While Xic was making up his mind out in the fields, Prince Christopher was slowly coming to a similar conclusion. He was pacing the floor in the room that he would shortly be saying goodbye to. He slapped his hand down on the vanity dresser with a scowl. "How blind is he? The princess does not want to marry anyone, and he can't expect her to do so just because he says," Christopher muttered to himself. He shifted his glare to the window. "She's too strong to be pushed around like some chess piece. She shouldn't have to do this..."

However, as angry as the King's forceful decision made Prince Christopher, he knew there was nothing he could do. Winter would wed Xic no matter what anyone else said. The king could and would make it happen with or without her consent because she was his daughter. Though it churned his gut, Christopher was fully aware of the rules set in place centuries ago for arranged marriages. The only thing that the king couldn't do was involve another prince without permission from the prince's father. But Xic had no father, so even if he had been a prince, the marriage was up to the king and the king alone.

Just then, there was a knock on Christopher's door and he walked to answer it. The guards told him that his caravan was going to be leaving shortly. "Your horse has been bridled and water for your journey home," one told him. "The rest of your party is already assembled in the front hall."

Christopher grabbed his cloak from where it hung and tied it securely around his neck. "Thank you," he said, and they walked through the palace to where the others were waiting for him. As predicted, Sampson, Christopher's stallion, was being held by one of his knights.

The king did come to see them off, but he seemed annoyed to have to do so. Christopher tried one last time to convince him of the consequences his daughter's marriage would bring, but the king refused to hear another word and banished them from the castle with a wave of his hand.

"Travel safely, and give your father my regards," he said. Then he returned to his throne room.

Christopher glared at his back before he barked an order to his councilmen and knights, and they stepped up onto their mounts. The horses whinnied with excitement as Christopher gave the command to head out. Steadily, the party of nobles and knights began to trek through the kingdom's closest town with an air of dignity to them. Christopher didn't miss the stares of some of the villagers as they passed, surprise showing on their faces to see the prince leaving so early after his arrival.

"It's only been a few days," one farmer whispered to another.

"Perhaps the Prince's father has called him home. I saw a messenger run through here yesterday, I think," another replied.

Regretfully, Christopher wished he could tell them what had transpired behind closed doors, but the prince did not wish to start an uproar in another king's town. If the king wanted to tell his subjects of his decision, he could do so at his own discretion.

The prince and his party were almost to the barrier line when Christopher spotted Xic walking through the fields with his bow. He looked to be headed somewhere important, but Christopher saw no one else around who have possibly called him back to the castle in such haste. It was puzzling to Christopher and he watched the knight until he was almost completely out of sight through the trees. Then one of Christopher's men reminded him of the task at hand and Christopher returned his attention to their journey. Maybe Xic would do something to help the princess, Christopher hoped.

However, the further they got into the forest, the more time the prince had to think in silence, and the more he worried for Winter. He began to doubt Xic's willingness to help, and as the sun began to set, Christopher had all but decided what he had to do. "Let's break for camp," he called to the rest of his men. "We'll start again at first light."

"But, sir," one of the councilmen said. "We've only been going for a short time. Shouldn't we continue a while longer?"

"We need to rest the horses. They haven't travelled a great distance like this in many days," Christopher bluffed. "We can go a further distance tomorrow when the horses have rested thoroughly."

His men stilled looked slightly uneasy with this decision; being in the forest at night was not advisable, but Christopher had made his orders clear and they knew better than to disobey. So, with murmurs of mild bewilderment, the party dismounted and set up a fire for cooking. Dinner lasted until the sun was completely gone, and then they began settling down for the night. Christopher said it would be his duty to keep first watch and that the others could sleep for a few hours. "I will wake Jonathan when I get tired," Christopher said.

Again, Christopher's men seemed confused by this choice, but they obeyed and were soon fast asleep. After waiting some time to make sure that no one would wake and hear him go, Christopher walked to Sampson and untied his reins. "Be silent," he said to him, placing a hand on his muzzle. The horse bucked in surprise. However, when he saw that it was his master, he relaxed, and Christopher mounted for the second time that day. Only this time he was headed back to the castle. Urging Sampson to tread quietly, the two made their way away from the rest of their group. Once they were far enough away to not be heard, Christopher kicked his heels and they took off into the trees as fast as they could go.

At the rate they were going, the horse and rider made it back to the castle far faster than they left it and Christopher slowed his mount so they wouldn't be noticed so easily. He didn't really have a plan, but he figured if he could get into the dungeon, he'd be in pretty good shape. After that, all he would need to do would be to get the princess to Sampson and they would be home free. Christopher wondered what he would do with her then, but he didn't have time to dwell on the thought, so he pushed it to the back of his mind and focused on the now.

As they approached the castle's walls, Christopher remembered that the maids sometimes left the kitchen door open to let the cool air in. His hunch paid off when he tied Sampson up just outside the door and tried the handle. It was unlocked. There was a low creak when he opened the door, but no one seemed to be around to hear it, so Christopher slipped inside and made his way though the castle.

The halls were empty of people from the late hour, so it was easy for the prince to walk soundlessly towards the dungeon staircase. He knew there would be guards at the bottom that he would have to lure out of the way in order to reach Winter. That wouldn't be very easy, but he had been trained well from the prime age of eight to talk with nobles and dukes smoothly and efficiently. This would be no different.

However, just as he was reached the very bottom of the dungeon, Christopher heard familiar voices that made him stop to listen.

"I want nothing from you," Winter said bitterly. "Get away from me."

"I'm hear to rescue you," Xic said, voice lined with annoyance. "Or would you just like to stay trapped down here forever?"

"I would like to go home," she snapped.

"Then shut up and let me open the gate before I cut it and you open," Xic shot back.

There was a sound of indignation. "How do I know this isn't some trick cooked up by you and His Highness." She said the name with such sarcasm even Christopher winced. "You could be planning to carry me off to some wedding where I will be forced to drink something I don't want so that I won't be able to stop you from having your way with me."

Xic was probably going to reply with another cocky threat, but before he could, Christopher bumped into a spear that had been resting against the wall and it toppled to the floor with a crash before he could catch it. The next room went completely silent and Christopher held his breath. Then footsteps approached and Xic thrust a lantern into the prince's face. Upon seeing who had disturbed his rescue, however, Xic stepped back. "What are you doing here?" he asked.

Christopher tried to hide how surprised he was to see Xic. He cleared his throat roughly. "I am here to save the princess," he said. "What are you doing here?"

Xic glanced back at the Dungeon where they could see Winter peering through the darkness to see who Xic was talking to. The knight looked back to Christopher. "I thought it over and decided what you said was true. So, I'm here to free her," he said.

Christopher placed a firm hand on his shoulder. "Let me help you," he said. "If you can get her out of the castle, I can get her to safety. Then she can return home."

Though it had been his intention to do just that, Xic looked worried for the prince's sake. "I do not wish to place this burden upon you. I brought her here, I should be the one to take her home."

"It is no burden," Christopher said. "Once she is outside of these walls, you cannot go with her for the king will know it was you and he will not stop until he gets her back. It will be safer for her if she does not have to go alone, and I am more than capable."

Xic still looked reluctant, but after a moment to think clearly, he placed his hand on Christopher's shoulder in a return gesture of confidence. "Alright," he said.

*******

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