An enigma

"It seems so." Mircea takes the letter from him cursing under her breath. Of course, the most important thing right now is that the King and his son gifted Urban to her.

"Bastard" Urban straighten ups shaking off invisible dust off his coat before taking long strides towards the stairs "Are we going or what?" He asks looking back at Mircea. It takes her a minute to understand what he is doing.

"You don't command me." Mircea snaps falling into step with him.

"Of course, I don't Your Majesty." Urban snorts

"Saints! Why are you being salty with me? It's not like you were sold or anything. And you can leave this kingdom any minute you want…after taking the secrecy oath." She retorts zestfully.

Urban glances at her guiltily, it was not her fault. Groaning he rubs his face "I'm sorry." He whispers so softly Mircea almost doesn't hear him. Urban clasps her arm, stopping her right before the staircase. The human made lights have stolen the darkness from the night making it unnecessarily bright. Mircea's skin is glowing softly as she slowly blinks at him "What are you sorry for?"

He replies after a minute "I…I'm sorry you lost your father and I couldn't help, I'm sorry for what I said earlier and I'm sorry for losing my temper now. It is not your fault…any of it." Mircea feels the warmth radiate off his body-he is standing too close for her to think clear. Why hasn't he said anything about the marriage?

Maybe Mircea is over thinking it again. Why would he?

It is not like he is interested in her. It's only been a week since they met why is Mircea feeling all this? Devils, is she losing her head after the last week's events? Is this some way her brain is trying to cop up with the loss of her father?

She should get a grip on herself. "I am getting married." Mircea blurts out surprising both Urban and herself with the statement.

"I thought…" Urban tries to say something but is cut-off by Athos "What is going on?" Heavy footsteps follow his voice. Mircea and Urban both turn around to look at him-he is

accompanied by the guards and a very excited Leigh. They both spring apart after they realize they were standing far too close.

Mircea groans internally cussing Athos for interrupting them when Urban was about to say something important. What did he thought?

"What do you mean?" Mircea squeaks folding her hands behind her waist. Athos looks at her weirdly before answering her "Why did you call me?"

Mircea's eyebrow draw together in realization and her mouth forms a low oh. "Yes, right." She waves the letter in front of his eyes nonchalantly. "I knew this letter was going to be trouble." Athos murmurs before skimming through the letter.

"What are you doing here?" Urban asks Leigh who is not so subtly peaking at the letter over Athos's shoulder.

"Ahh we were about raid her sister's room but then these gentlemen over here came looking for us." He explains like a twelve year old to Urban pointing at the guards.

"You should go back to your chamber. We will meet in the morrow you have a decision to make." Urban claps his hand on Leigh's shoulder.

"Devils they sold you out as a mere gift!" Athos exclaims glancing up from the letter. Mircea sighs loudly and Urban shouts "Exactly my point!"

"No one is talking about how MY SISTER sold me out!" Mircea snatches the letter from him. Urban and Athos laugh at her dramatic cry out.

"Do you think I will let someone marry you off just like this?" Athos puts his arm around Mircea's small shoulder and pulls her close. She looks up in his eyes-they had warmed up to each other in last few days.

Athos is trying to be there for her more these days and she knows it is more than sympathy. If he would have felt sorry for her he wouldn't have pushed her to be a better queen. They both know they are trying their best after the king's death.

"And how do you plan on it?" Mircea elbows him smiling at his attempt to make her laugh. Urban clears his throat gazing at end of the stairs; Leigh looks between Mircea and Urban and then Athos "Err…I should go." He rumbles

"No, wait, why?" Athos loses his grip on Mircea.

"Yes, you can come with us…Urban is coming." She nudges

"Yes, but wait where are we going. The sun has already gone down." Athos questions again

"The slammer…to visit my sister."

"Oh" Leigh and Athos both half sigh in unison. The guards also slightly look alarmed at the new information but they don't say anything. Urban dances from one toe to another still somewhat anxious about something.

"Well the slammer isn't that far, so, we can make a visit. However I don't think so many people are necessary." Athos looks around and then eyes the guards who don't particularly enjoy him looking at them. Mircea is still leaning on Athos's body even though his grip on her shoulders is dropping-they are standing pretty close to each other.

"I think you two should go back and guard Mircea's empty chamber so good no one suspects she is not in the palace." Athos orders the guards and points his thumb towards the hallway that goes back to Mircea's chambers.

"But…" the tall one tries to say something but Mircea interjects "You have the horses' ready right?" Her voice is stern-and the guards only nod at her question.

"Good, now no one should know about my departure."

***

Slammer was a scary place used by mortal mothers to scare their kids at night. 'If you don't sleep early the mystical monster will come and take you to the slammer with him.' Mircea had heard many stories about the slammer from her mother when she was small and every one of them had made her shudder in horror. Today was the first time she was facing her childhood fear.

The slammer is located on the outskirts of the village that is on the foot of the mountain on top of which the castle resides. It is made of ancient stones which cannot be broken by any kind of mystical creature. There are many creatures who have been residing here from decades-every one of them has powers greater than long lost kings. If they are to breakout one day kingdom of Slyve would be in ruins.

"So this is the slammer, huh?" Leigh jumps off his horse, scanning the blinding grounds of slammer. "For something so old it does have every facility." He continues. The blinding entrance is guarded with non-human guards, likely to be hybrids of vampires and werewolves. Even though their eyesight is just fine in the dark there are lights everywhere. Except for the gates everything is made of the same stone.

"People who reside here have pissed off someone really powerful people, moreover they are not afraid of anything, so, I would say maintain your distance." Athos touches his knife as he warns everybody.

Urban comes next to Mircea's horse to give her a hand while getting off the horse. She ignores him and jumps off her horse with a little grace. Her long gown flies showing off her legs before kissing the muddy ground. Urban sighs lowly so only Mircea can hear him "That was unnecessary." But Mircea -rushes off to where Leigh and Athos are walking.

The guards take a long look at Mircea before bowing down "Your majesty, what are you doing here at this time of the day?" The guard asks politely, he is two heads taller than Mircea. His face and body seems rugged as if he has been guarding the gates all his life.

"I'm here to see my sister. If anyone here could guide us to her we'd be grateful."

"Yes," He looks back as a shorter version of the guard comes out from the shadows "Luke here will guide you. But I'm afraid your majesty, only two people can visit the prisoner at one time." He sizes up Athos, Urban and Leigh who give him weird looks after listening to the new information.

"Oh, well, that is fine I guess." Mircea glances at the three males who look anxious about what she has to say next. "I will go alone these men here will accompany you here for time being."

"No!" Urban and Athos shout in unison making Mircea cringe. Leigh looks somewhat relieved that he doesn't have to step in the slammer. The hybrid guards standing in front of them seem disinterested; Luke simply waits by the gate for Mircea disregarding Athos and Urban's existence.

"I will not get a chance like this again." Athos tries to reason Mircea shakes her head gazing at him at last time before stepping in line with Luke.

"Take care!" She hears Urban's strained voice when the other guard closes the door behind them.