Chapter 1 the attack.

"You men take the kings quarters kill them as they sleep!"  Sedric the dark shouted to his men as they swarmed through the now lowered drawbridge.

"Aye Lord."  The General of the Army shouted gleefully as he thought of the plunder and fortune held with in these rich walls.

"You two find the children and bring them to me, the rest die where they stand!"  Sedric shouted to another group of his followers.

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"Hurry they're coming."  The Queen said shutting her door and bolting it even as she knew it would not be enough to keep the invaders out.  "Take the girls

to Lord Samuel he'll protect them with his life.  The queen told her most trusted man and then she looked to her daughters.  They looked so innocent, Prudence with her long dark hair covered by a black cloak.  Piper with her petite frame garbed in a matching cloak which dwarfed her completely.  The there was her little Pheona, her soft blonde curls hanging free as she struggled to put the cloak on little Paige."  Patience knew that more than likely this would be the last time she'd ever see her girls alive and she just preyed that they'd all reach safety before it was too late."

"Aye highness."  The soldier was replying.

"Now Prudence look after Piper, Pheona, and Paige."  Prudence nodded at her mother and leaned forward saying.

"Aye mama."  And then she pulled back and watched as their mother hurriedly hugged her sisters.

"Girls, you listen to your big sister alright?"  The queen asked and the girls nodded. "And No matter what you have to stick together."  She told them

and even little Paige nodded bravely although her lower lip trembled in confused fear.  The four year old knew only that she'd never ever see her Mama again and that scared her so badly she wanted to curl up under her skirts and hide from everything.  Still Paige knew that if her sisters could be brave so could she.

"Aye ma'am."  She echoed the other two girls.

"Pheona?"  Patients spoke directly to her most wild of children.

"Aye?"  The seven year old replied meeting her eye even as she pulled on her cloak.

"Hold Paige's hand and don't let go do you hear me…"  She broke off as the footfalls stopped just beyond the door.  Turning back to her children her face white with fear and strain she pushed them towards the hidden panel located behind the tapestry of animals grazing in a meadow.

"Go!"  She shouted as the panel was slammed shut.

"Hurry children there's not much time!"  The soldier shouted and they were moving as fast as they could down the torch lit staircase towards the dungeon.

"Pheona hurry!"  Prudence shouted to her sister as she ran with Piper and Pheona carried Paige.

"Come…" the soldier shouted as he saw the stairs above lit with more light.  Pheona stumbled as she tried to hold onto Paige and yet run.  She knew she'd

not be able to in her cloak and so called to her sister.

"Prudence take her I can't keep up."  And Prudence took the youngest of her sisters and then they were all running once more.

There was a shout and then the soldier was falling.  Piper screamed and Prudence hoisted Paige higher as she kept running.

What…"  Pheona asked looking back as she realized just what had happened.

And then they were on her and Pheona was screaming as she was picked up and Paige cried out.

"Pheona!"

"Come on girls we have to move faster or they'll be on us."  Prudence told her sisters who looked at her.

"No we have to go back and get her!"  Piper argued even as Prudence shook her head and dragged her along.

"No there's not time!"  Prudence told her as the passage opened into the dungeon and then Piper was pulling away.

"But we   can not just leave our sister, Mother said to…"  She was saying and Prudence knew there was only one way to get Piper to move.

"She's already dead and so shall we all be if you hinder us any more Piper."  She told her harshly and again grabbed her arm as she dragged her after her.

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"My Lord riders are at the gate saying they have been sent by King Victor."  A Paige said as he approached Lord Samuel at table in the great hall.

"It is late show them to guest quarters and I shall talk to them on the morrow."  The nobleman said picking at the last of his food, the day had been long

and tedious and he didn't exactly feel like entertaining his step brother's men.

"Aye my Lord."  Lord Samuel turned back to his long time friend.

"I understand this news you have brought me but I tell you we must not take action against the Duke, we have not the proof that what Winterford has said

is the truth."  The Lord of the manner said and the younger man sighed grimly.

"But if he is planning to take the king and…"  He pointed out.

"Nay!  Nay, I must speak to his Lordship!"  Came the shouts breaking the relative peace of the main hall.

"Here now what is this disturbance?"  Lord Samuel asked and one or his men was trying to drag out the intruder.

"I'm sorry my Lord but…"  The soldier began and was kicked in a shin by the hooded figure.

"It is alright but I ask again what has happened that you bring such a commotion?"  Lord Samuel asked.

"It is your half brother my Lord, the Duke's men took the palace and…"  The voice wavered and Lord Samuel moved forward to see just who this intruder happened

to be.

"Remove your cloak good messenger."  With out any extra moves it was done revealing a tall dark haired young woman.

"Prudence."

"Hello uncle."  She said and he could see that she was near to exhausted and was pulling her to a bench even as he demanded.

"Your mother?"

"Dead as is father no doubt."  She replied and he nodded.

"What of your sisters?"  He asked sitting on the edge of the bench beside her.

"I have both Piper and Paige but…"

"Pheona?"

"They grabbed her and…"

"You left your sister behind?" He asked trying to understand just what had happened.

"Aye uncle, they had already grabbed her and I had not a weapon to fight then."  Prudence said looking at her tattered cloak adding.  "I still had to get Piper and Paige to safety so…"  Prudence's voice trailed off and she wished she could have done something, although Pheona was a little wild she still loved her.  Leaving her had been so hard…

"Where are the others?"

"Here uncle."   Came another voice and he looked up to see both children standing not five feet away from them now.  Both looked just as disheveled as Prudence and He motioned to both girls to sit on with them.

"You are not hurt?"  He asked the group at large.  When he was met by shakes of heads he nodded and called out to a passing servant.  "Larissa take the girls to the old nursery and settled them in for the night, Bernard dispatch three messengers to the others and summon the men."

"Aye my Lord."  The forgotten soldier nodded and went to do so post haste.

TBC

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What do you think?  PLZ R&R.