Seliaryn paced back and forth in his father’s office. He had heard that the order to capture Meenu had already been set into action and he needed to discuss this with his father.

     But he was nowhere to be seen.

     Seliaryn could feel it in him. He could feel the upcoming horrors. And surprisingly enough, before even thinking much about it, he found himself going to the one person in this world who he could trust.

     His mother.

     Before he knew it, he was standing at the gates of his childhood home.

     It was a large mansion that resided not too far from most other Lumynos families. However, unlike the other Lumynos households, this one had an air of peacefulness to it.

     And it was a place that he hadn't been to in a long while.

     He really had no explanation for why he never visited. He loved his mother dearly and he loved this home dearly… but something always held him back. When he did go to visit, it was always with a bit of reluctance, and he would always leave as soon as he could.

     He grabbed the gate and pushed it open, and when he saw his mother standing at the door with a small smile on her face, he felt relieved.

     She was always waiting at the door for him.

     And he walked straight into his mother's open arms.

     "Where have you been, child?" She asked, kissing her son's cheek.

     Seliaryn pulled out of the hug and looked at his mother.

     Lady Maryryna was known by most Lumynos to be the most gentle and submissive Lumynos that ever existed. The complete opposite of her husband. Unlike the frightening Lord Roviaryn, Lady Maryryna always had a gentle smile on her face, and from his childhoold, that was always the smile that Seliaryn needed to feel better.

     Her voice was soft and her touch was as gentle as gentle could be. Those hands had never, in her life, touched a weapon, and everyone knew that she preferred to keep it that way.

     And her eyes may have had the same red shade as all of the blood thirsty Lumynos, but anyone could see that she wouldn't hurt a single soul.

     It didn’t take her too long to forgive her son for not coming to see her, and she watched him for a long moment before she spoke. "What's wrong, son?"

     Seliaryn sighed. “A lot.”

     She sat next to her son in her bedroom, giving him a plate of sweets and then holding his hand.

     “Father has captured Meenu.” Seliaryn said, setting the sweets aside. He didn't have the same sweet tooth his mother did.

     A flash of concern passed his mother's eyes. She let go of her son’s hand and pulled her very long, black, silky hair over her shoulder and began to fidget with it.

     Seliaryn noticed that she always did that when the topic was her husband.

     “Meenu?”

     "Yes," Seliaryn continued, "And this... well, she is in the wrong but I care about her... And I’m worried she's going to get hurt."

     "Why did your father take her?" His mother asked. “Was it to punish her?”

     "No. He's going to use her to kill Avaryn." Seliaryn said. "At least, he's going to try."

     Lady Roviaryn put her hand over her mouth. "Avaryn... Is alive?"

     Seliaryn ignored the slight happiness he heard in her voice. "Yes."

     She lowered her hand, reminding herself that Seliaryn was no longer fond of that boy. "He still loves Meenu?"

     Her son nodded.

     "Well then, he'll save her."

     "I don't think father is going to make it easy for him."

     "Your father won't kill Meenu."

     "But if he doesn’t then Dukaryn will." Seliaryn scratched his head.

     "But Avaryn won't let that happen."

     Seliaryn sighed, remembering how innocent his mother was.

     She didn't seem to get it.

     "Mother... whether Avaryn dies or not, Meenu is going to get hurt." He clarified. "If Avaryn refuses to cooperate, Meenu will pay the price. However, she will live if he agrees to die. But in that scenario, Dukaryn wouldn't ever give her peace."

     Seliaryn’s mother watched him carefully. "What would you prefer happened?"

     He hesitated. "I... I just don't want Meenu to get hurt." He said. "But she is a criminal now. A traitor. I shouldn't feel this way but–"

     "But you love her?"

     Seliaryn looked at his mother, who stared back at him, head tilted slightly. "No." He said as firmly as he could. "I thought I did but I don't. I don't."

     "Then why do you worry so much about her?"

     "Because she's my friend."

     "A friend who committed a crime." His mother said. "Avaryn was also a friend who committed a crime. But you despise him."

     Seliaryn scoffed. "You cannot compare Avaryn to Meenu." But he knew she was right.

     She was very right.

     And he had never once thought of it that way.

     "Seli, my sweet," his mother sighed. "You have a heart of stone just like your father. And just like your father, I know that you will make decisions, good or bad, in order to protect that heart of stone."

     Seliaryn narrowed his eyes. Was she insulting him?

     "You must understand something," his mother continued, "everything your father does is in your best interest, because to him, all that fills that heart of stone is his love for you."

     As cold and harsh as his father was… Seliaryn didn’t find that too difficult to believe. Besides, his mother has told him that in multiple different ways since he was young. "Then why would harming Meenu be in my best interest?"

     "Because maybe he believes that getting rid of that girl and Avaryn would return you to your senses."

     "What?"

     "If it was anyone else... anyone but Meenu, you wouldn't have thought twice about punishing them for their crimes."

     "That's insane."

     "But the truth."

     "Does he think I'm that weak?" He asked. "To hurt a girl for my sake? That's insane!"

     "Then prove it to him. Prove to him that you don't need his help. Remind him that you do understand that she made a mistake and should be punished for it accordingly."

     "Mother..."

     His mother smiled. "It is the law, my son."

     Seliaryn looked down at his hands.

     Lady Roviaryn leaned over and kissed her sons cheek. "But... whatever you decide to do... I am sure it will be the right thing. And no matter the decision, I will always love you, my knight."

     Seliaryn smiled at his mother.

     And just like that, like he always did, he left his home as quickly as he had come.

     As he left the mansion to return to the castle, Lady Roviaryn watched from a window.

     A maid walked over to her, bowing before handing the woman a glass of medicinal herbs that she took daily. "He does have a heart made of stone. Just like Ro."

     The maid looked at her mistress, with concern in her eyes.

     "But only the outside. Only the outside is like Ro's. The inside is like mine." Sadness flashed through the Lady's eyes as the voice of her husband echoed through her head. "Too soft for his own good."

When Meenu's eyes opened, she was lying on the cold floor and her head was aching. But she didn’t waste any time, quickly remembering what had happened and knowing she needed to save herself. So she lifted herself up quickly and ran around the dark prison cell that she had been thrown into. When she couldn't find an escape, she sat down in a corner and bit her lip.

     There had to be a way out.

     She had to think.

     "Meenu?" She heard Seliaryn call.

     She looked up and felt her heart rise in happiness to see the knight. Standing up, she ran towards the bars, a smile on her face. "Seliaryn!"

     "Are you hurt?" Seliaryn placed his hand over one of the hands she held the bars with.

     He didn't even notice that all the anger and annoyance he felt with her had completely slipped his mind.

     Even his mother's words from just moments ago had escaped him.

     Meenu shook her head. "I'm fine... please tell me you can you get me out of here?"

     Seliaryn gave her a sad look. “I’m sorry. I can’t. My father and the King have ordered me not to… but I came here as soon as I knew you were here.”

     Meenu knew that would be the answer. "Where's Knight?" She asked. "Is he okay?"

     Seliaryn hesitated. "They didn't bring him with you. He must still be in Amberdyse."

     She felt some relief now. At least he was safe. “What’s going on? Why did they take me?" Meenu already knew the answer to this, but chose to ask anyway, at least for clarification.

     “They want to use you to stop Avaryn from killing the King.”

     Meenu gulped. "They can't, Seliaryn."

     He hesitated. "Meenu... be honest with me. Did you always know that that man was Avaryn?"

     She shook her head. "No. I swear, I didn't."

     Seliaryn felt a strange relief. Probably because he didn't know if he could handle another lie from her.

     "But they can't kill him Seliaryn."

     "Of course they can't. They're probably going to make him kill himself."

     Meenu's heart sank. "What?"

     "It's the only way they know how to kill Avaryn."

     "They can't!" Her voice started to rise. "Seliaryn, you need to stop them!"

     The knight was shocked by this. He was so sure that Meenu would stay away from him now that she knew the truth. "Meenu, he murdered hundreds of people. Why do you try to protect him?" He asked. "Blood was one thing... But now that you know he's Avaryn? You know what he did was evil."

     "Just... Please! You have to help him!"

     He pulled his hand away, his mother's words returned to his mind. "I will not protect that murderer, Meenu. And you should know better than to want to protect him!"

     "You don't know the truth!"

     "Then tell me the truth!" Seliaryn snapped, startling Meenu.

     She hesitated, unconsciously stepping back. "I can't."

     "Then how do you expect me to help a mad man?"

     "You have to trust me..."

     "When you continuously lied to me about your knowledge of a treasonous organization... Then joined it?"

     Meenu bit her lip.

     "You've taken away every reason I should have had to trust you, Meenu."

     "He was your best friend." She tried.

     Seliaryn didn't seem to react to that.

     She took a breath. "I trust him." She said. "And you told me yourself that the one thing he never lied about was his love for me. Do you think he wouldn't be honest with me?"

     "Meenu, your love for this man has blinded you. Only a fool would defend that man."

     "Then I'm a fool!" Meenu yelled. "Seliaryn, I know you're upset with me but-"

     "My decision has nothing to do with that."

     "Then at least give him a chance."

     "I don't want to," Seliaryn said as he stepped back. "Nor do I have any reason to. You've committed a crime Meenu... I shouldn't even be here."

     "Please."

     "Listen to my father. He will not hurt you if you do as he says. And if you cooperate then you will survive."

     With that, he started to walk away.

     "Seliaryn!" She called. "Wait! Please!"

     But the echoing of his footsteps vanished in seconds.