Okay, I know this chapter is short but I posted two so it should keep all of you reviewing for two chapters! Thanx goes to Meneldur for the corrections...

Chapter 4: Blackmail

I knew Nee had known about Galdran, and I had a few accusati- questions for her...

We were both silent as we rode in the carriage taking us back to our rooms, the noise of the wheels the only sound in the deepening night. By the time I crossed the threshold of my bedroom I had formulated a speech and from Nee's guarded face, I could see she had prepared a whole reply, already knowing what I was going to ask her. I sat in the window chair and tried to compose myself, fearing the wrong words would burst out of my lips. Gazing at me softly, Nee started, stating heavily:

'I assume you heard from Flauvic. I should have known.'

I glared at her, suddenly all my careful speech was gone and I said just as softly, but mine a hissing noise:

'You knew, you knew all these years, you sat right next to me, you never corrected me when I-I-'

I couldn't continue, shame burnt inside, I had been such a fool, believing there was an excuse for my father being the way he was. All the fairytales I had built around myself, the rumors I had ignored, and I felt my hands tremble and folded my arms, to hide it.

'I saw the letter from the Tlanthis, the crimes they said my father had committed. And suddenly, I started remembering the rumors I heard in Sartor, the disappearances, the public tortures. And YOU, you had a reason for everything, EVERYTHING. You lied to me-'

'I was protecting you, I know I should have told you when we were coming back, but I had hoped-'

'Hoped what? That I wouldn't find out that I was the daughter of a monster!'

'No. No. I had hoped he was going to change, at least to you. I tried my best-'

'To make a fool out of me? Oh how much you must have pitied me, telling you about the stories I had thought up about him, the kind ruler, the gentle father, now I understand why the former Sartoran king didn't want me associating with his daughter at first. The offspring of a tyrant.'

I had stood up by then, incensed, I couldn't see anything, as I paced.

'But why would you do it? Have a laugh at foolish royalty? Power over my father? Why pretend to be my friend, lie to me, all those days, what were they to you, Nee? A JOKE? A-'

'BLACKMAIL! THAT'S why I went to Sartor. I was just a pawn, my parents were forced to accept, it was that or murder.'

I stared at Nee in shock, Nee never lost her temper with me or anyone. I saw her flushed cheeks, a tear coursing down, her eyes already regretting her outburst, the words sinking into me. I fell down, suddenly my knees couldn't hold me, and I fell onto the bed, behind me.

'Blackmail…'

I lay back staring at the ceiling unseeingly, my whole life twirling around my eyes. Nee's pained eyes when I first met her at ten, the way she looked at me, which had slowly changed over the years, the laughs, the playing around, the lessons, the secrets, the rides. Nee was talking, she had come next to me, but not too close, but all that I could make out was garbled noises. I stood up shaking, Mora was at the doorway, I didn't know how much she had heard, probably all of it knowing Mora. Nee was calling me but I ignored her in a daze,

'I'm going to see Domitian now,' I said, then as I saw Nee, reaching a hand towards my back, I recoiled.

'Don't follow me.'

I didn't see the hurt in Nee's eyes, as Mora gently shook her head. I walked forward, down the candle lit hallways, I saw a shadow silently following me, Raphael, but I didn't talk to him. I had no tears, I mused as I entered the night's fresh breeze. I shivered unconsciously, it was cold. That was good, cold was numb, I didn't feel right now. I didn't feel… anything. I headed towards the royal stables, which had been on one of the numerous maps I had memorized of the palace. All was silent, as I went inside, a neigh immediately alerted me to Domitian. I choked a sob as I threw my arms around him. He neighed softly, asking in his own way what was wrong. I kissed his smooth black coat. I let him outside of the stable, not bothering with a saddle or reins I jumped onto him.

'Just ride Dom, I don't want to see or hear anything. I just want to forget.'

Ignoring Raphael's warnings, something about dangerous, Dom took off into the night. I felt vaguely happy; I wasn't supposed to be alone. I was rebelling against my father. Then bile rose through my throat as I considered the word I just said. 'Father', I was the daughter of Remalna's tyrant. His blood ran in my veins. I urged my friend faster as we raced in the royal wild gardens. The night air numbed everything from my brain as I clung to the only lifeline, the one friend who did not regard me as the daughter of anything. I don't know how long I rode so, maybe a few minutes, maybe an hour. But I had time to sort out my thoughts, first I needed to speak to Nee, and to my staff, find out who else had been in forced labor. Hopefully no one, they were all from Sartor. My knights of Artorius, I had handpicked, and I knew they were loyal out of their own will. Hopefully Nee would be the only one who would leave me. By this time, Dom was sweating and I decided to stop as I headed back to the stables breaking him into a trot. As soon as he was in his stall Raphael strode towards me, lantern illuminating his features as he whispered:

'Princess, do you know how dangerous-' he suddenly stopped as he saw my face.

'Come, I'll help you rub him down.'

Silently, we took care of Dom; I made sure he had everything he could need.

'Do you think I can ever go back to Sartor?' I asked myself loudly but Raphael replied:

'Patience is hard princess but you know I will do everything for-' he stopped as we heard horses trotting in front of the stables, a whole battalion of them it seemed. Raphael looked worried; blowing out the lantern he gave me a stern glance, warning me to be quiet. I knew we would get in trouble, Raphael did not count as a chaperone and in the middle of the night things would be assumed. Slowly, we crouched in Dom's stable. I heard a voice, a man, issuing sharp orders but there was too much noise for me to work out what he was saying. Slowly, I pushed the stall door open ignoring Raphael's frowns which I could imagine to be in place. The area in front of the stables was swamped with torches, there was one carriage and around 15 men, soldiers form the look of it, wearing the Remalnan green, and weapons all pointing towards the carriage. I peered curiously, wanting to see what all the fuss was about, but the carriage opened on the opposite side. An anonymous man in black, still issuing orders to his men, who scurried around like mice, marched another man; I couldn't see his face towards the palace. I heard the clinking of chains, and suddenly I realized with disgust. They were bringing a prisoner, probably some innocent person who had crossed the king, my father. Then I narrowed my eyes as the man in black turned around, staring at the stables, as if he knew someone could be hiding, I retreated cautiously, but not before I saw his pale features illuminated, I couldn't see his eyes well due to the hat but he looked young, and pale blond hair was floating in his face due to the wind. Suddenly he turned around, following the prisoner, and the rest soon dispersed. I breathed a sigh of relief, when the last soldier trotted off.

Quickly, Raphael pulled me up, swearing under his breath, and dragged towards another palace door. I could see he was furious so I wisely stayed silent, until I reached my apartments. Thrusting me into a very alarmed Mora's hand, he said:

'Here, try and keep her out of trouble for five minutes, I can't handle her right now.'

I nearly smiled at his exasperated tone as he closed the door behind us.
And then I sneezed.
And Mora kicked up a great holy fuss.

'Oh goodness gracious, look at the state of your dress, did you roll in the stables? And look at your face, your teeth are chattering,' keeping a steady stream of remonstrance she led me through taking a hot bath, putting my night dress on and brushing my hair. I was feeling warm and safe by the time she was done, but then, as I walked into my bedroom the sudden sight banished my urge to yawn. I looked, my anger long gone at Nee; she hadn't seemed to move since I had left. Someone had put a shawl on her shoulders as she gazed at me, now seeming as the one in trance. She seemed to recognize me and slowly, I knelt in front of her, on one knee. And lowering my eyes I said:

'I know I cannot apologize for even half of what my father has done to you and your family. But I ask your pardon for my part in it, I wish I had never met you if it would have given you happier memories. I-I cannot say I regret the fact Galdran sent you to me, you've been more than a friend, you were my mother and sister. But I will see what I can settle with my father, hopefully you were able to go back to your family home and leave this court with some-'

I was stopped by two fingers gently closing my mouth, I looked up, and saw Nee with tears in her eyes. Slowly she knelt down beside me, and hugged me tightly, I hugged her back.

'I never got to finish what I wanted to say. Yes I was blackmailed into coming to Sartor, but Mel, I was never happier. You were so-so- I remember when I first met you, your eyes so clear. Mel you were such an innocent child. I knew your father had not changed, but I could not tell you the truth. I did not want to crush your hopes. I admit I had some selfish reasons. I lived in court before coming to Sartor. I knew how cruel it could be, I had to stay though... We were practically hostages. And then I discovered life with you, you were so different from what I had imagined and hated. In Sartor I was free. I never knew such joy than with you in the Sartoran court. I knew I would be removed from you if Galdran ever got word I was telling you the truth. So I didn't. And I never regretted becoming your companion. So don't you ever apologize for your father, you are different, and I shall never abandon you.'

By the time she had finished I was feeling teary myself. Nee put me to bed like when I was ten, and still hugging her, I fell asleep into peaceful dreams, her warmth erasing the monsters in my mind.

Okay, I fixed some other mistakes thanks to Coeur. Enjoy, review, give me suggestions and demands...that's what i'm here for!