<div class="floatleft">(http://ru.iwall365.com/iPhoneWallpaper/640x960/1309/Art-fantasy-girl-feeding-squirrel-in-garden_640x960_iPhone_4_wallpaper.jpg)</div><br/><em>The heat had been overwhelming, normally on a festival day she would have been with her brothers seeking out adventure in the blossoming countryside. Instead she found herself idled by the unnatural weather, having spent much of the day shaded to save her crown of flowers from wilting. Surrounded by beauty and laughter, even as the sky began to change no one suspected that anything could be wrong in the world. On the first day it had just seemed as something out of a dream, one that over the course of hours and days had turned into a nightmare. </em><br/><br/>“Princess, we are approaching.” Gentle words along with a hand upon her shoulder drew Josephine out of her half dream. Yawning sleepily, the princess half shifted out of the furs that had become much too warm now that they travelled in the embrace of the mountain. Though the inside of the coach was comfortable enough while out in the winter air, the close quarters had become stuffy and oppressive since she had drifted off. It didn’t help that the captain of her personal guard had insisted on locking down the carriage ever since they had begun to pass through the various army encampments surrounding the structure to which they now ascended.  Aleric’s paranoia could not stop her now as she opened the window closest to her to try and evacuate the stale air, drawing back the curtains she got her first look at the Dwarven Keep’s entrance. Beyond the paintings of her youth, she had never seen such craftsmanship before and found herself grateful to have the chance to witness it, not to mention live within its halls as long as necessary. Even though the last few months had been full of places she had previously never been and people she never dreamed of meeting, the magnitude of the whole affair had yet to lose its marvel to the young princess.<br/><br/>Sparked when the dragons had first appeared to help fend off the invading forces, curiosity had been just one of many pressing reasons she had volunteered to be the voice of her people. While the dragons and their troops had been a great boon to the dwindling forces that protected her kingdom, King Vincent Rosenhope had been adamant that they would not stand alone in representing the Mortal Realm. As the carriage drew to a stop at the keep’s mighty doorstep, Josephine felt the same nervous fear as the day she had stood before the Dragon Court, bringing voice to her father’s desires to be part of the peace accords. None of the other human kingdoms had sought out such terms, though whether it was because they had been wiped out or enslaved she could not know for sure. Still, her surprise had been genuine when the Dragon King had allowed the request to be granted, a bittersweet victory when coupled with the realization that it was likely a formality at best, and a death sentence at worst. Proud to serve her kingdom no matter what the cost, it was too late to go back now regardless.<br/><br/>Aleric himself opened the doors to the carriage, extending a hand to assist Josephine as she stepped out onto the stonework pathway. Clearing the way for her attendants to begin unpacking, she caught a glimpse of another entourage being escorted away before they disappeared into the keep. Concerned that they had already made a bad impression the Princess began to ramble anxiously, “Are we late, Aleric? I didn’t think the storms had affected our arrival time, but perhaps I was mistaken. Oh no, what if they’ve already begun? Should we hurry?”<br/><br/>“Worry not M’lady, the others have only just begun to arrive.” It was not Aleric that responded, but a dwarven attendant that had appeared quite suddenly to greet the newcomers. Josephine sighed in relief despite her surprise at his appearance, the Dwarves had never directly done business with Rosenhope before so this was yet another first for her. But the attendant didn’t seem to notice her analyzing gaze as he began to carry on the chatter in her place, directing where bags should be placed and instructing the coach driver on where to bring both horses and carriage until such time as they would be needed again. Aleric had vanished from her side to give new orders to the handful of knights that had guarded them on their journey, another dwarf appearing in his place to guide the princess to her quarters. Fascinated by the architecture, she almost stumbled over the dwarf when their course was abruptly hauled at the what she imagined was the entrance towards the sleeping quarters. “Ah, forgive me M’lady but it appears there is a bit of a mess to be tended to, if you would be so kind as to wait in the great hall we will fetch you shortly.”<br/><br/>Josephine felt a lump in her throat as she raised her eyes to the so called mess before they could usher her away, she couldn’t imagine the cause for such a huge trail of blood. Had the others already begun to fight amongst themselves? Startled by the thought, she spent so much time worrying over the matter that she almost didn’t notice her dwarven escort slipping away after depositing her in the great hall, “Wait, where are the others?” She tried to ask, but he was already gone, leaving her at the end of a long table in the seemingly empty room. Head swimming with presumptions and worst case scenarios, the Princess scoffed in frustration and began to restlessly pace down the length of the room, grumbling to herself, “Well, now what?”<br/>