Once again thank you to my reviewers. I'm not too thrilled by this chapter, mostly because there's really nothing to it. I didn't really get to add anything or anything like that, but here it is nonetheless. I hope you enjoy it! - MKR

Chapter 8: Celebrating Sarah's Return

[Albert's castle. He's standing at the window, looking outside. Frank is with him, eating]

Albert: [sighs] No sign of her yet, Frank.

Frank: 'course not. Good half hour 'till sunset. [takes a bite] Ah, excellent bird! [looks at Albert] Oh now, come on, wake up, battle's over, girl's as good as here.

Albert: I'm sorry, Frank, but after sixteen years of worrying, never knowing ...

Frank: The past, all in the past. [claps his hands. The Lackey arrives with a bottle of wine] Tonight, we toast to future with something I've been saving for sixteen years. [fills two glasses] Here, to the future!

Albert: Right, Frank, to the future!

Frank: Skumps!

Albert: Skumps!

Frank: A toast to this night

Albert: The outlook is rosy

Frank: The future is bright

Both: Our children will marry
Our kingdoms unite
Skumps, Skumps, Skumps!

Frank: Ah, excellent vintage. And now, to the new home, eh?

Albert: New home?

Frank: Children need a nest of their own, what? Place to raise their little brood, eh?

Albert: Well, I suppose in time ...

Frank: Of course. To the home! Skumps!

Albert: Skumps!

Frank: A toast to the home

Albert: One grander by far than
a palace in Rome

Frank: Let me fill up your glass, That glass was all foam.

Both: Skumps, Skumps, Skumps!

Frank: [claps his hands] The plans! [servant holds a castle's plan in front of Albert face] Well, what do you think? Nothing elaborate, of course. Forty bedrooms, Dining hall, Honeymoon cottage, really.

Albert: You mean you're building it already?

Frank: Built man!? Finished. The love-birds can move in tomorrow.

Albert: Tomorrow? But Frank, they're not even married yet.

Frank: Take care of that tonight. To the wedding!

Albert: Now hold on, Frank. I haven't even seen my daughter yet, and you're taking her away from me.

Frank: Getting my Harmon aren't you?

Albert: Yes, but ...

Frank: Want to see our grandchildren, don't we?

Albert: Of course, but ...

Frank: There's no time to lose! Getting on in years. To the wedding!

Albert: Now be reasonable, Frank. After all, Sarah knows nothing about this.

Frank: Well?

Albert: Well, it may come as quite a shock ...

Frank: Shock? My Harmon a shock? [angry] What's wrong with my Harmon?

Albert: Nothing, Frank. I only meant ...

Frank: Why, doesn't your daughter like my son?

Albert: Now, now ... I'm not so sure your son likes my daughter!

Frank: Now, see here ... I'm not so sure my grandchildren want You for a grandfather!

Albert: Why, you unreasonable, pompous, blustering, old windbag!

Frank: Unreasonable, pompous ... [grabs a fish and holds it like a sword] En garde, sir!

Albert: I warn you, Frank, this means war. [uses a plate as a shield]

[they start to fight, fish against plate. then abruptly break into laughter]

Frank: What's this all about anyway?

Albert: Nothing Frank, absolutely nothing.

Frank: The children are bound to fall in love with each other.

Albert: Precisely. And as for grandchildren, I'll have the royal woodcarvers start work on the cradle tomorrow.

Frank: Splendid! King size, of course.

Albert: Certainly. To the woodcarver's guild!

[we hear an announcement outside]

Announcer: His royal highness, Prince Harmon

Frank: Harmon? [runs downward to meet him]

[Before the castle. Harmon arrives on his horse]

Frank: Harmon! Harmon! Harmon, hold, Harmon! [Harmon holds, Frank runs to him] Hurry, boy, hurry, and change in something suitable. Can't meet your future bride looking like that.

Harmon: Well, I have met her, father.

Frank: You have? where?

Harmon: Once upon a dream. [starts to sing, lifts his father and starts to dance with him]

Frank: Oh Harmon, stop it, stop that, why, Harmon, Put me down! [Harmon puts him down] Now, what's all this dream nonsense?

Harmon: It wasn't a dream, father. I really did meet her!

Frank: Princess Sarah? Good heavens, we must tell Albert! Why this is the most ...

Harmon: I didn't say it was Sarah.

Frank: You most certainly did, you said ...

Harmon: I said I met the girl I was going to marry. I don't know who she was, a peasant girl I suppose.

Frank: A peasant g-g-girl? You're going to marry a ... Why Harmon, you're joking! [to Kip] isn't he? [Kip shakes his head] You can't do this to me! Give up the throne, the kingdom, for some, some nobody? By Harry, I won't have it. You're a prince, and you're going to marry a princess!

Harmon: Hold on a sec. Who's Harry? Never mind. Father, you're living in the past. This is the fourteenth century. Nowadays ...

Frank: Nowadays I'm still the king, and I command you to come to your senses.

Harmon: ... and marry the girl I love.

Frank: Exactly!

Harmon: Goodbye, father! [rides off]

Frank: Goodbye, father! Marry the girl you ... No, no, Harmon, stop, come back, hold, Harmon! Harmon! Oh, how will I ever tell Albert?