BWAHAHA! I'm back! I got the hint with that lovely 50 line "hurry" message review, (hey, I got thesises to work on here!) And now for the action bits! Whohoo! Sorry, less fluff than usual in bit, as it's semi- serious. I hope this doesn't seem too out of character, if makes more sense when you read the ending….speaking of which:

I'm so happy at the amount of stories that have been put in this archive! YAY! But I'm noticing that there isn't enough Mendy and Cimorene lovin' in here. So, I'll make a deal. I'll post the final chapter of this fic, as well as the first chapter to my NEW story, but only if two of four things happen:

I get 50 or more reviews (that's not too hard to do, is it?)

Someone writes what the hell Mendanbar was thinking about for all those seventeen years- I mean, I'm surprised he didn't either go nuts or as soon as he got free lock himself with Cimorene in the bedroom for two weeks (cough)

Someone write a good old fashion naughty fic with Mendy and Cimorene. I mean the one in here doesn't count. Too dang short.

A good old fashioned fluff fic. Y'know, like what Mendanbar and Cimorene did at the beach. And where the heck is there a beach?!

I know this is a lot to ask for, but I can try, can't I? Don't worry, I'll probably post it anyway, but if would be nice….anyway, thank you so much for reading this little farce, and hope it lives up to your expectations. Now on to the story….

Chapter 7: Scorecards, Armor, and One-upping -or- Checkmate!

Mendanbar stood at the edge of the Enchanted Forest looking out at the incoming entourage. He really didn't like the idea of standing out in plain view (even though he was well prepared for any sneakiness they might have up their sleeves), particularly just before a duel. But he steeled himself, for a little while longer at least- it was enough that the darned was agreeing to this in the first place.

Remembering the conversation brought a smile dangerously close to Mendanbar's lips- what a hoot that had been. Not only had King Humpbert nearly exploded at the humiliation at being pointed out his mistakes, Mendanbar had the satisfaction to notice that it seemed that Humpbert had not been alone while Mendanbar had calmly explained that he had been challenged solely to a duel, not a full fledged war. Several important looking figures stood behind the silly headed king in the mirror, and had seemed quite relieved that they were no longer tied up in their majesty's silly revenges. The current tally: Mendanbar: 1 (2 if you counted him marrying Cimorene), Humpbert: -10.

Cimorene stood behind Mendanbar, trying desperately not to beg him to forget the whole thing and just deal with the King of Eldanberg from afar. But she also knew that it would be most effective if he did it this way. She still had insisted that he wore armor, though. That alone had taken a good part of an afternoon, going through the armory, trying to pieces that would fit together to make a passable protection, in case Humpbert didn't give Mendanbar adequate time to put his plan into motion right away.

She had tried not to stare at her handiwork after she had strapped on the last grieve on his leg. Although she had never fancied armor, particularly on the various princes and knights that had tried to rescue her as Kazul's princess, but on Mendanbar, it looked purposeful. Although logic told her that it was more than likely Mendanbar outclassed the traditional king in skill and cunning, she still fretted over the forthcoming duel. The tip of her mouth quirked slightly. So this is what true love felt like. It wasn't so silly as the stories made it out to be. But then again, she wasn't as silly as a normal princess generally was, either.

Morwen gazed thoughtfully at the approaching caravan from the spot Telemain and she had selected to make sure no tricks were pulled that might cause Mendanbar to lose his disadvantage. She turned to Telemain, who was doodling out some formula on a scrap piece of parchment. "Well?" she inquired, trying to follow the calculations being sketched out.

"I'm quite amazed at the great detail that such a plan would have required if the said parties are behind this charade of intrigue. The need to know someone's in such psychoanalytical terms would need a great deal of study and a great deal of manipulation. Such that I can only come to the conclusion that-" He paused as Kazul lowered her head to stare him in the eye.

"In understandable terms, if you would." A slight puff of smoke drizzled from her nostrils, making the young magician uneasy.

'Um, er, I think this all happened by accident. I don't think the wizards are even capable of thinking up something this long term."

Morwen nodded with satisfaction. "In short, they're much too dumb to be able to cook up something like this."

Kazul snorted. "And I was looking forward to biting into a few more wizards. Oh, well. Looks like we best make ourselves scarce." The dragon craned her neck to peer around the trees to the edge of the forest. "We've got company."

Mendanbar did his best to keep his calm as the galloping horses grew ever closer. 1000 feet….500 feet…

The seven horses skidded to a halt at the edge of the forest, a scant 5 feet from where Mendanbar stood, his naked sword in front of him, hands resting on the pommel. He felt slightly silly standing here, but Morwen and Cimorene had argued that Humpbert needed to be taken down a few notches, even before they implemented the plan. And, much to his satisfaction, it was working pretty well, if the nervous guardsmen dealing with the bucking horses were any indication.

King Humbpert, decked out in the most ridiculous armor, right down to the ornate helm pushed slightly back on his head, jumped down from his horse and strode purposefully forward. "Cheap charlatan tricks won't help you here, Mendanbar." He spat out the name as if it were a noxious poison. "Is that any way to greet your guest?"

Mendanbar shrugged, or at least as well he could with the armor on. "The Forest keeps out those who are self pretentious. It decides on it's own who can enter."

Humpbert sneered and strode over the border. "Oh, really? I'll have no problems, then." He noticed Cimorene little way behind her husband, standing proud and tall. "Ah, Princess Cimorene, you are as lovely as ever."

Cimorene suppressed a shiver that threatened to travel the length of her spine. Mendanbar schooled his face into a mask of indifference, not betraying the sudden urge to skewer the beast in front of him. "That is King Mendanbar and Queen Cimorene of the Enchanted Forest, King Humpbert." He noted not to let Willian hear about his sudden need for proper titles. He'd never get the elf to stop if he heard about this.

"Yes, yes. How callous of me." Humpbert mockingly bowed to Mendanbar.

This was exactly Mendanbar had hoped for. Before his opponent could react, Mendanbar gripped his sword and quickly swung in an arc toward the kneeling king's head.

TO BE CONTINUED!