`` this is an idea for a scene in a story i have, and i really like it ``

  As we entered the city of Ironcrest, Alyssa became much more tense and closed off than she normally was. She kept her head down and pulled up her black hood, and urged her horse Gambit closer to King Canisius Aethereon IV and Queen Sock's carriage.
  "What's wrong?" I asked as I rode up next to her. She pursed her lips.
  "Nothing," she said. I glanced up ahead to the great castle where we were heading. The common folk parted across the streets to let us pass, muttering things to each other in Ael. Compared to what we knew of our alliance country Aeliar, these people seemed rather sad and depressed, while in our reports and other visits the city had really felt alive and happy. I guessed that for whatever reason we had been asked to come here was also the reason that these people were so sad. I took a deep breath. Now I didn't know if I really wanted to know the reason we had come to Ironcrest.

  Alyssa stuck close to the King and Queen and kept a hand on her sword pommel, tapping her fingers nervously. Why was she so nervous? We entered the castle and were led down a long hall to the throne room, where the King of Aeliar, SoCk, was seated on his chair. Two of the other three chairs were empty, and the third was occupied by the prince. I nodded to him. Prince SOck and I had met on several other previous occasions, and he had always been a happy, cheerful guy. But now his eyes were filled with un-cried tears. Something was terribly wrong in this kingdom. I turned my attention back to the King.
  "Greetings, hello my friends," King SoCk told us. "I am glad you could come,"
  King Canisius Aethereon IV and the queen bowed. "We came as soon as we could," Queen Sock said politely. She glanced about the room looking for someone. "But tell me, where is my sister?" Queen Sock and her twin sister, SoCK, were very close. I too wondered why she wasn't settled on her chair next to her husband.
  "That is why I called you here. I thought it would be better to tell you in person," SoCk's hands were shaking. She had been hiding behind the us while we were in here, as if she didn't want the others to see her. The King took a deep breath.
  "SoCK is dead," he said. For a moment there was silence, then Queen Sock broke out in tears and fell to her knees.
  "No no no no no," she stammered. King Canisius Aethereon IV embraced her. Behind me there was the clatter of metal falling as Alyssa dropped her shield to the ground. She took a step back.
  "What?" she whispered. Her normally un-emotional face seemed like it was going to break out into tears.
  "Alyssa?" I said. She started breathing hard.
  "I-I-I have to go,"

  Alyssa turned and ran away back where we had come from. The Prince stood up.
  "I'm sorry, Your Majesty," I said to the King, "I'll go after her," I set down my bow and ran off after her. I chased Alyssa through the halls. She didn't stop once to think about where she was going, so somehow she had a destination in mind. After running up the second flight of stairs to the third floor, I finally caught up to her. Alyssa looked at me and then dashed into the room she had stopped in front of. I stopped to take a breath.
  "Hey, that's my sister's room," Prince SOck ran up next to me, also breathing hard. During the chase she had led us to the royal housing type area of the castle.
  "Why did she come here?" I asked. I grabbed the handle and pushed open the door. Instantly I was hit by a wave of dust.

  Prince SOck's younger sister, Princess Freya, had gone missing several years ago when she was only sixteen. After not finding her for years they finally gave up and had to accept the idea that she had died. But like some people did when their children left home, they hadn't touched her room at all. The room was still as she left it, in that transitioning phase of growing from a little girl into a young adult woman. Sitting on the dusty bed Alyssa was clutching an old teddy bear doll to her chest and crying. Alyssa never cried, even when she was injured she didn't cry for anything.
  "They haven't changed a thing," she said through her tears. "It's just the same as I left it,"
  "What do you mean?"
  "Why did I...now she's gone," Alyssa muttered. She stood up and stared at SOck as he entered the room. He blinked and studied her face. SOck then approached her and slid off her eye patch, revealing Alyssa's other eye. She cringed as light entered her mostly unused eye.
  "Freya?" the Prince asked her.
  "I'm so sorry, brother,"