Maelyn left the throne room, aching with tiredness. She had known. But hearing it come from his lips... she felt as if the castle had collapsed, burying her under the rubble.

She walked up the west corridor, planning to find her room and sleep. She needed to extinguish her thoughts. Shut off her feelings. Disappear.

How she wished she could disappear from everything.

She heard the main door closing. As she reached the entry hall, she nearly ran into Willow, looking breathless.

"Forgive me, I had to come back. Ari told me what happened. Please... how can I help?"

The pain in Maelyn's chest flared. Her words shot up with the heat of a kettle boiling over. "WHY ARE YOU HERE?"

Stunned, Willow stepped back. "What?"

"Why do you keep coming here? Why do you think I need you? Did I not ask you to return home?"

"I—I want to help." Willow's eyes looked stricken.

Maelyn clenched her fists. "Can you stop the bandits? Can you heal the betrayal we've experienced? Can you prevent me from being carted away to be the bride of Jarrod's son? CAN YOU?"

Willow kept silent for a few seconds. Then shook his head.

"You're the messenger," Maelyn said coldly. "King Jarrod's messenger. It's high time you returned to your kingdom."

Willow blinked. "You want me to leave?"

"Why would I want you to stay?" She frowned and tilted her head. "You didn't have... ideas, did you, Willow?"

Willow carefully backed away from her. He bowed low and respectfully. "I beg pardon for my thoughtless intrusion. I will do as you command, my lady." As he rose, she saw the shine of tears in his blue eyes. He headed for the main door and Arialain let him out.

"Bar the door and admit NO ONE ELSE!" Maelyn said in a voice that rang through the entry. Arialain nodded and slid the beam into place.

Maelyn walked to the stairs, chest heaving, breaths slipping audibly through her nose. It was better this way. When she became Roald's wife and queen of Grunwold, she would appoint a new messenger so she would never have to see Willow again.

How unbelievably stupid she had been. To fall in love.