The way back to the tunnel entrance wasn't as confusing as before. Calia seemed to remember all the twists and turns I had forgotten in the short time we had been gone.

"Aurora, are you sure you don't want me to stay with you until the wedding? I know it will be hard to stay there for three days all by yourself. I get it if you've already gone crazy by now." Calia said as we reached the door to my room.

"I'll be fine Calia, but I do need you to deliver a letter to Cas." I said and pushed the door open to my room.

The small writing desk sat quietly in a corner as I went over to it and sat down. All of my essentials were there, paper, pens, ink, and wax. With that I started writing.

Dear Cas,

I hope this letter finds you quickly. The coven is in the forbidden wood, they are hiding there and don't take lightly to strangers. Thankfully my friend Elizabeth, who is a witch, was able to send a message to them. I hope you are safe, please hurry.

Sincerely yours, Aurora.

I slowly re-read my letter, pausing when I read sincerely yours, the reality of my relationship with Cas softly brushed through my mind. What were we? I knew that I had feelings for him, but I didn't know how much those feelings had evolved over the span of three weeks.

Though now I quickly brushed the thought away and handed the letter to Calia

"Please make sure this gets to Cas. I know it will be hard, but he needs this information." I said and watched Calia take the thin paper from my hands.

"Of course Aurora." She said and started out of the room.

Just then a person came into the room and ran right into Calia.

"Oh, I am so sorry, your Majesty." A familiar voice said as she helped the fallen queen to her feet.

"It is quite alright Miss..."

"Daphne." The girl said.

"Daphne?" I questioned and walked over to my friend.

"Aurora!" She squealed and wrapped her arms around me. "It is so good to see you!"

"You too Daphne." I gasped, her embrace was so tight I could barely breathe.

"Your mother told us all about the ball and I'm here to help." She released me and smiled.

"Is she here?" I asked, knowing it was unlikely. Just like at the ball, it would be too dangerous for her.

"No, just me." Daphne smiled. "I'm here to make your dress."

"Wait... the prince allowed you to make my dress? Does he know we're friends?" I asked.

"Yes and no. He personally called upon me because he knows that I am the kingdom's best seem-stress." Daphne gloated. Her eyes soaring with pride.

I gave her a I-know-you're-lying look.

"Alright, Calia asked for me and your mother thought it best I come." Daphne shrugged.

"Have you heard from Cas?" I asked, hoping she could give us something as to where he is.

"Not really, though last week he did tell us that he would be travelling North, but he never said why."

"He's looking for witches." I mentioned.

"Witches!" Daphne exclaimed. "Why on earth would he be looking for witches?"

"So that they can help us overthrow the king. They're not actually bad, just misunderstood." I answered. Her face seemed to express all of the questions her voice wouldn't say.

"Right..." She paused, I could see a bit of doubt in her eye.

"I just need to know where he is so we can send him a letter, telling him where to find the witches." I stated.

"Alright, well... he hasn't gone that far north. Yesterday he sent a letter explaining where he was. I wouldn't be surprised if he hasn't left his location." I was surprised when she said that he had sent her a letter and not me, the person who was actually waiting for one.

"And where is that?"

"It's a small town called Ketchton. I believe it's near a lake." Daphne stated.

"I know where that is." Calia spoke up. "My home town was just a couple miles to the east."

"Do you know how to get there?" I asked.

"Well, I might be able to, but as I said before. My memory is a little rusty and I'm also not allowed out of the castle." Calia explained.

"Maybe you could get one of the guards to send the letter." I replied.

"No, they don't trust me. Though I could get a maid too, I have one in mind actually. Her name is Julia and I am quite fond of her. She has been working in this palace for almost ten years I believe. We are actually quite close and I believe she will trust me." Calia suggested.

"That would be great if she could, but she'll have to hurry because the wedding is only three days away." I worried, my heart slightly hammering in my chest.

"I'll lend her a horse. She'll be there in no time." Calia exclaimed.

"Great." I smiled.

"I'd better get going then." Calia said and left.

"Alright, now we must get started on the dress." Daphne said and started to walk circles around me.

"Can't we do this tomorrow. I haven't seen you in weeks, I want to know what has been happening back home." I protested.

"But Aurora, I only have three days to make this dress and it needs to be absolutely perfect." Daphne groaned.

"I know Daphne, but I've missed you so much. I need to have a girls night." I smiled and watched as her annoyance towards me disappeared.

"Well, I guess we could put the wedding dress on hold for tonight." Daphne agreed.

"Oh, this will be a splendid night." I beamed.

"But it is just for tonight. Tomorrow we get right into measurements and getting material." Daphne said sternly.

"Don't you already have my measurements?" I asked, remembering the gorgeous blue dress she had made me all those weeks ago.

"Your mother told me to leave my book at home, I'm guessing it's because she wants to delay the wedding as much as possible. If the bride doesn't have a wedding dress then there is no wedding, it's common knowledge."

"My mother has been one to exaggerate." I said and watched her expression turn to disbelief

"Wait, are you telling me you actually want to marry that villain?" She asked, sitting on the bed and taking in the lush fabrics.

"No, I'm not saying that. It's just, he wasn't born like this. His father made him into the person he is, by endless days of torture and neglectance. I believe that maybe there might be a part of him that doesn't want to be this way. Even though he's said he likes being this way." I confessed though I couldn't believe I was actually saying this.

"Maybe he does. Maybe that part of him was destroyed a long time ago and you're just being naive." Daphne stated and I sat down next to her.

"I probably am naive. I mean he's done so many terrible things to me, Calia and many others. But it was his father who had done this to him." I sighed.

"What kind of terrible things?" She asked, I felt panic seeping in as I thought of all the horrible things that have happened since I've gotten here. I didn't entirely want to talk about them, though maybe Daphne would understand, after all she is my best friend.

"Well." I took a deep breath and began my list of pain. My father, the king, the lashes. Everything that happened in the last few weeks poured out of me as if I were a waterfall and my words were the water, flowing from me, unable to stop.

After around twenty minutes of me describing my life here I finally came to the end of my list and Daphne all but stared at me.

"That's what my life has come to. An endless stream of suffering." I confessed.

"Oh Aurora. I'm so sorry." She said and pulled me into a comforting hug.

It felt nice to hug my friend. Not like the embrace she had given me when she first arrived, but one that I would have needed when my father died. Or when I was left in the dungeons. One that could bring me comfort even in the darkest of days. One from a sister.

"Thank you." I whispered.

"Well, you are my best friend and no matter what, I will always be here for you through the worst or the best. I love you Aurora." She said, I could feel the meaning behind her words.

"I love you too, Daphne." I replied and we sat there in our sisterly embrace.