I stayed seated as the doors of the Hall sealed Cenred and I inside. Morgana smirked at me triumphantly until they were shut, blocking me from her sight. Yet, I would much rather be outside with her than inside, than locked away for an entire hour with the king of the creeps.

"I did not ask to be alone with you for the reasons you assume.", Cenred says quietly. I tear my eyes away from the doors to look at him. He had moved to stand on the other side of the table, directly across from me. He drummed his fingers on the back of his chair.

I raise an eyebrow sceptically. "Oh?"

He stares at his feet, for once not looking so self assured. His cocky demeanor seemed to be long gone. "It is... hard to explain." I crossed my arms, not saying a word. "You aren't making this any easier, you know.", he sighs.

"Why did you attack me?", I demand. "Out in the halls."

"Because I needed to wipe out any doubt of Raul's that I might have of my reason for getting to you. And, you, my dear, played your part very well."

"I wasn't playing.", I glared.

"Exactly.", he says gloatingly. "Which is why they believed it."

I took a breath, balling my fists. I would not let him see how much he got under my skin. I needed to figure him out. And with the sudden personality change, it might be harder than I originally thought. "Morgana and Raul..." I say. "They don't exactly like you."

He chuckles. "No. But you don't have to like someone to be an ally. I just happen to have something they want."

"An army.", I say, groaning slightly.

"An army.", he agrees, nodding.

"And will you give it to them?", I ask, knowing exactly what will happen if he does. Camelot will be no more. And everyone I've come to care about will go with it. Raul will destroy everything.

He laughs, slowly making his way around the table. "Not exactly."

"Meaning?"

"I mean, I'm not here for your grandfather, or even Morgana. I'm here for you. And for what is left of Taharah." I can't speak. He searches my face, looking for a reaction. But I just stare, not knowing how to react. "My allegiance is to you, Princess. I've come to offer you aide."

He was standing directly beside my chair now, offering me his hand. For a moment I just looked at it before hesitatingly taking it and allowing him to help me from my seat. Even standing, he was still much taller. But I refused to let it make me feel childish in comparison. "Why?", I questioned, unsure of his motives. He could be testing me on Raul's behalf.

"Because of something bigger and much older than either of us. Essetir and Taharah have long been allies. Since the days before our fathers. It would be a crime against the treaty between our two lands for me not to attempt to save the heir."

"You are forgetting that my father is king. Now that he has returned, he is ruler. Not I.", I say. The thought of my father being here both terrified me and relieved me. I yearned to see him. To explain this place.

"They say the king has gone mad. You and I both know he is not fit to rule. Even if we can recover Taharah. And he will not be for a long time, if he ever will. You must think sensibly. You are all that is left. Your people are being oppressed. Those who were able have fled. They have given up hope. You must give it back to them. You cannot afford to be your grandfathers hostage any longer.

I shook my head. "You have no idea what you are up against. Raul is a sorcerer. A good one at that. So is Morgana. What will you do against them? They will not take kindly to betrayal."

"Do you think I do not already know this? I have served Morgana, and her sister before her, for years. Do you really think that I am not aware of the risk involved? You may not trust me, but this matter goes beyond that,", he snaps, pulling a dagger from it's sheath on his hip and holding it out for me to see. On it was embossed two figures; A falcon entwined with a snake. The guardians of our kingdoms. Wording in some language carved beneath them.

"What is that?"

"A relic of a time long ago. Old magic ties Taharah and Essetir together.", he says as he allows me to hold it. His fingers brushed mine briefly. It was hard to read his emotions, as opposed to Raul's raw, intense feelings. Cenred had a strong mind, clouded and strong as steel. But I felt no dishonesty either.

"What does it say?", I ask, running my fingers over the hilt.

"'One does not exist without the other.' It is one of the most sacred bonds in history. Unbreakable, and passed down through blood. You can't escape this without me. Nor can I refuse to help."

I dropped my hand. "Well then, what do you propose?"

He smiled in a sideways manner, sheathing the small blade. "I thought you would never ask. Have you noticed the noise outside? Or should I say, the lack of."

"Yes."

"And I suppose you already guessed that there must be a reason for it."

"Of course."

"Raul has called for a meeting, to negotiate with Camelot under the flag of neutrality. Battle has been postponed, for the time being. No Weapons will even be allowed on the premises. Or at least that is what Arthur thinks. He plans on having an archer murder him from the ranks. This shot would of course be impossible, if not for magic. He has enchanted the bow so that it will not miss it's intended target. Chaos will ensue and the army of Camelot will be ill prepared. An easy win, with my forces helping."

"He's planning on killing Arthur?", I squeaked.

Cenred seemed indifferent to this, only nodding. He could care less if Morgana took his crown for herself. But then again, he had only claimed to be interested in my well being. Not Camelot's. Could I really trust him? I knew exactly was Arthur or anyone else would say. This man was insane, psychotic, and so was I if I even thought about trusting him.

"It won't work.", I say decidedly.

"Perhaps. But either way, it'll make a wonderful distraction. Raul will want to flaunt you. Take you with him to parade you in front of Camelot and your men to discourage them and break their morale. It'll make an excellent opportunity for you to slip away."

I scoffed. "And go where? He'll find me. It won't matter where I go. I can't stop him."

"Then you know what you need to do?", He says, handing me the dagger.

I stepped away from him. "I can't! He'll see right through me!"

"You underestimate yourself."

"You don't know me.", I snap.

"Fair enough.", he concedes. "But you seemed to handle Morgana's guards easily enough."

"When?", I asked. "The meeting, I mean."

"Soon. Your grandfather isn't exactly a patient man. He wants this war over with so he can finish out his plans."

"Would you stop calling him that?", I scowled.

He shrugs. "As you wish."

I stare at the door. "You know? What he plans to do after this is done?"

"Apprentice you to Morgana. He hopes she will convince you to stop siding with the Pendragon's. That is all I've been told.

I bit my lip, pacing like a lunatic and mulling over everything. Glancing at the clock, I knew time was running out.
"I'll do it.", I said firmly. I sounded more confident than I was, but what was my choice? I was the only one who could get close enough to do it. The only one he wouldn't suspect. Because as much as he distrusted me, he doubted my ability to do anything but run. And I was done running. What had it brought me but pain and loss?

Silently he drew the dagger back out and places it in my hands. "There can be no turning back.", he warned.

I close my hand around the hilt, hiding it in the folds of my sleeves. "No turning back."

Cenred turned to leave.

"Wait." He turned back to me. "I have a favor to ask."

Neither Raul nor Morgana spoke to me once the doors opened again. Raul glowered at Cenred's back as he left the hall.

"Take her out.", Raul says lazily, not even looking at me. "I have some things to attend to."

One of his men seizes my arm and leads me from the room. He takes me in the opposite direction of my room. "Where are we going?" He doesn't answer me. He squares his jaw, looking straight ahead instead of at me. His grip on my arm tightens.
"Ow!"

He stops at one of the empty guest suites, and fumbles to get the keys from his belt while still keeping hold of me. When he finally removes them and unlocks the door, I'm shoved inside.

Two ladies I've never seen before stood in the center of the room. Behind me, the door clicked shut and locked. That was becoming a thing for me, getting locked inside places.

The eldest of the three placed her hand on my shoulder, smiling sympathetically at me as she guides me behind the dressing screen. She stripped me of my gown before examining my wrappings and replacing them. I managed to keep the dagger hidden within the folds of fabric as the dress lay crumpled on the floor.

She furrowed her brow disapprovingly at the bruises I had accumulated over the last few days. Lastly, she helped me into an extravagant black dress, trimmed with gold around the waist, hem, and sleeves. I knew immediately that Morgana had chosen it.

After she finished lacing me loosely into it, she sat me in a chair and forced me to drink a tonic while another one of the women weaved gold strands into a thick braid over my shoulder. To finish, they powdered my face to cover up my inflamed nose and placed a black cloak over my shoulders, drawing the hood low over my head.

"I need a moment alone.", I said pleadingly, going slightly overboard with the helpless look. They looked at each other uncertainly before knocking on the doors. They opened and they left.

I quickly left my seat and retrieved the dagger. The cloak offered me more hiding places, and easier access. I tucked it into my belt, against my back where it was completely out of sight. It made me feel safer to have a weapon again, even if it was miniscule compared to a sword.

I had barely concealed it and sat back down before the doors opened once again. Morgana leaned against the door frame, smiling crookedly at me. "Beautiful morning for a ride, don't you think?"

Sorry I've been gone so long guys. I don't really have an excuse other than lack of inspiration. I re-wrote this chapter probably about eight times, and it still doesn't feel right. I don't really care for it. And you can tell that I enjoy writing dialogue. But I haven't abandoned this story, and I will at some point finish it! Basically I found this picture (I'll put a link on my profile), and it was just Sarah. Exactly how I imagine her. It was pretty much the reason I started working at this chapter again. You may thank Pinterest.
And THANK YOU to everyone who stuck with, and read/reviewed this story during my absence. You guys are the reason this story has continued past chapter 1. I love reading all of your comments!