Knight Time in the Realm- Part 3/4 

FEEDBACK NOTE: DiAnn passed away in her sleep on August 23, 2000.
Xanthe has set up a Book of Condolences at:
http://www.xanthe.org/Guest/Diann.htm Please take a moment and sign
the book if you enjoyed this story.

Rating: NC17 - SLASH/ language/ mild violence

Category: AU / Fantasy / BDSM / m/m Slash

Warning: Mulder-Skinner Slash/ Sk/Sc/M.

If you don't like this kind of thing, or you are underage, go
somewhere else . . . Please! I don't want to hear from you and I don't
want to hear from your Mama.

Spoiler: Through Season 6.

Summary: Alternate Universe - Kings and palaces and handsome soldiers
for hire.

Disclaimer: I do not, nor ever will, own Mulder, Scully, Skinner,
Krycek or anyone else from the X-Files. I am borrowing them without
permission and am obviously not receiving money for this stuff. We all
know who they really belong to, CC, Fox and lots of other people but
again, not me.

Special thanks to Nicole who corrects my commas and consistently tells
me that I have not gone too far with the smut, she wants more. And she
wants it now!




Chapter 8 Knight Time in the Realm By DiAnn

Enorus Mountains Resistance Headquarters

"WHERE . . .IS . . .HE?" Sir Walter hissed through gritted teeth at
the quaking little elf who stood in front of him.

Max found it necessary to hold on to a table just to keep his knees
steady. "Uh, well you see . . .he, uh . . .as I started to say, he
went to the palace to retrieve the map to the Pentagorian Caves and,
uh . . ."

"You knew about this?" The knight snarled at The Three, who were
standing what they hoped was a safe distance away, watching him
warily.

Byers cleared his throat nervously. "Alex Krycek arrived shortly after
you retired to your chambers. He met with the prince for quite some
time. Then they just announced that they was going to the palace to
retrieve some secret maps from the palace library."

Sir Walter began pacing frantically around the war-room. "And you
didn't feel that this development warranted awakening me?"

"Prince Fox wouldn't let us. He said you needed your rest. He reminded
us, most empathically, that he was our prince and that our loyalty
should . . ."

"That's it! This time, when I find him, I'm going to kill him myself.
I just can't . . ."

He stopped short as Kersch and three other savage little dwarfs
immediately raised their spears, the razor sharp ends pointed at his
heart.

"I may not think much of that useless prince," Kersch growled. "But
he'll not be dying from your unworthy hand."

Langly quickly stepped between the knight and the dwarfs. "They aren't
known for their sense of humor, Sir Walter." He carefully turned to
the ferocious, little dwarf warriors. "It was just a figure of speech,
guys. He wouldn't really kill the prince."

"Oh yes I would!"

"Sir Walter," Langly begged. "They don't do jokes, dude. Dwarfs are,
well to be honest, blunt and tactless. In their mind, you are
threatening the life of the sole surviving member of their ruling
house, and even though they don't much like or respect Prince Fox, to
them, treason is punishable by death."

Frohike stalked over to the group. "Put the spears away, boys. We have
plenty of enemies to fight, we don't need to attack each other. Sir
Walter won't really kill the prince but I wouldn't want to be in the
little punk ass's shoes when we get him back." The dwarfs lowered
their weapons, looking absolutely gleeful at the thought of the big
knight getting his hands on the wayward prince, now that it was only
his backside in danger and not his life.

Frohike turned to the still furious and worried knight. "When do we
leave?"

"Leave for where?" Said a soft, melodious voice from behind them. Dana
dressed in leather leggings and a soiled tunic, and looked exhausted.
She had been gone for over a week organizing the Fenig Elves into a
medical unit.

"Dana!" Sir Walter's had never been happier to see anyone in his life.
"Fox has gone to the palace for some kind of maps or something. I took
a nap, Dana. I was just so worn down. The battle at Bregan North
lasted for days. We were all beyond exhaustion so I just laid down for
a moment. I thought he would sleep, too. But as soon as my back was
turned, he . . .he ditched me!"

"Of course he did. It's what he does best, after all. There's a reason
he carries the name Fox' from lifetime to lifetime. I don't think I've
every seen anyone so wily as our prince. Believe me, it isn't the
first time he's slipped our watch, and probably won't be the last. And
it most certainly wasn't your fault, Sliabh."

Dana turned to address The Three. "We need to be ready to leave for
the palace at first moon rise."

She turned once more to Sir Walter, her eyes asking quite clearly if
he concurred with her plan.

"Yes, I agree." Skinner nodded his head. "And we need to keep the
invading group small, only Frohike should go with us." He took a deep
breath and forged on with his next words. "And I think we should take
the fairies, Dana."

"I would rather not . . ."

"Now Dana, you know they are the perfect distraction in a group of
men."

"Distraction is a nicer word than I would have used." Dana answered in
pinch-lipped disapproval. "Oh, all right! But you keep them out of
trouble and away from the prince!" Dana spared one warning glare for
the gleefully twinkling fairies, then stomped off to prepare for their
mission.

"Uh . . .excuse me if I might, uh, have a word." They all turned to
Max Fenig who was practically dancing with nervousness. "I really
feel, that is, I think it would only be fair . . . what I mean is, I
should go with you."

"Not this time, Max." Skinner said gently. "I know you want to help
the prince but he would be very upset if we endangered too many lives.
And besides, the smaller the rescue party, the better the chance of
not being seen."

"But, uh, I'm an elfin warrior, and . . ."

"No, Max, and that's my final decision." Sir Walter and Dana turned
and walked from the war room, leaving an extremely dismal little elf
looking after them.

* * * 

Private Chambers Resistance Headquarters

The sorceress Dana was also feeling the exhaustion of the war that had
raged endlessly for the past two months. Everyone had chosen a side.
To their credit, most realm subjects stood firmly behind their birth
king, Prince Fox. But Sir Spender had brought reinforcements from
outside the realm. Ghouls, gargoyles, and a wide array of sinister,
ruthless knights, both human and non-human. It was a fight to the
death and many of the innocent subjects of the kingdom were suffering
immense pain and loss. Dana was one of few who knew exactly how much
that situation was effecting the prince.

She also knew how much it distressed Sir Walter that Prince Fox would
not sit safely in their heavily guarded headquarters, and let others
do his fighting for him. The prince was a warrior, and would ask
nothing of his people that he would not do himself. It scared Sir
Walter beyond reason.

Dana glanced over at the knight protector. He was pacing again, his
pack ready and lying by the door in anticipation of the time to leave
for the palace. "Dana, I don't understand, what is so important that
Fox would risk his life by going back to that palace?"

Dana sighed heavily. "It's a long story. Sit down, Sliabh, we have a
short wait before we can leave, and it's time I told you more of the
story."

Skinner abruptly stopped his pacing to stare at her. "What story?"

"It's the story of what happened in the Before Time."

"The Before Time? Before the Great Centurian Wars? What does that have
to do with anything. That was well over a thousand years ago."

"So it was but sometimes I can remember it so plainly, as if it all
happened only yesterday." The knight seated himself on the edge of a
bench, while Dana sat across from him. "Sir Walter, you are of course
familiar with the Holy Scroll?"

"Yes. It's the one true record of our history. The principals on which
all of our beliefs are based. It's guarded by the DisColm Blessed
Order of Warrior Monks. They are vowed to die to protect the Holy
Scrolls."

"Yes, that's right. Then you know the story of the Before Time?"

"Yes, the world had become evil, and it was destroyed so that it might
start over with only God's pure of heart to populate the land."

Dana smiled at him sadly. "A simplified version but yes that's the
story. In that Before Time . . ."

"Dana! Are you trying to tell me that you were alive then? You were
alive during the Great Centurian War?"

"Yes, I was there, Sliabh, and it was much more terrible than you can
imagine. So many died, almost everyone really. We drove the Nuvega out
of our lands but it was already too late."

"The Nuvega! What did they have to do with this?"

"It was the Nuvega that we fought in the war. It was never mentioned
in the Holy Scrolls to protect the people from the horror of the
truth, or so it was said. The Elder Fathers were afraid that if future
generations knew it was the mythical Nuvega who had invaded our lands,
they would be too frightened to go on with life and rebuild our
devastated world."

"If we won, why are the Nuvega still here?'

"Their armies were defeated but a few were left, deep in hidden
underground caves to repopulate their own species. Fox has always been
fascinated by tales of the Nuvega invasions, he has collected maps
that tell of a cave where the only weapons that will effectively kill
a Nuvega are stored."

"That's a little far fetched, Dana. Do you believe there's such a
cave, and such a cache of magical weapons?"

"It's possible. I saw a Nuvega dagger once. They were very rare. If we
would have had those weapons in the Before Time, we might have saved
more of our people. We might have saved you."

Sir Walter stared into her soft, liquid eyes, understanding dawning in
his befuddled mind. "I'm so sorry, Dana. That must have been a very
difficult time for you."

"Yes, it was. It was the first time I had to watch you both die. Fox
stayed with me for years after the war ended. He died in my arms, an
old man, but you were killed before the Nuvega were driven back to
their homeland. Then, many years later, you were both reborn. You
can't imagine how happy and relieved I was to see you again. You see,
I didn't know back then that you would keep coming back to me. It
isn't so hard to let you go now."

"What was the Before Time like Dana?"

"Much as the Holy Scroll says. The people of the realm had turned to
evil. They had let greed and hatred become the driving focus of their
lives. Men killed each other without reason or remorse, sometimes for
nothing more than a few gold coins, sometimes just for sport. They
stole from those who trusted them and bragged of it to each other as
they drank their wine. The old religion of love was thrown out as men
worshiped the power of their own minds and the gold that filled their
pockets. Some tried to stop what was happening, to uphold the laws
that had been laid down by the elders. You and Fox and I were among
that group, warriors even then. But those who were corrupt began to
far outnumber those who would resist. The people thought of nothing
but themselves. They refused to believe what the prophets foretold.
Eventually, they were destroyed for their selfishness and their
arrogance."

"Did . . .did you know The Great Prophet, Dana? Did he really exist?
Did you ever meet him?"

Dana smiled sadly. "Yes, I did. He was a very wise man who lived a
hard and lonely life."

"And your family? What of your mother?"

"She died in the war. She was a powerful sorceress, so kind and
loving, but she wasn't immortal. I held her as she died. You and the
prince were with me, we all cried for hours after she was gone. I keep
hoping I'll see her again someday. That she'll be reborn to me as you
and Fox are, but it's never happened. I miss her still, she was a good
woman."

"She would have had to be to raise someone as wonderful as you."

Dana stood, then bent to kiss him softly on the lips. "You and Fox are
my family now. I guess you always were, really. There is much more to
my story but now it's time for us to go get our errant prince back.
I'm sure you have a few words you wish to share with him about this
little escapade."

"Oh, yeah."

* * * 

Royal Palace Dungeon

"Fox," Krycek hissed, "what the hell do you think you're doing?"

Mulder continued to pry at the heavy, rusty locks on the cell doors.
"I'm freeing these royal guards. What does it look like I'm doing?"

Krycek ran an exasperated hand over his face and looked at the dirty,
bedraggled prisoners. "There must be fifty men in here. How are we
going to sneak fifty men out of the palace? And they don't even look
capable of lifting a sword in their own defense right now."

"We can't just leave them here."

"That's what you said about this asshole." Krycek glanced back at the
deformed little hunchback standing quietly behind him. "And he smells
bad too."

Jeffery glared at Alex. "So would you, Krycek, if you'd had to live
down here all your life like I have. My father couldn't stand to look
at me, and he gave my mother to the Nuvega as soon as I was born. I
wasn't fortunate enough to have a prince adopt me, and keep me in his
chambers until I was old enough to put the moves on him, and get
myself kicked out."

"You know, Spender, I really get tired of you always whining about how
your old man let you down. That's quite a chip you carry around on
your shoulder, not that anyone could tell that you have one."

"I don't like hunchback jokes, Krycek!"

"Well I don't like hunchbacks, Spender."

Fox sighed in exasperation. "Will you two just cut it out. Jeffery, if
I had known you were down here, I would have done something about it.
As for you, Alex . . ." He was interrupted by the an anguished cry
coming from a cell further down the passageway.

"Fo-o-o-ox?"

The lock Mulder had been working on popped loose in his hand as the
captured members of the once elite royal guard scrambled over each
other to gain their freedom. As Krycek tried to bring some order to
the disheveled and boisterous group, Mulder went in search of the
owner of the voice calling his name so pitifully.

"Lady Diana?"

"Oh please, Fox, you have to get me out of here. They . . .they've
hurt me. Done . ..despicable things to me. Disgusting . ..sexual
things. Sir Spender let. . . let his dark army ha. . .have me. They
took my body, Fox, over and over again. I . . .I'm ruined." She buried
her face in her hands and sobbed forlornly, watching the prince's
reaction through her fingers.

When the prince did not rush to open her cell door, Diana rose from
her cowering position on the floor, dropping the arm that was holding
her bodice together, allowing her bared breast to be fully exposed
through the torn and filthy remnants of her once rich and luxurious
gown.

"Oh Fox, it was so . . .so . . .horrible. I feel so dirty!" She broke
into dainty sobs, batting her lashes furiously at the stunned prince.

Krycek snorted from behind the prince. "Why would you feel dirty,
Diana? It's not like you haven't brought an entire army to its back
before. I remember that one night in the royal navy's barracks, you .
. ."

"How dare you!"

"Leave her!" Alex started to walk away, his hand tugging on the
prince's arm.

"I can't do that, Alex. I can't just leave her here."

"You bring her back with us, and not only will it give her yet another
opportunity to betray you but that little red-headed witch-woman of
your's will take a piece out of your ass."

Mulder winced. It was true, Dana Scully would not be happy to see
Diana again. And an unhappy Dana was a force to be reckoned with.

"She goes." Fox began frantically working on the lock that secured the
Lady Diana in her dungeon cell.

"You know, I think there's a couple of scullery maids and a mule
wrangler that you haven't freed yet, Fox."

"Shut up, Alex. You have to convince everyone to stay down here and
wait for us while we get the maps. They're going to want to leave as
quickly as possible but I can't go without those maps."

"Just how in the hell am I supposed to convince, let me see, what is
it now," Alex made a great show of counting heads. "Fifty-four, fifty-
five. Ah yes, that would be fifty-seven people, quiet and patient
while we go get your precious maps?"

Fox looked pensively around at his growing number of refugees.

"And just how," Alex continued on his roll. "Are we going to get this
horde out of the palace, and back to the safety of the caves? Even the
most negligent guard would notice this ragtag mob stumbling across the
courtyard."

"I'll distract Sir Spender and his guard. While I have their
attention, you make your escape through the southern moat gate. The
guards shy away from that one, it's too close to the sewers."

"Yeah, Fox, that's a great idea! I can see it now, I take this crowd
back to headquarters and say, Hey Sir Walter, how's it hangin', pal?
By the way, you royally appointed, mean-assed, over-protective son-of-
a-bitch, I freed this bunch of rif-raf from the palace dungeon, and
all I had to do was trade one measly little prince for the whole lot.
Hell of a deal, huh?' Tell me, your royal shit-head, do you think he
will run me through a couple of dozen times real slowly or just opt
for one quick jab to the heart?"

"He's not that bad, Alex."

"No, you're right Fox, he isn't that bad. He's worse! Now come up with
another plan."

"Better listen to him, peasant boy." All eyes turned to the big angry-
looking knight, and the equally furious red head at his side. Frohike
just stood behind them, staring sympathetically at the prince.

"And the crowd just keeps growing and growing." Krycek groaned.

Dana batted at the twinkling fairies as they started to flit over
toward the prince. There was an audible sigh from the newly freed
royal guard as the fairies manifested into their human form.

"Cut it out, Dana," Phoebe snarled. "We were just going to say hello."

"Great," Krycek injected. "That makes a grand total of sixty-two. We
might as well try to march a troupe of juggling, court jesters out of
here."

"Uh, you can make that sixty-three, uh, I think." Now all eyes turned
to Max Fenig who had come silently up behind the unruly assemblage.

"I told you to stay back at the caves!" Skinner roared.

The little elf cringed, speechless.

Krycek laughed mirthlessly. "What the hell! The more the merrier, I
say. Just what . . ."

"Hey, if you're leaving this place, we want to go with you," A
contemptuous voice came from another dark cell.

"Of course you do." Krycek grumbled as he went to inspect the owner of
the voice. "And just who the hell would you be?"

Two men stood in the tiny cell. One stood well over six feet tall, all
but naked and tattooed from bald head to bare foot in blue puzzle
pieces. He looked up briefly and then turned his attention back to the
small, bloody carcass he was chewing on with unbridled relish.

"He's the Conundrum." The owner of the voice was busy pulling sharp
iron spikes out of his nose.

"What in the Great's Prophet's name is he eating?" Krycek asked,
peering through the bars at the blue man's impromptu snack.

"It's a sloth I think. He'll eat just about anything. You should see a
big reduction in the rat population down here now."

"He'll eat anything? Even green stuff?" Mulder asked, his own
repulsion now very evident.

"Yeah, mustard greens, collard greens, dandelion greens. He'll even
eat okra if it isn't over-cooked."

"That's disgusting." The prince said, hastily moving away from the
cell. Words to live by -Trust No One- who willingly eats green food.

The man finally managed to dislodge a bloody spike from his left
nostril. "Don't try this yourself, I'm a master blockhead. We're part
of the traveling circus that came to entertain at the tournament. Most
of our troop got away, the Feejee Mermaid got them out the through the
moat. But my friend there stopped to eat a fish he caught, and we were
captured before he could finish the thing. Now I expect you to take us
with you unless your just a little too pretty' prince there, is part
of the military merchant complex, and more than willing to leave his
subjects to rot in his dungeons."

Fox came over to work his lock-pick magic on the heavy iron door.

"Fox, no. We can't possibly disguise a six foot blue man. You've gotta
be kidding. Ye Gads, Fox, this was supposed to be just you and me, get
in, get the maps, get out. Quick and clean. If I'd known you wanted to
bring back half of Meridiem's defeated army, a ten cent whor. . ."

"Watch it, buddy!" The Lady Diana screeched.

"And two circus freaks," Alex continued sarcastically. "I would have
brought a military transport and a couple of royal carriages."

Deep in thought, Fox slowly licked his pouty bottom lip, his pink
tongue leaving a moist wet trail in it's wake. The sight made the
fairies moan lustily. The prince quickly sucked his tongue back in his
mouth, and desperately tried to ignore Dana's jealous scowl. "We, uh,
need a plan."

"Well, no shit!" Alex growled as everyone started jabbering again.

"Everyone just pipe down." Sir Walter shouted. "They can probably hear
us back at the cave by now." He looked around at the now silent band.
"Here's what we're going to do."

* * * 

Realm of Meridiem Royal Throne Room

Sir Spender woke with a start. He opened his eyes to the sight of a
beautiful, dark haired woman gently running one elegant finger along
his cheek.

"Who . . .who are you?" Sir Spender looked around. There was something
missing. Something important. His mind seemed so clouded, he just
couldn't ascertain what was wrong. "Where is my guard?"

"You needn't worry about them, my lord." Phoebe whispered seductively,
drawing his attention back to her. "Detective White is giving a
demonstration of the proper use of a Faerie Cock Whip and the
importance of a good slip-knot. They're being well entertained at the
moment. And besides," she purred. "We wanted you all to ourselves for
a while."

Sir Spender shook his head, trying to clear it. There had been someone
here when he fallen asleep. Someone who should still be here. The
imposter king looked down at the floor at his feet, trying desperately
to pull his addled thoughts together. He looked up to see a gorgeous
blue-eyed, temptress staring at him intently. Her beautiful, wide eyes
filled with innocence.

"Do you like bugs?" Bambi asked hopefully, long sultry lashes
fluttering.

"No."

"Oh." Her bottom lip came out in a most beguiling and heart-wrenching
little pout.

Sir Spender felt his heart thump in his chest. "I. . .I have a sort of
fascination with spiders, I suppose." He offered.

"Oh that's wonderful." She clapped her hands in glee. "I just knew,
the minute I saw you, that we had a lot in common. Now tell me, do you
like oral sex?"

Now it was Sir Spender's turn to clap his hands with glee. He no
longer gave a thought to the prince who should be sitting as his feet,
a leash binding him to Sir Walter's hand.

While Sir Spender and his palace guard were being thoroughly
distracted, Phoebe and Melissa hurried away to divert the attention of
the gate sentries.

Melissa suddenly stopped dead in her tracks, looking around as if
suddenly sensing danger.

"What?" Phoebe implored. "What is it? I don't hear anything."

Melissa smiled at her dreamily. "This is the field where I died."

"Will you just put a lid on it." Phoebe huffed, rolling her eyes. "I
swear, if I have to listen to that story one more time I'm going to
paint you with faerie dust, and leave you for the Mongorian Snap Dogs.
I'm telling you one more time, that Dana Witch is not going to let you
have the prince, no matter how much of a prior claim you think you
might have, addle-brained faerie blight. Now come on, we have men to
seduce. And I would suggest that you try it as Melissa and not Sydney
this time. I didn't think you'd ever look normal after that black eye
you got last time."

"He . . .yeah, yeah . . .don't talk about Melissa, she's a good girl .
. . yeah, yeah .. . good girl, he was a narrow minded pig." Sydney
complained as she paced in a tight circle.

Phoebe just shook her head in exasperation, and turned to find some
new conquests.

* * * 

Royal Palace Dungeons

Sir Walter slipped a restraining hand into the back of the Prince's
leather belt, effectively halting his overly eager advance into the
secret passage that led to the library.

"Hold it, peasant boy." Skinner retained his curtailing hold on the
struggling prince as he turned to Krycek. "Alex, you keep everyone
down here and quiet until we get back with the maps. If we aren't back
in thirty minutes, take these people back to the caves, and organize a
rescue team to come get the prince."

"Hey, I'm supposed to be the one going with him to get the maps."

"Look Alex, I appreciate what you did, shooting those arrows at Sir
Spender when he tried to rape the prince, but I'm going up there with
him."

"What arrows? I didn't shoot any arrows. He tried to rape Fox? I
swear, I'll kill that rotten son-of-a-bitch the first chance I get!"

"If you didn't shoot at Spender, who did?"

"How the hell should I know? If I'd gotten that old man in my sights,
he'd be dead now."

"We'll have to discuss this later, but right now, I'm going with the
prince to get the maps. However, I'll tell you what, when we get back
to the cave, he can tell you how much he appreciates all you've done
for him on this little trip. Of course, that is if he's still
appreciative of you after I get done with him. Come to think of it,
I'm really anxious to show you just how much <I> appreciate you
dragging Fox back here without telling me."

"You're not touching me, big man." Alex threatened.

"Don't count on it, Alex," Dana hissed from behind him. "I agree with
Sir Walter. You need a good lesson in self-restraint when it comes to
Prince Fox and I show no hesitation in using my magic to pass out a
little much needed discipline. You can ask the prince about that."

The aforementioned prince frowned over his shoulder. "Stop talking
about me! I'm right here you know, or have I suddenly become
invisible?"

Dana and Skinner's eyes met in astonishment. "Of course," Dana shook
her head in self-reproach. "Invisible."

"Can you do it, Dana?" For the first time, Skinner felt there just
might be some hope for this foolhardy mission.

"Well not exactly invisible but sort of transparent. I think it might
work. But I have to warn you, Sir Walter, once I work the spell you
will be in the dead zone. The prince will be fine, being among the
dead won't bother him in the least. He'll consider it an adventure of
a lifetime. But you . . ."

"I'll manage, Dana. Do it."

Dana raised a hand, her fingertips dancing with blue flame.

Skinner looked around in awe. For one thing his sight was different.
Sort of focused and sharp edged, and there were so many people here
with them in the narrowly winding secret passage. Many just watched
from a distance but several came up to hug and shed tears over the
prince. A tall, pompous man stepped up to the prince. He just stood
there, looking Fox over from head to toe, one eyebrow rising and
falling with amazing speed and dexterity.

Skinner raised his own inquiring brow at the prince as the man gave a
disdainful little grunt, then sashayed away.

"That was my Great Uncle Yappi. He could predict the future. Well,
nothing he foretold ever actually happened, he claimed it was because
I gave off negative energy. Grandfather said it was because he was a
charlatan. But I thought he was great, I have him to thank for my
interest in the supernatural."

"Yes, I'm sure we're all grateful to him for that little favor. Just
try to keep the family reunions down to a minimum, peasant boy, we
don't have much time."

The secret door to the library opened easily, and much to Sir Walter's
relief, quietly. As soon as Prince Fox stepped through the portal a
tall, thin man in brightly striped balloon leggings rushed forward,
pressing his mouth firmly on that of the prince.

"Hey!" Sir Walter yelled as he pulled the slender man off Fox as the
man tried to feed greedily on the young prince's lips.

"Who are you?" The prince asked as he rubbed a sleeve vigorously over
his freshly kissed mouth.

"I was a traveling trinket merchant." The man replied in a soft,
melodious voice. "I came to the palace when you were, oh, about eight
or nine, I think. Don't you remember, I offered you a toy horse if you
would come into the stable with me."

"You put your hand down my leggings!" Fox suddenly recalled, his face
flushing bright red.

"Yes, that was me. You were so young and innocent, so sweet. And now
here you are again." The man made to move closer to the prince.

Sir Walter stepped in, effectively blocking his way. "Stay away from
him!"

The ghost chuckled softly. "What are you going to do? Kill me? I'm
afraid King William already took care of that little task. Bastard."

"You tried to molest his son." Sir Walter pointed out.

The spirit leered at the blushing prince. "You have no idea how pretty
he was at eight. Of course, he hasn't changed all that much. Come on,
little prince, let old John Lee have a little feel for old time
sakes."

Fox could only stare at the loathsome man, speechless with shame at
the memory of his naive dealings with this man so many years ago.

"Be gone from here, Roche." King Aaron roared as he appeared behind
the spirit of the monster who had once driven his seemingly innocent
wagon through the gates of the royal castle.

"I just want out of here for a little while. That's all. Just one more
look at the outside. You know he can do that for me. He has the gift."

"I said begone." King Aaron eyed him meaningfully. "Or do you want me
to tell the hell-hounds where you've been hiding all these years? A
little fire and brimstone might do you a world of good, Roche."

"There's no need to get nasty about it." Roche looked meaningfully at
the prince. "I'll see <you> later." He then vanished into thin air.

"Grandfather!" Fox threw himself into the ghost's arms. As a child,
Fox had loved this man above all others. The prince decided he liked
this plain of existence where he could touch his beloved grandfather
again. The man's arms felt so wonderful wrapped around him. The prince
felt as safe and loved as he did when Sir Walter held him.

"This place isn't for you, Fox, not yet." The ghost held his grandson
at arms length for a moment. "You have much to do before we are
together again. Besides, Sir Walter gives you all the love and
attention you need now."

"But I miss you."

"And I miss you too, Fox. That's why I'm going with you when you
leave."

"With me?" Fox asked astonished. "You've always told me that you
couldn't leave the castle. That you were trapped her for all
eternity."

"Not for all eternity, grandson. Only until some wrongs have been
righted. That's why I have to go with you. And the only way I can do
that is the way Roche wanted to do it. You do have the gift to consort
with the dead. I can take over your body, and we walk out of here
together, Fox."

Sir Walter was instantly concerned. "If you take his body, where will
he be?"

"Oh, he'll be in there with me, Sir Walter. I would never do anything
to endanger my grandson and future king of Meridiem. But, it's
imperative that I join your efforts in this war. It isn't one that
humanity can afford to lose."

Fox turned to his knight protector. "I want to take him with me, sir."

"I don't know, peasant boy, it just seems . ..Sir Walter looked into
the prince's stubborn face, then nodded reluctantly. "All right,
whatever. Now where are those damn maps, we need to get out of here."

Fox shifted a few of his precious books, and removed the maps from a
secret panel behind the shelves. He also gathered three other scrolls
and one thin leather bound text. He handed everything to Sir Walter,
then turned to reach out his arms to his waiting ancestor.

"I'm ready, Grandfather."

King Aaron took Fox lovingly into his arms. "Just relax your mind,
son." Then the ghost stepped inside the young man's willing body.

"This is quite amazing." King Aaron said as he looked around. "That
Dana is quite the powerful sorceress to cast this spell for you. I
couldn't have chosen better life-mates for my grandson had I tried.
Let's go, Sir Walter, before that scoundrel, Alex, leaves without us."

While Sir Walter and Mulder were gone, Krycek organized his band of
sixty plus escaped prisoners, including one large, blue, tattooed man
now disguised in a monk's robe, and bullied them up out of the
dungeons into the palace courtyard. They concealed themselves in some
dense shrubbery by the cobbler's shed.

"Now, everybody stay down and quiet. We're all transparent but not
fully invisible. The fairies should have the guards bedazzled enough
that they won't pay us any heed when we sneak out of the gate. We
leave as soon as Sir Walter and the prince get here. Be ready."

"Ex . . .excuse me. I, uh, have to go to the outhouse." A timid little
voice echoed from the rear.

"Ma-a-a-ax." Krycek whined. "Why didn't you go before we left the
dungeon?"

"I'm nervous. I always have to go to the outhouse when I'm nervous."

"Well, can you just go over there in the bushes somewhere?"

"He most certainly cannot." Lady Diana said aghast. "There's a lady
present."

"Yes, there is," Krycek hissed. "But Dana knows enough to turn her
head."

The fore mentioned Dana threw up her hands in disgust. "I'm out of
here. Tell Fox and Sir Walter that I went to check on the warlock
army, and I'll see them back at headquarters later. The invisibility
spell will wear off in a few hours, be sure you're far away from here
by then."

"But Dana, what if Fox needs you to help him escape?"

"Make sure he doesn't, Krycek. You protect him for me, or else."

Krycek watched longingly as she snuck away. He very much wished he had
some vital errand to attend to. Even a bloody battle would be better
than this. He couldn't believe that the sorceress had just left like
that but, then Dana often did things that were completely out of
character.

"You always were a crude man, Alex." Lady Diana picked up the argument
where they had left off. "Now, when are we going to pick up my
carriage and baggage wagons?"

You won't need your baggage wagon." Jeffery Spender leered at Lady
Diana. "I can keep you warm without your clothes."

"Ew-w-w-w!" She squealed, as several of the royal guard laughed
vulgarly, slapping the little hunchback on his bulbous hump.

Krycek ran a frustrated hand over his face. He was supposed to be with
Prince Fox right this minute, proving how invaluable he was. Securing
the maps for Fox, making himself a hero in the pretty, young man's
eyes. But no. Thanks to Sir Walter, he was out here babysitting a
throng of ignorant, unwashed, loud-mouthed ingrates.

"We <all> walk, Diana. Now shut up, and that goes for all of you! It
sounds like we're having a damned may-day picnic out here."

"You really shouldn't bellow like that, Alex." Frohike admonished.

"I'm not bellowing!" Alex bellowed, his voice echoing off the stone
walls.

"Alex!" Sir Walter whispered behind him. "I put you in charge because
I assumed you knew how to hide from the enemy, and I find you out here
bellowing like a fish wife on half-price market day!"

Several of the recently liberated royal guard thought it their
responsibility to agree with the knight's keen observations. This
prompted Frohike and Max to defend Alex to the best of their ability
while Lady Diana took the occasion to whine some more about getting
her carriage from the stables.

"Sh-h-h-h!" Sir Walter growled as he glared at his second in command.
"Alex, control your troops."

"Troops!" Alex grumbled, "More like a traveling minstrel show, if you
ask me." Then Alex noticed Mulder for the first time. "Hey, what did
you do to the prince?"

Walter looked nervously at the prince who stood quite contentedly, his
face blank, just looking up at the sky. Alex hurried to Fox's side,
waving a hand in front of his face.

"What the hell's wrong with him? Fox, can you hear me?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm okay," Mulder said in a dreamy monotone. "I just
haven't been outside for awhile. I'd forgotten how blue the sky is.
And the trees are so beautiful. Do you think we could have braised
lamb for dinner, Alex? It was always my favorite."

Alex turned an accusing eye back to Skinner. "Did he get hit on the
head or something? You were supposed to be watching him!"

Skinner rubbed the bridge of his nose between his thumb and
forefinger. "He's just . . .not himself right now. Look, we need to
get out of here before Spender and his guards figure out what's going
on."

Now it was Krycek's turn to rub the bridge of his nose. He turned to
the assembled horde. "Okay, now everybody listen carefully. We're
going to split up into smaller groups. You need to stay down, stay
quiet and follow the person in front of you. We go from these bushes,
to the back of the barn, past the summer gardens, over the hill and
through the south moat gate. Everybody got that?"

They all started repeating back his instructions, and pointing in all
different directions.

"Quiet!" Alex turned to Sir Walter. "Take Fox and go on ahead, I think
this is going to take some time from this end. Wait for us at the big
oak tree at the north bend of Sparkling Creek. Frohike and I will get
them all there by nightfall. If we're not there, go on without us. You
can assume we were either caught or I decided to kill all of these
idiots myself."

"Don't be too long, Alex. The fairies only have so much magic."

"Oh yeah," Alex grinned. "But what magic it is."

* * * 

Rendezvous Point Sparkling Creek

Four hours later, Sir Walter and the prince reached the bend of
Sparkling Creek. Fox sank down in the soft, sweet smelling grass, and
began looking around as if he had never seen grass or a babbling brook
before.

Skinner studied the young man for a few moments. "King Aaron?"

Wide hazel eyes looked up at him. "Yes, sir knight?"

"I really need a few minutes alone with the prince, is it possible for
you to make yourself scare for an hour or so?"

A slender hand came up to rub at the prince's lightly stubbled jaw.
"Well, 

I could just go inward, and let Fox come out for a while. He's in
trouble, isn't he?"

"Yes, he is. He went to get those maps without telling me where he was
going. My job is to protect him. I can't do that if he wanders off
every time he sees something that strikes his fancy. It's got to
stop."

That familiar crooked smile appeared on the handsome face in front of
the knight. "He was less than three years old the first time he got
away from his nanny. I thought the poor woman was going to die of the
vapors before she finally found him. His whipping boy often couldn't
sit down for weeks at a time because of Fox's penchant for roaming."

"Whipping boy!" Skinner snorted. "It's obvious that was no deterrent.
Didn't anyone see that."

"Oh but it was. Prince Fox would beg to take the beating himself, and
would still be crying long after the whipping boy was happily eating
pudding in the kitchen. I sometimes think the whipping boy tried to
get Fox in trouble because afterward the prince would shower the boy
with sweet tarts and his favorite toys?"

"There's no whipping boy now, he pays for his own mistakes."

"Probably easier on him. Well, I'll be going now. You will take care
with him won't you?"

"Always, your majesty."

The prince's hazel eyes blinked once at the knight. Then he shook his
head as if clearing it after awakening from a deep sleep.

"How did we get here?" The prince was looking around curiously.

Sir Walter squatted down in front of Fox. "What do you remember?"

"Going to get the maps. Seeing my grandfather. Grandfather!" Fox
looked around in confusion. "Where is he?"

"He's around. I told him I needed some time alone with you to discuss
a few things."

That got Mulder's immediate attention. He eyed the knight warily.
"What did you need to discuss with me? I can explain everything."

"Good, I'm glad to hear that." He handed Mulder the dagger from his
own belt. "Go cut a nice switch for us, we'll get your bottom bare,
and then you can explain everything to me."

"No! I don't want to explain like that."

"Look, peasant boy, here's how this is going to go. Either you can go
cut the switch, willingly put that cute little butt in the air, and
take the lashing you deserve." Skinner paused to let this information
sink in. "Or, I'll bare your bottom myself, spank you until you're
blistered from hip to knee, and then I'll watch as your red, sore
bottom dances to the tune of the switch that you will have to cut for
me anyway. Now which will it be?"

"But I . . ."

"Last chance, peasant boy. Do you want this switching on a fresh
bottom or on one that's already been spanked soundly for you?"

Mulder hesitated only a moment before he stomped off to once again
choose and then prepare his own instrument of torture.

Mulder came back a few minutes later, lip out in an adorable pout, to
hand Skinner a freshly cut switch. About two feet long, as thick as
his little finger and stripped of it's leaves.

Very good, you've learned how to ready your switch very well. Now
let's see." Skinner looked around for a fallen tree or handy stump.
There was nothing. "Take off your clothes and lean against that tree,
feet apart. I'd prefer to have your bottom higher but this will have
to do for now."

"Naked? You want me naked? What if someone hears the noise, and comes
to see what's going on?"

"Then they will see an extremely handsome boy getting his bare bottom
firmly switched while he yells and wiggles and makes an outlandish
number of false promises to change his defiant ways. Isn't that how it
usually goes?"

"They aren't false promises." The prince sulked.

"Save your pretty pout and those fluttering lashes for later. If we
hurry we may have time for me to comfort you in my special way before
the others get here."

Mulder stripped quickly, embarrassed that Sir Walter was watching him
prepare himself for a whipping. Reluctantly he took his position
leaning against the big oak tree. He moved his feet more widely apart,
cringing as he felt his bottom spread and rise toward his chastiser.

He waited, tensing for the first painful lash of the switch. But
nothing happened. He knew Sir Walter was still behind him, he could
sense his presence and feel the man's eyes on his naked back.

The prince was almost to the point where he was ready to beg the
knight to get it over with when Sir Walter spoke. "Tell me about your
whipping boy."

Mulder swallowed hard. "Why do you want to know about that? It was a
long time ago."

"I'm just curious about your childhood, that's all. Tell me about
him."

"He . . .he was a poor boy from the village. My father gave his family
land and cattle in exchange for their son coming to live at the
palace."

" Did the boy resent you? Did his family make proper use of their
boon?"

"I don't know if he resented me. I wasn't allowed to talk to him. My
father thought I was weak because I didn't want him to be punished in
my place. But when I got older I didn't give up until I found out what
his name was and located his family, then I made sure they had
everything they needed. Later 

I had him trained as a royal guard. If he hates me, I've heard no word
of it." The prince's voice cracked slightly. "He should." He
whispered. "Hate me, that is."

"How old were you when he came to the palace."

"Could we not talk about this? Please, just get on with my whipping?"

"No. Answer the question." Skinner ran the tip of his switch up and
down Mulder's ribs making him shiver.

"We were five."

"That's pretty young. Were they harsh with him."

"They . . .they were going to strap him but I cried so hard they
became concerned for me, so they just used their hand. It was years
before . . .he . . .ever . . ."

"Who punished him?"

"Sir Spender."

"Now, why am I not surprised about that. I am surprised, however, that
he allowed your tears to sway him in the punishment he delivered."

"My father's military advisor, Sir Reginald, made sure he was always
present. He didn't trust Sir Spender to not lose control, and
seriously injure the whipping boy. I think he didn't trust Sir Spender
to keep his hands off of me either."

"Wise man. It must have been a relief to know you would never be
punished no matter how much trouble you caused."

"No!" The prince cried out in a pained voice. "It's horrible to know
that someone else is going to be suffer for something you did. I
really tried not to get into any trouble but that was a lot harder
than it sounded. There was just so much to . . ."

"Get into to?" Sir Walter tapped his switch lightly against the base
of the prince's right buttock.

"Learn."

"You're an extraordinary man, Prince Fox of Meridiem."

The prince seemed startled by the comment, shaking his head adamantly.
"No. I've had everything handed to me while others toiled their life
away. 

I owe the people of Meridiem everything, and they owe me nothing."

"There are many who would beg to differ with you on that point. I pray
you live long enough to find that out. Which brings up to the little
matter of the six lashes I owe you. To be delivered right across this
absolutely gorgeous bare bottom you have shining up at me so prettily
in the sunlight. What is this whipping for, peasant boy?"

"Leaving headquarters without telling you."

"That's right." The first lash landed with a breath taking streak of
fire across his butt.

"And why should you tell me when you leave the cave?"

"Dan . . .dangerous!" Another cutting strike that the prince was sure
had severed his bottom into.

"So you can learn, peasant boy. What a relief."

The prince fought to remain in position as the switch four more livid
weals across his once pristine bottom. Each one felt as if a red hot
sword edge had been laid across his tender, scorched skin.

When it was over, the prince was leaning his forehead against the
rough bark of the tree, his breath hard and fast with only the
occasional sniffle to let his knight protector know that he had coaxed
tears from the young prince.

Mulder felt Sir Walter's warm mouth close on the tender area of his
neck where it met his shoulder.

"So what is the name of this royal guardsman who suffered your
punishment in return for his family's prosperity, his own future and
the guilt of a king? I should like to know him, should we ever meet."

"His name is Duane Barry but he may well be dead. So many of the royal
guard died trying to protect me and my family."

Sir Walter ran his hands down the long smooth back, then lowered his
lips to nibble behind a succulent ear. "Ah, so the king now has some
more guilt to add to his burden?"

Mulder gasped as Sir Walter turned his head, kissing the salty tears
from his streaked face before possessing his pouty lips for a scalding
kiss. When the knight finally released his mouth, the prince was
trembling from head to foot, and it had absolutely nothing to do with
the half dozen stinging welts that lined his throbbing backside.

"Maybe . . .maybe the king deserves his guilt."

"I'll be the judge of what the king deserves." Skinner said, as he
pulled Mulder down into the soft, deep grass, his own hard muscular
body covering the younger man in a blanket of love, security and
comfort.

It was another two hours before Sir Walter was awakened from his doze,
contentedly wrapped around his beautiful, sensual prince. He heard
Krycek coming long before he saw him and his protesting companions.

"Better wake up and get dressed, peasant boy?" Sir Walter smiled down
at the handsome young man, "We have company, finally."

No answer. "Fox?"

Still no reaction from the silent prince.

"King Aaron?"

Mulder turned to the knight, blinking his eyes sleepily. "Yes?"

"Is everything all right? You seem a little distracted."

"Fox is fighting the possession a little. I think he might be just a
little afraid that I won't give his body back when the time comes. He
isn't the most trusting boy I've ever met."

"You are going to hold up your end of the deal, aren't you?" Now
Skinner was looking at him with suspicion and just a hint of threat.

A lazy smile appeared on the prince's handsome face. "Yes. I would
never hurt him. You can trust me." Still smiling, he looked around
him, "I had forgotten just how beautiful the realm was. I don't like
being dead."

"I can imagine it's quite an inconvenience." Skinner said as he eyed
the prince with more than a little distrust. He had no idea how he
would evict the king if he tried to keep Fox. Maybe Dana would know.
Of course, she would kill Sir Walter for allowing it to happen in the
first place.

"Ouch!" King Aaron hissed as he sat up. "Whatever did you do to this
boy's backside. It feels flayed."

"He made the acquaintance of the business end of a hickory switch.
He'll . . . you'll be fine in a little while."

"Feels like he also made the acquaintance of the business end of
something far more enjoyable. You stretched him well and proper, I'd
say." The prince wiggled and grinned as two bright, red spots appeared
high on the knight's cheekbones. "It's been years since I've felt such
a pleasant little ache. Nice to know you mix a little pleasure with
your punishment, sir knight."

* * * 

Endous Mountains Dianne Cave of The Three

Sir Walter caught the prince in his arms as he collapsed, scooping him
up to hold securely against his own broad chest. King Aaron stretched
his arms high above his head, looking around in approval at the war
room that was to be his new home.

"Ah, the smell of battle in the morning. I thought I would never
experience anything so sweet again."

Sir Walter looked down sadly at the limp young man that lay in his
arms. "Is he going to be all right?"

"Oh course he is." King Aaron assured the worried knight. "Just take
him to bed for a while. Now, that shouldn't be any real hardship for
you, should it? And get some rest yourself. You all need it after that
rescue you pulled off. And you," King Aaron lifted the Sorceress
Dana's hand gently to his full lips. "You are a treasure above all
others, sweet witch. My grandson is indeed a most fortunate man."

To her surprise, Dana found herself blushing at the handsome king's
charming words. His resemblance to Prince Fox was truly remarkable.
"Thank you, your majesty."

Twelve hours later, the prince was awake, refreshed and pouring over
the maps that showed the way to the Pentagorian Caves.

"I think it lies only a short distance from the palace, in the Dark
Woods." The prince never lifted his eyes from the maps as he spoke to
his military advisor. "What do you think, Sir Walter?"

"I think those are but copies and perhaps poor ones at that. The
original maps would be over a thousand years old. Much of the lay of
the land could have changed in that length of time."

"Yes, that's true enough." Mulder sucked his full bottom lip between
his teeth for a moment. The action mesmerized Sir Walter to the point
that he flinched when the prince spoke again. "But the mountains would
not have changed too much. And the ocean must be a good marker still."

"I don't know, peasant boy, it just seems to me . . ."

His thoughts were interrupted as Lady Diana stormed into the war room.
"Fox, I have located a much larger, more private chamber down the west
hall, which though still dank and depressing, will be much more
appropriate for my use. Please have some of the peasants clean it out.
I will also need several maids assigned for my personal use. I want
competent women, mind you, and well bathed. Oh and a reliable
seamstress, I need a complete new wardrobe immediately."

"Diana, we're at war." The prince's tone proved this type of
conversation was not the first he'd engaged in with the Lady Diana of
Fowley.

"I believe," Sir Walter was quick to point out. "That the chamber you
refer to is occupied by Prince Fox."

"Oh really? Well, that just makes it all the better. I will feel much
safer sharing a room with my fianc‚. We really must set some of our
more civilized sensibilities aside in these dark times, I suppose."

"Lady Diana," Skinner said as he closed the distance between them.
"You fail to understand. Prince Fox already shares that chamber with
myself and the Sorceress Dana. You will have to be content with the
bed chamber that has already been designated for your use."

"Not acceptable. Not at all. There are three other women in that small
chamber. I refuse to stay there." She turned a haughty face toward the
prince. "Fox, you mother would be most disappointed in your choice of
living arrangements in this dreadful place."

Skinner bristled as he saw the intense pain cross the prince's face at
the mention of his recently deceased mother.

"Enough!" Sir Walter shouted. The war room suddenly became deathly
quiet. Even the Lady Diana having enough sense to flinch slightly.
"You will accept what is offered to you graciously or you will leave
immediately to find you own way in this devastated land. The choice is
yours, Lady Diana."

"Fo . . .Fox, speak with your man immediately." Diana's was mortified
that her voice cracked on the last word.

"Diana, he is hardly <my> man. Sir Walter is his own man, and if
anything I owe him my life, and my loyalty. Besides which, he's right.
I have too much to do trying to save my kingdom to deal with your
unreasonable demands. If you can't help us . 
..or at the very least stay out of our way, then perhaps it would be
best if you sought refuse in another, more distant realm."

"But Fox," Diana managed to scrounge up a couple of fabricated tears.
"Where would I go? Your dear mother would have .. ."

Skinner grabbed Diana by her upper arms, shaking her roughly. "You
will not mention the queen again in the prince's presence. He was a
much better son than she was a parent but the pain of her death is
still fresh for him, with no time to mourn her passing. You will not
hurt him again by using her name to try to further your own selfish
desires."

As soon as the big hands released her arms, Diana stumbled backwards,
rubbing her bruised skin. Her face was mottled red with her hatred and
anger. "Fox, I demand this man be beheaded for touching me in such a
vile manner or I cannot remain here another moment."

The prince looked both pained and exasperated. "It's not my wish to
see you unduly injured Diana but perhaps it would be best if you
sought refuse elsewhere. I know you, and I would not want Sir Walter
to have to be looking over his shoulder at every turn to make sure you
are not waiting there to greet him with a dagger."

"You will rue this day, Prince Fox of Meridiem. I will make you sorry
you ever chose this disreputable knight and that red-headed witch over
your chosen beloved mate."

"You were chosen to be my fianc‚, Diana, but you were never my
beloved, mate or otherwise. I will have one of my warriors escort you
to the edge of the realm. It's rumored that the Outland is still
undisturbed by fighting."

"The Outland is a wilderness not fit for a lady!"

Fox sighed heavily. "Then try one of the villages. The brownies have
Aspan Mea well protected at the moment."

"I can't live with those dour little brownies! And I'll need some new
clothing for traveling." She batted hatefully at her tattered gown. "I
can't wear this another moment. Your mother would . . ."

Sir Walter took a step forward, his face enraged but he was stopped by
a small hand on his arm. He looked down into Dana's calm face. "Let me
handle this, Sliabh."

Diana eyed the sorceress with hatred and distrust. "Stay out of this,
witch."

"But I merely wish to help you, my lady. Are you weary of wearing that
shabby, soiled gown? I could easily remedy that situation for you."

"Perhaps you should help yourself first." The lady sneered, her
disdainful eyes running over the tunic and leggings that Dana now wore
as she participated in the many battles that raged around the kingdom.
A long flowing gown could easily get her killed. Besides, Dana rather
liked the freedom afforded by the men's clothing. And it had certainly
done nothing to dampen her sexual allure for either the prince or his
knight protector. They seemed to care little if they were stripping
her of leggings or a lacy chemise.

"Oh but I am a mere peasant woman without your cultivated taste in
finery. However, if you'd prefer to continue wearing that ragged
garment, I'll not bother you further. I just thought you might like me
to . . ."

"Do it! Do it, and be quick about it! And I'll need a warm cloak as
well."

Dana raised one hand. The prince took a step forward to come between
the two woman but found a strong, muscular arm wrapped firmly around
his waist. He looked up into Sir Walter's wickedly grinning face.
"Hold steady, peasant boy, some things are just too good to miss."

A cold, blue flame leap from the end of Dana's upraised fingers,
engulfing the narcissistic Lady Diana. Her torn and tattered gown
immediately disintegrated into ash. Falling to her feet with a soft
whispering whoosh and a small cloud of dust, leaving the shocked and
dismayed lady naked for all to see.

Face flaming, Diana let out a blood-curdling scream, as she wrapped
her thin arms around herself, and raced for the back chambers, her
white, jiggling backside the focal point of every eye in the crowded
war room.

"Dana!" The prince stared at her from Walter's arms, his eyes wide
with shock. "I can't believe you did that."

Dana smiled smugly at Sir Walter, who was grinning from ear to ear
over the prince's shoulder. "Oh, Alainn, you of all people should know
how much I enjoy the sight of a naked body in the bright light of
day." She leered at him, "Would you like to be next? After all, it was
<you> who brought that woman to this cave."

The prince swallowed hard, eyes widening impossibly further, as he
felt Sir Walter's lips brush his ear. "Better give it up, peasant boy,
as much as I'd enjoy seeing you standing here in nothing but your
beautiful skin, we do have work to do."

The prince nodded, never taking his wary eyes off Dana, as he slowly
backed away from her.

"Alainn."

He stopped abruptly, his anxious eyes meeting hers fully. "Yes, Dana?"

"Gottcha."

A wide, crooked grin broke across his face as he shook his head in
denial, before turning quickly to return to the relative safety of his
maps.

* * * 

Realm of Meridiem Main Market Road

The small band moved quietly along the darkened road. It was usually
the most highly traveled thoroughfare of the kingdom, leading as it
did to the royal palace from the north and the markets of Undola to
the south. But, they had seen no other travelers in the two days since
they had left the caves.

The battles raged on to the north but as yet no one, with the
exception of the rescue party who had freed the captive Fenig, had
even seen so much as a trace of a Nuvega. If the three travelers had
not beheld the strange creatures with their own eyes they, too, would
have been hard pressed to believe they actually existed.

But seen them they had. So even though they were not traveling in a
battle zone, the Truth Seeker, the Protector and the Sorceress were
ever vigilant as they made their way south.

The quarrel over just who should go to the mystical Pentagoria to look
for the ancient weapons had continued for hours. Prince Fox had
originally intended to go by himself. Although, once he voiced that
particular plan he had quickly amended it by, Of course I planned to
take Sir Walter with me'. The big knight was not so easily pacified,
and had glared at his errant prince for the remainder of the
discussion. In the end, it was decided that Prince Fox would indeed
go, accompanied by Sir Walter and the Sorceress Dana, whose threats,
were she to be left behind had everyone quaking in their boots.

They would have taken the ever lethal Alex Krycek with them, but no
one had seen hide nor hair of him since they had returned to
headquarters. Sir Walter wasn't sure if he had disappeared on some
urgent errand, or if he just wanted to avoid Dana's strap on his
backside. The knight was pretty sure she had been serious with her
threat to punish Alex, and the young man was no fool. He would hardly
hang around to see what the sorceress had in mind for him.

After entering the southern most tip of the Dark Woods, they had to
hack their way through dense foliage. It was a time-consuming and
strenuous process. The sun was just beginning to set when they came
upon the ruins of an ancient city.

"It's real. I thought it was all a myth." Prince Fox breathed as he
gazed upon the piles of stone. All that was left of a people
vanquished, and long forgotten.

"Of course it's real, Alainn." Dana gently rubbed his arm. "I've told
you the stories."

"Not nearly enough. I need to know about the olden days, Dana. I need
to know everything."

"I know you do, Alainn. You always have, and you always will. Perhaps
some of your answers wait for you here."

"Why won't you just tell me, Dana?" That was a definite whine in his
voice. He tried to ignore it.

"All answers must come in their own time, Alainn. I learned that
lesson many lifetimes ago. If I give you the answers too quickly, you
don't bother to look for the truth."

"Aren't they the same?"

"Not always."

They came upon the remnants of an immense statue. It was an idol
sitting on a throne, his features long ago polished to a smooth
surface by wind and rain. The terraced alter leading up to the long-
forsaken deity was cracked and overgrown with weeds.

Mulder stared, awe struck, at the huge, stone carving for several
moments. "This must have been a symbol of great power for these
people."

"This place must have been beautiful at one time." Sir Walter
marveled.

"Yes it was a public gathering place. Marvelous and awful at the same
time," Dana said sadly. "As the war drew to a close, our enemies
brought captives here to be executed. Hundreds died in this courtyard.
The Nuvega thought it a great jest to defile a place that was so
revered by our people."

She pointed at the great stone platform that held the faceless icon.
"It was there that the Great Prophet gave his last warning to the
people of the land. He was driven from the streets, bloody and
scorned. I was broken-hearted at the time."

"You were there?" Sir Walter asked, keeping one eye on the prince who
had wondered to the far side of the once magnificent sanctuary.

"Yes. I took the Great Prophet to the north. We found shelter among a
group of true believers, and I nursed him back to health. But, the
Great Centurian War began before he had a chance to try again to warn
the innocent, to save the disbelievers. He never got over his
failure."

"Failure?" Walter asked. "He didn't fail. Everything he said came to
pass. He is known as the greatest prophet the realms have ever known.
Everyone knows that he saved the people of the realm. Even a thousand
years later."

"In his mind, he failed. The Great Prophet didn't want to save a few
of the wise people, he wanted to save them all. He died a sad, broken
man."

"I wish I had known such a man." Walter whispered.

Dana smiled at him sweetly. "You did, Sliabh." She nodded her head
toward the prince, who was now poking a stick into a rather large hole
in the ground.

Sir Walter's eyes widened. "Fox? My peasant boy was the Great
Prophet?"

"In that long ago lifetime, yes. I've never told him."

Sir Walter looked back over to his charge. The prince had given up his
stick, and was now down on hands and knees with his head in the hole,
trying to peer into the inky darkness.

"Fox! Get away from there!" Sir Walter turned back to the sorceress.
"Are you sure?" He asked skeptically. "He seems so .. .so . . ."

"Common? Ordinary?" Dana offered.

Sir Walter smiled. "No, not common or ordinary. Never that. Just not
someone who would be considered Great Prophet material."

"You forget, Sir Walter, no one is ever heralded as a great prophet
until long after their death. While he was doing his most remarkable
work the Great Prophet was an outcast. Ridiculed and shunned as a
madman. Few recognized his brilliance or his magic, some couldn't,
some just didn't want to. It is the way of men and their prophets."

"Yes, I suppose you're right. Still . . ."

"Hey, I think I found something." Mulder stood before them, a big
goody grin covering his beautiful face. "Come on."

Sir Walter soon found himself peering down into the dark depths of the
prince's newly discovered tunnel, magic and oracles forgotten for the
moment.

"I think it might lead to the caves of the Pentagorians." Mulder
assured them.

"What makes you think that? I can't see a thing." Sir Walter growled.

"Just a feeling." The prince shrugged his shoulder in dismissal of
further discussion.

"A feeling? You want us to crawl down in some dark hole, with who
knows what might be living down there, just because you have a . . .?"

"Sliabh . . ." Dana laid a hand on his arm. "You've always trusted the
prince. Now is not the time to change your mind about that."

"Always?" He asked, one eyebrow raised high over his brown eye.

Dana smiled at the knight. "Yes, always. Who do you think helped me
get him to the true believers in the north? You go where we go,
Sliabh. It has always been so."

"What true believers in the north?" Mulder asked in confusion.

Dana pulled him down and gently kissed the adorable little mole on his
cheek. "Never mind, Alainn, light the torches. It looks like it's time
for us to go exploring again."

They walked for miles through the dark, wet and often rubble-strewn
tunnels. Fox leading the way with some kind of sixth sense that Sir
Walter couldn't even begin to understand. They finally came to a
sealed portal, once almost impenetrable, now cracked and weakened with
age.

Upon the portal was the remains of a carving of what appeared to be a
winged creature. It had an immense wing span and a fragment of what
appeared to be a beak still remained visible.

"I'm sure I saw other bits and pieces of this same winged creature as
we neared these ruins. This archaic culture must have worshiped
animals as well as their many gods."

"I think you may be right, Sir Walter, but I think they must have been
mystical creatures. This is a terrifying image. I wouldn't want to
meet this thing in the forest, night or day."

Sir Walter chuckled as he nodded his agreement.

As the prince and Sir Walter labored to pry the door open, Dana looked
around. "This was once a place of great power," she stated evenly.
"You can still feel that about the place."

"It was also a place of great evil." Fox grunted, as he put his back
into moving the heavy old door. "This is where they hid their lies.
They thought to rule the world. They died for their arrogance."

"Yes, Alainn, they did. Now we must learn from their mistakes."

The air was heavy and close as they entered the ancient tomb. Some of
the wall and ceiling had fallen, leaving dangerous traps that had to
be navigated carefully as they worked their way into the depths of the
cavernous temple.

"Look at this." Sir Walter pointed to a rotting chest filled with
strange transparent vessels. Each vessel contained what appeared to be
a body part of a Nuvega. A few were floating in water, but most had
been broken, the water drained and it's gory contents dried and
shriveled.

"We always suspected the elders knew about the Nuvega but we could
never get proof of their complicity." Dana whispered. "The Great
Prophet would have given his life to have seen this."

"Well they are all as long dead as these body parts. Let's go find
those weapons and get out of here." The prince shivered.

It took them over an hour but finally they located the area where the
map indicated they would find the Nuvega daggers.

They had to move what the prince was sure was several tons of rock and
rotting debris but finally they were successful. Fox opened the casket
carefully and pulled out one of the deadly weapons. The only weapon
known to man to effectively kill a Nuvega.

They quickly stuffed the thirty-three weapons into their packs and
made their way back through the tunnels to the courtyard of the
faceless idol. By the time they could again smell the sweet fresh air,
it was dark and the stars were twinkling above them.

They made camp under a giant oak. Their camp fire illuminating the
stone god's broken and battered body.

"You know," the prince toyed with a Nuvega dagger until Sir Walter
took it from his fingers and put it back in the pack. "This place
feels right. Have I been here before, Dana?"

"Yes, Fox. Now, I need to get some sleep, we have a long walk ahead of
us. Wake me when it's my turn to keep watch."

"Did I like it here?"

"In the beginning. We came here often. It was a serene and beautiful
place back then. That all changed, of course. Everything changed."

"Tell me about it, Dana." The prince pleaded.

"No. You have enough to deal with in this lifetime. You don't need to
be thinking about things that happened a thousand years ago. We won
the war, and you died an old man in my arms. We had a good life
together. I pray the two of us are as fortunate this time. And," she
looked meaningfully at Sir Walter, "The three of us can lead a
peaceful and happy life when this is over."

The prince sighed, and settled down beside her, pulling the blanket up
to cover them more securely. Dana had her face buried in Sir Walter's
chest, as he snored lightly. The prince pulled his pack over to him
and removed a Nuvega dagger. He turned it slowly in his hands,
thinking of the days to come and the war that must be won.

The End Part 8

Chapter 9 Knight Time in the Realm By DiAnn

Realm of Meridiem

Mulder felt a painful stitch forming in his heaving side as he ran. He
risked a glance over his shoulder, wishing he hadn't, as he saw that
his relentless pursuer was once more close upon him. He somehow
managed yet another burst of speed, gasping for his quickly
diminishing breath. He wouldn't be able to run much longer, and then
it would have him at its mercy.

He gracefully jumped an obstacle that had appeared in his path,
feigned to the left trying desperately to thwart the enemy behind him.
His ploy didn't work, he could feel it shadowing his every move,
gaining on him with every step he took. Suddenly a sharp pain streaked
across his back. He was hit again! And it hurt! Oh Great Prophet, how
it hurt. He wasn't sure how much more damage he could sustain before
his body would just give out on him.

The prince reached deep inside himself to pull out one more scrap of
endurance. One last desperate attempt to save himself from the devil
that chased him. He made a sharp turn, not watching where he was going
closely enough, running face first into a stone wall, the beast bit
into his flesh again, harder this time. It wanted him, wanted him to
lay down so it could devour his flesh. Wanted to eat him alive, flay
the skin from his very bones.

Prince Fox scrambled along the wall, keeping his back to the beast,
his more vulnerable belly flush with the protective surface. He put
his weight on the balls of his feet, rocking his body forward,
prepared to lung out of reach. It struck at him again, the pain sharp
and piercing, sinking deep into his flesh just as he leaped over the
prone bodies of Sir Walter and Dana.

"Enough!" Dana commanded.

The pursuer dropped instantly, cold and dead at the prince's feet.
Mulder cautiously turned to nudge it with his foot, needing to assure
himself that it would not rise to come after him again. It lay coiled
like the deadly serpent it was, quiet for the moment, but still not to
be underestimated. Mulder shivered with fear at the sight of it.

"Have you had enough?"

Mulder turned back to the bed, rubbing at the welts that now covered
his bare backside. "Please Dana. I'm sorry," he gasped, still
breathless and panting. "Please don't make me run from that strap
anymore."

Dana snapped her fingers, and her leather strap rose from the ground
behind Prince Fox, hovering very near his already well-striped bottom.
"I should have it chase you for another hour, but I don't want to wear
you out so much that Sir Walter doesn't get a crack at that pretty
butt of yours tonight."

Mulder groaned in despair, his eyes turning to plead with the knight.
"Sir Walter, please, not another paddling tonight. My butt is still
sore from the one you gave me last night, and the night before that,
too." He added with a pout.

"And tell me, peasant boy, what did you do the day before yesterday
that earned you a blistered bottom?"

"I don't think we need to go into that again. We've already more than
. .."

"Tell me!"

Mulder flinched, "I stood up in middle of a battle, and yelled so we
would know the exact location of the troll bow-snipers who were hidden
in the woods. It seemed like a good idea at the . . ."

Mulder's heart sank as the knight's jaw tensed at the often-repeated
sin voiced out loud yet again.

"And yesterday?" The knight ground out between gritted teeth, "What
did you do to earn the paddle yesterday?"

"I rode my horse into the mist of eight attacking dark knights because
I thought they would get to your position before you could ready your
lance." Mulder glanced up through thick dark lashes, hoping to
distract his angry knight protector. "It worked," the prince reminded
him. "They were so surprised by my ploy they almost fell off their
mounts."

That questionable defense caused a tick to form in Sir Walter's
already tight jaw. "And today, peasant boy, what did you do today that
caused Dana to set that strap on your tail?"

Another dramatic, resigned sigh from the prince. "I took a gargoyle
bunker out by myself."

"Yes you did. Go get the paddle."

"But I . . ."

"GO. GET. THE. PADDLE!"

"Mean-assed, over- protective, son of a . .." Mulder mumbled under
this breath as he turned to retrieve the nasty little piece of wood.
He hadn't realized until this moment just how right Alex Krycek had
been.

"What did you say, peasant boy?"

"I said, uh, yes sir'."

"That's good because I think Dana still has a bar of that mint soap
left, and I know for a fact that isn't your favorite flavor."

Mulder grimaced as he handed the knight the paddle. He was almost
positive that he could still taste that nasty green soap from the last
time he had gotten mouthy with the big knight. "No, sir."

Sir Walter hefted the paddle in his hand. "Do you deserve this,
peasant boy?"

"No."

"Excuse me?" The knight raised an incredulous eyebrow.

"Everyone else called me a hero for taking out those gargoyles." The
prince lamented, his bottom lip protruding nicely.

"So they did. And tell me, brat, just how many dead heroes went to
become good kings?"

Mulder rolled his eyes and sighed heavily. "None, sir."

"That's right. Now I want you to get over there, and show Dana just
how sorry you are that you're the cause of such endless worry for
her."

It was the prince's turn to exhibit an incredulous look but he wasn't
about to question this turn of events. He hurriedly backed away from
the knight, and crawled between Dana's spread legs. He buried his nose
in her red curls, and sighed in contentment when his tongue touched
her warm, wet core. He loved the little whimper she always made when
he did this.

Skinner watched as the prince pleasured the sorceress. Dana was beyond
happy at the moment, eyes closed, rosebud mouth open and panting. Sir
Walter smiled at the sight his two beautiful lovers made together.

"All right, peasant boy, you're doing a fine job. I want you to
continue just as you are but pull you knees up to your chest. I want
that bottom of yours up in the air, my paddle has a few things still
to discuss with it."

Mulder's eyes popped open in alarm. He paused for a moment but when he
heard Dana's moans of ecstasy turn to a groan of disappointment, he
got back to his assigned task. He carefully pulled up his knees, never
breaking contact between his mouth and Dana. Now he lay between her
satiny smooth legs, his bottom well up and presented for Sir Walter's
unwanted attention.

"We'll skip the usual conversation, peasant boy, since your mouth is
full at the moment. Anyway, you already know what this is for."

Sir Walter raised the hard, wooden paddle high above its bare,
cringing target and brought it down hard. Mulder yelped into Dana but
didn't lose his rhythm. The paddle struck again, then again and then
again. The prince wiggled his bottom, groaning but stayed in position
and dedicated to finishing his assignment.

Skinner threw down the well-worn paddle, grabbing the small pot of oil
that he kept well within reach of their bed. As he carefully stretched
the prince's small, tight entrance, he marveled that Dana could reach
fulfillment so many times. Lucky woman. When Fox was nicely prepared,
Sir Walter sank gratefully into the hot, slick depths of the beautiful
prince.

The added sensation made the prince even more diligent in his efforts,
bringing Dana to satisfaction for the third time. She came screaming
his name, as a strong, callused hand reached around and began stroking
Mulder's rock-hard shaft. That was all it took to send the young man
into his own world of glorious sensation. Sir Walter quickly followed
to his own fulfillment, screaming their names and panting for breath.

As the three sated lovers lay entwined with each other, Dana raised
her head just enough to look at the still smiling Sir Walter. "You
know with your penchant for punishing him with pleasure, it's no
wonder he's reborn such a brat every time."

"If it isn't broke, don't fix it, Dana. Don't tell him I said this,
but I like him just the way he is." She kissed his lips gently, and
nestled down to sleep between her two handsome and passionate lovers.

* * * 

War Room The Next Morning

The prince looked around the crowded war room to make sure everyone's
attention was elsewhere, then discretely rubbed his sore backside.
Between Dana's strap and Sir Walter's paddle, the prince could not sit
down at all. He was going to stay out of trouble today if it killed
him. Sir Walter would have no reason to get that paddle out tonight.

"Sore bottom again, my boy?"

Mulder nearly jumped out of his skin, "Grandfather! You nearly scared
me to death. Are you so anxious for me to join you in the hereafter?"

The handsome former king only laughed at his jumpy grandson. "You were
just afraid I was Sir Walter catching you in some mischief again. You
do keep that man hopping, Fox. It's really quite entertaining."

"I doubt he thinks so. At least I've never seen any traces of a sense
of humor in him."

"Nonsense, boy, the man is really quite amusing." King Aaron ignored
his grandson's dubious expression. "However, I have to admit, I do
wonder why you continue to submit to his attentions. You <are> the
king now."

"No grandfather, a king without his throne is no king at all. I won't
take that title until I have defeated the Nuvega and proclaimed
Meridiem free once more. So, though I will never bow to Sir Spender,
the pretender, in my mind Meridiem has no king at the moment. Only a
prince who must prove he is worthy to rule by regaining his
birthright." The prince looked up into the beloved, ghostly face that
was so like his own. "And grandfather, I <will> sit upon the throne of
Meridiem as its king."

"You make an old ghost proud, Fox. And Sir Walter, what of him?"

The prince smiled softly. "Well, Dana says he's my destiny, but to be
honest, I just love the guy. And most of the time, he's right. I may
not always like his methods but without him, I would probably never
see that throne again. And besides," the prince chuckled, "you can't
change the spots on a Mongorian Snap Dog, now can you? And, don't tell
Sir Walter I said this, but I like him just the way he is."

"Your secret is safe with me, Fox my boy. Wouldn't want Sir Walter to
get conceited, now would we?"

"Yeah right," the prince snorted, "he's such a humble man right now.
So, grandfather, do you miss the palace?"

"Not at all, my boy, I do miss Vlagimir but I'm working on a plan to
get him out of the palace, too. He would love this place. All the
excitement. He was always at his best in the heart of the battle."

"This plan doesn't include me going back to the palace does it?" Fox
eyed his grandfather suspiciously. "Because I have to tell you, I
don't think my backside can't take another of Sir Walter's lesson on
staying away from that place."

"No, I think I've found someone else who can help me. He . . ."

Fox turned away to watch a battalion of tired and wounded warriors
make their way into the headquarters. They collapsed onto the hard
stone floor wherever they could find an empty spot, too exhausted to
even try to make it to the barracks and their warm cots. It would
appear the battle was still raging at Neuoncon. It was rumored that
Sir Arnold of Caspion, Spender's first-in-command and would be defiler
of pretty princes, was leading that assault himself.

The prince felt his grandfather place a comforting, if feather-light,
hand on his shoulder. "War is never easy, my boy. You're doing fine."

Mulder looked back to answer his grandfather only to see his Uncle
Yappi standing beside him.

"How did he get out of the palace?" Uncle Yappi gave the young prince
a condescending humph!' before walking away, nose in the air.

The former King Aaron smiled. "Oh, he was never trapped at the castle.
When he choked at that banquet, he ran outside and died there. I
wouldn't have been trapped either if those numbskulls I was hunting
with hadn't dragged me back home to die."

"Uncle Yappi choked to death?"

"Well, you were still a little boy, and already a picky eater. I
didn't want to scare you. And you looked up to him so much, though I
still can't understand why that was so. Even in death, Yappi is
useless. The only weapons he has at his disposal are chicken bones."

"Huh?"

"Well a ghost can only has access to what he had with him when he
died. Puts us at a real disadvantage, let me tell you. Take your Uncle
Seth for example, died in bed with his mistress. Now there's a man who
wishes he had died in battle instead naked in his bed. Not a pretty
sight, let me tell you. He doesn't even . . ."

"King Fox! King Fox!" A young elf came running up, his face flushed
with importance at being chosen to deliver a message to the handsome,
young king.

"Yes, what is it, Clayton? And I keep telling everyone that I'm still
a prince until we win this damned war."

"Not everyone agrees with you on that, sire."

The prince ran a hand over his face. "Some king, I can't even get my
loyal subjects to follow the simplest command. Call me prince,
Clayton, please?"

"As you wish, King Fox. Master Langly sent me out here to tell you,
there's a strange man waiting in the outer chamber to see you. He told
me that I should notify Sir Walter as well."

"Did this strange man' ask to see Sir Walter?" The prince couldn't
keep the petulance out of his voice.

"No, he asked only for you." The elf stated, starting to back away,
fear beginning to show in his bright, blue eyes.

Mulder reached out tousling the elf's shaggy hair, hoping to calm his
fears. "I'm sorry, Clayton, this war has us all on edge. I shall see
this man by myself. Thank you for delivering the message, now you need
to get back to your post. I'll handle Sir Walter."

"Yes, your highness."

The prince made his way to the outer chamber, grumbling about how
everyone thought to tell Sir Walter every move he made. He was a grown
man after all, twenty summers in just a couple of moons, there was no
need for everyone to treat him like some defenseless child.

When the prince reached his destination, he saw a man, wearing a
tattered uniform of the royal guard, slumped against a large boulder,
his head buried in his hands.

Keeping his own hand on the hilt of his sword, the prince slowly
advanced on the forlorn and trembling figure.

"You asked to see Prince Fox of Meridiem, guardsman?"

Duane Barry looked up with an unfathomable sadness etched on his
prematurely aged face.

"Duane?" The prince whispered, surprise clearly evident in his voice.

Duane stared at the prince for a long moment before finally speaking.
"Duane Barry came to tell you something, Prince Fox."

Mulder moved closer, trying to see why his former whipping boy seemed
so unnatural in his movements and speech. "Are you all right, Duane?"

"No! Duane Barry is not all right!" The man shouted, then seemed to
remember himself as he lowered his voice. "I. . . I was taken by the
Nuvega. They tor . . .tortured Duane Barry." He raised his voice to a
shrill cry once more. "They hurt my head!"

Mulder moved carefully toward the distraught man. "I'm sorry, Duane.
I've had many people tell me how horrible it is to be captured by the
Nuvega. I'm sorry to hear they hurt you."

Duane looked up into sincere, compassionate hazel eyes. A smile almost
lightened the man's hang-dog expression. "You believe Duane Barry?"

"Of course I do," the prince said as he laid a hand on Barry's
shoulder, only to quickly pull it away as the man screamed and
scrambled away from him.

"Don't touch me! Don't ever touch Duane Barry! They . . . they touched
me! I can't let them touch me again. Never again, not Duane Barry! You
have to stop them. You have to come with Duane Barry. The Nuvega have
something that belongs to you."

"What, Duane?" The prince kept his voice low and soothing, as smooth
as silk over satin. "What do the Nuvega have that's mine?"

Barry looked around him frantically, checking all the shadowed corners
with nervous, darting eyes before coming back to meet those of the
crown prince. "They can't take Duane Barry again."

"I know that, Duane. I won't let them take you. I promise. You have to
tell me, Duane, you have to tell me what the Nuvega have."

"Your . . .your sister."

* * * 

Resistance Headquarters Sir Walter's Chambers

Mulder carefully buckled his pack, almost ready to sneak out the door,
when the portal flew open to crash against the inside wall with a
deafening bang. The prince Mulder spun around, his eyes wide and
frightened, his hands instinctively going back to cover his butt. All
the light in the room was suddenly swallowed by the immense, and
terrifying figure that completely filled the doorway.

"You know, peasant boy, we just keep covering the same ground here.
Why do you think that is?"

"Gr . . .ground, sir?"

Sir Walter backed the terrified prince further into the room. "Yes. I
keep ordering you not to leave this cave alone. You keep leaving. Then
I roast your butt over it, while you wail and promise that you will
obey me in the future. And then we start all over again. Why do you
think that is, brat?"

Mulder swallowed hard. "I have to go to the Nevega camp at Nostesto.
They might have my sister there." The prince looked up at Sir Walter
with eyes that begged for understanding. "I have to go."

Skinner looked into the pleading eyes for only a moment before making
his decision. "Of course we have to go." He threw something at the
prince that landed hard against his chest. "Put that on and we'll
leave."

The prince looked down at the pile of armor that lay at his feet. "I
can't move in that stuff, it's too heavy. Slows me down."

"Not as much as it will slow you down to be tied to that bed over
there. Either you wear the armor, and we go together to check out this
rumor of your sister, or you spend the next few weeks tied naked to my
bed. I don't think I have to tell you which I would find most
enjoyable."

Mulder's eyes widened as he hastily picked up the heavy protective
garment, pulling it over his head. Skinner reached over and tightened
one of the straps securing the vest to the prince's body. "Okay, let's
go. If you behave, I'll let you ride your own horse this time."

"Ride his own horse where?" Dana suddenly appeared behind them, dusty
and dirty, shaking out a mass a red-gold tresses from under her
helmet.

"Duane Barry was held captive by the Nuvega. He told me they are
holding Samantha at Nostesto." Mulder told her as he watched her
beautiful hair reflect the light from the burning tapers in their
chamber.

"I just saw Duane in the medical chamber, Alainn. He's had a pretty
severe head injury. I'm not certain you can trust him."

Mulder shook his head. "I don't think Duane would betray me, Dana."
The sadness evident in the prince's eyes. "He's . . . he's always been
grateful for what was done for he and his family. He should hate me.
I've told him so, many times, but he continues to remain loyal to me."

"I hope you're right, peasant boy. Our lives will depend on it." Sir
Walter glanced worriedly over at Dana, before turning back to the
prince. "Why does that place sound so familiar to me? I know I've
heard of Nostesto before but I can't quite place where?"

Mulder bit his bottom lip. A sure sign to the knight that he was not
going to like what came out of that mouth next. "From the snitch, Sir
Walter. The prince need fear the evil that comes from Caspion. He must
take himself to Nostesto before the next harvest of Rodondo beet
roots.' That next harvest will be taking place during the full moon,
Sir Walter, and that is in just three days from now. We have to
hurry."

Sir Walter rubbed a weary hand over his face. "What in the hell is a
Rodondo beet root anyway?"

"In it's raw, natural state, it's a harmless vegetable, but once
cooked it becomes a deadly poison," Dana said sadly as she stared
intently at the knight. "There is a legend, Sir Walter, that says the
juice from a freshly harvested Rodondo beet root must be rubbed on the
tip of an arrow before it can be used to kill a king."

* * * 

Realm of Meridiem Road to Nostesto

Mulder pouted as he looked back at the full army that followed him. He
had planned to sneak into the Nuvega camp to search for his sister.
Now with this thundering herd behind him, they would be lucky to find
even one old, deaf Nevega left in the encampment, let alone Samantha.

"I still don't see why we had to bring so many warriors with us." The
prince questioned Sir Walter for what had to be the hundredth time. "I
had a plan that did not include an army."

"Yeah, I can just imagine what kind of plan that was." Langly snorted.
"Did it happen to involve one lone prince against the entire Nuvega
invasion?"

Prince Fox turned to glare a the blond man, only to yelp in shock as
he was snatched from his horse, and plopped down in front of Sir
Walter. He felt the solid band of pure muscle that was the knight's
arm tighten around his waist, and a soft whisper in his ear.

"Would you like to share your plan with me, peasant boy?"

"Uh . . .I don't think so. Not right now."

"Well then let me tell you how it's going to be. We are going to do
this one strictly by the rules laid down by the Knight's Regulations
for Engaging the Enemy. By the book, peasant boy. No standing up to
yell at the enemy, no breaking ranks to divert their attention, no
extra sword being pulled out of who knows where after you drop yours,
and no sneaking away to explore their camp." He tightened his hold on
the prince, making the younger man gasp for breath. "Do you
understand?"

"Yes, sir!"

"Good, now we're almost to Lake Placidia, call the bigfoot."

"Auh-h-h-h, do I have to? We don't need them." The prince looked over
his shoulder at the massive dwarf army trailing behind him. "The
Nuvega are going to hear us coming from miles away, and I wanted to
surprise them."

"I've figured out how you like to surprise' the enemy, peasant boy, so
forget it. You will not risk your life today. Now call the bigfoot,
and be careful how you do it. The Bruckman brothers are said to be in
the area. That is, of course, unless you want three massive dragons
leading the charge."

"Shit!" The prince closed his eyes, his smooth brow wrinkling in
concentration. He opened wide, hazel eyes to look up at his military
instructor. "They're on their way." He sulked.

"Good. Now stop wiggling. You're riding with me for a while."

* * * 

Western Edge of the Dark Woods Village of Nostesto

The former leprechaun village of Nostesto was hardly recognizable. The
prince, Sir Walter and Dana lay on their bellies on a hill overlooking
the devastated hamlet.

"They're completely destroyed Nostesto." Prince Fox whispered. "I
thought the leprechaun were on their side."

"There's no real evidence of that, Fox." Dana reminded. "All we have
is hearsay. It doesn't look like a voluntary alliance from here."

"You're right," Sir Walter pointed to a group of leprechaun being held
in an filthy outdoor pen.

"Do you think those are a group of resisters or are all the
leprechauns loyal to the crown?" Fox attempted to crawl a little
closer for a better look, only to be abruptly hauled back by a big,
strong hand on his belt.

"There's no way to know." Dana offered.

Prince Fox quickly made his decision. "Then we have to free all of
them."

Sir Walter ran a hand over his hot, dirty face. "We can't do that,
peasant boy. Just look at how many Nuvega are visible and that is
probably only a small number of what is really encamped here. We don't
have enough of an army for a full-out attack. It would be suicide."

"We can't just leave those leprechaun there." The prince said
stubbornly. "You know what the Nuvega do to their prisoners. I'll go
down there and release the locks on those pens. They won't be
expecting a lone infiltrator."

"No," Sir Walter said, exasperation heavy in his voice. "They probably
wouldn't think that one lone man would be stupid enough to walk in
there all by himself. And think of their joy when they find out their
idiot captive isn't just any idiot captive, but really an idiot
prince."

The prince glared at the knight, who still had a stranglehold on the
back of his belt. He opened his mouth to continue the argument when he
was interrupted by the sorceress.

"Enough!" Dana pleaded. "You can discuss our brilliant prince's lack
of common sense later. Trust me, it's an old argument that hasn't been
resolved in over a thousand years. I really doubt it can be settled on
this hillside today." She turned to the prince. "Fox, I want you to
use your powers to tell us which inhabitants of the realm are near
enough to help us."

Prince Fox closed his eyes. "Two more battalions of dwarf warriors
have just joined our ranks. The bigfoot are less than an hour away."

"Are you sure they aren't Sir Spender's alien dwarfs, Fox?" Sir Walter
found it hard to trust the dwarfs now that he knew they were not all
loyal to the prince.

"They're ours," the prince sighed. "They're all talking about what a
waste of clean air Kersh thinks I am. Oh shit! The Bruckman brothers
are right behind them. At least it'll take them a while to get here,
Bruce is feeling 

a little faint."

"Go deeper, Fox." Dana laid a soft hand on the prince's sleeve.

"A flock of geese are circling Lake Placidia. A large head of
bisonbeef are grazing just over the rise. Three chameleons are trying
to seduce a gypsy girl camped a few miles to the east. Unsuccessfully,
of course. I swear, those guys never get lucky. Her brother is
thinking about killing them, but isn't sure they're worth the effort."

"Back to business, Alainn." Dana chided.

The prince opened his eyes. "That's pretty much it, Dana. A few
plagerbees, a couple of stray dogs, and one vampire sleeping in an
old, abandoned barn. Everything else has left the area because of the
Nevega."

Dana flipped over on her back, staring up at the bright blue sky. "Can
you tell if the leprechauns are loyal to you?"

"I tried. Some are and some aren't. Leprechauns are ruled by gold,
Dana. They would do anything to protect what they have, and to acquire
more. The Nuvega have promised them great riches for their support but
not all of them believe the lie."

"Can you cast a spell, Dana?" Sir Walter turned to lie beside her,
keeping one restraining hand resting on his tricky little prince.

"Not on the Nuvega. I've never been able to do that. Magic just
doesn't work on them for some unknown reason."

The prince shifted his eyes down to his companions. "Let's spread out
our forces to surround the camp. We should be able to adequately cover
at least three sides, then I'll sneak down and open that gate. Maybe
some of those prisoners can tell me where they're holding Samantha."

"Listen here, you little brat, we've already gone over this and . . ."

Dana grabbed Sir Walter's arm as he started after Fox. "Wait! It
really isn't that bad of a plan."

"What? Are you out of your mind, Dana? We can't let him go down there
alone. I forbid it!"

"Calm down, Sliabh. I didn't say I agreed with the whole plan. Alainn,
I want you to spread out the dwarfs just as you suggested. Then you
are to call the bisonbeef and have them stampede from the north. While
the Nevega are busy defending themselves from a million tons of steak
on the hoof, we go in, free the leprechauns, and try to locate
Samantha. But Alainn, I want you to listen to me and listen well."

"Yes, Dana?" The prince asked nervously.

"We aren't even sure Samantha is here. Duane Barry was a very
delusional man when he got back to our headquarters." She held up her
hand to stop the prince's comment. "I know you want to believe him but
I'm not sure we can. So my question to you is, are you willing to free
the leprechauns who are quite obviously prisoners of the Nevega, and
take a chance on not finding your sister. We may well not have time
for both."

The prince looked down on the pen where a few of the Nuvega had
ventured over, and were using their long whips on the cringing
leprechaun prisoners.

The prince dropped his head to his chest sadly. "They're subjects of
the Meridiem, and I am their prince. I have no choice but to free them
if I can."

Sir Walter rubbed the prince's back in slow, soothing circles. "I'm
proud of you, peasant boy, and we <will> get your sister back, if not
today, then someday. You have my solemn promise on that."

Prince Fox nodded his head as Sir Walter pulled him into a quick hug,
placing a kiss on his temple. "Now, let's go free those despicable
little leprechauns. I never did meet one I liked." Sir Walter grumbled
under his breath.

"You actually knew a leprechaun? You believe in them?" Fox asked in
amazement.

"It was long time ago." Sir Walter mumbled. "I had always convinced
myself it was just a bad dream, and refused to look at the experience
too closely. Now, of course," he glared at the prince. "I don't have
that luxury, thanks to you."

"Why is it my fault? And, I would think you'd want to know the truth!"

"Not everybody wants to know the truth', peasant boy. Some of us would
have been just as happy to live our lives in blissful ignorance, never
having met chicken thieving werewolves or fortune telling dragons!"

"Why don't you two," Dana hissed, "just send a messenger down there to
tell the Nevega that we're here, then you won't have to yell so
loudly."

"Sorry." The prince turned away, arms crossed tightly over his chest,
lower lip out in a full pout.

"Stop sulking, Alainn. He's helping you, isn't he? You can't expect
him to want to delve into every mystery the way you do. Give the guy a
break. If Sliabh had his way, we'd spend every lifetime with our feet
propped up in front of a nice, warm fire. A place for everything and
everything in its place."

"That's boring." Fox pouted.

"No, actually it's nice. We've gotten to do that a couple of times. A
nice normal life. Well, as normal as can be expected with you around,
Alainn. You do tend to attract the unexpected. And I swear you could
find trouble while sitting in a church full of DisCol Monks. Now,
enough of this, do you have everyone in place, Alainn?"

The prince closed his eyes for a moment, then nodded his head at her.

"Let's go, boys."

The plan went as smoothly as the water of Lake Placidia. The Nuvega
scrambled madly to avoid the hooves of the thundering bisonbeef as
they stampeded into the middle of the village. Pure chaos ensued,
giving the dwarf and bigfoot army clear shots at the flustered Nuvega.

As the arrows flew all around them, the prince, the knight and the
sorceress made their way to the now unguarded pens that held the
hapless leprechauns. As the prince worked his opening tool on the
padlock, he was swarmed by the group of funny-looking little green
men, dressed in green from head to toe, all bald with a fringe of
curly, chartreuse hair bushing out over pointy green ears.

"Well! It certainly took you long enough!" One of the leprechauns
snarled.

Mulder looked up in surprise. "Excuse me?"

"To get here." Another one piped up. "What took you so long?"

"Yeah, prince, we're subjects of the realm too, you know! We have
rights!"

"We should have been rescued in a timely fashion."

"Yeah, you took too long. We demand compensation from the crown!"

"How about I compensate you by saving your lives?" Mulder growled.

"No! We demand gold!"

"Yeah, lots of gold!"

"I don't have any gold," the prince said trying to maintain his calm.

"Of course you do. All princes have gold."

"Well, I don't. Not anymore." The prince grunted as he pried at the
rusted lock.

"Illegal use of realm funds! We demand an audit!"

"I didn't . . .oh, never mind." Mulder was beginning to understand why
his father always refused to seat a leprechaun on the royal council.

"Who's your pretty friend?" One of little men smiled and waved to
Dana.

"Stay away from her!"

"Oh? Something going on there, little prince? Something you haven't
told your loyal subjects? Conspiracy! Conspiracy!"

"Just shut up and let me get this done." The prince worked frantically
on the lock. He really wanted to get away from these obnoxious little
men.

Dana hurried up to the prince. "What's taking so long?"

A leering little leprechaun spit on his hand, and ran it through his
wild fringe of hair. He then stuck that same damp hand out to Dana.
She tried desperately to ignore it without being overly rude.

"Ethan Cobblestone at your service, my dear," said the owner of the
gracious but unsanitary hand. "And what might I call you?"

"Dead - if the prince here doesn't work his magic faster than he is
right now."

"There, got it!" Mulder quickly pulled open the gate so the dozen or
so little green men could scramble out, and run for the hills. Ethan
Cobblestone held back, still hoping to impress the lovely sorceress.

As the prince raised his head to try to shoo the little man away from
Dana, he spotted a beautiful dark haired woman waving at him from
across the road

"Samantha!"

Dana heard the prince call his lost sister's name just as he sprinted
out into the open to run to her. The sorceress pushed Ethan out of her
way as she made a desperate lung for the imperiled prince.

Sir Walter saw what was happening just as the prince and Dana cleared
the edge of the pen, and were out in the open in the street. Mulder
pulled up short as the vision that was his sister suddenly changed
shape to became that of a gray Nevega warrior, his weapon already up
and ready to shoot the unprotected prince.

As the arrow left the Nevega's crossbow, Dana threw herself in front
of Prince Fox. The poisoned arrow seemed to hover magically for a
moment before driving deep into Dana's chest, right through the center
of her heart.

The prince heard her scream as she fell lifelessly to the ground. He
dropped to his knees by her body just as a cluster of arrows flew by
where his head had been only seconds before.

"No-o-o-o-o-o!" The prince wailed as Sir Walter attempted to drag both
the anguished prince and Dana's body back to safety. Several dwarf
warriors quickly arrived at the scene of the disaster, lifting Dana as
Sir Walter pulled the prince up off the ground, forcefully dragging
him away, as he struggled and shouted threats at the advancing Nevega.

The prince was fighting Sir Walter with all his strength, sobbing for
Dana, insane with grief. The knight tried desperately to hang onto the
hysterical prince, as he kept both of their heads down as a shower of
arrows surrounded their position.

"Stop it, Fox!"

"Dana! I got Dana killed! Let me go! I have to go back. They have to
die . . .all of them. They have to pay for shooting Dana!"

Sir Walter tried to shake some sense into the prince, but he was too
far gone in his aguish and need for revenge, to listen to the knight.
Sir Walter saw no other way, he raised one huge, beefy fist and swung
it forward to connect solidly with the prince's smooth jaw. Mulder
dropped like a rock into the arms of his protector. Sir Walter knew,
without a doubt, that the blow had hurt himself more than it could
ever hurt the prince.

Sir Walter threw the younger man over his shoulder and quickly
followed the way that the dwarfs had carried the sorceress. The
knight's large black horse waited patiently for him to mount as he
deposited Fox's unconscious body over the saddle in front of him.

Someone had pulled the arrow from Dana's heart, and she was also lying
face down over the front of Frohike's saddle.

"Ride!" Byers yelled as the true king's army retreated under a cloud
of dust and sorrow.

At the crossroads, they thought it best to split up, hoping to allude
anyone following them. The bigfoot turned south toward Lake Placidia
while the dwarf army scattered into the Dark Woods to the north. Sir
Walter and The Three road swiftly on toward the Enorus Mountains and
their secret cave.

They rode in silence for several hours before stopping in a heavily
sheltered glade not far from the resistance headquarters. The prince
had regained consciousness a few minutes earlier, and Sir Walter
couldn't stand his desolate sobbing any longer. He halted his horse,
and pulled the young man down into his arms, hugging him tightly to
his chest as they both sank to the ground.

The knight looked over to see Langly and Frohike gently lower Dana's
body to the soft grass where she lay still and motionless.

The ground began to shake as the Bruckman Brothers hurried up to the
weary and grieving group.

"The Nuvega aren't following you." Clyde huffed, nearly out of breath.
"We're not sure why but they suddenly turned back toward Nostesto
after only a few miles. It was almost as if they were called back for
some reason. You're safe for now."

The huge dragon lowered his head to get a closer look at the sobbing
prince who was all but sitting in the knight's lap, his face buried in
Sir Walter's broad chest. Clyde then walked slowly over to where Dana
lay, being diligently watched over by The Three. Much to their
surprise the dragon again lowered his great head, this time gently
nudging the beautiful sorceress's still body. When he got no response,
he nudged her again. This time, her thick lashes began to flutter,
wide blue eyes finally opening and focusing on the sweet, homely face
of the giant dragon.

"See, I told you," the dragon smiled down at her. "You don't die."

She smiled back at him, just as the prince threw himself into her
arms. She gently stroked his hair as he cried on her breast. "Oh
Alainn, I told you I would never leave you. Where was your faith?"

"I . . .I was afraid you just told me you were immortal so I. . . I
wouldn't wor. . . worry about you."

Dana looked up into Sir Walter's happy, tear-stained face. "I suppose
you didn't believe me either?"

"Let's just say, I'm feeling very relieved right now." Sir Walter
answered.

* * * 

Sir Walter's Chambers That Afternoon

"You know, there's no reason for me to be in this bed. I'm fine." Dana
pointed out to the two men who stood towering over her.

"Just rest for a little while, Dana." Sir Walter implored. "You gave
us quite a scare and I, for one, want to keep an eye on you."

"Dana, why can't you die?" Mulder pleaded, as she rolled her eyes in
annoyance.

" Please," he begged, "I can't stand this any longer. I have to know
the truth."

The sorceress settled herself more comfortably on her pillows, and
looked up at the beautiful prince and the handsome knight, both
staring back at her with such love and devotion on their faces. "Oh
Alainn, you and your truth. It's been the death of you more than
once."

She looked into his wide, beseeching, hazel eyes and sighed heavily.
"Oh all right. This happens every time, I should just tell you both
this story at the very beginning and save myself the aggravation.
Come, sit with me in our bed, and I'll tell you the story of how the
sorceress gained her immortality."

When the knight and the prince were settled cozily on either side of
her, she took their hands in hers.

"Now some of this you may have already heard but I'm going to start at
the beginning anyway. In the Before Time, myself, you Alainn and you,
my Sliabh, were warriors bestowed with a sacred vow to uphold the
edicts handed down by the elders of the realm." She squeezed their
hands a little tighter as she continued.

"It was an sad and evil time, and there was much danger for those who
chose to follow the path of justice. We had angered our enemies with
what we had discovered of their evil deeds, and they punished us for
our impudence. We were given the most menial and despised tasks,
scorned by our peers and despised by our masters, even separated from
each other at times. It was a very difficult time for all of us, and
we were all filled with despair."

She looked at the two beloved men to make sure she had their complete
attention. "During one of the times that we had been forced apart, I
was sent to bring in an sinister man who was suspected of killing
several innocents. It was dangerous work, and I longed to have you by
my side, Alainn, but our enemies would not allow you to accompany and
protect me." She glanced over at her beautiful and brilliant prince
who smiled back at her.

"I did find the accused man but my sorceress powers told me that he
was not the killer. As I talked with this poor lonely man, trying to
get to the heart of the matter, another of our own warriors burst upon
the scene and shot at this man, Fellig. He missed and hit me instead.
As I lay there dying, I saw the angel of death come for me, but I
closed my eyes, and Alfred took my place. It is as simple as that. I
cannot die because death chose another on that day."

"Perhaps you could find someone else, and take their place, Dana." Sir
Walter offered, tears running freely down his cheeks.

"Perhaps. The man who took my place considered his own immortality a
curse. I see it as a blessing. As long as I still live, I can reunite
the three of us so we can fulfill our destinies during each lifetime.
Were I to die and be reborn as you are, who knows if we could find
each other or even recognize ourselves. I'm not willing to take that
risk. And now, " she smiled at them. "I'm getting so good at this, I
can feel the minute each of you is born. I go to where Fox is first
because he must always be protected, and then when the time is right,
Sliabh, you always come to find us."

Each man moved to kiss her gently on opposite cheeks, as two sets of
eyes, one hazel and one dark brown, shed tears of both joy and sadness
for the woman who was their very heart.

* * * 

Resistance Headquarters Tool Barn

Krycek pulled the prince down beside him, to land hard on his butt in
the dirt. "I can't believe you've lived in the realm all your life,
and have never tasted Elfin Twilight Wine. It's mighty powerful and
magical stuff."

"That stuff's not magic, it's poison, Alex. Sir Walter warned me that
it would rot my brain. Where did you get it anyway?"

"From a friend. And Sir Walter just wants to make sure you don't have
any fun. Come on lighten up, little prince, it's not good to get shit-
faced alone. And I think we both deserve it today."

Mulder buried his face in his hands. "I don't deserve to have fun,
Alex, I got Dana killed. And besides, I'm the future king of the
realm, and I have responsibilities to my subjects."

"Your subjects will be fine for a while and so is Dana. She's
immortal, Fox, not even hanging around you can kill her. I heard she's
already left for that hospital of hers in Aspan Mia. It was attacked
today by the dwarfs."

"That can't be true! Kersh and his people don't like me very much but
they would never attack the brownie village. You must be mistaken."

"Wasn't Kersh's men. Some other group that Spender brought in from
beyond the Outlands. It seems there is other life out there after all.
We were foolish to think that we were the only beings in existence."

"I always knew we weren't alone."

"Well, you always were too smart for your own good, and too virtuous,
too. Here, drink up." Alex handed Mulder a goblet filled to the brim
with a strange glowing, green liquid.

"Ew-e-e-e! What's in that? I don't really like green stuff, Alex."

"It's not made from asparagus, if that's what you're worried about.
Not one healthy thing in this little drink, I can assure you of that
fact."

Mulder put the goblet to his mouth, and took a tentative sip.
Immediately his eyes began to burn and tear up, and he started
couching and gagging, his throat on fire. "Shit!"

"Yeah, good isn't it?"

Several goblets later Mulder didn't care in the least that he was
ingesting green fire. In fact, he was sure that he didn't care about
anything as he reminisced with Alex about the good times they had
growing up in the palace. Making fun of their old tutors, and giggling
over how they had intimidated the reluctant men into educating Alex
right along with the prince.

Without warning, the heavy wooden door of the tool shed slammed back
against the wall. Mulder shielded his eyes against the glare of the
late afternoon sun that framed their unexpected visitor. Then, much to
Alex's amazement, the prince started doing a very good imitation of a
crab, scrambling back against the wall, his eyes wide with fear.

"Sir Walter! I . . .I can explain everything. We, uh, that is . . ."

Suddenly Sir Walter bend over holding his knees, gasping for breath as
he laughed so hard that tears ran down his face in great, shining
streams.

"Got...gotcha!" He stuttered through his laugher.

"Dammit!" Mulder exploded as he plopped back down, sighing in relief.
"It's that damn chameleon. I thought I was a dead man. Eddie, I swear
if you don't cut that shit out, I'm going to resurrect the guillotine
just for you."

Eddie VanBlundht chuckled one more time before turning back into his
roly-poly little self. He seated himself beside the prince, and
reached for the bottle of elfin twilight. "Sorry I'm late, Alex, I was
trying to seduce that faerie-girl, Melissa. She's really weird, but
boy is she hot."

Mulder stopped mid drink to stare at the man sitting beside him. "You
were trying to get laid using Sir Walter's body? Do you realize what
he'll do to you if he finds out? That was <not> smart, Eddie."

"Yeah, you're right. I have much better luck using yours."

Mulder choked on his twilight wine. Alex helpfully thumped him on the
back.

"Wh . . what? You change into me to . . . to. . .to . . ."

"Sure. Every woman wants to get laid by a prince, and if it takes
kissing a frog or two and they're willing, what's the harm? And
besides it's not like you're making good use of that body or anything.
So why shouldn't I?" Eddie assumed his best innocent expression.

"I use my body! I'll have you know I have two. . ."

Eddie settled back, pulling one leg into a bent position, and swinging
the other leg up over his knee. He began to swing it gently back and
forth. As he did, he let it take on new shapes. First it was a frog's
shiny, green leg, then it turned into a black cow's cloven Hoof, then
a chicken's sharply-clawed foot. Alex couldn't take his eyes off of
that leg. It was horrifying and fascinating at the same time, like
watching a loaded wagon go off the side of a mountain. He really
wanted to look away, knew he should, but he just couldn't make himself
do it. Frog, cow, chicken. Frog, cow, chicken.

"Yeah. Yeah." Eddie interrupted the prince. "I know, you have two
lovers. A beautiful but deadly sorceress, who quite frankly could
scare the shit out of anybody. And a bossy, dour, over-bearing, tight-
assed, arrogant knight who <does> scare the shit out of everybody."
Eddie tipped his goblet at the prince with a wicked and knowing grin.

"Sir Walter isn't dour." Mulder pouted.

"Somebody who looks like you - a prince, yet. You could have anybody
you wanted. But not you, no-o-o-o, you spend all your time chasing
little green men and making goo-goo eyes at Sir Walter. What a loser!"

"The Nuvega aren't green, they're gray." Mulder said morosely as he
gulped down his full goblet of the poisonous elfin wine. A rotted mind
would be a blessing at this point.

"Nuvega! See what I mean? The Nuvega don't even exist, everybody knows
that! I was talking about leprechauns, for pete's sake." Eddie shook
his head sadly. "You are one pathetic piece of work, you know that?"

Mulder slumped back against the rough, log wall and watched as Eddie
VanBlundht's leg swung - frog, cow, chicken - frog, cow, chicken -
frog, cow, chicken. It was making Mulder dizzy, and just a little
nauseous. He wished the chameleon would settle on one body and leave
it at that. Well, as long as it wasn't the prince's body he settled
on. He wondered miserably just how many women thought they'd slept
with him now.

"Where are the other chameleons, Eddie. Are they fighting in the war?"
Alex asked, trying to change the subject before he had to save the
prince from a suicide attempt brought on by Eddie's keen, but
tactless, observations.

"No. We make love, not war. With all the big, good-looking knights out
fighting, it's easy pickin's with the ladies." Eddied smiled smugly,
making Mulder roll his eyes.

Unfortunately the eye-roll sent the prince into a full tilt to his
right, he ended up lolling drunkenly against Alex's shoulder. A
delighted Krycek carefully maneuvered them around until the completely
inebriated prince was wrapped in Alex's arms, resting snugly against
his chest.

The three sat in silence for a long time, consuming the highly potent
elfin wine, and lost in their own thoughts. Eddie pondered how to
successfully score with the fairies. Alex pondered how to successfully
score with the prince. Mulder pondered how many paternity petitions he
might be facing.

A slightly green-tinted chameleon suddenly rose rather shakily to his
feet. Swaying before the blurred eyes of his nearly comatose drinking
partners. "I have to . ..uh, go . . ." And a gagging Eddie ran for the
door.

A smugly satisfied prince, who had risen from Alex's warm chest to
gleefully watch the ailing Eddie run out the door, suddenly felt
himself being pushed to the ground, his hands held tightly above his
head. He looked up into bright green, lust-filled eyes. The prince
tried to form a protest through his numb lips but before the words
could escape, his objections were swallowed by Krycek's hot searing
mouth covering his own. He could feel Alex's hard body lying heavily
between his spread legs, as Alex ground his erection into Mulder's
responding body.

The door slammed back against the wall once more, Sir Walter's huge
form blocking the light from the room. Alex raised his head from the
now dazed prince's lips, and smiled up at the chameleon.

"Give it up, Eddie." Krycek smirked. "We're not falling for that one
again."

Eddie reached down and pulled the man up by his shirt until he was
dangling off the ground, and peering straight into a pair of enraged
brown eyes. "Really, Alex? And just what is it that you aren't falling
for?"

Skinner looked down as the prince flopped around on the floor, trying
desperately to bring himself into an upright position.

"What's wrong with him?" Skinner growled, shaking the young man he
still held captive in his hands.

"Dr . . .dr . . .drunk!" Alex finally managed to get the word out of
his mouth, his own vision focusing and then blurring on the angry face
so close to his own.

"Drunk? On what?"

"Elfin Twilight."

"What?" Sir Walter started shaking the hapless Krycek again, finally
letting Alex's body drop unceremoniously to the floor, where he sat
shaking his head trying to clear the fog from his addled brain.

Skinner reached down to help the prince to his feet. Mulder rose
easily enough but then just stood there swaying on his feet like a
new-born colt. Skinner sighed heavily, bent, and lifted Mulder up and
over his shoulder. He placed a firm arm around the prince's thighs,
before returning his full attention to the handsome young man sprawled
at his feet.

"Hey listen, don't be too hard on him." Krycek slurred as he struggled
to his feet, the world spinning around him. "This wasn't his fault. He
was upset about that not-dead witch of his, and I was comforting him."

"With your mouth?" Sir Walter growled.

Krycek grinned at him impishly. "I was jus' makin' sure he was
breathin' all right, that's all. Besides, I wanted to find out if it
was better than kissing a frog."

"And was it?"

"Oh, yeah!"

"Well Alex, I'm glad you at least enjoyed yourself because you're
going to pay for it now." Skinner reached down and hauled Alex the
rest of the way to his feet, dragging him out the door and back toward
the castle.

Sir Walter was sure they made quite a spectacle with the prince
hanging upside down over his shoulder singing happily, while Alex
stumbled along beside him.

* * * 

Sir Walter's Private Chambers Three Hours Later

Mulder buried his face in the soft, comforting mattress of their bed.
He still felt a little nauseated. Sir Walter had not been happy about
the Elfin Twilight, and had forced pot after pot of strong coffee down
he and Alex, while he delivered a scalding lecture on the lack of
intelligence necessary for two humans to consume wine meant for a
different species.

Then he allowed them to throw up for a while.

The prince looked over to see Alex beside him, green eyes staring at
him intently from only a few inches away. He could tell Alex was
furious with Sir Walter's domineering attitude but the prince didn't
know what he could say that would make a difference at this point.

Fox turned his head to look up over his shoulder. He could see Sir
Walter angrily pacing the floor at the foot of the bed, muttering to
himself.

" . . .a knight superior of the realm, for heaven's sake . . .be in
battle at this very minute. . . fighting for my king . . .
distinguishing myself . . .but no, my king is a . . .have half a mind
to . . .misbegotten brat . . .not me . ..deal with two brats .
..ungrateful peasant boy . . .what did I ever do . . ."

He had been doing this for some time now. The prince had stopped
trying to hear what was being said. On a <good> day Sir Walter was
scary, in a full-fledged rant his was terrifying. Mulder shuddered as
he also took in the sight of he and Alex's bare bottoms high in the
air over the foot-rail of the bed.

"Keep your eyes to the front, peasant boy!"

The prince quickly turned his head back, this time not daring to look
at Alex, as he once more buried his face in the safety of the
mattress.

"Tell me Krycek," Sir Walter finally growled. "What did you think the
advantage would be to Meridiem to have a brain-damaged king?"

"Make all the council meetings shorter?" Alex suggested. "Ouch!"

The strap had come out of nowhere, and the burning stripe across
Alex's upturned bottom stung like fire.

Mulder winced, waiting for the strap to fall against his own
defenseless bottom. He was so ready that he actually flinched when the
sharp retort sounded in the cavernous room. But again it was Alex who
cried out in pain, only to yelp again a moment later as the third lash
fell on his naked butt.

"And tell me, Alex, after the prince became senseless, were you going
to kill him? Help out your friend, Sir Spender?"

"Oh-h-h! Shit! Ouch! No! Ouch! He's . ..Ah-h-h-h, not my friend!"

Skinner looked down at the two bottoms laid before him for punishment.
Alex's was already glowing red and nicely striped by the strap. And
the prince, who hated having a whipping boy, was contracting the
muscles of his bottom every time Alex yelped. If this continued, Sir
Walter, wasn't even sure he would have to whip Fox to bring him to
tears.

"So Alex." Skinner smiled as Krycek groaned at being addressed again
so soon. "What <were> you planning to do with a falling-down-drunk
prince?"

"I wasn't going to . . .Ouch! Oh-h-h! Oh! Fuck him! Ah-h-h-h! I was
going to fuck him!"

The prince's head snapped up to stare incredulously at his partner in
crime.

"Oh don't look at me like that," Alex winced at the prince. "You had
to know I've loved you for years."

Mulder just stared at Alex, blinking wide, hazel eyes. Krycek shook
his head sadly. "It's why I had to leave your chambers, Fox. When we
got older, I couldn't sleep with you and not touch you in that way."

"You should have told me, Alex. I would have. . .Ouch! Oh! Oh! Oh!"

The strap flashed down on the unprepared, bare bottom of Prince Fox.
"You would have what, peasant boy?"

Alex looked over his shoulder to watch the strap kiss the prince's
beautiful bottom, making it dance in place over the foot-rail of the
big bed.

"Ouch! I don't know! Oh, that hurts!"

Sir Walter snapped the strap over Alex backside a couple of times. Now
he had two frantically wiggling butts to entertain him while he gave
this situation some thought. He resumed his pacing for a few minutes,
keeping one eye on the fascinating show going on over the foot rail of
the bed. Two beautiful male bottoms, one pink, one red, shimming and
shaking, trying to ease some of the burning sting Sir Walter had
inflicted with his strap. It was quite 

a sight.

Sir Walter put his hands on his hips. "Alex, I'm going to let you take
the prince." He hesitated while Mulder let out a little choking sound.
"But only when I am with the two of you. Do you agree to that?"

"Yes, sir." Alex said suspiciously. This was just too good to be true.

"And no more getting him drunk and kissing him when you think nobody
is looking."

"All right."

"And you, peasant boy, do you agree to that?"

"I . . .uh, he . . .but I haven't . . .with you . . .I mean I only. .
.what if. . . I don't know if I am . . .uh, this could be . ..uh, you
.. ."

"Good. I agree as well. Problem solved." Skinner smiled to himself.
Solved so very well. "Now Alex, for getting the prince drunk and
trying to take advantage of him, twelve strokes on your bare bottom."

"I thought you were finished!"

"You thought wrong. Peasant boy, for risking you health again, six
strokes on your bare butt."

"Why does he got more?" The prince protested. "I'm as guilty as he
is."

"Fox . . ." Krycek began.

Sir Walter ran a hand over his face in exasperation. "Don't even try
to reason with him, Alex. He will just drive you back to that sludge
you were drinking earlier. You're only getting six, peasant boy, and
if you say one more word, I'm going to increase Alex's strokes."

Mulder instantly closed his mouth and buried his face again. Alex
looked up at the big knight with the most amazed, what the hell' look
on his face that Skinner almost laughed out loud.

"Surely you must have known how he felt about Duane Barry's whippings,
Alex. You lived in the same room with him when you were kids." Skinner
pointed out.

"He always made me leave through the secret panel whenever Duane was
due to be punished for him. All I ever knew was that he gave that
whiny brat all of our really good stuff. Used to really piss me off."

Skinner smiled, "Well today you're going to take six extra strokes for
him, and I bet in return he'll give you some really good stuff."

As the hateful strap snapped and crackled across Alex's tender skin,
blistering and scorching it cruelly, Alex made sure he screamed and
cried for all he was worth. He wanted the prince to feel really
guilty, and be very appreciative. Yes indeed.

And while the prince cried and squirmed through his six strokes, Alex
stroked his hair and whispered soothingly in his ear.

For his part, Sir Walter, looked down on two well-punished pretty boys
who were going to make this afternoon one he was sure he would
remember for quite some time.

"Okay, get up. Fox, I want you over in that corner." As the prince
moved sullenly to obey, Skinner smiled at Alex's disappointed look.

"No, peasant boy, turn around so you're facing me." The prince turned
around, putting his burning butt up against the cool stone wall, his
face a mask of confusion.

"Now Alex," Sir Walter looked at the other man, "Why don't you go
stand in the corner, too."

Comprehension dawned instantly in Alex's handsome face as he hurried
to pin Mulder tightly against the wall, smothering his face with tiny,
wet kisses, his hands feeling every available inch of smooth, muscled
skin.

Sir Walter slowly undressed as he watched the two beautiful men in the
corner. The prince would be all right with this, Sir Walter would make
certain it was an enjoyable new experience for him. And Alex deserved
a break. It was a terrible thing to desire something so beautiful, for
so long, and know it could never be yours. So, Sir Walter was willing
to share the prince. Or, more accurately, he was willing to let these
two beauties share him. The knight smiled in anticipation.

The knight sprawled on the bed, gently stroking his own aroused shaft,
as Alex Krycek eagerly ravished a dazed and weak-kneed prince.

"Alex," Skinner called. "Why don't you finish what you've started over
here on the bed before you have to pick him up off the floor."

Krycek immediately headed for the bed, dragging Mulder right behind
him. He pushed the prince down into Sir Walter's arms before crawling
in on the other side to resume his seduction of a prince.

Sir Walter pulled Mulder's pretty face over so that he too could kiss
those lush lips, while Krycek moved down to lap at sensitive nipples.
Mulder moaned deep in his throat.

Skinner began to pluck at the nipple not being attended to by Alex and
smiled as Krycek raised his head and began kissing the knight
passionately as he too pinched and kneaded a royal nipple.

Mulder opened his eyes as the two men kissed right above his head. He
moaned again and reached for the two big cocks so conveniently located
beside him. He ardently stroked both of them at the same time, and was
rewarded with moans of pleasure from above him.

The bed became a tangle of long smooth legs and well-muscled arms as
all three men sought to pleasure each other. Alex opened his eyes to
see a pair of beautiful hazel eyes and a lop-sided grin leaning over
him. He could see that Sir Walter was on his knees behind Fox, and was
handing the prince a jar of oil

Alex hissed as the prince's long fingers found his opening and slicked
it heavily with the scented lubricant.

"Fox! Oh Fox!" Krycek hissed through a haze of pure pleasure.

"Yes, Alex?" Mulder purred back at him.

"I . . .I've wanted this for so long."

"I'm sorry, you should have told me." And Alex surrendered to the
unbelievable sensation of the Prince of Meridiem slipping his engorged
shaft deep inside him. Mulder began to slowly rock, "Don't come yet,
Alex. Wait for us."

Alex could only nod as he heard Mulder moan above him. He assumed Fox
had, himself, just been filled by Sir Walter's huge shaft. Alex opened
his eyes and watched as the knight pulled Fox back tight against his
chest to kiss his neck, and then that little mole on his cheek, and
finally claim that luscious mouth for a deep, passionate kiss. Alex
felt his own arousal increase at the intensity of that kiss. And at
that moment he felt some new emotion swell in his chest for this brave
knight, who dared to love a prince, and cared not who knew of that
love. This was a man worthy of Alex's loyalty and respect.

Sir Walter began to pump into the prince, pulling almost all the way
out to instantly push his way back inside the hot, warm, beautiful
body. Each time he did this, it forced the prince to follow suit with
Alex. Not that Mulder or Alex minded at all. It was one of the most
erotic experiences either of them had ever had.

Alex felt a long elegant hand wrap tightly around his own cock, then
was surprised when a bigger, rougher hand covered the one already
there. His shaft completely and tightly surround, Alex felt himself
reach the edge of his resistance.

"Now, Alex." He heard the prince whisper, his own breath coming in
short pants. Alex needed no other encouragement as he felt the world
explore into a white-hot shower of bright, blazing stars.

Alex slowly got his breath under control. He opened his eyes to find
Prince Fox sprawled bonelessly across his chest, and Sir Walter lying
beside him, smiling like he'd just inherited the kingdom. Maybe he
had.

Krycek lifted one leaden hand, and poked at the prince.

"Wha'?"

"Just making sure I hadn't killed a king. I hear they still draw and
quarter you for that."

"Nah, cut off your head." Fox mumbled sleepily.

"Oh well, that's a comfort."

Krycek smiled down at the dark head resting on his chest. He then
turned to smile his gratitude at Sir Walter. The big knight smiled
back for a moment and then closed his eyes, wrapping his arms around
the two beautiful men who now shared his bed.

The End Part 3/4