In the corridor, Geric felt a tug on his tunic. Turning, he saw a young page gripping the edge of his tunic tightly and skipping to keep up with his pace.

"Yes?" Geric queried with a smile, pausing.

"I know where the princess is," the boy panted.

"You do?"

"Yes, outside the kitchens. At the base of the north chimney."

Geric's heart beat faster, while his legs seemed to turn to lead. "Thank you," he managed to say.

"If you love her, as I suspect you might..."

Only one option...

The page smiled and made to depart, but Geric grabbed hold of the boy's shoulder.

"Just one moment...?"

"Willem," the page proffered.

" – Willem. Would you please go to the grand dining hall? Once the hall is prepared with all the hundred-bands present, return to me and let me know."

"Yes, my lord. Where will I find you?"

"At the base of the north chimney, I guess," Geric answered, attempting not to appear as nervous as he felt. "Outside the kitchens."

The page nodded his head and hurried away.

Geric took a deep breath and rubbed his sweaty palms on his breeches, willing his leaden legs to move. Does Isi even know that I must propose? he wondered.

He found Isi as the boy had said – sitting on the kitchen steps in the shade of the north tower. In a nervous desire for privacy, Geric had avoided the bustling kitchens and approached Isi from the estate grounds. Still a distance away, he saw her recognize him; he watched her blush and cover her face with her fingers. Geric suddenly felt his anxiety leave him and be replaced by a sense of contentment and happiness. Smiling at her, he joined her on the kitchen steps and sat down.

"That was something," he said, sensing the source of her embarrassment and laughing a little. "I've never seen anyone make the king and his entire council feel like utter fools."

"They listened?" she asked, incredulous. She pulled her fingers away from her face, and their eyes met. His heart thumped loudly.

"Oh, yes, thoroughly," he replied. "You, my lady, have just stopped an unnecessary war."

He sighed and looked down. There is so much to account for, he thought. My lies, the letter... "May I beg your pardon?" he asked, his eyes still on the kitchen steps. "I've behaved so badly to you, and I've been aching to explain."

"Is this about the 'I can't love you as a man loves a woman' bit?" Isi asked pointedly.

Geric winced.

"Ah-ha, yes, that's the very line," he said. "I, you see, I noticed that last day in the goose pasture that I'd begun to – feel – something about you that I shouldn't, as I was betrothed and all, and I thought it best if I just stopped seeing you altogether. I was feeling rather terrible for betraying your sentiments, besides having lied to you about who I was. But then when I saw you yesterday, well, maybe you can imagine that I haven't had a steady heartbeat since you walked into the room."

He glanced at Isi.

"I wish I had known somehow who you were and set things right and spared you the horrors of yesterday," said Geric, guilt washing over him. "When I walked in and saw that man holding you with a knife to your throat..."

He closed his eyes, remembering the anger and fear he had felt for Isi's life.

"How's your..."

Geric opened his eyes to see Isi worriedly pointing to his side. Blast, I had almost forgotten that I had been stabbed, Geric thought, surprised. As if to compensate for this lapse, his wound throbbed more painfully than ever.

"Bandaged," Geric responded. "Pulsing with my heart like the wound is a living thing, but certainly healing. Thank you."

"I want to thank you for stepping in to save Talone," said Isi, clasping her hands and smiling. Her eyes softened.

Geric felt his heart clench, but he said calmly, "He seems to be a noble man and a fine soldier."

"Yes, he's been more than good to me," Isi continued with a sad smile. "It was a relief for us to find each other after the massacre and not feel alone."

Geric's heart pounded, as dread and heartbreak crept through him. Steeling himself, he said, "You spoke with fire about him there before my father, and he risked a lot to see you safe." His eyes found Isi's. "Does he care for you?"

"I'm sure of it," Isi answered. "He's been more than good to me."

Truly heartsick now, Geric felt his happiness vanish. I must know, he thought. He furrowed his brows and asked, "Is it possible that Talone might ask your hand, and that you might want to give it?"

"Oh, no, he won't, I mean, I don't," Isi stammered, embarrassed. "He's as dear as a father, and I'm the child he protects, that's all."

"Oh," Geric sighed softly, relief and happiness returning. He realized suddenly that he had been jealous, and he almost grinned at his folly. Only one option, he thought, sobering and staring at the hilt of his sword. You will just have to ask her to – does she still think that she is betrothed to me? That would be nice.

"We've been friends, Isi," Geric began, "and I feel I know you, but I don't want to presume anything anymore. This marriage was arranged without your consent, and if you have any hesitation about me, I will understand."

With some surprise, he felt Isi take his hand. "When Ungolad fought you," Isi said earnestly, "it was horrible, Geric, and I thought, if he won, I wouldn't be able to bear it. I've missed you these months."

Relief coursed through Geric. He heaved a sigh, and, lighthearted, began to laugh. Isi laughed happily with him. Looking down at the hand he held, he turned it palm up and twined his fingers with hers. She leaned her yellow-haired head against his shoulder.

"You were amazing in there," Geric said, smiling at her and trying not to stammer. "You were – I can scarcely believe how lucky I am. Growing up, I tried to imagine what my mysterious betrothed princess would be like, and I'd think, I hope she's clever, and I hope we have things to say to each other, and I wouldn't cry if she was a beauty as well. But I never imagined that I could marry a girl who was all those things and knew Bayern's needs better than I, who would truly be a partner on the throne. What this kingdom sorely misses is a queen, and you are exactly what they, and I, what we all need."

"Am I really?" she asked, surprised but pleased. Her eyes brightened.

"You are everything and more, Isi," he assured her.

"I'd like to be," Isi said with a shy smile.

"Then," said Geric, his heart pounding – certain that this proposal was going all wrong – "will you have me?"

"Yes." She smiled and laughed. "Yes, of course, yes."

Geric grinned broadly – joyfully – hardly daring to believe his good fortune. "I say good," he said. "Good and good. I was afraid I'd lost you forever after I wrote you that note, and when I saw you at wintermoon, well, you know I felt as though I'd had a dart thrown into my heart. I think that Selia could tell, and she didn't like it one bit."

"Nor did I," said Isi. She squeezed his hand.

"So much has happened since we last spoke, what with secret identities and a horde of animal-keepers shouting your name, and what about that, that wind?" asked Geric. He could feel himself lapsing into the rambling conversing he had enjoyed with the goose girl. "You've a story I want to hear, goose girl."

"And you have things to tell me, Sir Guard," Isi rejoined, smiling.

Geric's heart began to pound once more, but he said merrily, "Well then, the first thing I would like to tell you my lady, and I'd better tell it quickly because my heart is likely to break through my rib cage any moment, the first thing is that I love you. And the second thing is that, as much as I honor your former profession, I don't think your geese care much for your betrothed, and I hope they hadn't any plans on sharing our bed."

Before he could worry that he had offended her with his forwardness, Isi surprised him by continuing just as playfully.

"Oh, but think what use they'd be," she said. "They'd encourage snooping maids to stay away from our bedroom, and on particularly busy days we could stick hats on them and let them receive some of our supplicants."

"Ah, yes, excellent point," Geric responded, grinning and relaxing. He was again just a guard, and she was a goose girl. The step they sat on may as well have been the roots of the beech tree in her goose pasture.

With happy enthusiasm, Geric bounded up and, placing his hand on the hilt of his sword, yelled, "I, Geric-Sinath of Gerhard, declare right now that you're beautiful and you're perfect and I'll slay any man who tries to take you from my side. Goose girl, may I kiss you?"

He was startled as Isi stood and pulled his face to hers, kissing him deeply. With an ease that also surprised him, Geric embraced her and put his hands into her long, yellow hair. Its sweet scent and her soft lips pervaded his heart with the sensation of being made anew. All thought escaped him. He felt like a feather caught in a whirlwind.