The forest settled back into quiet. Snow drifted from the branches overhead, and the evening wind moved cold through the clearing. Selen kept her eyes down for a while, not saying anything. Then she let out a breath.
"...Thank you."
Theon smiled. "You don’t have to thank me. I just happened to be there."
She shook her head, small and firm.
"No. Most humans would’ve walked past." A pause. "You didn’t."
Theon didn’t have a good answer for that, so he looked up at the sky instead. The sun had nearly dropped behind the mountains, dusk closing in fast.
"We should get moving."
She nodded. "...You’re right."
She took a few steps and her legs buckled under her without warning.
"Ah"
Theon caught her before she hit the snow.
"You okay?"
She managed a smile that didn’t quite land. "...I’m fine."
"No, you’re not." He frowned at her. "You’ve been running for hours. And you fought before I even showed up."
She looked away. "I can still walk."
"Barely."
She sighed, giving up the argument. "...Fine." A short silence passed before she spoke again. "I need to ask you something."
"What is it?"
She hesitated. "I need somewhere safe to stay. Just for tonight. I can’t go back into the forest they’ll still be looking for me there."
Theon’s mind was already working. There was really only one place that made any sense.
"...Come with me."
She blinked. "Where?"
"The Imperial Palace."
Her eyes went wide. "...You’re joking."
"No one would think to look for an elf inside the Emperor’s palace."
She stared at him like he’d taken a hit to the head. "That might be the worst hiding spot I’ve ever heard in my life."
Theon grinned. "Exactly. That’s why it works."
She couldn’t hold back a laugh. "...You’re unbelievable."
A few minutes later, the two of them made their way quietly back toward the palace grounds. Instead of the main road, Theon led her along the narrow paths only the Imperial Family and palace guards knew service routes cut between hedges and old stone walls.
As the palace came into view, Selen’s steps slowed.
"...You’re sure about this?"
"Leave it to me," Theon said, sounding far more confident than he probably had any right to.
The guards at the outer gate were busy with a shift change, too distracted to notice two figures slip past through a servants’ entrance tucked behind the gardens. Theon glanced around once they were inside.
"No one’s here. Come on."
Selen stayed close as they wound through the dim corridors. Twice they had to duck behind pillars, once behind a curtain, waiting out footsteps until they faded. By the time they finally reached his chamber, Selen’s shoulders had gone tight with nerves.
Theon opened the door. "We’re here."
She stepped in and looked around. The room was warm, and plainer than she’d expected from a prince books stacked in one corner, a wooden practice sword leaned against the wall. The Tome of Eternal Frost stayed exactly where it always was, hidden beneath a loose floorboard under his bed, safely out of sight.
She turned back to him. "...You actually brought me into your room."
Theon rubbed the back of his neck, a little sheepish. "Guess I did." He gestured toward the bed. "You can sleep here tonight. I’ll take the couch."
For the first time since they’d met, Selen’s smile reached her eyes.
"...Thank you, Theon."
"Get some rest," he said. "You look like you’re about to fall over."
She nodded quietly, and for the first time in longer than she wanted to admit, she actually felt it safe.
Outside, snow kept falling over the palace grounds. Neither of them noticed the shape watching from the rooftop, gone before either could turn.
Morning light slid through the curtains, warm and gold across the floor. Theon woke slowly, and for a second or two, he forgot what had happened the night before.
Then he glanced toward the bed. Selen was still asleep, curled beneath the blanket, her face calm in a way that had nothing to do with the girl who’d been running for her life hours ago. Theon allowed himself a small smile.
*She needed that.*
Knock. Knock.
"Your Highness?"
His maid. "The morning bell’s already rung. May we come in?"
His eyes snapped open the rest of the way. "Oh no." He was at the door in three steps. "I’m up! I’ll dress myself today."
A pause outside. "...Are you feeling well, Your Highness?"
"I’m fine! I just want some privacy this morning."
Another pause, more confused than suspicious. "As you wish. We’ll have breakfast ready."
Footsteps retreated down the hall. Theon exhaled.
"That was close..."
"...Morning."
He turned. Selen was sitting up, rubbing her eyes. "Did I sleep in?"
"A little."
She winced. "Sorry. You saved me and I’m already causing you trouble."
"It’s fine. You needed the sleep." He watched her glance around the room, voice dropping.
"I should get out of here before someone finds me."
"Not yet." Theon shook his head. "Palace is awake now guards, servants, everyone. You walk out that door right now, someone sees you."
She frowned. "So what do we do?"
He thought for a second. "We wait for tonight. Place quiets down after dark."
"...That’s fair." She settled back, and neither of them spoke for a while. Then Theon looked at her again.
"You know, I never actually got your real name."
She froze for half a beat, then smiled.
"...You’re right. The name I gave at the banquet wasn’t mine." She hesitated. "It’s Frena. I’m a scout for the Elven Kingdom. I came into Glaciara to find out what happened to our missing children."
"Frena." He said it slow, like he was testing it out. "Suits you."
A faint color rose in her cheeks. "...Thank you." Her expression sharpened. "And thank you for trusting an elf."
"And you," Theon said, "for trusting a human."
For just a moment, neither of them was a prince or an elf just two people trying to protect people who couldn’t protect themselves.
Outside the door, footsteps stopped.
Knock. Knock.
"Your Highness." Captain Voss. "His Majesty requests your presence. Immediately."
Theon and Frena looked at each other. Both of them understood exactly what that meant if Voss stepped inside, this was over.
The knock came again, sharper.
"Your Highness? Are you awake?"
Frena whispered, urgent. "What do we do?"
Theon scanned the room fast. Wardrobe too small. Curtains too thin to hide anything. His eyes dropped to the space under the bed and he shook his head immediately.
"No he’d check under there."
Another knock. "Your Highness, His Majesty is waiting."
"One minute, Captain!" Theon called out, forcing steadiness into his voice.
A beat of silence. Then, through the door, doubt.
"A minute? Since when do you take a minute for anything you’re usually still half asleep at this hour."
Theon forced a laugh. "I I was getting dressed!"
Outside, Voss muttered to himself, unconvinced. "Hm. That’s new."
Inside, Theon turned to Frena. "You need to hide."
"Where?"
The World Archive flickered into view.
**WORLD ARCHIVE**
*Nearby object detected.*
*Ancient concealment enchantment located Royal wardrobe.*
*Status: Dormant. Activation possible.*
"The wardrobe." He was already moving, pressing his palm flat against the door. Nothing happened.
"...Come on."
He pushed a thread of mana into the wood. A faint blue circle bloomed across the surface and faded, and the space inside shimmered for a second before settling.
*Concealment enchantment activated. Visual and mana detection greatly reduced. Duration: thirty minutes.*
"It worked," Theon breathed.
Frena stared at the wardrobe. "...Hidden magic?"
"No time get in."
She didn’t argue. She stepped inside without a word, then paused, looking back at him through the gap.
"...Be careful."
"Should be saying that to you." He shut the door gently.
The room looked completely ordinary again.
Knock.
"Your Highness. I’m coming in."
Theon’s stomach dropped. "He’s coming in?"
The door opened before he could get a word out. Voss stepped inside, eyes sweeping the room.
"Hm." He glanced Theon over. "So you really were dressing yourself."
"Told you," Theon said, working to sound casual.
Voss crossed his arms. "His Majesty’s been waiting. You don’t want to test his patience today."
"I know." Theon grabbed his coat and pulled it on.
Voss turned toward the door then stopped, head tilting slightly.
"...Strange."
Theon’s heart nearly stopped. "What’s strange?"
Voss sniffed the air once, brow furrowing. "Could’ve sworn I caught the smell of forest just now."
For a second, nobody in that room breathed.
Then Voss shrugged it off. "Must be my imagination." He waved a hand toward the hall. "Hurry up, Your Highness. We’re already behind."
The door shut behind him. A few seconds passed before the wardrobe creaked open and Frena stepped out, releasing a breath she’d clearly been holding since the door closed.
"...That was far too close."
Theon leaned back against the wall. "Way too close."
She nodded. "I thought he’d found me."
"So did I."
For a moment they just stood there while Voss’s footsteps faded down the corridor. Once they were gone, Theon finally let his shoulders drop. Frena’s expression turned guilty.
"I’m sorry. I’ve already brought you enough trouble."
"You didn’t. I chose this." He shrugged it off easily enough, though the tension hadn’t fully left his voice.
She looked down. "...Even so. If anyone learns you hid an elf in the Imperial Palace, it could start something between our people."
"Then," Theon said, "let’s make sure no one learns."
She laughed despite herself. "You’re strangely optimistic."
"And you’re strangely stubborn."
"I’ve been told that before too," he said, grinning.
A comfortable quiet settled between them until Frena’s face sobered again.
"Theon. I need to leave tonight. The longer I stay, the more dangerous this gets."
"Figured as much." He nodded slowly. "Whoever’s behind the kidnappings isn’t going to stop looking."
She moved to the window, looking out over the snow. "I have to find those children. They’re waiting for someone." Her voice dropped lower. "And I don’t even know if they’re still alive."
Theon came to stand beside her. "They are."
She glanced at him. "How would you know that?"
"I don’t," he admitted. "But if you give up now, they definitely won’t be found."
She was quiet for a moment, studying him. Then she smiled.
"...You’re right." She held out her hand. "Let’s make a promise, then."
Theon blinked. "A promise?"
"If I find anything about the kidnappers, I’ll tell you. If you find anything inside the Empire, you tell me." Her eyes held his. "No lies between us. No secrets."
He didn’t hesitate he took her hand and shook it.
"Deal."
They were both still smiling when the knock came again.
"Your Highness? His Majesty is waiting, and your breakfast is getting cold."
"Coming!" Theon called, already turning for the door. He looked back at Frena.
"I really have to go."
"I’ll stay hidden until tonight," she said.
He paused at the door. "Oh one more thing." He nodded toward a small cabinet in the corner. "There’s bread, fruit, some cookies in there if you get hungry."
She blinked, then let out a soft laugh. "You planned ahead for this?"
"...Maybe." He scratched his cheek.
Her smile widened. As she said. "Thank you."
He opened the door and glanced back once more.
"Stay safe."
"You too," she said.
The door clicked shut behind him. Alone now, Frena drifted to the window and watched the young prince’s shape disappear down the corridor below.
"...A human prince." She smiled to herself, quiet. "You’re unlike anyone I’ve ever met."
Far from the palace, deep in Frostfang Forest, a hooded man knelt before a shape hidden in the dark.
"We’ve found the one who interfered with the mission."
A pair of sapphire eyes opened slowly, glowing faint against the black.
"...Good." The voice was calm, almost pleased. "Bring me the child."
Somewhere in the dark, a new hunt had already begun.