His eyes moved from his daughter to Prince Owen, "I am not disputing you as well Owen, but let us hear her out."

"Thank you Father."

"So what do you suggest? You think he is being framed my beauty?"

"That is a possible lead, but I cannot say for sure until a proper investigation is done."

Prince Owen gritted his teeth in anger, it was one thing having her excel in her cla.s.ses and it's another, when she tries desperately to make him look like a fool.

"That is true."

"How sure are you that you are not just looking for attention and wasting everyone's time Cyrena?"

"I am sure of what I am saying. Mrs Greg came begging me, she pleaded that her husband was innocent and that he was with her all evening."

"Ahh I see, it is the cries and frantic begging of a desperate woman that gives you the effrontery to dispute my investigations huh!" He shot back at her.

"I should have locked her up with her wretched husband, now she is causing me so much headache" he thought.

"That is not the case brother."

"Well you said so yourself. This is not a job a you can handle, Cyrena. You are letting emotions cloud your judgement. Leave this to the grown up men, this is why princesses are not allowed to handle council matters," he said, putting a hand on the hilt of his sword.

"What!" She exclaimed, feeling disgusted with his twisted reasoning.

Gerald's eyes darted back and forth between the two heated royals. He watched on, waiting to see how King Bayard would settle this situation.

Princess Cyrena turned to face her father and said, "Father, give me some time, I would prove Mr Greg is innocent and bring to justice the real culprit behind all these."

She gazed at her father with determination etched in her beautiful light brown eyes. He looked back at her and could see into them. His daughter had something up her sleeve, she had a lead that his son has missed.

"Very well then. Athough your brother has done his best and produced good result, with reasonable evidence, but you have my go ahead. I give you two days Cyrena, if by then you cannot prove Greg's innocence and bring to me the true culprit, you would seize to ever attend the council meetings."

"And if I succeed father?"

"If you succeed Cyrena, you have earned the right to sit side by side with your brother during all council meetings" he declared.

"Thank you father, but this also means that, if I succeed, then brother failed. Seeing as he almost put a citizen's life at risk, what punishment would he be met with?"

"Cyrena!" Prince Owen yelled. "Know your place sister, this is not a child's game."

"I trust father knows better," she kept her eyes fixated on her father. Slowly her lips curved upwards as she curtsied and bowed her head to King Bayard. "With your permission father, I would leave to begin the investigation. We have no minute to spare."

"Very well my beauty, you may leave."

"Thank you father. See you soon brother" said to Prince Owen, letting her eyes dart quickly to Gerald then back at him.

Gracefully as she came, gracefully she left the throne room, leaving them to their thoughts.

-----------------------

~Elven Kingdom – Forest~

"What do you think you are doing Astrid?" He yelled at her.

"What does it look like I am doing Jareth?"

"What is wrong with you?" He lifted his hands in the air, emphasizing his point.

"What is wrong with me!" She scoffed. "Nothing. I am training if you didn't realize it, besides I don't need your permission for that you know."

"How could you use your powers like that? You just indirectly shouted to all the soldiers, telling them your location."

She paused, taking in his words, her eyes widened as realization struck home, "ohh my... What have I done!!"

Jareth's halted, his eyes darting to and fro as though he was searching for something. He turned his eyes back to her and saw her frozen state. "Come on, now isn't the time for that. They are coming."

He held Astrid's hand and pulled her with him.