Chapter One: The Request, the Quest

            Word spread quickly throughout the little village, the prince was coming! The town buzzed with excitement as young eligible maidens prepared to impress him. Even Margaret and Georgia prepared themselves. The news was that the prince was to stay at their house! Merri could care less, honestly. "Another guest. Some else to be nice to, I guess," she said, upon hearing the news. "Lady Merri, try not to be so indifferent about him. He is royalty after all," Mrs. Andersen, the household head, told her. "Yes, Mrs. Andersen."

"Remember you are the daughter of Edward and Rebecca Thomas."

"Mrs. Andersen, I will be on my best behavior while our honorable prince is here. I'll even wear a dress to dinner every night he is here. Just don't expect me to keep quiet," Merri said. "Oh no, dear, that is a physical impossibility with you. Just try not to say anything to offend him, okay?"

"Okay," Merri agreed.

            The next day, Prince Andrew and his right-hand man rode into the village. He was tall, with dark hair and dark eyes, that showed justice and kindness. He had an air of approachability. Young kids ran next to him, laughing and calling their greeting to him. Unmarried women swooned, and married ones also admired him. The men were pleased to shake his hand. Prince Andrew came to a stop at Thomas Manor. Margaret met the prince herself. "Your Highness, welcome to my humble home."

"Thank you, Lady Thomas," Prince Andrew said. Margaret motioned to one of the servants to take the horses. The prince and his friend entered into the household. Georgia greeted them and offered them tea. "My daughter Georgia," Margaret said. The prince kissed the girl's hand, and the other man bowed to her. Merri, who stood uncomfortable in one of the dresses her aunt had ordered for her, observed the two gentlemen in her parlor. The prince indeed was quite handsome, yet she was drawn to his companion. The man was tall and well-built, with blonde hair and brown eyes. He held an air of friendliness and good humor. Merri decided she already liked him and the prince. "And my niece Meredith Thomas, daughter of my late husband's late brother and his late wife," Margaret said, casually introducing her niece. Merri curtsied as the prince kissed her hand as well, with his companion bowing. "As you know, I am Prince Andrew and this is my right-hand man and best friend, Daniel Klinedell."

            Tea and dinner went well, and after, Merri retreated to her room to change. She then went into the library to finish a book she had started to read. She was surprised to see Prince Andrew and Daniel in there, admiring her father's collection. Both acknowledged the presence of the woman, who went in and took up her book. "A woman who reads? Well, I am impressed," Prince Andrew said. "I am the only one in this village who can read," Merri said. "I know. Yet, we have women back in the city who can read just like you," Daniel said. "I should leave the village sometime, then," Merri joked, before collapsing onto a nearby chair. "A recent guest to my father's castle mentioned you," Prince Andrew said. "Oh, really? Did he tell you how I refused to wear proper dresses, or wear my hair in a long braid? Did he tell you how I fought a drunken blacksmith and won, yet no man would no longer wish to court me?" Merri questioned. "He said you were a very intelligent young lady, who also knew how to fight with a sword," Prince Andrew stated. "Oh, that," Merri said. "Which is why I'm out here," the prince continued.

            'Great, now I'm going to get lectured. Doesn't this prince have anything better to do than to come out and lecture a ne'er-do-well young lady who fights?' Merri thought. "I need your help," the prince said. "My help?" Merri questioned. "Yes, yours. My beloved, Angelina, was kidnapped by the evil warlock Lucifer. He won't return her, no matter what my father and I ask for. We have decided that there shall be a search party sent out to retrieve her," Prince Andrew explained. He looked hurt and sad. "You really love her, don't you?" Merri asked. She took a deep breath. "Where do I play in?"

"Would Lucifer expect a young woman, such as yourself to waltz in and fight him?" Prince Andrew said. "Well, no," Merri admitted. "That's why. I don't want you to put your life on the line if you don't want to, but I need your help. Think on it. Good night." Prince Andrew bowed and swept out of the library.

            Merri sat in silence for some time, unsure what to do. She had never journeyed out of her small village, and it scared and fascinated her at the same time. She also longed for an adventure and here was one, yet it was dangerous. All knew what evil abilities Lucifer was capable of. Yet the prince had asked her. Her, of all people! A sudden movement reminded the girl she was not alone. Merri looked at Daniel, who still sat there. "This is tearing him up. I should know, as his best friend. They are so in love, and it's all my fault," Daniel said. "It's all your fault they fell in love or Angelina was kidnapped?"

"That Angelina was kidnapped. I was doing my rounds when I heard her scream. I ran as fast as I could, but I couldn't stop him. I just watched as she slipped out of my reach and into the night. If only I had gotten there sooner. And he doesn't blame me," Daniel said. "Don't blame yourself. He knows you did everything you could to save Angelina. That's why he's not blaming you," Merri said. "You are very wise, Lady Thomas. The guest mentioned that quality," Daniel said. "Don't call me Lady Thomas. I'm no lady. Just call me 'Merri,' like everyone else. I like that," Merri said. "Alright, and you can just call me Daniel. Deal?" he said. "Deal!"

            The next day, Merri told her aunt of the prince's request. "Absolutely not!" Margaret said. "You are not going out there and showing the world your abnormal skills. I refuse! You will come with your cousin and me to the city and watch her enter society and marry well. Understood?" Margaret said. Merri stood there. "Yet, this is my opportunity, to see the world, to do some good!"

"Women were not meant to see the world. We were meant to stay at home, marry and have children. You can do good by helping your cousin get ready for her wedding," Margaret said. "But Georgia isn't even married yet! Don't count your chickens before they hatch, Aunt." The prince entered in during this tense moment. "Am I interrupting something?" he asked. "No, no. My niece had decided to decline your offer," Margaret said. The prince's face fell. "No I haven't! My aunt has decided that. I want to come," Merri said. "Meredith! I told you no!"

"And when have I ever listened to you when you've told me no?"

"Women aren't meant to travel the world and fight evil warlocks."

"I am!" Merri replied. "MERRI!"

"What?"

"Meredith, I am giving you to the count of three to apologize and tell the prince you aren't going," Margaret said. "One…two…three…MEREDITH!"

"Yes?"

"What did I say?"

"I am not apologizing, and I'm going. And you can't stop me!" Merri turned on her heels and marched into the parlor, knocking herself and Daniel down. "I'm sorry," she said. Daniel stood up and helped her up. "It's nothing, don't worry." Merri smiled and walked to her room. Prince Andrew entered the room. "Well, it's all settled with the aunt. Though our new friend was coming no matter what," Andrew said to his friend. "Daniel? Are you listening to me?"

"Yes, I am."

"Then what did I just say?"

"You said, 'Are you listening to me?'"

"Smart alec," Andrew said. "You asked," Daniel responded. "You like Merri, don't you?" Andrew said. "What! I only met her yesterday. I told you back when you met Angelina that I don't believe in love at first sight. Neither did Angie, did she?" Daniel said, to defend himself. "Okay, so it was a rough start in the beginning but Angel came around," Andrew argued back. "But I still say that you like Merri, I can see it in your eyes."

"I respect her. She is really trying to change the ideas of people around her," Daniel said. "Yeah, a few centuries before it is ready to be accepted," Andrew said. "But still—" the nobleman was cut off with a wave of his best friend's hand. "I'm just ragging on you. You know I like to do that," Andrew said. "Now, we need to prepare. Merri is almost ready herself." With that the red head in quest blew down in her training outfit: a form-fitting blue turtleneck and her black training pants, with long black boots on her feet. She even tied her hair back into a ponytail, leaving two of her blondest pieces out of the ponytail and framing her face. In her belt was a small dagger and a sword, and her bow was across her body, hanging on one shoulder. The other shoulder held her bag, with her clothes, food and arrows. She looked over the two men and cocked her head. "Are we ready?" she asked. "Almost, first we must journey to the city of Almakeen, in the next territory, there my father's friend will fight us with supplies to last us across the Grey Plains of Lost Hope, until we reach Emtomsen, where we shall replenish our supplies before turning east towards the Onyx Tower of Lucifer, passing with protect through the lands of the Forgotten Ones, Elves. Come now, we ride north!" Prince Andrew said.

            The Prince and Daniel mounted their horses while Merri prepared her. "Be safe my lady," Gregory, the stable master said. "Thank you," Merri said, mounting Windprancer. "I shall never forget anyone in this house."

"You shall return Merri, I know it," Gregory told his young mistress. "Your parents would be proud of you. Especially your father. Go now, ride safely and swiftly." Merri nodded and joined the other two outside. She smiled at the two men and they rode off, the horses' hooves seemingly never reaching the ground.