Okidoki everyone! Here's the next chapter! Thanks to Synchronized Harmony and Sha28 for the reviews, I appreciate it!

Oh, and just to let all my readers know, this weekend I may not be able to update right away beause tomorrow (Saturday) is my oldest sister's birthday and Sunday is my seventeenth birthday. :) Yep, one more year and I'm an adult! Scary!

Thanks for reading and please review! Thank you!

-Shire from CollieandShire

Chapter thirteen

Castle Break-in

Ilene was in bed, sent off to her room early by her Papa. He was worried about her health, for she was notably tired all throughout the day from her harrowing experiences the day before. Fergus and Elinor agreed that she needed rest, and so that's why she found herself in her room now, waiting for Merida to go to bed. Currently, Merida, Elinor, Fergus and Timofey were all down stairs, no doubt chatting small talk. It had been quite noticeable that the King and Queen and the Princess were having a hard time talking to Timofey, obviously uncomfortable that this man before them had returned to claim his daughter, who just so happened to be their adopted daughter.

Ilene could hear the triplets in the room next to hers and Merida's, noting with a smile that they weren't going to sleep like Elinor had told them to do. They too, had been sent to bed early, probably so they wouldn't play one of their tricks on the DunBroch's special guest. From the sounds of it, Ilene thought as she listened to the thumping around in the next room, it sounds like they're playing war again. That was probably their favorite thing to play in the whole world. The boys most certainly had inherited their Dad's adventurous spirit, and contentiously were seen fighting each other or wrestling one another. That is, when they weren't too busy working together trying to steal cakes and pastries from the cooks, or causing trouble with the soldiers. It amazed Ilene that Elinor had never caught them in the act of such mischief, then she reminded herself that it was Fergus's job to deal with the boys. Elinor had resigned herself to discipline and train her daughters.

Daughter. Ilene thought uncomfortably. How could Ilene play the part of Elinor's daughter now? She was Timofey's daughter, not Elinor and Fergus's daughter. She was a Petrov, not a DunBroch. How could she be both? She couldn't! She couldn't have two different fathers! Perhaps Elinor could still remain her mother, but Fergus and Timofey as her fathers? It didn't work! She could only have one father to tell her what to do, and she would have to pick either Fergus or Timofey as the main man of her life.

Ilene couldn't help but smile. She never would have dreamed such a decision would arise. Her Papa was alive! He was alive, and he was there with her. Perhaps I should just thank the Lord God above for such a gift, Ilene decided, and leave my problems in His hands. That sounded like a good decision, and Ilene rolled over to get some sleep.

Yarik stood in the ice-cold water beneath the bridge, staring up at the guards who guarded the gate entrance to the courtyard of the castle. He had been there for the last half hour, and his feet were nearly frozen. But it hadn't all been for naught, for he had finally figured a way to get up there without being seen. Through the well.

Hamish, Harris and Hubert were in the middle of their play war when Harris heard a noise. He stopped playing, listening for it again. Hamish didn't realize that his brother was no longer playing, and bonked his wooden sword against Harris's head, hard.

Harris scowled, and rubbed his head, glaring at Hamish. Hubert put his hand to his mouth in silent laughter, finding the situation funny.

Harris pointed at the window, and the triplets all made their way to it, Hamish and Hubert wondering what their brother had heard. Peering out the window, all they saw was snow. And the guards. And torches. And the well. And the yaks. And the stables. And the-wait! There was something in the well! The boys all saw it at the same time, and leaned forward to get a better look. Their little hearts beat rapidly as the watched it, wondering what the strange thing was. The top of it came into view, and all they saw was white. Oh, it was only snow.

The triplets came away from the window, disappointed that it had been nothing of importance. They ran to the door to check if their Mum was coming to make sure they were asleep, and finding the coast clear, they quickly picked up their wooden swords to engage in their fake battle once more.

Yarik struggled out of the shaft of the well, shaking the water off of him as he slinked into the shadows. No one had seen him, a fact he was grateful for. He now stood at the entrance of the castle, looking up at the magnificent stone building. Impressive. He thought.

There was no way he was going to walk right in through the front doors, knowing that he would be seen. It would be suicide! No, he couldn't do that.

Yarik gazed up at the rooms near the top of the castle, noting that one of them was lit. I could climb up there. He thought. Find out who's up there, and then enter into one of the darkened rooms. He glanced down at his feet and extended his razor sharp claws. He was a cat, cats were known for climbing up sheer objects. This should be a cinch.

Merida sat at the table, listening to Fergus and Timofey exchange hunting stories. "There he was, biggest monster I'd ever seen!" Fergus was saying, using his hands to express himself. "His hide was scarred by the weapons of fallen warriors, and he stared at me with one dead eye. I drew me sword, and slash! Me sword was bitten in half! Then chomp! Me leg was cut clean off, swallowed by the monster in one gulp. Me men began to create quite the noise, and the beast decided it wasn't worth the fight anymore. So he retreated back into the dark woods, never to be seen or heard of again."

"Until this past year." Elinor reminded her husband with a slight smile.

"Aye, until this last year." Fergus agreed. "But we've finally rid ourselves of that demon bear for good. Elinor killed it with her bare hands."

Timofey's eyes widened, and he glanced at Elinor. "You killed a bear?" he asked, his disbelief clearly obvious.

"It's not how it sounds." Elinor laughed, understanding what was no doubt going through the Russian man's mind. "It's a long story. Ye see, Merida was old enough for betrothal…"

Merida tuned out of the conversation, wondering if she should go to bed. Ilene was up there by herself, no doubt willing herself not to fall asleep until Merida had arrived but probably had already given in. She smiled to herself. She knew Ilene's behavior patterns so well she could predict everything her younger sister would do in the first half of her day. But then came days like yesterday, where Ilene went totally against her character and did something crazy.

Merida glanced at Elinor, who was telling about how Merida had beaten the suitors in an archery competition. She had heard this story retold time and time again, and each time she felt ashamed of how childish she'd acted. I'm sure Mum would be fine if I went off to bed. Merida thought, waiting for a chance to excuse herself properly. But from how animated Elinor was getting, Merida realized she was probably in for a long wait.

Yarik dug his claws into the wall right outside the lit window, and gazed in. He was disappointed to find that this was not Tonya's room, but noted the three redhead boys none the less. The King's sons, no doubt. He thought, watching them whack each other with their wooden swords. Oh, to be a carefree boy again.

Yarik inched himself over to the room next to the prince's room, and studied the window. It was obvious repairs had been made to it recently, and for some reason or another the window had been made larger. All the more easier to break in. he thought with a grin. He struck the glass with his paw, and it broke with a tremendous crash.

Merida jerked her head up, sure she'd just heard something break. Elinor, Fergus and Timofey didn't seem to have heard anything as they laughed about how Fergus and the other Lords nearly strangled each other in an argument. I must be hearin' things. She decided. Or, the triplets knocked something over again. That was also a very good possibility. She grinned to herself. If they did, they're going to get it when Mum finds out. She could only imagine what they'd broken, and she knew whatever it was Elinor would have a fit about it when she found out.

Yarik cringed, positive someone must have heard the crash. He continued to cling to the wall, waiting for the door to open. But no one came.

Finally he decided he'd waited long enough and he climbed in through the window, avoiding the broken glass best he could. Upon entering he surveyed the room, noting the weapons that stood near the doorway. There were also two beds, and several tapestries hanging from the wall.

As a tiger Yarik could see quite well, what with his night vision and all. And that's how he happened to catch sight of the figure underneath the covers of one of the beds. Someone was in the room.

Yarik crouched down and slinked over to the bed, ready to pounce should the person scream. No sound came though, and he chanced a peak at the figure in the bed. Whoever it was had the blankets completely covering them, and they seemed to be sleeping fairly soundly. Either this person is knocked out or is one heavy sleeper. He thought to himself. He glanced around the room, making sure no one was in the second bed. It was just him and this person in the room.

Yarik took a deep breath and reached with his paw, pulling off the covers partially to reveal the sleeper. Tonya!

She was fast asleep, her left hand curled around her hair and the other hand flopped over the side of the bed. Yarik couldn't believe his good luck. Not only had he found Ilene, but she was alone, and no one was around! This is going to be easier than I thought!

Well, maybe not quite. Now he had to get her out of the castle without her making any noise and without being seen. At the same time he had to make it obvious it was he who had spirited the child away right from underneath the noses of the DunBroch's and Petrov, that way Timofey would know that the only way to get her back was to offer himself as an exchange.

Yarik glanced around, and spotted a tapestry. It looked brand-new, and it was a stitchery of the Queen mother and the two princesses. She must have made it right after the girls had returned from England, for she had included the Thoroughbred Ilene had gotten from Lord Edward. This would do.

Yarik made his way to the tapestry, and with one swipe of his paw slashed it down the middle, tearing it in several places. He ran over to another one, one of Merida and Ilene holding hands. He tore this one too, making sure his claw marks were prominent. He then swiped his claws across the floor, wincing as it made a terrible noise. Ilene stirred, but didn't wake. She must be really tired. He thought.

After tearing several more tapestries and making sure his claw marks were etched into the stone floor, he decided that would be enough for them to know it was him.

Now for part two: getting Ilene out of castle without waking her or her making any noise if she did awake.

Yarik slinked over to the bed, eying the blond girl. She had rolled onto her side, still asleep. He extended his paw towards her, slightly amused at how giant it was next to the young girl. Carefully he moved her until she was laying face down on the pillow, her dress collar showing. The tiger had carried her this way before, he could do it again.

Yarik leaned forward, grabbing the back of the dress in his mouth and starting to lift her out of the bed when he froze. The sound of footsteps could be heard heading towards the door, and then a hand on the door knob. Yarik growled. This can't be good.

Ilene dreamed she had fallen in the snow, and she was having trouble breathing. For some reason or another she couldn't get up, and it scared her. It felt like a thunderstorm was coming, and she could hear it rumble. She felt the heat of the storm down her neck and back, and she grew more and more scared. The rumbling grew louder, and suddenly the wind from the storm pushed her across the snow and off a cliff! Ilene cried out, and right before she hit the ground she woke up.

She breathed heavily, reminding herself it was just a dream and that no storm was coming. Even so, she sensed something was not right.

Ilene was on the floor instead of her bed, and she figured that's wasn't all that different. It wasn't the first time she had fallen out of her bed while sleeping, yet that wasn't what was bothering her. Something was definitely behind her.

Ilene became aware that someone was entering the room as the door creaked open. The light from the hallway spilled into the room, and Ilene's heart stopped as she stared at what the light revealed. Right next to her hand was the giant white paw of only one creature that she knew would be crazy enough to sneak into the castle. Yarik.

OH NO! Yarik's broken into the castle to get Ilene to get his revenge on Timofey! What's going to happen next!? Guess you'll have to review and find out! :D

No Russian words in this chapter, so no explanations. :D

Please review! Thanks for reading!

-Shire