I woke up the following day around 1 a.m. I stretched and went to my wardrobe, finding a fashionable pair of tight black pants and a deep blue shirt that hugged my body just right.

No dress today? He asked through our bond.

Nope, I said as I slipped on the pants and shirt over my underclothing. Hair up or down? I asked him as I looked myself over in the mirror.

Down. Always down. I knew he loved my hair down more than up. We will resume magic training tonight. Tomorrow, we will have Quinn join us for more combat training. He watched me run my wired brush through my hair. How full is your ring? he asked, as it had been awhile since I used it last.

I looked it over as most of the crystals glowed brightly—very charged. I heard him sigh through the bond.

I'll have to over-channel my shields then. That lightning storm did a number on me, he admitted.

I knew that hurt you more than you were letting on.

Your healing helped, but… let's put it this way: have you ever felt a thousand stings on your body? he asked, trying to describe how the lightning damage felt against his skin.

No.

Remember the few times you were stung by a bee?

Yes, considering we found I was allergic. I grimaced as I recalled how a bee almost ended me.

Imagine that simple sting, but ten thousand times worse. He spoke as if a bee sting was nothing compared to bolts of lightning jolting across your skin.

That bad?

You have no idea. If you wish, I can let you feel it the next time it is used. Just as he could take things away, he could give things to me through the bond as well .

No. No, I am good. I believe you, I said in a panic as I recalled the look of pain that flashed on his face as the bolts struck him.

He laughed in the bond. You can give pain, but you don't want to feel it? Fair. I'll just put it simply: it hurts like a bitch.

I get it. Breakfast, then communication with King Alaric? I asked him, as I knew it might be too early to contact the King of Aspen just yet. He was a high elf, and I had no idea what his sleep schedule was.

I'll see you in the kitchen.

I finished brushing my hair and went down the stairs for breakfast. Roland already had everything cooking this morning. "No surprise guest today?" he asked as I started helping with what was left that needed to be done.

"As far as I know." Théoden walked in just as we finished plating the food.

"Good, because that was one awkward breakfast." Roland slid our plates to us.

Théoden kissed my lips as he took his seat across from me. "You did not like breakfast with the council?"

"Hell no," Roland said, causing us all to laugh. "Just as long as that does not become an everyday occurrence …" He sat next to Théoden. I was glad he seemed normal. He wasn't treating Theo any differently than he had been.

"I don't think you’ll have to worry too much about that," I said. "Well, at least I hope."

"Hopefully, you’ve scared them enough for them to stay away," Roland said.

After we finished breakfast, Théoden started his morning rounds, leaving me to help with cleanup in the kitchen. By the time that was done, it was almost three in the morning. I sighed, took a plate of cookies from the fridge, and headed to our communication center.

There were three orbs placed in a triangular pattern: one for Aspen, one for Emerald Cove, and one for Summer Crest. All orbs swirled in colors that correlated to the kingdom they belonged to.

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Aspens were of fall yellows, oranges, browns, and reds, with streaks of white running through them representing birch trees that filled parts of the kingdom's forest.

Emerald Cove's communication orb swirled with vibrant greens, yellows, pinks, purples, and colors typically associated with spring. The Cove's orb also contained streaks of different shades of blue swirling amongst the colors to show some of the many springs scattered throughout the kingdom.

As for Summer Crest, the orb was filled with vibrant summer colors: oranges, yellows, sky blue, and lively white. The orbs’ vibrancy was influenced by their leaders, though, and with Marcel as king the orb was rather dull.

Do you want to go over anything before you speak with him?

I think I’ve got it.

Just remember the key points. Start with the attack and work from there.

Is there anything I shouldn't say?

He knows a lot more than you think. Remember, he is the King of Truth for a reason. Nothing gets past him.

Fair. Alright, I’ve got this.

Good luck.

Thanks.

In this room, there were also three stones for communication, one for each kingdom. Typically, when communicating with each other, one would use the stone first, then move to the orb, so that's what I did. I picked up the stone for Aspen, which swirled with the same coloration as the communication orb, and spoke a simple message to my old friend.

"Alaric, I wish to speak with you if you are available. It is urgent." I said, and waited for a response.

A few minutes passed, and I heard a familiar yawn come through the stone. "Maria, you’re lucky I’m just waking up. Give me five minutes to get dressed, and I'll start the call when I’m ready," he said in a husky tone.

I sat in the chair in the middle of the communications triangle and waited for Alaric to appear in the orb. It allowed us to see and hear each other, almost as if we were having a face-to-face conversation.

"There you are," I said as his orb lit up and he appeared. He was well dressed, as always, wearing a suit with a few buttons undone on his undershirt. His hair was a reddish brown that never laid flat, and his eyes were chocolate brown. His skin was tanned and tattooed with withering vines all along his body. He was a fairly attractive man, but I was already spoken for.

"Please, Maria, would you rush perfection?" He grinned. “It's nice to see you again, Maria. It's been a while." He pointed out that the last time we saw each other was at my parents' funeral a few years ago, and since then, our communication had been scarce.

"I'm sorry." I said. "It's been chaotic since then."

"I've heard." Alaric said, "And I am sorry. I could have reached out more after your parent's death. I did not know what to say."

"It's okay." I meant it. "We both could have done better on that."

"Agreed. Now, what’s so urgent?" Alaric pulled the attention back to the primary purpose of the conversation.

"Right, that. How much have you heard about the last three weeks?"

"I know you were attacked. I am happy that you are alive and well." I could feel his eyes shift as he used his abilities to see if I was honest with what I was saying. "When I heard of the attack, I worried you wouldn't make it. But then I remembered your guard captain, and the bond you two share." Alaric was one of the few who had figured it out long ago, partly due to his powers and ability to sense things like that. "I knew you would be alright."

I nodded, "He saved me that day. If it weren't for our bond, I would not have made it. Winterfall would have fallen."

"Very true. I heard the attacker was Marcel?" He relaxed back in his chair, crossing his legs.

"That is correct. That is what I want to talk to you about." He motioned for me to continue, so I did. I told him everything from the attack to his proposal and how my magic had awakened due to his attack. Even what we found out about Marcel. "We don't have a solid plan yet. But we do need our allies."

Alaric was hard to read. He may have been the King of Truth, but his abilities made him a damn closed book. "I first want to thank you for telling me everything, Maria. Secondly, I am sorry you are going through all of that." He paused, thinking over everything again. "I will stand by your side in this. It's time Marcel got put in his place and sent back to Hell. Well, maybe not sent back to Hell; we need his soul captured to truly end him." A devil like that could quickly reappear back in Hell, so just killing him wouldn’t be enough.

"I forgot about that."

He smiled a bit. "I see; perhaps it was a good thing we had this call. When is the wedding?"

"First week of fall. Before you ask, you are invited to the wedding."

"You read my mind. I wouldn't want to miss what is guaranteed to be the event of the year." He thought for a moment. "Are you and Théoden still alright?"

"Yes. Well, for the most part. I know it's hard on him to see me with someone else. As it is hard on me to have to be with Marcel."

"Very understandable; I'm impressed with Théoden's will to tolerate such a thing. But I know he loves you deeply. I know he will never leave you, no matter what happens." I could sense a bit of hurt in his words because I knew he loved me once; perhaps he still did.

"Thanks, Alaric. That means a lot." With his powers, I knew he knew that was the truth. "I just hope that one day, Théoden and I will walk down the aisle."

"You will. I know you will," he said confidently. “Is this all you had to discuss?" I could tell the shift in topic was starting to bother him.

"Yes."

"I have to get going as I have to meet with Aspen's Council to go over a few things, this included. Keep in touch with me, Maria. Please, don't be a stranger."

"Definitely," I said. "That goes for you too. Oh, and one more thing I forgot to mention."

"What's that?" He questioned with curiosity

"I will be the Royal Head of Winterfall's Council in two weeks."

He looked a bit shocked, "It's about damn time you join our ranks. I wish you luck with that, as I hear your council has gone rogue." He briefly paused before continuing, "One more thing before I sign off: watch Sybil." His orb faded to its usual color scheme, leaving me in an empty room with the orbs of communication.