A/N: It's been a while, hasn't it? I've been so busy with my soul eater FF that I dropped everything else! Anyways, so we left off a while ago with them having some gold ol' fashioned violence! Things are getting VERY interesting in this chapter!

Chapter 6: A Battle of the Wits

Kilendree's outer gates loomed before them, resigned sentries posted on the outer perimeter. A more simple carriage stood just inside the gates, being pulled to the side by a stable-hand. Just as they thought, Selia had come ahead of them, probably to bring some false word of the princess being ill. She wouldn't head them off this time; they had something so much better up their sleeve. They strode up to the gates, feeling the eyes of the sentries upon them. Though much time had passed, they still recognized the princess easily.

"Princess! Such a surprise, I heard that you were indisposed to attend this visit!" One cried, dropping into a quick bow. "But, milady, if it is not out of place to say so, you seem to have had a rough journey. Is all quite well?" They looked at her inquisitively, and she merely smiled with an eerie sort of charm that made the sentries shiver.

"But of course everything is quite alright. Might I speak with my mother, or Caleb, perhaps? Since he is King, after all," Isi used her coolest tone, and she was admitted in silence, the sentries murmuring to each other worriedly. Adalard and Geric both gave her curious looks, but said nothing. She was determined, and if there was one thing anyone who knew Isi knew about her, it was that there was no stopping her when she had a purpose to her. They walked into the throne room, interrupting a kneeling Selia in midsentence, something about a dreadful ailment. Isi stepped forwards and curtsied smoothly, then fixed her gaze upon her brother. Adalard and Geric bowed promptly, then also gazed steadily at the king.

"Anidori?" Caleb was noticeably perplexed, and Selia's eyes widened, and they heard her mutter about 'too late'. "I'm delighted to see you, but… I was just being made aware that you had a terrible ailment, sister-dear."

"Is that so? I was quite unaware that I was so ill! Dear me, Selia, you should have told me! Oh yes, that would have been difficult for you now, wouldn't it have been?" Caleb looked back and forth from the princess to her lady-in-waiting, then settled on staring at his sister.

"What's the meaning of this, Selia?"

"My liege," Selia began softly, letting her soft voice lilt persuasively, "I was ashamed of it, you see, so I was pretending illness for my lady's sake. She's been quite disturbed by the whole situation; in fact, the doctors believe it's driven her… mad," she whispered, as though quite distraught. Isi laughed, then took another step toward the throne, eyes steady.

"Look into my eyes, and tell me that these are the eyes of a madwoman, brother. Please, let me explain what truly happened since that last day that you saw me…" And with that, Isi launched into the tale of her struggles, her brother's eyes growing to look more like saucers by every word spoken.

…Lakeside Princess…

"And that's that," finished Isi, Geric confirming her story quietly, then continuing into the revised version that they had practiced.

"Yes, but sadly, she had arrived just after the marriage was finalized. I understood my gaffe too late, and Selia had already become my wife. She then started making arrangements for a war to cover her bloody actions. It was wretched, to have come to the point where I must beseech my princess for clemency, and for such a beautiful lady to be clad in the rags of a goose girl. Please receive my apologies, King Caleb."

"Come now, Prince," laughed Selia, "You needn't play along with her mad claims against me. In the end, you are only hurting her by letting her believe that what she thinks happened is actually true." Adalard seemed to snarl, and Geric, turned sharply to her.

"You seek to question the veracity of my word? That could be seen as treason, you know," quipped Geric, and Selia flinched. "Surely, now, Selia, you did not think that just because we're married means that I will not show you as the traitor you are."

"Nonsense! She didn't show up until-" Selia stopped midsentence, realizing that she had slipped up dreadfully. Just then, the doors crashed open, and in marched the last people Isi had expected to see; gritty Enna with Finn by her side, Razo and Conrad, and an army of the other forest folk behind them. Smiling broadly, Razo sauntered up to her and punched her lightly on the arm. Caleb seemed shocked at the movement, and Geric gave Selia a smug nod.

"Did you really think Enna-girl over there was going to let you do this on your own?" Razo chuckled, then turned to the others. "Heck, did you think any of us were going to let you do this on your own? Enna sent poor Finn running out of his ma's house with no shoes and a knit tunic." At this Finn blushed heavily, and Enna kissed him on the cheek playfully. At this he was red from chin to hairline, and Isi giggled.

"I love you all, you do know that, right?" Enna came up and hugged her best friend tightly, then turned to the King.

"Seems we were a little late for the last of Isi's stories, but this one's true. You don't believe her and the prince? Try us," Enna stated clearly, chicken feathers in her hair and all. Slowly, she pulled the crown of goose feathers from her skirt and placed it on top of Isi's yellow hair. "I think you forgot a little something." They waited for Caleb's answer expectantly, and eventually the young man spoke.

"Take that lady-in-waiting to the dungeons, and send word to Bayern of her lies." And with that, Geric swept Isi up into his arms, and Caleb strolled out of the room, while Selia was dragged into the depths of the palace.