She limped out of her cell seeing that they're were no guards around. "I'm going to pray that they're changing shifts," she said. She hobbled along the corridors, completely lost. She walked into a vast room. "Shoot. Wrong way." She turned to walk out, but the cold metal against her neck made her freeze. "Don't think that you'll be leaving anytime soon," hissed a voice into her ear.
Alex slowly turned around, and stared straight into Dain's cold black eyes. She sucked in her breath and tried to remain calm. "Now, I must compliment you on avoiding most of the guards and getting your locks undone. But now we're done with the pregame and it's on to the main event." He pulled the dagger away from her neck and she backed up. Dain laughed. "Now stop looking like a scared little kitten. I won't hurt you. Not too bad anyway."
Alex's fear was overcome by her anger. "Thou shalt not touch thee or thine sword shall soon severe thou's neck." Dain looked at her and laughed. "You aren't in a position to be making threats princess. You will be staying a while, so get comfortable." When she didn't move he sighed and nodded his head toward the guards that had appeared with Dain. They came and dragged her to a chair tying her to it. "You can wait for your friends here. They are coming, so don't you worry." He turned and walked out of the room, leaving Alex alone.
JC crept through the passageway; the others right behind him. He peeked around the corner and didn't see anyone there. They slid into the hallway and JC opened the door next to him a crack, looking inside. Alex was tied up to a chair and she was trying to wrench her wrists free. Alex saw him and started to shake her head. JC looked at her confused as the guys peeked through the doors. Alex took some deep breaths and her mouth moved as she silently rasped a few words. "Leave, it's a trap!" came a voice in their heads. They looked at her astonished as she passed out from the amount of energy that her message had taken.
JC almost went in anyway, but Joey pulled on his arm and they ran out of the castle. They stopped at the horses and JC looked through the trees. "JC," said Lance. "Let's go." JC shook his head. Somehow the image of her passed out made something
in him snap and his calm and controlled manner faded. He turned to Lance. "Go back to the castle and get reinforcements. Be ready for us. I'm going in after her." Before anyone could say otherwise, he darted back into the woods.
"Where is Joshua and Alexandra?" asked Roald as they rode up. "We couldn't get her out, so he went back for her while we came back for reinforcements," said Justin. Roald frowned and sighed. "Start off and we shall catch up with you." The guys nodded and began to retrace their steps. They soon heard galloping behind them and they turned to see five figures galloping toward them. They stopped and then gasped when Lydia, Char, Dei, Chris, and Arianna came toward them.
"What are you guys doing?" asked Justin.
"We're following you so that we can help Alex and JC," replied Char. "Half the guard wanted to come too and you should have seen how Ana reacted when she was told she couldn't come."
"This isn't a game," said Lance. "We don't want to see you get hurt."
"We're not going to get hurt," said Dei looking at him.
"Darn right you're not," muttered Lance under his breath causing Dei to glance at him curiously. "Fine!" said Justin. "But if things get out of hand, I want you to leave immediately!" They nodded and started off once again.
JC slid through the halls, back to where Alex was. He didn't really know how he was going to get her out of there, he just knew that he had to. He sighed and went into the throne room where Alex was still tied up, slumped forward. He eased up behind her. "Alex," he whispered. He started to untie the ropes, still having no one challenge him. When he got them undone, he picked her up. "Come on Lexi," he whispered.
He was about to run out the door when someone clapped behind him. "Well, done Joshua. However, I'm afraid that you can't get any further." JC turned to see Dain accompanied by several groups of guards, some aiming at his throat with arrows on the strings of their bows. "Why are you doing this?" he asked.
"Why? Oh, so one needs a specific reason to conquer kingdoms and kidnap princesses for marriage these days?"
"Marriage?" he asked confused.
"If you must know, that is what I was planning on doing with Alexandra. Sorry if I've ruined your plans. But, I'm afraid that we're going to take control from here. Now please put the princess down and we won't harm you or her. We have a meeting. And I personally am looking forward to it."
Dain smirked and walked out. JC sighed with defeat and gently put the still sleeping Alex on the ground. The guards came and tied his hands behind him before they shoved roughly him out of the room. They didn't tie Alex up, but one of the guards followed with her in his arms. "Should we just go in after them?" questioned Arianna as they rode up to the border. Justin shrugged. "I guess that would be the best thing to do. It's not like they're going to come to us."
"Oh, but we will!" shouted a sinister voice from the shadows. The guys immediately drew their swords and pointed it to the trees where Dain emerged.
Everyone dismounted and held weapons pointed at him, including the girls. "Why, what a nice welcome!" he said sarcastically. "I hope you don't plan on using those weapons against me." An arrow planted in the ground near his feet. "You were saying?" asked Arianna, putting another arrow on the string. Dain shook his head as the rest of the army showed up. "Nice of you to join us! Why don't we bring out our first guest for the evening!" Several guards came out holding a struggling JC. As much as he thrashed, he couldn't get loose from the grip of the men that held him.
As they gasped, an evil grin spread across Dain's face. "Oh, but that's not the best part. Coram!" Coram walked into the clearing, carrying Alex. "What do you want?" asked Roald through clenched teeth. "Hmm, let me think." He turned to the guards, "put them over there and don't let them get away." The guards dragged JC toward the end of the
clearing, still in sight of everyone. They threw him down and then stood watch with their backs to them. Coram came and put Alex down next to him. When he walked away, JC nudged Alex. "Lexi!" he whispered. "Lexi, wake up!"
She moaned and slowly opened her eyes. "Wha?" she asked confused.
"You used your magic and then passed out from the exertion. I tried to get you and got caught. Dain is negotiating with your father over there and we're being held captive." Alex looked at him with shock. "Look, try and untie me." Alex pulled herself behind JC and began to untie the knots on the bonds around his hands. She worked quickly and he was soon free. "What now?" she asked quietly.
"Let's try and fade back into the woods and then loop around to our side." Alex nodded and they slowly crawled back into the forest. "Dain isn't too smart," commented Alex. "He didn't even put guards behind us. Let's try and get up so that we can run." He nodded and stood as she did the same. She yelped and JC clamped a hand over her mouth, pulling her against him. Tears slid down her face onto his hand. "What?" he asked quietly.
"My ankle is twisted or sprained, one of them." JC draped her arms over his shoulder and then wrapped an arm around her waist to support her. "Is this better?" he asked turning his head. She nodded, unable to speak from having him so close to her. They
walked through the forest and around the clearing until they came to the area behind the king. "Chris," whispered JC fiercely. Chris turned and looked at him with
shock. JC nodded and Chris smiled. He leaned to Joey next to him and whispered something in his ear. Soon, the whole area knew that JC and Alex were safe behind them.
Alex sighed as JC set her down. "We'll stay here until it's time for us to show up." She nodded and stretched out, leaning back against a tree. JC crouched near her ankle and pulled off her boot, exposing the swollen skin. Alex winced at the throbbing pressure. JC began to make a splint of twigs and cloth. "Aren't we talented," she muttered, biting her lower lip. "You just know everything don't you?"
"I'd learn anything if it'd help you." JC blushed and mentally hit himself for his remark. It just seemed like everything came out wrong. He tied off the splint and helped Alex stand. "Time to present ourselves for the not so worthy court." Alex giggled. "Where's the chief herald when you need him?" He chuckled as they walked toward the edge of the forest.
Eight