A few weeks had passed since the snowball fight, and Christmas was upon Dirland.

Knolls had a few ideas of how to brighten the lady servant's day.

Marie had a few ideas of how to get back at Jenson for getting completely lost in Dirland for this long.

And Nathaniel sat bored in his tent, listening to the happy sounds of camp getting ready for Christmas, which was the next day.

Winter had never spent a Christmas away from her family, and was quite sad about it.
Robert tried to cheer her up, but the only one that could get even a small smile from her, was Nathaniel when she went to visit him.

"It's Christmas Eve already! Don't you think I should send for him?!" rampaged The King, sitting in one of his rooms in the castle.

Knolls nodded his head affirming that The King should.

"Then I shall get to it." The King declared, heading to his writing desk.

It was Christmas, and who should show up but another messenger to Robert's camp.

He was set upon and brought back to camp blindfolded. A letter from The King had been found on his person.

"Here is my promise." it wrote, " A trade will be made on the borders of the forest. I'll give you my gold, and I get my son." It was simple, straight to the point, and conceited. Unlike The Kings first letter that was full of flattery in trying to convince Nathaniel to return.

Robert looked over the letter, pleased with it's contents.

"The best Christmas present I have had in a long time." he remarked to Winter. Who frowned in indignance, she had worked hard to knit a hat and some gloves, so much for trying to please him.
He didn't even notice her sour mood, and went on with planning the trade.

Mad at Robert, Winter headed to Nathaniel's tent with his Christmas present from her, and the news of The King's letter.

Nathaniel heard her enter, and looked up from is self boredom to see her in an angry mood.

"What did I do this time." he thought, hoping it wasn't anything too bad.

He was surprised to find out, that it wasn't him she was mad at, but Robert!

"And he just disregarded my present like it's something to be expected!" she continued raging.

Nathaniel couldn't explain how immensely pleased he was that Winter was mad at Robert. There was no reason he could imagine for it, but he enjoyed Robert getting the treatment he deserved, not just from him, but Winter too.

"You aren't even listening to me!" raged Winter, finding another thing to be mad at as she noticed the far off smile he had on his face.

"On the contrary," corrected Nathaniel, "I am simply enjoying what you are saying. And in order to do that, I would have to be listening."

She scowled at him for a while, testing the truth in his words, then questioned, "Why would you find Robert's faults enjoyable?"
It only took her a moment to realize how silly of a question it was, "You just like it because you hate Robert!" she accused,
"Funny, that you would hate your own cousin."

"Cousin?" asked Nathaniel incredulous,"And where did you come by this nonsense?" his eyebrow raised for intimidation.

"Robert." she answered, her voice tiny.

"And Robert, just came out and said he was my cousin?" pressed Nathaniel.

"More or less. Yes, he did." Winter continued, more bold with every word as she realized his raised eyebrow was nothing more than show.

"How." demanded Nathaniel.

Winter sighed at his bad manners, but didn't comment on it, something as big as this called for some forgiveness. "Robert Hood, descendant of Robin Hood. A common ancestor, therefore cousins."

Nathaniel was taken back by the revelation, "You're sure?" his voice small as everything about Robert fell into place.

"As sure as I can be." She answered.

He nodded, and a moment of silence descended as he thought.

"Does Robert know?"

She shrugged, "Maybe, how well known is your heritage?"

He shrugged, copying her, "About as well known as my existence, I suppose."

There was more silence as they both realized, that if Robert knew of Nathaniel's existence, he might very well know who his great great great grandfather was. But if he did know, why keep it a secret from Nathaniel? All they could do was assume that Robert didn't know.

Winter didn't really have anything else to say on the subject, so she handed Nathaniel's present to him, "For you."

He accepted it cordially, nodding his head in thanks.

He opened the nicely wrapped package to find a warm hat, scarf, and mittens. He smiled at the design Winter had worked into the cloth, "Thank you." he said sincerely, and tried on the things for size.

"They seem to fit." Winter mused.

"They are perfect! I only wish I had a gift for you." he said, scowling at the last part.

Robert hadn't let him out of the tent since the snowball fight due to Nathaniel's "bad behavior." Nathaniel knew it was just because he was jealous that he didn't win the snow war.  

She shrugged with a smile, "It's fine, your smile is enough."

"My smile, huhh?" he teased with an evil one, causing her to blush.

Not liking that she reacted to him, she started leaving angrily.

"Where are you going?" he called, a worried frown making it's way to his face, "I didn't mean anything by it!" he called again, desperate for her to stay.

"You most certainly did." she refused to believe him, and turning around to scowl at him once again, she left the tent in search of a place where she wouldn't have to deal with dunder-head boys.

A letter was sent back with both messengers, Liam and the newly arrived one. It had been decided that tomorrow afternoon the trade would take place.

So it was, that on the day after Christmas, Nathaniel, tied up, and surrounded by guards, started the half a day's journey to the edge of the forest.

Winter was in the small company, but with all the guards, conversing with Nathaniel was nearly impossible.

It was early noon when they arrived, which gave them some time to prepare for The King's part of the trade to arrive.

Winter wondered who it could be, it was very doubtful that Allarick would show up himself, but a trade this important did call for someone highly capable.

Would it be the chamberlain? No, from Nathaniel she had heard he was a great joker, a mission like this called for someone grave and serious. She trembled as she contemplated Captain Morris. But  he didn't know Nathaniel was The Prince, and she doubted The King wanted that tidbit of information known.
Or maybe The King didn't care. If it were so, Captain Morris would be a smart person to send on this errand.

Winter shook her head, worrying about it wouldn't change who it was, so she banished the thoughts from her mind.

An hour or so passed before a carriage and company of Dirland soldiers were spotted, but the word spread quickly through Robert's men.

"At last, took them long enough." Robert said, sounding more evil than Winter had ever heard him before.

She raised her eyebrow contemplatively, Robert had never given her a reason as to why he captured Nathaniel, nor why he wanted the money. What did he gain? There were plenty of other ways to come by that much gold, why get it this way?

She sighed as a headache came on from all her thinking. It wouldn't do any good for her, it wasn't as if she would get answers by just thinking it.

There were fifteen soldiers total in the party that came for Nathaniel, and there was no knowing who rode in the carriage on The King's behalf. 

One soldier was sent out with the bag of money, while two more walked right behind him.

The exchange was very quick, Robert was glad to have Nathaniel off his hands. And in no time at all Nathaniel was being led to the carriage, and Robert was counting his money.

Winter didn't even have time to say goodbye, and the carriage drove off, back to Dirland Palace, back to the tyrant of a King.

The trek back to camp was empty for Winter as the others celebrated their feat. What was she to do now? She had only stayed because of Nathaniel. 

Now he was back at The Castle, a prisoner of his father.