Gate of Memoirs/Courting Death

Gortius and Miriam find themselves barred from the grand gates to the castle and ordered to be killed on sight.
Portrait 	Dialogue
Music: "Overcome"	Music: "Overcome"
 	
*In the heat of battle, all but one of the assassins met a grisly end at their blades.
 	
*Miriam advances threateningly upon the sole survivor, cold fury in her eyes.
*Miriam: Who sent you?
 	
*Assassin: *cough* My masters knew you were alive for a while now...
*Assassin: When the time was right...We were told to find the prince.
*Assassin: Take him out...Make it look like an accident...
*Assassin: Make sure he doesn't go back to Elysia.
 	
*Gortius: Why? What's happened there?
 	
*Assassin: Your family has come to an end. 
*Assassin: Radmuhl will be dead soon enough, and the princess is powerless.
*Assassin: Heh...If you went back...You'd just get in my master's way...
*Assassin: *cough* But if you're gone...The path to the throne is clear.
*Assassin: Trust me...There will be more.
*The assassin collapses from his injuries.
 	
*Gortius: Estia? Powerless?
*Gortius: The damned courtiers! They've been planning this all along.
 	
*Gortius: My poor sister...What have they done?
*Gortius: What have they done to Elysia?
 	
*Miriam: We can't linger here, Gortius. They've likely picked up on our trail.
*Miriam: We'll have to keep moving and get to the gates.
*Miriam: Only then will we find out for certain.
 	
*Gortius: There must still be loyalists in the empire. There has to...
 	
*Gortius climbs back onto his horse and throws a lingering look over his shoulder,
*one last gaze at the quiet life he'd left behind, for a previous life he thought he could abandon for good.
Portrait 	Dialogue
Music: "Dark Pursuit"	Music: "Dark Pursuit"
 	
*—Elysian Royal Court, nine months ago.
 	
*Estia: What is the meaning of this?
*Estia: Just because the king isn't currently in attendance doesn't give you the right to—
 	
*Duke Huster: I would suggest that you keep your opinions to yourself, princess.
*Duke Huster: Locked up in that stuffy old tower all day...Do you even know what goes on in Elysia anymore?
 	
*Estia: I beg your pardon?
 	
*Earl Marlow: The Duke is right. The princess is quite out of touch. 
*Earl Marlow: I believe all of us here have seen enough rises and falls to get a pulse on the kingdom. We only want the best for Elysia.
*A murmur of agreement ripples throughout the court.
*Earl Marlow: In any case, we can agree that a suitable successor should be found as a...preventive measure of sorts.
 	
*Estia: But...I am the legal heir of King Radmuhl, since my brother has passed.
*Estia: Isn't that right, Advisor?
 	
*Advisor Giehl, a greying man in his late fifties, leans toward her surreptitiously.
*Advisor Giehl: Of course, Princess...
*Advisor Giehl: But I must remind you that the current opinion of the court is that you...ah...prefer being left to your own devices.
*Advisor Giehl: Is that not true? Can you deny that you had once made very clear your desire to stay out of politics?
 	
*Estia: But it's an emergency now! Surely—
 	
*Advisor Giehl: I understand your predicament, Princess. I only ask that you trust in the Council to make the best decisions for now.
*Advisor Giehl: The king would be eased by your presence meanwhile, through this trying time.
*Advisor Giehl: Duke Huster and Earl Marlow will do their utmost best to keep the military and the people together, respectively.
 	
*Estia: Y-Yes...
 	
*Advisor Giehl adjourns the court for the day, and once the courtiers file out, Estia slinks back to her tower,
*the only safe place she has in the whole empire now.
 	
*Estia: (Gortius...If only you were still here...)
Portrait 	Dialogue
Music: "Justice"	Music: "Justice"
 	
*As the great gates of Elysia come into view, the guards ready their weapons at the approaching riders.
*Gate Guard: Halt! Who goes there?
 	
*Gortius: Gortius Valen of the Royal House of Elysia.
*Gortius: ...I've returned to see my ailing father.
 	
*The gate guards peer suspiciously at the weathered royal emblem Gortius is holding up.
*As several men retreat behind the barriers, Miriam puts her hand on the hilt of her blade, and narrows her eyes.
*Gate Guard: I'll have to ask you to wait here a moment, my lord.
*A squad of armed men suddenly pour out of the gate and surround them with weapons drawn.
*Armed Guard: Come quietly with us, please.
 	
*Gortius: What? Stand down! How dare you draw arms against the royal family?
 	
*Armed Guard: The Council has taken over temporary governance of Elysia while the matter of succession is being debated upon.
*Armed Guard: Until then, all "claimants" to the throne must be supervised and brought before the court.
*Armed Guard: Resist and we cannot guarantee your safety, "prince."
 	
*Gortius: This is madness.
 	
*Miriam: Gortius. It's more likely they'll kill us, instead. 
*Miriam: Let's hope we can find more allies behind these walls.