< Speak Now >

Andrew finally made it back to the castle, making it appear that he had been in the gardens all along. "Why is everyone in such a fuss," he frowned. "Quiet down, I'm right here!"

"ANDREW," his father bellowed. "Where were you," he demanded.

"The gardens, father. I felt like getting away for a short while."

"Your fiance is waiting in your room. You missed your dinner with her," he grunted and walked away, not wanting to deal with his son right now.

Andrew grimaced at the wrath he was sure to receive from his future wife. He opened the door to his room, at first ignoring the fact that she was practically tapping her foot in impatience as he took his time in taking off his cloak.

She stood and crossed her arms, tapping her foot at him. "Where were you?"

"In the gardens. Why must everyone ask this repetitively? I am not a child. I will go where I want, when I want," he frowned.

"But you can't." Ashley said. "You had to be at that dinner. Now it looks like we don't want to get married."

"I never said I didn't want to marry you, Ashely," he told her. "I just don't like public places."

"You better not embarrass me again and not show up for the dinner next week." She snapped, walking out and slamming the door shut.

"Or what," he muttered after she slammed his door. He yawned and took off his clothes, calling for a maid to ready his bath.

((Idk what to say.... ))

[uhhhmmmm..... skip to next day? he runs away again, only he's dressed as the duke's son XD]

The next afternoon, while out on a strole with his father (both riding on horses), Andrew smirked and made his horse gallop off, winding through the city until he was sure he lost his father and the guards. He slipped off of his horse in front of a homeless man. He looked freezing. He took his cloak off and wrapped it around the man's shoulders, and handed him a small bag of gold coins. "You need somewhere warm to stay. You'll freeze out here," he told the man gently.

The man looked at him, grateful. "Thank you, Your Grace." he said, clutching the cape tight and walking away.

Amy saw this and smiled. "I thought you'd just give the man a few coins like I said to last night." She said to him.

Andrew looked up at the young lady he'd talked with the night previous. "I don't know what you're talking about," he lied smoothly.

She smiled smoothly and nodded. "Of course not." She lied also. "Why are you here?"

"Running from my father," he sighed. "He likes all this attention. I don't want any of it," he frowned.

She nodded. "You want to go somewhere where he'll never find you?"

He nodded. "Do you know of somewhere? And where I could hide Jasper," he looked to his horse and patted his side.

"Over here." she said, leading him to a stable. "Frankie!" She yelled, a smile still on her face. A young boy looked over the rafters.

"Why if is isn't Mizz Amy!" he smiled, quickly climbing down the later. "I must have pleased the lord for such a smiling angel to come into my stable."

Amy smile. "You must have. But I need you to hide this horse. Give him water, and an apple. Please?"

Frankie nodded, taking the horse. "Well aren't you beautiful. Almost out shines mizz Amy." He said, walking away.

"You have a way with the stable boy," the duke's son chuckled. "I trust my horse will be in good hands while in hiding."

"He will be." She smiled at him. "He's had a crush on me since he was little."

He chuckled. "Using your advantages against others. I'm not sure whether to fear you or admire you," he teased.

She smirked up at him. "A little bit of both."

He laughed, it felt like for the first time in ages. "Alright, then. Where are we hiding," he asked curiously.

"Have you ever been outside the city?" She asked him.

"I have not," he looked at her curiously.

she nodded. "Good." She smiled, walking with him out the back of the stables.

He grew nervous. He had never even seen the outside of the city walls. He was always told there were many, many dangers outside of the city. He never grew the courage to actually explore it. Still, Andrew followed her, trying to hide his anxiety.