20 years earlier...

Evora woke up and found herself still holding onto the Prince's hand tightly as though it had been keeping her safe all night. She looked over and saw Septimus was asleep, he looked peaceful but somewhat troubled at the same time.

As Evora gently let go of his hand, it seemed to stir him into waking up. Septimus slowly opened his eyes and looked over to Evora who was staring down at him. She had managed to sit herself up without her head feeling like it might explode.

"Evora? How are you feeling?" He asked as he sat up to meet her gaze.

"Actually not too terrible" she answered

"I'm glad to hear it" he smiled "We will have some breakfast and then be on our way"

After they had eaten and packed up camp, it was time to set off once more.

"How much longer is the ride?" Evora asked the Prince.

"Probably another night" he answered

"My Lord, we could make it back before nightfall?" Questioned his guard. Septimus rolled his eyes "Not with the condition she is in"

Evora felt relieved, she wasn't ready to leave him yet. And she certainly didn't want to go to an orphanage, she would spend the day trying to figure out a plan of what she should do once they reached their destination.

"Evora, you will ride with me" Septimus informed her as offered his hand to her. She took it as he pulled her up onto the horse, sitting in front of him. She felt oddly comfortable as he put his arms around her to reach for the reins. Evora felt a flutter in the pit of her stomach, a new experience for her but a welcomed one. At least it was a distraction from her grief.

The more she saw of Stormhold, she realised what a truly diverse land it was. Evora had only been used to the mountains or Rosemeer but this land had so much more to offer. Although she loved her childhood and her village, the thought of exploring new places gave herself to feel positive about which is why she couldn't let herself be set in one place going forward.

"Prince Septimus, what do you see for your future?" She asked as they rode along.

"Either being King or death" he answered flatly and she instantly regretted asking. How different their lives were, there she was grieving for her siblings and he would soon to be in a fight for his very survival with his own. Evora couldn't comprehend the idea of it, she didn't understand how it was acceptable. Was there no affection between any of them?

"I turn eighteen in a few weeks so I guess time will tell" the Prince added.

"What does being eighteen have to do with it?" She asked, not understanding the significance.

"My brothers all have to wait till their youngest brother turns eighteen to begin the fight for the throne. Some of them have been waiting over a decade already. Apparently its not considered fair to kill younger than that." explained Septimus

"I see" she mumbled but not understanding at all.

"And what do you see for yourself now? A lot of change in a such a short time" Septimus turned the focus away from himself.

Evora turned at looked at him, his face very close to hers as they rid along as she answered "Not in an orphanage"

"Evora..." sighed Septimus "Where else are you meant to go?"

"I'm nearly sixteen, that's too old for the orphanage anyway. I'll only be there a matter of weeks" she pleaded with him.

"When is your birthday?" He questioned.

"Sixteeth November" she answered as she felt him chuckle and reply "How strange, the same as mine"

"Well, now you know how close it is" she replied with an air of stubbornness "So I refuse to be put in one"

"You should lie about your age by a few years, if not they will put you on the streets or some kind of trade" he warned

"What a wonderful system" muttered Evora

"One I will promise to change once I am King" the Prince offered.

"That will be too late for me then" sighed Evora as she went deep in thought. Where could she go to avoid such a fate?

Septimus looked at nearby woodland they were riding towards and ordered "We will set up camp here for tonight"

Evora lowered her eyes, tomorrow another new change was about to happen as she lost hope that there was another option for her future.