Yeah I get that" he said with a small chuckle. "Its alot to really take in" he said looking down at the pond "it's alot more intense than I thought it would be to be completely honest" he added and chuckled "and don't worry about calling me majesty, I always hated formalities anyways" he said as he swirled his fingers in the pond contemplating everything that was going on.

Emily nodded. She was glad to hear THAT much. She sighed again. She watched him swirl around the water in the pond a bit. She simply nodded again when he said that she did not have to call him your majesty. She took a deep breath.
"certainly, it is....quite a lot."
She did not know what else to say.

He chuckled a little "you seem like a nice girl" he said with a sigh "I hope everything turns out in your favor" he added as he leaned back and slumped over in the grass

Annabelle blinked. She blushed. But, the blushing was very brief.
"um....very well."
She did not know how to take the compliment or how to respond to it. She did not care for the chuckling. She blinked when he slumped over in the grass like that. The princess frowned for a moment or so.

Duncan leaned back as he thought, so much worry in the castle lately. The stress of the impeding war and thr though decisions being made sure made everyone a bit down. All of the staff could see how it affected the princess and it made them worry about her.
A knock on the door made Duncan frown and look at the door. "Yes?" He asked and one of his royal guards came. "Sir, the suitors have left the room we put them in." Duncan frowned, of course they weren't confined to the room and they were free he didn't like it that they roamed the palace unsupervised. Especially Desmond. "Try to locate and report." He looked at Madeline. "I would feel better if princess Annabelle werr chaparoned if the princes are walking around." He said. "It's better to be sage then sorry.

----------------
Keith saw Desmond take his chance and he felt apang of regret giving Desmond that opening. Politely he waited till Desmond had spoken a little with Princess Annabelle while we admired her from a distance.
Then Keith walked up and bowed to the princess. "Your Highness, what a lucky coincidence we find you out here." Keith smiled to her brfore he kneeled. "I wish we could have met under better circumstances so I could see you laughing more. I will promise to bring a spark of joy back into your eyes and do my best to lift your heavy burden of your shoulders, tell me how I can help you. It pains me tosee you so worried and burdened"

I'll be back" Desmond said as he noticed guards appeared to be searching around. He knew they were looking for them and he didn't wish to be seen and he took his leave all but vanishing before them. He sighed as he climbed the side of the building landing and dove through the nearest window. He wound up in a locked room surrounded by magical artifacts and a great deal or enchantment. "Holy shit" he said looking around "this must be the sorseresses chambers" he added as he tried to find the exit as soon as possible.

Madeline frowned. She sighed and nodded.
"is it safe to assume that you wish for me to leave now, then?"
She paused to allow him to answer. The lady in waiting stood up. She took a careful breath. She was quiet and rather patient. she did not wish to leave Duncan so soon, but if she had no other choice then she would. The princess needed her as much as Duncan did, although not in the same way.

…………………………

Annabelle blinked when Desmond suddenly left. She sighed when he did. Her frown remained. She blinked and gasped, startled, when keith suddenly approached her and spoke to her out of nowhere, or so it seemed. She took a deep breath and calmed herself before she said anything to him.
"oh, um, greetings your majesty."
She paused for a moment. She sighed and shook her head.
"There is nothing that can be done, especially under these circumstances, i'm afraid."
She continued to frown.

Duncan shook his head. "It is not that I wish it, quite the contrary, but I wpuld feel better if the princess is chaperoned. There is only so much the guard and I can do. You are her friend, her trusted confidante. No one can keep an better eye on her then you can." Duncan rised to his feet and opened the door. "I hope I can speak to you later." He said with a smile before on of the guards stepped up and reported that Keith had been seen in the garden with the princess and they thought they saw Desmond disappear from there. Duncan frowned. "Look for Desmond, Lady Madeline can join Prince Keith and Princess Annabelle in their tete a tete." He bowed to Madeline and with a hastey apology he took off to find Desmond. He didn't trust him at all. Duncan paused as he uttered a prayer to find Desmond. His skin pricked and when looked around to try and pinpoint where he was he got an general idea. When he thought of what was in that direction he quickened his pace hoping that Desmond would not be where he feared he might be.

-------------
Keith couldn't stand seeing her unhappy. He wanted that friwn gone. When Desmond vanishes Keith looked around to see the guards. He didn't think he would be in too much trouble so he decided to stay put. "There is always hope princess, that is why we, why I am here. To help out. Besides your people must love you. My father always sais the crown is as strong as the people and the people as strong as their crown.
He decided that maybe a little trick could conjure a smile on her face. He put one hand with his palm up and made a stirring like motion with the finger of his other hand. A miniature tornado appeared. When it was atrong enough to twirl on its own he put some petals in it. He then lifted it up above the princess and let it vanish, showering her with petal leaves.

Madeline frowned. She sighed and nodded. She would, then, quickly shake off that reaction. She would manage a faint smile for Duncan.
"...very well."
She stood up. She walked towards the door. She paused to glance back. She took a breath and, then, left. She went to check on the princess. However, she suddenly felt quite lonely. She was not entirely sure why. But, she could guess to what it MIGHT have been.

…………………

Annabelle still frowned. She just barely nodded, and only once. She let out another sigh. She blinked when he did that trick. The princess stood still, and silent, as she watched it happen. Soon, petals were falling all around her. One landed on her nose. It tickled a bit. She suddenly sneezed after that. She sniffed a bit after she sneezed. She looked at keith.
"...i apologize."

………………….

Emily was busy cleaning. She heard voices coming from a certain room. She blinked and frown. Her eyes had gone wide. She, then, carefully approached the door. She pressed her ear against the door.
"...excuse me? is someone in there?"
She waited.

Desmond heard footsteps approaching and he pulled his hood over his head and dove back out the window into a bush on the ground floor of the castle. That was a close one he didn't know who had approached the chamber but it was better to not be seen in there. It was dangerous for him to be seen with an item so mystical as the ones housed by the sorceress. His heart rate increased as he leaned against the castle wall trying to calm himself to appear as though he was just standing where he was all along

Emily blinked. She was now confused. She had heard footsteps in there. She frowned. There was worry and concern on her face. She ran off to find Duncan. She would inform him of what she thought she heard in that room. She just hoped that it was not a thief that had been in that particular room.

Norlanann pulls her horse to a stop, pausing to let her company catch up. Hearing the carriage rocking steadily closer, she turns her mare to face it. The driver pulls the two draft horses to a standstill and looks quizzically to the Lady.
“How much farther?” Norlanann asks.
“Ah,…” she frowns, looking at the sun, then forwards through the trees. “At a walk? I’d say about an hour, my lady.”
“And how safe is this forest?”
“Very,” the servant replies quickly. “Nothing here large enough to bother a horse, let alone three.”
“Very well,” She smirks, looping the reins over the saddle’s horn. Wordlessly, she holds out her off-hand. Seconds later, a large, golden-red ossifrage sweeps lazily through the trees and lands on her heavy leather glove. “Good luck!”
“What?” A laugh bubbles from Norlanann’s throat, and she snatches up the reins in her left hand and spins her horse around, taking off through the woods. “Hey!”

After five minutes, she breaks the treeline, letting her bird take flight. Her mare tosses her head, and she laughs, encouraging her into a full run. Another five minutes pass, and she slows down, about one-hundred and fifty yards from the castle wall. She gestures to them, and calls her bird down to her.

She greets the guards at the gate with little more than a nod, and hands them her identification. Other than notifying them of her servant coming with the carriage, she passes through somewhat uneventfully. She proceeds to the entrance hall, and dismounts. She hands the reins of her mare to an attendant, but asks them to keep her nearby. She enters the building, running her free hand through her bird's feathers, and waits.

Madeline was walking down to the main hall. Then, she went down the corridor that lead outside. She was on her way to the gardens. She had a feeling that was where the princess was. She sighed a bit. She frowned with worry and concern. She was not sure what to do that would be of any help at this point. She was in thought as she walked, and she was quiet.

Elaine cracked her neck. Staff in hand she stothly walked through the halls of the kingdom. Her eyes widened as she noticed a two figures walking toward her private quarters. From her distance she couldn't tell who they were so she shouted "halt. Where are you heading?!" She asked loudly as her red aura shown. She was mildly livid as she began walking closer to find who was headed that way.

________

Desmond sighed as he collected his thoughts. He had heard footsteps outside that room who knew how close they were. It could have been anyone. The sorceress or maybe Duncan. Thankfully he had gotten out when he did. He stood and brushed his self off and walked out into the gardens once again being sure he wasn't seen coming from the bushes as he began walking the stone paths of the intricate landscape

Emily hurried to find Duncan. She looked around for him. She needed to tell him about what just happened. She didn't know where he was though. Emily would have to ask someone where Duncan was.

........

Madeline continued to head down the hall. She headed for the gardens. She eventually made it there. She would see the Princess alone with Keith. She would frown a bit. She let out a sigh. She hoped Annabelle knew what she was doing.

Duncan halted as he heard someone call out to halt. He looked around with a hand on his hilt in case there was danger but his grip relaxed as she spotted Elaine, one of his Royal Guard. "Elaine." he greeted the sorceress. "Two suitors who had arrived left the room we made them wait. I got an indication one of them might be around your room. Desmond Arkenstel is someone we need to keep an eye on." he said before he noticed a maid coming his way rather hasty. He had to think a bit before he remembered her name. "Emily, something wrong?" he asked. She came from the direction Duncan had sensed Desmond but his chant was wearing off a bit.

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Keith chuckled. "Bless you, your highness." He put a semi-worried look on his face. "They don't arrest me for making the crown princess sneeze here do they?" Keith heard footsteps coming and thought he recognised the lady in waiting but he forgot her name. He didn't like that his one on one time with the princess was cut short but he understood. In this stage it was probably best to not comprmise her. Keith looked around if he could see Desmond and he wondered if anyone else would have arrived in the meantime. "It was nice talking to you Princess Annabelle I hope we may speak later again if you permit it." he said with a small bow.

Emily stopped in her tracks.
"Sir Duncan! Thank goodness."
She told him about what she heard. She could have sworn there had been someone in the sorceress' room.
"I was cleaning when I heard sounds coming from in there."
She frowned. She looked quite concerned.

…………………………………….

Madeline blinked. she frowned.

Annabelle frowned.
"no, certainly not."
She blinked when keith suddenly cut everything short. She looked and saw Madeline there. It did not take much to figure out why at that point. The princess, then, sighed and nodded.
"..Very well."
She would watch him leave if and when he did leave.

Elaine smirked and shrugged her shoulders. "Noone is slowed in my private quarters aside form myself and the two of you know that. To enter there would have been Ill advised even if an intruder were present" she stated angrily. "You two should have came for me, not my room" she added as she walked to her door and disenchanted the lock spell placed on the knob. She opened her door and looked around the room. "Noone is here" he said with a sigh before looking with her magic scence. There were foot prints in a frantic pattern as though someone had entrered by accident and had trouble finding an escape. "If someone were here I already know what they would want" she said entering the room fully and sitting down in her chair. "There are footprints, and the window was open, but nothing is missing so I might have seen something wrong, who knows" she said not wanting to jump to any conclusions.

She looked up at Duncan "you talk as though you know exactly who Desmond is" she said bluntly "if you know this than why would you have left him unguarded in the first place? Do you not know his full history?" She asked concerned that Duncan might be after Desmond for the wrong reasons.

_________

Desmond made his way back to the fountain as he saw the lady in waiting approaching and he stopped in his tracks. He could sense she didn't like him. He knew it from the moment he walked into this castle. He was an outcast everyone aside from Keith knew his history and none of them trusted him.

Madeline looked at Annabelle. She walked over to her.

The princess saw her and sighed.
"What is wrong, Madeline?"
Madeline simply explained how she was to chaperone her for a while. That it was at Duncans' request. The princess nodded once.

"oh."
She frowned.

Duncan nodded. He knew Elaine was a very important member of the Royal Guard and he always forgave her bluntness eventhough he was the highest in rank. the guard wasn't chosen over their meekness or slavely do as they are told. He appreciated all the input they gave as long as they ultimately complied to what was decided. "I didn"t exactly know where he was, I got a general dicretion and could only pinpoint better when I was outside. I feared the he might be in here but wasn't sure yet."
Duncan looked inside too and agreed to Elaine's observation. "The foorprints didn't appear magically and the walls can be climbed if one is skilled enough." he said. "But as long as nothing is missing we don't need to act immediatly." He concluded.

Duncan looked at Elaine. It was a legimate qauestion. "Because he answered some questions truthfully." Duncan said. "And why not guared? Because he is here as a suitor which gives him the right to be treated as any of the other nobles, he also did nothing wrong in our kingsdom. Not yet anyway." He looked at the room. "Can you put some sort of protective shields over your room and the treasurie and other room we rather not have any of suitors enter, especially master thiefs? So they are inaccesible trough door and windows" he asked Elaine. "And no, I do not know his full history. I know enough to want that an eye is kept on him at all time but we need to keep a polite distance so that won't be easy. Information out of those regions and in those families is hard to come by." Duncan paused. "We need to keep a discrete eye on all suitors because you never know if one of them is a spy or an assassin but at the same time we must make sure they don't feel treathend or feel treated as criminals because we absolutely cannot afford to loose the deal princess Annabelle wants to make for the sake for all of us." He sighed. "If you know more about Desmond or any of the suitors do tell me Elaine. Princess Annabelle must know with who she will form an alliance through marriage.

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A servant saw Norlanann stand waiting with a bird. "I'll go find the princess and let her know someone is here for her." she said with a curtsy.
The servant walked outside and approached the prinses. "Excuse me your Majesty but there is some waiting in the hall." she said with a curtsy and from a respectful distance.

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Keith smiled towards Madeline and bowed his head slightly. He noticed Desmond and started following him when he heard what the servant said. Desmond had just entered the castle again and Keith followed slowly, curious to see if that person would be another suitor and try to assess his new rival. He entered the hall and noticed a female with a bird, he wondered if she was a messenger. He loved birds. Due to his element he felt an affinity with flying creatures. He didn't immediatly recognise the species though and he walked up. He didn't see a prince or nobleman so he thought this female was perhaps a messenger or one of the party that followed or rode ahead of a possible suitor. "Hello, that is a great bird you have there but what kind is it?" He would step back ofcourse when the princess would come and let her talk but he could keep this woman company till the princess would arrive.