The queen watched the two young men carry her daughters away from the oblivious guards with practiced calm. Part of her was furious that Sarai hadn't used magic to free herself, but she decided to wait before unleashing that fury later. She passed a hand over her scrying glass and sat back, making quick back up plans in case the guards didn't catch up to the boys. Just then, prince Charming entered the room. "Have you found them yet, my lady?" he asked her softly. "I have. The guards are after them now, but they're getting away." the queen replied calmly. "Then I'll go after them." the prince told her boldly. "And how do you intend to catch them?" the queen asked. "I'll gather some soldiers and wait for them in the next town." the prince replied, determined to rescue his bride. "Alright. Gather some soldiers and wait for them in the next town." the queen said, smiling on the inside at this unexpected back up plan. The prince bowed and turned to leave. "Oh, Charming. Take this." The queen tossed him a small purple vial. "It's for Rosaline. She'll most likely be flustered by all the excitement. Make sure she drinks that. It'll calm her down." the queen explained. The prince bowed again. "Thank you. You are a very kind woman." he told her sweetly and left. The queen smiled at her own cleverness.
Meanwhile, Arthur and Quin continued their journey towards the next town with about ten guards chasing them. "Geez! Don't these guys ever give up or get tired?" Quin asked as he ran with Sarai riding on his back. "They're mother's best soldiers. We call them 'forever fighters' because they never stop until they've captured their target." Sarai told him proudly. Quin scowled. "Do you want me to put the gag back in?" he asked her. "You're just mad that you're going to die soon." Sarai said with a determined grin. Arthur stopped suddenly, setting Rosaline on the ground behind him. "There's no point in running anymore. At this rate, they'll catch us before we reach the next town. It's best we fight them now." he said as he drew his sword. Quin let go of Sarai and smiled innocently when she glared at him. Arthur looked back at Rosaline, who was staring at the ground unblinkingly. She hadn't said a word since he first picked her up. "Rosaline?" he called, but she didn't answer. Rosaline closed her eyes and sighed. Her head was hurting her and she wasn't sure what to say to Arthur. It was obvious that he wasn't about to let her go without a fight, so what was she supposed to do? Arthur studied Rosaline for a moment longer before turning his attention to the approaching soldiers.
Rosaline opened her eyes and looked at Sarai, who was sitting unnaturally still and muttering something under her breath. 'A spell?' Rosaline wondered to herself. The soldiers were almost to them now. Quin grinned and let out a battle cry before charging to meet them. Arthur shook his head and followed. Sarai opened her eyes and smiled impishly. "Sarai, what did you do?" Rosaline asked, curious. "Watch." Sarai whispered, staring at the clashing warriors. Suddenly, all the warriors froze. Arthur muttered the word of release and pulled back his sword. "A pause spell? What the--?" "Run!" Sarai cried and took off in the direction of the next town. Rosaline jumped up and followed. "What are we doing, Sarai?" she asked as she ran. "Mother planned this. There should be soldiers waiting for us in the next town!" Sarai explained. Arthur turned around and saw Rosaline and Sarai running away. "Quin! The girls!" he called but Quin was still frozen. "Damn it!" he cursed as he ran to Quin and released him. "What the heck happened?" Quin asked. "No time to explain. The girls are escaping!" Arthur barked and started running towards the girls. Quin followed him, muttering a string of curses under his breath.
Just as Sarai had said, there were a line of guards waiting for them. Rosaline could see them waiting at the edge of the town, their armor glittering in the coming sunlight. She dared to steal a glance behind her and nearly choked on her breath when she saw Arthur so close them already. "Faster, Sarai!" Rosaline called. "I'm trying." Sarai wheezed. The guards were already rushing toward them. "Get them!" some called. "Hurry!" "Oof!" Sarai gasped as Arthur wrapped his arms around her and fell. Rosaline stopped and turned around. "Sarai!" she cried. "No! Go on! The prince is waiting!" Sarai called. "Rosaline!" she heard Arthur call her name, and a lump formed in her throat. She met Arthur's gaze and stood absolutely still, feeling torn between wanting to go home and wanting to be with the man she loved, even if she was a little upset with him for kidnapping her. She felt the guards rush past her and saw them surround Arthur and Sarai. A few more passed her and Quin drew his sword. Rosaline clenched her fists. "I...am...so...SICK OF THIS!!!" she cried and suddenly, a blinding white light exploded from her, swallowing everyone up. "Rosaline!" Arthur screamed, but his voice was absorbed by the light.
When the light cleared, everyone was frozen. Everyone but Rosaline and Sarai. Rosaline helped Sarai escape Arthur's frozen grasp and hugged her tight. "Go to the prince, Sarai, and tell him I can't leave Arthur." "Is that so?" a new voice asked. Rosaline turned and saw prince Charming walking towards her slowly. "You love this man?" he asked. "I do." she said boldly. "So much so that you'd abandon your family for him?" he pressed. "I..." her voice drifted off. "Think about it, Rosaline. If he truly loved you, he could never ask you to do such a thing. No honorable man would ever ask you to abandon your family for him." he said, glaring in Arthur's direction. "You don't know..." Rosaline whispered. "You don't know all the horrible things." her voice was shaking. She was losing her calm. She was scared and tired. She just wanted peace and to be with the man she loved. She wanted the fighting to stop and for her parents to let her be happy. She wanted...
Prince Charming closed the gap between them and embraced her. She flinched at his touch. "I love you, Rosaline. Please...forgive me." he whispered in her hair. Before she could respond, he swung her around so that her back was against his chest and forced a small purple vial to her lips. 'Potion!' Rosaline thought and pressed her lips into a tight line. "Hold her mouth open." Charming told a soldier and the soldier reached for her. Rosaline thrashed and clenched her teeth. 'Arthur!' she cried in her head. 'Arthur! Remember what I taught you! Use the breaking spell!' she called desperately. Arthur heard her clearly but his thoughts were moving slowly. Breaking spell...Breaking spell. What was it?
"Arthur!" Rosaline cried aloud and Charming shoved the vial in her mouth. A fiery liquid spilled down her throat. She choked and sputtered as Charming removed the vial. 'Shit. Just break already!' Arthur roared in his head and tried to stand. Suddenly, the weight he felt on his arms and legs lifted, allowing him to rise. "Rosaline!" he cried as he drew his sword and threw himself at the prince. The prince released Rosaline so that he could draw his sword. Rosaline fell to her knees, still choking and gasping for breath. The prince met Arthur's sword and pushed him off. Arthur jumped back and lunged again, aiming for the prince's exposed neck. The prince ducked and thrust his sword towards Arthur's leg. Arthur blocked and swung again. Rosaline heard the fighting and turned to watch. Her vision was starting to blur, but she could just barely make out Arthur dodging the prince's sword thrusts. "Arth..ur..." her words were slurred. 'Drug?' she thought sluggishly. And then...her mind snapped together and everything was clear. Her body relaxed and she even smiled. She wasn't sure why the prince and Arthur were fighting, but she was sure it wasn't something she had to worry about.
"Rosaline! Rosaline!" Arthur called, but Rosaline seemed to be unaware of him. Sarai wriggled out of her guard's grasp and ran to her sister. "Rosaline!" she cried, but Rosaline simply smiled even wider. "Arthur, something's wrong with Rosaline." Sarai cried. "I know! Charming made her swallow something!" Arthur called. "Rosaline! Snap out of it!" Sarai cried, shaking her sister. Rosaline giggled and grinned. "Rosaline, come ON!" Arthur yelled when suddenly, Rosaline blinked. "Okay." she said simply and stood up. She continued to smile as she approached the two fighters. "No, Rosaline. It's too dangerous!" Sarai cried. "Rosaline, stay there!" Arthur yelled. "Okay." Rosaline said and stood still. "Damn it. See, Sarai? This is why we didn't want to go back!" Arthur yelled. "But mother just wanted..." Sarai protested but Arthur knocked prince Charming over the head with the hilt of his sword (the poor guy), causing the prince to collapse once more. "What's best?" Arthur finished for her. "Fuck that."
"What do we do?" Sarai asked as the guards surrounded them. "Rosaline, snap out of it!" Arthur called, but Rosaline simply smiled as the guards drew in closer. Rosaline curtsied as the guards opened the circle wide enough for someone to enter. "Mother." she whispered happily. "Mother..." Sarai whispered as the queen entered the circle. "It's good to see you again, my dears." said the queen, giving the three of them her brightest and most cunning smile.