(The same two years later. Julia looks o...

(The same two years later. Julia looks out over the desert. She is alone. A storm is blowing louder and louder.)

Julia: Oh another sand storm. A cloud of dust rising to the heavens. (She sighs.) Well Sir Steven what do you say to that? To the inexperienced eye, one might think of travelers - a magnificent parade of elephants carrying a famous king. But we know better don't we Sir Steven? This is a desolate isle - unvisited for many years. It is most cruel of the dust storm to try to trick us like that. It is even said that the wind can mimic the sound of a loved-one's voice. The wind lashes the rocks with harsh blows and they cry out for mercy.

Steven (mostly muffled and weak, almost drowned out by the wind): Princess! Princess!

Julia: There you see! You can almost hear him calling to me. Madmen say if you talk to the wind, it will answer you. (Calling out unbelievingly in a haunting voice.) Steven, where are you?

Steven: Over here!

Julia (now believing): Steven! Over where? Keep calling. I'll come to you.

Steven: Over here. I can't see you. I've got sand in my eyes.

Julia: Don't move. I'm coming.

Steven: I won't.

Julia (finding him as the storm reaches its loudest): Take my hand.

Steven: Where are we going?

Julia: Into the passageway.

(They enter a tunnel and the sound of the storm recedes.)

Steven: What passageway? (rubbing his eyes) I think I can see a bit now.

Julia: Oh Steven, you came back to me.

(She throws her arms round him and he winces in pain.)

Steven: Ah.

Julia: You're hurt!

Steven: It's nothing. If I could just sit down for a while, I'll be fine.

Julia: Of course. I'm sorry. Follow me. Be careful. It's dark.

Steven (weakly): I will.

(She takes him by the hand and leads him directly to the bedchamber where he sit on the bed.)

Julia (looking at his wounds): You're bleeding!

Steven (slightly disoriented): Am I? I thought it had stopped by now.

Julia (tearing up the sheets): What happened to you?

Steven: It was stupid of me. I was so glad to be back here that I let my guard down. Two robbers jumped me from behind and one plunged a dagger in my arm.

Julia: I did tell you about the robbers.

Steven: Well two years is a long time, and I forgot.

Julia: Two years is a very long time. It seemed like forever.

Steven: I know.

Julia: I thought I would never see you again.

Steven: I wanted to come back sooner, but things happened.

Julia: What things? Tell me everything.

Steven: Where shall I start?

Julia: The crusade, start with that. How is King Richard?

Steven: It went well at first. The Saracens were driven back to the gates of Jerusalem. We could see the domes and rooftops on the other side of the wall, but it was hopeless. We couldn't get to them. A stalemate ensued and weeks turned into months of no progress.

Julia: Was there enough to eat?

Steven: Hardly, and the water was awful. Many of us became ill and winter closed in. I was struck with fever and lay delirious for four days. When I woke up, they told me that Richard had received bad news from England and had set off as fast as he could. He went disguised as a musician to take a short cut through Europe.

Julia: Wasn't that dangerous.

Steven: I'm afraid so. The Emperor caught him in Vienna and demanded a huge ransom for his release. England is being torn apart for gold.

Julia: And they sent you out to find it.

Steven: As usual.

Julia: Oh Steven, I wish I could help. I just can't. These simple things are the only treasure I possess. My father spent all our money building this castle. The larger it grew, the more men came to steal what they thought must be inside. To keep them off we spent all our money on moats and towers and fortifications.

Steven: Don't you think I know that? You are the treasure in the castle, poor, orphaned and lonely as you are. You are why I came back, not for gold.

Julia: Do you really mean that?

Steven: Of course.

Julia: But what about the king? You can't let Richard lie in prison whilst we are happy. That would be horrible.

Steven: Oh Richard will get his money soon enough. I went to every castle in England asking for it. They threw insults at me when I came, and sometimes worse than that. But they gave me the money eventually. As I stood there in the rain, vilified and miserable, I couldn't help thinking of you and the lovely things you had said to me. I promised myself that I would come back one day and stay with you if I managed to raise the king's ransom.

Julia: How long will you stay this time?

Steven: Forever, if you'll have me.

Julia: But how shall we live? The castle makes everything so barren and desolate.

Steven: We'll tear down the castle and plant cherry stones from your beloved tree. We'll grow orchards and meadows and wild flowers. (He produces a wild flower from his tunic.)

Julia: But my father's magic is too strong for us. Many have tried to breach the walls and failed. The castle is indestructible.

Steven: With our kisses, your father's magic becomes your magic. You can change his plan into your own. You are a queen now, and I love you. (He kisses her.) And one day your magic will become our children's magic - so we had better teach them all we've learned.

(A pause)

Steven: Julia?

Julia: Yes.

Steven: You're not saying very much.

Julia: No.

Steven: You do love me just a little don't you?

Julia: Oh Steven. I did miss your silly questions.

Steven: And I missed your beautiful replies.

(They kiss again.)

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