Hey all! Sorry for the slow update, utter writer's block! But anyhoo, all okay now. Happy reading!
Stars x
It was just after midday, but clouds still flitted across the Lienid sky. The water down by the shore was rough and only one or two vessels could be seen making their way timidly out to sea, where the waves were bigger but less vicious.
The palace was in a state of utter panic. The guards outside almost every room had been doubled and it would have been impossible for a mouse to enter undetected. In the throne room, King Ror was in a heated debate with his wife and second youngest son, Skye.
"I will not allow it!" he roared. "Po is missing and I will not allow his brother to go gallivanting off the same way!"
"I'm not gallivanting off! I'm searching for my brother! He's been gone almost two days now, and no-one has seen him since!" shouted Skye, equally furious.
"How is this helping Po?" demanded his mother. "You two bickering like a pair of fishwives won't do anyone any good!" Both men immediately rounded on her and started shouting at exactly the same time. It would have been almost comical if the situation hadn't been so serious.
Suddenly the doors of the hall burst open and a guard strode in, hastily followed by a very agitated footman.
"I'm sorry you highnesses, I said that you weren't to be disturbed-" began the footman, but the guard cut across him.
"You highness" he said, addressing the King. "A party of six has just been spotted approaching the castle from the south. One of them may be the Prince."
Ror's wife didn't wait to hear any more. She swept from the room in a whirlwind of satin and silk, quickly followed by the faster but less agitated Skye. Ror only paused to say a hurried "thank you" and "please follow with a guard of six" to the guard before rushing after his wife and son.
Down below the castle, Panther, Viper, Boar, Robin, Key and Po made their way up the hill. Viper was at the head of the group, striding fast and not looking back. Boar had Po's tied hands constantly in his sight and was holding his upper arm so tightly he was leaving a red mark. Panther walked almost in a trance, seeing the whole island with new eyes now that she knew that it had once been her home.
"Halt" called Viper suddenly, jerking Panther out of her daze. Two people, a man and a woman, were hurrying down the hill towards them, another man with a six-person guard at their heels. The second man called out to the first two who stopped to wait for him, then continued down the hill at a more measured pace.
As the group approached Panther and the others the woman must have noticed Po's tied hands and Boar holding his arm for she gave a gasp and clapped her hands to her mouth. "Po!" she cried.
The six guards all started forward as if to take the group by force, but Ror noticed the yes of the approaching group and held up his hand in a fist. Stop. The guards held back, puzzled, but Ror addressed Viper first.
"Why have you come?" he demanded, with great dignity given the circumstances. "I demand that you release my son!"
Viper made an almost imperceptible gesture that Boar of course saw. He released Po's upper arm and drew his knife in one fluid motion. The guards started forward, bows drawn, thinking that their prince was about to be murdered in front of their eyes, but Boar merely cut Po's bonds and pushed the prince forwards towards his family.
Po held himself with great dignity as he approached his family, despite his now messy and ragged appearance, but his style was killed slightly by his Mother drawing him into a tight embrace.
Po held her for a moment then pulled free of her embrace.
"Bring this lot up to the castle" he ordered the soldiers. "But not by force. Just escort them. Make sure they have rooms." Po's voice was bitter but resigned.
"Po? What is this?" demanded his Father, flabbergasted, but the expression on Po's face stopped him.
"Just bring them" ordered Po, before turning on his heel and making his way up to the castle, his bizarre entourage following behind.
Panther inspected her bedroom closet suspiciously. The servant who'd showed her in had informed her that she was expected downstairs for dinner with the royal family in half an hour, and she was trying to get ready, but honestly had not a clue what to wear. The bathtub had baffled her at first – it was so much bigger than the tiny bucket-like affairs that the inns the group had sometimes stayed in had, but she'd made fair use of it once she'd realised it's purpose, and now her hair was silky smooth and dripping wet, and she smelled faintly of lavender soap and rose-petals.
Wrapped in a bathrobe, she stood dripping in front of the array of dresses a maidservant had provided and frowned.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door and Robin's head poked round the door.
"Panther? Are you decent? Can I come in?"
"Yeah sure, I could use some help."
Robin came in and shut the door softly behind her. She was dressed in a soft, moss green gown that made her look far less opposing and wild than she had in her tattered leggings, and the colour didn't clash with her eyes like most colours did. She looked very beautiful and unassuming, which, Panther supposed, was precisely the point.
"You look lovely" she told her. Robin smiled at her.
"I feel a bit odd, but maybe that's not such a bad thing. What are you wearing?"
"I've no idea" Panther told her honestly. "These are just so baffling..."
"It should be natural to you, my Lady" teased Robin, but stopped at Panther's sudden exclamation.
"Oh don't! Don't! I can't deal with you saying it too!"
"Why?" asked Robin, shocked. "Who else is saying it to you?"
"No one, but me is enough! I keep on thinking how all this" she gestured around at the expensive-looking room "should be second nature to me, and then I wonder what the heck they will make of me; me, the half-wild, half-savage assassin who's never really known proper society, and who they'll now expect to be a lady and everything. And then I think what the heck am I doing here anyway – I'm no court damsel who sits quietly and makes small talk, I should be off hunting or fighting bandits or something in some mountains somewhere, not here trying to look good in a posh gown!" She looked utterly desperate and bewildered, and ready to burst with frustration and distress, and it didn't take much for Robin to cross over to her and pull her into a tight hug.
"It's okay" she said soothingly. "It's okay. They're not expecting anything of you yet – lets cross that bridge when we come to it. First we need to tell them who you are without the rest of us getting arrested."
Panther how scared Robin must have been feeling since Viper announced his intention to tell the royal household all that had happened; it was highly likely that they could all get arrested for kidnap; all except for Panther that is. And here she was, worrying about bad first-impressions.
"You're right, I'm sorry" said Panther, pulling out of her embrace and wiping her eyes. "Okay, let's choose a stupid gown."
Robin smiled at her and they turned to the dresses laid out on the bed with as much trepidation as they would an angry fox.
There you go! Finally, a long chapter to make up for my lack of chapters in recent weeks.
Hope you enjoyed it! Please tell me what you think!
Stars x