Her lids opened, revealing the amethyst spheres beneath. She rose, sitting up on her new bed, covered in the sheets of linen. A distance beside her lay her lord, his breathing slow, gentle, calm. From what she knew, the opposite of him awake. She hoped there was more to him then that, that she had simply stepped on the wrong paw and he would be nicer if she stayed off it long enough.

At least staying off of his side off the bed would be easy enough. The bed was of immense size for her as well as for her husband. She wanted to ask about it but she did not wish to step back on his paw, to make him cold again.

After getting herself to the ground she walked to the small wardrobe placed to the side of the room. She was surprised to find the relative lack of wealth in the clothes. As a handmaiden for Bellwether she had seen the lamb wear many cloths of great cost. In the wardrobe the dresses were mainly of blue, green, and white, colors she had seen being worn by many of the mammals at her wedding. There was also a few dresses of a course, cheap thread. No doubt to be used in some form of work. She had heard that the castle of the Merry Lands used fewer servants than those of many others. Seeing no immediate use for the course dress, he pulled out a small, sleeveless dress of blue and pulled it over herself. After doing so she walked out to the door and into the hall.

The halls were empty, the sun having yet to rise. The halls had only enough for light her to make her way. Every now and then she would pass a room where she could hear someone stirring within. Not that she would stop to listen, the lessons taught to her from her time in the halls of the bell still learned. It was not until the sun had risen in the sky and her belly grumbled for want of food that she began to walk with purpose, stopping to ask for the way.

The mammal she stopped was a pig, he was large around his waist, wearing a cloak of wool dyed red with black florals. He told her to follow him. All the servants and royals ate in the great hall for all meals at all times. As he led her to the hall the swine asked what she thought of the king. She told him that so far, she really knew nothing. When she said this the pig mumbled something inaudible even for her.

After a few seconds of her silence the pig explained, "Sorry, he always keeps to himself. we were hoping you might have learned something about him. Though, seeing how you looked at the feast last night, I shouldn't have been surprised." There was nothing else for her to add so she only nodded.

After making it to the hall he stopped, pointing to the table where she was to take her place at. Judy curtsied, thanking the pig, and walked over to the table. Like all the other tables in the halls, long, tall and wide. Already seated around it there was her husband, his family, his friend, as well as a number of other mammals and two empty seats.

The orange lids of the fox parted, a physical confirmation of his mind being pulled out of the realm of sleep. He immediately slid out of bed and brought himself to his wardrobe, opposite her's. Within he had cloths of green like the Merry Mammals of days past, blue from the dye of a plant abundant in the land, and black of some undyed wool. After picking an outfit of green embroidered with a black floral around the edge.

After dressing he walked to the hall, slowing down to wait for Finick, before continuing on his way.

"Did you do what I told you?", the smaller fox asked with a yawn.

"Yes dad.", Nick answered him

"Hey, just because you said, 'I'm sorry', doesn't mean you're done apologizing."

If Finick's words were short their effect was long felt by his friend. While Nick wished to argue but he saw no point, his friend was right and carrying it further would only further prove his friend correct. Instead he would have to work away this need of his friend to inform him of his faults.

000

"So, what were you doing this morning?", Nick asked the bunny that (somehow) managed to climb the seat beside him.

She did not answer for a few moments, a result of the weak female rabbit idealized by her land making her climb up her seat all the more difficult. "I, was *huff* walking around."

It was then that the chef entered the halls and requested volunteers to carry his food to the tables. He was a cheetah, large both with his girth and the smile he bore. After the food had been carried to each of the tables and those who carried the food had seated back down it was time to eat. The cheetah sat down in the second empty seat at the table..

One mammal, the fox that only yesterday had been the queen, spoke up. "Clawhouser, if this food looks half as good as it looks, we're all in for a bad case of food poisoning."

After the table got over its laughing fit, partaken in by all but the rabbit who tried to hide her giggles, it settled into a silence kept by placement of food in the mouths of the otherwise chatty talkers. When the food was gone, so was the king and the queen, neither having much interest in the conversations that were soon to follow.

Neither took much note of the other's presence and as soon as they had passed through the doors of the hall they began to walk off on their own paths, one formed by class and duty, the other by her newly unhindered curiosity.

It was that curiosity that eventually led her to the castle's garden. It was not like the gardens of many other lands in that it was open, placed beyond the limits of the masons' craft, protected only by the sense one mammal may feel that reminds them that there would be one to come later who may also wish to admire the sights they may see now. Eventually she ran out of corners to explore and took to finding her way through the maze of the castle's halls.

000

An enthusiastic call ran through the halls, "Lunch time!"

The distraction was well met. For Nick his whole morning had been spent in long, dull meetings of state matters. He had paid attention, not being his parent's first pick for ruler gave him a need to prove himself as king and he wasn't planning on letting any chance pass him by. But keeping up with those chances left him drained and in need of rest.

After reaching and climbing his seat he settled into a discussion with Finick over the matters of their stately meetings. Nick was always relieved to have his friend by his side. While the smaller fox was prone to episodes fueled by anger, he had a heart and was not one to abandon his friend.

After they finished off their food and the larger fox turned to leave Finick stopped him saying, "Where'd your wife go?"

Nick looked to her chair which notably lacked the ball of grey that had sat upon it that morning. Nick shrugged.

As he turned back towards his friend the smaller fox continued, "Don't you think you should look for her?"

Nick lifted his arms in response. "Maybe she didn't want lunch. Hey, alright! ", the last statement came after Finick's eyes slung daggers towards him, "When I get the chance i'll look for her alright?"

To this the Finnick said nothing, but dropped to continue on the pairs' work. This work kept both of them busy all afternoon and it was not until it was time for supper that Nick got the chance to wander.

His search was broad, covering the halls and chambers he deemed likely to hide her. He searched in the laundry room which he knew had not seen use today, in the dungeon which, having been replaced by more humane structures, never saw use, and even in the garden beyond the walls. There were of course a number chambers he knew she would not have ventured in. The library with its vast array of ancient books seemed unsuited for an illiterate bunny, so too had he ballroom and training ground for the activities done were not partaken in by the likes of her. Despite his best efforts he saw her not, and left with only one room to search, he went to check. Opening its door, he threw the contents of his pockets onto the small table placed next the door then, closing the door behind him, pulled his jacket of his shoulders. Then, putting it away, he called out to her asking her to show herself. He received no response, she was not there.

000

In his bed, reaching into the space between the mattress and headboard, he lifted up a small sandwich of sugar cane and wood decorated with the ink of charcoal. He opened up the book to the index, searching for a section to inform and comfort him. After finding the page he turned to it and saw thusly:

"There is only two letters separating male and female. In everything else, we are equal." "As a husband I'll protect her when she needs it and she'll do the same for me when I need it." "The decision of a mate should not be made in the name of necessity but rather should in the name of love." "Personally, I hate the idea of betrothal. If i could i'd end it right here, right now. But if any of my descendants were to be involved in it I hope they would treat their other with kindness."

While there was far more, after reading the last there was no need for him to go further. He closed the book and set it back in its hiding place. After doing so he rubbed his eyes and groaned. Even as a kit Robin had been his hero, and he wished to emulate the former bandit. By his treatment of his wife he had failed in this goal, if he kept this up he stood no chance to be like him. Eventually his lids, weighed down by drowsiness, shut and his mind was transported to the land of sleep.

Hmm, what do you think of the book in the bed? (BTW- that's not all he hides in there)

Thanks for your support and I'll see you next week for chapter third.