Tomorrow's chapter is going to be a doozy... But, we'll get to that later. For today, I thought I would tie this adventure of a story to 'DiNozzo vs Investiagtii' again. I hope you enjoy it!

-owl

Tony and Ziva were woken up before dawn by a howling scream that echoed around the village. Without saying anything they dressed quickly and grabbed their dagger and sword respectively. There was nothing to light their way, and they stumbled in the dark for a few seconds until they found the stairs.

They ran downstairs to find the barkeep sitting on one of the stools, drinking heartily from a tankard of some sort of alcohol. He looked up when they came into the room.

"What was that screaming?" Tony asked.

The barkeep shrugged. "Happens most nights, right before dawn. Some of the townsfolk swear it's a werewolf."

"But it is not a full moon tonight."

"Aye," the barkeep nodded, agreeing with Ziva. "It isn't a werewolf, but a former soldier who has awful nightmares. He was in the squad with the Queen when she was wounded."

"Who does he live with, where does he live?" Ziva asked.

"Down the lane, towards the river. He lives alone, has been since his wife got fed up with his nightmares."

Ziva nodded and tied her cloak tighter around her before she left the tavern, Tony hot on her heels. They both got on horses from the team of four that pulled the carriage, riding bareback as they had no other choice.

"What's going on?" Tony asked Ziva as they guided the horses down the lane the barkeep had mentioned.

"I remembered that one of the soldiers from the squad under my command when I got injured last summer said he lived in this village. It only makes sense that it is the same person the barkeep is talking about."

"Oh."

So just before morning dawned, the pair dismounted their horses and Ziva knocked on the door of the lone cottage, next to the river. After a long stretch of silence, the door opened and a scruffy man appeared. He bowed low when he recognized his king and queen.

"Your Majesties, to what do I owe the pleasure?" he asked.

"We heard you were having issues, since you've gotten home," Tony said, trying not to be too blunt.

Ziva, though, was not one to beat around the bush. "We heard you screaming."

The former soldier nodded, rubbing his hand on the back of his neck sheepishly. "Yeah, I've been having issues with that," he stopped for a second as Tony wandered off to keep an eye on the horses who had meandered towards the river, though still close enough to hear everything. "Forgive me, your Majesty, I do not wish to break the bounds of what is and what isn't appropriate, but may I speak freely?"

Ziva nodded.

"I have a dream, often, that when you were injured we did not get you to the physician in time. Sometimes, though, when we are speaking to the king, the physician comes out and announces you dead. And I know I'm having these dreams because it was our fault you got hurt."

Ziva sighed. "Do not let yourself worry about that. Your nightmares didn't come to pass." she stopped talking for a second, running her fingers through her hair. "Let go of the guilt. The only one to blame for my injuries is King Fornell."

The man nodded as Tony approached the pair, leading the horses. "Zi?" he said. "We need to get going if we want to make it back to the castle by noon."

Ziva nodded and turned to the man. "Oliver. You and the rest of my squad did as good as I could have asked of you. There is no guilt that needs to lay heavy on you. I am sorry to cut this short, but Tony and I need to be going."

"Thank you, your Majesty, for checking on me. May you have safe travels." With a wave, Oliver watched them leave.

The bell struck the final toll of noon when they entered the castle courtyard. There was no sign of snow or any other sort of inclement weather, save the blustery wind, and the last day of their journey could not have been any more different than their first.

Lady Elenore came out of the stables, likely having heard the horses' hooves on the cobblestones. There was hay in her hair and stuck to her dress. She grinned at Tony and Ziva as they got out of the carriage.

"Merry Christmas, your Majesties!" She greeted them. "Was your journey fair?"

Tony nodded. "Yes, though on the first day we had to stop at noon due to a blizzard. Otherwise, there were no issues."

She smiled. "That's good. I think Nick is training with the other knights."

Sir Torres then came up behind Elenore, grabbing her and spinning her around in his arms. "No," he said in response to her comment. "I'm right here."

Elenore shook her head in amusement. "You have to stop doing that, one of these times I'm going to have a heart attack or something!"

Torres grinned. "Sure, Ellie, sure." Then he turned to Tony and Ziva. "I'm glad you're back."

"Did something happen?" ZIva asked, cutting him off.

He shook his head. "No. I, uh, just don't really like being in the position of regent."

"I'm sure you two are tired from your journey, why don't we all go inside and get out of the cold?" Elenore suggested, cutting off her husband's words.

Tony nodded and offered his arm to Ziva. Torres did the same, and once both women had taken the arms of their husbands, the four of them entered the castle.

"There is, actually, one thing," Torres said as they closed the main door behind them. "One of the petitioners accused someone of murder, and the accused is being held in the dungeons."

Ziva raised her eyes at that. "Was there not enough evidence to convict?"

Torres shook his head. "Not necessarily, but I didn't want to make that decision. I am a knight, not a king. It is not my place to decide someone's fate in that situation."

"Well said."

Ziva nodded, agreeing with her husband.