Lance heard of the missing princess, but he was not sure where she would be held at. They heard of a small cottage out in the woods, but they only knew that two sisters lived there, but he was headed there to see for sure what was going on there.

Layka's cottage was quiet. She was attempting to stir up a frog tounge stew, but failed at one little detail everytime. The princess had been quiet for weeks, sitting in her chair at the tiny dining room and watching Layka stir up potions. Layka turned her head. She giggled. "I'm having trouble again. I can't find that darn fairy dust...I always mess up because of it!" She said, walking towards the princess who had her head down. Layka smiled. "You wanna help me?" She asked, kneeling down and trying to make eye contact with the girl, who remained quiet. "Fine then." She snapped, going back to stirring her stew.

Lance got his small group ready, and headed off toward the woods. He was hopeing to find the princess, and take care of the person that kidnapped her once and for all. He once loved the princess, and saving her, he hope to get back with her.

(Thats him)

Layka stopped what she was doing. She looked up. "I hear things." She said. She knew it came out weird, but she did. She heard people. There were people coming to her cottage. She sighed. "Another tries to rescue you, huh?" She laughed, looking at the princess who was still silent.

Lance took a deep breath, and knocked on the cottage door once they got there. He waited for a bit, hoping there was an answer. He knew the sister that usually opened the door was rather cute, but he still longed for the princess, where ever she was. He would do anything to protect her.

Layka giggled as the princess's head jolted up from being down so long. She stood up as Layka answered the door. "Well hey there." She said, looking the boy up and down. "How may I be of service?" She giggled.

"Just another Look for the princess, We had a tip she was spotted around here." Luke said as polite as he could. He could not help but smile, the lady was cute, and that was just another reason he wanted to go back there again. "You mind if we look around?" He asked still smiling.

Layka's smile started to fade a little. "What if I told you she was here?" She said. "What would happen then?" She twirled her hair, raiting for a response. She could hear the princess starting to stand up in the dining room.

"well we would take her back and you would have to come with us..." Lance said his smile fading as well. He didn't know what she was up to, but something funny was with her today. "Besides she should be let go, if you do have her, take me..." He added as well not knowing if she did have the princess or not.

Layka stared at him for a moment and then giggled. "She's my sister. I made her my sister. Why would I need a boy in the house when I have a sister?" She smiled, knowing she gave herself away, but enjoying talking to him. "Or maybe I should keep you both.." She said, grinning.

"So you do have her." Lance said standing his guard. "why make her your sister..let her go" He added looking at her. Her looks were just distracting him, but he had to get the princess away, at any cost. He still would sacrifice himself for her.

Layka's eyes got big and watery. "It's lonely." She started to say. "What would you do if you were a witch, hm? You lived all alone in a cottage, nobody to be with you. I need a life sometimes, if I even think of going outside to the world, they shun me for being what I am. Would you want that? No. No, you wouldn't." She said in one breath, starting to cry. She opend her door and let him get to the princess.

Lance didn't move but the other two walked in to get her. He just looked at her, and started to feel bad. "I will stay with you.." he said and moved forward to comfort her. "I will protect you so you can go outside, be by your side, and keep you company.." He added, he now had his arms around her.

Layka stopped moving. She stopped crying. Nobody had ever done any of this to her. "I...uh..." She started to say, looking down at his arms around her. "R-really..?" Was the only thing that came out of her mouth. "Comp..any..? Real company..." She said, still in shock.

"Yes, just let the princess go, and I will stay instead." He was still holding her. He could tell she was shocked, but he would expect that comming from someone that is not used to people willing to just stay with her. "I would only need to get my things from the castle..." He said not knowing what she would do, but he was willing to keep his men with the princess and get his thing, and when he came back they could leave.

"I..." She looked at the princess she had kept captive for so long. She smiled. "I'll let her go. She'll be happier with someone else anyways. But you mister! You stay with me!" She said, giving him a big hug. "You can be my teddy bear!" She said, giggling again.

"What about all my things?" He asked. He had a slight smile on his face. His princess was safe, and he was not with another cutie, that just wanted to be loved.
His men took the princess and started heading back toward the castle.

"You can go get them!" She said, scooting him off towards the castle. "But be back soon!" She yelled, hoping he would. She never had a boy in her house before. She sighed when she looked at the stew she'd been trying to make. "Whatever." she said to herself, and emptied it out.

He rushed back to the castle and got all his things packed. He was stopped by the princess but he couldn't stop and talk. She would just want him not go back, but he ment his word, and was keeping the word. He walked back to the cottage, and knocked on the door again waiting for his new life with her to begin.

She opened the door and jumped for joy. "You're for real! You weren't kidding! Oh I'm yours forever I promise! Whatever you wish is my command!" She said, letting him in. "This is my sweet little cottage! How do you like it? I built it myself. Well, with a little help from magic.." She started rambling and rambling, telling him about everything.

He placed his things on the floor, and sighed. Lance took in all that she was telling him. He even didn't really know her name. "My names lace.." he said once she was done talking

"Oh! Hi there, Lance!" She said. "I'm Layka! I'm a witch in training, have been for...6 years now! I'm 15, and I like people! But you know, I wish they liked me back." She smiled compassionatly. "Well then, make yourself at home. I can make dinner, if you want." She asked, looking for a pot.

Lance looked around "Where do I sleep?" He asked only seeing one bed. He placed his stuff beside it for the time being. "I am 18, and have protected the crown for 4 years, I am not by your side, and I am a person so i like you" He said with a smile, and sat at the table.

"Oh! You just sleep on the bed, I can stir up a cot or something for me to sleep on the floor with. I don't mind." She said, putting a whole bunch of ingrediants together, attempting to make a real dinner. She was so used to making failed stews that it didn't occur making food could be easy.

"I will not force you out of your own bed, I will sleep on the floor." he said looking at her. He was there to suport her, and get to know her while he could not leave. He was giving the little one a chance, she was cute and all. He would not miss the castle life, he hated it anyway. He would love to live out here with her for as long as she wanted.