A/N: Got very sick but now, I'm working with a steady mind now. This is a longer chapter! Here's new chapter and people, they have arrived!

Ch. 10: Who Believes In You?

When they entered Armada, they had to disguise themselves. Knights of the kingdom guarded the gates but they were not sure whom they could trust especially with what happened with Bruno. As they drew closer, Zander placed a cloak over Lily while he placed his own cloak on, having Archie hidden underneath. Zander placed his arm out for Lily until Hunter went in front of him, taking her arm. Hunter placed his hood up then began to lead her inside the village.

Archie popped his head up and asked, "What are you doing?"

Zander rolled his eyes, stuffed him back into the cloak then answered, "I'm being a guardian."

"You are going to let that prince step all over you."

"He's not stepping all over me." Archie glared at him while Zander shook his head, "He's a prince and they will soon be engaged. I'm just a guardian and that is it."

"She sees more than that."

"Archie," Zander sighed. "Please stop and stay quiet."

"Zander," he heard Lily call him and he quickly he moved beside her. She looked up at him and smiled while Hunter grimaced at the exchange. As they approached the gates, the guards stared down at them for a moment while they passed. Lily released the breath she held but gasped at the sight of the village.

Most of the houses were in shambles with the people looking sick and poor. Hunter felt uncomfortable, looking away from them while Lily continued to gaze at the children she passed. Zander bowed his head until he heard Hunter asked, "Where are we going?"

"We're close," Zander replied.

Lily looked over at them before she asked, "How long has it been like this?"

"It was never like this all the time but I fear that Aamon's reign is causing this area to become worse."

He then stopped in front of a door. Hunter looked up at the building to see that it was a tavern. "You brought the princess to a tavern," he hissed loudly. "Are you idiotic? There could be savages or even worse."

"There isn't anything worse," Zander whispered. He lifted his hand and knocked on the door three times before a slide opened to reveal two pair of eyes. They darted down toward the three as they stood there with Zander saying softly, "We are here on business."

"Password," a rough voice asked.

"Pendragon," Zander answered.

Lily watched as the eyes disappeared and an assortment of locks clicked. The door opened to reveal an older man with a white beard. He wore tattered blue robes with his sword at his waist that he had his hand on. He looked at them for a moment before he looked down at Lily. His hazel eyes widened in surprise before gesturing for them to come inside quickly.

As they walked inside, the door shut closed with darkness overcoming them. Lily gripped onto Zander tightly while the rough voice asked, "Princess Lily?"

Lily looked at Zander before he nodded his head to acknowledge. Lily took in a deep breath then answered loudly, "I am Princess Lily."

A silence hung over them with Hunter looking at Zander and Lily while Archie popped his head out of Zander's shirt. Suddenly the torches lit up brightly with a huge crowed being revealed with a loud shout echoing in the building, "Our savior has come." Lily looked over at Zander with a surprise look while he gently pushed toward the crowed of people.

L&L

Lily and Archie sat with the little children as she played with them. She looked around and could see the lighter mood in the tavern then there was in the town. Hector, the older man, gathered anyone who was willing to fight Aamon. It wasn't a huge crowd but it brought hope to all of them that they might have a chance.

"We are the only group," Hector explained to Hunter and Zander.

"What about my kingdom," Hunter inquired.

Hector glared at the young prince, "No one cares especially your kingdom."

"I care," Hunter argued.

Hector banged the table loudly causing the room to go silent. Hunter jumped back a bit while Hector berated him, "You care because you want the princess hand in marriage while Zander sits around trying to figure out how to defend the people and-"

"Peace Hector," Zander requested quietly. The older man relaxed while Hunter looked at Zander with a surprise expression. He watched as Zander pulled back his arm and noticed him let out a low hiss from under his breath. Zander looked from Hector than back at Hunter, "We only have a couple days before Lily's birthday. Once her birthday arrives, nothing will stop Aamon and I mean nothing."

"Have you prepared her," Hector inquired.

"For what? She can't fight," Hunter argued.

"She can fight better than you," Zander quipped. He then stood up with a tired expression and began to walk away from the group. He hissed in pain again until he felt a hand on his forearm.

He looked over to see Lily looking at him with a soft look in her eyes. "I'll take you to your chambers," she whispered to him.

Zander nodded. Lily wrapped her arm around his and began to walk away with him while Hunter gazed upon this interaction. "Your Highness, if you want her hand, I believe it was already lost a long time ago," Hector informed him.

Hunter looked away, grabbed his cloak and stormed off upstairs.

L&L

"Do you really believe in me that much," Lily asked as Zander rested on back. The guardian turned his head and looked at his princess with a soft expression. She sat by his bedside, looking down at her sword which rested in her hands. "I don't know if I can do this, Zander," she confessed.

"Why do you believe that," he questioned back.

She shrugged, "I'm not you or Hunter. These people think I'm a savior when I'm only one person."

Zander sat up, cringing as he did this, but leaned over and touched her hands. She looked at him, meeting the gray eyes that she has always known. "You maybe one person but you are a beacon of hope, Lily," she heard him say to her.

"I can't lead them, Zander."

"I believe you can."

"Why?" Suddenly Zander looked away from her. He felt his heart pounding against his chest while Lily felt a harsh pain in her chest. "Forget it," she told him as she stood up, walking toward the door. She could the pain becoming worse and a small tear running down her cheek. She glanced over her shoulder to look at Zander who lay back again before she faced the door, walking out.

"Because you believed in me," Zander answered quietly, knowing that he was alone once more. The guardian released a sad sigh, knowing that he had hurt her. But, he couldn't chase after her, especially now, and decided to close his eyes to have a sleepless dream.

He stood up, walking over toward his dark hound. The hound looked up as Aamon greeted it, "It's time my old friend." The hound nodded in agreement before it stood up, shaking its body before looking at Aamon.

The dark wizard took in a deep breath before he whispered a small enchantment. He felt his figure slowly twisting before he whispered an incantation for the hound to turn into a sword. He reflected the sword in a small light before he smiled wickedly as he noticed his hound's image appear. "Now, I can get this done personally," he whispered before he placed the sword in its sheath.

Lily gazed at Zander as he finally arrived to eat breakfast but when their eyes met, they turned away from each other. Hunter noticed this immediately and decided to take advantage of it. "Lily, maybe we can explore the village," he suggested.

Lily smiled at the idea but Zander said quickly, "I don't think that's a wise idea."

"Zander, I want to help these people," Lily retorted.

"I know that but, look at the situation here. You need to train not explore especially now."

"Like you believe in me?" Lily watched as Zander looked down in defeat before she shook her head, "I'm going with Hunter, Zander. You will not stop me."

Zander looked over at Hunter who was smirking then back at Lily. "Is that what you wish," he inquired softly.

Lily looked at Hunter then at Zander. "It is," Lily answered quietly causing Zander's expression to drop with disappointment.

He bowed his head, "Very well."

Lily stood up and approached Hunter who handed her a cloak. She gave a smile to him before she placed the hood up and exited the tavern with Hunter. Zander gripped his goblet tightly before it suddenly shattered. He tossed it aside before he pulled back his shirt, figuring that he was alone to reveal his darken shoulder.

"You've been bitten," he heard causing him to close his shirt and look up to see Hector looking at him.

"It's nothing."

"Your skin turned dark, Zander. It's a horrible sign of what can happen."

Zander glanced at Hector for a moment before he asked, "You were around when Aamon was in the court? How bad is it?"

"I don't know but I knew that his magic was dark. Who knows what might happen to you."

That is what I fear.

L&L

"These people…" Lily whispered as she walked through the streets with Hunter. The village seemed to be even darker with daylight but she could see the pain and agony of her people. Armada was not the village she expected to see in such bad shape. She looked up at Hunter and said to him, "We need to do something."

"We can't do anything," Hunter retorted. He continued to walk passing the children that ran by them and the adults who tried to scavenge for food. Lily frowned which Hunter noticed and replied, "Lily, we are only royals. I don't know why Zander expects so much of you when you are just a princess."

Lily snapped her head, "I am not just a princess."

"Do you really think that you can lead them," he gestured to the people, "into a rebellion?" Lily looked down at her sword while Hunter continued, "Just let me protect you from Aamon."

"I don't need protection. I can fight and lead these," suddenly realization hit her. She glanced over her shoulder toward the tavern with an anxious look then bit her lower lip before she said softly, "Zander didn't doubt me."

Hunter frowned and looked at Lily who turned toward the tavern. "Where are you going," he questioned. However, Lily never answered his question for she was already walking back to the tavern.

L&L

Zander hissed in pain as he looked at his dark mark on his shoulder. "You won't survive any longer…I'm coming for you," he heard quietly. He shook his head and felt a horrible ache in his heart before he heard a loud knock on the door. He closed his shirt, opened the door to his room, and raised an eyebrow as he asked, "Something you wish to talk about?"

He stepped away from the door, walking back to his bed while Lily followed him. "You believe in me," she spoke softly.

"I always have," Zander retorted. Lily looked down at her feet until she felt Zander take her hand causing her to look up at him to have their eyes locked. She felt her heart flip as she shyly looked away. "People believe in you, Flower. You can lead them to great things if you just believe in yourself like I believe in you," Zander told her.

"You really think I can stop him?" Zander pressed his lips together before he nodded. "Then why didn't you tell me this earlier," she questioned him.

Zander wanted to hide away. He looked at her, admiring her beauty for a brief moment before looking back down. His heart was pounding against his chest. This love was forbidden, his mind told him. But, he couldn't deny it anymore. He needed to tell her even if he couldn't be with her.

He just needed her to know.

"Zander," he snapped out of his thoughts and looked at her. He could see the concern look in her eyes as he gently placed his hand out to touch her cheek.

I love you.

You are the reason why I live.

You give me purpose.

"Lily, I-" Zander seemed to lean closer and Lily was meeting him half way.

He believes in me, Lily told herself. She began to lean closer and closer toward him, cupping the back of his neck. Their foreheads touched and it almost felt like they could hear each other's heartbeats.

I love you.

Their lips were about to touch until they heard, "Zander."

Lily's eyes snapped open as she felt Zander's touch disappear. She opened her eyes at the sight of Zander walking over to the door. She felt her heart dropped as she stood up and followed him. As they both exited out, they noticed a large crowd below them. Hector looked up and raised his sword as he shouted, "There is the Princess!"

Lily watched as the crowd bowed to her. Suddenly she felt a small push on her lower back and looked up to see Zander's eyes. They believe in you, his eyes whispered gently.

She stepped forward and looked down at her sword before she looked back at Zander. He gave a small nod before she nodded and pulled out her sword, raising it in the air. Suddenly, the crowd cried out in triumphant. Lily smiled brightly before she glanced at Zander who smiled back at her.

Some people noticed this exchange but the only person who knew that true part of the exchange was Hunter who sneered at it. He looked around the room before he turned away, walking out of the tavern. However, he thought that no one noticed him leave but he was wrong for one person did and followed him.

Hmm, who followed? Also, oh no, Aamon's coming. Please review, PM, comment. The support will help me write more!