Ok so I apologize for the long wait and this one isn't as long as the last one but still longer than the others. So I hope you're satisfied with it. Also at this time I would like to thank all my reader's for the reviews and I got exactly six although there was one unknown, naughty. So much love to these five you guys are awesome and pls continue to review and if anyone has any suggestions feel free to leave it in a review.

Her serenity- somehow always first and no it's not always but you can keep growling it's cute ;)

WolfDragonGod- happy to hear you liked it I aim to please

BladeMaster- maybe you'll love how it turned out *hint hint nudge nudge*

NamelessSaint- I do try ;) but perhaps you'll like this better

PsychoRyko- I am grateful to hear it and thank you for the cookies they were great ate em all in one sitting. Man had to put on my stretchy pants after that!

Please review I need them, it's like crack to me! Not that I neither condone that type of thing nor do I condemn. To each their own and live and let live.

Alice paced her entire sitting area, what else could she to do after what was she had come so close to doing. A mere inches from those full black painted lips that haunted her every thought. Just thinking how close she had been sent a pleasant shiver down her back. How was she going to get through a lifetime of not being able to touch her, not being able to caress her, hold her? It would be hard, ever so hard, but she would manage somehow. It would definitely require all of the muchness that she possessed but she would accomplish this.

Sighing to herself, Alice gathered what courage she could and tried to clear her head of any thought that might linger there of the incident that had almost happened such a short while ago. As she was about to prepare for bed however a knock at her door stopped her, pausing for only a moment Alice moved to open them. A part of her was afraid that it was her Queen but to her relief and disappointment it was Sir Gideon.

"I am sorry to disturb you so late Champion Alice." At his serious and slightly anxious tone Alice couldn't help but stiffen slightly.

"Nonsense Sir Gideon, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Alice was taught to be respectful and even after everything she couldn't bring herself to do otherwise.

"I know the Queen has limited you in your capabilities until further notice," Alice blushed slightly "But I thought it important that if you are to start at one point then it would be a good idea to bring you up to speed on how everything works." Sir Gideon started to shuffle a little in place.

"That's a wonderful idea Sir Gideon but if I may ask, why the late hour?" It hadn't slipped Alice's notice and she couldn't help but to ask.

"Well with the Queens permission we where to start in the morning but certain events have come to light that need our immediate attention Champion Alice."

"I see," Alice nodded more so to herself than to Sir Gideon. "Then let us precede Sir Gideon."

"If you would follow me dear Champion?" Sir Gideon asked to which Alice only nodded that she would. Closing the doors as she went, Alice could help but wonder what exactly was going on. So as they walked down the halls of the castle Alice asked her questions.

"So what exactly is it that requires my attention so late but yet does not require the Queen?" Alice had no idea where that came from. She had only meant to inquire as to where they were headed. She could only guess that her Queen still weighed heavily on her mind. Shaking the thoughts from her mind Alice continued. There was nothing she could do about it now.

"Well that would be your call dear Champion. You are my leading officer and it is my duty to make sure you are informed immediately after I am. We are a military if I recall that being the proper term Nevins told me." Sir Gideon adopted a thoughtful expression trying to recall the memory. It made Alice smile slightly at the older man.

"It is dear knight and the structure of this one seems to have pretty much the same principals but then again in the Dark Ages we also had knights and kings and queens from which we adopted our own." Alice never could help herself. Ever since she had been a child she had been fascinated with learning. Her mother had never really understood and had tried constantly to be what society had told them they needed to be. Her father however had been thrilled and encouraged her which had only made her mother frown but she never bothered her of it again.

"Well then perhaps it's plausible that Uplander's have learned from us then?" Sir Gideon asked Alice.

"Certainly Sir Gideon, I'm sure I have not been the only one to travel here. It would just seem so unlikely." Alice noticed they were headed outside of the castle. This made her frown slightly. "If I may ask where are we headed dear knight?"

"We are going to the stables dear Champion, tis where the crime has been done."

"Crime, what sort of crime?" They started across the court yard and through her Queens's gardens. Glancing up at the balconies she thought she saw her Queen looking out at them. Quickly glancing ahead toward the stables that now faced them, Alice shook her head once again to clear her mind. This wasn't the time to be thinking of such things anyway.

"Well I can only guess dear Champion but it would be better for you to see for yourself first." Sir Gideon held open the stable doors for Alice to enter first. Moving slowly Alice took in every angle and aspect of the stables. She saw nothing out of the ordinary that was until she got to the back stables holding her Queens prized stallions. Five stalls and none held the horses; instead each had the same message written in blood. 'Beware the return of the Dark One'

"Sir Gideon have you been able to locate any of the horses?" Alice asked knowing that Sir Gideon was behind her.

"Not as of yet, I sent out some men to try and locate them. I've heard nothing yet. " Sir Gideon stood rigid looking at the scene. Moving forward Alice examined each stall careful not to touch anything. The writing was the same in each message as was the carefully written message, almost as if the culprit hadn't wanted anything misunderstood and for his or her point to be made.

"Sir Gideon," Alice called to gather the man's attention "I think perhaps we should bring this to the Queens attention. This is definitely just the beginning of something bigger and she might know something about this that we do not. If you would be kind enough to bring her here yourself, the fewer who know of this the better?"

As Sir Gideon left Alice took the opportunity to search the scene once more. As she was leaving the last stall Alice saw something glinting in the dull light at her feet. Reaching down and moving the hay and dirt away the handle of a knife grew visible. Pulling it free Alice wiped the blade clean on her dress revealing the intricate design of the piece. Somehow it seemed to call to her in a way, a not to unfamiliar pull toward her. Stuffing the knife out of site feeling that this was something she should look into herself.

Alice heard Sir Gideon just outside with her Queen and she couldn't help but to feel a little anxious at her presence. Straightening herself Alice moved to the front of the stables to meet them pulling the door open just as they were reaching it her Queen entering first. Alice bowed out of respect before she spoke.

"Your majesty thank you for coming out this late."

"Of course my dear Champion, but why am I here?" Her Queen smiled politely as she asked to which Alice offered her hand to lead her Queen who took the offer without hesitation. Carefully making her way back down the stables Alice waited watching her Queen as the final stalls came into view. Suddenly her Queens's eyes looked afraid and just as suddenly the look was hidden. "How many people have seen this?"

"Just the stable boy, Captain Settle, Champion Alice and myself your majesty." Sir Gideon answered their Queens question as Alice continued to watch her take in the scene.

"That's good, no one else needs know of this just yet. Sadly I doubt you will find my stallions Sir Gideon. You can have the same stable boy clean this please." Sir Gideon bowed and left immediately to find the boy. Her Queen then turned to Alice. "My dear Champion would you escort me back to my chambers?"

"Absolutely my Queen," was Alice's quick reply and she followed her Queen but she still walked close enough that the two could easily communicate with one another and Alice would be able to reach her quicker if anything were to happen. At least that was the reasoning she gave to her head when that little voice inside told her to be careful. Alice opened the doors when they reached them so her Queen could exit before she followed letting them close behind them.

"My Queen, if I may ask a question?" Alice asked somewhat shyly.

"Of course my dear Champion," was her Queens answer as they continued to walk towards the castle.

"You know what the message meant?" ever curious she was. Her Queen however seemed a little reluctant to answer.

"That my dear Alice was a warning that we should all be wary of and if I'm right then we all have cause to worry."

"So then this Dark One is real?" She had to know, if anything where to happen to her Queen due to her own ignorance Alice would never forgive herself.

"I'm afraid so." Her Queen looked worried. Alice didn't know how she could tell, she was never good with reading people before but she just got this feeling.

Opening the doors to the castle for her Queen Alice couldn't help but think about the knife she had found. She couldn't understand why she wouldn't just ask her Queen or better yet show it to her. All she did know was that she needed to learn of its origin and soon, especially if this was worrying her Queen so much. Anything to make her stop and be happy again, Alice would go to the ends of the earth.

Suddenly all she could see was white and for a moment she thought she was going blind. Then her Queen turned around, pale skin and the full dark painted lips that haunted her were added to her view. Alice looked around and saw that they had reached her Queens chambers without her notice she had been so deep in thought. Heat suddenly flooded her body as it became aware of the close proximity to her desire.

"Alice,"

At the softly spoken use of her name she couldn't help but to look her Queen in the eyes. Alice was lost; nothing else existed but those dark pools of chocolate that she would die to be allowed to drown in. Pale hands rose to cup either side of her face and the full dark lips moved forward to caress her own. Both melted into the contact oblivious to their surroundings only vividly aware of the contact. All too quickly her Queen pulled away but her hands never left nor did she pull away.

"My dearest champion you should have finished what you had started to do." Her Queen kissed her lips once more, briefly and sighing lightly before she moved away and quickly retiring to her chambers leaving her Champion standing in the hall still dazed.

I bet your all goin like woooooo and its about d*** timeand just all around doin a little happy dance. Anyway again sorry for the waiti hope you like it and please do continue to review.