• As the child whirls and twirls in glee, the woman breaks down into tears. She is about to do the hardest thing in all of her life: hurt her daughter. It was inexcusable, yes, but necessary. She would not see her only daughter be hurt as she had been hurt.

    "Momma, what's the matter?" her beautiful darling's voice breaks into her mind.

    "Nothing, angel, nothing. I want you to know that I love you more than anything in the world, alright? No matter what happens, I will always love you." These words confused the child, but she shrugged it off as incosiquential. She went on playing as if nothing had happened.

    Hooves sounded on the forest floor, bridles and halters jingling. The child looked up, her face glowing. Her silver eyes twinkled with glee, her black hair gleaming.

    "Papa!!!" she squealed, dashing off to the horses.

    A handsome man lept off of a black stallion, catching the child's small body in his arms...

    *^*^*^*

    Ayla woke up gasping, the burried memory fresh in her mind. The last time she had seen her mother, that beautiful woman who had given birth to her, she had been only five years old. She remembered the last words she had spoken, the last expression on her face, before she had vanished forever. Her father had not known of her mother's plans, but it didn't matter. She had still left. Now 12 years later, she still had nightmares.

    There comes a time in every girl's life when she must wed to better herself," a stern older man started.

    "Father?" Ayla said, startled out of her embroidery. She looked up at him as if he was crazy.

    "Ayla, you are seventeen. Most girls your age are married with two children. I have found you a husband, therefore you will have your own family. Just like you always wanted."

    "Not like this. What if we completely hate each other? What kind of life is that for a child? Also, those other girls are on their way to old faster than the spinsters." She was adamant about this. Arranged marriages were horrible.

    "Darling, this is what your mother would have wanted. She would have wanted you happy."

    "How can you know? How can anybody know the thoughts, the heart of a woman long gone?" she was close to tears. The dream was still fresh in her mind, of that last day.

    "Because, she arranged this for you herself, the day she dissappeared. I would not ask this of you if i didn't completly agree with her."

    "How many women have slept with this man? Does he want to marry? Will he accept a wife in his home? These are all questions i need to know the answers to, Father. Otherwise, i will not even consider him." She said, rebelling.

    "I don't know how many women he's had. I don't care how many women he's had. He was the one pushing for this marriage, and darling, don't even think of refusing him. He is a very powerful man." Lord Micahel said, frustration in his face.

    "Do I know him?"

    "Yes. He's Gabriel, your friend."

    "I haven't seen Angel in over 5 years! Since when is he a powerful man?" Ayla was incredulous. How many people had an arranged marriage with their childhood bestfriend? Not many, that was for sure.

    "Since he became the Duke of Warrington. His father died just over 2 years ago. He would have been what, 22? Old enough to take over the reigns for his father."

    "Why didn't you tell me?!" Ayla exclaimed. She felt really bad now, not having known about her friends suffering.

    "You were in the middle of training. I didn't want to distract you."

    "You know that I wouldn't have been distracted! He was my best friend, and now he probably thinks I'm heartless for not going to the funeral."

    Ayla was distressed. Her best friend, the only one who liked her for herself and not her title, probably hated her guts.

    "No, i gave him an explanation. He was very understanding. It seemed like another person was in the body of the hotheaded young man i remember."

    "When is he getting here?" She demanded.

    "In about a month. He has to arrange for the Manor to be cleaned and everything."

    Chapter 2

    Gabriel de LaCross sat atop his horse outside the Marlyo Castle, the home of his friend and future wife. He was nervous. Not having seen her in five years made him feel like a boy again. He didn't know what she liked, didn't like or anything.

    Riding forward, Duke Gabriel entered the bailey. It was bustling with activity, servants and guards going about their business. A man stopped and looked at him. The man came over and offered to take the Duke's horse.

    "I'll send for a woman to escort you into the Grand Hall. We were not expecting your arrival so early, Your Grace." The man said with a bow.

    Gabriel nodded, dismounting."I guess you wouldn't. I am a tad early, eh?

    The man nodded. He took the horse, catching a woman and directing her to the Duke.

    "Take me to my fiance." He ordered