Rowen slowly stopped crying and looked up at him. "Thanks," she whispered.

"For what?"

"For finally telling the truth."

Ayren laughed slightly.

"I should be furious with you," Rowen continued. "I shouldn't trust you or want to be anywhere near you. But...I can tell that you're telling the truth. And what you went through, with Terr...you were brainwashed and tortured. I don't need to hurt you anymore."

"You're awesome," Ayren concluded. Rowen noted that she was glad his voice had pretty much stayed the same--deep and serious, but more emotional than it had previously been.

*

Ayren wanted to kiss her. He wanted to be with Rowen so badly, it hurt. But after all he had done to her, to Jason, to Princess Maria, to the kingdom...he didn't think it would be wise.

Ayren heard a cannon fire in the distance. He had forgotten how close they were to the battlefield.

Both he and Rowen leapt to their feet. Exchanging a hurried look, they dashed toward Jason and Maria.

Jason was holding a jewel-encrusted cup to Maria's lips. She was taking careful sips.

"What's that?" asked Ayren as Rowen shouted, "Maria!" and ran to her friend's side.

"Magically refilling chalice. Never spills, either," answered Jason in response to Ayren's question. Then, to Rowen, "It hurts her to talk. She can write, though."

*

Rowen sat down cross-legged next to Maria and asked gently, "Are you feeling a little better?"

Maria teetered her shaky hand in a so-so gesture. She carefully pushed the chalice away and whispered, "Thank you."

"I should have gotten there sooner," Rowen countered.

Maria slowly began making signals with her hand. ASL--both the girls had taken a few classes in it and regularly conversed about "girl stuff" while Jason was with them, oblivious. They had both grown quite good at understanding and stringing together sentences from small words.

You saved my life. What more can I ask for?

Of course, ASL wasn't that specific. But Rowen got the general idea.

"Your father's army is close," Ayren informed her. "Um, your grace."

No need, she signed.

"You don't need to be formal anymore," Rowen translated.

"Oh. Okay. Uh, I'll go...scout stuff out. You--you guys have a lot to talk about.

Shit. How would she explain all of this to Jason and Maria?

Rowen patted Maria's hand and glanced at Jason.

In the shortest and least disturbing way possible (very unlike Ayren's version of things), Rowen told them what Ayren had told her. Her best friends still looked shocked when she finished.

"Do you trust him?" asked Jason finally.

No, Maria immediately signed.

"Yeah," Rowen said, ignoring her. "He's changed."

I just don't like him, Maria informed Rowen. He knew about my situation and did nothing.

Rowen faltered. That was true.

 "Well, I could tell he was really torn between us and Terr," put in Jason. "And in my visions...we finish this thing with him on our side."

Visions? Maria signed.

Rowen grinned. "I cannot begin to tell you how glad I am to hear that."

Maria's eyes danced mischievously, forgetting entirely about Jason's visions. You like him.

Rowen began to protest, then gave up, sighing. Why deny the truth? "Yeah. Yes, I do, okay? It's no big deal."

I think it's more than liking.

"So, you had some questions about Jason? Well, he's started having visions and I'm magical."

"Oh, you always derail the conversation when you're embarrassed! So he's what we're talking about! Aw, that's so sweet!"

"Shut up, Maria wants to know how I found out I was magical."

Maria rolled her eyes but seemed interested. Tell me more.

"Well, I was training with...with...goddamit!" Rowen exclaimed, covering her face with her hands as her friends laughed. Maria quickly signed something that Rowen didn't take the time to string into a sentence. Blushing, she pushed her friend's hands down and said, "I thought you were supposed to be censored, family-friendly Maria."

A twig snapped behind Rowen. She spun on her heel to see Ayren emerging from the forest. He had a strange look on his face.

Don't tell me he heard us. Oh, god.

"The armies are nearby," he reported. "I can cloak myself to look like a soldier so that I can fight. Rowen and Jason--you take Maria to the camp so they can heal her. Then Jason can open up his visions and Rowen...can fight." He didn't sound too happy about the role she would be playing and frankly, Rowen wasn't, either.

"I'll take Maria to camp," Jason decided. "Rowen, you can stay here and practice with all this magic stuff. Join us when you're ready, okay?"

Rowen nodded. She began rifling through the larger bag of magical goods.

"The camp is just straight to your left and through the forest. Can't miss it," she heard Ayren telling her best friends. She silently took note of the fact.

Ayren suddenly held up a finger. "The battle's just started," he said. "Listen."

Everyone fell silent. Sure enough, dim screams and cannon shots could just be heard. Rowen felt sick to her stomach.

Jason picked Maria up and started into the woods.

"Wait," Ayren said. He tapped a spot on the single flighter frame and the small wheels used to land drew back inside the flighter. It hovered a few inches off of the ground.

"Can you man it?" Jason asked Maria. She nodded determinedly and he set her into it.

As Jason helped Maria board the flighter, Ayren joined Rowen.

"We...still have a lot to talk about," Rowen finally murmured.

"Hell, yeah," Ayren agreed with a laugh. "Oh, that little bath bomb looking thing? Toxic fumes."

Rowen did a double take and slipped it carefully into her sweatshirt pocket. "Oh. Thanks."

"You shake it vigorously to activate, then tap it once, and it'll explode within five seconds."

"Oh. Wow." Rowen was beginning to realize how stupid it was, trying to figure all of this stuff out alone. "Um, let's just go to camp now. I can figure this stuff out later."

"You sure?"

"Yeah. With my illusions and mad swordfighting skills? I'll be fine."

Ayren smiled, picking up one of the bags. "I just..."

"Just what?"

"I worry, okay?" He said the words quickly and angrily. "Come on. We need to get going."

Rowen grabbed the other satchel and said, "You know, I think you're afraid." She regretted the words instantly.

"What? Afraid of what?" Ayren asked indignantly.

"Feelings. I think you think having or showing emotions makes you vulnerable, so you try not to." Rowen didn't say what she was thinking: you can't be kind to me without changing the subject or sounding furious about it.

"Can we not have this conversation right now?" begged Ayren.

"When, then?"

"Some...other...time."

"Real specific."

"Rowen, please."

"So, I'm right then?"

"No!"

"I'm right."

"You're impossible!" Ayren laughed incredulously. "Seriously?"

"I know." Rowen twirled over and kissed his cheek. Then, she turned and hurried into the forest. "Come on!"

*

She was toying with him. Was this a game to her?

Fuming, Ayren followed Rowen. His cheek tingled where she had kissed it.

But that had to mean something, didn't it?

Ayren groaned with confusing. "This is why I don't like other people," he muttered under his breath.

They walked like that for a bit, Rowen leading, Ayren following.

*

Finally, they reached the battlefield.

Scores of færies and ogres alike lay dead on the battlefield. Smoke from cannons made the air more difficult to breathe. Screams and defiant roars, joined with gunshots and the clash of steel on steel, made Rowen's ears ring. Wounded soldiers stumbled for their respective camps.

But the smell was what really got to her.

The stink of dead bodies and rotting flesh. Infected wounds. It was a smell Rowen knew she would never forget.

"Are you sure--" Ayren began, but Rowen cut him off with one determined and fierce word.

"Yes."

When she glanced to her left, Ayren looked different. His hair was black and cropped military-style. His eyes were a much darker brown. His jawline was jutting out further, more defined and angry-looking.

He smiled, and Rowen caught her breath. He even smiled differently. Instead of his usual small, open smile, only the right corner of his closed mouth went up in a cocky smirk.

"Well?" he asked, his voice gravelly and hard. Rowen hated it.

"You--you look totally different," Rowen said uncertainly.

"Perfect." With that, Ayren turned and fluttered to the nearest fallen soldier, who had managed to climb halfway up the hill before dying. He stripped the poor færie of his armour and donned it. Finally, he attached the belt and sheath around his waist and picked up the soldier's sword, which lay several feet away. Turning back to Rowen, he raised his hand in a farewell and flew into battle.

Rowen breathed unsteadily and began walking in the direction all the wounded soldiers were heading. That was, presumably, where the royal encampment was.