Hey everybody! Welcome to chapter 2! I did this one from Paragon's point of view, so I hope you like it!

Well, I suppose I really ought to tell the story from here on out. It is my story after all—or mostly anyway. It's partly Colette's story, partly Lina's, partly Father's, and partly a few other people's, but you haven't met them yet. Oh—and in case you haven't guessed, I'm Paragon. Right then, back to the story, or my story, or whatever.

There we were eating pie, finally together, when someone knocked on the door.

"Oh! I'll get it!" Colette announced, rushing away from the dinner table. I assume she thought it was for her. Most of the time when people knock it is for her, but not this time. This time it was for Father. You'll never guess who was calling! It was the Queen! She demanded a private interview with Father directly. Colette, I'm afraid to say, stood there just gaping for a moment before inviting both her majesty and her escort in. I don't blame her, mind you. We are a well-to-do family, but to get an unexpected visit from Queen Delia! It's unheard of. This was probably what was going through Colette's mind as she scampered back to the dining room to tell us.

She looked rather flustered as she gushed," Oh, Father, it's Queen Delia to see you. What could she want? Do you know, Father? Do you?" Father rose abruptly, and strode calmly past Colette into the front hall where a rather impatient Queen Delia was waiting. My sisters and I peered around the corner to watch as he swept her an elegant bow and offered her his arm. She took it stiffly and allowed him to lead her into his study. To my annoyance, he closed the door behind them.

Lina, Colette, and I resigned ourselves to sitting in the dining room, anxiously making wild guesses as to why on earth the Queen was in our home.

"Is she going to arrest him?" Lina asked with a puzzled frown.

"If so, why ask for a private audience instead of just arresting him on the spot?" I countered.

"Paragon has a point." Colette said," She probably isn't arresting him."

"What then?" Lina cried, her brow wrinkling in frustration.

"She could be rewarding him for something..." Colette said, closing her eyes. She was probably dreaming of heaps of gold to buy heaps of gowns with.

"Doubtful," Lina said, shaking her head,"She was too stern looking."

"Maybe she always looks stern." I put in helpfully.

"Not helpful, Par." I smiled: point for me, no point for Colette.

" Okay then, maybe she needs his help with something." I suggested.

Lina frowned, "What could he help her with? He's a landlord."

A thought sparked in my brain," What if he's more than that? Whenever he goes away he never tells us where he's going, what if—"

"—Paragon!"Colette interposed.

"No, listen. What if he is off doing things for the Queen?"

"Really, Paragon, of all the silly, childish—" Colette started.

"Wait Coly, what if she's right?" Finally, someone agreed with me.

I never found out what Colette would have said next, for at that moment there was a rustle of silk and Queen Delia emerged followed by my father; they both looked grim. After a speedy farewell, the Queen departed, leaving my father to the three of us. Poor man. There was a brief silence before Colette began the torrent of questions.

"Well," she asked, "What was that all about?" Father rubbed a hand over his face and sank heavily into his chair.

" I guess it's about time you knew." He began. We girls agreed entirely, so we didn't interrupt. " A long time ago, when I was young and foolish, I met Queen Delia at a ball. Well, at that point she was still Princess Delia, but no matter. Anyhow, the moment I met her I fell head-over-heels in love with her, and as I was a dashing sort of fellow, she took a fancy to me as well." I was frowning by now, angry that he had dared to love anyone but Mamma, even if he was only sixteen. " We had a grand time and once it grew late, the two of us strolled around the gardens, and I made a vow that has come back to haunt me." He sighed.

"What vow?" I prompted.

" I vowed to do whatever I could to help her, no matter what the circumstances."

"So, that's why you're gone all the time." Lina said. Father nodded even though it wasn't really a question.

"I see. So now she is taking advantage of that vow, and you, being an honest man, are holding yourself to it." Colette whispered.

"Wow, Colette, thanks for clearing that up." I said, rolling my eyes.

"Paragon, this really isn't the time." Lina admonished. "What did she want now?"

"She—she wanted the Rose of the Ivory Horn."

"The what?" Colette asked. Unlike Lina and I she didn't enjoy reading, and, thus, didn't know what the Rose was.

"You don't know?" He asked in astonishment. "The Rose is said to have healing powers. One breath of the sweet aroma of it and, viola, You're cured of any disease or illness you may have. Legend has it that the Rose is resting inside an ivory horn in the center of The Twisted Wood."

"And she wants you to retrieve this?" Colette asked incredulously," You don't actually believe it's real, do you?"

Father looked at her for a moment, "I couldn't say. Your mother believed it was, but so many people have died searching for it. The Twisted Wood is a dangerous place."

Lina opened her mouth to speak, but I knew the words before she spoke them, "Will you go?" I also knew the answer. "Yes."

"Must you!? You've only just returned!" Colette moaned," Oh, Father, please don't!"

"I vowed. It is my duty." He said firmly.

I knew there was no use arguing, but I had to try nonetheless. It was my duty. "It is also your duty to take care of us." I protested cruelly, " Will you neglect us for a foolish promise? None of us are married. What if you don't make it back?" It was harsh, I know, but anything to keep him from risking his neck for the woman he had thought he loved before he met Mamma. I wouldn't forgive him for that quite yet.

"A promise is a promise no matter how foolish it may seem, and, you, my beautiful daughters... I have full confidence that you will be able to manage yourselves well enough in my absence."

"When will you leave then?" Lina asked in a mournful tone.

"Tomorrow morning, early."

"Then we'll help you pack."She said with a nod. So, with that we all abandoned our pie, (a decision I regret to this day) and began loading the various necessary items into Father's saddle bags. Once we were through packing, we talked for hours, that is, until Colette declared that Father needed his rest at which point we all headed upstairs. Lina and I both followed Colette to her room without a word, but the moment the door was closed Colette began to speak in rapid fire.

"He's crazy! She's crazy! How can she send him into the most dangerous forest in the country alone! He can't go alone, but there's no one to go with him. Oh, Lina, what if he dies?" She burst into a flood of tears, and Lina stroked her hair.

"You're right." I said, "He can't go alone. That's why I'm going with him."

"What!?" Lina and Colette cried at once.

"You can't!" Lina said.

"No way!" Colette said.

"Why not?" I asked indignantly. It was the logical thing to do. I could wield a sword or knife as well as any boy could, I was brave, fast, and strong. To top it all off, I was great company. Not to sound conceited or anything, but I was the obvious choice.

"Because, ladies don't go traipsing off into the woods!" Colette said with a dramatic wave of her hand.

"This one does." I objected. "And I will go whether you want me to or not, so you may as well help me prepare." Sensibly Lina got up to assist me. Colette, on the other hand, just sat on her bed in shock. She, of all people, should have known that I was bound to do something crazy at some point. Perhaps she just wasn't expecting it to be this crazy.