Mi Amor… Théoden scolded. Just try, please.

I sighed heavily. Fine but if my wild magic surges, it's his fault.

Théoden turned to address one of his guards posted out front. "Leonard, what is it?"

"I'm not sure Captain, he just seems pissed."

"Thanks for the warning, Leonard," Théoden responded, holding the door to the castle hall open for me.

I rolled my eyes as we entered. "Princess," Marcel growled. "Where in the hell have you been?" He looked up at Théoden. "Why am I not surprised?"

The room grew thick as both men stared at each other. I could feel two auras pushing against each other. Marcel's felt more dominant, and Théoden's was tinged with fear. The air felt thick with anger as their bodies tensed. And you told me to be calm? I asked him through our bond, stepping in between the two. "If I may speak for myself…" I began, only to be cut off.

“No.” Marcel and Théoden both said.

"Well, I am not giving you two a choice," I said, crossing my arms and glaring at both of them. I could sense Théoden's emotions over my own. He was angry but he was trying to keep himself together while monitoring my own emotions. "I can go for a walk, Marcel," Isaid, trying to steady myself to keep Théoden calm.

Marcel's eyes flickered down to me, then back up to him. "How am I supposed to believe you?" The question was meant for me, but he addressed it to him.

I sighed heavily. "Because if I am to marry you, you need to trust me" Isaid, taking a step towards Marcel and causing Théoden to glance at me. What are you doing? he asked through our bond.

Do you trust me?

Yes, Maria. I always trust you.

I reached my hand out towards Marcel in a show of faith despite being terrified of the man, hoping that he would trust me, too. Marcel glanced down at my hand, then back up at Théoden. I could feel a bit of heat coming off of him, but I was unsure if it was intended as a threat or if his body was just naturally warm like Théoden's was naturally cold.

Perhaps I should have known it was a spell. A bolt of liquid fire was released from Marcel's body and directed at Théoden. I was caught in the crossfire as I stepped in between them, and Théoden didn't have enough time to react.

I held out my hand as he cast the spell Ember Essence and a liquid fire bolt raced up my arm, engulfing it in flames. I winced in pain as I tried not to scream. I did not want to have more guards come rushing into this scene. Instead of screaming out in pain, I utilized the spell he hit me with to fuel my own attack. I was not going to let him torture me again. Théoden was quick to put out the flames with the spell Extinguish, but I channeled the pain I was feeling in my arm from what little flames were left and I spoke one word: "Brann."

Any remnant of the fire that burned my arm quickly retreated into my skin thanks to a spell called Rebounding Bolt, which I aimed at Marcel. My magic smacked him in the chest, but it did not seem to faze him too much due to his apparent resistance to fire damage.

As it hit him, his eyes flickered down to me with amusement. "So you can fight back?" I flinched at the sound of his voice, but I tried to stand my ground firmly against him. He was not going to win this time. I wouldn't allow it.

At that point, I could sense my body beginning to heal as I gritted my teeth, and the pain continued to spread in my arm. "This is what you wanted, right?" I asked him angrily. I felt my blood boil again as another charge of my wild magic surged and smacked him in the chest with the spell Ember Essence. Again, he seemed unfazed, if not more amused than anything.

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"Cute. The princess learned basic magic."

He was begging for it at this point. I was no fool, but I was pissed. Easy, Mi Amor, Théoden said, urging me to remain calm. But how could I? Please, Mi Amor… he begged me to remain calm. At least at this point, though, I didn't fear him.

"No," I said out loud. It was directed at Théoden, but they both looked at me, one concerned and the other confused. I knew the fire was not harming Marcel as much as I would like, so I switched my energies around. Théoden sensed the shift in my damage type before Marcel did. Maria, he warned me again. Don't.

I refused to listen. My emotions were overcharged as it was and I was done dealing with Marcel today. I was done with this whole situation. "Marcel," Théoden said, clearing his throat, "I'd advise you to step to the side."

"Why should I listen to you?" Marcel growled, crossing his arms as he just stared at me. "She can't harm a fly."

"Marcel, please," Théoden pleaded as he stepped in between Marcel and I. Mi Amor… please, he said through the bond, switching his aura to a soothing one instead of his aura of fear. If you attack him, he may retaliate.

Let him, I responded as I looked around him and stared into Marcel's eyes. Let him attack me and see what happens.

"Marcel! This is an order, step back!" Théoden yelled in Marcel's face as he sensed my power surge.

"Who am I to listen to…" Marcel began to speak, but he must have sensed what Théoden was doing as his eyes widened in shock. "I see…" Marcel said as he finally listened to Théoden and stepped back.

"Why did you do that?" I growled at Théoden.

"Because this is not you… This is not you, Maria." His body, at this point, towered over mine as he blocked any direct path I had at Marcel. "Your body is electrified right now, Maria," he said as he reached out to me, grabbing ahold of my shoulder. I could see his hair rise on his arms as the current flowed from me and into him. I could sense my power was hurting him, but he remained still.

"I can't…" I cried softly. "I can't control it…"

"Breathe, Maria. Focus on me," he whispered as he moved his body closer to mine, allowing the electricity to fully engulf his body. A high level spell flowed from my body, called Electrical Current.

I reached my hand up to his face and rested it there as the charge continually pulsed from me to him. "I'm sorry…" I breathed.

He smiled at me, "I'll be fine Maria. Release it." My eyes widened at his words. I could not harm him. I would not. "You don't have a choice."

I stepped closer to him, filling in any space that was between us. The air around us was electrified. "Then, I'll take some of it too…" I whispered as I stepped on my tiptoes and kissed him. "I'm sorry…" I whispered against his lips as I felt the energy release around us. Pain surged through my body and into his until we couldn't feel it anymore. A shield materialized around us as Theo used his own ability Draconic Shield, blocking most of the damage my spell would have caused. However, I was unaware if the shield was for me or him.

"I'm your shield, remember?" he whispered to me as we watched the tiny bolts of electricity spread across his shield like lightning in the sky.

I smiled at him and whispered, "I'm…"

He cut me off with a gentle kiss. "I know," he breathed against my lips.

As the spell dissipated I stepped back from him and glanced back at Marcel. Shoot, I thought to Théoden as my senses returned to me. I could feel Marcel's hatred seep from him as he approached us once again.

"Didn't I warn you…"

Théoden cut him off, "Not now, Marcel," he said in an authoritative tone. "This was necessary."

"Necessary, how?" Marcel growled.

"She would have harmed you significantly if I allowed her to release that properly," Théoden said. I could sense a bit of pain in his body, but he dared not show it. "You attacked first, after all," Théoden said, reminding him that he attempted to attack him but ended up burning me instead.

"So that kiss was necessary?" Marcel asked, glaring at us.

I cleared my throat to speak, "That was my fault. I got caught up in the moment. I promise you it won't happen again," I managed to say. Thinking back to the choices he had given us, I was afraid once again, not just of Marcel but of losing Théoden, too.

Marcel sighed, "One pass," he said, "This is your one pass." He glanced over at Théoden, "Thank you," he said, taking us both by surprise. "Thank you for saving me."

Théoden nodded, "It is my job," he said, glancing back at me quickly as he could sense the pain in my body. "I need to attend to the princess now."

Marcel nodded and stepped towards me. "Before he tends to your wound…" he said with a bit of a grin, "In order for me to look past this little stunt, I want you to kiss me."