Yelling came from the halls and Sir Richard woke. He heard more screaming and then jumped up and started to throw on his clothes. “what are you doing?” she asked him “my love, some thing has happened…i must go to my king!” “and what of me?” “Marion stay here you’ll be safe but put on your clothes at least.” “but Richard!” “no Marion i heard screaming. i must go!” he kissed her one last time and looked into her eyes…tomorrow we shall marry and we will forever be together my love.” he handed her his necklace with his crest on it and a singe old ring on it. she smiled, “we will run away together and marry in your kingdom!” “pick out your wedding dress my love you have a wedding to plan!” she smiled…may i take my two ladies in waiting…yes my love but you must know in the human world they are free…” “im not worried, they love me and wish to come with me and still be my friends.” “good..” she kissed him again…”i will hear you call for me tonight by the stables and we shall run away together…” “i wouldn’t miss it for the world…” he said winking at her. then he rushed out through the servants couriers and ran to the ball room.

Just as Sir Richard left a loud pounding came to the door. Marion jumped up and put on her robes…”Princess!” came a horrible voice. “the king wishes to see you at once!” it was the evil prince john. “yes fine just a moment.” she rushed into the bath room and threw on her robes. and put her hair up and into a towel. “princess!” “i know uncle!” she yelled back at him. she came to the door and unlocked it. “princess you must come down to the ball room something terrible has happened!” “what happened to them!?” she asked shocked. “who?” he said back confused. “the humans!” “no you stupid girl!  your brother is dead!” “what!?” “he has been poisoned!” Marion sat back on her bed and put her hand to her mouth. “my god!” “yes and now your father wants blood you must come downstairs and join the death march…” “i will do no such thing!” she yelled. “They would never kill my brother!” “well they were trying to kill the king!” “no!” she looked at him and stared “how?” Gila ran through the door and rushed Marion into the bath room, “im sorry sire but you can tell her as i dress her!” “fine.” prince john said waving his arm. Gila grabbed Marion’s clothes and threw them into the bathroom. “what were you doing!?” Gila mouthed. Marion blushed. then Gila whispered “i hope it was worth it!” Marion blushed bright red this time and smiled. “uncle how did it happen?” “oh yes- well the party was going quite well and of course there was dancing and the food. oh and then you danced with that ass of a human. we were getting desert and everyone was laughing and such and the king got his plum pudding first like usual and then the human king got his but before anyone could take a bite the king offered the first bite to our Prince Dartanian and the boy tried it making a face, turned blue and then keeled over!” “oh my god!” “yes! and your father screamed! actually i never knew a king could scream like that but he did and when he did everything stopped and human Queen Josoline threw the bowl of pudding away from her beloved king before he could try it. Then of course the queen started to cry and she had to be escorted out by me. then the king picked up our princes body and cried. Ive never seen anyone like that and honestly it made me sick. well then the king demanded blood for his dead sons body and that a price was to be paid for his death and for some reason he knew it was the humans fault the prince was dead and i cant blame him. Filthy humans think they have everything with this whole love thing…please!” Marion stepped out of the room with such grace and beauty that Prince John actually gasped at the sight of her. she smiled slightly and went to him, “it is such a shame our queen will not let you marry me. we would have been such a great pair.” “what?” marion said shocked “oh didnt anyone tell you i asked to queen to marry you but she said no, only your brother will carry the crown.”  Gila rolled her eyes back with disgust. Prince John held out his hand and Marion took it, as they glided to the door.

They entered with glum faces at the sight of the king yelling at the humans. Pointing accusing fingers at them and yelling how this would have never happened if they hadn’t been around. the princes body had been removed from the room by this time. Marion looked at the men standing before the human king and didn’t see her lover, were could he be? she thought to herself. Two elven guards burst through the room just at that moment. caring a bruised and beaten human. “Sire! said one of the guards. “we found him in the servants quarters!” “no!” said the human king. “oh- you lieng bastard! i knew humans could never be trusted!” “how dare you!” said the little dwarf knight. shielding his weapon. a second knight came from behind him and held him back. “im sorry king but i know my knight would never do that!” said the Human king. “bullshit!” “i have been friends with him for all my life and he would never disobey my orders! the least he would do would be laying with one of your elven woman than anything else!” “that is still forbidden in this realm and it is cause for death!” said prince john. Gila appeared from behind Marion and looked at her. “that’s him isn’t it?” she whispered. Marion said nothing but shifted her eyes from Gila and back to Sir Richard. “My Princess,” Gila whispered. “i will go for you but just remember that you had what no elven is ever lucky enough to have…a lover.” Gila put something into Marion’s hand and stood forward.  Marion looked into her hands and saw  a chain and on it was a golden ring with a crest on it.  ” Sire it was me!” she said standing tall. “he was laying with me.” “Gila!” Marion said shocked standing up. she nodded her head back and forth, “please no-” Marion said crying and Sir Richard knew that Gila had just saved him from being drawn and Quartered. He exhaled and looked at Gila, “wow! she would give up her life for their secret.” he thought. “You! you know the rules Gila!” King Dartan said. “yes but you know me, sire always looking for love but never finding it until today-  i would rather die with love in my elven heart than live with out it.” Prince john walked up to gila and said, “why are you lieng?”“im not!” “you will be quartered for your lies!” he said again. “i saw you all night long drinking with the cooking staff!” “It was me!” she yelled again. “that’s enough!” the king said. “behead her!” “and it is still a crime in our kingdom so tomorrow at dawn he will also be beheaded.” “No!” the Human king said. “unless you wish to trade places with him?” said Prince John. the queen held him back, and whispered something into his ear. the king shook his head back and forth, “how dare you!”said the dwarf again.The king looked into his hands and sat onto his chair. “tomorrow we will berry the Prince.” he said and you can leave but never come back, no humans are allowed into this kingdom and any that remain will be drawn and quartered for being what they are!” he said pointing at the human king. you have until the sun comes up before i send out my army to come after you!” The elven king grimaced and they didn’t even bow to him as they exited the great hall leaving Sir Richard behind.  “put them both into the dungeon!” the king said. two other guards grabbed Gila and took her away.Marion was still crying histerically, “she is my lady not yours!” she said trying to control her sobbing. the king stood up and slapped Marion across the face. “she disobeyed my rules and now she will be punished!”“how dare you!Your are not a king, you are a coward!” Marion yelled and ran to the next room.”

Prince john stood before the king and said” sire im so sorry for that girl, she truly doesn’t see the light of your ways.”the king grumbled and wiped away the tears from his eyes. “what should i do with that girl.” “oh sire- send her away, send her away to a nunnery for treating you so badly, you might be her father but you are still her king and you sire can do what you wish!” the king nodded send her away then tomorrow to the nunnery far across the lands to the fire woods she will go and be taught how to behave to her king!” “as you command sire.” Prince John said bowing low and long. he then came up and exited the room. the king sat alone in the empty ball room, not a soal could be heard and the king wept for his loss,  he had no heir except for the daughter who hated him and she couldn’t marry anyone , but his brother. And the queen wanted no such marriage. he was lost, doomed to fail, no accession meant he was now not even a king, just a man lost to history….