"Mairwen!" Devrim shouted in spite of himself. The few night sounds around them suddenly ceased at the intrusion of noise. The girl looked sheepishly up at him with her big blue eyes. The Emperor's heart melted a little, but he tried to keep a stern face. "What are you doing here? You should be at home!"

Junayd uncovered the buried embers from their evening fire and placed some dry brush on top. As it caught fire, the sudden light caused all of them to shield their faces.

Mairwen tried to back up slowly, but the forbidding gaze of her father stopped her in her tracks. "I am waiting for an answer, young lady." Uh oh. The princess knew she was in trouble. Her father only called her 'young lady' when she was very good or very naughty. Mairwen doubted that her actions qualified her for the first.

Her eyes grew watery. "I…I had hoped we would be further along when we finally met. Then you could not send me home."

There was movement in the edge of the fire light as Gandr emerged. "Your Majesty," he bowed.

Thinking that the gnome simply wanted to give a summary of his findings, the Emperor cut him off. "Not now Gandr. I am trying to figure out why my daughter is out here in the dangerous wilderness alone."

"Father!" Mairwen was upset by her father's rudeness. It was out of character for Devrim to be unkind.

Gandr looked at him stoically. "She was not alone, Your Majesty."

"She wasn't?" Devrim asked.

"I wasn't?" Mairwen echoed, the shock evident on her face.

"No, you were not," Eira came from the shadows and fell at the Emperor's feet. "Forgive me, Your Majesty."

"Eira! I told you to stay at the palace!" Mairwen rebuked her personal guard.

Devrim raised his eyebrows and crossed his arms. "It stinks when people do not listen to you, doesn't it?"

The princess nodded emphatically. "Yes! Oh… you mean me. I am sorry, Father. But I know I can convince Alaron to come home! I could not stand idly by and do nothing."

"So you were going to trail us long enough and far enough that we would not send you home. Was that the plan?" The Emperor was on the verge of losing the little bit of calm that he had left.

"Basically," the princess whispered.

"I told her it was a bad idea," Eira interjected. She immediately regretted the impulse. Everyone gave her a dirty look. Even Gandr knew not to make his boss look bad in public.

Junayd addressed the younger soldier sternly, "Then you should have stopped her from coming and not just followed her like a lost puppy."

"Yes, General," Eira responded humbly.

"Please do not send me back," Mairwen begged.

"I am afraid I must. At least Eira followed you here. She can escort you home." Devrim rubbed his head. His chest was tight and his jaw was set.

"But Father!" The Princess began to argue.

"No buts!" Her father flatly refused to listen.

"His Majesty has a good reason," Gandr tried to soften the blow.

"I do not need your approval," the Emperor said coolly.

"I was trying to help!" Gandr snapped. His own anger was flaring up in response to the emotions he felt from the Emperor.

"That is the problem!" Devrim yelled. "I should not need help!"

The group went deadly quiet. Junayd motioned to Eira to leave. "I will go keep watch," she said with a bow before exiting the circle.

The remaining members of the group watched as Devrim hung his head. The gruff facade melted away. "I should be able to handle things. I should be strong enough. But I am not…I am not strong enough. I cannot protect those I love." Tears filled the man's eyes. He looked at Gandr. "You are the one that taught me I cannot protect Aurora. You took over her mind simply by touching her. Then you tried to murder her repeatedly while I did nothing to stop you. You and every magical creature shows me how inadequate I am." Devrim choked on a silent sob. He had been holding everything together for days, but eventually the real feelings were bound to break through.

At last Gandr understood the man's harsh actions. He relaxed and allowed himself a small smile. "Except your version of events is incorrect, Your Majesty. You stopped me from controlling the Empress that night at the dance. Then you never left the lady's side so that any attempt I would have made would have failed. Even when you weren't trying, you spilled the poison and saved the Empress's life. I have lost count how many times that you have saved her (and how many times she has saved you) since I have known you."

Devrim shook his head, and Junayd continued the speech, "You have looked death in the face so many times and always fought back bravely. No magical creatures, not even the Fates, stopped you from fiercely guarding the woman you love. I cannot think of someone more worthy of my service, Your Majesty."

"But I failed her. When she needed me I was napping in a storeroom." Devrim would not let them defend his honor so graciously. It did not matter that he was attacked and out maneuvered. In his mind, guilt wracked him.

In her ageless wisdom, Mairwen tilted her head knowingly and gave a cherubic grin. "Then it is a good thing you have placed others in your life to help you when you need it. We were not made to stand alone, but in community. That is what makes us strong. Even among the company here, I can name times that each of these men has saved your life. Junayd, your personal guard, helped make sure you reached the ice barrier ten years ago, he helped in the first battle against Cafer. That is not counting the times he has saved you from dangers unnamed and received no credit. Even just the other day, he stopped me from looking around the corner at the Merpearl, so I owe him as well."

The Emperor gave Junayd a nod of acknowledgment. The man had served him well.

The princess continued, "And Gandr stopped the balcony from crashing down long enough so that you could get Mother to safety and foil Cafer's plan. Without him, you and mother would be in the Royal cemetery. Agent Gandr has faithfully served as a spy under Spymaster Brinn, facing many adventures and foes who threaten the Empire. He may have misstepped in the beginning, but he has shown his loyalty these past years. Surely his unending bravery is worth more than his past treachery." Mairwen nudged her father.

Devrim looked the halfling in the eye for the first time since leaving Valiant. The kindness in his demeanor had returned. The Emperor bowed deeply. "My daughter is correct. I owe you an apology. I have punished you for something that is not your fault. Please forgive me, Gandr. Thank you very much for your service."

Gandr's ears turned red, embarrassed. Not only could he see the man's humble action, but he could feel his gratitude. "All is forgiven, Your Majesty. Human emotions are complex, so I will not pretend to understand everything you are working through. But I hope we can get along now?"

The two shook forearms. "Yes, Agent Gandr. I hope from this moment forward, you would consider me a friend. And thank you Junayd, I do not give you half the credit you deserve."

"Do not mention it, Your Majesty. I am only doing my duty." Junayd liked the praise, but believed it unnecessary.

"As for you, young lady..." Devrim turned to the princess, who pressed her lips together with her eyebrows raised.

"I am very proud of the woman you have become. You saved us all the other day with your ingenuity and you speak wisdom beyond your years. I am honored to be your father. Thank you," All three men bowed this time, and Mairwen took their praise with the dignity of a royal. Inwardly, she was quite pleased to be noticed.

From the lone tree above their heads, someone began to applaud. "All that is missing is a minstrel playing sweet music, and we would have ourselves an excellent play! Now if all of you are done clucking like hens, I would very much like to get some rest. It has been days since I had a decent night of sleep," Brinn complained, but her face exposed her Cheshire grin.

"Your Majesty! General!" Eira reentered the circle and was pointing upwards. "Watch out! Someone is up there!"

Devrim sighed and held the bridge of his nose, "Thank you, Eira. I am aware." Then with a chuckle, he added, "I would ask how long you have been there, spymaster, but I do not think I want the answer."

The elf grinned mysteriously. "As I said before, Your Majesty, you do not have any secrets I do not already know."