The instant that Olgakaren announced this, the call burst into chatter.

“An entire cavalry corps? Where did they get this from—”

“Timur, you need to get out of here with Olgakaren—”

“Sis you need to get out with the crown—”

“Quiet!” Antigones and Elizabeth bellowed, silencing the group. The Otherworlder and the orc exchanged a glance, before Elizabeth gestured to Antigones.

“You’re far more experienced than I, sir,” said Elizabeth.

“Thank you. Olgakaren, are you sure that Thorgoth mustered a cavalry corps? That’s about ten thousand Alavari and mounts,” Antigones asked.

“Sorry, I mean, cavalry wing. The new system we’re using is confusing.” Olgakaren accepted Timur pouring a glass of water down her lips, before speaking again. “I saw a camp and mounts enough for a cavalry wing. That’s about five thousand Alavari. They seem mostly to be trolls and centaurs and they’re about four days march from Delbarria.”

“In which direction?” Elizabeth asked.

“Southeast. I think they crossed an unguarded section of the river downstream,” said Olgakaren. “They knew you’d be guarding the parts of the river near Delbarria and so are coming from within Lapanterian territory, using the forest on the south bank as cover.”

Antigones stroked his beard. “They’re in clear violation of the peace conference terms. Alright, you humans need to evacuate Delbarria immediately and mobilize for war.”

Edana, although shaken, nodded firmly. “Agreed, but can we afford to tell the Roranoak delegates?”

“Yes. You tell them and get out of there and then leave whether they follow or not,” said Antigones.

“That might be more difficult than you think,” said Frances slowly.

Timur’s eyes widened. “What do you mean?”

Elizabeth swallowed and her eyes met Frances’s. “Olgakaren, you said they have five thousand cavalry. As per the conference terms, the humans have about a regiment’s worth of guards, so two thousand, but that won’t allow them to stand up against five thousand cavalry.”

“And I bet King Thorgoth will pursue,” Frances breathed out. She knew her mother was not going to like what she was going to say next. “Mom, you’ll need to go with the escapees. We know what you did at Vertingen. With your magic the delegates have a chance. I’ll stay behind and with Ivy, delay Thorgoth for as long as I can.”

“Absolutely out of the question!” Edana hissed. Frances stiffened as her mother grabbed her hand. “You have no chance of getting out.”

Frances didn’t want to do this, but she had no choice. She steeled herself and met her mother’s gaze. “Mom, you know that even if I die, I’ll still live. If you die… what will Igraine and your unborn child say?”

Edana looked as if she wanted to throw up and her grasp on Frances’s hand tightened to the point it was becoming painful.

“Lady Edana, what if I helped Frances escape?” Timur asked.

Frances stared at her boyfriend as her mother frowned. “What do you mean, Timur?”

“I’ll help Frances escape from the duel. I’m not a very strong magician, but I am good at illusions. At the moment she starts losing, I can intervene and interrupt my father. I can then help her escape into Alavaria where we can lay low before returning to human territory,” said Timur.

Frances was about to reply, but Titania beat her to it. “Brother, this is the stupidest idea I’ve heard from you in ages. You’ll be declaring yourself as a rebel! Father already suspects your disloyalty and this will just give him the reason to punish you!”

Timur tore his gaze away from his sister and when he looked at the mirror, Frances trembled at the intensity in his eyes. “I won’t lose you, Frances. Not after… not after we finally have a chance.”

“But what about your kingdom? What if it doesn’t work?” Frances bit back her last and deepest worry. What if she failed and got Timur killed? What if in the battle, she failed to protect him?

The prince managed a wry smile. “Frances, I’m not leaving you to face my father alone. We’re a couple. We’ll face him together.”

Her heart thumping in her chest, Frances wanted to scream at the sky. She was touched. She was glad Timur loved her enough to do this. But she didn’t want this. She just wanted to do what she was supposed to and keep everybody she loved safe. Not put Timur in danger!

Edana sighed, “Timur, I’m… I’d be relieved if you stayed with Frances, but how do you hope to escape Thorgoth?”

“I’ll prepare a boat ready for us to get away. It’ll have medical equipment in it and supplies. I’ll also work with Frances so that we’ll have spells ready to make our escape.” The prince smiled. “I swear on my life I’ll get Frances out safely.”

Edana nodded, much to Frances’s horror. “Then I will charge you to that. If that’s alright with you, Frances?”

She very much wanted to deny Timur, but Frances could see the look in his eyes and tell that he would not take no for an answer. Thus, she sighed and nodded.

“And what if Whitey rejects me, brother?”

Everybody’s attention shifted again, and all eyes were back on Titania, whose fists were clenched tight. Her narrowed eyes forcing her brother to stammer.

Timur shook his head. “He won’t.”

“If he does, and accepts you, you’ll be the next king of Alavaria. If that’s the case, you cannot endanger yourself like this,” Titania hissed.

Ayax coughed to get everybody’s attention. “I hate to say this, but we won’t know for sure until tomorrow when we gets Whitey to you. So… why don’t we just get everything we can ready until then?”

“I think that’s a good idea,” said Antigones. “In the meantime, you need to alert your king and the Lapanterians.”

There were nods all around and the call ended.

But not the discussion.

“Mom, can we talk?” Frances asked, once the call had finished. Her mom turned to her, steepled her fingers and waited with an unreadable expression. “I’m sorry, I know you’re worried about me, but I can’t see any other way out of this. I… I know you love me and I keep putting myself in danger, but I think it’s what I have to do.”

“I don’t think you have to do this, Frances,” said Edana suddenly. As if regretting what she was saying, she closed her eyes. “But you are right. If… if we are to get out of this alive, there isn’t much we can do. You… what you are doing is reasonable, even if I hate it.”

Frances did not expect this. Her mother had been fighting with her on so many of her decisions, to see her just accept this was… odd.

“You… you really think so?”

“Yes. Though…” Edana leaned forward, taking Frances’s hands. “If you truly wanted to, you know you can say no, right?”

Frances froze and she knew her mother could see her hesitation and terror she was biting down. “I can’t, mom. Not when your life, and others are at stake,” she whispered.

“It’s your life, Frances,” said Edana, her worn hands caressing Frances’s cheek. By unspoken agreement, she and her daughter touched their foreheads to one another. “I… I will respect your decisions, but don’t do this because you feel it’s what I or others deserve. Remember what I’ve told you. You deserve to be safe and happy as well.”

Swallowing, Frances nodded. She knew that she deserved to be happy, but how could she be happy with giving her family up to the enemy? No, she would never be happy doing this.

Only, her decision to fight the Demon King wasn’t making her happy either.

The moment the call ended, Timur stood up. He had a lot of preparations to do and he probably should talk to Frances about what they ought to do.

Titania’s hand grabbed his wrist. “Brother, don’t do this,” she pleaded.

He’d never heard his sister make that sound before and that took him aback. “Titania, I can’t let Frances face dad alone.”

He tried to pull his hand out of her grasp, but his sister didn’t let go, “Timur, even if Whitey accepts me, which there’s no way it will, I need you! You…” The princess wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “You’re one of the few Alavari who doesn’t see me as a monster.”

Timur exhaled slowly, trying to bite back his exasperation. “Titania, you calling yourself a monster is not helping you.”

“It’s true—”

“Stop saying that! It doesn’t excuse the mistakes you make, it doesn’t help you and it’s not true!” Timur blinked at how loud his voice had gotten and grimaced at the shock on his sister’s face.

Titania blinked. “But I’m not a nice person.”

“No you aren’t. You assaulted my girlfriend and until recently she was afraid to kiss me!” Ripping his hand out of his sister’s Timur stomped around the table, trying to get his anger in check.

“I’m sorry—” Titania’s eyes widened. “Wait, until recently? Oh! Do you mean—”

Despite his annoyance, the memory of Frances’s kiss made Timur smile. “Yes, but don’t change the topic. You need to stop thinking of yourself as a monster. You wouldn’t be trying to stop me from going ahead if you were.”

Titania blinked, tried to think of a comeback, and gave up. She ended up sighing and shaking her head.

“I’ll try, brother. You… you stay safe, please. You’re getting out of there alive, you hear me?” Standing up, Titania put both hands on her brother’s shoulders. “You are not going to sacrifice your life for Frances. You are getting out of there with Frances, alive, do you understand?”

Timur swallowed.

To be completely honest, he had been thinking of precisely the opposite. Oh he’d try to get out with Frances, but with how strong his father was, he wasn’t sure he could. Besides, Thorgoth wouldn’t kill him. He’d hurt him badly, but Frances and his sister had survived years of beatings by their parents. He… he could survive a few hits, especially if they had survived years.

“Timur, are you listening to me?”

“Uh, sorry, yes. I swear I will get out with Frances,” said Timur, shooting his sister one of his winning grins.

Titania frowned. “Good, because I doubt she would leave without you. She probably hates that you’re staying to help her.”

“Wait, why would she hate that I’m staying?” Timur winced as he recalled the reluctance on Frances’s face and how she’d been worried about the plan working. “Oh, right. She’d be worried that I’ll get in the way.” Yes, they had managed to sneak into Clawdia’s tent, but before that was a litany of incidents where he’d ruined her plans, or life.

He yelped as his sister flicked his forehead with a finger. “You absolute moron! She’d hate that you’re with her because she loves you and doesn’t want you in danger!”

Timur snorted. “Oh come off it, Titania. Frances wouldn’t be worried about me that way.”

Only, Titania didn’t just let it go. She narrowed her eyes. “Brother, what part of “she loves you” don’t you get. If she loves you, of course she’d be worried about you.”

“I know she cares for me. But I know I’m not as important to her as say Edana or her friends. I mean… we barely have started to date. I’ve hardly done anything for her worth her worry.” He sighed. “I mean, for crying out loud Titania, if it weren’t for her, I’d be very dead.”

To Timur’s confusion, Titania’s jaw dropped open. Shaking her head, she pulled out her personal hand mirror and opened it.

“Hello? Who is this?” Frances asked. Her face didn’t come into view of the mirror, though.

“Frances, are you still awake?” she demanded.

“Um, yes?” Frances stammered.

Titania hooked her left hand with the mirror around Timur’s arm and before he could stop her, she pulled out her wand, Second Chance. “Is Edana with you?”

“Uh, no, mom’s visiting the Lapanterian tent to meet with Sebastian,” said Frances.

Titania grinned. “Great! I need my brother to talk to you, now. We’re teleporting in.”

“Wait what? Titania—” The princess had already shut the mirror and ended the call.

Timur spluttered. “Wait, sister what are you—”

It was too late. Titania uttered a string of Words of Power and they vanished from the building in a flash. When they reappeared, though, they found themselves in darkness.

Frances sang a note and the lights in the tent lit themselves, revealing that she was in a short-sleeved, cream-colored cotton night dress. Timur’s eyes widened as he saw her stomp up to them, barefoot, amber eyes narrowed, Ivy’s Sting in hand.

“Titania, why did you drag Timur here at this hour?” Frances clearly meant to sound angry, but it came out as a half-exhausted groan.

Titania blinked. “Oh, sorry, I wasn’t aware you weren’t decent.”

“Not decent?” Frances looked down at her nightdress, frowned, and looked back up. “I’m fully clothed, though.”

Timur swallowed. Yes, Frances was fully clothed, but there was something oddly intimate about seeing her in a nightdress, especially one that showed her slender arms. Now that he thought about it, he couldn't ever remember seeing her bare arms before.

“Wait, you’re not angry that we caught you in your nightdress?” Titania asked.

“No. I’m angry because you dragged your brother here in the middle of the night when I’ve just had a very long day! Thank the Gods my mother will be at an emergency meeting for a while or she’d rip your head off. Did you even think to consider that she might come back?” Frances demanded.

Titania opened her mouth, closed it and sighed. “Point taken. But this really can’t wait. My idiot brother has it in his head that he’s not that important to you.”

“He’s not an idiot—wait, Timur?” Frances turned to him, and the prince winced as he took in her stricken expression.

“I know. Set him straight. Call me when you need me to pick him up,” said Titania. Timur tried to grab his sister, but she danced out of his reach and cast the teleportation spell. In a flash, she was gone, and he was left alone with his girlfriend.

A girlfriend who had no makeup on, had her bare arms crossed, her hair mussed by her pillow, and was looking at him with deep, panicked concern. Yet in that moment, Timur could only think about how goshdarned pretty Frances was and how nicely her nightdress fitted her. The loose clothing didn’t even reveal much of his girlfriend’s slender figure. She just looked so comfortable in it.

“Timur, what is going on?” Frances asked quietly.

He forced himself to grin. “Titania’s just panicking. I think? You know how she gets.”

“Timur… I heard what Titania said. She said that you think you’re not important to me?” Frances asked.

“That’s not what I said.” Timur met Frances’s eyes trying to stay calm, despite the pressure building in the back of his throat. “We were talking about me staying behind. I… I know you’re not happy about it because you’re worried I’ll get in the way. I swear I won’t. So please, let me help.”

Only, to Timur’s befuddlement, his girlfriend gasped, “Get in the way? I’m not unhappy because I think you’ll get in the way.”

“Then why did you look so unhappy about me helping you?” Timur asked.

“Because your dad might kill you or worse!” Frances exclaimed. “If it was just me, I wouldn’t have to worry about you or Edana or anybody else I loved getting hurt but… but now you’re going to be with me too, and I don’t know what to do about that!”

Timur frowned, “Frances, it’s not going to be that dangerous for me. Even if I get captured, dad won’t hurt me that badly.”

“But I don’t want you to get hurt at all! And how do you know if Thorgoth won’t torture you or beat you or worse, give you that same curse? How do you know he will even bother capturing you?”

Frances looked incredibly distressed now. Her arms were wrapped tightly around her torso and her eyes were wide with shock. Only, Timur just could not make sense of why. He felt horrible, only, he did not understand why she was so worried about the possibility of him getting hurt. After all, it seemed only fair for him to do something for Frances after everything she’d done for him.

“Frances, I’m not letting you face my father alone,” said Timur, firmly.

“I know that! I just can’t stop thinking about what he might do to you.” She wiped her eyes. “Timur, I love you, I don’t want you to put yourself in danger for me.”

He nodded slowly. He was beginning to understand that, though the reason why still perplexed him. Yes, Frances cared for him, and didn’t want him to get hurt. Only… he hadn’t done anything for her worth such care and attention.

“Timur? Do you understand?” Frances asked.

“Yes—” He met her amber eyes and winced. “Okay no. I don’t get it.”

“What don’t you get?” she asked, more gently this time.

Timur froze, holding his breath. He tried to face Frances’s pleading expression, tried to stop himself from wanting to tell her. Not knowing why he wanted to tell her, and not sure why he wanted to hold his silence.

“I don’t understand… Frances, you have family and friends… a lot of people who you love and care for, right? People who love and care for you,” he whispered. At her nod, he took a deep breath and braced himself for what— and he had no idea what—would come next. “I’ve only ever put you in danger, or relied on you. So why are you so worried about me?” Timur asked.

Frances’s eyes widened slightly and she closed her mouth, but apart from that, she didn’t react. She just stared at Timur with a blank expression, like those his father and the other courtiers gave him whenever he was speaking.

“What?” she whispered.

Timur swallowed and scratched the back of his head. He must have misinterpreted something. “Ah, right, sorry. I know that’s a silly question. Ignore me—”

Frances’s blank expression shattered as she let out an anguished cry, “Ignore you? Timur, I love you! Why would I ignore you when you have questions? Why else would I be worried about your safety?”

Too late did Timur realize that the blank expression Frances had was just a mask, hiding a look of devastated agony. She barrelled into him, small hands holding onto his cheeks and pressed herself against him

“Don’t you understand? I love you. I’m scared of losing to your father, but I’m more terrified that I will fail and get you hurt for nothing!” she sobbed.

Timur didn’t expect this. He didn’t like this and oh Galena, he was beginning to realize that he was sorely mistaken about what he and Frances had.

“Oh,” he croaked.

“And what’s this about putting me in danger?” Frances demanded.

He tried to look away, but Frances’s hands were on his cheeks, cupping his face. And he didn’t want to move away from her. She was trying to comfort him and he liked that. He just really didn’t want to answer her question. Only, he kind of needed to. He owed Frances that much.

“Frances, ever since we met, I’ve… gotten in your way. When we first met, you handicapped your magic to save my life. I fought you at Kwent and then two years ago, I nearly got you killed at Conthwaite. If I hadn’t listened to you at Erlenberg, and I very nearly didn’t, I wouldn’t have found out about my father’s abuse.” Timur swallowed. “That’s what Titania was referring to.”

Frances’s voice was fragile. It quivered like a high, hanging note.

“And when she said that you weren’t important to me?” she whispered.

Timur swallowed. “I… this isn’t something I’m bothered by. I know you love me, but I know Edana, your adoptive family and your friends are more important to you than me, and rightfully so. I mean, they didn’t put you in danger and I’ve… I’ve yet to earn any of the love you have for me.”

“But… my love isn’t something for you to earn,” Frances stammered.

His stomach dropped into a dark pit he hadn’t realized was sitting in his body. “What do you mean?” he whispered.

“I…” She was so close that Timur could feel her chest rise and fall with every bated breath. “I love you because you’re kind and caring. I chose to love you despite your flaws.”

Timur frowned. “Wait, but it isn’t fair for me to just have your love without doing anything.”

“No it isn’t, but…” Frances’s voice trailed off for a moment. “What I mean is… I give you my love not because I want something, or need something from you, but because I love you.”

Taking Frances’s hands, Timur frowned. “You wouldn’t care for me if I treated you badly.”

Frances sighed. “No. No I wouldn’t, but I—I can decide that for myself. And I’ve decided that right now, you are important to me.” She sniffled. “And I feel hurt that you can’t see yourself as important.”

He winced. “I’m sorry, it’s just… I… I still don’t fully understand what you mean. I understand how you feel. However, how can I be important to you when I haven’t done anything worthy of being important?”

It was Frances’s turn to frown. “But it’s just how I feel.”

He wasn’t sure what was in those words, but Timur suddenly realized what Frances was getting at. She didn’t need him to earn her love. She loved him because of who he was.

He… he didn’t have to prove himself, or work for her approval. Or at least, her love wasn’t dependent on it. She loved him for what he did, and those feelings, encouraged by what he had done, were hers. They weren’t his to control or labor for.

“So you’re saying you love me for who I am? But what if your feelings change? What if my feelings change?” Timur stammered.

“Then… then they change. I mean, you don’t love me because I saved you, right? Because you feel like you should love me?” Frances asked.

“Well, no. I mean—Oh.” He was nodding, suddenly seeing in a new light, why Frances loved him. It was comforting, and more than a little frightening.

But the truth of it felt, for some reason, more clear. He was still confused, but not because he didn’t understand. He just had no idea what to do next with this knowledge. Especially since they were going to be fighting his father.

That was when another wave of realization hit him.

“Oh. Oh. Oh crap. So that’s…”he hovered his arms over Frances’s back and at her nod, wrapped them around her tightly. “That’s why you didn’t want me to go with you… I…I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize.”

He felt more than heard Frances’s sad giggle. When she pulled her head from his chest, she was smiling tiredly.

“I… I think we both have a lot to figure out. I didn’t realize that you’d want to stay and help me if I stayed. You didn’t realize why I didn’t want you to stay.” She wiped her eyes. “I should have known that being in a relationship is hard.”

Timur nodded and tried to smile. “Well, I still love you… if that helps?” he asked.

Frances nodded. “It does.” She let go of him. “We’ll talk about our plan for Thorgoth tomorrow?”

He nodded, feeling some of the warmth in his stomach drain away. “Yes. We… we’ll survive this, Frances.”

He saw Frances’s smile waver but she forced herself to nod.

“Love you.” Hesitating for a second, she hugged him briefly, before pulling out her hand mirror with trembling fingers. He could tell that she was trying to be brave, just like he was. It was in a way, dishonest of them to put on a brave face. And yet, at least Timur hoped this was the case, they were both in their own way, trying to steel themselves for what lay ahead.

Because for Timur, the thought of facing, fighting and surviving his father had suddenly become a lot more horrifying.

Antigones and his party arrived quietly the next day to not draw Thorgoth’s attention, leading to two reunions.

First was Frances’s reunion with Elizabeth and Ayax and while the pair were happy to see her, they were just as happy as Edana about the plan.

“Cuz, are you sure we shouldn’t stay with you?” Ayax asked.

“We’ll need you and Elizabeth to help Edana lead the Erisdalians, Lapanterians and Erlenbergians out of here. At the very least, Sebastian and Sir Orcas has agreed to the plan,” said Frances.

“You haven’t told Roranoak yet?” Elizabeth inquired, arms crossed.

“It’s too dangerous, especially with what we know. How long will it take for our battalion to mobilize by the way?” Frances asked.

“A week. After we get our ambassadors to safety, Ayax and I will head there.” Elizabeth gently reached out to Frances and took her hand. “You tell us where you’re getting out of Alavaria and we will go to you, no matter where you are.”

Smiling, Frances nodded and hugged Elizabeth and Ayax. “I know. Thank you both.”