The guards on the long balcony were all facing toward the crowd in search of trouble. As they were not highly-trained, seasoned soldiers, they had succumbed to the boredom of inaction and most of them were only half paying attention.

With minimal effort, Aurora, Birger, Brinn and Alvar snuck behind the tiered seats of the Council. The two rows of six seats each were only partially filled, but the platform on which they were seated provided ample cover for the four allies. Aurora peeked out tentatively, and spotted Mairwen and Alaron on the opposite side of the balcony in thrones with beautiful crowns weighing down their young heads. Aurora's stomach clenched. Mairwen was looking directly at her. The young girl never missed anything that went on around her, and she had been the only one to see the movement of the humans and elves. Unfortunately, the girl was too far away to speak to about what they had planned.

Mairwen watched as her mother brought her finger to her lips. The princess had no intention of outing the Empress. If secrecy was needed, the little girl would happily comply. She nodded slightly and looked forward again as if nothing had happened. The little girl debated what she should tell her brother. As twins often do, Alaron sensed a change in her. "What is wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing is wrong, brother. In fact, things are better than we hoped. Can you keep a secret?" Mairwen was about to tell her brother the good news when Cafer came over and hushed them. He was anxious to begin, and he did not want any distractions.

Turning to the crowd, Cafer opened his arms wide. The people below quieted and the Chief began to speak. "I welcome you to the Castle Valiant on behalf of the Council, Prince Alaron and Princess Mairwen..."

From behind the Council's platform, Aurora listened for her chance to reveal herself. She was suddenly unsure. "Should I go now?" she whispered to Brinn.

"You will know when the time is right. You need to prove Cafer is disloyal, or you will have trouble convincing the world that he is a traitor." Brinn said realistically. One Councilman turned and gave a surprised gasp as he saw those hidden behind him. "Mind your own business!" Brinn said sharply. He turned back around trying to process what he had just seen.

Out in front, Cafer's speech was building in intensity. "I am afraid I have come to bid you sad tidings for the second time in less than six years. Empress Aurora…"

"Glory to the Empress," the crowd cheered with extra vigor.

"Empress Aurora is dead."

The crowd was confused for a moment, but then a ripple of chuckles grew into boisterous laughter. Alaron balled his fists angrily, "Do they think Mother's death is funny?"

Mairwen calmed him. "No, I suspect they know that she is alive. Look!"

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Cafer was startled by the response of the people. He had never lost control of his audience during a speech. He was excellent with persuasion, but had no idea what what happening now.

"Jokes are not your thing, Chief Cafer!" One commoner called. "It is better to stick to matters of state."

"We just saw the Empress! Was she a ghost?" Another called as the merriment below went on.

The last comment was what it took for Cafer to realize what had happened. Anna had been causing the trouble below earlier. "I assure you that whatever you saw earlier was an imposter. The Empress is dead. I saw her body myself," he lied. Now their was great confusion. No one was sure what to believe.

"Take the children," The Empress said to Brinn and Alvar. To Birger she ordered, "Stay here for now."

Aurora strode forward confidently and stood behind Cafer. "Is that so?" she asked. Brinn and Alvar appeared from nowhere and each scooped up a child in their arms. "Tell me what my body looked like, Chief Cafer?" The Empress mocked, trying to distract him.

The elves exited the balcony and entered the narrow hallway. They could hear the fighting continuing on the stair below. "What is that?" Mairwen asked.

"Your father is protecting you and your mother," Brinn answered gently. She looked at Alvar. "We need to find another way down." While the stairs continued upward, they only led to a tower suite with no exit.

Alvar looked out the small window that lit the stair. "There is another balcony two floors below. We'll have to jump."

Brinn nodded. She could hear soldiers from the balcony coming for them. "This is madness!" Alaron exclaimed. "We cannot make a jump like that."

"You can't, but an elf can," Alvar grinned. Brinn jumped with Mairwen and covertly used her wind magic to cushion their fall.

Even seeing Mairwen and Brinn land safely, Alaron flatly refused. He held on tightly to the window frame as the elf edged out. The first soldier reached them, and Alvar had to pull a knife to deflect the soldier's sword. Two more Blue Guards pinned him into the window so the he could not swing his legs over the sill.

Just then Devrim came running up behind the Blue Guard. Surprised, all four turned to meet their new attacker. "Father?" Alaron said with hope and fear.

"Go!" Devrim called as he fended off a cut across his body. Alvar wrenched the boy's hands free, and the two went plummeting out the window. Alaron barely had time to scream before they were safely on the landing below.

"Do not ever do that again!" Alaron demanded.

"Not a problem, young prince," Alvar said without malice. He had no intention of ever jumping from a window while escaping again either.

The elves placed the children on their backs and ran through the palace. "Nanny is waiting for you. Do you know how to get to your mother's rooms?" Brinn asked Mairwen.

The little girl was enjoying the ride, but she answered calmly, "Yes, turn left here."

Around the corner, more Blue Guards were waiting for them than Brinn wanted to count. "News travels fast," she said blandly.

"Hand over the children," a gnome said. The elves set the prince and princess behind them.

"Hide your eyes," Alvar said with a sad smile. Alaron pulled Mairwen to hide her face on his shoulder as they crouched by the wall.

The elves drew their swords and engaged the Blue Guard with all their speed and agility. The hallway was wide. With so many soldiers and only two of them, the elves were eventually cornered. "Surrender!" the same gnome ordered. "More Blue Guard are on the way. Surrender and we will not kill you in front of the children."

Many footsteps were approaching, and Brinn and Alvar considered their options. After a moment a smile bloomed on the red-headed elf. "I will never surrender. Perhaps you should, though…"

The incoming soldiers were not Blue Guard, but those loyal to the Empress. Led by Nurlan and Junayd, they surrounded the Blue Guard with their weapons drawn. The enemy was forced to lay down their swords.

"Tie up these traitors and if they resist, knock them out," Captain Caleb ordered.

"Are you ok?" Nurlan called to Brinn and Alvar.

"A scratch or two, but we are fine." Alvar answered.

"Her Majesty needs you," Brinn said. "She is confronting Cafer!"

Caleb nodded to Nurlan and Junayd, "I will stay to secure the Blue Guard with this group of men. You take the rest of the troops to help the Empress."

The elves sheathed their swords and reloaded the royals on their backs. "Can you guide us to where we are going without running us into any more soldiers?" Brinn asked Mairwen.

The little girl nodded. "I think so!"

"Good, because I get the impression that Nanny is none too happy when people are late…"