Faal caught sight of Jasmine with a vaguely familair gentleman as they passed by and returned Jasmine's smile. The guard next to him elbowed him in the ribs, causing him to snap his attention forward again, realizing the rest of the guard had saluted the couple...

The guard next to him hissed at him as Faal quickly snapped his sword into a salute. "That's the crown prince... just returned to court." The guard hissed at him, as the salute was lowered.

The captain released Faal and his squad from duty then, as the next squad took over, and he found himself wondering if he should say hi to Jasmine or not.. if that was the prince....

"And who was that?" Estehl asked as they entered the garden. Jasmine smirked from behind her fan. "A young guards man, his name is Faal, he's quiet charming."

Estehl raised an eyebrow, was that slight twinge of jealousy he suddenly felt? "Indeed..." Could this alluring beauty have eyes for some one else? Again, intreiging. Most young women of the court would have openly admitted to this in Estehl's presence, trying hard to capture the Crown Prince's affection and secure their place in court. For some reason, Estehl KNEw Jasmine was not like any of the other young women in court.

"Oh yes..." Jasmine turned, looking back, noticing the captain had releashed the squad from duty for now and waved to Faal cheerfully with a smile.

Estehl realized she was quiet enjoying this, playing him like this, and rolled his eyes.

Faal saw Jasmine wave and swallowed hard, deciding to go see her.. and meet the prince. He saw the look on a couple of his fellow guardsmen's faces as he started over, and felt both fear at the thought of going over, and a thrill at the same time.

No doubt he'd be answering questions all night... He approached the couple, Jasmine turning that stunning smile on him and he bowed, suddenly nervous again now that he was a foot or two away from Royalty.

"Hello Faal...you've been busy so much lately, with duty, I haven't had much of a chance to see you." Jasmine said, still smiling.

Estehl's eyebrow quirked again, and now he was really wondering about this enchanting young woman. Just who in this palace did she know?

"I suppose, since the royal chamberlin isn't here, I should have to make introductions..." Jasmine said, hiding her smirk then with her fan again, eyeing them both, then lowered her fan again, cleared her throat and said. "Faal, Crowned Prince Estehl. Your highness, Faal." She knew it was completely off protcol for a royal introduction but she'd wanted it to be that way. She didn't want it to be about Royality and Rank. Her hope was she could get them both to be friends.

Estehl turned his electric blue eyes on Faal, actually looking at him for the first time and he didn't quiet say anything for a moment, something tugging at the back of his mind, as if he'd seen the younger man some where before, there was something very familiar about him, almost comforting.

He quiet liked him on sight. So he smiled charmingly, gave a small bow and said. "It's a pleasure to meet a friend of Jasmine's."

Faal felt his throat suddenly dry up as Jasmine introduced them .. she was playing with him, he knew, but when the prince smiled and bowed to HIM...Faal was sure his jaw was going to hit the floor. He cleared his throat and swallowed a couple times , trying to find his voice. "Highness... it's a pleasure to have you back at court, sir..."

Estehl smirked, and said. "I'm sure there are those who are less then happy that my time in prison was cut increasingly short of the sentence...It was after all, quiet a sensational trial...the Crowned Prince charged with treason..." He rolled his eyes, but then caught a rather dark look from Jasmine as she said.

"No, it wasn't sensational...quiet the opposite actually."

Estehl blinked. "I wasn't aware you'd been here, Jasmine..." Estehl said coversationally.

"I wasn't...but my brother was, and he did write home about it...to be perfectly honest it was a low point for his Magisty." Jasmine replied.

Estehl looked quiet shocked that anyone would say something like that, about the king, so openly and freely. Other then himself.

Faal felt his cheeks burning, and had the sudden urge to clap a hand over Jasmine's mouth. The woman was ALWAYS getting him to trouble...."Forgive her, highness... Jasmine tends to...speak without thinking. "He sent a glare at her.

"Speak with out thinking?!" Jasmine replied incrediously, giving Faal a look.

Estehl actually looked back and forth between them and began laughing softly. After stiffling the laughter to a chuckle, he said. "No, it's quiet alright. Refreshing actually, because she is, in fact, correct, Faal. It was one of my father's lower points...It is, after all inconvicable to think his heir would commet treason, don't you think?" He asked him, Estehl's eyes sparkling oddly.

"Highness... It would be our lives to offer comment on certain situations that might be heard by the wrong ears..."Faal cleared his throat again, suddenly wishing he'd joined the other guards instead of coming to see Jasmine. " I wasn't at court at the time... I didn't arrive until shortly after the trial, sir, so I don't feel..."

Estehl chuckled softly. "What shame...Well let me clear something for you, Faal, if we are to proceed as friends from this point. I did commet treason...and I would rightly do so again."

Jasmine fluttered her fan, absolutely thrilled that Estehl had seen what she had in Faal, that he wasn't shunning the young guardsman. That he was making an effort to be friends She'd always known instantly about others. And she was quiet fond of Faal, as much as she was about Estehl.

Faal was sure his face had suddenly drained of all colour and he found himself looking around to see if anyone had been close enough to hear. He had the sudden nightmare image of him and Jasmine being responsible for getting the prince tossed back in prison.

He knew he should leave, just bow out of the conversation and get the hell away from them. That would be the smart thing to do. Faal however wasn't known for doing the smart thing when Jasmine was around... and he rather liked the prince. "I understand, Highness... From my time here, and from things I've been privy to over hearing.. I'm not overly fond of his majesty or his politics either."

Estehl smirked. "I suppose you think I'm mad...I suppose I am...six hundred years in the box does that, justifiably so...after the first four hundred, you run out of books, poems, sonnets, to recite to keep yourself sane...But to be perfectly honest, there's another side of court life, that's far worse...So a word of advice...don't take everything at face value..."

Jasmine tapped Faal with her fan. "You mustn't let the Prince worry you...he's only trying to start a rebellion...openly, mind you..."

"Openly? I'm not THAT crazy, Jasmine...I wouldn't have said anything if I didn't feel some kinship to Faal..." Estehl flashed a charming smile, with a slightly mischievious edge.

Faal knew he was blushing at the comment but strove to ignore it. He gave Jasmine the look he used when begging her to not get them killed. "Highness... I know of a few other guardsmen who grumble quite a lot about his majesty... but I know not whether they could be trusted. There are those who complain just to lure out others... who then... vanish"

Estehl's interest was caught with that last word. "Have there been a lot vanishing?" He asked in a much softer tone.

Jasmine leaned forward. "I can't speak for the guards, but three ladies in waiting have vanished in the last fortnight..." She said in the same soft tone, from behind her fan. Where they were standing, was very safe from some one wondering to close to them with out them noticing.

Faal sighed. " Two guards from my own unit in the same time frame... and I've heard of four or five others from other units... I've also noticed a few lower nobles missing from court just recently.."

Estehl straightened slightly, with a distant smirk, and said quiet evenly, "He's paranoid..." Jasmine raised an elegant eyebrow. But Estehl just flashed her a smile. "All the more reason for me to follow through with my plans..." He added softly. He was looking at both Faal and Jasmine, thouthfully.

"Highness... These disappearances.. they happen every so often. The number of them in so short a time, is unusual. but the disappearnaces themselves..." Faal gave a shrug. "A year doesn't pass with out some...."

"Which convinces me Teliveer is getting a little more worried." Estehl turned to Jasmine. "I notice my uncle hasn't been seen in court, you couldn't shed a little light on that, could you dear?"

"Duke Negellus...No...he hasn't been seen that much in court since..."Jasmine suddenly trailed off. To continue was to give something away. "Since before your trial, as I understand it..."

Estehl's eyes flashed and he was suddenly staring at Jasmine with narrowed calculated look.

"I certainly have never seen him here, Highness. Nor have I heard any mention of him form the other guards.." Faal shot Jasmine a curious look. Sometimes he got the distinct impression that she was hiding something.. or a lot of somethings...

"Indeed...well it's to much to hope that he and Teliveer are at odds, which makes me wonder." Estehl turned his eyes from Jasmine after a moment, where she relaxed.

She didn't know how much longer she'd be able to go with out telling Estehl the truth. "There's been rumors, of course..." She said airily. "He was after all, at the center of that....scandle with...that young man..." She had to bit her cheek to look completely innocent. She was distaste to bring it up, but there was still talk about it. It took a lot of effort on her part, to grin and bare it. Every time some one brought it up in conversation or gossip, a knife twisted in Jon's heart.

Estehl turned his eyes back to Jasmine. "Yes, that scandel was possibly more well known then my trial...but I knew the young man involved, and I still think VERY highly of him...where ever Jon's vanished too..." There was a touch of forlornness in Estehl's tone, and a slight look of sadness in his eyes. He missed Jon terribly and was loath to think something had happened...It would have meant he hadn't kept his vow.

Jasmine had to lower her eyes, rather then look at Estehl, for the shame of keeping the secret and for the fact that she'd discovered he still felt fondly of Jon, and to hide the suddenly surge of hope.

Faal narrowed an eye at Jasmine. She was acting odd .. even for her. She kept lowering her eyes as if embarrassed everytime one of them mentioned that scandal. And she seemed even more flirty then normal with the prince.. Of course, that could just be because he was a prince...

"Well to be sure, it wasn't the scandel that's caused my uncle to be absent." Estehl said, with all the pretense of pretending not to notice Jasmine.

Then he decided they needed a change of sencery if they were going to continue to speak. "How long are you off duty, Faal?" He asked suddenly.

Faal thought for a moment. "Well, I'm supposed to be free until tomorrow afternoon in court, but I'm needed to fill in tonight for a private sentry posting . I have a couple hours before I need to grab some sleep, I suppose.."

"Excellent...do join us..." Estehl offered his arm to Jasmine again, who raised an eyebrow. "We need a change of scenery...some where much more private. And as I'm not allowed to leave the castle unless under guard...and who better then a guardsman. Besides...we have a bit of a walk..." Estehl said, with a rather devious smile.

Faal sighed at the word 'walk'. He knew he should've just gone with the others. It was never his luck to be able to actually sit and rest between shifts... and he alwasy wound up accepting extra shifts. It was amazing he got enough sleep. Or ever managed to change out of uniform..

"Lead on, Highness." He said with a small smile, and rolled his eyes at Jasmine. All the stuff he gotten into because of this girl and he'd never gotten more than a kiss. He gave a sigh, smiling slightly as he shook his head at the thought... he was such a sucker for a pretty face...

"Don't worry, I can cut the travel by half once we're out side the palace grounds." Estehl said lowly, head inclined.

"Good, because these are satin slippers..." Jasmine replied with a mocking tone. Estehl chuckle and escorted Jasmine, with Faal in follow, out of a prominade exit in the castle, ignoring the stationed guard's looks.

All guards stationed at the doors knew he wasn't really supposed to leave the palace except under full guard, but where they to speak out over the Crowned Prince? And he did have a least ONE guard with him...

Faal nodded to the guard as he passed by and noticed a definate relived look on their faces... which only made him cringe. They knew if anything went wrong, HE'D be to blame now, not them...

Faal shook his head again, still not quite believing that he was getting into this. Those questions he'd be receiving afterwards were looking to be more and more .. uncomfortable.

Estehl lead them along a trimmed path leading into a bit of the woods outside the gate. But once they were out of site of the guards, Estehl varried and lead the way into a brambled area. Jasmine got caught on a bush, and Estehl swept her up, carrying her the rest of the way, to a small clearing, where he sat her down. They waited for Faal.

Faal sighed as he watched Estehl carry Jasmine. He so did not want to play bodyguard so these two could.. 'get to know one another'... He stepped into the clearing and stopped, suddenly incredibley uncomfortable. Mayeb he SHOULD be hoping that's what he was doing here... otherwise he was really here to plot rebellion with a Crown Prince... damn that Jasmine..

Estehl paused then, and turned to look at Faal. "I'm not about to get you in trouble. You don't have to go with us...I only ask that you say nothing of what was said in the hall..."

Unnoticed to either of them, hopefully, or it could have been just as scandalous, Jasmine had pulled her gown up to about her knees, and was removing the satin slippers and silk stockings.

Faal gave a small smile and shook his head. "It's alright, highness... I'm used to being dragged into all sorts of things by Jas...Jasmine! " Faal said, shocked, yet quickly jumped to her side to try and sheild her actions for the prince. "I thought you were supposed to be a lady!" He hissed over his shoulder as he faced a rather amused prince.

Jasmine laughed, tucking her socks in the belt of her dress. "Estehl is hardly a gentleman, I'm sure he's seen a lady's legs before."

Estehl chuckled. "My lips are sealed on your honor, my dear."

"You see." Jasmine smiled at Faal then said teasingly. "Of course, if you want to be the gentleman, Faal, you can carry my shoes..."

Faal rolled his eyes again, but was chuckling softly as he accepted her shoes. "One of these day, Jasmine..." he let the comment drift off as he chuckled again. He turned back to Estehl. "Where to now, highness?"

"I'll be honest, and tell you, where I am taking you...should it be discovered either of you have been there, it could lead to trouble...Last chance." Estehl said suddenly very serious.

Jasmine rolled her eyes, while tying her gown up in a way it wouldn't slow her down if needed. "I have no love for your father's court, you know this...you've always known this..." She knew that could be taken in completely different ways, and added. "So if it's a rebellion you're planning Highness, you can count me in, you'll need a lady in your circle..."

Faal was impressed with Jasmine's speech and wondered what was behind her feelings on the matter. He was aware of Estehl loking at him and turned to face the prince. "I too have no love for the king, highness... some of those missing have been friends of mine."

"Very well." Estehl said with a nod and turned toward a high wall of brush. The air around his hand vibrated slightly. It was a magic only his mother had taught him, and only his mother's people could use it, so he had no fear of Teliveer detacting it. After a moment, he moved the brush aside and gestured for Jasmine to proceed. Then followed Faal through.

Where they came out, was definitely not anywhere near the palace, although still in the fae realm. It felt older then palace. a large very green clearing, surrounded by unsually tall and thick trees. At once end was a tall impressive stone carved thrown.

Estehl looked about. "They say this is the court of Brian Barue, the first king of Ireland...he married a fae queen...and ruled from here..." Estehl said to the other two.

Faal felt his knees buckle at the thought, but managed to stay on his feet. He looked to Jasmine to see her wandering slowly towards the throne. he groaned softly, praying she didn't do anything stupid..

Jasmine made her way over to the thrown and ran her hand along one arm of the chair, looking at it thoughtfully. Then she turned and looked at Estehl. "How did you ever find this place?"

Estehl smiled slightly. "I chanced upon it, one night...with a little help...my mother used to tell my sisters and...I," Estehl realized that he didn't like that at all, and just because Teliveer had erased the memory of his brother from the entire court, he wouldn't from Estehl, and he said again. "She used to tell my sisters, and my brother, and I as well, stories, of her people. Everyone knows she was half fairy...and she carried her mother's stories and historys on."

Faal blinked. "Brother? Oh right... I remember hearing of your elder brother's disappearance.. I'm sorry, highness. I wasn't at court... I wasn't even considering coming to court I don't believe."

"Youngest brother, Faal, and I'm surprised you've even heard anything about a brother...as my father has pointedly erased any knowledge that I even HAD a brother, from court..." Estehl answered, but his tone wasn't as aggravated as he would have thought. IT was more thoughtful.

"You might be surprised, Estehl..." Jamsine said from her spot next to the throne. Estehl raised an eyebrow, surprised she'd address him by name in Faal's presence. "There might be a few who do remember him..." She added.

"Sorry, Highness. Like I said, I wasn't around then... I know only a few rumours and what not that i've over heard. Mostly from those guards that have gone missing now..." Faal said. "You said... his Majesty made every one forget him?? But .. how is that possible? What happened to him?"

Estehl smiled grimly and said. "Ah, Faal, to know that would truly get you into some trouble...and I wouldn't wish that on anyone. Let it just be said, he found out the truth about our loving father..." The last two words came out in a hiss.

Jasmine looked as if she wanted to say something to this, but she closed her mouth after a moment, turning back to the throne. and said softly, hoping to change the subject. "So this is Brian Barue's throne..." she snorted softly. "How Teliveer would love to get his hands on that...I'm surprised any of the other courts are left...Teliveer's tried for so long to rule them as well..."

Faal let the subject drop and walked over to join Jasmine, but his mind kept worrying away at it... the king had made his youngest son vanish.. from the court and the memories of the court... He shuddered at the thought of the power that must have taken... and the kind of man who would have done it... the man who held all their lives in the palm of his hand. He was suddenly very glad he was here.

"For every just king, there are a hundred idiots and cruel tyrants." Estehl said, moving over toward the throne. "My father IS a tyrant, cruel, but an idiot...He's forgotten that a king's first duty is to his people...When a king forgets that, its only a matter of time before a rebellion happens, it's the nature of things. In the past, it's been from the lowest ranking who have rebelled. I'll be the first crown prince to turn against his father..." Estehl said, looking at the throne.

Jasmine was watching him. "A better king, you'd make Estehl...I've seen you give food to the begging that come to the castle doors..."

Faal caught the odd glance Estehl cast at Jasmine at that remark. Then he remembered Jasmine had arrived at court shortly before he himself had..AFTER Estehl had been imprisoned... so how could she have seen any such thing?

"What an interesting thing to say, Jasmine..." Estehl was eyeing her. Jasmine slid around the back of the throne, out of sight of either men.

"Its not...not really...there are people who know about it... the servants..."

"What a bold faced lie, my dear...I haven't done so, since before being imprisoned. and those servants are no longer here..." Estehl's tone was slightly hard and they heard a squeak from behind the throne.

"You have to understand, I've had my reasons!" Came a slightly hystrical voice.

Faal felt his stomach drop with worry over just what Jasmine was hiding. Knowing her, it could be anything... and it definately wasn't good. He moved closer the throne, preparred to pull her out if he needed to, and saw Estehld move to the other side of the throne, clearly with the same idea..

"Own reasons for what, Jasmine...Have I been keeping company with a spy?" Estehl asked with a sneer.

"No!" Jasmine replied, clearly appaled at the idea. "Never anything like that...They both told me they'd kill me, if they ever saw me again! What was I supposed to do!? You know that!"

Estehl stopped, quirking an eyebrow. "Who said they'd kill you?" He asked, his tone a bit more gentle, something twisting in his gut.

"Teliveer...well Negellus did too actually, and my father...Teliveer told me to leave the palace, or he'd kill me, but I couldn't go home, because my father said HE'D kill me... I did the only thing I could think of, after you disappeared!" Jasmine cried.

Faal felt his heart drop and suddenly couldn't breath as he watched the young man stand up from where Jasmine had been hidden. He was having a hard time believing that the two were the same, and yet at the same time, he knew they were.

It explained quite a lot of the little secrets she...HE knew. Faal tore his eyes off Jasmine and looked to the prince to find a shocked look that must have easily matched his own. He wasn't sure why though... he'd known 'Jasmine' for hundred of years... Estehl had only known 'her' for a day...

Estehl had to shut his eyes and leaned against the throne. "Lords of Terra..." He groaned.

Jon's eyes widened. "You're not...mad are you, Estehl?"

Estehl opened his eyes. "I should be...you played me for a fool, you know...You should have just TOLD me, Jon!"

"I was...I was going to tell you right off, honest...it just that there was always some one around..." Jon said hurriedly. He looked at Faal. "I'm sorry, Faal, I should have told you as well from the start...but...if Teliveer had found out..."

Faal sighed and sat down on the ground rather heavily, jabbing himself in the ribs with the hitl of his sword. He looked up at Jasmine with a sad wistful gaze. " If your life was in danger, I understand completely... it's just... a bit of a shock, that's all. Clears up alot of questions though, I'll give you that." He said with a half smirk. " I take it your name is not Jasmine then..."

"Well it is now...I WAS Jonathan, but really, I stopped using that name after..digusing myself. "

"Its a wonder, no one has made the connection between Jon and Jasmine...those amber eyes of yours are singular..." Estehl said, highly amused now.

"I've been very careful..." Jon replied, before sliding back around behind the throne and when she emerged, she was Jasmine again. 'I've had to be...you two are the only ones who know..."

Faal looked up at her from his rather uncomfortable seat upon the ground, finally managing to get his sword moved around. "Did you have to make yourself, so... enticing?" he asked, chuckling softly. "I know my heart will never be the same. And if they knew, A great many of my fellow guardsmen would die of broken hearts..."

Jasmine flopped down on the ground, near Faal, obviously to the awkwardness of her skirts. "I really am sorry, Faal, but it was survival...I hope it doesn't come between us being friends anyway..." She said softly.

Estehl was still finding it all quiet amusing and he slid around the arm of the throne to loung it in it, one leg stretched over an arm. In reality, he was just realived to know Jon was alright. He never would have forgiven himself if he'd discovered something had happened to Jon. "You've put yourself at great risk, by even being under diguse, you know..."

"Yes, I know." Jasmine said. "But what was the point of leaving? I knew you'd be out of the box eventually, just didn't know when..."

Faal leaned back on his hands. " She's .. He's right. If he left,. where would he go? Sometime's the best place to hide is in plain sight." he turned back to Jasmine. "And of course it won't effect our friendship. You're still the same person. I just know not to expect any more kisses.."

Jasmine beamed at Faal, leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. Estehl chuckled from his spot. "Do watch yourself, Faal, Jasmine...or Jon was...prone to crushes quiet easily." He watched Jasmine blush tremendously then and grinned, before leaning back. For some reason, the moment felt entirely right, and very familiar. He cast a look at the blue sky over head, that could be seen through the filter of green leaves. It was almost like old times...He turned his electric blue eyes back to watching Faal and Jasmine.

Faal chuckled, trying not to think whether he was blushing or not. It was going to take some getting used to, but he knew nothing would change between them. Jasmine had always been a good friend. Probably his best friend. And he never really imagined he'd had a chance with 'Jasmine' anyhow.

Jasmine looked around the clearing a moment, rather content. Then asked. "So what do you intend to do with this place, anyway, Estehl?"

Estehl looked back at them. "Why, isn't it obvious, my dear? The home of the Golden Court. It's protected by old magic, Teliveer will never be able to find it, and it has everything,...there are barracks, apartments, even kitchens, under, where you are sitting..."

Faal looked around. "Golden Court?" he asked, trying to take in everything. It just looked like a grassy clearing...

Estehl leapt up from the throne with obvious glee. "Yes, the Golden Court. I'll show you..." He moved around to the left arm of the chair and began searching under the arm, until he found the switch. There was a slight rumbling and then Estehl shoved on the throne and moved it out of the way, reavealing a long stair case. "Care to follow?" Estehl asked, producing a thin taper which he lit by magic