A/N: Apparently the last chapter caught your attention. I'd like to thank you all who reviewed. It was a pleasant surprise that there were so many of you.

Wyatt Cain stood guard as Princess DG allowed her consciousness to delve in on itself to the place where her bonding with the Land resided in her soul. It was before dawn, but the war camp was already bustling with activity. Today they would attack.

The soldiers - both Ozarian and Goblin - knew their jobs and would fulfill them to the best of their individual abilities. But that didn't mean that the princess would just sit back and wait for the battle to end. No, she was communing with the Land to try to spin the odds in their favor.

DG wasn't bonded to all Land like some earth witches were - she was bonded to the Labyrinth. But land knew land and word got around quite quickly on that level of things. The O.Z. land would help her because she was their once-princess and the bond-mate to their darker half.

Wyatt was busy keeping watch for attack when he heard a startled gasp from behind him. He turned to find the princess looking almost horrified.

Blue eyes met blue eyes, the worry reflected in his calmed her slightly as she answered his unspoken question. "They have a spy."

Wyatt moved forward to help her stand. She leaned against him gratefully, and neither one would admit how much faster their hearts beat because of the increased touch.

"Can you tell who it is?" he asked, his fingers flexing over his side-arm.

She shook her head, "For that we'll need a Viewer."

He nodded and helped her walk back to the main camp, shouting for a Viewer to meet them in the command tent set up in the central part of the circular group of tents.

DG was drinking a glass of water when General Dugan came in with a Viewer at his side. DG recognized him for two reasons - the first being that she had seen him at a state dinner some years back when she was still a Princess of the O.Z., the second being that she had watched him die in the memories of what never was. It was Lylo.

"The Princess believes there's a spy in our midst," Cain explained to the viewer. "Is there a way for you to find out who it is?"

Lylo closed his eyes and concentrated on the emotions of those in the camp, trying to sort out which had emotions different from the others. Unfortunately he kept on becoming stalled by the strong emotions radiating off the princess.

At long last he shook his head. "Lylo cannot see through so many," he sighed in defeat. His eyes met the princess's, "Lylo sorry."

DG nodded, not wanting to push the Viewer to do the impossible. She smiled slightly at him, "That's okay, Lylo. I know you tried your best."

The Viewer hesitated. He reached for DG's hand and she let him take it, knowing that he would be able to peer into her mind more strongly with the connection. "But Lylo feel something."

DG's eyes were wide as she looked into his. She waved Dugan away, "Why don't you and Cain go expect the goblins' weapons? Make sure they're sharpening their hand weapons properly."

Cain frowned, uncertain that he should leave the princess, but she met his eyes and nodded. "I'll be fine - I'm surrounded by an army."

"One of which happens to be a spy," he countered.

She raised her eyebrows, "Don't worry, Mr. Cain, if he comes after me I'll just go at him with my mad fighting skills."

He snorted at that, but left with General Dugan anyway.

"What is it, Lylo?" she asked when they were alone.

"Lylo feel confusion, anger, and much love coming from Princess's heart. Very strong."

DG opened her mouth to respond but a sharp dart of pain in her arm stopped her. The world went hazy around her and she saw Lylo drop to the floor as the tent flap opening to reveal three soldiers dressed in Ozarian uniforms. She felt her body weight go dead and she dropped to the floor, her heart sending out a shrill call to Cain for help. One of the soldiers was carrying a wicked looking collar.

--

When I say go, run, the voice in her head told her. Az looked around, frowning, trying to pinpoint where the voice was coming from.

Stop looking for me and when I say go, run. The voice seemed quite insistent but Az was still too curious to do anything like try to run from her captors.

Who are you? she asked silently.

A guardian from your sister. I'm going to drop down on the back of your head now and release the binding on the collar. Try not to move.

She tensed as she felt a small something land on her neck, shimmying itself between her skin and the collar that bound her magick.

How are you able to do this? Az asked curiously.

Goblin magick, the creature on her neck grunted. No noise sounded, but Az felt a slight decrease in the pressure of the blasted collar.

Thank you, she replied.

There was a commotion outside the cave, drawing Az's attention away from the little goblin on her neck. Her eyes went wide when she saw who entered.

--

Wyatt wasn't sure how, but only a few minutes after exiting the tent with DG and Lylo, he knew she was in trouble and he was needed.

Without waiting for General Dugan to follow, he ran straight back for the tent, arriving in time to see a man dressed in the Ozarian army uniform - a corporal - leaning down to fix an evil looking collar to DG's neck.

His gun was out in an instant and he was going for the two guards standing next to him. One shot was fired and one of the guards went down without a fight. Wyatt heard twin shrieks of rage that seemed to come from the Princess's prone form as the gun went off, but he was too busy taking out his anger on the second standing traitor to pay the noises much mind.

Fists, arms, and legs flew, pounding into the enemy. His gun fell from his hand, becoming lost in the scuffle. The man on the ground beneath him stopped resisting the battering of fists into his face and chest as Wyatt laid into him.

"Colonel!" he heard from above him. "I think he's had enough," Devon Dugan reassured, prying the bloodied man away from the traitor on the ground.

Wyatt looked around the now quiet tent, spotting three more enemy soldiers with matching blood stains on their pants on the ground. Next to them stood two malicious looking goblins with forks held tightly in their grubby hands, blood dripping off the prongs sadistically. The enemy was neutralized.

Panic written across his face, Wyatt knelt down beside the princess and pried the collar off with his bare hands. He felt for a pulse, relieved that it was strong and her breathing was steady. When she didn't stir, however, his heart jumped into his throat which now seemed to constrict to the size of a pin needle.

--

DG felt like there was a marching band playing as loudly as possible behind her temples. She opened her eyes, surprised that the first thing she saw was the concerned gaze of her sister.

"Az?' she whispered weakly.

The elder princess nodded with a smile, "It's going to hurt for a little while longer, Deej - the dart had griffin blood on it. Just try to rest."

DG frowned, her mind foggy, "But … how?"

Az smiled warmly, "It seems you have a lot of small friends, little sister. Ding helped me get my collar off. After that it was just a matter of teleportation. Your Colonel Cain seemed surprised to see me. Said something about you not being able to teleport me out yourself for fear of burning entrails."

"Something like that," DG replied with a slight smile. "Where's Ding?"

Her sister motioned to the far side of the medical tent, "Getting bandaged up by one of the other goblins - Jingle I believe the name was. I believe your personal guards Push and Pull are over there as well."

DG furrowed her brow, "What happened, Az? Are they hurt?" She tried to sit up but the other princess pushed her back down.

"They're fine. I can't say the same thing about the men who attacked you, though." Az gave her a knowing look, "Castration, dear sister?"

She shrugged, "It seemed like it'd get the point across."

"How goblin of you."

"Now I can't even leave you alone for two minutes without you getting into trouble," Wyatt said, his eyes betraying how worried he really was as he walked up to the bed where DG was lying.

She gave him a blank look as she replied blandly, "Apparently not. Maybe you'll just have to return to the Labyrinth with me to make sure I don't fall down any stairs or stub my toe in the maze."

The sides of his mouth twitched slightly in a smile he refused to let out, "At least that griffin blood didn't affect your sense of humor." He sat down on the other side of the bed from Az, giving DG a serious look as he added, "Don't do that again."

"Okay. I'll just tell King Jackson that he can't send kidnappers for me anymore because you don't like it." DG smiled sweetly as she said it, letting him see the stupidity of his order.

He glared at her, not rising to her bait. Az snorted at the pair in a very unfeminine manner. It was better than watching the comedy shows in Central City.

--

"Now that things are starting to turn around there, I expect you'll be home soon," Jareth said to his niece a week later after the griffin blood had gotten out of her system.

DG nodded, she had been away from home so long it was logical, "That is what you'd expect. But I won't be coming home just yet."

Jareth frowned, "Sarah was hoping for your help in planning the wedding." He paused for a moment before he said, "And I was hoping that you'd help me with my gift for Sarah."

She smiled sadly, "I know - and I still hope to be there for that, Uncle, but I'm needed here, too."

"How is your sister?" he asked, refering to the break Az had suffered in her leg two days ago.

DG shook her head, "Lylo says the break it too severe for him to heal completely. She won't be able to travel for two weeks at least. Besides, we're safer when we're together."

Jareth resigned himself to the absence of his niece. Changing the subject he asked, "And how goes things with your bond mate?"

DG looked over her shoulder to where Cain stood guard a few yards away. She sighed, "I haven't had the courage to tell him, yet. He's such a wonderful man … but he's lost so much." She turned back to her uncle, "You know he hasn't left my side since the kidnapping attempt."

"Must make bathing a bit difficult," Jareth quipped.

DG chuckled, "He turned beet red the first time I mentioned I had to take a bath. Spent the entire time scanning the wood. Nearly scared me out of my mind with the paranoia."

"I'm sure it wasn't that bad."

She gave him a look, "He pulled his gun on a squirrel."

"It was obviously a possessed squirrel."

"It was climbing up a tree."

--

Az turned the last page in her book, setting it down with a smile. There was something about this Other Side author Charlotte Brönte that drew her in. She had such a way with words, and Jane Eyre was one of the princess's favorites.

Her smile turned into a grimace as her leg started to throb, the pain killers wearing off again. It was miraculous that her leg was the only thing that broke when she fell from the horse, but that didn't make it hurt any less.

A hand appeared in her line of vision, offering her two capsules and a glass of water. Azkadellia looked up into the kind face of a man perhaps ten annuals older than herself, with the most expressive grey eyes she had ever seen.

"Thank you," she whispered softly as she took the pills. The pain killing effect was almost instantaneous. "What's your name?"

"Adrian Zero."

Az smiled, for some reason the name pleased her. She motioned toward the chair at the side of her bed, "Please, sit."

He obeyed, not quite sure what to say. "I find it hard to believe that that horse threw you, Princess."

"It's Az," she responded, "And Colonel Cain said they found a burr on the saddle blanket."

Adrian nodded, "That would explain it then." He looked around the room as they fell into silence. His eyes came to rest on a game board. "Do you play chess, your high - Az?"

She giggled at his near slip. "Yes, I do. Would you like to play, Zero?"

He mock glared at her, "It's Adrian. I'd love to play, Az. Just don't expect me to go easy on you because you're a princess."

Her eyes danced as she replied, "I wouldn't dream of it."

As the game started, Adrian cleared his throat, "What was the book you were reading?"

Az glanced down at the book, taking her turn, "Oh, that. It's a novel from the Other Side called Jane Eyre. My father called it a Victorian Romance - although I'm not quite sure whether that was a compliment."

"Was it any good?" he prodded further, taking his pawn and moving it forward.

She nodded, mimicking his move, "For a romance."

"What do you prefer to read, Az?"

"Mysteries. And you, Adrian?"

"Nonfiction historical military records," he replied with a smirk.

She laughed at that, causing his smirk to widen into a real smile. "You have a beautiful laugh, Prin- Az."

She just smiled and took her move on the board.

A/N: The raging feminist in me was dead set on having Az rescue herself. Any and all complaints can be sent to her. Oh, and I thought Jane Eyre was fitting ... although in this the role of the heroine and the leading man are rather switched ... tehe.

For those who are interested: I got very good news in concerns to my car today at the DMV and from the auto part store.