"...and then, Arianna and I flew down Protector Hill on Morning, all the way here. We came in, washed up, changed, and, well, you know the rest. We live happily ever after!" Winter finished telling her parents the recent events her and her sister had been through. They all chucked when Winter said, 'happily ever after.' Arianna sat next to Winter, lightly sipping her tea. She wasn't a bit thirsty, bit she just felt the need to do something.

At that moment the nurse walked in. The sisters had been immediately checked into the castle hospital as soon as their reunion was over, and released while the doctors were checking their notes.

With a deceivingly bright smile, she walked over to them, avoiding the other tables in the diner. She placed a small envelope in front of the king and quickly bowed. Everyone knew the Blossoms were not keen on formalities.

The nurse then proceeded to tell them precisely what was in the envelope. "Afternoon your highnesses. I have come straight from the doctor's office bearing news of the princesses well being." Winter had to look down a moment to compose herself. The urge to roll her eyes was great. The nurse continued. "Princess Winter has a slight abrasion on her knee, and a small cut on her wrist. Nothing a bandage and a little rest won't fix." Again, Winter looked away, afraid of bursting into giggles. Like she didn't know she had those! "Princess Arianna has sustained slightly more significant injuries. She has a twisted ankle and alight abrasions on her elbows. She will need to ice that ankle and rest it for a while so it will heal properly. Your highnesses," the nurse finished, bowing, then leaving.

Soon as she was gone the Blossoms burst into laughter. Kiel held his stomach while he boomed 'ho ho ha ha ha.' Asha and the girls let loose a fit of giggles. Finally, gasping for air, then settled down. Asha shook her head, smiling. "The poor thing. We shouldn't have laughed. It was her first day! On her first day in the royal hospital, she had to treat the princesses! Oh, the stress she was put under! Ah, I feel bad for the poor thing. So young." Kiel spoke up. "Yes, but I am sure if she had put some thought into what she was saying, she would have realized we could see these minor injuries." They all laughed again, until Asha shushed them.

All grinning and in a good mood, Arianna decided to ask some of the thing she had recently been wandering about. "So, what exactly was going on when we were kidnapped? What happened after you found out?"

Suddenly things weren't so cheery. Asha froze; the blood slowly drained from her face. Kiel stopped shaking with laughter. They glanced at each other, sharing a fearful look. Kiel cleared his throat; then looked at his lap. Asha seemed to be in another world. Arianna was concerned. "Mother? Daddy? Are you guys ok? Please, if it hurts you this much, you don't have to-" "No." It was so faint Arianna wasn't sure she even heard it. King Kiel slowly shook his head." No, no as in not here. I will tell you later." Kiel stood up, not making eye contact with his daughters. The princesses watched as he helped the Queen up, and they left. Just like that. Winter was on the verge of tears. "Ari, what was that all about? What could have happened? Do you think they'll be ok? Oh, I do hope so! I don't think I've ever seen them in so distressed!" Arianna was silent. She gently touched Winters hand, and started leaving. Winter followed her.

Arianna walked in silence until they got to their room. They both entered and sat on their beds. They had a simple room, per their requests. When you walked in, there was Arianna's bed to the left and Winters to the right. In between the entering door and the beds was a door on each side. That was their personal bathrooms. Beyond the beds were two separate walk-in closets, one for each princess, of course. There was a corner filled with pillows, with they had deemed the 'reading corner.' The other corner was filled with books. On the far wall was a balcony, overlooking the edge of Armarlda.

Winter crashed into her bed, wondering why everyone was being so silent. She wanted to do something, but didn't know what.

Thankfully, just then, Kiel and Asha came in. They looked a bit better, though not much. They all congregated over to Arianna's bed. She sat up and repeated her earlier question. Kiel sighed, but knew he couldn't just up and leave this time. He would have to answer them. With a glance at Asha, he began.

"While you guys were out having your picnic, Asha and I had our lunch. We went about our normal day, me studying and writing and responding and doing everything else I do, and Asha, also doing almost all those things too. Hours later, Asha realized you had never come back. We didn't think much of it. We figured you were just on an adventure or something." Kiel sniffed and looked down. "By the time we sent servants out there to look for you, it was 6:00p.m. You had been gone for hours. We should have looked for you as soon as we realized you weren't back, but, you know, you two do like to be late." He smiled a sad smile. Winter wanted to cheer him up. "Yeah, but we've never been more than 3 hours late to a wedding!" They all smiled at that. Kiel had gotten lost on his way to a wedding and thus been 3 hours late. It was a joke they never let him live down.

Kielcontinued. "Yes, well, thank you for the reminder, Winifer. Anyway, when Malcusreturned from searching the woods, he gave us this note." Kiel reached into hispocket and retrieved a well worn note. It said: 'To the royal higneses. Yourdaugters have been taken away from you. They ar in my care. They wont bereturning to yu anytime soon. If yu send yur battalion of soldiers to releasethem, they wil be killed on the spot. Do not come alone either. We have

spies everywhere.' Arianna had no expression on her face but Winter exploded. "What?! He wrote that? What the hippy dippy doo does he think he's doing making such a rash, stupid move as that!? What on –" "Winter!" Asha spoke for the first time since entering her daughter's room. "You are at Castle Armarlda now. I will not put up with that language. Never speak like that in my presence again, ok?" Winter humbly nodded her head. Asha sighed and looked to Kiel to finish the story. "So, I had no idea what to do but send for the HP. HP stands for Helper People, their cover name. Their real name is The People Who Are Their For The Royal."

Arianna now showed confusion on her features. "The what? How come I have never heard of these people? And I thought you sent Prince Jasper?" She then realized what she had said.       "Jasper! Oh my goodness! We left him on the hill! The poor man, we must send someone to help him!" She was about to get up when her father put a restraining hand on her shoulder. She looked back at him, confused. "Ana, that's what I'm talking about. He's fine. He is a HP." Both princesses gasped at him, then looked at each other. Winter was the first one to ask the question. "You mean, he's not a prince? He's just a normal person? Just when I was starting to believe him!" Again, Arianna made her face impassive, with no expression on it. This didn't go unnoticed by Asha, but she left it alone for now.

"No, he is by far not a normal person. He is one of the HP's most elite members. I sent him to rescue you, even though we were threatened not to. I had to send someone, and it looks like I choose the right man for the job." At this, the king smile, and wrapped his arms around his daughters. Asha joined in too.

Then they separated and went their own ways, Winter to her bed to rest and read, and Arianna stayed where she was, soon falling fast asleep. The king and queen left to their own quarters, to finish whatever it was they were doing earlier.

Hey guys, I hope you enjoyed this. The last few paragraphs, I wasn't sure what I was doing, just writing whatever came to my mind. The next chapter will have more on Jasper. Anywho, keep reading and voting please, i enjoy that very much :)

Thanks, and Peace out!

SkyBrid