The girls could hardly breathe. Here? Why here? Who guards it? The questions went racing through their minds.

Winter, who had only ever gotten second hand reports about the 3 Rings from Arianna, granted detailed reports, wasn't entirely sure if having the ring in 'this very clearing' was a good thing, or if it was bad. Secretly, when they were young, the sisters used to act the story out, Winter being the girl with blue hair, and Arianna being everyone else. They played it twice, when their parent discovered them. Then, they were banned from playing it for who knows why. Winter had never really thought about it after that.

"So," Arianna said, hoping to have some of her questions answered. "The 3 rings really do exist? And one is here? Where? Can we see it?"

Mega chuckled. "Yes, you may, but first I must blindfold you. You may know the general location of the ring, but not the exact location." With that, he pulled two bandannas out of his desk and tied them around the girl's heads.

Even though she was blindfolded, Winter closed her eyes as she listened to Mega moving around. First, he went forward a bit, then he went left. She heard him slow down, then stop. Then she heard...

...glass breaking?! What?! Mega shouted, then so did their assailant. Who could be assaulting them? As fighting started, Arianna whipped her blindfold off. Green eyes! It must be him hurting poor Mega. Helping Winter with her blindfold, they jumped to their feet just as the fighting stopped. Well, Arianna decided to make it a quick break. With a shout, her and Winter rushed the man, jumping on his back.

They still were kicking and punching a few seconds later as the man turned around.

Winter took that opportunity to look down and she saw Mega K.O. on the floor.

Arianna looked up and milliseconds before she realized who it was, she kicked him where it counts.

"Prince Jasper!" Arianna yelled when she saw his eyes roll as he fell to the floor, groaning. "Oh Jassie, I'm so sorry! I didn't know who you were –"

The prince managed to look up. "Jassie? Not a good time for nicknames, Ari."

Winter was on the floor, holding Mega. "Oh come on, please little guy, wake up, wake up! If you don't wake up, we'll never know where the –"

"Your mirror is, we know Winter." Arianna spoke up. She didn't think Jasper deserved to know the location of one of the keys, especially after what he just did.

Winter gave her a confused look, so Arianna pointed with her toe to Jasper. Understanding dawned on Winter's face. "Yeah, and that was my favorite mirror! What am I going to do without it?" She grinned at Arianna.

Jasper, who was still writhing in 'pain', hadn't missed their facial exchange. Something was off, though he didn't have a clue what. Something here Arianna didn't want him to know about. But he would figure that out later. First, he needed to leave in one piece.

Jasper slowly got up, groaning, and still in pain, but not nearly as bad. "Ok, I saved you girls, now let's get out of here." Arianna stared at him like he had grown another head.

"'Saved' us? You only save someone when they need saving, like if they're in trouble. We weren't in trouble! We were having a perfectly fine conversation, until you came bursting in on us, attacking poor Mega! That's not saving! That's breaking in and hurting, or whatever it's called!" Arianna, in a blind rage, started punching Jaspers shoulder. Jasper didn't move, sensing she needed to let out some steam.

Winter watched, still holding Mega's head in her arms, as Arianna just let loose her fury. She knew it wasn't all for jasper, but its built up anger from ever since they were kidnapped.

Arianna kept going, eyes closed, tears running freely, until her punches started slowing. Slower and softer, until she was truly out of steam.

Jasper wrapped his arms around her, placing his head on hers as she continued to whimper. "Hush, hush, its ok, calm down now. Say, would you like to know why I did that?" Arianna faintly nodded. Jasper shot a look at Winter, to see if she wanted to know. She appeared nonchalant, not meeting his gaze.

Shrugging, he continued. " I was very concerned for you girls when I saw 5 burly men take you in a tavern. I didn't know what they were going to do to you! So, when you didn't come out, I went in. I pretended to be drunk, and found one of the burly men. I asked him where the pretty ones were put, and he pointed to the back wall. So, to the back wall I went, looking all around for something to indicate a door."

Arianna was starting to calm down now. Jasper smiled when he heard her whimpering stop, and he continued in his soft voice. "As hard as I looked, I couldn't find a door, so I went outside, to the back of the tavern. Sure enough, there was a window, so of course I peeked in. What I saw was a little man blindfolding you, then walking away to get who knows what. I was so scared for you two, I guess I just acted on instinct. Now, imagine what was going though my mind. 'M-The girls were kidnapped, again, taken to the back room of a tavern, a secret tavern back room, and this man blindfolds you, then leaves. What was I supposed to do? I did the only thing I could think of – break the window to save you. I'm sorry, so sorry, it wasn't what I thought it was. I deserved that kick Ari, and those punches. Please forgive me."

To Winter, Jasper really did looked sorry. Arianna sniffed and lifted her head. "sniff...Ari? ..Sniff..Not the time for nicknames,..sniff..Jassie..sniff.." Jasper smiled and hugged her tighter.

Winter tried not to roll her eyes or gag.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. All three of them snapped alert and looked at the door. The knocking grew louder. "Come on guys, we gota get outa here!"Winter whispered, getting to her feet.

Jasper and Arianna looked at each other, then separated, blushing and looking down. Winter did roll her eyes this time. "No mush now guys, lets go!"

Jasper got over his embarrassment and helped Arianna out the window. Winter was still struggling with Mega, trying to get him over to the window. The prince noticed what she was doing as the kicks got harder. "No Winter, we need to leave him here..boom..their knocking down the door, lets go!..boom..they will freak if he id Kidnapped, Win. We need to leave him here..boom" Winter struggled for a minute, not wanting to leave the injured man, but knowing the truth in Jaspers statement. When the door started cracking, she dropped Mega, silently apologizing to him as she did.

Running to Jasper, she jumped from the floor, to his flat hands, then out the window, rolling like every princess is taught not to. Jasper also leapt out the window, and, grabbing the girls hands, they ran into the woods, away from the clearing, only hoping that they would escape in time.