He couldn't stand the wait!

Dagda takes another pass across his throne room causing his armor to jangle once more. The councilors look to their king in sorrow but it wasn't safe to leave the palace until the sun rose. It was only then that the goblins ended their Wild Hunt. There was nothing more to do once all the preparations were finalized except wait.

At last, the sound of a gong echoes through the stone palace and Dagda rushes to the main entrance. The doors are pushed open quickly under the combined strength of the guards and the morning light floods the palace as the guards take flight into the air. There is no time to waste in their appointed mission.

Ball guests follow after the guards but trail off to the surrounding villages. The king had given his orders for the guards to search exclusively for the princesses while the others would perform the duty of surveying the damages.

Dagda watches the sunrise with trepidation. He knows within his very being that despite the false tranquility gracing his kingdom that nothing will be the same again. Last night was too close a call. His kingdom was left defenseless and vulnerable.

Even questioning the guard that patrols near the border gave no answers. Roland swore upon the crown that he had not seen the signs for the Wild Hunt and Dagda saw no reason to not believe him. The poor boy is as heartbroken as him about Marianne's rash but very courageous decision to rescue her sister and despite the sorrow and fear that laid upon everyone, Roland had taken charge about preparations for the morning to come.

Maybe Roland does have king-material in him after all.

Dagda couldn't be more grateful for his support during this tough time. All night he has struggled between the duties as a king and his duties as a father. He didn't have this much trouble when his wife died. He was able to bear the burden then because he had his daughters to chase the sorrow away. But now...what will he do if he lost his little girls?

King be damned, he's a father first and foremost!

"Daddy," Dawn yells, snapping him out of his rumination!

"My little girl," Dagda breathes, forcing his tired wings to give him lift to meet her in the air!

Dagda holds his youngest to him in relief and feels joy in her returned embrace. Everything is alright, after all! The strain on his wings force him to land but he keeps a tight grip on his daughter. Turning his eyes back toward the sky, he frowns at the sight of only guards accompanying Dawn back to the palace. Marianne must have stayed behind to help with dealing with the night's events but he wishes that she would have returned home first.

"Daddy," Dawn whimpers.

"What is it, de...," Dagda starts before noticing the jeweled golden circlet in her hands? "Where's Marianne?"

"Those filthy beasts took her," Roland growls! "They've gone too far, Your Majesty! We can't let them get away with this anymore!"

Taking the jeweled golden circlet from Dawn's trembling hands, Dagda holds it before him as the image of Marianne appears in his mind's eye. He knows the stories. There is only one fate for his daughter if those goblins spirited her away into their dreadful kingdom.

"What do you need," Dagda questions his knight?