THORNE SHOVED NILSINE DOWN into a seat in one of the tavern rooms, her laugh continuing on as if this whole encounter was amusing. She almost sounded crazy, the maniac sounds like a patient in a mental hospital on scary movies. The shivering of my spine didn't cease, but I kept my ground firm with her. Thorne used his magic to form ice cuffs around her wrists and ankles that held her to the chair.

"Why are you still hiding your identities from me?" Nilsine wondered, "Sidhes can see through glamour, you know. Come on, Calder, show me your beautiful face. It has been too long."

She looked behind her at Thorne, eyeing him seductively. "You are quite a sight to see as well."

"What are you doing so far from your dwelling, Nilsine?" I asked her, getting straight to the point and not bothering with her same foolish games.

Nilsine muffled a laugh with her sparkly hand, removing it to pout up at me. "I was. . .feeling lonely, Your Majesty. I became bored. Henrik just. . .wasn't entertaining to me anymore. I needed a new playmate."

"You have my mother's men for your pleasures, why go after these villagers?" Calder questioned.

"They do not come around the white woods anymore," she pouted once more, "They stay in the dark forest, where she dwells. She has taken away all my fun. No--"

She paused, turning her eyes up to my glamoured face. "--thanks to you, of course."

"You're the one who should have the blame put on. The sword you gave us was a damn fake," I gritted back, Calder's hand grasping my arm to keep me from lunging forward and smacking her milky face.

Nilsine turned her head away, skin glittering in her slightest movement. "It was not fake," she rebuked, "That iron sword was the first made by human man. Perhaps you just did not use it properly."

My body flinched, Calder's whispering of my name and his hold of me the only thing I had to keep me from bursting into rage.

"Eerika. Do not let her make you cross."

I slowly untensed myself, narrowing my gaze at the sidhe. "The sword did nothing to Sylvi. She broke the iron into pieces as if it was a twig. But you already knew that would happen, I'm sure."

"I did not," she defended, "Any future event that could have multiple outcomes I cannot see. That is why I wondered what had happened to you, Princey. Once your mother planted the iron chip in your neck, I couldn't see your future anymore. I suppose that's taken care of now?"

"You know it is, do not pretend otherwise," Calder told her. "If you are seeing anything from my future right now, I do not wish to know."

Nilsine eyed us both a moment out of the corner of her eye, making my heart speed up. Did she know something that we had yet to?

"Suit yourself," she hummed.

"Guys, I hate to interrupt this little reunion, but can we wrap this up? Someone is going to come in here eventually and see we're holding a sidhe captive. It isn't going to look good," Thorne spoke up.

"Sverdet was never the sword, Nilsine," Calder told her, "It was a faery, all along."

Nilsine whipped her head forward to us again, surveying Calder. "Oh really?" she asked, her voice trying to sound surprised but failing. "A frost faery, I suppose? Or perhaps one born of fire?"

"An iron faery," I concluded. "The only one born of her kind, that we know of."

Nilsine paused, tapping her long fingernails against the chair arm's wood. She wouldn't meet our eyes now which grew my suspicion.

"You know who she is, don't you?" I interrogated, jerking from Calder's grip and slamming my hands down on the arms, pinning her to the chair even though she couldn't move. This made Nilsine laugh again and slowly shake her head at me.

"Tell me everything you know, all of it, and don't even think to lie."

"Still just like your father," Nilsine smirked.

I glanced up at Thorne, signaling I needed him to show I meant serious business. He raised his other hand up and conjured a cuff around Nilsine's neck, holding her head to the chair. She grunted at the force, throwing me a sharp gaze and snarled mouth.

"How do you know Sverdet?" I questioned.

"I don't," Nilsine bit back, "I only know of her. A girl who had the same name as the sword I guarded tends to stick to memory."

"What do you mean by 'had'?"

"She has not been in this world since the final executions of the hybrid fey. She has been lost to history since. That is all the knowledge I have. Now release me."

I studied Nilsine's eyes closely. Even though they were complete white abyss' with no pupils or irises, I could see she was holding something back. I let go of the arms and straightened, knowing I wasn't going to get that information unless I used more direct force.

"Thorne. Tighten her up," I ordered, making both he and Calder's new eyes dart to me in surprise and worry.

"Eerika--" Calder began, but I shook his disapproval off.

"Do it, Thorne."

Thorne paused, glancing down at his outstretched hands keeping his magic going. He swallowed hard and slowly began to clench them into fists, the cuffs snaking tighter around Nilsine. She grunted, giving a few small coughs as the one around her neck pressed firmer into her throat.

"You knew the sword wouldn't work. You already knew what mine and Calder's fates would be that day," I said. "I should kill you right now for lying to your queen. But you can make amends to that mistake now if you tell me what you're keeping from us."

"I do not live in your kingdom," Nilsine hissed back, "No queen is above me. I am not obligated to tell you anything."

"The Arnesens were the first of this realm," I reminded her, "That makes it mine by lineage. You may not live in the vicinity of my kingdom borders but as long as you are in this realm, you are my subject. Now, your queen just asked you a question. I want it answered."

Nilsine felt silent, struggling agaisnt her bonds as she continued to glare at me. I gave Thorne another look to proceed further, watching his hesitation before he began to make her constriction tighter.

"Eerika, this isn't you," Calder told me, "Stop this. Thorne, that's enough."

"No," I refused, "She'll cave. Just give her a few more moments."

Nilsine and I stared at each other in silence, and I could feel Thorne and Calder's tension rising. When Nilsine's eyes started to twitch I knew her air was closing off completely, and she opened her mouth to speak.

"Okay," she strained out, "Okay."

Thorne quickly dropped a hand and the cuff around her neck disappeared. Nilsine took a deep gasp of breath, coughing and grunting as she started to explain.

"I know of the girl. Her beauty; her hair the color of fire, eyes of silver, skin of ephemeral kind. I have seen her."

"How? Did you ever cross paths with her?" I asked.

"Once. Magnus Arnesen came to me seeking knowledge of her future. He gave me a lock of her hair to connect my sight to her as I can only see someone's present and future in their presence or by some of their dna such as hair or blood. Your hair was on the towels I gave you to dry off that day you came to me, so I've been able to keep track. But I could not give Magnus what he wanted. Sverdet's future was too unpredictable. All I know. . .is that she still lives, somewhere in the human world."

I felt my heart suddenly lighten, and I turned around to Calder with a smile. "She's alive. We can look for her now. This is it. This can finally all be over."

"Let us not get too ahead of ourselves right now," Calder replied, "It is a start. We can go from there later on."

"Is that seriously all we needed from this. . .thing? To know that the girl's alive? Why are we still wasting our time with her?"

Nilsine gave a light chuckle. "Your time wouldn't be wasted alone with me, handsome."

"Don't get any ideas," I told her. "You're free to go, but you'll leave without your new toy. Stay away from my subjects, Nilsine."

Nilsine hummed, smirking. "Well you're just no fun, Your Majesty."

Thorne released her wrist and ankle bonds and Nilsine stood, sauntering over towards the door. As she did so there was the sound of a crashing and male commotion in the bar area, making me jump.

"A bar fight," Thorne explained, "We better leave by portal before things get too messy. You don't want to be a bystander during one of those, trust me."

"Let's go out the back first," Calder suggested, and the two men passed Nilsine and went out of the room.

"Bye, boys," Nilsine purred with a little wave. She then turned to me and placed her hands on her hips, hair swaying against her exposed stomach.

"Do you really not own any other wardrobe?" I found myself asking, immediately biting my tongue afterwards for speaking out loud.

"How would I get my playmates any other way? Looks as though you have two of them now. I applaud you, you cheeky girl."

"Thorne is my friend. Calder is the one my heart belongs to, don't you forget that. Stay away from them both."

Nilsine eyed me, her sly white smile not leaving her face. "Cherish them," she simply said, turning and starting out the door. "Things one is close to always have the threat of burning to ash if you let your guard down."

Her choice of words took me by confusion and surprise, and I followed her out the door to ask what she meant. But just as quick as she had said those words, she was gone. I looked around me for a glimpse of her, and another crash sounded from the front of the pub.

"Darling, we have to go," Calder spoke as he ran back up from wherever he had gone, bringing me from my dazed thoughts.

I looked over at him, his glamoured hand outstretched to me. Even in disguise I could picture his real hand, the one I always craved and that ignited my skin every time it touched me. Ignited like fire.

I swallowed down the lump in my throat and took it, he guiding me out the door to a portal that had been created.

I decided it was best after that new information from Nilsine to tell the staff of what was going on. Calder and I would have to travel to the human world to search for Sverdet and bring her back, which would require an absence on the throne. That worried me for the fact that Sylvi might hear of this and give an open door to raid the castle once more, but we had to do this. It was the only thing we suspected could finally end her for good.

I devised the plan that the Clan would take over leadership until Calder and I returned, but that left Thorne without much part in it other than keeping up the guard. The Clan would not like this in the slightest, and I knew their protest would be laid on heavy, but there was no changing my mind now. Sverdet would be found--no matter how long or how much I had to do to get her back here to fight this battle and win.

That morning I had the meeting with my staff to tell them of all this, but they gave their opinions of what Calder had done to me before I could even start.

"I told you he was a monster!"

"We all did! Who is next? Which one of us will he kill in our sleep?"

"Throw him from this palace!"

"Enough!" I finally shouted at them, making every one of their mouths tightly shut. I took a deep breath and glanced at Calder next to me before continuing.

"Calder was being controlled by Sylvi. There was an iron chip embedded in his neck that helped her do so. It's gone now. He's better. I'm fine. He will continue to stay here and that is the last talk there will be of it. I brought you here this morning to tell of some news that we have found."

I looked at Calder once more who looked over at Thorne, and Thorne gave the same gaze back to us. Calder turned to the crowd and swallowed deeply to speak.

"We have discovered there is a faery living in the ephemeral world who has the possibility to take down my mother once and for all. She is an iron faery. No frost abilities, no fire. She has the same iron power as Sylvi, and we believe because of this that she can combat her and destroy her where we have failed."

Surprised and excited chatter began to flutter around as I continued.

"Calder and I are going to travel to the human world and find her, and hopefully she will come back with us and end this battle."

"Who will watch the throne while you are gone?" Bryndis chirped up from the crowd.

"I will advise the Clan to. We shouldn't be away for too long. Calder and I will work as quickly as we can. Captain Halvorsen will be here to keep order as well. You all will be under safe care, I promise."

There was another flush of murmurs, and then Bryndis spoke up again. "This is amazing news! We should celebrate!"

"Yes, a celebration! The village must know as well!" another woman said.

"We have to keep this a low profile for now so it does not reach the frozen queen," Calder informed.

"But, we will discuss that later," I added, "Go back to your duties for now. Thank you."

As the staff left I turned to Thorne and Calder, letting a stressed breath escape me. "That went better than I thought it would."

"Don't count on the same reaction happening with the Clan," Thorne said, "They're going to get their robes in the biggest knot over this one."

"Well then I guess you'll be the one untying it in my absence, pal, 'cause right after Calder and I make a full plan and let the villagers know, we're leaving," I replied, patting him in the chest.

"Are you sure you don't need me to go with you? You know I can help. I can put one of the men in charge until we get back."

"No, you're needed here. Calder and I can hold our own. You're the only other person I trust around here. Besides, I. . .wanted to offer something for you, if you want it."

Thorne gave a puzzled look down at me. "What is it?"

I glanced up at Calder who I had discussed this with last night, and he had actually agreed it was a good decision despite the tension he had with Thorne. I smiled up at Thorne, making him the more anxious.

"You're kind of scaring me a bit, Queenie," he chuckled, "Say it."

I looked down and reached into Calder's pocket, pulling out the key to Eeira's office. I grabbed Thorne's hand and placed the cool silver into his palm, enclosing his fist around it.

"I want you to take over Eeira's position as advisor and chamberlain."

Thorne stared at me with surprised eyes, opening his mouth before closing it and then opening it again. "What? W-Why?"

"Because you're the best for the job," I told him. "Next to Calder, you've been my voice of reason since I met you, Thorne. You give me advice and guidance, as much as my stubbornness makes me not listen to it half the time. I know you like your captaincy, so you don't have to give that up if you don't want to, I just. . .want you to think about it, ok? It's yours if you want it."

There was silence around us for a moment as Thorne looked back and forth from me to Calder.

"Advisor and chamberlain," he finally said with a chuckle. "That's. . .an even higher position than guard captain. You sure know how to make a guy's ego swell, don't you Queenie?"

"I think it's a bit too late for that one, Thorne," I joked back with a playful roll of my eyes.

"Well. . .I guess there's no reason for me not to accept, then. I'll take the position. Thank you."

I smiled with a nod. "You're welcome."

Thorne turned and gave Calder a gentle slap on the arm. "Guess you get to be captain again, lover boy. Even though all of the men hate you, I'm sure you'll fit. . .right back in."

"I do not know if I will be able to return to the guard at my full capacity," Calder told him, "With the surgery done to my leg, there are actions I cannot perform anymore such as running a long distance, or anything that requires a jump. We shall see, I suppose."

"Maybe Acasius can give you some more strength training once we get back," I suggested, squeezing his arm reassuringly.

"Pardon me, Your Majesty?" then came a voice from the throne room entrance.

One of the maids stood there, smiling sheepishly at us. "Can I ask for your help in the washroom just a moment? One of the ladies dropped a water bucket and another slipped and might have twisted her knee. She's been taken to the infirmary but we need another set of hands to finish."

"Of course," I agreed, leaving the guys and following her out.

The rest of the day dragged on long and busy, and when evening finally came I went back to my room and fell straight into bed, Calder joining me later on. I heard him laugh at my position of being on my stomach with my face mushed into the matress as he entered.

"Don't waugh a me, I'm won out," I spoke muffled against the bed, only making him do it again.

I felt the mattress dip on both sides of my head, and I turned to lay on my back and come face to face with Calder. He was now leaning over top of me, smiling with that look he used to give me before Sylvi had changed him so badly.

"Good evening, My Queen," he greeted, making me laugh a little myself.

"Good evening, Captain," I greeted back, bringing my hand up to place it flush to his chest. "Let's stop with the formal names now, shall we?"

"How should I make my addresses to you, then?" he asked with a sly smile, grasping my other hand to kiss it. "Good evening, Your Majesty."

He leaned down and then kissed my forehead. "Good evening, darling."

His lips traveled lower to my cheek. "Good evening, beautiful."

I felt my heart fluttering in my chest like there was a live bird trying to get out of its cage, but I liked it. I held my breath as he brushed his lips down to my jawline, his voice tickling my ear.

"Good evening, my love," he whispered, sucking on the soft spot under my lobe and making the knot in my stomach come undone beneath him.

My breath shuddered out, making my face flush bright crimson against my pale complexion. I swallowed down my air, opening my mouth to speak and only hoping it would sound steady.

"Eerika will do," I played along, making him bring his head back up to look at me.

The blue in his eyes was so soft and loving that I had almost forgotten it was possible to be so. All I had seen in his eyes since Calder returned was gray, pain, and darkness. Here again was truly the man I had fallen in love with. I could see him, touch him, hear him. He was all mine, and I didn't want to ever fathom letting him go again.

"Hm," Calder hummed in slight amusement, a small smile etching his face. "I don't know if that will do anymore. You truly acted like a queen in front of your staff today. It almost feels wrong to use informalities now."

"Just shut up and kiss me," I said with a smirk and shake of my head.

"That I can do," he mumbled, breath chilled against my lips as he collided them with his own.

I immediately flung my hands up to his hair, keeping avoidance of his neck wound that was still bandaged. His palm pressed to my cheek, being gentle himself with my own neck bruises. After the heated exchange Calder pulled apart from me for air, and we stared at each other. His eyes darted all over my face, something behind them I couldn't quite read. He brushed my hair from my forhead and I brought my own fingers up to the hem of his shirt.

They traveled slowly down to his first few buttons, poking through the slits to just barely touch him, and he surprisingly didn't move. I was able to undo the first three in a single line of my fingers, his skin like pure silk against them.

Calder was stone above me, not a single twitch of muscle or breath of air coming from him. I slipped my hand further in, touching one of his burn scars which then triggered him. He gently clasped his hand around my wrist, pulling my touch away.

"Don't, Eerika," he whispered, an ache hidden behind his voice.

"I want you, Calder," I replied, the first thing that came to my jumbled brain. I didn't feel like myself suddenly, bringing my hand up to the back of his head to push his lips to mine again.

"We can't," Calder said, now refusing to look me in the eyes as he pulled his head from my grasp and sat up.

"Why?" I asked him, propping myself up by my elbows. "You're yourself again, we know how we feel for each other. What's. . .holding us back?"

Calder paused for the longest time, making me start to slightly worry. I sat up as well and scooted closer to him. "Calder, what is it?"

"I cannot give myself to you, Eerika," he finally said with a shake of his head. "Not in this way. I haven't even. . .been able to tell you the words that die to leave my lips to bond you to my soul. To. . .bond you to me in this way. . .I would have no honor left if I did so."

"Then tell me now," I whispered, kissing his shoulder. "Say it now."

"Sylvi is still out there, Eerika. I've told you I cannot feel safe giving my soul to you until she is gone. We may have found the person who can rid this realm of her, but it's not enough. It won't be enough until I see my mother dead before my very eyes."

"Is what we have not enough?" I asked him quietly. "Are my feelings. . .not enough to give you solace in knowing things will work out for us?"

"No, min kjærlighet, I do not mean it that way," he assured, turning and grasping my hands in his. "Your heart, your touch, it. . .can calm the most raging of snowstorms inside of me. But this can't be done. I want to give my soul to you before I do my body, or at the least know completely that Sylvi cannot touch you. These are two of the most sacred things to the fey. I have to honor that."

I couldn't help but scoff a little, even though I did understand what he meant. "What is it with knights and honor? Every book and program I've ever read and watched has proclaimed of protecting a woman's honor. It's crap if you ask me."

Calder gave a light laugh through his nose, stroking my cheek. "They learned it from the fey."

It grew quiet and still a moment as we sat there, my voice seeming small against the silence as I spoke again. "I want. . .to bind myself to you in marriage one day, too. I know we've discussed this already, but it's what I want. I don't care what the realm thinks about you being king or anything else they have to say. I want to be with you forever. I want a cheesy proposal however faeries do it and I want a ring and a huge royal wedding like the british monarchs on Earth. You can't deny your queen that."

Calder chuckled once more and stared off a moment in thought before holding up his hand. A snowflake suddenly conjured before my eyes, a chain made of ice cascading up it to make a necklace. He placed it around my neck, the magic tingling my chest.

"Will this do for now? As a promise to you. . .that I want those things as well. And that I will give them to you when everything is right?"

I looked down at the snowflake, signature to Calder's powers and his alone, touching it and causing it to give a faint glow.

"I love it," I told him sincerely, gently grabbing his face to kiss him. "Thank you."

"Now you will always have a part of me, even if we ever happen to be separated again," he spoke softly, touching the pendant and making it run cold against my skin. "You may now be My Queen. . .but know that you are still my Eerika first, and always."

I smiled, feeling a prick of tears swell in my eyes that I furiously blinked back. "Always," I agreed.

We kissed each other again, and then a contemplative look spread to his face that made me curious. "What?"

"We do have to tell the villagers of our discovery of Sverdet, but I'm not sure how we should go about it. It has to be inside the castle where no wandering ears for my mother can hear. That means we can't proclaim it in the square. We could invite them all here, but I'm not sure they would come just to be told news."

I thought about it for a moment, remembering back on what Eeira had mentioned of getting my subjects on my good side. Then Bryndis' suggestion from earlier resurfaced, and a small smirk snaked onto my lips.

"Well, there was a mention of a celebration."