It took some time for Devrim to receive the response to his sarcastic communication. He was beginning to wonder if he had been too harsh, but the frustration he felt made him refuse to send a second message to apologize.

Nurlan and Junayd were in the Emperor's tent with him. Everyone else was too busy getting the new arrivals situated in the camp. Mairwen and Renat had gone to change and clean up in the proper areas, leaving the three men alone.

"Renat is a good lad, though a bit awkward." Nurlan had finished recounting the events from the palace until now. He told of the dragons leaving, prison, Brinn and Alvar and even of Alaron letting them leave. Devrim had listened closely and even wrote down a few things that he thought were of particular importance.

Now that Nurlan was finished, he felt obligated to put in a good word for Renat after all his effort. "Renat has been dead-set on stopping the assassin ever since Hemel escaped the palace. He even asked me to train him so that he would be ready to defend Mairwen if the need arose, which it did…"

Devrim's face went from interested to a deep scowl. "No more about that…scientist. I have heard quite enough. Go get cleaned up, General Nurlan. I may need your presence later as a witness. Please tell Duchess Ashleigh and Duke Fedelmid about the feast tonight. They can inform their armies of the festivities as well."

"Yes, Sire." Nurlan bowed, "Glory to the Empress!"

"The Empress indeed," the grey-eyed man muttered after Nurlan disappeared through the tent flap. "My wife got me into this mess," he continued to complain.

"Which mess is that, Your Majesty?" Junayd asked innocently. "The one where she married you among all the eligible bachelors, or where she adopted a lovely young lady to be your daughter, or perhaps you mean that last little bit where she protected an unwitting scientist from imminent death." The general stoked his chin as contemplated all the 'messes' the Empress had created over the years.

"Not you too…" Devrim rubbed his eyes with his thumb and forefinger. "If Aurora had told me about that boy earlier, I could have stopped this business before it began. I—"

The mirror lit, stopping the incoming rant of the Emperor. Devrim scooped out he glass and watched as his beautiful bride appeared. His heart raced as he looked at her, though something about her hair was different, she was as stunning as ever. Her words brought him quickly out of his reverie.

"I am happy to see you are well, my love, and I am going to assume by your message that Mairwen survived the siege also. I have been quite concerned about you both. As for your concern, your assumptions kept you from seeing the truth about our scientist. Renat is a treasure to the Empire. I really hope you did not do anything that would harm the Empire…" Aurora's voice trailed off.

Junayd nearly choked on the water he was drinking as he heard the Empress. He laughed uncontrollably. "She sure knows you, Your Majesty."

Devrim pulled his lips tight. He did not feel he was to blame for the confusion. And Aurora somehow knowing his desires only irked him more. He lifted the glass to reply. "Nothing has happened to the boy yet, but I make no promises…"

"Don't you dare do anything!" Aurora sent back in the next message. It was clear by her fiery expression that she was serious. Even her hair seemed to accentuate her point.

"But he is a commoner with his sights on a princess!" Devrim argued fervently. His knuckles were white as he gripped the mirror tightly.

"I recall another man with no title who set his sights too high. And he became the best Emperor Consort the world has ever known." The Empress smiled so warmly that Devrim could feel her gloating even from the other side of the world.

Devrim was moved by his wife's flattery but unconvinced. "Yes, well, those things do not happen twice. It would be like lightning striking twice in the same spot. I think it is much safer to send this boy far away from our daughter."

"Don't you dare!" This time it was not Aurora but Mairwen who was offended. The girl's timing was impeccable. She ran in the tent in her fresh clothing and pulled at her father's arm. "Please do not send Renat away!"

The mirror lit. "Mairwen will never forgive you if you send Renat away."

Devrim felt cornered. "Why is everyone against me?" This was only to his daughter. Aurora received a slightly different reply. "Your daughter has found me out. I will have to find some other way to deal with this 'treasure of the Empire'. I love you, beautiful wife." The Emperor could not help but let his affection seep into his words.

Aurora's image in the mirror was amused. "I would expect nothing less than this kind of protection from a wonderful father like the man I married. Give Mairwen my love. I assume she is with you now. We can speak in the morning about battle plans. There is much to discuss, but you have other issues to deal with just now. I love you too, sweet husband. If you have time later this evening, you now know where to find me."

Devrim laid down the mirror and focused on the girl who was still holding onto his arm. His face went from a goofy grin at having plans that evening to being quite serious. "You cannot marry a boy you just met, even if he saved you from a bloodthirsty assassin. You do not owe him anything."

"I did not say I wanted to marry Renat," Mairwen released her father's arm and put her hands on her hips. "And I did not just meet him. We met in person right after my birthday party and we had written letters before that."

The Emperor looked up at the ceiling of the tent. "Your deception has been going on for quite some time then." Pinching the bridge of his nose, Devrim started to pace.

"It was not trying to deceive you. I did not think too much of our friendship until..." Mairwen blushed.

"You better finish that sentence, young lady." The Emperor froze, took hold of his daughter's shoulders and looked deep into her eyes. He could see it written all over her face, but he still wanted her to say it out loud.

Mairwen steeled herself under her father's gaze. "I did not think too much of our friendship until I realized I loved him. It was so gradual. It just snuck up on me." The princess bit her lip nervously. She could see that her admission had caused a flurry of emotions in her father.

"I will kill him! He has bewitched my daughter," the Emperor released the girl and returned to pacing.

"No! Please! I am not even sure he feels the same way," the princess pleaded as fresh tears streamed down her face. Her countenance made even Junayd's heart clench. He wished very much to be dismissed, but the pair had forgotten he was there.

The grey-eyed man would not yield. "Men do not travel across the world and into a desert on a whim. They are either foolish, ambitious, loyal, or in love. Perhaps even a combination of those. I plan to figure out what applies. And if I do not like the answer..." Devrim let the threat hang in the air.

"I can handle it myself, father. I do not need your interference." The princess wiped her eyes and stood tall. She looked strong, but the Emperor was still stronger. If he could prevent her any pain, he would.

"You are my daughter. You will have my interference whether you like it or not. Do not test me in this." Devrim warned. Seeing the girl's shoulders slump, he hugged her tightly. "I saw how devastated you were when you thought you lost the scientist. I never want to see that again. I love you, my daughter. I just want what is best for you."

"I know. Sometimes it drives me crazy how much you baby me."

"You are my baby!" Devrim said in his defense.

The blue-eyes girl laughed softly. "And it is that affection that lets me know you will do the right thing. No matter what happens, I love you too." Mairwen hugged her father. They stayed like that for a long time while Devrim wondered where exactly his little girl had gone. Just yesterday Mairwen was a tiny babe who he was helping to name. Now she was a young lady. Time had flown.

Fully in the moment, the pair was so wrapped up in their scene that neither of them saw Junayd sneak the mirror off the raised table and hold it up for Her Majesty to see the touching scene.