The Curse and the Traveler's

[poohlive]

Serena was... so quiet, tonight, so shy. Her ramblings that have become expected from here were gone, replaced with shortened sentences and easy quips. She sat in the far corner, shaking like a leaf. Goodness, she must be sick.

David went ove rto her, kneeling, putting her hand in his own, "No, I understand. Sky was worried about you though. She said you were talking about this ball all day. It would have been your first, wouldn't it?"

He gave a sheepish grin, looking at her delicate fingers against his own.

"You would have danced like an angel. I might have had to ask for two dances, and strolled out with you in the gardens afterwards, maybe stolen a kiss under the moonlight."

David laughed slightly at that, kissing her little hand, "I'll have the doctor come up, ok? He'll make sure everything's ok. Get you some medicine, and cool broth for you to take. Are you sure you don't need anything else?"

 

[caela]

Skye laughed at Maximillian's joke. Granted she knew she looked nice but she was no raving beauty and most of it WAS the lovely dress that Serena's mother had made for her. At the mention of Serena though her face clouded once more with worry and she bit her lower lip gently in worry for her new friend.

"Thank you for the lovely, albeit somewhat silly, compliment Max. You cut the rather dashing figure yourself tonight. Now if David gets back and tells me that Serena is alright I will call it a good evening. She was so looking forward to coming, she must have eaten something that disagreed with her or hurt herself to not be here.

Max, do you think it would be possible for me to pick up a present for her? Something to cheek her up since she didn't get to see the festivities tonight?" She asked the question quietly but her eyes were glowing with warmth at the idea of getting something for Serena. She knew the other woman would be upset about having missed the ball and Serena promised herself she'd personally make sure her friend was at the next one.

Looking up at Max however her brow furrowed slightly at the look on his face.

"What is it? Did I say something wrong?"

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Serena quickly pulled back her hand, rose from her seat and pushed back David as she moved to the window. “I don't need the doctor, I'm okay. It was just some bad punch and I got sick, Max helped me to my room and I'm fine now, please go.“ She stood looking out the window, her back facing him.

She heard him rise and begin to walk, then he stopped. Serena could tell he was still there, she felt his presence. Taking a deep breath, she eased it out slowly, “David you need to get back to Skye, she is your betrothed and you need to be with her. She will be scared please go.“

Wiping a tear from her eye, she looked out at the stars and the three moons that hovered over their planet. Everything seemed so peaceful outside, so calming and friendly. She knew better now, she was no longer the young innocent Serena, she received a wake up call. She heard him sigh and could tell he was moving closer.

Moving from the window, her head bowed low, Serena walked to the door, she opened it. “David please go, I just need some rest, that is all. Please leave and tell Skye I will see her in the morning, as soon as I can. I'm sure I'll be well by then.“ The door stood open and Serena stayed hidden partially from his view. Her body exhausted and her spirit crushed, only wanting to be left alone, to rest and not think of what could have happened.

 

[poohlive]

David moved to the doorway, not liking this at all. It wasn't right. Serena had never acted like this before. To be honest, it started to frighten him. What had happened?

"All right, you are a grown woman now. You may do as you wish," He still faltered, looking her square in the eye, "Although, if either my brother or myself ever acted like this, you would pry and pry, and stay with us until you learned the truth. You would feel like I do now, like something is wrong, and needs to be talked about. But, I will respect you, and your wishes."

He bowed to her, and gave her a small smile. He stepped out into the hallway.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Serena shut the door behind him, and leaned against it. Her sobs began once more as she pressed herself into the door and slid down to rest at the bottom. Her head pressed into her lap, she cried till her head hurt, finally she knew she had to stop, she needed to get rid of this dress and climb into bed and take care of herself.

She stood up on shaky legs, walked to the closet and untied her shirt. It fell to the floor and she looked down at her arm. The bruise where the man had pulled her was now large and black. Smoothing her fingers over it, she winced at the slight pressure that was there. Flexing her elbow, as she bent her arm, it to stung from where she fell on it.

Releasing the skirts ties she allowed that to fall also. Looking down her legs she only made out a few minor bruises, those would be gone in a few days. She rifled through her closet and selected a soft cotton gown and pulled it over her body. Walking to the table she brushed out her hair and looked at her face, now visible with the light from the candle glowing on her. Her eyes still red, but no longer puffy. She sighed as she placed the brush down and stared at herself.

Taking her journal, she moved to the desk in her room and lit the lantern there, she turned the light on brightly, filling her writing space with light and once more she began to tell of her inner terrors.

I come to you tonight, no party to tell you of, just words of terror and lost childhood. There was a man tonight at the dance and he..

Serena stopped and rested her pen and stared out into space, She'd write later, pulling another sheet of paper she pushed the journal away and began to draw. The ball room full of dancers slowly began to emerge, beneath her slim fingers.

 

[only_more_so]

Maximillian was cornered and Skye had no idea. He couldn't tell Skye what had happened earlier, it wasn't his story to tell. He also couldn't lie to her.

"No, of course you didn't say anything wrong. You're concern for Serena only further shows me how lusterous a person you are. If my brow furrowed for a moment, please think that it was because I was considering what sort of gift would be best, under the circumstances." Max's facade was smiling, but inside he felt miserable. He hadn't lied, but he couldn't say he was honest.

Trying to change the conversation to safer ground, Max continued, "And the circumstances are currently a grand ball in your honor! If my words earlier sounded silly, I admit it, they were. But when I am around you, I feel like a boy who just learned about poetry. Everything is flowers from the heart, tied with ribbons and dipped in chocolate."

Trying to look abashed, Max finished with, "Alas I have no ribbons, or chocolate." He face quickly turned serious, yet a bit mischevious, "but I do have a flower that I have held next to my heart." And with that, Max pulled the carnation from the ruffles of his shirt, and held the long stemmed flower out to Skye on his gloved palms.

Max didn't have to pretend this time. He just hoped that Skye believe he was, for his brother's sake, and for his kingdom's.

 

[caela]

Skye laughed softly as Max offered her the flower and she took it gently from his palms. "You Max are what I affectionatly refer to as a nut." She has no idea he was serious and thought he was teasing her to make her laugh so she'd stop worrying about Serena. She just didn't see herself the way the brothers saw her and was very unconcious of her beauty. She didn't think she was ugly by any means but she'd only have described herself as plain or perhaps a little pretty on a particularly good day.

Grinning up at Max she assured herself that Serena must be alright and that if she wasn't David would see to it that she was cared for properly. She'd go visit her friend in the morning and give her all the details so that she would be able to see it clearly in her mind eye. The next time there was a ball she'd see to it personally that Serena was there by her side if it meant she had to enter the room with her friend on her arm!

Feeling less worried now she watched the people around her with fascination. They were all dressed very well and those on the dance floor moved with a grace that she envied and was sure she would never learn. Noticing a couple of girls (sisters possibly, they certainly looked quite a but alike) staring openly at Max she chuckled softly and bumped him with her hip to get his attention, "You have an audience Max and from the look on their faces they are less than happy to see you spending time with me."

 

[only_more_so]

"You have an audience Max and from the look on their faces they are less than happy to see you spending time with me."

Max didn't need to look in the indicated direction to know who Skye was refering to. He said, "Actually, I think they are less than happy that you are spending time with me ."

"Until you arrived, they had aspirations of being the Chosen One. Generations ago, a petty young woman of this realm believed she should be Queen. She spread rumors that only a Chosen One who came from this land could lift the curse, thinking that she would be the one Chosen. Of course the royal family, and the royal magicians know that isn't true, but a rumor won't die merely because of a royal proclaimation."

"Anyway, up until you arrival was made known, they thought one of them was the natural choice to marry my brother, the other would settle on me. Now I am the prize they are both trying to sink their talons into. Actually, that they are all trying for."

Max leaned in closer to Skye and whispered near her ear, "But I have already given my heart to another... Now laugh like I told you a bawdy joke."

Max pulled back and gave Skye a none too subtle wink. "So, did my brother introduce you to our parents?"

 

[caela]

Skye looked disbelieving as Max explain the sister's mercenary attitude. It was simply unfathomable to her that anyone could be quite so cold and calculating as to think that they would be "settling" to be married to Max or David. They were both handsome young men and from the little she'd seen they had good hearts and truly cared about their people.

Turning her head she stared at the sisters with a look of purest contempt while leaning in closer to Max as he whispered in her ear, "But I have already given my heart to another... Now laugh like I told you a bawdy joke." Hearing that she did laugh and the look on the sister's faces as she did only made her laugh harder.

Placing a hand lightly on Max's arm she offered him a bright smile, "I'm glad to hear you've placed your heart elsewhere. You deserve better, someone that will love you for who you are not because your Prince. I hope whoever she is that she'd worthy of you."

Max pulled back and gave Skye a none too subtle wink. "So, did my brother introduce you to our parents?"

Giggling at the wink she shook her head lightly. "No, we danced one dance and talked a bit, straightening out my yelling at him earlier, and then he offered to go check on Serena for me because I was worried about her. If you promise not to laugh I'll tell you a secret...I'm scared to meet your parents. I just know I'm going to tip over when I try to curtsy."

 

[only_more_so]

"I'm glad to hear you've placed your heart elsewhere. You deserve better, someone that will love you for who you are not because your Prince. I hope whoever she is that she'd worthy of you."

Max couldn't help but feel a stab in his heart at her words. She clearly had no idea, and why should she. A slight grin found its way to his face when he thought that she probably wouldn't think herself worthy of him.

"... I'm scared to meet your parents. I just know I'm going to tip over when I try to curtsy."

Now Max really couldn't help but grin. "Well, if you are going to go causing a scene, I think I will let my dear brother introduce you to them. I would give you this advice for when he does present you to them. They are parent's as much as they are King and Queen. And don't forget that the Queen was once in the very same situation as you are in now. The only difference is that now many see her as a failure, since she wasn't able to lift the curse. But most of the people adore her, look for yourself." Max waved an arm toward where the King and Queen were on the dias. It was the one of the only places in the ballroom where the mirth and smiles were entirely genuine.

"Also, never think for a moment that my mother is a failure because she did not lift the curse. She works hard for this land and has done many great things to help its people. There were thousands of women with great magics that could have been chosen, and would have jumped at the oppurtunity. But even if they had lifted the curse, which I seriously doubt, the land would not be as pleasent without my mother's gentle hand."

"Now, this is only my theory, and I haven't told anyone else, not even David. But I believe the chosen one is selected because of inherent character, goodness, beauty and strength. Women are chosen who are above and outside of the petty court intrigues and squabbles. Women who deserve to be royalty, and will strengthen the bloodlines. The curse is the fire that tempers my family's metal. All the women chosen have added their strength to this line, so that when the curse is broken we will be able to survive prosperity that follows."

Max hoped that Skye wouldn't think he was giving her an excuse for failure. Only giving her something to strive for and hope for if...

 

[caela]

"Well, if you are going to go causing a scene, I think I will let my dear brother introduce you to them. I would give you this advice for when he does present you to them. They are parent's as much as they are King and Queen. And don't forget that the Queen was once in the very same situation as you are in now. The only difference is that now many see her as a failure, since she wasn't able to lift the curse. But most of the people adore her, look for yourself."

Skye laughed softly at his comment about her causing a scene and playfully punched him in the shoulder. She knew he was laughing at her even if he hadn't laughed out loud. Oh well she'd set herself up for it. Turning her head to look up at the dias where the King and Queen were and a smile touched her lips. They seemed happy and so did those around them. It was obvious that the Royal pair was well loved not just by their people but by their son as well.

His words about the Queen having been in her same position caught her attention however. Here was someone who could explain everything to her! Preferably not in the rushed and haphazard way that Serena did. As much as Skye enjoyed listening to her new friend rattle on it seemed that Serena simply took certain things for granted because they were a natural part of her life. Which meant that Skye missed a lot. The Queen though...why she'd know everything at concerned Skye and from a very unique perspective!

She listened to his theory with a smile that was slightly confused. She didn't want to burst his bubble but there was no way she fit into it. Perhaps they'd made a mistake and snatched the wrong girl. After all hadn't he said something about magic as well?

Looking up at him an impish grin curved her lips, "Your mother sounds wonderful Max, and since David isn't back yet I insist that you introduce me." Her eyes sparkled up at him with the promise that she'd find a way to make a spectacle of him if he didn't do as she asked.

 

[only_more_so]

Looking up at him an impish grin curved her lips, "Your mother sounds wonderful Max, and since David isn't back yet I insist that you introduce me." Her eyes sparkled up at him with the promise that she'd find a way to make a spectacle of him if he didn't do as she asked.

"Your wish is my command," Max said with overly florished bow. "At your insistance, I will do so with alacracity." So saying he presented her his left elbow. He paused for a moment to let her soft hand grasp his elbow, and then covered her hand with his. By shear will power he didn't caress her hand, although he might have given a slightly inappropriate squeeze.

"When I present you to the King and Queen, you may leave your hand on my arm for support, or not. It is up to you. If you truly fear tipping over, then you should probably maintain your grip. The king's name is Charles, and you should call him 'King Charles' when in public, in private he may ask you to be less formal. The Queen's name is Beatrix. You should first address her as 'Queen Beatrix' and she will ask you to call her 'Bea', and please refrain from calling her Queen Bea, believe me she has heard it all before. Anyway, when I introduce you, just say something like, 'I am honored to meet you King Charles. I am pleased to meet you Queen Beatrix.' Address them separately and not as a couple. Other than that, it is easy."

They were now approaching the dias where the royals stood. As if by magic a path was opened in the crowd of courtiers. The king and queen looked down at the approaching pair and smiled. The queen's hand was held on the king's elbow in a manner that mirrored Max and Skye's approach.

Stopping two paces before them, Max proclaimed, "Honored Father, King Charles Ioline. Revered Mother Queen Beatrix Ioline. I have the honor of presenting Skylar, The Chosen One."

Max gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. His will power drained enough that the thumb traced a small caress on the edge of her hand.

 

[poohlive]

David stood outside her door for a moment longer, wishing he could help her in some way. She had always been so open, so friendly. What could possibly have happened to make her so cold toward him. She acted as if he were an unwanted visitor.

Ahh, but she was growing up, wasn't she? She had her own life now, her own friends. Maybe they weren't as close as they used to be, as he pretended they were.

A shake of the head, a sigh from his lips, and he let it go. She was lost in her own world, he would not get lost with her. He had to get back to the party, get back to Skye, and try to figure out what she wanted him to do.

Halfway down a corridors, three men emerged. One of them looked like he had just been in a fight. Black blood poured down his face, drying into his skin. His clothes were ripped and tattered, it looked as though someone had run him through a couple of thorn bushes.

"I'm sorry, we did not know you were the Lord High Chancellor's son. If we had..."
One of his Father's pages, who was trying his best to keep up with the unkempt man. The lord High Chancellor's son? A man of nobility, regal and loyal to the crown, yes, also the Chancellor's place in the kingdom kept him out of trouble, and from the rumors surrounding him, he had a lot of trouble to be kept out of.

But that's all there were, rumors. He had not been in the castle in years, offering instead to see the worlds. He was a great traveler, rarely coming back. Even without the blood covered face, David still wouldn't have recognized how he's grown now.

"Leave me," He swatted his hand freely, and the page ducked, running away as fast as he could.

The other two men, big and brutal, looked like they were stone gargoyles that had been brought to life. They had no wings, but their muscles were tight and carved, their faces looked ugly and broken. David felt his stomach turn as he saw them.

Then, Derek, the Lord High Chancellor's son looked at David. He gave David one of those looks that David knew all too well. A look of recognition on a stranger's face. Being born a twin, he saw that look a lot. People who did not know they were twins would see one of them, thinking it was the other. An amazing feat, to have a stranger give you a friendly smile.

Then again, this Derek did not give him a friendly smile.

"All be damned, thought I would have to go to the ball to find you again. Get him."

David had a second of wide eyed confusion, before the two carved statues grabbed him, pulling him back to the wall.

"Ho... hey, wait!" He cried out, as his back slammed against cold stone. He winced, watching the lord walk up to him, fierce determination in his eyes. David couldn't duck, couldn't move. Under normal circumstances he could take this guy. He had been taught to box, fight, defend himself. He saw the punch coming, and could have weaved aside from it easy, taken the man down in one swoop.

Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumber held him fast though, and all he could do was moan as Derek's fist landed square in his nose. He heard a wet soppy crack, stars crossing his eyes, blood already pouring down, waterfalling over his shirt, soaking him clean through.

Derek didn't give him a chance to yell at the pain scortching through his body, before he socked him in the stomach. The wind rushed out of him. He wanted to scream, but had no air which to do it. All he could do was force air into his lungs. They tried not to work, refused to do the one thing that was their job. He felt like a fish out of water, dying from air.

Derek grabbed David by his hair, pulled him up to meet him face to face. Caked on blood spit at him as he spoke.

"I told you I'd teach you a lesson, boy. Don't you forget it."

Another kick, this one sent David tumbling to the ground. The stone statues let him go, crumbling on top of himself. He could only cry softly, trying to breathe, trying to understand what had happened, trying to stop from room from spinning.

"She's up here... boys. I'll get at her yet," He turned to Serena's room. David tried to put out his hand, but that's all he could do before stars began spinning around his vision. He lay there on the ground, breathing as if he were a newborn foal and he was just learning how.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Serena looked at the picture she had just finished, the ball as it looked before the man had taken her away. She tore it from the pages of the book and took one of the funny nails called "tacks" and "tacked" it into the wall. David had brought her the little nails and she now used them everywhere. She pulled back her journal and began to write in it once more.


I am sorry dear friend, I was unable to write earlier, a terrible thing happend. A man,Derek the Chancellor's son, I know him barely, but he asked me to dance, and it was a nice dance, then when he learned I was but a servant, he pulled me away and into the maze. He tried to force himself on me, and I fought him, then Max came and saved me. I don't know what happened to the man, but David came to see me, he didn't see my bruises, and I made him leave. I had to be short with him, but I did not want to cause more trouble. I am going to rest now, perhaps a better tale for tomorrow will occur.


Serena closed her book and snuffed out her candle, she was pulling her blankets down, when suddenly her bedchamber door flew open. Jumping quickly she looked up, "Go away," she told him, her eyes full of fear.

"You live in a mighty nice room, for a servant whore, are you bedding the Prince."

She moved back away from him, her fear locked in her throat. "Leave me alone, they are my friends, nothing more."

"Well you have that right, I dealt with him all ready!" Derek moved closer to her.

"Max?" then her eyes filled with the realization of his words, "You idiot," she cried, "that was Prince David in the hall," she moved passed him, in anger and concern wanting to reach her friend. "DAVID!" she screamed. Her waist was soon circled by his large arm and she was hauled against him once more. She kicked at him, her nails clawing, "DAVID!! MAX!!! HELP US!!!" She screamed as loud as she could, not having any idea if someone heard her, or if David was ok.

Her teeth bit at him, she felt her head snap back as his fist connected with her jaw. Her teeth rattled, as darkness threatend to consume her. She felt her gown ripped off her body once more, and she fought him harder. He threw her on the bed. His hands undoing his slacks. She scurried as fast as she could to the otherside of the bed, only to be pulled back to him. His hand gripping her ankle.

She kicked and screamed, as he took his aroused sex from his pants. Serena thrashed and lashed out at him again. Deflecting her blow he, held both her legs down, "Hold the bitch," he yelled as one of his men came over to Serena and grabbed her arms. She took a deep breath and screamed. "HELP ME PLEASE, SOMEBODY!" She knew it was going to happen that no one was going to get there in time. Serena closed her eyes, as the grip on her hands increased, along with the ones on her ankles. She felt the bed sag as Derek moved over her, released her ankles and dug his fingers into her thighs.

 

[caela]

Skye smiled gently as she felt the caress on her hand. She took it for support because he knew she was worried and nothing else. Givign his hand a squeeze in thanks she kept her grip on him as she sank into the low curtsy that Serena had shown her. She felt unstable and prayed she didn't wobble too much as she slowly rose back to her feet.

Her smile to the royal pair was genuine and her voice was soft and kind though uncertain as well, "King Charles, it's an honor to meet you. Queen Beatrix meeting you is a pleasure, your son speaks quite highly of you both." Not knowing what else to say she quickly grew quiet and glanced at Max as if to ask if she'd done all right.

She couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. David should have been back by now and it still worried her that Serena wasn't here. Shivering at her thoughts a bolt of panic seemed to run through her and she shifted next to Max while giving his arm a tug to get his attention. Waiting til he leaned in closer she spoke to him softly, "Max, something's wrong. David should be back by now and Serena's not being here? I saw her earlier Max, nothing would have kept her away. Please go check on both of them," feeling that shiver of fear she added softly, " And take help with you. Gaurds or something."

Holding his gaze for a moment she prayed he wouldn't think she was simply crazy and would do as she asked.

 

[poohlive]

"You got a lot of nerve," The stone gargoyle said, as he looked down the hallway. He was standing guard of the door, where David could hear struggling inside. Serena screamed, and David's heart leapt out for her.

"I'm a glutton for punishment," David said, limping closer. His knees buckled with each step, threatening to give way under his weight. The prince looked as if he could barely stand. He stood there, trying his best not to pass out.

"You need another lesson?"

Inside, something shuffled, another scream, orders being barked. If David didn't have so many marbles rolling about in his head he might be able to hear it.

"She's my friend, can't just let you fucking animals do that."

"Your funeral pal," Gargoyle cracked the knuckles in his fists, eager to feel soft flesh crumble to the floor. He came closer, not bothering to fight with the man. To Gargoyle, David was dead on his feet, unable to do much more than stand there and bleed.

David gave off a strong smile, which looked crazy with all that fresh blood pouring from his face. For a moment the bright moonlight glinted off his eyes, and he truly did look crazy. A man who would just as easily kiss a bear as run from it.

In that moment, David swung the huge mace from around his back, and slammed it straight into the Gargoyle's skull. It was a decorative mace, not a bloody and sinister one used by knights in real battle. They could find these every so often in the hallways, decorative knight armor held these in their hands, along with a shield that had the crest of a lion.

The mace, not steel, but far from plastic, broke to pieces on Gargoyle's head. Any man, even most warriors would have been out for the count. David heard himself wince at the pain staking sound that came from metal crushing flesh. The gargoyle buckled, went to his knees, and looked about to fall over.

Instead of a hazy emptyness in his eyes though, they grew small and red, fiery. He screamed bloody hell and charged at the prince. David caught him, in some offhand tackle, and they both crahsed into the far wall. He swore he felt the earth shake at that crash, as what little strengh he had left escaped from his body.

"Serena..." He fell to the ground, the lumbering hulk of muscle over him, blood running down his face, his fists already up, looking for a nice place to land a punch. David braced himself, his arms shot up for protection, but as they did he felt the punch going right into his stomach again. The air once more left him, breath caught short. He lowered his hands, and another punch flew his head back, that he hit the far wall once more.

Stars floated around him. Darkness threatened. Somewhere in the distance he could still hear screaming, but it was far away. Miles and miles. David could not understand. He reached out for that scream, hoping to catch Serena and take her away.

His hands could not find her, instead they found a sharp jagged piece of Mace. It only took David a moment before things came into sharp focus, as the Gargoyle was wiping blood from his face.

"Goodnight, sweet prince," The gargoyle grabbed David by the hair, pulling back for another punch. A hard one, bright and deep, right in the nose. He would send bone shards throwing back into David's brain. He would lay here bleeding from the inside, dead within an house.

David cried out as he held the sharp piece of splintered metal, a sad sickening crunch as he lodged it deep into the man's skull. A moment of weird surprise roused over his face as he could literally feel the shard penetrate his skull.

"Goodnight," David said, as the gargoyle slowly crept to the floor, death already in his eyes. One down... David laughed as that thought entered his head. Yeah, no problem. This was going to be easy.

He tried to get up, but could not find the strength. His legs gave way the moment they caught hold, and he could only lay there next to the stone wall, Gargoyle dead at his side, bleeding like a stuck pig.

"I'm sorry, Serena," He said, as those stars returned. A buzzing sound invaded his ears, the darkness once again filming his vision. He could do nothing more. He wanted to help her, but everything was falling fast. After a moment of panic, he gave up, and sunk into that black void of unconsciousness.


He tried...

 

[only_more_so]

"Max, something's wrong. David should be back by now and Serena's not being here? I saw her earlier Max, nothing would have kept her away. Please go check on both of them," feeling that shiver of fear she added softly, " And take help with you. Gaurds or something."

Holding his gaze for a moment she prayed he wouldn't think she was simply crazy and would do as she asked.

Max looked down at Skye, and saw the urgency in her eyes. He got the feeling that any hesitation could be disasterous. That was when a wave of dizziness struck him. The last time he felt like that his brother had been thrown while riding in the hills...

"Mom, please take care of Skye, I lo... have to go." Don't panic and act stupid Max reminded him. He gave Skye's hand a final squeeze, turned and threw off his gloves. He then ran for the doors. He jumped off the diaz and started weaving through the dancers. There were squawks of protest as he barreled through.

Finally he obtained the hallway, grabbed the sword he had left there and yelled to the guards, "Follow me!" He didn't even look to see if they were following but starting sprinting toward Serena's room. He knew the guards couldn't keep up, only David would have been able to, and Max knew that David was in no shape to do so.

Another wave of vertigo struck Max, nearly making him fall. The rage that was building inside of him hardened. He threw away the scabard of his sword as he rounded the last turn and was in the hallway where Serena had her room. He saw a giant of a man standing over David, kicking him in the side. David wasn't moving and neither was the other man on the floor. There was blood. Lots of blood.

Max put on a final burst of speed, and extended his sword in front of him. The brute didn't notice Max's approach until the full length of his sword pierced the brute's chest.

Max knelt next to David and was saying desperately, "David? David! What's happened?" That was when Max heard two things. A vase crashing from Serena's room, and the clinking of the guards coming around the corner. "Take care of him!" He yelled to the guards. He tried pulling the sword free from the brute, but it was locked in place.

He ran for Serena's door and saw it listing on the hinges. Panic and rage hit Max almost simultaneously. He ran in and saw the rapist again over Serena. Her skirts were torn and lifted above her waist and the man was holding her with one hand as he tried to align himself with the other.

Max leapt and tackled him, then they tumbled on the floor in a heap. The rolled for a few moments striking at each other with fists and knees. In a standup fight Max would handily have won, but this sort of brawl left his training far behind. His face set in a feral sneer Max attacked and clawed. He got his hands around the man's throat when he suddenly felt a wet pain blossom in his side. He felt another stab and his grip on the man's throat was weakening. Just as a third burst of pain hit him, Max felt his grip release as the pain inexplicably collapsed on top of him. Someone had knocked him out.

Max heard his name being called from a great distance. He thought someone was calling for a healer. Max felt very light, and felt coldness seeping into him. So this is dying? Max saw a frantic face floating in front of him and said, "Tell... Sss... S... that I lo..."

Max smiled then. Skye would know he loved her, and she could now marry David and lift the curse.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Serena moved from the bed as soon as the man had been barreled into by Max. The man that had her arms quickly released them, and Serena scrambled away into the corner of the room. She watched Max and Derek struggle then she saw one of Derek's men, pull a blade from his waist and stabbed Max in the side, she screamed, grabbed the ink well on her desk, the weight of it heavy in her hands.

She watched as the man used the hilt of his knife and lashed it at the back of Maximillion's head. Serena raised her hand and brought it down across the man's temple. She spun around waiting for the third man to attack, but saw he was being held against the wall by one of the guards. Her eyes looked over to the other and she demanded he fetch the King immediately, but to not alert the Queen or Skye.

The man Serena had hit was dragged to his feet, his eyes burning into hers. She watched them both taken away and she scurried over to Maximillion's side. She pushed him off the man Derek. She touched his neck, and heard his mumbled words, "Oh, Max." she would not tell anyone what he said, he was not supposed to love Skye, she was intended for David. Serena pushed the thought away. She never thought herself as the one he loved, she was Serena, the servant girl, so with a look of sadness she turned from him to Derek.

He to was unconsious, his eyes closed. She pressed her fingers to his neck, then looked to one of the guards. "Get the Doctor for Prince Maximillion, find David. I'm not sure where he is."

"He's in the hall Miss, and the King has been informed."

She raised herself up, "Help me put his Highness on the bed, this trash," she kicked Derek, can be cared for in the dungeons. Do not say anything to anyone, we'll let the King handle telling the Chancellor of his sons behavior."

Serena and the guard eased Max onto her bed, she quickly went out to the hall and saw the King coming towards them in a rush. She met him, at David's side. "Derek, attacked me Sire and now lies unconsious in my rooms. Max is in there also, he saved me, but he like your David is injured. I'll explain all when you are ready."

The King looked at her, his eyes full of worry, confusion and something else. Serena trembled, she had never done anything as terrible as this, now because of her both men could die. She looked down at David and his broken body. Hearing the King's orders to have David moved to his rooms, she watched the guards slowly lift him. Turning back she saw the King enter her chambers.

Serena followed him. She only imagined what he was thinking, the two men were his life and now they both lay broken and bleeding. The king looked at her, "Repair your state of dress and go to the ball, tell my Queen her sons need her, take Skye to David's room, she shall be with him. I will meet her in David's room, come back here and care for Maximillion"

She looked at her state of dress and realized she still stood there exposed to her King, she quickly pulled a frock from her closet, covered her torn gown and pushed her feet into her slippers.

Serena ran to the doors of the ballroom, she knew her state of dress was unappealing. Her face was brusied and battered, her clothes her bunched and wrinkled. Guests parted and she saw the look of shock on Skye's face. Serena said nothing to her as she knelt at the Queen's feet.

The Queen acknowledged her and demanded an explanation. "Your needed in my room and in David's. The King awaits you in David's room, Skye is to go with you. I will be in my rooms, the King will explain what he can, and I will come to you when you are both ready, but your Highness you must hurry."

Serena turned and quickly ran back to her rooms. Hearing the Queen order the ball concluded as she left the room with Skye and her guards.

 

[caela]

Skye tried to smile as Max hurried off but she couldn't quite manage to make it look real. Something was dreadfully wrong. She could feel it. The Queen was kind and spoke to her gently but Skye barely heard a word she said until she saw Serena making her way across the ballroom looking like she'd been hit by a truck! Everything around Skye seemed to stop as she stared at her friend. The bruising on her face was eerily familiar and Skye was reminded of a young girl in her town who'd been beaten and....her mind stopped refusing to picture Serena in the situation she suspected.

If she was allowed near whoever had hurt Serena the man would wish he'd never been born!

The Queen acknowledged her and demanded an explanation. "Your needed in my room and in David's. The King awaits you in David's room, Skye is to go with you. I will be in my rooms, the King will explain what he can, and I will come to you when you are both ready, but your Highness you must hurry."

The Queen closed the ball and hurried from the ballroom with Skye close on her heels. If things were this urgent that David must be hurt! The thought made her heart leap into her throat. Granted she'd been annoyed and angry with him but she hadn't wanted him hurt and they'd just started to really talk and get along! By the time they reached his room she was in a grand fury and her violet eyes were blazing.

Without a thought she ran to the bed where he was laid out and began to test his wounds. She was no doctor but she was good with injuries having sustained plenty herself in her solitary wandering along hte cliffs by the ocean near her home. She thought one of his ribs - at least - was likely broken. there was a cut on the back of his head and while it had bled terribly it was now clotting and didn't look to be deep enough to need stitching; it's probably leave him with a nasty headache for a few days though and she had no way of knowing if there was internal damage.

Leaning close she whispered quietly in his ear, "David, damn you wake up. You didn't have me snatched from my home just to die on me and your family still needs you so I demand that you wake up!"

 

[poohlive]

"Hello there, princess," David felt as if he were breathing underwater, and his voice sounded almost the same. His nose broken in several places, gave hima funny gargling noise every time he breathed. It tickled part of his nose, and if it did not hurt so much, he would have laughed.

The blood had been wiped away, damp warm towels scrubbing some of the pains away. Most still remained, and he could not stop seeing objects in his vision every so often. Tiny beads of light that flew around the room and landed on various pieces of furniture. David furrowed his brow, and picked one off of Skye's ear, holding it in his hand.

"I didn't know..." He said, it sounds more like "I ninna no" but he continued anyway, his nose tickling him even more, "They came up, there was no warning. They tried to get to Serena's room. I couldn't stop them. She just wanted me to leave. I don't think Serena likes me anymore."

Why did that thought come to him so? Serena, god, such a young child. She did not deserve to know so much of the world in one day. Then again, the world had to rear its ugly head sooner or later. Perhaps it was best she did know. At least now she could be prepared.

And, David felt nothing for his pain. Drugs, good ones were kicking in. He drank some tea, special leaves that calmed his whole body down, and made the pain go away. Such happy little beads of light dancing around. Perhaps they were tiny fairies. Tiny fairies that protected him through the fight of stone gargoyles.

"Are you ok, Skye? Is everything alright?"

 

[caela]

"Are you ok, Skye? Is everything alright?"

She looked at him suddenly like he'd sprouted a second head. "Am I o.k.? You're lying there bloody and beaten on and you're asking if I'm o.k.? Yes David I'm alright no one was beating on me. And no everything is most definatly not alright. Someone hurt Serena and you and probably Max as well since he's not here checking on you and when I get ahold of whoever it was I'm going to make the asshole wish he'd never been born!"

Suddenly she simply burst into tears. It was totally out of character for her but it had been such a long couple of days and filled so many strange, odd, stressful things that she simply didn't know how to cope anymore. Her mind couldn't take in anything else and something had to come out. So she cried. She could feel both the Queen and David watching her and knew she must appear foolish - after all he was the one lying there broken and bloody - but she couldn't seem to stop.

 

[poohlive]

"No need to cry, my dear. I'll be fine. I've had worse tumbling with the wrestler's here. You should have seen me one day, casts on my arms, flailing about, whole body in bandages. I couldn't move for a week, they turned me into some sort of mummy. That was worse than this. Just a few bumps and bruises... and a broken nose. I'm afraid I won't be very handsome anymore..."

He had seen men from the field that had come back with broken noses. They had turned crooked, a notch in them, pale and elegant faces marked by this battle scar of war. She had never said she found him attractive, but it would be a shame he now looked uglier in her eyes.

"I did kick his ass though. Did you see him? Big as a stone boulder he was, and twice as strong, but I took him down. Ha ha, never thought I could do it. I couldn't take all three of them, but I took one. I think that's enough for any one prince. I just hope Serena is ok. Is she?"

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Serena reached her room, now full of maids and the doctor's assistant. She hated seeing the man who was second only to the one that would be or soon would be at David's side. Heirs to a thrown she hated it, hated how one was put above the other. She ushered the maids out and looked down on the unconscious form of Maximillion.

Tears welled in her eyes, as she heard the young doctor tell her about the wounds. "He's got a very bad lump on the head, and well... he has yet to gain consciousness, and granted that is not a bad sign, it isn't a good one either."

Her eyes widen, "Don't tell me riddles you fool!"

He glared at her, "He should wake up, we'll wait and see. The knife wound was deep but did not hit anything vital." She looked at the bandages on his body. Her heart breaking. Tears welled in her eyes.

"He needs to rest, and stay here." The doctor looked at Serena for the first time. "What happened dear one?" His eyes glanced over her small face.

"I was hurt by Derek and Maximillion helped me, and I don't know how he got out, but he did."

The doctor touched her chin and lifted her face, "You'll be ok, did they... " He couldn't continue.

"No, they did not."

"I'm glad," the doctor turned to leave, "If and when he wakes.."

"Only when doctor... no if's."

He smiled, "When he wakes up, only give him water for a while." He watched Serena looking at the still form of the Prince, thoughts of her small beauty and how it had blossomed filled his mind. He wondered if the Princes knew of the gem that rested under their noses. The young doctor closed the door and headed to see if his predecessor to be needed any help.

Serena touched the brow of her friend, went and grabbed a book from the shelf and began to read to him, "Maximillion, I will read to you this story, it is about a man named Gulliver and he like you is a traveler."

 

[only_more_so]

He floated in Darkness for a long time. As awareness started creeping back into him so did the pain. Pain and a terrible heat. The sensations were so intense that coherent thought was impossible.

Damnation! Darkness! Torment! Failure! Abandonment!

The thoughts assailed him, as his mind was bourne along by a train of flaming spears. He couldn't even remember what damned him! Who had he failed? What had he done? He couldn't even remember his own name.

Deep down, a faint spark of hope twinkled in the depths of his mind. He wasn't done yet... But done with what?


Max's body lay in bed. The knife wounds in his side began to fester and spread an infection through his body.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Serena awoke from the groan that came from the bed, looking towards the sleeping figure she took the book that had been laying in her lap and placed it on the table. She stretched then went over to the side of her bed where Maximillion died. His skin looked flushed and her heart stopped for a moment.

Bending down she placed her hand on his brow and felt the signs of fever. Her heart skidded to a stand still. Putting a fist to her chest, she thought of what to do next. The young doctor said he would return to look in on Max sometime during this day, but she knew fever was the first signs of a festering wound. Serena hurried over to the jug of cool water and poured some into a bowl. Bringing it back to the bed, dipping a cloth into its clear depths, she then placed the cool cloth over his head. Setting the bowl aside, she headed out in search of the King or Queen.

Coming across a maid, she ordered her to return find the doctor or one of the royal family. She felt her head pounding from the night before, and hurried back to Max's side. Continuing to bath his face with the wash cloth, her heart aching for her friend, she moved the blanket from his body. Leaving the cloth against his head, she lifted his shirt and removed the bandage from his wound. She cried out as she saw the thin red line of infection just starting to show.

"Oh NO," she cried out. Taking another cloth dipped in water, she cleansed the wound and ran the wet cloth under his shirt, and across his chest, she felt a shiver run over him, yet she continued to try and cool his burning skin. Serena put more of the foul smelling cream against the festered wound then noticed a maid entering with the doctor.

Together they lifted Max and removed his shirt. The doctor looked at Serena, "You should not be here. He needs constant care, someone to feed him and bath him."

"He'll need water, lots of it, plenty of broth also. Not hot, of course but warm. Your father will not be happy to know you have spent even one night in this room with him, alone."

Serena stared at the young man, "My father will not blame Max for any wrong doing this is all my fault and I refuse to let him die, because some silly serving wench can't keep her distance and minister to his needs the way they need ministering too."

He shrugged his shoulders, "You'll deal with your father, Serena, dear. Not I."

She glared back at him. "I'll take care of Max until someone tells me different, Go find Skye, if she is able to leave David's side, I have need of her."

"Why? She is not a Queen yet? What need is she of yours?"

Serena could not tell him the truth, she had a plan, she knew how to save both the men, and heal them quickly, but she needed Skye's help to do it. "Just find her and ask her to come to my rooms."

The doctor only shrugged, then left the room. Serena touched Max's brow, placed a soft kiss on his forehead, "You'll be okay my friend, I'll go wherever I need to go to get the things to heal you, I'll not let you die."

She bathed his face and bare chest once more. Knowing sooner or later she would have to leave with or without Skye.