The queen was furious. Everyone could see that but no one knew why. The king did his best to console her, but even he didn't know what had his wife so upset. He knew it was his duty as her husband to comfort her, but frankly he was terrified of her, and in truth he had every right to be, since even inanimate objects fell prey to her wrath. Finally, when the sun had long since set, his wife calmed down enough to tell him what was wrong. "My plan to keep our daughter safe has failed. I thought the guards I'd sent after that rogue had done their job, but he's with her right now." "So...if he's with her too long, the spell will break?" the king asked, still not completely following.
"No! If he marries her, our daughter will be lost to us forever! He'll corrupt her and nothing we say will get through to her!" "Well, there's no reason to get too upset, my love. All we need to do is seperate them." the king said, smiling. "My dear husband, you are an idiot. I've been trying to separate them for years now, and not even the most ancient binding spell I know can protect our daughter from this...this..." "Boy?" the king supplied. The queen shook her head, too furious to reply. Her mind was searching desperately for the answer to this threat, but nothing came up. "At least we have Sarai." the king offered softly. Suddenly, the queen smiled. "Sarai...yes...We still have her..." The king misunderstood his wife and hugged her lovingly. "There. See? A bright side to all this chaos." The queen nodded, already piecing together a plan. "Yes. A very bright side." she said distantly.
Meanwhile...
Rosaline stared at Quin, studying him with a growing sense of annoyance. That kiss still had her very much disturbed. She knew that it was necessary in order to bring back her memories of him, but still...something didn't seem right. Was there something she wasn't remembering? Rosaline was so deep in thought and so determined not to be seen watching Quin, that she bit back a terrible scream when Arthur came up from behind her and wrapped his arms around her. Arthur chuckled and kissed her hair. "Sorry. Did I interrupt something?" he asked her sweetly. "No! No...I was just...oh..." Rosaline bit her lower lip and wondered how to tell Arthur exactly what was bothering her. Finally, she decided to just spit it out. She told him about the kiss and almost instantly regretted it. But she need not have worried. Arthur wasn't angry with her. Suddenly without warning, Arthur pushed past her and jerked Quin around to face him. "What the hell are you doing kissing my wife?!" he demanded. Quin scowled. "I needed to bring her memory back. A kiss was..." "Was a completely stupid thing to do!" Arthur snapped. "The kiss was completely necessary! And I didn't hear HER complaining!" Quin spat. "That's because she didn't know what the hell was going on, you ass!" Quin glared at him, but gave no reply. He knew full well that he had done wrong, but he refused to admit it. He acknowledged the fact that Arthur was Rosaline's choice, but he refused to deny his love for her. Arthur grabbed Quin by the collar of his shirt and lifted him a few inches off the ground. Quin glared down at him, unflinchingly. "A kiss may've done the job, but it didn't HAVE to be a kiss. A hug would've worked just fine." Quin grinned impishly. "A kiss is the best way to break any spell." he said matter-of-factly. Arthur growled warningly, but Quin only laughed. He knew and Arthur knew that he was right. A kiss was probably the most powerful way to break just about any spell. Arthur gritted his teeth and socked Quin in the face. "You ever do that again and I'll KILL you." And then, he left. Quin rubbed his throbbing cheek, muttering curses under his breath. Rosaline waited for Arthur to pass her before she approached Quin. "So...A kiss was completely necessary, huh?" she said quietly--perhaps too quietly for Quin to hear. "Wha--?" Quin started to say when suddenly, Rosaline slapped him. "You know, Quin. You're a pervert." she spat as she turned on her heel and strode out of the room. Quin rubbed his other cheek, muttering under his breath, "Am not..."
Two hours later, Rosaline found herself slinking through the shadows with Arthur and Quin. Arthur led the way while Quin watched her back. They needed to get out of the city before Rosaline's mother sent a whole army to capture them. The three silent travelers were just about to reach the city's edge when suddenly, Arthur came to an abrupt stop. Rosaline gasped. "Sarai? What are you doing here?" she asked, sprinting past Arthur to scoop her little sister up in a loving embrace. "I missed you, sister." Sarai told her softly and hugged her back. Rosaline smiled and kissed her sister on the forehead. "How did you get all the way out here?" Arthur asked. Sarai smiled sadly. "Mother sent me." "By yourself?" Rosaline pressed. Sarai shook her head. "There are guards close by but I told them to watch between the houses. I need to talk to you, Rosaline. It's about mother." Rosaline nodded and looked at Arthur, then Quin. They both understood what she wanted but..."We can't afford to leave you two by yourselves." Rosaline stared at Arthur and sighed. "Okay." Then, turning to face her little sister, she smiled. "What about mother, Sarai?" "Mother says it's time to come home, Rosaline. She said you've had plenty of time to play around and that now it's time for you to rejoin the family." Rosaline drew back as though she'd been slapped. Come back to the family? Why would she--? "You have a fiance waiting for you to return. You're expected to be back home and married within a week. That's how much time mother's giving you to come of your own will." Sarai added after a slight pause. "And if she refuses?" Arthur asked through gritted teeth. "Then you'll leave mother no other choice." Sarai replied softly and immediately, Rosaline felt the weight of those words. Rosaline bit her lower lip and thought hard. Sarai watched her intently but said nothing. It was all up to Rosaline now. "Sister....come home." Sarai whispered softly. Suddenly, Rosaline felt a twinge in her heart. "I need you." Sarai added as tears swelled in her eyes. Rosaline felt torn. A life of freedom rested with Arthur, but how could she enjoy it if she knew her sister needed her? Besides, there was nothing but a life of imprisonment resting at home. Maybe..."Come with me, Sarai! You can live with me and we'll be happy together!" Rosaline chirped, but Sarai shook her head. "I'll get in trouble if I leave the castle." Sarai said softly. "Mother will get angry. She's already extremely upset with you, Rosaline." she said matter-of-factly. Rosaline clenched her fists. "Mother's always been upset with me, Sarai. Ever since Arthur set me free." Rosaline bowed her head. "Arthur...Sarai needs me. I'm going home." "Oh no you're not." Arthur said quickly. "Yes, I a--ahhh!!!" Arthur threw Rosaline over one shoulder and motioned for Quin to take Sarai. "What are you--?!" Sarai sputtered as Quin approached her in two large steps. "Sorry about this." Quin said and he truly looked sorry as he picked the tiny princess up. Sarai opened her mouth to scream, but Quin bounced her so suddenly that the princess clamped her mouth shut instead. "Quin, you can't keep her quiet by simply scaring her. If anything, that'll make her scream more." Arthur chided. "Well, what do you expect me to do? Gag her?" Quin snapped. "Uh, duh." Arthur spat and Quin sighed. "Alright." he said as he set the princess on her feet. "Again, sorry about this." he told her as he ripped a strip of his shirt off and gagged her. The princess screamed and screamed but Quin's gag muffled her screams pretty well. Rosaline beat her fists against Arthur's back, demanding that he let her and Sarai go, but instead, Arthur set her on her feet long enough so that he could pull her into a passionate kiss which not only wiped her mind clean of any real thought, but completely knocked her unconscious. "Sorry, darling, but I can't let you go." he told her as he lifted her onto his shoulder once more and started off. "Hurry, before the guards come after us." he told Quin, and then the two were off.