Finn was pacing around the room he and Liza had been led to.

“I don’t know why you are making me talk to that bitch.”

“I am tired of your cowardice. You need to face her.” Liza said coldly as she sat in a chair, her eyes closed.

“I have never run from a fight.”

Liza started to rattle off a list she knew well “That time in Brastt…” Finn grunted. “That time in Deitree…” Fun huffed. “That time in Viarst…”

‘FINE! I run away all the time. All the more reason to slink away now. Nothing good will come from this.”

“I disagree.” Liza could not help but crack a small smile at Finn’s childish behavior. Liza quickly removed that smile returning to her normal neutral expression as she heard the door open.

In walked Queen Melina, followed by Nydia. Melina approached Finn and knelt before him. Finn was taken back and confused why this woman would do such a thing. Liza and Nydia did not seem surprised by Melina’s actions.

“I cannot express my gratitude enough for all you have done. You saved my daughter, you escorted her home, and then you saved me.”

Finn’s confusion had worn off, replaced by his hate for the woman in front of him.

“Fuck off I did not save you. I only did what Anna wanted.”

Melina sighed in relief. “It is good you made your way back to her side.”

“Don’t pretend this was all part of your plan. Just because you see use in me again.”

Melina was not able to maintain her emotions anymore. Her voice cracking as if on the verge of tears. “Do you think I sent you away because I thought you were useless… that I had no need of you?”

“What other reason was there?” Finn growled his response back at Melina

“I did it to save your life.”

“LIES! You are the queen. My life was not in any danger except from you!”

“Findarin…” Melina spoke his name for the first time in many years.

“That is not my name! Remember you took my name from me. It’s just Finn now.”

Melina felt fresh wounds on her soul. She had hurt this boy she loved so much. He should not forgive her, he should hate her, he should curse her very existence.

“You are correct. I have done terrible things to you. Not a day goes by that I do not regret what I did to you that day. I traded your life to hold on to my power. It was foolish of me. I know that now.”

“Good we all agree you are a fool… I only stayed to tell you one thing. Anastasia is under my protection now. I will keep her safe from anyone that tries to hurt her, even you. Do not think I will not be able to kill you if I need to.”

Finn got up and headed for the door leaving the queen on the floor where she was still kneeling. Liza rose and followed Finn to the door silently.

“I have already accepted that you can never forgive me. That is my sin, but please tell me that you have forgiven your father.”

Finn paused at the mention of his father, but only briefly before heading for the exit.

“He was an innocent victim. Why would I need to forgive him.” Finn exited the room and Liza quickly followed closing the door. Leaving no one time to respond.

Finn stormed down the hall followed by Liza. The pair did not make it far before the door was thrown open and Nydia flew down the hall at Finn. Finn turned to face her, but she was moving too fast. Nydia picked Finn up by the neck and slammed him into the wall.

“Coward! You have been throwing a tantrum for the last fifteen years. The world did not work out exactly like you wanted, get over it. My own weakness caused me to give into your childish actions until now, not anymore.”

Finn gripped Nydia’s arm trying to pry it off. The attack had been so unexpected, and Finn’s mind had been so distracted. He was not able to respond with his own strengthening magic in time. Finn looked to Liza who had not moved a muscle to stop the attack. Even now she just glared at Finn, not Nydia taking no action to get her off him.

“I have kept tabs on your actions over the years. You think you are some avenging angel for the weak and abused in this world. You are not. You are a coward and a monster taking his problems out on others. Never facing them.”

The pain evident in Nydia’s eyes Finn stopped struggling. Nydia grip weakened. She let go of Finn’s neck, his feet connected with the floor again. He was rubbing his neck the mark left from Nydia's powerful grip stinging. Nydia’s voice lost a lot of the fire and anger she had at the start.

“I had hoped that meeting up with Princess Anastasia would spark something in you. But I see now that coming back here only fanned the flames more. I have been afraid for a while that you are a lost cause, and I can see that those fears were correct.”

Finn did not respond and turned to walk away but Liza was standing in his way. Finn grunted and moved around her.

“You said you would protect Anastasia from anyone. Who will protect her from you?” Nydia straightens herself out as she shouted at Finn’s retreating back.

Liza closed her eyes and lowered her head slightly to Nydia before turning to follow Finn.

*******

Several hours later Finn approached the door to Anastasia’s room. He stopped briefly before it, then knocked. Charlotte opened the door. She had changed into more sensible clothes then what she had worn in the throne room. It was a simple military style uniform similar to what she was wearing when she first met Fin.

“Thank you for coming, she is waiting.” Charlotte welcomed Finn into the room. The room he was led into was a large living space with several plush chairs and couches circled around a low table. Charlotte went to a connecting door and knocked, then opened it.

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“Anna, Finn is here.”

Anastasia emerged from her bedroom. She was dressed in long flowing silk and had a matching silk wrap draped over her shoulders. Finn averted his eyes.

“Finn, I am glad you came.” Anastasia was wondering where the woman that always followed Finn may be. “Was Liza not able to join you?”

“She said she was tired and wished to rest. I guess the fight today took a lot out of her.”

“That is too bad, but I understand how she feels. I was surprised I did not pass out in the throne room.”

Anastasia went over to one of the couches and sat down. She gestures for Finn to take a seat next to her on the couch.

“Please have a seat.”

Finn approached the couch but moved past it to one of the nearby chairs. Anastasia chuckled at Finn’s inability to do what he was asked.

“Anna, Finn, I will take my leave.” Charlotte bowed her head.

“Come on stay Char. Keep us company.” Finn’s voice sounded pleading.

“Thank you, Charlotte.” Anastasia dismissed Charlotte with a nob.

Charlotte left the room and Anastasia repositioned herself, so she was facing Fin. When she did that the wrap around her revealed her hands. A white cloth could be seen resting on her lap.

“Finn, I have asked you here to see what your plans are. Now that you have finished the mission I hired you for.”

Finn pulled his eyes away from the item in Anastasia’s hands and shrugged. “Who knows. We kind of just wander around looking for work. The capital may have some work for us. If so, we may stick around at least a little while.”

“That is good I was afraid you may leave and not say anything.” Anastasia looked down at the cloth in her hands gripping it for strength.

“Naw Anna I would at least say goodbye. I am not an asshole.” Finn smiled

The pair stayed silent for a while. The air was exceedingly awkward. Finn was not able to put up with it anymore and began to move.

“Well, if that is all you were concerned about, I will go and let you get some more rest.”

“Please wait, Finn…” Anastasia raised her hand as if to grab him to hold him still.

“Was there something else you wanted?” Finn eased himself back against the chair.

Anastasia's stomach was in knots. She knew the question she needed to ask but she was afraid of the answer. What if she was wrong? What if she was right? She had been afraid of what might change once she knew the truth. Gripping the cloth in her hands, her knuckles whitening, she found the courage to ask.

“Are you the boy from my dreams?”

Finn was not able to respond. He knew what she was asking but he was not ready to answer. He thought of a deflection.

“How could I know what you have dreamt of, Anna?”

Anastasia looked down, her face twisted as she fought to maintain her composer. It hurt Finn to see her like this. He wanted nothing more than to hug her close and tell her who he really was. If he revealed who he was, He could not hide anymore. He knew he would never want to leave her side again. If he was able to stay just Finn, he could protect her from a distance and not get too close. If he became Findarin again he knew he would not be able to maintain that distance.

“I know it was a silly question.” Anastasia pulled the cloth to her face burying herself in it.

Finn was not able to say anything. Too afraid his mouth would not obey his brain if he opened it, so he stayed silent.

Anastasia removed her face from the cloth. Her resolve returned to her.

“When was the first time you and I met?”

Finn took a deep breath. “Anna, can the answer be just a few days ago?”

“If that is the truth, yes.”

Finn thought for a moment on how to answer. He would not lie to her, but he was great at this sort of thing. If she did not force the answer, he could work around it. He needed to distract her.

“What is this thing you keep waving around? You seem a little old to carry around a blankie.”

Anastasia looked down at her hands and smiled. “I know it seems silly for a woman my age to still cling to something so childish, but I cannot help it. It is a blanket I have used since I was a baby. It always felt so special to me. I asked my mother about where it came from when I was older, but she said she did not remember.”

Anastasia had been straightening the blanket out on her lap, smoothing it over and displaying the sparrow that was in the corner.

“I always loved this sparrow. I have used this all my life and it retains its fine stitch work after all these years. The person that made this, put so much love and skill into it.” Anastasia ran her hand over the embroidery.

“May I see it?” Finn reached out his hand, trying to prevent it from shaking.

“Oh, sure I guess…” Anastasia offered it to Finn but he recoiled his hand just before he made contact.

“I was not thinking. I will get it dirty.”

“Your hands look perfectly clean. Here… please take a look.” Anastasia offers the blanket again to Fin.

“I will get blood on it.”

Anastasia's face contorted some at his comment. “Were your injuries not healed after the fight?”

“That is not exactly what I mean.” Finn leaned back in his chair. He needed to distance himself from her. His hate would infect her, warp her to be like him. He needed to protect her and that included protecting her from himself. Nydia’s words rang in his mind. It would be hard on her now, but better on her in the long run.

“Do you want to know the man I really am?”

Anastasia recoiled at Finn’s suddenly dark tone. She saw anger in his eyes. The same look that had sacred her in the past.

“Do you want to know exactly what I did to the men that killed Sam’s brother? What I helped Liza do to the men that took her family? Do you want me to give you a list of all the people’s blood that I have stained these hands with?”

Anastasia continued to back away shaking her head. “But... those people… needed to be brought to justice.”

Finn’s voice remained cold. “Do you think that is what I was doing? I cannot offer anyone justice… I can only offer vengeance.”

Anastasia’s head was spinning. Part of her knew that Finn was not always the warm cheerful man he acted. She knew he must have had to do many questionable things in his life. This past week Anastasia had gained more perspective on the cruelty in this word. One could not always get by on ideals alone.

“Justice could not find those monsters, so you did.” Anastasia’s voice trembled

“You are just making an excuse to forgive my actions.” Finn threw his hand in the air in a dismissive manner.

“No, I am not. They deserved what…”

“WHAT! What did they deserve?” Finn waited but Anastasia was unsure how to respond. “See that is why I cannot answer your question.”

Anastasia could not help but be puzzled by Finn’s line of thought “I don’t know what you mean?”

“I enjoyed what I did to those men. Do you understand now? I took pleasure in ending their lives. Now I can see you trying to justify my actions. My actions cannot be justified! They were the actions of a hate fueled man. I will not allow that hate to spread to you.”

Anastasia clutched the blanket she held to her chest begging for it to help her.

Finn shook his head and stood up, his voice now soft and defeated. “It is already happening, I am already tainting you.”

Anastasia could not say anything to Finn’s last comment.

“As I told you. I will always protect you. I will just do it at a distance. In a perfect world you will never see me again.”

Finn walked to the door quickly. He needed to leave before she tried to stop him.

Everything that Finn had said swirled in Anastasia’s mind. She wanted him to answer her question, but he had so far refused and evaded it. She could think of no other option to get him to answer so she cried out in desperation.

“FINN! I must know. Are you the boy from my dreams? Please just answer me.” Anastasia had attempted to stand but her legs could not hold her up. She collapsed to the floor sobbing, gripping her cherished blanket tightly.

Finn had reached the door, his hand on the handle. Finn did not turn. He knew he would not be able to leave if he did.

“I am sorry Anna that boy is dead. Your mother killed him.”

Finn exited the room before Anastasia’s cries robbed him of his strength. Charlotte was standing outside the door in the hall. Her expression is not one of anger, but of disappointment.

“I am sorry. Please take care of Anna.” Finn left down the hall. Anastasia’s wailing clawed at his soul demanding he return.