Another Chapter...Chapter Three

"You are doing just fine princess," Vladmir reassured.

"I do not know how my father does this everyday. Everyone expects me to
know everything and I do not." Miranda began pacing across the cold
marble floor.

"Now, that is not true. They all know that no one could possibly know
everything."

"It feels like it though. I need to get away from all of this."

"Would you like me to take you to the sitting room princess?"

"Yes, it would be nice to get away from all of this. Thank you for
offering High Member Vladmir."

Vladmir and Miranda walked to the opposite end of the castle, to the
queen's wing.

"I have not been here for over five years, but it has changed
much."

"We are probably the first to be here since your mother died. Watch
your step, there might be some weak spots in the floor?"

"Which one is the sitting room?" Miranda sidestepped a large
cobweb.

"This one, it is probably still locked."

"We will never know until we try Vladmir."

Miranda gently turned the tarnished door handle and found that it
opened quite easily.

"I thought you said this door was locked."

"Someone might have unlocked it after our mother's death."

"Let us go in then." Miranda grabbed Vladmir's hand and pulled him into
the room.

"We should not be here, this wing is forbidden."

"You scared of going in? No one will find out."

"There is another reason I do not want you to be in this room."

Vladmir pulled Miranda close and wrapped his arms around her
waist.

"What is that reason, Vladmir?" Miranda's green eyes were filled with
longing as she looked into his brown eyes.

"That is for me to know and you to figure out."

Kissing Miranda teasingly, Vladmir tucked a stray hair behind her ear.
Letting her head fall against Vladmir's chest, Miranda peacefully
sighed.

"We should go back princess," Vladmir whispered in to her ear, "
someone might be looking for you."

"Yes, I guess so." Miranda unwrapped Vladmir's arms from her waist,
then gently kissed his cheek.

Miranda began walking down the hallway, but Vladmir stayed in the
sitting room.

"King Jilhal will not like this once he finds out," came Lady's
voice.

"I will talk to you later," Vladmir told her.

"Vladmir, are you coming?" came Miranda 's voice down the hall.

"Yes princess. I'm coming."

Vladmir ran out of the room, not bothering to shut the door behind him.
At the end of the hallway stood Miranda, patiently waiting for
him.

"What took you so long?"

"I though I saw something, but it was just my imagination. You did not
have to wait, my princess."

"It was my own choice Vladmir. We had better get back to the throne
room.

* * *
"High Member Vladmir, tell the guards I will not be seeing any more
people tonight."

"Do not bother, we heard you Princess Miranda," one of the guards
stationed outside the throne room said.

"Princess, where are you going?" Vladmir followed Miranda behind the
throne.

"To see if Excalibur can tell me anything about my father."

After pushing the statue's paw down, Miranda ran into the passageway
that appeared.

"Princess," Vladmir grabbed her hand," Excalibur cannot show you
anything."

"Let go of me. I have to try."

Miranda broke free of Vladmir's grasp and ran to the passageway's end.
Once Miranda got there, she gasped at what she saw.

Holding Excalibur in its hand was a moving shadow. Since there were
people in the area, the shadow dropped the sword and ran. Falling to
the ground, Excalibur landed with a huge crash. The ruby set into the
handle fell off and broke in two.

"You were right Vladmir, the shadows did come here to steal
Excalibur."

Miranda knelt to the ground and picked up the broken ruby pieces as
tears rolled off her face. Vladmir tried to comfort Miranda, but she
pushed him away.

"Princess, this would have happened no matter what."

"I know what I must do now. I have to take Excalibur out of Vendra, far
away from where the shadows are."

"You have to stay here princess. I will go."

"No," Miranda grabbed Excalibur and the ruby," Vladmir, I can do this
on my own. I cannot stay here and let you go off with my future and
this kingdom's future."

"And I cannot let you go. If you go, then I am coming with you."

"You have always been stubborn and persistent. If you want to, then
come with me Vladmir. Go send a message to my father and change into
traveling clothes, meet me near the west entrance."

"Yes Princess Miranda."

Vladmir gently kissed Miranda 's forehead and headed back out of the
passage.

"Press the lightest colored stone if you want to get out," Miranda
yelled to him as she wiped away her tears.

Removing a stone near the crevice, Miranda dug around in the empty
space. Feeling something leather-like, she pulled on it.

"It is a good thing my family has kept Excalibur's sheath and belt down
here."

Tightening the belt around her waist, Miranda attached the sheath to
it. Carefully, so as not to cut herself or the sheath, Miranda pushed
the sword into its sheath.

Leaving half of the ruby inside the empty space, Miranda put the stone
back. The other half she put inside a small pocket on her skirt.

Running out of the passage, Miranda impatiently pushed on the stone to
lift her foot. Tapping her foot, Miranda waited until the wall had gone
up enough so that she could get under it then ran out of the throne
room.

Slamming her bedroom door behind her, Miranda grabbed her green
traveling dress and a white blouse. Taking her dress off, she first put
on the blouse and then the dress.

Putting the sword belt on, Miranda put the ruby into a belt pouch. As
Miranda braided her hair, Kikki kept on purring and running into
Miranda.

"Do you want to come with Vladmir and me Kikki? It will probably be
dangerous at times."

Kikki looked up Miranda and began rubbing against her.

"Fine, you can come with me Kikki. I do no want you causing any trouble
during this."

Kikki gave Miranda a disdainful look, as if even the mention of trouble
caused a bad taste.

Scooping up the chubby cat in her arms, Miranda locked the door after
she walked out. Dodging from the sit of several council members,
Miranda quickly ran to the West Entrance.

* * *
"Must that cat come along with us?" Vladmir asked when he saw Miranda
had Kikki with her.

"Kikki wanted to come along with us. Do you have a problem with that
Vladmir?"

"All that cat will do is slow us down and get in the way."

"Get in the way of what?"

Vladmir kissed Miranda, "In the way of us."

"Have you gone crazy? Someone could see us. Then they will get my
father out here, and who knows what he will do."

"You cannot hide the truth forever princess. You father will find out
someday."

"If he finds out too early, we both are in how water. And if he finds
out too late?"

"Let the future worry about itself and focus on the present,
princess."

While they were walking out of palace, Miranda was sure that someone
would at least check who they were. TO