The whole dining hall was awash in the scent of the smokey, stone fireplace and the week’s worth of food set before them in honor of Rosemary and Sigrid’s arrival. Daniel’s eyes were bathed in the light of the fire as he held Sigrid on his lap and she slapped joyfully at the table before her while her uncles and cousins took their turns entertaining her with their silly faces. Always a hero to Rosemary, she rested her chin on her hand and gazed at the warm amber and gold that flicke

 Haldir stretched his neck from side to side until he got a fair crack, then he pointed up at the ceiling. “What’s this all about?”Weaving his long blonde hair around his hand, Eason knotted it, then crossed his arms as he glanced upwards. “This is the ancestral home of King Asnamar. He was one of the great old kings that battled the Evil. He was struck down before the end of it all.”From the corner of his eye, he caught a flash of red hair and heard the excited squeal of the little girl he knew. Rosemary slapped her hands over her mouth as he gave her a wave of his hand and lifted his chin. “It appears its under new management these days.”The little slaps of the soles of Rosemary’s shoes raced against the stone floor as they came closer, making Haldir turn to face the noise barreling towards him. “Haldir! Oh, is that really you?”A curl of his lips became a toothy grin through hi

The racing beats of her heart echoed in Daniel’s brain, and he could even feel her fingernails digging into her palms. Rosemary tried to control the rage building inside her, but the King could sense the anger barreling toward him before he ever heard the pounding of her feet against the stone floor outside the throne room.He sighed before he looked to Agmori and motioned toward the door with his head. “You should leave now. Apparently, someone has spilled the news of last night to your sister, and she’s on her way to discuss it with me.”A sympathetic smirk rose on the old warlock’s lips as he tipped his head and backed away with his hands up. “Good luck.” While Rosemary ran past him, Agamori bowed his head then pulled the doors closed behind him. She gasped and panted through her teary eyes and shaking head. “What did you do? Please tell me it isn’t true!”His shoulder shrugged just a li

“Riders approaching!” The clacks of the horse's hooves beat on the ground as they approached the town's gates below the castle. The Sentry held out the lamp to light the path for Daniel and his men when they reached the cobblestone road and bowed his head. “Good evening, Your Majesty, Lord Commander.”Agamori returned his nod, but Daniel’s eyes lifted to the window of his bedroom just in time to see the lights dim. “Dammit!” He rubbed at the pain in his chest, knowing it would be another night spent alone in the library for him.“She’s a tenderhearted woman, Daniel.” When he glanced over his shoulder, he met Agamori’s eyes. The Lord Commander wrapped the reins around his fist as he nudged the horse forward to catch up to Daniel. “In that meadow and when we took this land, those things were necessary. She understood that. What you did to your guest, that’s not something she will ever be comfor

“Haldir! Can you come here for a moment?” Rosemary cupped her shaking hands over her mouth and stepped back from the mirror.She hiccupped out a sound into her hands that was half a sob and half a laugh, and when Haldir peeked around the corner of her bedroom door, he wasn’t sure which it was until he saw the silver and orange colors melting into her skin. “Is everything alright?”Her eyes checked over her reflection one more time before her blank expression met his eyes, and she nodded. “Yes, everything’s fine.” She rubbed her fingertips over her forehead and rushed past him. “Please stay with Sigrid until I return.”He tipped his head to her and smiled. “Of course.”While Sigrid bounced and tossed toys across her bed, Haldir pulled the rocking chair closer and wiggled his finger between the slats as he pressed his forehead against them. “By the looks of it, I think you’r