"Are we ready?" Corinne asked, looking at the gate to the kingdom.
"We had more than fifteen minutes to prepare!" Renee responded "Yeah we're ready!"
After four days of traveling, the girls had reached their destination.
"How do I look?" Liana whispered, pushing some loose strands of her dark red wig over her shoulder.
"Perfect." Corinne chuckled.
A few towns back, they had swung through a store and Viveca had grabbed everything she'd need to disguise them, including two wigs for Corinne and Liana so they didn't look like twins.
The other's were disguised mainly being hair and makeup.
"Don't forget. We're traveling musicians who wish to entertain the king." Corinne said, then she pointed at Aramina "Get us in the castle."
Aramina fluttered her eyelashes "No problem."
The six girls then led their horses into the kingdom. Guards were standing everywhere, some riding through the streets.
"I don't know why but I think they're expecting us." Viveca whispered.
Corinne just smiled.
"Excuse me, Ladies." a guard said, causing them to stop dead in their tracks "May I be of assistance?"
Aramina smiled "Yes you may! Oh my, you have good timing. You must be the captain."
The guard cleared his throat and straightened his jacket "Well, no ma'am. I'm not. How may I help?"
Corinne glanced over at Liana who raised an eyebrow and smiled. They were thinking the same thing: Men and their egos.
"We're traveling musicians!" Aramina said exuberantly "We've traveled all across the land performing in palaces and squares! We wish to do the same for your king!"
The guard shook his head "I'm afraid you cannot go to the castle without a personal invitation."
"Oh." Aramina sighed "I understand." then she blinked a couple of times and looked up at him "Will you invite me..." she glanced at the badge on his jacket "Mitchel." then she fluttered her eyelashes, latching herself onto his arm.
He cleared his throat again "Well... I suppose I could think of something."
"Oh, Mitchie! That would be wonderful!"
Corinne rolled her eyes. Aramina was overdoing it... just a little. But if it got them into the castle...
"This way ladies." the guard said "The castle is right this way."
"Oh Mitchie you're wonderful!" Renee mimicked quietly.
The others laughed softly and followed.
~*~*~*Trials of Love*~*~*~
Jeremy plopped down on the floor of the cell "Are we ever going to get out of here?"
"Just be patient." Louis told him "Corinne and her friends always show up."
"But do we want them to?" Ian responded "I mean, two runaway grooms and a proposing-to-another-woman king? Do we honestly want them to show up?" he was quiet for a moment "Oh yeah, and this is a trap in the first place. So... Do we WANT them to show up!?"
Louis just raked a hand through his hair "I don't care what it takes for me to see Corinne and explain everything. I just hope she listens."
"You and me both." Jeremy sighed "I'm not too worried about Ian. Alexa's all love and no hate."
"Yeah right!" Ian exclaimed "I've seen her mad! And It's not pretty!"
The three stared at each other then burst out laughing.
A moment later Jeremy jumped to his feet "Sh! Listen!"
The others fell quiet and it wasn't long til they heard the soft sound of music and singing drifting down through the floor.
~*~*~*Trials of Love*~*~*~
Corinne smiled at her friends as they sang one of Renee's songs.
'Mitchie' had gotten them an audience with the king, Jacob Malice. Thankfully, his wife, Amanda had wanted to hear the group perform so they were given permission.
Now Corinne was going over plans in her mind to figure out where the boys were... if they were even here.
As they came to the end of their third song the queen clapped and stood to her feet "Wonderful! You harmonize so beautifully!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty." The six girls echoed.
"I am having a dinner tomorrow night, you must come and perform for my guests!"
"It will be our honor." Renee nodded "Thank you. "
"Well it's pretty late." Viveca said "We should go. We've had a long trip."
"Of course." Queen Amanda nodded "Please be back here for dinner."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Corinne curtsied, then she turned to Renee "Hildeguard, where did you arrange for us to stay?"
Renee's eyebrows lurched at the name "I didn't, Gertrude. That wasn't my job."
That time it was Corinne's eyebrows that went up and she sent her friend a 'really?' look. Renee just shrugged.
"I thought Deolinda got us a place." Aramina said, motioning to Viveca.
Viveca gasped "No, Ignacia, that's always been Jacosa's job." she pointed back to Alexa.
"Guys!" Liana broke in before the, literal name calling, got any further "We'll just have to find something."
"Why don't you just stay here in the castle?" the queen spoke up "Since you'll be performing anyways. Is that alright, Jacob?"
"Yes, sure. Whatever." The king nodded "I have other things to attend to. Like the arrival of those musketeers." with that he stood up and walked away.
Queen Amanda shook her head and also stood "I will take you to the rooms." she stopped and looked at each of them "Hildeguard, Gertrude, Deolinda, Ignacia, Jacosa..." then she turned to Liana "I didn't catch your name."
Liana smiled and glanced at her friends "Lia."
"Lia? Oh, well. Come with me." she led them from the room and down a hall "Would you like a tour?"
"Yes!" All six said in unison.
"Oh, then follow me."
"Perfect." Corinne thought as she followed the queen.
The tour started at the top of the castle and slowly worked down. Corinne made slight mental notes to any place where they could hide someone.
"And those are the dungeons." Queen Amanda said, pointing down a long dark staircase.
"Creepy." Alexa shivered "Do you have any prisoners?"
"Every castle does. But our newest ones are three young men."
"Let me guess, thieves?" Renee asked with a grin.
"Um, no. Two are musicians. Twins. And the other is a king."
Corinne raised her eyebrows and glanced at her friends. Bingo.
"Well, come along and I'll show you to your rooms now."
~*~*~*Trials of Love*~*~*~
Everything was quiet. Not a sound from anything. Not a soul moved... until the clock stuck one o' clock in the morning.
"Let's go." Corinne whispered, getting to her feet.
"I can't believe we were right." Renee said "All three are here."
"Well, I suppose I won't have to give Jeremy a download then, huh?" Liana chuckled quietly.
Corinne just shook her head and eased the bedroom door open.
The six girls snuck silently down the halls til they reached the dungeon's stairway.
Corinne motioned to Renee to go first and deal with the guards, the girl nodded and led the way down into the dark, damp dungeons.
It didn't take Renee long to knock the two guards out with her slingshot and the six quickly began the search for the missing boys.
"Hey guys!" Viveca whispered a few moments later "I found them! They're behind this door! Only the king has a key to this room."
"Step back." Corinne warned. The other girl quickly obeyed right before Corinne delivered a hard karate kick into the thick piece of oak. The door flew off of it's hinges and into the room.
Jeremy and Louis ducked, but Ian ended up pinned under the large door.
"Jeremy!" Liana whispered.
The boy's face lit up "Liana!" he ran to her and hugged her tightly "I was starting to think I'd never see you again! And I missed the wedding. I am so sorry! I..."
"It's okay, Jeremy." she interrupted with a laugh "I understand."
"Ian!" Alexa gasped, quickly running over to help remove the door from over her fiancee "Are you alright!?"
"Are you kidding?" Ian said as he scrambled to his feet "You're here! I'm perfect!" then he grabbed her into a tight hug.
"Aw!" Aramina smiled happily.
Renee rolled her eyes "Yes, how sweet. Now let's go!"
"Where's Corinne?" Louis asked anxiously "I have to talk to her... right now!"
"It'll have to wait." Viveca responded with a glare "First we have to get out here, return you to Paris, get Liana and Alexa married and then you might can talk to her."
"I need to talk to her NOW!" Louis insisted "It's important and..."
"Guys!" Corinne suddenly appeared in to door "Tea time's over. There's some more guards on the way down!"
"Corinne!" Louis instantly ran to her "Look, I need to explain..."
"Later, Yout Highness, we need to get out of here."
The young king blinked in shock "Your Highness? Corinne..."
"Go!" she grabbed his arm and shoved him out of the cell then waved to the others "Come on... and it's too late."
Five guards came walking down right then, and when they saw the entourage of escapees, they froze.
"Hey you! Halt!" One of then finally shouted "WE HAVE ESCAPING PRISONERS!"
"Run!" Renee shouted, pointing towards another exit. But they'd barely taken two steps before Queen Amanda stepped into view.
"Hello girls." She said with a slight smile.
"Your... Majesty!" Alexa said slowly "We can explain..."
"There's no need." the queen interrupted as she walked towards the small group "Even though Jacob didn't, I knew who you were the moment I saw you... and I knew what you were after."
(I don't believe it! An update! Sorry for making you wait sooooo long!
Louis: tell me about it! You like NEVER write on this story!
Me: Hey, it's called writer's block, buddy. Or when you and all you other go on strike on me!
Corinne: Well, you can't blame us for wanting a break. You are kinda harsh.
Me: *you don't know the half*
Both: What!?
Me: Nothing! That's another story... another fanfiction
Louis: *sigh* so when do I finally get to explain?
Corinne: Explain what? What's there to explain?
Louis: That I am NOT...
Me: Guys! Save it for the story, please. Now go. Corinne you go left, Louis you go right. No talking til next time. Kay? Kay.
Both: whatever
Anyhoo... Thank for all the favs, follows and reivews guyz!
Laterz!)