Whoo, winter break=lots of free time, plus it helps that this chapter doesn't have as much going on in it as the last. Enjoy, and thank you to everyone who has made it so this story has over 4,000 views, that is awesome!

When Genevieve awoke the next morning, everything felt right. Smiling down at the sleeping Anne cuddled next to her, it didn't matter that they had spent the night on the rocky forest floor. It didn't matter that the night had been rather cold, and the morning faired no better. Genevieve felt none of it. All she felt was happiness.

Slowly prying herself from her sister's strong grip, while also trying not wake her, she walked over to the small fire where James was sitting.

"Morning," she greeted, plopping herself down beside him.

"Morin'," he mumbled, staring deep into the flames.

"Are you alright?" she asked, nudging him. "I'd thought you'd be happy. Anne's back, and you didn't have to nag at me to sleep."

"I'm fine,"

It was then she noticed the bags under his eyes.

"Did you sleep?"

"A little,"

Genevieve scoffed. Yet before she tell him off, he mumbled,

"I know I've heard that voice somewhere,"

"What-" Genevieve began to ask, yet remember the wine cellar.

"What did you see down there?" she asked instead.

"Nothing much," he said "The two men, the old lady, but there were two others. ONe was rather short, the other much taller, both wearing dark cloaks."

"Did you see their faces?"

"No," he continued. "The taller one was the only of the two to speak. I could have sworn I've heard his voice before."

"I think I have too," she said.

"Where!" he exclaimed.

"I don't know," she admitted. "It could be the voice just sounds familiar, I may have never met the person."

"Are you sure there were no threats made?"

"None,"

"So why take her?"

"Perhaps it had something to do with these people?" she suggested, yet doubted that that was true.

At this she saw his face fall.

"What is it?"

"Forty-eight people hidden away in that manor," he said. "And there were enough rooms to much more than that. And I knew nothing of it."

"No one knew," Genevieve argued. "James, look at where we are. We're a good two to three days ride from the kingdom, practically in the middle of nowhere. Forty-eight people out hundreds, possibly even thousands. Some of these people may not even be from here!"

"Even still, are they're just them, or have there been more?"

"I suppose we'll just have to talk to them and see,"

"If they will,"

Genevieve simply smiled, yet before either could say anything else, a loud piercing scream shook through the air. A scream all to familiar to Genevieve.

"Anne," she whispered, before taking off like a shot, James trailing just behind her.

When they reached the spot where Genevieve and Anne had been sleeping, they found a rather distressed Anne. She was quivering, holding herself close and flinching anytime anyone had tried to touch her.

Quickly scooping her into her arms, Genevieve began to stroke her hair whispering soft words as she did so.

"I-I-I thought you weren't..." blubbered Anne, as fat crocodile tears ran down her face. "I-I dreamed that..."

"Shh, none of that now," Genevieve whispered "I'm right here."

It took a full hour to calm her down and even after that Anne seemed to attach herself to Genevieve, by then the entire camp had awoken and was preparing for the long trip ahead.

"You want us to ride in the cart?"

They had finally packed away the last of their things, and made their way over to James's horse when he had sprung the news that they were to ride in the caravan.

"If you ride in the caravan, you'll be able to talk to some of them," he explained. "Try and figure out why they were taken."

"If they'll talk," Genevieve pointed out, yet carried Anne and their bag over to the caravan and climbed in.

Inside was about forty others, clearly too much for the wagon. Yet they still managed to squeeze their way in.

As soon as the wagon began to move, Genevieve wished she had said no. The entire wagon rocked, jumped and swayed in a way that made impossible not to bump into others. With the amount of people inside, it was also very hot despite the openings and cold morning. But Genevieve held on as best she could, trying to send a smile to whoever looked at them.

"You were the girl in the room?"

"I'm sorry?" Genevieve turned as best she could, to see the same girl from the night before. She looked a little better, her face having been cleaned showed a sweet oliv

e complextion.

"You were the one to unlock us, yes?" the girl asked, looking down as though she was scared she had said something wrong.

"Yes, I was,"

"Thank you," the girl said, smiling a little.

"You're welcome," Genevieve said, returning the smile.

"Is that the girl you were looking for?" she asked, gesturing to Anne, who had fallen asleep again.

"Yes,"

"She's very cute. You must be a proud mother,"

"Oh no!" Genevieve exclaimed, "She is my sister."

"Apologizes,"

"Don't worry, it's not the first time I've been asked that," Genevieve said. "Did you have any siblings? Before all this?"

"Yes," she nodded "I had four brothers, and two sisters."

"My! What a large family,"

"It was expected,"

"How so?"

"My family is very rich where we live," she explained. "It is expected to have a large family so the money has somewhere to go."

"Does your family know you are gone?"

"I think so,"

"How old were you when you were taken?"

"I was 14, they took me when it was warm I was only there for a few months,"

"How do you know?"

"Because they would told me," she said. "They make a game of it. Telling us that we get stay another year."

"Why did they take you?"

"For money of course," another voice spoke.

A man, sitting off in the corner, it was hard to tell exactly how old he was for his face was covered in hair.

"Everyone here is held for ransom, when the money stops we leave,"

"Where?" Genevieve asked

"No one knows,"

"Is everyone here from a wealthy family?"

"How else would we stay there for so long?"

When they had stopped the moon had risen high in the sky.

"How was it in there?" James asked, once Genevieve had managed to crawl out.

"Well, I think would have rather ridden on a horse than in there,"

"Did you find out anything?"

"All of those people come from rich families. They were taken for money," she explained "It makes no sense as to why Anne was taken."

"Perhaps they knew-"

"No!" she exclaimed, her eyes darting down to Anne who was looking at them curiously. "It can't be that."

He sighed.

"These people, I don't think they come from Etia," she said

"Are you sure?"

"No, but how has forty eight people gone missing, all from wealthy families, not caught your families ears?"

"I'll ask around, see what I can find," he said, before adding. "Thank you."

"Don't, I had as much to gain from this as you,"

Setting Anne down, they made their way over where Cornwall had set up a fire and was now beginning to cook.

"Need any help?" she asked, taking a seat next to him.

"Seeing as how you were easily the best cook out of the five of us, then please," he said tossing her a vegetable.

For a bit they sat in silence, simply chopping. Every few minutes, Anne would glance over at a group of younger girls who had begun to show each other some games that they knew.

"Go," Genevieve said, nudging Anne.

Yet Anne just looked around at the dark looming trees, and scooted closer to her sister.

"Go on," Genevieve said again, pushing her forward. "I'm right here in case something goes on. James and the others are around as well."

When she saw how close everyone would be to her, she quickly scampered over to the girls.

"So that's your sister?" Cornwall asked, watching as the girls began to teach Anne the rules.

"Yeah,"

"She's cute,"

"And a handful," Genevieve joked "But she's worth it."

"And you and the Prince are?"

"Friends,"

"Really?"

"Yes, and if you try and convince me that there's something more, I don't care if you are a palace guard, I will slug you so hard you'll see stars,"

"Alright," he chuckled. "It's just that I don't know many people who are "just friends" go to this lengths to help."

"Well he is a prince, and does have a bit of an advantage,"

"But coming with?"

"I did not ask him to, that was his decision,"

"That's a pretty big decision,"

"Why are you so keen on there being something between us?" she asked, getting annoyed.

"Just be nice to know the Queen by a little more than name,"

"And how would knowing the Queen by more than name be good?"

"I just... I hate being the night guard," he explained. "If you became Queen, or even Princess, I hoped that maybe I could move up, or at least be assigned somewhere else."

"Alright, I'll make you a deal," she said, scooting closer so that no one would hear. "If we are able to make home all safe, not just me and Anne, I mean everyone! And if I do, by some coincidence, become Queen or even Princess. Then you have my word that I will make you one of the personal guards to either me or my sister." she stuck out her hand. "Deal?"

"Deal," he agreed, shaking her hand. "So are you sure-"

"Yes!" she exclaimed, laughing. Though from the corner of her eye, she saw him talking to the others, and couldn't help but think that if she was married, it wouldn't be so bad if it was him. But quickly shook herself of that thought, for that was a road she couldn't travel down whether or not if the man was prince.

For the next two days they rode in peace. Genevieve had taken to riding on James's horse, as it was easier than being crammed into the caravan and she found that she was beginning to become more comfortable around horses.

"Eve," James whispered, as he looked back and saw she had fallen asleep on his shoulder with her arm still tightly wrapped around Anne who was asleep as well.

"Hmm," she moaned, still asleep.

"Eve, come on wake up," gently shaking her.

"What?" she murmured, slowly waking up.

"We're here,"

Sure enough she could see the large Blackwood manor through the trees.

"Where's everyone else?" she asked, when they had dismounted and noticed that the caravan and other horses were nowhere in sight.

"They went ahead to the palace," he explained, "Rather not waste time on finding those people, you know?"

"Yeah," she said, as they began to walk towards the manor. "Thank you by the way. I know I've probably said it a hundred times, and I'll say it a hundred more, but thank you for everything."

"You would do the same," he smirked.

"I know, I just... really appreciate what you did," she smiled. "Besides I'm never gonna be able to repay you for what you've done."

"You will,"

"Still," she said turning to him "Thank you."

"You're welcome," he said, "And I promise we will get those men who took your sister and we will find out why."

"Thank you," she whispered, as they were nearly at the wall that lead to the garden. She stared at him for a second, as though she was unsure of what to next. Then without a word, she reached up and planted a soft kiss of his cheek.

"Thanks," she whispered again and darted off through the gate.

For a second he just stared after her, then slowly a large grin spread across his face. And whether he wanted to or not, it wouldn't go away. Though he wanted sure he really wanted it to.

"Tell me again what happened,"

The two cloaked figures stood outside the inn, facing them were the two large men and the old innkeeper.

"They got away,"

"And how?"

"We were careless,"

The figured sighed, "I thought I had given you a nice simple job. Yet it appears that keeping one little girl under lock and key was too difficult."

"Please if you give us one more-"

"Chance?" they mocked, "No, no. No more chances. It's a wonder how you managed to get any money out this, with your skill." Then a rumbling sound was heard. Out of the forest came a dashing black carriage, pulled by equally black horses. Only stopping but a few feet from the group.

The carriage doors opened and out strode a thin man with a rather dashing man with a long blond goatee. The man held a confident grin as he made his way over the group. Stopping in front of the shorter figure, he gave a low bow.

"Ah, my archer," the figure cooed. "Perfect timing."

"What is it you wish of me?"

"I need you to take care of one of these men,"

He looked between the two, "Which one,"

"I don't care," they scoffed. "Close your eyes and shoot, for all I care."

"As you wish,"

"Wait, couldn't-" Yet whatever the man with the large bruise was going to say, was silence. For a dull thunk was heard, as it sank into his chest. His body swayed till he fell forward, with a horrible thud.

"Good shot," the taller figure complimented.

"Thank you sir,"

"It was wonderful work," the smaller figure smiled.

"Please," the other man begged, dropping to his knees.

"It was not our fault that the prince was the one to find us," the old woman spoke

"What?" they hissed, turning towards her. "You did not tell me that the prince was here!"

"You did not mention that the prince might be coming," she countered.

The figure did not argue, instead asking, "What about the girl, you had mentioned a girl when you spoke of visitors."

"Dark hair, tan, rather plain," she listed. "They tried to claim they were married, though by the way they kissed, it looked like it was the first one they had ever shared."

"Sure, sure," they muttered impatiently. "Did she look like the little girl that was brought here?"

"Suppose so,"

A large smile spread across their face as the news sunk in. "Oh how wonderful,"

They turned to the other man, "And what do you have to share,"

"Pardon?"

"Well, she's just gave me a reason to not have an arrow shot through her chest, now I wish to see what your reason may be. What can you tell me about our visitors,"

"Well, um," he stuttered, yet when he saw the archer raise his bow ready to strike, he blurted, "She's an elemental!"

"Oh please," the taller figure scoffed.

"Wait," the shorter figure said, holding up a hand. "Are you sure?"

"Well, one minute I'm running towards them, the next something's got my ankle, the girls hands are doing some weird gestures, and I look back and see one theme ankles are wet."

"Interesting," they turned to the archer. "Shoot the man."

"But you said-"

"And you would have had the best information, had you any proof besides what you have claimed to see, and as we all know that is sercumstantial at best." they explained.

"Please," he begged, yet said no more, as the same thunk was heard within a second. They watched as he fell next to his companion, the arrow struck in the same place.

"Well, that's that," they said, as though he had simply fallen asleep. Turning to the woman, "Now I suggest you go pack, this place will no doubly have palace guards everywhere in the next few days. Pack and get as far away as you can."

Bowing, the old woman did as she was told. When the door shut, the smaller turned to the larger, "Find something to barricade the door."

Looking around, the larger found a rather large boulder, and rolled it in front of the door.

"Is this to be her punishment, being locked inside?"

Yet the smaller figured ignored their companion, and instead turned to the archer, "Set the place ablaze,"

The archer simply bowed, and gathered his special arrows. Within three arrows, the building was an array of reds, oranges, and yellows, as it crackled and burned.

The smaller figure smiled at the sight, and after a minute, they walked back to the carriage. When inside, they removed their hood, and began to fuss with their raven hair looking at themselves with a small golden hand mirror. A moment later their companion joined them inside, and the carriage began to move.

I am sorry things did not go as plan, my Queen," he said, removing his hood.

"On the contrary, my dear husband," crooned Alyssa, "Everything went perfectly."

"We lost the girl," he argued "And your brother now knows of this place."

"Which is why I had it burned down," she explained, setting the mirror down. "And as for the girl, it's better they have her.

"Then why take her in first place?"

"I had a theory to test," she said "And I am very pleased with the results." She laid a hand to his cheek."Trust me my love, soon we will have everything we dreamed of."

She gazed out the window, "Very soon,"

I was tempted to have this in the last chapter, but felt it was better to put this as it's own chapter. Though what do you guys think? Should it have been part of the last chapter, or as it is now and its own chapter? Let me know what you think, and I'll try to have another chapter out before I go back to school, though no promises. Review!