Author's Note:

Hello, hello. We're finally getting into the good part, so here we go. I decided to take a slightly different route, but enjoy!

Also, the claws are really weird (in reality), so I made them retractable so that Ean wouldn't have to put them on every time he fights something.

-Tangent

Ean was marched through the streets of Shaenlir by the guards at his sides. People watched as they passed, some even waving and cheering. The children ran to see the guards as the clanked by in their metal armor.

The commander, Wart, was an imposing man. He stood well over a foot taller than Ean, who was a decently tall elf. His armor was made of thick, overlapping plates, and Ean wondered how he even managed to move around. People looked at him and scattered out of his way, without him saying even a word.

The girl said the queen was nice, but that's probably a lie based on how people react to the commander of her guard. Ean's mind raced as he tried to contemplate the possible strategy. She can't possibly know who I am or why I'm here. She probably just wants to talk to me. Clearly, she thought enough of me to summon me to the palace. Ean's thoughts trailed off as he marched between two massive towers and into the yard of the palace. The structure was massive, dominating the sky, and was made of icy blue stones and marble. Towers with flags atop them sat high the in the air, while windows covered in frost peeped from the lower levels. Two guards sat outside the main doors to the palace, but Ean noticed a side door near one of the towers. Then the door was open, and he entered the throne room.

The air was cold, as he noticed immediately, biting at his bare skin. He had left the ice amulet in the inn this morning, so he was left vulnerable. The throne room was wide and long, with pillars of ice at certain intervals. The floor was made of a colored stone he didn't recognize, and an ornate jewel chandelier hung in the middle of the ceiling. It was the domain of a rich and powerful person, and he felt quite overwhelmed.

At the end of the room sat an ornate golden throne, and upon it was the Snow Queen. She was a slender lady, with pale blue robes the color of Iya's hair, and a hooded mantle that was trimmed with white fur. She bore a crown of gold upon her head, and her eyes were piercing and cold. The commander approached her and knelt, speaking to her. She nodded, and the man turned and beckoned to Ean. He strode forward nervously, approaching to what he thought would be a safe distance and knelt, one knee touching the ground. He did not look up until he heard the queen speak.

"Rise." He rose to his feet and looked at her. She was silent for a moment, and then:

"What is your name?"

"Ean Okho, your majesty." He responded, knowing she wouldn't know his name. She nodded.

"I hear that you have been quite invaluable in aiding the city, Ean Okho. You've helped several civilians and captured a notorious thief." His eyes widened. She had been watching him? She saw his look and smiled.

"Yes, I have been keeping an eye on you, young one. I do that with most new travelers. But you've proven to be quite an asset. Wouldn't you agree, Wart?" The commander nodded.

"He chased that thief across the icy rooftops, your majesty, and caught him to boot."

"Yes, it was impressive. For that, you have my gratitude."

"Thank you, your majesty." Ean spoke again, not knowing what to say.

"Tell me," she said. "Where do you come from? Thais? Candar?" Ean didn't know any of those places, so he simply responded:

"I'm from the southern lands, your majesty. I used to be a hunter." The Queen absorbed this information.

"But what town are you from, young Ean? You must have been raised somewhere."

"I…" Ean paused, stammering. The Queen seemed to know exactly when he was misleading her, and he cursed internally, thinking quickly.

"I'd say he comes from Ravenwood, near the Shadow Woods, Mother." The voice rang out high and clear in the throne room. Ean turned to see a beautiful woman entering the throne room. She wore a blue ballgown decorated with precious jewels and sashes, and she had a tiara on her brow. She was accompanied by another noblewoman whom Ean did not know. But her hair was what Ean noticed most of all. It was light blue, and fell to her waist in a series of stunning curls. Her ears were pointed at the ends. It took all his effort to stop himself from gasping.

Iya!

"Look at him!" Iya continued in that strange voice. "He has clothes fit for hunting and the like. Isn't that right, traveler?"

"That is correct, milady." He said neutrally.

Thank you, Iya. The Queen smiled now, and it seemed to be genuine.

"This is the princess, Iya Tiki. She has recently become my daughter. Iya, this is Ean Okho. I believe he can be of use."

"Oh? Well, it is good to meet you, Ean Okho." Iya said. Ean scanned her face for any sign of recognition, but there was none. Her voice was higher than it used to be, and it had an almost dreamlike quality to it.

"Well, I suppose I must get down to it. Ean, I'd like you to serve as an assistant to the Princess for your service to the city. It's quite the honor." Ean looked up, shocked. The Queen continued:

"You'd be helping her every day, and maybe possibly sparring with her. You would double as an extra guard as well, since we've seen your skills? What do you say?" Ean paused, thinking quickly.

This could be my only chance to get into the castle. I'd better take it.

"Your majesty, I would like nothing better than to serve you and the princess. I accept your gracious offer." Iya smiled, and the Queen nodded.

"Excellent. I will have Wart give you the details, as well as have your things brought to a room here in the castle. I must go now, as the Ice Ball needs further planning." Everybody bowed to her as she rose from the throne and strode gracefully from the room. Ean let out a quiet sigh of relief.

Wart brought him to his quarters, which consisted of a simple room with a bed and a candle. His belongings were already in the room, and he sighed with relief when he saw his backpack.

"You'll sleep here. Tomorrow, report to the kitchen and see the Head Servant. He'll get you ready to serve the princess." He tossed a bundle of clothes on the bed. "And here's your servant uniform." Without another word, he turned and exited the room, his footsteps echoing through the halls. Ean sat down on his bed with a sigh of relief.

"That was so close." He murmured. Reaching for his pack, he made sure that everything was still inside. Checking the door to make sure it was locked, he pulled out the pink ribbon from the bottom of his pack. It was mostly safe, although it was a bit dirty. He had stuffed it into his pack as he left Elfwood, not knowing if he would need it. He jolted upright as there came a knock at the door. Sliding off his bed, the elf opened the door to see none other than Iya standing there, still in her dress.

"Oh, um, princess!" He said hastily, bowing. She waved it aside and looked at him for a moment. "Can I help you?"

"No, I don't think so." She said quietly. "I just thought you seemed like an interesting person, and since you will be my new servant, I though to get to know you." Ean paused for a moment, reflecting on the cruel irony of the situation. Iya wanted to be his friend, but she had no idea who he really was...

"Well, what would you like to know, milady?" He inquired politely.

"Your name…" She said, her brow furrowed. "It sounds oddly familiar." His heart leapt into his throat as she spoke, his heart pounding quickly. "Have I ever met you?"

"I… I do not think so, princess. Where are you from?" He asked, trying to seem innocently curious.

"I don't know, actually." She admitted with a sad look. "I woke up here a few days ago, and Mother was there. She said I had been hurt badly when she found me, and she healed me with her magic. She says my ears are different than humans, so perhaps I am an elf."

"You were hurt?" asked Ean quietly.

"She said so, so it's probably true. The Queen has adopted me as her own daughter. I'm very lucky. She plans to introduce me at the Ice Ball."

"The Ice Ball? What is that, milady?" Ean spoke, thinking quickly.

"All the rulers of the countries in the world are gathering here for a ball. It is supposed to be a time of peace, and a celebration of magic." She smiled, and Ean's heart clenched. "I'm quite excited. The noblewoman you saw earlier is one from Candar, who is here with the King and Queen of Candar." She stepped away from the door, and Ean looked at her.

"Leaving, princess?"

"Yes, I'm afraid it is getting to be evening, and I must dine with the Queen. Food will be brought to you here, Ean Okho. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow." With a final smile, she strode back down the hallway gracefully, her heels clicking on the tiles. Ean flopped down on his bed and was surprised to feel a tear trickling down his face.

What has she done to you, Iya? Why do you not recognize me? He felt as though all hope was lost, and he tried desperately to think of a way to bring her to her senses.

If I tell her what happened, she might think I'm crazy and tell the queen. At that point, I'm dead. He was interrupted from his thoughts some minutes later when a servant brought him a meal, placing it on the table. He ate in silence and fell asleep soon after, dreaming about a ball where everything was cold and frozen.

He was awoken the next morning by another servant, who tapped him on the shoulder.

"It's time to get to work, new guy." He whispered, and then crept out of the room. Ean made his bed in silence and pulled on his new servant's robes. They were grey and made of a soft material, and they fit him quite well. They also had several silver stripes on them, no doubt signifying who he served. Slipping out into the hallway, he joined the other servants as they entered the kitchen, where a man was giving out instructions. When everybody had scattered to their tasks, he turned to Ean.

"Oh, there you are. You're going to do some cleaning, alright?" He instructed Ean on how to use a mop, and sent him off to mop a section of the castle. Based on the absence of light streaming through the windows, Ean surmised that it was an hour or two before dawn. He mopped the floors quickly and efficiently, earning him a round of praise from the Head Servant. For the rest of the morning, he performed various tasks around the castle, and when he returned from raking the garden, out of breath and slightly cold, the leader of the kitchen decided to take pity on him.

"You've done good work, kid. Go get some food in you, and come back in an hour, alright? The Princess's meal should be ready by then." Ean nodded and set off through the castle, intending to go back to the inn and eat there. He exited through the servant's door and strode through the courtyard, nodding to the guards as he passed.

When he entered the inn, Jared's chin almost hit the floor.

"Kid! You're alive!" He came around the counter and shook Ean's hand. The other patrons looked up from their meals to watch. "And you got yourself a job to boot! But what do the silver stripes mean?"

"I'm serving the princess now." Ean said, and the man gasped.

"But, that's an incredibly high position. The Queen just gave it to you?" Ean nodded, and the man smiled.

"Well, good for you!" The other patrons in the room chorused their assent, and Ean sat down to get a meal. He insisted on paying for it, to the point where he had to ask Milli to take the coins instead of Jared. She thanked him, giving him a smile. He bent over and whispered to her:

"Don't tell anyone, but you should come see the princess. I'm sure she'd love to meet you." Her eyes widened, and she nodded. His mind was beginning to form a plan, but it involved getting Iya's memories back first.

When his break was over, he headed back through the cold air and into the castle, where he reported to the Head Servant.

"Ah, good. Take the princess her meal, and do whatever else she needs for the rest of the day, alright?" Ean nodded and took the tray of food off the kitchen counter. It smelled delicious, and he carried it to the tower where the princess resided. Pausing outside her door, he knocked twice. A maid answered, opening the door slightly.

"The Princess is indecent. Please, wait just a moment." Ean flushed slightly at the thought and leaned against the wall as he waited. After a couple minutes, the door opened again and the maid let him in with a curtsey. Iya's rooms were very large, with ornate decoration everywhere. There was a whole area for sitting and talking, as well as a smaller kitchen. Iya was sitting at a table, and she looked up in delight as he entered.

"Oh, thank you! I'm so hungry. Please, sit down." Ean hesitated, and she raised her eyebrows.

"Is that alright? I mean, you're the princess and…" She cut him off imperiously.

"I may be a princess, but I'm still just a person. I promise you, it's alright." Ean sat reluctantly, smiling on the inside.

At least she still acts somewhat the same. She was always a kind person. The thought was comforting. Iya ate quietly as Ean sat there, looking around the apartments. Between bites, she asked:

"So, what's your story?" Ean paused. There were maids nearby, and he didn't know how much to say.

"I… I'm not sure I should tell you, milady." Her eyebrows went up.

"Oh, and why is that?"

"It might be… offensive to your tastes, princess. There are some bad parts in it." Iya's eyes suddenly filled with compassion, and Ean had to try not to stare at the familiar expression.

"I understand. We can talk about it later, then." He nodded, and she finished her meal, closing the platter and sliding it to one side.

"Well, then, what shall we do? Perhaps you could accompany me around the castle, Ean? You need a proper tour."

"I'd be delighted to." said Ean, rising to his feet. She pulled on her shoes, and they exited the suite, walking in a circle around the whole castle. She pointed out various rooms and the like as they walked, and he made note of them in his head.

"You are an awfully quiet person, Ean. Have I done something to you?" Iya asked suddenly.

"What? Oh… no, princess. I am just preoccupied with my thoughts. I apologize."

"It's quite alright. What are you thinking about?"

"I just… I'm overwhelmed by all of this. I never expected this to happen." The young elf gave him a smile.

"I understand." Ean had to shake himself mentally.

This feels so much like her. Is she really under a spell? They continued walking, and Ean tried to remain quiet for as long as possible. If she was bothered by his solitude, Iya did not mention it. He reached into his pocket and felt the ribbon inside, drawing comfort from it.

"Tell me, Ean," Iya said suddenly. "Do you have a significant other from Ravenwood?" Her face had turned slightly red, and he felt himself blush.

"No, princess. Never have I…" his voice trailed off, and he saw that she was just as embarrassed.

"Sorry, I shouldn't have asked." She said, and he waved her apology off. They had just approached the throne room when Ean rounded a corner and saw the Snow Queen standing with the commander. Immediately, he knelt before her, not wanting to make her angry.

"Hello, Mother. Hello, Commander." Iya said politely.

"Daughter. Have you been practicing your magic?" Ean's head almost snapped up at the word, but he managed to restrain himself.

"Yes. It's not working yet, though." Iya's voice was worried.

"It will appear at the Ice Ball, do not worry." The queen's voice was soothing, and Iya nodded.

"I'll keep trying." The Snow Queen nodded, and strode off down the hall. When they were out of earshot, Ean asked:

"You have magic, princess?" He knew he had struck a nerve because she stiffened before responding:

"I'm supposed to, but it has not manifested yet. Mother says it will do so on the day of the Ice Ball." Ean followed her silently, wondering.

So, she hasn't unlocked the magic the Elder Oak spoke of. I suppose that's good, or the queen would have tried to take it from her already. Does that mean the day of the Ice Ball is my deadline? He had figured out that the celebration was in two days, thanks to a tip from the Head Servant. That's not a lot of time. I need to move quickly.

For the rest of the day, he assisted Iya with a variety of tasks, venturing into town to fetch items and materials for her. She spent an hour in meditation, trying to unlock her magic, but nothing happened. When the evening came, she prepared for dinner and moved to the door, Ean in tow.

"I shall return tomorrow, milady." He bowed to her and turned to go, but she called out after him.

"Ean?" He turned around, surprised.

"Yes?"

"Thank you for assisting me. I just…" she paused, clearly struggling with something. "We get along well, and I'm not sure why. But I do appreciate it." She gave him a slight smile, and he nodded.

"I do my best, princess." He strode off along the corridor, making his way back to the servant's quarters. He had just passed a junction when he heard voices to his left. They sounded familiar, and he paused, listening.

"…told you, Wart, that we need to be ready." He froze in horror. It was the two people he didn't want to run into at that very moment.

"We will be, your majesty. She is deep under your spell."

"As it should be." The voices were getting clearer now, and Ean shrank into the wall even further. "I've been keeping an eye on her with my magic mirror in the library. As long as she does not know the truth, we will succeed." The elf's eyes were wide, and he stepped back in shock.

She is under a spell! And it sounds like this magic mirror is important. The footsteps grew louder, and he knew he had to act quickly. Drawing back down the hallway, he walked loudly towards the corridor. The voice ceased, and he rounded the corner to see the Queen and Wart standing there. He knelt.

"Your majesty." Wart stepped closer to him.

"Where are you going?" His voice was rough, and Ean shivered.

"The Princess is off to dinner, and I'm returning to my quarters for the night." Wart eyed him for a moment, then stepped aside to let him through.

"Be careful, and watch her closely."

"I will. Good evening, your majesty." He strode off as quick as he could without being suspicious, and soon rounded the corner and out of sight. He didn't stop until he was back in his quarters, where he locked the door and leaned against the table, sweating profusely.

That… That was too close.

The next morning was much the same as the previous day, with him cleaning the castle until noon, and then bringing Iya her meal. She let him in personally, and he saw that the room was empty. She was wearing a pink gown that was short and much more impersonal than her ballgown. She saw him looking, and she smiled.

"I have nothing to do today, and the ball is all prepared. I won't even have to greet the guests, since I'm supposed to be a big surprise." Ean thought the dress looked nice on her, and he said as much. She blushed slightly at the compliment and thanked him. The two elves spent awhile chatting and laughing until Iya looked at the clock.

"Oh! I need to go to the library to fetch some books. Care to accompany me?" Seizing the only chance he might have, Ean agreed, and the two set off for the library. When they arrived, Ean saw that the library was locked and guarded by two men.

"The books inside are very precious." Explained Iya as the guards let her and Ean through.

The library was filled with a wide variety of books and scrolls, and Ean looked around in wonder.

"Isn't it nice?" Iya asked, and he nodded. "You can look around for a bit. I just need to find a couple books." The princess added as she disappeared between two shelves. Seeing that she was occupied, Ean explored the library, going through all of the shelves, searching for the mirror the queen had mentioned. He checked the front half of the library when he noticed that there was a small passage leading to another room. He stepped through and saw that there was only a single thing in the room: a circular table. And on it lay a small handheld mirror. It was blue, with a long handle and circular piece of glass. He reached for it, half expecting something to attack him, but it was lying there in the open, waiting to be taken. He took it and looked into it, but he only saw his own scraggly reflection with a hat over its ears. He stuffed it into his robes, out of sight, and quickly rejoined Iya in the main library.

"Ean, where did you- Oh, there you are!" She had just come around a corner, and he prayed she hadn't heard or seen anything. "What were you looking at?"

"Oh, just looking around the library." Ean lied, stuttering slightly. Iya didn't seem to notice anything amiss, and they exited the library, the guards staring at them intently.

"Does the queen use the library too?" asked Ean, trying to get a gauge for how much time he had before she noticed it was missing.

"Oh, on occasion. But she's been really busy, so she won't until after the ball." Ean let out a breath in relief when he heard the words.

Good. Tomorrow, then. A few hours later, Ean had a surprise for Iya.

"Princess, I'd like you to meet somebody." The Head Servant had given permission, so he figured it was alright. Iya sat up as he opened the door.

"Oh, who?"

"This is Milli. She works at the inn." He showed the girl in, who looked positively terrified at the thought of meeting the princess. Her eyes widened as she saw Iya sitting relaxedly in a chair, reading. The princess stood and offered her hand to the girl, who shook it nervously.

"Nice to m-m-meet you, pri-princess."

"Hello, Milli." Iya greeted her. "How are you?" The two women conversed for a while, and Milli became a lot more comfortable in the girl's presence.

Looks like I was right. I think Milli would be willing to help me tomorrow, but I'll have to ask her. Ean made up his mind to tell her when they left.

After the day had passed, Ean rose from his chair.

"I will se you tomorrow, princess. I'll come by before the ball begins to help you get ready, alright?" Iya nodded, and he prayed silently that nothing would happen. "Milli, I'll walk you home." The two exited the palace and strode through the dark streets towards the inn.

"Milli?"

"Yes?"

"I need to speak with you. Urgently." Ean said quietly, and the girl looked at him in alarm.

"I… okay, then." They entered the inn, where Ean nodded to Jared and went up the stairs to Ean's room. He locked the door behind her and sat down on the bed.

"What is it, Ean?" He looked at her.

"Do you trust me, Milli?" She bit her lip, looking nervous.

"I… Yes, I do."

"Don't freak out on me, but…" Ean took his hat off, and his ears were in full view. She jolted back, leaning against the door.

"Your ears! They're-"

"Yes, I know. But I need you to listen." In a quiet voice, Ean told her who he was and what his plan was. When he had finished, she stared at him in shock.

"So she's really your friend? And she's under a spell?"

"I heard the queen herself say it, Milli. I'm going to save her tomorrow, but we need your help. Can you do it?" The girl hesitated, and Ean understood. Her whole world had been turned upside down, and she was trying to flip it.

"I… I…"

"Please, Milli. I need to save Iya." Her name seemed to jolt her out of her daze, and she opened her eyes.

"Strange things have been happening lately, Ean. You are an elf, and our queen has gone mad with power. Things have changed, and I think the best way to help myself is to help you. I'll do it." Ean nodded. "Please, just don't tell anybody."

"I will not. And I'll come back for you, after-" She shushed him.

"No. Iya is the Queen's target, not me. You need to protect her. I will be fine." She hugged him, and he hugged her back. "There might not be time tomorrow, but I'm glad I met you, Ean. Stay safe, and stay strong." Without another word, she rose and left the room.

Ean returned to the castle, but he did not sleep, nor did he want to.