Rose looked into Max's eyes in confusion. She thought back to her younger days. She remembered Lilly and their parents. She shuddered as she thought of her parents. But she really couldn't remember much of her very early years. She always just thought that nothing had made and impression on her at a young age and that's why she didn't have any memories. She was always amazed at her sister and classmates when they could tell stories of things that they remembered when they were young. Things like being sung to by their mothers, eating their favorite food for the very first time, and the delivery of their younger sibling.

Rose just couldn't remember things like that. But she never thought anything of it....until now. Max was looking at her intently. His carefully guarded words suggested he knew something that she didn't. Something about her past...or his. She wasn't sure.

"What....what is it?" she questioned tentatively. She wasn't sure if she was ready for what he had to say. It seemed so important.

Max smiled softly faded. "The Queen we have here is not our rightful Queen." He said softly. He gently held her hand. "The Queen before her made a packed with the high elf king. They consived a daughter in secrete. The Dark Queen was meant to raise her as her own and when she grew of age the princess would take over the thrown bringing the high elves and the dark elves together as one. The queen we have now knew of this plan and stole the young princesses when she was about the age of three. She lead the young princess into the forest where no one would find her. It was there that the High elf Queen spotted the lost child. The child was raised in the castle, the king never reviling her secret." he said as he looked in roses eyes. "I was that child's guard, and I failed her, but I won't again." He said as he gently touched her cheek. "For you see this child is you." he said as he looked deep her eyes. "You will bring the high elves and dark elves together one day. Our people have felt your presence and soon will upraise against the queen. You will be there leader, and it will be you who decides on our fate." he said as he pulled himself away from her. "I must go the sun will be up soon." he said. "remember I'll always be here for you Rose." he said as he left her tent.

After the guards where finished with Lilly they threw her close back at her. "figure it out." they said as they left the dungeon. She sat there cold and naked with no feeling. "Jay..." she spoke softly. A spirit came in to the dungeon "I'm sorry my love." he said softly. "I'm sorry I couldn't see what you were trying to tell me." he said as he put her cloths back on her and softly touched her cheek. "Jay your so cold." she said as she looked up at him eyes filled with tears. Jay looked at her if a ghost could have tears he would have them. "You have to be strong my love." he said softly. "Don't give up everything we fought so hard for." he said softly as he kissed her. Tears ran down her cheek as she kissed him back. "Please don't leave me here." she pleaded. "I can't lose you again." she said. but when she reopened her eyes he was gone.

Rose gasped when Max told her his news. She didn't know what to think and she definitely did not know what to say. This day just got crazier and crazier. How could see be half dark elf and half high elf? She'd been raised as high elf and she LOOKED like a high elf. 'That doesn't mean thing...you could have just gotten your father's looks' she thought to herself.

Max had to leave because it was almost daylight. She understood that. But she really wished he could stay after dropping that news on her. 'It could also be why you have such a strong connection to him as well...." her voice rang in her head.

Rose couldn't believe it. SHE was supposed to be the Queen of the Dark Elves? And Lilly was the rightful heir to the High Elven nation, especially since she was no longer there to contest it. Could two sisters rule two kingdoms together in peace? She would like to think so but after what she did to that elf and seeing Lilly's devestated expression, she just wasn't sure.

How was she supposed to lead a people she had just joined? And how was she supposed to stop the Queen and free her sister? Rose didn't think she would do much sleeping anymore this night. She had too much on her mind.

Maybe Rose could find dark elves that could help her cause. She had heard that there was a rebel factor in the midst somewhere. The more she thought of it, the more she was certain. She and Max were going to have to secretly find the rebels in order to make things right in the kingdom of the dark elves.

Lilly cried out in pain for the lose of her lover. She wanted him back so bad it hurt. She tired to get out of the chains but in the end it just left her bloody and tattered. She looked to the gate that keep her in along with the chains. She wished there was one more guard that would come in, but to her luck no one else came in.

The queen walked around her castle. "That girl... Rose... Her and the high look quite a bit a like..." when she said the words something clicked in her mind. "guards get me the high elf." she said. "its time to see how young Rose reacts to us bring her sister to her." she said with a slight smile. The guards brought the girl to the Queen. She smiled as she put a collar on the girl. "Coroparte or the collar will kill you." she said as she held the leash. "I wonder how you would respond on all fours." she said as she kicked the princess to the ground. Lilly feel to the ground. "you won't get away with this." she said softly. The Queen let out a small laugh. "Oh... Watch me." she said as she pulled the girl. Lilly stood to her feet and keep up with the Queen. "Did I say you could get up..." she said as she motioned the guard with the whip. He let the whip crack, and it hit Lilly in the middle of her back, slightly taring the rags she wore. She feel to the ground in pain. The queen smiled. "now come pet lets see how much your half sister really cares... Oh did I tell you her big secret." she said as she let out another laugh. She pulled on the Leash but Lilly was still being stubborn. The large man with the whip let it crack a few more times till Lilly broke down and fallowed the Queen.

A few hour after priding her new pet around the village she took Lilly to Roses tent. "Oh Rose I have a present for you." she said as she let out a small laugh. "I though you might like to see you dear elder sister." she said as she pulled Lilly into the tent. Lilly had quite a few deep wounds on her back as she crawled in on all fours.

Rose had been sharpening her dagger when the Queen dragged Lilly inside her tent. She gasped and her fingers tightened around the hilt of her weapon in anger.

"Oh put that down. Is that anyway to treat your Queen?" she dripped sarcastically. Rose knew then that what Max told her was the truth. This woman wanted power and would do anything to get it, including making Rose disappear when she was younger and using Lilly to prevent her from taking over.

Rose ignored the Queen and knelt in front of Lilly instead. She observed her deep wounds and her anger just thickened, "How dare you?" She questioned. She knew she would probably be killed for those words but she just couldn't sit there and watch her sister be tortured and eventually murdered.

"Let her go," Rose demanded. The Queen cackled and the motioned for the guard to whip Lilly once more. Before the whip could hit the poor high elf, Rose stood in the way and took the blow.

"Let her go," Rose repeated. She meant it. She didn't believe in the high elves but that didn't mean she could let a madwoman rule the dark elves.

"You forget your place, bow to me!" The Queen demanded. Rose refused. She was hoping that Max was out there right now watching this take place. She would need his help if she were to rescue Lilly and then make their way to the rebels. She was about to become a traitor a second time in such a short span of time. But she couldn't let the Queen get away with this.

'Max' Rose thought, hoping he would understand.

Lilly watched as her sister's anger grew. Lilly thought that there bond was broken, but when her sister to the lashing for her she knew that her sister was still good. Lilly wanted to fight, but didn't have any fight left in her. She was having a hard time staning on all fours let alone fight. It was then that the dark elf male came in.

Max walked "You won't be queen for long." he said as he took the whip from the large man. "get her out of here." he told Rose. The queen laughed. "I should have known you to were in with each other. "Next thing you know you both will try to go back to the high elves. Guards." she called out. A small group came to roses tent. "You may have helped up kill the high elves, but now its going to be your life were going to take along with making this elf our slave." she said laughing some more." Max walked up to the queen and grabbed her dagger before she could do a thing about it. He held up the poisonous dagger to her throat. "call your men off and We'll leave." he said.

The queen called off her men. "Live the high elf and we won't follow you." she said with a smile. Max looked to Rose. "We have to leave her." he said softly. "We'll come back for her I promise." he said as he grabbed Rose. "Queen if you know whats best for you, you'll keep that high elf alive." he said and before Rose could do anything Max had taken her from the tent and from her sister, to a safe place in the woods.

Lilly reached out her hand as she watched her sister being taken away. Her eyes got big as she was alone again with the Queen. She had no more hope left in her.

Rose attempted to get out of Max's arms as he dragged her away from the scene and into the forest. She clawed at him, tried kicking him, even tried to bite him once but he would not let go. Deep down she knew he was doing the right thing. But her heart couldn't stand leaving her sister there to possibly die. She had to help her.

"MAX!!!!!!" Rose screamed, "LET. ME. GO!!!" But he wouldn't. After what seems like an eternity, her energy was finally spent. She had no more fight in her and it was then that Max hoisted her up into his arms entirely so that she could rest while he walked on.

She woke in his arms as they came to a clearing in the woods. A cottage was there but no one appeared to be home. There were horses though roaming around. Realizing that the journey would be easier on foot, they decided to steal the horses. They left what little gold they had in their pockets on the front porch of the cottage and took just one horse for the both of them.

When they were finally on their way, horseback, Rose broke the ice, "I'm sorry...for trying to bite you. You came and saved me and I treated you horribly."

Max staid quite as the road to the safety house. He wanted to help her dear sister, but knew that he couldn't not until the people knew what the queen was. "I'm fine." he said softly. He was in deep though. He new he sounded rude, but didn't mean to. He was just trying to figure out the best way to save there people. It was about an hour when they got to a small village. "Home for now." he told her softly.

Some of the villagers came out to meet him. "Max welcome home." the kids said with a smile. He gently patted there heads as he got off his hours. An older lady came up to him and gently hugged him. "Welcome home." she said softly. Max smiled at her. "I want you guys to meet someone very important." he said as he held out his hand to help her off the horse.

Rose was a afraid she had upset Max as they rode in silence. She kicked and clawed at him to get at her sister. Thinking about it now, she knew it was wrong. She knew that what he did was the best decision to keep all three of them alive. She stayed silent as she watched the trees rush past her, clinging to Max's waist. She inhaled his scent, hoping he wouldn't notice. He smelled of pine trees; she loved it.

Rose fell asleep halfway through their ride and awoke when they reached a small village. They came to halt and she watched as Max was greeted by children and and older woman. She realized that they people must be his family, or the ones who took him in after he was banished by the evil Queen.

"I want you guys to meet someone very important," she heard Max say as he lifted his hand to her. It was still unreal, the fact that she was the lost Princess. But it was true, the Queen had confirmed it for them. She smiled and blushed as she got off the horse with Max's help.

Shyly, she waved her hand in greeting. Would these people really believe she was the rightful heir to the throne?

"This is Rose," Max introduced. He turned and looked into her icy blue eyes as a sort of confirmation and then continued, "She is the long lost Princess of the Dark Elven Kingdom."

She felt every pair of eyes on her in that instant. And she didn't know how they would react.