The long awaited chapter of Templar Knights has arrived!

"Lianne, you are to remain under the protection of guards all the time, understood? No leaving them to find you," King Jonathan stood near the large window in his study, a goblet clutched in his hands. He was exhausted, his eyes bloodshot and his hair mussed.

"Why Papa? You know well enough that I can defend myself without a nursemaid!" Lianne objected, her arms crossed over her chest.

"Because the man who captured you escaped." Jon looked at his daughter.

"David…" Lianne whispered to herself. Quickly she headed to her rooms, barely noticing the two guards who materialized just behind her. 'I have to find a way to save him, he will be put to death if he is found!' she thought, trying figure out a way to ditch the two guards.

Lianne went through her daily routine with no indication that she was up to something. She waited impatiently for the sun to set. At midnight she rose, taking care not to make any noise as she strapped a sword to her waist and daggers to her forearms, legs and the small of her back. She wasn't able to change into breeches, much to her dismay, so she was stuck wearing a dark blue dress with flowing sleeves that were bound to get in her way. Silently she took a dark forest green cloak from the rack and glanced out her window. Nothing moved. With a tiny sigh of relief she eased her window open and secured a rope to her bedpost. 'Mithros save me, I'm reduced to the escaping princess act, climbing out the window with a rope tied to the bed post.'

Shaking her head she began to ease herself down the wall. She stopped at the window below hers, praying to every God and Goddesses that the occupant wouldn't wake. Especially this occupant. She winced as she lost balance and tapped lightly against the stone. She bit her lip as a ragged dog with a torn up ear and a twice broken tail appeared, standing with his front paws on the windowsill.

"Jump!" Lianne whispered. "Don't wake Kel up, alright boy? Keep watch until I come back Jump, okay?"

The ragged canine bowed his head with knowing eyes and returned to his post before the door. Lianne breathed a sigh of relief and lowered herself the rest of the way down. She made her way to the Royal Forest, praying silently that she would find David.

An hour later she stopped at a small stream to drink. She kneeled down, dipping her hands in the icy water. Nearby a branch snapped and she jumped to her feet. A flash of lightning lit a familiar face.

Lianne let out a strangled sob and crossed the stream and fell into David's open arms, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I thought you were dead! I had heard that they had found some of the escapees and I wasn't sure if you were among them!" she whispered to his ragged tunic.

"People are forever assuming that I am dead, for Heavens sake." David grumbled, though his eyes were soft as he hugged Lianne against his chest.

"Well, if you'd stop disappearing, they'd stop assuming!" Lianne retorted. "C'mon, we need to get back to the palace before dawn."

"Wait a minute. I can't sneak into the palace, if you haven't noticed, I'm the enemy, on the run, with a price on my head," David said, looking at the young woman before him as though she had lost her mind.

"Do you trust me?" she asked, her eyes holding his own.

"Yes…"

"Then come on, we'll only be able to pull this off if we get back before dawn, hurry!" she took his hand and pulled him along towards the palace, carefully avoiding places where they might be seen. Finally they reached her window and climbed up the knotted rope. Once inside they hauled up the rope and soaped up the window so it would close quietly.

Lianne lit a candle and walked over to the large bookcase against the wall, scanning the worn bindings. "What you need is a disguise, and we'll figure the rest out from there." Finally her eyes settled on the one she was looking for. "Aha!" she exclaimed quietly. David appeared at her shoulder, peering at the book she held in her hand.

He read the title and shook his head with a scowl. It read The Perfect Lady, Mannerisms and Etiquette for the Noble Lady. "Nope. Not going to happen, I am not going to go about disguised as a woman. There's a place where a man has to draw the line, and this is that place. I'd sooner give myself over to the guards than where a dress and face paint!"

"Who said I was going to disguise you as a woman? Though it isn't a bad idea. Though I'd have to borrow a few of Kally's dresses, your shoulders are too broad for mine…" Lianne drifted off as David gave her a horrified look. "I'm joking!"

"Why do I not believe you?" David drawled.

"Watch." She pressed her finger to the embossed fan on the cover of the book. It glowed and there was a small clicking sound as the cover opened to reveal a hollow containing a few small trinkets. She picked up a large key strung on a fading green silk ribbon and closed the book, placing it back in its place on the shelf. She beckoned to David and walked over to a huge tapestry that depicted the palace and pushed it aside, revealing a heavy oak door with a large lock. She inserted the key turned it to the left once, to the right three times and back towards the left again. Lianne pulled out the key and pressed her fingertip to the knob.

The door swung open to reveal a medium-sized room, furnished with a small mahogany desk, a bookcase, a dark green couch and a low table in front of it. There was a window that showed the palace grounds. Lianne held her candle to a globe, muttered a few words and the globe suddenly let off a bright unwavering light, which lit the whole room easily.

"This is where you'll be staying till we figure out what to do, alright? I'll bring in food and everything you'll need," she explained as she set down the candle and neatened the papers that were scattered on the desk.

"This is nice, I like it," David said, walking over to the window. "But won't people see in through the window?"

"Nope, it's spelled so you can only see out," Lianne replied as she opened the door once more and David followed her out. "There's things in the privy so you can wash up, I'll see if I can find some of Roald's old things if you'll wait a minute."

David wandered over to the bookshelf. "Never figured you for a person who loved books," he murmured, gazing at the hundred of books that lined the shelves.

"As the youngest daughter I never really had much to do, and you can only go riding so much before your guards get annoyed." Lianne said, rummaging around in the bottom drawer of her bureau. "Aha! I knew I nicked some of Roald's old things!" She handed him some clothes.

"Roald?"

"My eldest brother, next in line for the crown. He used to annoy me so much, so I started nicking his things. Never realized who it was," Lianne said with a shrug. "I'm going to get some food for you, I'll be back. But once you're done cleaning up, go into the room and close the door. No need for unnecessary risks right now."

"Yes ma'am." David said with a grin. He headed into the privy as Lianne closed the doors to her room.

The guards appeared at her side, a new shift. "Princess? What are you doing?"

"Getting some food, I'm rather hungry," Lianne said lightly, with a smile at the two young riders.

"We can get it for you," one offered.

"No that's alright, I'd like the walk," she replied. The guards shrugged and followed as she headed to the kitchens.

They arrived at the kitchens where a sleepy assistant cook was slicing apples under the watchful eye of the head cook, Ana.

"What brings you here Princess?" Ana asked, smiling at her. She knew Lianne well, having taught her to cook on rainy days.

"Hunger, I wonder if I might beg some pastries and sweets from you?" Lianne said with a grin. She sat on a stool as though she had all the time in the world.

"I figured you'd be down soon, seeing as you haven't eaten much lately," Ana said, shaking her head. She scrutinized the young woman, looking her over as though she was underfed and malnourished. Ana would have a heart attack of the brain if she felt someone was underfed.

"Can I have some extra? I have some books that I'd like to read uninterrupted in the next day or so," Lianne asked, watching as Ana bustled about, suddenly alive, happy to feed anyone.

"Of course, of course!" Ana replied with a grin. She began packing a huge basket with pastries, fruit, tarts and flasks of juices. "And I'll give some food to your guards too, they look hungry as well."

"Thanks," Lianne said, marveling at how fast the woman was to nurture another. She heard one of the guards mutter to his companion, "No more eating at the barracks. I'm comin' here!" The princess laughed quietly, nodding at the guard emphatically.

"Here you are," Ana handed a huge basket to one guard who nearly staggered under its weight. The woman glanced at the other guard. "You might want to help with that," she muttered and handed an equal sized basket to him. The poor guard was unable to contain the look that said that the cook had lost her mind. Years ago.

"Of you go," Ana said. She enveloped Lianne in a bone-crushing hug before sending her off, her guards staggering behind her, lugging the impossibly heavy food baskets.

Meanwhile, David stood in the small secret room, looking at a large painting that hung over the couch. It depicted a herd of large horses and ponies, seven leading the herd, and ten following. Farther off, one that looked similar to David's own mount, followed. Unknown to anyone except Volney Raine, the artist, each horse represented a person. The seven leading represented King Jonathan, Queen Thayet, Prince Roald, Princess Kalasin, Princess Lianne, and the youngest Princes Liam and Jason. The following eleven represented Gareth the Younger of Naxen, Raoul of Goldenlake, Alanna the Lioness and her husband George of Pirates Swoop, Buri Tokarom, Onua Chamtong, Sarge, Daine Sarrasri, Numair Salmalin, Baird of Queenscove and Gareth the Elder, all friends of the family, protectors or adopted family. Volney Raine had felt oddly encouraged to paint the twelfth horse, as though it should be that way. He had often wondered why, but never knew the answer.

David jumped as he heard voices and a door closing. He relaxed as he heard Lianne's voice and went to see if there was anything he could do. He found her trying to lug an unusually large basket into the secret room.

"Should I ask what's in that?" he asked as he lifted the basket and carried it into the room. He set it down and looked at Lianne who was blushing. "What?"

"May I ask why you are wandering around shirtless?" she asked raising her eyebrows in a way that made her look much like her adopted uncle George Cooper. (Something that would've made him unbelievably proud no doubt!)

"Oh, I was wondering if you had any bandages, I need to clean this up before it gets contaminated," David explained, pointing to a large gash on his shoulder.

"Of course, and by the way, there's food in that basket." She left to find bandages and salve. She returned and began to clean the gash, which was rather deep, gently smoothing salve on it and wrapping it in clean gamgee (linen).

They talked as David ate, mostly about what they were going to do. Nothing was clear as of yet, it would probably take a few days planning. Lianne was about to leave she heard David speak, "You know, you're rather popular in the dungeons."

It was longer when I first wrote it, before the computer died, but as I rewrote it, I decided that it would flow better if this bit was one chapter, the next another. So, here it is. Review and tell how you like it. Please!

Quote/Motto of the chapter: "We are friends, and friends do for each other what they see needs to be done. Friendship is a thing sensed inwardly as much a thing pledged openly. One feels friendship and becomes bound by it. We are to be friends, all of us, and if we are to be friends, then we must share both good and bad in our friendship. Your needs become another's." Kimber Boh, paraphrased from The Wishsong of Shannara written by Terry Brooks

Please review, it is much appreciated. It's not all that hard to click the button that reads 'Go', type a few words and press another button, but it makes our day! Merci. (The extent of my French during the summer, though I do know what 'Le Fenetre' means. The window…hahahaha…so pathetic…)

Red, Inkblot, & Ember