Shadow Wood, Desmond, 10416 P.C.

"Can't sleep?"

Annabella glanced over at Terrence, who was sitting cross-legged against the other couch in the basement. Stephanie was asleep at his back, lost in a bundle of blankets. Although their trip had been long and exhausting and the night was at its darkest point, Terrence seemed to be wide awake. Did he ever sleep? Annabella shifted carefully, doing her best not to wake up Bethany, who was asleep beside her on the couch. The little girl had been ecstatic at their return, and Annabella nearly vowed never to leave the child behind again. She didn't, though, for she knew danger still lay ahead. Bethany was much too young to be dragging along.

"I think too much, sometimes," Annabella murmured. She glanced around the room. Todd and Jessie were asleep on the floor between the couches, while Matthew had once again retreated to a corner with his blanket and pillow. She couldn't quite see him in the darkness.

Terrence chuckled, a faint smile playing on his lips. "I get it. My mind never seems to shut off."

Annabella studied him. Thus far, he had been smooth and cunning, never once giving her a reason to doubt his identity. She had seen Matthew's mistrust, though, read it between the lines of his words and actions, and it made her uneasy. Todd was unnaturally quiet, Jessie unnaturally chipper, Stephanie unnaturally cold — Annabella's unease could have meant anything.

"It must be hard," she finally said, "being destined for so much."

Terrence lifted one shoulder in a shrug and glanced away. "Not as hard as you think when you've been trained for it your whole life."

She sat up slowly, pulling the blanket over Bethany. The toddler stirred but didn't awaken. "I suppose." Annabella gently tucked the hair out of Bethany's eyes. She looked at Terrence again as she pulled her knees up to her chest and hugged them. He seemed distracted, staring off into the dark, and she took the opportunity to stare. To think.

This boy... he was her betrothed. She had ignored the reality of it for some time, but now it was glaring her in the face. This boy was destined to be her husband. It was a terrifying thought. They were still so young — she was barely seventeen, and if her math was right, he was only eighteen. For the first time, it dawned on her that overthrowing the dragon wouldn't be an instant thing — it could take years and years of planning and preparation. Now that the son was revealed, they had to build an army. A huge one. That didn't happen in a day. That didn't even happen in a year, especially not with Motch's oppression. Her daydreams of the people rising up against Motch had been destroyed the moment she stood on the portico and saw how they cheered. How they honoured the beast. Worshipped him, even. Those people wouldn't rally behind a rebellion. They would fight it.

The Immortal One had a plan — she had to believe that — but it was up to His son to bring it about.

Annabella knew that Terrence was lying low, being careful not to reveal the full extent of his powers. His trick with the Gartirih had been impressive, but due to Stephanie's emerging inhuman capabilities, Annabella surmised that Terrence was much more powerful than he was letting on. It made sense for the son to be more powerful than his sister, and if that was true... Annabella couldn't wait to see Terrence in action.

This... this is what she had been expecting from Todd.

It was a cruel thought, she knew. She had expected the Deliverer to be this great warrior and she had gotten Todd. She reminded herself that Todd was powerful in his own way — and that he was still the one she trusted the most. The fall off the cliff had shown her that she trusted him with her life, and even though Terrence was revealed and Todd's role seemed irreverent... she still trusted Todd more. She hardly knew the young man she was betrothed to, sitting across from her now with the darkness shadowing his features. He was handsome and witty and brilliant, but Annabella had never trusted easily, and she wasn't about to start now. Trust was earned. He still wasn't telling them important information, and while she understood the need for secrecy... she hated it.

I don't want there to be secrets between us. She had told Todd that. She wished she could say it to Terrence.

No secrets...

She needed to get Todd alone soon. Did he feel the tension in the air? Stephanie was still cold and distant. Matthew couldn't seem to hold her gaze anymore. Jessie seemed entirely oblivious, which Annabella thought was unnatural for the girl. She usually sighted the tension before anyone else. It was all feeling... rather off to her, and she couldn't seem to shake the feeling.

Terrence didn't seem interested in continuing their conversation, silent as he stared off into the dark. Annabella must have fallen asleep at some point, because before she knew it, dull grey light drifted in through the windows. The floor creaked above them — Hannah must be working in the kitchen.

Terrence hadn't moved. Annabella wondered if he knew how to sleep. Quietly, she slipped off the couch, careful not to awaken any of the others. "I think fresh air would be nice," she offered, standing over Terrence and tilting her head. "To clear the mind."

He grunted and pushed himself to his feet. "Isn't it a bit dangerous to be walking around town in broad daylight?"

"Not around town. Outside it. Besides, something tells me you could take on anything we encounter." The truth was, she wanted to observe this boy alone. Perhaps, if it was just the two of them, he would be more inclined to share his secrets. He had to know that he could trust her... and she had to know if she could trust him.

Terrence smiled faintly and followed her up the stairs. Hannah, indeed, was in the kitchen, and she stopped them with a wave of her hand. "Breakfast will be served shortly."

"Thank you, Hannah. We're just going for a quick walk," Annabella said gently. "We'll be back in a bit."

The elderly woman's face grew solemn. "Here," she started softly, leaving the room and coming back with a sheathed bastard sword, which she handed to Annabella. "Just in case."

She wasn't going to try and stop them — Annabella wouldn't have heeded the woman's concerns anyway. She knew the dangers.

No one knew the dangers better than she did.

The air was crisp, chilling Annabella as she and Terrence slipped out the back door and quietly made their way into the forest. The sounds of normal life drifted by — the small town was slow to wake, and not very active at all. Sarum and Brittgard had always been bustling with life in the early hours of the morning, and Shadow Wood seemed lifeless in comparison. She wondered if it was because many of the people mysteriously disappeared — it was a shame to live in a village so close to two of Desmond's biggest mines. She wondered briefly what had happened to Englecon after they had left it.

"I always hated winter," she admitted as they walked. The night had produced another fresh layer of snow — winter was finally here. She pulled her coat closer. "The cold, the snow... it was hard to live through in my earlier years of being a runaway. But... I won't deny, it's beautiful sometimes."

Terrence stared up at the barren trees, his face thoughtful. "I find that there is always some kind of beauty in it all. Even in all the death, life springs up. Winter never lasts forever."

"Like Motch's reign," she thought aloud. "It's been like a long, endless winter. Cold and full of death and hopelessness. But... spring is coming."

He returned the smile she offered him. "Yes. It'll come."

Did he know that they were betrothed? He must have known, but he didn't seem to look at her any differently for it. She wasn't sure whether to respect that or not. "What does your Father want us to do now?" she asked quietly. "Where do we go?"

Terrence shoved his hands into his pockets, looking out at the forest beyond them. A small smile crossed his lips. "He wants us to bring back spring."

"How?"

He looked at her, and then offered her his gloved hand. "Together."

Slowly, she took his hand, and they shared a smile.