Ryllae woke the next morning feeling a peace and calm she had never known as she looked over and saw Allanon asleep next to her. She looked at him fully analyzing the situation they had been placed in. She wondered how he could so calmly and rationally expect to father her child, a child to continue his bloodline. Perhaps he wasn't as calm inside as he appeared on the surface.

Ryllae noticed that he had slept fully clothed but she could tell that he was strong. His face was worn from many years of service to the Four Lands but he was still very handsome.

As she looked him over, she noticed his eyes open to meet hers. "How did you sleep?" he asked, his tone serious.

Ryllae smiled in return as she reached over and grazed her hand along his cheek, "Very well, thanks to you. How long do I have to prepare for our mission?" she asked, looking away from his eyes.

Allanon smiled briefly as he reached forward and gently grasped her chin to bring her eyes back up, "It overwhelms me to try and understand how I can have feelings for you though I barely know you," he confessed causing Ryllae to feel some relief that her feelings weren't her own.

"I admit that after getting over my initial reaction yesterday," she explained, "I also feel feelings for you that I do not understand at all and should have no base."

Allanon leaned up on his elbow as he pulled her face to his, placing his lips to hers in a soft, chaste kiss. Ryllae's body radiated heat once more at his intimate touch causing her to pull back, catching her breath.

"Are you alright?" he asked, his face looking concerned as he sat up fully in her bed.

Ryllae nodded, "Yeah, I think I was just surprised and some of that heat from yesterday began again. I should probably get ready now. When shall I meet you at the gates? I will have Catania ready my horse," she said, quickly changing the subject.

Allanon was concerned deeply by her reaction to his touch as he wasn't sure how much time they had for him to complete this part of his mission but he imagined that if she still had reservations, she would resist. He nodded as he stood from her bed, placing his hands together behind his back, "I shall await you. We ride in thirty minutes."

Ryllae nodded as she walked into her closet to quickly change into appropriate traveling gear and pulling her hair up into a bun on the top of her head so that her long curls would not stray into her eyes. She put on a riding corset with tight pants and a cape to protect her shoulders. Lastly, she packed small knives in any area her outfit would hold.

Once she was ready, she marched down to the city border where Allanon and her Grandfather waited.

"My dear Ryllae," the King began, "Please be safe on this journey. The other Chosen will protect the Ellcrys while you are away and hopefully we can locate your sister before something terrible happens," he said as he hugged her and kissed her forehead.

"I will be completely safe as long as Allanon is with me," she replied as she mounted her horse and waved goodbye.

Allanon and Ryllae began riding into the woods out of Arborlon. As they rode through the beautiful lands, Ryllae began to worry, "Will we encounter demons on this journey?"

Allanon looked over to her from his horse and shook his head, "We should not however, I would not completely rule it out as a possibility. Are you afraid?"

Ryllae shook her head, lying, "No, I imagine your magic can protect us and if not then I am very handy with a sword. Do you know who we're looking for and where to find that person?" she asked, changing the subject.

Allanon nodded, "The last heir of the Shannara family is out there and he goes by the name of Will Ohmsford. I do not know his exact location but I am able to channel his powers, though he does not know of their existence, and that will lead us to him."

Ryllae took a deep breath, processing what he said. She'd been raised to believe magic was gone but here Allanon was and he was taking her to another person who also possessed magic. It made no sense but she couldn't really pinpoint anything that had happened in the last twenty-four hours that did.

"Is there some kind of time limit on what we need to accomplish?" she asked after another large gap of silence.

Allanon was surprised by her suddenly bringing up the subject of bringing him an heir, "Why, Princess?"

Ryllae shook her head, "I just don't feel like a hundred percent into it yet and I didn't know if there was a clock ticking that meant I needed to decide sooner rather than later," she replied as they neared the town of Shady Vale where Will was last tracked.

"The only time limit that exists is the one that belongs because of our existence," he replied as they road onto a dirt road that led into the city, "If either of us pass before we are able to complete the necessary act then all hope is lost."

"That's true for you but there must be someone who could take my place if I was to get killed in this coming war," she replied, unsure of her real importance to him.

Allanon stopped his horse and looked at her, his eyes intently staring into hers, "There is no other. Even the woman I loved many, many years ago was not chosen to bear me a child. You are my soul mate and I will give you the time you need to see that," he stated, "Now, wait here while I go find out where Will Ohmsford has gone."

Ryllae processed his words as he rode off into the town, feeling even more unsure of her place in this world. Why her? She took a deep breath and began making a list of pros and cons in her mind while she waited on Allanon to return.