Nell had had it in her mind to, once again, escape the kingdom of red and black and head for Marmoreal. Stupidly, as soon as Stayne had the queen in a hold, Nell had run as fast as her weak legs could carry her to her chambers, with a mind to fetch the diary. She thought if she had showed it to the queen that she would be able to make some sort of amends with the woman, but all was lost when she tripped running up the stairs. She then tried to crawl up the remainder of the staircase, only to be too slow and be restrained by red knights.

She attempted to fight, but to no avail. Two knights held her arms, as she kneeled on her knees, and the vicious Number One forced a small vile of bright blue liquid down her throat. At first she spit some of it on him, but he took hold of her face and clenched her jaws shut.

Nell immediately recognized the taste. It was a taste she somehow remembered but had no clue where she had tasted it.

Her eyes became heavy and before she had a chance to wriggle, her head fell and she was fast asleep.

Some hours later, her eyes opened slowly.

Her cheek was pressed against a cold stone floor, her body sprawled in all directions. She licked her lips when she came to and could taste blood. The smell in the air was dank and it was rather chilly. Nell hadn't to think twice about where she was.

The dungeon.

The Red Queen had locked her in the dungeon.

Peeling herself from the stone floor, she came to find that every inch of her body ached. In a matter of a day and a half she had been beaten, slapped, threatened with weapons, and screamed at many times. She recalled the taste of the blue liquid the knights had given her, and she shook her head in dismay.

She got herself into a sitting position and scanned the room. There no proper light available save for the one window that was in her cell, all the way at the back of the room. When she looked out, four cells lined each of the walls, and the large wooden door at the opposite end of the room was shut and locked. She took hold of the metal bars. She gave them a slight shake, and knew instantly that they couldn't be bested.

"Downal wyth bluddy behg hid," she said to herself. "Downal with you, your evil cards, and this bloody kingdom!" she hissed as she slapped the bars with her palm.

Her mind brought her to the White Queen. She was into sorcery and magic, and she wondered if there was any possible way that she could hear her, or even see her from Marmoreal. If so, surely she would find a way to rescue her.

Nell got to her feet and began to pace.

She traipsed back-and-fort for hours, going over every detail of her cell, contemplating if there was any chance of escape. She came to the conclusion that there would be no escaping.

Until, that was, later that evening, Stayne came into the dungeon.

"Lady Nell," he whispered as he kneeled beside the cell. The girl had been bunched in a fetal position, sleeping with her back against the wall. When she raised her head, Stayne took notice of the dried blood on her face. "You look awful," he commented sadly.

Nell grunted. "Easy for you to say. What is to become of me? Am I to lose my head?"

"Although it did seem that way for a while," Stayne explained, "we have managed to slip the queen something to…" he paused. "Make her sleep."

Nell stiffened. "You've poisoned her?" Not that she really cared at this point.

"No, no, it is a potion composed of holistic herbs and some magic dust the queen's physician whipped up. It is, simply, to calm the nerves and make her sleep off her anger."

Stayne met Nell's questioning gaze, and reached a hand into his doublet. He pulled a small silver key from within his chest plate, and stuck it into the lock.

"You were foolish to return," he informed her. "You are to go to Marmoreal, and stay there."

At the mention of Marmoreal, Nell immediately remembered the scroll the White Queen had given her. Her eyes lit up with a certain fire in them and she leaned on the door to the cell.

"Stayne, the White Queen gave me a scroll to give to Her Majesty," Nell explained. "She said it will ensure my safety. I had it tucked in my corset when I returned and I forgot to give it to you."

Stayne unlocked the cell and opened the door.

"I must give Her Majesty the scroll!" Nell interjected.

"You mustn't do anything except mount your mare and go to Marmoreal," Stayne replied. "I shall admit that my heart holds a special place for you, and I cannot bear to see you be killed. Nell, please, you must run."

She got to her feet and wandered out of the cell.

Nell's stubbornness began to take over. "I have to get that scroll, Stayne. It's the only thing that will ensure my survival, even if I am to leave court forever." She picked up the hem of her gown and went to storm for the door, when Stayne reached out and grabbed her arm.

He whirled her around so he could look her in the face. "If the queen sees you about the castle, we are both dead. The potion we gave her could ware off anytime. If you desire the scroll so badly, I will fetch it and give it to the queen by my personal hand, but for now, you must be going."

Nell looked into Stayne's eye and seemed to get lost in the blackness of it. She threw her arms around the man and he held her tenderly for a few moments.

"You've been too kind to me all these years, Ilosovic Stayne," she chided softly. "It is a kindness that I shall keep with me until the end of Time."

Stayne released her and took her face in his hands. A single tear fell from her eye and began to travel down her cheek. "You are like the daughter that I know I can never have. I cannot spare myself from the Red Queen's clutches, but if I can save you, then so I shall."

Stayne then led her from the dungeon, up the spiral staircase to the main floor. The red knights were busy with their guard duties, and he was aware that there were none in the castle at the moment. The only ladies that remained at court were seeing to the queen. Stayne removed the black hooded cloak that he was wearing, and he draped it over her. He pulled the hood over her head and tucked her matted ginger curls beneath it. It was a precaution taken in case anyone's eyes felt the need to wander over Nell's figure.

The pair then exited the castle via the door behind the throne in the throne room, and Stayne motioned Nell to crouch between two rose bushes while he scoped out the stables. Nell waited patiently, wrapped in the cloak. Nell's eyes wandered over the mountains off in the distance, the sun was beginning to descend below them, and she began to feel empty inside. Was she to ride to Marmoreal to find the White Queen disappointed in her?

Stayne returned after a few minutes, leading Nell's saddled mare.

Nell exited the bushes and went to Stayne, who lifted her up into the saddle and even put her feet in the stirrups for her. The girl muttered something about being sore, and then slumped forward in the saddle to balance her weight.

Stayne reached into his belt and drew a small, ruby-handled dagger. He took hold of her hand and placed the handle into it.

"Take this as a small token of my concern for your safety," he bade. He reached a tender hand up and ran a gloved finger through one of her curls. "You must ride, Lady Nell," he said softly. He took hold of the mare's reins, and Nell tucked the dagger to her person to conceal it.

As they crossed over the moat, and onto the drawbridge, Stayne whacked the horse with his hand. The beast cried out and broke into a hard gallop. He stood, hand on his sword, and observed as the Lady Nell and her mare shrunk into a midnight blob that hauled across the horizon.