"I have been thinking," Pacey asked later the next afternoon, his arms wrapped loosely around Joey sitting in front of him in the saddle.

"Of?" Joey questioned curiously.

"There has to have been someone in the castle. Someone who is tied to this man...whoever he may be. A spell such that he is using on Merlin is too complicated to be performed from a distance."

Joey nodded slowly as she thought about it. "It makes sense. But who?"

"It could have been anyone," He sighed.

Joey sighed. "That is true."

"Whoever they are is still there, with him." His hands gripped the reigns. "I hadn't even thought of that. I didn't even leave him any way of protecting himself."

"Do you think he knows who it is?"

"I hope so. I try not to think otherwise."

"Would you two like to keep moving. I would like to return to Camelot someday." Drue grumbled from several yards away.

"Nay," A gruff voice sounded from the east. "They should stay right where they be. What ya think, Tom?"

"Aye, right where they stand." The two men emerged from the lush forest, followed by three more, all wearing grubby clothes. Their hair greasy and hanging in dirty dreadlocks.

"Well, well," the leader of the group, Tom, said stepping forward. "What do we have here?"

They men quickly moved between Drue and Pacey, separating them. Drue grinned, unsheathing his sword. "If you wish to continue your miserable lives, you will disappear back into the dregs you rose from."

"We'll just be taken yer money first," he said, pulling out his sword. The other men quickly followed. His dark eyes landed on Joey and he grinned. "Ooh, look at the pretty filly. We'll be takin’ her too and leave you yer lives."

Joey sat up indignantly and glared at one of the men that made a grab for her. "You will be doing no such thing!"

The point of Pacey's sword met the man's throat, "If you value your life, you'll step away from the lady."

He swallowed and took a step back and Joey's eyes narrowed at all of them. "You gentleman are making a very grave mistake here. Why I'm Princess Josephine of Camelot and my father will not take kindly to this. If you will just let us pass, I'll make sure this serious grievance is overlooked."

Tom regarded her with laughter in his gray eyes. "Is that so?"

Joey nodded pertinently. "It is."

"Then I suppose if that were true yer father would be willing to pay a king's ransom for yer life." He tipped his head and three of the men came forward, and grabbed her. "And if yer a lyin' wench, my men can still have some fun with ya."

She caught a flash of light ricocheting off Pacey's sword and a splash of red. She turned away, sinking back against Pacey, hiding her face in her cloak. When she looked up again, four bodies lay crumpled in the dirt, and the last man was scurrying away, Drue hot on his heels.

Joey bit her lip, peeking out cautiously. "Are they..." She found she couldn't say the word.

"Yes." He said roughly, kicking Thunder into a canter to get them away from the bloody scene. Several yards away he slid from the back of the horse, and cleaned his sword on the tall grasses. "Are you all right?" He asked watching her.

She nodded, her face paled as she thought of what happened. "I just...I have never...They were..." She fainted.

"Joey!" Pacey caught her just as she was sliding from the saddle. He dropped his sword to the ground and carefully lowered her to the soft moss. "Joey, sweetheart, wake up. Please, Joey." He used magic to bring the leather casket of water to his side, splashing it across her face.

Joey coughed and blinked water out of her eyes.

"Breathe, sweetheart." He told her calmly, stroking back her hair.

Joey swallowed anxiously and nodded. "I'm sorry, it's just...I've never..."

"I know." He smiled weakly, glancing back over his shoulder. "We need to get out of here."

"Okay," she said weakly.

"I hope Drue caught that last man," he said, helping Joey to stand. "The last thing we need is someone reporting having seen you here and not in the east."

Joey bit her lip. "I suppose it was stupid of me to say what I did."

"Just a little."

"I'm sorry."

"Drue will take care of it." He said confidently, he cupped her cheek. "Are you sure you are fine?"

She nodded with a small smile. "I'm sure."

"All right," he helped her into the saddle. "We need to get further away." He mounted behind her, "Be brave, like I know you are."

It was near dark when Drue found them again, his horse slick with sweat, the blood dried on his tartan. He wheeled his horse into the small clearing, easily dismounting. "How kind of you both to wait as I try to save our asses." He glared between the two as they sat before the meager fire, waiting for the meat to cook.

Joey regarded him impassively. "Were you able to catch him?"

"Yes, praise the saints." He started stripping out of his grimy clothes. "What the hell were you thinking? Announcing to them that you were the Princess?"

Joey swallowed. "Well, I admit that it was a bit rash of me."

"A bit rash?!" He threw down his tartan, leaving his chest bare. "What if he had gotten away? Your father and all the knights of Camelot would know exactly where to find you!"

"It was an innocent mistake," Joey said simply.

"One that I had to clean up after!"

"Drue." Pacey rose, pressing a staying hand against the other man's chest. "Wait until you are calm."

"It was a mere accident," Joey added. "I was not thinking."

"Clearly." He glowered, then turning his eyes to Pacey. "We have to disguise her."

She lifted her chin. "Do not speak as if I am not here."

Pacey sighed, "He is right, though. You are too recognizable . If we come across people again--"

"--And we will." Drue interrupted.

"--They are bound to recognize you, even if you don't alert them of your name."

She drew her eyebrows together. "Then what do you suggest I do?"

Drue circled her, running his eyes down the plain woolen clothes. They may have been drab, but they did nothing to conceal the heart shaped face, the smooth, unmarred skin, or the regal bearing. "There is little we can do. You're too beautiful."

Joey frowned, unsure of what to say before pursing her lips together. "Well, that solves nothing."

"Her hair," Pacey said quietly. "We have to cut your hair."

Joey's eyes widened in horror and she brought a hand to her long hair. "No!"

"And if we bind her breasts, dirty her up a little, she would look like a very pretty squire." Drue nodded agreement.

"We do not have a choice, Joey. Not only is there the danger of someone recognizing you, you're also too tempting a beauty for any we come across who are determined for a quick romp."

Joey bit her lip, fingering her hair regretfully. "H-how short?"

"You cannot be recognizable as a woman."

She shook her head. "I-I cannot do it."

"Can you think of another way to disguise yourself?" Pacey asked quietly, offering her another choice.

She frowned. "I can try."

"I do not think there is an impending threat tonight." Pacey nodded, looking at Drue, "We can wait until tomorrow before taking an drastic measures."

Joey continued to finger her hair, not sure if she'd ever be able to part with it.

"Fine." He moved away from them, heading for the food as his stomach rumbled in preparation for the warm food.

Pacey watched Drue, who seemed too interested in food at the moment to be concerned with much else. "Let's take a walk, Joey."

Joey nodded, still preoccupied with the possible loss of her hair. "Okay."

He caught her hand, and threaded his fingers through hers, before checking the sword at his side.

"I suppose I have no choice, but to cut it," Joey said with a sad sigh.

"It doesn't seem like there is any other way," he acknowledged, leading her into the forrest, scanning the ground for a place for them to relax, not wanting to get too far away from the safety of their small camp.

Joey frowned. "I just wish there was some other way."

"I am trying to think if there were any spells that Merlin taught us that would help in disguising you, but nothing comes to me." He gave her hand a squeeze, "Your hair will grow back, you know."

She sighed. "I know..."

He paused at a patch of soft heather and gestured for her to sit. He followed suit, leaning back among the fragrant flowers. "I just hope this will be over soon."

"So do I."

"Do you wish to talk about it?" He leaned up on one elbow to look into her face.

She shook her head gazing down at her hands. "Not particularly."

"I don't think you should have been exposed to that." He took her hand and brought it to his lips. "I know it scared you."

"I should have never said anything."

He sighed, "It was not the safest thing to do."

"I know." She frowned. "I was not thinking."

"It is too late to worry now."

"You're right," she admitted.

"Are you sure you don't wish to talk?"

"I-I would rather forget about it."

"Maybe that's best." He agreed.

She smiled. "So was there anything else you wished to talk about?"

"I am worried about you," he shrugged.

"I am fine."

He sighed, "I wish for a few minutes things could just be simple." She leaned over and kissed him. He returned the kiss, his hand curving over her cheek. "I wish everything was that simple."

She smiled and brushed her lips lightly against his. "So do I."

"I will miss this hair when it's gone," he murmured, running his fingers through the strands.

"Oh, how I wish I did not have to cut it."

"You'll still be beautiful to me."

She blushed faintly. "Thank you."

"It's simply the truth." He said with a sincere smile. "You have beauty inside and out."

She sighed, dropping her hands to her sides. "I suppose I am being silly."

"Only a little," he teased leaning forward and nuzzling her neck.

She frowned. "I cannot help it."

"No one is blaming you for wanting to keep your hair. After all, you've had it all your life," he winked at her. "But it cannot be helped. We must disguise your identity."

She narrowed her eyes slightly. "You find this amusing."

"A bit." He acknowledged. "We face the destruction of Camelot--your father, your people--and you worry over your hair."

She pulled back, her face clouded with hurt and she rose to her feet. "That is not fair!"

"Joey," he rose and caught her hand, "I did not mean it that way. I understand that cutting your hair is traumatic, but in the grand scheme of things..."

"I know that, Pacey," she snapped.

He sighed, drawing her closer to him, "I'm sorry, Princess."

"You make it seem like I'm some silly and witless girl." She frowned. "I know that it does not mean much. If those other thing did not matter to me, I would not be here in the first place."

"I know." He nodded seriously, "I'm sorry. I trust you with my life. I just don't understand why cutting your hair is so difficult for you."

She sighed. "Perhaps it is merely vanity."

"I've never known you to be vain, Joey."

Joey reached for a long, tendril of hair. "I have never cut it before."

"I can think of no other way," he said, trying to be sympathetic.

"I'll do it tomorrow," she said resignedly.

"Come here," he reached for her, pulling her into a hug.

She rested her head against his chest and breathed in softly. "I'm sorry about today."

"I know you are," he ran his fingers through her hair. "It is too late to do anything about it now. Just remember to be careful about what you say and who you say it to."

She nodded. "I know." He tilted her chin up and gave her a soft kiss. She smiled against his lips. "Maybe we should go before Drue eats all the food."

His stomach gave a loud rumble in reply. "I didn't even realize I was that hungry."

She grinned, brushing her lips against his one last time. "Let's go."

"If we must," he smiled good-naturedly, taking her hand and allowing her to lead him back to their make-shift camp.

"We should." She shivered faintly as she glanced around. "It is getting cold."

"I promise to keep you warm tonight," he gave her a suggestive smile. Joey blushed slightly as she walked back into the light of the fire.