As soon as he put Relena to bed and let her fall into an exhausted sleep, and was able to safely disentangle himself from her arms, he strode through the hallways aimlessly. Hands slowly wringing themselves behind his back, head down in a thoughtful stare, he pondered her words. After the concern died down at her lack of sleep over the nightmares, he was angry she didn't come to him with them. But he kept his anger in check because she needed an understanding ear, not a scornful tongue.

His head shook. He wanted to shake her and demand why she thought it was necessary to keep something of such dire magnitude from him, but his love prevented him from being so callous and thoughtless. Shaking her wouldn't help him calm down and it would only scare her. And it wouldn't ease his frustration any.

Why didn't she come to him BEFORE? It kept running through his brain and frustrated him to no end. He didn't know the answer, and couldn't think of one even when she gave him a brief explanation through exhaustion that quickly took her. He wanted a full out account of her nightmares, but let her sleep because she needed it. She said she got the same ones every night...that had to mean something.

He stopped and looked at his surroundings, seeing where he was for the first time. A few servants that passed gave a quick smile before looking away. His face quickly smoothed of any emotion, since he figured his anger must be showing. It was a potent weapon - that emotion he knew most his life - and it was sharp as a sword when he chose to show it.

Continuing his stroll down the hall as his thoughts overtook him led to a sun room. He stopped in the wide, open archway, watching light pierce the floor and warm the ground with warmth. He leaned against the archway and folded his arms, head drooping to his chest.

What was he going to do? If she was experiencing these same dreams as result of the pig sorcerer, then it was WAY out of his league. His powers didn't cover the dream world. He didn't know the extent, but doubted there was any other way to discover newer depths. There wasn't the time or secrecy to do so. He didn't have days - he didn't even have MINUTES. The king was using the most ruthless method of scaring his betrothed and trying to get her back, and it was in a place where his sword couldn't cut this time.

He was so enthralled in his misery and dark thoughts that a hand on his shoulder nearly startled him from his skin. Whipping around put him face to face with Queen Peacecraft. She gave an amused smile that dropped seconds after. "Forgive my intrusion Prince. I was merely coming back to the sun room to collect my embroidery." She gave a concerned look. "Is something the matter?"

His head bowed. He didn't want to tell Relena's mother what was going on. If she knew Relena was being hounded in her dreams, it would throw their situation in public and betray the self-vow he made to keep her problems between them. Even telling her mother with such a promise was betraying her.

"It's something trivial queen." He lied, not looking her in the eye. "Nothing to worry yourself over."

"You're worried over my daughter."

Wide eyes jerked to hers, wondering how she knew. He suspected Relena got her powers from her mother, and this proved it. Though almost everyone knew of his affections for Relena, he doubted anyone saw him go into her room.

"How did you know?" He whispered in awe, mouth gaping open. That she seemed a seer of some type only confirmed his suspicions. It was only a matter of trying to figure out the extent of her powers to see if they were any help.

She gave another small smile. "I have an...uncanny ability to read people, you could say." She mused. The smile dropped like a weight. "What's wrong with my daughter? And don't lie to me again."

His mouth snapped close, opened to tell her, and closed again with a heavy sigh. He couldn't go against his word, against his honor. It was the strongest part of his life, his honor. "I - I - I can't say my queen." He mumbled, sheepishly looking away.

"What is more important? My daughter's life or your pride?" She wisely stated, eyes on him.

He looked at her with all the insight of a humble man looking upon God. He never expected such a twist, but then, he never expected Relena to have healing powers either. "I don't know where to begin..." He fumbled for words, for a timeframe to explain so things made sense. How much did Queen Peacecraft already know?

Her arm swept into the sun room and she started around him. "Come inside and tell me what you can." They sat in two chairs under the sun. The heat calmed him a little, let him receive strength from nature. He watched the elder version of Relena primly straighten her skirts before folding her hands and giving her full attention. She looked more than just a queen, even more than a regal queen. She looked like a goddess waiting to cast judgment. He swallowed and looked at his hands, calloused from so long of wielding a sword. He suddenly felt very comely and not very prince-like.

"Now, please start from when it started."

"How much have you derived from her my queen?" If she knew more than she let on, then it would save time. Hopefully, her wise mind would help think up a solution.

She gave a smile, almost innocent if he didn't know her from previous encounters. "About you or my baby?" He fought to keep an even face. Surely she didn't mean... She gave a knowing smile. "I'm glad my daughter has someone who can so thoroughly protect her." His mouth opened to protest - to deny _ but a hand shot his words down. "Your secret is safe with me Hiro Yuy. I have my secrets, you have yours. Your distress is unnecessary. You've lived your life in secrecy for so long, it wasn't obvious to you that a wiser mind would come along and figure you out?"

He looked to his hands. This news floored him. The queen knew, and she didn't CARE? She accepted him, didn't think him a freak...and still let him wed Relena. "I am what I am. I leave it at that." He whispered, able to find his tongue. Amazement and mild fright of being known for whom he was hadn't left. The fact that his powers were known and accepted, made him feel a little less of an outsider. He looked at her again, saw her compassionate smile...and felt a little less like a freak.

"Your tale young prince. Maybe I can help you find a suggestion. Two heads ARE better than one..."

~*~*~

After night fell, he managed to safely get outside the castle's walls, Queen Peacecraft in tow. She managed to get them out, a mild lie to say there was a place Hiro found enchanting that he wished to show her. When King Peacecraft insisted his wife and future son-in-law take guards along when she said the two would go alone, she just smiled. Here was a young man who cut down an entire army to save their daughter, she said. If she couldn't feel safe with him by themselves, and know he could protect her, then what chance did he have protecting Relena in the future?

That bold statement about his knightly abilities allowed the King to yield and they left just after the castle fell asleep.

It as only a mild lie. There WAS an enchanting place - more like ENCHANTED - he knew of merely a mile from the castle. Going there would help his powers gather strength for the wide search he wanted to make. The Queen insisted she go since she wanted to see, AND helped him get out of the castle without gossip.

To know she was curious, as well as eager, to see what he could do gave him a small nervous anticipation. What would she think when he was covered in the greenish glow and his voice took on an ethereal tone? Both were side effects of his powers, of sending his mind deep into nature's roots and replaying what the ancient trees saw in his eyes. If she thought the way Relena did, there was hope she didn't run in fear.

He quickly dismounted his horse and raised his arms to help the Queen down. She didn't mind riding his faithful companion, saying she knew he didn't mind and could carry both their weight. With another astute opinion, he found it hard to say no. His horse took an immediate liking to the lady, as if he somehow knew whom she was and what lay inside her.

He gave a quick, calculated glance around the area to make sure everything was safe. He turned from the Queen and slowly walked to a small field of dirt, grass surrounding it in an almost circle-like shape. Here was where he would concentrate and begin his search. He stopped at the edge of the circle and found the Queen's eyes in the darkness.

"Stay near my steed, malady." He ordered. With no choice but to obey, she nodded and leaned against the stallion. He gave an almost amused glance at how the horse acted around her as he did with Relena. He was overprotective of both women, and it swelled his heart to know his faithful companion felt the same as he did toward both females.

Shaking his head, he stared at the earth, summoning concentration. He hadn't done this in what seemed a while. With a deep breath, he stepped past the grass and stopped in the circle, facing his audience. He didn't know if he would be able to concentrate and meditate as easily as he used to whenever he was alone.

He took deep, even breaths and forced himself to block out the extra eyes and focus. He took a kneeling position and rested hands on his thighs, head bowed. His slowly eyes closed. In, hold, out, in, hold, hold, out... The pattern repeated until he could feel nature respond. The night seemed more alive, the crickets louder. The trees ruffled around him, and he felt at peace again. The blackness behind his eyes slowly lit up as the green overtook him.

Now at full concentration and deeply in tune with nature, his mind pictured the trees from their roots to the top of their leaves. He sought out the nearest tree and mentally touched its bark, its leaves, the inside of its soul. He felt the tree's acceptance of looking through its eyes, and also a shred of worry. When his eyes opened again, he looked out at the land, his audience disappeared.

Glowing green widened at the what he saw. There was a black trail of evil magic choking the land! Through the eyes of his surroundings, he saw the grass whither to a dying brown and shrivel toward the earth. He could feel the tree's pain as the magic touched the tips of its branches, searing the leaves dead. He shivered, feeling hatred and malice in its intent.

The evil shroud also seemed to sense him, and turned on him. So involved was his mind to sense this adversary, that he jumped to his feet and backed a few steps back before halting. The cloud swiftly descended, wrapping him in its evil laughter. He froze, arms held out to ward it off. Its intangibility surrounded him, choking his breath and painfully blinding his eyes. Evil laughter filled his ears and he knew that voice.

As quickly as it started, it released him and vanished. It went back to subtly smiting the trees around it with malevolence.

He gasped for breath and fell to his knees, trying to gain a sense of direction. He tried to fight off the fear that made him want to run deep into the sanctuary of the forest he loved so much, but he held the urge at bay. There were things that had to be done! If this was what taunted Relena at night, then he needed to plan a strategy of attack.

He didn't know his routine checks were so important. Had he been able to leave the castle in privacy, he would've known this evil was forming and waiting to strike. Now it was everywhere and it frightened him. How could so much wickedness EXIST?

His eyes jerked open, green still hazing his vision. Relena...the monster was going to strike and SOON!

Jumping to his feet was impossible through the sudden exhaustion of fighting with that...thing and he only managed to raise a single leg before breathing heavily again.

"Are you alright Prince?" The queen anxiously called. The whole scene was nothing short of mysterious and wondrous, until he backed up and froze. Her heart clenched at the wide-eyed look of terror and knew he was confronting a thing of pure evil before falling to the ground. Something was indeed very wrong, and he needed to tell her what could be done so she could defend her kingdom and daughter.

She stepped toward the edge of the circle, and he held a hand to stop her. He didn't want her to feel his power and get involved as Relena once did. He didn't know what type of effects it would have for someone so many years his senior and there wasn't time to experiment and figure it out. They had to get back to the castle and protect Relena. Mayhap, they were the only two who really COULD.

"Don't step inside the circle my Queen." He ordered, forcing an outward calm to reassure her. She looked spooked from the sudden attack and he forced his body to move to show he was alright.

"Your - your VOICE..."

He gave a small smile at her awe. Relena looked that way too. "Don't be scared my Queen. It is only a side effect of reaching so deep into the roots of nature. It tends to give me a hollow sound when I touch my mind to eons of life."

She blinked. "What happened? What did your actions mean?" She queried, slowly wringing her hands. "What does that have to do with my daughter??"

He slowly walked to her and stopped just out of reach. She seemed overly distraught, but he couldn't blame her. He was fighting to keep his cool and not ride straight back to the castle in haste to make sure Relena was still sleeping where he left her.

"We need to get back my queen. Something has gone terribly wrong. The evil sorcerer has been building his power outside the safety of your walls since we arrived, though I was unable to see it." His eyes narrowed with dangerous intent. He would find that bastard and kill him with his sword! "I have been too lax in my duties and it is our result."

"Then we must leave immediately." She ordered, drawing herself up and assuming her normal air. It would do no good to panic in a time like this, a cool head was needed more to think. "If that thing is after my baby, then I will fight it with all my strength."

He had to agree with her. "We may be the only two that can." Knowing time was of the essence, his eyes closed and he drew deep breaths. He mentally thanked the land for allowing him to venture through their minds and retracted his powers. They allowed him to break the link a lot quicker than normal, knowing his urgency was warranted. The evil slowly lessened until it was only a hollow ping to his soul.

When his eyes opened, the forest was dark, his eyes and surroundings back to normal. "Let's go." He hurried to the horse, knowing she was in awe of what just happened. He had no time to let her stand in wonder and gape at him. He helped her to his steed and mounted seconds later, urging the horse to a gallop.

The journey was extremely slow. He suddenly wished they hadn't gone so far from the castle, if he didn't see the need for secrecy. The sorcerer's words taunted his head, and he urged his horse faster. He didn't know there was so little time to act, or he would've done this a LONG time ago.

You're too LATE boy! Too late to stop the magnitude of my power! The girl will belong to my king by the end of nightfall...whether you like it or NOT!

The mocking laughter told him just how right he was, and the sorcerer's words kept ringing in his head. All the pieces made . As his horse whipped around trees and under limbs, his mind became clear. All those dreams Relena had were meant to scare her to think she was losing her mind. When she was alone, the sorcerer would steal her into the night, without anyone the wiser. Clenching his jaw, he mentally urged his horse into the quickest, all out run he could manage while holding them both. He just prayed they weren't too late.

~*~*~

She was running, AGAIN. It didn't matter if it happened more than she remembered, she ran on instinct. To get away from the horror and fear that enveloped her was the basic reason. If she could escape, maybe she could find Hiro and let him fight the king again.

As she dodged brambles and low tree limbs, she took in the surroundings. They were incredibly familiar, but she didn't stop to look and recognize them. They were even more known than the fact that she ran these every night. This instance was something different. She felt as if she knew these woods like the back of her hand, and NOT just from trying different escape routes every night.

Deep, throaty laughter sent a shiver up her spine, and also quickened her steps. You think you can outrun ME in this place, Princess? The sorcerer mocked. I AM this place! I'm above you, around you, in front of you, even behind you! To prove his point, a small jab out of nowhere nearly sent her to the ground.

She stumbled, feeling pain in her back and ignored it. Tears pricked her eyes, tears of helplessness and anger. Why wouldn't he leave her ALONE? Why didn't the king give up?? She knew that wasn't possible for one so proud and arrogant, but he should just lay down and DIE!

'Gods Hiro, where ARE you?' She pushed through a line of dead bushes, feeling their branches stab her legs and poke holes in her nightdress. He always appeared BEFORE, where was he now? Before, she always felt at least an ounce of his strength in her dream, and she knew he was in the general vicinity, guarding her with his love. Now she couldn't even feel his presence. He was nowhere near and that scared her worse than the demon behind her. He left her? No!

Your pathetic prince thought he could find me. The sorcerer jauntily stated. I showed him the error of his ways in trying to mess with me. He may've defeated my lord's army, but he shall not best ME! More laughter, and she ran forward. What was he blabbing about? When would it all END?

As she broke through the dead forest, cold surrounded her at the abrupt stop. She gave an unconscious shiver, but not so much as what the sight before her did to her. She felt cold all over, but couldn't tear her eyes away.

It was the pond. She KNEW this pond! She knew exactly where it was! This was no dream she was involved in, though she knew herself to be asleep. This area was part of the Sanc outer grounds!

She noticed this on their way to the castle! How could that be??

Rustling behind her sent her legs forward on instinct. Hurling a look at the voices that were all too close, she saw the sorcerer and the king standing next to him, opaque eyes saying how much they enjoyed the chase. Her eyes widened even further upon seeing the king. She NEVER saw him in her dreams! Why was he here?

Ready to come back to me princess? The king asked, easily stepping into the opening. It's time for you to come home...

"NO!" She shrieked. "I'll NEVER go with you! I'd rather DIE first!" Her head swung forward, only to realize that her trip took her where it always did - right to the water's edge. She stopped just to the muck surrounding the edges, trying to gain her balance. The greenish algae made her sick to her stomach. It looked to rise any second and swallow her. She teetered forward, then back, arms flailing to gain poise. She didn't stop in time to stay away from the soft mud and now she was going to fall in...

She jerked awake just before she fell into dark, cold water. With a loud gasp, she bolted upright and clutched the blankets to her body. It took a while of shallow breathing to regain her wits, and remember that she was home . It was all the same every night, just like the last. Was she EVER going to peacefully sleep again??

Flopping back onto the pillows, she stared at the canopy bed and felt tears come to her eyes. No! She WASN'T going to cry over this! Hiro said he'd find a way to help her and she had to endure until he could end her nightmares. Why couldn't she feel his presence in her dreams? Even when she was unable to awake and the water did take her, she always felt his worry and love, and it allowed her to wake before drowning.

Slowly sitting up, arms wrapped around her torso at the small chill that came from blocked windows. Even though her maids covered every window to keep drafts out, the floor was ice cold, and the air held a sense of death to it. She shivered and forced her mind to blank. Thinking of such things would only cause her more alarm than what already befell her.

She opened the window she sat before earlier and looked out. A full moon's white light fell on the land, and she saw the shapes of trees around the kingdom. Along with something else. With narrowed, curious eyes, hands rested on the freezing sill as she leaned over them in an effort to be closer.

The land somehow appeared darker than most nights. The night seemed stiller, more quieter than it should be. It didn't really register as she continued to gaze at whatever it was that seemed a dark mist, and also something hurrying up a tree-covered path. Her eyes narrowed more, face jutting closer. If she leaned over any farther, it was possible she'd fall out the window!

Through such dangers, eyes widened at the dark mist she saw. Figuring it was dew that became fog was cast aside after seeing it shift. She NEVER knew fog to shift, or to be BLACK. With a harsh swallow, she jerked inside and stared from inside the safety of her room. What WAS that?

Arms went around herself and she forced her eyes to look away and look at something to keep her mind off the atrocity. But her thoughts started running away from her, and started unnerving her. She aimlessly paced and hugged her body in effort to feel a little less spooked. It was like a ghost's finger touched her spine. Somehow, she could sense the stillness wasn't relative to the sleeping inhabitants of her land. This was forced.

Stopping when a small, almost harsh breeze struck up, her head slowly craned behind her, body frozen where she stood. She KNEW that breeze!

The moonlight shone through her windows, but it seemed dimmer than it should be. Like there was a veil of shadow covering it. She shivered again and forced herself calm. The remnants of her nightmares were making her stir crazy; this all HAD to be in her head. Maybe she was still too tired to think straight.

Thinking of Hiro and their wedding helped her return to a smaller state of normality. But the eerie stillness gave her riggers and - after grabbing a shawl to combat the night air - she left the uncomfortableness of her room. She grabbed a dying torch just outside her door and gave it fuel to burn brighter, to allow more light. The heat it gave off warmed her hands, and the yellow light reminded her of daylight, and she gave a small smile.

Not knowing where she was going, but feeling a tad less wary and frightened, she almost tiptoed down the dark hallways, mentally repeating to herself this was her home and it was safe here. As the shadows twisted in the torch's light, she almost wanted to go back to her room, if she felt it was protected there. Somewhere in the back of her mind told her that sleeping would only scare her more than the small hallucination she saw. If it WAS a hallucination...

She listened to her footsteps clap against stone and the swish of her nightgown and had the undeniable urge to go sleep with her parents or in Hiro's room. She harshly scolded herself. She wasn't ten anymore, she was a bride-to-be! If she couldn't overcome a childish fear of the dark, then she would be a pitiful wife when night fell. 'Get a GRIP Relena.'

Stopping at the end of the hallway at the top of the entrance hall stairs, she leaned on the stone balcony wall and looked down. Never had she ventured out like this so late at night. What time WAS it anyway?

Feeling a little calmer, her eyes idly watched light and dark dance together from her torch and the few remaining on the far walls. It was so intricate and interesting, though slightly eerie. No, she was NOT going to get spooked again. 'Think of Hiro, Relena. How do you expect to compare your strength to his if you jump at SHADOWS?'

She hadn't been this way since she was eight and feared the boogey man would find her. The smile instantly dropped. She may be older, but the boogey man was still out there. With a harsh swallow, she instantly wanted to return to her room, to someplace safe and shut the door against the wide, open spaces of the great hall.

As she turned, the darkness seemed to've gotten even darker. Holding the torch in front of her almost like a weapon, she peered into the darkness. Was someone there? She felt like there was, though she couldn't see. Her eyes squinted in the dark.

"He - hello?" She whispered. A familiar feeling of panic surged and mixed with adrenaline. Her eyes widened. No! Deep, CALM breaths. Staying in control was the key. Don't give in to something that happened to you in the past! That allowed her to take a few, meek steps down the hall, though she couldn't gain the courage to move after that.

Her hand gripped the torch from a burst of irritation. This was RIDICULOUS! Scared in her own home?? She wandered these halls since she was able to walk! NOW she was afraid of a little dark? A small snort left her, courage seeping back to her frozen bones. "Next thing you know Relena," She berated, "you'll be getting cold feet at the alter."

Her voice stopped and she looked back into the dark with utmost intensity when a small sigh sounded. It could've been the wind it was so light, if not for the fact that she was in a hall with no WINDOWS.

Harshly swallowing, she forced her mind to remember all of Hiro's strength, not to mention her powers. She wasn't as helpless as she looked. She went to ask who was there again, but the words died on her lips, mouth stupidly gaping open. That sigh was almost impossible to discern the location in the bleak hall, and she unconsciously took a frightened step back.

'Courage Relena.' She reminded. 'You're not the ONLY one living here you know! Your family, knights, guards, servants...there're DOZENS of people who could be making a trip outside for fresh air or a midnight snack.' If that was true though, why didn't she see any other light? Her eyes squeezed shut. 'Shut UP! Stop SPOOKING yourself! It never gets you anywhere.' Regardless of what she tried to tell herself, her foot took another step when the sigh came again, this time a lot closer. Whoever it was, was coming toward her.

She forgot entirely of courage and whirled to the stairs. After taking four or five, she halted and whipped around, brandishing the torch like a sword. She suddenly wished for a real sword to fight whoever it was coming nearer. She didn't hear footsteps or see movement, but her skin crawled as if she were being watched.

"Whoever you are, don't come any closer!" She ordered. She waited with baited breath, eyes jumping around the top of the stairs. She looked to the balcony she was against seconds ago, as if expecting someone to walk against it. "I order you to SHOW yourself!" She meekly ordered, voice threatening to crack.

Even though no face appeared to the light, no servant or family member apologizing for needlessly scaring her, she still felt someone was with her in the hall. A sudden shiver raced up her spine. Seconds after she gave a quick glance behind at the bottom of the stairs - brandishing the torch that way as well - a deep, throaty laughter sounded. It started as a quiet whisper, like someone was a long ways away, but still heard her and found her fear amusing.

She swung to the top of the stairs, the torch in front of her. That laughter was VERY well-known.

Harshly swallowing, her foot slowly inched to the next step, hoping to distance herself. It was her mind playing tricks on her, it HAD to be! This wasn't another vision about the dead forest, but that mocking laughter still sounded. It ended with an amused sigh, and the sorcerer suddenly appeared in the torch's light. "My, my, Princess Relena Peacecraft." He throatily mused. "It's an honor to finally meet you, your highness." He mockingly bowed before giving her an evil smile. "I DO so hope that you won't make this harder on yourself."

"You - it's you - you're-"

"The one who's been chasing you in your dreams?" He answered, easily smiling.

She gripped the torch till the splinters almost dug into her palms, fighting a shudder. "I won't go back." She stated, fear quivering her voice. Her jaw clenched, trying to be strong and face this fear that chased her every night. This was her chance to end it. "You can't MAKE me go back."

He chuckled again, finding that very amusing. "My dear, how will you STOP me?" Hoofed hands spread wide and the black cloak around him momentarily shuffled. Opaque eyes narrowed. "You haven't been able to yet, and your boy prince didn't stand a chance against me when he went looking."

"HIRO?" She breathed. Worry clutched her heart. "What did you DO to him?" Anger for someone else's safety strengthened her voice, and she was thankful.

He gave a careless shrug. "I merely showed him what would happen if he crossed me again." He answered. Those devil-like eyes rested on her and he took a step to her. "Now my dear, let's not keep your future King waiting."

"He's NOT my King! I'll NEVER marry him!" When the sorcerer took another step, obviously not playing anymore, she whirled and took the steps two at a time. At the bottom, feet from the grand stairs, she whirled and brandished the torch in a death grip. The sorcerer was gone. "What...?" She blundered, wide eyes looking into the darkness to try and spot him.

What to do NOW? Should she scream at the top of her lungs and wake her family, rouse the guards to her aid? She was sorely tempted! But if this disgusting creature could disappear in the blink of an eye, then how did the royal knights FIGHT him? The only one she knew capable of the pig race's moves was Hiro.

She looked to the top of the stairs, wondering if she should go back and wake him. Waking him wasn't the problem, it was going back up the stairs! Was the sorcerer there, hiding in the shadows, waiting for her guard to lower?

It wasn't safe in the royal sleeping area anymore. She should just go to the knights on duty and lie to be around them. She knew the sorcerer wouldn't risk his own life if she was around those with weapons.

She forced a calm step to show she wasn't as afraid as her quaking insides were. Head high with the Peacecraft pride, she held the torch out and went through the hall to the main entrance doors. Once outside, she could hurry all she liked. She knew where they all were, it would be a matter of getting there. She wasn't allowed the chance.

Halfway through the hall, she threw a cautious glance behind at the stairs and found the same mist cloud floating toward her. Eyes wide enough to fall from her head, one hand grabbed her skirts and she took for the door. It was only a dozen feet or so away...all she had to do was pour on the speed and she'd be outside!

A small rush of wind, like something running past, sounded and just as a hand gripped the knob, the mist descended over her body, instantly choking the flame's precious light.

It seemed to press against her entire body, sticking to her face, pushing in and paralyzing her limbs. Gagging from the putrid smell that assaulted her nostrils, tears came to her eyes from the almost dust-like of quality the mist. Instantly, she was nearly blind, tears trying to help her see again. Dropping to the ground with very little strength, she coughed for breath before the cloud moved to cover her again. It was getting hard to breathe... This thing - the sorcerer's handiwork - was making it hard for her to stay conscious.

She couldn't think, couldn't see, couldn't breathe...she would most likely end up a prisoner again, and no one would know.

'No! It can't END like this!'

Every instinct came to her mind and her body threw itself to one side, rolling away. Quickly scrambling to her feet was a deed in itself as she tried to breathe and see at the same time. Coughing, she looked at the dark cloud against the dim lighting of nearby torches on the far walls. Grabbing her skirts, knowing freedom lied just beyond those doors, she took a deep breath. "I'll...NEVER go back...to your king." She rasped.

Hurling herself forward, she pushed the doors open before the cloud could immobilize her again. As soon as the fresh air hit her face, she took off in a blind run.