The Raven Princess

The river ran backwards the day the Queen vanished; her husband, the Prince Consort put on a façade of worry and fear for his wife -one that her Queen's Guard saw right through. They had never trusted the Prince from the far off Kingdom, as he was the last in the line of many in his family. The moment the morning of the Queen's supposed disappearance came, the Captain of the Queen's Guard, Ser Harold, sent word to the Queen's cousin, Princess Iradessa; the Sigil of their House -The Raven- had appeared to both the Princesses on their shared 16th nameday, Ser Harold had seen it. So had the entirety of the Queen and King's Guard.

An answer came quickly, though not in the way Ser Harold had expected.

"What has happened to my cousin?" the Princess demanded as she appeared in a puff of smoke, her Raven familiar ever-present on her left shoulder.

"All we know at this moment is she isn't in the castle, or in Sea Vantage.' Ser Jameson, the Second in Command, pulled out a seat for the Princess and took her hand, helping her sit, 'We have reason to believe the Prince Consort is responsible for this."

Princess Iradessa nods, "I have to agree. My cousin was forced to marry that pathetic excuse for a human, and she made sure to make me her Heir. They have no children; her Decree still stands."

"Aaahh, Iradessa... I thought I heard your.... lovely voice..." The sly, seething voice of the Prince Consort slithered through the door as he appeared.

"That's Princess or My Lady to you." Ser Harold growled as the Queen's Guard glared at the Prince Consort.

"I am the King!"

"You are the Prince Consort.' The Princess stated in a bored tone, 'My cousin never wanted to marry you, she never wanted you in our home. The Throne isn't yours; the Crown isn't yours.' She stood, moving around the table in step with the Queen's Guard, 'If you did something to my Lady Cousin, you will feel the full extent of not only my wrath, but the wrath of twelve seasoned, powerful Knights that have sworn Oaths of Protection to her, and every woman faithful to their Queen, and to the House of the Raven.' Ser Avian -A Knight of twenty-and-four, who had lost an eye defending the Princess in a fight when they were ten-and-three- rested a hand on her shoulder as she stepped closer to the seething Prince Consort, 'You'll feel the wrath of the entire realm; my Lady Cousin is the most loved royal of the realm, since our Ancestor -The Raven Himself- Joncastor Ravenwood."

The Prince Consort lashed out, shoving Princess Iradessa back, into Ser Avian's arms, "These accusations are Treason!"

She smirked, "Not if they are true!" She yelled back, her raven cawing above her and Ser Avian, hating her upset.

"Breathe, My Princess.' Ser Avian whispered, 'We will find her, I swear it."

"Get me away from him, before I do commit treason, Ser Avian."

The young Knight chuckled, "Ser Harold, might I have leave to escort Princess Iradessa to her chambers?"

Ser Harold nodded, "You may. Ser Vickor, Ser George, accompany them. You are to stand outside the door to the Princess's chambers; the only ones allowed to enter your fellow members of the Queen's Guard, and Princess Iradessa's Lady's Maids. Ser Avian, you also have leave to stay in the Princess's chambers with her, if she so desires that precaution."

The young Knight bowed at once, and offered his arm to the Princess that he'd admired and loved since childhood, "Come, my Princess."

Once they reached her chambers and the other Knights were stationed outside the room, the Princess turned and hugged him, "I do not care if it is appropriate, I yearn for comfort."

"Whatever it is you need, Iradessa, I will give it.' He vowed, 'I swore to you we would find our Queen, and we will.' He ran his fingers through her raven colored hair, 'We need rest to give justice to our cause; to serve justice for our Queen."

The Princess nodded as her emerald eyes met his topaz orbs, "You are -as always- so wise.' They laughed together, as they had so many times before, 'Had our Lady Queen spoken to you about her decision to make you my Personal Shield, once she made me her Queen's Hand?"

"She spoke not only to myself, but to Ser Harold, as well... It is a step in the right direction. It will allow me to be closer to you, and to protect you. Come, let us rest."

The next morning the Princess left the castle with half the Queen's Guard to search for her cousin. Her Raven Familiar, Romero, flying above the group and allowing the Princess to see what most could not. They questioned many on whether they had seen the Queen, but not many had, or wanted to admit they had.

After two days of searching, while the group was sleeping, the Princess had a vision of a stone and iron stronghold littered with banners adorned with a dagger in the back of an enemy; she awoke with a start, "My Lady?' Ser Avian mumbled as he awoke as well, 'What is it? What did you see?"

"That treacherous little... He gave her to....' She allowed her eyes to meet his again, 'She's in the stronghold of the Traitors' Kingdom..."

He sighed, "My Uncle Haymire...' He cupped her cheek in his hand, 'I'm with you, until the end; perhaps even after."