Frey had been staring limply ahead for the majority of the night. His cousin, Victoria, had thrown together a ball for Frey's 21rst birthday.

His gaze slid to the gruards lining the hall. There were dozens, but Frey could see each and every one of Daleka's brothers were guarding tonight.

Daleka.

Frey looked at his left wrist. Wrapped around twice was her white ribbon. He hadn't taken it off since the night he realized where she was.

Every bone in his body screamed for him to call her back, but law said she had to stay at her pose for at least two weeks before she could be respectfully called back to the capitol.

Tomorrow will be the 13th day. He could then order her back, and on day 15th she'd get the news.

There was a tug at his shoulder pads. He looked up from the ribbon at Victoria.

"You don't like what I've thrown together Cousin Frey?" she asked, tugging at the layers of her skirt.

"No, cousin, you've done wonderfully" he said, taking her hand in his. "My mind is miles away."

She tilted her head. "Oh? Who are you thinking about?"

Frey frowned. "What makes you think it's a person?"
Victoria smiled. "I can just tell. Is it a lady?"

Standing, Frey crossed his arms. "Yes, if you must know, it is."
Victoria started scanning the crowd. "Which lady?"
Frey himself a bit of sadness creeped into his heart. "Not here, I'll tell you that."

It was Victoria's turn to frown. "Why didn't you invite her?"

"She's...too far away." Frey said. Then he started down the stairs. "I'm retiring early."

Victoria objected. "It's not even ten!"

He walked through the crowd, ignoring the ladies that reached for his arm and the men wanting to invite him on a hunt.

On his way back, he was joined by Thomas. They didn't talk. At Frey's door, the king said flatly, "I am not to be disturbed until morning."

"Yes, Your Highness." Thomas replied as Frey shut the door.

The night passed with Frey sitting on the arm of the chair Daleka had when he had her in his chambers the first day they met. He started where her face had been.

He was losing his mind. He knew it. He stood and walked to his bathroom. A bath would wake him up.

Early the next morning, Victoria waited in the breakfast hall with her parents, her brother and his wife. They were all starting at Frey's seat. He still hadn't shown.

She stood and said, "I think I'll go check on him."

Her mother nodded. "Good idea. Maybe he overslept."

Victoria walked the hallways and corridors until she reached Frey's chambers. In front of the door was a Guard, his helmet at his feet. The Guard had soft brown hair that fell in waves around his face. Leaf green eyes turned to her as Victoria came closer.

"Can I help you Lady Victoria?" he asked as she stopped in front of him.

"Yes, I need to see His Majesty." Victoria said calmly.

The Guard glanced over his shoulder at the door. "He had asked to not be disterbed until mor-"
"It is morning!" Victoria snapped. "I need to see him now!"

The Guard blinked, his face hardening. "I have my orders. Apologies, m'lady."

The Countess felt awful at once. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to yell."

His face didn't change.

She tried again. "What's your name?"

He said flatly, "Sir Thomas Becker, m'lady."

"Knight Becker, please let me see him. I think something is wrong."
Becker glanced at the door, paused for a moment, then stepped aside. "I'd better not get in trouble over this."

Victoria dashed in, calling, "You won't!" over her shoulder.

The fire wasn't done, nor was the bed made. Clothing was strewn over the seats. There was only one chair that was left okay.

"Frey!"

No answer. She looked in his wardrobe and didn't find him. Then she knocked on the bathroom door. "Frey?"
The door wasn't fully shut. It swung open, and there he was. Fully clothed, sitting in bathwater that had to be freezing. He was looking numb.

Ten minutes later the doctor stepped out of the med room. "He's fine."
Victoria's brother crossed his arms. "Obviously he's not."

The doctor shook his head. "Why he did that, I have no idea. I imagine he wouldn't fancy telling me. Perhaps one of you can figure it out."

As the doctor left the Count turned to Victoria. "You spoke with him last. Did he seem alright?"

She shook her head. "No, his mind was miles away. But nothing led to him deciding to sit in freezing water all night."

The Count sighed. "Well talk to him; Frey will open up to you."
Victoria watched her family leave before knocking on the door. "May I enter?"
"Yes." Frey's voice sounded small. She pushed open the door and looked in. Frey had changed into another set of clothes.

He didn't say anything as Victoria came in and sat across from him. She waited for him to start talking.

After a few, tense moments, Victoria asked, "why?"

He didn't need to be prompt. "I have no idea. I just did. It was hot when I got in, but got cold at some point.

She leaned forward slightly. 'You were fully dressed, Cousin Frey."

He blinked and looked at her. "I'm going crazy."

"I know." Victoria said.

"All I can think about is Daleka." He ran his fingers through his messy hair.

Victoria sat straighter. "Daleka?"

"Yes, she's my...well, I wanted her to become my wife." Frey admitted. "But things got thrown out of place"

"How so?" Victoria asked. Frey bit his lip, touched the ribbon on his wrist. Then he said, "Come with me."
Victoria skipped behind Frey as he led her out of the mer bah and into a war map room just off the main corridor. He gestured for her to sit at the right hand spot, and sat at the head of the table.

They he was talking. He was telling her about Daleka. About meeting her. About the deal. About how she had put up with him for a month, a month with her just as deep in love. He told Victoria about their last night together. About her beauty in the lantern light, about her gliding through the foxtrot gracefully even in armor. About seeing her tears and her confession. Victoria looked close to tears herself as he told of her note and ribbon.

When he was done Victoria stood and looked at the place on the Map. "She's so far."
Frey nodded. "I know, I'm calling her back tom-"

The door slammed open. Frey and Victoria turned to see Arlotto in the doorway, out of breath from running.

"What's wrong with you?" Frey asked. He had taken a less commanding tone to Daleka's family.

What he said made Frey's blood run cold. "The Camp where Daleka is was attacked."

Victoria paced outside the war room. It had been close to an hour since the guard had come barreling in. At the moment, the inner circle of Frey's guards, along with three of Daleka's brothers, were in there.

Just as she was passing the door, it sprung open to reveal the guardsmen walking out, Led by Frey. Victoria moved to follow, only to be stopped by Knight Thomas Becker.

"You can't go with him." Thomas said flatly. "King Frey ordered me to keep you back-"

Victoria pulled back. "I have to know-"
"So I can explain." He finished. "Please, m'lady."

She let out a breath. "Fine."

He waved her in the war room, and she sat in Frey's seat. He stood beside her.

"To put simply, the camp was attacked four days ago. We got word of it an hour and a half ago."

Vidcotra pressed a hand to her heart. "Was Daleka hurt?"

"No, worse. She was taken. She was resting from the night shift when the attack happened. The leader of the enemy demanded any woman who wasn't of noble origin be handed over. Daleka was given."

Victoria got to her feet. "But why-"

Thomas held up his hand. "M'lady, most and pretty much all female soldiers are outcasts or orphans who had nothing better to work for. The terity says that female soldiers are fair game for hostages. Any of noble origin will have been war waged. Some rule created by Fry's grandfather."

She sat back down. "So she's gone?"
Thomas shook his head. "No, Lady Victoria, Lady Alexandra of House Pheasant Knoll is our Aunt."
" So she's a lady! Then she'll be- did you say our?" Victoria blinked. "You're a lord?"
Thomas shifted. "I'd rather be remembered as Daleka's eldest brother. But yes, we can get her back. You see, the kingdom that took Daleka,Lokado, is dreadfully unprepared if we did attack. We,Weanoweth, are three times their size and double the population. To top it off, there is a bit of a drought down there."

She stood and walked to the map. "They do seem small."
"So, at the threat of war, they'll have Daleka over without a problem." Thomas finished.

Victoria looked at the map a bit long before turning back. "You're her brother."
"I am. Frey asked me to stay back and keep an eye on things here; he's taking the rest of our brothers."

"Are you aware of Frey's...intentions."

Thomas chucked. "You mean he wants to marry her. Yes, I'm fully aware and have given my blessing to him."

"Why?" Victoria asked.

Thomas looked out the window. "Because he makes her smile."

Three days later King Frey the III of Weanoweth matched into the Throne Chamber of King Sebak of Lokado. Sebak looked incredibly nervous. Frey didn't blame him. He had arrived with no warning and had demanded an audience with the King of Lokado.

Frey had also arrived with a small army. And he was dressed in armour.

"King Frey!" Sebak announced. "What a pleasure it is, as always."

Frey didn't return the welcome. "King Sebak, I believe you attacked one of my war camps and took a prisoner."

Sebak shifted in his throne. "Only a girl, you know the treaty-"

Frey held up his hand. Sebak stopped talking at once. "You see, King Sebak, the girl in question is actually a Lady of my court. Her family is set in the way of guardsmen of my army and had her train as one too. It was temporary of course, she was to be called back after two weeks."

Sebak went pale. One of his advisers leaned closer to him to whisper something. Emil and Bane started to move forward, but Frey waved them back.

Finally, The adviser leaned away and Sebak looked a little relieved. "Apologize, my king, but I am still within the treaty. Lady or not, that status is low, and upon returning to your capital and getting that tital back, we all know it would be taken away after this little mess."
Frey frowned and put his hand on the hilt of his blade. "While in your kingdom, that is true-"
Sebak got to his feet. "And it will carry over into yours!"

The members of Sebak's court and Frey's army murmured. Frey turned to Arlotto, who gave him a subtle nod. Frey turned back and let his King voice rise. "She will be given a new tidal upon arrival; one I've been planning to give her for a month."

Sebak smiled and leaned forward. "And what is that? Will it put us to war?"

His court started to laugh with him. Frey's voice cut through like a knife. "Most likely. I plan to make her my wife."

The laughter stopped at once, and most went pale. Sebak flushed red, he looked ready to faint.

"Oh, i didn't- well i-" Frey held up his hand and Sebak went silent. "Where is Daleka?"
Sebak waved forward a guard, who looked close to having a fit, and the King of Lokado ordered him to take King Frey to the prison cells.

Every thump of the guard's boot sent a pounding to Daleka's head. She raised her head from the wood bunk to see the light from a guard's torch pass under the door. She swung her bare feet to the stone floor and limped over to the puddle of water that was forming.

When they had dragged Daleka in, she had been stripped of her armour, left in a loose man's tunic and pants, and forced into an interrogation room. For what felt like years she was screamed at to spill everything there was to tell about the capital. She had forced herself to keep her mouth shut, imaging the betrayal and pain she would cause if she opened her mouth to her family, her innocents of the capital, the castle-

Frey.

She had no idea how long it had been since they had thrown her in there. The guards didn't come at regular intervals. Nor did her food.

At some point during the interrogation, a whip had been used on her leg. They had stopped when there was a crack louder than the whip and she had passed out from pain.

When she woke up there was a wihte cloth and wood sprint around her leg. That was the last time she'd been able to sleep.

Daleka leaned over the water to look at herself. Her hair was in waves around her face. Her face had a small coat of dirt. She sniffled and cupped water in her hands to splash on her face and then lifted more to drink.

There was a thumping, and she turned to see the door open by one of the guards that had been in the interrogation room. She started moving away from the door, pain racing up her leg.

Then that guard stepped aside and another person entered. Daleka blinked to make sure she was seeing right. If she was, standing in the cell doorway was Frey, in armour and an iron sword at his side. His hair was slicked back and he looked as if he hadn't slept in days.

She slowly stood as he all but ran inside the cell and pulled her to him. "Oh Daleka, I've been so worried!"

He looked up at his eyes, the beautiful golden-brown color watching her, eyes brimming with tear drops. "Frey?"
He nodded. "It's me, I'm right here."

She felt her own eyes water. His voice sent relief and pure happiness to her heart.

Daleka didn't think she'd hear his voice again.

She leaned her head on his shoulder, sold iron under her chin but that was okay. She heard him start talking, something about taking her home. Slowly, very slowly, she felt herself drift to sleep that hasn't come in days.

She felt safe in Frey's arms.

Frey marched through the halls back to the throne room, and as he got closer he could hear Sebak assuring that Daleka was fine.

At the archway to the throne room, Arlotto said, "You don't know that, you have been to even look and i know it"
Sebak leaned forward on his throne. "Don't question me. King Frey will come walking out with her-"
Frey cleared his throat. The court members nearest him turned and saw Daleka limp in his arms. The court members parted, leaving him a straight path to Sebak, who looked ready to fall down on his knees.

Not even stopping to face Sebak, Frey called, "We leave, now."

On the steps outside the castle, Arlotto asked, "Shouldn't you have said something? A threat at least?"

"No." Frey looked at him. "Saying nothing will frighten him even more."

When sleep left her body and forced Daleka to open her eyes, she saw soft sunlight drifting in. Judging by the soft rocking and the stained glass windows and nailed in bed she was in, it was safe to guess she was on a boat. She turned her head to the side to see Bane, Abbadonn, and Gabriel in the room. Bane was leaning on the door while Abbadonn and Gabriel were sitting in chairs by the bed.

"Hey little sister." Gabriel said, reaching to touch his fingertips to the back of her hand. "Long time no see."

She blinked. "How long has it been?"

Abbadonn spoke up. "A week at least."

Daleka slighted and looked up. "I had the weirdest dream, i thought the King was here-"
"We're actually supposed to get him when you wake up." Bane said.

She looked at him. "What."

Abbadonn slipped out the door as Gabreil said, "Not a dream sister."

Bane and Gabriel stood and walked out, leaving Daleka a bit lost for words.

She pushed herself to be sitting up and ran her fingers through her hair. It felt damp, like it had been washed recently. Someone had changed her clothes too, she was in an oversized white tunic with long sleeves.

The door creaked open again. She turned and there was Frey. His armour was off, he was in a white tunic, brown under long sleeve shirt, and black pants. He still looked like he hadn't slept.

He shut the door and walked to sit on the side of the bed by her and took her hands in his. "I've been worried about you."
Daleka nodded and looked at their hands. She noticed something, and tapped the white ribbon around his wrist. "Is that mine?"

He nodded. "I kept it. Thomas gave it and the note."

Daleka had the good nature to blush and bow her head. "Oh."
Frey tipped her chin up. "You write beautifully."

She smiled. He moved his hand to cup her cheek. His other hand moved to cover her finger tips.

Then her hand felt heavy. She looks to see a gold band with a small diamond.

She looked back up at him. "Frey..."
He held up his hands. "I know, I found the least decorative and showy one."

"Frey-"

"And i can wait until you heal, and if you wanna wait on the ring itself i-"
"Frey, you 're supposed to be on one knee."

He blinked, then smiled, took her left hand in his and knelt. "Daleka Becker, will you marry me?"

She didn't even need to think twice.

"Yes."

The End