The castle echoed with commotion and he silently approached the Royal Chambers. He pushed the doors open and found his parents talking amongst themselves as guards joked at Thomas. He shook his head and approached his parents. The room went quiet and he knelt on one knee before the leaders.

His mother smiled and said, "Rise, Alexander."

He rose to his feet and his father asked, "What is it?"

He met his father's gaze and said, "I wish to go down to the market."

His father frowned and asked, "What is there?"

He smirked and said, "People that you rule over. People who need our assistance."

He watched his father turn red as his temper rose and his mother sighed, "Please stop this."

He turned to her and said, "I've seen these people, Mother. They need more."

His father rose from his throne and said, "Thomas. Take my son to the market. Keep an eye on him."

Thomas nodded and walked up to the Prince.

He looked at his guard and said to his parents, "You will understand someday."

The king returned to his throne with a grumble and he walked out of the Royal Chambers.

Thomas followed him out of the castle and said, "You should not expose yourself."

He rolled his eyes and said, "No one has ever seen my face. I'm fine."

He heard the people doing their morning shopping and smirked.

Thomas shook his head and said, "I will be waiting for you like always."

He nodded to the guard and disappeared into the market. His eyes took the daily activities and he watched kids running around. He spotted a kid leaning up to a cart and trying to get food.

He looked around and heard, "Thief! Stop him!"

His eyes moved back to the boy and he saw a guard run after the boy. He ducked into an alley and watched the boy run toward the town square. Quietly he moved through the alley and approached the town square. He watched the boy run to a familiar face and watched her pick the boy up.

The guard reached them and said, "Hand him over."

She placed him on his feet and pulled out a loaf of bread from a sac.

She put it in his hands and said, "Take this."

He smiled and hugged her before running off into the market.

The guard frowned and said, "You are walking a thin line, woman."

She crossed her arms across her chest and said, "He was just a boy."

The guard growled and said, "He was a thief!"

Her eyes flashed and she snapped, "He needs food that your king sees fit to deprive him of."

The guard pulled his sword loose and said, "One more word and I'll cut your tongue off."

She slid her sac over her shoulder and said, "I'd rather die than live under your king."

The guard raised his sword and he shouted, "Enough!"

They look up at his voice and he steps out of the alley.

The guard catches her wrist and says, "She aided a criminal in escaping and insulted the King."

He pulled her wrist free and said, "I heard everything."

He met the guard's gaze and said, "She also was only looking out for a child."

The guard grumbled and asked, "Are you forgetting the law?"

His eyes narrowed and he said, "My grandfather wrote it. I know the law."

He turned his back to the guard and looked at the woman.

She kept her gaze low and said, "Thank you."

He smirked and said, "You are constantly annoying my father's guards."

She met his gaze and said, "They are as bad as him."

The guard growled and he said, "If I wanted to, I could have you killed for your words."

She stepped back from him and said, "You are no better than your father."

He shook his head and said, "I beg to differ."

The guard let out a groan and he said, "Away."

She watched the guard sigh and walk away.

Slowly she looked back at him and asked, "What do you want?"

He held her gaze coolly and said, "I want to see what my father is doing wrong."

Her eyes narrowed and she said, "Go home."

He watched her step into an alley and followed her. He watched her move through the alley and stop outside an old house. He followed her into the the place and up the stairs.

"You're home. Thank the lord. I was beginning to worry."

"Just eat this."

"You must stop going out there and putting yourself in danger."

He stepped into view and saw the elder woman drop her bread onto her lap.

She turned to the young woman and asked, "What did you do?"

She sighed and said, "Nothing, Mother. Eat."

The woman turned her gaze to him and said, "I see you don't heed your own laws."

He smirked and asked, "Your mother?"

The elder woman looked up at him and asked, "Must you take her? She is just full of spirit."

She rolled her eyes and said, "I'm not going anywhere. Eat."

She got to her feet and shoved him down the steps. She forced him out into the alley and shut the building up behind her.

Her eyes were burning and she growled, "What part of go home do you not understand?"

He watched her fume and asked, "Is she ill?"

Her eyes softened slightly and she sighed, "Yes."

He caught her arm and said, "Let me help you."

She pulled free and said, "Mind your own business."

He shook his head and asked, "Will you at least tell me your name?"

Growling, she shoved passed him and walked back into the market. He smirked and followed silently.

He watched her walk down to a cart and an elder smile up at her.

She looked at the artwork on display and he said, "Last one."

Her smile was soft and she said, "Thank you for everything."

He nodded and said, "Always a joy working with you."

She walked down the street and he approached the cart.

The elder looked up at him and his face went pale.

He ran his hand through his hair and said, "If I had known, I would've cleaned up."

He smirked and heard, "Ignore him. He isn't worth your time."

He looked at her and heard the teller gasp.

The old man shook his head and said, "Watch your words child or your mother will lose another."

The woman caught his elbow and pulled him away from the cart.

He followed her into an alley and she said, "Please just go home."

He caught the pleading look in her eyes and asked, "Why?"

She ran a hand through her hair and said, "The market is not meant for you. Your father made it that way."

"Thief....stop him!!!!!!!"

She looked out of the market and saw the boy running. Groaning, she ran after him and he stepped out of the alley. He watched her catch up with the boy and the guard closing in.

She looked up at the guard and he said, "Step aside or you will spend the night in prison."

She held the boy behind her and he said, "Krystal, I'm sorry."

His eyes narrowed at the name and he looked at the woman. She looked down at the boy and kissed his forehead.

He hugged her and she said, "Promise me you will stop."

Slowly he nodded and she said, "Go home to your mother."

He nodded and ran off down the street.

The guard growled and she asked, "Must all of you torment him?"

His hand crossed her face and she swallowed the stunning pain. Her hair fell into her face and she brushed it aside.

The guard gripped her neck and growled, "You're coming with me."

He watched the guard grab her wrist and drag her down the street. His eyes narrowed and he stepped into the street.

He heard the people whispering and heard someone say, "This is outrageous. She was just defending the child."

Another person nodded and said, "Give her time. She'll return."

One looked at him and asked, "Did you see everything?"

He nodded and said, "She will be set loose."

The people looked at him and he walked down the street. His walk was brisk and he reached Thomas at the entrance of the market.

The man looked at him and asked, "What is it?"

He walked passed him and approached the castle. Quickly he ran up the steps and walked into the Royal Chambers.

He saw the guard throw her to the floor and heard him say, "This one denounced you."

His father rose from his throne and approached her. She rested on one knee and held his gaze.

The King caught her chin and asked, "Does my guard speak the truth."

She shoved him off her and rose to her feet, stealing his sword. He smirked at her wit and watched the guards circle her.

She moved closer to his father and his mother asked, "What are you thinking?"

She met his mother's gaze and said, "I am going home."

His father growled and said, "You hold my sword and expect me to let you go."

She caught the guard's blow and the sword ripped his sleeve. His eyes widened and he rushed her. She met his swings and cut his other sleeve. The guards ran at her and he stepped into view. The guards stopped and he walked up to her.

Her eyes burned as he approached and she held it up to his throat.

He smirked and said, "Enough. You're free to go."

She lowered the sword slowly and turned her gaze to the guards.

They growled and he said, "She was brought her out of spite."

His mother looked at him and asked, "Did you not see her? Will you be guilt free to set her loose?"

He sighed and said, "She is defending herself, Mother. Bryan brought her in here because she refused to hand over a child."

His mother's eyes widened and she asked, "Bryan, is this true?"

The guard nodded and said, "The child hid behind her both times. He stole food and ran to her."

The King got to his feet and asked, "Are you a protector of thieves, Woman?"

She met his gaze and said, "I won't watch you kill anymore of these children."

The Queen calmed her husband and asked, "What is your name?"

She met his mother's gaze and said, "I would rather die."

Bryan raised his sword and she deflected the strike. Growling, he stepped between them and took the sword from her.

He held the sword and said, "Back off. I said she was free to go."

His father cleared his throat and asked, "Why do you hate me?"

Her eyes flashed and she growled, "You killed my brother. You killed my father."

She stepped behind the Prince and he caught her wrist.

He held her gaze and said, "Tell them who you are. You are a free person."

She shook her head and said, "I cannot."

The Queen approached them and said, "Tell us where your mother is."

Her eyes narrowed and he said, "In their home, ill."

His mother met his gaze and asked, "You have seen her?"

He nodded and said, "Send the doctor and heal this woman."

He felt the tugging and tightened his grip on her wrist. She growled and he yanked her to his side.

His father watched them and said, "We will bring the woman here. I trust this one in your care."

Her eyes narrowed and she said, "Kill me."

The Queen smiled and said, "Our son is protecting you. Let us aid your mother."

She tore her gaze from the family and hit his neck. He loosened his grip on her hand and watched her run down the hall. The guards drew their swords and he rubbed his neck as they ran after her.

He sat on the step next to the thrones and she asked, "Are you okay?"

He smirked and said, "She is a strange woman."

His father sighed and said, "This is a mistake, Alexander."

He shook his head and said, "No. This is the right thing to do."