"There it is," Announced Kip, crouched in the grass. Hawk was getting more and more nervous. He didn't like this. Kip planned on getting everyone to the kitchens, Gregory would wait by the woods since bears weren't usually allowed in a castle, where one of his "friends" would take Tori and get her changed back. Then they would ask the Queen to allow Alex and Tori to go home. Hawk was dreading that moment. Alex could do so much here. She could probably stop the Queen and return the 9 Kingdoms back to normal.

Hawk had thought of that many times. Alex could be Queen, but that would mean she would have to marry William, and Hawk would have nothing like that. If Alex stayed she would be Hawk's. He would make sure of that.

Then there was that wolf. He acted as if he shared a secret with Alex, though Alex didn't seem to know what it was. That heathen kept looking at Alex like she was a nice leg of lamb. Hawk wouldn't let him get to her. No way. That wolf was trouble; hawk just wished Alex would see it.

"Let's go," Kip said as he started out to the castle. The horses would stay with Gregory until they convince the Queen to let Alex and Tori go back to their home. Hawk didn't think it would work. The Queen was notorious for being evil. She wouldn't just let two girls go. She would want torture them, lock them in a cage. Hawk was going to protect Alex, and maybe kill Kip.

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The Queen had just finished her meal when the cook came in holding a rodent. Well it was a squirrel, but why would he bring such a thing to her?

"Please, your Grace, my daughter has been turned into this squirrel. Could you please change her back? I know you are the most powerful in all the nine kingdoms." The cook was shaking. He was nervous; there was more to this then just a stupid girl getting herself cursed.

"Set that thing on the floor. I will change I will change her back." With a flick of her wrist, the Queen changed the squirrel to a girl. But his girl didn't look like the cook. In fact she didn't look like she belonged in the Nine Kingdoms. The Queen was getting angry. The girl just stood there frightened. She suddenly turned and bolted out the doors. Turning to cook, the Queen yelled, "After her if you wish to keep your life!"

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Tori came tearing into the kitchen so fast Alex almost didn't see her. Tori called, "RUN!" as she flew out the door. Tori was so scared, and that was all Alex needed to go after her.

They all ran until they met with Gregory and the horses. Panting Alex turned to Tori, "What's going on? Why did we just flee the only place that could get us home?" Tori was white as a ghost. She wasn't answering. She was just dazed, almost as if she wasn't there. "Tori?" Alex lightly touched her arm. Tori jumped and gave a slight squeak. This was not good. Tori saw something that frightened her.

Turning to Kip, Alex asked, "What happened to her? And why did the workers at that castle look at me like I was the devil?" I want answers and I want them now!"

"I don't know what's going on. I swear!"

"Well, what do we do know?"

Hawk was looking to the east, "Well, we could attempt to go to the people who made the mirror and ask where the one is that brought you here."

"Alex and Kip both looked at him. Then Alex asked, "Who made the mirror and why do I get the feeling this won't be easy?"

Hawk turned to her with a haunting look mixed with fear and sorrow, "The dwarves in the Ninth Kingdom were the only ones to escape the Queen. They make mirrors out of Quick and Super-Quicksilver. This is how they are magical. Only the dwarves have succeeded in mining and forging Quicksilver. They also keep track of all their mirrors. They always know where the mirrors are."

Alex nodded, "This is where we must go."

Kip looked at her, "It is too difficult. No one has gone into Dragon Mountain since the Queen came."

"Then we will be the first. Does anyone know the way?"

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She couldn't believe what she had seen. It was impossible .Tori began to think it was all just a figment of her imagination. She had just been turned backed into a human, maybe that was it. She was confused all the sudden being back in her body. Whatever it was it made Tori want to go home even more, but she didn't like the sound of this Mountain. She kept silent when they were talking abut it, but she was beginning to wonder the logic of it. Tori was afraid to talk period. What if she had to explain her actions at the castle? What would she say? She couldn't tell the truth that was for sure. Maybe she could lie. She could come up with some horrific tale. Yes! That's what she could do. Now she just needed to come up with one that was believable, but then again, almost anything she said could be believable. Everything but what she saw.

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The Queen was livid. She realized too late that the woman was one of the princesses that she couldn't see in her mirrors. It was a stupid mistake, but she would fix it. The child was obviously afraid of her, so maybe she would pose no threat, but that didn't mean the other didn't. The Queen wondered who they could be. They weren't from the Nine Kingdoms, but where they were from and what did they want? The Queen decided it was time for a more "hands on" approach. "Denlick!" The goblin came straight away. "We will be traveling together. I want to find those princesses and destroy the once and for all. The King will stay here. This is no job for him. Prepare the carriage, we leave at once."