(a.n- Thanks to everyone for reviewing me. It's good to know that people are enjoying this story as much as I am writing it. And yes, Ushuaia, I did write Lir to be a bit of an ass, but every story needs a villain and everybody loves a good looking villain :-)

Flashbacks flickered through her mind at lightening speed and overwhelmed her. She put a hand to her head and reached out to hold onto Schmendrick's shoulder.

He caught her before she fell against the sand.

Schmendrick picked her up and held her close to his body. He closed his eyes and they both vanished as the sun began rising.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Soft ripples of magic awakened Molly. Her eyes opened and she saw her lover holding Amalthea in his arms. She bolted out of the bed and leapt to her feet.

"Amalthea! What happened, Schmendrick?" She moved aside quickly so that he could lay her down. He began pacing across the floor near the bed as Molly went to get a cool cloth.

"Lir -was- going to tell her the truth, but the damned coward just turned and left. I had to tell her. Molly, I didn't want to. It should have been Lir. It shouldn't have had to happen." A tear fell down his cheek and Molly brushed it away. "After hearing about what happened at the carnival, she fainted. It was too much for her. Damn him!"

He punched the wall suddenly; the stone was hard and unforgiving. He pulled his hand away rubbing it and muttering to himself.

Molly came back into the room and placed the damp cloth on her friend's forehead. She pulled up a chair and brushed stray hairs away from Amalthea's face and turned to face him. "Pounding stone will not change things, my love. Amalthea was never was supposed to be human. But it happened. Just as Lir should have told her years ago." Her voice grew sad. "We should have told her. She's been betrayed and lied to all these years and we were a part of it. She'll hate us." She put her head in her hands and cried softly.

A small, weak voice said "Molly, I don't." Molly and Schmendrick looked at their dear friend who was waking up. "I don't hate either one of you, I just don't understand. Help me to understand." She raised her head and sat up, looking at the small, but cozy room. "How did I get here?"

"I brought you here, my lady, after you passed out. Do you remember what I told you?" Schmendrick asked tentatively, standing near her bedside.

She nodded. "Yes. I used to be a unicorn. But there is more to the story, isn't there? I had another dream. There was a band of men around a campfire and I saw Molly there too. Then I saw you cast a spell that called up Robin Hood and his band. Everyone ran after them and the ones who remained tied you to a tree. The tree came to life and the unicorn... No, it was I. I was the unicorn." She said the last part in a daze, still trying to get over the fact. "I changed it back and set you free. That's all I remember."

Molly rose up from the chair she had seated herself at. "I can help finish the tale, my lady, but first I'll get some breakfast for us. The others can do without me for this morning. If it's alright with you, of course."

Amalthea smiled and Molly's spirits were lifted. "It would be very kind of you, my friend. And you have trained everyone with such proficiency that I'm sure they can manage without you." Molly curtsied before her queen and went into the small wardrobe room to change. Moments later she left to find something for them to eat.

"Schmendrick?" Amalthea asked quietly.

He looked up and gave her gentle smile. "Yes, my lady?"

"Will you do some tricks for me? Only until Molly returns." She felt a little foolish asking for something so childish, but at that moment all she wanted was anything to get her mind off of her now realised past.

His smile brightened and he formed a dozen brightly coloured balls out of thin air. "Anything for you, my lady." He said before beginning to juggle them.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Lir had spent the night wandering aimlessly around the town after he left Amalthea on the beach. With each step he took he cursed himself for not having the courage to tell the truth to his wife. He heard a rooster crow and hurriedly returned to the castle. The guards, for whatever they thought about their monarch being out at night and alone, merely saluted as he walked passed.

Once he was out of range one turned to the other and whispered. "Sleepless night or the first fight with the royal missus?" The older guard snorted and replied. "You can't fight with Queen Amalthea, she's so quiet and gentle you feel bad if you raise your voice a notch when she's around. Besides, what trouble could they possibly have?"

As he was walking down a corridor he smelled fresh baking. He smiled at the thought of a delicious breakfast, pushing the events of the night before away in his mind. He opened the door and called out to whoever may be in the kitchen. "Good morning!"

"And what on earth could you have to smile about," the sole occupant of the kitchen, Molly, demanded of her king as he entered the kitchen, adding sarcastically, "Your Highness." She glared at him.

Lir's previous but brief optimism shattered. He approached the fruit cupboards cautiously, quite afraid that the woman would attack. Molly looked as though she were about to. Just then the other cooks were coming him, murmuring to each other about King Lir's presence. He gave them all smiles and plucked a ripe apple from the cupboard before leaving, avoiding Molly's glare.

The girls were all giggling over "how handsome he is" and "I can't believe it! King Lir in the kitchen, Molly, isn't that amazing?" But Molly's expression had hardened and she said nothing as she opened the oven to take out the batch of bread she had made. She barked at them to "stop standing around gossiping and get to work!" before cutting thick slices of the spiced bread and drizzling sweet syrup over them. The girls, terrified of her legendary temper, got right to work and barely noticed her leave.

Molly was carefully balancing the plates when one of them was lifted from her hands.

"Let me help you, Molly." Lir's voice said kindly.

Molly turned on him and with quiet, deadly calm in her voice spoke "I believe you've done enough, Your Highness." She took the plate back from him and quickened her pace.

"Wait! Molly! Is she? Is she okay?" She turned; ready to fling all three plates at him. Then she saw the lost, sad expression in his face and her anger melted away into pity.

"No, but she will be if Schmendrick and I can do anything about it."

Lir didn't have time to reply, as Molly turned the corner and left him standing alone.