THE TREK down the Northern Mountains was not what Andorra imagined. She, of course, sat atop Tofu, but the rest of her guards rode horses before her and behind her, nestling her in the middle of the pack. She knew it was for protection, but it felt almost silly after she'd traveled there alone.

Tofu at first had not been very pleasant towards the horses, shying away from them with a hiss when they got too close. But now, hours into the descent, Tofu was acting a little more behaved as he slunk slowly through the trees.

Oberon rode beside her, trying not to be too obvious about the way he was eyeing Tofu, almost wondering where the cat had come from. Andorra could tell he wanted to ask, but the question remained on his tongue.

She was feeling pretty cold at this point, her hands practically frozen into position as she gripped Tofu's scruff. What she wouldn't give to be back home in Hornwell, cozied up in her bed with the heat on. That thought alone continued to push her along, boredom creeping through her in an almost relentless way, like she was the passenger on a road trip.

A road trip without music and a talking family to keep her company. This road trip was silent, save for the sounds of the forest, but even that barely registered in her mind as they continued.

It had taken her and Tofu two days to reach the top, and Tofu had been traveling at a much faster pace. At this rate, Andorra decided, it would take them an entire week to arrive at the base of the mountain, right at the Snow Clan base.

"Did you get lonely up there?" Oberon had been mostly quiet during the trip, unnaturally so.

He shrugged. "Sometimes. I almost didn't go, because of my mom. And because of Lithe, and maybe a tiny bit because of Noah."

Andorra understood maybe all too well. "I'm glad you did. I'm so glad you did. Obe, I missed you, really. I'm sorry I never visited once we got here."

Oberon dismissed her comment with a wave of his hand. "Andy, you're the Princess. I've always known that your duty to Anlithamy would be more important than any duty to me, as a friend. Childhood friend or not, you're going to be Queen one day. That trumps being my friend."

Andorra bit her tongue, because she didn't agree. How could she, when her relationships with others meant so much to her? The life she lived with the humans was her home, her entire world, but she had been so lonely. So terribly alone at school, even at home when her parents were at work. She had gone through life without friends, without a group to hang out with, without anyone really there beside her.

It had been her and her parents for as long as she could remember.

And now, with the support of her friends, she was actually living her life. A life she'd never had back home with the humans.

And that was infinitely more important to Andorra. Being Queen was important, but her friendships? She cherished those so much more.

And even if Obe felt that being Queen was more important, Andorra knew she'd been a bad friend to him and to Lithe. Being a Princess was no excuse.

"I want to be both the Queen and your friend."

Oberon cracked a grin. "You'll always be my friend, Andy. You've always been my friend, even if you can't remember."

She hated that she couldn't remember. "I think you'll get along really well with Coralia. And Clini, and Mar, and Win. But I worry about you being friends with Callum."

Oberon's face twisted. "Callum? Prince Puck's son?"

"I hope you both don't butt heads, is all I'm saying."

"You're friends with Prince Puck's son?" Oberon sounded like he was in disbelief. "Like, the little hellion that is his father's mini me?"

Andorra barked out a laugh. "Hellion?"

"I've met Callum a few times, and he's an obnoxious asshole."

"Maybe, but he's my friend. And so are you. So you're going to have to try to get along." It honestly wasn't Oberon she was worried about. She was worried about how Callum would react to her old friend. She could practically see Callum's walls going up immediately upon their return when he saw her new guards. When he realized that Oberon would be replacing him as her right hand man.

"I can't believe Noah left that bit out." Callum grumbled to himself.

"Left what part out? Me being friends with Callum?" Was that what Oberon and Noah talked about in the Snow Clan? Her current friend group? It seemed silly for anyone to even care about that. Silly for Noah to even take notice.

"I knew he was your guard. I hadn't realized the relationship had progressed to friends. Which means..." Oberon shook his head. "You're playing with fire."

Andorra let out a long laugh. "Callum isn't so bad when you get to know him."

"I'll be the judge of that." Oberon ruffled his hair. "And you're friends with Clini? You made pretty quick work of becoming friends with the Royals."

"Is that a bad thing?" Andorra's voice grew a little more quiet. "I like them, a lot. Especially Eve. We have a lot in common. And Coralia is just the sweetest. I feel like I just fit in with them."

"Nah, it's not a bad thing. Not at all. I just didn't expect it, honestly. They're so stuck up."

Andorra felt suddenly defensive over her friends. Even though this was Oberon, she felt protective over them all. "They're not, though. Not when you get to know them. I feel like they play that role, but it's not real. Well, maybe it is with Aihfie and Anders, but not with the others."

"I wonder, if we had grown up here, if Noah would've been their friend too."

Andorra tried to picture it in her head, but she couldn't. Noah was older, for one. And he didn't get along with others well. Maybe he would've been friends with Callum, perhaps with Aihfie, but it was a hard thing to imagine.

Maybe he would have fallen in love with Aihfie. She was, after all, better suited for him.

But, now that she understood Eve and Callum so well, she understood Noah. She understood the mask he wore, the way he hid himself from others, the way he guarded his real personality and feelings. Before, she hadn't really understood.

But now? Now, she got it. She got why Callum kept up an angry shield. She got why Eve pushed people away. She could understand why the royals would protect themselves against everyone. And if Noah had been raised here, he probably would have been worse.

"Maybe. He and Callum are for sure cut from the same cloth. It's scary how similar they are."

"Halt!" The yell came from a guard in the front, causing all the horses around them to immediately stop moving. Andorra pulled Tofu to a stop as well, hesitating. Was there something dangerous? She tried to look around the guard, but it was impossible.

She heard someone dismount. Then, there was a guard rushing towards her. "Everyone keep eyes on the Princess, now." The guard stood in front of Oberon's horse. "We need to talk. There has been a break through the gate between Anlithamy and the human realm."

Andorra felt a chill race down her spine. She stiffened atop of Tofu, her heart stuttering hard in her chest. She watched as Oberon swung from his horse, moving away to talk with the other guard, far enough where she couldn't hear them. Even when she strained her ears, it was pointless.

Her heart was pounding so hard in her chest, she felt like she was going to be sick. She stroked a hand down Tofu's side, trying to calm herself down. She wasn't sure what it meant yet, but it didn't sound good.

Oberon was storming back to Andorra, his face paler than usual. He looked at Andorra, his lips pressed together tightly. "Princess," he started, his voice rough as sandpaper. "Sir Nohx's father is in the Royal Court, and he is demanding to see you immediately."

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