By early afternoon, our heroes have reached the town of Ivy Castle... Within these stone walls, there is a huge town surrounding the Kingdom of Ivy. There are no peasants here, only merchants and the upper-class, living together peacefully. This a sign of a fair ruler and just laws...

Edeline: "The Queen must be wonderful here." (^_^)
Faeda: "Yes. She is the kindest woman I know." (^_^)
Galen: "You know the Queen personally?!" (o_o)
Adie: "Duh! Faeda's royalty, after all." (>_>)
Faeda: "We should head for the castle, now. She is expecting us." (^_^)
Galen: "I don't believe it! Is my eyes playing tricks on me?!" (o_o)
Edeline: "What are you going on about, Galen?" (o_O)

Galen rushes to a merchant's stand, drooling. "Funnel cakes!" he swooned, "I haven't had one in ages! Oh, they are SO Divine!" Edeline frowns, Vi and Adie giggle, and Faeda smiles. "Galen!" growls Edeline, "Worry about your stomach later! We have to see the Queen!" But Galen seems to be hypnotized by the delicious cakes. "You girls go ahead without me." he waves, in a dreamy state, "I'll stay here." Edeline grabs Galen by the ear, pulling him away. "You stupid monk!" she growls, "Let's go, you're delaying us!" "Cakes!" screams Galen, looking longingly at the stand. The merchant gives Galen a funny look. "How embarrassing..." sighs Adie. "You're cold, Edeline." sulks Galen, as they head for the castle. "Don't worry." smiles Faeda, "We'll get some later." "With extra sugar on top?" Galen grins, his stomach growling. "Yes." nods Faeda. "He's such a big baby..." Adie whispered to Vi. She nodded in agreement, while Edeline mumbled to herself.
They enter into the castle and are stopped by the Royal Guards. "What business do you have here?" one grunted. "I am Lady Faeda," she bowed, "Of Gryphon Islands. I request and audience with the Queen." A thin woman, with glasses and her blond hair tied in a tight bun, makes her way to the Guards. "It's alright." she nodded, "Queen Raypera has been expecting them. Let them pass." The Guards step aside and the woman bows to our group.

Woman: "I am Fey, the Queen's adviser and assistant. Welcome to Ivy Castle." (-_-)
Faeda: "Thank you, Fey. We wish to see the Queen, as soon as possible." (^_^)
Fey: "Yes, of course. But only you and the Bard shall speak with her. I'm afraid your escorts will have to wait in the Golden Den." (;^_^)
Edeline: "What?" (o_O)
Adie: "How come?" (O_o)
Fey: "It is tradition. Don't worry, the room is accommodated with food, drinks, and entertainment." (^_^)
Galen: "Food?! Well, come on, let's go! I'm starving!" (^o^)
Edeline: "What a dork!" (u_u)
Galen: "WHAT DID YOU CALL ME???" W('O')W

While Fey leads the others to the Golden Den, Vi and Faeda heads for the Throne Room. A Guard stands on each side of two huge wooden doors. Vi and Faeda bow to them and they hastily open the doors. The heavy ancient wood doors rumbles, giving away it's age and subtle frailty, as they swing open. Vi and Faeda step onto red and gold carpet, which seemed soft as silk, muffling their steps as they walk down the long hall towards the throne. As they reach the throne, the door slams shut with a loud boom, causing Faeda to jump.
"Noisy door," waves the Queen, "I must get it fixed, one of these days." A beautiful Queen, dressed in red and gold silk gown, sits on her red and gold throne. Vi and Faeda didn't notice at first, that the Queen was before them, for she seems to blend in with the room! "Y-Your Highness!" bows Vi. Faeda quickly bow as well. "No, no." waves Queen Raypera, "No need for formalities, please. I know exactly why you're here... The Song Of The Guardians..."
Meanwhile, Edeline, Adie, and Galen are waiting in the Golden Den. It's a huge room, painted in gold -of course-, huge enough for the Annual Royal Ball! Adie is watching the Court Jester dance, broodily. Galen is stuffing his face, like a pig! And Edeline is getting more and more annoyed...

Edeline: "We should be by Faeda's side! We're more than just escorts, we're Faeda's friends!" (;u_u)
Galen: *muffled* "Yep...But traditions are traditions." (^^)//
Adie: "How weird is it, that Vi was allowed to see the Queen?" (u_u)
Edeline: "I guess, it's because she can hear the Song Of The Guardians." (o_O)
Galen: *muffled* "I wonder if they have any jelly..." (^^)//
Adie: "I was so looking forward to meeting the Queen... It's not fair!" (u_u)
Edeline: "They have been talking for a while... I hope they're okay." (>_>)
Galen: *muffled* "Yay! Jelly!" (^^)//

Galen begins to choke and turn red! "Oh forgoodness sakes!" growls Edeline, hitting him so hard that he falls over, "Chew your food!" Galen takes a deep breath, angry but his color is coming back. "Chew his food?" laughs Adie, "Don't you mean, 'stop stuffing your face with too much food at one time'!" "Shut up!" yells Galen and then grabs a turkey leg. Adie and Edeline giggle. Suddenly, the door swings open and three Guards rush in! "There he is!" they shout, pointing to Galen, "The Bowcrest Thief!" "WHAT!" yells Galen, Adie, and Edeline. "Andir Gates," charged a Guard, "Surrender yourself peacefully!" "Andir?" frowns Edeline. "I won't surrender," growls Galen, ready to fight, "Because I'm not Andir!" "Please," Edeline said, "Surely we can settle this misunderstanding peacefully." "Take them all in!" commands the Guard. "Obviously not." grins Galen.
Galen and Edeline quickly takes down the three Guards, but more are marching towards the room. "What now?!" shrieks Adie. "We find Faeda and Vi," nods Edeline, "They can help solve this!" The three rush from the Golden Den, ducking through corridors, to avoid the angry Guards. "Who the hell is this Andir?" growls Galen. "Don't you remember?" sighs Edeline, "Outside of Stonebluff?" "Oh..." frowns Galen, "Right... that idiot I fought. Wait! I look NOTHING like him!!!" "Shh!" whispers Adie, "Keep your voice down! You're going to get us caught." "It's weird," continues Edeline, "Why would they mistake YOU with a handsome guy like Andir?" "Hey!" growls Galen, "What are you implying?!" "Oh, nothing." blushed Edeline.
"There they are!" shouts a Guard. "RUN!" shrieks Galen. They find their way outside the doors of the Throne Room, a hundred men trailing near. "Get them!" one shouts, "They're going for the Queen!" "It's now or never." growls Galen, pulling open the doors. They rush in and the Guards follow! There is screaming, the clanging of armor, and fighting about! "Galen?" gasps Faeda, spotting him in the crowd. Fey stands onto a table and screams, "QUIET!!!!" Everyone stops and stare at the adviser.

Fey: "Thank you... now... what's going on?" (u_u)
Galen: "Your Guards attacked us!" (o_o)
Guard: "He is the bandit, Andir!" (o_o)
Edeline: "He is NOT!" (u_u)
Faeda: "Andir?" (o_o)
Fey: "What makes you think that Lady Faeda's escort is the bandit?" (o_O)
Guard: "We have this Wanted poster, madam!" (-_-)

It is a poster of Andir, only the hair have been crudely colored and shaped like Galen's, and the eyes colored dark. "What the..." gasps Galen. "Let me see that," says Edeline, snatching the poster from the Guard. She sniffs the paper and then scratches it a bit. "It's crayon." she nods, handing it to Fey. The Guards gape in disbelief! "Yes," nods Fey, "It's been altered with crayons." "B-b-b-but..." sputtered the Guard, "Every poster in town, looks like this one!" "If you look closely," says Fey, "I'm sure you'll note that not every poster is really the same."
"Forgive us," bows the Guard and the others follow, "Lady Fey and Queen Raypera, for our insolence!" The Queen gives a wary wave of her hand and the Guards march away. "Unbelievable!" growls Galen, "I'm going to kill that damn bandit!" "Shh, Galen." frowns Edeline, "We're before the Queen." "Forgive us," bows Adie, "Your Highness!"

Queen Raypera: "It's quite alright, children. This has been most entertaining!" (^o^)
Galen: (;u_u)
Adie: (;^_^)
Queen Raypera: "Fey, go ahead and get things ready..." (^_^)
Fey: "Yes, Queen Raypera." (-_-)
Queen Raypera: "Now... where was I last...?" (o_O)
Faeda: "You were telling us our next destination." (^_^)
Queen Raypera: "Ah, yes... You must retrieve the Key of Songs!" (^_^)
Edeline: "Key of Songs, your highness?" (o_O)
Queen Raypera: "Oh, my... have you not told them everything, Faeda?" (o_o)

"I told them some," blushed Faeda, "They know about my purpose and what's at stake..." "I see." says the Queen. "The Key Of Songs is an holy amulet." explains Vi, "Every generation, a young Queen hides it somewhere in Serenity. It's up to Faeda to find it and follow the Song Of The Guardians." "Correct." nods the Queen, "And as a young girl, I have hidden the key in The Bone Cliffs!" "We will have to travel to Fox Arbor," smiles Faeda, "To rent a boat, sailing to The Bone Cliffs. The Queen is gracious enough to lend her horses to us." "Cool!" grins Galen, "No more long walks!" "Fey is waiting at the Royal Stable for you." says the Queen, "You best meet her there."
"Thank you, Your Highness!" bows everyone. As they are leaving, the Queen pulls Faeda to the side... "You must trust in your friends... They are important, along this difficult journey. Without them, you will surely fail." "...I know." says Faeda, in a small voice, looking towards the floor.