Derrick bowed, "Right away." The knight walked forward, "I'll escort you while the butler cleans up."

" Alright." Athena let him lead the way back she went right to her brother to make sure he was alright snickering when she found him nursing a hang over.

Derrick slowly walked around the small house, cleaning up as he went. He had the kitchen polished and bedroom put to rights easily enough. Then he headed back to the castle via the secret passageway, wondering if there would be new orders or not.

*****

Clare soon had the decorations prepared. She went to the door and flagged down a youngster. Handing him a message to run to the castle saying the delivery was ready, she returned inside. Having a moment of peace, she grinned. 5 men was a definite first. Having them be so drunk really helped too. They had done well at the gambling house and she did well to have picked them. The prince twice in the same day too. It made her laugh.

Athena helped her mother nurse her brother back to health he was punished severally for getting that drunk at losing the money he had won. Athena wondered to the garden sitting down on one of the bench's with a sigh.

Erik woke and groaned " Well at least I slept for a little while." he rolled to his feet and dressed.

Derrick felt grumpy. His orders were to keep playing butler. Why? Today was the banquet. Why couldn't he move on. Still, the best assassin wasn't one who showed up and killed but had been there all along. That was him. His target yet unknown. Though he did know, at least at this point, that Athena was to be protected.

*****

Clare watched as the wagon pulled up. Directing the castle servants, she helped them load up the leafy decorations. When the last one was carefully loaded, she waved goodbye.

(( cats are distracting XD))

Athena stared off then glanced up her brothers new friends come into view she refused to move but didn't like the idea of being alone with them so she stood to leave.

Erik helped the servants bring in the decorations smiling when he saw Tracy " Hey I see you got all the flowers you needed."

((lol, oh nice))

Derrick began walking around, watching the preparations for the banquet. The chef had the food under control. There was still a host of other things to do though.

Tracy was in a nearby room. When she heard Erik, she turned and grinned at him, "I finished getting them done this morning." Silently she added, and am richer too.

(( she was in the way of the keyboard XD))

" They look great." Erik sniffed them and sneezed softly " Woops." he laughed. " Guess I got pollen in my nose." he smiled at her.

Athena vanished into the castle " My lady." one of them called making her turn " How are you today?" he asked " I'm well." Athena turned to Stan " I hope you received my gift of thanks." she smiled at him.

She laughed with him, "Well, perhaps you better let the servants carry them inside. Want to help me direct where they go? I haven't actually been up here much." Also, would be nice to have the company.

*****

Derrick walked into the room right as Athena smiled at Stan. His heart did a flip flop and he wondered what was wrong with him. Stan bowed deeply, "I did. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Please, don't distress yourself with past unpleasantness further. I promise to attempt to keep a tighter rein on the younger boys." He looked up at her, and caught his breathe. She was not just gracious, but beautiful in the morning light as well.

" Sure." Erik watched the servants " Though most of them now the castle fairly well...better then the king and queen I would wager." he looked around then chuckled.

" Try to keep a close eye on my brother as well please." Athena sighed " He's to hard headed for his own good." she nodded her head to them " I must prepare for the banquet if you will excuse me my lords." she turned and vanished into the castle.

Grinning, she suggested, "Well, I'll just hang out with you at least until these things are settled before leaving. I was worried there for a moment. When I first saw your face, it looked a bit pale. But you have color again. Did you not sleep well?"

*****

Stan bowed, "Of course" until she was gone. Then he turned at looked at the others. They were a mess for sure. No sense of moderation. Shaking his head at them, he moved towards a couch and settled into it.

Derrick approached and offered a glass of juice. "My lord, something to drink?" Stan nodded and picked up one.

" I slept just fine." Erik said quickly catching a maid as she tripped " Careful." he righted the girl and set her off to finished her work.

Athena stood before her mirror trying to pick out a dress for the dinner frowning softly.

She nodded and wondered if her pranks on the nobility was being kept hush hush. Probably, as it was rather embarrassing that they were that drunk without guards. Seeing the last of the cart unloaded, she regretfully said, "Well, I'm done here I guess. Better start heading back."

*****

Derrick restrained himself from pacing. The five were appearing to feeling better. The King walked in and asked, "Are you five doing well." At their careful nods, he continued, "Last night while you taking naps on the road so that anyone could steal your purses, we had an attack on our family. Man dressed in black and very well trained in the art of fighting snuck into the castle via the Princess' windows, which had been tampered with, and raised quite an alarm. From now on, all of you will be staying on the grounds unless you are accompanying Athena to town for reasons of her own choice." He turned to leave, but paused to add, "And I trust you will have your swords on you this time."

" ALright...See you around then." Erik looked a little disappointed but smiled none the less.

Athena picked out a dress and took a bath letting her maids spray her with perfume and design her hairstyle so she looked even more amazing then normal. She toned out there blabber and stared at her self wondering what the point was.

Waving, she left. Heading back to town, she resumed her ordinary life.

*****

The castle began to take shape. There was a luncheon prepared for the family outside on the patio, so that the servants could prepare the main rooms for the guests that would be arriving that afternoon. The chef could be heard muttering under his breathe as he worked to create amazing dishes. The grooms had the stables cleaned out so that the footmen of the coming carriages would could gossip about it later. The rooms took on a forest scent with a floral to it as the floral decor was placed on tables, shelves, and other niches.

Athena watched the people arrive and stood next to her mother who was sitting down fanning herself so she wouldn't over heat in her big dress. She glanced up as her brother arrived with his friends and she pulled her shawl around her tightly.

Clare sat in her herbalist shop, a bit relieved the big order was done but also a bit lost as to what to do with her time now. Eating a late lunch, she tried to settle on a project.

*****

Derrick watched the evening's food preparations go into overtime mode. With guests arriving, they would want drinks and snacks until supper time. Derrick made sure to help point servants in the right directions.

Athena sighed following her family into the room a smile on her face as she greeted some of the other ladies her age ignoring there scorn for the night.

Erik stood in a corner watching the royal family closely as well as the crowd noticing Athena's slightly tense shoulders as she was surrounded by people who thought she was no good as a princess.

There were so many guests on the road, that she decided it might be fun to do a little thieving. She would have to time it right so that no one came upon her while she was stealing from another. Slipping out of the back of her shop, she went quietly to the edge of the village and out of sight. Then she climbed into the trees and started making her way back to her hiding place in the woods. Reaching the cliff edge, she slipped into the cave and changed into black attire.

*****

Derrick walked amongst the people, serving drinks and keeping an eye on Lord McCarthy.

Athena escaped the other ladies finding a quiet spot next to Erik and sighed running a hand over her face as she sat. She watched all the couples and stared at her feet frowning softly.

Erik glanced down at the princess and felt bad he being a man could be married whenever he choose the right girl the princess wasn't so lucky most girls married by 20 at the lastest and here she was still unmarried at 30.

Derrick weaved his way through the crowd and stood silently off to the side and a little behind Athena. "Princess, perhaps I can get you something to drink?" He bowed slightly as he waited for her answer.

*****

Dressed in her black outfit, she worked her ways through the shadows confidently. Staying to the trees to avoid dogs finding her trail, she knew that she was almost invisible. Best yet, no one could tell she was female. Reaching the road, she saw a lone carriage making it's way to the banquet. She dropped on top, knocked out the driver, and turned the carriage onto a side path that ended at a lumber camp. Putting on the breaks, she proceeded to rob and make her getaway.

Athena jumped a little a shook her head " No thank you the banquet will be starting soon." As if on cue her Father started towards the dining hall signaling to her. She hurried to there side head held high as the took there spots at the long table.

Watching Athena poised with such grace, dignity, and respect, he felt his chest swell with pride.

" Let's eat." The king smiled and signaled to the servants who hurried to serve them. After they where stuffied " Lets adjourn to the dance hall." Threw the dinner her mother had kept changing her mind about what she wanted but she hadn't lost her temper once so Athena was happy with that. She followed her parents to the dance hall and watched her father spin her mother around and stood waiting to be asked to dance.

Derrick froze as he listened in surprise to a comment one of the guests was making to another. "Yes, that's right. Evidently the Queen made a threat to one of her most staunch allies."

"Now, she is with child isn't she? It is to be expected that she would be moody."

"Yes but..." staged whisper, "what if it has been a thought long in planning and because of her pregnancy she is unable to hide her true self?"

Derrick looked at the ladies out of the corner of his eye. There was no telling from their conversation who started the rumor. Yet, he was sure he knew who. He moved on.

Another group in another part of the room were also having a conversation. He easedropped in. "Evidently the king can't control his own son. Now his son has invited his new friends to go out late at night with him. I would hope that those boys are not causing too much mischief."

"I heard that last night they returned penniless. What did they spend all that money on I wonder?"

"Nonsense. There has been thieving lately."

"Oh so he can't control his son or the roads."

Derrick moved on.

*****

The first robbed carriage rolled into the castle, it inhabitants angrily yelling at the soldiers there of what happened.

Meanwhile, back in the forest...

A figure clothed in black jumped away from the carriage, the second victim of the night. Reaching the tree branches, she made her way into the darkness to store the night's cache. Soldiers might be out at any moment and she wanted to be rid of her costume before that happened.