The next day the town was buzzing with the news of King Allarick attending a trial for some young fellow who found himself in Captain Morris' clutches.

After hearing the news Winter was relieved, she now knew where Nathaniel was. What other "young fellow" could Captain Morris have? All his other prisoners had escaped, like herself.

Somehow, through Marie's connections, they got into Nathaniel's trial. She didn't have a plan, but she was sure she would, once she surveyed her surroundings. The court-room was surprisingly well guarded; Winter sat down in a chair toward the back of the audience, not finding any good escape.

The trial started Nathaniel looked around, he saw Winter and Marie in the back. They're gonna get themselves into trouble. He shook his head, there was nothing he could do about it now.

"Captain Morris, what do you accuse this man of?" asked Judge knolls.

"Detaining Dirish soldiers from their task."

"I see. Do you admit to this?" He asked, turning to Nathaniel.

"Yes"

"Do you have an explanation for this?" Knolls asked commandingly.

"None, I did it for personal enjoyment." Nathaniel admitted to everyone.

The crowd gasped in horror. This man had stopped their soldiers from doing their job? Was Dirland safe with such people?

Knolls nodded, he kept a straight face while inside he was dying of laughter. It was so like Nathaniel to tell the truth in big gatherings. He seemed to enjoy the looks of horror on the audience's faces.

"Will anyone speak for this young man?"

Everyone was silent, The King cleared his throat: "I will"

The audience was shocked.

"I will take the boy into my custody. Captain Morris will be rewarded greatly for bringing in such a man."

The Captain smirked, glaring at Nathaniel. teach him to mess with Morris.

Nathaniel shrugged, the outcome would have been the same either way. He was just glad the trial had been short.

Winter rushed to Nathaniel, he was sitting on a bench by the sidewall while the court finished with some other business. There was one guard on his side not paying much attention to him.

"don't do this." she told him quietly.

"what choice do I have? After this I'll get to ride in the kings carriage to the palace, I'm not looking forward to it." he said with a grim smile on his face. A long ride to the palace with his father asking him what he was trying to do being so stupid as to mess with Captain Morris, could hardly be enjoyable.

"Why would you ride in the kings carriage? Wouldn't the King not wish to be near a criminal?"

"Nope. On the contrary, he'll request I ride with him." Nathaniel said with such certainty, she didn't question him.

"Then I'm coming with you."

"No! Its too dangerous for you."

"No! And you can't stop me"

He knew there was no changing her mind, having dealt with her stubbornness before. She stood up to get herself arrested, that being the only idea she had to go with Nathaniel.

"fine! I'll ask the king to let you come." he said once she started walking away, the last thing he needed was her being arrested and put in the jail house, while he was stuck dealing with his father. Winter should have realized she wouldn't go with the King if she got arrested, but her stubbornness got in the way of that.

She looked at him like he was crazy "Why would the King listen to you?"

"Just, trust me."

She sat back down, and they waited for the court to be over.

When the King came strolling their way, Nathaniel asked: "can she come with us?" looking from Nathaniel to Winter, he nodded his head with a scowl.

"The prisoner and girl will be riding with me." The King told his guards, leaving them no room to argue. They grudgingly nodded their heads.

He got into the carriage, Winter and Nathaniel followed.

Nathaniel's hands were still tied in front of him, but that didn't seem to bother him. Neither did being in the presence of his King. Winter shook her head in amazement.

"What in the world were you trying to accomplish?" asked The King ignoring her, and sounding more like a father reprimanding his son, than a king reprimanding his prisoner. She stared in shock when Nathaniel didn't so much as flinch at his words, instead he shrugged carelessly.

"You're impossible! What do I tell Dirland when you finally take your place as king in society?" the King barked, frustrated.
Take his place as king? Winter thought, still shocked. But no, it isn't possible. The King of Dirland doesn't have any children! Doesn't he? Is Nathaniel really his son? Does that make him crown prince of Dirland? Soon to be Nerica's worst enemy?

"what I do with my life is my decision, not yours." spoke Nathaniel.

"you are my son, and now my prisoner, I am your king, you will do as I say."

Nathaniel looked to the floor mocking shame, then looked out the window ignoring his father.

The King gave up getting Nathaniel's attention, and turned to Winter.

"So, girl, how do you know Nathaniel?"

Winter looked to Nathaniel -not wanting to betray him by saying something Nathaniel would rather have his father not know- When He made no move to stop her from answering, she said "he, uhh, I, uhh, he rescued me from Captain Morris." that was part of the truth anyway. She didn't trust the King of Neric's enemy to do anything as foolish as to tell him she was Neric.

He nodded then asked "what did Captain Morris want with you?"

"I was, well, I was his prisoner." she said why couldn't I have thought of some other believable lie? Such as, I was his niece and was bored out of my mind so Nathaniel came and rescued me. No, that wouldn't work. The King might know Captain Morris' "niece" didn't exist. Or even realize that Captain Morris wouldn't take his niece on his war adventures. Ughh! Even in my brain I can't think of anything.

"prisoner?" asked The King, bringing Winter out of her thoughts.

"Leave her alone father." Nathaniel said, to give Winter more of a chance of not being recognized as Neric. The last thing he needed was his father knowing something like that.

"So I see the prince decides to grace us with his voice." said the King with a smile, amused.

Nathaniel ignored his father's taunt, instead saying "what do you want?"

"to have a conversation with my son, that doesn't end in an argument."

Nathaniel scoffed in disbelief.

King Allarick shrugged "believe what you want"
His son had always been hard to manage. Nathaniel had never wanted to be King, he liked outlaws and breaking rules more. It was all because of his mother, if she hadn't told him all the storys about her great great grandfather: Robin Hood. He would have settled down into his place as crown prince. But king Allarick couldn't stay mad at his Queen. He had loved her dearly, and she was killed four years ago during her travels in Nerica.

After that, Nathaniel didn't come back to Dirland, he hid in his camp on small Island. The King had not tried to stop him or held it against him.

But a year after the death of The Queen, Allarick had summoned Nathaniel to the castle. Nathaniel had refused, staying in his outlaw camp. The king had not seen him since, until that day, at Nathaniel's trial. "I should have sent Captain Morris to fetch you a long time ago." He voiced some of his thoughts.

Nathaniel shook his head "No, it wouldn't have worked before."

"Losing your Robin Hood skills?"

He shook his head a second time "Losing my sane mind."

Nathaniel didn't say more, but Allarick had a sneaking suspicion his son's capture had something to do with the girl Nathaniel had asked to accompany them.

The ride to the castle was silent after that.

When they reached the palace The king said "you'll have your old room" to Nathaniel.
He shook his head " just throw me in the dungeon!"

Winter stared at Nathaniel, wouldn't he like his room much more than the dungeon?

The king shrugged "whatever you want" with that he called for some maids to help winter to a gueast room, and some gaurds to take Nathaniel to the dungeon.

Winter was surprized by all the finery, the one room was the size most Nerica houses were.

Winter came from a little wealthier family than most, but she had seen nothing this fine and rich.
What am I thinking? I'm in the palace of the king of the enemy, as a guest! I should have asked for a dungeon like Nathaniel.

A maid told her dinner would be served in an hour, and if she needed help dressing for it the maids would come in fifteen minutes. Winter nodded, realizing she was dressed very unsuitably for a royal dinner.

Where were such thoughts coming from? She was here in Dirland's palace! What she was wearing should be the least of her worrys.
A dress was brought and her hair done in one of the most stylish 'does of Dirland.
She figured the best way to stay inconspicuous, was to play her part as the crowns guest. Hopefully that was what she was concidered.

Nathaniel didn't come for dinner. So Winter was left with the king questioning her. She answered politely and respectfully to all the questions, but made it clear she was not enjoying them. So after a while The King stopped and turned his attention to the higher nobles who were in attendance there.

She returned to her room that night completly exausted from the dinner.
No wonder Nathaniel left. Its so tiresome here, at least at his camp there were trees and Dirish to toy with.

She fell asleep on the extreemly soft bed, wondering why Nathaniel hadn't shown up for dinner. And what she was even doing here.

Nathaniel hadn't gone to dinner, he knew the higher nobles would be there, and he really didn't want anyone to know he was in Dirland. The King had granted his wish and put him in a dungeon cell, but not an old one with rotting wood and rats. No, this was a luxurious prison cell, built more for a nobles forced overnight stay, than anything els.

He was leaning on the wall, his back towards it, hoping The King wasn't peskering Winter too much. He gently banged his head against the wall. Stop thinking about her! If it wasn't for her you wouldn't be in this mess. She'll deserve what father gives her.
He shook his head and got ready for sleep. He refused to sleep on the luxurious soft bed in the the room, so had taken a blanket from it, and layed down in he corner of the room underneath it. The floor was carpeted, so even that was much softer than what he slept on at camp.
Nathaniel didn't want to grow sloppy and unpracticed, even if he was living in a palace.

Something about the girl Nathaniel brought with him was disturbing The King. Somthing about the way she talked. She shortened some words, and seemed lousy with her dictation. She had some accent and he couldn't place where he'd heard it before.
He closed his eyes and fell asleep still wondering about Winter.