Disclaimer:I own none of the characters except Captain Julian, Queen Alani, and Alton

Thanks to all of my reviewers!!

Hard as Danric might try though, he could not reach Mel's side and he soon realized that Mel was being drawn purposefully away from him and towards the outer edge of the battle. As the Norsundrians slowly retreated, Danric followed her, and saw that the Norsundrian soldiers hurriedly blocked his way. He knew suddenly that they wanted he and Mel separated.

"Mel!?" he yelled as he fought through the soldiers blocking his path.

Two more came forward to engage him as Mel looked up. Furious now, Danric unhorsed one and ran the other through. Moving forward he saw a Norsundrian bringing the flat of his sword down on Mel's head.

"Meliara!" Danric yelled desperately, but he knew it was too late. Already Mel had been drawn onto the warrior's horse and was being speedily taken into the cover of trees and towards the border.

Danric started to follow, when a voice rang out loudly.

"No Sire!"

Looking over his shoulder, Danric saw it was Captain Julian who had spoken.

"What?" Danric snapped, still angry.

"I'm sorry, Your Highness, but we haven't the man power to follow them across the border, not even to retrieve the Queen."

Danric looked at the trees where Mel had disappeared and then back at the Captain. His heart told him to go after her, but his military training told him that Captain Julian was right.

Sighing, Danric turned his grey back around and began issuing orders.

Later that night

Vidanric sat in his tent, picking at his dinner. He wasn't hungry, he only had thoughts for Mel, but he knew that he should eat something. Just then a cough outside the tent flap made him look up.

"Come in, Captain."

Captain Julian entered and bowed

"The soldiers have finished burying the dead, Sire."

"Good. Duty requires me to return to Athanarel in the morning, and many of the ridings shall accompany me. The soldiers originally stationed here will remain, and the ridings from the neighboring counties will return there."

"What will you do when you return home?"

"Well," Danric paused, trying to order his thoughts. He should have anticipated this question. "If the Norsundrians had wished harm to Meliara they need not have taken her prisoner. I believe instead that they wish to ransom her. But since Norsunder is holding many of the cards at this moment, I will return to Athanarel and play the 'waiting game'."

The Captain's brow furrowed with confusion. "The 'waiting game', Sire?"

Danric smiled slightly at his use of his father's term. "That is, I will wait for them to make the first move."

"Ah, very well then."

"Good night, Julian."

"Good night."

"You sent for me, Your Highness?"

Queen Alani smiled as the man approached her throne. Devon was her favorite long-distance messenger. He had never yet failed to deliver one of her dispatches, and now she had a special job for him.

"Yes, I did. I want you and two others to travel through Remalna, to their capital, Remalna-city. You must go to their palace, Athanarel, and deliver my ransom demand to their king. Do you understand?"

"Yes, My Lady," Devon said with a bow and a wink, "your wish is my command."

I know, it's short. I'm very sorry. I was going to add more, but I need to keep the next chapter seperate. Please forgive me!

Anyway, the next chapter we'll meet an old friend, and learn some interesting stuff about Norsunder and Queen Alani. Then in five and six we'll get into the dangerous plot stuff. Hope you're enjoying!

Mia21