Two weeks had passed since Willow had been knighted the celebratory atmosphere passed quickly as they approached Amstrad the mood became tense and unsettling. As they reached the boarder of Amstrad the body of soldiers halted in surprise as they came upon a small army camped out and awaiting them. King Edward stared at his brother’s pinion fluttering in the wind and knew his friend had been informed of his child’s disappearance. Dismissing most of his men to relax he took his personal knights and the Alexandra children towards the main pavilion.

As they entered the tent Willow’s eyes where drawn to the stranger sat talking with her father, he stood, at their entrance. He was tall and of slighter build then his brother their features and sandy blonde hair were the same though he wore his hair longer.

Edward embraced his brother then turned to his distraught friend. “I’m sorry old friend we we’ll sort this out I promise. I guess your wife got a message to you?”

“Yes sire, she said Martha had been kidnapped during an attack on the castle. She also told me she had been sent to safety against her will… I must thank Sir Mathew for keeping her safe.” Edward caught Willow’s slight movement out of the corner of his eye as he sat down in the seat vacated by his brother, she had gone unnoticed by her father, but not by him as he watched the light dim in her eyes with sudden clarity he realised whatever measures had been taken that terrible night had been by her orders no-one else’s he began to suspect that Willow had far more influence then one would normally expect of a lady of the court.

“Have you heard anything from her captors?” he asked still watching Willow.

“No!” Richard rubbed his face distraught. “We have to find her she’s my little girl.” Edward jumped to his feet as Willow gasped and fled the tent.

“Dame Willow!” he cried and tore after her. Willow stopped at the edge of camp and whistled. Odin thundered towards her she was just putting her foot in the stirrup when Edward caught her.

“Dame Willow, please wait!” She turned to him her glistening eyes staring at him imploringly. She reminded him of a wilted flower.

“Please your majesty, leave me be.” she whispered bowing her head with anguish. He lifted her chin his fingers resting on her cheek as he stared into her hardening eyes. “Your Majesty, you know my father, he tells you everything am I really his daughter?”

Edward gasped, “Yes.” She tilted her head into his palm without thinking causing his breath to catch again he wondered why he was so drawn to her to the point he acted out of character.

“Then my mother is she…”

“Willow you are their daughter, their child.” She bit her lip at his insistence and seemed to crumple. He was startled as she grabbed his hands.

“Then what have I done wrong? What must I do to earn their approval…?” Willow snatched her hands back her eyes widening with shock she bowed low, “forgive me sire I did mean to lay my hands upon you.” She gasped horrified.

Edward felt her wrenching pain, “You poor child.” he whispered pulling her into a fatherly embrace, feeling her shudders as if his own.

Her words muffled. “I tried. I really tried to do well in female accomplishments but it was never good enough. I must have wronged them and not remembered.” She pulled back with a wane smile. “Forgive me all this weeping it’s not like me, a moment of weakness.” She whispered then noticed her brother was waiting to talk to her and had watched the whole scene with curiosity.

Edward took some coins from his purse and handed them to her. “There is an inn called the Lion Inn. Go there and await my brother’s return.” She nodded. Her brother rushed forward and hugged her goodbye. She mounted and turned to Edward.

“Be carefully of crossbow bolts,” she smiled flashing her dimples. “Unless there is another who wishes to push their king from his mount.”

Edward chuckled. “You Dame are terrible.”

She bowed in her saddle. “I do but try.” She mocked then turned Odin. She galloped from camp turning heads as her hair streamed out behind her catching the light.

King Edward watched his eyes narrowed in thought, there where so many things that didn’t fit, his friend for one had never shown cruelty to anyone but with Willow he was distant and cold and he had never understood why. He turned to Commander Michael who watched him puzzled, Edward sighed. “There is something special about your sister that I can’t quiet put my finger on.”

“You do not need to explain to me your majesty, I understand, I feel it when I am close to her too its almost like you forget to worry about danger around you as if it will be alright somehow.” They turned and made their way back towards the royal pavilion.

As soon as they entered Michael glared balefully at his father until Richard squirmed uncomfortably, Edward ignored this and sat down turning his attention towards the matter at hand.

“Larimar, when you return to your city. Will you kindly collect Dame Willow from the Lion Inn?”

Prince Larimar nodded. “I will collect her and keep her safe.”

Edwards chuckled. “She is more than capable of looking after herself.”

“Wait, you said Dame, what has Willow done to earn a knighthood?” Lord Richard asked amazed.

Michael snarled. “She took a bolt for her king. She is courageous, honourable and in need of a little praise.”

Richard blinked stunned. “It is not your place…”

“I have cared for her more than anyone and as usual you underestimate her. She would have made you a great son.” Michael’s face was stony. “It was Willow who bled to protect your castle, it was Willow’s orders that sent mother away to safety the soldiers follow her orders not because she is your daughter but because she has earned their loyalty the hard way, with sweat and blood!”

Michael began to pace. “She came even when she feared your wrath she came to tell you she had failed in protecting Martha.” His words were biting and his expression cold.

“It is not her place to try and fight and keep Martha safe.” Richard barked jumping to his feet.

Michael’s laugh was cutting. “The love you show Martha made Willow try to protect her, to protect you from knowing the pain of loss. Be careful father you do not have so many children that you can afford to lose them one by one.” With a crisp bow to King Edward and Prince Larimar, Michael left the pavilion.

Edward coughed to hide his chuckle the Alexandra children really did have a way of forgetting protocol but the King just couldn’t find it in himself to beret them for it he cared for them to much.

“Come, let us put these things aside and make arrangements to save Lady Martha.”

Richard nodded but his thoughts were troubled. He had a secret that he had even kept from his king a secret that would steal his firebrand of a daughter away from him.