New chapter. I debated about whether to split this into two chapters, but decided to keep it as one. So, less, but more, in a way. I'll have to make this quick, my ride is coming any minute now.
TrudiRose::cD That'sthe awesomest line. 'Pot, meet kettle.'I laughed out loud when I read that. Thank you. Mush is pretty much my middle name.
Glaze: Mwahahaha! Evil is as evil does. Or something. :c/ Anyway, Amanda was pretty much trying to dig up dirt on all the princesses so that she could discreetly (or not-so-discreetly in her case) tell Aiden, thus boosting her higher on the marriage ladder.
fell4adeadguy: (takes matches away) No. No playing with matches near the TNT.
Tiger Lily21: Don't worry, there willstill be romance on the horizon.I wanted to get a little bit of action in there. I have so many plans. (rubs hands together gleefully.)
Woot! Gotta go!
See you all next update!
-Lulai
Chapter Eleven: Help from the Tower
"Danni? Danni, are you alright?" a worried voice called from above her.
She squeezed her eyes tighter and moaned. "No, I'm dead. Please come back in five minutes."
Aiden chuckled dryly. She would have glared if every bone in her body wasn't feeling bruised. Danni opened her eyes to Aiden lying on top of her. No wonder she was feeling sore.
Convinced that she was okay, Aiden rolled off of her and stood up. He held out his hand and hauled Danni to her feet.
"What hit us?" Danni asked, stretching her back. Sore. She stretched her neck. Sore. Rolled her shoulders. Sore.
"I don't know," Aiden said, his black brows drawn together as he studied the castle. He began to march up the incline but suddenly, his head jerked back as if it had been hit.
"Ow," he said, rubbing his forehead. Danni perversely felt a little better about her own aches now that Aiden had some as well.
"What is it?" Danni called out from where she was standing.
Aiden frowned and put his hands up. "I don't know," he said. "It's as if there is a wall here." He pushed. "A very strong wall."
Danni hiked up her skirts and climbed up beside him. She put her hand out and sure enough, her fingers met a cool smooth surface instead of the air she saw in front of her.
"Who could do this?" Danni asked, feeling the 'wall' in front of her for a crack or a flaw or any other distinguishing feature.
"I have my suspicions," Aiden said grimly. "I just hope that they aren't correct."
KNOW THIS! a voice seemed to boom from all around her. She would have fallen backwards, but Aiden caught her about the waste just in time. I, LORD VARDON FER DREWERY, HAVE CAPTURED THE ROYAL FAMILY AND ALL THE PRINCESSES FROM LANDS AROUND. THE KINGS AND QUEENS OF THESE PRINCESSES ARE TO GIVE UP THE TITLES TO THEIR KINGDOM TO ME, OR I WILL KILL THEIR DAUGHTERS. YOU HAVE ONE WEEK.
"Damn it!" Aiden swore, slamming his fist on the wall.
"Vardon," King Gerald yelled, helping his wife up by the elbow. "What is the meaning of this?"
Vardon smirked at the king from where he stood at the front of the room. He seemed undisturbed by the mess of dishes and food in front of him. "Merely taking my rightful place as king."
"Rightful place?" Theo asked curiously.
Vardon ignored him. "Please, sit, eat." He waved his hand, and the table righted itself and the food made its way back to the plates it was on. Most of the minor lords and ladies did as he bid, sat and resumed their dinner and conversations.
The King's family did not. They remained standing and glared at Vardon. Vardon's lip curled.
"Fine," he said. "If you are going to act like children, I will treat you like children. Go to your rooms."
He waved a hand and the giant doors opened. The family didn't budge.
Vardon's eyes narrowed. "It's your rooms or the dungeon," he said, pointing a finger at the door.
"Let's go, Gerald," Rollo said. "There's nothing we can do."
Gerald looked as though he would have liked to argue, but he drew himself up began escorting his wife out the door.
"One second, Gerald," Vardon said with a smirk. He snapped his fingers and the gold crown that had adorned the king's head now sat upon Vardon's.
Gerald clenched his teeth, but Isabelle drew him out the doors. Vardon's laughter followed after them.
The little group trudged along but when they passed the library, Theo stole Lynn's arm and pulled her into the room.
"Theo!" she exclaimed quietly. "This isn't the time for clandestine meetings."
Theo shushed her. "Although the thought has merit, I'm afraid we'll have to save them until after we find out how to defeat Vardon."
Lynn nodded. "What do you suggest we do?" she asked seriously.
Theo pulled away from her. As she watched, amused, he knocked on several sections of the book case. A smile lit his face.
He pushed a small flower carved into the woodwork.
"Theo…" she started, exasperated. Her mouth dropped open as the entire book case swung inward.
"Let's go have a look in the South Tower," he said, holding out his hand to her. Lynn stepped forward and took his hand. They stepped into the darkness.
"How did you know about this passage?" Lynn whispered.
She saw the barest hint of white as Theo flashed her a smile. "It was actually Aiden who found this one. He had read somewhere that King Robert and Queen Annalia had found a secret passage. You should have seen him. We'd look for this passage every time I visited. I'm surprised he didn't tell you."
"I think he tried," Lynn said guiltily. "I never really took him seriously."
Theo squeezed her hand. "None of us seemed to believe him." His lips twisted into a wry grin. "He was right about the passage, and about Danni, and about Vardon, it seems."
They walked for a little while in silence.
"Here we are," Theo said, stopping so fast that Lynn bumped into him before she could stop herself.
"Where?" she asked.
"The entrance to the South Tower."
He pushed the door out cautiously and peered around the corner. Lynn held his hand in both of hers.
"No one," he said with a sigh of relief. They crept into the hallway and began to climb the stairs. They arrived at a wooden door. Theo opened it and looked in.
"Good God!" Theo said, and burst into the room. Lynn looked, expecting the worst.
There, tied in the middle of the room was a man. He was kneeling, his arms held up sideways by some sort of blue string. His blond hair fell forward, hiding his face.
At Theo's exclamation, he looked up.
"Who are you?" he asked through broken lips.
"I'm Theodore Par Barrish," Theo said, "cousin to Prince Aiden. This is his sister Krysalyn Fer Drewery. Who are you? How long have you been here?"
A half grin formed on his lips. "My human name is Lark. I've been here for about a day now."
"You poor man!" Lynn exclaimed, rushing forward. She looked for a way to free him.
"It's no use," Lark said, shaking his head. "This is a Faerie Snare. Practically unbreakable."
"There must be some way," she said frantically, pulling on the strings. Theo pulled her away.
"What can we do?" Theo asked.
"Nothing," Lark said. "He has us all trapped in here."
"Maybe he doesn't," Lynn said, brightening. "Aiden and Danni weren't in the hall when it happened. Perhaps they are outside."
"Danni's outside?" For the first time since the duo had found him, Lark truly grinned. "That is good news." He thought a moment.
"I have an idea. Bring that parchment over."
"This one?" Theo asked, picking up a scrap of paper from the table across the way. The charred remains of what looked like a skull sat next to it. Theo repressed a shudder and brought the paper to Lark.
"Yes," he said. "Put in my hand." Theo did as he asked.
"Now, this will be tricky," Lark said seriously. "You must pull on the entrapment threads so I can free my hand, just for a second."
Theo and Lynn nodded. The each grabbed a side of the string.
"And, now!" They pulled as hard as they could, ignoring the stinging bite as the string cut their hands. Lark's brow furrowed for a moment, then cleared. The parchment in his hand had disappeared.
"You can let go now," Lark said with a tired smile.
"What now?" Theo asked, letting go of the string.
Lark looked at him with a smile. "You and Krysalyn should go back the same way you came."
"Then?" Lynn prompted, rubbing her hand. The string left a mark of red across her palm, like a burn.
"We wait."
"Aiden," Danni said irritably. "I want to help your family too, but you can't break through that wall with your bare hands."
"I'm going to damn well try," Aiden growled, sending another fist into the invisible barrier.
"You've been damn well trying for the last five minutes!" she cried. She curled her own hands into fists. "If you would just listen-"
"What's in your hand?" Aiden asked, pausing in his punching for a moment.
"What?" Danni looked at her hand in confusion. There, crumpled slightly, was a scrap of parchment. She lifted it up and read it.
"It's from Lark!" she exclaimed, noting the ornate 'L' on the bottom.
"Lark?" Aiden asked, a bit abruptly.
Danni ignored him as she read the letter aloud.
"Danni," she read, "I'm sorry that I couldn't tell you what I was doing. I was captured by Vardon and he has drained me of most of my magic to use in his pool. He has also constructed an almost impenetrable wall around the castle."
"I could have told you that," Aiden interjected with a snort.
"Shh," Danni admonished. "Luckily, there is a sword that can cut through anything. It was last used by Robbie, but unfortunately, he broke it. I remade the blade and placed it in the Cave of Wonders. You'll have to search it out there. There is a bag of silver coins attached to Carpet's saddle, just in case. Carpet?" Suddenly, a nose nudged into her shoulder. There stood her horse, appeared as if by magic.
Danni snorted to herself. It probably was magic.
"What else does the letter say?" Aiden asked, looking at the horse curiously.
"Nothing," Danni said, folding the note and smoothing it against her dress.
"Robbie?" Aiden mused. "I wonder if he means King Robert." He looked at Danni. "I imagine that Lark is this mysterious 'friend' who helped you."
Danni's blush was the only confirmation he needed. She straightened her shoulders.
"We're going to have to go after this sword," she declared.
"Of course we are," Aiden said calmly.
She tucked the note into her bodice and went about searching for the coins.
"What are you doing?" he asked, watching her intently.
"Looking for my money," Danni said. "It's almost dark and we can't stay here. We must find an inn in town and sleep there. Then we must find out about this Cave of Wonders. Plus, I will need a different outfit."
"You're cute when you give out orders," Aiden said. He reached over her and pulled out a small purse that jingled. She snatched it out of his hands.
Aiden took the reins of the horse and began walking into town.
"Let's get going then," he said.