The Story That Never Ends

('Kay! Moving on!)

(Lol that just reminds me of those Farmer's insurance comercials. Lol)

(Hi, all, I love that you are having conversations with each other, but I think it would be good if we didn't fill up the thread with unrelated topics. Thanks for moving to social Chatting 3, but if you could be so kind as to remove your earlier posts on this thread just to create a little more space, I think that would be helpful. :) Thanks again!)

(So u want us to delete them? Ok)

( We'v been here longer than you. Please don't get all authoritarian on us. And, stuff like this makes the Forums more enjoyable, as we can look back and say "Wow, we really were silly here!" So, we'll be leaving our comments up, thank you.)

(Sam, calm down! You've been very defensive lately. :))

(Whoops ok I only deleted one of mine. Plus it's only a couple comments and there is always unlimited space on these threads. :))

(Ian calm down! He's not even angry! Lol :))

( Hm, maybe I should add smileys and "lol"s like Dani does, to make my posts seem nicer. I wasn't offended, I just thought that trying to nitpick was unnecessary. )

(Lol maybe :) JK)

(Hi, Mr. Epic! I am sorry if I sounded authoritarian! Just to clear this up, I accidentally posted on Hannah's account. We are siblings, so it is hard to keep track of who is logged in at any one time. :) I was just trying to clear up the thread just to give room. I COMPLETELY understand your point regarding memories and such. I just thought it would be easier to concentrate if we focused, at least with this particular thread, on the story. I apologize once again about the confusion! :) )

(Thanks for clearing that up Jimmy :)! When I saw that I was like, "Woah! When did I post that?" Thanks again Jimmy! :) :) :) :) ! )

( Like I said, I wasn't offended, and I wasn't trying to offend anyone! And, this is really only one page. An interlude is a welcome break sometimes. I hope I'm not coming across as a squatter, or trying to take over. We'll be back on topic now.

We STILL haven't decided on Rowan's new name! C'mon people!)

( I think we are going to have another poll for Rowan…… BTW, is BBJ13 making that or if not who is?

Thanks for understanding!!!!!!)

Yeah, I think BBJ13 is making another poll but not until Sunday. I like Warren for Rowan.

Yeah, I think BBJ13 is making another poll but not until Sunday.

Thanks! :)

(That's good cause it gives us more time to think of names for him)

( Yeah, What are your fav names for him?)

(Probably Ronan. If that's not too close. IDT it is.)

(I like it! At least, as long as it is pronounced "ROW-nan" rather than "RA-nan." :) )

(Yes!! We can have a pronunciation guide in the back of the book. :))

( Perfect :D! I would need it! )

(Danielle- I suggested several names a few pages back.)

(I think it's a perfect name cause it practically Rowan but it's tty different. :) now for Sir Clifford I mean Clifton. Lol)

( I guess it does kinda sound like clifford :D)

(What if we named Lady Arwen, "Emily Elizabeth"? :P :D )

( Huh?)

(Lol! My favorite names for Rowan are Bryan and maybe Ronan…)

( I like those names also!)

(Ronan would be perfect!!!! I like that better than Warren.)

(Me too! Though it is REALLY close the the original name :(…….)

(it is… :( but I don't think it's too close… I don't know…:)

Rowan rushed inside Liar’s Lair to tell the others the terrible news.

“What is the matter, Rowan? You are a pale as death!” Baron DuBatz said as he looked into Rowan’s eyes with a look of concern.

“That is what I have witnessed, Baron! Death has just occurred”

William and the Baron DuBatz started in surprise. “What do you mean, Rowan?”

As Rowan related the story, both William and the Baron DuBatz showed a look of concern that grew into a dark frown.

“This is indeed a terible tragedy. We must go tell the others after we have burried the messenger. Not a moment is to be lost. There is an ever more pressing need to figure out what we must do next.”

And with that, they set off to do what they had stated.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“But the Council would assuredly be in that part of the country, which, as you must know, would make it unreasonable to go further with your plans!” Shouted Sir Caston with some anger.

The discussion of the party’s next plans had become a very heated argument. Sir Elviron and Sir Caston desired to go west toward the mountains and the recently destroyed fortresses to see how much damage had been done and to avenge those who had slain their comrades. The Count of Terema, the Baron DuBatz, and Lady Arwen believed that the best plan was to go toward the South and warn those of the Order there of the great danger they were in. The rest of the party was devided equally between the two groups.

As their argument continued, Rowan looked blankly through the hedges that surrounded Liar’s Lair. He was not at all thinking about the best plan, but was again thinking about Sir Myles last words. “You are the Prince!” rang through his head. He heard that King Archen once had a son he sent away for safe-keeping . He had even heard that the prince’s name was changed and that the son did not know he was the prince, so that if questioned he could not tell it to the Council. “Could I be…NO! Unthinkable! I am a orphan, a deposed noble who was the son of deposed nobles, not even worthy to see the king face to face. Then again, Sir Quinn did say once that I was not an orphan. He never told me why…Still, it can’t be!” Even then, as he thrust those thoughts out of his head, they kept returning. “Why can’t I forget those words?”

But as the argument got louder and louder, it inturupted his thoughts and made him listen to the arguments. Sudenly He heard the sound flesh striking flesh. He turned around and saw that Sir Elviron had struck the Baron DuBatz in the face. Finaly Rowan came to his senses,

“Listen to yourselves!” Rowan shouted, jumping to his feet. “You sound like little children. As Sir Quinn would say, ‘Being angry is like holding a burning coal and believing that it is burning someone else. No matter what you think, you are the one who gets burned.’ You might be fighting over a important subject but it is not worth wasting time, energy and…friendships over. We are all here to make this land a kingdom that serves the Almighty. If that is truly our goal, we should in all ways act like his servants.”

The others were quiet. One and all, they bowed their heads in shame, thinking over what Rowan had said.

“What a authoritative way he said that.” Thought Lady Arwen to herself. “Really, he is the most worthy of us to be in command.” Then aloud,

“He had a right to say that. We have all been selfish.”

After a moment’s pause, Sir Elviron walked over to the Baron, who was still rubbing his jaw. “We’re sorry. We did not mean to get so angry over it. Are you all right, Baron? I am extreamly sorry about the blow. I guess I got a little excited.”

The Baron DuBatz rolled his eyes playfully, “A little?” He said touching his cheek and wincing at the pain.

After that the discussion was a peaceful talk between all present. Each party again gave their opinion as to which way they should go. Rowan listenined attentively to their words. After they had had their say, he sat thoughtfuly thinking.

Lady Arwen then asked, “Rowan, do you have a suggestion as to what we should do?”

Finally, he presented his thoughts. “I would say that going south would be the best idea. If we go west, the Council’s armies could be all that we find. We cannot afford to lose another man. If we continue south, we might just meet the King and the army. That is, if they are still alive and safe.“

The others talked a little more on the subject and finally came to an agrement.

“Well then, my lords,” said Lady Arwen with a smile, “We will head south in three days’ time. That should give us enough time to wait for young Britton and Kathryn.”

(Sorry it is so long….I got carried away :)

(Wow, that was a GREAT post!!!!!!! I'll try to add some more after dinner:) Wonderful job!!!!)

(screaming and ripping my hair out AHHH!!! It just deleted a whole thing I wrote!!!!!!! :( :( gets over myself and starts writing again… :( )

(trying to remember what I wrote… Oh well, this will be sort of close.)

Kathryn sat down on a rock and buried her head in her hands. What had happened to Sir Quinn and the young Count? She couldn't find them anywhere. She felt as if she had failed her mission and she wanted to cry.
"Oh Lord. Help me." She sighed, choking back tears.
At that moment, it occurred to her that, not only were the nobles missing from the dungeons, but all the prisoners. There weren't even any guards.
Were the prisoners stuck in the courtyard with the soldiers? Or had they all been massacred when Lord Traius had captured the castle?
Kathryn desperately hoped it was not the latter. But then, why wouldn't Britton have told her if the prisoners were with the soldiers? Perhaps in the intense pressure of the situation, he hadn't thought about it.
Either way, she must know. This task had been assigned her, and she must find out what had happened to the nobles.
As she ran out from the dungeons to the courtyard, she heard huge crashing noises and people running and screaming. She quickened her pace, but as she turned out from the dungeon passageway, she ran smack into a tall man with a dark cloak and a long sword in a sheath at his side.
Terrified, the girl staggered back and turned to run from him, but a strong hand grasped her arm. She kicked and pulled, desperately trying to free herself.
"Kathryn!" The man said, sounding slightly exasperated.
For the first time she looked up into the man's face.
"Gradlem!" She gasped, "Oh, you scared me to death! What is going on?"
"Quick, dear Kathryn, we must run! The prisoners have broken down the castle gates so we can escape!"

(Okay, I tried to go back and read what had happened before so I could get my facts right, but I wasn't quite finding what I was looking for. So if there's parts that contradict what has already happened, please tell me so I can fix it:)

(*screaming and ripping my hair out* AHHH!!! It just deleted a whole thing I wrote!!!!!!! :( :( *gets over myself and starts writing again...* :( )

I know exactly how you feel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hate when that happens.

Do you want to go on chaxy?

(Great post, Emily! No, I don't think there is really anything that is contradictory. Kathryn, Britton, and Gradlem are to my knowledge, still in the city. I would say, though, that Gradlem would be wounded at this point. If he was perfectly well, he wouldn't be still in the castle alive and walking about. Kathryn also would have to figure out a way to actually enter the courtyard. The gates are locked, so if you had to add something, I would add how she actually got to Gradlem. :) )

No one had known that Kathryn was secretly a Minat-Mactul- a female warrior trained in the Far Eastern lands of Jahon-In. She had used her special skills to scale the gate and drop down the other side unnoticed.

( What do you think?)

(I seriously laughed out loud when I read that. :))

(Good idea, and extremely interesting, but I think it would go against the the way the book has been written thus far. It would sort of seem out of place, I think. :) )

(I was kidding. I was trying to make you laugh! And, judging from Dani's comment, it worked!)

(She could have climbed the gate though. :) IDK about the training from mooca-meta or whatever though. :P LOL I'm still laughing. :))

(I laughed too! I had a feeling you were joking, but I didn't want to hurt your feelings if you weren't. You are hilarious. :) )

(Thanks! But, in all seriousness, she could have had a grappling hook or something. Or maybe she climbed a tree, and jumped over. I dunno.)

(Yeah :))

(Great addition Emily!)

(Hahaha! =D)

(@Jimmy, okay, thank you! I'm a little confused about the layout of the castle, so where is the dungeon to the courtyard? Do you think it would make more sense for whoever posts next to say if Gradlem was wounded? Like he was limping while running or something?)

(@Emily: Great addition!!!!!!!!!!!!)