Theron's walk through the streets of the bazaar was in a haze. The conversation with the King was still fresh in his mind, playing on repeat.

"I'm afraid that I'm confused, my lord. I thought that was what the Royal Guard is for?" Theron didn't want to sound rude, but that was the duty of the Guard after all.

"The Royal Guard is meant to personally protect my family and I, yes. However, I feel it would be best to leave her care to someone she trusts, as well as I." The King kept a firm, but low tone as he proceeded. "I believe there is a traitor amongst the higher ranks, and I would feel better knowing my daughter was in perfect hands and completely safe."

This news left Theron worried. Who could it be? Someone he may know? Or maybe someone even closer to the King than they expected? Whatever the case, the King trusted him with this information and with the duty of watching over Princess Halea. Normally, he would be all giddy and have butterflies in his stomach, but now is not the time to take this lightly.

The more he thought about it, the more anxious he got. He caught himself looking at his hand over and over again. There's no scar and no pain. Nothing that proves what just happened in the castle actually happened. Soon, he began to feel his heart race erratically and the veins in his temples started to throb. Just before his anxiety took over, a physical bump snapped him out of it.

"Hey, watch where you're going." A tall, wolf-man snapped. He was stone gray with black tips on his tail and ears. His knuckles were all scarred from continuous abrasions. Aside from his towering height, he was nowhere near puny. From the way his body was formed with muscles, he must've trained hard for several years. His clothing, however, gave more details about him. They were ragged and dirty. Dried blood or mud, Theron guessed a mix of both, covered most of them. He was a slave for sure. Even though they had never met, something seemed familiar between them.

"Sorry, I'll be careful next time." Theron smiled and lowered his head, stepping to the side to continue on his way.

"You seem familiar. Let me see..." The wolf-man sniffed the air, getting a better idea of the elf before him. His eyes lit up, "I knew it! You were there that day. The elf boy in the bazaar. I was the slave in the back of that chain line, remember?"

The flashback came back instantly for Theron. "That was you? What a small world huh?" He felt a little more at ease. This small conversation was slowly taking his mind off of earlier. That was when Theron noticed the human in front of the beastman, clearly annoyed with how long this was taking.

The human tugged on the chains, pulling the wolf along. Before he was engulfed by the crowd, he shouted at the top of his lungs. "The name's Wolfen, and don't you forget it elf. We'll meet again once I'm out of these chains."

And before Theron could reply in kind with his name, the wolf-man was gone. Again all he could think was "what a strange slave".

His father's living quarters is a small house on the edge of the bazaar. He likes to stay close to where he works so he doesn't have to travel far. The King offered him a place a bit more classy than here, but he refused.

"This is where I was born and raised; the slums. Next to real working folk. This is where I will stay."

His words stayed stern, even after five years. They were clearly a stab at the King, but the words hit deep in Theron as well. He, on the other hand, happily accepted to be placed near the castle so he could train with the knights, but he feels like his father disowns him a little more and more each day.

Theron makes sure to see him every day. Sometimes they sit and chat for hours, other times they sit in silence over a meal.

His father's house came into view and he felt his pace quicken. The closer he got, the faster his steps were. Until finally, he was at the doorstep. A gentle knock and push on the door was all he ever gives before he walks in.

"Hey Father, it's just me." Theron walked in, seeing his father where he normally is; his little workstation.

Without looking up, his father grumbled a reply. "Make sure to wipe your feet before coming in, you hear? I don't want you tracking dirt in here like you did last time." He was working on a small ring this time, engraved with Elven symbols.

As if they were telepathically connected, Theron was already taking off his boots and setting his sword on the table. "You won't believe what happened today!" He could barely contain himself.

"You finally quit that silly dream of yours and want to come home and continue the family business?" His father scuffed, he knew that wasn't it.

"Close, but no." Theron teased. "I got Knighted today!"

With those few words, his father stopped engraving on the ring for a few moments before continuing. "Great, one step closer to a heroic death like you've wanted. Your mother wouldn't want this for you, ya know? She'd be furious you weren't focusing more on your studies."

Not this talk again. Theron has heard it several times before. All about how if his mother was here, she'd want him becoming a scholar or a teacher or anything that didn't involve him dying on a battlefield.

"Like I've said before, Father. I'm doing what I enjoy. Why can't you be happy for that?" The amount of times he had to explain that began to irritate him.

"Because I know there are better things you can be doing with your life other than give it to the capital." His father's voice got louder, causing him to have a coughing fit. As he settled down, he continued with a more gentle tone. "As your father, I believe I should get a say in whether or not you throw your life away."

By this time, Theron had put the fire on and set the kettle above it. He pulled all the vegetables from the pantry and was tying his apron around his waist. "I just don't see what the big issue is. I'm protecting our kingdom, our people, and I'm even going to be protecting you." He diced the vegetables while speaking.

Theron always cooked the evening meal. At this time every day, he stopped by and would cook something up for the two of them so they can eat together. Even though his father never said it, he knew he was grateful.

"That's great and all, but who's going to be protecting you? Hm? Who's going to make sure you're safe and that you're coming home? Sure as hell won't be no capital dog I tell you that." His father scuffed. He despised the people of this kingdom as if all of them did him wrong. That's just how he was.

"The other knights will have my back, father. I'm not setting off to battles by myself you know."

"As if a measly human would lay his life on the line for one of us elves, knight or not." His fathers tone signified the end of the conversation.

He was right though. Theron got to thinking about what his father had said whilst eat their meal in silence. It's foolish to put all of his faith into his fellow knights, most of which are humans that look down on him already.

After cleaning up after the meal, Theron decided it was time to head back to the barracks. The sun was going down and not much more was going to be said between them tonight. Before walking out of the door he stopped and looked over his shoulder.

"I know you're concerned, and I appreciate that. I'm still going to do what I love and defend those here who can't defend themselves. I love you, father."

"Love you too." His father grumbled from his workstation without a glance up.

Theron sighed and slowly closed the door on his way out.

***************************************

The castle was cold tonight. The marble floors were cold underneath bare feet and the hallways were dimly lit from the various torches. She didn't like the castle at night. It felt creepy in a way.

"Oh, Princess Halea, it's very nice to see you this evening. How's the night treating you?" A familiar voice sounded from the shadows.

"Goodness, Belvedere! You scared the daylights out of me." Halea gasped with a hand on her chest. "The night treats me fine, thank you. And I see it treats you good as well?"

"My apologies madam, I didn't mean to frighten you." Belvedere said with a sincere bow. "The night 'tis a good one. Shall I send a guard with you on your way to the baths?"

It was her turn for the baths tonight. Halea needs one after today, for sure. She's been worried about Theron. What happened today? Is he alright? When will she see him again? Those are the thoughts rotating in her mind since.

"That's fine, Belvedere. Thank you so much." She walked on by, holding onto her night gown that draped over her shoulder.

Belvedere has been a butler for the Royal Family for as long as she could remember. She's even heard stories about him serving their family going back generations, but those are just stories told to pass the time.

Halea made her way down the corridor, one more turn at the end of the hall and she'd be at the baths. As she rounded the corner, there was already a guard stationed outside of the door. Belvedere sure works fast. She passed by him and entered the huge, well-lit room.

A chandelier hung in the middle of the ceiling, right above the huge circle bath that took up much of the room. The light flickered from the ceiling and off the granite pillars. The floor of the bath was shiny and smooth, her reflection walked with her in its glossiness. Steam lifted off the water and hung in the air as if it were stuck there.  The trickling of the waterfall in the back added an exotic ambience to the lightly pink rose water that made up the bath.

Halea glanced back to make sure the guard wasn't trying to catch a peek before getting undressed. She slipped her dress off her shoulders and let it fall to the ground. Covering her chest with one arm and using the other to cover between her legs, she hurried to the water and slowly lowered herself under. After bringing her head back above water, she sat along the edge of the bath, resting her head back.

Halea closed her eyes and took a couple deep breaths, letting the steam open up her airways. The scent of the rose water was intoxicating as it soothed her worries and melted her stress away. A rose petal floating on top of the water bumped into her. She opened her eyes and cupped her hands around the petal. The thoughts began to race again as she sat there, watching the petal hover in the water she held in her hands.

Her concentration broke as she heard the sound of bare feet hitting the bath floor. She turned quickly, making sure her body was still under the water.

"Halea, dear. Is the water still warm?" Her mother's voice echoed off the walls.

She entered the doorway with nothing on. Halea turned back around and sighed. "At least put on a towel to save the guards some trouble."

Her mother looked over her shoulder towards the doorway, knowing the guard could hear her. "Oh, it's nothing they haven't seen already, I'm sure. With how much they do for us, the least I can do is give them something to look at while they stand there." The grin on her face as she turned back around proved that she loved teasing them.

Halea was used to her teasing the guards like that, but it was still embarrassing. Her mother made her way to the opposite side of the bath and slid under the water with grace, as to be expected of the Queen.

"By the way, have you heard the news, dear?"

"What news? Is it about Theron? Is he okay?" Halea perked up, not even noticing she stood out of the water now. She plopped back down after quickly realizing, but was still as alert.

Her mother giggled, "In fact it is about our young Theron. Your father says he is doing fine now. But what I was referring to is the fact we have appointed him to be your new guard."

Halea's face got hot, like really hot. "Y-you mean, he'll be with me? Like all the time?"

Again her mother giggled. "Indeed. Now don't go getting too excited, you'll pass out in the bath. Besides, I didn't know your cheeks could get as red as the rose petals." She gave a teasing grin.

Halea was both nervous and relieved to hear that Theron was going to be her new guard. Since the last one got promoted to protecting her mother, she was wondering when a new one was going to be placed.

This means she'll get more time with him!

"With the ceremony coming up, your father and I thought it best to have you protected at all times. Especially by someone we trust and hold dear to our hearts." Her mother was quick to remind her of her duties.

Halea sighed. "I'm aware, mother. And you're right, I need to be guarded. But couldn't I enjoy my time of having no responsibility while it lasts?"

"Yes, you can. This also gives you plenty of chance to spend quality time with Theron too." Her mother teased. "You know-" she began again, running water over her body with her hand. "He's turned into quite the looker. The ladies of the kingdom have at least mentioned him once or twice. Soon, he'll have some of them chasing him. You might want to snatch him up before they do- or me." She smiled to herself, not being able to resist teasing.

"I don't like him like that!" Halea's lies echoed throughout the castle. She got all red again.

"Hush, you'll wake the horses in the stables." The Queen laughed.
"Hunny, as your mother, and a fellow woman, you can't send me astray. I see how you look at each other. If you're scared, there's no need to be. As for the whole elf and human thing?" She swam next to Halea and sat beside her. "Sure the world might disapprove because of the differences you two have, but when it comes to love, just follow your heart and remain true to it. If you do that, you'll forever be happy, no matter what the world thinks."

Those words made her think. As true as they were, it couldn't be that easy, could it? They've been friends for so long, and what if he didn't share her feelings? Was she even sure her feelings for him is even love?

"Whatever you decide to do with your feelings, I know you'll do the right thing." Her mother kissed her forehead and stood up, getting out of the water.

The water ran down her curves and onto the floor, undoubtedly making it slippery. She then drew a circle in the air with her palm and a bright white portal opened up. She reached in and pulled out a robe. With the snap of her fingers, the portal disappeared. Her ability was spacial magic, a very uncommon type even in the world of magic. She pulled that robe from her wardrobe upstairs in her room, though Halea doesn't know why she couldn't just carry it down with her.

Tying the robe around her, the Queen stopped at the doorway and turned back. "Think about what I said. The worst he can say is no. If you don't try, you'll never know what could have been." Her mother gave her a wink and walked off, tracing her finger on the armor of the guard outside as she passed.

Halea sunk under the water as her mother left. Fully submerged, the silence made her thoughts even louder.

"Thanks mother. Now I have even more to overthink about."

She blew bubbles from her mouth, watching them race to the surface. As she thought, she knew what she had to do.

First, she has to come to terms with her feelings.

Then she needs to figure out how to tell Theron.