Winter and Nathaniel had woken up, and now had been walking for hours.

"How much longer? My feet are killing me." Whined Winter.

"Only another, five days? More or less."

"What! This is not possible! What gave you the idea that it was?"

"Because I've done it before." Nathaniel said calmly.

"When?"
She was starting to get a little mad that she really didn't know anything about Nathaniel. Yet she had come to Dirland risking capture, just to rescue him.
And he didn't really need any rescuing! Seeing as he was the prince, and the one leading this escape!

So why did she even bother? He obviously could take care of himself, even if he was foolish enough to get captured.

She decided she wasn't going to walk any furthur, unless Nathaniel actually told her about himself.

So she sat down in the middle of the tunnel, and ignored Nathaniel.

Nathaniel didn't notice Winter's absence behind him, and continued walking for another ten minutes before he realized no one was following him.

Now where'd Winter go? Is it this hard to keep track of a girl?

He thought back to all the times Winter had disappeared from camp. Yep, it seemed Winter was the hardest person to keep track of he had ever met.

Well I'm not going to find her by standing here all day.

So he turned around, and headed back through the tunnel.

The last time he'd been in here, he had deliberated every day whether he would keep going. With no food left, and barley any water, his hope seemed grim.

But with Winter with him, it gave him purpose and determination to keep going.

When he came to where Winter was, all curled up and her arms folded in a stubborn way. "Now what is it?" he asked.

"I want answers."

Why of all times does she decide to do this now? Thought Nathaniel.

"Answers for what?"

"Why are you on such bad terms with your father? Why have you taken this tunnel before? Why don't you want to be a prince? You've told me before, but it was a very vague answer. And why haven't you told me your life story, I've at least told you some of mine. Oh, and why in the world did you hold me captive against my will?

And why are you staring at me with an amused expression on your face?" she said all this, not giving a chance until now for Nathaniel to answer.

"Which question would you like me to answer first, my lady?" dispite Winter's anger at him, Nathaniel found her outburst nothing short of hilarious.

Oh now he was being a perfect gentleman, was he? Thought Winter.

"Why did you keep me captive?" she named one thing on the long list of what Nathaniel had done wrong.

"You'll have to be more specific." said Nathaniel, knowing perfectly well what she meant, but needing more time to answer.

"I am going to be as spesific as is possible. You captured the Dirish in your prison pit contraption. Actually no. Earlier that day, I was playing a harmless prank. And you, mister over-reacter. Were very unkind, and ungentlemanly rough dragging me back to camp. Why?"

During Winter's detailed narration, Nathaniel had decided it would be best to tell her the truth.

"I'm not sure." He replied, and he wasn't.

Through the whole thing he hadn't been thinking, just doing.

Winter's sardonic laughter rang out loud and clear in the echoey chamber of the tunnel.
"You're telling me, that you keep a girl captive, one from your own camp no less, and you have o explanation!? And you thought me crazy for signing up for the war?"

"Yes?" He said, wincing as he thought about what her reaction would probably be.

"This is ridiculous." said Winter, what had she ever done to be in this mess.

Nathaniel felt more ashamed for what he had done, even more than he had when he thought he would lose Winter.

Suddenly, Winter's countinance brightened. This can't be good, he thought.

"I have just had a brilliant idea!" she said, rather too excitedly for Nathaniel's taste.

"And what might that be? Pray tell fair lady."

Winter scowled at Nathaniel, "Now's not the time for you to be all polite and proper. Prince."

Great, now she's using my title. "Now what do you have up your sleeve?" he asked suspiciously.

"My arm, I hope?" she asked inoccently, then an evil smile appeared on her face.

"This is no time to be funny." said Nathaniel, "You have something planned, and by the look you're giving me, it cannot be good."

"Very observant aren't we, your majesty?"

"Its Nathaniel, and its hard to miss the evil smile. So just tell me and this will be over with." corrected Nathaniel.

Why won't she tell me her plan? I have a feeling it won't be too pleasant for me.

"Fine, Nathaniel." with emphasis on his name, "I'm going to take the prince of Dirland captive, and no one will be the wiser."

It took Nathaniel a while to register her words, but when he finally did, he almost died laughing. "And how do you plan to manage that?"

"I have my ways." defended Winter, insulted by his laughing.

"Of course. And what would you do with me once you had, uhh, captured me?" He played along, finding Winter's threats adorable.

"Take you to Nerica of course."

Did winter hit her head? Where was all this nonsense coming from?

"Why are you looking at me like I'm crazy?" snapped Winter.
Why doesn't he think I'm capable of capturing him?

"Maybe I'm looking at you like you're crazy. Because you are!"

"You really think I'm crazy?" She asked softly, trying to have him take his gaurd down.

"Considering you think you can capture me and bring me to Nerica, Yes. I seriously do."

I guess softening him up isn't going to work. Thought Winter grimly.

"Just forget this, lets just keep walking." Winter said, apparently giving up.

I'll just capture him while he's sleeping.

"Glad you finally came to your senses." Nathaniel said with a smirk.

You won't be smirking tomorrow, when you've realized you've been captured by a weak girl!
It was thoughts like these that kept her going the whole day.

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When King Allarick and the lord chamberlain Knolls reached the opening of the tunnel, Knolls suspicions were confirmed. Not only was there a tunnel, but two sets of footprints in the dusty floor, leading to Dirland forest.

"These tracks are fairly new, it's highly likely they were made by who you're after." proclaimed the head tracker.

The King nodded, "Knolls?"

"Yes?"

"In those plans you were speaking of, did they ever mention where the other end of the tunnel was?"

If they had that knowledge, Nathaniel would be very easy to catch.

"Not precicely, no."

"Do you have any clue as to where it is?" he asked, keeping his temper in check.

"Yes." Knolls answered with the short reply.

"Would you like to elaborate?" his temper getting harder to control.

"Maybe." Knolls tried one last time to get The King to explode in rage, just for the fun of it.

"Just tell me already!" He didn't have time for Knolls' games!

"Of course, your majesty. On the North East side." Yep, it had worked, Allarick lost his temper. Knolls thought as his face broke into a smile.

"You mean, where that new outlaw group decided to play?" asked Allarick hesitantly.

"The very one." his smile ever leaving Knolls' face.

"Spiffing, just Spiffing." The King said sarcastically.

"I agree sir." said Knolls, his tone serious. It was just too much fun to torture his King.

"I don't need your jokes right now."

"I agree your majesty."

"Do you have any idea what this means?" asked The King.

"Not exactly, no."

"Gaurds, you re dismissed."

After the gaurds had left, Allarick began to explain.

"The crown prince of Dirland heading into an outlaw camp! Knolls. The Crown Prince! Do you still see nothing wrong with this?" thundered The King.

"Are you not overlooking one thing your majesty?"

"What?"

"Nathaniel, for the past three years has been concidered, somewhat, an outlaw."

"How so?"

"If you defy the kings wishes, which are the law, you become an outlaw." explained Knolls.

"Being an outlaw doesn't change the he's my son! Crown Prince of Dirland."Pointed out The King, still somewhat enraged.

"You underestimate your son my leige. Being an outlaw leader for four years does give you some experience with escaping, fighting, not getting captured, etcetera. I wouldn't worry about him." Knolls said, trying to calm Allarick.

"You're right, but we still need to re-capture him. I've already sent to King Harold for his daughter!"

"Princess Etheena?" asked Knolls dubiously.

"Yes."

"Isn't she around twice Nathaniel's age?"

"Yes." Allarick kept responding calmly.

"And you think that she's the best fitted for Nathaniel?"

"Yes?" now he was starting to rethink his decision he made so hastily.

"Mmhmm." said Knolls acusingly.

"Well I can't very well change it now!"

"No?" said Knolls, lifting an eyebrow.

"No! This conversation is over!" pronounced the King.

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Nathaniel had finally fallen asleep, now Winter could continue with her plans.
She silently crawled towards Nathaniel, intent on capturing him.

But just before she got the courage up to seize him, an all too familiar voice sounded, "You're gonna have to try harder than that to capture me." and he opened his eyes, smirking at Winter.

How did he know my plan? I'm not that transparent, am I?

She didn't say anything to Nathaniel, just quickly went back to her side of the fire, hoping Nathaniel would forget her failed attempt at capturing him.

"Winter?" she heard him ask. She layer there, ignoring him by pretending to already be asleep. Maybe, if she was convincing enough, he'd just think his eyes, or mind, had been playing tricks on him. Hopefuly.

But such wasn't the case, apparently. The next morning all he would do was tease her about capturing him in the middle of the night. Such a wonderful way to spend the morning.

"Will you plese stop bringing that up!?" He'd been wearing on her nerves all day. It was now around noon, and he hadn't stopped teasing her about last night.

What does he care? It wasn't like I succeeded.

"Bringing what up?" he played innocent.

She glared at him, he knew very well what she was talking about. He smiled evily, enjoying her frustration, probably more than he should.

When she was silent, he finally relented, "All right, I won't bring up you failing misrably at capturing me last night."

She glared at him for bringing it up again, but was glad he wouldn't anymore.

-------------------------------------------

"So, are we sending anyone in the tunnel to go after them?" asked Knolls. It was the next morning, and Allarick had just finished eating his breakfast.

"No, it wouldn't acomplish anything." replied The King calmly.

"Whatever do you mean?" asked Knolls, genuinly confused. Allarick wasn't one to ever give up.

"They would never catch up with them." he explained.

"Ahh," aknowledged the chamberlain, "but what are you going to do then?"

"I have yet to decide." admitted Allarick.

"So you are just going to leave Nathaniel in the woods with the outlaws while you decide?" asked Knolls.

"He seems to like the woods, what better place to have him?"

"You've become wise, my King." complimented Knolls, "So, when does king Harold and his gahstly, I mean, wonderful daughter arive?"

"He hasn't answered my letter yet. So that is yet to be discovered."

-------------------------------------

Finally, it was sleep time again. Winter had been walking, all, day. And was completly exhaughsted, she was even contimplating not trying to capture Nathaniel tonight. Even if it was an amazing idea, he wouldn't see it coming, probably thinking she'd given up, or something as ubsurd as that.

Though it was a brillant idea, Winter decided she needed sleep more. Why did Nathaniel's escape rout have to be so long?

The next morning, Nathaniel woke up before Winter. So she finally decided not to try and capture me?
He wouldn't admit it, but he was somewhat disapointed she hadn't tried capturing him again.

He started taking inventory, they didn't have much food from the breakfast the servants had brought, left. And their water supply was dwindling as well. Its a good thing there was a small underground stream that he remembered being halfway through the tunnel. They would reach it about halfway through the day, and be able to refill the small water pouches he had been able to procure from the servants. Being a prince did have its advantages.

He had been up for a while , when he finally had decided he'd better wake Winter so they could be on their way.

Winter was woken up by Nathaniel shaking her, "We have to get moving if we want o get out f this tunnel any time soon." he explained.

"Oh." was ll she saif, trying to quench her anger at being woken up. Couldnt he let me sleep for even a little longer?

It was safe to say she wasn't in the best of moods. Which was all the more fun for Nathaniel.

"Anything to eat?" Winter asked grouchily, but trying to be conciderate of Nathaniel.

Who am I kidding? I'm mad at him and his crazy outlaw skills.

So she stopped being conciderate and was as rude as possible.

"Are we there yet?" Winter aaked for the tenth time, even though she knew very well it would be extremely apparent when they reached the end of the tunnel.

"For the tenth time, NO! But there is a stream around the next bend." Nathaniel replied patiently.

"Well that's better than nothing." reasoned winter, grumbling.

Nathaniel chuckled at her words, he had been amused all day by her cross, vexed, mad, grouchy, attitude all day.

They stopped for quite a while at the stream. Refilling the water puches and taking long drinks.

"We should get going," announced Nathaniel.

"Why?" whined Winter.

"because, if you want to get out f this tunnel any time soon, we're gonna have to walk." hs patience was running thin.

"fine." and winter resigned herself to walking.

Two days later, Winter was looking at glorious sunshine. The trees of Dirland forest were't just straight oak, as the trees on Small Island had been. There was some pine, birch, and maple as well. And all together at this time of year, the colors of the leaves, mixed with the green pine needles, made a truly beautiful, magnificent sight, that took Winter's breath away.

"Pretty, isn't it." commented Nathaniel.

"Yeah, pretty." repeated Winter, at a loss for words.

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A/N

Finally! A very long chapter that took me forever to type into my phone, enjoy! I hope there isn't too many misspellings or typos.

- Windy Winter