I wasn’t entirely pleased with the idea of having to kiss Marcel. Of officially being his, but Théoden had a point. In order to fully unify the two kingdoms, a kiss between the devil and I must be shared. As Marcel was the King of Summer Crest, and I the heir to the Winterfall throne. As my parents had it set, well my mother more than my father, once I married I’d take the throne. As they did not want their daughter to have to deal with all that pressure alone. Regardless, it was a new day. A day that followed the events of chaos and I was a bit hungry.

Breakfast? I was curious if Théoden was going to eat today or if he was going to go straight to work to clean up what was left from the mess from yesterday.

Bring it to me? I already left this morning. I sighed as I was displeased with him skipping breakfast but this isn’t the only time he has skipped a meal or two recently.

I’ll see what I can conjure up. I responded to him as I had no idea what Roland had fixed for breakfast this morning.

Hopefully bacon, lots of it. Théoden remarked. Théoden always had a love for bacon. Something I never fully understood but always chopped it up for his inner beast.

I’m sure there will be bacon. I felt his hunger seep through the bond as it amplified my own. You didn’t eat yesterday either did you?

I… Yes? I knew Théoden lied. He was always a bad liar, at least to me as I always knew the truth due to the bond.

I shook my head, I’ll bring you a heaping plate of food.

To be fair, it was a busy day yesterday. I think I ate breakfast but that was it. He had a point. With all the fighting and trying to protect the kingdom he had no time to eat.

Alright, fair. I’ll bring you what I can. In your office?

Yes. Finalizing paperwork. I heard a slight groan through the bond. I knew he hated doing paperwork but it came with the job.

I got up out of bed and stretched. Stretching my arms down to my toes as the moonlight danced across my skin as we both woke up in the middle of the night quite often. Elves had that privilege, a longer day, more things to do, and more time to do them.

I slipped on a sundress that was emerald in color and shimmered slightly in the light of the moon. The dress fell just at my knees and to complement the beautiful dress, my black wedge boots, and black belt.

I brushed my hair with my wired brush and left it down for the time being. I slipped my bag of holding through its loop upon my belt and left. I locked my door behind me and headed down the corridor to the marbled stairs.

The castle to me, felt a bit quieter than normal, even at this hour of the night. Or was it. As I rounded the last corner of my hallway, I started to pick up two voices. A male and female voice that was oddly familiar.

“It was about time you did something right.” Crimson’s voice echoed softly in the halls.

“It didn’t go exactly as planned.” Marcel grumbled with a huff. “Théoden stopped the plan sooner than needed. Now Empusa is behind bars.”

“Please, she’ll find her own way out.” Crimson snickered.

“Fair.” Marcel spoke in agreement.

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“Now that I am out, we still have one more thing to do prior to the wedding day.”

I heard Marcel groan, “With rescuing you and what happened with the Council, I don’t know…”

“Don’t know what?” Crimson teased.

“Do I have to say it?” Marcel sounded annoyed.

“Yes you do.” Crimson spoke firmly.

“Fine.” Marcel grumbled, “I don’t know if I will be winning that foolish bet.”

Crimson’s laugh filled the air, “You know the deal.”

“I know…” Marcel grumbled, “I still have time.”

“Please, that prick of a Princess will never touch you.”

I heard an echo from a slap, “Don’t call her that.” Marcel growled. Huh, defending me… but what is this bet?

“Feisty.” Crimson teased, “Perhaps, that feistiness of yours would go well in the bedroom.”

A few steps echoed, “You won’t be able to handle me right now.” Marcel growled.

“Ha, let’s find out.”

Multiple footsteps followed by a door shutting in the other hall. Nope, not going to think about that. I said through the bond as I continued my path down the marbled stairs and into the massive grand hall of my castle.

Don’t wanna think about what? Théoden questioned me.

Nothing. Consider it a nightmare.

I sensed him search my mind briefly, Fuck sake… Wait… she’s already back in the castle? Théoden questioned as I felt a burst of eagerness through the bond as he wanted to arrest her.

Please no. Not while that is going on. I told him.

Fair, I really should have listened to you on that one. I need to release our spy into the castle and have her watch Marcel.

Quinn, our spy we used to see who was leaving notes and threatening to reveal all, was something I could get behind. Knowing that Crimson is free and the fact that she was already back at the castle, having Quinn on hand would put me more at ease. Agreed. I responded as I entered the family kitchen where Roland was knee deep in prepping some bread dough.

“Morning Maria.” Roland spoke as he glanced over at me with a flour stash on his face.

“Morning Roland, what do you got for breakfast?” I felt my stomach, or more Théoden's stomach rumble loudly.

“For you sweets.” Roland said as he grabbed a plate off the counter and handed them to me. “For Theo,” he paused and looked around and looked at me once he realized Théoden never came in.

I shrugged, “Work. I am to bring his breakfast to him.”

“Ah, alright. I’ll wrap his breakfast for you to take to him.” Roland stopped needing his bread dough and pulled out two plates of food. One mainly containing bacon and the other containing eggs and toast. As well as a bottle of fresh milk. “Are you eating with him or in here?” Roland asked as he began to wrap up Théoden's breakfast.

“Need me in here?” I asked Roland as I glanced over at the bread dough.

He thought about it briefly, “I’ll be good. Take care of him as I know he went through a lot yesterday.”

“How much has been already getting around?” I asked him curious to see what the rumor mill had to offer today.

“Crimson is out. At least six or ten people died.” Roland spoke softly. He never looked at me as he spoke. He just wrapped up Théoden's breakfast.

I sighed, “What you heard is true, sadly.”

Roland stopped and turned to me, “You think we will win in the end?”

I smiled at him, “Yes.”

“Even if we didn’t win yesterday?”

“Every loss is just a minor setback.” I told him, “Yesterday has no indication as to how our final battle will commence.”

He nodded, “Already sounding like a proper Queen.” Roland spoke with a smile as he turned back and finished wrapping up Théoden's breakfast.

“Are you able to carry all of this?” Roland asked me as he stacked the two plates and looked at my plate filled with sweets.

“I think I’ll manage.” I told him as I walked over to the counter and stacked my plate on top of Théoden's and balanced them with ease. “Princess training, remember?”

Roland smiled at me as he watched me balance the three plates and glass of milk. “Of course.”

“Thanks for the breakfast Roland.” I said as I cautiously walked out of the kitchen and began my journey towards Théoden's office.