Yay! Back on semi-regular updating schedual! I'd like to thank you all for being patient through my time of great sickness. I had almost forgotten what being healthy felt like. Now I have a shwack of homework to do, but hey! that's what the weekend's for, right?

fell4adeadguy: yup. :c)

TrudiRose: Next chapter for you!

AriellaCinderella: I don't know. Claire's poopy. I guess when you have everything, some people just want more.

Sirenic Griffin: :cD Thanks for the well wishes. Ugh, that was so gross. And now I have about a weeks of homework to do. XcP

mistyqueen: Here you go!

ErishkagalGirl: Meh. Sorry. And your name is really really cool, especially now I know the meaning.

Elven Heart: Yeah, probably. But sometimes Lia doesn't want to do what I want her to do.

UruvielTinuviel: Yay for Lark! And I think next chapter or the chapter after you find out where Lark keeps going to.

I'll be away all of Saturday, so I'll try and get the next chapter done and up by Friday night. If that doesn't happen, it'll be up Sunday morning.

Keep on Truckin'!

-Lulai

Chapter Twelve: Back to the Castle

Lia had to will her legs to hold her up as the front gate was lowered. What was she doing here? She should never have come. She should have stayed at her little cottage with her garden, her youth, and Robbie. Robbie!

Lia craned her neck around the armoured soldier's green surcoat to see Robbie slumped over the other soldier's shoulders like a bag of wheat. He seemed to be having difficulties because of Robbie's height, for he was muttering some of the worst curses Lia had ever heard.

"Paterick!" the soldier pushing Lia along shouted. "Wha' is yer problem?"

"This lug's heavier than an ox," the second soldier shouted back angrily. "Why didna I git tha girl, and ye carry this sack o' bricks?"

"Cause I'm a rank above ye," the first soldier replied. "Move, Princess," he growled, pushing her so hard she stumbled. Luckily she caught her balance before she went face first into the moat.

As she was marched down the hallway to the throne room, Lia noted that all the soldiers' surcoats were the same emerald green. It was confusing. Where were her father's soldiers' yellow coats?

They came to a split in the hallway. Paterick, still carrying Robbie (and still swearing) turned off to the left. Lia was pushed towards the right hallway.

"No!" she said, digging her heels into the ground. "Where are you taking Robbie?"

"Just t'his room," the first soldier said with an evil grin.

"But there are no rooms over there, just the…" Lia's mouth dropped open as the layout of the castle came back to her. "Just the dungeon!" she finished. The soldier began to push her again. She renewed her attempts of escape.

"Let me go! I forbid you to take him to the dungeon!" Lia was sliding backward, towards the throne room, away from Robbie, but she took a perverse sense of pride in the fact that she was making the soldier work for it.

"Ye forget, Princess, who gives tha orders aroun' here," he said angrily. He finally became fed up with Lia's protestations and grabbed her waist, hoisting her over his shoulder much like Robbie was.

Lia kicked at his chest and banged on his back, butshe did not even denthis armour and it just managed to hurt her hands.

"Put me down!" she yelled.

She stopped yelling when she saw the portraits of her ancestors that lined the walls. The portraits were positioned right outside the throne room. She scowled. As much as she didn't want to see her sister, if it was inevitable, she at least didn't want to be carried in rump first.

"Please put me down?" Lia pleaded.

"An' what would make me wanna do tha', Princess?" the soldier said.

"I'll behave," she muttered, "I promise."

The soldier gave her a distrustful look, but acquiesced with her demand. She was lowered to her feet. She took a deep breath, and straightened her shoulders as much as she could with her hands still tied in front of her. She lifted her chin to the proper angle and let the soldiers open the door for her.

"Announcing Annalia Fer Drewery," the herald boomed. Lia stood in front of the dais and looked on her sister for the first time in two years.

Princess, or Queen, Clarissa Fer Drewery was as beautiful as she had been the day that Lia had left two years earlier. She wore another velvet dress of deep forest green and her hair was done up in an intricate style, pinned in place with the gold and emerald barrette that she had worn the night of the ball. On top of her golden head was a heavily jewelled golden tiara.

"Ah, sister," Claire said. Her voice was sweet but Lia could hear the underlying mockery. "You are looking… young."

"Thank you, Claire," Lia responded in the same tone. "You are looking well too."

Claire laughed, a small tinkling laugh that was as beautiful as the rest of her. The entire court, who coloured the walls with their peacock clothes, laughed with her. One of them caught the corner of her eye, but she wasn't about to take her sight off of her sister.

"Still the same old Lia," said Claire. "Or perhaps, the same young Lia?" She laughed again.

"Where is Father?" Lia demanded of Claire.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk," Claire clucked, wagging a perfectly manicured finger at Lia. "So impatient. Not even a moment to spare for your dear sister?" She spoke this last to the audience, and then lowered her voice to a stage whisper. "I'm sure he's around somewhere," she said, leaning towards Lia.

Lia could feel her face starting to flame at the court's laughter. Claire gave her an insincere smile.

"You looked tired, sister," she said. She waved her hand with a mighty gesture. A chair slid out from the wings to stop behind Lia's knees.

"Sit," she said with another wave of her hand. Lia fought the pressure on her shoulders with all her might. A slight frown began to wrinkle in between Claire's perfect brows.

Lia gasped for air as little black dots appeared before her eyes. The pressure became too much and she had to sit down or pass out.

"There," Claire said, smiling again. "Comfortable?"

Lia just glared at her sister.

"Now then, what to do with you." Claire mused for a few minutes, pursing her lips and tapping her finger on her chin dramatically, trying to look thoughtful. Lia thought she looked ridiculous.

"You've been able to break my one curse," she said, "and I don't really feel like putting another one on. Much too taxing. I might get a wrinkle. Besides, I think I'd like to keep you where I can keep an eye on you."

Claire motioned to the doors. "Guards! Take the Princess to the Southern Tower and lock her in! Make sure she's guarded at all times!"

The soldier who had lugged her in stepped halfway into the courtroom and bowed.

"Yes, yer majesty." With that he took Lia's arms and lead her off.

"Good bye, Lia," Claire waved insultingly at her. "I hope to talk to you again soon." Then the doors shut with a soft boom that echoed down the hall.

Lia allowed herself to be lead up into the small tower, where the ropes tying her hands were cut. She was shoved roughly into the little room. Lia looked around. It seemed that Claire had moved all of Lia's furniture into the tower. She promptly collapsed on the bed.

I will not cry, I will not cry, she chanted to herself, burying her head in a pillow. Despite her mantra, a small sob escaped her lips.

"Aw, donna cry, Lia-bean."

Lia looked up. She would recognize that voice anywhere.

"Guthra?" She looked around the room, but saw nothing but her furniture.

"Yes, ova here!"

Lia climbed off the bed and began inspecting the room. "This isn't the time for games," Lia said with a sniffle. "Where are you?"

"Look at yer dresser," Guthra said.

Lia went over to her white dressing table and sat down in the chair. Guthra's face suddenly appeared in the mirror, causing Lia to jerk back andalmost tip her chair over. She regained her balance and pulled the chair closer to the dresser.

"Guthra?" she asked, running her fingers over the mirror. It felt like glass, but there was no mistaking Guthra's face on it. "What happened?"

"Well," Guthra said with a sigh, "after ye left, Clarissa began t'get rid o' everybody who stood in her way ta tha throne. Those closest ta ye were first. She tried ta turn us inta inanimate objects! Unfortunately, she still was a littl' unpractised. We ended up like this, inanimate, but alive an' knowin'. By tha time she got aroun' ta tha soldiers, she was better. She just shunted all us halfies up here in the towers."

Lia listened intently. "Do you know where my father is?" she asked.

"Nay," Guthra answered with a shake of her… head? "But he was one o' tha earlier ones, so I'd imagine he'd be here in a tower."

"Thank you, Guthra," she said. She really wanted to hug her old nurse, but she wasn't quite sure how to hug a mirror, or if Guthra would even feel it.

"Now, I need to get out and find Robbie before they torture him, or something," Lia said with a worried frown.

"Robbie?" Guthra asked.

"He's… um… my… uh…," Lia stammered, feeling her ears grow hot.

"Oooh," Guthra crooned with a knowing look.

"Stop that," she said, blushing furiously.

"Stop wha'?" Guthra asked innocently.

"You know what I'm talking about," she said with a feirce frown.

"No idea," Guthra protested.

"Insinuating... well... you know," Lia waved her hand, but trailed off. "Robbie's not like that."

She cast a loving gaze on Lia. "What's he like?"

"He's nothing like what I thought my prince was going to be like," she said with a happy sigh. "He's not even royalty. But he's kind, and generous, and intelligent, and as stubborn as I am."

"Sounds like a good match to me," Guthra said with a happy smile. "Here's what I suggest you do to get out of here."