[Okay, so yesterday, I mentioned the story I wrote with my friend, James. I thought to celebrate the first day of scheduling, I'd show you guys the first chapter. I did, of course, get permission form James first and he's totally cool with it. So, enjoy!]

Once upon a time, in the far away land of Migonia, there was a beautiful princess who lived in a magnificent palace, waited upon every day by servants and maids. Princess Carrie had everything she could ever desire, fine pearls from the west, rich spices from the east and princes and lords coming from all around in the hope of gaining her hand in marriage.

Yes Princess Carrie's father was a fierce man with a roaring temper, and there was nothing he cared about more than his beloved daughters happiness. And so every suitor would come to the palace, requesting the princesses hand in marriage, only to be challenged by the king to a contest.

Every suitor would be able to choose a contest to perform, whether it be swordplay, archery or wrestling, and every time the king would call upon his mysterious champion, known only as Lord and always wearing a black mask. Now nobody knew where Lord came from, or who he was, but he was legendary across the land of Migonia for every time a contest was announced and Lord was called to challenge the suitor, he would claim victory and the foreign suitor would have to return home defeated

This continued for many long seasons, and princess Carrie began to grow restless of this. She came to her father and demanded that he relinquish this absurd contest idea, and yet he refused. She begged and she pleaded with him, yet still her father denied her. Angered by her fathers refusal to let her marry whoever she chose, princess Carrie stormed from the throne room, and then, at the dead of night crept from her tower room down to the palace stables.

Carrying nothing but a pack of food she had stolen from the kitchens and a small dagger that her uncle had given to her for her 17th birthday, the princess sneaked to her horses side. Untying Trixie from where she was stabled, Carrie did not hear the sound of footsteps behind her until the figure coughed politely. Almost screaming with fright the princess spun on her heels to face the stranger and was scrabbling for her dagger when she felt a hand grab her wrist and hold it still.

Looking up, she saw the smiling face of someone she had never seen around the palace before. Before she could cry out, the stranger spoke first. "Odd time to be taking a ride princess". Indignant and still startled, Carrie blurted out at him "Who are you?" The stranger simply smiled, before reaching out his free hand to her "My name is James. I'm a stable boy of your fathers, and I watch over the horses at night" Starting to realise the danger she might be in; Carrie gripped James' hand as she spoke again "Oh please don't tell my father!" Still wearing his smile, James winked at her "I wouldn't dream of it. Now where would you be headed at a time like this?"