Okay... it's been about three years since I've updated this story. During that time, I haven't been on this site. But, well, I'm in college now and while my my major is Physical Education I still found myself in a creative writing class. And I thought "Hey, I should go back to that one site and work on that one story and get in some practice and maybe get some outside-of-class feedback.

I'm not going to summarize this. If you still remember every detail after three years, you're a stalker who is obsessed with me. So if you haven't read this recently, please go back and catch up. If you're new and I imagine most of you will be new, welcome and I hope you enjoy. Please comment, good or bad.

Oh, and I don't know what this beta thing is. So if you catch any errors, please point them out to me. I hope I don't have too many.

My dress was still very much wet. Wet clothes are no good at improving my mood. I was, in no particular order, wet, cold, tired, confused, and angry. Yesterday Prince David had said he could come with me if I left to find Lydia. He had said it with clear sarcasm and nastiness, mere words to an irritating wife. I hadn't been thought suited for politics, but I could pick up at least that much of human behavior.

And yet here he was, actually following through on his words.

I should have been flattered. And yes, my heart did do a tiny flip in jubilee of such a noble gesture. At least my husband was honest and trustworthy.

Too bad I was still mad at him.

"You tricked me," I said, resisting the urge to stamp my foot. "David, you tricked me."

Jesser gently raised his hand. "Princess, I was the one to kidnap you. A bigger trick than my cousin's."

It was at this time I realized just how insane was this conversation. Here we were, standing out in the middle of the trees an entire ten miles away from the palace, arguing over who would rescue my possibly-already-dead sister. The sensible part of me wanted so badly to just end it. Be practical. Find a way to make us all reasonable happy and return to the rescue of Lydia.

But, once again, I was wet and miserable. I whirled to face Jesser, my finger already pointed at his irritatingly handsome face. "I'm mad at you, too!"

That immediately quieted him.

This wasn't like me. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and waited for the old Moriah to slowly return. She took her time about it. I could just imagine David and Jesser staring at me. At least they were silent. I needed the silence.

Finally, I opened my eyes. Yes, the men were staring at me. Jesser looked uncomfortable, David just looked mad.

"David," I said softly. "Please. If you care for me, go home and put together a plan. You're the reader. You're smart. You can find a way to rescue her. If you trust Jesser, send him ahead with me. I know I should stay at the palace, but… Lydia is my big sister and… I can't explain it. I have to go for her." I sniffed. I did not want to cry in front of either of them. "She would want me to."

The anger faded from David's face. Annoyance replaced it. "Moriah, no. I can't. I told you I would come with you. I'm going to come with you. I would trust Jesser with my life and certainly with you, but… what kind of man just lets his wife run out into the countryside?"

He was doing this for his own honor. The thought was both kind and selfish.

"I'm your husband," he continued sternly. "I say that I'm coming."

I nodded meekly, thinking of how anyone else in my family would probably have spat at him.

"Good. Jesser, there's a guard back toward the road. We'll ask him to return to the palace and bring us back some supplies."

"Dresses," I replied instinctively. "I'll need something to wear."

David gave a brief smile. "All right, then. Dresses. Any particular ones?"

I shrugged. I suddenly felt silly for wanting dresses. Who took dresses when traveling? Even I knew that much. But I wanted them. "Have Ella pick a few out. Your mother has wonderful taste."

"Dresses, then," Jesser said. The laugh was barely hidden in his throat. "Horses. David, I'll go through your weapons… eh, I'll just shut up now. I know what you need. I'll be right back."

David and I were silent after Jesser left. I did not know what else to say.

"Jesser has been on many expeditions," he finally said. "He's an expert."

"He put a bag over my head and carried me off. Doesn't that make you mad?"

"Actually, I think it's kind of funny." But he didn't laugh.

"There was a witch." I shivered at the memory. "She made me fall in quicksand."

"Your bad night, huh." He took a few steps toward me. "Moriah, I had no idea. I mean, I had always heard about witches living out here but… did Jesser rescue you?"

I nodded and hugged my chest.

"He's very strong that way."

"David, it was awful." Sniffing back another round of tears I fell into him. At least he would hug me. Even if I were mad at him.

He did hug me. It was nice. That was David. Nice. Except when he was bossing me around. "I had no idea it would go this far."

"I just want to find Lydia," I muttered. "David, I'm sorry I awful yesterday. That's usually not me."

"I know. You're a very sweet girl."

I released myself from him. He seemed glad I did, but I didn't care. The feeling was more or less mutual. I had just wanted a hug. "Jesser has a copy of the map."

He nodded. "I already studied it. In fact…" He reached into his trouser pocket and pulled out a bronze round object.

"What's that?"

He flipped it open to reveal a blood-red needle.

"I still don't know it is."

The look he gave me was pitying. "It's a compass, Moriah. Have you ever seen one?"

"I've heard of them." I felt stupid. Willow or Lydia would have known.

"It points north. According to your sister's map…" He rested the compass in his palm and did an awkward body spin. "We need to go that way."

"Jesser said it was weeks away."

"Yes. Hence the reason I sent for supplies. I always want to be prepared."

"Thank goodness for you, then. I don't think Jesser had much of anything."

"Jesser spends a lot of time in the outdoors," David explained as he slipped the compass back into his pocket. "He's a survivalist. Make do with the least amount possible."

"But you hunt sometimes," I pointed out.

He shrugged. "I prefer to have what I need."

Silence returned. I found myself thinking of Jesser. When would he return? He was, I had to admit, entertaining.

"So you met a witch," David said. "What was she like?"

"Ugly," I said. "Like a hag." I imitated her hair with my hands. "Something out of a storybook."

"At least all she did was attack you with quicksand."

"What do you mean?"

"She could have easily made frogs and toads spill from your mouth." He said that a little too eagerly for my taste, and I reeled back in disgust. "I remember when I was a kid and we'd come camping out here. Sometimes you'd see the witches in the trees…"

"Did one ever talk to you?" I asked, suddenly intrigued.

He nodded, eyes glowing. "Yes! It was about six years ago, actually. I was out here and she asked me if I had any food to spare. And I did, and, well, you know how much I like to eat—"

I groaned and closed my eyes. "Please tell me you didn't refuse her!" Though that would make the story more interesting.

"Actually, I didn't refuse her."

I frowned. I hadn't realized I had been smiling in anticipation, but now I frowned. "That's…"

"That's what?"

"Boring."

"Probably. She didn't look like she really wanted the cheese and apple pie I gave her. They were good, too. But she took them and then conjured up a swarm of hornets to chase me back home."

I laughed.

"What's so funny?" Jesser came walking through the trees, looking as flippant as he had when he had kidnapped me. "Well, cousin, supplies are in the process of arriving. Just remember that I am also royalty and therefore you get to do the next task."

"I thought you liked giving commands."

'True," he said thoughtfully. "I do like giving commands. That is good."

And suddenly I no longer existed. Jesser and David set to their own conversation, one that didn't involve me.

Was this what a wild adventure looked like? Standing about waiting for supplies? No one in my family would have stood for this!

And they were ignoring me.

No. That wasn't true.

Jesser shot me the briefest glance, complete with a smile, before he turned away.

I felt my knees go weak.