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PART TEN
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Olivia had arrived in the desolate valleys when she was finally spotted by soldiers. She had no weapons to defend herself; only speed that she hoped would be enough to get to the mirror before they caught up to her. The rocky terrain was too rough for horses so the soldiers began shooting at her with arrows. By instinct, Olivia knew when to duck and when to jump only managing a few scrapes along the way. She had to climb up to get to the mirror but wasn't sure if she could even cross through.
She took one last look back towards the castle now in the distance. It was killing her to leave Peter behind. But she knew that in order to save everyone, she had to get back. She had to find Markham and get the ring before the men in this strange foreign world did.
In fact, Olivia was so close to staying behind, but she knew that the king would use her to get to Peter again. As much as she didn't want to she knew that she would have to get help from William and King Walter.
She put her hand through the glass and felt nothing. The arrows were now shooting at her from a closer range and she quickly dove through.
She found herself tumbling in a soft grassy knoll. The blue sky was above her and nearby there were villages.
To Olivia's shock, she was home but she was outside of her fortress. She sighed in relief that she wasn't dead or dying at least, but saddened from knowing that Peter was still over there.
…
Prince Peter had a nice fancy chamber to himself but it was a room that could only be opened from the outside. 'Just like home,' he thought to himself.
The guard opened the door and the king appeared. "Son, I thought you could use some company. So I brought your friend from downstairs share your chambers with you. But don't get too comfortable. It's only a temporary measure until we have exactly what we want in our possession."
The woman was shoved into the room and the king and the guards left without another word.
"Olivia?"
She turned around and ran up to give Peter a hug. "Oh, Peter. Thank god, you're okay."
"I was gonna say the same thing," Peter smiled.
"I don't understand what's going on here," Olivia said nervously. "Is it true what he said? Are you really HIS son?"
Peter sighed. "Yeah, unfortunately." He went to sit on the bed. "God, this is too much for me."
Olivia then sat on the bed with him. "It's going to be alright Peter," she said calmly. "Someone will find us. They'll come for us."
"You mean Walter. I dunno about him. What about you?"
Olivia looked very confused. "What about me?"
"The whole magic powers thing. Can't you use that to get us out?"
"I don't think I can," she responded quickly.
Peter sighed. "Why is it you and I are always prisoners somewhere?"
Olivia shrugged trying to hide her confusion that she had no idea what this Peter was even talking about. "I dunno, I guess it's our luck."
…
Olivia had traveled a whole night without stopping until she was struggling almost to her knees through a murky swamp. In the deep section of the swamps, the found a small house that stood like a mid-size haystack. She had to bend down to knock on the door.
"I got nothing, go away."
Olivia nervously asked. "Are you Markham?"
"I told you I got nothing left to pay you."
"I want to buy something from you."
A split second later, a small man (she couldn't determine however if it was dwarf or gnome) opened the little door. "Now you're speaking my language. What do ya need?"
"You have a special ring. A royal family ring. Prince Peter sold it to you."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
He was about to close the door but Olivia quickly placed her foot in the way to keep the door open…an advantage to dealing with a little person.
Markham sighed. "I suppose you're working with King Walter to get it back?"
"Well…no. Look it's just important that I have it. I'll give 20 gold for it."
"20 gold? Lady, this thing is royalty. It's not gonna come cheap. I'll take 50 and no less."
"I don't have 50 on me."
"Then have a good night miss, don't let the crocs bite you on the way out."
Just then there was a trumpeting noise and a caravan was traveling down the road.
"Son of a bitch!" said Markham. He knew who it was. Olivia however was still keeping his door open. "Get out of here, dammit!"
"Not without the ring."
Markham was almost considering, consenting but it was too late. Several horsemen began to surround the front yard of his home. From out of the carriage came an older lady who was finely dressed but didn't seem concerned with getting her feet a bit dirty as she approached Markham.
"Markham, do you have your debt?"
"Oh well…this lady was just about to give me twenty."
"You still owe ten more."
"Business has been slow."
"Well then looks like we have no choice."
"Oh jeez no." While Markham was recoiling and developing a nervous twitch. The elder lady reach a hand out to Olivia. "I don't believe we have met. I am Madame Sharp."
"I'm Olivia."
She smiled. "The Gate Child. Markham…"
"Oh yes…you're the Gate Child. I had no idea. I'll get your ring right away." Markham hurried back into his house and quickly dug through his chest of junk to get the ring. It was in Olivia's hand before she even realized it. "Don't you want payment?"
"No! Keep-your-money. Have-a-nice-day." He quickly ran inside and slammed the door.
"As you can see I like to keep my debtors on their toes. Would you like a lift? I'm heading back to the castle, and I assume you are too."
Olivia reluctantly accepted the invitation only because the woman gave off quite a feeling on intimidation. If someone like Markham would be terrified of her, than Olivia knew it would be best to keep on her toes around this one.
…
The world outside of Peter's window looked strange and yet interesting in a way. "Some place this is."
"Yes," Olivia sighed it is.
Peter was started to get worried about Olivia's behavior but then considering the situation he couldn't really blame her for being a bit distance and out there.
"Well…" Peter yawned. "I think maybe we should sleep on it, you know? I know Markham and he wont let himself get intimated by people easily. You coming to bed?"
"I will soon. I'll stay up and think of something."
"Olivia," Peter said approaching her. "It's not going to matter to me which world gets wiped out. As long as we're together, that's all that's going to matter to me, okay?" He kissed her and it felt very unusual and different from when he used to but he had to assure himself it was his nerves getting him. "Well…goodnight."
Peter was sound asleep in the bed and Olivia had reservations about joining him. About an hour or two later, she went up to the wall. She took a strange jewel from her pocket and placed it against the wall. It magically opened the door.
Just outside the king was waiting for her. "He's fast asleep," she said.
"Are you making progress," the king asked her.
"He assumes I'm her."
"But you are following the plan. You are getting him to choose this kingdom?"
"Miracles can't be done in a day," she said. "Give me more time."
"I don't have that kind of patience," he said. "I will have the ring soon and my son must be on our side by then."
A noise came from in the chamber. "I have to go," said Olivia. She quickly went back inside and the door closed on her. Luckily Peter was still asleep and she reluctantly climbed into bed with him.
Knowing that she was not his Olivia, she began to have reservations about any of this was moral or not.
Still she had another loyalty…to the king and to saving her world.
…
"Walter."
King Walter was in deep sleep when the voice called his name out again.
"Walter."
He opened one eye and saw a shadow standing by his bedside. He sat up when the moonlight revealed him.
"Oh…it's you."
The stranger removed the hood from his robe to reveal his bald head. It was him…the Seer. "Yes, it's me. There isn't much time, Walter. The prophecy is about to come true soon. You must retrieve Prince Peter and bring him back."
King Walter began to cry. "But he knows. He knows now. He will never forgive me for this. If he is over there how can I possibly get him to come back?"
"You must do it," The Seer said. "You must do what it takes."
The King put his face to his hands. "I don't know…I don't know how."
By the time he looked up, the Seer was gone and the world, as they knew it, was now running on an hourglass.
