Chapter 6

Mages rarely agree on anything, but in one of the few areas that a consensus can be reached, each and every one of them will say that flying is the greatest way to travel. The wind in one's hair, the dazzling scenery below, the swoop and whirl that only a mage's mastery of air can provide and, above all, the sheer freedom that comes with flinging oneself out into the sky and becoming like a bird.

However, a certain young sorceress in training was willing to concede that fourteen hours of being airborne could make flying lose quite a lot of appeal. Diana sighed and rolled over so that she was on her back and could rest her head on her hands.

"Diana," said her father warningly.

"No one is going to shoot me in mistake for a bird," she replied for the tenth or so time since they had started. The first time she had turned to face away from the ground, her father had scolded her for not paying attention. She had given in to him that time; his points about what the rest of humanity would do if they saw her flying through the air, not to mention how easy it would be to crash into a bird had been well taken. But after flying for so long, she thought she was ready to lose her mind if she didn't relax.

"This is your first time flying over unfamiliar territory," Joshua repeated in a long suffering tone. "You-"

"-don't know how they're going to react," Diana said along with him, her voice twisted in mimicry.

Joshua was not in the mood for this. "Diana, behave properly or I will see you punished." His voice was harsh and angry, completely unlike the way he usually spoke.

Diana had not heard that tone from her father in a while and it made her realign herself in the air before she even had a chance to think.

"Thank you," he said, his voice back to its usual pleasant sounding manner.

"Would you have really disciplined me?" Diana asked in a small voice, remembering the last time he had threatened one of his children with corporeal punishment. It had been Jonathan and he had been doing something incredibly stupid. He had deserved the small beating he had received, but it had been years since her father had treated her in that way.

"That would have depended."

"On?"

"On how long it took you to listen."

Diana glared down at him. "I'm not seven anymore, you know."

"True," he agreed. "You were behaving more like a five year old anyway." He ignored her cry of rage. "Perhaps I should have sent you to bed without dinner."

"You wouldn't have disciplined me!" she shouted at him. "You just said that to scare me."

"It worked," he replied with a shrug. "And had you continued to behave in such an infantile manner, I might have reconsidered. Can I expect that you will listen to me for the remainder of our trip and not try to contradict me?"

"Or else?"

"Must everything come with a caveat? I'm your father and you are obligated to heed my words. That should be enough. Though we still have an hour to go; I'm sure I could come up with some appropriate chastisement."

"No, I'll listen," Diana conceded sullenly. They traveled on in silence.

Joshua stared down at the villages increasing beneath him, feeling decidedly guilty. He always did after shouting at one of his children; he just couldn't help it. 'No one ever said fatherhood was easy,' he thought bitterly to himself. 'But why does it have to be so difficult sometimes?'

Diana was thinking along similar lines. 'Why does childhood need to be so difficult? Why can't he just listen to me sometimes? I'm not an infant anymore; he just doesn't want to let me grow up. It's not like he can stop me.'

And so, by the time they reached the smoke covered city of London, they were both in a foul mood indeed.

"We're here," Joshua said as they neared the Thames and began to follow its path toward their destination.

"I had noticed," Diana spat back.

Joshua rolled his eyes heavenward in a 'God, what did I do to deserve this?' sort of gesture. He knew that if he didn't make the first move towards reconciliation, they could easily stay mad all night. "We'll be landing at Hampton Court in another five minutes. I doubt that I have to tell you to behave yourself-"

"You don't!" she interjected.

"Let me finish," Joshua told her exasperatedly. "So I expect you to be at your best to make up for the fact that I will undoubtedly be at my worst." He grinned crookedly at her, glad that her mouth was no longer set in those angry lines it had been in for the past hour. "That was the other reason you came, remember?"

"Yeah," she answered in a small voice.

Joshua sighed and rose slightly in the air, taking Diana's hand and smiling comfortingly at her. "Don't worry, Di. You have nothing to fear. Other than a little consternation at our arrival so late at night and in such an odd manner, but this is not the first time you've startled people with magic, is it?" She chuckled despite herself. "But please do not leave Rose's side and watch out for the men of the castle. They are not nice people."

"Which is why we will be hosting them for the summer?"

"I wasn't asked, I was ordered. And while I could defeat the King in battle if really needed to, it isn't at the top of my list of priorities."

"You would make a far better king than him, from what I've heard."

"The fish in the river, if there are any left, would make a better king than him," Joshua muttered. "But I have no desire whatsoever to be king. Far too much effort and, besides, could you imagine Jonathan as crown prince?" She laughed and he joined in picturing his stubborn, recalcitrant son sitting still in a chair and pretending to be interested in the doings of court.

"And I'd have to marry some stuck up prince you choose for me," Diana added.

"Who says you don't?" Joshua replied, winking and glad that they were back on good terms once again. They were both too much like their father when angry and Joshua hated the reminder, both of his lineage and hers.

"You wouldn't do that me," Diana said. "You married for love."

"Of course I did, but that was because I was living a fairy tale," he answered flippantly.

Diana snorted. "Fairy tales don't exist."

"Then you shouldn't hope for a happily ever after," was her father's retort.

She glared at him. "You're very mean to me."

He shrugged, laughing, and guided them down to the ramparts. She followed her father, a strange feeling growing in the pit of her stomach that she was beginning to recognize as dread.

"The grounds are warded," Joshua murmured softly to her. "But a few wizards, myself for example, have unlimited access."

"Why?" she couldn't help but question.

"Because some people are too dangerous to keep out," Joshua answered. "So they shouldn't be all that shocked to see us. Observe only the courtesies I show him for you are a sorceress and have no need to grovel before a mere king."

"I can understand why they dislike you at court," she grumbled.

Joshua ruffled her hair tenderly. "That's not the reason; it's accepted for a mage to treat a king like an equal…though they should not be quite as free with their tongues as I cannot help but be."

"So I shall be silent to recompense for your incessant chattering?" They grinned at one another and Diana was pleased that her mother had finagled her way into making her a part of this expedition, agonizingly long flight notwithstanding.

The two mages slipped down, using magic to fly into the room closest to the king's bedroom and shocking the attending men quite well.

"Will you tell your master that Wizard Duke Joshua Gilld and Sorceress Lady Diana Gilld are here speak with him?" Joshua announced, causing the men to race inside their master's room. His lips curled into a frightening smile. Though he hated Andrew, the imprint that his father had left on this King was one Joshua had no scruples in exploiting. He remembered, fondly, the other reason he had not let Lizzie go in his stead. The King was torn on the subject of her, for he had little respect for any women, but finding out that she had been the instrument of Andrew's ruin had made him rethink that opinion and, as far as Joshua was concerned, just made her more vulnerable when she entered his castle. It was one of the many reasons he did not want court at his home. And if Lizzie was first on that list, Diana was a very close second. He was only too glad to be chaperoning this first meeting and had purposely chosen a time when the king would be at his worst.

Diana waited impatiently as the occupants of the next room scurried to accommodate their midnight visitation. Her father stood nonchalantly, watching the door with an easy grace that made her wonder, once again, why he so rarely appeared among all the other nobles. It wasn't that he lacked social skills or friendliness. So what was it?

She was interrupted in the middle of her musings when the King appeared, dressed in a richly embroidered dressing gown and nightcap to match. She bit her lip in an attempt not to laugh at the monarch. Her father bowed shortly and she curtsied, going down to just the right degree and holding it just long enough so that she would not give offense.

"Welcome to my humble abode," said the King blandly. "I trust your travel was comfortable."

"It was indeed," Joshua answered. "I have come to speak to you about your son."

"Oh?"

"He returned from the shore today with a young girl whose parents and relatives you are well acquainted with. She was thrown overboard in a storm and, by God's grace, has been delivered to your doorstep. And I have come to take my niece home."

The King, to his credit, did not display his shock at Joshua's demand. "Your familial feeling does you credit, but you really did not need to come all this way to see her. We will be at your doorstep within two weeks; you could have easily met up with her there."

"You know full well why I wish her at my house," Joshua growled.

"Do I?" the King replied, his voice barely suggesting something, but intimating it all the same. Diana, rightly worried about her father's reaction to that statement, spoke up before he did.

"Your majesty, I don't mean to be rude, but perhaps the reason you do not understand my father is that you do not have daughters of your own. When a young woman arrives in a new place, it can be very frightening, especially after she has suffered the way that my cousin has. My father is correct in stating that it would be much easier for Rose were she to return with us and accustom herself to our country without the privilege of appearing at court every day." She smiled sweetly. "In fact, I believe my dear cousin would be reassured to see a familiar face even now. May I request an escort to her chambers?"

"You may indeed," replied the King, knowing as well as Diana did that to refuse such a courteous request was not a good idea, especially with her protective father standing right there. He asked two of the guards to take her to the guest chambers and they went off. Joshua didn't worry about her; she was perfectly capable of taking care of them should the need arise.

"Your daughter has grown much since I last saw her. She has become a fine young woman."

"Yes she has," Joshua replied, displeased with this interest, though he knew it could not have been avoided. "I'm very proud of her; she has the same strength and grace as her mother."

"And the same power; I'd wager."

"I don't think it would be wise for you to try and find out," Joshua replied idly. "And now, if you don't mind, I've been traveling all day and would appreciate a chance to rest."

"Of course, Gilld. Your wish is my command." His tone was anything but amused. "Your usual rooms are ready, would you like an escort?"

"No, I wouldn't wish to deprive you of all your necessary groomsmen," Joshua replied, smirking.

"You had better learn to watch your tongue," the King warned, his voice deadly soft.

"When it suits me to, I will," Joshua answered. "It is a sad king who cannot handle a friendly jest."

"I am perfectly capable of handling a friendly jest. Your rooms are kept ready, as always. Good night, Gilld."

"Sleep well, my King."

Joshua stalked out of the room and navigated the corridors of the castle with a practiced ease. He was nearing his own suite when he heard two voices speaking through a door. He recognized them and smiled, knocking carefully on the door.

"May I come in?" he enquired.

"By all means," Diana called back. The door swung open and Joshua entered his niece's sitting room. Diana and Rose were sitting on one of the couches, deep in conversation.

"Did I miss anything interesting?" he asked, hooking a stool with his foot and sitting down on it.

"Why don't you tell my father?" Diana suggested to Rose, who laughed and blushed slightly.

"He'll only think I'm making it up," she answered.

Joshua raised an eyebrow. "Now I'm curious, tell me."

"All right," Rose said with a shrug, glaring at Diana, who hid a snicker behind her hand. "I don't really remember what happened before I fell over-" Joshua and Diana shared a guilty look, "-but I remember hitting the water and sinking. It was absolutely terrifying and I swear I saw my whole life flash before my eyes… but you don't want to hear about this,"

Joshua put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You were marvelously lucky and very brave to have survived as well as you did."

"Well, you see, I don't think I survived on my own." At Joshua's confused expression, she elaborated. "I think I was rescued by someone. When I woke up, I was lying on the beach and there was someone sitting next to me. My eyes were blurry, so I couldn't see what he looked like well, but his hair was a dark auburn or perhaps brown. And he was singing." She grinned sheepishly. "I would have thought I was hallucinating, but I heard the most gorgeous voice singing and I can recall the words I heard and it was not a song I knew. The words are, though I cannot repeat it the way he sang, are No beauty could move me, no goodness improve me, no power on earth if I can't love her. No passion could reach me, no lesson could teach me-. And then he stopped and, I swear by all that is holy, he disappeared."

Joshua stroked his chin. "Interesting story."

"Do you think I'm crazy?"

"Of course not," he answered. "I don't know what happened to you; perhaps it was a miracle."

Rose and Diana both laughed derisively. "You two are the biggest pair of skeptics I've ever met," he told them fondly. "But I suggest you don't puzzle the mysteries of your rescuer tonight; we'll be leaving early tomorrow."

"Why?" Rose exclaimed.

"Because I want to get home and prepare for when the King is going to drag this entire court to Gilld Hall."

"But why didn't I come with them?" Rose wondered. "I mean, I'm extremely grateful that you came for me, but it was so inconvenient."

"Diana, you can handle this," Joshua said, rising to his feet. "I'm tired." Diana grimaced at her father's retreating back,

"He's impossible," she muttered.

Rose laughed. "So what's this secret your father wants you to tell me?"

So, with a sigh, Diana explained what she had been able to glean from her father about his prejudices. They spoke long into the night and fell asleep side by side, identical smiles of sisterhood gracing their lips. Joshua, however, was not so fortunate and whether it was due to a strange bed or a lack of a familiar bedfellow, it was a long time before he drifted off into sleep.

T.B.C

A/N – See, there is a bit of Beauty and the Beast in there! The song Anduin sang to Rose is, of course, If I Can't Love Her from BATB on Broadway. So I hope you all enjoyed this latest update and I'm curious what you think of Diana. Anyway, in the meantime, I owe my stalwart reviewers a thank you.

Soofija – I'm sorry to have nearly given you a heart attack. In answer to your question, it's because I have nothing to do all night and don't go to bed until four because, I'm not kidding, I don't remember to go to sleep. It's sad, but it means I can get quite bit done. Yeah, I did set myself up for a lot of issues and I only hope Diana takes it well. Joshua's had a long time to forget about her ignoble birth, but that doesn't mean he's totally oblivious and I don't doubt it'll come back to haunt them later. (grins). Anyway, glad you think he's cute (so do I but that's a totally different story!).

Anarea Rose – Glad you liked the reappearance of old heirlooms. And I'm not going to tell you why the prince and the king are dangerous; you'll have to find out. And your vote of confidence in me is very flattering. Thank you!

So that's all for this round. Hopefully one more update before Sunday, but I don't know. Love you all!

Levana (Damian)