Nixiesocean: Hi-i! I'm updating, again. Now that Mercy's in the forest where Marcus and Hannah disappeared, things are going to accelerate faster!

Responses:

Bingo7: I know, putting characters through emotional and physical turmoil is soooo fun! Anyways, don't worry. Since Hanor isn't corrupt or evil, Renold's not going to sustain any injuries worse than what he inflicts upon himself.

Dark Ninja of Mount Hope: Since a child is half of each parent, each parent is only directly related to half of each child. Make sense? Mercy's saying she's closer blood-wise than her mother, so she has the right to be more broken up about it. Sorry if that was confusing.

Aphrodite Incarnate: I loved the trellises. Have you noticed that, though? Like every princess has some sort of vine growing outside her balcony. Nothing bad is going to happen to Renold. I love his character too much to harm him badly.

x-baby.doll-x: I'm uploading!

Lacrymose: I'm tyrannical occasionally. (smile). Every story you've read is a cliffy? Well, shucks, I'm just keeping with the crowd, then! (grin)

I hope you like this chapter.

Read and enjoy.

Chapter 15: Two Demands

Renold, in his early guard days, had seen the dungeons. Although King Jonas was the perfect king – fair, kind, charitable, and so forth – he hadn't spent enough money on making the dungeons more comfortable.

Or maybe that was the intent.

In any case, Renold now found himself in one of the very cells he had shuddered at as a guard–initiate. Most of the cells around him were empty – to his immense relief. His fellows had apologized, and he didn't blame them, they were following orders.

"You'll be presented to the king in a little while." One said.

Another met his eyes, "Just… tell the truth. His Majesty will know it."

Ah, Renold muttered to himself, famous last words: 'tell the truth'.

"Get some rest. With both royal children gone, it'll be a lot of all-nighters for a long time."

Assuming I get out. He added.

He was going over Mercy's daring escape when the cell bars rattled as his guard – how ironic – fiddled with the lock.

He stood and allowed them to lead him to the audience chamber.

He had, after all, failed.

- - - - - - - - - -

Mercy covered her mouth, fearing the lion would roar again. She slowly bent down to find the dagger. Her finger gently passed over the blade, giving her a small cut. She closed her palm around the hilt and straightened, determined to not let her true fear show.

The lion regarded her with little surprise. It yawned and Mercy saw the sharp, pearly-white teeth of the great cat. She looked into its sky blue eyes again.

It seemed to tell her, "come with me", but she knew that was insane because the lion couldn't possibly be thinking anything but, "what a tasty side dish".

Yet, she was tempted to climb onto its back.

This lion entranced her. It had golden curls and was sleekly muscled. She tentatively reached out a hand, fully expecting the lion to bite it off. Instead, it stood and rubbed her hand with its muzzle. She softly scratched it behind an ear and she heard a gentle purring noise.

She smiled and put her arms around its neck. Suddenly, her body began moving, though she wasn't telling it to. She climbed onto the lion's back and buried her fingers in its mane and held on as it took the dark forest in great leaps. Despite her getting lost, obviously this cat knew the forest, and wasn't wandering aimlessly, like her.

Finally, it stopped at the mouth of the cave. It was dark, even more so than the lightless world this forest had become. The lion began walking into it and she involuntarily shuddered.

She held on, trusting where this kind cat was taking her.

- - - - - - - - - -

"Renold Smithson," The snobby herald announced. Everyone in the room knew him. They knew he was the guard to Princess Mercy. And the fact that he was called up to the stand, and not the guard taking a prisoner up, mystified the crowd.

He was in a lot better shape than the poor wretch who had just left, that one must've been a city prisoner, Renold thought to himself. He was still clean, his uniform kept and his eyes not so hollowed. He stood of his own free will, though there was a chair for those detainees who were too tired to stand.

King Jonas looked down at his daughter's guard. "Renold Smithson." He confirmed. The guard nodded. "I am surprised to see you here." He said nothing. "How did my daughter escape you? I heard she had not escaped your presence since Prince Marcus chose you for his sister's guard!"

"That claim is not false, Your Majesty." Renold said with the proper respect in his voice.

"How did she escape this time?" He persisted.

"Her Highness made very little noise – aside from the crying. I saw Her Majesty come and leave Her Highness' room. I heard Her Highness pull drawers out, and assumed she was dressing for the day, and stood at my post.

"I awaited Her Highness' exit from the rooms she occupies. I heard the doors to her balcony open, and assumed she wanted fresh air. It was not until I heard no movement a few minutes later that I became worried. Her Highness has never tried to escape out her own room before, I think because she never had a reason to.

"I am sorry, for I entered her rooms without a request to do so. I entered her room; worried she might have been hurt by someone or something. I called for her; I heard no response. I saw the open balcony and made the assumption she had climbed out the window.

"I ran to the stables, sure she would try there first. As I was trying to enter, she galloped past. I entered and borrowed another horse to try and catch her. Alas, I followed her to The Royal Forest. There, she dismounted and fled into it. I was unsure as to follow her into it."

King Jonas breathed deeply. "Do you have more people to confirm your story?"

One of the men who had brought him to the stand said, "I was there Your Majesty, I saw Guardsman Smithson running through the halls and followed." King Jonas nodded.

"I, also, was there." The other said. "I saw Guardsman Cooper running through the halls, and followed."

The king rubbed his temples. He straightened. "Guardsman Smithson," Renold snapped to attention. "I hereby find you innocent of failure to do one's duty. Come back with me."

Renold numbly stepped down and followed the king to a back room.

Innocent? He repeated to himself.

King Jonas looked him in the eyes when he closed the door. "You cannot blame yourself for this."

"I do." Renold said.

"It was Mercy's choice to escape, you tried your best. I find it hard to believe that Sergeant Miller even brought you to me. Your loyalty is well known." The guard said nothing. "Resume your duties, until Mercy gets back. You can continue being her guard from then on."

Continue? Renold blinked. "Your Majesty, with all due respect, but, being Her Highness' bodyguard was my duty."

King Jonas laughed. "I had forgotten how dedicated to her you are!" He shook his head. "Take leave until she gets back."

Renold breathed inward deeply. "I would prefer to be on duty."

The king sighed. "Of course you would be." He patted the younger man's shoulder. "You will be on palace guard duty then. Report to Lieutenant Miller tomorrow morning."

Renold Smithson blinked, "Sir?"

His king smiled. "Sergeant Miller's younger brother is Lieutenant Miller."

He hadn't expected his king to be so well informed about palace guards. "Yes, Your Majesty."

- - - - - - - - - -

The darkness seemed to penetrate Mercy's very bones. Her eyes screamed for light as she rode the lion further into the cave. The pure darkness – completely devoid of anything resembling the light she desired – scared her, and she had no desire to climb down off the lion's back. It didn't matter if he found something to fight, she would stay on and hope the other animal didn't kill her.

She didn't dare speak. The inky blackness seemed to absorb anything and everything, even her dark hair.

She shuddered. Just when she thought she'd scream from the horrors of being in such darkness, a light appeared. At first it burned her eyes, but she soon found she had adjusted. They slowly walked to it, allowing her eyes to gently change from the darkness into the newfound light.

She untangled her fingers, and she found her hands were throbbing from clenching them so hard for so long. Finally, they emerged into full sunlight, the most sunlight she had seen for what seemed to be years.

She gasped at the sight. It was perfect, ironically, the birds sang in sweet chorus, she heard the gurgling of running water, and to make the sight perfect, a splendid palace lay at the top of a hill. The light seemed to shine right on it, making the golds, silvers, bronzes and brasses shimmer delicately. They kept walking until they reached the palace gates. There, the lion halted.

She sighed and laid her head on the lion's neck. Gently, she found it slid her off in its great paws and put her on the ground. The grass beneath her was soft and smelled better than any grass she'd even lain in.

Mercy noted for the first time that the lion was even more golden in hue than she had thought. Its fur was almost pure gold, with flecks of tan. His mane was curlier than she had seen in the darkness, and was very full. Its eyes met hers, and they achingly reminded her of her lost brother.

"This is lovely," She told it, lifting a hand to touch its muzzle and gently brushing her fingers over the delicate hairs. "Am I in heaven?"

She heard what she suspected was a laugh; she jerked her hand back. Rubbles rocked the ground she lay on. "No, maiden." It told her.

She, amazingly, wasn't surprised the lion talked. Mercy had thought that there had been a glint of abnormal intelligence when it walked unafraid through that horrifying darkness.

"This is my garden." Then, she noticed the lion had a deep voice. She suspected the lion was male. Then, its – no, his – attitude changed. His eyes met hers again. "I have a proposal – something you cannot refuse. You shall live in the beautiful house and serve me, and if you carry out all my orders, you shall see your brother again."

- - - - - - - - - -

Disclaimer: I did use a quote from the original fable. Virtual cookies to the one(s) who can guess what it

is!

I hope you enjoyed this chapter in the story. Please, review.

Tschüs!

Nixie