Chapter 2

"For the last time, Gwendolyn," Ben said sternly, staring down at her, "you will not be coming with us!"

Gwen scoffed and tossed another handful of brown leaves into the small fire that Kevin had made. "And for what?" she asked. "For the two of you to recklessly charge against Vilgax alone? I think not. And if I shall not join you, where will you leave me? Here? In the woods? I think not."

Ben groaned in exasperation and ran his hands down his face. "It is too dangerous for a lady."

"Ha!" Gwen barked. "I do believe that I am in better shape than you, my lord. You are wounded."

"It is but a flesh wound," Ben said dismissively. "Nothing a prince such as myself cannot handle."

Gwen snorted, but did not pursue that topic. "In any case, what will you have me do? Am I safer on my own, as you seem to be insinuating?"

"No," Ben said. "Sir Kevin and I shall take you to one of the villages, a few days' travel from here. There we shall bid them hide you. You shall live simply for a while, but fear not, dear cousin, for I shall return for you once I have reclaimed my kingdom."

She seemed stricken at this. "But what of our parents? Are we not to wait for them here?"

Ben sighed heavily and sat down beside her. "Gwen," he said. "I regret to tell you this, but we shall not be seeing our parents again."

Gwen stared at him as though he had grown an extra appendage. "Whatever do you mean?" she asked after a long moment. Her chest was beginning to constrict.

The prince looked into her eyes sadly and took her hand in his own. "My dear Gwendolyn," he said gently, "our parents have been murdered by Vilgax. I have seen it. I could do nothing. I feared for you, and fetched you from your chambers-just in time, it seemed."

Gwen tore her watering eyes from his gaze and stared blankly into the fire, horror etched onto her pretty face. Their parents, dead? Impossible! But then she realized that Ben would not lie about something so horrible, and if they had been alive they would have come to them by then. Even if by slim chance they were alive, they were held captive by Vilgax as spoils of war. There was no hope.

A single tear slipped from her left eye, and Ben pulled her into his embrace, unheeding of his shoulder wound. Then Gwen began to wail with wild abandonment, and would not be consoled.

Kevin suddenly appeared in the clearing in which they had made camp, startled by the despair in Gwen's voice. He stiffened at the sight of Gwen's shuddering shoulders in Ben's arms, but clenched his jaw and resumed his watch. He could guess at the news Ben had delivered her. He had assumed as much when none of the royalty had not shown in the night, and not even a single guard had appeared. And though Kevin would not voice it, he feared his mother was dead as well. It was likely that they three were the only survivors, and Vilgax would be hunting for the royal children's heads.

After what felt like hours to all of them, Gwen pulled away, sniffling and wiping her eyes. Ben pulled his handkerchief from his pocket, and she accepted it gratefully. "So then," she hiccoughed, "what will you have me do? Live among the villagers until you return? What if you do not?"

Kevin turned his head slightly at this, frowning.

"Yes," Ben replied. "It is safest that way. Vilgax cannot ever find you."

"My lord," Kevin spoke up, turning to him with creased brows. "If I may."

Ben narrowed his eyes, but nodded his permission.

"I do not believe that leaving Lady Gwendolyn in a village is the safest course of action," he said. "If Vilgax could so easily overrun our guarded and armed city, what stops him from destroying the outlying villages as well?"

Ben and Gwen both seemed perturbed by this.

"Then," Ben said, "what is there to do? Of course we cannot journey to the neighboring kingdoms. Those cowards will not help us. Likely they will try to capture us and gift us to Vilgax."

"I agree," Kevin replied solemnly. "My lord, I believe our only choice is to bring the lady with us. I am sure she is quite capable-"

"No," Ben said.

"Benjamin!" Gwen uttered, looking offended. "Listen to him, for he speaks the truth. There is no safe place for any of us now, least of all for me. Would you rather leave me defenseless with strangers, or keep me by your side so that you may watch over me?"

Ben looked torn.

Before he could decide, Gwen continued, "Besides, dearest cousin, I have been practicing magic. I am, as Sir Kevin was saying, capable of both protecting myself and others. I can be useful. I can provide light and shelter, and perhaps hasten our journey where the path falters. Believe in me, and I shall do well, cousin."

The prince took a deep breath, looking quite pained. He locked eyes with Gwen, who stared back with determination. "I do believe in you, cousin. I am merely afraid for you. You are all I have left, and I could not bear to lose you."

Gwen smiled and tenderly touched his cheek. "And lose me you shall not, my lord."

Ben returned her smile, but then sobered as he turned to Kevin. "Sir Kevin, have we any provisions?"

"None, my lord," Kevin replied. "But I could sneak back into the castle and gather some things."

The prince narrowed his eyes. "You believe you can do so without being caught?"

"I do."

"Then go under the cover of night," Ben said. "For now we will rest here, gathering what energy we may. Most importantly we will need food and water containers. If you can find some, bring me linen for bandages, for I fear my wound may yet be bleeding."

"Yes, my lord," Kevin replied, sitting beside the fire. It was only noon as they spoke, leaving quite a few hours ere he departed.

Gwen gave him a shy but hopeful look. "Sir Kevin," she said, and he met her eyes, "if still you can carry something, could you perhaps find and bring me a traveling cloak?"

"Of course, my lady," Kevin replied, ducking his head respectfully.

"Thank you, Sir Kevin."

"It is my pleasure, my lady," Kevin said.

Ben shifted into a more comfortable position. "We must come up with some sort of a plan," he said. "A course of action, and path to take."

"May I, my lord?"

Ben turned his attention to Kevin once more, permitting him to speak.

"I think we should stay hidden here until you have recovered from your wound," he said. "I can bring with me from the castle some hunting tools, and thereby we shall a means to eat along our journey. As for where we might go, I suggest to the forest of Osmosia, where my people have lived for generations. I am sure they will provide much needed help to us."

Ben looked at him thoughtfully. "I do not need to recover, so long as I have bandages," he said finally, and Kevin's eyebrows gave the slightest twitch. "Also, I do not want to go to Osmosia. I do not mean to offend you or your people, but I have my doubts that they will provide adequate help."

"But my lord," Kevin said, frowning at this.

"We will go north," Ben announced, speaking over the knight. "My grandfather owns estate up there, and I am certain that he will welcome us with open arms. There we will devise a better plan. Oh!" he sat up and looked at Gwen with a gleam in his eye. "Why did we not think of this before? You can stay with grandfather."

Gwen scowled. "That old oaf will be the death of me," she said. "He is senile. He will not know us. The man is cared for by servants each day. In fact, how are we to know that he is still alive? It has been nearly two seasons since we have last met."

Ben dismissed her. "But he is kin, nonetheless. Blood is thicker than water, as they say, and you shall stay there."

Gwen shot Kevin a look, and he returned it darkly.

"My lord," Kevin tried again.

"Yes, Sir Kevin?"

Kevin desperately tried to keep his face in a respectful expression, though he could feel his eyes twitching madly. "I really do believe that we should follow my plan."

"Your plan is foolhardy."

This time Kevin spoke through clenched teeth. "My lord, I do not think you understand."

"I understand perfectly well, knight," Ben said in a dangerous voice. "I am the prince, and therefore I have ultimate authority. What I say is what we shall do. Do you understand, knight?"

Kevin glared at him for a long moment, then blinked and his expression changed into an unreadable one. But both royal children could feel the change in his demeanor as well, that dangerous undertone to his movements as he stood. "My lord," he said calmly, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips, "I honestly believe that it would be best to go my way. If you weren't such an idiot, you might see more clearly. But, seeing how you're just a spoiled prince, you cannot..." Kevin sighed heavily, breaking his rant and closing his eyes to calm himself. When he opened them again he was met with the shocked faces of Gwen and Ben. "I will scout the perimeters. I'll be back momentarily," he said, turning stiffly and stalking away.

When he was gone, Gwen and Ben exchanged a wide-eyed look. No one had ever dared to speak to either of them in such a manner, let alone the prince. Ben scowled and folded his arms, and Gwen's face changed to something akin to awe and admiration. She could already see that Kevin was different from other people. Intriguing.

Kevin spent several hours "scouting the perimeter," but he checked back on the two once in while, and brought back any firewood he came across. He bid them make it last a while, so that they would not freeze in the night air while he was gone. The prince retorted that they were perfectly capable of collecting their own burning wood, and Kevin left it at that, though he rolled his eyes when he turned his back.

Since the sun had set, Kevin ventured back towards the wall, careful not to leave any tracks that might lead to the camp. His sword drawn, he studied the wall from the shadows of the trees. A single archer stood watch in his vicinity, and he would not pass unseen. Kevin searched the ground around his boots until he spotted a sizeable stone, which he scooped up and threw far to his left. The stone clunked against the trunk of a distant tree and tumbled down the roots, where it came to a crunching rest in the leaves. It caught the guard's attention, and Kevin took the split second to make a dash for the hidden entrance to the city.

He made it safely, but did not stop to revel in his small victory. Getting back would be much harder, he knew, as he would be slowed down with considerable bulk if all went well. Kevin was sure he could sneak past any guards, and could take at most four in a fight, but all the same he was nervous that he would get caught. But it was necessary.

As he hurried down the tunnel, he mentally ran through his list. Food, water flasks, bandages, and he would make sure to grab a poultice if he could to prevent infection, a traveling cloak for the fair lady (and if he could, for himself and the prince as well), hunting weapons, and whatever else he came across that might be useful. When he reached the door at the end, he suddenly thought to find a small dagger that Lady Gwendolyn might carry, in case her magic should fail her. Yes, that was all well.

Kevin pressed his ear against the door, listening for anyone's presence. When he heard nothing, he eased the door open and silently peered around the tapestry. There was no one. Kevin saw that the king's crown had been dashed across the floor, probably in a show of triumph by Vilgax, and that the forever knight he had bested still lay dead in his armor. The young man stepped out, drawing his sword in case he did meet an enemy.

The knowledge that he could not fail spurred him forward, and Kevin moved swiftly across the throne room toward the side door that servants used. He knew this was the quickest way to the kitchens. He passed several slain servants, but kept his gaze averted from them. It would not do to lose his heart, or his stomach, during such an important quest. He stopped at a turn and peered around it with his back to the wall, wary of soldiers. But there were none. Kevin spotted a dead maid sprawled on the floor, fresh laundry scattered where she fell. Among the clothing were several cloaks and linens, which Kevin picked up and draped over his arm. He went on his way.

He reached the kitchens, and to his relief, it had not been raided. Perhaps Vilgax and his men had already left the city, marching on to the next in their path of war. But Kevin did not let his guard down. He moved quickly, stuffing breads, cheeses, and salted meats into a burlap sack he had found lying around. Kevin located another bag, and brought it along just in case.

His next stop was the armory, where he was sure to find appropriate weapons. Still he ran into no one, for which he was glad. Kevin was not glad to see that the armory had been raided, unlike the kitchen. How like Vilgax to think that steel was more valuable than food. But Kevin looked around anyway, just in case they had missed something. Indeed, he found a small dagger, which he figured Gwen would be able to use. He also spotted a small crossbow, meant for training young boys. It would have to do. Kevin would also have make arrows, though that wasn't so hard a task.

Kevin once more ran through his mental checklist. He had gathered all that he could, and slung the bags over his shoulders so that he could wield his sword more freely. The knight stopped once more in the kitchen, hoping to find some sort of medicine cabinet. He found a small bottle of what smelled like alcohol. It would have to do. He quickly stuffed it into the bag containing the crossbow and then searched the room again. Two belted flasks hung on the far wall. He took them as well, feeling a little upset that there were only two. That meant sharing of water, and he shuddered to think that his lips would have to indirectly touch the rotten prince's. But there was nothing for it.

Kevin cautiously went back to the throne room. It seemed that Vilgax and his army really had gone. There was no one in the castle with the knight, and he had an easy time getting back to the secret door and to the forest. The archer standing guard had seemed to disappear as well. Only a few hours had passed, but when he returned to the camp, the fire had died down to glowing red embers, and Gwen and Ben had fallen asleep beside each other. The knight quietly set his things down, draped a cloak over each of their sleeping figures, and tended to the fire. He would keep watch that night.

A/N: This chapter actually turned out longer (a lot longer) than I expected, but I think it's okay.

Don't hate me about the Grandpa Max thing. I'm just not good at his personality, and I don't want to butcher his character. So he's gone senile and will most likely not be a part of this story. (Sorry)

Thanks for reading! ^-^