Disclaimer: Everything belongs to Sherwood Smith except for unrecognizable characters which belong to me. Also, my idea for this chapter stems from Eloise Jarvis McGraw, so no suing.

Thanks for all of the great comments and reviews. With no more stalling, here's chapter 5! Hope everyone enjoys!!

Mel was grateful that there were no mirrors in her prison; she had no wish to see herself with her now shoulder length hair. But she was not grateful for the night, its overwhelming darkness brought dreams of her mother. Mel supposed it was because she had always felt connected to her mother through her hair, and suddenly that connection was gone.

Mel was left alone for four miserable days, receiving only prison rations. She wondered what Danric was doing, if he had given up on her yet. She hoped not.

On the fourth night Mel's increasingly depressing thoughts were interrupted by the lock on the door opening. She stood up as Azmus once again appeared before her, this time accompanied by another.

"My Lady, I'd like to present Lord Alton." Azmus said without any delay. "Lord Alton, Queen Meliara of Remalna."

The man called Lord Alton bowed to Mel, then said,

"I have very little time, Queen Meliara, and much to say, so I must explain quickly and ask you to excuse my rudeness. Queen Alani is my half-sister. It was decreed by my father that I rule the kingdom after him, but I was young and so was forced into seclusion and Alani took the throne. For some time my followers and I have been trying to remove her from her position, for, as you well know, Alani is cold and cruel.

It was your husband who approached some of my men about a possible alliance; Remalna's aide in my ascension in exchange for you. I was only too happy to agree. The confrontation and subsequent switch of monarchs is to happen in the next couple of days, but Vidanric," Mel made a note that Lord Alton used no title in referring to Danric, and hoped that meant Danric trusted him, "thought it prudent that we explain the situation to you.

And now I must leave. Alani knows her country is restless and has heard rumor of my gathering strength."

Alton, with another bow, turned and slipped out the door, but paused to wait, for Azmus Mel assumed.

"Take courage My Lady, your rescue is at hand." Azmus also bowed, and then slid out the door himself.

'Well, Mel thought as she settled back down, that was quite a lot to digest. I hope, for my own sake, that this works out alright.'

"What do you mean he's disappeared?" Queen Alani's voice rang out angrily through the main audience chamber.

"Just that Your Majesty. Two nights ago he went to see the prisoner. Then he just…disappeared."

The Queen's eyes narrowed. "Bring the prisoner before me, now!"

When Mel walked into the great audience chamber, weary, with hands bound before her, flanked on either side by guards, she could have sworn she was back in Remalna and it was Galdran who sat upon the throne, waiting for her.

Except it wasn't; here there were soldiers instead of courtiers and torches blazed on every wall, throwing dancing reflections upon the dais, and the large marble throne with its ominous presence.

When they reached within ten feet of the dais Mel was given a shove that sent her painfully to her knees.

"Well, if it isn't the little wench."

Mel heard Queen Alani's voice as from a great distance. None of this seemed quite believable; disasters had fallen in such a deadly rain that she felt dazed by now.

"…listening?"

Mel looked up and met the glittering, icy eyes of Alani. The queen was beautiful in a cold, distant way. Confined only by a golden circlet her white-blonde hair fell loosely about her shoulders, and she wore a flowing dressing gown.

"Yes." Mel replied, indicating that she was, indeed, listening.

"Did you or did you not hold private converse two evenings past with my half brother?"

"I did not."

"You lie," Mel said nothing to this accusation, "Bring out the guard."

'Oh no,' Mel thought as the guard bowed low to the Queen, then stood razor straight, ready for her questions.

"You said that you, two nights past, let my half brother and another in to see this prisoner?"

"I did Your Majesty."

"And how long did they speak with her for?"

"About half a candle mark Your Majesty."

The Queen turned back to Mel. "You see, we have proof. Come, now, I will spare your life and perhaps withhold punishment if you show yourself helpful now. Tell me where my brother is and who he is working with."

'Yeah right,' Mel thought sarcastically, 'Like I haven't heard that one before.'

But she answered softly, "I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but I do not know."

"You do not know?" The Queen seemed not able to believe what she had heard. Then her blue eyes narrowed with fury. "You had half a candle mark to converse with him and you do not know? Do you dare defy me? Answer at once!"

"I know nothing." Mel kept her own voice quiet, calm.

There was an incredulous silence.

Then the Queen spoke frostily.

"Perhaps this will loosen your tongue. You, Sartoran, help her remember."

The Sartoran, Mel couldn't remember his name and didn't really care anyway, stepped forward and plied his whip with a will. One, two, three lashes blazed across Mel's thinly covered back and shoulders.

"Tell me what you know."

'No wonder these were outlawed in Remalna, they're barbaric.'

Trying with difficulty to catch her breath, Mel said, "I tell you I know nothing."

"I advise you to answer me while you are still able to! What do you know?"

"Nothing! I know nothing!" Mel yelled, losing her grip on her calm voice.

"Double your strokes, Sartoran."

Again the crack of the lash sounded in the room-four times, five times, six. Through a blur of fiery pain Mel heard the relentless voice of the Queen again, "What do you know!?"

Slowly, but stubbornly, Mel shook her head, biting her lip. The Queen swore, almost transformed by her fury. "Sartoran! Teach her who it is she defies! Do you hear me!? Beat her!!"

'At least this will not last long.' Mel thought as the Sartoran began. And it would not last long at all. Already the blackness was closing in, she had had to much. After the next lash she would feel nothing…

But the next lash never came. For an instant Mel couldn't distinguish the strange new sound she was hearing from the roaring in her own ears. Then she realized this new roar came from outside. Suddenly Alani was crying out orders in a hoarse voice, and Mel felt herself discarded as soldiers leapt over her and ran…the large double doors to the chamber were thrown open.

Mel struggled painfully to rise, staring about her at the wildest confusion she had ever seen. Soldiers were everywhere, many in the Remalnan gold and green, pouring into the rooms in endless streams, clashing in hand-to-hand combat with those now ranged around Alani who stood, screaming orders, from before her throne.

The traitorous guard fell as Mel watched, and the general who had struck him down whirled to catch another guard who had thought to sneak past him to the door.

A shadow fell across her. "Mel! Oh, Mel. No hand but mine shall slay that damned Sartoran!" Vidanric scooped her up, and, cursing incoherently, carried her to the far side of the room. He set her down gently in an alcove, spread his cloak around her shoulders, and then turned away, back into the raging battle.

Mel had no idea how much time passed, but watched the struggle from her alcove. When at last it was over soldiers loyal to Lord Alton or Vidanric lined the walls. Alton himself stood before the throne, Vidanric behind him, and spoke.

"Come down."

She did so, slowly and proudly, until she stood before him. Without turning his eyes from her he beckoned to a servant, who stepped forward and handed him a silver cup.

"You show little mercy." Alani said bitterly.

"I show much! Do not fight your destiny. Take it and drink."

"And so I shall," Alani glanced at the soldiers, "but not in the presence of enemies."

She took the cup and bore it to her private chambers, Alton following. When the door closed quietly behind them something like a sigh passed through the room, but no one moved from their place.

It was only moments until the door opened again and Alton emerged, alone. The entire company fell to their knees, with the exception of Vidanric, who merely bowed to a fellow sovereign, and Mel, who inclined her head but did not otherwise try to move.

The king walked to Vidanric, who stood straight again, and grasped his shoulders in both hands. There was a low conversation unheard by any save themselves, then both turned toward Mel, and Danric quickly crossed the space of blood-stained floor to hold out his hand to her.

"Beloved-" she took his hand and followed him, painfully, through the rows of kneeling subjects to the king.

"So," said Alton in a gentle and quiet tone, "it is you who has saved Norsunder and me this night. I am awed to finally know the nature of courage. Now," he raised his voice so that it would carry to all parts of the room, "In the name of my father, whose will decreed it, I claim my heritage as ruler of Norsunder!" A cheer went up from the crowds in the room. But he wasn't finished yet, "My first declaration as king is that Norsunder and Remalna shall henceforth and forever be friends!" Another cheer went up, this one louder as the Remalnan soldiers joined in.

This chapter didn't turn out quite how I was expecting, but there you go. I hope some people, at least, enjoy it. I won't mind flames of hatred though, I promise. And don't worry, the story is far from over. I promise that too.

Mia21