"I WILL PROTECT YOU with every ounce of my life, My Queen."

"I want to keep you safe."

"It's okay, Eerika. You're safe now. You're safe."

My eyelids broke open and pulled me out of the dream, and I slowly sat up from under my covers.

It was the same one again, but now with Calder as the faceless blur of the man who'd joined the dream the morning everything began.

I assumed now that the screams were coming from my subjects and the people in the castle, the culprit of the queen wreaking havoc on them.

I rubbed my hands over my face and let out a sigh. After everything that I had learned last night from Eeira, I honestly didn't feel the need to even get out of the bed or talk to anyone. Though some of those feelings changed when the dream poked at my memory and flittered Calder's face. I wanted to talk to him, even if he didn't want to talk to me. With his bipolar tendencies I never knew what he was going to choose, the kindness or the silence.

After sitting frozen for a few more minutes I decided to get up from the bed, and walked over to the window. I pulled back the curtains to get a glimpse outside and decipher what time it was. Snowflakes were falling down like a beautiful movie scene, covering the pointed icy turrets as if they were shingles.

But in the reflection of the window glass I could faintly see something protruding from my hair, and went to touch it. Feeling skin I let a small gasp escape me, and rushed over to the mirror on the far side of the room. There where my two normal, human ears used to be were now replaced with the ones of a faery.

There was dried blood in certain areas of my ears that must've been caused from stretching into their points, and when I attempted bending their flexibility a pain shot through them. Giving myself a long gaze in the mirror I viewed over this look.

I felt so changed now. It was like I wasn't the same person I used to be in the ephemeral world. In all aspects that was true. I had been living an unknown lie all that time, and I was disgusted by it.

Even my face, my body already seemed less human, more like the otherworldly perfection of Calder or Eeira. They were like porcelain dolls--their skin flawless silk, their eyes clear as glass, and their cheekbones and lips sculpted like heaven made them itself.

Thinking on it now I always did have those characteristics as well. I never resembled anyone in my school or my neighborhood apart from the human ears, I guessed. I never had acne or dry skin, and I was always told I had doll-like eyes and nice facial bone structure. I just assumed it was all from genetics in my family, and considering Hanir and Linnea had those qualities too it turned out I was right. I just never would have thought it was all because I was a faery.

There was suddenly a knock on my door that made me jump, and it opened to reveal my smiling maid Astrid.

"Good morning Your Majesty, are we feeling better today?" she asked me in her sprite-like voice.

I wasn't really sure I could answer with what she and probably Eeira wanted to hear, so I added another lie to the list. "Uh, yes, Astrid. Thank you."

She opened the door further and pulled in a rolling cart that held a tray of what must've been my breakfast, and another maid followed in line carrying clothes for the day. It was another dress, and I couldn't help but lightly scoff under my breath. By the look on Astrid's face I knew she had heard me, and I awkwardly cleared my throat to speak.

"What am I doing today?"

"Um, pardon, Your Majesty?" Astrid questioned, looking up from her task of making the bed.

"What does Eeira or Gulbrand have planned for me today?"

"Oh, nothing, Your Majesty," Astrid smiled, "You've had a rough few days. Eeira thinks you deserve a day or two of rest. She said you may explore the castle and winter garden though, if you'd like. With a guard present of course, upon Sir Chamberlain's request."

My mind immediately jumped to Calder again, and I mentally scolded myself and pushed the thought away.

I had to ask anyhow. "Who. . .What guard will be joining me?"

"I am not sure what you mean, Princess. There are many guards of Captain Hansen's flank. Sir Chamberlain has assigned one to you but I'm afraid that is all I know."

I bit the inside of my cheek in slight aggravation, not of Astrid but of Gulbrand. I knew I was at risk of Sylvi or her minions trying to catch me, but the thought of having someone follow me around like I was being babysat was utterly mortifying.

If Calder was the one Gulbrand assigned then it wouldn't be so bad, I thought to myself. Though that was highly unlikely from hearing their conversation last night and Gulbrand refusing to let Calder leave his captain duties to protect me.

Calder's words still echoed in my head, how scincere he looked and sounded with his request. I didn't know why he wanted to give up such a high position just to keep me safe from the queen, or what Gulbrand meant about his last wounds he had let go without getting them healed. Calder's vow from the dream to keep me safe flashed in my memory, and I gave a quick shake of my head to somehow erase it; receiving a strange look from Astrid in return.

What I also remembered from mine and Calder's encounter last night was his hand coming up and gently cupping my cheek, both in the freezing water and outside my chamber. A feeling I wanted to experience again though I wouldn't admit it out loud. . .

Astrid insisted I finish all the food stuffed on my plate and wouldn't ease up until I did, though I wasn't much in the mood for eating. There were frosted berries and what Astrid called honey cakes, along with sweet butter bread and a glass of milk with honey that soothed my stomach. After she was satified with the look of my plate Astrid attempted to help me change into my dress of the day, but having put clothes on myself since I was three I decided I'd rather keep the streak.

"Astrid, you don't have to help me put my clothes on and take them off," I assured her. "I can do this myself."

Her young looking face appeared as though I'd said something terrifying. "But. . .Your Highness, it is my job that I-"

"I understand, I've seen the royal themed movies. I know you're supposed to do all this stuff for me but you don't have to," I said. "I can bathe myself and put clothes on, even make the bed. I've done it for years. I don't expect so much of you. Please, don't work yourself to death, ok?"

I gave her a smile to show I was being caring of her and not brash. After a moment of hesitancy she returned one to me.

"Yes, Your Highness."

"And, please no more of the 'Miss', 'Princess', 'Your Highness' or any of that. Eerika will do just fine," I told her, stepping into my dress and pulling it on. "I already have everyone else in the castle calling me them, sometimes all in one conversation like at dinner yesterday."

"Duely noted, Prince--I mean, as you wish, Eerika," Astrid corrected, giving a small curtsy.

I mentally sighed at the gesture. This was going to take some getting used to.

"As for my hair and makeup though," I continued with a chuckle, "that is something to be conquered. I never really did much to my appearance back in the human world, so I might need your expertise on that."

Astrid let out a chuckle of her own and smiled once more. "Of course. Leave that part all to me."

We shared another small fit of laughs as she grabbed the makeup from my vanity made by the maids themselves, and started prettying me up before braiding pieces of my hair.

As Astrid had informed me Gulbrand assigned a knight to follow me around and watch my every move. He didn't speak, but continuously eyed me like a lion with a piece of meat that made me uncomfortable. I couldn't complain though because I knew this was Gulbrand's demand, and from what I heard yesterday he didn't seem like someone you should trifle with.

Walking down the stairs I nearly tripped on the accursed dress that looked more so for a six foot woman than one of 5'4 height. This one trailed the floor behind me, the silk a color to match the moon and woven belt like the trees that tried to reach it. Astrid insisted I wear my crown whenever I was out of my chambers to look prestigious for my staff and subjects who entered in and out of the castle.

Between that and the attire and especially now my ears, I truly felt like I was gone. I was replace by a creature who dressed frilly, wore pretty tiaras, and was meant to be queen. I felt like Jessi who always wore skirts and high heels in contrast to my jeans and sneakers. She would have been stunned to see me now, especially my freak-of-nature ears. My hair covered them the way Astrid had styled it, and I rather liked it that way.

Today it had been three days since I left. I wondered if Jessi or the neighbors had filed a police report of my disappearance after they'd found Hanir, Linnea, and Blane's bodies. I could picture my name and photo scrolling across the television screen now, mentioning the murders and if anyone had any information to please call the police department number.

Maybe they thought I had done it, and there were detectives and dogs out searching for me in the snowy phenomena. At least I had done it to Blane. I wondered how they would explain his frozen corpse and the grief his mother was experiencing. My gut lurched inside me.

Taking the last few steps down the staircase my feet finally caught the fabric of my dress and I began to fall face first toward the ground. Before I met the marble an arm quickly snaked around my waist and pulled me upright. I'd felt that familiar gesture too many times already, and I didn't have to question who it was that rescued me from my clumsiness again.

I raised my gaze up to Calder, who gave an irritated look down at me. He must have been walking by just at the right time.

"Are you always this ungainly?" he castigated. In slight aggravation to his remark I quickly jerked away a little, but his hand surprisingly remained on the small of my back.

"It's this stupid dress," I retorted, "It's too long, and it's uncomfortable. I hate them."

"Well get used to it. You're the princess and soon to be queen. Gowns are all you'll ever be wearing," he said. By then I figured he'd realized he was still touching me, and let his hand fall back to his side. His eyes turned to his knight behind me who had just simply watched the entire thing happen, and Calder reprimanded him.

"Watch out for the princess. That's your order. If she's hurt under your care Chamberlain Gulbrand will not only have your throat but mine."

"Yes Captain."

Throwing one final glance my way Calder then went back on his patrol and left me with the fool who'd suit more as a villiage idiot than a knight in shining armor. I rolled my eyes at his trailing my waist and gave a huff as I turned for the dining hall.

As I entered I witnessed some of the other staff having their own breakfast such as Eeira, and Astrid who I'd dismissed for the day. Gulbrand noticed my arrival and as he sipped his morning wine gave me a tentative look. Shaking off his observative gaze I walked over to Eeira and sat down.

"That guard Chamberlain Gulbrand assigned me with has been undressing me with his eyes all morning. I just want to slap them right out of his skull," I told her.

Eeira nearly choked on her milk and honey and delicately blotted her face with a napkin before she spoke. "Eerika, a princess does not exert her words in an uncouth manner."

"Uncouth? What does that even mean?" I questioned, snarling up my nose at even the fanciness of how it sounded. I gave another glance at Gulbrand who continued to survey me, as if he was a teacher across the lunchroom making sure I was behaving. I hoped he couldn't hear what Eeira and I were talking about, but I spoke lower either way.

"All I'm saying is he better keep his little frost faery hands to himself or his ass is on a plate and given straight to Gulbrand."

I watched Eeira cringe at my language. I tried to hold in my laugh before turning things serious. "Hey, thank you for giving me a couple of days to sort of. . .de-stress from everything and clear my head. All that's happened, it. . .hasn't exactly been easy for me. I'm still trying to get used to all of this. I feel like any minute I'm going to wake up and it's all been just a crazy dream."

Eeira looked up from her plate and smiled at me. "It wasn't any trouble. You deserve a few days of rest. In fact it was not my initial idea. Calder came to me last night and requested it after I had left your bed chamber. He seemed very pertinacious so I granted it to him."

My eyes widened in slight surprise. I leaned closer in my chair so I could hear her more correctly, though I knew exactly what she'd said.

"Seriously? He did that?"

Eeira nodded with the slightest hint of a smirk on her face before she returned to eating. There was then a movement out of the corner of my eye, and I turned my attention to it to see Calder entering.

He was completely in his own world, not looking anywhere but ahead of him and keeping his professional stance. He came to stand by a window on the far side of the room with one of his men and didn't give me any notion whatsoever. I mentally sighed before turning back to Eeira.

"What about Calder?"

Eeira's face showed slight confusion. "What do you mean, dear?"

"You told me everything about my family, the frozen queen, and the history of the realm. You didn't tell me anything about him. Why is he so cold with everyone, at least with me?"

"That's just how Calder has always been," she explained. "He came here when he was sixteen, burned and weak from an iron knight attack. Gulbrand found him and let him stay here. He took him under his wing and eventually became a knight of the guard."

That must have been what I saw trailing down the back of Calder's neck and what Gulbrand meant by his wounds, I thought to myself. He has burn scars.

"Then he was dubbed Captain when he was eighteen," Eeira said. "He's twenty-three now, which is the age the fey stop maturing in body. In a few years your progression will cease just the same."

I was actually a little surprised at that last piece of information that she nor Calder had even told me about. But I guessed I should've realized that by how young and sprightly everyone around here looked.

As much as I wanted to ask more about it I found myself continuing on about Calder. "So he was just attacked out of nowhere and somehow got himself here?"

"No. Sylvi used to raid the village a few miles from the palace. Calder was one of the victims along with your subjects. But luckily he was able to escape and dragged himself here. By the time he reached the gates he became unconscious and Gulbrand found him, bringing him to the healer. It was touch and go for a little while. But Calder recovered, and he's always. . .had a sort of haunting of it in his eyes since then. As though his past has been very dark and cruel to him. But it is best to leave things where they are buried."

Taking in the information I snuck a glance over at Calder once more. I chewed my bottom lip with so many million curiosities now running through my head. With what Eeira said about Calder's attitude being true, she closed off the wonder of if it was just because of me. But when he held my cheek and brushed away my tears with a look in his eyes like it almost pained him to see them, I knew that attitude couldn't have been forced all the time. It was just a facade he was putting up, and wether it was to protect himself or me I didn't understand.

I also remembered him telling me that he'd lost his parents. I didn't have to ask myself if that was part of his pain because I felt it too for my own. I even still mourned for Hanir and Linnea though they weren't my parents. But there was more to Calder than those things. Just looking in his eyes I saw there were years of torment and pain behind them, scars on the inside of him too. He had put up a barrier of walls, and I wanted to know everything that had happened to him in his past to put them up so far.