Well, you wanted to be a writer...

I Swear I'm Not Guilty (AU)

"Where is the idiot anyway," Riel asked looking around.  She standing in a large hall usually reserved for holding balls and important meetings.  Her brother, Adrien stood alongside her, looking around the room.

"I'm right here." Her best friend and thorn in her side, Steven Lamar piped up.  He had come in from the other room, kitchen knife in hand, trademark grin in place.  He had been doing rather well ever since he had taken over the local crime organization.  She gave him a look before smiling sarcastically.

"Surprisingly enough, I'm not talking about you this time."  Steven Lamar feigned a gasp.

"It's not me?  But I am supposed to be your worst enemy your highness.  Or do you forget I steal so much of your stuff and raid the local nobility"  Adrien scowled at him.  As much as he wanted to dispose of Steven, Riel insisted he stay.  Something about crime organizations being good to have on a kingdoms side?  He didn't get it.

"I know you are supposed to be the idiot, but this time, the idiot I was talking about is my husband, Morgan."

"Oh... him"  At this, he looked at the ground.  Riel's eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"Steven..."

"Yes?"  He looked at Riel, face seemingly clear of any and all guilt.  Most would think he was free of any blame.  But then again, most didn't know him as well as Riel did.  She was used to his antics.  If Steven was innocent he wouldn't have looked down.  He also would be smiling, in that smirk that would usually infuriate her.  It was when he looked the least guilty that he usually was.

"Steven where is Morgan?"

"How would I know?"

"Steven. Lamar."

"Ok ok ok..." He sighed for a moment before looking away.

"Look before I say anything... I swear I'm not guilty."  Adrien exploded.

"WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY SISTERS HUSBAND!!!!"  Steven took a step back, the knife falling with a clatter to the ground; his hands flew up in surrender.

"As I said. I'm not guilty.  I warned him against the deal.  It wasn't safe.  I'm assuming that it went south."  

"He didn't tell me of any deal.  He promised to tell me anything.  He promised."  Steven just looked down.  Her eyes cut through him sharper than one of his steel daggers.

"How long have you known of a deal?"  The room seemed to darken,  clouds covering the sun streaming in through the windows.  Steven couldn't be sure if it was coincidence or magic.

"... a week?" He saw her tense up ready to kill him.  "But I uh didn't know he went through with it! I didn't know he was missing until just now!"  Riel did not relax.  Steven watched as Adrien paced around the room.  Her brother was always fidgety...  Always just hairs breathe away from killing him under his sister's nose.  Now she probably would allow him out of pure revenge.

"I have already sent several of my elite to keep an eye on him.  He will still be alive.  Royal consorts don't get murdered without anyone being made aware.  Kidnapped, however?  That is more likely.  I promise Riel they will find him.  I will bring him home"  She just looked at him.

"We will find him."  For once both Steven and Adrien seemed to be on the same page.  They both hated the idea

"We? No. You have a kingdom to run and-"

"Sister this is not a good-"

"We. will. Find him."  Steven paused, reminiscing on their past.  So much had changed since then.  It was a much simpler time.  Constantly being on the run, accidentally saving a circus, going into another plane of existence.  He sighed.  

Why couldn't life be that simple anymore?  He knew why Morgan had made the deal.  Hubbie had a secret, one that would destroy the kingdom and his relationship to pieces.  Desperate men will do desperate things.  If that meant consulting and wheedling with... with him... then no matter what Steven would say could make any difference.  It wasn't his fault.  But it was his for not being aware of the deal and stopping the kidnapping before Riel realized.  And now the one person that made his life worth living would be thrown into this mess.  He worried she wouldn't make it out alive.  Another death on his conscience.  All he could do now was try and protect her.  Join her so she didn't run off without him.

"Fine.  Where would I be without my bard annoying the heck out of me?"  She smiled but it was a cold grim smile but did not respond.  He looked at the queen, concern etched on his face.  She was like him.  Sarcasm could never disappear completely, even in the worst of circumstances.  To see his best friend without her sass... he knew at that moment that this would be their most dangerous journey yet.

"So who did he make a deal with?" Adrien asked.  Steven sighed.  He had forgotten her dimwitted, anger-prone brother was still in the room.

"A man so sinister and so good at hiding even I have never encountered him.  He is much like me in that he has a network of criminals to command.  Unlike me, he abuses that power.  Often he makes deals but they are never to be trusted.  All I have been able to gather on him is a name.  He goes by... the Spider King."

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Video by: Covarche

Ok so the song doesn't fit perfectly but I do enjoy the promise of an adventure that seems laced in the song and (hopefully) in this short story.  Once again this is by the Tangled TV series (I promise I don't watch it!  I just love the music!)