Updating still might not be as efficient as I had hoped for, even though school's practically out. A terrible virus has arrived, forcing me to relocate all my files and now I have no idea how to access to them...

Anyways, enjoy, and R&R! (Sorry it's short. hehe.)

My mind is full of inquiries, never ending, question after question, like a long train of thoughts that I never wanted to have. I keep them to myself, however, as I quietly help Daray back to the castle. I am about to open the doors to the main entrance when he stops me, his movement frail and weakened, as he murmured, "Not this way. People will see."

I look at him, confused. "What other way is there?" I question, biting my lips in difficult thought.

He does not respond immediately, being exhausted and having lost too much blood. He attempts to lift a finger, but it is too heavy for him. "Over there," he says, his voice a raspy whisper, nodding slightly toward the left.

I walk where he speaks, all the while aware that, if I was mistaken and Daray was cruel, he could be leading me into a trap. He seems to know so much more of my own castle than I do myself, and is it not I who am supposed to rule this land, this country? I who have lived in this castle since birth?

At last he commands, "Stop." I stand still, looking around, bewildered. I see no entrance; there is nothing. He commands, "Put me down. Climb up the vines that grow on the wall until there are no more vines. Go into that room and find the bureau. Behind its mirror there is a key. Take that key and enter the bathing room closet. There should be a pile of gowns littering the floor. If you are to push it aside, you will find an entrance. Insert the key into the lock and climb down the stairs until it comes to an end. You will meet the wall; push on the wall, and it will open."

I set him down, not asking how he knows such things. Obediently I climb. It is difficult for me, and soon my hands are cut and swollen. It is a long and difficult process as I grasp onto the thick, thorny vines, pushing myself up. At last, they end, and I climb into the window, looking around.

It is a bedroom. I walk toward the mirror and reach behind it, but I feel nothing. I try again. There is nothing but the wood that holds the mirror up. Frowning, I try once more, but there is nothing. My head leaning against the wall, I look for a key, but I see nothing.

The lock in the door began to turn. Soon after that, the door opens. My breath is caught in my chest as I freeze still, unable to move, watching in fright as a person enters the room. I drop down, hiding behind the bureau, hoping that he will not notice.

"I will come right away, Frederick! I just ask that you allow me a bit of time so that I may retrieve an item of mine," says the first man.

The other man, Frederick, sighs. "Very well, but you must make it quick. Time waits for no one."

"It will not take long," the first promises. He walks toward the bureau. My heart pounds faster than ever. Blood rushes to my ear, pounding, pounding. I hope that he does not hear.

The first man – a stout, dark-haired being – comes closer. He opens a drawer and retrieves a silver letter-opener. He turns to leave but suddenly stops, turning around. He spots me and cries out, "Frederick, you must come!"

Angry, the second man replies, "Must I tell you once more? There is no time! Take what you need and be done with it!"

"No, no, you will be thankful that I say this, Frederick. I beg that you come here and take a look."

Frederick is now, too, coming towards me. He is a tall, broad, fair-haired man with deep eyes. The corners of his lips turn upward in amusement when he sees me. "Now, I wonder," he says, "what in the world would a fair maiden be doing in the bedroom of a man such as Kerth's?"

I hesitate before responding. "I did not know there was such a man." I suddenly remember that I am princess of the land, and I have greater authority over them than a simple maid that they must have mistaken me for. Flushing, I stand up, declaring, "You have no right to question me."

A crooked smile crossed Kerth's face. "Why in the world would you ever say that?" he says.

"Might I ask who you are? What are you doing in the castle here, and what is your business? You will regret it if you lie to me," I reply angrily.

Kerth lets out a laugh before saying, "I believe we asked you first."

"You will understand if you are to answer my question," I say.

"Let me just ask you this one thing. How did you get in here? I believe I have every right to ask that. You have invaded my own property," Kerth says.

"And you have invaded mine!" I reply, my voice sharp. "Have you not the least respect for the princess of the country?"

A crooked smile crosses Kerth's face once more, as if he had always known that I am, indeed, princess. "Forgive me, princess," he says, his voice somewhat sarcastic. "We are acquaintances with your father." He turned to Frederick. "Now, isn't this an excellent reason to be late? What do you think he will say when we tell him?"

"Perhaps it will be advisable that we don't tell him," Frederick replies, still examining me. "We could, however, put her somewhere safe for the time being."

A chortle escapes Kerth's mouth. "Safe! Of course! We wouldn't want anything less than perfect for the future queen, now, would we?" I begin to feel edgy by the whole ordeal. Glaring at them, I remain silent. "Why, she isn't even speaking a word! Now isn't that just absurd, Frederick, that we will be ruled by a mute?"

"I am mute! I am not dumb, either, and I would prefer it if you would speak acknowledging that I, as well, am in the room!" I interrupt angrily.

Kerth begins to smile the terrible smile of his. "Of course, now, we wouldn't want to anger you!" With this, he firmly grabs my arm. Despite his lack of height, he is extremely strong, and he drags me down into a cold and dark place that I have never set foot in before.

"Tell me, my lady," Frederick says, his voice surprisingly polite, "why were you in Kerth's room?"

"I took a wrong turn," I reply coldly.

"In a place that you have been in since you were born?" Kerth scoffs.

Frederick scowls and says, "That will be enough, thank you, Kerth." Kerth mutters a quiet response before stepping into the background. "But the question remains curious, however. Exactly how did you take a wrong turn? Were you sleepwalking, maybe? No? Perhaps you were given… mistaken directions?"

My breath is once more caught, refusing to answer. However, my slight gasp has given all away. Frederick chuckles and says, "Curious," though his tone suggestions previous knowledge of it.

"What does it matter to you?" I question angrily, biting my lip to control the rage. A princess is not meant to be held imprisoned by bars with no proper reason whatsoever. "You might have earned the favor of my father, but if he is to know such abuse of power that he has so graciously given you, he might think differently of you." I pause for breath. "You will be stripped of your rights and you will be banished! How does my imprisonment help your gain?"

Frederick offers a look of genuine surprise as his eyebrows tilt upwards. "Do you not know? Surely a princess as clever as yourself must have discovered something already!"

I hold my head high as I respond, "Indeed, I have. I understand this attempt to overthrow our family from the throne. However, you will not be the ones to take after us. The question remains standing, however. Why am I imprisoned? What wrong have I done?"

"It is your lack of wrong that has brought you into the position that you are in!" Kerth says, his gruff voice interrupting his own silence. Frederick looks at him, a certain gleam to his eyes, and Kerth quiets immediately.

"You must be very pleased to have such an obedient servant," I observe pointedly. "However, how pleasant he is, it is not my decision to make, and one should not be so picky. It is difficult to find a loyal inferior these days."

"Indeed," Frederick says frankly.

"Might I ask what method you have chosen to receive such a devoted being?" I say.

Frederick casts me a cold glance and replies, "My secrets are not to be revealed. If they were, how easy it would be to find such an excelling servant! I find pride in my methods, and they will go unsaid."

I nod, acknowledging his words. With a surprised voice, I continue, "You say it is easy to find such faithful persons. Pray tell, how many servants do you have?"

"Are my comrade numbers to be revealed?" he says sharply.

I shake my head. "Oh, no. I merely ask due to the state of a curious mind. I once had a dedicated maid myself. However, in an unfortunate accident, I supposed, she had died."

Frederick nods stiffly. "How difficult it is to overcome the grief when one's time is up."

I laugh as I shake my head once more. "No, no. It may be difficult to live without a close one due to death, but when they leave us when their time is not up yet, it is even worse." The single word "murder" floats in my mind, speaking for itself, loudly in a single, menacing breath, breathing deafeningly into my ear.

The two men begin to leave, whispering amongst each other. I bite my lip. I should have kept silent. That man now knows that I, indeed, know too much. It is perhaps better to speak of less than one knows. I should have kept my mind.

I sigh heavily as the door rings shut when I sit upright. Daray! He could still be down there, bleeding, waiting for me…

…or was he?

My mind begins to race once more as I ponder over my morals of Daray. I never liked his person, ever. I have always assumed that he was plotting to overthrown my father's throne. And just as I am about to believe him once more…

He betrays me. Betrays me and plots me to this death! I had followed his orders obediently, and I am here now, with nothing but the clothing on my skin for comfort. Will they even feed me? Will anyone notice that I am away? Mother will notice, for sure. Father never pays attention anymore. All my other sisters are too light-headed to possibly care. But what can Mother do? What does she know of?

Yet, once more, I think of Daray. How cruel he is! Magic is at work here. Did he cast an illusion on himself or on me? It is so evil, I can bear to think of magic no longer. I faithfully do what he asks of me, to save his being, and I am here, with no one to rescue my own self…

Seconds turn into minutes. Minutes seem to be hours. Hours feel like days. Never have I ever been deprived like this before. As princess, I have always received the best of everything that was ever available. But to be thrown into a dungeon by two men whose relations with the castle remain unknown! It seems impossible. It would make an excellent story, but to live in such a story is sheer torture.

At last, the doors open once more. Frederick enters, this time alone. He comes, I note, empty-handed. No drink, no food. "Where is dear man Kerth? He has not betrayed you, did he?"

"No, no," Frederick says hastily. He hesitates before continuing. "There is but one reason for my being here."

At his silence, I say, "If that one reason is enough to bring you down here, I suggest that you begin to speak."

Abruptly, he starts. "You will not be receiving any personal favors, any excellent flavors, or any of the superior life styles that you are accustomed to. No one will be looking for you. You must at once get familiar with your surroundings. It is likely to be your last ever home."

I smile slightly. "I have figure that out already." Looking up into his eyes, I continue, "Is that all? That is all that brings you down here? It is a treacherous climb back up. I would advise you to say anything more that you wish to say before you leave to save you breath and energy."

He hesitates, as if looking for words. However, he simply says, "No, that is all." Without another word, he turns back up the stairs, leaving. "Your food is on the bench," he calls out as the door slams shut.

I look on my bench. There is nothing there. Bewildered, I look around, and finally, I see it. Several crackers are on the bench outside my cell. I reach through the bars, but I cannot reach the crackers; they are just beyond my grasp.

Is this the point of his coming down here? I did not see him carrying crackers at all.

In fact, of all places, why did he choose to put the crackers on a bench that I could not reach? Is it some sort of evil wickedness? Some plot he is up to? Is it some sort of test—

I smile slightly. Of course. Of course it would be a test.

I could not reach it. I look around in my own cell. There is nothing but the bench, stone, and iron bars. I sigh, exasperated. How would I ever get my meal? There were no materials to use! There was nothing I could use to bring the crackers closer!

If only my tutor were here, he could tell me what to do! He has taught me so much in the past. In fact, everything I know academically has come from him. If he were here, he would have a solution.

But he isn't.

It suddenly dawns on me. I was able to reach the bench. If I could shake the bench and get the crackers to slide closer to me and I could catch it, then it would be all right. I smile, reaching over, until I notice that the bench is nailed to the floor.

Sighing, exasperated, I look around, hoping for anything to give me a sign. Pressing my ear against the wall, I rap my knuckles against the hard stone. Continuing the process, I find one that sounds different from the rest. I lift the stone with great difficulty.

With great disappointment, I find that there is nothing.

However, as I put the stone back, I hear a cling that was not natural of the stone itself. Lifting it back up, I look at the bottom of it. There, in a dent of the stone, was a rod. Smiling, I removed the rod and brought the crackers over to me.

As I began to eat, the door opened once more and Frederick enters. I smile as I hold up the reward.

"Cracker?" I offer.

After his look of astonishment wears off, a smirk crosses his face. "So be it," he says, his eyes twinkling distantly in the dark.