The Queen was starring holes through the few guards that seemed to remain, she was irate to their tasks, and even more furious that they had so easily allowed a outside to get over the gate. Her hands were trembling as she bit down on her tongue, keeping the lashing of words from her lips as she turned her attention back to her husband.  She was shaking her head over and over to what he was saying, but she knew when the King spoke he was final in everything. Leaning closer into him and held tightly to his arm as she pressed her lips just to his shoulder, resting it there as she picked her words.<br/><br/>"I will rest, but I expect full punishment to be handed out to the guards. Seems they have slackened in their duties to protect our family. Even our weakened daughter, I want them to be reminded of why they were given their tasks."<br/><br/>It seemed like a harsh ruling from the Queen but, with the state and health of their daughter, she wasn't going to settle for anything less. Their family needed the guards protection but when they weren't doing their jobs properly it left everyone in harms way, more so their child. Finally nodding her head she brought her lips up for that inviting kiss from her husband, savoring it as she was going to be waiting for a while for him to return to the chambers. Though she was in hope that he wouldn't take as long as he may think he might be.<br/><br/>"I will be waiting for your return patiently... make haste."<br/><br/>With that the Queen turned on heels and walked out of the gardens, being escorted by the royal guards now.  Three guards, one on either side of her and one directly behind her now. They moved as one as they went back into the castle so that the Queen could return to her chambers.<br/><br/>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br/><br/>Narella was walking, holding onto the end rail of her bed as she walked, she had to be up on her strength to at the very least make it down to the dungeon. She wanted to see the face of faceless hero, though could she honestly call him that? What if she wasn't cured? What if it was a lie? What it...<br/><br/>The door opened which made her jump, she didn't want her parents to see her getting out of bed this soon, they would both fall right over with death at the sight. Lucky for Narella it was only her handmaiden returning with a fresh basin of water for her to clean with. Releasing the breath she had been holding Narella moved along to the basin were she stood next to Joan, the maiden silent now since they had returned to her room, that in a sense bothered Narella and never set well with her. Pressing the lines of her lips together she inhaled a deep breath through her nose before she spoke to Joan.<br/><br/>"Something is bothering you, spit it out so we may fix it."<br/><br/>She wasn't one to beat around a bush so to say, and the silences about Joan only seemed to bother her that much more. Joan turned from the task at hand, which seemed to be shuffling odd and end things about on the dresser. Her gaze went to Narella's as she sighed softly but spoke none the less.<br/><br/>"I was scared, for you. I thought you had left us... for good this time, but I was.... I am scared of the man as well... I don't trust him..."<br/><br/>Joan let the statement trail as she met Narella's gaze, she wanted to see whatever infliction she would have to what she said. Though Joan knew Narella would try to put her fears to rest rather then be angry with her, and that was troublesome too. It seemed as though Narella didn't have a single brick of anger or rage within her, almost as though she had already given up on herself as well, and was just taking it one day at a time as it came at her. Joan did her best to shake that thought from her head, she honestly didn't want the Heir to be that weak, though as much as a good thing it was. There would come a day when she would rule the land and she just wanted her to be ready for that, but it also wasn't her place as a handmaiden to tell her that.<br/><br/>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br/><br/>Narella was taken back by what Joan had said and she was a little scared herself to even answer back to that. Though it seemed they both had a lucky break as there was a knock to her door. There was only one person she knew that to be, her father or mother were the only ones that knocked... most of the time. Narella turned her gaze to Joan with mock horror, she had to get back to the bed before her father walked in. She didn't want to get yelled for being out of her bed as soon as she was. That small plead within her eyes, Joan nodded with a smaller smile as she helped Narella get back to the bed. Once she was there and everything seemed to be in proper order Joan went to the door, opening it for the King to enter.<br/><br/>She was hugged from her father and she too wrapped her arms about him, holding him tightly as she looked up to the joy in his face. He was more then happy that she was ok, but she had a feeling that her mother had a larger fright then that of her farther. Pursing her lips she nodded her head to her father. There was a smaller smile from her as she cringed at the thought of having to ease her mother's nightmares but, for the love that she had for her parents she would do nothing else but that for them.<br/><br/>"I will go see mother in a little bit, I need to regain my strength just so that I can walk."<br/><br/>She was paused now as she listened to the story her farther was retelling her from the man in their dungeon. The story was spared with glances to Joan, watching her nod to some of the things that her father was telling her, but Narella eased in a few gasps and sharp inhales of breath. Though by the time the story came to a end, she was left with a decision of her own to make. She was pretty much picking what his punishment would be, whether he got the boot from the lands or if she allowed him to stay, that alone was a big decision. Narella sat there a little longer, taking int he comforting weight on her bed from her father, she was deciding if she was going to go see this faceless hero, or just wait longer til she had no other choice.<br/><br/>"I will go see him... he saved me... least he says, he deserves that. I will decide on a course of action after I see him."<br/><br/>With that she hugged her farther as he got up, ready to leave, silently she watched him leave the room before she lowered her head. This was going to be a hard choice to make, though she had to balance the scales of right and wrong. If the man was there to save her then that was right, but what if he had been there to hurt her, that was wrong.... There was a lot to consider and she wouldn't have a answer for any of it unless she did go to the dungeon to see him. Thrusting her blankets to the side Narella herself over the edge of the bed, coming to sit up before placing her feet to the floor. In a instant Joan was there, placing her hand on her arm to help her walk.<br/><br/>"Joan... I need another dress, this one has gotten dirty from my fall in the gardens. Will you please pick one out for me."<br/><br/>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br/><br/>(Couple of hours later)<br/><br/><a class="postlink" href="http://quizilla.teennick.com/user_images/B/bowrider/1122778297_uresanime1.jpg">[ img ]</a><br/><br/>Narella was walking down the steps that led to the dungeon, she sounds of her heels clicking over the stone, though was echoed by the sound of metal from the royal guards armor. She was dressed now in a blue dress that hung off her shoulders, a small puff was collected at the middle of her upper arms. Her long white hair fell in long strands over her bare should, and some clung to the front of her chest as she moved down the steps. The front of the dress hung low over her chest but kept everything well concealed from prying eyes, it was floor length which dusted over the filth of the dungeon as she was led to were the faceless hero was caged. Coming to a stop in front of the cage she looked to each of the guards.<br/><br/>"Thank you, but I will be ok as long as he is behind his bars."<br/><br/>It seemed like a confident answer, the guards moved, going back to stand post at either side of the steps they had come down from. Turning her attention away from them she looked back inside the cage, looking for the male that was sure to be there. Her hands moved to the front of the dress, clasping over one another as she scanned every corner of the cell, waiting for him to pronounce himself from within.<br/><br/>"Hello? Who are you?"<br/><br/>Narella had never been good at seeing another face within the dungeon walls, it felt as though she spoke solely to the darkness there rather then to another human, or what she was assuming to be human. Pursing her lips together she took another step closer to the cage, prying her hands apart so that she could touch the cold steal of the cage in front of her. Honestly she didn't like anyone to be here, even if they had done wrong to her or her family, she would rather see them banished and free then here. This was the outcome she was leaning towards as she was here to take him into mind. Though by the end of this little meeting there would be no telling what her choice would be, but it would be for the greater good for her and her family.