Marian nodded and swallowed. "What shall I use for a night gown?"

((we can skip to morning if you wish.))

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

Adraine chuckled, as if thoroughly amused by this. He ran his fingertips over her neck lightly. "My dear, you won't be needing one..."

....

Morning washed over Marian like a salvation. King Adraine lay sprawled on his back next to her in bed, snoring quietly in his sleep as the sunlight spilled into the once dark room.

Strange that such a lavish place could be such a prison...

...

Morning came to Maxelle like a d*mnation.

He hadn't slept. At all.

How could he sleep, knowing his beloved was in the hands of that... that... He growled silently to himself, wanting to punch the wall, but seeing as how his left knuckles were already battered up from having done so several times already, he controlled himself.

He was going to die today.

_________________


~*~ I am the Patron Saint of Lost Causes. ~*~

Marian opened her eyes ans cried silently. she had betrayed Max to save him. and she wanted nothing more to to be touched by her tru love again. quietly she got dressed and went to the kings side. "My King." she paused. "My King, you promised you would let Max go free this morning."

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

The man opened one dark eye, looking at her for a long moment before responding simply. "Hmn, yes..." He got out of bed and dressed himself, paying little attention to her. At last he finished.
"And I am a man of my word, Marian."

_________________


~*~ I am the Patron Saint of Lost Causes. ~*~

Marian's lips twiched into a small smile as they left to go where her Max was being held, where he was going to be freed from. 'I am so sorry I betrayed you. But anything to ste you free.' She said in her mind as they walked. 'Please forgive me.'

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

Max was suddenly alert to the sound of footsteps approaching. His gaze shifted listlessly to the cell door, watching through the bars of his prison as the king and his guards approached, Marian following them. He didn't smile, he didn't speak... He just stared, with lifeless eyes.

This was it. The end...

"I'll give you a moment with him," Adraine said quietly to Marian before he and the guards departed further down the hall.

_________________


~*~ I am the Patron Saint of Lost Causes. ~*~

As soon as the king left, Marian ran to Max and crushed her lips to his. "its going to be ok now Max. your free."

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

He held her close to him. Oh, how good it felt to have her in his arms again... "W-what are you talking about, Marian?" he asked, looking bewildered. "Free?"

_________________


~*~ I am the Patron Saint of Lost Causes. ~*~

Marian nodded. 'God, please let him forgive me.' "I made a deal. . . with the king." she admitted.

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

A sudden feeling of dread made his heart ache. "What kind of a deal, Mari?" he asked softly, his eyes searching her face.

_________________


~*~ I am the Patron Saint of Lost Causes. ~*~

"I-I-I . . ." she broke down, why couldn't she say it, why, beacause she was afraid max would hate her. "I belong to the king now, in every way."

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

"Y-you... you what?" His green eyes flew wide, horrified at the very thought of anyone laying so much as a finger on her. He burst up onto his feet, staring at her a moment, then raged angrily through the bars of the cell, shouting down the hall.

"I'LL KILL YOU, YOU *beep*!" Had it not been for the bars between them, he would've stormed down the corridor and tore the king limb from limb. Max was so wrought with anger and sorrow that he was shaking.

_________________


~*~ I am the Patron Saint of Lost Causes. ~*~

Marain started crying. "I'm sorry. It was the only way. Please, don't hate me Max. It was the only way."

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

Marain started crying. "I'm sorry. It was the only way. Please, don't hate me Max. It was the only way."

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

He turned and gathered her up into his arms, shaking his head slowly. "No no, I could never hate you," he choked over the tears mingling with his words. "You never should've done something so stupid...."

_________________


~*~ I am the Patron Saint of Lost Causes. ~*~

Marian looked into the green eyes of the man she loved. "They were going to kill you. I wasn't going to loose you again. You'll go free now."

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)