The Return

[DLTaylor]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Chapter One~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Queen Zelda! Queen Zelda!" Mango yelled as she burst into the main chamber.
"What is it my dear?" The queen asked seeing the horrid gostly look on her servants face.
"I... I... I.. I just came from the market place where I overheard a group of mercheants talking..." Mango began.
"Spit it out girl. Come on now." The queen urged.
"I was down there looking for some flowers for Steve, you know since its our five year anniverisy and all..." Mango stuttered getting destracted.
"Go on!" Zelda snapped losing all patience. Last time someone had overheard something in the market place it had led to Muu battle.
"Anyways..." the young girl continued taking notice of the rebuke. "I overheard two men talking about legends. I guess they got bored with it because before long they switched the topic to famous battles. Of course the Great Battlesoon came up shortly followed by the Battle of the Muu. Prince James' name came up quickly and then came each of the man's opinion of the young prince. As you know most people still greatly respect the mysterious prince even after his dippearence over eight years ago. One of the men shared the greater public's view of the matter while the other was quite the opposite. The man who worshiped the prince argued that James had been thrust into leadership and it wasn't his fault that he didn't have any experience with the matter. The other countered saying that if he knew he wasn't fit to lead then he should of declined. One said he tried, the other said he failed and so on and so on. I know this might sound a little strange but I thought I recongized one of the man's voice. I turned sharply and saw the identies of the two speakers. One was a simple farmer but the other was.."
But at that moment glass shattered inward as the arrow passed through the room and stuck in the servants chest. The bright young girl's body crumbled as blood began to dampen her clothes.
"Mango!! Nurse!! Someone Help!!" The horror stricken queen screamed.
* * *
Queen Zelda was in the sick wing of the hosipital watching over her favorite knight and she began to think of the nights events and wonder who the man could of been. Maybe an old warlord that was going to try and take over the kingdom again? She hoped not. Arconia had not faced warfare since the prince dissapeared right years ago. She decided not to think about it and just to worry over her injured knight. She looked so peaceful just laying there with her sword removed and her face a mask of innocense. Except for her hand clenched hard into a fist. The queen gently massaged the hand until it began to relax and a small piece of paper fluttered out of her hand. Zelda bent down and picked it up. Written on it was one mysterious word.

James

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~End of Chapter One~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Iwant2bafencer]

Lady Rosaline had heard the news of Mango getting shot with the arrow. She desided to go see her, and the queen. Also to see what she could do to help. Lady Rosaline quitely taped on the door, and heard a quick shuffle of paper against cloth then the queen told her to come in. Rosaline steped in, and quietly shut the door while bowing breifly to the queen. "How is she?" Rosaline asked. "She's drifting in and out of consiousness. It's going to be a long night." The queen replied. "and how are you my queen?" Queen Zelda shrugged "I'm alright none of the glass flew into the room very far." Rosaline shook her head. "Not physicly, although it is good that you weren't hurt. I mean. . well personally." "I'm fine dear really." Rosaline let the subject drop. She knew that it was no good pushing a queen (especialy this one) into talking about her personal life. Rosaline fell silent thinking to herself for quite some time. The queen did the same. After a few minutes of deafining silence Rosaline spoke. "My Queen, did you happen to see what the arrow looked like?" The queen shook her head. "No, I was to worried about her life to even think about looking at the arrow, and I wasn't in the room when they removed it." Rosaline nodded. "Why do you ask Rosaline?" "Just trying to figure things out. I'm sure you were doing the same. I was just wondering if it might have been the same kind of arrow that was used on the king. But thats imposible. . .because the man was caught." Both women fell silent again watching Mango's slow breathing.

(Where is Mango by the way? I haven't seen her forever.)

-----------------------
Carpe Diem

[DLTaylor]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Chapter Two~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I want action not politics," King Arcon quietly stated.
"But isn't that half of ruling a kingdom is?" Lady Moon asked.
Steve looked up happy for a chance at a sarcastic remark, "At least.." Everyone gave a laugh but it was more to shut him up then anything else.
"We don't even know what the note means. It could mean that the two men were talking about Prince James. All we have is the opinion of some warrior girl that hasn't even fought in years. At the very least we should dispatch spies to check it out." George pushed.
"Impossible!" The queen said immeaditily already regreting falling into George's trap.
"Anything is possible my queen," he said calmly. Know the queen looked reckless and himself understanding.
"I have great faith in Mango. She has saved my life as well as yours serveral times as I recall. As you may of forgotten she also helped with the matter of the Prince." Zelda said lashing out with her words as best as she could.
"Yes, and also running into a blind trap with the Muu as I recall excellent judge of character my queen." George replied.
"Enough! I don't have time to sit here and go through meaningless word battles."The king interupted. "Now, as much as I hate to do this... I am going to agree with George on this one."
* * *
Behind a hidden door Lady Rosaline looked through a window in on the meeting. In the eight years since the Prince left the kingdom she had enlisted in the intelligence division of the Arconia milarity. She had given up hope on ever becoming a knight to serve for the kingdom and even on love. But was it possible? Could it be? Could James be back after all of these years? If so why was he in hiding? After four years even the dark knights had left the kingdom, abandening all hope of their leader coming back to reign. She too had given up hope and moved on with her life. Now she was a master in her division, the highest rank possible under queen and king. But was she happy? She had been wrestling with that question with for the past year or so. Ever since she had met Alan and had fallen in love again. But now this...
"Master Rosaline? Orders from the King ma'am." her seceraity informed her.
"Good. Thank you," Orders were clear, orders did not invite thinking. She opened the letter and read it quickly, then read it again to be sure she was not mistaken. In twenty-four hours she was to leave with 5 of her best men to command a taskforce for one purpose only... To see if the Prince really had returned.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~End of Chapter Two~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~