I glanced at the other council members. Everyone was sitting in shock. I was standing in shock. I shrieked internally. I won’t let you down father. I won't let my people down either. I walked towards the door to leave but turned around once more before I left, “Thank you all for your time and consideration” The bearded one looked angry, he opened his mouth to say something but I opened the door and walked away quickly. If I had stayed any longer I was afraid I would get into trouble with the council members, and without the prince there to restrain them who knows what they would do. Not that I think he would be much help anyways.

Granted, I had no idea where I was actually walking to in this castle, but I needed to get away from that meeting room, was I dreaming? The prince had really agreed to my proposition. The last thing that I expecting is him to agree that quickly, I suppose we both knew how deathly war would be if it broke out between our two nations. The tales of war that used to infect the land was brutal and gruesome. Thousands were slaughtered and our nations were still recovering from the damage almost 4 centuries later.

After walking aimlessly for minutes trying to wrap my head around what had just happened I realized I had absolutely no clue where I was. There were no maids around me or servants that I could ask for help. Outside a window was a garden filled with all kinds of flowers and plants. I assumed it was the royal garden, and I wasn’t sure if I was aloud in there, but it was too beautiful and tempting not to walk in.

They had every type of flower in here, most of which I had only read about in scrolls or learned from the herbalist at the North. There were birds chirping around me and I felt as if the sun was shining on me congratulating me for what had just happened. I wondered if my mom would be proud of me. I turned around and was surprised at a man sitting on the bench. “Enjoying the flowers?” he asked. His hair was silver tied back into a ponytail, he had a scar on his right cheek and was walking towards me. His shoulders were very broad and he was a lot taller than me, yet a lot less intimidating then the prince had been when I met him. A northener?

“My name is General Reo, but you can just call me Reo.” He smiled reaching his hand out for me to shake. I grabbed his hand,

“My name is Kana, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” I genually smiled for the first time since I entered the palace gates. I grasped his hand with my left hand too. “I’m am so pleased to meet you, you are the first friendly face towards me since my arrival into the castle.”

He frowned, but quickly smiled once again, “I’m sorry to hear that princess, or can I just call you Kana?”

“How did you-” Who was this man? Yet another person who knew my identity before I had even gotten the chance to share it.

“It’s my job to know these things” he said playfully, “come follow me, theres a lot more parts to the garden.” I noticed he had a dagger strapped to his arm and a bow and set of arrows latched across his back. He was skilled at close and further combat I noted.

We continued walking and he turned towards me, “I will be accompanying you on your journey to the North, another guard will also join us, I’m sure you will love her as well. Her name is Eun-ji”

I nodded. “Tell me your honest opinion Reo, since I really have no one else to ask” I stopped. “Do you think this is ridiculous? Do I have a chance at stopping this war with a mere trip to the North?” His smile faltered and his eyes looked into mine almost in a sad manner. “You are a Northener, so you know how important this is to my people” I urged.

He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck, “I want to believe it will Kana, the concept of being allies and having a close relationship with dragons is something that is extremely foreign to the Southeners. Many of the officials won't be able to understand it” He paused and looked like he was searching for the right words, “I think that when the time comes for a change in this world it can always be done peacefully, it just depends on who the person is that has the ability to make those changes.”

I laughed, “You really do abide by the meaning of your name, wise gentleman.” I was truly feeling relieved. Reo had been the first person in the castle to show me this form of kindness. His words, although very vague and not very reassuring settled me down immensely. For some reason, even though we had just met, I felt a certain safety when around him.

He chuckled, his laugh was warm and light hearted, “I get that more than you might think, I suppose my wisdom just radiates off of me.” I laughed again. I hadn’t laughed this much in a long time. We walked in a comfortable silence for a few minutes stepping down the stone path of the garden.

He pointed to a withered branch hanging in the middle of all the flowers. “That is called the Dragmire flower, have you ever heard of it?" I shook my head, "While it may not look pretty or look like it has any value now, in the spring when it blooms to its fullest potential it can prevent poison from spreading through the body. You may be weary now, and I may not know you very well, but when the time comes I believe you will rise up in your position as Queen and stop any poison from spreading through your Nation and the Southern nation.”

I was touched by his words. Even if they weren’t true, even if he was just trying to boost my spirit, the words that he said to me in that garden would hold value to me. “Are you calling me not pretty right now?” I laughed again. I could tell he knew I took his words to heart.

“Quite the opposite actually. Because i’m a general and skilled in the art of war it doesn’t show, but your beauty is very intimidating.” He smirked. I pushed his shoulder and laughed again. I was lucky that at least one of the people I would be traveling with over the next eleven or so days would make the journey a little more enjoyable. I was nervous that the days and nights would be filled with silence and awkwardness between the prince and I.

He looked up, “The sun is setting, you will need your rest for tomorrow. Let me walk you back to your room.”

I smiled walking all the way back to my room. The nerves that had filled my body walking around this castle was dissipated by Reo’s kind words to me. My father had always said to me that the kindness of a stranger was often the most sincere because they did not owe you anything but their willingness to help you. We approached the door to my room and I was filled with energy now, I was ready to go on this journey.

“Thank you Reo, your kindness to me has meant more than I can put into words. If it hadn’t been for you I probably would have gotten lost in the castle too.”

He nodded with a grin that seemed to be planted onto his face. “Sweet dreams Kana, I will see you in the morning!” I waved as he walked away and headed into my room.

While I was still anxious about what tomorrow would bring, I know knew I had a friend on this journey as well.