Aurora could only gesture to the tapestry in horror. Amalthea turned her back and screamed.

The tapestry was engulfed in ghostly red flames, and the face of her nightmares, the Red Bull, snarled back at her.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Lir, and Schmendrick started yelling the second the door closed.

"This is all your fault, magician!"

"Heaven forbid an arrogant prince ever be at fault."

"Well if you hadn't turned her into a human in the first place-"

"Me?! If YOU had told her the truth from the beginning-"

Lir had his hand by his sword and a white blue mist crackled by Schmendrick's. Molly looked fearful that it might turn into an all out brawl.

"Will BOTH of you PLEASE settle down?" Molly yelled at the both of them. Despite her lack of weapon, both men immediately sat back down and hung their heads. She gave a satisfied smirk at the pair and sat down herself.

"Well, we have a big problem on our hands. Amalthea finally knows the truth about her past and who she was. It's only a matter of time before Aurora knows, if she hasn't been told already."

Lir spoke up. "She has. My wife keeps nothing from our daughter and if Aurora is awake, she's probably being told now. Now both my girls will hate me."

"I wouldn't blame them." Schmendrick goaded.

"Let me remind you, magician, that it is YOU who set this chain of events into place. If Amalthea was still a unicorn-"

"-Than your father would have had his precious Bull drive her into the same watery prison that the others dwell in." He hung his head. "But I did change her into what she is now. I never told her, but I could have. I wanted to spare her a broken heart."

Molly said softly. "We all did. And in a far corner of her mind, she must have known something. The dreams she had, and the tapestry I had stitched for her must have kept it from leaving forever. I only hope now that she forgives us for causing her pain."

Lir looked at Schmendrick. "Schmendrick, I will admit to keeping it from her. My reasons were vain and selfish, and they caused a rift in our friendship. Please accept my apology." He held out his hand.

The magician glanced at the hand and spoke "You stood up for us when we first arrived when your father would have thrown us out. I forgot your kindness to us and stayed trained on what you had done to Amalthea." He gave a small smile. "You did make her happy. And together you had a beautiful daughter." He looked at a small painted portrait of the young princess.

Lir also looked at the portrait. "Yes, we do." He turned to the magician who had yet to take his hand. "So we are friends again?"

Schmendrick smiled. "Lir, we have always been friends." He shook his hand. Lir pulled him in and they embraced briefly. (a.n.- You know, in that 'you're my bro, but I'm not gay' man type hug.)

Molly smiled at the pair and embraced them both. "We'll have to take things slow. She cannot stay angry stay forever. Not at us. And Aurora may help to soften her up a bit. She can do that to anyone."

"Even to hard as nails outlaw women." Lir chuckled.

"Former outlaw, Your Majesty." Molly batted him lightly on his shoulders and laughed.

Schmendrick stepped onto the balcony after shaking his head at his king and his love's antics. He walked to the edge and leaned over slightly, looking down at the sea, and gave another apology, this one whispered.

"It is now your forgiveness I ask, you who are trapped beyond the waves. I only meant to help her find you. If I knew she would be lost forever I'd have never begged to accompany her. I can only tell you this; I will find another way. I took away your sister, the last unicorn, and I pledge my life if it takes every spell I know, the last breath from my body, I will find a way to free you." A tear glistened and fell down his cheek.

He turned back to rejoin his friends. The tear fell slowly to the sea, catching the sun. It fell to the water and landed on the white of the waves. It fell onto the ivory whiteness of a spiral horn.

No sooner was Schmendrick back inside, laughing with Lir and Molly when a terror filled scream from the upper castle broke their cheer.

Lir drew his sword and ran out the door, followed closely by Schmendrick and Molly, towards his chambers.

"AMALTHEA!"