A young man was already waiting at Darmasthea's castle gates. He was sitting right next to them, reading a book while he waited for some action. He sat away from the wall to not seem rude to any guards. Wanting to go and find the royalty to know more about the kingdom, he knew this was going to be a very hard mission of his and there was a high chance he wasn't going to get what he wanted. It was worth a try at least.

Alynna noticed the boy given the dim light as soon as she arrived at the gates, a tired and worried look on her face. She came forward to talk to the guards about letting her into the castle. It was then that she noticed that the boy was Liam Barren.

"Hello Liam." She said her voice evidently full of tiredness. She had not known the boy well but she had seen him every now and then around the kingdom walls and towns.

"Hm?" He looked up from his book to the lovely lady on her horse. He couldn't help but put on a smile. It was the woman he had seen before during his travels around this country.

"Oh hello, Miss uhh- Ava? Wait no, that's not right, miss Annlya? No that can't be it, wait it's miss Alynna right? I am terribly sorry for forgetting your name ma'am, takes a lot for me to remember names, anyway- what brings you and your horse here?"

Alynna smiled for a minute or two before answering slowly. "I live here.. or rather say I'm going to be staying here for a while... and cut the Miss. It's just Alynna" She looked at him with such concern. Why in heaven's name was he wanted for murder? There must have been some confusion. She heard the guards rolling up the gates for entry to the castle.

"Oh, of course, should have gotten that, it does make sense. Well, it's very nice to see you again! And just Alynna, Pfff-"

"And what about you, dear boy?" She said curiously as Shadow budged its head in the boy's book.

He giggled at his own joke but he didn't notice her concerned look. He was too much in his own head at that moment.

As he heard the sound of the guards, he took a deep breath and he hoped his silver tongue would get him into the castle and away from them.

"I'm here for some personal research into this place, I don't know now if I would be able to get in but might as well try than not, you know?"

The boy felt something touch the book he was holding, he turned back to see her horse right in his face basically, he jokingly tattered at the horse "If you wanted to know what I was reading, you could have just asked!" He smiled and flipped the book around so both the horse and its rider could see it too. The book was evidently about the country's architecture and history.

Alynna smiled. There was definitely confusion and it would be such a shame to see someone so young be persecuted for such crimes. She had to help him. "Liam if I'm not asking too much of you, may I ask if you have a place for the night?" She asked, wondering if she should actually invite him into the castle. She tugged gently at Shadow's reigns to gain the boy's attention from the horse.

"Oh uhh about that, I don't exactly live here but I should have enough for a tavern for a few nights." The boy replied.

He started to go through his pockets, looking for any gold to show her that he wasn't poor but when he only pulled out a single piece of gold, his cheeky demeanor dropped into a horrified one. He thought he had enough from that last trip before this place. Going through his pockets again looking for more, he found nothing. It quickly dawned upon him that he didn't have a place to stay for the night.

"A tavern's no place for a boy," Alynna said gently. "Especially someone as talented as yourself. You are welcome to stay in the castle for a few nights. It's not like we don't have the rooms" She saw a servant come out to greet her. Alynna ushered the servant to take Shadow into the castle stables to feed and rest her well. When Alynna saw the boy hesitate, she added "We do have a fine library"

"Wait what?? Since when were you royalty!?! S-should I be bowing right now? I-i don't know what to think. Thank you are the only words I can think of!"

He got up quickly and did a quick bow before picking up his book and the backpack he had with him that he was using as a pillow against the wall. He quickly placed it onto his back and waved to the horse as it left them both. His bag, Alynna could see was made of dark leather fabric, and there was a picture of the globe drawn into it as well.

Alynna laughed quietly. "No need for formalities, my dear boy," she said. "The relationship between royalty and I is very distant but I am allowed to stay in the castle whenever I please. Shall we get in?" She looked over her shoulder slowly. She had an eerie sense of unwanted presence in the darkness.

"I'm just at a loss of words right now, please excuse my words s-stuttering..." The boy said holding his tongue for a moment before speaking again. "I have never really had a chance like this before! I would love to go inside and not talk to those guards. They actually give me the creeps!"

Alynna could tell that he was very excited at that moment. The boy looked back to where Alynna looked over but he couldn't sense anything wrong. Happiness just blinded him.

****

Alynna and Liam had managed themselves into the Castle. It was dark but Alynna could imagine it so clearly. It was as grand as she had last seen it. Its marble stairs were coated with a long red royal carpet. The chandeliers were as clear as crystal and there were real diamonds. The purple velvet curtains were close shut against the large window panes. And the torches that were held in the candle holders shone fierce and bright. For a moment she lost herself and she felt a lump and knot in her stomach.

Alynna could see that Liam was over the moon. He looked at every detail he could see and he would gasp at everything. He didn't want to get lost so he stayed near her but would sometimes stop to look at something before quickly walking back to her. He felt so lucky to be in a place such as this.

"Whooooooaaa, it's so pretty here" He managed to say.

Alynna only gathered her senses when Liam had talked and when servants had gathered around her. Liam stopped when the servants gathered around her. He went a tad bit closer to her but not super close, just close enough so he didn't go into the crowd of people.

"This is Liam" she introduced "He shall be staying with us for a few nights. Make sure he has a comfortable room and proper accommodations"

When Anna spoke his name, he gave a small bow out of respect, and listened to the rest she said.

One of the lady servants nodded and it was then that Alynna noticed a lovely but tall figure on the top of the grand stairs.

"Mama." She whispered faintly. She wanted to greet the figure but out of manners, she tended to her guest first

"Liam, you shall be taken to your room. I'll see you in the morning." She said, with a trying smile.

Liam watched her and even saw the figure but didn't take it into mind. He quickly nodded once she was finished talking.

"Got it, I'll see you tomorrow Alynna, again... I can't thank you enough for this, really I mean it."

"Of course." She barely whispered as she saw Liam walk off and then she focused on the figure on top of the stairs. She walked at a quickening pace. The figure on top was her mother, wearing what Alynna could make out was a beautiful satin coat over her cotton nightgown. She was leaning slightly on an ornamental cane, that Alynna had gotten her a while back.

"Mamma." She whispered, her voice trembling slightly "You shouldn't be out of bed. You shouldn't be allowed to be walking about either." She looked around for any nearby servants but for a while there was silence and she spent it, searching in her mother's eyes carefully.

And before long, both of the women were in a tight embrace. When they came apart, Meriele Enroris spoke her voice sweeter than ever.

"My darling girl." She said to catch her short breath "How did the meeting go?"

"It didn't go as expected, Mamma." Alynna answered hastily. "But, I would rather not talk about it now. You should go back to bed. We'll talk in the morning"

As she spoke, she could feel her eyes tear up. The purpose of her long journey had not helped to bring the kingdoms together and she felt, for her first life... Useless. She thought she could accept her failure simply but it was her mother who had held the hope that Alynna could make the change.

"Don't fret, my love." Meriele spoke holding Alynna's cheek in her free hand "There will be other times. You'll see"

Alynna bowed her head and nodded silently. They talked for a while as they walked along the corridor and as soon as her mother got settled into bed, Alynna walked slowly to her room.

When she reached it, she saw that it remained the same. Her ink and quill, calligraphy paper, as well as philosophy books, remained the same. She sighed. She guessed, it was good to be back home.