Chapter Seven

Mimi took care where she placed each foot on the slim coated rocks which, after entering the water, were no longer gold but a slippery green that blended well with the water. Her left hand was extended infront of her and clasped tightly in Matt's where he lead single file and could make sure that she didn't miss a turn and fall into the water on spikes cleverly hidden beneath the lake surface and surrounded by a seaweed-like plant that would entangle you if you were lucky (or unlucky) enough to miss being impaled. The path, which had seemed straight when seen from the lake shore, had many twists and semicircle turns that from her point of view appeared to be an absolute waste of time and if it hadn't been for the walking stick in Matt's other hand which he used as a probe to find where the stones were, they would have found themselves drowned or speared many a time over.

Mimi had tried to hold her dress up to keep it from getting wet when she'd first stepped into the water, but had abandoned the effort and was now soaked almost to the waist from when one of the stones had rolled out from beneath her foot and she'd fell, bringing Matt down with her and almost causing them both to go over. Her cheeks still burned with the shame of her clumsiness and she felt sorry for Matt as he was obviously trying to keep his legs as far away from each other as possible when he walked to avoid as much contact between skin and wet jeans as possible.

She cautiously spared a glance from the path when the water began to fall from her knees to her ankles to find that they were just steps away from the rocky island.

"We're almost there." Matt informed her needlessly. Incase there were anymore obstacles just waiting for her to misstep she looked back down at her feet and continued to place them carefully on solid stone. Another few strides and they were standing fully on dry ground. Matt looked back and whistled in admiration.

"What?" Mimi asked, wondering what about the detestable path was worth any sort of admiration.

"If I hadn't have gotten that stick, we'd be dead right now." He answered, still looking at the lake shore, the path once again looking like a straight golden arrow without any hint of it's deadly intent and the evil it seemed to represent.

"And you find that admirable?" She inquired, lifting an eyebrow. Matt turned to her.

"Can't you see…? It's a defense, anyone who tries to follow that path without something to probe infront of them will probably fall into the water on the first turn!" Mimi's eyes widened as she finally began to understand why someone had gone through so much trouble to make the path so twisting and began to admire the genius of it herself. "Now if I were the one constructing this, I'd place spikes all around the island so that nothing swimming in the water could get near enough to be a threat." A few quick strides found him several yards away at the water's edge peering down into the murky water. A triumphant smile stretched his mouth and he looked back over at her, eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Lets go see what's inside." Mimi said, hugging her arms tightly about herself as if she were cold in a small attempt to make herself feel safe. Palmon looked up at her as they began to follow Matt and Gabumon up the steps that led to the gates of the Castle.

"Is something wrong Mimi?" She asked, her large green eyes filled with worry and Mimi suddenly felt guilty when she thought of how she hadn't paid much attention to her Digimon friend since she'd left the group.

"I'm just scared of what might be in there." She admitted reluctantly, looking away from Palmon in humiliation, uncomfortable at admitting to being afraid.

"You don't need to worry Mimi, I'll protect you." Palmon reassured her confidently, turning to look where she was going and smiling as if those words could banish all her fears.

"Yes…but who'll protect you?" Mimi mumbled softly to herself, rubbing her hands up and down her arms to banish the unexpected chill that had settled at the core of her being.

"What?" Palmon frowned and looked back up at her. Mimi forced a smile for her friend's sake.

"Nothing, I know you will Palmon." Then she fell silent and quickened her step to bring herself as close to Matt as she could without them actually touching, him seeming more than happy to point out all the defensive advantages of the castle.

"See those." He explained, pointing to large, grated holes in the stoned ceiling. "Those are murder holes, in a siege the people who man them pour hot oil or other things down on the people trying to get in." Then he'd turn to something else. "See the slits in the wall there? Those are for crossbows, whoever the oil doesn't disable are shot full of arrows! Probably only half an army trying to force themselves in will make it to the gate. Oh! And look! That's a-"

"Can you please not tell me this at the moment." She interrupted before he could clarify anything else. "Considering the position we're in and all." Matt turned around and for the first time realized that she wasn't at all excited about exploring the place. He noticed also that her knuckles were turning white where they held her upper arms in a death grip.

"Mimi…? Are you okay?" He asked, taking a step towards her; she looked down at the floor before answering.

"I'm fine… it's just that I don't really want to think about how in any another situation someone could be doing those things to us." She replied weakly.

"Oh…" They continued down the hall in silence, Mimi forcing herself to ignore the slits in the walls and the grated holes in the ceiling that followed them all the way until they saw a black gate, its large spikes facing each other threateningly, giving no allusions as to its intentional function. Mimi stopped and grabbed Matt's hand, a sudden overwhelming terror gripping her stomach and twisting it unmercifully.

"Matt, we can't go in there!" He'd turned to look at her, his brow creased in confusion, when a soft, childish giggle echoed to them and Mimi sucked her breath in sharply, managing not to scream only because she was to paralyzed with panic to even breathe beyond that first gasp she seemed unable to release.

"Who's there!?" Matt demanded, prying his hand loose from Mimi's desperate grasp and raising the stick he still held, fingers clasped tightly around the larger end to brandish it as though it were a worthy weapon.

The sound of many feet hitting the stone floor caused Mimi and Matt to turn in concert, to find a group of strange, lean people in various colors of clothing that were all in the same style standing at attention in the hall they had just passed. Wondering where they'd come from, Mimi glanced up to see the grates on the murder holes removed to reveal nothing but gaping black eyes.

The giggling sound came again and they turned to see two female children and one that looked about sixteen standing at the entrance to the gate. Obviously related, the smallest one had light violet, almost lavender hair that was braided over one shoulder with large, dark blue eyes that seemed unnaturally large on the innocent face, her lips stretched in a friendly yet amused smile. She giggled again. The other girl, taller and seeming the older sister, had light gray, almost silver eyes and straight purple hair that was up in a ponytail at the top of her head, causing a half fountain effect. Her small, white hands rested on the smaller child's shoulder's in a protective gesture. The oldest girl looked something like the others but there was a difference in the face and eyes that was noticeably different from the children. She had wavy hair, black as sin that she let fall freely down her back, ice blue eyes that sparkled like gems fringed with long, dark lashes, her face was small and triangular, but soft enough to almost appear rounded, and her lips were a soft shade of natural coral.

"Be welcomed to the Castle of Dreams Children of Sincerity and Friendship, we have long anticipated your arrival." She bowed with great formality, her long, sapphire robe rippling like water with her movements. "Accompanying me are Princess Tarisha," She said, gesturing to the small, lavender haired girl, "and Princess Raena, daughters of King Jon and Queen Daenerys." She paused long enough to let the names sink in then, placing a delicate, long fingered hand just above her breasts, went on to introduce herself, her voice low and sensual, echoing perfectly in the stone hallway. "I am Lyanna, daughter of the Lord Vylarion of the Ice Castle to the north and the Princess Kathrael, third daughter of King Jathrel of the Lands Beyond the Mist. I've been appointed as envoy and have assembled an honor escort, I'm sorry if they startled you, If you'll please follow me, I'll lead the way to the Audience Chamber where the Queen awaits your coming."

*****

Sora stirred restlessly, lifting her head off her shoulder and flinching from a sharp pain in her neck where it had sat for an unknown amount of time at an awkward angle. She stiffened quickly as the pat of footfall sounded faintly from under the door which was suddenly awash with light that pierced the darkness painfully as she heard the soft creak of a door. The footsteps grew louder.

She brought her knees up to her chest and suppress a whimper. Feeling like a cornered animal and knowing in the back of her mind that she should be thinking of ways to escape, but she was so drowned in hopelessness that even her usually rational side was smothered under the weight. A figure moved and blocked half of the light coming in from under the heavy wooden door, paused a moment, then slowly twisted the one sided knob and swung the door open.

At first the wash of light was so blinding to Sora who had grown accustomed to the darkness that she could only squint her eyes. But as they slowly adjusted to the brightness, she saw that the figure was female, a few seconds later and she made out the details of a short pink dress that revealed so much skin that she found herself blushing. She blinked a couple of times and the face came into view. The first thing she saw was the large, strangely familiar green eyes that held her captured in their emerald depth as a terror so overwhelming she couldn't begin to control raced through her. She realized where she'd seen those eyes before and a scream savagely tore it's way from her throat, making her ears ring as she curled in on her self and closed her eyes to block out the visions, but the sinister eyes and smile danced wildly inside her minds eye, laughing at her fear as she slipped quickly into unconsciousness.