Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Author's Note: I know Blake was mean, but have no fear.

Stories and Plots

Before the men could fully take a good look at Tori Blake had pulled her out of the room and shut the door. "I told you not to go in there."

"Well gee, how am I supposed to know? It's not like I spend every day here."

"Come on, I'll show you to your room." Blake took Tori's hand and led her down the way that the maid had told Tori and didn't stop until he got in front of a door. "There."

"Thanks. You do realize that I can walk by myself?"

"After that? Now I suppose you want to get changed before dinner—which will be soon, so…"

And with that Blake walked off. As he looked back he saw Tori going into her room. He shook his head and headed to his own room. On the way he ran into Hunter, "Where've you been?"

"Took her on a walk."

"Did you leave her there?"

"Yes. She made it back."

"Wow, that's good—was she mad?"

"Yeah she was mad."

"Blake you come up with the idea and now you sound like you're regretting it."

"I just want to talk about something else."

As the two brothers walked off Blake started thinking about how Tori looked. Why had he done that? Now he felt horrible, it seemed like a good idea at the time and then when they had started talking that was all he had thought about, but now…he just wished he hadn't done that. He would talk to her and apologize, of course that would have to wait until later; dinner was soon.

When Blake and Hunter entered the dining room they noticed Tori was already at the table. They sat down and waited for the parents to enter which was a few minutes later. The conversation consisted mostly of his parents while Hunter, Blake and Tori remained mostly quiet unless they were spoken to. Before long the parents both exited the room.

"So how are you liking your stay here?" Hunter asked Tori.

"I just got here."

"I know." Hunter said before going back to eating.

"Well," Tori started and looked straight at Blake, "I had a wonderful time on a walk that I was able to enjoy by myself. The lack of company was quite nice actually."

Blake raised an eyebrow, "Really? So no trouble getting back?" After he said that he wished he could have taken it back Tori's cheeks had become pink.

"Well, I guess I'll go to bed." And Tori stood and left.

Hunter and Blake didn't say much more while finishing dinner. Afterwards they went to bed as well hoping to avoid questions from their parents as to why Tori was in bed already.

Blake and Hunter made their way towards the dining room. They had just finished their work out and were both hungry. Blake knew he was going to take time to talk to Tori, it would just have to wait until after breakfast. They were almost at the door when Thom came up to them, "Your majesties Edward and Sarah request that you explain why you're so late to the Princess Tori."

"Alright." Hunter said and the page took off. "Don't worry, I'll explain." Hunter said as they entered the room. Tori was already sitting there eating; when they entered she merely glanced up before returning to her food. After Hunter and Blake sat down Hunter spoke up, "We apologize for being late. See we take pride in learning how to be the best at everything."

Tori looked up with a smile on her face, "To show that you're men?"

The brothers looked at each other before Blake spoke up, "Yeah I guess you could say that."

"Oh, well in that case it makes perfect sense. We have the same thing in our country."

"Really?" Hunter asked.

"Yes. So what do you do that shows you are men? Competition, challenge?"

Blake looked over at Hunter and then back at Tori before speaking, "We have a sparring match."

"That's all? Oh."

"Why? What do you guys do?" Asked Hunter.

"Oh, well it's a challenge. What happens is if you consider yourself worthy then you go to the land west of our kingdom. The King there is evil." Hunter raised an eyebrow at this statement. "He has an evil sorcerer that helps him out. The sky up above that place never matches ours, there's darkness the surrounds you as you step over the borders. You get confused, angry, hurt and lost." Tori looked around before leaning closer across the table. "But you don't just step over the border; you have to go to the courtyard in front of his castle. "There you will see a tree that has golden apples on it."

"Let me guess, you have to take it."

Tori looked at Hunter and rolled her eyes, "It's not that simple. There's a pit surrounding the tree and in it are deadly snakes that are lying there hungry, waiting for someone to come so they can finally feed." Tori paused and looked out the window for a minute before turning back to the two brothers, "And when you get the apple a shrill whistle comes from somewhere in the castle for someone is watching the tree, waiting for someone to take an apple so that way they can get you."

"What do they do when you're caught?"

"Well see they get awfully hungry over there. There are no animals over there; no plants grow so they can eat, so they simply wait to eat other things." She leaned closer, "Humans. If you're caught, they'll eat you."

Hunter scoffed at that part, "Right, so do the ones eaten come back?"

Tori shook her head, "No. But there are a few who have come back missing an arm, even other parts. They chop it off bit by bit."

"So in order for someone to be considered a man they have to go and do that?"

Tori shrugged, "Yes, it's been done before you know."

"Really who?"

"My brother."

A snort came from Hunter, "Him?" Blake kicked him quietly under the table, even though he felt the same way; he wasn't going to say that out loud.

Tori stared defiantly at him, "What's that supposed to be mean?"

"How can we be sure you're telling the truth?" Blake asked.

"You can't. But if you don't trust me, that's fine." There was silence for a few minutes as Tori finished up her meal and then she smiled at them and left.

Blake watched her leave, "Do you believe that story?"

"No. That's ridiculous."

"But the place she was talking about had that weird sky, remember?"

"Let's not talk about it anymore okay?"

Blake noticed that Hunter had gotten very uncomfortable all of a sudden so he dropped the topic.

Meanwhile back in Tori's Kingdom her Father, King Kanoi is meeting with another King yet again.

"Do you not see my plea?"

"We created the betrothal in order to prevent future war. If I support you, I go against the agreement."

"Think of your daughter. Mine was ripped from me. I don't have her anymore."

"But it was an accident."

"So he says. He was alone with her; we don't know what really happened."

"But why would they want to kill your daughter?"

"I don't know. But I was talking with King Chanil and he was telling me about how his brother's daughter was also killed, or murdered."

"The Northern Kingdoms?"

"Yes. She was alone with Prince Jacob, you know King Nove's son, and she was killed. He says somehow she fell off a cliff."

"Where was he?"

"He said he couldn't do anything because a fog was there, even though it was a clear day throughout the rest of the Kingdom. Explain that."

"Listen, allow me some more time to think about it, and I will speak to you when you have calmed down."

"Do you want your daughter to die? King Nove is Queen Sarah's brother. Both of their sons had a girl that they were alone with murdered. How do we know it's not a plot? Your girl could be in danger every second she is with Prince Blake."

King Kanoi looked outside before turning back to him, "Please get some more rest, I must think on this."

"Fine, I'll leave for now, but just be warned, if your daughter disappears you can bet that she is dead."