Chapter 9- Reunited

Disclaimer- See chapter 1.

As dusk fell, Rapion Howltt left his horse at the front gate of the palace in Frell. Even though he had made good time, he was sure that something dreadful had happened to the princesses. He slipped past the guards, but they quickly caught up with him and pulled his arms behind his back, disarming him of his sword.

"Let me be," he shouted, "I have an urgent message for the King!"

The knights looked at each other skeptically.

"Princess Lela," he continued shouting, "Is in danger!" A young servant boy, Bernard, came running down the hall at the commotion. When he heard the words that the man was shouting, he turned around and ran to the kitchen. I had seen him there awhile ago, while I was begging Mandy to tell me if there was anything she could do, some magical way that she could bring Lela home.

"Milady!" he said to me, out of breath.

"What is it, Bernard?" I asked, kneeling down and facing the boy. As I wiped his face with a warm, damp rag, I tried to give him a brave smile, but inside all I felt was fear for my daughter.

"There's a man out there who says he knows where Princess Lela is," Bernard began, but I didn't wait for him to continue. I stood suddenly and ran out of the kitchen before the boy could say anything more. "Is she okay, Mandy?"

"She will be fine, Lad, now come have your supper," Mandy said.

I ran to where the guards where shackling a ranger clothed in dark traveling clothes. I had seen the face but once, yet the minute I saw him, I knew that it meant my daughter was really in trouble.

"Rapion?" I asked. He looked up at me.

"Ella, Lela is in trouble," he said.

"Where? Where is she?" As I begged this man for the location, Char came and put an arm around my shoulders. He quickly gained control of the situation, waving the guards away, and led his brother to a sitting room, where Addie waited anxiously with Rhys and Gavin, for news of her own daughter.

"What happened, Rapion?" Char asked.

"One of my men came upon Lela yesterday afternoon. He brought her to me, and I knew that you'd be missing her. But she was resolved not to return. I was going to let her stay in the camp until I could talk her into returning home."

I listened to the deep, even tone in Rapion's voice. It had a strange, calming effect on me.

"This morning a Great Blue came out of no where, and took Lela, and Princess Meryl."

"A dragon!" I cried. Addie stood from her seat.

"We must go after them," she said plainly, but her husband stopped her.

"I will fly ahead and find them. You stay put," Rhys instructed her and Gavin. Addie fastened a warm cloak to around his neck as he lifted off the ground, moving towards the door.

"We will ride east, and meet up with you at dawn," Char said, sending for his guards. Half of the knights had been out searching for the two princesses since we had discovered Lela was missing.

Another group of knights had been patrolling the streets of Frell, asking for anyone who had seen the girls to come forward. So far we had gotten nowhere. But I knew the minute that Char had a tangible lead he would pursue it to no end.

Soon the men were prepared to ride out; Char did not want to wait to leave until morning. Rapion Howltt stood awkwardly off to the side as my husband spoke quietly to me.

"The circumstances are dire, but I know that if they are still alive, my brother will find them," Char whispered. He gave me a last hug and continued on his way, to the saddled horse that awaited him. Char paused just before climbing on, thinking of the dragon, I am sure. "I love you, Ella. Do not forget that."

"We will find them both," Rapion said a final reassuring time.

Char and his brother rode swiftly out of the gates, leading the other riders. They were once again, side by side, as they were meant to be.