Knight Time in the Realm- Part 4/4

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

Category: AU / Fantasy / Discipline / m/m Slash

Warning: Mulder / Skinner Slash.

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: As was pointed out to me, this thing is loaded. Enter at your
own risk.

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.

There has been so much AU written lately and I love it all. So if this
reminds you a story you wrote, please take is as a compliment because
I mean it as such.

Special thanks to Nicole who corrects my commas, asks all the right
questions, and demands exacting explanations.





Chapter 10 Knight Time in the Realm By DiAnn

Realm of Meridiem Resistance Headquarters

"This is all my fault."

The prince stared around the large cavern which had now become a
combination strategy room and overflow for the hospital. Sick and
injured warriors covered every inch of the floor. Most were sleeping
peacefully, thanks to a drought made by Dana but several were awake
and moaning softly.

They didn't know that each of their pain filled pleas tore their
prince apart.

"You're not responsible, peasant boy, Spender did this."

Prince Fox looked up into the eyes of Sir Walter. "I could have . . ."

"Could have what? Given up your crown without a fight? Gone to the
Isle of Marvinya to live out your days in exile while your people
suffered and died under Spender's rule? Betrayed your country and
yourself?"

"No! I . . .I just . . ."

"Feel each of their wounds yourself, and would gladly suffer their
pain for them if you could? I know. They know too. That's why they
fight this war. Sir Spender pays his knights well for their loyalty .
. ."

"With my gold." The prince interjected bitterly.

"Yes, with your gold. But your warriors fight because their cause is
just."

"Many have died for this so-called just cause." The prince whispered
to his big military instructor. "As Dana says you have done so many
times before."

"Please no talk of that past life thing today. Dana's stories are
fascinating, but truth be told, they give me a headache."

"Even the one where we were shipwrecked, and spent that lifetime as
the only inhabitants of a tropical island paradise, eating sweet,
exotic fruits and making love on the white sand in the moonlight. As I
recall you were a bit insatiable after she told us that story."

"Yes, I did like that tale until she got to the part where you decided
that we were deliberately marooned there as part of an evil
conspiracy, built a huge bonfire to signal passing ships and burned
down half the island."

"She said it grew back eventually." The prince pouted.

"She also said I kept your bottom so hot you couldn't sit down for a
month for that little trick."

"A bully in every lifetime. You must be so proud."

"And you must think you need a good tanning before breakfast today.
You're lucky I don't upend you right here. Give these men something to
remember besides their war injuries. I swear you are the . . ."

"Uh, my lord?" The little boy eyed the big knight who was shouting at
his prince.

Mulder was more than ready for a change of subject. "Royce, am I glad
to see you."

Sir Walter chuckled as he looked down at the small boy standing wide -
eyed in front of them. "I just bet you are, peasant boy. We'll
continue this discussion in our chambers this evening, Prince Fox. You
can count on it." Smiling again as the prince winced. "Now if you both
will excuse me, I'll be getting back to my duties." Mulder took a few
moments to watch the big, handsome man walk away. The prince turned
his attention back to Royce.

"Why does Sir Walter call you 'peasant boy', my lord?"

"When we met for the first time I wasn't dressed as a prince, so now
he uses the term to remind me that he still thinks of me as someone he
can sp . ..well, he uses that name to keep me humble."

"A humble prince? Most odd, my lord. And the sorceress Dana, why does
she call you Alainn?"

"Uh well," the prince blushed to the roots of his hair. "It's from the
ancient language of her ancestors. It means . . .well, it means
'beautiful'. She calls Sir Walter, 'Sliabh. That means 'mountain'."

Royce giggled. "Men aren't called beautiful, that's supposed to be for
women, but she's right about Sir Walter. He is as big as a mountain."

"And twice as inflexible, Royce. So anyway, I'm glad to see you, it's
been 

a while. Is Lady Marcella keeping you busy with your lessons?"

"Yes, my lord, but I still don't see what reading has to do with being
a good soldier," the boy sulked. "And I don't like that book you
brought for me from the palace when you retrieved the maps. It's hard
to read and mushy, too. All nothing but pretty, whining princes and
timid, swooning ladies." Royce suddenly realized he was speaking to
one of those princes. "Oh sorry, my lord, I didn't mean that you
whine! Well, only around Sir Walter."

"Sir Walter could make anybody whine." Mulder chucked at the boy's
reddened face. "The Shakes-Pear Chronicles are some of the greatest
stories ever told, Royce. At one time, those tomes were reserved only
for the children of royalty. I've even heard it said that the original
copies came from the Before Time, saved from the great fires by the
forefathers of the Holy DisCol Warrior Monks themselves. Our written
and oral language is based on those ancient works, although some
scholars say the spoken language is no longer recognizable as such.
You should feel honored to study that book."

"Yes, my lord." The boy didn't feel honored in the least, he still
didn't think he needed to know how to read to be a royal guard and
protect King Fox. "But they aren't even realistic. All they have in
them are humans, no elves or dwarfs or anybody. Why would Mr. Shakes-
Pear write stories with just humans in them?"

"There are still some realms, Royce, where only one race lives and
doesn't even know the others exist. And some species are frightened by
certain humans, and hide from them. Sir Walter, with all his travels
to fight in foreign lands, didn't want to believe that other than
humans existed until he came to Meridiem and was forced to deal with
them, and them with him."

"Well, I'm sure he does scare most everyone to death." The boy agreed
as he squatted down on the hard, stone floor of the cave. Mulder
followed him, sitting cross-legged in front of the boy. He liked
talking to Royce. The boy was very intelligent, and the prince
desperately needed a little diversion from his own morose thoughts
right now.

"Where did the elves come from, my lord?" Royce stared at him with big
inquisitive eyes, realizing that he had stumbled upon the price when
he had time to tell him one of his wonderful stories. Royce loved it
when that happened.

"Well," the prince smiled at the little boy. "I can only tell you the
story that the Sorceress Dana told me when I asked her that same
question. In the Before Time everyone was human. There were no dwarfs,
elves, or dragons, only humans. When the Nuvega invaded the land they
released the plagerbees. Except the plagerbees weren't harmless like
they are now. They carried a terrible disease. Dana says that they
still carry that disease but everyone is immune to it now."

"That's silly, my lord, the plagerbees are good. They make the sweet-
golden that I put on my porridge every morning."

"I'm just telling you what Dana told me, Royce, but I have to say, I
think she knows what really happened in the Before Time. So, do you
want to hear the story or not?"

"I'm sorry, my lord, I want to hear. Please tell me."

Mulder smiled at the eager little boy. "As I was saying, the
plagerbees were dangerous in the Before Time. The disease they carried
spread quickly throughout the land, killing most of the human
population. And some of the people who were spared from the plagerbee
stings, died in the great fires that followed the invasion. But the
people who survived were not susceptible to the plagerbee stings. Many
of them stayed human, but many others were effected in a different
way. They changed into elves, dwarfs, dragons, big foot and all the
other creatures of the realm. Sorceress Dana says that they turned
into their true selves. That what was in their hearts became what they
looked like on the outside."

"So when Mr. Shakes-Pear was writing his stories everyone <was>
human?" Royce asked skeptically.

"They were only human on the outside, Royce. Dana says that their true
hearts were species that had lived long before but had learned to
conceal themselves in human guise. The plague of the Nuvega brought
their true natures to the forefront."

"And they all lived together, happily ever after?"

The prince chuckled, "Not quite. They all learned to live together to
a certain extent because there was so much else to worry about other
than the color of their neighbor's skin or the shape of his ears. All
the advances the people had made, all they had learned, all they had
become, their very way of life was lost. The world started over."

"Were the Nuvega human as well in the Before Time?"

"No," the prince hesitated. "I don't quite understand this myself.
Dana says that the Nevega launched their attack from a realm that lies
in the direction of the sitting sun. It was called Nevada in the
Before Time. That's how they got their name but I get the feeling from
Dana that they originally came from somewhere else, I'm just not sure
where."

"Do you believe Sorceress Dana, my lord?"

"I trust her word with my life, Royce, as should you."

"Yes, my lord. I think I'll go read some more of those stories now. I
want to know what it was like in the Before Time. Do you think
Sorceress Dana would tell me more about it someday?"

Mulder rose gracefully to his feet. "Yes, I'm sure when this war is
over, she will have time to tell you all about the Before Time. There
are a few things I'd like to know myself so maybe we can get her to
tell both of us. Now run along, I expect to be able to discuss those
pretty, whining princes with you later."

Royce blushed as he turned to leave, then impulsively threw his arms
around the prince's waist and hugged him tightly. Mulder watched the
small boy scamper away, and felt the sting of tears in the back of his
eyes. His mother, Queen Christeena, would have demanded the boy's head
for such disregard of a royal person. Prince Fox, Dragon Slayer, Truth
Seeker, and rightful King of the Realm of Meridiem, thought it might
be one of the nicest things that had ever happened to him.

The prince saw one of the runners come in with news of the war. The
man looked exhausted as he stepped carefully around the sleeping
bodies of the downed warriors. The prince took a deep breath and
stepped forward, hoping the news would be good this time.

The man had stopped to talk to Frohike but came to immediate attention
when the prince approached.

"What is it, loyal warrior?" Mulder asked, not liking the expression
on the warrior's soot-covered face.

"DisCol Warrior Monks, sire. They ride from the direction of the
palace and are headed in our direction. They will be here before
nightfall."

"No! I don't want anyone coming to our headquarters. Frohike go find
Sir Walter, we need to intercept the monks and find out what they
want. Some of them are very powerful magicians, and are supposedly
dedicated to peace but I don't trust them."

The runner looked shocked. "But King Fox, the DisCol Monks are the
most powerful men on earth. It's said that they are direct descendants
of the saviors of the people in the Before Time."

"Sorceress Dana says that's true. The last great battle was fought in
a place called the District-Columbia, and the human leaders of that
battle formed the holy order to protect and lead the people. I just
fear that many of the monks have become drunk on their own power and
have lost sight of their higher purpose."

"That is treason, sire!"

"Perhaps, but I am the heir apparent for the Realm of Meridiem and I
trust no one with my people's lives. Perhaps they come to help us
regain the throne but we must find out before we kneel before them."

"Well said, Prince Fox." Sir Walter strolled into the war room, the
picture of a confident and capable warrior. "We leave at once."

He grabbed the prince's arm as they made their way out to their
horses, giving him an affectionate squeeze. "You make me proud,
peasant boy."

And as disturbed as he was by this new development, the prince
couldn't remember the last time a comment had made him feel so good.

* * * 

Realm of Meridiem King's Highway

Prince Fox rode between Sir Walter and Alex. They had circled around
to take the King's Highway instead of the route usually taken to reach
the caves. They hoped to intercept the monks before they reached the
road that would take them directly into the Enorus Mountains and the
secret headquarters.

The prince's thoughts were on the holy order of DisCol Monks. They
were powerful men and women to be sure, but he had heard stories
brought to The Three, that made him doubt their goodness of heart.
They were the ultimate voice for all of the realms, and disputes
between kings were brought before them for settlement. The Three
believed that those with the most gold in their pockets saw the lion's
share of the justice.

"I can see their dust now," Alex commented. "We should be upon them
shortly."

"Why have those dwarf runners not gotten back to us with a report on
how many warrior monks we face today?" Sir Walter looked around him
worriedly, his senses alert to danger.

"I have to agree that it's too quiet." Mulder shifted uneasily in his
saddle. "We should have been joined by the advance scout by this time,
if not the entire Dwarf army."

"Do you think they already know where the cave is located, peasant
boy?"

"It's very possible, Sir Walter, the DisCol Monks are powerful
magicians, and my fear is that they would have little trouble finding
our headquarters. My only hope is that they have no interest in its
location or have enough honor left to not disclose such valuable
information to our enemies."

The DisCol Warrior Monks were a sight to behold. Riding three abreast
in brightly colored silks, their silver armor gleaming in the noonday
sun. Even their horses, prancing restlessly under them, were adorned
with bits of streaming cloth and jingling silver harness. They
numbered at least thirty men, all large of build and powerful in
stature. There could be little doubt that these men felt they had the
power to control kings.

Sir Walter glanced over at his prince. "I should have made you wear
that body armor. I've gotten soft with you, peasant boy."

Mulder and Alex exchanged a pointed look, their butts were still sore
from the strapping Sir Walter had delivered to both of them just last
night.

"Sir Walter, armor is no protection against DisCol Monks. You know
that." The prince strained his eyes to catch a glimpse of the
approaching monks.

"I still don't like this." Skinner growled. "We should have brought an
army with us."

"We don't have enough army to spare without giving up valuable ground
on the battlefields. The DisCol Monks were allied with my father,
perhaps they will help his son regain the throne."

There was a rustle from a nearby bush. Sir Walter made the mistake of
reaching for his sword instead of his foolhardy prince. He found
himself scrambling down from his huge horse in desperate pursuit of
the young man who had leaped from his own mount and sprinted toward
whatever was concealed in that brush.

Sir Walter crashed through the foliage, like an elephant parting the
jungle, to find the prince gently cradling the head of a wounded dwarf
warrior.

"King Fox," the dwarf ignored the prince's request that he save his
strength. "You are in danger my true king. The monks have . . .Sir
Spender with them."

The prince took off his own warm cloak and lay it gently over the
injured dwarf. "You rest here, Driscoll." But the little warrior never
heard the words, he was already unconscious in his prince's arms.

"We must go back to the caves and defend you from there, peasant boy."
Sir Walter pulled frantically on Fox's arm. Then they heard Alex
scream.

Sir Walter was a large man, muscular and strong. He outweighed the
prince by several stone and had always been able to physically
manhandle the younger man when necessary. This time, he found himself
unable to stop the prince as he scrambled from the shelter of the
woods, with the speed and agility of his namesake, to confront Alex's
attacker.

They came upon the road to find Alex, sword raised to attack, frozen
in his saddle. The DisCol Monks sat silently facing him.

"What have you done to him?" The prince demanded. His eyes drawn to
where Sir Spender sat atop his horse, a smirk upon his creased and
wrinkled face.

The leader of the monks rode slowly forward, the merry tinkling of his
horse's harness the only sound in the silent forest. When he reached
the prince and Sir Walter, he pulled back his face plate to reveal
cruel blue eyes in a pale, freckled face.

"I am William Scully, II, DisCol Warrior Monk, Direct Descent of the
Saviors of the World, and the Ruler of Kings. You will hear me, Prince
Fox, and obey."

"I am King Fox of Meridiem, Truth Seeker, Dragon Slayer and Sole Heir
to the House of Mulder. I answer to no one except my subjects. You
show your true nature by the company you keep, monk."

"Sir Spender has told us of your betrayal to the memory of your
father, my little traitor prince. We have come to understand that King
William did not trust you with his kingdom and gave you over for
training to his loyal council Sir Spender, now the ephemeral King of
Meridiem. You have left his care and turned his subjects against him.
You will end this war at once and return with King Spender to the
castle where you will be under his sole control until a time that he
personally deems you are ready to assume your rightful role as king."
William Scully smiled evilly, "Should such a time ever come."

"I've heard of you, William Scully." The prince stared defiantly into
the face of the powerful warrior monk. "You plotted to murder your own
sister, Melissa, only to gain more power within the DisCol order for
yourself. You're a heartless and cruel man who cares for little but
exerting control over the lives of others. You are a disgrace to the
principals set forth by your forefathers."

"And you are a prince in need of sound discipline. I think King
Spender will meet those needs quite nicely. Take these prisoners back
to the castle."

Both the prince and Sir Walter drew their swords, back to back as the
monks spread into a circle around them.

"Give it up, little prince." William Scully smirked. "I hope you
aren't expecting any help from those dwarf warriors of yours. They
were so easily defeated."

Sir Walter raised his sword, prepared to rush the warrior monks now
advancing on his prince. He instantly froze in place, sword still held
high above his head.

"Let him go!" The prince lowered his own sword as he reached for the
bewitched knight. "I'll go with you, just let Sir Walter and Alex go.
It's me you want."

"I think not, Fox." Sir Spender spoke for the first time. "You will be
much more compliant under my strap if I have your two 'friends' held
captive in my dungeon. Take all of them back to the palace."

The bodies of Sir Walter and Alex were loaded into a prison wagon at
the back of the procession. As the monks started to push the prince in
to join his two inanimate companions, Sir Spender stopped them. "No,
strip him and give him to me so that he may sit on my horse with me. I
will do the commoners good to see their prince, naked and captive. I
am their king and they had best get used to it."

The monks seemed amused as the prince struggled to retain his clothing
but all too soon he stood naked before them. They tied the prince's
hands behind his back, then lifted him up to sit shivering in the
saddle in front of Sir Spender.

The prince tried desperately to keep some distance between his back
and the old man's chest but Sir Spender would have none of that. He
grabbed the prince's balls in one bony hand, and squeezing painfully,
maneuvered the prince back until his bare bottom rested completely on
the pretender king's lap.

"Get used to this, Fox. You won't be wearing clothing again, and I do
so want your subjects to see what has become of their pretty little
prince. Soon no one will be at all surprised to see you riding naked
in front of me or lying across my saddle with your well-beaten bottom
on display for all to see. You will never be alone again. If you
aren't busy entertaining me in my private chambers, you will be
publicly and humiliatingly displayed like the pretty, insignificant
ornamentation you have become. You belong to me now, Fox, and there is
nothing anyone will be able to do about it."

The evil man reached around and pinched a sensitive nipple. "Now I
want you to lie back against me while I re-acquaint myself with your
beautiful body. If you give me any resistance, little prince, I'll
have your friends back there flogged before your very eyes."

The prince could not stop the fat tears that ran down his face as
parchment-dry hands intimately explored his body.

* * * 

Royal Palace Dungeon

"I distinctly said that I would go first."

"Will you just let me through?"

The snitch finally expelled its bulbous body through the tiny opening
that led to the secret passageways. They wrinkled their noses at the
stench that met them upon entering the dungeon.

"Great Prophet almightily, what died down here?"

"Us, if you don't shut up, old man." Mr. X snarled at his other self.

"It is a wise man who plunderth not the putrid or the vile."

"Don't start with that shit, old man. We have to find Sir Walter so
just shut up and keep your eyes open. I want to get out of here before
one of Spender's dark knights finds us."

"I'm over here."

The snitch lumbered over to stand in front of the iron cell holding
the captive knight.

"Oh, you smell bad." Deep Throat pointed out fussily.

"You'd smell bad too if you'd been held down here for a week. How is
Prince Fox? Is he all right? Have they hurt him? Have you seen him?"

"Yeah, we've seen him." Mr. X said angrily. "He looks bad. Spender
never lets him out of his sight. We've been told that the prince
spends his nights hanging from the ceiling in Sir Spender's chambers."

"Have they . . . have they hurt him?"

"Well," Deep Throat whispered confidentially. "I heard that Sir
Spender tried to rape him but another arrow came out of nowhere, and
killed one of his evil knights who was watching. Spender hasn't had
the nerve to try again but I'm sure he will soon. And of course, he's
whipped the prince repeatedly. I think he quite enjoys taking his
strap to him." The snitch took an involuntary step back as the
knight's face reddened with rage.

"Where's Krycek?" Mr. X asked as he looked around at the other cells.

"I don't know. They took him above stairs. I'm afraid he might be
entertaining the dark knights." Sir Walter let his head hang for a
moment. "We need to help him."

"They're too well fortified, Sir Walter. We'll have to wait for a
better time. The Sorceress Dana is still free, she'll find a way to
come for you. I'm sure of it."

"Besides, the prince isn't here right now anyway." Deep Throat
flinched back once more as a big hand reached through the iron bars to
grab his wrist.

"Not here? Where is he?"

"It's . . .it's said that Sir Spender took him on a tour to each
village in the realm. The prince is to be displayed in the center of
the hamlet and publicly whipped. Sir Spender hopes if the people see
what has become of their beautiful and brave prince, they will become
so demoralized that they will stop fighting and bow to Spender's
authority."

"Spender's authority, my ass! Someday I'll kill that old bastard with
my bare hands. How goes the war?"

"The people of Meridiem still fight valiantly, but Sir Spender has
amassed such an army that I fear that once the people see his might
and the fate of Prince Fox, they will indeed give up hope."

"We must save the prince. He is the key to winning this blasted war.
Can you get out of the palace and find the sorceress?"

"No," Mr. X shook his head sadly. "We've tried. All the secret
passages out of the courtyard have been found and sealed."

Sir Walter suddenly looked up at the snitch. "Fox can contact his
subjects. I'm not sure how he does it . . .some kind of weird mind
thing but . . .I've seen him do it."

"He's too weak, Sir Walter. Haven't you noticed that he's been silent
for almost a full day now?"

"Uh-hum," Deep Throat tapped his other self on the shoulder. "Don't
you remember, Prince Fox doesn't talk to Sir Walter like that?"

"Yeah, but this is different!"

"What do you mean, doesn't <talk to me> like that? Like what?"

"Prince Fox does have the ability to talk to any subject in his realm
with his mind. He never let you hear him because he was afraid it
would scare you."

"That little shit thinks he could <scare> a Supreme Royal Knight of
Meridiem? Are you telling me that he had the ability to let me know
where the hell he was at any given time, but he was afraid he would
<scare> me? When I get my hands on that aggravating little peasant
boy, I'll . . ."

"Save it, sir knight. I doubt that after this tour of each village,
our prince will be in any shape to go over your knee, no matter how
well deserved."

"We have to save him." Sir Walter whispered as his eyes burned. He
hated it when the stale air in the dungeon made his eyes water like
this.

* * * 

Realm of Meridiem Village of Higdon Mass

The prince felt big, rough hands pull him down from where he lay
sprawled, face down, across Sir Spender's saddle. This was the third
village they had stopped at today, and the prince's body hurt from
hair to toenails.

He heard the sound of a scuffle, loud voices and hard fists hitting
soft flesh, somewhere a woman was crying. Fox tried to see what was
happening but it was so hard to even lift his head now. At the other
villages he had begged the people not to resist what was happening. He
didn't want any of his subjects to be killed trying to save him.

He tried to muster the energy necessary to resist as he was dragged
across the dusty ground, his neck and wrists shoved through the
openings of the stocks that occupied the center of the village. There
were more shouts of protest and cries of pain. The prince looked up to
see one of the villagers standing in front of him, tears staining down
the man's weather-beaten cheeks.

"Tell them . . .not to risk life . . .for me. Save fight for Mer .
..Meridiem. Ah-h-h-h!"

Spender's leather strap has lashed out, catching the prince in the
small of his back. "Quiet, boy." Sir Spender, self proclaimed King of
Meridiem, looked around at his unwilling subjects. "I have brought my
pretty new slave here today so that you may see him punished for his
arrogance and disobedience to me, his king. Learn well, peasants, that
this same fate not befall you."

Sir Spender shook out his strap and turned back to the hapless prince.
"This slave is to receive twelve lashes for thinking himself too good
to be my slave and six additional for refusing to obey my commands and
look to my pleasure. Colonel Henderson, you will count each stroke so
that our deserving little slave shall not be slighted."

The black strip of leather flew forward with a resounding smack
against the unprotected flesh in its arching path. The prince gasped
as he felt yet another stripe of fire across his abused backside. He
also felt his neck and wrists bruise as he jerked in the heavy oak
stocks. At the last two villages he had been tied with his arms
stretched up to a tree limb. In some ways that had been better.

"One." Came the deep, amused voice of Sir Spender's big military
officer.

The lash struck again, still against his reddened bottom. The prince
sobbed once and then bit down on his bottom lip to still any further
outburst. There were several of his subjects sobbing now and he didn't
want to upset them any more than they already were.

"Two. Perhaps a little harder, sire. He doesn't seem to be reacting
properly."

The next stripe burned across the back of his naked thighs and the
prince howled in pain. Another angry protest from the onlookers, and
again the sound of a big fist punishing the peasant who would dare to
object.

"Three."

"Ah-h-h-h-h!"

"Four. Much better, my king."

The strap moved from shoulders to thighs until twelve hard, painful
strokes had been administered. The last six were applied full force,
all falling on the prince's already well-punished backside. Fox was
hardly aware when he was released from the stocks, carried to Sir
Spender's horse and lain, red bottom up, across the pretender's
saddle.

Sir Spender wrapped a possessive hand around the prince's waist,
feeling the warmed flesh of his back through his own silk garments.
Plaintive sobbing could still be heard from the peasants of Higdon
Mass as the royal procession left the village in the direction of
their next destination, and Prince Fox's next public whipping.

* * * 

Royal Palace Dungeon

Sir Walter looked up as Alex Krycek was shoved harshly back into the
cell to land in a heap on the cold, filthy floor. Sir Walter ran to
his side, gently cradling his head in his large hands. With just a
little assistance, Alex managed to sit up rubbing at a large bruise
that covered most of one jaw.

"What happened? Did . . .did they . . . rape you?"

"No. But not because they didn't want to. Sir Arnold had me trussed up
like a turkey ready for the bake ovens. I think he felt that raping me
would be almost as good as taking the prince. But as soon as he got
ready to take his pleasure, arrows rained down out of nowhere. It was
amazing, Walter. Those dark knights were dropping like flies and not
one arrow, not one, even came near me."

"Did they catch the archer?"

"No where to be found," Alex marveled. "Damnest thing I ever saw."

"How are you feeling, boy?" A loud booming voice sounded from just
outside the cell. Walter looked at the stranger standing before them.
He knew he had never seen this knight before but he looked familiar
somehow. Sir Walter turned to Alex and was immediately concerned to
see the younger man standing pale and shaking. "Alex, what wro . . .?"

"Grandfather?"

"Of course it's me, my boy. Don't tell me you don't recognize your old
pa, it hasn't been that long, Alexi."

The big strong-looking knight stepped through the iron bars just as an
overjoyed Alex threw himself into the mans waiting arms.

"But . . .but, old pa, you're dead. Sir Spender killed you. I saw him
do it with my own eyes, but no one would believe me. Well except for
Fox, of course, but then, no one would believe him either. We tried to
make it right, old pa, we really did."

"I know what you tried to do, that's why I'm here, boy. King Aaron and
your father got a ride out of here but I stayed around in case they
captured you or Prince Fox. I can't do much about that madman is doing
but he'll not be rapin' my boys if I have a say in the matter."

"So you're the archer, old pa?" Alex asked with pride and excitement.

"Uh, well . . . no boy, it isn't me, or your father, for that matter.
The ones who defend you and Fox with their bows have more power than
any mere ghost could ever hope to possess."

Vlagimir Krycek turned heavily lashed, green eyes on Skinner. "It's a
pleasure to finally meet you face to face, Sir Walter. King Aaron is
quite impressed with you. I can't tell you how much I appreciate how
you've watched out for Alex and Fox for us. They always were a
handful. What one didn't think of, the other did."

Sir Walter could only nod his head at the gregarious ghost.

He turned back to Alex. "So, Alexi, what do we do now? I heard that a
messenger had been dispatched to find Spender. The DisCol Monks are
ordering the pretender king back to the castle. Seems there are some
of the Mulder family jewels missing. Seems Spender promised it to them
in exchange for their support. Leave it to those monks to be more
interested in obtaining wealth than serving true justice."

Sir Walter was still in shock. Not only was Vlagimir a ghost, but he
had not shut up once since he had materialized in the dungeon. He was
beginning to see where Alex got his gift for gab. Although, truth be
told, it wasn't that Alex talked a lot, it was just when he did, he
could persuade Fox to do almost anything.

"Sir Walter?"

The knight looked around to see the elf, Max Fenig standing behind the
ghost of Alex's grandfather.

"Max? What's wrong? Did you see Prince Fox?"

"No sir, not yet. I didn't know Sir Spender had taken the prince with
him on his tour of the villages until today. Uh . . .I'll watch for
his return."

"Well you're not watching very well if you're standing down here, now
are you, boy?" Mr. X admonished the trembling elf. "You're my tool."

"Humph!" Replied Deep Throat. "You wouldn't know what to do with a
descent tool if you had one."

"More than you would, old man. You don't know me. No one knows how to
use a good tool the way I do!"

"Cast your stick upon the waters and seethe if it floats." Deep Throat
said wisely, while everyone in the dungeon looked at him in
bewilderment. "It's and old Centurion proverb," he said defensively.
"Or maybe it wasn't cast you stick, perhaps it was cast your dic . .
."

"Well, uh, yeah," Sir Walter interjected just in time. "Max, just be .
. ."

A loud whispering sound came from the dark end of the dungeon. Both
Alex and Sir Walter tensed, "Hide, both of you." Alex whispered. "That
could be one of the dark knights."

As Max and the snitch tried to disappear into the shadows of the
dungeon, the voices grew louder.

"I told you this wasn't the right way."

"Yes it is, and besides what did you expect me to do, stop and ask a
dark knight for directions? Just stop pulling on my tunic like that.
Sir Walter has got to be down here somewhere, we'll find him."

"Will you two just shut up and keep your eyes open. I swear . . ."

The Three came stumbling around the corner, Langly holding tightly to
the bottom of Frohike's tunic as they made their way through the dark
and filthy dungeon.

"Oh great," Alex sneered. "Just what we needed in our darkest hour,
The Jesters Three."

"Shut up, Krycek." Frohike scowled at the man who only smirked back at
him.

"We snuck in with the supply wagons," Byers straightened his shoulders
proudly. "We're here to help the prince."

"Yeah," Frohike agreed. "But we've decided to just let you rot down
here, Krycek."

"What's going on? You guys having a party of something? Hey, why
wasn't I invited." Eddie VanBlundht sauntered around the corner. "You
need me, I'm great at picking up chicks."

"Of course. Of course we do." Max assured him timidly. "Chickens can
be very difficult to catch. Fast little devils sometimes, and we could
all use 

a good chicken dinner about now."

"No, elf boy," Eddie rolled his eyes at Max. "I'm good at making women
well . . .you know, sleep with me."

"Humph!" Alex snorted, earning himself another glare, this one from
Eddie.

"Oh . . .uh, sure . . .I knew that." Max face flushed a bright red
causing Eddie to snicker at him.

"Geez," Alex mourned. "This just keeps getting better and better."

"You!" Sir Walter shouted, scaring everyone who was standing anywhere
near his cell. "I know you! I thought I told you to stay away from
Fox."

Eddie made a great show of looking at the faces that surrounded him.
"Well I don't see your little royal brat here, now do I?" Not even
attempting to hide his sarcasm from the big, incarcerated knight.

Sir Walter actually growled at Eddie, causing everyone to take another
step back from him. "How are all of you people getting in here and yet
you tell me no one can get out."

"It's always easier to get in somewhere than to get back out." Frohike
said wisely. "You can just ask Prince Fox about that. Just last month
he . . . "

Alex glanced worriedly at the big, angry knight. "Uh, this might not
be the best time to bring that up, Frohike."

"Bring what up?" Sir Walter snarled, far beyond exasperation at this
point.

Just then they heard a key turning in the outer lock. They all hurried
into the empty cells, all but whistling up at the ceiling trying
desperately to look like they all belonged there. A lone jailer
appeared carrying two bowls of gruel. He stopped short when he saw all
the inhabitants in the dungeon.

"Hey, they told me two prisoners. I'm going to have to go back for
more gruel."

Mr. X lowered his head to sniff suspiciously at one of the bowls. "You
don't need to bother." He said, raising his head as he made a face at
the repugnant food.

"A man cannot soar with the hookbills if he eateth swill with the
swine." Deep Throat added to clear everything up quite nicely.

"Hey, what're you calling swill, mister, this is our best gruel."

Sir Walter fixed the jailer with <his> best scowl. "Take it away, we
don't want any of Spender's charity."

The jailer looked around at the large number of prisoners. "Nobody
wants any gruel?"

"Well if nobody else wants it, I'll take it," Eddie grabbed a bowl,
while Alex made a disgusted face.

"I might try a little myself," Max offered. "Do you have any pecan
bread to go with it?"

"Uh no, but I might be able to find you some holy wafers, those monks
brought crates of that stuff with them. That an that strange blue wine
they like so much."

Sir Walter's head snapped up. "What kind of strange wine?"

The jailer looked like he was burning just about every brain cell he
had left to come up with the name. "It was dwarf . . .no not dwarf . .
.elf! Yeah elf wine, sunrise or sunset or something like that."

"Uh, they aren't supposed to have that." Max stuttered. "It's against
the rules to even make twilight, and anyone caught in it in their
possession can be put to death."

"Whose dumb rule is that?" Alex asked.

"It's a common sense rule, Alex." Skinner glared at him. "Elfin
twilight can destroy the minds of anyone other than the elves.
Everyone knows that."

"Well, I drink it all the time and my mind is fine. And so does Eddie
and he's not . . . okay, so maybe it isn't good for everyone, but it
didn't hurt Prince Fox any, now did it?"

"You gave elfin twilight to our king?" Mr. X blustered, glaring at
Alex.

"Well yeah," Alex admitted. "I wanted to see if it would uh, you know,
loosen him up a little."

"A wise man knoweth when to keepeth out of the pants of kings," Deep
Throat threw his own chastising glare at Alex. "No matter how pretty
they may bethe."

"That's the first thing you've ever said that actually made sense, old
man." Mr. X complimented his other self.

"Thank you." Deep Throat accepted the long overdue compliment
graciously.

"Are you guys saying you gave that poison to Prince Fox?" The jailer
asked.

"Why?" Alex snarled at him suspiciously. "What do you care about the
prince?"

"As far as I'm concerned, he isn't a prince anymore, he's my king. Do
you mean to harm him?"

"What's your name, jailer?" Sir Walter asked as he gave the little man
his most intimidating stare.

"Gustov, sir knight. And I repeat, do you wish harm to my king?"

Sir Walter and Alex exchanged interested glances. The knight turned
back to the now distrustful jailer. "We are friends of Prince Fox, and
wish to see him sit on his throne once more. Tell me, Gustov, are
there others in the castle who share your feeling about the prince?"

"There are many of us, my lord. Prince Fox was always kind and
generous to the peasants. He treated us as equals and listened when we
spoke. We fear Sir Spender, and wish to see our rightful king regain
his crown."

Sir Walter rubbed his chin as he thought about this. "Consider
yourself one of us, Gustov. You now hold Prince Fox's life in your
hands. Will you betray your future king and his loyal followers?"

"Never, my lord." Gustov went down on one leg, bowing his head.

"Rise, Gustov. The prince will have no kneeling at his name until he
has regained his throne and freed his people from the imposter king.
You need to discretely speak with the other servants in the castle. We
must know exactly how many of the servants we can count as loyal to
the prince."

Yes, my lord." The little jailor, his new assignment making his heart
thud joyfully in his chest. Perhaps there was hope for his people at
last.

"Gustov, unlock this door." Alex demanded impatiently.

Alex smiled as the jailor stepped back nervously. "Don't worry,
friend, we won't go running up to attack Sir Arnold of Caspion in his
sleep. Although 

I must admit I would like a few minutes alone with that man. No one
will know that we are free, until that is, Prince Fox is back in the
castle and we are ready to attack. But in the mean time, I have some
kegs of elfin twilight to steal. I think a little blue wine would be
just the thing to raise our standard of living down here."

"Alex, be careful. We can't very well regain the palace with a bunch
of brain dead warriors, now can we?"

Alex only chuckled at him, "You worry too much. Why don't you just
save all that obsessive need to protect and control for your brat
prince."

"You'll think obsessive, you little . . ."

The jailor smiled happily as he turned the ancient, rusty key in the
lock. Sir Walter and Alex Krycek were free men once more.

* * * 

Realm of Meridiem Human Village of Coleiga

The Lady Diana stood in the shadows and watched as a battered Prince
Fox was lifted down from his perch in front of Sir Spender. She smiled
to herself. It was nice to see one of the men who had betrayed her
paying so dearly for his sins.

She crept a little closer, hoping to get a better look without
catching the eye of Spender. She didn't trust him not to try to kill
her. Not after he had locked her in that dreadful dungeon with that
other riffraff. Someday she would make the old man pay but today was
not the time. Today she wanted to watch Fox scream at the end of a
strap.

The people of Coleiga protested mightily as the naked young prince was
tied dangling from a sturdy tree branch. Once again Fox tried to rouse
himself enough to warn his people to bide their time. To not die for
such a worthless cause as saving a deposed prince. Meridiem needed its
people if it was going to survive.

Lady Diana watched in disgust as the prince struggled to turn his body
around to face his faithful subjects.

"Stop!" The prince but whispered as all magically quieted and everyone
strained to hear the words of their rightful king. "You will not try
to stop what happens here today. This is my destiny but your destiny
lies in fighting for Meridiem. Ah-h-h-h-h!"

Sir Spender let the strap fly again, catching the prince in the same
spot on his upper chest. Both sensitive nipples taking the brunt of
the lash. The wicked strip of leather landed again, this time on the
prince's stomach, forcing him to turn. To put his back to the lash and
protect his more vulnerable front.

All was deathly quiet in Coleiga as the lash landed again and again on
the prince's already abused body. Finally the young prince hung
limply, his entire weight on his bruised and bleeding wrists.

"Stop! You're killing him!" Someone begged, close to a sob.

"No, keep going. Make him pay!" Diana put a hand to her own mouth,
appalled that she had voiced her thoughts aloud. Sir Spender's sharp
eyes turned toward her, pinning her into the shadows which she tried
to use to conceal her existence from him.

"You!" He screamed. "You betrayed m . . ."

"Your majesty!" A dark knight came thundering into the village, his
eyes growing wide at the condition of the prince of Meridiem.

"What is it?" Sir Spender snapped, his eyes never leaving Diana's
face.

"You must return to the castle at once, sire. The Holy Order of DisCol
Warrior Monks have need of your wise council. It is most urgent!"

"I see," Sir Spender puffed up like a proud rooster. "Oh the trials of
ruling a kingdom! Sir John, cut my young friend down and put him on my
horse. We ride for the royal palace at once."

Sir Spender turned back to the woman hiding in the shadows. He smiled
evilly as he turned to the good people of Coleiga. Good hardworking
farmers, ignorant and superstitious.

"Did you know," Sir Spender's voice hissed and slithered like a snake.
"That the woman who lives among you is really an evil witch. She is
responsible for what had befallen your beautiful young prince. And
tell me, have you not had crops to fail and babies to fall ill while
she has been among you?"

The men and women of Coleiga turned to stare at Lady Diana. They
couldn't really remember any sick babies but surely there had been
some. And of course the crops could always be better. They had found
an outlet for their anger over their prince.

"A witch! Burn her!"

"No, tear her limb from limb and bury her in unholy ground."

"No, a stake. We have to drive a stave through her heart. Catch her."

Fox raised himself from his slumped position over the neck of the tall
war-horse, his blistered flesh taking his weight as he sat up in the
saddle. "No, stop! Don't do this."

Sir Spender pulled himself up to sit behind the swaying prince. "Save
your breath, my beautiful slave. She's getting just what she
deserves."

As they rode away, the hysterical shouts of the commoners and Lady
Diana's piercing screams rang in the prince's ears.

* * * 

Royal Palace Dungeon

"Why is it so clean down here all of the sudden?" Sir Walter looked
around at the sparkling dungeon. Just about everyone, including the
ghost of King Aaron, had moved from the caves to this dungeon. They
were just fortunate that neither Sir Spender or his dark knights would
lower themselves to come down to the disreputable place.

"It's the damned brownies," Alex growled. "You can't lay anything down
without one of them dusting, scrubbing or scouring it. Max said that
now they're all busy making new shoes for everybody."

"Well, at least they're doing something useful, Alex. The dwarfs are
bored and have started fighting amongst themselves, or anybody else
they can bait into taking a swing at them. And those dragons singed
the hair on an entire battalion of bigfoot yesterday. And I don't even
want to tell you what the fairies have been up to with the royal
guards. If we can't storm the castle soon, there's going to be a war
down here."

"Sir Walter!"

Skinner looked up to see Frohike running toward him.

"Frohike, can you be a little louder? I'm not sure they heard you in
Aspan Mia and you know how the brownies hate to be left out." Alex
sneered at the little man.

"Shut up, Alex."

"Yeah, shut up." Lucy Householder agreed. "You don't know anything
about brownies."

"I know they have short little legs and foul dispositions, now don't
I?" Alex sneered as he eyed the tiny little brownie pointedly.

"Will everyone just stop this constant bickering." Sir Walter shouted
above the din. "I'm getting to the point I don't want to hear a word
out of any of you."

"Fine," Frohike sulked. "I won't bother telling you that Prince Fox
has been brought back to the palace."

"What?" Skinner grabbed the little man's collar, practically lifting
him off the floor. "Fox is back? Do you know where he's being held?"

"Uh, yeah - well - kinda'."

"What does 'kinda' mean exactly?"

"He's been suspended from the ceiling in the Spender's chambers again.
My sources say he looks to be in pretty bad shape. Spender was true to
his word, and dragged him from village to village, whipping him in
front of his subjects." Frohike looked up in time to see the intense
pain reflected in Sir Walter's face. "I also heard he was very brave.
You can be proud of him."

"I would have been proud of him if he had screamed his head off." Sir
Walter wiped a hand across his eyes. "We need to get him out of
there."

"Well," Frohike beamed. "I think now is the time. William Scully, who
has tormented the prince unmercifully, has been ordered back to the
District. He and his monks are leaving at first light tomorrow
morning."

Sir Walter turned to the beings gathered in the dungeon. "We move to
take the palace at dawn. Spread the word."

* * * Royal Palace Sir Spender Private Chambers

The Holy DisCol Monk, William Scully, sat drinking his favorite elfin
twilight and watching the man who swung slowly to and fro from the
ceiling of the chamber. The prince's long arms were stretched high
above his head, with his toes barely touching the cold marble floor.
His head rested on his own chest, and had not moved since he had been
put in bondage.

Even beyond exhaustion, beaten and battered the prince was still a
handsome man. William walked over to the suffering prince, running a
hand down his lightly-furred chest and over one smooth hip.

"You always were beautiful, Fox. Would you like me to let you down
from there. You look uncomfortable."

"N . . .no, stay away from me. I . . .I don't ne . . .need your help."

The monk's big hand scraped across a red, raw buttock, making the
prince flinch in his bonds. "Are you sure about that, Fox? You seem to
be losing your strength at an alarming rate. Tell you what, I'll let
you down for a while, give you some water, maybe let you rest a
little. Spender doesn't need to know. I've got just what you need to
make you feel a whole lot better, Fox."

"Don't want any . . .anything from you."

"Still the little prude, I see. You know, I have a lot of special
powers. 

I would be a much better master for you than Spender ever would. How
about I show you what will become of you when that old man can't
protect you any longer? I don't think you'll like it Fox."

William Scully snapped his fingers and a being appeared before them.
The prince tried to focus on the apparition but it swam before his
eyes.

"Grandfather?" Fox almost sobbed out the name.

"No Fox, this isn't a ghost for heaven's sake. It's just someone who
wants to get to know you better." William Scully turned as the
gargoyle who still looked a little stunned by his rapid transport from
a battlefield to a bed chamber.

"This is Bill Patterson, Fox. He's had quite the crush on you since he
first lay eyes on you at one of the field camps. I think it's time you
two got acquainted, don't you?"

"No, keep . . .keep that thing away from me!" Fox tried to pull back
from the grotesque beast who was quickly overcoming his shock, and was
reacting to the exciting smell coming off the pretty human. Prince Fox
gagged as the beast's rancid breath washed across his face.

The creature ran a clawed, heavily veined hand over the prince's
shuddering body. "So pretty." It grunted. "My people hate humans but
you're different, I couldn't take my eyes off you. So sweet and
pretty."

The gargoyle literally purred as it moved its ugly face down to sniff
at the prince's soft, fragrant hair. "I disguised myself as a human. I
was supposed to kill you but you spoke to me. Asked me if I was all
right. I couldn't make myself kill you after that. I don't want to
kill you now, I want to own you, to consume you. I will control you
completely and bend you to my will. I will be your master, sweet
prince, and you will serve me willingly. And you will never be free to
leave me. Never."

The prince gagged again as Patterson licked him with his rough, wet
tongue. The prince shuddered in revulsion.

"So," William Scully asked. "What will it be, you sorry excuse for a
prince, Patterson or myself? When I leave this castle tomorrow
morning, your protection from that gargoyle will be gone. He's tasted
your flesh now, and nothing will stop him after that. Gargoyles are
very well endowed, he'll tear you apart, Fox, but never let you have
the mercy of death."

"No-o-o-o!" The prince moaned. "Please, keep him away from me."

Fox shivered as Patterson ran a scaled hand across his nipples. The
rough hand moved down to grab his cock in an iron-like grip.

"Hu . . .hurts! Leave me alone!"

William came back into the prince's line of vision. "I can make him
stop, little prince. I can make him go away again. All you have to do
is ask me to take you down."

"N . . .no!"

The cold, reptilian hand felt like it was reaching inside his chest to
pull his beating heart out of his shuddering body. The prince
screamed. Then screamed again as the gargoyle's attack continued. Then
suddenly, it stopped. He heard a scream of pure animal fury, and then
he felt himself being released from his bound and stretched position.

"I knew you'd see the light, Fox." The monk cooed at him.

"I did . . .didn't ask to be released."

"Of course you did. I clearly heard you."

Fox looked beyond William's shoulder to see his grandfather standing
there, smiling at him encouragingly. He heard the beloved voice in his
head, 'trust me, Fox'. Mulder smiled back at the man who had given him
his good-looks and, more importantly, his courage. The prince nodded
at his ancestor.

"Good. Now I'm going to make you feel real good." William Scully
pulled the prince up and carried him over to a sturdy table. He draped
the young man across it face down, ignoring his pleas for a glass of
water.

"You'll get your water, Fox, but only after I get what I want."

William Scully was not a kind man. He had been raised to know his
place as the master of kings, and he believed himself to be just that.
He had ignored his teachers when they spoke of duty and responsibility
of power, preferring instead to believe himself to be above mortal
men. To be a god.

The monk hastily removed his codpiece, stroking his own erection. He
thought briefly that he should use some sort of oil to make this
easier for the prince, but then discarded the idea as too much bother.
Fox would heal in time. He ran his hands over the prince's long, lean
body. The skin was so soft and smooth. The muscles hard and firm
underneath. He shoved one finger deep inside the hot, tightness of the
prince ignoring the man's pained cry.

"Shut up, Fox, you're only getting what all the pretty boys like you
crave and deserve. You're just a common slave, no I take that back,
you're a very uncommon slave, but a slave nonetheless. You'd better
learn to just lay back and enjoy it. I have a feeling that looking the
way you do, you're going to be getting a lot of this sort of
treatment."

Mulder bit down on his bottom lip until he tasted his own blood, his
eyes squeezed tightly shut. Someday . . .someday he would kill William
Scully, DisCol Monk or not. He shut his eyes tightly as another blunt
finger joined the one already penetrating his unprepared body.

Then the fingers were gone and the prince could feel another type of
hardness poised to enter his body. He tried desperately to relax. Sir
Walter had always told him that if he relaxed everything would be
easier. Of course, the ways Sir Walter used to relax him turned his
body to a quivering blob of jelly so he hadn't had much practice
relaxing on his own. He took a deep breath, determined to survive this
latest atrocity as he had survived all else.

Whir-st! A golden arrow flew out of nowhere and sank itself deep in
William Scully's left shoulder. The monk screamed, looking around
himself frantically. He tried to use his mage powers to stop the
attack but the archer seemed to have supernatural powers of his own.
The monk despite the pain, despite the fear, he could not make himself
withdraw his shaft from the hot, tight opening he wanted to penetrate
so badly. William Scully was insane with his own lust and confused by
the loss of his magical powers. He was intoxicated with his desire to
use this beautiful king for his own pleasure.

Whir-st! Another arrow flew past William's shoulder, barely missing
his right ear, but still he refused to give up the rape of this man.
Whir-st! The final arrow sank deep into the monk's chest. He was dead
before he hit the floor.

Prince Fox wasn't sure what had happened exactly. He slowly opened his
eyes, wondering if William Scully had gone in pursuit of the archer.
Hoping against hope that the sexual attack was over. He cautiously
rose from his prone position on the table, turning to find his
attacker but then stopped wide-eyed, gasping in surprise.

Towering before him stood the most breathtaking apparition he had ever
seen in his life. She was inconceivably beautiful of face with long
flowing tresses of the deepest brown. Her skin, pale and shimmering,
her eyes glowing a rich green, her expression one of unconditional
love. She wavered before his vision but he wasn't sure if it was her
or his own precarious legs that insisted on swaying under him. Her
long white gown seemed to float around her body, as if kissed by a
warm, gentle breeze.

The magnificent creature was flanked on each side by two smaller, but
equally lovely beings. One a man with a cherub-like face and twinkling
blue eyes. The other was a woman, also dark of hair but with a face so
sweet and kind it almost made tears come to the prince's eyes. Both
were dressed in white, belted tunics of shimmering silk and carried
bows and arrows of the purest gold.

"Who . . . who are you?" The prince whispered.

"Have I changed so much, dear brother?"

"Samantha?"

"Yes, Fox."

"Are you dead, Samantha? Are you an angel?"

"No one is ever truly dead, darling. But yes, I am an angel now. I
know that you've missed me terribly but I've never been far from your
side."

Fox glanced at the other two creatures who merely stood, smiling down
at him.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Samantha apologized. "I haven't introduced you to
your guardians have I? How rude of me. And after all the times they've
pulled you out of one scrape or another."

She pointed a long elegant finger at the man to her right. "This is
Pendril. He's very mild mannered and sweet until he sees an injustice
and then he can become the fiercest of warriors."

Samantha smiled and turned to the lovely woman. "And this is Margaret.
She's so very fond of you, Fox. She's quite good with that bow of
hers. It's really too bad about that monk. Margaret did try to warn
him but he just wouldn't stop."

"Angels have been killing the dark knights when they tried to rape
me?"

"Warrior angels, Fox, they are a breed unto themselves. Their job is
protect their earthly charges. Margaret also guards your precious
Dana, as do I and Pendril."

"Is Dana all right. Shouldn't one of you be with her now?"

"She's fine," Samantha smiled at him. "Margaret and Pendril are more
than capable of watching over the both of you, no need to worry
yourself about that. And then of course, Alex has his own guardian
angel. He's a full time job I'm afraid, and his angel is just as
unusual as he is. Of course, that's another story for another day."

"And Sir Walter?"

"You brave knight is well protected, Fox. But I must tell you, he is a
guardian in his own right. His soul is pure and honorable, very old
and wise. You really shouldn't give him so much trouble you know?"

The prince looked a little sheepish but couldn't think of anything to
say to that.

She laughed and it sounded like a hundred tinkling bells, making Fox's
own face break into a wide smile. "You're right, Fox. He would be
seriously worried about you if you changed too much after all this
time, and probably even be bored. You'd better just forget what I told
you and treat him as you normally do. He loves you just as you are,
you know?"

"I know." The prince smiled again. "I've missed you, Sam. I tried to
look for you but they wouldn't let me out of the castle. I'm sorry."

"It wasn't meant for you to find me, Fox. I was fulfilling my destiny.
Our father and Sir Spender gave me to the Nuvega in exchange for
secrets of enormous value. You could never have gotten me back by
yourself. The Nuvega did not know how to take care of human slaves, I
died very quickly. And I'm very happy now. I've so enjoyed watching
you and Alex grow up in the palace. You're both quite entertaining.
And Sir Walter," she giggled. "He certainly knows how to keep you in
line."

"I suppose that's true," Mulder pouted.

Samantha looked sadly around the room. "I have to go now, Fox."

"No, Sam, please. Can't you stay with me. I don't want to lose you
again."

"You have your Dana and Sir Walter. And, of course, there's Alex,
although you really should be more reluctant to follow his lead, Fox,
kings really shouldn't behave like wild street urchins. You have many
friends and loyal subjects, my darling brother. You will be a great
and powerful king who will lead our people into a brighter future. And
I'll be with you, Fox, every step of the way. Every time you look over
your shoulder, just know that I and your guardian angels are there
with you."

"Uh Sam, what about when Sir Walter and Dana and I are . . .well you
know, uh . . ." Mulder flushed a bright red.

"In bed together, Fox?"

"Well yeah. I don't think I could do that if I thought you were . .
.you know."

Samantha giggled with delight. "Oh Fox, angels aren't interested in
such earthly pursuits. I promise you can enjoy your friends all you
want, we won't be watching. Besides, you don't need us then, you're
always safe when you're alone with those two."

"That's a relief." He smiled at the vision of his beautiful sister. "I
promise I'll be the best king ever, just for you, Sam."

"I know you will, sweet brother. And if you don't, Margaret here will
kick your butt. She's more than capable to doing just that."

"Will I see you again, Sam?"

"Of course you will, darling. Someday soon."

The angel Margaret took a step forward to kiss the prince's cheek. It
was the most incredible kiss he had ever received. It caused a ripple
of warmth and contentment to flow through his battered body. "Tell my
Dana that I love her and that I'm with her every day."

The prince cocked his head to one side, studying the woman who stood
before him. "You're Dana's mother, aren't you?"

"Yes, and I'm very proud of her. In fact, I'm very proud of both of
you."

And the three angels vanished just as Sir Spender and a legion of his
dark followers burst through the door, stopping short at the sight of
the prince standing over the body of the fallen William Scully. Fox
noticed that the arrows that had pierced his body where no long gold,
but merely ordinary looking shafts.

"What have you done?" Spender hissed. "You'll pay for this, boy.
Killing 

a DisCol Monk is punishable by torture and death. The torture you will
receive then fold, but death will not come to save you."

The old man turned to Sir Arnold. "Lock him in the wine cellar, and
make sure he is put in hard bondage. I don't want the rats to have to
work too hard for their dinner tonight."

* * * 

Royal Palace Wine Cellar

Prince Fox gasped for breath as the heavy ropes, that were tied so
snugly around his chest, constricted his breathing. He was suspended,
bent at the waist, his arms pulled high behind his back and secured to
the ceiling. He could take some of his weight off his aching shoulders
by pushing down with his toes, the only part of him that was touching
the cold, dirty floor. But when he did that, it caused the bindings
wrapped so securely around his cock and balls to pull even tighter,
sending waves of pain through his body. The same thing happened when
he tried to lower his head, the rope around his neck pulling taut
until he gagged and choked. He wondered what would happen when his
head became to heavy for him to keep it elevated.

The wine cellar was a dismal place. A thick coat of grime covering all
the shelves and bottles. Long spider webs hanging from the ceiling.
The prince didn't even want to think about an eye to eye meeting with
one of the creatures who had built such elaborate traps for their
prey. And Spender had been right about the rats. They were a brave
lot, scampering about his feet. So far, he had successfully kicked
them away but it had been done at a high price of pain to his bound
genitals.

Mulder wondered where his angels were now when he needed them. Was
raped by a holy monk really worse than being eaten by rats?

The prince valiantly pushed his pain to the side and focused his fuzzy
mind on his beloved Dana. He wondered where she was and what had
become of her. He had tried to contact her in his mind numerous times
but he was just to weak for the kind of concentration such a feat
entailed.

He concentrated his mind on one of his favorite stories that she had
told him about their past lives together. Of course, she didn't have
all the details for this one but Mulder's very vivid imagination had
filled in all the holes quite nicely, thank you. Maybe that was why
this story was one of his favorites.

According to the sorceress, they never really strayed far from their
true essence in any lifetime. Walter was always the fierce warrior, a
man dedicated to honor and the protection of Fox. Fox was always some
degree of wild, willing to risk his very life in the pursuit of truth
and justice. And Dana, or course, remained the sorceress healer.

* * * 

Realm of Texandria 983 After Time

They walked down the rutted road, their sandaled feet kicking up
little clouds of dust. Their long tunics were of simple, home-spun
fabric but no one would dare argue that the three travelers were still
not exceptionally attractive people.

"Tell me again," Warrior Walter scowled at the tall, handsome man at
his side, "Why we have to travel all the way to Cancadia."

Fox sighed with exasperation. "I already told you. A tinker traveling
from Cancadia to Eurodia was found dead, drained of blood. Why do you
find it so hard to believe that vampires exist, we've certainly seen
enough strange beings in our travels. Why not vampires?"

"Because if vampires really existed we would have seen one by now."
Warrior Walter said emphatically, "End of discussion."

"Whatever." Fox breathed another exasperated sigh, wishing he had left
his self-proclaimed protector at home."

The reached the city of Cancadia just as the last rays of the sun
slipped below the horizon. They were met by three men, all bearing
torches. The tallest of the men stepped forward and Fox's breath
caught in his throat. This was the most beautiful man he had ever
seen, even including his gorgeous Walter.

The man raised his hand in the universal sign of welcome, "My name is
Lucius Harwell, and I'm the town leader. May I ask your business
here."

The man looked over at Dana and winked, receiving a roll of the eyes
in return.

"We've . . .we've . . .we've . . ." Mulder stuttered as he gazed at
the vision who stood before him. This was the first man with the
exception of his Walter that he had ever been attracted to. It was
most disconcerting.

Warrior Walter pushed Fox behind him and glared at the buck-toothed
man in front of him. "We've come to look into the murder of the
tinker, Randolf Simms. Do you know anything about it?"

"Wild animals." Lucius said as he gazed deeply into the warrior's
eyes.

"Cut it out, Lucius." Dana scolded causing Walter to turn to her, eyes
full of curiosity.

"Do you know this man, Dana?"

"We've met before. The answer is still no, Lucius."

"Ah Dana, that was over nine hundred years ago. Talk about holding a
grudge."

"Nine hundred . . ." Walter sputtered. "Dana what the hell is he
talking about?"

Dana rolled her eyes again. "Walter, I told you that we had other
lives together before this one." She smiled as Fox's eyes lit up. He
loved these stories.

"Yes, you did." Walter conceded, "But you were never able to offer
solid proof, so therefore . . ."

"Well Sliabh, meet my proof. Lucius Harwell, immortal, who nine
hundred years ago slipped a sleeping drought in my drink, then took
advantage of my partner." She pointed to Mulder's chest. "Leaving me
to find Alainn the next morning, laying sprawled in the front seat of
our chariot, half dressed and drugged out of his mind."

"He was not half dressed." Lucius corrected. "He had a few ties and
buttons loose but he also had a big smile on his face, if you will
recall, madam."

"No, I don't recall that, Lucius. As a matter of fact, all I remember
is him looking completely bewildered. He didn't even remember being
with you. Doesn't say much about your sexual prowess, now does it?"

She held up her hand to stop any comment from the vampire. "And then
there was that incident a scant hundred years later, and the one in
434, oh and don't forget 718, now there was an experience to remember.
What has it been now, Lucius, eight or is it nine attempts to get in
his pants? Why don't you just give up, Fox belongs to Walter and me.
You can't have him."

Walter may not have completely understood what they were talking
about, but he did catch that part with no problem. "No, you can't have
him." He glared at the man who would even dare thing of taking Fox.

"Would you all just stop talking about me like I'm not here!" Mulder
shouted, surprising everyone.

Lucius moved to put an arm around Fox. "Of course you're right, little
one. How rude of us. Why don't you come into my house, we'll have some
dinner, and I'll tell you all about vampires. How would that be?"

Dana rolled her eyes yet again as Fox's eyes sparked. A truth to be
uncovered. Great Prophet help us all!

Warrior Walter reached out to stop the two men as they started to walk
away, but Dana put a restraining hand on his forearm. "Don't worry
about it. Fox never gives in to him and as I recall, Lucius does make
a mean pot of porridge."

Walter and Dana might as well have been absent from the table as
Lucius and Fox talked incessantly of vampires and other mystical being
of the darkness.

Walter was becoming even more exasperated with the buck-toothed man
hanging all over Fox, when a sudden loud banging at the door had the
warrior reaching for his sword. When Lucius opened the door, they were
greeted to the sight of a small, rotund man huffing for breath.

"Lord Lucius, Stephan Wigman, has been stepped on by his plow horse.
We don't know what to do for him. Please help us." Lucius nodded at
the little mortal who stood panting before him.

"I have something better to offer, Peiter, the famous Sorceress
Physician Dana is visiting in my home tonight. I'm sure she won't mind
healing Stephan's injuries for us." He turned his attention to Dana
who was already rising from the table.

As Dana started for the door, Walter stopped her. "We're going with
you."

"Walter, I'll be fine. I can take . . ."

"Yes, I know. I've heard it before." Walter enunciated very carefully.
"We're coming with you."

"He's right, Dana." Lucius interjected. "You should take the warrior
with you. Fox can stay here and finish our discussion. There's no need
for all of you to go out in the freezing night."

Dana glared a warning at the vampire, while Peiter hopped from foot to
foot, obviously anxious to go to his injured friend. "Keep your hands
off of him, Lucius. I'm warning you."

Walter threw his own dissuading look at Lucius, and hurriedly followed
Dana out the door.

Fox rubbed his hand together, "So Lucius, where do the vampires live?
What do they eat? Do they really stay inside during the day? Do they
really hate the smell of garlic, of course most people hate the smell
of garlic but I've heard that it is especially repugnant to . . ."

"Sh-h-h-h, little one." Lucius ran a slender hand along Mulder's
cheek. He looked deeply into sparkling, hazel eyes, his own intense
blue stare causing Mulder to become lost in his gaze. "Why don't you
take your clothes off and I will tell you all about it."

"My clothes? But, Dana . . ."

Lucius placed a hand on each side of Mulder's face, forcing their eyes
to meet. "I'll keep my promise to Dana. I won't touch you unless you
ask me to."

Mulder nodded, mesmerized. "I suppose that will be all right then."

He slowly undressed, shivering as he stood naked before the vampire.
Hazel eyes now wide and vacant.

"So beautiful," Lucius whispered. "But you're cold, little one, why
don't you lie down on the bed."

Mulder turned, placing himself in the center of the large, soft bed.
"I thought you guys slept in coffins."

"No, my pet, much too stuffy in there."

Lucius kissed Mulder on his full lips. It was an unusual sensation,
hot and cold at the same time and Fox shivered with the sensation.

The vampire fed on his lips for a long time, until Mulder was sure he
would pass out from lack of air. Then Lucius moved down, spending
several minutes on the pulsing artery in Mulder's neck, then moved
down to attend to the small, hardened nipples.

Mulder was beyond thinking now. All he could do was feel, and the
vampire was making him feel so good. He wished Walter and Dana could
be here for this.

Finally, Lucius Harwell wrapped his lips around Mulder's engorged
shaft and the man nearly came off the bed. Harwell had learned a few
things during his thousand years of walking the earth. And among the
vampire's many talents was an innate and long-practiced talent for
sucking.

The door opened abruptly, and Walter stepped into the room, "Fox, Dana
said to tell you she was going to be a while. She .. . " his mind
finally registering what was happening on that big bed. But when
Lucius Harwell looked up at him, Walter wondered why he had ever
thought the man plain. He was exceptionally beautiful.

Lucius beckoned the big warrior over to the bed with one crooked
finger. "Your Fox is most beautiful, my strong warrior, come join us."

Walter nodded slowly, his mind a swirl of confused thought. "Yes." And
the warrior began to shed his clothing.

As Lucius resumed his pleasuring of Fox, Walter moved behind the
vampire and prepared to slide himself between, the round smooth
buttocks. There was no resistance , none at all. It was so smooth, and
so very sensual, as if the vampire had been made to take Walter's huge
cock inside his body. Lucius passageway wasn't as hot as Fox's, maybe
even a little cool, but still the sensation was totally pleasurable.

Walter began to pump into the beautiful vampire, as he wrapped a hand
around to stroke Lucius' rock hard erection. It was good, so very
good. Walter could hear Fox moaning and making that little squeaking
sound deep in his throat that meant that he was very close to coming.
Walter increased his efforts, his hand on Lucius' cock in perfect
rhythm with his penetrating strokes. And then Dana had walked in and .
. 
.

Prince Fox's fantasy was interrupted as he heard shouting, and the
sound of swordplay from somewhere close by. He lifted his head,
listening intently. It had almost sounded like Sir Walter's voice.

The End 10 

Chapter 11 Knight Time in the Realm By DiAnn

Prince Fox jerked up his head, gasping in pain as the movement caused
the ropes holding his body suspended from the ceiling to tighten
painfully. He heard the shouts of angry men and the unmistakable sound
of the clash of metal against metal. A battle was raging, and from the
sounds of it, right outside the entrance to his wine cellar prison.

He pushed down with his toes, searching for a measure of traction but
quickly relaxed his legs as pain shot through his bound testicles All
of his weight came to rest on his strained shoulders once more, and he
groaned in misery.

Suddenly the door behind him opened with a loud screech of rusting
hinges. Without thought, the prince whipped his head around to see who
was coming for him. The thoughtless movement caused the rope
constricting his throat to tighten, and he began to fight for breath.
Instinctively he attempted to relieve the pressure on his throat by
pushing down with his feet. Pain screamed through his body. Now unable
to breathe, black dots dancing before his eyes pain from his bound
genitals racing through his body, the young prince panicked, fighting
his bonds wildly.

After what seemed like hours of horrifying agony, the prince finally
became aware of a soothing voice in his ear and the sweet relief of
the ropes falling away.

"Sh-h-h-h,! Stop! Stop fighting me, peasant boy."

A sob broke from deep in the prince's chest as he filled his lungs
with the stale but life giving air of the wine cellar.

He felt himself swung up into strong, safe arms, and wrapped his own
arms around his savior's neck. Soon, they were moving up and away from
his horrible dank prison. Mulder became aware of an unearthly silence
as he was carried past a blur of figures, all staring at his naked,
abused body. He started to struggle again.

"I . . .I can walk."

"I'm sure you can, but I can't bear to let go of you," Sir Walter's
voice was soft and close to his ear. "Just be quiet for a moment and
allow me to offer up prayers of thanks for your safe return to my
arms."

The prince relaxed as he was carried up a steep flight of stone
stairs, while his rescuer kissed the tears from his cheeks. As he was
laid gently on the large bed in Sir Walter's palace chambers, he
raised his head to look around the room.

"We're back home?" The prince managed to finally focus his eyes on the
beloved face of Sir Walter. He felt his heart melt a little as he saw
the few tears that had managed to slip by his knight protectors stern
facade.

"Yes, we staged an overthrow of Sir Spender and regained your palace.
Unfortunately the evil son-of-a-bitch escaped with a few of his
favored dark knights. I fear there will be so quick solution to this
war."

Rapidly coming back to himself, Mulder remembered the events of the
past week. "They think I killed a DisCol Monk."

Sir Walter stopped fussing over cleaning up his prince and lay down to
hold the young man in his arms. "And did you?"

"No, it was . . .someone else. Monk Scully tried to rape me so the
archer killed him."

"Do you know who the archer is, peasant boy?"

"I . . ." the prince looked up at the knight trying to gage just how
much the man would be comfortable believing. His mouth dropped open in
shock as the knight seemed to read his mind. A scowl forming on his
handsome face.

"Don't you even think about lying to protect me, peasant boy. I won't
spank you at the moment but a delayed trip over my knee would have
acquired some added interest by the time the punishment is finally
delivered."

Mulder looked at his knight protector speculatively. Well, the man
certainly had seen enough in the last few months, perhaps he had
opened his mind to extreme possibilities. "You're sure you're ready to
hear this, Sir Walter?"

"Absolutely!"

"It was an angel!"

"Ang . . .angel?"

"Yes! My sister! She's the most beautiful angel now. She wears this
long flowing dress and there's a beautiful golden light all around
her. She's just breath-taking. But of course, it wasn't really her who
shot the arrows, it was her warrior angels. They are her guardians,
one on each side of her. And one of them is Dana's mom! She's
beautiful just like my Dana but I don't think I'd like to get on the
wrong side of her, she looked like she really knew how to use that
crossbow of hers. Sir Walter? Why are you banging you head on the wall
like that? You're going to hurt yourself! What's wrong? Was it
something I said?"

* * * 

Royal Palace Sir Walter's Chambers

It had been two weeks since Sir Spender had been driven from the
palace. Mulder had been forced to spend much of that time in bed. Some
of the time being loved and spoiled by his knight protector, the
remainder of the time he had been forced, practically at sword point,
to rest.

The prince lay awake looking at the palace ceiling, while Sir Walter
snored softly beside him. They had as yet, received no word on Dana's
whereabouts and it was driving the prince to distraction.

Mulder's breath stopped as the door to the chamber slowly opened. He
waited, not moving a muscle as a soft wump, wump sounded as something
made its way into the room. The prince slowly reached for his sword,
preparing to spring from his bed when a soft round ball of wet scales
and mottled, prickly fur landed on the foot of the bed.

As the prince watched, the ball uncurled a little, and a pair of
sharp, beady eyes looked up at him. Mulder released a relived breath
and lay his sword back on the floor by the bed. It was only a slime-
ball, and although disgusting creatures, not really dangerous in the
least.

The slime-ball slowly unfurled itself to its full five foot length.
With a body similar to a boa constrictor, covered in patches of slimy,
green scales intermixed with patches of spiky brown fur. It's face was
that of a man. This one rather round with full cheeks and thin lips.
Mulder shook his head in loathing, hoping the slime-ball did not leave
too much gook on Sir Walter's clean sheets and blankets.

"What the hell do you want, Colton?"

"Ss-s-s-sh! Is that anyway to greet an old friend, little princ-s-s-s-
s-e?"

"As I recall you were never my friend, Tom."

"Jus-s-s-st because I happen to think you're craz-z-zy doesn't mean we
can't be friends, s-s-s-weet princ-c-c-ce!" Colton's long forked
tongue slipped out of his mouth vibrating as the creature hissed at
the prince.

Mulder wiped a hand across his face. "Cut it out, Colton, you're
spitting all over me! Now, tell me what you want and then get out of
here before you wake up Sir Walter."

The prince was gratified to see the slime-ball throw one nervous
glance toward the big knight before returning his attention to the
prince.

"I know where the s-s-s-sorceress is-s-s being held."

The prince sat up suddenly, causing the slime-ball to cower back
against the high wooden foot rail of the bed. It also caused Sir
Walter to mumble under his breath and turn over. The other two
occupants of the room remained perfectly still until the knight had
settled into deep sleep once more.

"Take us to her." The prince whispered.

"Only you, little princ-s-s-s-e."

"And why is that?" The prince gritted out between clenched teeth.

"It's jus-s-st the way it is-s-s." The slime-ball retorted. "Take it
or leave it, little princ-c-c-ce."

The prince glanced worriedly at the big knight. The man would have his
ass, literally, for this but if it got Dana back then it was worth the
consequences.

"All right Colton, take me to her."

* * * 

Dark Woods 12 Hours Later

Sir Walter cupped his hands, bringing the cool water up to his mouth,
drinking deeply before splashing yet another handful on his hot and
flushed face. He had been riding hard all morning and had seen no sign
of his fugitive prince.

With a heavy heart he rose from his knees, and called to his loyal and
patient war horse to come to the small stream for his own well-
deserved drink. He was at his wits ends. Of course, the royal guard
had not seen the prince leave the caste. They never did. Dana had said
Fox would be the wizard king, Sir Walter was beginning to believe that
among his many tricks, the boy could make himself invisible.

Sir Walter sat down on the soft forest floor, leaning his back against
a fallen tree, trying desperately to come up with a plan that would
find Prince Fox before he got in too much trouble. He let his head
fall back to lie on the rough bark behind him, couldn't think
straight, his mind heavy with despair.

In another part of the realm, Prince Fox had halted his horse to run a
frustrated hand over his own face. He was lost! In his own kingdom, no
less!

He had followed that slime-ball Colton's directions to the letter but
had found no dark castle holding one small, red-haired sorceress. Now
Sir Walter was going to kill him, Dana was still missing, and he had
also misplaced the damned slime-ball. It had been tumbling along
behind him, leaving great, huge trails of slippery, glistening goo in
its wake, and then Mulder had looked back to find it gone. Not that it
was any great loss, but it had still been his only companion on this
ill-fated journey.

Mulder sighed heavily, nudging his horse forward, quickly gaining
speed as his desire to return to the castle increased to a sense of
panic. He rode hard, careening through the dense forest, hoping to
find a road and his way back to the palace. He had just tucked his
head down to miss a low hanging branch, when a loud growl sounded from
close by. Mulder's head jerked up, throwing himself off balance just
as his terrified animal picked up even more speed to escape the danger
it sensed. The prince pulled up hard on the reins, trying frantically
to regain control of the beast before it killed the both of them.

As he ducked his head to miss yet another low hanging branch, suddenly
he felt the panicked animal's front hooves leave the ground, and they
were air-born over some obstacle that lay in their path. As the
horse's hooves touched the ground on the other side, it stumbled.
Quickly regaining it's feet the horse bolted forward once more but not
before throwing its hapless rider to the ground with a bone-crunching
crash.

Mulder lay there stunned, hearing the sound of his horse thundering
further into the woods without him. Shit! The growl sounded again,
closer this time, almost from directly above him.

The prince opened wide eyes to stare his own death in the face. He
expected 

a ferocious wood's cat or perhaps a hungry snap dog. But what stood
glowered down at him was even worse. The giant, creature stood glaring
down at him, the thirst for blood shining from it's beady, threatening
eyes.

Mulder closed his own eyes once more. Maybe if he just lay here, the
horrible apparition would go away. Then he could go on with the much
more pleasant possibility of remaining lost in these woods until he
was eventually eaten by hungry wolves.

A big paw reached down and dragged him to his feet. The prince opened
his eyes to stare into dark, angry ones only a fraction of an inch
from his face. He quickly closed them again. This was going to be bad,
and he just couldn't bring himself to watch.

The prince grimaced as a big, blunt finger wiped a smudge of dirt from
his right cheek. "So my pretty little peasant boy, it seems we've been
here before. Care to tell me what you're doing out here?"

"Uh-h-h-h . . ."

"Very well said, brat. Perhaps if I were more specific in my question.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING OUT HERE BY YOURSELF . . .YOU ROYAL PAIN
IN THE ASS!"

Mulder all but jumped out of his skin. "Lo .. .looking for Da . .
.Dana."

Sir Walter moved forward, stopping when the prince backed away from
him, eyes wide with fear. The big knight ran an exasperated hand over
his scalp. "I see. And what made you look here, of all places? Did you
think the sorceress had decided to go camping in the middle of
nowhere?"

Mulder glanced around at the tall trees and dense undergrowth. "Uh
well, you see Tom Colton said . . ."

"You followed a lying, thieving slime-ball out to this desolate woods?
Are you out of your mind, peasant boy? No one can trust a slime-ball.
You, of all people, should know that. Of all the creatures on earth,
they are the most self-serving, greedy, egotistical, unreliable
parasites that ever lived. Where is he?"

"I lost him a ways back."

"That's good, let's keep it that way. I have little doubt that this is
a trap of some sort. A slime-ball will do anything to further his own
desires and ambitions, and Colton is one of the worst. Which way did
he tell you to go from here?"

"Well, you see . . . the thing is . . . uh, I don't exactly . . .that
is . .."

"You're lost."

"I am not!" The prince straightened his shoulders with injured pride.

"Really? Which way is the palace?"

Mulder scrunched up his face, trying to look around him without Sir
Walter realizing his indecision. He glanced at his angry knight
protector, then tentatively pointed his finger in what he thought must
be a northerly direction.

"Wonderful! Straight into the arms of Sir Spender and his dark
knights. Very good, peasant boy. Well, lets get this over with so we
can get you back to the castle before you aimlessly wonder into the
Nuvega camp to ask them for directions."

"Get what over with?" The prince asked in alarm.

"As I said, it seems we've come full circle, brat. I mean your
spanking of course. Isn't that the way this scenario goes? You try to
kill me with your runaway horse, I attempt to talk to you as if you
were a sensible adult, I quickly learn that is a lost cause and just
turn you over my knee to thoroughly warm your backside. That's the way
I remember it anyway."

"But why?"

"Why am I going to spank your butt? Let's see, could it be for leaving
the castle without my permission . . .again! No wait, maybe I should
save that for tonight." Sir Walter watched in satisfaction as the
prince cringed. "Or maybe for risking you life? You know, runaway
horses, following slime-balls, getting lost in the woods, that sort of
thing."

"You're going to enjoy this!" The prince slitted his eyes in
accusation.

"Wong, as usual, peasant boy. I don't particularly enjoy punished your
naked butt. There are, after all, so many other more enjoyable uses
for it. But I won't shirk my responsibility either. You need a good
sound spanking and you shall have one. Now and again when we reach the
castle." The big knight seated himself on the fall log, patting his
right knee. "Over you go."

Mulder stomped his foot at the knight, "No! I don't want to get across
you knee for a spanking."

"Oh, I am sorry, Prince Fox. I certainly wouldn't want to go against
the wishes of my rightful king. So," Sir Walter looked around. "You
could cut a good switch I suppose." His attention turned back to
Mulder just as all the blood drained from his face. "Or perhaps," he
reached for his leather belt. "You would prefer a good strapping with
your own belt. That is always effective.?"

"No!" The prince began to tug his leggings down over his hips. "I'll .
..I'll just take the spanking."

"Wise choice, brat." Sir Walter growled as he once again seated
himself on the fallen log. "Now get your bare butt over my knees."

Sir Walter shifted his knees, arranging the bare bottom now presented
up to him for maximum exposure to his punishing hand. He ran said hand
over the smooth, unmarked mounds already trembling in anticipation.
"And you can save some of your more theatrical crying and begging for
later. You'll need them. This is going to be long and hard and I'm not
stopping until I'm sure you'll be squirming on that horse's back all
the way home."

"Please, sir." Mulder looked up over his shoulder, his eyes wide with
terror.

"What is this spanking for, peasant boy?"

"For leaving the palace without telling anyone." Mulder lowered his
head miserably back to the ground in front of him.

A hard smack landed on his left buttock. Mulder flinched at the sharp
sting and scrunched up his face waiting for the next blow.

"No. Try again."

"No?"

Another hard smack. "Yes, I said no. Your bare butt and my strap are
going to have a discussion about that little decision before bed
tonight." The knight was gratified to feel a shudder run through the
young man over his lap. "Now tell me, why is the true King of Meridiem
lying face down in the royal forest, in broad daylight, getting his
bare, upturned bottom thoroughly blistered?"

"Ouch! For risking my life."

"For," smack! smack! smack! "risking the life of the king. Yes!"
smack! smack! smack! smack! smack! smack! "That's absolutely right."
smack! smack! smack! "See, you can be a smart boy, " smack! smack!
smack! "when you want to be." smack! smack! smack! smack! smack!
smack!

"Ouch! Not so hard! Please, Uh-h-h-h, I won't do it again!"

"Really?" Smack! Smack! Smack! "I wonder where I've heard that
before." Smack! Smack!

"Can you save that until later. We have a problem."

Sir Walter's eyes snapped up from the bright red bottom his was
attending to see Alex Krycek sitting nervously atop his horse, eyes
shifting anxiously around the dark woods.

Sir Walter immediately pulled up the prince's legging, ignoring his
hiss of pain as the fabric rubbed over his tenderized backside. He
quickly stood up, pulling the dazed prince with him to stand facing
the green-eyed warrior.

"What is it Alex?"

"The Nuvega are amassing an army on the Mesmeranian Plains about
thirty miles north of here. This whole thing was a trap to lure your
bratty little prince into their clutches. They planned a public
execution of the heir apparent to demoralize the royal army." Alex
glared at the now sheepish prince. "It would have worked, too."

Sir Walter continued to grip the arm of his errant prince as he made
quickly for his horse. Mounting with the prince in his usual position
in front of him. He put an arm that felt like a band of steel around
the young man's waist, and kicked his horse into a gallop behind Alex.

* * * 

Enorus Mountains

Sir Walter, Alex and Prince Fox lay on their bellies behind the last
cliffs of the Enorus Mountain Range before it turned into the
foothills leading to the Mesmeranian Plain. A wide expanse of flat
ground, with little or no shelter to hide spying eyes.

"I can't see a damned thing!" Sir Walter complained.

"You don't need to. The prince can see what's happening."

Sir Walter looked at Krycek in shock. "What are you talking about. It
has to be at least a thousand yards. No one can see that far."

"The wizard king can, can't you Fox?"

"Yeah, it looks like every dark army in the realm is assembling on
that plain. There's a least a thousand ghouls, even more dark dwarfs
and countless trolls. The bigfoot are the only ones to seem to have
diminished in numbers. I have to wonder if they've all been killed in
battle or the Nuvega has lost their hold over them." The prince shook
his head sadly.

"Their spell is losing its effect on our people."

Sir Walter rolled over on his back, his sword held out in front of
him, as he looked up at the biggest, hairiest creature he had ever had
the misfortune to lay his eyes upon. He felt the prince's long,
elegant fingers close around his wrist.

"It's all right, Sir Walter. Let me talk to him." The prince slithered
down the hillside until he could stand in front of the bigfoot, his
head barely reaching the beast's chest. Sir Walter stared in stunned
amazement as the giant creature fell to one knee and bowed his head to
the prince.

"My king."

"Not quite your king yet, Bremmer, and it will take more than a bent
knee for me to trust you again."

"I beg forgiveness, your highness, I was ordered to take your sister.
If I would have failed, they would have killed me."

"I should kill you now."

Sir Walter stilled the prince's hand as it reached for his sword. "Who
is this . . .uh, man Fox?"

This is August Bremmer. He was the first bigfoot to be allowed to
enter the royal guard and in return for my father's generosity, he
helped to kidnap my sister from the palace."

The bigfoot looked up into the prince's angry eyes. "You've never
gotten it have you, little prince? I repaid your father's <generosity>
by following his orders. He commanded me to turn your sister to the
Nuvega."

"No, you lie!" Sir Walter gripped the prince tighter as he made to
lunge for the enormous bigfoot who had now risen to tower over the
furious prince. "My father loved my sister! He would not have betrayed
our family!"

Sir Walter pulled the prince around and into his chest, a big hand
gently rubbing the back of his neck. "You know what he says is true,
Fox. I know you see it in your heart."

"How could he? How could my own father have done that to my sister?"

"I don't know the answer to that question, peasant boy, but there
isn't time right now to be distracted by this creature. You must call
your armies to the plain. The battle must be waged here, and it must
be waged now. The fate of the realm will be determined on this day."

The prince nodded his head, turned without looking at the bigfoot and
resumed his place at the top of the rise, Alex's comforting hand
firmly on his back.

"Tell me why I shouldn't kill you where you stand?" Sir Walter hissed
at the August Bremmer. "If you came here just to torture that boy,
then I'd say your job is done."

"He needed to know. You will see soon enough. And I came here to end
this war, too many of my people have died."

"You can end the war?" Sir Walter scoffed, still determining if he
should kill the bigfoot or not.

"Yes. I know how to kill the Nuvega. I know their weaknesses. But be
warned, as I know them, they also know his." He pointed to the prince,
then looked back at the knight. "And yours."

"Enough of your cryptic messages. Explain yourself or die under my
sword."

"The Sorceress Dana waits for you. The Nuvega wish to exchange her for
the life of your prince."

"Never!" Sir Walter brought his weapon up to bear on the creature's
broad chest.

"And what would your little prince answer to that demand?"

"It isn't his decision. I am the Lord High Protector of the Realm of
Meridiem. I defend my royal charge, and no one including the king
himself, will prevent me from fulfilling my duty to the full extent of
my ability."

Bremmer laughed, "Do you really believe a pompous attitude will be
enough to defeat the Nuvega and their armies, foolish knight, or to
protect your irresistible little prince?"

Sir Walter looked over just in time to see Alex Krycek pull Fox into a
tight embrace and gently kiss the still dazed prince soundly on his
lush lips. Sir Walter rolled his eyes. As soon as he was done with
Bremmer, he was going to have to kill Alex as well.

Bremmer started as the sound of a heavily loaded wagon could be heard
approaching on the road behind them. The bigfoot would have run into
the woods, had not Sir Walter placed the well honed edge of his blade
against his neck. As the wagon came around the corner, Sir Walter was
relieved to recognize Frohike and Mas Fenig upon the seat.

"Whoa!" Frohike called to the straining draft horses as the wagon came
to a lumbering halt before the two men. Skinner looked around to see
if Fox had noticed that his friends had arrived. He sighed again as he
saw that Alex had somehow maneuvered the prince into a prone position
and had covered him with his own body, obviously still kissing him for
all he was worth.

"Alex, damnit! At least let him up for some air!

Alex stopped long enough to look over his shoulder at the big knight.
"I'm comforting him."

"Well cut it out or you'll need someone is comfort you! Now get over
here, the first of our reinforcements seems to have arrived."

Alex sighed and pulled the glassy-eyed prince along behind him as he
made his way to the over-loaded wagon. Sir Walter grabbed the prince's
chin, turning his head to stare into the dazed hazel eyes.

"What the hell did you do to him?"

"If you must know, I gave him a shot of Elfin Twilight. He was
hurting."

"Great Holy Prophet, Krycek! Don't you remember what happened the last
time you gave that stuff to him? We need him to be functioning right
now. He has to call his armies."

"He already did. I reminded him before I gave him the Twilight." Alex
said proudly.

"How responsible of you," Sir Walter sneered at the smug younger man.
"You gave the king one last opportunity to do his duty before you
caused him any major brain damage. I'm sure the realm will honor you
for your forethought."

Alex sat down on the ground, pulling the swaying Fox down with him.
The prince grinned up at his knight protector as he listed to his
right, ending up clinging to the big knight's leg. "I'm 'kay, sir."

Sir Walter ran a hand over his face, then turned to stare at Max.
"Well, how can we counteract Elfin Twilight, elf?"

"Uh . . .now, let me see. I know there has to be an answer. Yes
indeed, an answer for every question, that's what I always say. Oh my,
yes."

Sir Walter's eyes became mere slits as he glared at the little elf,
Prince Fox of Meridiem humming a tuneless little ditty to himself as
he lay bonelessly propped against the knight's sturdy leg.

Max swallowed hard. "Well, I uh, I suppose we should, you know, just
let him sleep it off."

Skinner rolled his eyes. It was a wonder they hadn't all been killed
already. What a rag tag bunch the royal army really was. He had to
wonder when the divine intervention, or perhaps it was just dumb assed
luck, anyway, he wondered when it would finally run out. He bent to
scoop his totally relaxed prince into his arms, depositing him under a
nearby tree. He turned to point a finger at Krycek, "No kissing! Got
that?"

Alex rolled his eyes but nodded none the less. Sir Walter could take
the fun out of anything. Alex sighed again, causing the big knight to
give him another glare, and settled himself down to watch the prince
sleep.

He finally turned to where Sir Walter sat watching for the royal
armies to appear in the mountain pass. "You know, I've been thinking."

Sir Walter didn't bother looking at him. "That's a first."

"No really, just listen for a minute. Why shouldn't I give Elfin
Twilight to Prince Fox?"

"I don't know, let me think Alex," Skinner finally bothered to look
over at him, "Could it be that it might make him a vegetable, or kill
him even. Could that be it?"

"Says who?"

"Excuse me?"

"Who says Elfin Twilight is bad for you. We've been told for hundreds
of years that it's poisonous, and yet those of us who defy the rules
and drink it anyway don't die. We don't even get brain damage."

"Don't use yourself as an example of that theory, Alex."

"Will you just stop with the insults and listen to me for a minute?
Now who would start such rumors about a perfectly innocent beverage
except . . ."

"Those who it really would harm." Sir Skinner looked up with hope in
his eyes for the first time in weeks. "The Nuvega maybe." He whispered
as Alex nodded his head.

"It's possible." Alex agreed. "Fox told me, that Dana told him that
after the Centurian war in the Before Time, that confusion was
rampant. After the Nuvega were driven back to their homelands, no one
knew which laws had been laid down by the invaders and which had come
from our own leaders. They tried to start all over but some of the old
laws became <common knowledge>. That could be the case with the
Twilight."

"Could it really be this easy?" Sir Walter asked incredulously.

"I think it just might be worth a try, Sir Walter," Alex looked around
at his companions.

Two hours later, Prince Fox sat holding his head, while Sir Walter fed
him mug after mug of willow bark tea. He couldn't remember ever
feeling this bad, especially afer just one small sip of Elfin
Twilight.

"Where the hell did you get that stuff, Alex?" Fox whined as he felt
himself being pulled back to lean against his knight's broad chest.

"It's concentrated. It's supposed to be mixed with water but I didn't
have any."

"Damnit Alex!" Sir Walter yelled and then winced in sympathy as Fox
whimpered in his arms. "Sorry, brat. Just lie still, you should be
feeling better in a little while unless your unsavory friend really
has managed to poison you this time."

"You know," the prince looked up through his lashes at the knight. "I
think Alex may be right about the Twilight. It doesn't really harm us.
It was outlawed in the Before Time to protect the Nuvega. I don't know
how I know this is true, I just know that it's a fact."

Sir Walter closed his eyes in frustration. He knew better than to
argue with the prince. In the first place it would do absolutely no
good and in the second the little shit was probably right again.

"Sure. Fine. Whatever." Sir Walter looked over to Alex. "How much of
that stuff do you have?"

"Just this one bottle." Krycek held up a small bottle of the bright
green liquor. Sir Walter absent mindedly patted Fox's shoulder as he
started to gag again when he saw the drink. Sir Walter wasn't sure if
it was the beverage itself or the green color.

"Close you eyes, peasant boy, and breath deeply. You can't possible be
sick again, there's nothing down there now. Just wait it out. Alex,
put that stuff away."

"Uh . . .mister sir knight, sir." Max held up one small hand as if
begging for permission to speak.

"What the hell is it, Max. Spit it out!"

Sir Walter felt badly as the little man cowered and the rest of his
companions gave him a reproachful look. "Sorry, Max. What do you have
to share with us, son?"

"We have more Twilight." The little man whispered and then for some
unexplained reason flushed a bright, hot red.

Frohike snapped his fingers. "He's right. I brought it along because I
didn't want to leave it in the castle for the royal guard to find. Not
a good time to let down their vigilance." He walked over to the wagon
and whipped off the heavy cloth covering the contents. Several wooden
kegs of Elfin Twilight could be easily seen. "It's the concentrated
kind too. The good stuff!"

"Good stuff, my ass." The prince moaned, still holding his head.

"Watch your language in front of your subjects, peasant boy."

"Humph!" Fox grumbled as he lay back down.

"So," Sir Walter looked speculatively at the wooden kegs as he again
resumed his petting of the miserable prince in his lap. "If this
works. And believe me, it is a big <if>, how do we get the Nuvega to
drink it."

Skinner instantly let go of his prince as the man sat straight up in
his arms. "Lusus and Kirsten!"

"Who?" Sir Walter tried to pull the prince back into his arms. He knew
that Twilight would eventually cause brain damage.

"Lusus Hartwell and Kirsten Kilar, the vampires. They and their fellow
bloodsuckers live in the caves at Kilary. I'll call them here. We'll
wait for nightfall, a good part of my army will be here by that time.
Then we'll launch an offensive against the Nuvega camp. The vampires
will turn themselves into bats, dip their teeth and claws into the
Elfin Twilight and attack during the confusion of battle."

"You're assuming a lot, peasant boy. How do you know it will take no
more than a scratch of a coated claw to kill a Nuvega?"

"The prophesy." The prince whispered.

"A King of Truth and Honor, A Woman of power and heat, The dauntless
Warrior shall come, The Circle to complete.

The evil spreads across the land, The King must right the wrong But
all alone he cannot stand, The Circle must hold strong.

The king will raise his arms to south, Strange heros heed the call.
From poisoned claw and bloody mouth, The impervious foe will fall."

"Are you sure, peasant boy. That prophesy could mean anything or
anyone. Are you sure it's the, uh . . .vampires?"

The prince rose and smiled down at the big knight, causing the man to
fall in love with his young sire all over again. "As sure as I am of
anything, Sir Walter. The vampires, shunned and despised by every
other subject in the realm, will be the saviors of Meridiem. Very
befitting, don't you think?"

Sir Walter shook his head in amusement. "Yes, peasant boy, exactly
what I would expect from a realm with a king such as you. I always
expect the unexpected."

All eyes followed the prince as he raised his hands to the south, eyes
closed in concentration. After a few moments, he lowered his arms,
plopping back down in Sir Walter's lap, chuckling softly.

"What is it, Fox?" Alex asked concerned for his prince.

"Lusus told me it was about time I wised up enough to ask for their
help. The vampires will be here at dusk." Saying this, the prince
leaned back against Sir Walter's chest, closed his eyes and
immediately fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

He awoke several hours later to the last rays of the setting sun and
the snores of the men around him. It was time to wake his troops and
defeat the enemy of his realm.

Just as the sun disappeared behind the Enorus Mountains, the royal
army led by Prince Fox the Truth Seeker, rightful heir to the throne
of Meridiem and his loyal protector, Sir Walter Skinner, Supreme Royal
Guard and Lord High Protector, descended on the unsuspecting Nuvega
army.

Armed with Nuvega daggers and the conviction of their own beliefs, the
royal army cut a wide and bloody path through all of the dark and evil
forces assembled for the overthrow of their homeland.

Thousands of small green-clad dwarfs, wielding sharped axes and home-
made spears, attached without mercy. Cleaving their way through troll
and gargoyle without thought to their own safety. The same could be
said of the gentle little brownies, healers by nature but driven to
desperation by what had been done to their friends and families.

As the bloody battle raged, Prince Fox broke away to search the
buildings for his beloved Dana. He ignored the cries of Sir Walter to
stay by his side. He threw open doors with little or no regard for his
own safety. He knew he would pay for his recklessness and defiance
later, but at the moment all he cared about was finding Dana.

Finally, he threw open a cellar door. The cold stone steps leading
down into pitch darkness. "Dana!"

"Alainn! I'm down here."

He flew down the steps, slipping once on the mold that covered the
steps and walls of Dana's dank prison.

"Where are you? Are you hurt?"

"This way, Alainn. Follow the sound of my voice."

He let out a mighty sign of relief as his hands came in contact with
the sorceress's chilled skin. "Thank the Great Prophet that you're all
right."

"Yes, Alainn, I do thank the Great Prophet indeed. I always have."

He quickly untied her and led her out into the night. He forced her to
stop so he could peer at her in the light of one of the many fires
that now burned out of control in the camp. "Are you sure you aren't
injured in any way?"

"I'm fine, my love. It was you they were after, I was merely a
bargaining tool to that purpose. In truth, I think they were a little
scared of me."

"Smart fellows. I never gave the Nuvega that much credit."

"Are you saying that I frighten you, Alainn?"

"Oh yeah," the prince pulled her close for a quick hug. "You scare me
to death, but in a wonderful way."

"And what about me, peasant boy? Do I scare you?"

The prince almost jumped out of his skin as a green blood -splattered
Sir Walter grabbed him by his collar. "You leave my sight one more
time and all your subjects will be wondering just why their king is so
adverse to actually <sitting> on his throne. Now move it, the vampires
have started their attack."

No hint of the moon could be seen as the vampires filled the night
with the rustle of their paper-dry wings. They circled almost lazily
overhead, then swooped down lighting fast to bite or claw yet another
terrified Nuvega. The ground was littered with the melting bodies of
the once impervious invasion army.

Sir Walter, the prince and the sorceress lay on their bellies at the
top of the rise overlooking the plain below them. The vampires
continually circled overhead, one battalion dipping their teeth and
claws into the open barrels of Elfin Twilight while their brethren
deposited the deadly poison in the blood stream of their enemies.

It was all over in less than an hour. The only disappointment was the
disappearance of Sir Spender before he could be captured.

* * * 

Realm of Meridiem Royal Palace

The crown prince of Meridiem looked balefully over his shoulder as his
Lord High Protector made absolutely certain that not one inch of his
previously unmarked bottom was spared his diligent attention.

"Ouch! Oh, please sir. My coronation is in less than one hour." He
closed his eyes as the big palm descended toward his blazing bottom
yet again. "What are the people going to think when their newly
crowned king isn't able to sit down at his own banquet?"

"They're going to think," Smack! Smack! Smack! "That their king is
well protected and has just received," Smack! Smack! Smack! "Yet
another well-deserved," Smack! Smack! Smack! "Spanking for his
carelessness." Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack!

"I wasn't careless! Ouch! Oh-h-h-h! I just went outside to watch my,
Ah-h-h-h! My subjects celebrating! Ouch! Oh please, stop!"

"Responsible monarchs," Smack! Smack! "do not don peasant clothing,"
Smack! Smack! "And go traipsing around," Smack! Smack! "Without his
royal guards." Smack! Smack! Smack!

"Oh-h-h, I'm so sorry!" The future king looked over his shoulder to
see his own bared and elevated bottom glowing like a well-tended fire.

"Oh-h-h-h!" The prince moaned miserably as he returned his nose to the
carpeted floor. Neither man even looked up as the door opened and Dana
came in fussing with her silk and lace sleeves.

"Do finish up, Sliabh. Put him over the foot rail of the bed and I'll
let my strap finish him off while I help you dress. His bottom should
be well-done by that time and we can get him ready."

'Dana, no-o-o-o!" The naked prince begged as he was carried over and
laid bare bottom up over the familiar bed rail. He moaned again as he
looked over his shoulder to see Dana's strap poised over his ready and
waiting butt. A butt already scoured raw by Sir Walter's hand.

The prince sobbed broken heartedly as the first lash left a trail of
fire across his already sensitized bottom. He grabbed two fist-fulls
of the blankets and buried his face as the strap methodically rose and
fell on his flaming, upturned butt and legs. His kicking feet and
smothered cries a testament to the strap's effectiveness.

Sir Walter winced as a hard blow landed once again on that tender
patch of skin where bottom met thigh, causing the prince to yelp
loudly. "That has to hurt. Why doesn't he ever learn?"

Dana stopped adjusting Sir Walter's uniform long enough to look over
at her husband's bare dancing bottom. I have absolutely no idea but
it's this way in every lifetime." She snickered. "I remember once he
was well into his sixties, and you were not too many summers away from
your eightieth birthday. I came home to find his bottom dancing to the
tune of your belt. You really laid into him, as I recall. I was
fearful your heart might give out before his poor butt did."

"Did I survive?"

"Yes you did. He cried himself to sleep in your arms for at least the
thousandth time, and he never went swimming in the ocean by himself
again. At least until you were both reborn and he had forgotten all
his hard-earned lessons. Then," she sighed happily, "you just started
over with him, like always."

Dana snapped her fingers and the punishing strap disappeared. The
wildly wiggling and very red bottom however, did not stop it's frantic
gyrations.

"Time to dress, Alainn." Dana called merrily as Sir Walter pulled the
well-punished and completely miserable prince to his feet. "Today we
fulfill the last of the prophesy.

A King of Truth and Honor, A Woman of power and heat, The dauntless
Warrior shall come, The Circle to complete.

The evil spreads across the land, The King must right the wrong But
all alone he cannot stand, The Circle must hold strong.

The king will raise his arms to south, Strange heros heed the call.
From poisoned claw and bloody mouth, The impervious foe will fall.

When all shall find a peaceful season, The king shall bind himself to
two, Ancient love that defies all reason, A thousand years of peace to
ensue."

Dana sighed. "Isn't that the most beautiful thing you ever heard?"

"We've already fulfilled that prophesy, Dana. I married both you and
Walter in a double ceremony yesterday. I'm as bound to two as any man
can get."

"And don't you be forgetting it, peasant boy. I can't speak for Dana
but I'm not the sharing type."

"Even for the fair Alex?" The prince smirked at the big man from under
long, dark lashes.

"You know my mind has always been completely open, brat." He ignored
the disbelieving snort that came from his pretty prince's lips. "I'm
certainly not going to rule out that delightful possibility. Not at
all."

"I just bet you aren't!" The prince yelped as he didn't quite make it
out of the knight's way in time to avoid the sharp slap that was
applied to his retreating backside.

* * * 

Realm of Meridiem Palace Courtyard

The sky shown cloudless and beautiful as a warm sun shown down of the
coronation of King Fox, the Truth Seeker, thirty-sixth heir to the
House Of Mulder. Bright flags of colored silk gently rippled in the
warm breeze, as the realm celebrated the crowning of their beloved
king.

Jugglers and minstrels performed in every corner of the courtyard
while vendors plied the celebrants with delicious mince pies and cool
frosted drinks , the ice compliments of Prince Fox's sorceress wife,
Dana of the Dark Woods.

The trumpets blasted as an ornate open carriage, pulled by four
matched white stallions, made its way through the palace grounds. A
platform had been set up, as the palace chapel was too small and the
future king had decreed that no subject who wished to witness the
coronation of the king would be turned away.

The religious leaders could not sway him. What need did they have, he
asked, for a chapel when they had been provided with such a beautiful
and glorious land as Meridiem. It was only proper that its king should
be crowned under the open sky with the towering peaks of the Enorus
Mountain range just visible on the horizon.

No one really wondered why the prince chose to ride into the courtyard
standing in the open carriage instead of seated inside. Prince Fox had
never been one to stand on ceremony and allow formality to come
between he and his subjects. His people all decided that he refused to
sit down so they could all see him better.

All eyes were on the beautiful prince as he walked with his new bride
up the stage steps, his knight protector groom a step behind them as
usual.

The robed monks stood in place to the left of the alter while the
Supreme Reverend Bishop, Samuel Hartley, stood solemnly waiting for
the prince to take his place before him.

Before moving forward to take his place, Prince Fox received a kiss
upon his right cheek from Dana, a kiss upon his left from Sir Walter,
he then walked forward to stand in front of the Reverend Bishop
Hartley, a man much admired by the future king and his people.

The Reverend picked up a small, bejeweled dagger, touching it lightly
to the prince's right shoulder. "Fox William, Crown Prince of the
Realm of Meridiem, I charge you to defend your subjects with your
heart and your life's blood. How d you answer my charge?"

"I put the welfare of my people above all things, including my own
life."

Bishop Hartley smiled at the prince. He then picked up a white
feather, touching it to Prince Fox's left shoulder. "Fox William, Heir
to the Royal House of Mulder, I charge you to remain pure of heart and
honest of deed. How do you answer my charge?"

"I promise to remain pure of heart and honest of deep so that I may
better serve my people."

Lastly Reverend Bishop Hartley picked up a small burning candle. The
prince sank to his knees in front of the holy man. The Reverend held
the candle at eye level to the kneeling man. "Fox William, Defender of
Meridiem, Heart of your people, I charge you to remain true to
yourself, to your higher principals and to the truth that burns within
you. How do you answer my charge?"

"I shall remain true to myself and my people for as long as I shall
live."

The bishop set the flaming candle aside to raise a golden crown above
the dark head bowed before him.

"Fox William, I crown you King of Meridiem. Truth-Seeker. Wizard King
of Meridiem. Warrior King. Beloved Sovereign of his people. Rise and
rejoice with your loyal subjects.

King Fox rose and turned to face his triumphant people as a mighty
roar rose from the crowd. Ear-splitting whoops and cries of joy
sounded from every corner of the realm.

King Fox smiled, beckoning forth his queen, Dana and his Lord High
Protector, Sir Walter. Who stood on each side of him, both smiling as
the people demonstrated their love for their new king.

Suddenly a deathly quiet fell over the assembly as three glorious
angels arose behind the king. A beautiful dark haired apparition at
the center, floating above the ground. The wondrous angel was flanked
on each side by warrior angels. One a serene dark haired woman, the
other a light-haired, sweet-eyed man.

"Mother." Dana whispered as tears formed in her crystal blue eyes.

A dome of golden light surrounded the king and his family as they
stood on the raised platform, giving them an other-worldly appearance
that mesmerized the good people of Meridiem. The people of Meridiem
took it as an omen that the kingdom and its ruler were blessed. And in
truth, it was so. Blessed by three people whose only desire was to
serve and protect the people of Meridiem from the monsters of the
world.

The Truth Seeker, the Protector and the Sorceress.

And what of Sir Spender? It was said that he followed the surviving
Nuvega back to their homeland. A barren realm called Nevada where it
never rained, where course dark sand sizzled under an unrelenting sun,
and strange prickly plants were the only vegetation. It sounded
dreadful and a most fitting place for the pretender king.

Still others swore that the fairies had captured him and he been
forced to become their much used toy-boy. Few believed this rumor
however, as none could picture Sir Spender as anyone's object of
sexual desire. Even the sex-crazed fairies.

But the most popular rumor was that he had been surprised in his sleep
by a vile and ugly creature who had once been Lady Diana of Fowley.
Around lonely campfires in the dead of night, ghastly stories were
told of how she tortured the evil man until he had become a mere
shell, a raving lunatic who could do little but scream in mental and
physical anguish, begging for rescue. His demented mind expecting a
magical creature to descend from heaven and bear him away from his
torment. Some said he prayed for a golden unicorn but most agreed he
cried instead for a beautiful fox. It was said that Lady Diana grew
angry with his incessant wails for the fox, and fed him to her pack of
wild snap dogs, before she herself wandered off into The Outland,
never to be heard from again.

And so it came to pass that the good King Fox and his court led the
people of Meridiem into a thousand years of peace and prosperity. He
would grow old and weary under the demands of his reign and pass away.
During his absence, his immortal Queen Dana would rule wisely in his
place, awaiting the reappearance of her heart and her life. Fox would
return to her quickly each time, along with his knightly protector and
the realm would continue to grow and prosper under their guidance and
love.

All agreed, the Realm of Meridiem was truly blessed.

The End 4/4