Emily woke up the next morning with an aching pain in her neck. When did she fall asleep? She sat up and noticed that Trellis wasn't inside the shack, and neither was Evalia. It was a moment of panic that sent her throwing back the blankets and bursting through the door.

Both of them were sitting by a fire in the dim light. A dead deer-like animal was hanging from a nearby tree. Both of them looked up at her when she opened the door, and Evalia had stopped carving the crutches she was making for Trellis.

Emily felt relief but also surprise to see a carcus.

Evalia gave a short breathy laugh. "If you're wondering about the dead deer, I don't sleep very well. Come sit down." The fox woman finished the second crutch and handed it to the elf, and then got up, walking over to where the body was hanging. "I'll be right back," she said as she untied the rope and dragged the whole thing to the back of the house.

Trellis said after a moment of akward silence, "She's quite interesting."

"Ha ha."

"HEY ELF BOY! GET UP AND TEST YOUR CRUTCHES!" Evalia yelled from behind the house.

He groaned and slowly lifted himself up, positioning his crutches and scowling. He took a few steps with no trouble. The next step he took, one crutch get stuck in a hole in the ground, and he fell forward and face-planted. He rolled onto his back and let his nose bleed all over his face.

Emily got up and stood over him. "Are you okay?"

"No."

She went inside and found a cloth, then came back out crouched down beside him. "Is your leg okay?"

"Sure."

"Stop wincing and open your eyes."

He did as he was told and looked up at her. He felt stupid and helpless.

She stood upright and held a hand out to him. He took it and they struggled to get him to stand for a minute or so. When he was standing, he realized how close they were and didn't let go of her hand for fear of falling down again. She gave him the cloth and he held it to his nose with the hand that was free.

"Thank you," he said akwardly.

She replied, "You made Evalia work for nothing."

"Huh?" he asked, confused.

She pointed to the ground where the crutch that had gotten stuck was laying, split into multiple pieces from being crushed by Trellis' weight. He frowned.

The fox woman came running back to where the stonekeepers were, saying, "I heard a big thud! What was - oh crap you broke it!" She ran over to the broken crutch, expressing disappointment. Then she shrugged it off. "Oh, well. Want me to make you a pair out of metal instead?"

He wasn't willing to re-experience this accident with greater conseqences than before. "No, thanks. I think I'll confine myself to sitting."

"Well, okay. Come back inside. You need some new bandages." Then she walked into the shelter.

Trellis and Emily looked at each other, realizing they were still holding hands. A wave of akwardness came over them.

"Do you need help?" she asked.

"I don't want to admit it, but if I don't have help I think I'll break my nose."

"Alright."

She helped him into the house and got him to sit on the cot. Evalia came over and unwrapped the bandages on his leg.

The wound was ugly and stitched up, but there wasn't any swelling. Evalia stated, "I forgot how fast elves can heal. I think I'll be able to take the stitches out soon. I'm gonna go cook that deer and after that, I'll remove them."

He nodded in understanding.

"This is a waste of precious time, Emily," Lezelldium whispered.

She made sure not to show on her face that the stone was speaking with her. In her mind, she answered, "I don't think he's as bad as you say."

"Maybe not now, but later he will be. He can decieve you, Emily. It is better that you do not rely on him or his presence. You may think that he is good, but there will be a moment when you realize he is not, and never was. It will tear you apart and you won't be able to fight his father because you are so distracted. Leave now before it's too late."

"Even if he is bad, I can make him change."

"How, young master?"

"I'll figure it out."

"You're making a mistake."

"I don't think so."

"Do not say I didn't warn you."

The voice disappeared as Evalia came back in. "Okay, time to fix you up. Don't worry, my hands are clean." She pulled up a stool and found a pair of pliers. "Here we go." She started pulling out stitches.

The Elf Prince gritted his teeth and latched onto the edge of the cot.

Emily put a hand on his shoulder and he felt a little better.

Lezelldium invaded his thoughts shortly after the procedure started. "I understand that you care for her."

"What about it?" Trellis replied in his head.

"She is meant for many great things, but perhaps your emotions are dragging her in too deep. Do not make your problems her problems as well. Let her do what she is meant to do, and keep your issues to yourself instead of bringing her in to deal with them. She still has much to learn."

"You were the one who told me to find her."

"Yes, but I did not tell you to fall in love with her."

"I don't understand."

"You must pretend, Trellis. Pretend there is nothing, and she can focus on her true potential."

He was sad at this, but figured Lezelldium was right. He shouldn't hold Emily back. It would ultimately bring the downfall of Alledia if he distracted her. He decided to go back to being like he was before he ran into Emily almost a week ago.

"All done," Evalia told him. He had forgotten she was pulling stitches out of his leg. When he looked down at it, he knew he would have more than just the scar over his left eye.

"Thank you," he mumbled.

Emily's hand was still on his shoulder, and he turned to her. She took it off and he went to pull his armor back on. After he did that, he went outside.

Since he had said nothing when he did that, it gave her the slightest indication that maybe her stone was telling the truth. She noted that she would leave the next morning.