It was all planned out: the capture, the gifts, the dinner, and the celebration. Of course, on a night like this, the prince's birthday, they had only thought that it would be proper if they got him a great birthday gift. It was his twenty first birthday, which meant that he was to be king soon enough. The people of the nations--the three nations, were happy that he was to be next in command. His father had been a fair, just ruler, but his uncle, the one that was to take over the throne until his twenty first birthday had been very...unwise in some decisions.

But the capture of his gift was pure genius! Being the new king of the land he needed the right...gift. So, when the guards and his uncle had heard that the gypsies were leaving the village square that night they had a wickedly smart idea: steal a gypsy. Yes, evil, but still, a great present, do you not think so?

So three guards had gone out in the middle of the night, when all were sleeping, and took one from her sleep. She looked young and still flowered – which was good in this case. They had dressed her in the best jewels and gems, not caring about her protests, and then went into the hallway, gripping her arm with such force.

The prince was in his throne room, opening his presents. There were many things, many many things. Treasures, silk, horses, deeds to land, everything that one could possibly need for a newly born empire.

"M'lord." A guard said, looking at the prince. Pushing his deeply brown hair from his face, which looks black he smiled slightly. His smile was charming, beautiful even.

"Yes, Sir Lancelot?" He asked softly. His voice was deep, sweet sounding.

"I present to you the most beautiful flower of them all." With that he brought the maiden forwards, and the young prince Roland’s eyes widened as he looked at her.

"I..." He was at total loss of words.

The guard smiled, "Like I said, M'lord. The greatest gift of all."

The gypsy girl looked up at the new prince, her jade eyes half-scared, half-defiant. The life Gypsy's lived, she had learned early to show an outward appearance of indifference to anyone who scorned her for being what she was but right now her fear was drowning out that careful mask she had cultivated those first eighteen years of her life. Her world had just changed in a drastic way in the course of a few mere hours. She was torn away from the friends and family she had known all her existence and was thrown into this harsh other reality. It was noisy and flamboyant. Sure she was used to noisy and flamboyant, but this wasn't the comforting, organized chaos of a gypsy troupe but the glaring, audacious ways of the royalty.

They had dressed the gypsy girl in array that made her look beautiful and mysterious, all at the same time. She had to admit, if she hadn't been forced here and into this dress she would have loved it. It much resembled everyday gypsy wear, if a little more fancy than usual. This sort of cloth and jewelry was something only the richest of gypsy's could afford and some of it even more expensive than that. The red sleeveless velvet dress they had put on her was topped by white lace and a patterned corset over it defined her figure well while a golden cloth was wrapped and tied around her waist for a little added flair. She wore two diamond earrings and a beautiful golden necklace with a tear-drop made of solid gold on the end. Her cascading golden curls were partially covered by a golden veil of sort of that hung down around her. As she looked up at the prince whose gift she was supposed to be, she bit her bottom lip to still the quivering of her scarlet lips. She then dropped her gaze, and hung her head, her whole body, while beautiful, the epitome of despair.

Walking towards her, Roland’s deep blue eyes never left her face. He felt his heart sink and he did not trust the feeling. The entire room seemed to be on a hush, but he ignored it, oh, how he ignored it. His footsteps seemed to echo through out the time that it took him to walk to her and then, standing in front of her he touched her hair. Her hair was silky against his fingertips. He was at least three times larger then she was, and much more masculine.

"My little gypsy." His words were soft and did not seem arrogant at all. He looked up at the guards then. "Take her to my chambers." His voice held authority, "Make sure that she has water, food, and anything else that she might need." When one of the soldiers jerked on her arm, he snapped his fingers. "Be gentle with her. She's...delicate." He then smiled at the young woman and then turned to walk back up onto his throne room, his eyes still remembering her lovely face.

The guards pushed her towards his chambers, which he would return to soon enough. All the while they walked the guards were joking with each other. "The prince will surely have some fun tonight," one remarked to the other. The other laughed and responded, "Yes, I will have to put in ear plugs." They laughed and then, pushed her into the room, locking the door behind her quickly.

The gypsy swirled around as they left, her hands trying to open the door and when she discovered it was locked she slammed her fists against the door, putting her forehead against it, trying hard not to cry. Her gypsy upbringing was all that had kept her composed until now, but even it was beginning to weaken. How could you make sure the outsiders never saw you cry if you were in the world of the outsiders? Her heart was pounding fast. She had been captured, and then given to this prince as a birthday gift. Granted, the prince had seemed gentle and he was handsome, but he was still her captor, and her owner. How could she even think about that? And from what those guards had implicated, she wasn't going to enjoy tonight very much. She turned, resting her back against the door as her eyes darted around the room, taking the richness of the furnishings. This was all so overwhelming to her senses. And the gypsy's were sometimes scolded for their luxurious living! The royalty outweighed the Gypsy’s lavishness any day. Their life was nothing compared to this. She stepped away from the door and then felt herself get dizzy. Just what she needed. Her last thought as her vision went black was that she needed to look for a way to escape. Then she crumpled to the floor as she lost all consciousness.