Disclaimer: Everything belongs to Sherwood Smith except for unrecognizable characters which belong to me.

Thanks for all the reviews. Sorry it took me this long to put up this chapter, but, as compensation, it's longer than the others. Enjoy!

Princess Elestra Renselaeus sat frowning over her cup of listerblossom tea at the dark circles under her son's eyes. From all other outward appearances he looked calm and poised, but Elestra was a mother and she knew her son. She knew that he was desperate with worry over Meliara's abduction, knew that he wasn't sleeping because of it, exhausting himself with trying to run a kingdom, be a father to his two children, hide his anxiety while awaiting a ransom demand, and trying to convince his family and friends that he was fine.

Of course, no one believed that he was fine, least of all his parents. They were upset and worried about Mel; they couldn't imagine how their son was feeling. So Alaerec and Elestra had come down from Renselaeus to help run the kingdom and take some of the pressure off their son.

Dropping her eyes down to the table, Elestra sighed. He wasn't eating either.

"Vidanric, darling, are you going to eat something or just keep pushing your food around your plate?"

Setting his fork down slowly, Danric met his mother's eyes. "I'm sorry, I'm just - "

But Elestra would never find out just what her son was. At that moment a palace runner came bursting in.

"Your Highness, three messengers just arrived with a ransom demand from Queen Alani of Norsunder."

"Have them shown into the throne room and told that I will be with them shortly."

The runner bowed, and then rushed back out to do his king's bidding.

Several minutes later, Alaerec and Elestra followed their son out of the royal wing and down the halls to the throne room, letting him take the lead, present only for moral support.

Danric didn't bother kneeling on a cushion; instead he stood semi-patiently as the three men bowed. One came forward then, and presented him with the letter he had been both anticipating and dreading. He broke the formal Norsundrian seal and read the contents of the letter quickly. When he had finished it he took deep breaths, trying his best to retain his last ounces of calm. He read the contents a second time, making sure he had not mis-read anything, but still the demand was quite clear and his hands shook with both anger and terror.

The three messengers waited, rather smugly, to receive an answer to take back to their Queen. They did not expect this tall, blonde King to crush their Queen's letter and throw it across the room.

"My answer is no." That's all Danric said before storming out of the throne room. Alaerec and Elestra exchanged a look, and then proceeded with orders for a scribe to be called and the men to be removed to a waiting room while things were handled.

After this was done and the three messengers absent, the prince summoned Danric who reluctantly came back, followed closely by a young man.

"Alright Vidanric, what on earth is going on? I've never seen you like this before."

"You must forgive me, Father, but Queen Alani's ransom demand is simply unfeasible."

"Then your answer is still no?"

"Yes."

"But what will become of Meliara?" The princess interjected, worry for her 'daughter' fighting with worry that her son had lost his mind.

"I'll simply have to step up my plan," Danric replied, gesturing to the young man who had followed him in. "Tavion, can the chain be ready to send a message tonight?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, but I thought-"

"Matters have, regrettably, been altered and we must make contact with Mel as soon as possible."

"We'll be ready when you are, Sire."

"Good."

The young man hurried from the room to do as he had been instructed, as Danric turned to face very confused parents. Vidanric smiled for the first time in two weeks.

"Come with me, I'll explain everything."

Later that night, Norsunder

Mel was awoken form her sleep to voices outside her prison. Both she recognized, one as her guard and the other, 'It can't be' Mel thought as she sat up. Just then the door was opened and there stood Azmus in the doorway.

"Good evening, My Queen." He whispered, before moving inside the hut and sitting down beside her.

Mel opened her mouth to ask what he was doing there, but before she could say anything he held up his hand.

"I must be quick, My Lady. I bring a message from His Highness, your husband."

"You do?" Mel could barely contain her joy and excitement.

"Yes. His message is this; he wants you to know that he has been very busy these past two weeks. Rescue plans are in motion, though everything is not yet ready so you must endure a while longer. Oh, and he loves you and misses you desperately."

Mel smiled at the last bit, and then frowned as Azmus's words sank in.

"Rescue? What about the ransom?"

"His Highness received a ransom demand but had to deny Queen Alani's demand. Which is why His Highness cautions you to be careful, she will be angry."

"Deny her demand?" Mel asked, still confused.

"Yes. You see, she asked for the one thing His Highness can not give her, even for you. He thought you would understand though."

With sudden blinding clarity, the truth hit her hard. Mel closed her eyes and whispered one word. "The colorwoods."

"Yes. And now I must go. Do you wish me to send a message back to him?"

"Only that I love him, and that I do understand."

"Very well," Azmus stood and bowed, then slipped out the door whispering, "Fair thee well, My Lady."

Four mornings later Mel was awoken by a great racket, once again outside her prison. This time when the door was opened she was faced with two burly men at arms. They hauled her from her prison into the palace and down towards the dungeons. Mel had a nasty flash of the dungeon at Chovilun fortress and her near torture. But the room she was taken into had only chairs in it, two of the three already occupied. The two guards set her on the third one, and then moved back outside, presumably to guard the door.

Turning, Mel realized she was facing Queen Alani and another robust guard.

With a smile like ice, Queen Alani held up a letter for Mel to see.

"Do you have any idea what this is?"

Mel inspected the document carefully, noting the Remalnan royal seal, and her husband's flowing signature.

"Well?"

"I would presume," Mel chose her words carefully, "that it is my husband's rejoinder to your ransom letter, Your Highness."

"You would be correct. Do you know what it says?"

Mel could think of several sardonic comments, but she knew the question was rhetorical and so said nothing.

"Shortly, it says 'no'."

"Oh."

"Now, unless you have somehow been in contact with your husband, why would he say no? And why would he state that he knows you would agree with his decision, even though you are in peril?"

"Well, what did you ask for?"

"I asked that we be given a pre-set number of your 'colorwoods' in exchange for your life."

Again, Mel chose her words carefully. "With all do respect, Your Highness, King Vidanric is the love of my life and we know everything about one another, including our views on our countries resources, especially when it concerns our colorwoods."

"Then is he correct in stating that you would agree with him?"

"He is."

"I see." Suddenly the Queen's face was a mask of ice and Mel knew she had not answered the way Queen Alani was expecting. "Well, Meliara, we have a rule here in Norsunder. Only upper society members are allowed long hair."

The words were hardly out of the Queen's mouth when Mel realized that manacles had appeared around her wrists, binding them to her chair, and that the guard was now standing behind her. Mel heard the ring as a blade slid out of its sheath, and she panicked, trying to use her magic. Once again the effort left her weak and gasping. She felt a hand gather her hair. "No!" she cried, but already she could feel the sawing of the blade; then it was done. The guards came back in and dragged her back to her prison. She was roughly thrown inside, but she waited until she heard the door slam and the lock click before she burst into tears.

Sorry to end on such a sad note. Poor Mel. For those who are wondering, the chain is a chain of mages placed in strategic locations that they can quickly pass along messages to Azmus who delivers them to Mel, and vice-versa. Next chapter will be another long one, and there will be a lot of action. Please review! Mia21