The next two days go by in a blur with all the combat training and packing in secret. Brycen brings me a pack and some traveling clothes; a long-sleeved white undershirt, a dark brown leather vest, brown leather leggings and knee-high brown boots and a long, hooded traveling cloak. The vest laces up the side and has buttons running off-center from the waist to the neckline.

"The leather will make the clothes more durable on the road," Brycen explains the day he takes me out to the training field. He has me wear them to get used to the way they move in combat. I find that they are surprisingly comfortable.

"I already know you are a skilled archer but let's work on your close-range combat," Brycen says, handing me a sword. It's not as heavy as I expected it to be. Perhaps my archery training as built some strength in my arms. Brycen runs me through the moves and we spar a good while before I notice Tryan standing to the side, watching us.

"Would you like to try?" I smile at him.

"Tryan is excellent with a dagger," Brycen says, taking my sword and handing me a small dagger. It feels much better in my hands than the sword did.

"Oh, then you must!" I say.

Tryan laughs and walks toward us, pulling his dagger out of his belt. "If you insist, your Highness."

"Don't take it easy on me," I say, taking my stance.

"I won't," Tryan smiles.

Brycen was right. Tryan is very skilled with a dagger. I can hardly keep up with him, but I do, matching him blow for blow. He takes a swing at me but I react fast and grab his wrist, knocking his legs out from under him with my foot. I pin him to the ground with my knee on his chest, dagger at his throat.

"I told you not to take it easy on me," I smile, amused by his shocked expression.

"I didn't," he says, easily flipping me over and pinning my arms to the ground.

Now, it is my turn to be shocked. Brycen claps as Tryan releases me and offers a hand to help me off the ground.

"Very good! You both worked great together! Great moves! I was not expecting Elaerya to pin you, Tryan."

"Neither was I," Tryan says, rubbing the back of his head. "You're a formidable fighter, Princess."

"Tryan, please call me Elaerya."

"I'll call you anything you want as long as you don't knock me to the ground again," Tryan laughs, making me smile.

The next time I see Tryan is on the morning of my birthday, when I go to the stables to make sure everything is ready for my horse, Scarlet Rose. Scarlet is a beautiful red horse my father got me for my sixteenth birthday. She was only a filly when he gave her to me, but since then, she has grown into a beautiful mare. Tryan was finishing grooming his own horse, Midnight Sun.

"All ready for tomorrow?" Tryan asks, leaning on the door of Scarlet's stall. He absentmindedly twirls a grooming brush in his hands.

"As ready as I'll ever be," I say, not looking at him.

He pauses, so quiet I have to look up to see if he is still there. "There's nothing to worry about, you know. We are going to be absolutely fine."

I smile slightly. "I know," I say, stroking Scarlet's mane. "How's Midnight Sun?" I ask.

He smiles, lovingly. "Sunny is great," he says. "He's excited to be going out again. And Scarlet?"

"She's excited, too. Did you know I got her exactly three years ago today?"

"Really?" he says. "Then, that means today is your birthday."

I nod, shyly. He must know that it's my birthday. The whole capitol has been planning it for weeks!

"Well, a very happy birthday, your Highness," Tryan says, taking a mock-bow.

I laugh and realize it's the first time I've really laughed in a long time. This boy is getting to me.

"Thank you." I pause. "We are having a big party tonight. I would love for you to come. Well, I mean, everyone is invited, but I wanted to personally invite you."

Why did I sound like such a bumbling fool?

He thinks about it. "It would be my honor, Princess," he says, bowing. I give him a look.

"Elaerya," he corrects himself, smiling. "Sorry. Old habit." He excuses himself and I lean my forehead against Scarlet, rubbing her soft red mane between my fingers.

"This is going to be a long, hard trip, girl," I say. She swings her head around and nuzzles my arm, as if to reassure me. I kiss her neck and leave the stall.

I spend the next hour or so wandering the halls of the castle, trying to store away as much of it in my memory as I can. Who knows how long this war will last or how long I will have to be away? I hope not for long, but I still need to make a mental picture of my home, or as much of it as I can, if only for my own sanity.

Marin catches me in the hall. "It's time to get ready for supper, m'lady."

"Thank you, Marin." I follow her back to my room and she helps me dress in a beautiful green gown trimmed with purple. I run my hand over the soft fabric and realize that this is the last time I will be able to wear anything this fancy in a long time. Marin pins my curly hair up halfway and lets the rest hang down over one shoulder. I fasten my necklace around my neck and head down to the grand dining room. Brycen meets me outside the large, wooden doors to escort me in.

"You look lovely, Cecy," he says.

I smile. "Thank you, Brycen. You look rather dashing yourself." I can tell he has cleaned up nicely for this extra special occasion, wearing his formal overcoat.

"Shall we?" He flashes his dazzling white smile and holds his arm out to me.

I take it and two guards open the grand doors for us. I gasp at the sight of the dining room. From ceiling to floor, the whole room has been transformed. The large windows are adorned with deep purple curtains, my favorite color, and twinkling candle lights sparkle everywhere.

"Like the stars," I whisper.

"I knew you would like it," Brycen says. "They put me in charge of, well, everything to tell you the truth. To make sure we got everything just perfect."

And perfect it was! For dinner, we have my favorite stew and potatoes and a huge cake for dessert. The music is fantastic and I almost forget that I am leaving tomorrow. Until Tryan asks me to dance. I feel a tingle down my spine when he takes hold of my waist, and when he takes my hand I'm surprised to find how smooth his hands are. We glide along the dance floor, almost floating.

"I think everything is ready for us to leave tomorrow," Tryan says to me.

"Good. The sooner I get away from here, the sooner I can come back."

"Your father has requested that Sir Laurence escort us to the edge of the capitol."

"Why?" I ask, confused. "We should be perfectly fine while we are in the capitol."

"But we don't know if that man that attacked you has an accomplice nearby. He wants to make sure you make it safely through the capitol or else we won't make it anywhere."

"I don't think we need Sir Laurence. I'm sure the two of us can manage just fine," I say.

"Yes, but I would be grateful for the extra protection, especially considering the fact that you are a..." he stops himself, but I can already guess what he is going to say.

I stop dancing. "What? Considering that fact that I am a what? The fact that I am a girl," I say, narrowing my eyes. I can feel the anger rising up in me.

"Not...necessarily. More of the fact that you are a princess. We need to take any extra precautions that we—"

I cut him off. "I've been training with Brycen ever since the war started and he's been working me extra hard for the past three days! If you remember correctly, I was the one who pinned you to the ground just yesterday. I have enough skills to get me out of the bloody capitol!" My voice is raising and some nearby dancers look at us but I don't care. "I don't need protection from any of you! I could go alone and I would be fine!" I look Tryan directly in the eyes to make sure my point gets across. "I don't want or need you."

I pull away from him and quickly find Jenisyn in the crowd of people. I crouch down beside her so she can hear me over the music.

"Nisy, I need you to listen to me closely. I need you to do everything Papa and Brycen tell you to do. You need to stay safe and always be on your best behavior. Do you understand?"

She nods and I kiss her on the head.

"I love you, Nisy, so much."

"I love you, too, Aery."

I stand and move to where Papa and Brycen are standing in the corner, talking. I hug Papa and tell him goodnight.

"Going to bed so early?" he asks.

"Yes. I'm a bit tired and we have a big day ahead of us tomorrow," I lie. I kiss him on the cheek. "I love you, Papa and I'm going to miss you."

"I love you, too, my Elaerya."

I wrap my arms around Brycen.

"I'm going to miss you the most," I whisper in his ear. "I love you."

"Love you, too, Cecy. I'll be there to see you off in the morning."

"Of course," I smile at him. "Thank you for the party. It was perfect. Goodnight."

Tears form in my eyes as I realize that this is the last time I will be able to see my best friend for a long time.