Everyone was honestly a delight for the beginning of this so called perilous journey. I say that with the most sarcasm my body can muster and even right now I think that's still a lot. The prince- or should I say Eridan even though I could have sworn his father called him something different- was surprisingly quiet not that any of us could get a word in around Taldor and Jordan talking. They stood in the back of the group yet I still heard them, followed by Eridan (hah... he hates when I call him that) then I was leading the group and by leading... Well I was walking forward and they followed and I really had no clue where I was going.

The voice in my head liked the fact I was so far away from Jordan and despite my protests inside of my head she only shut up when I finally moved to the front.

"Human, you don't even know where we're going let alone how to get there."

He was right but I rolled my eyes and wouldn't give him the satisfaction of me following behind him. I wasn't a sheep and I was definitely not here to amuse him.

"Go into the woods. There is no path, but that is the right direction."

"Finally you say something that isn't yelling at me. Took you long enough."

"I do believe I have never yelled at you."

I turned wide eyed to the prince, who managed to sneak up on me, not that it was a surprise. I was more surprised by myself for talking to the voice again. Out loud. Like a crazy person. Sigh.

But I did what I was best at and ignored him, walking into the woods like the voice said not even stopping to see if anyone followed me.

"Human, how did you know where to turn. I haven't told any of you where to go. Let alone where."

Well, shit. He has me there. Time to lie fast.

"Well Eridan, I just turned off the path to get away from you."

I watched as he grew angry. No, he didn't turn fire engine red and start cussing me out but oh, the fire in his eyes could have made a grown man run in fear. I was definitely not a big, scary man and instead of running or turning I stupidly stood my ground and glared right back. Smart. I know I'm full of ideas.

"Do not call me by that name."

I watched as the boys behind him stopped, obviously feeling the anger coming off of him. They didn't look like they'd help only like they'd run like I should have.

"I can call you whatever I want. You aren't my prince and I definitely don't bow to your royal assness."

"That is not a name you can use, and I do not care if I am not allowed to kill you. Calling me that is an insult and you should at least respect your superiors."

He walked past me and continued on, trudging through the fresh snow to where ever we were headed. I turned to find Taldor and Jordan next to me. Jordan looked amused but Taldor sported an upset look.

"Lillian in all respect, you should stop calling him that. You might have heard an Inibrius call him that but really it's an insult to him in so many ways. Call him anything you might but never that. He is still my prince and it is my duty to protect him from all wrong. Even humans who do not know what insults they speak."

I was getting surprise after surprise today. Taldor was being serious for once and I was worried that I had seriously messed up. And in my head the woman whispered 'apologize' over and over and I knew she wouldn't shut up until I did.

Turning away from the boys and gritting my teeth I decided that no matter what I had in this world I would keep my pride. Saying sorry to a prince with hurt feelings was not on my 'to-do' list today, nor anytime in the future.

So instead for about an hour of cold fingers and wet boots we walked over the blanket of snow in the silence. Eventually we had all resumed our spots in the formation and I used the voice in my head to guide me. She kept saying it wasn't much further every ten minutes and I swore on all that is holy that if she said it again I would sit down in frustration and not budge.

I looked up from the snow collecting around the toe of my boots to find a surprisingly clear patch of ground directly under the sky.

"You're here. Make sure you don't let Jordan do what the prince asks. It will not work."

"We're here." I voiced as the prince marched past me. I knew he was still angry and I could feel the curious stares of everyone around me. Probably wondering how I knew. Can't really tell them the voice in my head told me.

"Jordan, come here."

"DO NOT LET HIM!"

I put my arm up in time to stop him from walking forward and I could feel the woman in my head's anger towards him but more of relief that I stopped him. Great, I'm taking orders from the voice in my head.

"Do you volunteer yourself, little human?"

I watched as he stepped closer and I took a step of my own. Lie. Lie. Lie.

"Yes I do."

He looked at me once over before walking to the center.

"Come then."

I rolled my eyes and walked up to him and crossed my arms across my chest.

"Over the hill, around the stones, by the stream and through the forest. Tell him."

I ignored her. Telling him that I heard voices would definitely not go well.

"Give me your hand."

I raised an eyebrow and stuck out my hand.

"Over the hill, around the stones, by the stream and through the forest! You need to tell him!"

I watched as he drew a blade from his side and I started regretting listening to the voice. In one motion he drew the blade across my palm and I didn't feel anything. No pain in my hand, but there was blood. A LOT of blood. I saw the ruby drops in contrast to the snow, making it more surreal as it dripped onto the ground.

"OVER THE HILL, AROUND THE STONES, BY THE STREAM AND THROUGH THE FOREST."

I was dizzy. As I fell to my knees I saw the shadows around me that swirled and fought in my vision. Maybe I was losing too much blood.

"OVER THE HILL, AROUND THE STONES, BY THE STREAM AND THROUGH THE FOREST! TELL HIM! OVER THE HILL, AROUND THE STONES, BY THE STREAM AND THROUGH THE FOREST!!! TELL HIM OUR YOU'LL DIE!!!"

"Over the hill... round stones, a stream and through the forest..."

The air stood still and even in the comforting blackness engulfing my body I could feel everything. The woman's voice was content. The surprise from Jordan and Taldor. The anger from the prince.

Anger...why was he angry?

I looked up at his face, the perfect look of his jaw, his eyes swirling with anger that made the sapphire blue come alive, the perfect curve of his lips.

"My head tickles."

I felt numb when my body hit the ground and I had one last thought before the works was gone again.

Man I'm getting tired of this blacking out shit.

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