I wished I knew where those two was. I missed them.

"All right," I told the servant, smiling to ease their nervousness. "Then I'm at your mercy, I suppose. Lead the way."

An indefinite time later, after being poked, prodded, stuffed into a gown, my hair teased into curls and my face touched with makeup, I went back toward the bedroom, relieved that it was done. This was one of the things I didn't particularly care for; these extremely formal affairs that required me to look the part of a powerful, Armando and Esteban were there to offer guidance when I needed it, and now Gabe was here, as well. And the son of Roberto and Blanca Nunez.

Speaking of which...

He was waiting for me outside our chamber doors, leaning against one of the pillars, arms crossed. Seeing him, I paused to collect myself. Gabe in his black-and-silver uniform cut a striking figure against the white marble column, his cloak draping his shoulders and his sword at his side. It reminded me of our first dance together, my first Elysium, when I'd seen for the first time and was completely lost. Call it fate, destiny or just blatant hardheadedness on both our parts, from that moment on, there was no turning back.

As I approached, he smiled and pushed himself off the column, extending a hand. He had this uncanny ability to see everything about me in a single glance without taking his eyes from my face. I sensed he was doing that now. His expression looked a bit dazed, for just a moment, before he took my hand and kissed the backs of my knuckles, a perfect gentleman even now.

"Well." I sighed, ignoring the butterflies set loose in my stomach. "Here am I, all fancied up and ready to go to Elysium." I glanced down at the metallic red-and-white fabric of my dress, befitting colors for the Avalor Queen, and shook my head. "I hope this gown is heavy enough. Cordoba palace isn't exactly the warmest place in the kingdom."

"You look beautiful," Gabe said, pulling me close. I blushed, and a slightly mischievous look crossed his face. "I'm glad Esteban was able to talk you out of the other clothes."

I swatted his stomach with the back of my hand. He laughed softly, offering an arm, and together we walked through the long hallways of the palace. Gremlins scurried over the walls and ceilings, cackling, and Avalor knights lowered their heads as we passed. All the other servant all bowed as we went by, before continuing their duties. My Avalor Kingdom. It was hard to believe that a few years ago I was in the amulet and Princess Sofia free me from it and we free everyone from Shuriki. Now I was their queen, so much had changed. I had changed, and so had everyone around me.

I snuck a glance at my knight, walking quietly at my side. He seemed truly at ease now, comfortable and content in the palace. Though his gaze constantly swept our surroundings, taking everything in, and he watched everyone I spoke to with searing intensity, ready to spring into action if needed. I'd been worried at first, that he would miss his parents and would have a hard time adjusting to the way of ruling a kingdom soon. But he'd slipped into his role here surprisingly well, almost like it was familiar. Like he'd done it all before.

And, strangely enough, maybe he had. I didn't know what Gabe had gone through on his voyage to the other kingdom. One section in particular, the part where he'd seen a future version of us, he didn't speak of much at all. It wasn't that he was being evasive, but he'd explained that he didn't want to color our future with what-ifs and things that might never happen.

Truthfully, I wasn't worried. I knew he would tell me everything, down to the last detail, if I really wanted him to. But Gabe was here, in the palace with was all that really mattered.

"You're staring at me again," Gabe murmured without turning his head, though one corner of his lips quirked up. His brown eyes danced mischievously. "Is it the uniform? Perhaps I should remove it if it's so distracting."

"Behave, Gabe." I wrinkled my nose at him, smiling. "And don't think I don't know what you're doing. Your little ploy to get out of Elysium isn't going to—"

I gasped as, without warning, my stomach turned over and a bout of dizziness made the walls spin. I tried to say something to Gabe, to ease the alarm and worry on his face, but the ground beneath my feet tilted, and the floor rushed up at me.

"Elena!"

Groaning, I opened my eyes.

I lay on my back on the cold floor, the walls still swaying slightly, the last of the dizziness fading. Gabe knelt beside me, his arms under my shoulders, gently easing me down. He'd caught me, of course, and was now watching me with a pale, alarmed expression. The hand suddenly gripping my own was painfully tight.

"Elena."

"I'm...all right, Gabe." Wincing, I sat up, breathing deep as the world went normal again. "I just...fainted, I guess." Well, that was humiliating. Here I was, the Queen of Avalor, passing out in my own hall. Good thing we weren't at Cordoba yet; showing weakness like that in front of everyone was asking for trouble.

"Are you sick? What happened?" Gabe took my elbow and gently helped me stand, eyes bright as he stared at me, appraising. "Should I call for a healer?"

"No. I'm fine." I put a hand on his arm, squeezing once. "It's nothing. I guess I've been working too hard lately. I feel perfectly all right now, promise."

"Maybe we shouldn't go to Elysium," Gabe said, sounding unconvinced of my all-rightness. "Have Esteban send Armando and Rico our apologies. If something is wrong—"

"No." I faced him, my voice firm. "I'm the Queen of Avalor, and this is something I cannot miss. It's not negotiable. I have to go."

"Elena..."

"If I don't show up, it will make this kingdom look weak, and we can't afford that. You know what the kingdom of Cordoba will think, Gabe. You, of all people, know what he's like."

Gabe nodded once. "I know," he murmured darkly.

"I won't put my people in danger." Turning from him, I gazed down the hall, watching the servants and the knights and everyone. "I can't fail them, Gabe," I said. "I won't. I won't have the other courts thinking that the Queen of Avalor isn't strong enough to come to Elysium, to protect her own people."

"No one will ever think that." Gabe stepped up behind me, his strong hands on my shoulders. "But you're going to Cordoba no matter what I say, aren't you?" He sounded resigned, and I didn't have to answer. Sighing, he lowered his head, his lips brushing my ear. "I've never been able to stop you, my queen," he murmured, "but I do want you to know that I might be a little overprotective tonight. These are your people, so that makes them mine as well, but my first and only duty is to you. Always."

"Majesty!"

Aramado strode toward us before I could answer. Neon lightning snapped in his hair,as he bowed. "The carriages are here," Aramado said with a nod to Gabe, who inclined his head in return. "We are ready to depart to Cordoba with your approval."

"Then let's go. We shouldn't keep King Alonso waiting." Before either of them could reply, I strode forward with my head up and my back straight as Esteban had instructed. The walk of a queen, regal and confident. After a moment, Gabe fell into step beside me. I could sense he wanted to say something, argue with me, but he kept silent and didn't bring it up again during the long, cold ride to Cordoba.

To put it mildly, the Kingdom of Cordoba was not my favorite place to was,as I remembered it,the worst few years of my life. King Alonso and his father constantly tormented me either wanted to kill own doing, of course. It was part of a deal I'd made with Gabe in exchange for getting my sister home safely.

Then there was Gabe. He had been there as well, but he had turned cold and cruel, abandoning me to the mercy of King so I'd thought at the time. The Kingdom of Cordoba is brutal and unmerciful, viewing emotion as a weakness that must be had been keeping me safe the only way he knew how: by playing the part of a heartless Knight. He'd played it well; he'd hinted to me about how he would have to treat me when we got there, and I'd still believed his act wholeheartedly. I'd thought he had turned on me, used me, and my heart had broken into little pieces. I didn't realize until later how much Gabe had sacrificed to keep me safe.

God, I was so naive, I thought, watching crystalline stalactites roll by the carriage windows. King Alonso palace resided in an enormous icy cavern, the ceiling so high you couldn't see it through the darkness. I'm lucky I didn't get killed the very first day I was there. If I could go back to that moment and talk to myself, I'd probably smack me. Thinking of that shy, uncertain girl now made me sigh. You can't afford to wear your heart on your sleeve anymore, Elena. Not in the Cordoba. You're the Queen of Avalor now. You have a whole kingdom counting on you to be strong.

The palace came into view through the carriage windows, a pristine, glacial blue castle with ice hanging off every tower, coating every step, as beautiful as it was deadly.

I looked at Gabe, who was gazing toward the palace, his eyes distant and his face blank. Remembering, just like me. I felt a twinge of sadness, empathy and guilt. This had to be hard for him.

"Hey." I touched the back of his palm, where a gold band entwined with silver vines and leaves circled his third finger, a twin of my own. He turned almost guiltily, and I smiled at him. "You all right?"

"Yes." He nodded. "I'm fine. Just..." He nodded out the window, to the frozen spires looming above the rooftops, and shrugged. "Memories."

"Are you still guilty about what you did?"

"For the squabbles and backstabbing and constantly having to watch what I said or did? Hardly." He snorted, and I smiled, relieved to hear it.