The capitol of the elf cities. Bustling streets lead to a simple, yet elegant palace.

((Hello.))

Madison started to look around as they neared Silphya. She had no idea what was going to happen now.

{Hi, sorry I wasn't here all day. I had a volleyball camp...}

Arty barely looked up, but he seemed a little happier upon seeing the city.

((It's okay. I had band camp all day anyway.))

Madison looked at the city. In a way it reminded her of Samori, which just made her a little homesick. She had been gone from home for two years though it seemed like a lifetime more than that. Perhaps if given the chance she would go home and see the people who raised her, even if she could only stay for a short time.

Jaime led the group through the streets, up to the palace gates. There, he turned to Madison and the other elf. "Luc, take her to the queen. I'll take the prisoner to the dungeons, then meet you in the throne room.

Luc nodded, gesturing for Madison to follow him.

Jaime took off with Arty, dismounting in front of a flight of stairs leading into the ground, and leading Arty down them.

Arty glanced back at Madison with a sad glance.

Madison looked over at Arty for a moment then turned and followed Luc, all the while hoping that everything would work out for the best.

Luc led her through the palace and into the throne room, where a woman who looked quite a bit like Arty was sitting on the throne. She stood up when they went inside, going over to the pair and looking over Madison. "Hello," she said. "I am Queen Alyssa. And you are...?"

Madison curtsied before the queen. "I am Madison Clay, your majesty."

The queen smiled at her. "No need to be formal. You can just call me Alyssa. I understand you came here with my son?"

"Very well. Yes, I did come here with Arty."

"And Jaime told you why he was brought back here?"

"He did...but I do not believe it to be true."

Alyssa nodded sadly, taking Madison's arm and leading her to a table with two chairs. "Sit down, and I'll tell you the story."

Madison followed Alyssa to the table and sat down in one of the chairs, waiting to hear the story, though she still doubted that she would believe it to be true.

"When Arty was young, a fire daemon possessed him, giving him the gifts of fire and occasional fits of madness. His sister had no idea, and one night, she somehow made him mad. The daemon took over, and Arty burned down Lissie's room, killing her instantly. His father then helped him escape, erasing his memories of the incident and planting the story of the war and both children being sent away for their safety. My husband then returned, knowing he would be held in the dungeon until we found Arty."

Jaime entered the room, going over to Alyssa and whispering something in her ear.

"Send him in please," she told him.

Madison sat there, looking over at Alyssa in shock. "Didn't you try and get rid of the daemon? And then why would you send him away?"

Alyssa shook her head. "We couldn't remove the daemon without killing him. And I did not send him away; we have been looking for him since he murdered his sister."

Jaime left the room and came back in with Arty. Arty was wearing a different outfit, and his hands were chained behind him.

"If the daemon was possessing him then he is not the one responsible for the crime. Surely you understand that."

Madison looked over at Arty, feeling her eyes well up with tears at seeing him in chains.

Alyssa stood up, her eyes cold. "Son."

Arty didn't reply.

Madison looked over at Queen Alyssa. Why was she being so cold? Arty wasn't the one responsible for what happened. He certainly hadn't asked to be possessed by a daemon.

"Do you understand why you were brought here?" Alyssa asked him. He shook his head. "You were brought here because you murdered your sister."

"That isn't true!" Arty protested, glaring at her. She slapped him in the face.

"You will be quiet!"

"Stop it!" Madison said. "It's not his fault and you know it."

"If it wasn't his fault, he would have controlled the daemon."

"There are some things that a person just cannot control. It does no good to make them suffer because of it."

Alyssa glared at Madison.

"I only speak the truth."

Alyssa sighed. "Please leave us. I would like to speak to my son alone."

"Only if you swear you won't harm him."

"I won't hurt him."

Madison sighed. "Fine. I will wait outside."

Alyssa nodded, watching Arty almost sadly.

Madison turned and started to walk out of the room, glancing back over her shoulder at Arty as she walked.

Arty was staring at her, his eyes full of tears.

Madison stopped, torn between running back to him and continuing outside so the queen could speak with Arty. She saw how he was looking at her and she didn't like it at all. Seeing him like that made her feel as if things would never be right.

Arty shook his head, silently telling her to keep going, that he'd be alright.

Madison looked back at Arty for another few moments then turned and walked out of the room. Arty would be fine; after all, the queen had sworn that she would not harm him.

Alyssa turned away from Arty. "What did your father tell you when you ran?"

"I thought you already knew," he replied.

Outside Madison paced in front of the door. She had never liked waiting.

A short while later, Jaime led Arty outside, past Madison.

Madison watched. "Where are you taking him?"

Jaime glanced at her. "Back to the dungeon."

"And what am I to do?"

Jaime jerked his head back towards the throne room. "The queen wants to see you again."

Madison nodded. "Thank you." She looked at Arty once more then turned to walk inside to see the queen.

Arty followed her with his eyes, before Jaime pulled him off towards the dungeon.

Alyssa stood up from the table, glancing at Madison. "He thinks he is innocent."

"Arty is innocent. The daemon is guilty."

"We cannot try the daemon because it is still possessing Arty. If we don't try him, the kingdom will revolt and kill him."

"If you put him on trial, what chance does he have of being proven innocent? It seems to me that you are all so ready to condemn him."

"If we can prove that he had lost control of the daemon back then, then... he has a very good chance. But in order to do that, we need to talk to the daemon."

Madison sighed and looked over at Alyssa. "How do you plan on getting the daemon to take control so you can talk to him?" she asked softly.

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