“Dearest maiden,” he stepped into the clearing, hearing the thud of the dark, wet soil beneath his boot. Bowing deeply, he gave her an innocent smile. “are you all right?” The girl looked up, startled, tears staining her pretty face, streaming past her freckles.
    “Oh! Yes, I’m fine…” she said nervously. “I-I’m terribly sorry. You surprised me!” She said, blinking several times, probably trying to clear her tears.
    “You aren’t lost, or anything?” He asked. She was gorgeous. She had long, golden hair, cascading down her back in perfect ringlets. Her eyes were as blue as a summer’s sky. She shook her head.
    “No.” her mouth was small, but her lips full and red.
    “Ah. Very well… oh! I have forgotten my manners. I am Keagan, prince of Yaktar.” He said with a nod. Andalysia raised her eyebrows. Yaktar? Ah yes, it was south of her father’s kingdom. She remembered going there once, when she was much younger.
    “And you are?” he inquired, holding out his hand, palm skyward.
    “I am Andalysia, princess of Detoran.” She replied, extending her long, slender arm, letting her palm dangle in his. He pulled it up and kissed it gently. Her hand was warm and soft. Letting it fall, he gave her a quick smile. Detoran… he had heard of that name before.
    “Is your father not the great Graytan?” he asked, furrowing his dark brow.
    “He is.” Andalysia said with a nod. Keagan chuckled.
    “Daughter of the dragon-slayer!” He said with another bow, and then turned his head up. Andalysia was smiling. She had beautiful teeth. He winked in return. Seeing this, Andalysia’s smile immediately fell, and Keagen felt his skin turn hot. Standing up, and clearing his throat, he spoke.
    “Would you like me to accompany you home?” He asked, holding out his arm, and raising his brows. She looked up at him, and he noticed her blue eyes were sad.
    “Only if you are done here, and wish to be accompanied.” He said, his voice growing softer. Andalysia sighed.
    “Yes, that would be nice. Thank you, Prince Keagan.” Came her quiet reply.
    “My pleasure.” She took a hold of his arm, and he gave her one last smile, before turning his gaze in front of him. Now to find Detoran.
   
    “Andalysia!” her mother’s screech echoed throughout the palace. “Where have you been?” with no word to the young man, she grabbed her daughter by the arm, and hauled her out of his grasp.
    “Your father and I have been worried sick!” Andalysia sighed.
    “I just went to the forest mother. To go for a walk.” She explained. Her mother looked her up and down, her cold blue eyes examining everything from her posture to her appearance.
    “Oh. You should have told me.” Came her mother’s bitter reply.
    “I am so sorry. I forgot.” Andalysia replied. Her mother huffed, and turned her gaze towards the open door. Her eyes suddenly widened.
    “Oh!” She said in a quick intake of breath. Straightening her spine and clearing her throat quietly, she walked over to Keagan. Andalysia followed.
    “Hello, dearest child.” Her mother said with a polite smile. “You must have helped Andalysia get home.” Keagan returned the smile.
    “I accompanied her, yes. Though it was more of her helping me. She truly knows that forest by heart!” He said with a low chuckle. Andalysia blushed. Luckily, her mother took no notice, too engrossed in the handsome, dark-haired man at her doorstep.
    “Please, do come in!” She clapped her hands twice, and a servant appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, and closed the door.     “Have a seat… er… I don’t believe you mentioned your name?”
    “Prince Keagan of Yaktar.” He said, his voice confident. He reached out and kissed The Queen’s hand.
    “Yaktar, hm?” she asked, closing her eyes, and nodding her head. “Lovely little town of commerce. Let me go get my husband. He will be delighted to meet you.” She said, turning around.
    “Mother!” Andalysia lifted up her skirts and ran after her mother, her heels clicking on the marble floor. The Queen turned and scowled.
    “Andalysia, don’t be such a child! Go make the boy some tea, eh?” She chided. Andalysia opened her mouth to speak, but her mother was already walking down the large hall. Pouting with resignation, she returned to Keagan, who was sitting on one of their many violet couches, his lithe hand dangling off the armrest. He gave her a wide grin.
    “Well, I’m off to make tea.” Andalysia grumbled. Keagan laughed.
    “Thank you, Princess.” He replied. She turned and walked into the next room before he could say anymore.

    “So, what brought you down here to Detoran?” Andalysia entered the sitting room. Graytan, her father, was seated across from Keagen, his scarred hands thrumming against a cherry-wood table in front of him. Andalysia placed the platter of tea on the table, then walked, slowly and gracefully, to her father’s side, before gently sitting down, and crossing one leg over another, the layers of green fabric in her skirt rustling as she did so. Her parent’s didn’t even glance at her, but Keagan’s dark eyes flitted towards her for a moment, before finding her father once again. She nearly laughed at the look of idolization in his eyes.
    “One of our finest mares has run off.” He replied. “I came down here, looking for her.” Graytan nodded.
    “A bit of an odd reason, but we welcome you nonetheless. Your kingdom hasn’t any other horses?” Keagan shook his head.
    “It’s not that, but this horse, well, I don’t want to spread the word to everyone, but it’s enchanted. My father did a good deed for a sorcerer a while back, and he rewarded us by giving us a mare who could run forever without stopping.” He said, face solemn. Andalysia smiled. He was a smart boy, easily winning her parent’s favor by proving he trusted them to keep his secret. Or pretending to trust them, anyway.
    “Ah.” The King said nodding once. “I see.” He chuckled, a low, but very loud sound, like a mountain awakening from a long slumber. “That must make him fairly hard to catch, my boy.” Keagan winced.
    “Yes, that has been a problem.” He smiled again at Andalysia, a sweet, innocent smile, like that of a clumsy puppy. She couldn’t help but give him a quick smile back. Feeling herself blush, she picked up a teacup and took a quick drink.
    “So, Andalysia.” The Queen started, picking up a teacup and putting it to her lips, but not drinking any of it’s steaming content. “Your sister will be returning to the palace.” Andalysia nearly spat out her tea (which would have been kind of funny, for her mother was sitting directly in front of her). Her sister?
    “K-Kiyara?” Andalysia asked, furrowing her arched brows. Her mother stared at her with her steely blue eyes and nodded.
    “Yes.” Came her reply.
    “Oh. Andalysia replied, putting her tea back on it’s plate. “How… pleasant.” She looked up at her mother. “Did she mention when? Or at least for how long?” she asked.
    “Tomorrow, actually.” She said, then turned to Keagan. “I do believe you would like her, would you like to stay overnight?” she inquired. Keagan smiled at her politely.
    “I would love to, but am afraid to say I cannot.” He said, his brown eyes glancing at Andalysia. “I still have to find that mare.” Suddenly, he blinked. “But… I’ll try to make it. I’d love to meet Andalysia’s sister.” He finally said. Andalysia sighed. Oh no. She knew how this would go. Kiyara would arrive on that silly stallion of hers, sword in hand, a good fifteen minutes late. She’d step into the castle, her brown her flying in the wind, the fierce features of her face as harsh as an ice storm. Her clothes would be ripped and tattered so you could see far too much skin. She’d look dazzling. Kiyara briefly hug Andalysia and her parents, and then they’d introduce her to Keagan. And as he met her, his eyes would go wide, his jaws would drop. She would flirt and flounce and seduce him into loving her. He’d ask for her hand in marriage, but she’d giggle and decline, only to pull him out later that night to do who-knew-what with him in the forest. Soon, she’d leave again on her stupid horse, and never be seen by the boy again. This is how things went for Kiyara. Andalysia had seen it happen far too may times before. Sighing in dismay, she looked at poor Keagan. Such a sweet boy. He’d be so helpless. Ah well.
    “Andy, would you clean up the tea, please?” inquired her mother, using Andalysia’s infamous nickname.
    “Yes, mother.” She replied, giving Keagan a small, sad smile, then taking the tray to the kitchen.
    “Perhaps I could help,” Keagan said, rising from the couch to Andalysia’s side. The King and Queen exchanged a glance.
    “If it suits you.” Her Mother finally said. Keagan bowed deeply than followed Andalysia to the kitchen.

    “Need any help with that?” Keagan asked, watching Andalysia wash the teacups. Her slight, pale arms worked furiously, her small delicate hands scrubbing and scrubbing, trying to et every speck of grime away.
    “No, no. Don’t worry about me. I’ve got it.” Came her quick reply. Keagan stifled a sigh. Why was she so iresponsive? Usually girls clung to his every word. Maybe it was time to use a different technique.
    “Your hair looks so soft…” he whispered, moving closer to her goddess-like curls. She shrugged without so much as a glance back. “You wouldn’t mind if I touched it?” he asked. This caught her attention. She turned around, a look of disbelief touching her clear eyes. She huffed, pouted her red lips, and leered at him.
    “I’m not that kind of girl.” She replied tartly. He put out his hands.
    “No, oh, dearie me no! I was not implying – ” He started, but was cut off.
    “Oh I know what you were implying.” Her voice was cold. “If you want a woman like that you can have Kiyara.” Keagan shook his head.
    “Andalysia, please listen.” He pleaded. So much for this idea. “I did not mean it like that, I swear upon my word. I can tell you are an honorable young lady. I was just curious how such golden curls could look so soft… like the feather’s of a goose!” He explained quickly, throwing in a quick compliment. The anger melted off of Andalysia’s face.
    “Oh.” She replied quietly. “Do forgive me. Yes- yes, you may touch my hair if it pleases you.” Came her soft words, like snow falling to the earth.
    “Thank you.” He said, voice almost as quiet as hers, as he reached out and let his calloused hands drift upon her hair. It was so beautiful; outside, through the window, the clouds lazily rolled away, letting the sun shine through the blue sky. Suddenly, as if set on fire, Andalysia’s hair was more luminous that anything he had ever seen. Supressing a gasp, he lest his hands drift down until they were right over her ear.
    “Now, what’s this?” he asked, gently pulling the pink flower from her dazzling hair. It seemed to sparkle right along with it… or had that just been his mind playing tricks on him in the presence of a beautiful woman?
    “Oh!” Andalysia exclaimed. “I-I forgot about that.” She quickly pulled the flower from his hand, their fingers brushing. He felt his skin tingle from the contact of her soft skin. He lowered his hand, rubbing his fingers together. Andalysia cradled the flower in her hands, and he watched in amusement and curiosity as her pale cheeks reddened.
    “It was just something I picked up earlier.” She said. “I… I thought it was pretty.” She softly placed it back in her hair. Keagan stepped forward, lowering his face so it was close to hers, so he was staring into her beautiful eyes.
    “It is.” He said with a faint smile. “But not nearly as pretty as you, my dear.” Andalysia quickly lowered her eyes, letting her long dark lashes fall.
    “I thank you for your compliments.” She said, her voice guarded. “Please leave me now.” Keagan took a step back, confused. No girl had ever rejected him like this before. Strangely, it only made him want her more.
    “If that’s what you desire.” He said softly, pulling back, and walking out the kitchen door, not even glancing at Andalysia standing there, shivering.