Princess Saphira tried helplessly to keep her friend upright from collapsing. Micah's skin was draining from his natural, tan color to more of a clammy color. Saphira could see that he was struggling to stay conscious.

   Traveling on foot like this was going to take them hours to return home, and Nara was already beginning to take its place in the sky as Arie descended over the horizon.

   "Let's stop for a few moments," Saphira told the half-unconscious boy. She helped him gently sit down and lean against the bark of the tree. Mike's eyes were already closed as if sleep found him too easily— at least, Saphira hoped he was just asleep.

   Saphira knew they weren't going to get anywhere else for the night... and she payed Micah would survive the night. She gathered what branches lay around her and her best friend on the ground and threw them into a pile. She began to rub two sticks together until a good spark ignited what few twigs were there— which took quite a while.

   Saphira sat close to the fire with her knees raised to her chest and her arms wrapped around her legs to keep them from slipping down in the dirt. Someone would come for them, she knew. She had already been away from home more than her appointed time. She knew her parents would send someone after her.

   Saphira glanced over at the sleeping boy. "What did that sorceress do to you?" she whispered to herself knowing that he wouldn't hear her anyway. She had no idea how to help him. She didn't know any remedies that could possibly heal him, she didn't read old books that taught her about different diseases, she had no experience in medicine... she was at a lost on how to help him, and Micah could lose his life because of her stupidity.

   Saphira clenched her eyes shut in frustration. She was so stupid! What was she thinking bringing a squire out here instead of a full-fledged Knight? She could have gotten Mike killed! Saphira screamed loudly in anger, flinging her head toward the night sky. "What have I done? What am I suppose to do?" She pick up a rock from nearby and flung it forcefully into the woods until it disappeared in the dark.

   A glistening tear fell from her right eye as she clenched them even tighter. "I don't know what to do," she whispered. Saphira opened her eyes and looked toward the heavens. "Creator, what do I do? I can't help him. I can't save him. I have no knowledge of healing. Please, Creator! If anyone can save him, it's You."

   Saphira climbed to her feet and stepped over beside Mike. She crouched down and studied him to make sure he was still breathing. Thankfully, he was. She sighed and gently placed a hand on his shoulder.

   As she did so, her hand was suddenly engulfed in a bright light. Saphira shouted in fear and fell backward on to the ground. The light was gone! It had vanished just as rapidly as it had appeared.

   She was breathing uncontrollably and swiftly glanced around, frightened. What had just happened? She lifted her hand to make sure nothing had happened to her. She was still the same. Long fingernails, slender fingers, a lightly tanned hand... she was the same as before.

   "So what was that?" she asked herself, fear shaking her voice. She slowly shifted back upward to a crouching position. She watched her hand closely as she placed it once more on Mike's shoulder. The bright light appeared again blinding her eyes. But she did not withdraw her hand. Instead, she kept a tight grip on his shoulder as the glow began to consume his body.

   She could instantly feel the energy being drained from her body. Like it was sucked from inside her and she was rapidly growing week. Was this a trick all put on by that sorceress? Was this an after effect? Was the sorceress trying to drain her and make her weak so she could come and kill them both?

   The light from her hand suddenly exploded knocking Saphira backward off her feet. She laid there silently not yet feeling her strength return. She noticed her vision wasn't perfectly clear— probably from smacking her head on the ground. She glanced around frantically afraid the sorceress was coming to attack.

   Saphira jerked in place as a sturdy hand gripped her shoulder and yanked her upward. When her eyes could focus, she was relieved to see who it was. "Micah!" she shouted joyfully with a raspy voice. "You're okay!"

   Mike wrapped his arms around her shoulders and held her limp body in his arms. "What was that?" he asked her confused. "I've never seen— or felt really— anything like it!"

   Saphira shook her head. "I don't know. It's never happened before." She was too frightened and confused to even remember that Mike was just moments from his deathbed.

   Mike's face showed that he was trying to think of a solution. "I don't understand. How could anyone have just healed me like that? I felt like death itself."

   Saphira giggled. "You looked like it too." She closed her eyes for a short moment feeling exhausted. "I'm just glad you're safe." She opened them again and grinned widely. "That's all that matters."

   Aithusa paced around the dining chamber fretting over her daughter. She was supposed to return when Arie had begun setting. By now, Arie had gone down hours ago.

   Edwin put an assuring, strong hand on his wife's when she finally sat down at the table beside him. "I'm sure she's fine, dear," he said trying to comfort her worrying heart. "I trust in the Squire that went with her. He'll bring her home safely."

   Aithusa shook her head, her expression still deep in worry. "I don't know, Edwin. Arie set a while ago now. I think we should send someone after her. I knew she should've gone with a Knight. The boy is, after all, just a Squire. Sure he's being trained under our best Knight, but that doesn't mean he can't or won't slip up." Her face turned to anger. "And if my daughter's life becomes threatened or she gets hurt, I don't care what you promised the boys father. We're the ones keeping them safe and hidden. Though they have royal blood, I'm not going to treat them like royals. Just because you promised Nikima that Micah could be trained for knighthood doesn't mean we cant break that promise if something happens to Saphira. I will strip him of his nobility if she gets harmed. If they truly want to hide who they really are, then they should warn their boy not to slip up."

   Edwin's mouth fell agape. "Aithusa, what are you talking about? I would never go back on a promise I've made to any man." He pointed directly as his wife as she sat with her hands balled into fists. "And I expect the same thing from the Queen. You will not give our Kingdom a bad name. You cannot strip that boy of his nobility. That was rightfully given to him by the Creator at his birth."

   Aithusa looked at her husband confused. "So, if my daughter died because that Squire failed his duty, you still want him to keep his nobility and train as one of your Knights? You would actually trust him with your daughters life? Saphira is our only child. I cannot risk her safety! There must be an heir to the throne someday and Saphira is all we have left since Amiory's death."

   Edwin took a deep breath and stood to his feet. "Okay, Aithusa. I'm not going to get into an argument. You are the Queen and this Kingdom is as much yours as it is mine." He bent down low to speak inches from her face. "But I will not go back on a promise." He stood up straight once more. "And that is a promise I'm now making to you." He marched out of the chamber leaving Aithusa to her thoughts.

   Aithusa stared out the chamber window into the darkened forest that held her daughters whereabouts. "Guards!" she called out.

   Two guards immediately marched into the chamber standing at attention. "My Lady?" one answered.

   Aithusa didn't bother to turn and look at them. "Send some men to the forest," she told them with a straight face. "I want my daughter found and brought back unharmed."

   Mike sat beside Saphira leaning against a trees scratchy bark. He extended his hand that held a flask over to her. "If you want to get your strength back you'll have to drink some water."

   Saphira turned her head toward him. She knew he was demanding her to drink it. He wouldn't even take a sip until she had quenched what little thirst she had. Thus was the code of a Knight. He would do nothing for himself until the Princess had been fully taken care of.

   Saphira slowly took the flask from the young Squire and drank until she was no longer thirsty before handing it back over to Mike, who then himself drank from it.

   Mike stood to his feet and brushed dirt into the fire Saphira had started not long ago with his boots. Their surroundings immediately became dark.

   "Micah, what are you doing?" Saphira asked with more shock then she intending.

   "We need to get moving," he told her calmly. "I know it's dark, and we won't be able to see anything, but I didn't kill that monster and I know you didn't. They were out here for some reason, and I don't want to be here when they come back to finish what they started."

   Mike gently grabbed on to Saphira's arm and hoisted her up. She wobbled back and forth on her feet as they still felt too weak to keep her upright, but Mike never let go of her to keep her from falling.

   "Come on. Let's go," he said, pointing forward with a thrust of his head.

   Saphira began to take slow steps, and Mike followed along right beside her never letting go of her shoulders.  

   "Shouldn't we stay put?" Saphira asked puzzled. "My Father is bound to have sent out Knights by now. I've been gone longer then I should."

   Mike nodded his head. "That is probably true, and if that is the case." He paused to help Saphira not tumbled down the slight hill they were on. Once they reached the bottom, he started again. "If that is the case, we will meet them halfway."

   Saphira turned to look at him instead of where she was stepping. She shrugged Mike's hands off her shoulders believing she could now walk on her own. "But aren't you afraid of what he might do to you?" Mike cocked his brow at her. "I mean, my Father will blame you for not bringing me home in time. My Father is the King and I am the only heir to his throne since the passing of my brother. He will think something bad has happened to us, I just know he will!"

   Mike shrugged. "Well, like you said, your Father is King and it is my fault that we're out in the middle of the forest during the night." He couldn't tell because of the dark, but he thought he saw a shocked expression on Saphira's face. He knew what she was going to say. "Yes, Saphira, I do blame myself. I should not have tried to fight the sorceress. I should have been by your side, protecting you." Mike raised his voice in anger. "I was so foolish! Sir Dunling will not be pleased with how I've acted."

   Saphira shook her head. "Mike, please do not blame yourself. You thought you were doing what was right."

   Mike rolled his eyes. "And I got injured in the process," he whispered. "I would've died if you hadn't done whatever that was that you did. I made you relive a terrible moment in your life."

   "The point is!" Saphira continued, trying to get his attention. "You thought that killing that sorceress was the only way to protect me. Whether it was the Knights code or not, you did what Micah Waldo would have done. You did what a friend would have done." She smiled. "And I'm thankful for it. I never should've yelled at you like that. You were only doing what you thought was right."

   Mike smiled himself and sighed. He couldn't even think of any reply. Right as he opened his mouth to speak, the sound of horses hooves filled their ears; the noise was getting louder as it grew closer.

   "See?" Mike asked with a smile. "I told you we'd find them."

   Saphira rolled her eyes. "More like they found us," she muttered. Saphira was a little nervous to find out what the Knights were going to do once they found the two. What had her Father instructed them to do?

   Five knights in shining armor rode up on their horses and encircled the two teens. One Knight jumped off his horse and ran to their aid. The muscular Knight ripped Saphira away from Mike swiftly.

   "Hey, what's going on?" Mike asked confused, his reactions taking effect as he reached for Saphira's hand. He suddenly felt strong hands grip his arms and force them behind his back.

   "This is just a precaution, Squire," the Knight replied. It was hard to tell who the Knight was in the dark, but once he spoke, Mike recognized him and his jaw dropped to the ground. 

   "Sir Dunling?" he asked with unbelief. Why would his own master do this to him? "What are you doing?"

   Sir Dunling lead the Princess to his own horse. "The Queen told us to keep you in custody until we get things straightened out." He never once looked back at his Squire.

   "Get things straightened out?" Mike asked frantically. "What things? What have I done? I've done nothing wrong!" He knew that wasn't true, but the sudden action of everything made him stress out.

"Queen?" Saphira questioned as if she had heard him wrong. Saphira climbed on top of Sir Dunling's horse before gazing down at the mature Knight. "My Mother did this? I thought for sure it would've been my Father."

   Sir Dunling helped Saphira straighten herself out on his horse before finally turning to look at his Squire.  He swooshed some strands of blonde from his eyes. "This is not to be discussed here." He turned toward his men. "Get the Squire a horse, and let's head back to the castle."

   Mike stayed silent as a horse was brought over toward him. He had already offended his master by his actions. He wasn't going to resist his arrest. The man holding his arms let go so Mike could climb upon the steads back. Once he was on the horse, his hands were bound behind his back once more with a strong rope.

   "How do you expect me not to fall off?" Mike asked, anger thickening his tone as he looked down at the Knight who had tied him up.

   "Balance," the Knight replied with a smug grin, which Mike replied with a simple roll of his eyes.

   Sir Galihand and Micah had always had a problem with one another. Sir Galihand thought King Edwin had been foolish in letting a non-noble train to be a knight in the Light Kingdom. The Light Kingdom had never had a non-noble before so what made the rules different now? Just because Micah was best friends with the Princess? Seemed like favoritism to Sir Galihand.

   "Let's move!" Sir Dunling ordered. He hopped on to his horse with Saphira seated in front of him, and Sir Galihand held the reins of Mike's horse following behind him. The band of Knights began to head toward their village gate.

   It was an intimidating ride, for Mike at least. He didn't know what was awaiting him at the castle. What would his Majesty do to a Squire like him? The safety of the Princess always comes first, and he had risked her life trying to prove he was worthy to become a Knight. He didn't deserve the title anymore. He knew Sir Dunling was watching him, glancing over at him from time to time.

   Sir Dunling was in more of a state of shock than any other Knight. He was the one who trained Mike in all his teachings. For Mike to have been so foolish in his actions was outrageous! If the King is not as understanding, his Squire could lose his nobility, and Sir Dunling knew that.

   It didn't take long to reach the castle. If they had proceeded on foot... that would have taken all night. As it was, Nara was already settled high in the sky representing it was already the middle of the night.

   Sir Dunling carefully lifted his Princess off his horse and set her on her feet. A servant immediately ran out from the castle's entry to greet her Princess with a blanket.

   "Are you alright, my lady?" the servant girl asked.

   Princess Saphira grabbed the edges of the blanket and pulled it in close. "I'll be fine, Briar," she replied with a smile. "I'm just a little tired is all."

   "Let's get you inside into your warm bed." Briar gently pushed Saphira toward the courtyards staircase.

   Saphira whirled her head around to witness another Knight roughly pushing Mike around until it caused the Squire to fall flat on his face unable to catch himself. "I can't," she answered her servant in a whisper. "This is all my fault." She threw the blanket off her shoulders as she ran to the other side of the courtyard where the Knights were shoving Mike up another flight of stairs that were closer to the court chamber.

   "Sir Galihand," Sir Dunling began with a calmness in his voice. As the Knight said his name, Sir Galihand pushed the young Squire boy to the ground once more. Sir Dunling stepped in between the two to protect his Squire. "Sir Galihand!" he shouted this time. "I know this is how you treat most of your prisoners, but Micah is not a prisoner! He is my Squire, and I trust you will continue to treat him with the same respect you would any other Knight."

   "He's not a prisoner yet," Sir Galihand complained with a smirk. "And I'm tired of you protecting him, Dunling!" He narrowed his eyes. "That boy will be kicked out of the knighthood soon enough."

   "The boy knows the mistakes he's made," Sir Dunling replied. "And you will not harm him any farther! I suggest you leave the rest of our business to me. Or perhaps you will be the one in the dungeon if you lash out against our King."

   Sir Galihand snorted and brushed past Sir Dunling making their shoulders smack— Sir Dunling didn't even flinch at the harsh brush as Sir Galihand stumbled slightly. "You cannot keep pretending to be his big brother forever." Sir Galihand stepped around the corner and out of sight.

   Sir Dunling sighed. He knelt down and untied his Squire before extending his hand down to help his fallen friend to his feet. Mike accepted his hand gratefully.

   "Thank you," Mike told his master softly.

   Sir Dunling continued his walk toward the court chamber. "Don't thank me just yet. You're not out of any danger. You still have the King to face."

   Mike swallowed a forming lump in his throat. What started out as the best day of my life, he thought to himself, turned out to be one of the worse.