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Anna sat back in the cart quietly, a guard trying to assure her that everything would be okay once they got to the Northern Kingdom. He had befriended the young girl over that period of time and just wanted the best for her. His name was James. Anna looked over at him, "James, I know things won't be alright. Please don't try to make me feel better. After I'm sold I'll have to find a way to explain to my buyer who's child I've had and surely I'll just be abandon afterward. Nothing will be okay." She said and sighed, James sighing too. James was riding along side the cart on his horse Lightning. Anna looked at him as he tried to comfort her, "James please. Unless your the buyer or someone I know and love, I will not be okay." She said, looking over. "Then I shall buy you then. And let you go back to your family." He whispered the last part but said the first part aloud. Anna smiled, "Your truely a kind man." She said, thinking of Channing.

Channing listened in on Anna and James' conversation. "No!" He said when James offered to buy her. He quickly turned his head back and gazed down, sighing. He cannot buy her! He cannot raise my children, that's my job! He cannot take my love! He thought angrily, looking from side to side. He shook his head. I waited too long. I knew I should've just said I was sorry, now my love is going to belong to my friend... I cannot stand this! He thought again, kicking Vixen's sides so the big horse pulled a head of everyone by a few feet. He knew they were approaching the Northern Kingdom and were making good time on the travel too. He took a glance back, "Pick up the pace men!" He ordered, Vixen in a steady gallop. The man who was driving the cart pushed the horses into a steady trot, trying his best to keep up but not injure the princess. He looked ahead at Channing and shook his head. What a mysterious lad.

Anna looked over at Channing when he exclaimed 'no'. She shook her head, ignoring the man. Everything was just getting to be too much. Anna and James continued to talk all along the way, for the many miles they did travel. A few days passed before they finally reached the Northern Kingdom, many of the people there watching as they pulled a very well dressed and clean person through the streets inside of a prison cart. They gave her funny looks, some recognized her and some didn't. Anna folded her hands neatly in her lap and sat quietly. Her hair had grown a bit longer and her body had grown as well. She looked over at a huge platform where women were being auctioned off, praying that wasn't place where she was to go.

Channing looked around, stopping his men in an almost empty street. He walked over to the jail cart and motioned for Anna to come towards him. He had a rope in one hand, planning to tie her hands behind her back again and lead her over to the prison. That was the place where she was planning to be executed. He couldn't bear to think of it. He could bear it that he had lied to her and told her that she would be sold, knowing that her fate was death if she refused to give up her thrown. The same thing was supposed to be coming to her parents. He looked over at his other men as they all looked at their horses, he sighed. "Anna, come with me please." He said stiffly, trying to hold his head high and sound proffesional, as if nothing was ever between them. But truthfully it hurt. It hurt to know her fate and not be able to help her.

Anna looked up into Channing's eyes and stepped out of the cart. She was hesitant at first, fearing what was going to come to her next but kind of happy that her whole ordeal with Channing and his men was over. She noticed the rope and put her hands behind her back, a few people stopping and watching the golden haired beauty step from a prison cart. Everyone was confused. What Anna didn't know was, the King and Queen had no idea of what was going on. This was a secret mission devised by the commander of law. Anna waited to feel the rope, wondering what it was going to be used for. If I'm going to be sold into the arms of my buyer, why on Earth do I need bonds to hold my hands down? She thought suspiciously. She turned and looked over at Channing again, giving him a puzzled look. James looked at her and smiled, "It won't be too long now Anna." He said with a chuckle, unaware that she was to be killed.

Channing looked at Anna as she stepped out of the cart, tying her hands behind her and looking over at his men. He shook his head as James told her it wouldn't be long. It made him feel a lot worse. Channing told his men where to take his horse so that Vixen was close if needed. The man walked Anna to the prison and straight to the office of Commander Starlynn, his father's friend. When the Commander looked up a smile jumping on his face. "Channing!" He exclaimed happily. "My God son what happened to your hair?" He asked with a grin, shaking his head. "Never mind it. I see you got the princess huh?" He grabbed a bag of gold off his desk, "Here you are!" He tossed the bag, Channing catching it and slipping it in his pocket. "So are you going to stick around for her death? We're thinking the guillotine, but then again, we should keep her all together? What do you think?" Channing's head dropped as he bit his bottom lip.

Anna gasped, turning her attention back to Channing. "I was going to be sold huh?" She yelled at him. "Channing you lied to me!" She exclaimed, fighting from his grasp only to be grabbed by two masked guards. She looked at the Commander, "Please sir, place me in jail or sell me at auction but please don't kill me. I'm pregnant." She said finally, looking at Channing from the corner of her eye. "I'm sure that I'd be able to get my parents to step down, please. If you allow me to write a letter to them." She said, looking deep in his eyes. She wanted to live and she wanted to be able to see her children, not die. "As for you Channing, I'm ashamed to call you my children's father. Your a horrible man and I hope you rot in h***." She said, the guards were shocked to hear her use such language. Anna turned her head away from him and looked at the Commander again. She hoped he wasn't the cruel type of man.

Commander Starlynn looked down at her, not wanting to be responsible for the death of innocent children. "Well..." He said, giving it some thought. "Yes, we'll keep you in prison for the time being and if you wish to write a letter to your parents you can meet me in my office near midnight. I have some work to get done since there is a change of plans." He said, eyeing Channing as the taller man sighed. "As for you Channing, I'd like to have a word with you." He said stiffly, staring at him. The commander ordered his men to take Anna to a nearby cell and he stood with Channing. Once everyone was out of the room Starlynn glared at him, "Are you retarted or something?" He growled, "That is the princess! Why would get her pregnant knowing that you'd have to watch her die! Your such a waste, maybe you should take her place in the guillotine." He hissed, Channing not meeting his eyes. "I'm already sad enough that she doesn't love me anymore, I may as well take her place." He argued back, fighting the urge to cry. The commander sighed, "Well then what will it take to make everything better again?
"Marriage... I still love her, but I doubt that she'll agree to this."
"And why is that?"
"I've lied to her, I've yelled at her, I've treated her poorly... A-And I' ve hit her."
"You dared to put your hands on her!? That's not how I raised you Channing and you know it! You never put your hands on a woman no matter the cause, I wouldn't marry you either you brute!" Starlynn yelled, glaring furiously at the younger. Channing nodded. "I know."

Anna nodded once and was lead away to the cell, wondering what the two men were talking about. On her way to the cell she could hear them yelling, she and the guards turning and looking at the door. She shook her head as the guards treated her a bit more carefully, taking her to a special cell and placing her inside. They cut the rope from her wrists and shut the door behind themself. "Is there anything you need miss?" One asked, placing a hand on the bars. Anna sighed and shook her head, standing and walking over to them she placed her hand on his. "A paper and writing untensil will do please." The guard nodded and disappeared down the hall, coming back a few moments later with what she wanted. Anna looked at him as she took the things from his hands, laying on the hard floor so she could write.

She began;


She looked over at the guard and handed him the paper, "Have this mailed to the Southern Kingdom please." She asked, waiting till he took it to hand him the pencil. She shook her head and sighed, walking over to a small bed and sitting on it. She wondered if her parents would let her keep the baby when it was born. A single tear slid down her face before she wiped it away, placing a hand on her stomach.

Channing talked with the Commander for a bit more before walking by Anna's cell, not saying a word to her. He wanted desperatley to say something to her but he didn't know the right words to say. He continued walking till he went straight out into the streets, his men asking him questions that he in turn ignored. Channing walked straight to Vixen and mounted him, kicking his sides and galloping through the semi-crowded streets. He was on his way to a black smith, a friend of his who specialized in making rings. He got off of Vixen, "Vacant, I need you to craft me a ring please. Something beautiful, I'll pay handomsly for it to be perfect." He said, his friend nodding. "Place a diamond in it please." He added on, his friend nodding once more and jumping right to work.

Anna watched as Channing left and sighed. She couldn't help but think of everything they said that day, that caused them to drift so far apart. Anna lay on the small cot, shutting her eyes and forcing herself into a light sleep. She needed to take her mind off of everything but her dreams only made it worse. She had a dream that she and Channing were together with their child one afternoon, a beautiful and peacful day. But then, Channing left... Never returning! Anna began crying in her sleep, tossing and turning. The guards watched for a moment before walking over to her. "Miss, miss." They said, shaking her to try and wake her from a nightmare. Anna sat up quickly, sobbing. She put her head in her hands and cried.

Channing left the shop and lead Vixen over to a stable, walking around the streets with the gold in his pocket. Everyone knew who Channing was, some people greeted him and got no response. He was too depressed to say anything to anybody. As he walked with his head low he accidently bumped into a pregnant woman, almost knocking her over. "Hey! Watch where you're going! Babies on board." She snapped, glaring at him. Channing looked up and was startled, she looked like Anna! He could only stare at her for a few seconds, "Right. Pardon me." He said, stepping around her and continuing to walk. As he walked another couple blocks he met up with his friend, an old wise man who had given him plenty of advice before.

"What's wrong my friend, you seem troubled." The guy said, not turning around to see who it was. Channing nodded, "I am. I've got a problem and I need some help." He admitted, sitting with the old man. The guy nodded and asked for the story, Channing complied and told him everything that was bothering him. The guy sat back and shook his head, "Do you love dis girl?" He asked, eyeing Channing. The younger boy nodded, "More than I love myself." He said, staring desperately at him. "Then go make it right." The man said, leaving Channing to sit by himself for a few minutes. Channing thought about it and finally decided to go and make everything right again, walking back out to the streets. I've got to make this right. He thought, stopping and looking back. Should I? No, it'll only cause me more pain. He thought, looking back and forth. Finally he grunted and broke into a run, heading back to the prison. "Anna!" He called along the way, dodging people who were walking the opposite way. He remembered the ring and turned quickly to the blacksmith, paying the man with all his gold before leaving with the ring in a small box. Channing continued to run.

Anna had finally stopped crying when she heard her name being called in a familiar way. "Channing?" She said quietly, looking around. The guards all raised their heads and looked around, unsure of where all these screams were coming from. She turned away from the guard who sat with her, walking over to the window and peering out. In the distance she could see Channing running for the prison. Part of her leapt with joy, watching as her 'Knight in shining Armor' was coming back to her. The other part though was annoyed with the fact that he was coming back, making Anna go and sit on the bed once again. She tried to contain her excitement as the guards asked her what was going on, "A child lost his toy and is trying to get it back." She said and rolled her eyes. The guards chuckled, beginning to talk to her. Anna waited to see Channing come through the doors.

Channing finally made it to the prison, panting and out of breath. He moved past the guards with ease, walking straight to Anna's cell. He ignored the guards telling him to go back outside, to leave the prison. All he cared about was Anna at the moment. One guard grabbed him but Channing broke free from his grasp, forcing his way into Anna's cell. "Anna." He said, reaching out for her. "I love you Anna, I will make everything alright. If you'll just give me the chance." He said, the guards sitting back watching. This could get interesting. "Anna, I need you every second of every minute of every day. Please take my hand Anna and I promise I won't make you regret it. I want to be there for you, I want to be your husband. I want to be the type of man that would make your friends jealous but your parents would love, but most of all Anna-" He paused, getting on one knee, "I want to be the man your children grow up with." He said. The guards watching in awe. He hoped his apology was enough.

Anna smiled from ear to ear as joyful tears slipped from her eyes. "Oh Channing!" She exclaimed happily, falling forward and wrapping her arms around his neck. "I love you too!" She said, her voice shaky from how much she was crying. "Any man who can apologize that well in front of this many people can surely be my husband, and can surely be the man to help me raise my kids." She said, entangling her fingers in his long beautiful hair. Anna smiled and burried her face in his neck, not wanting to ever let him go. "And I am sorry for all the hateful words I said to you Channing, I was foolish and wrong to ever try and verbally abuse you." She said, kissing him on the cheek. She held on tightly to him, enjoying the feeling of being in his arms again. The guards were sniffling, trying to fight the urge to cry. Anna giggled.