Recap:

But as she was about to turn around, a little bird came to rest on the window sill. She noticed first how brightly it was colored, it was all the most brilliant shades of red, orange and yellow combined. As she moved her hand out to the little thing, it called and another flew and sat beside it. But Allegra barely noticed the new arrival, as this birds call was unique, one she had only heard once before. It was called the Ariathra Plumeth, or the Flashing Whistle. It was only found it one place in the whole of the know world.

Gasping, she realized where she was. Kemack.

Chapter 5: Dinner Invitations

"Princess Chloe, wake up" Chloe sat up quickly and rubbed her eyes, looking up into the face of the guard named Mikael, who had been shaking her in a very ungentle manlike fashion. She quickly realized that she must have fallen asleep, and looking out the window she realized that she must have been so for some hours, for the sky was a gentle shade of violet with brilliant pink streaks slashing across the carpet of the sky. Had she been in Frell, or truly on a visit here, she would have doubtlessly stopped at her window to admire such a beautiful picture, but given her current state she didn't even think of it. Instead, she said drowsily, "What do you want from me? Can I see Allegra?"

King Marcius stepped forward. "Ah, soon enough girl. But right now I request you to join me for dinner."

"But I am not hungry. Your majesty," She added as if an afterthought. But this was far from the truth. Chloe could feel her stomach rumbling and was trying hard to keep her gaze from wondering to the silver platter on her table.

"My dear, you have not eaten for over a day, do not try your silly lies on me. Besides, the sooner you accept that you have no choice but to dine with me, the sooner you shall see your dear Allegra."

She scowled at him in anguish but nodded. "Very well sir, you leave me little choice. At what hour do you require my presence?"

He smirked approvingly. "Much better angel face," she winced at being addressed in such a manner and the feel of his calloused fingers as he lifted up her chin. "You see how easy that was?" she tried to convey the true hatred she felt for him in her eyes and he just laughed. "If we skip all the difficulties and arguments before this, then it could be that easy all the time." He spoke in a voice of mock comfort, mock softness and compassion, as if he were doing her a great favor by telling her this.

Her voice dangerously calm, and as even as she could make it, she replied "My lord, I beg your pardon but I must confess that however long you keep me, I will make things as difficult as I can make them, without of course jeopardizing Allegra. Now please inform me of the hour you would like to dine at and I will be ready for you. But I must see Allegra first."

He looked angry, and on the brink of loosing his hot temper. "It is as you wish. I shall send Bromof up to collect you at 7 o'clock, you have half an hour. You shall see Allegra after dinner or not at all. As I said before, it is as you wish. Behave well and you shall see her. If not, you won't." He released her chin and turned on his heel in order to stride out of the door.

As she watched him leave her, she thought dismally to herself, it is all so very hopeless! I shall never marry him! I shall see Allegra tonight and we will flee this place. I vow it will be done. Somehow. She finished readying herself and stood at the window to await Bromof's arrival. Somehow.

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Allegra, having recovered from the shock of the realization that she was now in Kemack, was desperately trying to think of a way that they could escape. First of all of course, she needed to find Chloe. But then what? It seemed all too hopeless. Walking over too her window, she opened the tall shutters and looked out, deciding to first survey the ground some more. Leaning forward onto the window sill which she noticed to be quite wide (probably enough so to stand on) she looked out as far as she could see.

The city stretched out for miles around on almost all sides. She could see the forest she had first noticed out to the right, over which the sun was setting so she judged it to be to the west. It completely engulfed that side, coming almost up to the castle wall. That would be the best way out. The forest would be the easiest to blend into. Thinking just how hopeless it really was, she turned away and instead looked back at the city. She could see the poorer districts close to the palace walls and the market place, as she looked further out she could see the richer areas with their mansions and grounds. Looking even further, she could see the docks and the still wealthy but not rich area where the merchants resided and then still more slums.

If there is one thing King Marcius does need to do, he must fix this problem of so many slums and peasants in the midst of such rich a country, and so grand a castle!

Looking down, Allegra noticed the high wall surrounding the castle and it's grounds, the guards strolling along the top of it and the great gate that was gilded with intricate carving and open for the day's visitors. She looked into the palace gardens, the river that ran through them, the stables on the west side, and the quiet and secluded pathways where beautiful young ladies walked with their handsome swains.

Allegra tried to estimate how far her room was off the ground, and guessed at around fifteen meters. Much too far to jump; she thought with a sigh. Using her eyes again to search the surrounding landscape for any possible means for escape, again she sighed. But then a thought came to her; the wall of the castle! Maybe it is rough enough so that we can climb it! Anxiously feeling her hand on it, too her disappointment felt it was only slightly ridged, much too smooth to climb down. Just as she was feeling around some more in a desperate attempt to find a foothold, or a handhold, anything at all, she heard the key scratch in the lock of her door and whirled around to face her captors.

Into the room walked to liveried guards, following them walked a tall, brown-haired man. Allegra shivered as he smirked at her and eyed her menacingly, his dead straight hair framed his face in an eerie manner, the sharp contrast of his pale face with the almost black locks surrounding it was terrifying.

This must be king Marcius.

"Allegra", he said in a voice that could freeze the earth's core, "My name is King Marcius, and I hold both you and your dear Princess captive." She saw his smirk grow as she tried to hide her shaking palms from view.

"I guessed as much your majesty." She tried to keep her voice calm and even, as she imagined Chloe would have done in such a situation. "I demand to know why I am here, and to see Princess Chloe!"

He looked upon her with superiority, "My dear, you are hardly in a position to demand anything. But I shall tell you why. I suppose you must know that the Princess's parents denied my offer for my son's hand in marriage for her, and I have every right to be greatly offended by such a thing. They refused bluntly, without reason and all too hastily in my opinion." He paused for a moment to check her reaction. Finding it surprisingly indifferent, he continued, "So I have kidnapped the two of you in order to unite Frell and Kemack, and there is not a thing anyone can do about it."

She could not be surprised. "Chloe would never marry a Prince of Kemack, nor would Queen Ella and King Geraint ever approve of such a marriage. They will bring their armies and rescue us!" She could not believe her words.

"Oh but they will, I have their daughter and only heir. A letter has been sent to them warning them to deter their minds of any hasty action, that the princess is safe and that she is to be married." She was beginning to be irritated by his smirk. "And she will not have to marry a prince of Kemack. She shall marry it's king." His eyes filled with an evil pleasure as she gasped and was left wordless. "Yes my dear, as penance for not allowing her to wed my son, she shall wed me." Still Allegra could not find words to speak. "So my dear, I leave you a plate of refreshment and I trust that all is in order. I am sorry that I cannot stay but I must go and dine with my bride to be. Goodbye."

"But wait your majesty! When shall I be able to see Chloe?" Allegra's voice betrayed her desperation.

He laughed. "She shall visit you after she dines with me, provided she behaves herself. Farewell, beautiful Allegra." With that he left, and one of the two guards set a silver platter down on the table and then he and his companion left also.

A/N: So guys, how do you like it? I must admit, I don't have a lot of ideas for where this is going, so if you have any good ones, please drop me a line! Anything would be welcome, comments, encouragement, criticism (constructive of course), ideas for escaping, anything really! Also, do you like Chloe and Allegra? Is Chloe too perfect? Or not nice enough? I don't know what you think unless you tell me!

R&R please!

Love always,

Jess