A parade of carriages depart from Gundor and travel to their respected cities.  Margaret, John, Stacey, and Arron ride together.  They can't hold in their excitement for one minute, and Stacey blurts out, "Ahhhh! You are getting married!  Can I be your maid of honor?"  She frantically looks around at the other's expressions.  They all laugh at her worry and excitement.

"Don't worry about it now, we have months before the actual engagement announcement."  Margaret says, trying to calm Stacey down.  Arron decides to voice his excitement to add, "Well, I sure am excited."  He sneaks his fingers in between Margaret's.  She blushes, but quickly looks away to stop from the others to see her.  "I guess I will become a knight" John interjects, "There is no other job for me.  I might as well start as soon as we get back."  "But you'll have to go on that really long pilgrimage.  That's an entire year without you."  Stacey whines.

Every year, the new recruits to the Knight's Guild must take a boat to the mainland and train with the knights of France.

Stacey realizes what she said and also turns away from him.  Did I really say that?  She thinks to herself.  recently, her true emotions for John have been slipping.  She clears her throat and sits up to look regal and composed.  Margaret can see right through her.

''''

They get back to Chilgrave and have the servants unpack their trunks.  "Allen, meet me in father's study."  Margaret quickly says, before walking into the castle.  Allen straightens his hair and smooths his clothes.

He walks through the winding halls and past murals and statues of previous rulers.  the study is closed off to the castle and very difficult to find.  Only the current ruler can easily find it.

He knocks on the small stone door.  It opens up and Margaret is sitting on a stool behind a desk.  large windows spread across behind her.  Bookshelves  line the walls filled with many colors and books.  Plants fill the empty spaces to close off the room, but also make it feel open.

Allen clumsily sits down in front of the desk.  Margaret stretches her neck to look down at him.  He gulps.  "Allen, you may not feel that you are noticed by anyone, but I have seen you for years.  You have caught my attention for a long time."  She sits on the edge of the desk to be closer to him.  "Tell me about yourself."  She leans down to his face.

He swallows a lump in his throat, and spits out, "I was born in Herstings.  My mother died during childbirth.  my father fell into despair after her death.  He gambled and drank until he killed himself.  I was only three by then so I got nothing from him.  I was taken in by my father's sister.  She started out nice, but as I grew, she demanded more from me.  She would hit me and scream in my face to do menial tasks."  tears form in his eyes, "I ran away from that town.  I kept running until I made it here.  I begged anyone for food and for shelter.  Only one woman, in the market place helped me.  She took me in as her child.  I lived with her until I was 13.  She brought me into her workplace, the kitchens.  I helped her until I was discovered by the warden.  I was presented in front of your father.  he spared my life and kept me as his personal servant."

Allen stops his story and looks up to Margaret's face.  She brushes his cheek and wipes away tears.  "Well, Allen, you will be happy to hear my proposal.  I want to make you a royal assassin."