A/N: Hello! Thank you for opening this story. It's something that I've wanted to start for quite a while. Keep in mind that this is my first published story so I've tried my best. I would appreciate if no one Flamed me or anything. Constructive Criticism is welcome, provided it's done with good intentions. I hope you enjoy the first chapter and it would make me ridiculously happy if people reviewed because then I'd be motivated to continue!

:) Charlotte

Chapter One

I was out on the streets of the market, singing like I always did when I was sad, lonely or even just plain bored. I had even acquired a little bit of an audience, and for the most part, they seemed to be enjoying my work.

As the song drifted to an end, my little brother Faolan passed around the shabby, ragged hat we used to collect money in, even managing to earn a few coins. However, we barely had enough time to stuff our meager wages into his equally disappointing coat pocket before Faolan grabbed my hand, and as fast as his 12 year old legs could carry him, dragged me off into an alleyway.

"It's Matron Bronwyn, she must have found out we went missing!" he yelled back into my ear. "What'll we do Carys?"

If I knew Matron Bronwyn, and after having spent the majority of my 20 years in her care, I was certain that I did; she would not take kindly to Faolan and me earning money on the street. She was a genuinely good person, but she didn't believe in us leaving the orphanage to run around and do as we please. Especially when we were supposed to be helping her in the shop she ran, as I was the oldest of all in her care, and was given the most responsibility.

I knew if she found the money I had made, it would, in turn, make its way into her own pocket, as "compensation for being looked after for nearly 12 years, and missing time at the shop!" Needless to say, the conversation had occurred. At least once.

As my brother and I moved back onto the main city street, I looked behind me, and seeing no further sign of the matron, I came to a stop. Faolan however, was not so fortunate, running directly into the path of an elaborately cloaked man. I could tell immediately that he was a noble, accompanied by a less then scrupulous looking lady. His hair was the darkest shade of black, and he had clear blue eyes, which even as I looked held a stern gaze projected onto Faolan. My brother, equally dumbstruck by the noble, recoiled, stuttering an apology that was barely audible.

The noble however, picked him up by the scruff of his coat, and tossed him to the side roughly.

I watched in shock as my poor brother landed on the ground with a violent thud, whimpering, while the noble and his escort laughed.

"Oie!" I shouted angrily. "What makes you think you can get away with that?" I ran to Faolan's side, helping him to his feet.

The nobleman simply continued laughing, and started to walk away. Furious, I picked up a rock, throwing it at his back.

He spun around quick as a flash. Ha. That got his attention, though in retrospect, I realized it was not a wise idea to get on the bad side of a person who could get me into a lot of trouble with authorities.

"You dare throw a rock at me?" He asked incredulously.

"You dare to push a child on the ground?" I answered with as much venom as I could muster, which admittedly was not much. "It was an accident! That's no reason to hurt him! I never knew the nobility of Vayle had sunk so low! You may be rich, but that is no reason to act like you are better then everyone."

The nobleman walked towards me. He was so tall he towered over me, though I suppose such a fact isn't an enormous feat when you are as short as I am, and almost everyone looked more imposing then I did. I had hair so blond it was practically silver, and pale blue eyes, that the matron called eerie at times. It didn't seem like they bothered the noble however, since he leaned into my ear.

"You sound like a mother bird protecting her young, but you had better pray we do not meet again little bird, otherwise I will be the hunter that shoots you down. Don't forget, being rich means that I am better than everyone, especially you." He spat, turning quickly to meet up with the women who accompanied him. She latched onto his arm like a leech, all the while batting her obviously false eyelashes at him as if he were some sort of hero. As I watched them leave, I stood frightened and angry gripping Faolan's shoulder.

"Are you alright?" I asked him. He nodded slowly, but I couldn't help but notice his grip on me was stronger than usual.

"Let's go back to the orphanage since matron has probably gone back and is crazy with worry by now." I added.

"She's probably rip-roaring mad too..." he said, causing his grip to become even stronger.

"We'll just tell the truth. It's believable, since nobles are always acting all high and mighty anyway. Okay?" Faolan agreed and we made our way back through the crowded city centre to the run down orphanage we called home. As soon as we got in, Matron hounded us with the questions which I had been anticipating.

"Where were you two? Not out singing again Carys, were you? How many times do I have to tell you that you are only wasting your time out there? Besides, I need you're help here, the other children love you Carys and the work much harder when you're around to cheer them on. But you and your brother disappearing all the time makes them worried and sad that you aren't going to come back. What if one time you don't? What will I do then huh? How will I get them to work?"

"I apologize Matron Bronwyn, my brother and I had no intention of staying out so long but we ran into a rather unpleasant noble."

"What do you mean ran into?" she asked raising a thick grey eyebrow in concerned suspicion.

"Well I kinda...sorta... wasn't paying attention and bumped into him ma'am..." Faolan stuttered.

"Yeah, and the jerk threw him onto the ground! Are all nobles so haughty Matron Bronwyn, that they cannot stand being touched by a little boy? How could I have not said anything to him?" I asked.

"Oh Carys dear, please tell me you didn't unleash that temper of yours... Though It does spark, it isn't overly imposing." Matron said, as if silently pleading to herself that I didn't have an injury or a fine on my head.

"Define unleash..." I laughed awkwardly, braiding my waist-length hair, as was habit when I was nervous. It was a dead give-away to matron that I had done something wrong, for although she was not my mother, she knew me just as well. My real mother had passed away when I was very young, and my father got married again, to Faolan's mother. She loved my father, but not me, and the first chance she got, she convinced my father to leave a baby Faolan and I on our own in the streets. Thankfully, Matron had found us a few nights later when I was trying to steal some milk from her store to feed to my crying brother.

Since that day, it has been Matron, and only her, who has been my family, and I knew I could never forgive my father for leaving us. Despite her prickles and quills, I loved her.

Shaking her wizened head, Matron disregarded the incident and changed the subject.

"Oh never mind, come now, its late and the children won't go to bed unless they see that you two have returned. I hope you'll stop this nonsense soon enough. If you want money, work at the store, and if you stay put for long enough, I might even pay you a small wage eh?" She asked, tossing my now braided hair over my shoulder.

"Oh all right." I answered sticking my tongue out at her. Grabbing Faolan's hand, I dragged him up the stairs to the bedroom we shared with 14 other children.

As soon as I opened the door I was swamped with tiny arms enfolding around me. The children that Matron took care of were generally young, Faolan being older then the majority of them by far. Most of them had been dropped of to Matron as the bastard babies of nobles or the rich, and she had been given money to look after them until they were old enough to take care of themselves. Never being the sort to turn down compensation, Matron always gladly accepted each tiny new charge.

"Carys we didn't think you were going to come back!" The four-year old Keelie whined into my leg.

"Oh don't be silly, of course I'd come back! And look what I've brought you all!" I said, pulling the coins I made out from my pockets. Somehow Matron had neglected to ask about my earnings. Perhaps I should have mentioned being attacked by a noble every time I went out, if only to avoid her questioning me. From my calculating earlier, I had earned 15 small coins exactly, and though not a lot, I knew it would mean the world to the orphans who had grown up with nothing. I handed one out to each of the children, and Faolan as well. I didn't care whether or not my singing earned anything, I just enjoyed doing it, and the smiles of the children upon receiving their single Hur was a fine price indeed.

"Thank you Carys!" Another little boy, Blaine, said, like the small coin was worth more then all the gold in the world.

"Now everyone, hide that away, and save it for market day! Maybe we can all buy something really special! Quick though, get to bed before Matron comes up to check on us, else she'll take it away!"

The squealing and giggling children raised my spirits, and I tucked each and every one into their small cots.

I however, was not quite ready to go to sleep. The behavior of the man from earlier was still bothering me, despite the fact that my brother seemed to forget about it so quickly, I was apt to dwell upon injustice. Though it was unlikely that I would see him again, as nobles were not often seen on the streets of the marketplace unless there was a festival going on, if I ever saw him again, I would be sure to remember his face. Furthermore, nobles could only frequent escorting services so many times before questions were raised.

Creeping back downstairs, I sat in front of the fireplace internally stewing.

"Little bird? Who's a little bird? Bother me again and I'll be sure to peck your eyes out!" I scolded the flames, and rearranging the kindling with a poker.

"Did the nobleman hurt your pride as well as your brother Carys?" I heard Matron ask from behind me. I quickly spun around.

"I'm sorry Matron; I just came down here to think about what happened. That jerk of a nobleman treated us like we were less then human. Didn't the king marry a commoner? How can there still be so much distance between the classes? We seem to be moving forward Matron, but we are still not far enough ahead. Just because I am a poor orphan does it mean that I am worthless? If I wanted to, I bet I could make a difference, even enough to gain his notice." I sighed, depressed.

Matron said nothing for a while; just put her hand on my shoulder comfortingly.

"I am sure you could Carys. But in this life, it is money, and money alone that determines where we stand in the scheme of things. Plus, I'm afraid it is not an easy thing to obtain. Trust me, if I could, I would make a fortune, and I'd find all of these kids homes while I was at it. You know that eventually, they'll all go to the Servant Houses. If you weren't so useful around here, that's where you'd be heading as well."

I moaned, perfectly aware that the only reason I was spared a life of servitude was the fact that all 15 of the sleeping children, my brother included, depended on me to be their family.

"Now it would be best my dear, if you didn't think on that man's words anymore, or else you'll be in for a sleepless night. I've always said you take others' words far too seriously. And besides, you need to help in the shop tomorrow, we're getting a shipment of apples from the palace orchards, as they are in surplus this time of year, and they'll be going bad soon enough."

Internally I braced myself for the heavy labor I would need to go through the next day, but I figured if I could get away early enough, perhaps there would be time to earn a few more coins on the streets as people went about their morning business.

I gave Matron a quick hug, and headed upstairs to get some rest, and think up a song to sing. At least now I would have something other then that arrogant jerk to ponder before bed.