Ansel walked quickly through Abscon towards the manor with Griffa in his arms. The others were close behind him. His felt his magic surrounding Griffa in an anxious circle. She was alive, and Ansel thanked the gods for that. She looked like she had been through the underworld, but she was breathing. When they got into viewing distance of the manor, Griffa stirred a little in Ansel’s arms. He looked down at her to see her looking up at him with half opened eyes.

“Ansel?” she asked quietly.

“Yes, my love, you are safe,” said Ansel. He kissed her on her forehead, and she closed her eyes, burrowing her head back into his chest.

Ansel walked up to the manor door. Talon jogged in front and opened the door for Ansel. He walked in to be greeted by everyone left in the house. Ansel heard Maybell shout Griffa’s name. He was aware that Issa ran to Max and threw her arms around him, but Ansel was only focused on Griffa.

“Maybell, we will need some water right away for baths for both Griffa and Max,” said Talon. “Marcus and I can help you. Someone will need to go find a healer to have them both checked out as well.”

Ansel walked past them all and went up the stairs. He took Griffa to her room and laid her gently on her bed. She shifted a little on the bed, and then lay still. Ansel looked at her as she was lying there. She was almost unrecognizable from the Griffa he remembered. Her hair was tangled down her shoulders. Her body and face were bruised and cut. Her face looked so thin and her cheeks hollow.

Ansel removed the ratty cloak she wore carefully to expose the threadbare, filthy dark red dress she wore underneath. He remembered she was wearing it the last morning they spent together in her tree dwelling. Ansel threw the cloak into the fireplace. He looked at Griffa’s arms and wrist. They were red and angry. Where she had worn the ropes that subdued her magic, the skin was burned. Ansel flipped her hands carefully. One was cut open and still slightly oozed blood.

Ansel took off her boots. He then started to remove her dress when there was a knock at the door. He looked at Griffa laying still and turned to walk to the door. He opened it to find Maybell and Talon. Talon had two large buckets levitating by his side. Ansel let them in.

Talon went to find the bathtub as Maybell walked towards Griffa.

“Gods, Ansel, look at her,” said Maybell quietly.

“I know,” said Ansel. “She is home now. I will take care of her.”

“Why don’t you go downstairs and rest for a moment. I will get her in the bath and let you know when she is clean and dressed,” said Maybell not taking her eyes off of Griffa.

“I will take care of her,” said Ansel forcefully. “I will not leave her. Go check on Max and then wait for Chiron. Send him up here as soon as he comes.”

“But Ansel…” began Maybell. She was cut off by Talon.

“Come on, Maybell, let’s go make sure Max has everything he needs.” He escorted Maybell out of the room.

Ansel turned back to Griffa. He bent down and started taking her dress off when she sat up slightly. She opened her eyes slowly.

“Ansel?” she asked confusingly. “Are you really here?”

Ansel smiled at her. He sat down next to her on the bed. He tried to take her hand, but she snatched it away from him. She moved away from him slightly.

“I’m really here, Griffa. I won’t hurt you.”

“Where are we?” asked Griffa.

“We are in your room in Keene Manor. You are home,” said Ansel.

Griffa looked at Ansel with unfocused eyes. “Where is Max? He is alright?”

“Yes, he’s fine. He is in his room getting cleaned up.”

Griffa tried to get up. “I need to see him now.”

Ansel gently put his hand on her shoulder. “He is fine. He is with Issa and Nora. You will see him soon.”

Griffa looked confused but nodded.

“We need to get you in a bath. I’m going to help you get undressed. I will try not to hurt you,” said Ansel softly.

Griffa nodded. Ansel started taking her dress off. She stared at Ansel as he peeled it off of her, wincing at every little movement. Ansel saw that she still wore his pendant. She sat in her filthy underclothes as Ansel threw her dress on top of the cloak in the fireplace.

“We just need to get the rest of this off of you, and you can take a warm bath. Then you can rest, Griffa,” said Ansel carefully.

She nodded again. Ansel took off the rest of her clothes as she shifted to allow him to take them off of her. She gave a small cry as she laid back down. Ansel tossed her underclothes quickly in the fireplace with the rest. He moved his hand and set them all aflame.

He turned to look at Griffa and he nearly wept.

“Griffa,” he whispered with pain in his voice.

She laid still with her eyes closed. She was shivering, curled up on her side. Her poor battered body was so thin and bruised. She was covered in dirt and dried blood. He knew she had to be in a great deal of pain. He wondered what all that had happened to her to get her in this state.

Ansel walked over to stand next to her. “Griffa, I’m going to take you to the bath. I’ll try to be careful and not hurt you.”

She opened her eyes and looked up at him. Ansel carefully put his arms under her and picked her up. She didn’t struggle. He carefully took her to the bath and placed her in the water. She sat there looking at Ansel, as he kneeled down and started to clean her gently.

“Where are we?” asked Griffa.

“You are home,” answered Ansel washing her arm.

She reached up and touched his face with her wet hand. “Are you sure this is real?” asked Griffa.

“Yes, Griffa, it’s real. You are home and safe,” replied Ansel. She dropped her hand as Ansel continued to wash her.

She sat still, not saying anything, but her eyes followed Ansel. He tried to carefully wash her body over bruises and cuts. She would jump every now and then has he passed over a dark bruise or a fresh cut.

There was a knock at the door. Ansel ignored it at first, but there was another knock, this time louder. He sighed loudly, looking at Griffa. “I have to go see who that is. Will you be alright here by yourself?”

Griffa nodded. “Yes, I’ll be fine. Will you come back?”

“I will be right back. I won’t leave you,” said Ansel.

She looked like she was going to cry, “You’ve said that before. I don’t want you to leave. What if you don’t come back?”

There was another loud knock.

“Griffa, I promise. I won’t leave you. I’ll be right back.”

She stared at him with tears in her eyes.

Ansel hesitated, but he got up and went to the door. He opened it to find Nora and Issa looking at him.

“Max would like to talk to you, Ansel,” said Issa.

“He can wait until later. Tell him to rest. I’ll talk to him in the morning.”

“No, he wants to talk with you now. He won’t calm down until you talk to him,” said Issa.

Ansel looked at her. “I’m sure he can wait.”

“Please Ansel, he won’t do anything until you talk to him. He sounds half mad. Just go see him,” said Issa as tears formed in her eyes.

“We will take care of Griffa until you come back,” said Nora. “We will come get you if you are needed.”

“Fine, I’ll talk to him for a moment, but make sure Griffa knows I will be back soon. Tell her I haven’t left her.” He let Nora and Issa in the room as he left.

Ansel walked down to Max’s room and knocked.

“Come in,” said Max.

Ansel entered the room to find Max sitting on his bed. He was still dressed in the clothes he had on in Aurumist.

“How is Griffa?” asked Max as Ansel sat in a chair near the foot of the bed.

“She’s awake. She seems confused, but she is talking a little. I would like to get back to her, so say whatever it is you need to say to me.”

Max stared at Ansel with a cold look. “Do you remember the battle in the Valley?”

“Of course, I do,” answered Ansel. “I have replayed it in my mind constantly.”

“Do you remember what I kept trying to tell you? I told you we couldn’t leave Griffa. You wouldn’t listen to me.”

‘I didn’t know what you were talking about. I thought you were just worried. I didn’t know who she really was,” said Ansel narrowing his eyes at Max.

“I begged you to go after her. I begged you to keep her close, and you wouldn’t listen. I told you she was in trouble, but you wouldn’t go find her.”

“I know,” said Ansel. “I do. I thought about that every hour while you were in the palace.”

“How long were we in Aurumist?”

“A little over two months,” replied Ansel.

“You left us there for two months? You left Griffa there for two months?” asked Max. He was quiet but there was an edge to his voice.

“Yes,” said Ansel hanging his head. “I’m sorry it was so long. It took some planning.”

“You’re sorry? Do you have any idea what our lives have been like while you were here planning? Can you even guess what Griffa’s been through?”

“Looking at her, I have an idea. I know it wasn’t pleasant.”

“No, it wasn’t,” said Max in a venomous whisper. “I saw her get beaten by Philo regularly. Of course, I didn’t see her for days at a time so there is no telling how many times he hurt her when I wasn’t around. He didn’t even have a reason to do it. He would just toss against the walls for fun.

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“Griffa wouldn’t do what they wanted. She fought back. They gave her different potions to keep her docile. She was constantly violently ill. She would sleep for days at time. I was sometimes scared she wouldn’t wake up. They threatened me daily with her life. They said they would kill her if I didn’t do as they asked. I would do as they asked, and they would still hurt her. I woke up every day thinking they were going to kill her.”

Ansel felt his rage grow. His magic came to the surface of his skin. He knew he wasn’t mad at Max, not really, but he was getting to the point where he couldn’t control himself.

“What is your point, Max?” growled Ansel.

“How could you just leave us there? Griffa gave up on you. She said you weren’t coming. She thought maybe you thought she was dead.”

“I knew she wasn’t dead. I worked every day to find a way to bring both of you back. It was agony knowing you were both in the palace,” said Ansel fiercely.

“All that planning and what you came up with was to come on a late afternoon with four people. One of them without magical ability. If Griffa and I hadn’t escaped ourselves, you never would have found us.”

“We had planned to get you out during the spring festival when the palace would be empty, but we got your note. We had to improvise. I don’t know what you want me to say, Max. Do you want me to apologize? I will. I will beg for your forgiveness if that’s what you want.”

“No, I don’t want you to say you’re sorry, because I don’t want to forgive you. You should go beg to Griffa. She’s the one who spent every day in a cell in a dungeon. She’s the one who was constantly terrified Philo would come see her and knock her around. She’s the one who was forced to swallow strange elixirs every day. Ones that caused her to vomit or have nightmares.

“Not to mention neither of us could use magic. Have you ever been cut off from your magic before, Ansel? It’s a terrible feeling. I can’t imagine how Griffa felt since she has been using magic her whole life.”

“Do you want me to stay and let you berate me all night or can I go?” said Ansel standing up.

“I guess Griffa was right. Things have changed, haven’t they?”

“What are you talking about?” asked Ansel looking down at Max.

“You don’t love her anymore. You’re just her protector now, that’s it isn’t it? You’re not even a very good protector.”

Ansel glared at Max. “I won’t discuss this with you. Get cleaned up, Max. Chiron will be here soon to look you over.”

Ansel turned to walk out of the room.

“I hope she doesn’t forgive you. You don’t deserve her forgiveness,” spat Max.

Ansel opened the door and hung his head. “I probably don’t, but I will ask it all the same.” Ansel left the room and closed the door.

Hel walked out into the hall, and stopped and leaned against the wall. He closed his eyes, trying to slow down his breathing. He was almost shaking with rage. He wasn’t angry with Max. He knew almost everything Max said was true. Ansel was angry at himself. He was angry at Philo Quick and all the powers in Aurumist.

He opened his eyes to see Nora and Issa walking past him. Issa knocked and then went into Max’s room. Nora stopped and looked at Ansel.

“Max is angry, Ansel. He had to take it out on someone. It will take some time, but he will realize he’s not really mad at you.”

“No, he’s right. I didn’t listen to him in the Valley. I should have kept Griffa close to me. I shouldn’t have let her run off looking for Devland. I shouldn’t have let Max and Griffa stay in Aurumist so long.”

“You had reasons. You did what you thought was best. Now, they are home. You can’t change what’s happen. You will just have to deal with what has happened,” said Nora. She walked on to Max’s room.

Ansel pushed himself off the wall and walked to Griffa’s room. He saw that the door was slightly ajar. He opened it to find Griffa in the bed wearing a clean nightgown. She was laying on her side facing away from Ansel. Talon was kneeling down next to her. He was holding her hand and smoothing her damp hair back from her face. Ansel could see he was whispering to her.

Talon looked up and saw Ansel. He bent over and rested his forehead against Griffa’s. He then kissed Griffa’s forehead and pushed himself up. He walked over to Ansel.

“It will take some time, but she will be alright, Ansel. Griffa is strong,” said Talon quietly.

“You care about her, don’t you?” asked Ansel looking at Talon.

“Yes, very much,” said Talon.

“Then take care of her for me while I’m gone. If I don’t come back, keep her with you. Marry her if you can convince her. Don’t let her be alone.”

“Ansel, what are you talking about?”

“I’m going back to Aurumist. I should have killed Philo Quick when I had the chance, but I won’t fail this time.” Ansel turned to go, but Talon grabbed his arm.

“You can’t go back to Aurumist, not now. You can’t leave her,” said Talon quickly and quietly.

Ansel stared at Talon. “Do you know what he did to her? Can you see what condition she is in?”

“Griffa was asking over and over again, where you are. If you go now, you may lose her. We may all lose her. There will be a time for vengeance. When the time is right, I will go with you and we will take down Philo together, but right now you need to stay here and help Griffa heal.”

Ansel nodded and Talon let him go. “I understand how you feel. I really do, right now we just need to get Griffa and Max through this.” Talon walked out of the room.

Ansel walked over slowly and kneeled by Griffa’s side. Her eyes were open, and she smiled at him slightly. Ansel took her hand and stared at her. She gripped his hand and looked back at Ansel with tears swimming in her eyes. Ansel was about to say something when there was a knock on the door, and Chiron entered. Ansel stood up and greeted him.

Chiron looked over Griffa. He looked at her arms. He put some balm on her wrist and bandaged them. He waved his hands over her. He closed some of her cuts. When he was finished, he smiled down at her.

“How do you feel, Gryphon?” asked Chiron.

“I’m not sure,” she answered quietly. “This seems like some strange dream. I’m afraid I’m going to wake up back in my cell in the palace.”

“You’ve been through a lot. It will take some time to work things out. You need to rest for a while, and let others take care of you.”

Griffa nodded. “Are you sure this is real?” she asked.

“Yes, it’s real. You are in Keene Manor in your bed. You need to sleep. I think you will feel better about things in the morning.”

“If I sleep, I might wake up and this will all be a dream,” said Griffa.

“You should take something for your pain, Gryphon. I healed up what I could, but you will be sore for quite a while. I also left something to help you sleep. Why don’t you take them both?” asked Chiron. He took two bottles off of her bedside table and tried to hand them to her.

“No,” she said vehemently. “No, I won’t take them. I can take the pain. I’ll sleep when I’m sure this is real.”

Chiron sighed. “I’ll leave them here, just in case. Try to sleep. I can assure you that you are safe and at home.”

Chiron looked at Ansel as he walked out for the room. Ansel followed him out.

“She has suffered some obvious trauma. Whatever was on her wrist have left her with some nasty burns. They may scar a bit. She is bruised very badly. A few of her ribs were broken, and I have set those to right. All of her physical injuries will heal.

“I am worried about her mental state. You will have to reassure her constantly that she is safe. Don’t be offended if she pulls back from you or anyone else. Give her some time and support. I’ll check on her in a few days. Now can I go see the young man?”

Ansel nodded and showed him where Max’s room was located. He left Chiron at Max’s door and went back to Griffa’s room. She was in bed and laying on her side facing Ansel as he walked in. She followed him with her eyes as he walked to the bed.

“May I lie next to you?” asked Ansel. He didn’t want to scare her.

Griffa nodded. Ansel laid down on the bed and turned towards her. He left space between them. Griffa stared at him.

“Are you sure you don’t want to take anything for your pain or to help you sleep?” asked Ansel.

“No, please don’t make me,” said Griffa. “I was given many different things while I was away. I don’t think I could drink any potions right now.”

“Can I get you anything? You must be hungry or thirsty?”

“Talon brought me some water and some food. I wasn’t very hungry,” replied Griffa. “I just want to lie here and hope this is real. I just want to feel safe.”

Ansel knew he could help her with that. He wasn’t sure how he knew, but he knew he could.

“Griffa, give me your hand,” said Ansel.

She looked at him curiously. She reached her hand out to him. Ansel took her hand and looked at her. He felt his protector magic flow to her. It felt like it was in a hurry to get to her, and it felt pleased. Griffa’s eyes went wide and then she sighed. She closed her eyes and took a breath.

“Thank you,” she said quietly. Ansel watched her as she fell asleep. He hadn’t felt so at peace in a long time. Sometime later still holding her hand, he drifted off as well.

Sometime in the night something woke Ansel up. He wasn’t sure what it was, but his eyes snapped open. He reached for Griffa and realized she wasn’t there. He sat up panicked, worried that it had all been a dream. He worried she was still in Aurumist. Then he saw the potions Chiron had left for her on the table. He noticed her side of the bed had been slept in.

Ansel got up and looked for Griffa in the room, and she wasn’t anywhere. He left the room and walked down the stairs. He went into the dark parlor and it was empty, but he saw a small light in the study. He opened the door and found Griffa sitting at the desk with a large book open. She had lit one candle on the desk. Her eyes were frantic, and her mouth was slightly moving as she read.

“Griffa, what you doing? Come back to bed,” said Ansel looking at her. “You need to rest.”

“I can’t sleep. I have to find something for you.”

“What are you talking about? Whatever this is, can wait. You have been through so much. Come back to bed.”

“No, I have to find a way to break this bond between us,” said Griffa. Ansel walked over to the desk. He picked up the book she was reading and looked at the cover.

“You are reading about protector’s magic? Why?” asked Ansel.

“I have to find a way to release you. I always knew I was burden to you; I just didn’t realize why. You’ve been tied to me my whole life because of my blood line. I have to find a way to deny myself as queen or help you to break your bond as my protector,” said Griffa reaching for the book.

Ansel looked down at her. “That’s ridiculous, Griffa. You have never been a burden to me.” Ansel tucked the book under his arm and walked over next to her. He sat the book on a shelf behind them and kneeled down at her side.

Griffa looked at Ansel. “I want to help you. I want to release you from this pull you have towards me. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry it ended up being me.”

“Why are you apologizing to me? You have done nothing wrong. It is I who can’t apologize enough. I have failed you. I left you in Aurumist for two months while you were tortured. I have failed you in every way.”

“No, don’t talk like that,” said Griffa as tears fell from her eyes. She cast her eyes to the floor. “Don’t talk to me like you’re my protector. I know you are, but don’t talk like that. I don’t think I can stand it. I can’t stand it. Everything we were was just because you were drawn to me because I’m the queen.”

“No, Griffa, that’s not true. I’m not talking to you as your protector. I’m talking to you as the man who loves you. I failed you, my love. I let you be taken, beaten, and poisoned. I asked you to be my wife, and then I failed to keep you safe. I love you, Griffa. Nothing has changed.”

Griffa looked at Ansel. “But things have changed. You are my protector. Protectors can’t love their queens.”

“But I do love you. I am your protector; you are my queen and I love you. It’s not supposed to be possible, but it’s true. Do you love me?” asked Ansel.

“Yes,” said Griffa. “I love you as much as I did before I knew the truth. I may love you more now, but Ansel, we can’t be together. We can never marry.”

“Why?” asked Ansel. He took her hand. “Why can’t we marry?”

“It’s not done. I’ve read the history of protectors. It’s not done.”

“It’s never been done before, but that doesn’t’ mean it can’t be,” said Ansel. “Griffa, what was your favorite book growing up? I remember it, do you?”

“Yes, I do, but it was a fairytale. It’s not real,” said Griffa.

“And we aren’t supposed to love each other, but we do. What happens in your book?”

“The queen and protector fall in love. They run away together in the end,” said Griffa. Tears were falling steadily down her face.

“We can run away, Griffa. We can get far away from Regventus. Tell me you want to go. Tell me, and I will take you to the West Sealand. We will get on a boat and we will sail away from this place.”

“Ansel, you don’t want to run away,” said Griffa.

“I do. I’ve been thinking about this. I have almost lost you twice now. I won’t let it happen again. I choose you over everything else. I won’t lose you to this kingdom. I won’t sacrifice you or our love for duty or for the throne,” said Ansel forcefully.

Griffa smiled sadly at Ansel as tears flowed down her cheeks.

“Please, Griffa, tell me you want to leave. We will go tonight. Please,” said Ansel begging.

“We can’t run away. I am the rightful Queen of Regventus. I know it, I can’t deny it. I have a responsibility to the kingdom and my people. You are my protector. It is who you are. I won’t ask you not to be who you are. I told you once that real love will never ask you to do something that isn’t true,” said Griffa quietly.

Ansel hung his head down. He took deep breaths. He couldn’t lose her. He looked back up at Griffa.

“Then we will find a new way. You have said we can create a new kingdom not based on the past. Let’s not let the past define who we are to each other. I will never stop loving you. If you don’t choose me, I will accept it, but I will always choose you,” said Ansel. He felt tears fall from his eyes.

Ansel reached up and stroked her cheek. Griffa leaned into his hand and closed her eyes. “I choose you too. I want to find a way, but is it possible?”

“Yes,” said Ansel with certainty. “It has to be. I don’t believe the gods would have me love you this much just to take you away from me.”

“The gods won’t stand for evil, but they do reward love,” whispered Griffa.

“Yes, it’s true. No one can tell us we can’t be together,” said Ansel quietly.

“I said I would marry you one day. I promised,” said Griffa. She leaned her forehead against Ansel’s and closed her eyes.

“You did.”

“If you still want me, we will find a way,” said Griffa. She leaned up a bit and opened her eyes. She smiled at Ansel.

Ansel opened his arms, and Griffa slid from the chair down into them. He carefully held her as she rested her chin on his shoulder. After a moment, she leaned back and looked at Ansel. “I do love you. I knew you would come for me. I may have lost hope for just a moment a few times, but I knew you would come when you could.”

“Griffa, I’m so sorry. I will never forgive myself for all you’ve had to go through.”

Griffa shook her head. She leaned forward and kissed Ansel. She leaned back a little. “I will forgive you if you want, but I don’t blame you for anything.”

Ansel kissed her. “You are too good, Griffa. I don’t deserve anything as good as you. I will work every day to make this up to you.” He kissed her again. “Now you need to sleep. Will you come to bed with me?’

“Yes,” Griffa said quietly. Ansel stood up and helped her to her feet. He carefully picked her up in his arms and carried her out of the study, waving his hand slightly to blow out the candle.

“Ansel,” said Griffa quietly as he walked with her up the stairs. “If you wanted to use your protector’s magic again to help me sleep, I wouldn’t mind it.”

Ansel chuckled slightly. “Yes, my queen.”