Goosebumps: Return to Terror Tower

by MJ-ISO487

Susannah and Edward had been living in peace for almost a year with their friend and Guardian Mr Morgan. And now a conflict has come back to haunt them when they realise they must go back to save the people. Along the way Susannah meets a mysterious young man, known as Declan Valmont. Look out for other characters from one of the Goosebumps books.

2. Chapter 2

Chapter two

This new chapter basically sees the two kids take the time to calm down for the night and there are some new surprises are still yet to be shown for this special chapter.
Its not yet finished but I'm still up for ideas if anyone likes to share a few. So there will be some new characters which are mine and some new characters in the next few chapters or so. Also I'm thinking of adding some characters from a familiar Goosebumps book and maybe a few more surprises along the way.
so keep an open Mind and be surprised. Just so you all know, I don't own the story so I'm just writing it just for the pleasure of entertainment and for the fantasy. So beware you might be in for a scare!

The Chapter starts at the Hotel where Steve, Carly and his parents were staying in.

Back in the 20th Century

After going up the side stairs they went straight to their room.
Reaching Steve's room, Steve unlocked the door before entering the room, he walked towards the bed and sat down whilst Carly entered the room as well and closed the door behind her. At that moment Carly and Steve were a little shell shocked by what they seen at that house and none of them ever spoke for what they saw was not ordinary.

It was not long before Carly spoke.
"Steve I think what we saw was so unbelievable, I mean that old man just made the girl vanish into thin air."

"I know, that was too strange for me to take in too, let alone not the only strange thing we've both seen. do you remember those masks that we've had worn those years ago?" Steve asked, when he rose from the bed.

"Not a day goes by when I don't forget that horrible haunted mask which almost took over me. But this was different than I'd expect in this town. I just hope we can get away from this place before that old man finds out that we were spying in on their own house and saw everything." said Carly.
Steve nodded at what she hoped.
Carly paused a moment by the door before she walked forward and sat by Steve's side.
"Where do you think that girl went when that old man made her disappear?" she asked looking to Steve.
Steve then spoke."How should I know? She might have ended up anywhere in the world, like China or Europe or anywhere in the southern hemisphere."
"Ok, ok. I'm sorry if I asked for your opinion Steve." said Carly.

Steve thought on it for a moment and then spoke out.
"Now as far as we're both concerned we can't tell anyone that this old man made a girl disappear."

"Why not?" asked Carly, Steve looked at her whilst he answered.
"Cause they probably wouldn't believe us, who would they believe that a man made a girl vanish using a magic trick?"

"Good point, so what should we do in the meantime?" asked Carly. Steve stood up from the ground.
He walked a couple of steps past Carly as he spoke. "Well I'm not sure, we'll be leaving either tomorrow or something so we might as well leave things be and lay low encase that weird man finds us and makes us disappear."
"yeah, that sounds like a good idea." Carly said calming down a bit, she turned to Steve.
She looked on him for a moment before heading off to the bathroom to splash some water on her face for a bit of a while.
Whilst Carly was in the bathroom, Steve went to his bag and took out a book to read, to take his mind off the events of the evening and then figure out something else. Knowing that his parents won't be back at the hotel before later on, Steve and Carly spent the rest of the time playing cards together.
After a short while of playing cards, they started playing a game of rock. paper. scissors. which Carly won three whilst Steve won only two with only a couple of ties between them. During the game, Steve and Carly spoke about what college they might go to and what guys she fancy's at high school and all. But what caught her off guard was when she asked Steve who he had a crush on, he answered that he once had a crush on Carly herself.
Carly was a bit awkward for a short moment before she drew a smile on Steve, they lingered for a short while before the two decided to lean in to one another. The moment they were close their lips met and they kissed on the bed.
The moment they parted, Carly blushed in the cheeks as she saw Steve look so dreamy. Noticing that its getting late, Carly decided that it was the best time to get to bed, picking up her pyjamas, she went into the bathroom and got changed in there whilst Steve changed into his own pair.
They slipped into their single beds and went to sleep afterwards.

England in the 15th Century.

After finding a hiding place within a small cavern in the forest, Susannah had curled up in a dark corner.
There she rested herself for the night, keeping her blade close to her at all times.
Now the morning of the next day came and the time to move was upon her.
Susannah walked through the forest whilst eating some pieces of bread whilst on the move and drank some water, she continued on until she came to the edge of the forest and into the path. Posing as a lonely beggar-woman she moved along the path slowly so not to catch any attention to herself and end up getting caught by any garrison's patrol.

For a long week She continued along the roads until she bought herself a horse and then used it to ride across the country south of the western coast to London. She spent some nights on the side of the roads or at a nearby tree to stay clear of any riders or caravans that might pass by, during those hours of rest she thought of her parents and what they were like before they died and she and her brother ended up Imprisoned at the tower of London by their uncle.
It was a little feeble time back then but she remembered them piece by piece and she felt happy with those old memories.
But whilst she was coming to the coast to help release the rebel Leader Declan Valmont, the English and Scottish party were initiating their own plan of action, using a couple of long boats to enter the prison, one of them entered the hallways of the tower of London disguised as a black clad, overweight lieutenant assigned to bring Declan Valmont forth for execution so that he can get through the guards unnoticed whilst the Lord High Executioner was away.
Once inside the lieutenant went towards the warden's office within the tower, presenting him with a warrant under the seal of the Lord High Executioner.
The warden read the letter slowly word by word before he was content with the warrant and led the lieutenant to the jail cell where Declan Valmont was held. Meanwhile inside his cell the rebel leader Declan Valmont stood at the middle, looking up through the skylight whilst thinking of any way to escape.
His face was still trapped in the black mask which he wore for years since his capture and he wondered why it was done to him since he was such a big threat to his enemies like the English King. He often wondered why they wouldn't just kill him and get him out of the way altogether, but he was glad to be alive so he would make new plans to battle King Robert. After a moment he was about to walk back to his bed when he heard footsteps coming to his cell and went to the bed and waited for the men to approach.
Once at the cell, the warden took a ring of keys off his belt and fiddled with them before he unlocked the doors of the cell. Inside the cell Declan was about to pounce forward when he recognised the lieutenant coming into the cell.
He was full of hidden relief as he stood whilst the lieutenant asked the warden to leave them alone.
The warden closed the door after him and went for a walk along the cells, leaving the soldier and the prisoner together. Once gone, the lieutenant came forward as Declan did the same and he took his hand hand in a handshake to show how glad he is to see his old friend after a long time of imprisonment.
Checking behind him, the lieutenant reached in behind his black tunic and pulled on some sort of rope.
Suddenly a body fell before his feet as Declan watched, kneeling down he looked back up and then asked.
"Who is this man?"
"Why he is you Declan." the lieutenant answered.

By the time the warden came back, he heard the Lieutenant call out for him.
The Warden rushed to the cell before he entered, seeing the body lying on the straw bed.
The lieutenant explained that when he saw him on the bed and approached, he was still as a statue and he fell aside when he touched him. Realising that he might have died of plague the warden went and grabbed one of the fire torches to burn the body whilst the lieutenant went out.
Afterwards he got on the boat, which the two men on board rowed it away through the catacombs of the tower after the lieutenant boarded the boat, leaving the warden to take care of the rest.
They rowed long and far from the prison for the long hours into the day until they were outside the catacombs. Going along the river they went until they were near the bank where there was a ship standing in the brook.
Approaching the ship's side the three men docked with it, the lieutenant climbed up the ship's ladder to the barrier and then climbed over it before he let his load loose as his two comrades came aboard as well.
Soon as the crew aboard the ship were well prepared for departure, the ship's anchor was raised and the ship was on its course for its destination whilst the Lieutenant escorted Declan to the quarterdeck at the stern of the whole vessel.
The two went through the doors into the hall towards the quarterdeck, they went through another door and walked across to a table in the middle of the deck before Declan sat down on a chair in front of the table.

Back on the mainland, Susannah was coming to a town which was around the outskirts of the English City of London.
The day was growing dark and she knew that it would be pointless travelling by night. Stopping at a local inn under the disguise as a hunter named Carlen, she went in to the local bar and bought herself some supper with a few pieces of gold from her coffer purse. Whilst she ate alone for the moment, she heard some rumours of the rebel Leader's death from the local bar patrons who spoke aloud in idle chatter with their friends and other patrons.
She realised that her mission was a failure and that there was nothing she could do at the moment.
After finishing her supper and her drink, she was about to order another drink when the door opened up and three black guards entered the inn. Seeing them there, Susannah lowered her head down to hide her face whilst the guards were occupied with ordering a few drinks at the bar.
Seeing this the best time to leave, she stood up and moved to the door.
As quickly as she could she went for the side door when one of the guards turned and noticed her heading out.
"You there. Where do you think you're going?" The guard shouted to Susannah, standing up from his seat.
Knowing she was going to get captured, Susannah immediately went out through the door to see a couple of more guards outside. When they turned to grab hold of Susannah, she ducked down and went under their arms to get away.
She ran fast towards her horse before mounting up and riding off into the woods with a couple of riders giving chase after her as she rode long and fast, going deeper into the woods to lose the riders.

Back in the 20th century.

The next day.

In the silence of his office, Morgred was on his knees meditating in a trance state with his eyes closed, he used his give of past sight to seek out Susannah and to make sure that she was safe and sound.
Edward was in his room in the middle of reading a book whilst sitting on the bed, he read the book for at least an hour before he stopped reading and noticed that everything was quiet around the house.
So he decided to go and check if Morgred knows what happened to Susannah.
Placing his book on the table beside his bed, he moved off and went to the door. He opened it and checked outside, looking both sides before he stepped out and walked along the hallway to see if Susannah was around.
When he found that she was nowhere in sight, Edward went to Morgred's room at the end of the hallway and opened the door to find Morgred standing up after a moment of meditation.
Morgred was about to go to the book shelf when Edward came through the door into the room and said out his name.

"Morgred." Morgred turned to see Edward at the doorway of the room.
Entering the room, Edward stepped forward and he spoke. "Morgred have you seen Sue?"

Morgred was silent for a moment before he spoke. "Edward, I'm afraid we have trouble."

"Trouble, what do you mean? where's Sue?" Asked Edward.

"I've sent her back to our time in England, she asked me to send her back there so she could help a rebel warrior named Declan Valmont escape from a prison where he was held captive."

"Held captive, if you've seen this in a vision, then what does this have to do with Sue?" asked Edward.

Well Declan Valmont was inside the tower as he was attempting to help you and Susannah escape the dungeons, he was found out and then captured after we disappeared from the dungeons. Susannah felt sorry for the rebel and she wanted to go back to England to help him escape his prison cell."
Morgan explained after a moment of hesitation, Edward was shocked by this news before he spoke. "So you sent her back to the alone?"
"Edward, You know how your sister is, She asked me to send her back in time with supplies and weapons for protection." Morgan said, moving along past the shelf and stopped at the end to find the book he was looking for.
He took out the book and opened it, turning to Edward before he spoke.

"Apparently I've found out in a vision through meditation that Susannah's mission has taken a change, I've seen that the rebel Declan has escaped his prison through the aid of a group of rebels who oppose your uncle's rule. I've also seen Susannah has been found out I fear that the lord High Executioner will know of this and try to capture her."

"Well then you'll have to send me back to 13th century England to save her and bring her home."

"No, it'll be too dangerous. If the Lord High Executioner finds out that you're back in that time alone, he'll do all in his power to capture you both together and bring you back to the tower for execution." Morgan spoke, moving towards Edward and placing his hand on his shoulder whilst he continued: "Do you want that?"

"No, I don't want to lose my head to that Lord High Executioner, but I can't just leave Sue back there in the 13th Century when she's in danger, she might need our help. we have to go back for her and stop whoever's chasing her."

"Listen to me Edward, I've made a vow to your parents to protect you and Susannah and I will not fail them again, now she will get but this time you're not going alone." Morgan said, drawing a grin.

Eyeing Morgred with curiosity, Edward spoke. "So what is your plan Morgred. I'm listening."

Meanwhile at the Hotel.

The day was bright and the Boswells were going to get ready to head off on the road for their vacation, after paying at the office for the rooms they had rented, Mr Boswell went to the car where his wife, son and Carly were inside, waiting for him to come.
Once he was inside the car with his family, Mr Boswell got the engine started at first before something went wrong and the engine died out. He tried again a couple of times before he decided to drop it.
Mr Boswell growled at the car breaking down on him and sighed in defeat, laying his head on the steering wheel.
Steve and Carly looked at one another in shock that the car failed to start as they have no way of getting out whilst Mrs Boswell looked on him, feeling sorry that the car couldn't start she leaned forward and said to him.
"Look we'll find a mechanic and then we'll see if we can get this car fixed, kids I'm going back into the office and ask if they know a garage in this town anywhere." Mrs Boswell took off her seat-belt and stepped out of the car before she went on to the office to speak with the manager and enquire if they know any garages they could call up for help.
Mr Boswell turned his head to the back and spoke.
"I'm sorry kids, but we're going to have to stay a little while until we can solve this problem with the car."
Realising that they're not going to get out of this town, Carly quivered a little with fear whilst Steve lowered his head down in despair. Mr Boswell grimaced before he said to them. "Don't worry Steve, Carly, we'll be on the road soon enough and then we can complete the trip before the next week's end, we still have only two weeks."
Smiling to them, Mr Boswell decided to step out of the car and head into the office to check if his wife has managed to get in touch with the mechanic of the town so they can get the car fixed and ready to go.

With Steve's parents out of the car, Carly turned to Steve and then spoke.
"Steve the car is broken down, what are we going to do if we can't get out of this town?"

"I'm not sure, I mean we can't just pick up and run. what if that weird stranger comes sees us in the streets and follows us?" Steve responded frantically with the situation.

"Well then we'll have to be careful over the next day or two, at least until we can figure out the next step." said Carly.

"Or better yet who is that weird stranger, I mean we can't take the chance and have him make us disappear or worse. I say we take our chances and make a run for it." Steve suggested. But Carly wasn't taking the idea lightly.

"What about your parent's Steve? we can't just leave them in town worried sick about us." said Carly.

"Well then what do you suggest?" asked Steve.

"Well we can't do anything else yet until we find out what to do with the car." Carly said, before Steve's came out of the office after a short while inside. Steve saw his parents he noticed that his dad was a little annoyed with something as was his mom, who was standing at the door of the office. When he approached the car, Steve stepped outside and approached him before he asked him. "Dad, did you get someone out to fix the car up?"

Steve's dad scratched his head before he spoke. "Yes, I did. I got some good news and I've got some bad news, the good news is the mechanic's coming down here with a pickup truck to help fix the car."

"Ok, so what's the bad news?" asked Steve.

"We might have to wait at least a day or two." said Steve's dad, which left Steve feeling a little scared with the fact that they're stuck in town and they have no other way out of the town. Steve's dad looked on him with assurance and spoke.
"Don't worry son, we'll be back on the road as soon as the car is fixed."

Steve nodded in understanding before he spoke.
"I guess that we'll be staying for at least one night at the hotel." Steve's dad nodded.
"Hey cheer up Steve, its not the end of the world you know, its just a break down. so why don't you take Carly around town and do some exploring, there are a whole lot of activities you and Carly can do whilst your mom and I wait in the office for the mechanic to show up and see what he can do to repair the car. ok?" Steve's dad said, taking out his wallet to pull out fifty dollars to give to his son. Steve took the money and put it in his pocket.

"Sure Dad. I won't be out too long, just make sure we get new rooms if we're staying over night." Steve said, before he went to the other side of the car and opened the door on Carly's side whilst his dad went back into the office to talk wait for the mechanic to show up.
"So what happened?" asked Carly, stepping out of the car and closing the door afterwards whilst Steve explained.
"it seems that we're stranded in this town until the mechanic arrives in his pick up truck for at least half an hour or who knows when. so we're going to have to avoid that creepy man for the time being whilst we hang out in town." Steve explained, leaving Carly in gloom knowing that there's no way out.
So Steve and Carly turned and went to the Office to tell his mom and dad that they're just going to find out if there's a mall in the town.
"Hey mom, dad."

"Yes Steve." Steve's mom said, turning from the desk to see them at the door whilst his dad spoke with the manager about taking the rooms for the next couple of days or so, which the manager agreed to do with a half price discount for the stay since their car broke down.

"Carly and I have decided to go and search for a shopping mall or something in this town so we'll be out for a while or so." said Steve.

"Ok, but don't be out too late you too." said Steve's mom, and watched the two leave the doorway and away from the hotel.

Later on in town.

The afternoon was moody but a little bright, the town's business went swimmingly with a few town's people roaming across the streets. Morgred was taking a stroll along the streets with Edward as they decided to take a day out into town. But their true motivation for going into town was to seek out two individuals who might be able to help them out some how, and unbeknownst to Edward, Morgred had an Idea of the pair he had in mind.
But in truth he hoped that he wasn't wrong about the two he was keeping a look out for.
Meanwhile at the same afternoon, Carly and Steve were also strolling around the streets of the town to do some souvenir shopping.
They were heading up another street when Carly looked around the place and then suddenly she spotted something which made her stop at her tracks.
Steve stopped as well by Carly's side, looking at Carly's face inquisitively before he asked her. "Are you ok Carly?"

"Steve, look over there and see who's there?" answered Carly, speaking with a quiver in her tone whilst pointing at something with her finger.
When Steve followed the direction of what she was actually pointing at, he found that she was pointing to the weird stranger who was strolling about in town.
Fear brought a chill down Steve's spine. they stepped back a couple of steps and were about to turn around and run when they accidentally bumped into a boy who was coming their way, the boy fell back as the two were jumped in fright.
Recovering from their shock they were surprised to see the boy on the ground. "Oh I'm sorry about that, we didn't even see you there." Carly said, approaching the boy who turned out to be Edward. Whilst Carly helped Edward up from the ground, Morgred saw them and approach them before he spoke.
"Excuse me." Steve turned to see Morgred come up to them and was shocked to see him; "You!" he said before he made a run from the spot.
When Steve spoke aloud Carly turned her head to see Morgred, she froze whilst Edward looked up and spoke. "Morgred, I thought you got lost my friend."
Morgred offered his hand to Edward, who took it and pulled him to his feet whilst he replied. "No Edward, I was just waiting at the corner for you to find me and thankfully you've helped me find the two people I was looking for."
Carly looked on the two in confusion whilst she stood, they were speaking as if they know each other for so long.
Morgred and Edward looked to Carly before she was the one to speak.
"Wait a minute, you too know each other?" Edward was the one to answer.
"Um... yes, my name is Edward but some of my friends here call me Eddie, this is my guardian Mr Morgred. Look I was told that you saw something the other night and I understand that this is scary to see him here with me but I can assure you he means you no harm at all, he's on my side."
"No harm, I'm sorry to say but he made a girl disappear in a flash of light." Carly responded, whilst stepping backwards a couple of steps.
"Yes and I can explain that, you see the girl you are talking about is my older sister." Edward explained, surprising Carly who spoke. "Sister, he made your sister disappear? that's something."
"Well its a little hard to explain, but can w go somewhere private so that we can talk about this? the four of us?" asked Edward, raising his hands to show he's not armed and acting assuring as he could. Carly and Steve looked at one another, seeing this as getting so much weirder than the time they had encountered the haunted masks. After a short while of thought Carly nodded whilst Steve reluctantly went along with her.
They went over to a local café at the east end of town where they found a good hiding spot to sit, so that they can finally get the truth unfolded.
Edward explained to Carly and Steve the story about who he, his sister and Morgred were whilst Morgred conjured a spell in order to show them a visual picture of their experience to provide evidence for their story.
When the spell was cast upon Steve and Carly, they saw the images in their eyes.
From the first time they went to the tower of London in England through to their encounter with the Lord High Executioner and to the discovery that the two siblings were the lost prince Edward and princess Susannah of York, who were condemned to be executed by their evil uncle King Robert. But with the help of Morgred's magic they escaped through before they were to be taken to the axe man's block and were transported to this time, it wasn't long until the Lord High Executioner came after them again and afterwards they sent him back to the 13th century.

After hearing the explanation and seeing the whole thing right before their eyes, Carly was left clueless and confused whilst Steve looked intrigued by this story that he felt it was absolutely true.
He spoke after a short moment of silence. "So it is all true." "Yes." said Edward.
"And by Coming to this time, you've saved the prince and princess from their fate in the tower." Steve said to Morgred who nodded. Carly was coming out of her shock before she spoke. "Ok so what is it that you need us to do?"
Edward looked to Morgred before he spoke. "Well, we need your help."

Back in 15th Century England.

Susannah was slowing her horse after racing all the way across the woods and losing the lord High Executioner's riders and guards on horses through the thick bushes of the forest.
After stopping her horse she breathed a sigh of relief, looking around herself to make sure there were no one about in the woods, she dismounted the horse to walk her horse for a while before dusk comes upon them and the forest.
Suddenly a twig broke in a snap noise which caught Susannah's attention and forced her to stop in her tracks, she looked around the area for any sign of whatever was roaming the forests.
Carefully keeping her eyes peeled for anything unusual Susannah reached for her bow and an arrow with her free hands, setting the arrow into place at the bow before she drew the bowstring readying her bow to release her shot.
Susannah took aim at the furthest bush and she was about to release when she was caught by surprise; a hooded figure burst out of the bushes from her right side wielding a sword in his hand, Susannah turned and sat her arrow loose on the coming figure but he ducked down and the arrow landed in one of the distant trees.
The Figure appeared from out of the shadows.
Coming towards her, he knocked the bow out of her hands before she had time to reload again and pushed her down. She fell with her back to the ground in a thump, her arms out in a spread eagle whilst the figure lingered over her.
After she opened her eyes and looked up, she saw a man standing above her, he wore a mask and a hood with a cloak hanging on his shoulders and he was armed with a sword in his hand as he hovered it over her chest. Seeing the sword on her, Susannah placed the bow on the ground freeing her hands to show she's unarmed.
But the swordsman didn't do anything for a moment until he decided to speak out.
"What's this? A huntress caught off her guard?"

"I am neither, I am just a humble archer who was passing through the forest to avoid the sight of the warrior guards who were chasing after me a moment ago." said Susannah.

"Guards chasing after you? I thought they might be chasing after an escaped prisoner or something, but you don't seem to be like any other I know of, so why don't you tell me who you are and why you are roaming around the bushes of this forest armed with a bow?" said the stranger.

"Well I might just ask the same thing about you, creeping around in the woods and wielding a sword whilst scaring the hell out of travellers like myself so who are you?"

The stranger looked on her with a bold eye on the girl who spoke so shrewdly without giving her name but demanded an introduction from him, so he decided to move his hood back and take the mask covering his eyes.
Seeing the handsome face of this young man whose age was by two years ahead of her, made her blush with thoughts of how gorgeous he looked for a Scottish rebel, but as he stood before her it was a name he spoke out in the manner of introduction to gain her name afterwards that caught her off guard.
"My name is Simon, I'm a servant to Declan Valmont a former lord of the Macaulay clan and leader of the rebellion, I'm quite sure you might have heard of his status as the thorn in the wicked King Robert's paw and his reign." Hearing his name clearly, Susannah realised that she was in the company of a man who served a rebel leader she read about in the future.
"But to whom am I speaking to?" he asked.
She couldn't give him her name yet as it would be too dangerous to reveal herself in this place so she decided to give him another name he could call her for the time being before she could tell him the truth of her origins.
"I am Luna Morgan, I'm a peasant from London who heard of the disappearance of the prince and princess of York sir. I apologise for drawing my arrow at you, I thought you were in league with the Lord High Executioner." said Susannah. The mention of the Lord High Executioner made Declan's eyes go wide and he froze in place, thinking that she was being chased the lord High Executioner's black soldiers through these woods for some reason.
Seeing that the girl meant no harm to him Declan decided to take a chance and let her live, he raised his sword tip and sheathed it before extended his hand for her to take hold and he pulled her up to her feet. Susannah brushed her self off of the leaves and dirt that hung upon her dress whilst Declan watched her and then spoke.
"So Luna is it, well its a strange name of some sort. I've never heard someone being called that before."
"Well maybe you have not been in the world long enough to hear of such a name." replied Susannah, picking up her bow and then she and Declan took a walk across the forest to find cover.
"Indeed I have not, but out of curiosity what did you do to catch the attention of the guards who work for the Lord High Executioner might I ask?" asked Declan, looking on her whilst they walked through the path of the forest.
"I guess I might have asked too many questions, a few were those of the prince and Princess of York but most of them were of your lord Valmont, Simon." Susannah explained to Declan, which caught his attention.
He turned and looked on her with intrigue in his eyes. "Of me? why would you risk your tongue to ask of his presence, let alone come to seek council with such a mysterious, cunning rebel leader."
"I was hoping that a good, honest lord like him would tell me of his attempt to rescue the prince and Princess." Susannah said, choosing the right words to say to the handsome lord Declan.
It felt like walking home with a crush in high school to her.
"Oh, yes it was true that my lord has once attempted to save the prince and princess from their execution. but alas it was said on the day he was inside the castle the guards have said that they disappeared without a trace, and the only person who was in the same dungeon cell as they were, was an old man who claimed to be a magician. When I heard that they vanished, I merely thought they were rescued by one of their followers early." Declan explained the story to Susannah.
"So your lord tried to leave the tower?" asked Susannah.
"Yes, but good fortune was not in his favour that day and he was captured, they took him to the prison and put him into the black mask where he spent almost a few years training himself, I like to believe he was hoping for the chance to escape so he can continue his battle against the king." Declan paused in thought before he spoke again. "I never knew what happened to that princess or her brother since then and I have doubts that Lord Declan had found out of their vanishing act. He was hoping to meet her in person one day."

"Oh and what would he do once he meets her in person?" asked Susannah.

"Out of honesty, he would use the time to converse with her of his past and how he grew up as a boy in the highlands. He'd hope that she'd share her past with him and hopefully he'd be able to share his dreams with her if she sees him as trustworthy." Susannah saw some honesty and sadness in his eyes as she felt that he might be trust worthy of this secret, seeing it alright to reveal herself Susannah stopped Declan at a short walk from his camp and pushed him against the tree to hide them before she spoke.
"Simon, before we go to your camp there's something I need to show you."
"Something, what do you mean? you seem to be harmless as you speak so strangely, so what is it you want to show me?"
Seeing that he's curious, Susannah reached into her pocket to produce a royal ring with the seal of her royal family, and she presented it to Declan who looked on it for a short few seconds before recognising the symbol. He realised that this young girl might be the Long lost Princess of York, who had vanished in the towers long ago. He looked a little surprised at first but was not more as he too was lying to her, so he went and spoke the words that came to mind.
"You are the princess?" asked Declan.

"I am. Simon I'm so sorry for lying to you but..." Susannah answered whilst Declan took the short time to let it sink in and being in a mood of honesty and seeing that she is telling the truth he interrupted her to speak his mind out.
"My lady Susannah I must confess that there's more to this Lord Declan as he once considered himself a prince."
"Simon there's no need to tell me this, I was hoping that I could trust you with this secret." said Susannah, and Declan spoke on looking at her face.
"I'm afraid there is the need because the truth is we both have used the art of deceit. I am not who you think I am."
Susannah became a little uneasy with what he was saying.
She stepped back a few steps and was about to turn and run away when Declan revealed his true name to her and shown her a medallion he wore around his neck as proof of his status.
"Because The truth is your majesty is that I am the Scottish rebel we spoke of. Declan Valmont is who I am."

At first seeing the medallion on his neck was a surprise to her.
Susannah couldn't believe that she was speaking to a man she read about and for once the facts of his life were correct, he was handsome and fit like a fairy tale prince out of a story book.
She took a moment to look on the prince to confirm that he was who he says he is.
Declan extended his hand for her to reach out and take, and as he looked on her, he saw tears began to draw in her eyes which became tears of joy that she finally got to meet the man she came to this time to rescue from the tower.
Lost for words for a moment she finally found the words to speak before she said them to him.
"My reason for deceiving you is the same as yours Lord Valmont, you lied to me to protect yourself from your enemies as it was my reason to ensure that the lord High Executioner will not have me captured and execute me on sight."

"Indeed, and what a pair we'd made. Both trying to hide who we are and both unable to do so." Declan said, lowering his hand and approaching her whilst she stood smiling at him before she raised her hand for him to take.
He took it in his own hand and raised it to his lips, kissing the back of her hand before lowering it down, he spoke with a grin on his face. "I must confess also that meeting you is quite an honour. And if I may be so bold as to say this Lady Susannah, you are as beautiful and intelligent as the Queens in all Europe."
Those kind words made Susannah feel so warm in heart for once in a long while in her life, she thought he was so charming for a rebel warrior that she spoke her mind.
"You're so kind to tell me words I've not heard within a long time from any boy in this country."
"Well I do thank you my lady. I am glad to hear of your comment, especially after a long time of lounging in prison." said Declan, drawing a small cheerful smile whilst he looked on her.
He turned to the distance where the camp sits and then back to her before he spoke.
"My lady, Would you care to allow me to escort you to my campsite?"
"I thought you would never ask me, please Call me sue and I'd be delighted to come to your campsite with you. Shall we?" Susannah asked, raising her hand for Declan to take. He raised his hand and took it.
Taking the lead, he escorted her forward to the front of the campsite.
The four of them walked forward for a couple of miles until they were close enough to get a glimpse of the campsite itself. The camp itself was well constructed with its organised rows of tents and tree houses used as buildings for command posts and outer watch towers.
Susannah was most impressed with the works of the people who constructed this whole camp.
She turned to Declan with her eyes full of marvel and then spoke.
"My you have been so busy, I'm impressed with the works you have done with the men and women under your leadership. You've obviously been so well blessed in your skills."
"It is not very much, but it is the very works my people have laboured with their minds and skills I have taken into my embrace and shared new ideas to build a safe refuge for our children and families." Declan said and turned to the camp, when one of the campers saw him on the hill.
He gave a wave to Declan who shouted to the man. "We have a guest here!"
"Bring him forward." the man said, and Declan took Susannah forth towards the camp, where a small crowd was just gathering to meet with Lord Declan and give praise for his sage return to these fair woods.
As word of Lord Declan's secret return, the people came forward to greet him and his new found friend in person as they entered the gates of the Village.
So many of the people soon went to work after a while of greeting Declan and her friend, so the two went through the pathway to Declan's new quarters at a tree house on the west wing of the forest Village.
Once they came to the ladder to the tree house, Susannah climbed up the ladder before Declan followed and climbed up to the new quarters in the trees. They climbed until they were at the top.
As they stepped on and walked along the walkway of the tree house, Declan showed Susannah through the door into the quarters where there were two rooms with two beds and a table with two chairs at the middle, both rooms have with a weapons' stand and chamber pots as they were all that they needed for accommodations within the woods.
One was for Declan and one was for Susannah which was most convenient for her alone.
After they entered their respectable rooms, Declan and Susannah undid their cloak broaches and hung them on the hooks on the wall, they then started undoing the sword belts and the straps of their armour so they can breath, both were getting settled into their temporary living quarters for the moment whilst outside the tree house, a creepy looking shadow black crow with blood red eyes, watched them from a nearby tree branch in the far off distance.

Well that's another Chapter done for now, But I will hope to get started on my next Chapter.
Who was controlling this black crow? and what plot are being made when seen the princess and the rebel leader. Please leave a comment and tell me how the story goes as I desire to know.