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Merewyn grimaced as she thought of the tedious embroidery work ahead. She didn't mind sewing or embroidering, but it seemed it was all she and her sister were ever permitted to do. "No, there is nothing more," she replied as she reluctantly sat down with her needles.


Ismeine practically skipped back to the castle. She was so relieved was she that her father had asked to speak privately to Prince Aureo that she hardly noticed her father's distracted demeanor. When he had looked at her sternly, opened his mouth as if he were going to say something, then closed it as if he forgot what he needed to say, she had simply curtsied and bid Aureo a polite farewell.

Now she tiptoed up to her room where she heard Merewyn and Azalia speaking. She was about to enter when she heard Azalia mention embroidery. Coming to an abrupt halt, she heard Merewyn resign herself to her project and decided she would be better off in her forest.


"Prince Aureo," Laurentius de Maisone addressed his daughter's suitor. "I see you are rather intrigued by my daughter."

"I am," the prince replied boldly. "Is she ready to be married?"

Laurentius smiled. The boy wasted no time getting to the point. "Your father's kingdom houses a hefty army, does it not?"

"It does...," Aureo paused as the matter sunk in. "You wish to have my father's army as a bride-price?"

The king laughed out loud. "We think very much alike. I would like one-third of your knights to join mine. If you can manage that, you may have my daughter's hand."

"I must speak to my father," Aureo replied. "You will have our answer by tomorrow morning."


Laurence sighed. Night had fallen much more quickly than expected. There would be no finding their way back after this point.

"Men," he said authoritatively, "we must stop here for the night." As they all settled down, he approached Ame. "It would... ah... be a good idea to sleep far from the men," he suggested. He knew some of them to be rough and power-hungry; he would not trust them near a sleeping woman.

Ame gave Laurence a grim nod, rolling her eyes behind his back. "As if I DIDN'T know that already..." she muttered inaudiably. She immediately scolded herslef mentally for being disrespectful. She reached a place she was confident would be far enough away from the men, and set up camp. She looked her horse straight in the face and told her, "You will warn me if any men come over here." she said. Her horse wickered, and gave the semblance of a nod. "Good." Ame nodded.

Yami's ear twitched, and she lipped Ame's arm. "What is it girl?" Ame whispered to her. Her horse gave a quiet snort, her head swinging in the direction of Ismeine's location. "Someone's there?" Ame asked. She looked over, right at Ismeine.

Merewyn sighed. They had spent all morning and most of the afternoon looking for Ismeine, but she was nowhere around the castle.

"If you do see her, tell her she must not leave the castle gates. Her games are growing wearisome."

As her father's words flashed through her mind, she froze. She had not seen her sister in time to warn her.... "The forest," she whispered to Azalia. They had to go find her; the look on her father's face earlier this morning suggested that Ismeine could be in danger, and not merely from werewolves.

They went to find Scarlet, and the trio snuck out to the forest. They didn't get there until late evening, when the sun began to fall behind the castle, casting a looming shadow over the three girls.

((Liiiittle bit of puppeting there to move the story along... let me know if you want me to change it. sweatdrop ))


Ismeine froze as the dame looked at her, but soon the lead knight was calling the group to move on. After she was sure they were all out of earshot, she sighed in relief and lept down from her tree. With practiced agility and graceful silence, she followed the group for the rest of the day, always keeping at least a quarter mile's distance from them so she wouldn't be detected.

Finally, the group settled down for the night, and the dame was sent away. She's alone, Ismeine noted to herself. It would be the perfect time to question this group's motives. As the knight spoke quietly to her horse, then began to settle down for the night, Ismeine lept beside her, grabbing for the dame's sword.


Sir Laurence spun back around, but Ame was already retreating from him. I must not have heard her correctly, he reasoned, shaking his head. Although if he was honest with himself, the girl definitely had a knack for sarcasm. Chuckling quietly, he lay down, making sure he was between the men and the dame. If anyone left to go cause trouble, he would know.

"I believe she fancies you, you know," one of the men said to him with an almost insane grin on his face. "You would have a good chance, no one would question your word over hers...."

"But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart," Laurence quoted loudly as he rolled onto his side to face away from the men. His patience was wearing very thin with them, and their talk made him want to vomit.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Laurence silently repeated Philippians 4:8 until he fell into a light sleep.

((I'm perfectly fine with it, and was actually going to suggest looking in the forest.)) Azalia walked with Merewyn through the forest. She held an unlit torch in her hand, and some flint stones to light it with. It was getting darker, and she figured they might need it. She was a little frightened for Ismeine. No one knew the forest better than Ismeine, but if her lady was unarmed... she dreaded the thought.

Ame remained in her combat stance, not letting her guard down for a minute. She knew all too well what happened when women were underestimated. She was usually the one teaching the lesson about that. "You still haven't answered my first question." She said with hostility. "Who are you?" She didn't care how innocent, calm, and harmless this girl seemed. She was taking no chances. God...I do not wish to kill her. I just wish to remain safe. Please help me to not instigate a battle. I do not wish to be the cause of unecessary bloodshed... she prayed mentally. Although her physical appearance did not show it, she was nervous.

"Alright, and what is a maid of Castle Masione doing wandering around this forest at night, and spying on us?" Ame continued to inquire. She would have had a gentler tone, but she was hiding her fright by being slightly blunt. She shifted positions to sling her bow across her back, and drew her sword.