Wren looked at herself in the mirror. She'd been in Argonian for almost a year, and some things still never change. She was not used to seeing her royal self in the mirror. Pink was smeared across her cheeks and lips. Bits of gold were flecked on her lips. A dazzling shade of eyeshadow sat on her eyelid obediently. Clipped-on earrings the shape of a feather dangled from her earlobes, and several dainty necklaces and chains hung from her neck. Wren lifted both her hands up as the maid who was attending to her, Bridget, put rings on her fingers.

'You're done,' Bridget told her. Bridget had been assigned her personal servant ever since day one. Wren smiled at her in the mirror. 'Thanks.'

'Good luck! I can't believe the High King's visiting,' Bridget said, smiling at Wren as she slid out of the room. Wren watched her long blonde hair fly after her out of sight.

'He's probably here to see Odyssey,' she muttered, fiddling with the earring on her right ear as she left.

Odyssey was already ready, standing at the end of the Entrance Hall. Wren took her place next to her, tripping over her gown. She could've sworn Odyssey winced just a little. Wren hurried to stand next to her.

Back straight. Natural smile. Eyes wide open. She knew the drill.

The doors opened after two or three minutes. In walked two guards in silver armour. Wren frowned, then quickly adjusted her face. How depressing it is to greet visitors this way, she thought, remembering whenever her Uncle Hunter had visitors, he would be wearing his floral blue beach shirt and chilling on the couch with a few chips on the tabletop, and Wren could be in a mess and in any position. Wren's mind drifted off to her uncle and woke up when Odyssey nudged her lightly.

In walked Nathaniel Daeyl, his golden crown sitting unevenly on his ruffled midnight hair and shining in the sunlight. He looked as carefree as ever; a playful smile playing on his lips slightly. He wore an all-black suit with golden buttons and chains.

Still as nonchalant and blithe as ever, Wren thought. She straightened her back suddenly. This wa sthe part where they curtsied.

She and her sister did. Nathaniel did a half-bow, more like a tilt with his head. The Argonian and Iridian guards left in sync, standing at the other end of the room.

'Your Highness,' Odyssey said.

'Your Highness,' Wren said.

'Queen Odyssey,' Nathaniel said in his drawling voice. 'And Princess Wren, of course.'

Wren gave a tight smile. No, natural, she reminded herself sternly.

'May I know what you require from Argonian, my Lord?' Odyssey said, mustering her most ladylike, royalty-iest tone.

'Ah,' Nathaniel said. 'There's a catch. I didn't come here to seek Argonian's help. Specifically, I wanted to talk to Princess Wren here.'

Wren's eyes widened. Odyssey didn't flinch.

'Of course. Word in private?'

'No, no, it's necessary you are here as well,' the High King said. 'I will first make matters with the princess here.'

Odyssey took a step back. 'Of course, my Lord.'

If the two of them were alone, Wren wouldn't be so high and formal with him. But since she was in the Hall of the Palace, she tilted her head at the High King, saying, 'Your Highness.'

Creases appeared on Nathaniel's forehead. 'I don't remember when you were so formal with me the last time we met,' he chuckled.

Odyssey choked. Wren grimaced. Yup, she hand't told Odyssey about her and the High King's encounter. Nathaniel looked concerned.

'No, it's alright,' Odyssey said. 'Just a - a nasty flu.'

'Well, in that case ..' Nathaniel turned back to Wren, looking slightly troubled though Wren knew he was much too blithe for that. 'Princess Wren. Wren. Is it okay if I call you Wren?'

'Oh, it's more than okay,' Wren said at once. 'Your Highness,' she added.

He smiled slightly. 'Then in that case, you will address me as Nathaniel. Daeyl. Nathaniel. Whichever you prefer.' He cleared his throat. 'I will get to the point.'

'Yay,' Wren said. His eyes twinkled. 'I remember the last time, I was not direct.

'You weren't,' Wren said grinning. Odyssey looked immensely shocked at their friendliness.

'So Wren,' Nathaniel said, scratching the back of his neck. 'I've come to make an offer with you.'

'What?'

'I heard recently, you came back from Nicaea Valdis's Court. The Faerie Queen's Court.'

'It - it's already in the news?' Wren said in aghast, turning to Odyssey. Odyssey grimaced sheepishly.

'And,' Nathaniel continued, 'congratulations.'

'You promised to the point,' Wren said amiably. Nathaniel grimaced.

'Right. Sorry. Habit. Well, you're the only person I know who can help me.'

'My sister?'

'As much as I appreciate it,' Nathaniel lowered his head, 'no.'

Wren raised her eyebrows.

'I need you to help me in my Court,' he said quietly. 'I'll admit it. I'm facing a problem unlike any I've ever faced. You're the only one I know who can help me.'

Wren swallowed. 'What is it? Why me?'

Nathaniel's gaze met hers, and there was a mixture of sincerity and desperation in his eyes. 'I believe in your abilities. Your connection to the Faerie Queen could provide insights and solutions. I need someone I can trust, someone who isn't blinded by the politics of my Court. You are the one. The only one. And need your help.'

Wren stared at him, considering his words. 'What's your problem?'

Nathaniel sighed.

'I mean it literally, not - no offense,' Wren said quickly.

'Ah, right. Well, I can't elaborate right now, but I know the brief idea is that dreams are invading Elryzian. Dreams of Elryzianers.'

Wren stared at him. 'What?'

'Maybe I should be more specific,' Nathaniel considered.

'Yeah, you should, because I have no idea what you're talking about.'

He took a deep breath. 'People have nightmares, right? Dreams and nightmares. And these nightmares are coming true.' His eyes flicked to hers. 'Thing is, they're not normal dreams. I know they're carefully crafted manifestations, created by someone. These nightmares are coming true as we speak.'

'Wait, what do you mean? Give me an example; what do you mean by -'

'Let's say there's a boy having a nightmare of a sea-monster in the deepest oceans, destroying the Underwater Kingdoms,' Nathaniel said. 'Yeah? Well, that scene will soon be true. I just don't know when.'

Wren was amazed. 'I ... have never head of anything like that before.'

'These dreams are being held in a dreamscape. I can't enter the dreamscape, Wren. No one can. I don't think you can either. But I think I can shut it down. Shut the dreamscape down and no one will ever have dreams again, and this madness will stop.'

'Then do it.'

'I don't know how,' Nathaniel said frustratedly. 'The dreamscape is where the unconscious are. This is stupid. No one conscious can go in. There's a fifty percent chance that someone's crafting these nightmares, these manifestations.'

'You think it's Nicaea?' Wren said finally. 'Don't you?'

Nathaniel shook his head. 'No. It's not Nicaea.'

'Well, I wouldn't be too sure about th -'

'It's not Nicaea,' he hissed fiercely. Wren jerked her eyebrows up. 'Okay. Chill. How are you so sure though?'

'First, Nicaea didn't have enough time to create these manifestations,' he said, holding up a finger. 'I've looked through all of my books and my theories. It would take at least three years for someone to manifest them, and it requires a lot of Dark Magic. Even darker magic than erasing one's memory. This is next-level dark. Second, it can't be Nicaea because she's not interested in Elryzian. She wants you. Once she has you, she'll slowly take over Elryzian. That's her plan. That's how she works.'

Wren was shaking her head. 'It's like a chess game; you don't know what your opponent would do next. And trust me, Nicaea's an unpredictable opponent.'

Nathaniel raised an eyebrow.

'What, I just defeated her for the moment out of sheer luck,' muttered Wren.

'Will you help me?' Nathaniel said. 'You won't work for me, I promise. You will work with me, partner with partner.'

Wren looked over at Odyssey instinctively. 'It's not my choice,' Odyssey said slowly. 'It's yours. I have no say in this matter, really I don't.'

'She has to leave the Palace,' Nathaniel said suddenly. 'She has to come with me.'

It was Wren's turn to choke. Odyssey stared fixedly at him. 'I beg your pardon, Your Highness?'

'Wren has to come with me,' Nathaniel said again, making no sign of changing his mind.

'That's ... out of the question,' Wren said before her brain could process it. 'I mean, I can't just go with you and leave Argonian -'

'I'm sorry,' Odyssey said, coming up to them. 'But the princess has duties to fulfill.'

'That's ... not what I meant, but okay,' mumbled Wren. 'I have school,' she said, louder. 'I have ... I just have to stay here.'

Nathaniel's eyes were fixed on Wren's and only hers now. 'So that's a no?'

Wren winced. 'Can you ... give me some time to think it over?' she said tentatively.

'No.'

Wren gave a half nod. 'So you want me to answer now?'

'Yes.'

'I mean ... it's a big decision. I have to think it over. I have to think of the consequences, disadvantages, advantages and come down to a conclusion.'

'Then think now,' Nathaniel declared. 'I will give you and Her Majesty some time.' He checked his watch. 'One hour. You've got one hour. I'll go for a coffee in a very tempting, romantic coffee-shop that caught my eye just now.' He bowed his head and walked out, his two guards escorting him behind. Wren gaped after him. Odyssey shook her awake.

'Wren!'

Wren turned back to her sister. 'I have school.'

'School is not important, it can be arranged!' said Odyssey, looking very flustered now. 'The point is, you've run off out of the kingdom and the news have spread since you were away. I had millions of news reporters trying to come in to the Palace; the guards had to control them. Rumours spread. You should see the headlines -' Odyssey held her hands up in the air and read from an imaginary newspaper, 'Once Long-Lost Princess Wren Runs Away from Argonian Again ... Suspected Abused Environment.' Odyssey flounced back to Wren. 'Whatever you do Wren, the world will know. Do you have any idea what it feels like? People asking me wherever I go what I did to you. I thought it was the fight we had before you went. But I know it wasn't. I couldn't tell them about Nicaea, could I?'

Wren looked at her sister, a lump forming in her throat. 'I'm sorry - I had no idea -'

'Don't be. The thing now is, the High King wants you to serve him, and as much as I adore the idea, you have to say no.'

'He said I won't be serving him,' Wren said warily. 'I'd be working with him, side by side.'

'But what if ... what if he's lying?'

'He's the High King for a reason,' Wren said, hoping what she said was true. She remembered Nathaniel saying clearly he never wanted to have the crown.

'Look, he helped me, Odyssey. I asked him for help and he gave it to me. He's asking me right now. It's the best I can do to agree.'

Odyssey nodded slowly, biting her lip. 'If I said no, you would still go, wouldn't you?'

Wren placed a hand on her sister's shoulder. 'Call the reporters tomorrow,' she said. 'Tell them the long-lost princess has a say.'

A wry smile tugged the corner of Odyssey's mouth. 'Thank you.'

Wren gave a smile back. 'It's the least I can do.'

When Nathaniel made his way into the Palace again, his face bright, Wren looked him in the eyes, took a deep breath, and said. 'When do we leave?'

A grin slowly spread over his chiseled face. 'You're coming?'

'I said so, didn't I?'

His eyes lit with hope and brightness - before Wren knew it, she was in the arms of the High King of Elryzian. Her eyes blazed, glowing a sudden red and green then turning back to normal. 'Okay, okay - not a hugger, not a hugger -'

The High King let go, still grinning widely. 'I'm not one either, but you deserve it. We're leaving next week. My carriages have to come.' There was a pause. 'And your friends can come.'

Wren's eyebrows immediately went up. 'Wha - Jake and Ladislaya?'

'Their names?' the King said thoughtfully. 'Interesting. Jake's a biblical name and Ladislaya means choice.'

'You know a lot about names,' Wren remarked. 'Tell me about mine.'

Nathaniel smiled from the corner of his mouth. 'Small songbird.'

He departed, leaving Wren in the middle of the Hall. Small songbird.

Was she what her name was?

She didn't know.

'Wait,' she called after him, 'how come you know who Jake and Ladislaya are? You never met them yet.'

The High King turned around. 'Let's just say it was pretty obvious the way they were fighting around in the bushes in my garden,' he said, shrugging.