After a three month search he returned. The day was a day of great happiness, for with him, came Kelsey. Much to my surprise Echo rode at Raven’s side. Them both handsome in their own way, talking and laughing though I could not make out the words. Everyone was coming out to welcome home their King, soon I could no longer see them from  my spot on the steps to the keep. My heart raced as I restrained myself from running to him. I thought it would push out of my chest it beat so hard. And then when I thought I could stand it no more, the crowd parted revealing Raven.

He was on one knee, head bowed in proper greeting of his queen, as was the rest of the traveling party. He looked up slowly, my need to touch him must have shone on my face. I nodded for them to rise and dashed into his waiting arms. I quickly grab Kelsey and pulled her into the embrace. Too much emotion was showing, Ash ushered us inside.

I had so many questions, which were all answered quickly as we took a sit in my parlor. Raven found Kelsey on his way home, her and Echo were on their way to the keep. They wished to be married. I know I visibly paled at that revelation, instantly I now knew Echo’s latest plan. I gave Raven a warning look, he himself look exhausted. I used it as our excuse to discuss things further on the morrow so everyone could rest.

She had been missing for several weeks. Fildra and her daughters had not left the castle since we left. She did not know that her son’s went together to visit their father leaving Kelsey alone. Her eldest son Mackhel returned home two days before the rest to work. He had thought Kelsey was at the castle with Fildra. It wasn’t until the next day when Fildra returned home to gather a few things that they realized she was missing. Noone in the village could say for sure when they had seen her last, two weeks ago, three weeks, none knew for sure.

When the boys had left she had assured them she was headed to the castle that afternoon. She never arrived. No one had seen her come or go. No one had seen anyone new around. Nothing within the keep was out of place. She had just vanished. That worried me, it was possible, she could have went back through a door. I didn’t think she would have left, she was very happy here and we had grown very close. It could have been an accident, like the one that lead her here to begin with.

We sent out guards. We all went out questioning, searching…we found nothing!

Everyday for weeks we searched, we sent riders out throughout the kingdom, and always the same report. Kelsey was simply gone..

We stayed at Echo’s keep that night. We learned much while we were there. Echo had been gone when Margaret had died. If he had been there, her absence would have been noted. He had once again been taking trips away for several days at a time. He had also been building a larger army than was needed to protect his area. He was hiring men on his own. We made arrangements to put a few men in his camp to learn why he was expanding his forces. We also sent word to our spies in the villages to try and unravel where he was spending his days away from home.

The next day as we prepared to leave Elizabeth asked for an audience with us, which we agreed. She requested the marriage of her and Echo. It was then that Echo entered the chamber and advised us that he had a bride in mind and it was not Elizabeth. She flew into a rage and began clawing his arms trying to get to his face. The guards immediately grabbed her. Echo ordered her to be locked in her chamber. He was not yet prepared to tell us who he wished to wed, he said he had not yet discussed it with his intended, but would request an audience when the time was right.

It was true that he had changed much since we had last saw our brother. He was now more courtly and more guarded. He had learned well how to hide the changing of his masks. Too well!

We departed that afternoon, and with us we took Margaret’s daughter. I was saddened that Echo didn’t even know her name or what she looked like. He looked quite shocked to see his golden cherub of a daughter when the maid brought her to me. She looked most like him. She was no longer a small, pale babe, but a healthy toddling girl. It was obvious that her mother had taken great care of her. It was after speaking to one of the maids that we decided to take her with us. She did not have any nurses or even a room of her own. She had shared a room with the herb maid.

And so we headed home with our new addition to our nursery feeling a bit puzzled at all we had learned while not really learning anything at all.

Soon Elizabeth herself was large with child. This brought much fighting within Echo’s household. Margaret did not want him to return to her bed. The servant would send word of her screams in the night as Echo would beat and rape her. Elizabeth was consumed by jealousy because he would no longer touch her. Stories came of how she would rail at him, feeling brave that he would not beat her while large with child. Elizabeth would harass Margaret at the family meals. “Take the bastard” Margaret was once reported saying very loudly during a huge dinner party. It was one of the very few times she had emerged from her vigil over her tiny daughter.

Time passed, by the time Elizabeth’s child was born, Margaret was once again with child herself. Elizabeth gave Echo a son, which they named Mealon. It was not long before a household of nurses were brought in to keep and care for Echo’s most precious son. Elizabeth barely bothered herself with the boy at all. It seemed the perverse routine of the household went back to it’s ways.

It was a sad day some months later when Odin arrived to deliver news of the death of Margaret and her new babe, a son. Found after not being seen for several days. She had tried to birth her son alone and at some point gave up, she was found by a maid. The babe had been born but with no one there to assist must have died shortly after. Black flags were hung all over the kingdom. We departed for Echo’s land to see to the second funeral to ever take place in the kingdom.

I jumped up onto one of the fencing post to the training yard, perched there like a bird, they weren’t snickering then. Raven and Ash both turned to stand side by side and face me, swords at the ready. I grinned at the two of them, looking up at me, legs braced waiting for me to strike. I stood, ramming one sword into the post. I flipped off the post, the remaining sword in my right hand. Raven had expected the move, he crouched, and sprang up with a hard shoulder hitting me straight in the middle, deflecting my blow to Ash. I landed in a crouch a few feet behind them. They turned quickly in unison. As I slowly stood they positioned themselves back to back, turning as I walked and circled them dragging my sword behind me. It was a move Odin taught me at a very young age. Ash was the one to take the bait, thinking my arm injured from Raven’s blow. He came in fast and hard, but not fast enough! I surprised him by spinning quickly to meet his blow. How I love the feel of power that flows through my body with every strike of the blade! It didn’t take long for me to unarm and unfoot Ash. He laid on his back looking surprised, I winked and went after Raven. We fought much more fiercely. Evenly matched, it went on until we were both exhausted. The men cheered and carried on, some complaining over the bets they made. It was a good afternoon!

We were making our way back inside when Hamish came running out to us “Trouble my Queen, Lord Echo has come looking for Miss Elizabeth” he said out of breath. “And the trouble?” I asked. “The weaver’s son has come to fetch help, they say Lord Echo is beating the girl something terrible” he replied, holding his side from running. “Fetch our horses” Raven replied, barking out orders to the men about. “What exactly do you mean to do?” I asked. “Only speak to him, but our people must know we are there to protect them” he said bending down to kiss my forehead. I swiped a hand over myself to change into something more appropriate. When we reached the front hall Ash and Odin stood waiting. ” Well you might as well come along” I huffed as we walked by them. I glanced back and saw Odin grinning, as soon as he saw me he regained his serious fatherly look.

It wasn’t far where Echo had ran into Elizabeth on her way back to him. She was standing in front of him, blood ran from her nose and lip, it stained her gown. His back was to us and he was screaming at her for being a unfaithful dog. We stopped a way back to get off the horses. She was crying and begging, trying to make him listen to her. Before we could reach them he threw back his hand and slapped her again, knocking her to the ground. Raven broke into a run, Echo was just about to kick her when Raven tackled him. I ran to Elizabeth’s side “stay away from me, you are the cause of this” she hissed under her breath. I looked up to see that Raven and Echo were rolling on the ground, punches were being thrown and Odin was heading to break it up.

He pulled Raven off of Echo, who was now just as bloodied as Elizabeth. Raven stood, Echo swung around Odin to get to him. “Halt” I yelled, the winding whipping at my word. Ash came to attend to Elizabeth, while Raven dusted his self off. “What is the meaning of this, brother?” I asked Echo. ” This is between the whore and I, sister, not a matter for Queens and Kings” he snarled and bloody spittle dripped from his mouth. “She is a subject of this kingdom, therefore she is a concern of the throne and crimes against her are a concern of the throne” Raven said. Stepping closer to Echo “and it would not be wise of you to continue to beat one of our subjects”  he said, now nose to nose with Echo.

“Forgive me brother, sister” Echo said. “Tell us, dear brother, what crime has this woman committed that you feel she needs such punishment?” I asked him, watching him trying to spin a good  yarn in his head. He started to speak, I could feel the lie before he spoke it, I shook my head no at him. He stopped and looked from me to Raven then at Odin. “It is a personal matter” he answered. “So you have said, yet here you stand in front of any who care to watch and beat this woman, call her a whore” I said to him. “Do you not have a wife at home brother?” I asked sarcastically. “Yes, but my lovely wife is large with child and I do not wish to disturb her, surely Raven, you of all men understand the need to feed your lust when your wife is heavy with child, ye have five of them” he said.

“I do not have need of whores or women to whore for me, brother, but as such, your reasoning is not uncommon, your wife has not complained of any adultery to the court, so it is not our affair whom you take as your whore, however while you may bed who you wish little brother you can not and will not beat them, is this understood, little brother” Raven said, the disgust he was feeling for Echo apparent in his voice.

“Forgive me, I know not what has come over me, Come Elizabeth” he said. I put my hand on her arm and once again I watch Echo’s hate for me twist his face and once again I watched as he slid the mask of little brother back in place. “It is fine” she said. “Are you sure?” I asked. “I’m with child” she replied. I felt like a strong hand reached out and crushed my windpipe in that second and in my head I heard “I am not Elizabeth, I am your death”. By the time I composed myself Elizabeth was siting on the back of Echo’s horse as he and his men prepared to depart. “Dreya?” Odin said. “I will be fine, just a passing thought but please stay for sup Father, we need to speak, I will make amends to Hiila for you the next time we meet” I said smiling as he agreed.

It was a few months before we heard any more useful information. That was Elizabeth had proven herself a value to Echo, because while she failed to open a door, she was rumored to have the gift of sight. This worried me a bit, Odin and I could not trace her to this land. It was possible she was a fake, she would have to be. All who are truly gifted are decedents of Goldenbrook, though not all through me. After a few meetings it came to be that the only way to know if she truly had the sight was for me to see so for myself. We sent word to Elizabeth’s cottage that I needed to see her. This was passed on to Echo’s keep where she was staying.  It took weeks for her to come to me.

When she arrived she was as arrogant as ever, looking down her nose now slightly crooked nose at me. She was dressed in the finest gown and draped with jewels befitting royalty. A bruise was fading on her left cheek. She showed me the respect she was required to, but you could tell she hated it.

“My Queen” she purred while rising from her curtsy. “Elizabeth, Please let us sit” I said to her. “Elizabeth, there is much rumor spread about you through the villages. People say you are truly a witch, and strong with the gift of sight. What say you?”

“Yes, that is true” she replied rolling her eyes at me. “And tell me Elizabeth how is it that you see the future, is it randomly?” I asked

“I do not see it at all” She said. “Explain” I said forcefully. She shifted in her seat a bit with that. “It does not just happen, it is not in dream or spells or fits. If someone asks me something, sometimes I know the answer, sometimes nothing. If you would ask me, I would think a bit about the question, when it works the world goes black, I can not see or hear. The answer just comes to me and I tell it. It happens quickly, I know within seconds if it is a question I can not answer. It only began some weeks past.” she told me lowering her eyes from mine as she spoke.

“I would like to look into this more, I ask that you stay here awhile” I told her. She seemed to panic with the thought. “Only a few days and then you can return to your cottage, I know it is hard to be from home” I said gently. She was obviously afraid of Echo and being gone too long.

“As you wish Majesty” was her answer. “If you could Elizabeth, tell me what will my children do today?” I asked. She closed her eyes for a second before answering “Prince Hawkins will shoot Princess Isabella in the side” she said very slowly. Then her eyes popped open. “What did I say” she asked..”Nothing of importance” I replied. She looked shocked by this. “I will have you escorted to a chamber for the day, I hope you will be comfortable there” I said rising from my seat. I summoned a guard to take her to the room I had prepared for her, she was not to leave it and no one was to enter save me. I then went in search of Raven to tell him her prediction. Three hours later the guards carried in a screaming Isabella with an arrow sticking out of her side..

Echo was becoming crazed in his search for power. He did not speak to or touch his wife except in attempt to get her with child. In all the years this would be the first child and so for now he has left her alone. He was at one time happy with his arrangement as steward. After the strangers came, after I gave them the gift of our language, he began hearing stories of the place they came from. On the way home from a visit with Raven two years back, he stopped in the village. There he met Elizabeth, and remembering her as one of the newcomers, he seduced her. He would sneak,shifting to a wild horse to go and spend weeks with her, then keeping himself disguised to stop anyone from talking. When Margaret found out she was with child, Echo summoned Elizabeth to his keep to live with him. There she plays the role as wife in all ways.

The townsfolk there had begun gossiping about frequently finding Elizabeth and Echo in the forest where Raven and I first found her. The guards had begun talking for they were beginning to fear Echo and his crazed plans. Elizabeth and Echo were searching for a way through the door to the Dying Lands. Once there they would find a way to destroy Raven and I, a way to defeat us in battle, a way to steal the throne. But no one knew the exact plans. No one knew when, how, or where. We didn’t even know if it was possible for them to find a way out. Coming in a door happened much more easily than getting out. As far as we knew, only Odin and I could do this.

We could not appear obvious. We must prepare in secret. Surprise was our best weapon at this point. So we went forth with the plans to use the spies. There was nothing more we could do. We sent spies with Margaret. We put spies in the town. Then we waited..

“The Lord will return with a kitten for Princess Isabella” she answered. “Thank you Elizabeth, you may retire” I said, motioning to the guard to once again take her to her chambers.  That night Ash came in with a tiny bundle of orange fur to help make his niece feel better from her injuries.

The next day I was confident that Elizabeth’s answers were true and she could not remember them. I had her brought to me after luncheon to enjoy some cakes. This time I could not wait to ask the question, for it was something personal, no longer just a test and so I said to her “Elizabeth, will I get what I want most in my life right now” and she answered…

“The stallions will come, the snarling dogs, the griffins and the wolves, a princess will be born on a field of blood, the daughter of a queen and a king, soon she comes, soon” she answered…but this confused me, and so I asked “what will be her name?” and she sat silently, I almost thought she would not answer until she said “my queen”. I could tell she wasn’t talking to me, that was the answer of the question. “Tell me what I need to know” I demanded. “A daughter of blood shall be my queen” she replied, I could tell now I wasn’t talking to Elizabeth. “Who are you” I asked. Her lips curled back in a snarl, her tongue darted out to lick her lip, a slow grin spread across her face as she hissed “Your death”. I jumped back bumping into the table and snapping Elizabeth from her daze. I immediately had her taken away. I would think what to do with her soon, for now, my mind was trouble by the answers I received.