Forbidden

-Chapter Fourteen: The Findarian Portal-

"They're planning on doing what?!" Emily exclaimed as she slammed her hands onto the table.

"Honey, calm down." Sam whispered as she gently pulled Emily back to her chair.

"Yeah, I was just as shocked when I saw the plans for the first time." Leo Percy sighed as he passed the paper over to King Harry so he could look over it.

"There's no sense in panicking at the moment. By the looks of it, it sounds like they just thought of attacking Caspian. It will take a month or two for them to plan an efficient attack, so we have time." Harry said in hopes of calming everyone down.

"How are your love letters going with Prince Ace?" Vulpecula smirked at Jack from across the table making everyone snap their heads to the prince.

"Whoa! Don't look at me! Firstly, they're not love letters. Secondly, it was your idea to send them. Thirdly, Ace has a plan." Jack stated as everyone looked over to Vulpecula.

"Ah, okay. So how are your closeted love letters going?" She asked, making Leo Percy and Eris giggle to themselves.

"You're annoying," Jack huffed.

"Okay, that's enough. What is Ace planning on?" King Harry asked.

"Well, before we left the ball Ace drunkenly announced his engagement to his friend, Persephone. By the looks of it, this is something that King Oliver has anticipated for a really long time and I am confident that this is an occasion that Findara will waste no time preparing for at all. Ace told me he has a plan, but I'm just waiting until he writes back." Jack said as everyone sighed.

"How do we know we can trust him?" Sam asked as everyone around the table looked at her.

"Really? I should be living proof." Lilith stated as Emily mentally facepalmed herself.

"Oh, and the fact that he told a guy named, Chester, to give me the paper with the plans of Findara." Leo Percy stated.

"Oh, and how Leo Percy and I met parts of the Defiance." Jack also stated.

"Okay, but-" "Sam please, just don't say anything else." Emily pleaded as Sam sheepishly nodded her head. The group continued on talking about how their night at Findara went. Eris talked about how the guards were trained from what they heard from a guard named Sebastian and Cain. Zehra talked about her time with the Elites and how she learned about their views and status. Leo Percy talked about how the castle was unwelcoming, dark, and eerie. Jack talked about his time with Ace and the passages throughout the castle. Lastly, there was Vulpecula who respectfully kept her business to herself.

"How is Gwen doing?" Eris asked Lilith as the group headed out to their daily roles and duties.

"She's still restricting herself, but I think that is due to years of her conforming to King Oliver's society. Since I'm supposed to be going to Durgon for the next few days, I was thinking about bringing her here for lunch. I think it would be good if she met all of you." Lilith suggested.

"That's a great idea! She can get comfortable with us and help us out!" Eris smiled before going over to Jack to tell him the suggestion.

Later that day, Gwen sat at the Asterian table beside Lilith staring at the ceiling in admiration. "Cool isn't it?" Zehra asked as Gwen snapped out of her trance.

"How does the clouds stay there?" Gwen asked as she saw a group of tiny fairies hide in the thick clouds.

"Simple answer: by magic." Emily answered as her and Sam joined her at the table with Lilith.

"Do you maintain the clouds or...?" Gwen asked before Jack made an appearance into the dinning room.

"Actually, it came with the castle as a gift from a very old coven." Jack smiled as he sat down across from Gwen. Gwen's eyes widened as she stared at the delicate, silver crown that sat comfortably on Jack's head.