A von Schmect in Arcon's Court

[Moonitic]

"Not difficult at all. I'm in charge of the kingdom. It's that simple. If you wish to fight me, so be it. But I'm going by what Zelda wishes. Nækos did not say anything to the contrary when we spoke. Therefore, Zelda's word stands," Moon stated matter-of-factly. "I can't fight. I can't hunt dragons. I can't ride a horse. But I can run a kingdom if I'm given the opportunity. It will be a good learning experience."

[Swordsman]

"Tell me," Krasala asked, "how do you intend to keep any kind of control? How would you stop us from simply locking you in your room? Essentially...you and what army?"

[Moonitic]

"I have no muscle to keep you from taking control. There's nothing I could really do but talk to you as I am now, and implore you to let me do what I must." Moon looked at her, eyebrows knitted together as she spoke. "And if a situation such as that of the Von Schmect's would come up again, I could only hope that you would stand behind me to protect the sanctity of Arconia. Nækos works for the crown. You work for Nækos. Zelda has put me, his charge, in control of the kingdom while she & her husband, whose child I carry, are away." It made perfect sense...to her, at least. Why did everyone always have to make things so difficult for her? She released a deep breath that she did not realize she had been holding.

[Swordsman]

Krasala crouched down in front of her, drew a deep breath, let it go. "Let me lay things out very clearly," she told Moon, as gently as possible. "He doesn't trust you. He has looked at your past decisions, and very simply does not trust you to run a kingdom. Since Zelda does not wish to run it either, he told us to take control. Blood, hereditary right, make no difference to him."

[Moonitic]

"At this point, I really don't care what his wishes are. I returned to Arconia because I had a job to do, and now I'm doing it. No one is stopping me. It's about time I grow up & accept responsibility." She stood, despite the tears that stung her eyes. "If you will excuse me, I have things to do." With that, she moved to exit the room.

[Swordsman]

Krasala just looked at Slade and tipped her head toward the door. He raised an eyebrow in return, and she responded with a small, sad shake of her head. The two of them rarely required actual words, and so he turned and followed Moon out the door.

[Moonitic]

"It won't do any good, but I'll say it anyway...leave me alone," Moon grumbled to her shadow. She really did not know where she was going, but if she had to walk all night to avoid her room, or any room that locked behind her, she would. And she did want to hunt down Lord Tellurine. Some things about his presence during the attempted take over bothered her, and she wanted them straightened out. Besides, he had worked for the King of Muu for so long, he might be useful in helping her run the kingdom.

[Swordsman]

"You might be surprised," Slade responded. "Enjoy your evening."

He turned quickly on his heel and returned to the bedroom, beckoning for Tæbryn to come quickly. "Time for a lesson in stealth," he whispered, moving back in the direction Moon had gone.

[Moonitic]

"Hmm..." Moon glanced over her shoulder & caught a glimpse of the retreating figure of Slade. "Interesting." Deep down, a part of her shouted out to run...to escape the confines of the castle & to find Meekal once more. Yet a new, more practical side stopped her. Her husband told her to stay, and for once she felt compelled to obey. And her friend, whom she owed so much, especially in her circumstances, asked her to watch over something as precious as her kingdom & people. It was really the least Moon could do. She had a duty to carry out, & if she was going to be a Queen...& soon a mother...she had to do her duty. So, without her guards breathing down her neck, Moon did what she needed to do.

First stop, the kitchen. "Nani," Moon said to the frazzled cook, "please make your most simple dish, then take the rest of the evening off. You really do need some time to yourself." As the cook eyed her, Moon continued through the kitchen to speak to the head maid, then the gardener. After the help had been informed, the ones left, that is, she made her way up to Willow's chambers to check on her dear friend, but found out from Willow's personal maid that the princess of Marsteria was sleeping. "Sounds like a good idea," Moon said through a yawn. Somewhere in the castle, her new lackey lurked. And also Latenight. She'd have to talk to them soon, but she could not help another yawn. "Maybe after a nap," she mumbled. "What a way to celebrate my freedom!"

[Zelda]

If I come back and find even one hair out of place in my room..........brillant writing guys.

[Lord Tellurine]

It was a muggy evening in the dungeons below the Arconia Castle (Voted: Best Dank by Dungeon Quarterly) and the only sounds heard were the buzzing of mosquitoes, the scurrying of rats, and obscenities of the Baron and Baroness von Schmect.

“We will not be treated this way!” complained Baron von Schmect angrily.

“Yes you will be,” replied Ozymandias – Ozz, a member of the Strike Force that was given the dubious honor of locking up the von Schmects in the dungeon. “As a matter of fact,” he pointed out smugly, “you ARE being treated this way, even as we speak.” He stopped at a cell and opened a door. “In you go.”

As she was shoved in, the Baroness argued, “We are members of the aristocracy!”

Ozz glanced around the dungeon and shot back, “There goes the neighborhood.” He closed the cell door and locked it. He smiled broadly at the von Schmects. “Don’t worry, we’ll find your grandson, too. He won’t get far.”

“Ugh!” the Baroness shouted. “There are mosquitoes down here!”

“I demand to speak to a lawyer,” demanded the Baron.

“Get someone down here to take care of these mosquitoes!” ordered the Baroness.

Ozz nodded his head. “I’ll see what I can do.”

“About what?” asked the shrill voice of the Baron.

Ozz gave him an odd look. “What?” he asked.

“What are you going to do? Take care of the mosquitoes or get a lawyer?” The Baron took a moment to laugh an arrogant, evil laugh. “Or do you not know the difference?”

“Of course I do,” answered Ozz. “One is a bloodsucking parasite and the other is a insect.” With that, he turned and left the dungeon. His intend was clear. He wasn’t coming back. Instead he had he mind set on a more enjoyable task: Silas hunting.

Lord Tellurine was sulking. He wasn’t even sure why he was sulking, but he was. He sulked his way through the hallways of the castle, wondering what had happened to him. Mere days ago he was bent on destroying Princess Buffy and only an hour earlier he had protected her. He cursed his new lot in life by kicking a particularly ugly tapestry that was covering the wall from the ceiling to the floor.

The tapestry said, “Ouch!”

This intrigued Tellurine to say the least. He grabbed the side of it and pulled it away from the wall. There stood a bleeding, defeated Silas von Schmect. Tellurine groaned.

“Tellurine,” Silas hissed, “you gotta help me!”

“Are you nuts?” he hissed back. “I work for the other side now! Don’t you get it?”

Silas glared at him and said, “You’re an opportunist, Tellurine. You always have been. You help me and I’ll make it worth your while.”

“If anyone finds me even talking to you, it’ll be my head!”

“Nobody’s going to…”

“Tellurine!” rang out a new voice from down the hall. It was Lady Moon.

Tellurine let go of the tapestry and stepped in front of the bulge that was Silas von Schmect. He smiled awkwardly as Lady Moon approached. “Hello, your Highness,” he said as sweetly as he could.

She stepped right up in front of him. “Cut the sugar, Tellurine,” she snapped. “I want to know why you were with Silas von Schmect earlier this evening.”

“Funny story,” Tellurine began with a slight laugh, “I was in the Bitter End when Silas came in asking me to meet with his grandparents. I told him I had no business with them, but he insisted until I relented and agreed to come.” His smiled faded and he added with emphasis, “He’s quite a rude young man.” There was a swift kick to his shin that Moon failed to notice. Tellurine grimaced in pain, which Moon did notice.

“What are you doing?” Moon asked, quite agitated.

“Nothing,” he lied expertly.

“Look, Tellurine,” Moon said, her tone softening, “We have a history together that isn’t going make our new arrangement very easy to adapt to. We’re going to have to feel this out slowly and gain trust in each other.” She sighed and looked him straight in the eye. “I want to thank you for protecting me earlier.

Tellurine replied back courteously, “I live only to serve you, my Queen.” There was another kick and Tellurine grimaced again. Moon pondered his strange behavior.

Ozz interrupted by barreling up the hallway. “Have either of you two seen Silas von Schmect?” he asked, the thrill of the hunt gleaming in his eyes.

“I have not,” said Moon. She glanced at Tellurine. “And I’m sure if Tellurine were to come across him he would let us know right away… wouldn’t you?”

Tellurine began to sweat.

[Moonitic]

After her rounds (which included a brief visit to check on Latenight), Moon returned to her chamber, blissfully happy that it was empty at last. She closed the door, climbed into her bed, & fell onto the pillows. A fleeting thought before she fell asleep crossed her tired brain. I hope Meekal is having as good a day as I am...

[Moonitic]

Please see "How the Other Half Waits Around" for the next installment of Moon's journey to "freedom."