Since the sister had only been expecting to go on a picnic, they had not foreseen this disaster, they had no money on them. Arianna decided to write a $50 note to the Wolves Tavern stating that the Blossom family owed the Wolves Tavern $50 and it would be paid by the end of the month, unless something comes up which prevents them from doing so. She then made a note to herself so she wouldn't forget.

As they were about to leave, Arianna saw the picture of the clearing again. She touched Winter's shoulder and walked over to it to study it one more time. Staring at the light snow and frozen pond, Arianna knew she had seen it somewhere before. "Where, where?"

Winter watched her struggling sister helplessly, wishing she could do something, but knowing that she had no real idea what her sister was struggling with. So, with no other ideas, she started to sing. It was their mother's favorite song, the one she sang at every meal, the one everyone knew.

"I love my town,

I love my life,

I love the smelly goats.

I love the way,

The maids all play.

I even love the moats.

But my favorite thing,

In all the world,

Is the grumpy man beside me.

The way he eats,

The way he sleeps,

The way he loves his folks.

And my favorite girls,

My lovely girls,

My shining, imperfect girls.

What would I do,
Without you two,

And Kiel right beside me."

Winter and everyone else knew the many flaws in the song. Queen Asha didn't have a clue what goats smelt like, the maids have never been seen to play, and King Kiel was anything but grumpy. But, since Asha sings it, everyone loves it, so Winter could only hopped it would help Arianna.

Mega couldn't believe his ears. That was Asha's song! The one everyone knew! The one she sang day and night. Mega stared at the sad and slightly confused figure in front of him as he reviewed all the information Winter had given him. They were royalty.... The note! On the note! Arianna had written 'The Blossom family....' It's them. The Blossom sisters, Arianna and Winter. He should have known. And know he knew why then had seemed faintly familiar.

They were his step nieces.

'Focus Arianna, focus.' Arianna closed her eyelids tighter. She could see the picture in her mind, the old, knotty plank of wood behind it, and the rocks in the shape of a smiley face. She just needed a spark, something to ignite the memory she was so close to reaching. And then, Winter glorious voice, singing just the right song. Squeezing her eyes even tighter, Arianna let her memory consume her.

She was young, maybe 7 years old, and she was bored. She was walking down the hall that led to her father's room, when his door banged open. For a reason she would never know, she hid behind the table against the wall, holding her breath. She watched her father, King Kiel, walk past her without a second glance. Once he was out of sight, she darted down the hall, excited to explore her daddy's room unsupervised.

Running faster, she was almost there, when she tripped on the carpet and fell headlong into the end wall. She sat up and rubbed her head, on the verge of tears, when she saw the open door again. Excitement coursing through her, she pushed through the pain and went right into the room.

Arianna had been in here a few times, but never alone. She squealed and took off, trying on clothes that were much too large, jumping on the soft bed, touching everything she wasn't allowed to. It was great!

Lying on the bed, young Arianna decided she should do this more often, conveniently forgetting she could only get in here if the door was already open. It was a very heavy door. Then she remembered Winter, and how she had promised her that they would have a tea party – the tea party was supposed to be 2 minutes and 34 seconds ago! She was late!

Arianna jumped off the bed and landed on the end of a wooden panel, which happened to be loose, so she lost her balance and fell, again, for the second time that day. She was about to pass it off as just a loose board when she realized that had never happened to her before. She had never felt a loose board, not even a squeaky board before. Curios Arianna took over, forgetting about the tea party. Crawling over on hands and knees, she reached the board and tried to pick it up. Not able to, she tried even harder, prying with all her might. Suddenly, it came loose, and she fell backwards – again.

Putting the board down, Arianna gasped.

There were 3 necklaces, 1 ring, an old wooden box, and a small paper file thing. Sighing, she was putting the board back when she saw one of the pieces of paper sticking out of the file. It looked like a snow picture. Arianna had always had a bit of a thing for nature, and this looked like a nice picture. She dropped the board and reached in and took the paper from its file, excited to see what it looked like.

It was a beautiful picture of a clearing, with snow gently falling, a few scattered birds, a frozen over pond, and a lovely building in the center of it all. There were two words written in bold red ink in the very middle of the picture, ruining it. They were: Bladious Simplemind. There was also a drawing clipped to the picture. It was of a shiny piece of metal, in the shape of a stretched C. It meant nothing to young Arianna, but she thought it was a pretty picture, so she tried to memorize it. While doing so, she accidentally memorized the words too.

"Bladious Simplemind." Present Arianna would have laughed if the moment had not been so serious. She needed to find him. She opened her eyes and turned around, about to ask Mega if he had heard of this man with the embarrassing name, when she noticed he wasn't in his chair. He had hopped off and was over by the door, locking it, then locking it again, then again, then stuffing some odd pink stuff in the minuscule crack in between the door and the wall. Then he went over to the window and put the pink stuff in the cracks over there. Finally, he shut the drapes, making the dim room completely dark. Arianna was getting nervous that he had discovered something.

But then, a light in the ceiling flickered, and then turned on, bathing the room in its soft yellow glow. Mega was back in his chair, seriousness written all over his face. "Ok, now my office is completely soundproof." His voice had suddenly changed from low and robotic to medium pitch and serious, but somehow sounding friendly at the same time. It was odd, just like him. He continued."I must tell you girls some things, but time is not on our side. Many people will stop at nothing to get their hands on the 3 Rings."

Arianna gasped and Winter's eyes got huge. "Whoa, whoa, hold up. You're starting to freak me out here. What do you know about the 3 Rings? Is this why you really brought us here? So you can question us? Well, we know nothing, and even if we did, we wouldn't tell you anything!" Winter crossed her arms over her chest, eyes blazing with anger and determination. Arianna slapped her face to her hand. Winter, by asking him what he knew about the 3 Rings, had inadvertently told him that they did know about the 3 rings. Thanks, sister!

Mega frowned. "No, no, I didn't even realize who you were until a moment ago. Now, please sit, we don't have time for silly squabbles." For lack of any other ideas, the girls sat, ready to listen to what he had to say.

"Now, just please go along with everything I say; you don't have to believe it, just go along with it. You'll have time to dwell on it later." He sighed and rubbed his head. "I am your step uncle. My name is not Mega, that just what I have everyone call me. I was born 2 weeks early, which is why I am a dwarf. Your farther and I are very close, and he gave me this place to call my very own a while ago. You have never heard of me because we both hoped you would never have to. But, alas, you are here, so I will tell you it all. Arianna, you recognize that picture, yes?"

"Yes," Arianna replied, never having thought in a thousand years would she be having a conversation such as this.

"Well, that's because this is a very special place. I assume you have also heard of the 3 rings?"

"Yup."

"And when you saw that picture when you were younger, there was a name on it, along with a clipped drawing?"

"Yes, a Bladious Simplemind, and a picture of what appears to be one of the 3 Rings." Arianna decided not to think about how he knew that she had seen the picture.

At 'Bladious Simplemind,' Mega blushed slightly. "Yes, my real name is, ahem, that; but get this horribleness; my initials are –"

Winter had to interrupt here. "Yes! Yes, we get it, no need to go there, thank you."

Mega leaned forward in his chair, as far as a dwarf could, and continued. "Alright, we got the name thing settled; are you ready for the reason the picture was clipped to the, uh, well, picture?" The girls looked at each other, thinking they knew were this was going, but still in awe that a kidnapping, escape, and a wild tavern could get them here.

"Yes," they replied in unison, also leaning forward.'

Mega/Bladious looked at the door, then the window, then the door again. Leaning impossibly closer, he whispered,

"The first of the 3 Rings is in this very clearing."

Yay, I finally introduces the first of the 3 Rings! This was supposed to be a short chapter, but its turned into one of my longest. Oops....  Well, i hope you like it so far. I don't have a clue on what the next chapter will be about, so it might take a bit.

Ok, enjoy your day fellow readers, and goodbye for now!

SkyBrid