"She's gone?" Kaden faked surprise beneath Queen Adeline's stern gaze. The Queen had confronted him just outside of the stables barely after the sun had risen, and Kaden tried to keep his voice nonchalant. "Well, I don't know where she went."

     "That's not why I'm telling you," Adeline rolled her eyes as if he was being stupid, "Someone told me you could hunt like no one else. Is that true?"

      Kaden smirked, "Back where I lived, I could hunt anything. If you need something hunted, I'm your man." He wasn't sure why she was grinning, and was even more perplexed when she tossed him a sword of polished steel.

     He caught it by the hilt, admiring it. It was possibly the finest sword he'd ever seen, let alone held. He twirled it expertly in his hands to test its obviously perfect balance. He looked up to Adeline, "What's this for?"

     Adeline smirked, "Hunting. This is between you and me, understand? If you hunt the missing princess and kill her, bringing me her heart as proof, you can keep the sword as well as be promoted to an esteemed member of this castle."

      Kaden's face paled, "Kill her, your Highness?"

      "Haven't you the guts?" she scoffed, "If you refuse our deal, I'll have you executed for treason. If you fail to kill her, you'll be executed. And if you tell anyone, you'll be executed. What's your choice?"

      Kaden gave his head a shake, "I'm sorry, I'm lost," he said, "Why do you want her dead?"

     "That's none of your business," Adeline snapped, "Are you going to kill her for me, or am I going to have you hanged?"

     Kaden swallowed hard, his gaze upon the sword in his hand no longer admiring, "Doesn't seem like I have much of a choice, do I? Either I die or she dies. You haven't left me a difficult desicion."

       Adeline smiled coldly, "That's what I want to hear."

Several hours later...

       Rowan wiped sweat from her brow as she climbed yet another large boulder. Aliyah was bounding effortlessly ahead, not seeming to mind the steep ascent. "You good?" she called over her shoulder at Rowan, who had finished pulling herself onto the top of a boulder with a gasp of exertion.

      "I'm alive," Rowan replied, flexing her scraped hands, "But how much farther?"

      "Just at the top of the ravine," Aliyah leapt down easily beside her, "It's a small cottage. And I mean small. It's for dwarves, you see, but I visit a lot and it's not too cramped. I'm sure I can talk them into letting you stay for a day or two."

      "I don't want to intrude," Rowan raced forward, trying to get a running leap as she cleared a gap between Aliyah and herself. She rested her foot on a protrusion of stone, using it to boost herself on top of this new obstacle, "Do you do this a lot?" she wheezed, the cool air burning her throat as she breathed in deeply.

      "All the time," Aliyah replied, crouching beside her, "You're not doing badly, you know. The last person I led up here insisted on resting every five minutes. He could barely climb the smaller boulders, so I had to piggy back him up the bigger ones."

     "That actually makes me feel a lot better," Rowan said, accepting Aliyah's offered hand to pull her to the top of the final boulder. She let out a sigh of relief, dusting herself off as she stepped into thick grass at the top of the ravine.

      "Tada," Aliyah gestured to a pleasant looking cottage positioned at the top of a rounded hill covered in thick, soft grass. The sunlight fell across the white stone and straw roof, casting it in a golden light that made it more appealing to look at.

       "Sweet," Rowan grinned at her, "Thanks so much!"

       "The trick now is getting them to let you stay," Aliyah told her, "And they like company, don't worry about that, but they just don't like to admit it. They're gone all day working in the mines, so you'll have the whole house to yourself!"

     "Sounds amazing," Rowan said with a relieved sigh, "This is just what I need, only for a day or so though. Thanks."

     "Pleasure to be of assistance to you," Aliyah bowed teasingly, "Now, I'm hungry. You too?"

     "Very," Rowan realized just how hungry she was as Aliyah spoke, recalling she hadn't eaten since the day before.

     "Then I'll go find us something to eat! Wait right here," she said, then darted off into the trees.

     Rowan sat down against a tree trunk to catch her breath, enjoying the twittering of the nearby birds. The cool wind on her face, the warm sun on her skin, and the sounds of animal life around her made her very happy she had run off to the forest. It was so nice here...

      She closed her eyes, letting out a peaceful sigh of contentment. It was a beautiful day. And she wasn't locked up in her room. It was nice to be away from the dull confines of the castle.

     A snap of a stick in front of her made her open her eyes, expecting to see Aliyah. But it was Kaden.

     Rowan stared at him in surprise, then her face lit up in a smile, "Hey! What a surprise to see you here!" Her smile faded as she saw the look on his face, "Kaden," she stood up, startled to see a painedl look in his eyes, "Hey... are you okay?"

       Kaden had his teeth set together firmly, his face white, "No," he said through gritted teeth, "No, I'm not."

       She noticed the sword clutched in his shaking hands, and he raised it in front of him. Rowan stepped back, her back pressing against the tree behind her, "What are you doing?"

       "She'll kill me," he said quietly, his grip on the sword hilt so tight his knuckles had whitened, "I have to."

       Rowan drew her knife, aiming it at him, "I don't know what you're playing at, but you'd better stop. I will stab you if you get any closer." She didn't like the look in his eyes, the pain that fueled his actions obvious. Something was forcing him.

      Kaden licked his lips as if they were dry, taking another step forward, "Tell me you're good with that knife," he said shakily, "Tell me you're really good, so this doesn't end with blood on my hands."

      "I'm not," she shook her head violently, her hands starting to shake, "Stop it, Kaden, put the sword down."

He inhaled sharply, then brought the sword towards her with a swift uppercut. She caught the blow on the hand guard of her knife, twisting her wrist to deflect the blow. He didn't hesitate to strike again, and she ducked swiftly, swiping up with her knife. He deflected easily.

      Kaden's next move sent the knife flying from her hand, and she found his sword at her throat, "Look," he said quietly, "Your life or mine. It ain't a tough choice."

      Her lip curled in distaste, "Then why are you hesitating?"

      Kaden bit his lip, then took a deep breath. And the sword came down.

      But before the blow could land, Aliyah caught him in the face with a flying kick, "Hey, punk!" She shouted, planting her hands on her hips as she faced Kaden, "This ain't your territory to make kills on, so I'm afraid you'll have to move on!"

     "I can't do that," he said coolly, but Rowan saw his hands shaking. He didn't want this battle.

      She swung out a leg, her foot hooking on his ankle to knock him off his feet. Aliyah raised Rowan's knife, and Kaden raised his hands to block, but halfway up, his hands paused just long enough for the hilt of the knife to collide with his head. He crumpled to the ground, going limp.

     Aliyah pursed her lips, "He let me do that."

      "He's being forced," Rowan said, giving Aliyah a half-hearted high five, "Thanks for that. Let's tie him up."

     "Sounds good," Aliyah said, "I have rope in that shed behind the house."

     A moment later, Kaden was bound tightly and slung over Aliyah's shoulder, being hauled to the house, "The dwarves should be home anytime now."

     "Hopefully they'll let us stay," Rowan nodded.

     Later...

     The seven dwarves were a motley group with long beards, pickaxes, worn clothing, and an average height of four feet. They were muttering under their breath since the moment they spotted Aliyah, who seemed delighted to see them.

      "Hello!" She greeted them enthusiastically, "How was mining?"

     "Oh, it was amazing!" The youngest of the seven bounced forward, showing her a handful of beautiful purple amethysts, "We found a channel of these in the walls of the cavern!"

     "Shut it, Dopey," the shortest dwarf with a white beard that passed his waist snapped, "It's not really their business."

     "Oh, Doc, a lovely personality as always," Aliyah gave Rowan a laughing smile, "This is Doc, Grumpy, Sneezy, Sleepy, Bashful, Happy, and the redhead over there is Dopey. They've lived here for such a long time."

     "What do you want, Aliyah?" Sleepy asked with a slow yawn, resting a hand across his mouth sleepily.

     "Rowan and her... friend/hunter dude need a place to stay," Aliyah gestured to Rowan, who waved awkwardly at them, "I was hoping she could just rest here for a day or two...?"

     "Of course!" Dopey exclaimed, but was backhanded in the face by Grumpy.

     "No more people, Aliyah! Not after the cow you brought last week." Grumpy huffed, crossing his arms with a disapproving snort.

      "Well, yes, the cow was a mistake," Aliyah cringed at the memory, "But these people aren't cows! And Rowan can cook and clean for you, and..." she turned to Rowan, "You can cook and clean, right?"

      Rowan grinned, "I've spent most of my life cooking and cleaning," she said smugly, "I could cook or clean anything you guys offered me."

      "I am sick of pop tarts and canned spam," Sneezy said, a handkerchief held up near his nose in case of an emergency reaction to pollen. "And sleeping in a bed filled with moths."

      Rowan frowned. If things were that bad, than this was gonna suck.

      "No," Grumpy said adamantly, "We don't need another person in here. And she's got someone tied up. If that doesn't scream trouble, I don't know what does!! I say we kick her out."

     "This is actually my guy tied up," Aliyah kicked Kaden in the side as he laid unconscious against the wall, his hands and ankles still bound tightly, "But she'll be watching him for me."

     "Okay," Doc exhaled strongly through his nose, shaking his head in disapproval, "If she promises to leave in three days at most, and to clean up a bit around here, she can stay."

     "Oh, thank you!" Aliyah gave him a fanged grin, black strands of her wild hair falling into her shining eyes as she nodded her head happily, "I'll bring back a sheep tomorrow to make it up to you!"

     "Now you can sleep in here," Doc gestured to a rather small couch, "We'll be gone in the morning before you wake up, probably. So goodnight!" And the seven little men hurried upstairs, vanishing into the upper level.

      "I guess we ought to sleep," Rowan sat down on the couch, suddenly exhausted.

      It took her only moments to fall asleep.