Here is another chapter for you, more to come on my other story as well.

Autumn days fall by as fast as the leaves from the trees. The sun rises and sets as if on fast-forward as if there is some divine hurry to reach the winter. Though the sun is still bright, still brilliant in the sky, it is cooler even on the days that lack cloud. Soon every bough will be only brown and the gay colors they brought us will dim to a fading memory. I call out, "Only a mere few minutes before we arrive home, can you see the palace?"

Gale looks and in his eyes mirth flickers, "Aye, and to think our beloved Princess has not seen her husband in seven months. You think she will be pleased to see you?" we both knew she might curse me, be pleased with my presence or unbothered. The dark crept in as we get closer to home we knew the feast would be going on soon, and I was famished.

When anxiety and fear grab me by the tongue and dry my mouth, I don't panic anymore. I've been there before, I know the feeling, and knowing it makes it less scary - I am all the stronger for my battle scars. So instead of letting it take me down, I tell myself everything will be alright. I remind myself that I am a good person, I do good things, I have a heart full of love because of her and there is world is full of good people out there. Fear can only hold me back, stop me from reaching my dreams. I can't say it never comes again, but each victory gets a little easier. I am done with my internal pep talk as my legion lands all jovial being home once again. I missed the warmth here, the stone walls welcoming as many are happy to once again see us.

I hard clap to the back sent me stumbling, "Dear Commander, good to have you home," Ophir gave me a grimace his eyes telling me much more, she was not going to be giving me a warm welcome.

I get my baring's " I take it my wife is not going to be thrilled with my homecoming," my tone more and more depressed.

A shrug, "That is unseen, I know she has not been pleased with how long you've been gone she worried much more than we knew of. But my little demon can hold a grudge like none other, you just missed her she was heading to our evening supper,"

"Time to face her, the big bad is scared of the innocent Princess," Gale chuckled when we all knew how very dangerous our innocent little Princess was. Together we walk the halls seeing many bow as we hurried to eat, all famished after traveling. Once the massive double doors opened many faces turned up to us, the Queen stood fast walking to me, her daughter my beloved wife her eyes narrowed with emotion. She made no move to stand but her mother was beaming "Welcome home, you're a mess after supper we will have a meeting before you retire to your chambers. Come sit and eat my friend," leading me past her daughter.

I looked down at my wife, her eyes so vivid breaking my fragile heart with longing. I missed her, missed her like I never imagined. I spoke low as Keziah gave me a very angry look, "My wife, you look ill are you not well," her face was thinner and paler.

With a low snarl, it was her guard Keziah who answered, "You are as dumb as a rock, and that is being very rude to a rock. I will kill you where you stand, you're the cause of her illness did you not think of her while out doing Michael knows what. She is also a witch and bonded to the very likes of you, it is painful when separated for long periods you fool," her eyes flashing in her anger, I turned to the Queen who only gave me a very sad head nod alerting me Keziah was not lying.

Only a small sigh escaped my lips as I looked at my beloved. "I in no way meant to hurt her, Keziah. I am home now and will do my best to make it right, even though it pains me. She and I needed this time away, I was in battle and learning a lesson that I now wish would have been learned much sooner. Isle, she was my teacher," now I saw her face change, just enough to give me some hope. I ate with gusto, anything and everything I was so into the moment I never noticed she left supper, another win for her and loss for me, I was not caring just noshing.

But in the Red room, she was at her throne with Keziah glaring at me, her blade was out as she cleaned her nails while her eyes are on my entrance. Shaylee rose, "My mother was tired, I will be conducting this meeting, Commander Gideon. Sit so that we might start and finish with haste," her voice was cold, it even sent a chill around the room that all felt.

I take my seat as does she, I started going into great detail as Kylie scribbled every word as Shaylee watched me her face never changed. Her voice was soft when she spoke, "How is little Isle?" I smiled at her tone.

I was honest, " That girl is something else, daily she reminded me of another little girl. But maybe this little one can grow without the constant pressure to be something more and just be herself. She is full of fire," she smiled at me, it may have been due to how I spoke of Isle.

Gale grinned, "Who did she remind you of?" he commented as Ophir smiled at me. "Yes, dear Commander who?" he offered as I groaned.

"She reminded me of Shaylee when she was growing, the silver hair and eyes that stand out against pale skin. She is trouble walking much like the one who rescued her, Isle has a mouth and the action to back it up. She is brave and willing to work at being the best she can be, she has risen above her parentage and shown many of us lessons we should have learned long ago,"

Keziah was watching her charge, she adored Shaylee since birth and being enamored earned her the privilege of guarding her along with Ophir. Shaylee raised her brow at me, she was questioning my words. "Yes, while that is all well and good, I am happy knowing she is doing so well. I will send a word in the morning for Isle to write to me. Kylie has recorded your account of your time away, I find some faults in your story. I doubt highly all this took seven months, four days, fifteen hours, and forty-five minutes, to accomplish. I will have words with the Queen in the morning, for now, this meeting is finished, all may leave while I have words with my guards and my consul," like that she dismissed us.

I stood along with the rest, I noted all but Keziah, Ophir, Kylie, and to my surprise Gale all remained seated. I hated that the choice to stay was not offered, but I felt her watching me and my body reacted turning to lock eyes with her. "Isle, she said she loves you. Much like I do, Shaylee. No matter how much you loathe me and with good right, I love you more than anything. More than my duty to Lenore, my family, my life, I have wronged you in many ways. I stayed away from home because to see your face knowing what I have done was like daggers to my heart, before you I never had to worry because my heart was closed and cold but with you my world was turned upside down, no matter how long it might take you will see how I have changed," I leave her before she can speak, knowing I was more worried she would brush this off and say nothing dismissing me in the process.

For the first time in so long, I was happy, happy to see her and be home with her. I couldn't sleep after my bath so I lay in the alone alcove just watching the sky when her voice is heard. I stay silent as it grows closer, it is Kylie with her. "Princess, you must eat and rest. Your love is home, no need to worry any longer, he is safe and still rather dim. Come now," Kylie was whispering but now I was close enough to hear her, hear the emotions in her voice.

Shaylee sighed, it even sounded tired. "My powers are off due to him, everything my friend is off because of him. I missed him, and I hate myself for it, hate that I still love him as much if not more than our wedding day. I don't know how to forgive him," if that was all, I would find a way to show her how to.

Kylie yawned, "Just forgive him, never forget, but let the past stay there. Talk to him alone, soon enough you'll be healthy again and able to see into him and judge his actual feelings. But you married him knowing he was hiding something but told yourself it was nothing bad and now we face the truth, but you love him and will never love another. Gale never told him that the stress, pain of betrayal, and hurt had caused you to miscarry, not even the Queen knows, you need to tell him he was going to be a father," my world spun, my head was detached, I heard her every word but everything was in panic mode now. I caused her so much pain never knowing she was with child, our child. I ruin everything I touch; I cause death in my wake.

"Aye, I will. That at the very least he needs and deserves to know, it will be with a heavy heart. If in time I see he has changed than might we work on us until then it best he keeps his distance,"

No other words are said as I move to watch her and Kylie walking to our old room, I will be back with her soon. I don't get a chance to blink before Kylie turned her bright eyes locked on mine, shock and anger are seen. I just nod to her letting her lead my wife to bed. I stay put knowing she was coming back to lay into me, she did too her face was red.

I cut her off, "I was not following you, I happen to be laying on the ledge watching the moon and stars unable to sleep. I didn't want to upset her more by showing my face, was not my intention to listen to your private conversation. My brother was right, I bring death, Halo, Helena, our King, and now my child. Kylie, I have changed,"

Her face was now a normal color, "You better act right when she tells you if she finds out you were eavesdropping she might curse you. Gideon, think about it, she wants to forgive you but doesn't know-how. So give her a damn reason too," her voice blending into the coming ones as she walks away heading to Gale.

My heart was broken at my foolishness. "I'm going too,"

"Talking to yourself is the first sign of madness, my friend," I spun my heart racing seeing the Queen coming, she seemed to glow as she came closer. "You should be in slumber, come, my Queen, we can have tea before you retire," like that I was home for good.