"My prince, you requested to see me?" A man servant called to the prince, who sat in a large wooden chair behind a desk. Held within his large chambers of stone walls and wooden flooring. Curtains of red and gold line the stone walls to give the chambers a more roomy feel. A large four pillar bed stood proudly over a large red rug, in the centre of the room with a red canopy and drapes for his privacy when needed. To the right of bed a large stone fireplace built into the wall with a wooden shelf above holding a few ornaments upon it. Three large windows stood on the wall, allowing the morning light to filter into his room.

" Yes, ready my horse and call Edward, Alan and Garret. Tell them we are going for a ride." The prince ordered as he never took his eyes off the paper on his desk, quill in hand as he placed his signature upon them.

" Understood, my prince." The man servant bowed and left him alone to finished his paper work. Once he placed his neat signature upon the last document, he stood up and walked over to his wardrobe and pulled out his chain mail. He lifted it over his head and shrugged his shoulder to shift it slightly for comfort. The chain mail fell to just above his knees with splits at the front and back, a hood which hung down his back. The prince grabbed a deep brown belt and fastened it around his waist with the golden buckle. He turned and walked over to his dinning table which stood next the the fireplace and picked up his sheathed sword, buckling that around his waist to his left side.

" Prince Alex. The men are waiting for you in the courtyard as you requested." A voice called from behind the closed wooden door.

" Thank you." The prince called as he ran his hands through his long layered brown hair then down to scratch his slight stubble. Once the prince was happy, he turned and walked out his chambers and down through the castle halls towards the large cobblestone courtyard; where his horse and men waited patiently, well not as patient as he wished.

" About time you showed up! I was beginning to think you'd abandoned us!" Alan called out with a cheeky grin upon his face, his brown eyes sparkling with mischief. Prince Alex left out a singular loud breath as he reached for his red cape that was resting upon his horse.

" Yeah yeah, your lucky I like you Alan. For if I did not you would be dead." He spoke as he fastened his cape around his neck and over his shoulder to trail down his back. He the placed a foot into the closest stirrup and hoisted himself up, swinging his right leg over to fit into the other stirrup. "Thrice over!" Alex chuckled before pushing his horse into a trot, closely followed by the three Knights. Once the trotted over the drawbridge, the four mounted men slowed down to a soft walk through the busy townspeople, who bowed their head in respect to them.

"Alex! Have you heard the rumors of late?" Edward asked as he fixed a stray strand of his blond hair which kept moving over his blue eyes. Prince Alex's brown eyes looked over the the man with a curious look over her expressions.

" No I have not, but I have a feeling you are about to enlighten me on them." He spoke to him and rolled his curious eyes.

" Indeed I shall, rumor has it that a woman has been sighted in the forests. They say she lives with the Wolves." Edward spoke over dramatically as he laughed gently as he was accompanied by a scoff from Alex.

"Please, you should not believe everything you hear in the tavern. Even the thought of such is absurd! A woman living with Wolves in the forest?" Alex spoke shaking his head.

" I neither believe nor doubt them to be true." Edward informed him with a shrug moving the same piece of hair again. Alex laughed at him joined by Alan and Garrett, who mostly keeps to himself.

" I bet, if the rumours are to be true, that the woman would be a beautiful fair maiden." Alan called out with a large grin upon his face.

" And you think she would fall at your feet, like every other woman you meet?" Edward rolled his eyes as his words were dripping with sarcasm.

" Of course she will! What woman cannot resist my wonderful charm?" Alan smirked with pride in his voice. The three men laughed at him as they reached the gates of the city, that lead into the surrounding forest.

" Maybe if you stop treating woman like play things, then just maybe you might find a future wife!" Edward called to him as Alan shook his head at the thought.

" Alan? Tied down to a single girl? Please we have a better chance at finding the gates to the spirit world!" Prince Alex called out with a hearty laugh and pushed his horse into a canter.

" Alex! I have feelings you know!" Alan called out pretending he was hurt as Edward and Garrett followed their prince leaving him behind. Alex smiled as he felt the fresh air brush past him as he guided his horse through the forest, dodging trees and jumping over the old fallen tree and stream. After a while the four mounted men slowed down to a gentle walk on a forest trail.

" So Alex. I hear your father wishes you to marry soon?" Garrett finally spoke up as he rode next to Alex, while Edward and Alan rode behind them bickering away to each other.

" Indeed he does. He keeps inviting princesses to the palace in hopes I would choose one. But to be honest, I cannot stand most of them. They believe the world must bow to their feet and they demand respect." Alex said looking forward and Garrett kept glancing over to the prince.

" There must be one that takes you fancy?" Garrett asked with curiosity. He sure had seen many princess arrive and depart the castle. He often wondered if the prince had seen one that at least pull something in him.

" No, I want a woman who will join me on rides. One who is not afraid to voice her mind when she has a thought. I do not want a ornament for a wife." The prince said as Garrett nodded in understanding as to his reasoning.

" What you describe will be a hard woman to find. Princesses are groomed to keep thoughts to themselves and not become involve with anything beyond that of a needle and thread." Garrett spoke truthfully as the prince sighed heavily. All fell into silence as they continued to walk over the forest path, taking in the sunlight and the blissful peace of the rustling leaves.

The sound of a twit snapping caught the ears of the prince and Knights, who immediately stopped their horse and looked towards the area of the sound. The prince gripped his sword and pulled the metal from its scabbard, holding it in right hand as he slipped off his horse.

" Who's there?" Alex called out in a hard voice. His knight followed him off their horses and pulled out their swords ready for an attack.

" I order you to show yourself!" The prince demanded, but nothing moved nor sounded.

" Maybe it was just an animal." Alan said with tension in his words as the prince nodded and stood up straight. He sheathed his blade and turned around followed by the other.

" You right. I'm just being paranoid." The prince spoke as they began to make their way over to the horses. They stopped when they heard a sneeze echoed through the forest.

" Or not." Edward smirked as the four men turned and rushed towards the sound. They saw a figure move quickly from behind a tree and begin to run the same direction as they ran.

" Edward, Garrett go left. Alan go right! Cut off their exit!" Alex commanded and they broke off to follow his plans. Alex continued to run in his currently direction as he trailed not too far from the figure.

" Stop!" Alex yelled to the figure as it kept on running effortlessly. But the figure was soon brought to a stop by Edward, Garrett and Alan surround it on three fronts. Alex closing off the last exit the figure had. The four men stood looking at the figure who had sunk to the ground with a bright red cloak over their body with the hood up covering her face.

"Stand up! Show yourself!" Alan demanded the figure who was visibly shaking under the cloak. Alex straighten his posture before gently placing his sword back into its scabbard. He gently took a careful step forward towards the figure.

" It's alright. No one is going round hurt you." Alex spoke in in a gently voice as he took more slow steps closer.

" Alex!" Edward hissed to him as Alex return him with alright pointed look before looking back to the figure.

" I will do you no harm." Alex spoke gently as he sunk slowly down to kneel next to the red cloak. He could hear small whimpers of fear sounding from the figure. Alex moved a hand forward and placed it onto their shoulder only to have them jump and scurry back from his touch. It was then the prince got a view of their face.