Elowen nervously stood outside, her fingers fidgeting with the sleeve of her dress as she glanced down the entranceway.

"Stop. You're starting to make me anxious," Theros said.

"This was not a good idea," Elowen murmured, "why did we listen to her? Who would listen and accept this idea?"

"You and your little letters caused this," he grumbled. Elowen shot a glare, causing Theros to become silent as they continued to wait.

She suddenly broke the quiet as she asked, "do you think Liron is doing alright?"

He sighed, "yes. If Josiah harms him then he'll have a war on his hands."

"It's not Josiah I'm worried about," Elowen murmured. They both looked at each other. Theros seemed to be holding back a smile as he said, "that is true..."

Before Elowen could say another word, the shout of the guards could be heard.

"He's here," she stopped fidgeting with her dress and stood up straight.

"I'm aware," Theros' dry voice responded back. Elowen didn't have time to argue with him. The dark carriage that approached came to a slow stop before them.

"Where is Willa?" she hissed suddenly.

"You just now noticed?"

Elowen let out an exasperated sound before a serene smile came over her face as she stepped forward to the opening carriage.

"Prince Kestrel...welcome..."

The male that stepped out of the carriage had Elowen blinking twice in surprise. She looked behind him, just to make sure this really was the prince.

She felt her cheeks heat up for some unknown reason and an irritated sound left Theros at the sight.

The male who stood before them calmly looked around, his golden eyes flickering to take it all in- the light color stood out greatly against his bronze skin as his gaze finally landed on the King and Queen.

"King Theros...Queen Elowen," he bowed gracefully and Elowen had a sudden image of the snowcats she saw who roamed the open lands.

Before Elowen could say anything, she was interrupted by a loud squeal.

"Keeesstreeellll!"

To Elowen's horror, a body slammed into the prince. He did not step back from the force, but only blankly stared down while holding the girl who had attacked him.

"Willa," Elowen hissed in anger, "step back from Prince Kestrel and-,"

"I missed you," Willa attempted to wrap her arms around the prince, but the maneuver was somehow avoided as the male slipped past and stepped forward.

Theros was already glaring in anger at the male to Elowen's disbelief.

"Let me show you to your room," she said weakly, knowing already that these next three months of his stay would be exhausting.

* * *

Somehow, Lumi had convinced Elowen that a prince exchange (as she liked to call it) would be a good idea. They both would let their eldest sons go to their Kingdoms for three months to learn of the culture in each land. The women had been convinced that this would create good relations between the future rulers and strengthen their own leadership to see different perspectives.

Only a day in though and Elowen was already cursing Lumi and rubbing her forehead from the headache she had.

"You should know from experience now. I told you to never go with her plans, but you don't listen to me," Theros smugly said.

Elowen ignored him. She also tried to ignore the excessive prattle of her daughter as she talked on and on about Price Kestrel. They were currently sitting at the table, waiting for him and breakfast to arrive.

"He's so gorgeous, I remember when I saw him at the Winter Ball last year- you remember mama- and he danced with me. He has that mysterious look- he doesn't say much- but I still understand him! And he's so gorgeous his skin is so beautiful I just-,"

"Willa," Theros reached to pat her hand, though Elowen thought there was more force than necessary in the movement, "be quiet."

Elowen glared at Theros' blunt statement as she smiled down at her daughter, "Willa, the prince is our guest. Let's try to make him feel welcomed and not uncomfortable."

"Daddy, I think I should marry him."

Theros choked on his tea, causing Elowen to rub his back soothingly as she smiled from his reaction.

"No," he growled.

"But why!?" she whined, "he's so gorgeous."

Theros looked at Elowen in exasperation. Elowen could only shrug. She had no idea where Willa's personality and characteristics had come from. It baffled both her and Theros when trying to deal with her.

"Over my dead body-,"

"Willa, honey...perhaps Prince Kestrel is too old? Why not another prince? Or maybe even his brother, Prince Asier? He's around your age after all."

Willa scoffed and tossed aside her long golden hair, "Asier is a pussy."

"Willa Iyan Hellbore-," Theros was starting to stand, thunder in his voice as he glared down at his daughter. The arguing was immediately stopped at the announcement of Prince Kestrel's arrival.

He bowed at the sight of them, ignoring Willa's pleas to sit next to her as she hit the chair cushion that was beside her own.

Instead, he quietly sat across from Theros.

He looked down at the food, eyeing it in silence.

The rest of the Winter royal family waited in apprehension for him to eat and taste the cuisine of the Winter land.

"Has this been poisoned?"

Elowen once again was patting Theros' back as he choked on his tea.

"You think I would threaten you in my own home?" Theros growled.

The prince tilted his head to the side, his face neutral as he took in the King.

"Don't you normally insert small doses into your food? I was just wondering what posion you had selected in case it was one I was not familiar with."

There was a stunned silence in the room. Willa propped her elbows on the table, sighing as she looked dreamily at Kestrel, "wow..."

"Elbows off the table, Willa," Elowen said, her voice strained from the effort of hiding her shock.

Willa pulled back, still grinning at the Prince.

Theros cleared his throat and shook his head, "no...there is no poison in the food."

The prince frowned, "none?"

"No."

Elowen winced at the patience that was now gone from Theros. She should have known that Josiah's child would be able to get under his skin so easily. Or maybe it was not a trait of Josiah.

They continued their meal in silence until the prince quietly excused himself. Naturally, Willa pushed away from the table, running to grab the Prince's arm. Elowen winced again as she saw the neat side step that was taken to avoid her.

It was like a horrifying dance, and she felt embarrassed at her daughter's actions.

"Elowen..." she turned away from the sight to look at Theros. He was frowning as he stared at the finished plate of the prince.

"You don't think...with Liron..and his food...?"

Elowen connected his words and then laughed, but her laughter was cut off as reality hit her. She turned to Theros with wide eyes.

"Oh God. What did I agree to?"

* * *

In the next few weeks, Elowen held on to a very thin strand of sanity.

Kestrel was a quiet, stoic type that unnerved her. His eyes seemed to see everything that was around him. There were times when Elowen wondered if he would use what he saw to his advantage later. He made her uneasy- his gaze reminded her of a predator. Something silent who moved with a deadly grace.

Theros seemed to be of the same mind.

"He is definitely her son," he said one night, staring into the flames and shaking his head.

Elowen sighed and tipped back her drink, downing her second glass of wine for that evening.

They both perked up at the noise that was heard outside their balcony. Going outside to look down, Elowen groaned as she took in the sight of Willa clinging to the Prince's arm.

"That girl..." she shook her head. She heard Theros' own irritated growl.

"Honestly...she's the most immature, brat-,"

"She's only sixteen," Elowen defended.

Theros continued to watch the prince, eyeing the male to make sure nothing else happened. Elowen knew that everything that had occurred so far had all been from the pressuring of Willa.

"He's too old."

"Really Theros- Lumi and Josiah have a bigger age gap. Four years is not that much for Willa."

He still glared down in unhappiness.

Theros' displeasure only increased when he took Kestrel hunting and was brutally outmatched.

"Honestly, did Lumi have to teach you everything about her culture? Where is Josiah? What did you learn from him?"

Kestrel stopped to stare at the King, "my father made me read many books. I am well educated in a wide range of mathematics and calculations. I study many things on my own- astronomy, medicine, history, and warfare."

Willa had managed to stalk closer to them without Theros noticing. His eyes flickered now to the girl.

"Willa- leave us. We are in the middle of-,"

"Can't I join you?"

Not even Willa could stand against her father's glare as he looked down at her in anger from the interruption.

She dejectedly turned away, blowing a kiss to Prince Kestrel.

Later that evening Elowen managed to catch Prince Kestrel before he went to bed.

"I wanted to talk to you," she said.

"Of course, Queen Elowen," he stood alert, giving her his full attention. Elowen had to smile at how well he conducted himself.

"It's about Willa- I'm sorry for her behavior. If she is giving you a hard time...please tell me. I-,"

"She's no trouble," he said. Elowen blinked in surprise when the Prince gave a small smile to her. It was probably the first smile she had seen from him.

"Oh....you don't mind? Well...well if she does...just tell me."

"Of course," he said. He turned away and entered his room. Elowen was still blinking in surprise as she turned and walked away.

* * *

Even with the Prince's words, Elowen was still horrified to find an angry Theros dragging a protesting Willa into her study room.

"She was watching the guards practice."

"The guards?" Elowen didn't seem to be catching the meaning of Theros' words and how his anger was connected.

"The guards Elowen! When they train! Kestrel trains with them everyday and she was watching them! I went to inspect them today and she was openly staring-," Theros looked at his daughter in disgust as she smiled back.

"Show some dignity!" he roared.

Elowen stood and held out her hands, palms open in an act to create peace, "now Theros...I know that is unsettling to find but-,"

"She was staring at the Prince! He was training and she was- you are not some harlot! You are a princess for God's sake, act like one."

"But he's so handsome and I love seeing him without his shirt on."

Theros made a strangled noise in the back of his throat. Elowen watched in concern as his face turned a light shade of purple. She glared at Willa, wanting to shout for her to be careful- her father was not as young as he used to be.

"Why don't you sit down, Theros," Elowen offered, but he only waved her words away.

"You are not allowed in the guards training grounds again."

Willa immediately began to protest.

"You are arguing with me?" Theros yelled, "This is a prince of a foreign country that we have had peace relations with for twenty years! I will not have you ruin it with your...your..."

He threw his hands up in exasperation, "Elowen! Talk sense into her!"

Elowen opened her mouth but had no idea what to say.

Willa sighed and sat down, her eyes staring out the window, "what's the big deal? I'm going to see him shirtless anyway when we're married."

"You-you," Theros' light purple was becoming darker. Elowen looked at Willa in fear, her eyes telling her daughter that every word she said could end up becoming her last with the state her father was in.

"You are not marrying him!"

Willa stood and Elowen felt like fainting as the girl stood toe to toe with the King, "why not? I love him!"

Theros swayed on the spot, and if it weren't for the seriousness of the situation, Elowen would have burst out laughing.

"That boy is going home!" Theros demanded.

"No!" Willa began to cry.

Elowen stared around her in bewilderment as the chaos unfolded.

* * *

Elowen breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Kestrel emerge from Theros' study. Not for Kestrel- for some reason, she felt that the man could handle himself in any situation. But for her husband. One wrong word or move and she worried he would either face the rage of the male who reminded her of a predator, or succumb to a heart attack.

Behind him, she saw Theros.

"Is all well?" she asked.

Theros nodded, his eyes holding a tired expression as he rubbed them and glanced at Kestrel.

The next weeks went by smoothly to Elowen's relief. She wondered if maybe Kestrel had said something to Willa, or if Willa instinctively knew that she had gone over some sort of line. In order to make Kestrel stay as long as he could, Elowen was relieved to see that the girl was becoming better behaved.

She still focused her whole attention on the male- Elowen could see how much this annoyed Theros. But at least she did not hear stories of her jumping him in the hallways or trying to corner him by locking them both in a forgotten room.

Kestrel calmly took it all in stride. Elowen wondered if he ever became mad at anything, or broke that stoic facade- but a small part of her hoped also to never find out.

Finally, the long three months came to an end.

It was time for the Galexious Prince to return.

Elowen could not help but be over eager in her wave as she watched him step up to his carriage.

"Tell your mother I wish her well- and if you cross paths with Liron on your way tell him hello for us."

"Of course, Queen Elowen," he said.

Theros only patted him on the back, "you will make a good ruler. You have a good head and good instincts."

Elowen looked in surprise at Theros' praise, but Kestrel only bowed, "thank you, King Theros."

Willa was bouncing on the tips of her toes, tears threatening to spill from her eyes.

"Take me with you Kestrel!" She clung onto his sleeve, staring up at him, "please! Let me be your wife! Take me! I can't stand to be away from you! I can't stand to not see you!"

She continued to pull on his clothing as he walked towards the carriage.

Elowen weakly held up her hand, wondering if she would need to call the guards.

A loud wail sounded from Willa as she tugged more on the back of his coat, her pleas unending.

Elowen saw Theros step forward, but before he could do anything, Prince Kestrel turned.

He grabbed Willa's face and Elowen's heart lurked forward in fear with the thought that he might harm her.

One hand went to her face, while the other encircled her back. With wide eyes, both Elowen and Theros watched in stunned silence as Prince Kestrel dipped Willa down, crashing his lips onto hers.

Elowen felt startled as her daughter reacted instantly and grabbed the prince's hair. It was a long passionate kiss that made Elowen's face flush and jaw drop in bewilderment.

The prince pulled back and stepped away, tugging on a long strand of Willa's hair before entering the carriage and departing.

"Do you think..." Elowen whispered in the stunned silence, "do you think he did that to shut her up?"

Theros laughed. And then his laughter was joined with hers. But both of their amusement was interrupted as Willa whirled around, her hand touching her lips and eyes wide.

"He loves me."

Elowen felt like hitting her forehead, "Willa I don't think-,"

"Bring a carriage! Get a carriage ready! I have to follow him! He loves me! Didn't you hear him?"

"Rather than hear..." Elowen slapped Theros' shoulder as he laughed.

Willa was still lost in her bubble, "I have to become his wife now! That was practically a proposal! Mama! Daddy! I...I'm engaged!"

Elowen and Theros both groaned at the same time as they took in their squealing daughter.

* * *

The next week Liron arrived.

Elowen hugged her son, not even realizing how much she had missed him until he stood before her. She pulled him back to be at arm's length and frowned at what she saw.

He smiled at her, but there was a sadness in his gaze. She took in the cuts and scars that were now added to his body.

Throughout the next few days, Elowen and Theros noticed a difference in Liron. He stared out the window. He sighed. He hardly touched his food.

With horror, Elowen realized that both her children were acting in the same way.

Finally having enough of it, Theros dragged Liron into his study. No future King of his country was going to act similar to a sixteen-year-old girl.

"What's wrong?"

Elowen put a hand on Theros' shoulder- an act to remind him to be gentle with his son during their interrogation, but her pressure went unnoticed as he continued to glare down at Liron.

There was a silence until Liron sighed and said, "how many years do you think the Galexious King has left to live?"

Elowen gasped as both she and Theros looked at each other with wide eyes, "those are dangerous words, Liron," Theros whispered.

Liron didn't even seem to notice. He only sighed again and looked out the window.

Theros snapped as Elowen feared he would.

"I asked you what was wrong- you will tell me," he demanded.

Liron looked guiltily between the two before confessing, "I think...I think I'm in love with the Galexious Queen."

"Good lord," Theros rubbed his eyes as Elowen burst out laughing. She held her side, unable to stop her mirth.

"It's true!" Liron said hotly, glaring now at his parents, "she treated me like a...like a real King! She taught me hunting and so many other things! How to cook meals in the woods, or how to go into a village unnoticed...and warfare! And the different weapons!"

The laughter of his mother only prompted him to stand as he pointed to the two of them, "when that bastard Josiah dies, I'm taking Lumi!"

Theros still had his face in his hands. Elowen had to hold his shoulders for support. Liron gave a frustrated noise, "it's not funny!" he finally yelled.

"You will not marry the Galexious Queen," Theros finally said, "she's almost twenty years older then-,"

"I love her and that's all that matters."

"Why are your children like this," Theros growled, glaring up at Elowen.

Elowen shook her head, wiping away the tears that were falling as she continued to laugh, "oh no! This is all you- this is exactly you!"

Liron looked between his mother and father in confusion.

Elowen turned to her son and placed a hand on his shoulder, "I'm sure Lumi made an impression on you, Liron, but she is already married and well...she might be the mother of your sister's future husband so do try to keep that in mind before you decide to march off and kill Josiah."

Liron made a strangled sound in the back of his throat, "Willa is going to marry Asier? He's so conceited though!"

"Not Asier- Kestrel."