Chapter 5

The atmosphere in the Gilld household that night was one of gaity bordering on hysteria. Joshua, Lizzie and Diana were so emotionally drained from the afternoon's proceedings that the excuse to simply be happy was too tempting. And the younger ones had absolutely no idea why everyone else was so pleased, but they were perfectly willing to add to the atmosphere.

As soon as Diana had discovered that her cousin was still alive, Lizzie went back to the mirror to watch Rose's progress. The first thing they saw was the young woman sitting cautiously up and staring at her surroundings. She seemed confused, but quite glad to be alive. They could not tell what was going on, for the mirror only showed them Rose and her immediate area. But she was soon shouting for something, standing shakily on her feet and waving to someone inland. A few moments later, another person appeared in the glass. He was tall and regal looking with black hair and grey eyes. Joshua reacted violently and nearly sent the mirror flying off the table.

"What is it?" Diana asked, her heart speeding up as she wondered what sort of trouble her cousin was in now.

"Who is it?" Lizzie corrected with a sigh. "And that's Prince Henry, if you must know."

Diana's jaw dropped. "That's the Prince?"

"Yes," Lizzie answered. "Get to know what he looks like now, it'll be useful information."

Joshua muttered something under his breath. "What?" Diana asked curiously as her mother snickered.

"Your father never liked the royal family," she explained. "He will be hard pressed to keep a civil tongue in his head when they arrive."

"They're coming?"

"Oh," Joshua said blandly, "I forgot to tell you. His Majesty has decided to spend the summer down here and will be bringing the entire court, including any number of eligible young men and women."

Diana was visibly shocked at these words, but she fought for her composure. "Were you planning on telling me?" she asked icily.

"Of course," Joshua answered. Lizzie glared at her husband and unspoken words that Diana could not decipher passed between them. "Anyway, I think out plans may need to be changed and I'm going to have to travel up to London to claim our adventurer. I would have liked her first…encounter with our royalty to be in my house, but-" He shrugged expressively. "Be that as it may, I can get there in a day if I fly."

"Do you think that's a good idea?" Lizzie asked worriedly.

"Better than leaving her in the hands of those predators," Joshua answered.

"The Prince isn't that bad," Lizzie observed.

"I wasn't referring to the Prince." Joshua grinned. "But this can wait one night, I'd like to recover a little more of my strength before embarking on this trip."

They had gone down to dinner after that and had enjoyed themselves tremendously. It was only after dinner, when Diana was strolling in the direction of the library, thinking to read some more fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm, that she was accosted by her mother.

"I had an idea," Lizzie said without preamble. Diana raised an inquisitive eyebrow. "You know that your father is leaving tomorrow for the castle, correct?" Diana nodded, trying to hide her distaste for, like all his children, she hated it when Joshua went away. "I was thinking that you should go with him."

Diana laughed. "Why, does he need supervision?"

"Let's just say that His Majesty does not bring out your father's best side and he might behave better if his young, impressionable, teenaged daughter was there. Besides, it solves any chaperone problems of uncle and niece traveling together."

"That's a problem?" Diana asked skeptically.

"It has been in the past," Lizzie said softly. "You and I know that nothing will happen, but…" she trailed off.

"Papa's not going to like this," Diana pointed out.

"He's always wanted to work with you on long distance flying," Lizzie answered, "Here's a perfect opportunity."

Diana burst out laughed. "Mama, you really do think of everything!"

"I try," Lizzie said modestly.

Later that night, Lizzie was having the conversation once again, but her partner this time did not seem quite as inclined to listen to her.

"I said no," Joshua repeated. "She's not coming."

"Did you hear a single thing I told you?" Lizzie asked exasperatedly.

"I heard everything and I'm telling you no."

"Then I'll go and retrieve Rose," Lizzie answered him, standing with her hands on her hips and blocking his way to their bedroom.

Joshua laughed derisively. "Don't be absurd."

"I wasn't aware that I was lacking in any magical prowess, why is the idea of me going so absurd?"

"You're being ridiculous," Joshua replied. "You know full well why I don't want you to go there. Or Diana, for that matter."

"That's exactly the point; would you rather she meet them on her own when they come here and have her fall under their charms?"

Joshua didn't reply at first, he was obviously mulling something over in his head.

"Well?"

"I hate it when you're right," he grumbled, pulling Lizzie into his embrace.

"I know," was her smug reply. "But it's not so bad, is it?"

Joshua shrugged. "That depends on your definition of bad. If letting you have your way means allowing me to have my way with you, then we have what to talk about."

Lizzie muttered something under her breath that Joshua barely overheard, but was much amused at the bits that he caught. 'Before we get to that part of the night," she said when her low tirade was done, "There's something I want to discuss with you."

"Something else?" he whined.

"Stop it," she chided, "You sound like your eldest son. This is serious." Joshua motioned for her to continue. "How much do you remember about the storm?"

"Too much," he growled.

"Do you remember seeing who caused it?"

Joshua was about to answer in the negative, then stopped as an idea hit him. "It was the King, wasn't it?"

Lizzie nodded. "And he recognized you."

"How? I was in Rose's body!"

"Well, I was reading his lips with the mirror and he addressed her as the children of an old ally."

"Damn!"

"So what do you propose we do?"

"Ignoring it sounds like a really good idea."

Lizzie clucked her tongue, but held back any further comments.

"At least for now," Joshua added, "There's too much to think about until then."

"Yes. Like the fact that you're leaving me tomorrow."

"Then we had better make the most of the time we have now," Joshua replied, smirking.

"You really are a dastardly rake sometimes," Lizzie said fondly, elbowing him in the side. That didn't go as planned, for he grabbed her arm, whirled her around and kissed her deeply. She was in no mood to complain.

The next morning dawned warm and cloudy. Joshua was in no mood to go flying or to even leave the warm, comfortable bed. But if he didn't go, he would be abandoning his poor niece to the dogs in the castle and he would never let that happen, especially with Rose in such a weakened state. He sighed and stretched.

"Stop moving," Lizzie muttered, wrapping her arms tighter around his neck.

"Don't I wish," Joshua replied, kissing her good morning.

"I don't want you to leave," she complained.

Joshua laughed and grabbed the comb sitting next to the bed. "Sit up and I'll comb your hair," he offered, deftly changing the subject with a ritual that they had observed for the past seventeen years.

Lizzie struggled out of her warm cocoon under the blankets and settled down so that she was curled up against the pillows with her back to Joshua. With the same careful care he always showed, he began to untangle her long, brown tresses.

Even though Joshua tried to procrastinate as long as he could, he was soon done with his task and was faced with the far more unpleasant chore of getting dressed to fly.

Lizzie grudgingly followed her husband out of bed and pulled on a dressing gown.

"Where are you going?" Joshua asked Lizzie as he detailed to one of his servants which outfit he wanted for the excursion as well as which ones to put in the satchel that he would be carrying on his back.

"To help Diana get ready," Lizzie answered. "She's never done this before, remember?"

"I had hoped you'd forget she was to come," Joshua answered as he dressed.

"I'm going to ignore that statement," Lizzie retorted, "And I'll see you at breakfast."

Joshua shook his head as she slipped out of the room. She was wonderfully intolerable sometimes. He was always amazed at how well they got along, although that may have been because they were always arguing about something so anything less than a full blown fight was concerned perfect amiability. And a week away from her would make him miss his wife terribly.

Lizzie swiftly found her way to Diana's room. The young girl was sitting on the end of her bed, in the middle of an animated conversation with one of the maids about what to wear and if there even was clothing suitable for both flying and a young lady. Lizzie interfered just in time.

"Diana," she called out, walking in without knocking.

"Mama, I need your help."

Lizzie, with that inexplicable talent of mothers to always know what to do, turned to the maid. "There is a dress in the back of my closet that I wish you to fetch. It is in the large, golden chest and try not to disturb any of the other dresses."

The maid curtsied and went off to do her mistress's bidding. Diana looked at her mother, curiosity written all over her face. Lizzie just smiled mysteriously.

"Now," she said, "Let's find you some good riding clothes." Lizzie and Diana, with the help of some of the other maids, put together a small bag's worth of folded clothes that would not weigh too much, for Diana would be in the air for the next fifteen hours and needed all her strength.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Diana asked nervously as she tested the weight of the bag.

"Positive," Lizzie answered. "Ahh, Delilah, thank you." The maid who had found the dress curtsied once again and presented it to Diana, who gasped in surprise. It was a magnificent gown, made of silken blue material with a silver overlay.

"Put it on," Lizzie urged. Diana, still in a state of ecstatic surprise, complied. She stared at herself in the mirror. The skirts flared out, accentuating curves Diana was only beginning to develop and the bodice hugged her chest in a very fetching manner. She smiled and smoothed the skirts, whirling around.

"I do believe her father will kill you for allowing his precious eldest daughter to wear that." Lizzie turned towards the door and smiled broadly at the head housekeeper.

"Yes, Allisande, I do believe he will. But she is a young woman now."

"Fathers tend not to take that information well," Allisande pointed out dryly.

"But it should provide ample amusement for the rest of us," Lizzie answered promptly before turning back to Diana. "There is a small sheath on your left hip," she said, "Find it."

Diana located the empty pouch. "What's it for?"

"This," her mother answered, producing a silver and rowan wand that Diana had rarely been privileged to use.

"You're giving it to me?" she yelped.

"I'm lending it to you," Lizzie corrected. "It's an old family heirloom, so's the dress come to think of it, and I would like them both back in one piece." Lizzie grinned suddenly. "Do you have time for a story?"

Diana's eyes brightened. "I always have time for a story."

Lizzie nodded. "It's more of an explanation. That dress belonged to my mother-in-law, your grandmother. You were named for her. She was a magnificent woman who, while a bit dictatorial, was one of the most capable sorceresses ever. If it hadn't been for her, I wouldn't have survived my first test of magic."

"Which was?" Diana prompted.

"I had to kill the most powerful wizard in the past two hundred years." Lizzie smirked. "It wasn't easy."

"How did Papa let you do that?" Diana wondered.

"Well, I didn't exactly tell him about it," Lizzie hedged. "Anyway, back on topic. Diana had given me that dress at the time as encouragement and gave her life to see that I lived." Lizzie smiled sadly. "And she made me promise that one day, I would pass it down to a daughter of mine. You've got a lot to live up to, little girl, but I have utter faith in you. The distaff line in this family has always been stronger."

"I heard that," Joshua yelled through the door.

"You were meant to," Lizzie answered. "Now go and greet your father."

Sheathing the wand and taking a deep breath, Diana went out to meet her father. When she entered her sitting room, her father's jaw dropped. He had not been expecting her in that dress and she looked stunning. He bit his lip, unwilling to consider the fact that his daughter, in all ways but one, had grown into this beautiful lady.

"You…you look…" he stuttered, at loss for words. Abigail, who had come to visit her sister before they left, made up for it.

"Pretty!" she exclaimed, running up to Diana and giving her a big hug. "I want a dress like that."

Diana managed not to laugh as Joshua groaned. "One at a time, please," he protested. He lifted his eyes to the door and saw his wife and Allisande share a smile. "I should have known you two were behind this."

"She's going to court, remember," Allisande said. "You can't expect her to appear in some strange chastity belt you've designed to fly in, not when her grandmother had left her this dress." Diana was trying so hard not to laugh, but her godmother could be hysterical sometimes.

"It's magically modest while flying," Lizzie said with a smile, "And has numerous other useful traits, as you well know."

"I wasn't aware that making a man lose his children was one of them," Joshua grumbled.

"No, darling, that's just you being stupid."

Diana snickered and immediately tried to suppress it. Joshua glared at her and Lizzie, still grinning like the Cheshire Cat, pressed a kiss to his lips. "I know you hate it when I'm right," she murmured in his ear. He laughed, unable to stop himself.

"Tell me about it," he said before waxing serious. "Can you warn me next time you do something like this to my baby girl?"

"They only grow up once, Joshua."

His eyes were bright with something close to tears. "I know," he whispered. "I only have one chance to get this right." Lizzie wrapped her arms around him and kissed his cheek.

"You've done wonderfully so far," she replied quietly. "You'll be fine for the rest of it; I have absolute faith in you."

"Even when I'm being stupid?" he asked, the familiar glint returning to his eyes.

"You're a man, I can't expect much more than that." Joshua chuckled and gently tugged on her hair.

"Shrew."

"Lech."

"Will you two stop?" Diana pleaded. "We need to get moving."

"As my lady commands," Joshua answered sardonically, all traces of his previous feelings cleverly hidden, though his wife could still see the telltale signs. He would be fine, though.

Joshua and Diana were provided with food and drink to last their entire flight and most of the household turned out to bid them farewell. Joshua kissed his three children goodbye and Diana promised to come home with new stories for her siblings and then they were off, taking flight with all the grace and majesty of a great eagle. Long after everyone disappeared, Lizzie and Allisande were still standing there, waiting.

"You never stop worrying about them," Allisande said, laying a comforting hand on her mistress's shoulder.

"No," Lizzie agreed. "You don't."

T.B.C.

A/N – So, something good has come from this $ing virus I seem to have caught. I've had nothing to do other than sit around on this monstrous machine all day and type my brains out. Although, this might have had something to do with the fact that I stayed up all night Sunday night (I went to sleep at 830 am – oops). I don't know whether you should hope I get better soon or not, I seem to be so productive when sick.

And don't worry, I'll get back to Anduin eventually, but not for another few chapters. Story switches to Rose and Diana now. And I am not basing the king of England on any particular monarch, so don't try to place this historically by him (since Disney wasn't particularly clear on time either. I mean, there were guns, it was post baroque, there were little clocks and yet a Prince can disappear for ten years and no one will notice. Oh well). In fact, it's a fairy tale so please ignore history all together. Anyway, I hope you all liked this latest installment and I know that, technically, Diana Sr. and Jr. aren't related, but Lizzie's keeping up the lie. I think that's it, now onto the thank yous.

Shortstef – Am I really that predictable? Well, it's not surprising, they worked too hard to keep her safe last time. I liked Anduin too and I am perfectly willing to ignore that sentence, since it means I preserve some mystery, although I didn't think I was being subtle. Oh well. And you're welcome, but don't expect another one any time soon, I think I've sufficiently traumatized Joshua for a while, poor thing.

Soofija – Of course we love good looking guys, even if they have tails (which he should soon get rid of). Yeah, the little mermaid-ness had to enter, since I was working with this plot. And Lizzie did notice what Tritan had called them, but she was the only one who could see what he was saying, since she was reading his lips and, after that, it took a while to confront Joshua about it. And the current plan is not to tell Diana about her lineage. Can't blame them, but we'll see if that works.

Anarea Rose – Thanks. If you couldn't tell, I love fairy tales. And here's some more to feed the addiction of the masses (or do I flatter myself overmuch?)

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this and tune in for more soon, since I will update sooner if I get reviews. Either way, there should be another two chapters before Sunday, but after that it might get a little hectic, since I'll be flying for 11 hours. Not so exciting.

Enough about my life. Bbye all!

Levana (Damian)