I tossed and turned but just couldn't find the right position. A lingering haze of sleep sat somewhere at the back of my mind but was too far away to reach, floating in the pool of my memories. Icy discomfort blossomed in my chest and made it difficult for me to breathe. Trying to make myself fall into slumber, I took as deep breaths as I could, but many just caught in my throat, like an icy wind had blown down there and managed to freeze the air solid. At that moment, I knew this was going to be a long night.

I move from the warmth of my bed leaving it behind to roam the icy halls for a while, but like magic my bare feet lead me to a section of the dining hall. The grand piano was to the very left of the massive staircase leading to the second floor, I just bustle about lighting candles giving the room a soft rosy glow, placing some on the piano to better see. It has been so long since I have touched the ivory keys. But here I was home as my fingers with care touched the keys and it felt as if it was only an hour since I last played this melody.

I was being very careless playing in the early hours of the morning, my fellow warriors are in slumber and the room is emitting a beautiful echo. But even knowing this I was not hindered my fingers blazed across the keys playing the ballet I once played for the Queen while she was carrying Princess Shaylee in her womb, it was at times the only way our Queen could rest. It was Helena's mother, Heta who gave me lessons from birth it seemed.

All too soon the hairs on my neck rise, not in a danger essence but that of being watched. My head snapped to the side as the marbled bench went sailing behind me, there was no mistaking the Princess with her glowing eyes and pale blonde hair. My eyes on her as she came to her sense's and moves so fast all she leave's is a blurred trail of pale blonde color in her wake. I do not need to chase her but she should not have been spying on me, she flees as I just walk in a haste behind her. This was like a dream the way her hair moved as she ran, the way her pale fingertips trailed over the stone walls. She glanced back only once to see the rage that was clear on my face or in the set of my muscled body as I fumed, she looked fearful before she was safe behind her door knowing full well at this point I would not dare enter.

The day had only broken through the clouds and it had already started in anger and a small chase through the lit halls. I needed to calm myself and relax or the Princess was going to get tossed from a window. My personal chambers are welcomed now, the dark blue trimming to my liking it was small but it was only myself. The running water was music to my ears, adding jasmine, vanilla, and last was honey it filled the small space with a calming presence. I slide down into the water, letting it block out the sounds around me, this was my haven the heat and solitude.

An urgent knock was rattling my door, I moved from the water with haste causing it to spill to the stone floor beneath me. with a towel wrapped around my thick waist did I answer my door, it was Helena and Levi. "The Queen, you need to dress. She was summoned to Dangarnon, they're being overrun," this was not good, Theo was killed there, and it would just drag the old pain back.

"I will be right out," slamming the door in their faces, Helena looked ready to pounce and that was not something I particularly wanted from her. I moved fast, this was an outrage and I should go in her place. By the time I walked from the room Ophir and Keziah are heading to the Princess as Ophir whispered low, "Our Princess will be going in her mother's place, Commander. I am not thrilled with these turns of events," a warning Princess Shaylee was able to convince her mother to let her travel, it was the place her father died an infested region.

I broke as the door slammed behind me, my body blew through the palace with a powerful passion, scattering Gargoyle's as if they were the leaves of fall until I stood glaring at the Queen.

The adrenaline floods my system like it's on a drip - right into my blood at full pelt. I think my heart will explode and my eyes are wide, letting in every ounce of the fading light. My body wants to either run fast for Dangarnon or work to find weaponry, but instead, I stay right where I am. "You may be my Queen, but you're wrong. You send Princess Shaylee there, it is infested and being overrun. I will gladly go and deal with any issue, you know in your heart you are wrong. She needs to grow in spirit and learn but not at that place, send her to a safer location for her first mission," each word was liable to get me banished or killed, but she stood her face growing pale.

She looked close to tears, "I do not disagree, Commander. This is a dangerous mission, but she feels she must prove herself. If anything befalls her it will be on me, do not think I would willingly place her in danger,"

I snarled at her, "But you have, my Queen. You know the danger and you send her, not like she is on her tenth mission this is her first. I know she is capable of negations but not there,"

Harlow chimed in, "We also want to voice our disagreement with this. As a first mission, this is wrong my Queen. But you have made this choice,"

Myself, Luka, Harlow, and the Queen in the mists of an intense conversation, and nearly have the Queen ready to call these insane antics off when the door opens and in walked Princess Shaylee and her guards.

"I am ready to leave mother," my body tense and shaking in now barely controlled rage at this situation.

"Then be off, but be safe. Demons are everywhere, may Michael guide you on this journey my daughter," her words are full of pain, knowing she has not sent her daughter to that location.

"Queen Lenore, her father died there, and you send her!"

Princess Shaylee snapped, "Commander, you have no say in matters like this. I am going, I will attend the meeting and do what is right, you shall try to do what is right as well," she jumped off the tower but Ophir gave me a solid bow of his head in understanding.

I tossed my duties to the side as I glanced back at Queen Lenore, "If anything happens to her, it will be solely on you. Harlow and Luka take the Queen to her two guards, I can't be around this currently, I promised her father I would protect her and you have tossed that right out that window," I left hearing a small sob emitting from the Queen but now was not the time, I cared less.

Gale is the only one to be with me, training and training, each blow made tension wash away. But even now I hold myself back or risk killing my friend, times like this I wish a demon would dare attack this holy palace. Later I wander the halls avoiding the Queens beckons until I was ready to face her, I would not bow and apologize to her she was wrong in this endeavor. The fear thoughts looped around in my mind until there was no room for anything else. The "loop" played like this. 'What if she was hurt?" "Who would I blame?" Why did I have to love her of all of the rest?" The thought loop included plenty of anger at the Queen.

Hours and hours have passed, and nothing was going to fix this worry, it would last until she was safely locked in her chambers. "Gideon now, come," his breath was gone as my body turned in dread. There was a feeling in my gut that said, "no," but another in my heart that said, "yes." I take off heading with him, to the Queen's meeting room.

She was sobbing but it was Ophir and Keziah that mattered. "Why have you come back alone," anger raged at them.

"She sent us back, the palace was under attack they need more forces. Not even we can disobey her," they left her to fight, in no way would that little demon hideaway while others fought.

I barked out, " Levi, grab the best and most skilled and bring them now, we leave in three," I take off even hearing the Queen calling for me. I take my ax and drop from my window taking to the air with more pouring from the windows, Helena was with us. Speed was the key now, the wind was on our side pushing us faster and faster, my wings spread wide as I start to glide downwards.

The battle is large, it made my heart drop right out of my body. I could see her, the pale blonde hair noticeable as she weaved through killing any she could. But she falls near the riverfront, my body making a crater in the earth as I reached out fisting the neck of the demon and tossing her as far as I could. The anger came out in every word I spat. "KILL THEM ALL, LET NONE ESCAPE OUR RAGE,"

Her guard takes to her as she stumbled to her feet taking Keziah's extra blade, she was a fighter till the very end. But she was hurt badly, this had to end and fast as I slashed my ax killing three with a single blow.

I moved fast, no blade or demon touching me before they are pillars of bright flame, going back to hell. I stood with the largest and smelliest demon, their leader once he was gone they would scatter to the woods and leave. I felt dead on my back but see only the flames dancing behind me, behind those was Princess Shaylee, I made quick work of the leader. I muttered, Never put your life before mine, I can't lose—" but I stop using my head for once.

"You're hurt," I didn't want her to hear me as I cradled her small body into mine, she was in no shape to fly home.

The fight was done, the demons retreated with ¾ of their numbers decimated "Fin, make sure they have enough men. I must get our Princess to safety, she wouldn't leave her people, she fought bravely," I called as Ophir and Keziah stood at my sides.

"We leave now, she is not doing well," I whispered to Ophir as we take to the cold sky, only when Keziah snapped at me, "She is shivering," did I notice she was, easily my cloak was wrapped around her and her shaking stopped.

Ophir spoke when the holy palace was in sight, "You were right my friend, but this proves how we can't seek to control her. This girl is paving such a path for herself,"

"I want no harm to come to her, is that so wrong,"

Keziah in such a soft tone spoke for the second time since we started the journey home. 'No, Commander. It is how you go about it that matters," she was right.

I landed but my Princess was still out, her skin too pale as we rushed to the healer. The sight of her still and so pale, it looked like death has come for her. Her body was covered in her blood and it was making these emotions go haywire, worry, anger, love, and hate just fill my every pore.

Queen Lenore rushed in and fell to the floor beside her daughter, sobbing these uncontrolled heartbreaking sobs, her hands clinging to the hand of our Princess. None could hear her words but we knew she was whispering to her as Jabara was healing her. "She will recover, you got her here just in time. Not but five minutes later and we would have lost her, she can rest in her chambers and I will go check on her soon,"

Keziah took the offered clothes and basin of water as her and the Queen washed the Princess, but I would never get the visions of her covered in blood out of my head. I personally walked with Ophir as I carried her to her chambers. "She has not woken yet, when she does, please alert me at once,"

"Of course, Commander," when he and I speak it is low and unheard, her body is nestled on the bed when I exit her chambers. The Queen was bustling to the door to sit by her side after her report from the healer.

She stopped grasping my shoulder, "I am eternity sorry, Gideon. I should never have allowed this, she nearly died but you saved her,"

"No, she saved me in battle," I leave her because if I had not walked away words that could never be taken back would be said, she would be broken but now we can grow and recover from this knowing she is safe in her chambers.

Jin and Harlow arrived back, "We left many there and they have cleared the area, for now, it is safe. But they need more to their clan,"

I lean back, "Bring the Queen," this was not an easy task but a solution had to be found. This meeting would be short but effective to that the Queen could rest.

She listened but her heart was not here right now as she gazed at me, "What is it you think we should do, you command these forces," she was now actually asking me, this was new but welcomed.

I answered, " I think we should send an order to every clan, volunteers to join the new clan and secure it. Let them know what our Princess accomplished there how she nearly died to save it. We need just a few from every clan including ours to join Mikyle at Dangarnon," it was a simple solution to a growing problem. Each clan was strong they could spare few for this and still be strong.

"So be it, issue the declaration now. Report back in seven days," she leaves right after. I sighed my hand running over my face, "So be it," like that we draw up the parchment, better to have this issue taken care of so that it might not happen again.

I signed before leaving to have a small meal having missed the feast.