A/N Here is chapter 5! I don't know much about horses so I hope my stuff is as accurate as it can be. Read on and enjoy!

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As promised, ten minutes later, Clarisse and Mia met in the foyer. Clarisse was dressed in a traditional riding outfit with the addition of a heavy coat and scarf. Mia was of course, wearing jeans and a parka.

"Hey Grandma, is it just going to be the two of us?"

"Indeed it will be."

"Good. Having a guard following is annoying." They ventured out to the stables where two horses were already saddled and waiting. One was a roan colored mare and a tall black gelding.

"This is Anabelle." Said Clarisse, motioning to the mare. "And this is BlackJack. You have been on a horse before?"

"A few times."

"Well good at least you know how to get on. Up you go." Mia did as she was told as Clarisse mounted the gelding. "My very first horse was his great grandmother. My father gave her to me when I was five." They started heading out into the wintery sunshine.

"You learned to ride when you were five?"

"Yes. It was an important skill for a future Queen to have."

"But at five?"

"Well I was betrothed at birth to your grandfather" Mia gave a giggle. "What?"

"Sorry. I just had a weird picture of two babies walking down the isle."

"Very funny. We were much older when the actual wedding came about. I was your age actually."

"Yikes. I'll pass thanks." As they continued on towards the forest, neither noticed the large black cloud looming behind them.

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The storm came up so fast with wind so fierce, both Mia and Clarisse were unable to react. Visibility became zero and the two were cut off from each other.

"Grandma!?"

"Mia? Where are you?!"

"Over here!"

"Over where?"

"From the sounds of it, to your left!" Mia didn't hear anything. "Grandma?!" A dead tree limb crashed to the ground behind them. BlackJack neighed in terror. "GRANDMA!" There was no answer. Mia called out again frantically. "GRANDMA!!!!! WHERE ARE YOU!!"

"Over here." Came a weak voice. "Blackie got scared and threw me." Mia jumped off her horse and went as fast as she could in the direction of Clarisse's voice. Mia found her sitting in the snow. "My God!"

"Relax, I'm alright." She looked around. Please tell me you didn't get off Bella." She sighed at the obvious answer. Clarisse stood up. "Come on. The horses will be on their way back to the stables. Lets see if we can find our way too." She took Mia's hand and they set off in the way they had come.

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As they walked, the blowing snow stung their faces.

"Grandma, where are we?" Mia called.

"I really wish I knew. I don't recognize anything. All we can do is keep walking."

"Its getting dark."

"I know. We just can't stop walking."

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Back at the palace, a near frantic Charlotte approached Joe.

"Sir, her Majesty and her Highness have been gone nearly three hours and the storm is getting much worse."

"Damn. Well keep me posted. If they don't show up in the next half hour, send out a search party."

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The snow, deep to begin with, was now getting hard to walk in.

"I'm so cold."

"I know Mia. I'm freezing as well but we can't stop walking." Stumbling a bit, Clarisse thought to herself, "We cannot give up. We mustn't give up."

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"Sir, the horses have returned."

"Good. I swear if she wasn't Queen..."

"Joe." Charlotte paused. "They were riderless."

"Dear God. Call out all guards and all available able-bodied men. I want the forest combed and check all bodies of water for holes in the ice just in case. They need to be found NOW. The thermometer shows about ten degrees below zero. They would freeze by morning."

"Yes, of course." Charlotte ran off.

"And Charlotte?"

"Yes?"

"Alert the bishop. Just in case"

"Right." Joe crossed himself and said a small prayer.

"Please, save them. It is all I ask."

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A/N o0o0o0o cliffhanger sort of. Thanks everyone who reviewed!

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