This was one of my favorite scenes from the book when I first read it. Now it makes me feel sick at the same time that my heart is pounding with joy and hope, because I know its not real. Ugh. Anyways, most of this is taken from EF, though not copied, of course. Written from Rissa's perspective. I love you, guys, and I miss being on as much as I used to.

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The weeks passed quickly, and I stayed constantly engaged in different tasks from Prince Bleston. Our new leader's fame spread, and many loved him, praising him as a saviour. But some who were close to the prince still mistrusted him - rabbits like the Longtreaders and Lord Captain Frye. And I understood. Prince Bleston had yet to state his clear support for our prince.

Tonight, we would all take off from our duties for an announcement in Leaper's Hall. Prince Bleston was to speak, and the whole citadel eagerly anticipated the event. As I pushed my way into the large, beautiful hall that evening, my heart was shuddering. Rabbits jostled and shouted, pushed and pointed, shoving their way towards friends and family, and bumping others in the process. I sagged against the wall, wishing the noise would stop. I hated crowds, and my ears were ringing.

I shut my eyes for a moment, hoping to gain some peace. Instead, I heard an all too familiar voice slide up beside me.

"What are you doing all the way back here?"

I reluctantly lifted my eyelids, watching the tall buck situate himself against the wall. Archer’s starry armour glittered, and I absentmindedly wondered how difficult it was to wear a heavy metal shirt all day.

I drew up straight and brought my face towards the stage as loud throbbing music filled the hall. The votaries were gathered across the platform, and the lead votaries, Prester Kell, and his wife, Sage Kins, stood at the front. Shadows were flailing around the room, cast by large branches wavering over the lamps. I pressed my back against the rock wall, and Archer's eyes went wide with alarm while his hand gripped his sword.

I squeezed my eyes shut as the votaries waved back and forth and landed on the stage with a crash. The room became only sound to me, but then, just as suddenly, the noise was gone. I slowly opened my eyes to see Prester Kell and his wife land firmly on the first standing stone. The music began again, but now a rapturous melody, filling my heart with joy and hope. The room seemed to glow with ecstasy.

The two votaries leapt from stone to stone, arriving each time with a clash of cymbals. The music ended as they landed hand in hand on the seventh stone, and Sage Kins seated herself on the top of the tall stone. The rest of us followed her, settling ourselves on the cold, hard floor.

Archer and I laid our bows down side by side and rested against the rough wall. Then I gazed back up at the platform, watching with interest as Prester Kell reverently touched his ears, eyes, and mouth, reciting a song along with the rest of the hall.

"Let us hear with humility, see with generosity, speak with honesty, and so leap with audacity!"

He then told us of Flint and Fay - how they came to the sixth stone and made their final decision - a decision from which there would be no turning back. I felt a warmth growing as Prester Kell spoke - a hope and confidence, an appreciation for the choice our ancestors had made.

And as he finished, the Prester bowed, and as Sage Kins stood again, the two began to sing, and soon we all joined in.

"Bring us out of this mountain of doom,

Our upturned world of woe,

Take us leap by leap, by leap, along,

To glories yet unknown.

Every step on these silver stairs,

Over ancient abysmal heights,

Brings us closer to Blue Moss Hills,

Out of darkness and into the light.

The Immovable Mountain heaved,

And from stone to stone we soared,

By Fay's stone book we look and see,

And we live by Flint's stone sword.

We go on with grateful hearts,

For this inheritance so kind,

Our fathers dreamed, believed, and leapt,

So that we, one day, might fly."

And then, when the song was finished, Prester Kell spoke once more to welcome Prince Bleston onto the stage.

My hands flew to my ears as the cheering came, though I rose to my feet with the others. The applause lasted for several minutes, and when it was over, Bleston called forward Heather and Picket Longtreader, embracing them like his children as they came onto the stage. Next, he invited Doctor Emma forward, praising her incredible work in the hospital. The crowd cheered, but the two Longtreaders whispered to each other, an uneasy look on their faces.

When the crowd was quiet, Bleston spoke again.

"My friends, I have invited these representatives of this community to join me on stage so I could make an announcement. A hero. A poet. A healer," Bleston motioned to each of the three on stage, "These excellent rabbits are just some of the wonderful young friends I've met since returning to the world outside of Terrelain. They give me hope. You, all of you, give me hope."

"I was born and raised in the First Warren. I was the oldest son of my father, strong and fully qualified to be his heir. When I left I took the token of my birthright."

Bleston paused, drawing a large ruby on a strong golden cord from his shirt. The Whitson Stone. I bit my lip, feeling a tension flow through the room as Bleston continued, telling the history of the magnificent stone. An anxious murmur was quickly spreading, and I heard one rabbit call out "What about the prince? Prince Jupiter Smalls?"

"Let me finish please," Bleston looked down at each of us, "I have been determined - for years I've been determined - to return to the First Warren and assert my claim. But my brother's rule prospered. He ushered in a golden age of rabbit civilization. I kept up, by my own secret means, with what happened at court and with his many wars. My heart went out to him when he fell, and I wondered if it was time for me to return and reclaim my place. I wanted to bring the ethic of Terrelain, that every rabbit can be a king, to all of Natalia. It took some years, and many things had to be set in order, but I set out from Terrelain with this intent."

The Longtreaders and Doctor Emma stepped away from Bleston, eying him with wariness. Bleston turned towards them, frustrated.

"Friends. Hear me out. Have I not earned this?"

After a moment, Picket Longtreader replied, "You have, Prince, but I beg you to consider what your words mean."

Bleston pointed at Heather, nodding.

"This young rabbit has spoken to me, and it is because of her, the Scribe of the Cause, that I have made a decision. When Prince Jupiter Smalls returns, I will personally hang the Whitson Stone around his neck, and pledge my allegiance to him as bearer of the Green Ember and Natalia's rightful heir. I will stand beside him and serve him all his days. United, we will fight Morbin Blackhawk and end the reign of terror under the Lords of Prey," Bleston shouted, raising the fiery stone high, "We shall reclaim the First Warren and, at last bring into being the Mended Wood!"

I gasped, scrambling to my feet, and laughing with joy. The Silver Prince could be heard no more amidst the mad glee filling the room. I caught my bow, preventing it from being damaged as the crowd leapt and shouted, applauding wildly. Exultant, dissonant music swelled, and my heart fluttered into my throat. I glanced at Archer, who’s face was strangely stolid for so happy a time, but nothing could dim my ecstasy. The night wore on, filled with dancing and revels, and I could think of and recall nothing. When at last we slept, the dawn was quickly approaching.