Valda jerked awake, looking around to see what had woken her. The furs slipped off her as her confused eyes connected with a pair of nervous ones.

A smaller giant was crouched on the floor placing fresh bowls of food on the mat. She straightened when she caught Valda looking at her, playing with her mossy dress and green pigtails.

"I didn't mean to wake you, Princess." She bowed but stumbled forward as her nerves got the better of her. "Um, I've got to go." Spinning on her heels, she headed towards the door at lightning speed.

"Wait," Valda called out, making the giant girl stop and tilt her head back, a scared look on her face. "Thanks for bringing us food."

Valda smiled at her, pleased to see an answering smile appear on the giant's face before she bustled out of the hut.

Valda shook her head, it was going to take a lot of time until she was comfortable being called Princess. To her, she would always just be plain old Valda.

The delicious smells made her stomach grumble and she hurried over to see what was on offer. Bowls filled with berries and other fruits that looked ripe and perfect for eating. Chunks of different meats, some in broths, others covered in glazes, made her mouth water.

Though they'd done well surviving through the forest, they hadn't had food like this. And there was so much of it.

She wanted nothing more than to dive right in, but then she remembered her friends. She would check on them first and then gorge herself on food.

Mauve's bed was closest, but she was already starting to wiggle around so Valda left her be.

She had to stifle a giggle when she caught sight of Tevin. He'd cocooned himself so well in furs he resembled a giant burrito. Whilst Carrick had thrown most of the furs off himself and slept on his stomach.

From what she could tell, they both appeared as if they were well. Both had patches of moss tied around their heads and Valda only hoped it was the same stuff Nisog had given Mauve. If not, they were going to wake up with some major headaches.

Seeing that her friends were in no immediate danger, Valda helped herself to the food, relishing the taste as it filled her empty stomach. With everything that had happened the night before, they'd missed dinner and now her stomach was pushing her to make up for the lost meal. Thankfully, it appeared a giant's portion was much larger than the average Fae's.

"Mmm, what is that delicious smell?" Mauve's head popped up, her nose high in the air as she breathed in the food's aroma.

She spotted Valda sitting cross-legged on the floor and went over to investigate. It wasn't until she sat, picking at the bowls, that she even realised something was different about their surroundings.

"Valda? Where are we?" She kept her voice neutral, but inside she was panicking.

The room was vast and round. It looked like it was made of a combination of rocks and mud, but there were also flowers pressed into the mix. Explaining the slight floral scent that seemed to cling to everything. The floor was covered in a course rug, similar to what she assumed was the door. It wasn't uncomfortable to sit on, but wasn't as soft as her bed.

Valda looked at Mauve, trying to judge how much she would freak out if she just told her. "We're in the giants' camp." She decided it was better just to get it out there. Better if Mauve freaked out whilst there was food to calm her down.

Mauve's expression went from panicked to terrified in under a second. "We have to get out of here."

Valda pulled at her hand, stopping Mauve from jumping to her feet. "Look, just calm down and eat some food. We're safe here," she tried to explain, but Mauve was having none of it.

"Safe? Safe! How can we be safe here? This is giant territory. If they find us here, they'll kill us or worse, hand us over to Lorcan." Her breaths came in pants as her heart raced.

"Mauve, who do you think brought us the food?"

Valda's question brought Mauve up short. She looked down at the food and then back to Valda. A crazy idea forming in her head.

"What happened yesterday?"

Seeing that Mauve was at least not going to go running out the door, Valda began recounting everything that had happened after their captured, including her talk with Kadtius.

Mauve was speechless by the time Valda had finished. "So you're telling me that not only did we rescue a baby giant? We rescued a clan leader's child?" There was astonishment in her voice. Of all the chances.

Valda only nodded, still picking at the bowl of berries.

"The boys will not be happy about this." Mauve looked over at their sleeping forms. Valda may underestimate their reactions but she wouldn't.

They proved Mauve right when an hour later the boys finally woke up. It took everything in the girls to stop them from leaving immediately. They were still arguing back and forth when Nisog ran through the material door.

"Nisog," Nisog said, tugging at Valda's arm.

Before she could respond the giant Queen, Aurog, came through behind him. Her head was up in the hut's rafters, but it didn't take away from her grandness. Instead, it felt almost like her powerful aura was trying to break through the very walls.

Immediately the boys' argument died away, and they took a few steps back. Mauve was quick to join them, but Valda stood her ground. She knew they had nothing to fear.

Aurog smiled at the trio's uneasy expressions and was pleasantly pleased at Valda's bravery. She would need that if she were going to fulfil her promise to the giants. It would not be an easy feat, but maybe the little halfling had the heart to accomplish it.

"My King requests all of your presence. Whilst you are with me, my servants will ready your supplies to continue your journey."

A few giants peaked their heads in, hearing their Queen mentioning them, but quickly backed away as she strode from the hut.

The boys were already shaking their heads, but there was nothing they could do.

"Nisog," Nisog demanded, forcing Valda to step outside the hut.

Not wanting to leave Valda unguarded again, the other three followed her, reluctantly.

Their eyes were round as they took in the giants' camp. Valda, having seen it the night before, was already a few metres away and they rushed to catch up with her.

Tevin and Carrick were restless, wanting to grab weapons that they no longer had. Mauve remained cautious but didn't immediately curse every giant in sight. Instead, she waited, trusting that Valda was right.

Neither three wanted to admit it, but they were surprised that Valda had survived so long without them, especially considering their current hosts. Mauve and Carrick had assumed they would have had to look out for her and wait patiently for her to understand Adiocion. But their patience hadn't been necessary.

There was no way they would have rescued Nisog. Which meant there was no way the giant King would have spared them when they entered his territory. And no way they could have then convinced him to not kill them once his guards had captured them.

Without Valda, they would have already been dead. But now they were guests at the giant King's request. The trio were having a hard time wrapping their heads around this knowledge. They knew the promise that Valda had made to the giants, and just like them they were wondering if she'd be able to deliver it.

"Ahh Princess Valda and her friends. Welcome." Kadtius appraised the other three, his eyes unreadable. "I trust you slept well." He smirked, given the fact three out of four of them had been unconscious.

Valda interrupted before the other three could voice their opinions about friendly hospitality. "We are well rested, your Highness." She bowed at the waist, silently urging the others to do the same.

Tevin, who had more practice keeping his mouth silent when he disagreed, managed a successful bow. But Mauve and Carrick could only jerk their bodies in a parody of one. Their royal upbringing made it difficult for them to bow, even when their lives depended on it.

Rather than getting angry with their lackluster performance, Kadtius seemed amused by their reactions. "Regardless, you must be ready for your journey across the mountain. Come." He took them back to the waterfall which was no less spectacular in the day than it had been at night.

Sunlight fractured through the water, forming rainbows that reflected against their skin. It filled them all with energy just by standing near it.

"The dragons call the top of the mountain their home. Their nests directly cross the path that will lead you down the other side to the rebels base. And yes, I know where their base is." Kadtius looked over at Carrick's open mouth with a smirk.

Recovering quickly Carrick snapped his mouth shut. "And you haven't given its location to Lorcan?" He demanded hotly, momentarily forgetting who he was speaking to. Mauve elbowed him in the ribs, giving him a pointed look as she looked back at Kadtius, waiting for a reprimand that would never come.

"Your question is justified, son of Artair." Carrick jumped as the giant used his father's name. "But Lorcan already knows of the rebel stronghold. Unfortunately, his forces are still tied up with securing Lania. It seems Queen Orlaigh's subjects aren't entirely happy with their new King." Kadtius' smile didn't diminish, despite his master's apparent hardship.

Carrick and Mauve weren't sure what to think of this news. They had assumed that Lania had fallen as soon as they'd left, but apparently there was still enough trouble to keep Lorcan there.

"Do you know what has happened to Queen Orlaigh or our father?" Mauve murmured, wondering if they were already too late to save them.

Kadtius scratched at his green hair and plucked a water lily from the pond. "Lorcan doesn't share information that easily, I'm afraid, Princess. My intelligence, however, suggests that both the Queen and your father are, for the moment, being held deep in the castle. Though I don't know what Lorcan plans to do with them."

The siblings looked at each other, sharing a relieved sigh. For now, their father would be safe. Valda's reaction was more subdued. She was happy to hear her mom was alive but, not having the close relationship that her cousins shared with their father, she wasn't as sure as them.

The siblings ignored Valda's internal conflict over her mother. "Thank you, your Highness." They said in unison, causing Kadtius to raise an eyebrow.

"Well, there might be hope for you yet." He appraised the siblings with fresh interest.

"King Kadtius, you were saying about the dragons." Valda jumped in before her cousins could make a comment on his statement and judging from their disgruntled faces they had intended to.

"Ahhh, yes, I was. The dragons are courteous to my giants however they will probably be less pleased to children of the Fae. You must tread carefully."

"Really? That's the best advice you have 'tread carefully'?" Carrick huffed out a sigh, before receiving another elbow jab from his sister.

Kadtius peered down at him with narrowed eyes. "Yes, young Fae. The dragons blame your kind for chasing them off their land onto the desolate mountain top. Where only the hardest and tasteless plants ever grow. Because of your kind, their life was made much harder."

Carrick squirmed, not appreciating the giant's words, but he didn't argue with them. He wasn't sure where Lania's land had come from, and something in Kadtius' eyes told him he'd spoken the truth.

It was a bitter pill to swallow, but Valda found it easier than the other three. Already she'd seen what the Fae's treatment of the giants had resulted in.

The approach of another giant brought their intense conversation to an end. Bifgar had their rucksack attached to his huge belt and carried their weapons in his hand. It looked like he'd rather crush them in his iron grip than carry them, but he would never disobey his King.

"My King." He bowed deeply, completely ignoring Valda and the other Fae. "I have brought the preparations you requested." He detached them from his belt and allowed them to pool on the floor, choosing to ignore Kadtius' upturned eyebrow at his actions.

"Very well, Bifgar."

Dismissed, Bifgar sent a glare their way, bowed to his King, and then left.

Kadtius turned the lily pad over in his hands, admiring the flower's beauty. "The dragons are of course wrong. This land may look bleak and inhospitable, but life always teems just below the surface. They just need someone to show them." His eyes came to rest on Valda, her expression confused.

He set the lily pad back in the water basin, where it swirled in the current. He knew he was playing a dangerous game, but he had hope that it would work out in the long run. It wouldn't just be his life on the line, and the sight of his young son really brought that home.

"You will find a tunnel behind the waterfall. It will be a steep climb, but you should reach the top of the mountain by tomorrow."

They all looked towards the waterfall, realising the only way to enter was by diving. Valda shuddered at the thought of how long it would take for her hair to dry.

"Nisog," Nisog whispered, giving Valda a crushing hug which she was sure bruised a few of her ribs. When he stepped back, he handed her a beautiful polished stone, the type that adored Aurog's head. "Nisog." He said finally before going to stand by his father.

"That stone comes from this mountain and carries my insignia. If you meet another giant on your travels show them this and know that you travel with my blessing." Kadtius bowed his head, before picking up a tearful Nisog and leaving them at the waterfall.

Nisog waved at them all from his father's shoulder, his water eyes staring after them. Valda wanted nothing more than to comfort him, but their good bye was already over. One day she would see him again. She would keep her promise so that Nisog would be safe. But until then it was time to carry on with their own journey.

"Who's ready for a swim?" She asked sadly, receiving disgruntled looks in return.

She wasn't the only one not looking forward to the water.

Deciding just to get it over with, she picked up her rucksack, hoping her friends' bags were just as waterproof, and jumped into the water.