As I sat on the fountain outside the castle, I couldn't help but wonder. Why? Why me? Why did I have to be a princess anyway? I stared into the flower in my hand. The petals were just right. But how come my life couldn't be? I threw it into the water and ran down the hill to the lake. I raced the wind glad that it was twilight out. My favorite time of day. Suddenly I tripped and rolled down the hill trying to stop my self. I stopped at the base of the lake. Where it was the muddiest. I didn't care. I laid there thinking about how my mother "Wanted the best for me" well, that wasn't what I wanted.

I wanted to be free. To do my own thing. To live my own life and not have my mother live through me, because she didn't get what she wanted. I laid there feeling the wet mud underneath me. It went right through the thin cream silk dress I was wearing and I could feel the wetness on my skin. My hair was twisted into a bun beneath me, it hurt my head. I didn't care. I watched the sun set.

As I laid there, I tried to close my eyes to sleep. My thoughts were racing. It brought back all the stuff I didn't want to remember. I opened my eyes shoving the thoughts back into my head.

The stars were coming out. I could see Venus clearly as I stared up at the sky gathering my thoughts. I heard someone call my name in the distance. I got up. My hair was stuck in the mud. "Great." I muttered under my breath. I ripped it out of the mud, bits of it sprang up. The bun fell out and bits of my hair dangled to my shoulders splattering them with mud. The whole back of my dress was covered in dirt. I splashed ome of the lake water on me, hoping it would help; a little at least.

"Madeline!" I heard my name again not entirely sure who it was.

I headed up the hill using the faint light from the windows of the castle to guideme throught the night. As I headed through the trees, my dress caught on a branch and tore my dress. "No!" I said and ripped it from the bush, which wasn't a good idea considering it ripped even more and the dress was halfway up my thigh. I cluched the torn fabric in my hand ready to rip it to pieces from the anger that was boiling inside of me. I kneew anything would set me off.

I opened the doors and walked into the castle. I remembered there was a formal party for my sister Janae.

I soon relized everyone was looking at me as they passed along the halls.

"I must've looked worse than I thought." I said to myself.

I looked down and saw my dirty feet on the clean marble floors. I saw my reflection a vase on a table, which made things worse. Next to it was a grandfather clock which read eight'oclock. I groaned the party just started. I remembered I had my sandals in my hand and knew this looked odd.

I gasped and ran up 5 staircases and closed the door to my bedroom. I disposed of the dress and washed myself of the dirt that was on me. I quickly combed through my hair and thoroughly combed through the tangles. I put on an elegant black dress and pulled my hair up into a messy bun. I raced out the door awaiting the many people who were here to see me.

I walked slowly down the stairs and tripped down the stairs as something caught my eye. "Oh!" I tumbled down the stairs. I crashed into the banister on the landing.

I groaned in pain tossing around. I felt myself being lifted up I cluched the railing. My hair fell into my face.

Madeline? Are you okay?" Its was my sister, Desarae.

"I don't know." I stumbled forward clutching my head. It felt like it had burst open and pain seared all around it.

"In think I'm fine." I said after several minutes.

"They are ready for you. Come on let's go."

She led me down the long hallway to where the party was. My hair was a mess again and I felt dizzy.

I walked over to the king's table and took my seat.

"Glad that you joined us, Madline."

I looked up at my father. He was staring at me with a stern look.

I nodded to show I heard him. I didn't want to talk to him, let alone look at him.

This morning when I woke up, everything was perfect. But when he told me this afternoon, I hated every bit of it.

"Are you okay?" My other sister Eloise asked.

I have five sisters three brothers and their lives seem perfect compared to mine. Janae, the eldest. She is being honored tonight because she is going off to some scgool to become an artist. Jealousy arises everytime I see her smiling face. I know I should be happy for her, but I can't help it.

Richard, my oldest brother is next in line for king so he gets to stay here. Marcus next in line, he ran into an old friend of his and now they are getting married.

Jason, he was my brother, my best friend really, he was kidnapped when I was seven leaving me scared with the memory of me knocking on his bedroom door and openeing it to find out I probab;y wasn't going to see him again. It's been almost 10 years. Desarae is next after that. She is perfect in every way and basically has our parents wrapped around her finger. We are close though. She is always there when I need her.

I'm the sixth in line. Guess what? I have to get married! An aranged marraige that is. I hate every bit of it.

Belle is the next to come. She is only a few moths younger than I'am and hads nothing planned.

Eloise and Camille.They are twins and look almost identical. They arethe youngest of all of us. They are twelve and basically get everythingthey want.

My parents came to me as I was in the library. I had the window open next to me. It felt nice as I was reading a book. Before I knew it they had me come with them to talk about my future. It went something like this:

"Madeline, we have something big planned for you for your future." My mother said.

I looked at her questioningly and nodded.

"We have planned a wedding." My father began.

"For Marcus right?"

"Well actually, it's for you."

"I'm marrying my brother?!"

"No. No! You are marrying a prince from a kingdom not far from here."

"What! I don't want to get married!"

"But, they chose you out of all your siblings."

"But why!? What about Janae or Desarae?"

"You know Janae is going to school. Desarae is a little too old."

"I still don't get it." I scoffed.

"They wanted someone close in age with their son. He's 17 like you."

"I'm 16. Desarae is 18 why not her!"

"You are doing as you are told and the wedding will be in a month and a half! They are coming here in a few weeks."

I threw the book I was holding at the window. It shattered to pieces. I stalked off. Before I knew it, in a week or so they came. Robert was his name. He gave me a flower today because he knew I was upset. I just stared at it for the longest time and quietly walked outside and sat on the edge of the fountain.

"Madeline?" Eloise shook my arm.

"I'm fine." I said.

There were some empty seats at the table and I wondered why. Then my question was answered. Robert "my fiance" walked over with a few members of his family and sat down. I shifted my chair a little and looked the other way.

Everyone started talking and the servants brought the food out.

Robert started talking to me. I quickly shoved my mouth full of chicken before I could respond. I ate like this for the rest of the meal. Then the dancing started.

I got up to slip away unnoticed, but he caught up with me and grabbed my hand. I tried to pull away. But I saw my father stare at me and I went unwillingly.

It's not that Robert was bad looking or anything. He actually was okay, but my problem was I didn't know him at all and this seemed so sudden. I looked at his face his red hair was combed perfectly and when he smiled his dimples showed.

"Madeline?" Robert asked as we swiftly twirled me around.

"Hmmm?"

"You know the date of the wedding is coming up fast, I feel I don't know anything about you. I've told you everything there is to know about me these past days at dinner, but I really want to know you."

"Umm...When is the wedding?" I asked.

"It's in 9 days."

"Nine!?"

"Yes."

The music stopped and I felt myself stop dancing. I felt tired and whoozy. I stumbled and Robert caught me. He led me up the stairs and helped me to my bed. I felt my eyes fall asleep and heard him close the door and walk down the steps.

**********************************************************************************

I woke up and the sun was shining through the thin drapes. I saw Belle and Eloise asleep in their beds. I got up from the bed and my head throbbed a little from my accident last night. I looked intot the mirror and a bruise had formed. I pulled the tie from the matted mess of hair on my head and combed through my blond hair. I took a curling iron to it and left it down for the day. I put on a pale pink dress and some nice sandals. I walekd down the steps and headed out the door. I soon found Robert followed me out the door.

"Madeline wait."

I turned to look at him not realizing tears were rolling off my cheeks.

I quickly wiped them off. The ring on my hand put pressure on my bruise. I forgot I had it on. The engagement ring. I shuttered as I remembered it all.

"Y-Yes?" I stuttered.

"I wanted to say that you are very beautiful today. I mean your always beautiful, I mean...." He babbled alot like this when he was around me. I always tuned it out and pretended I was listening. He continued, "I love the was your blue eyes shine when you are happy and how yourhair shines brighter than the sun and when your nose wrinkles when you..." Blah Blah Blah.

It went on like this every time he spoke to me and I waited till he stopped.

"That is very kind of you." I said when he was done. Im turnd on my heeland headed to the forest. He followed me babbling along.

I stopped at the tallest tree I could find and started climbing it. I lookeddown at Robert's terrified face wondering if he was scared for my safety or if he was thinking about following me and climbing it himself. I snickered inside my head and smiled for the first time in days glad that I was alone. But of course he tried to follow me up the tree.

I was glad I was alone. I climbed higher to the top of the tree glad that he couldn't see me. I thought about several things as I was up there. Once I decided to get down. He was there waiting for me. He had fallen asleep by the tree. I quietly tip-toed out of there.

I breathed in the beautiful forest scent and wondered many things.

I heard a carraige pull up tp the castle. I ran over there quickly.

"Why hello there princess!" He bowed.

"Hello." I smiled. It felt odd. I wondered how he knew I was a princess.

"I have a telegram for the king." The man said he was portly and had a beard. He looked very friendly.

Robert ran up. He must've heard this man's booming voice.

"Robert, could you take this to my father, please?" I asked.

"Yes, my darling." He headed up the steps. I could feel myself blushing.

"I was wondering sir, could you give me a ride to town? I need to get some things."

"Why but, of course!!"

"Thank you."

I nodded toward the gaurd at the front gate so people wouldn't worry about me. Not like they would. Maybe Robert though.

I got into the carraige and the horses pulled to the nearest town.

*************************************************************

The man stopped the carraige. "Here we are Mrs."

"Oh no, its Miss."

"I'm sorry."

"Thanks anyway!" I said hopping out of the carriage.

"My pleasure." He waved and trotted away.

I headed up the cobbled street and bought a cream silk shawl to hide my face.

I walked around the square and sat on a bench. As I was sitting there awhile I decided to go back to the castle. I came there to see if there was anything I could do to leave France. I wanted to see places and expirience things.

I had my mind set. I was going to run away to England.

I had heard about England fromt he many people who came to the castle. I wanted to go there. I felt like that was where I belonged. Like there was something waiting for me there.