Gwenn's palms were sweating as much as they could now. She hesitated.

"Okay - we have a deal."

The centaurs around the table all smiled at the agreement - all except for the jet-black one - she guessed him to be the prince. His features no longer held a hint of a smile, a shadow had passed over his face.

"I will take the young one to her friends," when he got a few wondering looks about the Bojack bear an almost defiant expression came over his face, "Yes, even the Bojack bear."

"But your highness-"

"This is what I choose," he spoke calmly but with power. Gwenn already liked him the best - in fact, the others didn't compete. She nodded her thanks to him from a distance, tired of getting the full power of attention in the room just by speaking. The other centaurs didn't look too happy about his words, but there was nothing they could do. The guards walked Gwenn out of the room as the counsel finished their earlier, erm, conversation.

As the three of them - the guards and Gwenn - were walking back through the halls, Gwenn didn't know what to feel first. She was doomed to stay in that forest for the rest of her life, but at least she'd saved her friends from the same awful fate. The less talkative guard gently took a hold of Gwenn's arm - he had to bend over slightly to do so. His buddy shook his head.

"Bobin, don't. She'd nice, remember?"

"Yeah but it just feels right."

"Well . . . stop it. She doesn't need it."

"Yeah, I know but she doesn't mind," he looked down to Gwenn for reassurance, "You don't mind, see?"

"Yes, she does - look at her face. Does she look happy about that?"

Normally she would've cracked up at the silly argument but she was too busy worrying about her future - Orthis, the talkative one - mistook her disappointment in the king's decision for disappointment in Bobin holding her arm. She'd zoned out and came in on their conversation right as Orthis said, "She's a super-powerful sorceress, don't hold her arm like that."

"Fine, fine, okay," Bobin backed away, his hands in the air. They turned a corner, went through a door, and ended up in another giant room. This one, though, was filled with centaurs - and even a few satyrs - walking around, or chatting, or sitting alone with an ancient-looking book. Gwenn felt her heart flutter when she caught sight of Thalia and Thomas - it wasn't too hard to find them in the crowds.

She broke away from Orthis and Bobin, running over to her friends and wrapping her arms around them. At first, they were both surprised, but after realizing what was going on, gratefully welcoming the hug. She pulled away, putting on a serious face now.

"Are you both alright?"

"Yes, Lady Gwenn."

"Sheesh, you sound like mom," even though the joke should've been funny, it only made the sisters homesick.

"Wait . . . where's Kihwek?"

"What do you mean?"

Gwenn turned to the guards who were walking up, now arguing about something else. Gwenn interrupted them, eager to get answers.

"Orthis, where is Kihwek? And what about the Bojack bear?"

The mention of the bear earned her a few unwanted glances.

"Well, Kihwek is still in the cell and the bear . . . what about the bear?"

"The king said he would help my friends."

Orthis leaned down, his eyes wide in an irritated kind of way.

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"Well you didn't say anything about the bear-thing being your friend, did you? And Kihwek? The counsel is all too happy to keep him in that cell."

"Wait, why? What has he done?"

She worried maybe someone had told the king about his magic, but something about Orthis's expression and posture told her otherwise. He opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by an explosion of surprised gasps and murmurs. All eyes fell to the entrance of the room. The midnight centaur - the prince - walked majestically into the room. The crowds around parted way as he walked through the room, making his way over to Gwenn. Orthis and Bobin bowed their heads in respect, finally quiet.

The prince stopped in front of Gwenn and her friends, a crowd had started to form around them already. Even the satyrs respected the prince as much as the centaurs.

"Your highness," Orthis almost tried to bow but it would've looked too weird and awkward so he didn't. The prince nodded to him.

"No need to bow to me, Orthis."

He turned to Gwenn. "I thought I would show you your new quarters."

"You? But you're the prince? Why would you take the time to show me where I'm gonna stay?"

The centaur's face was unreadable.

"It is what I want."

He started to turn around, the crowd already parting for him but Gwenn stopped him.

"Wait," he turned back around - she was afraid she'd offended him somehow but kept talking, "My friend, Kihwek . . . I . . . I wish for him to be released. An-and the Bojack bear also - please."

Everyone held their breath at the bold request. The prince took a moment to think.

"Very well, one young," he nodded to the guards behind him, who hurried off to get her friends. She wanted to melt with gratitude.

"Thank you!"

"Now, come. And your friends that remain here are welcome as well."

Gwenn exchanged excited looks with Thalia and Thomas.

The prince led them through halls and tunnels - Orthis and Bobin trailed behind, too concentrated in their own conversation to listen to the prince and Gwenn.

"Please, call me Panthin. And what is your name, young one?"

Gwenn forced her voice not to wobble as she spoke, but it cracked anyway - just to spite her.

"Gwenn Mordredae."

The prince - Panthin - stopped in surprise, holding up everyone around him. His normally calm and knowing expression was gone, replaced by something between shock and fear.

"What? What is it?"

He blinked a few times, trying to pull himself back to the present.

"Nothing you need to worry about."

"Mhmm."

Fortunately, he was saved from any further explanation by Kihwek, who was being led down the hall with a guard on each side of him. He didn't look too happy about it either. His grumpy face melted away when he caught sight of Gwenn. He trotted/cantered forward, the two guards behind him angry for leaving them in the dust.

"Gwenn! I knew you could do it!"

He looked down at Thomas and Thalia - unaware of the royal centaur in front of him. He held out a hand to Thalia, who happily shook it - a little awestruck - but when he offered it to Thomas, Thomas ignored him, which bothered Gwenn. A lot. Thankfully, Kihwek ignored the insult, smiling as his eyes trailed over to Panthin. His smug expression was gone in an instant.

"Your highness . . ." Gwenn bit back a laugh as he tried to bow to Panthin, who waited for him to finish, wearing a grin the whole time.

"Oh, Kihwek. Please don't. It's not as funny as it used to be, brother."

Brother!?

Gwenn's mouth hung open a little.

"Bro-brother?"

Panthin and Kihwek both looked over to her. She could see the resemblance now in their features. The same thick eyebrows - although Panthin's were a little thinner with age - the same button noses, which Gwenn thought was different than other centaurs - who all had much more Elvin noses - not that it mattered. It was there coloring that made them look so different. Panthin's sleek black horse body and hair were almost opposite from Kihwek's chestnut coat and blonde hair.

"Wait, if you're both brothers, why is Panthin in the counsel and Kihwek thrown in a jail cell like a thief?"

She regretted the words as they were leaving her mouth. A shadow passed over the brothers' faces. Kihwek shifted uncomfortably on his feet - hooves.

"Uh, it doesn't matter."

Panthin cleared his throat. "Anyway, we were just on our way to the Bojack bear, were we not?"

The small group nodded more than was necessary.

They walked a little longer in silence, until Gwenn wandered ahead with Kihwek, while the others talked - Kihwek knew where they were going since he'd grown up in the place. Gwenn tried to lean close and speak quietly.

"So . . . you were gonna tell me how you knew my name?"

"Ah! yes," he glanced behind them, making sure no one was listening, "it's complicated but I can tell you that it was because of magic that I know your name."

"Oh," they walked, listening to the others. "What did I do to the oak tree?"

Kihwek's eyes grew wide.

"That's something you'll see later."

"When?"

"Soon."

She opened her mouth to ask how soon but he cut her off.

"If you're going to ask how soon - don't."

"Fine," more silence as the others' voices bounced off the walls of the small space.

"Kiwi-"

"Don't call me that."

"Why did the leader of the centaur group back at Stonehenge listen to you if . . . you know . . ."

"Because he's the only other person who knows I have magic. He actually taught me a lot, Gwenn."

His words reminded her of Thomas for some reason - the old knight popped into her head. She took a deep breath, shaking the thought away.

Three minutes later, they arrived at the door of the Bojack's cage.