Dwyn's POV

Once inside my room, I looked around for a moment, trying to remember the last time I'd been in there. A tear forced its way out of my right eye and traveled down my cheek as I felt a sudden wave of homesickness. I would have thrown up, but there was nothing in my stomach to throw up.

I limped to my bed, my legs still sore from cold, cramping, and lack of use, and sat down slowly. Looking around, I saw everything as I had left it, thankfully. For a moment, I closed my eyes, trying to clear my head. I thought of my parents, hoping that they approved of what I was doing, though part of me was afraid that they'd turned away the minute I'd left Kosak, the minute I'd mad the decisions that had killed our people.

I heard Caeli moving about in the next room and forced myself to get up, as painful as it was. I needed more sleep, but I didn't have a choice. I silently prayed that they would get better as I made my way over to the large trunk that held all my clothes. I opened it and smiled at all the leggings and tunics that met my eyes.

"Thank God." I said aloud.

I slipped out of my white dress, throwing it into the fireplace for whoever felt like starting a fire next. I took out a pair of brown leggings and a burgundy tunic, then laid them aside and washed up. The water in the basin was brown when I finished. I realized how pale I was when I looked up into the mirror and saw my tired eyes and drawn face. I sighed and slipped in to my tunic and leggings thankful for the long sleeves and pants. I put my boots on as well and pulled my hair up as best I could. I had so much, it always looked like a wispy mess.

At that point, my legs were shaking badly and I had to sit down again for a moment. After some measure breaths, I stood again unsteadily and made my way to the far corner where my weapons sat.

Picking my bow up first, I ran my hands down the carved wood, feeling the familiar ripples in the stream that flowed over every inch of the ashe. I quickly strung it and laid it aside, along with my full quiver. I unsheathed my dagger and found it dull. From the bottom of my trunk, I dug out a sharpening stone and began running it over the blade, which was curved slightly and bordered with a rare blue metal.

Hearing footsteps behind me, I turned to see Caeli enter my room, her sword on her hip and bow and quiver on her shoulder. I went back to sharpening as she sat down on the bed.

"Are you traveling light as well?" She asked.

I nodded, never taking my eyes off of the nearly sharpened dagger in my hands, o0nce thing experience had taught me. "One thing I'll never miss about being a Queen. All this dam luggage."

I put the stone down and held the dagger up to the light for inspection.

"I think it's sharp enough." She said.

"I must test it…" I said. I stood again, still wavering, and looked around. The column I'd aimed my arrow at all those nights ago caught my eyes. Sure that Caeli would have no objection to my hurting Marius' home now, I threw back my arm and hurled the dagger at the wood. It hit dead center and I turned to Caeli, smiling slightly.

"It's sharp enough."

I turned back to my weapons and took Trellicus from its sheathe, finding it sharp and true as always. Happily, I secured the belt around my waist, embracing the familiar and safe insurance of the sword against my left leg.

Finally, I took my empty saddlebag and tied my blue bedroll to it, then put the sharpening stone inside, along with three fresh changes of clothes and my spare arrowheads. I also threw in a few lengths of rope just in case.

Walking over to the column, I jerked the dagger from the wood and placed it in its sheathe, then put it in my boot. I hung the saddlebag over my arm, slung my quiver across my shoulders, and took up my bow in my right hand, then let out a shaky breath.

"All right. They're waiting."

We'd made it halfway to the door before I turned sharply back around. "Wait. Where's Morri?"

Caeli's eyes widened, then she called my cat's name sweetly. We heard a faint mew form under the bed, and Caeli crawled underneath to retrieve a shaking Morri. I took her in my hands, happy to see a bit of home. She purred and rubbed against me, as tiny, spoiled, and helpless as ever. I tucked her into my saddlebag, as I always had, then looked at Caeli.

"Now we can leave."

We emerged back out into the cold after recovering our cloaks form entrance hall. Its heavy midnight blue wool fabric covered my shoulders and hid the sword at my side.

Once outside the gate, we noticed haughty looking carriage with windows and curtains making its way over to join the caravan. I knew it could only be Marius and his family. I looked at Caeli gravely as we stopped to let them pass.

As we stood there, I saw Marius' face in the window. The carriage had almost passed us by when his eyes met mine. I tensed and felt Caeli do the same next to me. The carriage slowed, preparing to merge into the line of villagers. As it did, Marius smiled and nodded his head at us, then winked.

My mouth curled into a sneer and I took a step forward, my hand flying to my sword's hilt. My legs were shaking again, but there was no way I was going to let him see that. My sword had just made the scraping noise of being unsheathed when Caeli grabbed my arm.

"What?!" I hissed at her, jerking away and resheathing my sword as the carriage continued on and Marius disappeared form sight.

She nodded her head to our left, where I saw Arthur approaching, walking swiftly toward where we stood. I recovered my sword with my cloak, trying to regain composure as he neared.

He finally reached us and took a breath to speak. "Are you ready, ladies?"

I looked at Caeli to answer, but she only looked back defiantly. She was forcing me to talk to him.

"Yes." I answered. "We only lack getting our horses, and we'll be ready."

"But…surely you don't intend to ride…" He said.

"Of course we do." I said, walking past him toward the stables, my legs almost giving way.

"But…Dwyn…do you mind if I call you Dwyn?"

I blushed, turned to smile at him, meeting his eyes for only a moment before blushing even more and averting them. "If you'd like."

He cleared his throat, a smiled playing his lips. "You're too weak to ride, you can hardly walk. I won't allow you to travel that way."

I laughed and crossed my arms.

"You underestimate me, Arthur."

"Do I?" He asked.

"Very much so." With that, I turned with Caeli to go to the stables.