself as her husband, Richard Isles. They held their heads high, their outfits gleaming in the sunlight that came through the massive windows. Maura hung back, allowing the three other children to go in front of her, each of them having the same face as Maura.

"Ha ha! Here he is, the man I've been waiting for!" Someone yelled. Maura peeked around the people in front of her just catching a glimpse of Richard hugging someone.

"It's good to see you Your Majesty."

"Oh please Richard, you make me feel like an old man!" Richard laughed while Maura tried to get a better look at the King. He wore a dark blue tunic, which had gold sewn along the seams, black leggings showed off strong looking legs that ended in polished boots. He wasn't wearing a massive crown, not the kind Maura had pictured any way; it was a just a gold ring that circled his head, a purple jewel sitting in the front of it, three small white ones on either side of it. He had brown eyes that looked warm and full of life, his dark hair showing spots of grey in the temples, his beard clipped to perfection.

"Constance, always a pleasure to see you," the King said, taking her hand and kissing it.

"Always look forward to our visits Frank."

"Constance! It's been too long!" a woman cried, her shoes clicking against the ground.

"Amelia! Still can't tell time I see! It's only been a week!" Maura's eyes widened as she recognized the Queen as she embraced Constance. Her long dark blond hair was put into a stylish manner, her own crown shining with the same jewel as the Kings crown, but it was smaller and didn't have the six white jewels in it. Her eyes were a bright blue and there was something off about them that Maura couldn't place.

"No matter, still too long!"

"Oh! Princess, my how you have grown!" Constance said happily, hugging a child. She had dark hair like the King and she was at least half a head taller than Maura.

"Yes, a whole three feet since the last time I saw you," Jane said sarcastically to the older women. Amelia laughing, placing her hand on her daughters back.

"I don't know where this one gets it."

"And how is our Prince?"

"Stronger than an ox!" the King spoke up, eager to boast about his son.

"Already? I thought he's…" Constance started to ask, looking between the King and Queen.

"Only a two year old," Amelia finished, while the King rolled his eyes. "Come let us see the children, I want to pinch all their cute little faces!" Richard and Frank scoffed at Amelia.

"Women," they both said to each other laughing. Frank huffed as his wife smacked him in the chest with her folded fan, glaring at him playfully. Richard and Constance stepped aside, allowing the children to walk forward, Maura hanging back.

"Ohh!" The Queen cooed, looking at them all. Maura tried to make herself invisible. "Now child, there's no need to be shy," Amelia said, looking directly at Maura. "What's your name?"

"Maura your Highness," Maura said quickly trying to curtsy, her small body not yet used to the movement. She felt the Princess's dark eyes looking at her, but she dared not to make eye contact.

"Nice to meet you Maura." The King smiled, wrapping his arm around his wife's waist and placed his other hand on her protruding stomach, before changing the subject.

"Richard, Constance, come to my study, we must talk and sign paperwork no doubt and as always the children will be watched."

"Behave," Constance whispered to them as she walked away, following her husband and friends.

"I'm going to stay here Mother if that's alright," Jane called after Amelia only receiving a distracting answer. A boy looked up speaking boldly to Jane.

"So you're the Princess huh, that must be boring."

"I admit, at times yes, but not always." Jane said, her bodyguard lurking in the background. The boy scoffed his foot against the ground, turning to the other kids. "Who wants to play a game?" the other two kids cried out happily, throwing in their ideas while Maura slowly inched away, trying not to be noticed. Just as she was almost at the end of the room a girl slid in front of her.

"Where do you think you're goin'?" Jane asked, casually leaning against the table, looking at her nails.

"Oh I.. uh.. I just…" Maura gulped, not knowing what to say. Jane laughed standing up straight.

"I'm just kidding," she smiled. "Do you want to play with me?" she asked boldly. "We can go to the gardens."

"What if we get in trouble?" Jane waved her hand. A tall man walked up next to her, his arms folded behind his back. Maura's eyes widened as she looked up and up at him, cowering back. His face was hard and thin, black hair cut close to his scalp.

"Oh, don't be afraid of Vince, he always looks like that because he has ants in his pants." Vince laughed gruffly along with Jane. "Don't worry, as long as he's here with us, we'll be fine. Unless you want to stay with them," Jane pointed to the other kids that were behind Maura. They were all arguing with each other over who was going to be whom in their game.

"No not really…"

"That's the spirit, now come on!" Jane started to run off, Maura chasing after her.

"Whoa…" Maura let out a whistle, as they walked into the gardens, Vince hanging back.

"Nice isn't it? It's my own garden; it's even named after me." Maura raised her eyebrows in disbelief at the Princess as they walked down a path; Jane laughing at her new friends face. "Okay, maybe not me, me. But it is called the Rizzoli gardens." Maura inspected a flower smiling.

"It's not named after you then, it's named after the King." Jane kicked some pebbles, Maura adding quickly. "I mean, one day it will be, when you're the Queen." The Princess looked at her.

"Hey," Jane smiled brightly. "I guess you're right."

They played with each other for over an hour, running down through the garden. They talked about everything that occupied an eight year old mind. Maura pointed out the different kinds of flowers, saying their names. Soon they made a game out of it, Jane pointing out plants and Maura named them. At one point Jane convinced Vince to secretly lift Maura up and place her on his shoulders. She screamed and then laughed loudly as she looked out over the gardens on her new height, awed by the view. The blond whispered into Vince's ear who grinned up at her nodding. He dropped Maura down to the ground, quickly searching for a stick and passing it to her. He then out stretched his arms chasing after Jane, roaring loudly. Jane playing along pretending to faint, calling out,

"I need a knight to save me!"

"Don't worry Princess I'll save you!" Maura called jumping in between Vince and Jane yelling, "Back! Back I say!" As if Vince understood Maura's mind, he jumped back, landing harshly on the ground, rolling around and then becoming still, when Maura threw out her hand yelling oddities casting a invisible magical spell. Maura dropped her stick, turning to Jane.

"Princess are you alright?!"

"Thank you! Thank you sir…?" Her face broke out of character for a second with her question, Maura quickly whispered.

"Alex."

"Thank you for saving me Sir Alex! As a token of my gratitude I give you this!" Jane pulled on the ribbon in her hair, letting the dark curls fall down her back. Maura held out her hand, ready to accept the gift but Jane asked,

"Can I braid your hair?" Maura smiled, dropping the act and sitting in front of Jane, eyeing Vince who still laid on the ground.

"How long will he stay like that?" she asked, feeling Jane's fingers pull softly on her hair.

"One time he stayed dead for three hours." Maura giggled as she spotted Vince open one eye looking at them and then closed it again, making sure they were still safe. She felt Jane's legs press against her back as the girl braided her hair.

"Look!" Maura pointed as two butterflies flew by, circling them before racing off.

"There are a lot of them here. I still haven't been able to catch one," the Princess said from behind her.

"Catch one, why would you want to do that?" she turned her head as she asked, Jane turning it forward again.

"Why not? Plus wouldn't it be great to be able to say that you caught one before?" Maura felt Jane's hand's working faster as she ran out of hair to work with, coming to the end of the braid.

"That would be an amazing achievement to have." Jane laughed at Maura for using big words.

"Okay so you know the names of all the plants here and you use big words, what are you a teacher?" The girl in front of her grew silent as Jane finished tying the ribbon in place. As she pulled it tight, making sure to double loop it, she grew nervous hoping she didn't offend her new friend so soon. Feeling that Jane was done Maura turned around, their knees touching as they both disregarded etiquette and sat cross legged. Maura looked around, leaning forward, Jane mirroring her.

"I want to be a Knight when I grow up," she whispered to the Princess. Jane's eyes grew wide.

"Maura you know you can't. Girls aren't allowed to be Knights." Maura leaned in closer whispering again.

"I know. That's why I want to be the first." Jane looked at her friend, thinking hard. She stood up, leaving Maura confused, who started to stand up also.

"No, no. Hold on. Vince!" The massive man sat up at once looking around for danger. "Can I borrow your sword for a moment?" Vince gripped the handle of his sword about to pull it out when he thought better of it, instead pulling out a dagger, handing it to her hilt first, with a careful eye. Jane gripped it, clearing her throat.

"Maura kneel before me." The blonds' nerves tingled with the anticipation of what would happen next. "I, Princess Jane Clementine-"

"Your middle name is Clementine?" Maura interrupted.

"That's beside the point," Jane huffed continuing. "I, Princess Jane Clementine…," she paused waiting for an interruption but Maura just smiled at her. "Rizzoli, next in line to the throne and to rule over our humble land, dub thee Maura Isles," Maura frowned at the last name but kept quite as Jane tapped her shoulder with the blade. "The rights to become the leader of my own personal guard when I gain the status of Queen, only if you succeed in your quest of becoming a Knight." She handed the blade back to Vince who didn't say anything, walking back to the place where he died, laying down again. Maura beamed standing up and throwing her arms around the taller girl.

"Thank you Princess, thank you!" Jane hugged her back saying,

"Please don't call me Princess, Jane's just fine." Maura let go, stepping back.

"But that's your title?"

"It makes me seem like I'm better than you, but I know we are the same." Maura smiled again.

"Alright, Jane." The brunette grinned just as big, pointing out butterflies, the yelled with happiness as they tried to catch them. They tumbled over on another, both jumping at the same butterfly. Laughing loudly they laid on their backs, pointing up at the sky, watching the clouds shift and turn into different shapes. Someone calling out Maura's name made them quickly sit up.

"Maura! Where are you!?" Both girls ran towards the voice of Constance. "There you are! What are you doing out here?" Jane quickly spoke up, defending her friend.

"I wanted to show her the gardens and we started playing." Constance turned her sharp gaze on Jane, bowing her head softly at the Princess. "Well, we are leaving; it seems everything is in order." Maura found her voice finally, Jane's boldness encouraging her.

"What's in order?" Constance looked between Jane and Maura.

"I'll explain everything when we get back to the estate Maura, come along now." They followed behind the black haired woman, the presence of Vince's protection easing Maura's nerves. They walked into the hall, all the other children standing by the door with Richard waiting, the King and Queen nowhere to be seen. Maura pulled up short, wanting space to say goodbye to her friend. She pulled her braid around, tugging out the ribbon.

"It was nice meeting you… Princess," she thought better of using Jane's given name in front of the others, Jane seeming to understand. She placed the ribbon back into Jane's hand smiling.

"It was nice meeting you too Maura, I hope to see you again." They hugged quickly. Jane watched as Maura walked towards the group, her hair falling out of the braid that held it together, a thought striking her. "Quick, Vince cut this in half!" Jane said, shoving the long ribbon at Vince. With a blur of his hand the ribbon was cut, two pieces were handed back to her. "Maura!" She shouted, running after the girl, who turned confused.

"Here, I want you to have this," she said, handing one long piece of ribbon to her.

"I can't this is yours," Maura objected.

"No it's not, this piece is mine." She smiled, holding up the other half. "Now, no matter what we'll always be connected." Maura grinned, tying the dark pink ribbon onto the end of her braid again.

"Maura, let's go," Constance called, loosing patients with the girl. Maura waved goodbye to Jane again, as she ran after the group. She threw one last smile over her shoulder at the Princess, her green eyes dancing, before she disappeared, out into a world Jane had never stepped foot in.

First of all, if you haven't seen the drawing, titled Chivalry, by apollo-devotee, you must! It's is simply a master piece. (The link is in my profile) I would like to give a personal shout out and Thank you to these amazing people, (these are their tumblr accounts)

artemis-devotee

heartonaconstantrun

sideadde

artistic-tortoise

yo-doctor-death

dobismuted

guardianrock

rizzleseverywhere

For assisting me with brainstorming for this story, it wouldn't have been this great without you guys.

#BRC

Another personal shout out and thank you to yo-doctor-death for dealing with me and betaing this for me!

Take care everyone! - FTP