While The empress was contemplating trusting the dark fairy, back at her castle sage was losing his mind with worry.

     He checked the bed chambers and then the office. He wondered then checked the dungeon. Then the kitchen as well as every other room of the castle, yet no empress to be found. He looked in the courtyard then plopped down hyperventilating and fearing the worst for her.

He sat in the courtyard crying and sniffling. His whimpering had alerted the attention of another.

Flying over swiftly to the troubled hob goblin.

  "What's wrong friend" ludwig asked.

"Its terrible."

"Whats wrong just tell me I'll help." Ludwig said trying to calm the little guy.

"The empress is missing!"

"Are you sure?"

"She's gone. If she have left she'd have told me."

"We'll find het." Ludwig said.

"We have no idea why or where she went."

"What are we going to do?"  Sage said to him, freaking out more than usual.