"Where is King Lorcan?" demanded Niamh."Why do you think he's here?" questioned Breathnach."You foolish Queen," snapped Naero. "You are accusing us of having that tyrant of a King within these walls with a piece of cloth as proof.""You are the fools," replied Niamh. "To think it would be easy to hide this from your Queen. Lord Beluar had a report from an outrider of your strange behavior. You never showed me you had a dungeon, and now we find this?""What kind of Queen needs to see the dungeon?" Breathnach questioned loudly. "Are you crazy?"Naero shook his head laughing."If you have nothing to hide, then show me," Niamh stood firm."No," Breathnach refused. Fergal lifted his wings and flapped aggressively. Breathnach shifted uneasily. General Aengus scanned the walls carefully with his elven eyes."Take me to the dungeon!" Niamh began to lose the kind tone in her voice. "No.""You are saying no to your Queen," said an agitated General Aengus.General Naero took a step towards Ni

The falcon's cry tore Niamh from King Lorcan's bedside."Mind the King," she called to the caretakers as she ran outside. Lord Tigherneach was up on the Keep's wall, looking out over the main gates. Niamh joined him, almost smiling because she had never been allowed to stand on the walls when trouble was near, but now, no one in Tigherneach Keep could make her stay down. As she took her place between General Aengus and her adoptive father, she felt Lord Tigherneach's eyes rest on her. "Your falcon has a keen eye," he said. "Thanks to him we are ready to welcome a small force from the capital."Niamh watched as Elven soldiers approached the modest Keep. They wore the armor of the King. "They've come to escort their king home," General Aengus informed her. "Some will stay at Breathnach's stronghold until after the trial.""Trial?" Niamh asked."Lord Breathnach's and his general's trial," Tigherneach explained. "The King's first sentence when he regained consciousness was to capture th

The early morning sun crept over the horizon and through the only spot the curtain of the traveling box didn't cover, shining directly into Niamh's eyes. She stirred softly, discovering Lorcan's long, muscular arm still embraced her. Niamh looked at him with a sort of disbelief in her eyes, remembering the night before."Well, that was unexpected," Niamh said to herself. Although she was Lorcan's Queen, Niamh didn't expect to develop feelings so quickly, and for such a complicated King. Lorcan opened his eyes, "Is it time to rise, Niamh?"The use of her name made her blush."Yes," Niamh stretched. "I hear movement outside."Lorcan sat up slowly and paused. "I'll let your handmaidens help you get dressed. I need to speak to the General."Before Niamh could speak, Lorcan had thrown on a set of clothes."We will ride soon," the King muttered and exited the traveling box.Maeval and Moidrin entered, casting confused looks over their shoulders. "Did the night go well?" Moidrin asked car

Their adventure started happily enough. The sun shone brightly, the horses were fresh, and Lorcan and Niamh were enjoying each other's company with cheerful conversation. Fergal balanced easily on the Queen's arm as she rode. As the remaining two villages were not far away, the king and queen took a small company, including Boru and Aengus, with them.The first village was deep within the oldest part of the forest, with roads wound around trees, and small but elegant homes were often found within the massive trunks. Sunlight still shone through the leaves, and there were clearings where crops were grown. Niamh looked around in wonder. "You have never been this deep into the Kingdom, my Queen?" King Lorcan noticed.The young Elven Queen shook her head, "No, never. I have heard about Imnenora, and the homes in the trees, but I didn't know…"Her voice trailed off as their presence was becoming known. Elves were coming in from the fields and out of their tree homes. A rather tall Elflord,

"They didn't come," Niamh whispered sadly. "I thought for sure my family would come."Lorcan embraced his queen gently, wrapping his arms around her slender shoulders."There must be a good reason. Perhaps we haven't seen them. Come, let's look."Lorcan hailed his General."Can you find out if Lord Tigherneach has arrived?"For Niamh, seconds seemed like minutes, and minutes seemed like hours. She began to pace slowly back and forth. Her eyes searching for any familiar face, as Lorcan watched her with concern.General Aengus nodded and disappeared into the crowd. He appeared a short time later and simply shook his head. "Not yet," Aengus said. "I told the guards to notify the Queen immediately if Tigherneach shows up.""Thank you, General," Lorcan nodded.Niamh could barely hide her tears, but her heart was still hopeful that her family would arrive.The celebration continued until sunset. Niamh entered the King's chambers and took off her crown. Lorcan waved away Maeval and Moidrin a