Smilla woke up next day wrapped in Roman cloak. She opened her eyes and saw him sitting by the river washing his face. He turned his head and smiled at her. He got up, walked to his horse and got some water and bread from one of the saddle bags.

"Here. You gotta get your strength up so you can continue," he said.
"Thank you," she said.

He sat down next to her and split the humble meal with her.

"This is something I've always admired in you. You've never used your status for anything. You don't act like you're better than others. Bread and water is not a problem for you," he said.
"If it's good enough for you, it's good enough for me," she said. "Truth be told, I never liked that I was born with a crown. I've always been more happy outside of the castle than inside it."
"Don't I know it," he smirked.

A squirrel ran down a tree and stopped to look at them. She threw a small piece of bread to it.

"What is it trying to tell us? Good or bad news?" He asked.
"It's just a hungry squirrel," she said. "Not everything has to mean anything. But if I have to say something, that squirrel likes us. Otherwise it wouldn't have gotten this close."
"It likes you. All animals like you. You're like an animal whisperer," he said.
"Now that's a title I can be proud of," she said.

She grinned at him and he grinned back. He leaned in and kissed her. How he had missed those soft lips. In that moment he knew he could never let any other man kiss those lips.

"I have to go back," he said.
"No, you promised," she said.

She tensed up and was about to move away from him. He quickly grabbed her hands.

"Not you," he said. "I have to go back. Alone."
"They're gonna kill you if they find out you let me go," she said.
"I got a plan. And a plan B if plan A fails. You gotta trust me," he said.
"I've always trusted you," she said.

He stood back up and helped her up as well.

"Get on your horse and follow the river until you reach this beautiful place surrounded by raspberry and blackberry bushes. It's many hours away but it will show up eventually. Search for a hidden path behind those bushes. You can't see it from the river but if you look, you will find it. Follow that path until you reach a small society. Outcasts chased out by your father. People he thinks are dead. They found their way to each other. It's a small society but you will be welcome there," he said.

He picked up her knife from the ground and sliced his palm open.

"What are you doing?" She asked.

He yanked her sleeve down so her shoulder was bare. He started drawing a symbol on her shoulder that looked like two R's back to back with a line down between them.

"Ask for Seth Rollins. Show him this mark. He'll know I sent you," he said.

He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close for a kiss.

"You're gonna come back to me, right?" She asked.
"I can't make that promise," he sighed. "I will do everything in my power to do so but I can't promise you it will happen no matter how much I want to."
"No, you have to come back to me, Roman. You have to. I can't lose you twice," she said.

He released her from his arms and got up on his horse. There was so many words he wanted to say but none of them would leave his mouth.

"Roman!" She raised her voice. "Promise you'll come back to me!"
"I love you, Smilla," he said. "No matter what happens, always remember that I love you."
"Roman!" She yelled.

He took off on his horse before she could say anything else. Tears were running down his face as he rode away. Getting back to the castle went a little faster when he didn't have to stop and look for clues constantly. It still took most of the day to get there though. Hunter, Corbin and Dolph came walking outside when Roman came riding in. Hunter crossed his arms and sneered.

"You know better than to come back here without my daughter," Hunter said.

Roman jumped down from his horse and found Smilla's cloak. He walked over and handed it to Hunter.

"A token to prove I found her. She has my cloak as a trade. She's close and I can go drag her back with force if that's what you wish for me to do, but she sent me to talk to you," Roman eyed Dolph. "Alone, Hunter."
"Alright," Hunter nodded. "Follow me."

Roman followed Hunter into the room where Hunter planned all his battles. Roman closed the door behind them and stepped up to Hunter.

"Speak!" Hunter demanded. "She better has sent you here with one hell of an offer. What does she want? Money? Lana? She can have Lana. She can have all the maids for all I care."
"She doesn't want Dolph," Roman said.
"That is not up for discussion!" Hunter snarled.
"Don't be angry with me," Roman said. "I'm here to ask for her freedom."
"That's the only thing she'll never have. Now go out there and bring her back. I don't care if you have to drag her here by her hair. If she's not here by sunset, I will have your head instead," Hunter said.
"I guess asking for her hand in marriage won't do me any good either," Roman said dryly.
"What?" Hunter asked.

Before Hunter could say or do anything else, Roman plunged Smilla's knife into Hunter's side and twisted it around. He placed his free hand over Hunter's mouth and shushed him while pulling the knife out and stabbing it into Hunter's side again.

"Ssh, don't fight it," Roman said. "Give in, Hunter. It's faster that way. This is for Smilla, by the way. Her life is not yours to dictate. Her body is not yours to give away. And before you die, I want you to know that she gave her body to me willingly. Again and again and again."

Roman pulled the knife back out and let go of Hunter. Hunter dropped to the ground, let out a low whimper and then laid still. Roman poked Hunter with his foot to make sure the king was dead.

"Plan B it is," he sighed. "You should have let her go. I would have let you live."

He walked over to the door, opened it and looked out. No one was there. He closed the door behind him and walked to the bathroom to quickly clean his hands and the knife of blood. He walked back outside where he found Corbin and Dolph.

"King Corbin, your presence is needed with king Hunter. Meanwhile I'll take the prince to bring home the princess," Roman said.
"Everything is good?" Corbin asked.
"Everything is good," Roman nodded. "King Hunter will tell you all about the deal we just made. I will fill in your son on the way. I promise the deal falls to your side."
"It's okay, father. I got this," Dolph said.
"Alright, Dolph," Corbin said.

Corbin walked back inside and left Dolph and Roman outside.

"Go get the carriage ready," Dolph said.

Corbin's men took off towards the stables. That left Roman and Dolph alone.

"Is she wearing pink?" Dolph asked teasingly.
"I don't think I've ever hated a man as much as I hate you," Roman said.

Roman pulled the knife out and attacked Dolph. Apparently Dolph had seen it coming. He managed to sidestep Roman enough for the knife to go into his left arm instead. He groaned in pain while pulling the knife out.

"You're dead!" Dolph snarled.
"It doesn't matter. You'll never have her no matter what," Roman said.
"Show me what you got, you insect!" Dolph yelled.

The two men launched at each other. They both knew it would be a battle to death. Roman could only hope Corbin wouldn't come out to help Dolph. He could take the king and prince down one by one but he wasn't sure he could handle both of them at once. Even if he did die today, at least Smilla would be safe and free. Dolph would never have her.