After a few dances, Victoria was flushed. Moving along side so many moving bodies would make anyone become extra warm. After her last partner, Victoria had to take a break. Her breathing was elevated, her heart beat out the music tempo, and her face was as pink as the skirts of her dress.


She excused herself outside. The cool evening was like eating ice on a hot summer day. She was glad for the break, that let her think about what else tonight could have in store for her. She self consciencely touched her hand to her rose-shaped hair, to ensure it was still in place.


Suddenly she heard footsteps behind her. A look of panic came over her face. It could be any one. She was outside, unchaperoned, in the dark. With all the strangers at Roseworth, Victoria was feeling a bit uneasy. She quickly ducked behind a near-by tree, hoping she had not been seen. She would make sure she was safe, before making her presence known. She waited, watching, listening.

Adrian had walked out on the patio to look at the sky. It was his constant reminder of what life was about. To admire the beauty of the world. He saw someone scurry out of the way and he laughed slightly.
"I am not here to hurt you. Just to admire the beauty of the great night God has blessed us with."

He stared up at the sky a bit longer. The stars were out in force. Lighting the way for any wayward soul. He would be able to admire it fully soon enough, he reminded himself.

Dang! She'd been seen. She slowly came out from behind the tree to look at the man. She saw how he gazed up at the sky. This is something her father had often done, as he admired the stars. Her father also used to say there her mother was watching us from the stars. She, too, looked up at the sky, and agreed. The sky truly looked to be one of our greatest gifts.


"Indeed, my Lord. God has given us a true blessing. More than one in fact. Some are just harder to see than others." Her eyes were thoughtful, as she looked to the man. "I am sorry that hid the way I did. With all these strangers, I never know what to expect." She smiled kindly at him. "I am Victoria, Victroria Carstairs. It is a pleasure to meet you." She introduced herself with a courtsey.

Adrian bowed to her. He levelled himself out and looked at her.

"I am Lord Adrian Smith, hailing from Harleston."

Adrian scoffed at his own title. He was farther from being a lord than the beggars that sat on street corners wanting money. He lived in the woods and hunted for his living.

"Though, I beg that you only call me Adrian, I am not one for any formalities. I am tired of hearing 'Hello Mi'lord' and the like of that."

He sighed again. He hated how nobility had so much power over the communities...while the people had no say in most matters.

"I know the feeling, I will call you only Adrian, if you promise to return the favor. Names are much better when you forget the titles." She smiled. Though, she knew most of the court would always address her as "Lady Victoria" she would always be plain and simple, Victoria. "The Dutchess' niece should not be addressed any thing but formally," she had been told by the last person she tried to get to drop her titles. The thought brought a sigh to her lips.


"Even though this is suppose to be a formal event, and Aunt Esabell deserves every thing to be splendid, I wish that this were more a public affair." She looked at him, and hoped she would not be put down for such a bold statement. "I mean, the duchies would have nothing to celebrate, for there would be nothing to control, if not for those people who live every day believing they were not important." She looked back to the stars, wishing she could help the people more than she did. Her and her father had spent all of her life, convincing the village they lived in that they were all important. She missed her village, but she knew that she always had a place to go back to.

"Indeed. The people should have a say in changes in government. But Lo and Behold, this is not so."

Adrian took out a small piece of applewood and began to chew on the end. It was a very odd habit he had picked up, but it relieved anxiety.

"I don't know why...but the nobility believe they should have power and leave the common folk to their own fates. I believe in helping the common people, and allowing them to determine what happens in their specific village."

He looked at the sky again, and sent a silent prayer to the only person he had truely loved...his little sister. He prayed that she would help him through his current state, as she was always his beacon of hope...prior to her death. A tear began to fall down his right eye. He didn't bother to wipe it off, he was in the company of a good person.

The thoughts of her father, coming out in a man she had never seen before. "Adrian, you speak with the love and wisdom rarely seen. My father was the only one I ever heard talk like that before." She smiled at him, it took courage to talk like that. "It was my father who tried his best to treat things like that. Our village, by the sea, was one that was very well opinionated. My father made it that way. Though, besides my family here at Roseworth, my father had the last say in any thing in our village, he always tried to make the majority of the people happy. It always seemed to work, even if they did not get what they wanted, having a say made a difference." her smile faded.


The thought of her father, her rock, her best friend brought sorrow to her heart. She would never see him again, she knew. Had she been alone she would have cried, but she would not here. She looked at Adrian again, to find that it was he who was crying. A tear glistened on his cheek. She slowly raised her hand, and wiped it with her thumb. "What brings such a strong, caring heart such sorrow?" She asked, not letting him see that she too was filled with thoughts that were painful.

"My little sister. She was killed in a raid by bandits while I was off at the Abbey...learning how to read and write..."
He sat down on the nearest chair and placed his head in his hands.

"Victoria. How is a man supposed to be a Lord, when he cannot protect those so close and dear to him?"

He rose his head, his eyes rimmed with red. He was breathing slightly hard. He brought the cross he always had on him and prayed again. He prayed for the fortification of his mind, and for the protection of the spirits that were his family. Right now, he was the last Smith in his line. He had yet to marry. However, he had plans that were known to himself and partially to another.

"Adrian," She followed him to the chair. "A Lord is not determined by who he was unable to protect." When he looked up, she placed her hand on his. "Nor, by the land he owns. To me, and I think your sister would agree, a Lord is determined by his strength of heart, and the courage in trying to love and care for the people around him. I have no doubt that your sister has more than forgiven you, she knows you were not at fault. The only thing left for you to do, to be worthy of your title, is forgive yourself."


She had no idea where her words had come from. It was not every day that she gave a man advice. Usually they never listened to her long enough to even hear her if she tried. This man seemed to be different. "Now, Adrain, can you show your people the compassion you believe the deserve? Are you going to try to love and care for the people in your life? And when you feel you have failed them, forgive yourself?" She gently placed her fingers on his chin, and lifted his face toward hers. "The only thing preventing you from being the Lord you want to be, is yourself." She green eyes held his gaze, searching for something that would tell her that her words held any meaning with him.

"The people around my village don't look to their lord for help. I let them set up a council and govern themselves. I only help if I am truely needed. I isolate myself from the troubles around me with the woods. My dog is my only true companion, A steadfast partner, and good company regardless of that fact he can't speak back."

Adrian had never let so much about himself be known. He sat back and sighed. He felt he had failed in what people would call his 'noble responsibilites'. What responsibilities did he have? He was just someone who happened to be the bastard child of a man with money. He was determined not to be his father, who was a kind, but unforgiving man.

"Then that is where your problem might lay. Give your people a reason to trust you. Yes, let them have a say, but give them a strong figure to look up to, and be happy to have for a leader. Find your courage, and do not hide from your troubles." She thought more on it for a moment. "Why not let your people help you? Letting them know what you are going through, after letting them know that you want to help them, will help them to trust you. They will see that there is a real person behind those closed doors, and if you come out from behind the trees they will see the true you. Opening yourself up, you might think, would make you seem weak. At first it might. But if the people realize that they helped make you strong, they will feel safer to have you with them. They will want your leadership, even knowing they have majority of the say." Victoria had watched her father work, long hours trying to make his people happy. He had trusted them, and they trusted him. Victoria only wished she knew how to better explain it to this man. She wanted to help him, as she could tell that he had told her more than he might have any one else.

"I'm assuming you learned this from your Father? All I can say for him is that he is a wise man. Aristotle once said: 'He who has overcome his fears will truly be free.' I suppose I have to overcome my fears of rejection from the people I rule."

Adrian sighed heavily. He hated his lordship. Everyone kept telling him: 'But it's your birthright! Use it!'. He sighed once more and hugged Victoria quickly.

"Thanks for your council. I really do appriciate it."

"Yes," she replied. "My father taught me many things. He was my best friend." She sighed, the thought of her father, again, was still making it hard not to submit herself to the tears she felt boiling in her eyes. Even over the past year, the pain of his death was still strong.


She smiled, any way, as she returned Adrian's hug. "You are welcome, Adrian. I am glad that you actually listened." Speaking of listening, Victoria's ears caught the sound of the music from inside. She was not ready to go back in, but she did enjoy dancing. She would wait, however, until Adrian was ready to return, before she too joined the party again.

Adrian sat back and sighed. He slowly got up from his chair.
"Once again Victoria, I thank you for your council. Women are always much easier to talk to then other men."
He turned to go back into the Ball.
"I'll be on the balcony if you need me."
He walked off to the Balcony. He needed a much more secluded place to think.

Victoria smiled at his comment. She was glad to have met some one who did not try to put women in their place. She sighed deeply when he went to make his leave. She was intrigued by the way he thought about things, and she hated to think they may never meet again. She watched him start to leave.


"Adrian, wait!" She called after him, standing up, and surprising herself. She was not usually one to be so bold. If he turned back around, what would she say? She asked herself. She did not know her own reason for stopping him. A smile edged the corner of her mouth, as she got any idea. A perfect moment for maybe never meeting again...

Adrian stopped before he even got to the door. He turned around to face Victoria.

"Yes, Victoria?"

He wondered what she wanted. He couldn't tell, he was usually good at reading faces. Though, he couldnt tell what she was thinking. He smiled at her though, as he did when he didn't know what to do. He began to walk back towards her.

She smiled with relief when he stopped. She took a deep breath, then let out her idea. The sound of the music from inside gave her confidence. "Neither of us knows where the rest of tonight, or the rest of our lives will lead us. This might be the last we see of each other. So, as the perfect parting, would you honor me with a dance?" She looked at his smile searching for what he might say. "We do not even have to go back inside. Right here, we can still hear the music, and the stars make for great decorations." A smile creased her face, as she was hopeful he would say yes.

"I would be greatly honored."
Adrian said as he moved closer. He placed his left hand into her right hand and placed his right hand on her back. He led her off into dance.
"Dancing by starlight is a beautiful thing. It's much better than being in a large crowd and dancing by candle light."
He smiled widely. His white teeth shone in the starlight. In truth, he did not know if he would see her again, so he cherished the moment.

Victoria sighed with relief as he accepted. She let out a long breath, that she had not realized she had been holding. Her left arm gently rested on his right, as their other hands clasped together. Her feet gracefully matched, and followed, his. He green eyes held him in her gaze. "It truly is wonderful. Thank you for sharing this with me." She smiled at how elegant the scene was. Soft music in the back ground, the stars and moon the only light, and the two of them. Truly the girls who were true dreamers would call this "pure romance" but Victoria thought nothing of it. It was only her, dancing with a new friend.

"It's no problem sharing in this moment with you. It's much better than if we were in there."
Adrian nodded towards the door. It looked like pure Chaos, just waves of people dancing. His smile was still on his face. Dancing was becoming more pleasurable to him. Though, hunting would always be his favorite thing to do. He looked at Victoria again.
"This night turned from something I thought I would dread, from everyone saying 'Mi'lord' to me, to a very pleasurable event. Thanks to you and a few others."

"Too true," she agreed completely with him. The events inside the hall, she knew, could get overwhelming. Still following his every step, with ease, she smiled. "I am glad that I could brighten your evening." She beamed at him. "You have added joy to mine, as well." She sighed when she realized the song was about to end.

Adrian heard the song fade out and he smiled at Victoria once more.
"It is unfortunate we must part. This night has been a great one, thank you Victoria. I will see you at the next ball, I suppose?"
He looked down at her, his deep green eyes with the utmost sincerity. She will be a good friend to have in the future. He thought. He enjoyed the dance, in all truth, and the next time he saw her at a ball, they would dance. He smiled at her once before he turned to leave. "Good bye, Victoria. Unus super omnia." He ended his departure saying with his family motto.

"The next ball..." she mused aloud. "If not before then, then yes, I will see you there. Promise to save me a dance?" She winked at him. She knew that men like him were rare, and they were good to keep as close friends, much like her father had been to so many. "Good bye, Adrian. Until we meet again." She smiled as he left. She took one last look at the stars, before she too rejoined the party.