**A/N: Okay wow, I know that you must all hate me now since it's been over nine months since I've written. But sometimes life just throws you a bunch of curves. With school, moving, school again…lot's going on. That added to the fact that I was suffering from the world's biggest case of writer's block and you get a semi-abandoned story. BUT it is back. And I will TRY to update every other week.

Chapter Ten: The Second and Third Challenges

Grundy, Galahad and I walked a little further before we stumbled upon a spring. As with the wall, it stretched on as far as they eye could see in both directions. It was wide enough that we couldn't leap across. "It doesn't look that deep." I said. "We could swim across."

Galahad looked at me and shook his head while Grundy decided to laugh uncontrollably. "Oh of course!" The golem hooted. "We'll just swim. Right."

I looked at them both. "It's just water. Look." I began to stick my finger in it but was tackled by Galahad.

"Do NOT do that!" He said, laying on top of me. "Your have no idea of its nature!" He leaned down and kissed me.

"NO! None of that!" Grundy jumped on Galahad's back and began to pull his hair. Galahad sighed and pull slightly back. "Thank you."

I was thinking hard, knowing I'd heard about this before. Unfortunately, with all the information I'd gathered over the past few days, it took awhile to sift through it. Then suddenly I remembered. "I could have ended up hating you! God, I'm sorry!" I looked up into his eyes and saw us hugging…and kissing…and then…Grundy was suddenly cutting off our eye contact.

"No more of this googly-eyed. We have to figure out this challenge. Come on boy. Stand up." Grundy pushed against Galahad's forehead until he stood up. "Now you go that way and we'll go this way and we'll go this way and see if this mud puddle ends."

Galahad helped pull me up and smiled at me. "I love you."

"I lo-"

"Let's go. Look for trees to tie a rope to or something." Grundy stated. "Go go go."

"With a last longing look we separated, him going one way and me the other. I looked around as I walked for anything. Flowers or something by the water would give away it's nature maybe. But there was nothing. The grass grew away from the spring with a layer of sand between them. There were no animals nearby and no foliage besides the grass. After walking for the better part of an hour there still seemed to be no change. "This is pointless. Let's go back and see if Galahad's found anything."

"You humans always give up so easily." He grumbled but agreed anyway. We walked back, even slower than we'd walked the other way. Then again, there were no distinctions to show us where we'd been so we could have walked further.

"Averia!" I looked up and saw Galahad approaching.

"Please tell me you found something." I said as he threw his arms around me.

He shook his head. "Nothing." We both sat in the grass and even Grundy was quiet.

"This is stupid!" I declared finally. "There can't be a challenge with no solution can there?"

"You thought the last one was impossible as well." Grundy noted.

"But with that one we at least had something to work with." I sighed. "We have nothing. We have…grass." I began to toss it into the water but nothing happened. "Well it didn't kill the grass. That's a good thing right?"

Grundy snorted. "It could be." Galahad said reassuringly.

"I don't even have a question." I sighed. "Maybe we should just go home."

Galahad scooted closer to me and held me in his arms. "Shh…don't give up. You're brave and strong. That's why I love you."

"Well what can I ask? I'm sure if I wasn't trying to think of anything I could. But now…I just don't know. What are you asking?"

"How I can make it bearable to have to wait two years to marry you."

I smiled. "That's sweet but really, what's your question?"

"That is my question. I came to be your escort because my father made me. And now I love you and nothing else really matters. I'm already going to be an instructor of swordplay so I have a job. And my parents have promised to give me a cottage of my own upon my marriage. We're taken care of. Now I just have to actually marry you."

Grundy laughed. "That's pathetic."

"It's nice." I said. "Shush. Haven't you ever been in love?"

"Well sure, I love my wife."

"You're married?!" I asked in disbelief.

Grundy laughed harder. "Yes I am. To Rapunzel. I can be very charming when I try. We have a daughter, Surprise. You two aren't the only ones who can be sappy."

"Well then if you're in love and married don't you know what it's like to want to be affectionate."

"Of course I do. Which is why I think it's so fun to keep you two from it."

"Anyone ever tell you you're annoying?" Galahad quipped.

"Anyone ever tell you that for a pea-brain you have a huge head?"

"Stop it." I demanded. "This isn't helping." I sat up and tossed more grass into the spring. "There doesn't seem to be anything alive in there." I pointed out. "Why don't we just chance swimming it? The Good Magician wouldn't permanently damage questioners, would he?" I moved to the edge of the water.

"Humphrey is a grumpy, bitter little man." Grundy noted. He walked to stand next to me and Galahad followed.

"You mean like you?" He asked the golem.

"Boys! Please will you just knock it off?" I sighed. "I'm going in." I began to step into the water but felt Galahad's arms wrap around my waist and yank me back. He lost his footing as my weight shifted back against him and his legs went out from under him. As we fell his foot made contract with Grundy and the golem went flying into the water with a yell. "Oh bleep…" I whispered as I hear a splash.

Galahad and I sat up and saw Grundy pull himself out on the other side. He was literally hopping mad and every word out of him mouth was censored. "A hate spring." Galahad stated solemnly.

"Gee you are dense!" Grundy yelled. "The spring is perfectly harmless like the chick said all along."

I hopped up. "So we can just swim across." I felt Galahad pull me back down. "What? He said it was fine." Without speaking further he silenced me with a kiss. Grundy had plenty to say about this but he was across the spring and couldn't swim back. Though not wide for regular sized humans it was for someone of his size. "I love you." I smiled and stood up. "Come on, let's go. Only one more challenge left." I helped him up and we stepped into the water. "Oh wow, this is cold." I laughed a little.

"You'll be fine." Galahad smiled and we swam across.

"It's about time you oafish ingrates." Grundy scrambled up my leg and onto my shoulder. "Hurry up."

We walked some more, with Galahad at the head. "Shh. I hear something." He said, stopping us. We peaked around the corner and saw…"A tangle tree."

"A what?" I asked.

Grundy sighed in annoyance. "One of the most deadly plants in Xanth. If it's tentacles grab you you're doomed."

"It's blocking a door." I pointed out.

Galahad nodded. "There's a key around it's neck which means we have to do more than just get around it."

"So take out that hunk of metal and go for it." Grundy said.

"Wait. If you fight it with your sword then Grundy can sneak up and get the key." I said.

"I'm just here as a chaperone. I'm not doing it."

Galahad glared at him. "Yes you are."

"Fine. But don't let it kill me." I watched as Galahad approached the tree and the tentacles reached out to grab him. I felt my heart stop until I saw him fighting them off almost effortlessly with his sword. Grundy scrambled forward and up the trunk, using his own small knife and cutting off the key before scrambling to the door.

"Averia. Get behind me." Galahad called. I did as he said and he began to move towards the door. I stayed close to him, fearful and yet feeling well-protected. When we were now standing with our backs to the door Galahad spoke again. "Take the key from Grundy and unlock the door. Tell me when you have it open."

I did as he said once more and took the key from Grundy, trying hard to put it in the lock. I kept glancing at Galahad and couldn't manage to do it right. I forced myself to concentrate and finally heard the bolt slide aside. I wrenched the door open and Grundy went inside. "I have it open." I called, noticing a tentacle get perilously close to Galahad. He sprinted back and then turned, pulling me with him through the door. We stood catching our breaths and then I looked up. "I thought there were only three challenges…" I whispered.