Anne went to the masquerade ball wearing a read ball gown with laces and rose designs at the bottom. Her mother wanted her to bring a black mask, but she wanted a white one. Her father, agreed with her. " Be sure to have fun at the ball " her mother told her as she kissed her cheek and she was escorted to the carriage. Several minutes after, she arrived at the palace where the ball was held. When she entered, she was surprised to see so many royalties inside.

" I hope I don't see any one of them " she whispered to herself as she walked inside the door.

Kale grumbled quietly to himself as he entered the ballroom. His name an station were announced by a herald at the door. He heard many whisperings, and giggles from ladies in waiting and princesses alike across the ballroom. His good looks, and superior swordsmanship were well known, and made him very popular among the women. But Kale wasn't that kind of person.

He slipped a gold plated, thin, ceramic mask over his face to hide his features. He wondered bitterly what the point of a masquerade ball was, if everyone was announced at the front door. Mystery gone, it was just a game of remembering who was behind each mask.

Kale tried to make his way toward any dark corner of the room where he could hide until the end of the event. He was stopped by a group of ladies with feathered fans and intricately laced outfits, as well as masks painted with patterns or immaculate hunting scenes. He heard about a million requests to dance, and quickly made an excuse that he needed some fresh air.

"Oh but you just got here!"

"Don't you wanna dance?"

Kale looked like he was thinking for a moment. A dozen ladies waited in anticipation. "Nope, sorry!" He ran through the ballroom and quickly made his way outside. This was all too much for him, he still couldn't believe his parents were doing this to him. They probably just wanted an excuse to get him out of the castle, and away from them. He couldn't blame them, what with his snide attitude, and general bitter feeling towards everything, and everyone. Kale sighed, and breathed in the cool night air. It felt refreshing. He knew he couldn't hide outside the whole time, he had to represent his kingdom. But at that moment he really didn't care.

At some time, Anne got annoyed by all the princes asking her to dance with them. ' I have to go somewhere quiet ' she thought as she saw the balcony. When she went there, the cool night air welcomed her. " Finally some peace " she muttered. She wanted to leave the place already, but how? The carriage is supposed to get her at midnight, but it was still too early for that.

" I guess I'll have to wait here then " Anne whispered to herself with a sigh.

Kale's head snapped up as he heard a balcony door open. He looked around quickly to see who it was. All he knew was that if it was another lady asking him to ask... he was going to scream.

Though it was indeed a woman on the balcony, Kale's feelings towards her were anything but negative. Her beauty surpassed any he had ever dreamed of. But he saw more than her beauty, Kale saw kindness, and understanding in her eyes. In his heart there was an urge to run to the base of the balcony, and call up to her. He wondered if that would seem odd.

Kale heard giggling from within the ballroom, and immediately ducked his head. Through the panned windows he saw the group of feathered ladies whom he was escaping. He hid behind some hedges and waited for the giggling to pass. Soon Kale heard the sounds of high-heel shoes fade away. He let go of the breath he had been holding. That had been too close. Far too close... The last thing he wanted was to get trapped, dancing with some high-born, snobby princess who had a girlish crush on him.to

He waited a moment to make sure he was safe to step into the open. He had to talk to the princess on the balcony before he left, or was drawn back into the ballroom.

He stepped cautiously into the moonlight, coming into full view of the lady on the balcony. He knew he had to be careful, for if he stayed at the base of the balcony too long, someone from within the caste would surely spot him. Now that he was in full view of the princess, he knew he had to say something. Kale had never before felt shy in his life...

Anne's train of thoughts was broken when a prince suddenly stepped out from the shadows. She didn't even notice that he was there in the first place. The prince was very handsome, in a way that any other prince didn't possess. Her heart raced, and she couldn't think clearly. ' What do I do? ' Anne thought as she did nothing but stare at him. Behind her, she can hear some suitors calling out her name, looking for her. She suddenly panicked, thinking that she would not want to dance with them.

She wanted to say something to the prince, but she didn't know what. For the very first time in her life, she was speechless. Usually she would have something to say, although she would just be shy in saying it. But this time, it was like they were communicating without words.

More was said in the silence that followed than words ever could. Her sparkling eyes seemed to see right through him; into him. If fate would let him, he could spend the rest of his life standing under that balcony.

Fate wouldn't hear of it. He panicked as two of the ladies in waiting walked out the door. He knew it was only a matter of a few seconds before they found him. So, without thinking, he climbed up the strong grape vines which crept up the stone balcony. His strong arms pulled him up with little effort, and after a moment, he was standing on the balcony with the princess. Shyness threatened to take hold again, so before he could think, he gently too her delicate hand in his.

"May I have this dance?" He asked, his charming smile almost visible beneath his mask. How he longed to see her face... hidden by the white mask. He was sure she was beautiful, what a shame it seemed to cover up a beautiful face with a mask. He realized with a start, that she seemed to be escaping princes looking to dance. What would make him so different so as that she would accept? He could never deserve her, first off. Not even for a dance. And wasn't he out here escaping a dance as well?

However, if his heart told him correctly that there was something different about her; and if her eyes told him correctly that she saw someone special in him, perhaps that wouldn't matter. Maybe it wasn't the dancing they were escaping, but the people they were dancing with.

Feeling very smart after having figured this out all by his lonesome, Kale waited patiently as the mystery princess made her decision.

"May I have this dance?" He asked.

If it's possible to die of happiness, Anne would have did. She was surprised that in a span of short seconds, he was already with her. She looked behind her to see if anyone noticed that they were in the balcony. When she was sure that no one was there, carefully, she removed her mask. " Gladly " Anne answered as she smiled at him. Her heart was beating so fast. She didn't want the night to end at all.

" What is your name? " Anne asked him.

As he saw her face, Kale's breath caught in his throat. She was more lovely than he could have imagined.

"My name's Kale." He said with a smile, as he removed his own mask. He still couldn't believe he was standing there with her. "Might I have the privilege of knowing your name?" He asked, giving a small bow. He couldn't help but glance past her at the princes trying to find her. He saw one spot the two of them. The disappointment on the noble's face was exquisite.

I got here first. Kale thought. Go away little princeling. After he had his 'moment' he turned back to the princess, eager to learn her name.

" I am Anne " she replied. Then he saw the prince's expression as she looked behind her and saw the prince she was avoiding. Quickly, she turned around so that he wouldn't see her. When Kale removed his mask, Anne couldn't say a thing about him. He was more handsome than she expected. ' I'm so nervous ' Anne thought as she continued looking into Kale's eyes.

" From what family are you from? " Anne asked him.

Anne... such a wonderful name. Kale thought to himself. He'd never really cared for it, but now.. it had to be his favorite.

"I'm of the Sky realm. Actually, I'm their prince., Not that I want to be." He admitted.

Kale suddenly had a horrifying possibility enter his mind. It had to be impossible... The Sky kingdom was at war with the Water kingdom. If Anne was a member of the Water Kingdom, then their families were enemies, and they couldn't be seen together. Any relationship between them with be impossible, and forbidden. It would be terrible. But Kale quickly waved that notion aside. With all the other kingdoms invited to the masquerade ball that day, she was surely a member of one of the many other councils and kingdoms. But her name was Anne. The princess of the Water kingdom was Anne Everdeen. (Something he had learned in class (Which surprised him, because he hardly paid attention))

Kale had to ask her. He had to be sure. If she was Anne Everdeen, he would have to leave. It just couldn't be. "And yourself?" HE asked, trying to make it sound like a casual question. Which sadly.... it was not.

When Anne heard about what family he came from, she couldn't speak at all. She was stunned by it. Of all families, who does it have to be the Sky Kingdom? They were forbidden. This was the first time that she actually liked a prince at first sight, then this? Anne looked everywhere but him. ' Why does it have to be like this? ' Anne thought. She wanted cry right there, but as a princess she must not. She hesitated to tell him her name. What if she lied? But Anne can never do that. Her conscience would kill her if she did. And besides, she started to fall for Kale already.

Finally getting the courage to look Kale in the eye, with a horrified expression, she said, " My name is Anne Everdeen "

Then after that, she sunk down to the floor and softly sobbed. ' Why is this happening to me? ' she thought.

Kale's world went cold when she spoke her name. His world shattered around him, and collapsed in a million tiny fragments. Shards of what they were.

It could never be, anything Kale had hoped for in the few short minutes he had known her... it was all gone. He knew that he had to leave. He couldn't be seen publicly with her. But as she sunk to her knees crying, he forgot about any, and all duties he had to his kingdom. Kale would give up the blasted kingdom if it could be different.

He knelt down next to her.

"Don't cry." He whispered softly, tipping her chin up to look at him. Kale looked into her tear filled eyes, and felt a pang in his heart for the princess. The hurt in her expression made him want to tear to shreds whoever caused that pain. But he realized that in fact... he had. Not intentionally, of course, but nonetheless. In the short time he had known her, he knew he'd already give anything, and everything for her. Kale had never felt this way for any other human being on the planet, and he wasn't about to give it all up because of a family feud.

Some would say Kale was about to be very assuming, but he didn't care. He was blinded by feelings he didn't understand. "This doesn't mean we can't see each other again." He said firmly. "Who cares what our families think? They don't even remember what they're fighting over." He shook his head sadly. "We can make this work, I promise. I'll send you a letter as soon as I can." Kale said, gently wiping a tear from her cheek. "And I'll find a way to come see you." He thought of all the times he had snuck out of the castle before. It would be too easy to do it again. And his parents would surely welcome his vacating the castle. To him, it was a perfect plan. His life felt meaningful again.

Seeing some others wandering towards the balcony, he stood, helping her up, He slipped his mask on, over his face. "Until we meet again?" Kale asked, picking a rose off a nearby hedge, and offering Anne the crimson flower.

"Until we meet again?" Kale asked, then gave her a rose. Anne nodded, then wiped her face using the back of her hand. Putting her mask on again, she watched as Kale left. People had been wandering near the balcony. She didn't want him to leave, but he needed to. It was for their sake. Walking back inside the ballroom, she couldn't see where Kale went.

" Princess Anne, where have you been? " Prince Mark, one of her suitors, asked her as he kissed her gloved hand.

" I went to the balcony to get some fresh air " Anne answered with a smile.

Then the sound of the clock silenced the palace for a short while, symbolizing that it was already midnight. Anne breathed a sigh of relief.

" I have to go now. Goodnight " she told Prince Mark as she left in a hurry.

Outside, her coachman and her maid waited for her. She was escorted into the carriage and her maid went in after her. " So, how did it go? Did you meet some handsome princes there? " her maid, Erica, asked her. This made Anne feel a little bit down. " What happened my dear? " Erica asked her as she peered over her face.
" What happened in the past that caused the war between the Sky and Water Kingdom? " she asked her.

" You met him there, didn't you? Prince Kale? " Erica asked her in a worried tone. Anne nodded. " This is bad. But don't worry, I won't tell anyone " she assured Anne.

" Thank you so much " Anne said as she hugged Erica.

As Kale walked away from Anne, his heart felt light. As a matter of fact... Kale felt like he could fly. Already his mind was imagining a thousand different ways he could arrange to see her again. He didn't know why he felt this way, he just did!

His thoughts were rudely interrupted by the flock of ladies in waiting who were following him like lost puppies. "Please, ladies, I have something important to take care of." Kale tried to walk away, but a large woman blocked his path. His eyes watered as the air was filled with strong perfume. And a lot of it. He wondered what the woman was trying to cover up. Her beady black eyes stared him down like she was going to eat him for breakfast. Frankly, he was scared.

"One dance couldn't hurt..." She said in an overly sweet voice. Kale ran.

A few minutes later, he lost the group of women. Breathing a sigh of relief, Kale leaned casually against a wall, accepting a glass of mead brought by, by a waitress. He couldn't help but notice as the clock struck twelve, and Anne Everdeen was escorted out to her carriage. Kale wished he could leave so soon. His carriage ride home didn't arrive for another hour.

Another hour running from girls was not his idea of an ideal evening. But taking a sip of mead, he steeled himself determinedly to get through it. He was in for the longest hour of his life...

When Anne arrived back in her kingdom, she asked Erica to stay in her room, so that she could tell her more. Once inside, Anne shut the door tightly and sat down on her bed in an excited way. " Tell me more about the Sky Kingdom " Anne asked Erica, with excitement on her eyes. Erica smiled at her and said, " The war was started by your family. I don't know the exact reasons, but it happened a long time ago. "

Erica said more about the Sky Kingdom and the feud. She wanted to go to the Sky Kingdom and talk to Kale again. But she had to escape. And she needed Erica to know about this.

" Erica, is there a way to go to the Sky Kingdom? " Anne asked her.

" Princess, there is one way, but it is a dangerous one. And it's through the woods were wild animals live. And it's already nighttime. It's not safe for you to go " Erica told me. But despite that, I knew I had to leave.

At last, as the hour passed, Kale boarded his carriage, and began the short ride home. His mind was abuzz with thoughts of the princess he had met. Anne... her name kept going around and around in his mind. Like a song, she was stuck in his head.

You could say he had somewhat of an obsession. He knew there was a way directly from the Sky Kingdom to the Water kingdom, but it was through treacherous forest land. The Dire Woods... Beasts ran wild, and it was said even the plants would try to eat anyone who entered. He wondered if he shouldn't just send a letter first... but even that might not work. Surely the princess' mail was checked before given to her. All of Kale's was.

So he would need to go through the woods. His eyes felt dry, and tired, but that wasn't going to stop him.

As he entered the castle, he was greeted by his mother and father. Kale's mother kept up a plastic smile, and asked him how the ball had gone.

"Just like every other ball you've forced me into going to." He said bitterly. Of course, this ball had been much different. But he couldn't tell them that. If they found out what had happened, they would make sure he, and Anne, never had the chance to see one another ever again.

He quickly dismissed himself from their presence, and walked through the long corridors which lead to his private chambers. After bolting the door shut, he ran to the trunk at the foot of his bed, and belted his sword on. He hadn't been allowed to take it with him to the ball. But if he was going to go into the Dire Woods, he would need to be able to protect himself. After equipping himself with his sword, he grabbed a pack of matches, and a flask off water.

Kale figured he was outfitted properly. He jumped as there was a knock on his door. "Who is it?" The prince called, trying to sound like he wasn't about to sneak out to see a princess. He heard a reply. It was his older brother, Daniel. "What do you want? I'm busy."

"How can you be busy, you just came back from a ball! Open the door, I wanna talk to you."

"No can do brother." Kale said. "I'm gonna call it an early night." He faked a yawn, and tried to sound tired.

"Early? It's almost two o'clock!"

"Good point! Goodnight Daniel." Kale said with finality. He heard his brother's footsteps fading away down the hall, and heaved a sigh of relief. That had been too close. Without another word, or action, he climbed out his window, and dropped the ten feet to the ground. Groaning, Kale stood up. He was out. "This feels so good." He grinned to himself, loving his new found freedom. Kale walked with determination into the woods.

Anne slowly walked toward her balcony, but Erica stopped her. " You are not leaving this place, Princess Anne. I will not allow you. I care for you, and I don't want you getting hurt " Erica told her as she held her arm. Anne felt saddened by this. But she got Erica's point. Even though she doesn't want to admit it, she was right.

" Okay, I'm not going to leave. I'll just be in my balcony. Getting some fresh air seems like a good idea for me now. Please trust me on this. I promise you, I won't leave " Anne told Erica with a smile. Hesitant, Erica left the room then shut the door quietly behind her.

For all Anne knows there are guards outside her door, being warned by Erica that if Anne leaves, it won't be left unknown.

Kale realized as he entered the woods that this trip might not be as adventurous and heroic as he had thought it would be. It had been ten minutes since he had left the safety of the castle grounds, and he hadn't seen anything even close to a 'monster'. But still, he kept himself on guard. Perhaps the dangerous creatures were just waiting to spring out at him...

Crack!

The sound of a branch breaking rang out through the woods. "Who's there?" Kale called out in a strong voice. Silence was his only answer. Slowly he stepped forward, trying to pretend it was just his imagination. But years of training kept him on edge, and ready to fight. Kale's hand hovered near the hilt of his sword. After standing still for a minute he continued forward.

About a half hour of jumping at shadows, and screaming at nothing, got him to the edge of the Water Kingdom. He smiled to himself, looking at how the moonlight flickered across the land. The rough granite of the castle walls looked like they would be easy enough to climb.

Somewhere within those walls... is Anne. Kale thought. He was determined to find her.

As he crept up closer to the walls, he was startled to see her almost immediately. She was up in a balcony. Again, the way the moonlight shone on her hair took Kale's breath away. Quietly -So as not to be heard- he crept up beneath the balcony.

"Anne!" He whispered, just loud enough for his voice to travel up to her.

When Anne heard Kale’s voice, she quickly looked down and saw him. In the moonlight, he was still as handsome as she remembered. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw him. From now on, she can never shake off the connection between them. He is the only one capable of making her feel happy at anytime. She looked behind her, made sure that her door was locked, then looked down at Kale.

“ Can you climb up here? I’m pretty sure that they already think I’m asleep. And as long as we keep quiet, they won’t know that you are here “ Anne told him in a soft, sweet voice.

I think I can." He said, looking at the rough cut of the granite. It would be a struggle to get up without making much noise... but she was worth it. He reached up, and found a handhold on the uneven surface. Kale pulled himself up, and set his feet against the wall. He gave a smile off triumph, having taken his first steps up the wall.

The clanking of armor, and heavy footsteps made him freeze. A guard walking by, and didn't notice him. He heaved a sigh of relief, and wondered why he was so lucky. Kale continued to climb up the wall, and soon was able to swing his legs over the top railing. He set his feet on the stone-paved floor of the balcony.

It was then, looking at Anne, that he again felt a wave of shyness unlike anything he had ever experienced wash over him. Kale was dumbstruck.

" You made it. You are actually here " Anne told him in a soft voice, so that no one would hear her. She was actually glad to have him here, and even though they just met, she can already feel the undeniable connection between them. She can never get tired of talking to him, she already know that deep inside her.

" I didn't think that you would be here right now. I was actually the one who wanted to go to your kingdom, but then I didn't know the way " Anne said with a slight chuckle as she saw a leaf stuck in Kale's hair. Carefully, she got the leaf and smiled, then threw it away.

" Won't your parents look for you? What if they realize that you are here with me? " she asked him with worry.

Kale loved just listening to the sound of her voice. It was like the smell of the morning, having rained the night before.

She spoke softly to him, saying he had made it, and was there. He smiled, and replied. "I couldn't stay away, I just had to see you again. I don't understand why... but I had to." She remarked about having had plans to come to his kingdom, and see him. "I'd love to show you the grounds sometime, maybe if there is ever peace between our kingdoms, I can take you there." At first, it sounded like a great idea. But then he realized that the only way their kingdoms would ever come to peace, would be if one side or the other gave up, or was overtaken. Why did their parents have to be so stubborn?

He was snapped out of his thoughts, as Anne asked a question.

"I doubt they'll come looking for me if they discover I'm gone. I've snuck out many times before, and to be honest... I think they'd rather me leave then stay. I don't tend to be pleasant company." He admitted. "They might celebrate if I didn't com back." He shrugged. "I can't blame them."

Kale stared at his feet. If Anne knew some of the nasty things he'd said to his parents, and to his servants, would she still like him? He doubted it, sadly. He was ashamed sometimes of himself, just thinking about the undeserving remarks he snapped sharply to anyone, and everyone. Some were worse than others, but they all left a bitterness in his heart he couldn't rid himself of. Then it struck him, what was so different about Anne. When he was near her, she made that bitterness vanish. As if he could never have been the one to say all those things. She made him feel whole, and complete. Kale had heard off Love at First Sight. He had thought the concept was ridiculous. Now... he couldn't be so sure.

" Why would they want you out of your kingdom? Did you do something wrong? " Anne asked him in a soft voice. She wanted to know everything about him, and in return she also wanted him to know everything about her. She was also aware that there are guards below them who are passing through. But she was sure that the stone railing in her balcony prevented the guards from seeing them. They would never be allowed to see each other in public. She knew that it might just create another war.

She felt secured whenever she was with him, and when he said that he just wanted to see her again, she could not think straight at all. That was everything she wanted to hear right now. Kale was unlike the princes who courted her or asked her to be their wife. In reality, she does not want to get married yet. She was still young and she wanted to enjoy it fully. If ever she wanted to get married, she did not want it to be arranged.

I want it to be real.

"Well..." He sighed. "I'm not usually very..." He wondered how to put this. "Polite, or kind. You could actually call me bitter sometimes." Kale said ashamedly. "I don't try to be... things just slip out, and I get all these feelings off hate I don't understand. Except when I met you earlier today, those feelings vanished." He said with awe, remembering the instant he had seen her.

Kale didn't ever want to leave Anne, or have to be kept apart from her. But he knew if their parents ever found out that they had even seen each other, any dreams, or hopes of seeing her again would be ripped from him. He couldn't let that happen. He just couldn't. If she was taken from him, he would never be the same. It would be worse than when his sister, Amalia, had died. It had been when she was only five years old, and Kale had been ten. It was just a fever... she had been expected to recover quickly. But in the unexpected cold of a late Winter night, she was lost. Kale forever blamed himself. The event had left him scared, and changed him completely. He knew now that if Anne was taken from him, he would die on the inside, having lost his newly found hope.

Besides that, no doubt if they found out, they'd have him married to first available Duchess in the kingdom. They didn't even need to marry him to a princess. His brother Daniel was Crown Prince, so he would be the only one needed to make strong ties to another kingdom. And if Kale was married to a woman he didn't know, or loved, and forced to give himself away to her, instead of who he loved... He didn't want to think about it.

He sat down on a stone bench, sitting on the balcony. A cool night breeze washed over him. "You probably wouldn't want to be around me if you knew some of the things I had said to undeserving people." He said quietly, looking down. "If I were my parents I'd want me out of the castle too. But enough about me." He shook his head, "Would you tell me about yourself?" He asked with a smile. "I'm sure you're far more fascinating than myself." This he already knew, for he was fascinated with her.

" Well, I'm very open-minded. And also, I don't when to shut up whenever I speak to anyone. That is why there are always guards with me, except that night of the ball. It's because I manage to spill everything about me, even when I speak to ordinary people who are complete strangers to me. I often get myself in trouble because of that. There was even a time when I was almost kidnapped because I told a stranger where my room was. It was so stupid of me to say that " Anne told Kale with a chuckle, then she realized that he might not even be interested in those past experiences she was telling him.

" Sorry if I told you that, it just slipped out " she said as she bit her lip then looked to the ground. She was really happy right now, and she would give up everything to be with him.