In Which The Army Is Rebuffed
Roland openly shuddered in disgust at his surroundings. The Dark Forest was so … dark, and creepy, and full of disgusting rustling creatures and foul-smelling oozes …
Even the castle was gross; a rotten tree with a skull for a doorway. A swarm of goblins were blocking the army's path.
"On behalf of the Fairy Kingdom," he announced to them, "I demand the release of all prisoners held by the Dark Forest who are rightfully citizens of our land."
The goblins muttered amongst themselves at that, until one piped up loud enough for Roland to hear, "Maybe they followed their princess?"
"You mean the princess-es … cesses … ses," Roland corrected.
"Are. You. KIDDING ME?"
Uh-oh. Marianne was coming out of the castle, flying over the heads of the goblins alongside some kind of bug-goblin hybrid. She did not look happy to see him.
"I explicitly said," she informed Roland's army, "that we are trying to resolve this matter without provoking the Dark Forest into war. Tell us, Roland, what exactly made you feel justified in undermining my orders and authority as Heir to the Throne?"
"Your father, the King, has ordered me to do whatever it takes to bring you home safely."
"Oh, good. Then you can escort Dawn and Sunny back to the border while I finish smoothing over the diplomatic snarl that you just made worse."
The bizarre monstrosity beside her was apparently the goblins' king, and he arranged an escort of his own soldiers to make sure none of the fairy army 'got lost' on the way out of the Dark Forest.