"Have you gone mad? Spent too much time in the closet, Henry?" Hazalen grasped the sides of her chair, gaping at me.

"Yes I have, but never again." I sat on the desk, signing in contemplation.

"This isn't a joke, Henry." Landon folded his arms, looking toward the ground,"We are talking about the Prince of Deltora leaving his post. He's supposed to become king in less than a month! He can't just run away from his duties-"

"Don't you see? He would be running toward his duties." I interrupted him, rolling my eyes. "It's quite simple, really. You understand warfare better than anybody, Landon. A small group of invaders work better than a large army to defeat an enemy at the source."

"What's that going to do for Damien and Annalise?" Hazalen threw her hands up, disbelief filled her voice.

"The king will see that unifying Deltora with another kingdom isn't necessary anymore. There are other reasons I can't name, but this is the best answer I can give you presently."

"This is insane, Henry! Descuvi is filled with crooks and murders consumed by the rage. We could be killed." Landon glanced over at Hazalen, but she only stared at me.

"What if Annalise becomes consumed by the rage? She's a full-born Descuvi, you know."

"What if the king thinks Damien was kidnapped?"

"What if Annalise gets pregnant!"

"What? I'm tired of your questions! Obviously coming to you two wasn't the solution." I curled my hand into a fist, turning back away from them to scheme.

Drats! I couldn't tell them Annalise was the Princess!

"I just think it's impractical. I don't understand why we would have to come too." Landon tried to get my attention back.

"Also, I'm not trained in fighting. I wouldn't know how to pick up a sword, more or less infiltrate a kingdom." Hazalen agreed with him.

Bafoons! Both of them!

Damien and Annalise falling in love had to be a sign. Fate worked in funny ways, and I believe that their love was the key to preventing an all-out war.

Descuvi held power in dozens of poor kingdoms, using fear to control them in the shadows. Most of the staff working in these kingdoms were Descuvi, and they used their power to hide behind their kings. If it came down to it, thousands of innocent lives would be lost on both sides.

I cannot let this happen like it did to my cousin.

"King Eggar of Deltora wanted Damien to end the war between our kingdoms, and we have the chance to do it. I can't explain the full details right now, but we were brought together for a reason. We are all companions with Damien and Annalise for a purpose- this is our destiny!" I remarked, my fist still clenched as I turned back around.

"Yeah, I'm out. You can continue to scheme, but I'm taking Hazalen home." Landon stood up, grabbing Hazalen's hand.

"I want Damien and Annalise to be together, but I don't think this is the right way to go about it. It's just too dangerous." Hazalen agreed, giving me a look of sympathy.

"It's alright. You guys will come around soon." I smiled at both of them. Hazalen shook her head at me, turning away with a sympathetic grin. Landon pulled her out of the shop, obviously frustrated by my plans.

Time to have a chat with Annalise.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Open, dammit!" Damien threw the box against the wall, trying to break it.

We were currently sitting by the fireplace in his chambers, attempting to open the box we found in the cabin. Whatever was in it had to be very important, and the key was nowhere to be found.

"I don't understand." I picked up the box, admiring it. Gold vines circled around the it, spiraling to the top where a rose sat. The wood was old yet finely made, crafted by an expert carpenter. I shook its contents, but no sound was made.

"Do you think it's paper inside?" Damien asked, taking it from me.

"Well that would be unfortunate," I remarked.

He laughed in response,"Sweetheart, words written on paper is the most valuable cargo in all the kingdoms. It's how we learn, set laws, and require secret information. I hope by the gods it is a piece of paper."

I rolled my eyes, laying on his lap,"I thought I was the most valuable thing to you in all the kingdoms."

"You're priceless, Princess." He scooped me up off his lap, placing kisses all over my face. "Abso-fucking-lutely-priceless." I pushed his face away in giggles, trying to breathe. "You're the best gift the gods sent me." He laid me down on the bed, opening the covers before doing so.

"Isn't your birthday coming up soon?" Tucking me into the sheets like a child, he nodded. I grabbed his hand, causing him to stop and look at me.

"Don't you want to celebrate?"

"My birthday has never been a big deal before, so it doesn't need to be now-especially with everything going on."

"The whole kingdom celebrates your birthday! You're being silly, Daruis."

"Every person who has ever wished me happy birthday, I've barely spoken a word to. It's more of a reason for people to celebrate a holiday than anything." He rolled his eyes, climbing over me to get in bed.

"That doesn't mean we can't celebrate," I gave him a mischievous look. He wrapped his arms around my waist from behind, undoing the covers from where he tucked me in. "I think I know the perfect way to do so." I pressed myself against him, and he groaned out in appreciation.

"That would be the best. Birthday gift. Ever." He whispered into my ear with excitement. I giggled in response, knowing he could finally be looking forward to his birthday. It must be exhausting having random people coming up to you all day, acting as if they were your best friend. I knew this would make his birthday special, and it would mean something to me as well.

"What does your father usually give you?"

"A new Princess to possibly wed me to at my birthday dinner."

I laughed, shaking against him,"How thoughtful of the king."

"Isn't it?" He laughed with me, and I couldn't keep the smile off my face. I realized I couldn't imagine life without him, as if I had known him all my life. I felt so relieved to be able to say:

"I love you, Damien."

"I love you too, sweetheart. More than three words could explain." He hovered over my neck to place a kiss. A knock sounded at the door, halting his actions.

"Who could that be at this time of night?" He looked at me curiously. I raised my eyebrows, shrugging in response. Throwing off the covers, I walked to the door.

"No!"

"What?" I turned around, wondering why he was so alarmed.

"I can't let anybody see you looking like that. You're too sexy for your own good."

"Not because of the fact that we can't let the palace find out I've been sleeping in your chambers?"

"Oh, that too." The knocks were louder this time, banging with no care that this was the Prince's chamber.

"I'm coming, I'm coming," Damien threw on a silk shirt, opening the door. I saw his shoulders slump in realization, relaxing.

"It's just Henry." Damien leaned against the door, letting me see him for myself.

"Nice lingerie, Annalise." Henry winked at me, still wearing a suit this late at night. As Damien rolled his eyes at Henry, I giggled, folding my arms across my chest.

"What do you want?" Damien got straight to the point.

"I know you want your 'alone time' with your lover, but I deserve some time with Annalise too!" Henry smartly remarked back.

"It's almost midnight, Henry." Still leaning against the door, he checked his watch. I couldn't help but check him out- his silk shirt he threw on was left open, just in a pair of dangerously low cotton boxers. Even though the past month I've seen him without a shirt every night, even less- he seemed more attractive wearing attire I wanted to take off.

"I need to take Annalise somewhere."

"This late at night? No way."

"It's important, Damien."

"More import than her safety? I don't think so." Damien stared him down, not blinking for a second. Henry looked over at me, a special gleam in his eye that told me wherever he needed to take me, it had to be in private. I had become so close to him that I understood his mannerisms, and I knew this was important.

"I'm going." I walked into the closet, changing out of my nightgown.

"Are you two serious? There are Descuvi hunting Annalise down at this very moment, and you want to take her to some 'mysterious place' without protection? Without me?" Damien whined, almost sounding hurt.

"It's not just any place- we are going to Mrs. Woods' shop." Henry looked back at me. I stepped out of the closet wearing a black dress and a shaw covering my head.

"My mother's shop?" My voice raised in pitch as I walked toward them.

Damien shook his head, pinching the bridge of his nose,"I'm not going to control you, Annalise, but I just want you to be safe," he turned toward Henry with a dangerous gleam in his eye,"You better make sure the carriage waits outside for you, and don't ever let her out of your sight."

"Damn Daruis! You can trust me with her life. Come on sugar cube, we've got a mission to go on." He held out his hand to me, winking at Damien as I took it.

"Bye!" I called out to him as Henry dragged me away. Damien finally loosened up, a smile playing at his lips as he rolled his eyes and waved back.

He could never stay mad at me.

I heard the door shut behind us as Henry walked to the other side of the hall, away from the guards.

"Why aren't we-"

"I know a shortcut, and I don't want the guards to see you." Henry pulled me into an empty guest room, the same layout as Damien's. Henry wasn't playful as he was before, and I could tell that this was a serious matter. I had never seen him so driven before- it was honestly intimidating- I felt like I was with a spy.

"Of corse you have a shortcut." I remarked as he opened a trapdoor in the same spot as in Damien's room.

"What you are about to find out is not going to be easy, but I think I have a plan. Do you trust me, Princess?" Henry held out his hand to me, a few steps down the ladder of the trapdoor.

Princess?