Xic was talking to someone in the darkness of the stairwell, but he was blocking my view of the newcomer. I was about to snap at them that I was still present in the room and could almost hear every word they were saying when Xic finally turned around and came back towards me. The stranger emerged from the darkness seconds after and I was surprised to see Christopher standing there. "Christopher? What are you doing here?" I asked.

The prince smiled at me affectionately. "I'm here to rescue you," he informed me confidently.

I raised a skeptical eyebrow at him, but decided not to argue. I didn't really care who rescued me, so long as I actually got rescued and didn't end up in another dungeon. "I see. Well, then. Get on with it," I said. "It smells horrible in here."

Xic told us the guards would be back soon, so it was important that we hurry. He instructed me to stand back as he pulled a sword from its sheath. Then he let the sword fall with a deafening blow to the dungeon cell door and the lock came clattering to the ground. Quickly, he opened the door and pulled me out. "If we're lucky, no one heard that. If not," He pushed me towards the stairwell none-too-gently, "then we need to run."

I picked up my shirts and we hurried to the top of the stairs. Xic went out first to make sure the coast was clear. Then he told us to follow him and we hurried through the halls to the kitchen where the door was still unlocked. Once we were outside, Christopher showed us the way to where he had tethered his horse.

"Here's a map of how to get back to the portal," Xic said, handing a stroll to Christopher after the prince had helped me into the saddle. "On the back is instructions on how to get her from the portal to her home."

Christopher held the scroll tightly in his hand and bowed his head to Xic respectfully. "I appreciate your help. I will get her there safely," he promised.

"You better," Xic said. He lowered his voice like he didn't really want me to hear what he was going to say. "I didn't spend most of my life training to protect her for nothing. Get her home safe and unharmed or I will personally return that harm unto you," he warned. "Do you understand?"

There was an unreadable expression on Christopher's face before he replied, like he was surprised to hear Xic's subtle concern. However, it soon shifted to determination. "Of course. I will," the prince said. Then he turned and swung up into the saddle behind me, feet in the stirrups. "I will send word when I have completed my mission."

Xic thanked him and we set off. As we moved farther and farther from the castle, I glanced back at Xic. He was watching us go with a hard expression, eyes firm. Though I had never really liked him, I found I was disappointed to have to say goodbye under such circumstances. He had set aside all of his honor to help me, even when I had been so unkind to him. Silently, I wished him a well future. He deserved the throne, even without marrying me.

*******

Our journey through the woods on horseback took far less time than it had when Xic and I had gone on foot, and what I had expected to take days took only a matter of hours. We stopped only once to let Christopher's horse rest. Then we were on our way again, and soon, we reached a familiar grove with a clean pool of water. The moon shone off its surface in a shimmering crescent of white on black.

"This looks like the place," Christopher said, studying the map Xic had given him.

I slid from the horse without waiting for him, my mind flashing with memories of the very same grove that I remembered. Though I had not seen this side of the portal, it looked like a mirror image of the portal back home. I'd recognize it anywhere. "This is it..." I murmured.

Christopher dismounted and walked to stand beside me at the edge of the water. "So... how does it work?" he asked. "My father's kingdom has always used much less magic than yours. It is seen as disgraceful in some cases. We still have a small group of wizards to throw magic into our battles when we need them, but it isn't much, and it certainly isn't taught often." He paused. "Is it like that? Do you need to know magic to activate it?"

I shook my head. "I think I just have to walk into the water." 

"Oh," Christopher said. He got quiet. "I guess this is goodbye, then."

I turned to look at him. "I guess it is," I said. Clumsily picking up my skirts, I gave him the best version of a curtsy that Charlotte had tried to teach me. "Thank you for all your help. I may never have made it back here without you."

Christopher returned my curtsy with a bow, hand placed chivalrously over his chest. "Gratitude is not necessary. I bid you safe travels for the rest of your journey," he said. He extended a hand and I took it. Gently, he placed a kiss on the back of my palm. "It has been a pleasure to spend my time in your presence, Princess."

His kind nature would never not surprise me.

After he released my hand, he stepped back to give me space and I turned my attention back to the water. It seemed to ripple with energy as the sun began to rise over the tops of the trees, marking the beginning of a new day. With renewed courage, I stepped into the water and began walking out into the lake. When I was waist deep, I glanced back at Christopher. He looked farther away than I was expecting; I waved and he waved back. Then I turned back to my task, sucked in a deep breath, and sunk into the water.

I don't know what I had expected to happen, but it wasn't more than a few moments later that I emerged from the water with a gasp, struggling to shake the water from my face. When I was able to open my eyes, I scanned the shoreline for Christopher, but he was gone and the sun was still coming up. I swam to the shore and stumbled to my feet, wringing water out of my hair as I began to run through the trees, looking for home. When I spotted it, my heart nearly skipped a beat with joy.

As I burst through the trees, I found myself at the edge of the farm. I could barely contain my excitement. I gathered my dress up in my arms so I could run towards the house as fast as I could. As I got close, I heard the familiar voices of my aunt and uncle and I shouted for them, forgetting entirely the way my soaking dress weighed me down. "Auntie! Uncle! I'm home!"

The voices stopped and then both of them came running around the side of the house, eyes huge. They spotted me and my aunt took off across the grass to meet me. "Winter! Beautiful girl, where have you been?" she cried as we collided into each other's arms. My uncle wrapped his arms around both of us seconds later and we all sobbed into one another.

"You've been missing for days! We thought we'd lost you," my aunt said, hugging me into her bosom with trembling arms.

"I'm sorry I was gone so long, Auntie. It's a long story," I said through my tears and stringy, wet hair. "Long, and scary, and horrible. You'll never believe it."

My aunt and uncle pulled back to look at me and that was when my aunt noticed my strange attires. She frowned in confusion. "What on earth are you wearing?" she asked.

I looked down at my muddy, torn dress and laughed a little. "That's part of the long story," I said.

My uncle pulled his coat off and draped it over my shoulders to warm me, and the two of them hugged me again. "Well," he said. "I want to hear the whole thing. But first, let's get you inside for a bath and some hot food."

I nodded eagerly to both of those things and we collectively got to our feet to hobble inside. We didn't take our hands off each other the whole way in the door, too happy to be back together to bear another parting. However, in that same way, something that had followed me through the forest, the portal, and all the way home refused to take its eyes off of me. As I disappeared inside, it slid dauntingly under the house unnoticed.

*******

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