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Practically shaking with rage, Laurentius paced his throne room as he waited for news of his daughters. After Aureo had left, the king of Maisone had felt quite ambitious and had gone to find Merewyn to ask about her suitors. He had spent all afternoon searching for her and then realized Ismeine was also nowhere to be found. He had no idea where they might have gone, but dawn was breaking and all his knights were awake and searching the castle and its grounds. If he didn't have his daughters, it meant he would never see a bride-price. And if he didn't have Ismeine, he would never have his Gratellian knights.

"Any news?" he demanded as Sir Robert, his head knight, entered the room.

"None, your highness," he answered, bowing low. "We have scoured the entire castle and its grounds and have found no trace of the princesses. Do you propose we keep looking, sire?"

The knight's last few words were drowned out by the cry of rage that escaped the king's mouth. "Search the entire kingdom!" he yelled. "I don't care where you look, just FIND THEM!"


Laurence hesitated as they reached the edge of the forest. "I am afraid this is where I must leave you," he told them. "I must return to my knights." He cast one more long glance at Merewyn. "We will see each other again, Princess," he said. He bowed low to them all and began sprinting back to the other men. Dawn was approaching quickly, and if he did not return to his men, there was no telling what would become of them.

Or of the dame..., he thought, leaping over some brush. But by the time he returned, the men were still asleep. After taking a few moments to catch his breath, he ordered, "Get up! All of you, up! It is time we return to the castle! Up, come now, all of you!"


Merewyn stared at the spot where Laurence was just a few moments ago. We will see each other again? she thought. How does he know? But somewhere inside of her, she knew as well.

"What does he mean by that?" Ismeine was asking her as they emerged from the forest.

"I haven't the slightest...," Merewyn trailed off; her face grew white as Sir Robert approached them. "That is Father's head knight," she whispered, stating the obvious. "Ismeine, I believe we are in trouble."

"There you are," Robert said gruffly as he approached them. "Come quickly, before your father beheads me. Honestly, we've been searching all day and all night for you two; where have you been?"

[[Oh, no. It's fine.]]

Ame jolted awake at Laurence's yelling. Hurriedly, she got up, running her fingers through her hair. She packed and loaded her things up. She pulled out some oats for Yami to eat. She rebuckled her sword onto her belt, slung her bow across her back, then walked to where the men were.

Inira walked over to the stable where Scarlet was. "Is something wrong?" she asked, concerned. She had unsaddled the strawberry roan, and put him back in his stall. "You look...frightened."

Inira returned the smile. Realizing that the gelding she had ridden must look awful, she grabbed a brush. Walking to the stall with it, she smiled at the horse. She gave him a vigorous rub-down, talking to him as she did.

Ame hid a smile at the chaos of all of the knights packing up their things. "Maybe if they had practiced more, they wouldn't take so long..." she whispered to her mare. The horse snorted, and Ame smiled.

Azalia heard Scarlet's call. She tiptoed across the room and opened the door. "Yes?" She responded, just as quietly.

"I'll be sure to do that," Azalia replied. "I just changed. Have you done your wash yet? I'll just do the four of ours together if you haven't. Or we could wash them together, it would give you a nice break from your kitchen duties."

Once Inira finished grooming the gelding, she put the brush back. "Ugh..." she mumbled, "I'm hungry." She brushed the horse hair off of her tunic, and wandered towards the castle. She walked into the kitchens. "G'morning..." she yawned. "Good morning," chorused the servants in the room. "Here. Breakfast." A kitchen boy handed her a bowl of porridge. "Thanks." she answered with a cheerful grin. She sat down at a small table, and began to eat.

[[The table just HAPPENED to be there.]]

Scarlet quickly made it back to her room, got her dress, and brought it to Azalia, "Many thanks, Azalia" Scarlet said, and with that she went to her room and collapsed asleep on her bed. She dreamed very much and very vividly, reliving the previous night over and over, trying subconsciously to figure out what she had missed. She woke up several times confused about what had really happened that night, and had to straighten it out before falling back asleep.