I stand in front of my bed thinking about how I would bring these two large baskets down the wall and past the guards. I slip one basket on my left arm. It is quite heavy but I should be able to climb down. The other one is lighter.

I walk to the window and carefully lower myself out. The guards jist passed this area so I quickly make my way down. I skip every second one so I can get down faster and run. Ten more, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three. I jump and run to the maze as fast as I can. The pots in the basket make some noise but if I get to the maze that won't matter as much anymore.

I reach the maze just before I hear the guards come. I run through the maze unable to go through the shortcuts and soon find myself at the safety that is the woods. I go to the clearing and sit down. I take the baskets off my arms and rub my arm. It is already starting to cramp.

I see a bruise on my right arm. This arm keeps getting injured.

I hear footsteps and grab my dagger handle on instinct. The sword would have slowed me down so I brought two daggers instead.

"You actually brought something?" I hear Shane's familoar voice. I nod. "You better take it because to was extremely hard to do." He comes and picks them up. He looks at my arm. "You have a bruise. Did you get it because of these?" He holds up the baskets. He sighs. "Come on." I follow him to his home.

When I open the door for Shane I see everyone sitting at the table.

"I bring food!" Shane announces. His mother looks up and smiles at me. She takes the baskets and puts them on the table. She takes out the pans and spots. She gasps at the shiny silverware as well. "Thank you your majesty. I don't know how we could repay you." She then stacks the food in their empty cupboards.

Then I remember something I put in the other basket.

I open it and take a dress out. I pass it to Kat. "This is for you." She stares in awe at the silk then hugs it to her chest. "Thank you so much." She jumps up and hugs me. I laugh and hug her back.

"How do you get out of the palace?" Mr Brione asks. "The walls of the palace are old so pulling out the bricks isn't hard. I pulled them out then stood on them to pull bricks further above. Soon I had my own little staircase which I climb down."

"So you climbed down the walls of the palace and dodged the guards all while holding these baskets?" Kat asks. I nod.

"Thank you your majesty. Would you like to stay for dinner?" Mrs Brione. "Sorry. I would love to but the neighbouring royals are visiting. They are coming in about an hour and I have to clean myself from running through the woods and maze." She nods. "Thank you again. You are welcome here any time." I smile and wave to all of them.

I run back to the palace and make myself 'presentable' for our visitors.

《》《》《》《》《》《》《》《》《》

I look in the mirror and instantly wish I could change. My mother wanted me to wear a blue floor length gown that has embroidery all over the chest of the dress. It is a nice dress but the jeans are much more comfortable.

I slip into a pair of blue heels. My maids fixed my hair and put little make up. I look nice but this isn't what I like to wear. I open my door and head downtairs.

My mother, fother and brother all stand near the door awaiting our guests. I rush next to Anthony and straighten myself. A man enter. "The King and Queen of Claremont with their son Prince Thomas and newly born daughter Princess Joanne." I put on a winning smile and wait for them to enter. The King comes in first. We all exchange our greeting the same with the Queen. She holds a little cute girl who I assume is Joanne. "Hello Joanne. I am Alexia." The girl giggles. "You look beautiful Alexia." The Queen says. "Thank you. You look just as stunning." She smiles then heads off with my mother. Thomas follows and reunites with my brother. Just before they head off he stops in front of me. He smiles. "You look nice Alexia." I smile as best as I can without scowling at him. "So do you." He nods then follows Anthony somewhere. I roll my eyes and trudge upstairs.

When I enter my room I realise I didn't put my sword away properly. I put it away then remember the other half of my prize. I exit the room and knock on Anthony's door. Thomas opens it. "You can't stay away can you?" He looks up and down my body but I just walk around him. I outstretch my hand.

"Sword." I demand to Anthony. He groans then goes to his swords. "Which one?" I point to the one I was admiring earlier and he brings it down then passes it to me. "You better take care of it." He says as he stares at the sword longingly.

"I think I would know how to take care of a sword. Did you get bandadged?" He nods. "The shoulder one was the worst one. Its going to leave a bad scar." He brings uo his sleeve and winces at the bandage. "That's what you get." I look at my new sword. Its quite similar to mine but it has much sharper edges.

"Did you fight each other?" Thomas asks. I turn around and smile. I pick up the sword. "And this is what I got for winning." He gapes at me then at Anthony. "She's good. You should fight her. She's wicked fast." He defends.

Thomas looks unconvinced. I spin the sword to the other hand then pin it to his neck. "He has the scars to remember. Would you like some as well?" I know I am acting very arrogant and big headed but I am showing them what its like to see them.

"Maybe later. But you do look good with the sword." I roll my eyes then put the sword into its sheath. Someone knocks on the door. "The food is ready." The man scurries away and I go out of the room. I out ny sword with my other one. When I exit my room I find Thomas leaning on the wall.

"What are you doing here?" I ask him. I close the door.

"Don't you feel blessed that I waited for you?" I snort. "Yeah right." Ibwalk past him and go down the stairs.

We walk into the dining room and everyone stares at us. I blush and sit at an empty seat and Thomas sits opposite me and next to Anthony.

"Where were you?" My mother asks. I sigh. "I left something in Anthony's room. So I went to my room to put it away. Thomas just waited for me outside my door." Its true. But in a different form.

"We were just talking about you two earlier." Queen Amanda says. I look at Anthony and he is holding his laughs. I glare at him then turn back to the Queen.

"What were you talking about?" Thomas asks. She smiles.

"You are both sixteen and have known each other for a long time. We were planning for you two to get married." She smiles but I just gape at her. She said so herself, we are only sixteen. Thomas laughs then and looks at me. "Why would I get married to her?" It hurts me but its true.

"Exactly. No one would like to get married to me. Excuse me." I stand up and walk out, ignoring my parents' protests. I walk to the gardens and sit on one of the benches in the fighting field. They expect me to get married already? And to Thomas?

He must be thinking the same thing. I don't even want to get married!

I decide to get my sword and train so I go upstairs and grab my sword and a few daggers. I also bring my brand new sword. I change then head back to the fighting field. I set up a few targets and training obstacles then let my anger fly out into the wooden person.

Why did Thomas have to be so blunt about it? Why did he have to laugh?

I focus on the wood in front of me and pretend its Thomas. I pretend he's fighting as well so I dodge a few times to avoid him.

After I have had enough of the wood I grab my daggers then hold them in my hands. I fling them all onto the middle of the board swiftly then retrieve them to have another go.

I hear clapping that disrupts my throwing. I see Thomas watching me.

"What do you want?" I hiss at him. Why has he always teased me? Since we first met he taunted me. I never did anything to him first.

"I was sent to look for you so I looked in your room. I only found your dress and shoes so I came here and I found you."

"Are you staying or leaving?" "Staying." "Then that's my cue to leave." I pluck my daggers from the board and put my sword in it sheath. When I pass him I deliberately bump my shoulder into his.

Then, the wounds open again. The pain is worse than last time. I drop my weapons and grab my arm. Thomas comes over and looks at me. I look at my arm then he notices what's happening. He grabs my dagger and goes to cut his shirt. "No. Do mine. Yours is new. Mine is old." He nods then slices a bit of my shirt.

"He cut you too hard." He removes the old bandage and the blood starts rolling down my arm.

Why is helping me now? "Why are you helping me?" It comes out a bit harsher than expected but he hurt me. "Am I not allowed to help you?" He finishes wrapping my arm and I yank it from his grip. I pick up everything and stand up. I shake my head and he stares at me. "Not after what happened earlier." He tries to grab my wrist but I turn and sprint to my room. All the way I hear footsteps trailing me but I just run faster. I open the door to my room and sit on my bed.

The door opens and Thomas walks in. I grit my teeth and hold myslef from shouting at him. I grab my daggers and put them away underneath a loose floorboard. I fold my arms over my chest and look at him. I stand up and glare at him.

"Is there somethimg you want to tease and make fun of now?" He steps forward and closes the door. He comes in front of me and stares into my eyes.

"I didn't mean it like that." Oh really? Is it time for his excuses. "Then what did you mean? I don't want to get marroed now but at least I wasn't as blunt as you were." He runs a hand through his hair. I wait for a response but don't get one.

"You should go. You have a fighting tournament tomorrow." He looks at me but I turn away. "I will explain it to you soon." I glare at him and he leaves.

I lay on my bed and remember the first thing he did to me. He and Anthony were quick to become friends but when he was left alone with me he started being mean. He pulled my hair and ripped my clothes. It may not sound like a lot, but when you're a five year old girl it means a lot. From then on he would tease me, say I was ugly, tell me I am fat, tripped me over and a whole list of other things. All this time I would let him. Not anymore. I never did anything to disturb him, in fact I purposely avoided him. The last time I saw him was on my thirteenth birthday.

Now he comes back. He tells me I look nice, waits for me at my door and bandages my wounds. But at the same time he teases me and laughs. I thought he changed, but he just became even more confusing.