Title: Reigning Memories

Chapter: 15 - Slowly Dying

Emma decided that they best split up in group and ride in carriages to New Port Town. The petite matchmakers had been accommodated in one carriage, Jet and June in another, Joe and melody in another, and Emma and Sir George in the last one.

"Carrie Ann, what do you think that the evil guy is doing to Francoise?" Ralphy asked. The only reason that the children were allowed to accompany Joe was because they simply couldn't leave them in the palace. Joe feared for their safety, and after all the king was a little too nervous to take care of children.

"The evil guy is Scarl, and I don't know. It has to be really horrible though. Otherwise we wouldn't have a witch involved though." Answered Tommy grimacing at his own conclusion. Carrie Ann didn't mind that Tommy had answered in her place in fact she was glad, she felt something was going terribly wrong.

With Melody and Joe

Melody sat silently starring at Joe at the corner of her eye. She went back to her thoughts. The journey would be long and hard she knew. After all she had foreseen it. Her place in the mission would be kept secret, she had ensured it.

With Jet and June

June felt very uncomfortable, how did she caught up in this mess? Something else was troubling her though, not just the princess being in danger. She felt very unconfortable being in the same carriage as Jet. Something caused her to have a terrible feeling in her stomach, something that gave her the creeps. This wouldn't be easy, but she wanted to help. She wanted to help the kingdom but she possesd no magic. She was only the cook's daughter.

"Hey June, you all right?" June turned to look at a worried jet and with a fake laugh she responded, "No nothing, why would you say that?"

"You turned pale all of a sudden and then you seemed distant."

"It's just the worry for the princess, I'm sure." Said June lying and feeling very guilty about it. It seemed that something was going to happen. What they didn't know though was that it already was happening and there was nothing they could do to stop it.

In Mount Olympus.....

"Athena, things are not faring well..." Said Aries sadly as he looked on the rescuing crew. "Yes I know, but there is nothing we can do."

"Sadly enough, there is nothing they will be able to do against Scarl. They are weaklings. "Athena came to look at the Apollo who was in the corner.

"Do not say such things, brother." Responded Artemis with a grim look on her face.

"Yes you are right Aretemis, but I am actually in anger." Artemis shot Athena a puzzled look. "Anger, what is the mean of that?"

"I am still disgusted that my brother Aries likes to see such warfare."

"Wars is the only way humans can decide who will rule and conquer sister, do not turn your back on the logical."

"I agree with Aries; said Apollo, War is the only way."

Athena and Artemis looked at each other and both said after a pause, "Men."

Back with the carriages

"Princess, where will we go from New Port?" Sir George asked a distant Emma. During the ride she hadn't spoken at all. Her silence etched fear in the knight's face. "We will cross Hallow River, and then we should come across Specter Mountain. After that we will decode a secret opening that will lead to Scarl's lair." Emma said in a monotone voice much to Sir George dismay.

Emma barely had the strength to lift herself; she hid her weakness of course. The reason that she had hesitated to tell her brother of her abilities to communicate with the princess was because it would take up her energy.

Emma felt drowsy and was about to face when she felt a cool hand on her neck. "Princess, you're burning up. Why didn't you tell me?" She recognized the voice as Sir George's and smiled. "It was the communication link; I'll be fine after a little nap..." Emma instantly fell asleep leaning on Sir George's shoulder.

None of them knew the terrible secret that Emma kept, and if Emma could help it no one would ever know. Emma was slowly but steadily dying.