The Curse and the Traveler's

[caela]

Skye couldn't help but laugh softly at the image that formed in her mind as Max told her of his visit to his mother. The poor boy must have had a terrible shock! Chuckling to herself she walked with him to the suitcases and purred as his hand drifted up along the skin exposed where her towel didn't quite close all the way. God how she wanted to feel his hands everywhere!!

"A very cold shower."

Laughing once more she watched him walk toward the bathroom and a small smirk curved her lips. Digging through her bag she drew out a black silk skirt and matching halter top as well as a pair of strappy black sandles. It was technically dressier than she really needed but she knew it would make Max's pulse race and his cold shower irrelevant as soon as he saw her.

Sliding the skirt up over her legs she smiled as it settled low on her hips and the slits in the side revealed long expanses of leg. The halter tied behind her neck with a deep V that just revealed the upper swells of her breasts and didn't quite reach her skirt so it left a strip of skin bare to his view. Sliding the sandles on she decided to leave her hair loose to curl as it would with only a touch of product to keep it from frizzing in the vegas heat.

Dressed she smiled at her reflection in the mirror before going to seek out the Queen and praying the woman was dressed when she entered the room! Knocking on the door she got no answer and slowly pushed it open, sticking just her head in, "Beatrix! You still in here?"

 

[only_more_so]

Beatrix was bent over the bed rifling through her suitcase when Skye came in. She still had the music videos blaring on the TV, so she didn't hear Skye's knocking. She was wearing a very snug azure blouse, that was tailored to emphasize her figure. She was also wearing a dark blue cover, which was nearly totally obscured by the blouse. Aside from that she was still undressed.

She had just picked up a white lace thong when she noticed that Skye had entered. "Oh, good you're here! Do all the women here wear these silly little undergarments? I was thinking of just forgoing them all together, but I didn't know if that would be improper."

She walked over to Skye, grasped her arm and pulled her over to the suitcase. "I was thinking of the black skirt, but you're already wearing black. Maybe the white one?" She said this while holding the skirt in front of her hips, the skirt not quite reaching to mid-thigh.

Beatrix then pulled out a pair of high heeled sandles, "And I was thinking of wearing these as well. Would that be okay for the meeting? I do want to look... Responsible." She added with a wink, "Well, not too responsible."

* * *

Max tried taking a cold shower, but quickly decided on a warm one instead. He showered quickly, and then took a bit of time to shave properly. Even though it would have been simpler to use the complimentary safety razor, he prefered the feel of a straight razor shave. Plus he wouldn't have to think about the use his mother had made... He did use some of the aftershave, and feeling much refreshed he went to get dressed, leaving the damp towel in the bathroom.

He pulled out a pair of light gray pleated slacks, and a red silk shirt. He lay them on the bed and dug through to pull out a pair of black silk boxers. He thought Skye would love that little surprise. He quickly pulled on his clothes, slipped on some socks and his loafers.

He took a moment to comb his hair before grabbing the room key and heading next door. Surely Skye had gotten his mother straightened out by now. But to be safe he would call around the mostly closed door to ask if everyone was decent.

 

[caela]

Beatrix then pulled out a pair of high heeled sandles, "And I was thinking of wearing these as well. Would that be okay for the meeting? I do want to look... Responsible." She added with a wink, "Well, not too responsible."

Skye laughed softly and took the skirt from Beatrix, "You want to look responsible but sexy at the same time. We can do that but not with this."

Rummaging through Beatrix bags she smiled as she drew out a dark blue skirt that would fall to mid thigh and had a flirty little hem. It would flatter her legs without making her look like a call girl. Paired with it was a white button up blouse that hugged Beatrix curves and bared some cleavage when Skye undid the top two buttons. The final touch was a pair of black strappy sandles with a heel that accentuated her calves and made her legs look long and lean.

"Perfect!"

Hearing the door open Skye turned and grinned at Max and hollered over the music, "We're decent love, come on in!"

 

[only_more_so]

Max walked into the room and was immensely grateful that his mother was once again fully clothed. She even looked respectable, so much as a bombshell could look respectable.

"I am the luckiest man in Vegas, to have two lovely ladies. Now let's get to the station and try to get my wayward brother on the phone." Max gestured them out of the room, made sure the door was locked and proceeded down the hall with Skye on one arm and his mother on the other.

They hopped into the first taxi in the long line that were waiting to ferry tourists about the city. "Station 11" Max said as the cab pulled away from the hotel. Max could feel his palms start sweating in anticipation, and he gripped Skye's hand rather more tightly than he needed too, while trying to project confidence to his mother.

It took a while, but the cab finally pulled to a stop in front of a building boasting a large "Station 11" logo. Max paid the fare as the ladies walked toward the building. As he walked into the front doors of the building he could feel the eyes of the people in the lobby latch onto him.

"Is it just me, or are they all staring at me?" Max whispered to Skye.

 

[caela]

"Is it just me, or are they all staring at me?" Max whispered to Skye.

Skye laughed softly at his nervous question and slipped her fingers through his to give his hand a squeeze, "Yes love, they're staring but you have to remember that last night they did a news segment showing you on the other side of the world. Well a man that looks just like you anyway. "

Striding with an easy confidence up to the reception desk with Max and Beatrix in tow, Skye gave the receptionist a warm smile and couldn't help but to chuckle when the woman simply kept gawking at Max.

"Pardon me but we need to speak to whomever was in charge of last nights broadcast. As you can see my brother-in-law, who we've been searching for, and his girlfriend were a part of last nights newstory and we're desperate to find them. "

Skye spoke with a smile and a glance at Beatrix and Max to tell them to go along with the few half-truths she told. David wasn't actually her brother-in-law but if she had her way he would be eventually. And o.k. Serena wasn't his girlfriend in the way the receptionist would think but she was a girl and David's friend.

"Right this way Ma'am. I'll be happy to show you and your family up to Mr. Davis' office personally. He'll be glad to know that one family from that horror has been reunited."

 

[only_more_so]

Max tried not to react when Skye called David her brother-in-law. If David were her brother in law that would make him... In a way that was less shocking that the idea that Serena was David's girlfriend. She was more like a kid sister than a girlfriend. An annoying kid sister, who was in deep trouble...

They followed the young woman through a maze of cubicles and offices to a private elevator in the back. They were soon on their way up, not all the way to the top, but above the worker bees.

Walking down a hallway they were greeted by another receptionist, or rather executive assistant. They thanked the receptionist who took one last stare, and followed the prim executive assistant down another hallway and through a rather formidable looking door.

Mr Davis turned out to be a rather mild looking fellow, dressed in a very well tailored italian suit. He walked out from behind his table extending his hand to Max, "You must be the brother, the one who called last night. I dare say, you have quite the resemblance. But there is something different about you, aside from the bruises. The eyes don't quite match. His were... wild, lost. Of course, after all of that..."

He broke off speaking as Beatrix started turning pale. She grasped Max's arm. Max said, "I think the reality is finally sinking in for my mother."

"Oh, I am terribly sorry. Please have a seat." He ushered them into a trio of seats and said to his hovering executive assistant, "Ms. Trenton, could you please arrange for some refreshments, and see that we aren't disturbed."

Mr. Davis reseated himself behind the desk and said, "I just realized I don't even know your names. Or the name of your brother for that matter, it was never officially released, although his face did make headlines around the world. No one seems to know who he is, or even where he is from. Apparently he spoke, albiet briefly, to reporters from at least a dozen countries and they all reported he spoke to them fluently in their language. We only have tapes of him speaking in English, and I can't seem to place his accent, or yours for that matter."

Max sat forward a bit on his seat and said, "Mr. Davis, my name is Maximillian, this is my mother Beatrix, and my wife Skye." He tried to tell Skye's lie with as much grace as she did, and found that it felt nice to say. "My brother, his name is David, and I run an import/export business. He was... in Vegas on business when we lost touch with him. We have been scouring Vegas looking for some sign of him, only to turn on the news last night and see that somehow he was in another country, fighting a war with slave traders."

He looked over at his mother, and saw a hint of tears in her eye. He placed a comforting hand on her arm and continued. "I know as a news man you are anxious to hear our story, but please, could we speak to my brother?"

Just then Ms. Trenton returned with a tray of coffee, some dainty sandwiches and a pitcher of hot water with tea bags. Mr. David nodded between his steepled fingers and said, "Ms. Trenton, please place the call we discussed earlier. I believe everything should be arranged. When it is connected patch it through in here."

Mr. Davis stood and paced for a moment, "I will give you a few minutes to talk to your brother in private. But as a news man, I would ask to have a few words with him when you are done. It really is a remarkable story, and even if I can't air any of this... well, it is a fascinating story."

Just then the phone buzzed. Mr. Davis pressed a button and quickly headed out of the room closing the door behind him. Max could hear the phone on the other end being picked up, and said, "David? David, it's Maximillian. Are you alright?"

 

[caela]

Skye had to admit that she was rather impressed with the building and with how high up Mr. Davis office was. It was clear the man wasn't quite the top dog but he was much closer than Skye had expected. Being led to another secretary Skye had to repress a shudder. This one didn't appear nearly as nice as the receptionist who had led them upstairs but she did have an air of competance about her that Skye was certain made her good at her job.

Being led into a large office Skye watched with pride as Max talked to the executive and had to smile when he called her his "wife". It was so much simpler than explaining the real situation but she liked the sound of it anyway. While the men spoke she moved to wrap an arm around Beatrix who was looking a little worn now that the reality of what was happening was sinking in.

At last the phone rang and they heard the line on the other end being picked up.

"David? David, it's Maximillian. Are you alright?"

"David!" Beatrix cried out softly, "David tell me you're alright, please be all right!"

 

[poohlive]

"Hey everybody," he said, his voice weak, throaty, the way a voice sounds when one first wakes up. It's always a little deeper and distant. For a moment, it sounds like a whole new person on the phone, some stranger pretending to be a friend or relative. Then, a simple cough, clearing of the throat, and they become normal once more.

"I didn't think you would come and try to find us. We're doing well over here. I just had a few scrapes and bruises. Serena..."

He paused, looking over at her on the bed, his eyes pouring over with guilt, "Serena's fine now too. I helped her. We were going to go home, you just caught us. I hope you didn't go through too much trouble."

He held the reciever, looking over at Serena, "You want to talk to Max?"

 

[caela]

"I didn't think you would come and try to find us. We're doing well over here. I just had a few scrapes and bruises. Serena..."

Didn't think they'd try to come and find him? Was David nuts or had he just been hit on the head too hard. Of course they came to find them! And what was that pause when he mentioned Serena?

"David, it's Skye...of course we came to find you both you silly goose. We've been scouring Vegas for you. We'll get you back here, we have rooms at the Bellagio and we'll get rooms for you and Serena as well. From what we saw on the TV you two could use a few days of pampering, rest, and relaxation before we head back home to the responsibilities there. Give...give Serena a hug for me would you, tell her I can't wait to see her again, we've been terribly worried about both of you."

Skye's voice broke on slightly when she mentioned Serena. She'd missed the flighty girl terribly and the way David's voice had caught when he mentioned her worried her more than she could say. She didn't know what had happened to her friend but she knew it wasn't good and the thought of anyone hurting that dear, sweet, girl drove her to distraction.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

David held the phone out to her at one point and she almost took it. Instead she said, “No thank you,” and calmly got up and walked away. She had nothing to say really. No words could ever express how sorry she was. How much she had wished she had never been searching for a true love, when the one she wanted was with her, and held no interest in her. She went into the small bathroom and sat down on the lid of the toilet, shutting the door behind her. Her stomach felt ill and she wanted to get sick. She was scared to death inside, but she wasn’t about to let anyone see it or hear it.

She took several calming breaths and splashed cold water on her face. Her eyes looked dull as she studied her reflection. She thought how ironic it was. Skye was going to marry David. David had realized he didn’t love her. Who knew who Max was going to marry and Serena was going to live exactly the way Skye was going to live and hate every minute of it. She was going to marry a man she didn’t know or love. . .why because it was the way things were.

After brushing her hair a couple dozen times she managed to make another appearance into the room. She wasn’t sure if David was still on the phone, she didn’t even look at him, or try to hear him. She only whispered, “I’m going outside to sit,” and then she left.

The reporters weren’t hanging around as much, there were a couple, but once she looked at them and they took a few shots, and she said nothing to them, they left her alone. There was a bench under a tree and she went and sat down. There she would wait until David came for her. “Where am I headed?” she thought to herself. Her future with an unknown mate... or worse... she still had to face her King.

 

[only_more_so]

"I didn't think you would come and try to find us. We're doing well over here. I just had a few scrapes and bruises. Serena..."

He paused, looking over at her on the bed, his eyes pouring over with guilt, "Serena's fine now too. I helped her. We were going to go home, you just caught us. I hope you didn't go through too much trouble."QUOTE]

Max was stunned. How could David not think they would come to get him? And what did he mean they were going to go home? If he had been able to travel home, surely he would have done so long ago!

Beatrix burst out before Max could say compose his thoughts, "Of course we were going to come get you David. We weren't going to abandon you to this world, especially not when you are needed back in ours! Your Father and I were worried sick about you."

Max put a calming hand onto Beatrix's shoulder. He said, "David, it sounds like you can go home directly, but Skye is right, you probably should take a couple of days to recoup, since things are going to be... Well, we only have a day or so once we get home before the fog closes in."

 

[poohlive]

"I didn't think we were going to be here this long, to be honest," He said, watching Serena leave. Perhaps she just just caught up in the emotion of it all. He hoped that was the excuse, and not something else.

"I stayed with Serena because she said she wanted to be here, that she was looking for a husband. I thought, I would indulge her for a few days, show her this wasn't some easy task. She would be disappointed, learn a lesson, and them say she wanted to come back home. At that point, I'd tell her... "oh yeah, we can go home any time, no problem. " She'd come back and everything would be ok."

As it turned out, things hadn't happened like that. David told them about Andrew Wellington, and being drugged, almost having his body cut up for the black market. He chased Serena nearly half the world, only to raid the sex mansion and kill the man responsible for all the pain and misery that he caused them.

"If I had known any of it was going to happen, I would have made her go back with me that first day. I am sorry, Skye. I failed you. I was supposed to be there by your side, sharing with you, helping our love grow, and instead I was here taking care of some silly girl who thought Vegas would solve all her problems. I will make it up to you though, I promise you that."

David looked out the window, at the young girl now sitting by herself.

"I don't think relaxing in Vegas is a good idea. Serena's seen enough of this world. She wants to go home. She wants whatever punishment is coming to her, and to get away from planes, cars, guns, and the fast pace of this world. She really wants to go back."

 

[caela]

"If I had known any of it was going to happen, I would have made her go back with me that first day. I am sorry, Skye. I failed you. I was supposed to be there by your side, sharing with you, helping our love grow, and instead I was here taking care of some silly girl who thought Vegas would solve all her problems. I will make it up to you though, I promise you that."

Skye was suddenly glad the TV executive had left the room to give them privacy as she glanced up to Max, worry flooding her eyes. What did she say to that? She certainly couldn't tell David over the phone that she was in love with his brother but she didn't want to lead him on either. Surely after all that had happened he didn't truly believe he was in love with her still? She prayed that when she did tell him that he would hear the news with grace and understanding.

"You don't have anything to apologize to me for David. Or are you forgetting that I ran off with Serena on her first foray into my world? You went to help a friend, I don't fault you for that and there is nothing to make up to me for it."

No words of love, just simple understanding. She hoped that was enough. Going silent now she simply sat back lost in her own thoughts while David, Max, and Beatrix talked. She barely heard David say that relaxing in Vegas wasn't a good idea and that they should just go straight home.

She and Max weren't going to be able to hide their feelings from the court much longer. Once she officially rejected David the cat would be out of the bag.

 

[only_more_so]

Max ground his teeth as he listened to what David was saying. How could he be so irresponsible? Serena had almost gotten both of them killed, even if it weren't entirely her fault Max reminded himself. Then she dragged Skye to her world for medicine, breaking the most important law in the kingdom in doing so, not to mention all the problems it almost caused with stranding them there.

Then she had again broken the law, and this time on some misguided impulse without any altruistic motive. He should have left her stranded in this world, or brought her back immediately to face charges.

Schooling his emotions he said, "David, if you think it best, go ahead and head home on your own. We need to remain another day to pick up the return supplies, since in addition to being a rescue mission this is a regularly scheduled travel. So whenever you arrive back home, we should arrive an instant later."

He couldn't help adding, "And do try to make your sudden disappearance as unnewsworthy as possible."

 

[poohlive]

It suddenly made sense to him now. A rescue mission. He could have almost laughed out loud. This had been no rescue mission, it was just the supply mission, with enough resources following David to make a lousy phone call.

He took the phone away from him, staring down. He didn't know why, but something was wrong. The way everyone talked, the things they said, and things they did not say. Why was everything falling apart so?

Serena was willing to die, he had gotten no closer to Skye, and now his own brother seemed more interested in saving face at the kingdom and getting supplies.

He put the phone back up to his ear.

"Yeah, that sounds great. All right then. I hope everything is ok there in Vegas. I'm going to take Serena home. I will meet you there whenever you happen to get there. See you guys."

He hung up after the goodbyes, looking out the window at Serena. She was going to die, he knew that. This was no slap on the wrist, no silly games for a silly girl. She had committed a treasonous act and would be executed for it.

He went out of the hotel room, pushing past the small band of reporters.

"Hey, Sererna," He said, smiling down at her, "It's all set. They're going to meet us back home. Are you ready?"

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

She sensed him before he reached her. She took calming breaths and then she closed her eyes, memorizing his smell. Serena turned to face him. “I’ve been ready,” she told him. She slipped her hand in his and allowed her to lead him to the bookstore he’d spoken of.

Her heart beat wildly as she held his hand and suddenly she felt an overwhelming urge to tell him she loved him, but she didn’t. She bit her lower lip and kept quiet. She was a serving maid and that was it.

They moved through the store and out the back, barely disturbing the customers within. Once they reached the backyard, she saw the thick woods and felt the magic of their world coming from deep within it.

She squeezed his hand and looked up at him. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry for everything.” Together they stepped into the circle and the seed was suddenly there and they were sucked into a vortex where space and time didn’t seem to matter. She held tight to him and when they emerged they were in the gardens and she was looking up at him.

“We are home now, right?” she whispered.

 

[only_more_so]

When they hung up the phone, Beatrix quickly turned to Max and said, "What's wrong with David? That didn't sound like him at all. We need to get back home as quickly as we can."

Max knew what she meant, but he didn't really see the point in leaving early. Time was frozen back home, and would be until they returned, or five days had gone by. Max was trying to explain that when their host returned.

"Oh, it looks like the call ended before I could get a word in?"

Max looked a bit chagrined and said, "Yes, David had to go tend to Serena, the friend who was... kidnapped. He is also rather anxious to begin the trip home."

Max knew he had spoken too hastily when he saw the glint in Mr. Davis'es eye, "And where is home, Maximillian? I took the liberty of contacting your business but they have no residence for their CEO listed, only a PO box. Actually several PO boxes, in several different countries."

Glad for contingency plans Max replied smoothly, "Actually, we spend most of our time living on our yacht or in hotels. For legal purposes we maintain a small cottage on Martha's Vineyard, and another off the coast of Italy. Managing such a diverse company necessitates a lot of travel."

Max looked over at his mother, who was worrying her lip. "Mr. Davis, I think I should take my mother back to the hotel. She didn't take the conversation very well. We are staying at the Bellagio, so if you would like to contact us later, I would be happy to answer further questions."

Mr. Davis made his polite goodbyes, and it was only after he was halfway through that Max realized he wasn't speaking English. It took a while for Max to place it as Italian.

Max smiled, switched to Italian and said goodbye. He quickly got Skye and Beatrix out before Beatrix said anything in the kingdom's language, which might sour the deal.

 

[caela]

Skye was in a state of confusion while Max talked with the station executive. What had just happened? How had coming to get David and Serena suddenly turned into just a business trip? And what was with the way that Max had spoken to David? Something hadn't been said there and it was bugging Skye.

What exactly was it that Serena's punishment would be anyway?

Letting Max herd them out of the office she simply followed where she was lead while her mind spun and tried to sort everything out. Lord what she wouldn't give to have Serena around to explain things!

Back at the hotel at last Skye waited until they were in Beatrix room before turning to confront both the Queen and Max.

"What the hell just happened back there? "

 

[only_more_so]

"What the hell just happened back there? "

Max looked at Skye and was a bit confused by the question. "Our friend Mr. Davis is a little too wily for our good. I think somehow he knows that David and I aren't who we seem to be. I don't know what he thinks we are though."

Beatrix paced the room as Max talked to Skye, finally she said, "Something's really wrong with David. I don't understand why he was so distant. And why were you so... so... cold."

Max looked at his mother and didn't understand what she meant. As he thought about it, he thought maybe he had been, but not that David didn't deserve it. "He could have come back anytime he wanted, but he went running around here instead. We count on coming to this world for food and basic necessities of life because of the damned curse! Then he comes here, and nearly gets himself killed!"

"You aren't the only prince who thinks he has to get himself killed, Maximillian!" Beatrix snapped.

"Do you think I want the curse to kill me? I've trained and studied every day of my life to lift the curse! So maybe I don't have to die. But if I do, it is only to give David the chance to lift the curse. And here he is nearly getting himself killed to try to teach Serena a lesson. When it is because of her that the curse is descending on the kingdom early!"

"You are being too hard on the girl, Maximillian. Do you really think if she knew that her trip would bring the curse early she would have done so? She just wants to fall in love, is that so wrong?"

Max was about to snap that it was wrong to want to fall in love, when he saw Skye standing there staring at him. "Regardless of her intent, she knew the penalty for travelling! If father is generous, and her parent's timely, she might be able to tell them the worth of David's lesson. Provided the curse doesn't swallow the entire kingdom first!"

Beatrix gasped. "Your father wouldn't do that to Serena! She's just a girl, a confused girl."

Max said, "She a..." but snapped his mouth shut before he said dead girl. He could feel Skye's eyes on him, it felt like she was judging him and found him wanting. His own mother was equating his lifelong sacrifice to his brother's impulsive moment.

He looked again at Skye's beatiful face and felt ashamed, without knowing why. he unclenched his jaw and left the room without another world. He headed for the elevator, pressed the button and waited for the door to open.

 

[poohlive]

"We're home, Serena," He hugged her tightly, seeing the familiar gardens around them once more. He laughed once, seeing the place where he had been lost once, and decided to cut his way back to the castle. The hedge had never grown back the same way.

"Come on," He grabbed her hand, running back to the castle. A few twists and turns put him right back at the front doors.

Inside, he could see the daily hussle and bussle of the castle. Maids and servants running here and there.

"No one knows we left," He whispered in her ear, looking at Serena and holdng his finger over his lips, "It's our little secret, but you still need to go before the king."

He took her to the throne room, pausing only a moment to squeeze Serena's hand.

"I'll help you all I can, but this is your crime Serena. Act brave, and be responsible... you were very brave back there hun. I will let him know that."

 

[caela]

Skye watched in shock as Max and Beatrix bickered. Granted she thought that Max had been cold to David, he and Serena had been through a lot and deserved some sympathy but it was clear that Max was more annoyed with them than sympathetic. She didn't know what to make of it. They were both angry but even Skye was surprised when Beatrix compared all the sacrafices that Max made for his world to what David had done...that was just unfair!

Unsure how to read Max's expression she watched as he turned and left the room. Glaring at Beatrix she too spun from the room and went after Max. Finding him at the elevators she reached up and placed a hand on his shoulder startling him.

"And here I thought your family got along so well. Now I find out there are some stored up resentments. "

Reaching up and cupping his face in her hands she stared up into his eyes, "Talk to me Max. Help me understand what happened in there, and on the phone with David. I know there are pieces to this puzzle that I'm missing. What's this about Serena's travel endangering your world?"

 

[only_more_so]

"Talk to me Max. Help me understand what happened in there, and on the phone with David. I know there are pieces to this puzzle that I'm missing. What's this about Serena's travel endangering your world?"

The elevator dinged and Max grasped Skye's hand and walked into the elevator. As the door closed he looked into her eyes and sighed. "Everytime someone travels it strengthens the curse. We travel at the full moon with a special ceremony and magics to prevent the curse from strengthening. The more travelling that is done between full moons the stronger the effect. Getting the medicine had a relatively minor effect, but this trip right after that trip compounds the problem. When we get back we might only have a day before the cursed fog traps everyone within the castle, we should have over a month left."

The elevator had swiftly descended to the lower level and Max headed straight for the bar, still holding Skye's hand and leading her. He ordered a double shot of whiskey and slammed it down quickly before ordering another which he stared at until the bartender left.

"As for the stored up resentments... I don't know. I know it must be hard on her, but she never said anything before. How do you talk to someone about something like that? 'Please don't save the world because I don't want you to die?' Or maybe, 'be a good boy and die for us.'"

Max took his second shot and waved the bartender back. Staring morosely at the bar.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Serena followed David into the castle and before she was able to say or do anything he had her in the throne room. She’d seen the King hundreds of times, but never after doing something so foolish as what she’d done. She didn’t know how much the King knew about the happenings on Earth. Max, Skye and from what she understood the Queen knew, but had they been back to tell on her. . .to let him know how close she’d come to losing the heir to the throne as well as the one that was to wed Skye and lift the curse. Her punishment would be severe, she knew this. She looked to David and wished he’d let her go to her room first to change into their World’s clothes, she didn’t need to remind the King that she’d ventured to another world, he already knew.

As she stood at the bottom of the small steps that would have led up to where the King would sit, she took several calming breaths and repeated in her head that she was an adult and she was not the naive woman that she was a week ago. She also knew that David was wrong. . .how could people not know they were gone. Not know they were back, perhaps, but gone. . .no how could Max, Skye and the Queen jump without everyone or someone knowing? She would be the spurned servant if she managed to not be banished or worse. . .killed. She shivered at the thought and turned to face her King when the trumpets blared.

Once she saw him enter she dropped to her knee and waited for him to tell her if she could rise or not. Inside she felt sick and all she wanted to do was run. . .but she didn’t. Running did nothing but get her into more trouble. She had to show her King and David she was mature enough to take her punishment just like any royal would, though she was just a nobody.

 

[caela]

"As for the stored up resentments... I don't know. I know it must be hard on her, but she never said anything before. How do you talk to someone about something like that? 'Please don't save the world because I don't want you to die?' Or maybe, 'be a good boy and die for us.'"

Leaning close Skye listened as Max talked, her hand resting lightly on the top of his thigh which she squeezed in sympathy from time to time. Staring up at him however she shook her head gently as he talked about Serena.

"Max, I didn't mean her stored up resentments...I meant yours darling. It can't have been easy for you knowing you were expected to die for your kingdom...having people expect it of you even while you were sought after to father a royal bastard."

She didn't know any way to say it nicely and so she simply said it bluntly. It was a way of growing up that she didn't understand. Granted her own childhood hadn't been tea and roses but no one had expected her to die for them.

 

[only_more_so]

"Max, I didn't mean her stored up resentments...I meant yours darling. It can't have been easy for you knowing you were expected to die for your kingdom...having people expect it of you even while you were sought after to father a royal bastard."

Max looked down at his third whiskey, and thought about what Skye said. "To tell you the truth, being expected to hold off the fog while David got married, never made me resentful. The people always treated me kindly and seemed to give me more respect than they did David."

He drank his shot and gestured for another, "Besides, it's not like they were rooting for me to die, everyone was cheering for me to win. They knew it unlikely, probably impossible, but they were on my side. I believe your world has a saying that everyone roots for the underdog."

The fourth shot went down more smoothly than the first three, and the bartender was quick to fill up a fifth as Max kept talking, "I never had anything to resent before. I kept my life free of attachments. I didn't father any children to worry about when I was gone, I had no lovers left grieving. The only people who would be truly hurt were my family, and perhaps young Quint, but I would have seen him settled somewhere before..."

Max downed the fifth, and then the sixth as soon as the bartender filled it up. He paused before the seventh shot and looked at Skye, "But now I am in love, and I have someone who loves me. Not because I am the prince, or by fate was born into their family, but someone who loves me for me. Now that I have something to lose... Skye. I love you, but I will still go out and fight, I will fight all the harder knowing it might save you as well. But if David had died it would have been a meaningless battle. I would go out there knowing I was fighting for nothing. Nothing but a worthless lesson, to a dead girl."

* * *

King Charles knew something went wrong with the spell when Max, Skye and Beatrix did not immediately reappear. It had never happened before. But far off in another corner of the gardens he could feel someone coming back. They had never had two sets of people travelling in such a way before. Perhaps that meant that David...

The King hurried into the castle, and was soon informed that his son and Serena were heading toward the throne room. He was also informed that the fog was already moving across the village. He could see the evidence of that by the stream of people approaching the gates.

Charles stood outside the throne room, impatiently. He tried to calm himself, but things were developing in a decidedly dicey manner. He knew when David and Serena entered the throne room, and he waited for more than a minute before letting himself be announced. He was still trying to decide what to do when he strolled into the throne room.

"David, my son, I am glad to see that you have returned to us. We were all very worried when you didn't return within a day. You look a bit travel worn, and I would like to get a full reporting later."

Charles hated sounding so formal to his son. But that is the way kings had to act, it was a show for the people as much as anything. He only hoped that David knew that and wouldn't resent him for it later.

As he turned to face Serena his face grew hard. He made a gesture to the guards and they started clearing the throne room of the nobles and hangers-on. Normally high-justice was done in open court, but he couldn't allow the general populace to know what had transpired or they would lynch the girl. Either that or they would all try to escape the kingdom dooming everyone.

The large room soon stood empty except for the King, David, Serena, the high chancellor and two guards with pole axes guarding the doors. "Serena, you I am less pleased to see. Your actions over the past weeks have brought the curse down upon us more than a month early. As your most recent exit has left us one prince short, your recent return also finds us a prince short. Not to mention a Chosen One short."

"There are two possible punishments for your crime. The first is banishment, which is usually accomplished by simply providing the criminal no way to return. With the curse now upon us, there is no way to banish you without destroying us all."

"Since David brought you back to us, I can only assume that means he wants you executed for your crime. I am reluctant to do this since you have served the kingdom well, and I am convinced you did not realize the severity of your crime. But I cannot be too lenient or worse will befall us all. While I consider this, and consult with my son, you will be held under guard. I believe your own room will suffice." He gestured curtly to the guards who surrounding Serena.