Dragoth looked up as he heard the sound of keys rattling outside of his cell door. He stood and turned to face the door, trying to wear a brave face. This was the moment he'd been dreading. His death would soon come. He only wished that he could spend a moment with his parents before he died. And by some magic be able to bid his brothers a final farewell.

The cell door swung open and the jailer stood before him, the ring of keys in hand. "You have been summoned to stand before the king and queen."

Dragoth nodded. "Is there anything you can do so that I might spend a moment alone with my parents before I die?"

"It isn't my place to ask such a request. Beg this of the king and queen," he replied.

Two guards grabbed his arms and led him to the throne room. They brought him before the king and queen.

He knelt in their presence. "I have but two requests your majesties. Might I spend a few moments alone with my parents before I die? And if you would allow me I wish to write a letter of farewell to my knights, whom I have raised from children and grown to love as my brothers."

"My son you will not die. The council has decided to pardon you," Mea told him.

"I am?... but what have I done to merit such mercy?" he asked.

"We sent you to Drake to protect you, not knowing that we had sent you to a traitor who would only use you," Mea replied.

"Speak the truth my son, why did you betray Anoria?" Henry asked. "You will be pardoned no matter your answer, so give us the truth."

"I have not the words to explain, for it is too painful and I fear I would only break my dear mother's heart," he replied.

"There is no paint in keeping it hidden, Benjamin for I already believe I know the reason. You did this to protect us didn't you? He told you that we would be spared if you served him, did he not?" Mea asked.

Benjamin stared at the soft dark blue carpet that covered the cobblestones where he knelt. He supposed there was no point in keeping it hidden when she already knew the truth. "Yes," he whispered. "And my brother, Christopher. Drake would threaten to harm the boy whenever I tried to disobey. That is how he built his army. He goes around taking boys and young men and threatens to harm them and their families if they don't do his bidding."

"You are free from him now. We are out of his reach for now so you have no need to serve him for our sake," Henry said.

"But my brothers may not be safe. I can't just stand back and let Drake kill them. The captain lied, he did not capture me as he claimed. He threatened to kill the boy whom I love most... my brother, my best friend... he is almost a son to me, so I traded my life for his and I would gladly do it again," Benjamin said.

"I understand. If the council had asked for your death I would have taken your place," Mea said.

"You know I wouldn't want you to die for me, mother," he whispered.

"But that is how much I love you. I would have gladly taken your place," she replied.

"I love you too, mother. I could not bear it if you died because of me. It was that thought that haunted me, I knew that if I died you would grieve yourself to death," he replied.

She nodded, falling quiet for a moment before she looked up at him. She stood and walked over to him. She gently touched his the burn that was slashed across his face. The wound had left a deep wide gash on his skin and had permanently disfigured him. "Did he do this to you?"

"It's nothing..." he answered, taking a shuttering breath.

"Please tell your mother," she insisted.

"Drake gave us orders to burn a village to the ground. I tried to get everyone out of the buildings before they were set to flames, but one girl got trapped inside of her house. So I went in to rescue her," he said, leaving out as much as possible without lying.

"Well that was very brave of you. I think you look very handsome, I'm sure that you will find a young maiden who feels the same," she said.

"I doubt it," he answered sadly.

"Don't think that way my son, a young maiden would find you brave, especially if you told her that you got the scar from rescuing a little girl from a burning building," Henry said.

"But I didn't do it for sympathy or to seem a hero. I only wanted to save the life of an innocent girl, who was helpless and alone and frightened."

"But that's what makes you different from Drake, you have a heart and you let it guide you," said Mea.

They were all quiet for a long moment before Mea spoke. "There's something important that your father and I need to talk to you about this evening."

Benjamin nodded. "Yes mother."

Henry smiled and came over to him. He took his hands and lifted him to his feet. "Forget not that you are our son and a prince of these halls. You need not stay on your knees in our presence for so long."

"But I am no longer worthy to be called your son nor a prince of Anoria nor of any other land. Allow me instead to pledge my sword to your service as your guardian," he replied. "If that cannot be accepted, allow me to become a servant of your house."

"We have many guards and servants, but we have only one son," Henry replied, hugging him. "You sacrificed yourself because you were trying to protect us. You have proven your love for us and your loyalty to our kingdom. No prince of Anioria could be more worthy than thou."

They all turned as the throne room doors opened. Benjamin was astonished as he saw the beautiful maiden dressed in blue enter the hall carrying a large bouquet of wildflowers. Her hair was long and wavy, and there were few blossoms tangled in the faun colored strands. Her dress was strained with dirt and grass-stains, as though she had been laying on the ground. As she approached he caught a glimpse of her beautiful hazel eyes, like green leaves kissed by an autumn breeze. Her fair skin was speckled with thousands of freckles, like the stars that filled the night sky.

His heart leapt for joy at the sight of her. She was so familiar to him. He had seen her at least a thousand times in his dreams. Most of his life had he searched for her, even as a young child. And now that she stood before him, he wasn't sure if she were really here. Perhaps he had strayed into another dream... was he daydreaming as he often did? But unlike in his dreams his body was frozen and no words would leave his lips. His heart longed to run to her and pull her into his arms. But his heart was imprisoned in a body that seemed too afraid too breathe let alone move.

"Thank you for the beautiful flowers my sweet Renee," his mother said. "Please come over and meet our son."

"This is my handmaiden, Renee," Mea gestured to the young maiden.

"Renee..." he whispered, even her name was familiar too him.

The maiden approached and curtsied. "It's a pleasure to meet you, your highness."

At last Benjamin managed to find his voice. "The pleasure is mine, my lady."

"Your parents speak of you often," she said, her face held no emotion and her voice was equally void of any feelings.

"Renee was so kind to pick some flowers as a birthday present for you on your birthday," Mea gestured to the flowers on the table.

"They're beautiful, thank you my lady," he whispered.

She nodded, seeming a little embarrassed.

He smiled at her. He didn't smile often, but she was always the one thing that filled his life with joy.

He went over to the table where she had left the flowers. He took a cyan blue blossom from the bouquet, his favorite flower. One not seen in our world for it only grows on Anoria. The bloom is much like that of a rose, but it grows on curly vines close to the earth and has no thorns. It has heart shaped leaves much like those of an ivy. But the best part about it were the tiny buries, they were said to be able to heal every poison under the sun.

He inhaled deeply, breathing in the sweet scent. "These are my favorite flowers." He put the blossom in the pin on his cloak. "I will keep it close to my heart." He smiled at her again and took another of the flowers, gently tucking it into her hair. The flower was the exact same color as her dress. "Thank you, my lady fair." 

"Your mother was sad to have missed another of your birthdays. I hoped to lift her spirits. I never could have dreamed that you would come home that very day. So it seems that they can be both a birthday gift and a welcome home gift," she said. "Happy birthday."

"Thank you. It means a lot to be so welcomed. Thank you for making me feel at home," he replied. No matter where he was, no matter how dark, no matter how terrible she was there in his dreams... in his heart. He had not long dwelt in the halls of his fathers, most of his life he'd been on the run from an unseen evil. The only home he knew was the world he would see when he closed his eyes.

For so long he had thought about what he would say if he found her, and now after almost a lifetime of planning he couldn't seem to find the words.

He didn't realize how long he had stood there, in silence until his mother spoke.

"Renee, do you mind showing Benjamin to his room? I doubt that he got much sleep in the dungeon," Mea said.

"Yes, your majesty. Follow me your highness," she told Benjamin.

Benjamin followed her through the familiar halls. There were a thousand things he wanted to say to her. He wanted to ask her if she had ever dreamt of him as he had dreamt of her. But every time he opened his mouth nothing would come out.

Finally she led him to his old room where he had once slept as a child.

"Here's your room your highness. Your mother kept everything the same," she said. "She never doubted that you would return, and she wanted to make sure that there would always be a place for you here."

"It's good to be home again. I would have come back a long time ago if I could have," he told her. "You are my mother's handmaiden, you must know her quite well."

Renee nodded. "She is like a mother to me."

"Me too... I mean she is... I mean..." he stumbled over his words. Great now she probably thinks I am a fool. He didn't know why she made him so nervous. He tried to cover up his nervous babbling. "Um... has she been well?"

"Yes, but her heart has grieved in your absence," she replied.

He hung his head in sorrow. "I have tried many times to escape and come home, but I have never been able to do so. I'm glad my parents have you as a companion. I am their only child and I haven't been here for them..."

She nodded. "They have been good to me. Please promise me that you will never betray them again. They cannot bear anymore heartbreak."

"I never meant to betray them. There were circumstances out of my control..." he broke off staring at the stone floor.

"I am sorry if I was prying too much, your highness," she replied.

"It's quite alright, my lady. I know that you only long to save my parents from heartache. Do not leave their side because I have returned, I am sure that you still hold a special place in their hearts," he told her.

"I won't," she promised, then she turned to leave.

When she had gone from his sight, he entered his room which indeed had not changed since last he had stepped foot inside. His books were still neatly arranged on his shelf, his desk was still covered in his writings and artwork. He had been given a large room as a welcome home gift when he was twelve. The room had a balcony that overlooked the meadow, where he had loved to watch the stars as a boy.

In the center of the room was a large bed, that had swallowed him at the time. Near the bookshelf was a dark blue couch where his mother would sometimes read to him. He hadn't spent but a year in this room before he had been sent to Drake. But still the room felt like home to him, and he was glad to be back.

He looked down, thinking of Renee. She seemed so familiar, he was sure he knew her. Perhaps his time in the dungeons had driven him mad, and brought the vision of his dreams to his waking eyes. It had happened once before, long ago when he had tried to escape from Drake. As he crossed the volcanic planes of Moronia he had nearly died of thirst... until a vision of her appeared and lead him to a small stream. But as his thirst was quenched she had disappeared right before him. He rubbed his brow, had he lost his mind?

He pulled out his art book and flipped through the pages to the painting he had done of the beautiful maiden who often filled his dreams when his sleep wasn't plagued with nightmares. The painting bore such a remarkable resemblance to Renee that it seemed as though she had been his muse. He had searched far and wide for the maiden who had been so kind and tender towards him in his dreams, and never had he found anyone who came close to her until he saw Renee.