2 CHAPTER 2

Chapter Two

The Next Day in the Talvok Palace

Princess Fayrn was jolted awake by the sound of fighting outside the library door.

She must have fallen asleep during the night reading because the healing manuscript was laying on the floor where it had fallen from her lap during the night.

What was going on? Who was fighting? How had she slept through it? She was normal an extremely light sleeper.

Slowly, she started to get up when out of nowhere Giles, the old salt and pepper haired librarian limped forward from the maze of bookshelves with surprising quietness and she smiled at him. For the time she had known him he had surprised her many times with his ability to move silently. Sometimes he just seem to appear out of nowhere and made her wonder if he had some type of magic that allowed him to move without being seen.

"Good morning, Princess" Giles said cordially pulling her from her musings and she stood up to greet him with a quick hug. She adored the old man and his quirky ways.

"Good morning, Giles" she said with a warm smile and a loud bang outside drawing her attention.

"Giles, what's going on?" She asked bluntly and he looked at her quickly before responding.

"Oh, don't worry about it, my dear. I made some tea" he said reassuringly and the princess frowned, giving him a stern look. She wasn't having any of it.

"But..." He cut her off as he pulled her to his desk and picked up a steaming mug of tea.

"Would you like a cup of tea..." She cut him off as she glanced at the oaken doors of the library and listened to the sound of metal on metal.

"Fighting? What is... Oh no! They're in the palace? This is..." She trailed off as she started for the doors and Giles limped after her.

"Princess, wait!" The old man yelled as he set the mug on the corner of his desk and Fayrn glanced back at him.

"Giles, wait here. I'll be back soon" she instructed calmly as she turned back to the doors.

"Where are you going? You can't go out there! It's not safe for you, My Lady!" He protested, frustration evident in his voice, and she looked at him in annoyance.

"I am the princess and I belong with my people! I cannot use a sword, but I can use medicine! I am a healer! I should be helping the wounded!" She exclaimed passionately and before she had time to reach for the library doors, they swung open, stopping her in her tracks making her stumble back slightly.