A/n: I know, I know. I'm way overdue for an update. Anyway, this is a great chapter. One I truly enjoy. Review!

Chapter Seventeen

"Come on!" Sam cried as soon as Nora disappeared from sight, running from the brush. "Come on, get out of there!"

Tom, Jocelyn, Chaz, Ophelia, and Mac tumbled from the brush, stood up, and began brushing themselves off. "Now what?" Tom said. "What are our plans?"

"Don't you listen?" Mac replied, hitting Tom's leg with his stick. "This is important, Tom!"

"Dear Lady, I was only kidding around, Mac," he replied, rubbing his shins.

"Right," Sam said, taking charge. "Sidney and I are going to the Frellian Court. We're going to talk to Queen Ella and King Char."

"I'm going to March," Ophelia said, " with Jocelyn, to get Estelle, Ginny, and Allegra."

"And us three," Chaz said, indicating himself, Mac, and Tom, "are to follow Nora and find out as much information as possible about her captors and their castle."

"Yes," Sam said. "That's just about it. We should go as soon as possible, and meet up right here in two days."

Ophelia gasped, and her eyes filled with tears. She was the first to realize this may be the last time they all see each other. Slowly, grateful handshakes and tearful hugs were given, mutual respect all around.

"Sidney," Ophelia whispered in his ear as they hugged. "Thank you."

He pulled away and looked at her. "For what?" he said, frowning.

"Everything," she replied.

"Come on, Sidney!" Sam called from atop his horse. "Chaz, you too!"

Chaz gave Jocelyn a final kiss and mounted his horse next to Sam. "Are you courting my sister?" Sam asked suspiciously.

Chaz shook his head. "No, mate," he replied. "I'm going to marry your sister."

And with that, he took off with Mac and Tom, galloping in the direction Nora had gone off on. With a fleeting look back at the two men, Jocelyn and Ophelia went off too, in the opposite direction, determined to make it to March by tomorrow morning. Somehow, Sam knew they'd make it, too. The Lady, of course, would help them.

"Ready?" Sam asked Sidney.

He gulped. "As I'll ever be," he replied. "Have you ever been to court before?"

Sam shook his head. "Of course not," he said. "I'm a gypsy."

Sidney sighed. "You better let me do the talking, then," he said. "They know me there."

"Fine by me," Sam replied. "I can't stand royals."

Sidney laughed. "Except Nora Rose," he cried.

"Hey, shut it," Sam yelled back. "Its not as though you don't have goo-goo eyes for Ophelia."

Sidney shrugged. "I can't deny that," he replied. "And besides, you've got no reason to hate these royals. Queen Ella and King Char are different."

It was morning when they rode up to the castle in Frell. It was a beautiful palace, made of cream stone, and capped with bright red roofs on it's turrets. The moat around it was a sparkling blue, and it's drawbridge was closed shut, with two guards standing at the gatehouse.

"Dear Lady!" Sam cried when he saw it. "That's-that's the most amazing thing I've ever seen!"

Sidney nodded. "It is quite nice," he said.

He noticed the guard. "You, good sir, would you please let us in?" he asked.

The guard laughed. "Not today, boy-o," he replied. "The king and queen are in important talks today, with their advisors. Something's a-brew in Kyrria."

Sidney nodded. "Yes, sir, but I don't think you understand," he explained. "I'm the prince of Ayortha."

The guard laughed again. "Yes, and I'm King Jerrold," he replied.

"No, really-"

"Hey! Ivan! Get a load of this!" the man called up the gatehouse. "This here boy says he's the prince of Ayortha!"

A large, dark haired man peered over the gatehouse's edge. "That's because he is, Marc," he replied.

"Oh, finally a familiar face!" Sidney cried. "Ivan!"

"What?" Marc said.

The dark haired man was instantly down at the ground level, shaking hands with Sidney. "It's wonderful to see you again, Prince Sidney," Ivan said. "What brings you to Frell?"

"I've urgent business with Ella and Char," Sidney said in a hushed tone. "Very urgent."

"Well, I can let you in," Ivan replied. "But you'll have to wait. Today is a very important day for the king and queen. I assume you know why."

"Yes, I do," Sidney explained. "It has to do with such circumstances."

"I see," Ivan said as the portcullis went up. "But you'll have to wait."

About an hour later, Sidney and Sam found themselves seated in a lavish corridor, outside of the king and queen's personal advisory chambers. Both had bathed and been dressed in Frellian finery, and were now awaiting and audience with the king and queen. Sidney sat calmly, his arms folded, completely relaxed. Sam found himself jittery and annoyed, constantly switching positions.

"What's taking so long?" Sam whispered.

"Be patient," Sidney replied. "It could take awhile."

"Awhile? Awhile?" Sam said, his voice rising. "We don't have awhile, Sidney!"

"Keep it down, will you?" Sidney reprimanded, looking around. "You never know who will hear you in these corridors."

Sam folded his arms and continued to jiggle his leg. He had no idea what was going on, where Nora was, how she was feeling. He was anxious to see her, there was no doubt about it. Sam felt an instant connection with Nora from the moment he met her.

"I'm sorry Sidney," Sam suddenly said, standing up. "But I just don't think I can do this your way."

"What? What are you doing, Sam?" Sidney cried.

Sam shrugged and pushed the double doors, which opened up to a warm hall decorated with plush jewel-toned velvets and smartly-dressed people. At the end of the hall sat two people, seated at a table, surrounded by men holding maps, books, and parchments.

"What in the Lady's name is going on?" said the man with the crown on his head.

Must be King Charmont, Sam thought. His hair was tawny and curly, and his face was boyish and jaunty. He was dressed finely, but definitely angry. Next to him sat a beautiful young woman, with dark straight hair and dark, sympathizing eyes. Her face was also contorted into a frown.

"King Charmont, Queen Eleanor-" Sam said, charging down the center of the hall and bowing as deeply as possible.

"Guards! Get this man out of here!" Char called.

Three men instantly moved to Sam, grabbing his arms and torso, pulling him from the room. "No!" he screamed. "No, you don't understand! I bear news of your daughter!"

"Silence!" Char cried. "You talk madly, sir!"

"The Princess Nora Rose, your majesties!" Sam yelled, struggling with the guards. "The fairy Lucinda has her!"

Silence hung in the air for a moment. "Guards, please!" Ella finally said, standing up and putting out her hand. "Let him explain himself. Come closer, lad. What is your name?"

Sam pulled himself free from the guards and approached her. "Samuel Havanara, of the Habblah tribe, your majesty," he replied. "I-I've been traveling with your daughter for about two weeks now. We were on our way to Frell, but she's been captured by the fairy Lucinda."

"How can we be so sure of your tale, Samuel Havanara of the Habblah tribe?" Ella asked.

"You?" Char asked, raising an eyebrow. "Traveling with my daughter? Was there a chaperone?"

"Well, no, your majesty," Sam replied. "But there was more than just me. We'd collected quite a group. In fact… Sidney!"

A blond head popped in from behind the doors. "Good morning, your majesties," Sidney said innocently. "I…I knew not that you wanted us now."

"Well, nor did we," Char said with a happy chuckle. "Come in, my boy, come in!"

Sidney walked in and bowed. "His story is true," he quickly said. "I was there with him."

The two of them began to tell Char and Ella of Estelle, Ginny, and Allegra's idea, of Nora finding Ophelia in March, and her connection with the Lady. They left out that Sam and Nora were supposedly married, but explained to them his Oderian revenge. They explained the last remaining members of their group and their importance, how, where, and why they'd traveled, and what happened with Nora.

"So, you're saying that Nora allowed herself to be captured, because it was inevitable, and she planned for you to come here and spread the word, so we could save her?" Char finally said.

Sidney nodded. "Yes, your majesty, I believe that's mainly it," he replied.

"That's preposterous," Char exclaimed. "Nora would never-"

"-With all due respect, King Charmont, how would you know what Nora would and wouldn't do?" Sam asked. "You've never spent a moment with her in your life. Not that I blame you for it, but it seems to be that Nora has grown into a completely different girl than you'd expect."

A smile crept across Ella's face. "You know what, Char?" she said. "This boy is absolutely right."

"He is?" Char replied.

"Yes, he is. And I believe every word he said," she said.

"You do?" Char asked.

Ella nodded. "All right, you two, what do you think we should do next?" she asked.

Sam grinned his naughty grin. "Queen Ella, King Char, it's obvious that we have to find Nora's true love," he replied.

"And why is that?" Char asked.

"Because today is her sixteenth birthday," Sidney explained. "Which means last night…"

"She must have pricked her finger," Ella cried, her eyes welling with tears. "Oh Char!"

"Ella, Ella, dear, we knew it was unavoidable," Char replied, comforting her. "Now, it's just a matter of the prince awakening her."

"The prince?" Sam blurted. "Isn't it supposed to be her true love?"

Char nodded. "Her true love," he replied. "Sidney."

Sidney nodded. "Of course, your majesty," he said sternly.

Sam stood dumfounded and emotionless. He didn't know what to think about this "true love" idea. How was the king supposed to know who Nora Rose's true love was?

"Your majesties," a smartly-dressed man said, coming forward. "You've got another visitor."

"Send them in," Char replied, sighing.

The doors opened. Ella screamed. "What are you doing here!?" she cried.

A/n: Ouch. I'm the cliffhanger queen, aren't I? Review!