Char fell asleep on his back, but he woke up on his side, tangled up with Iris. The warmth and softness of her sleeping form in his arms made him reluctant to move. He closed his eyes and nuzzled into her hair, breathing in her scent. It was nothing he could specifically isolate, like a certain fruit or flower, but it was her, and it was unique from any girl he'd ever met. Just like her.

"Mm..."

She stirred, nuzzling into his chest and tightening her arms around his waist. He smiled and kissed the top of her head.

"Good morning, Iris."

He had less than a second to register her whole body stiffening, and then she shoved him back, bolting out of bed and backing against the wall. Her brown eyes were wide with fright, her chest rising and falling with panicked breaths, her fingers clutching the collar of her robe closed. There was no recognition in her eyes.

"Iris," he called, sitting up in bed. "Iris, it's me. Char. You're safe."

Her eyes met his, and he saw a swirl of complicated emotions pass through them, too fast for him to pick any one out before she turned toward the wall and put her face in her hands. Sobs shook her shoulders and wrenched at his heart. He was on his feet and at her side without a thought, turning her back to him, pulling her into his embrace.

"I'm not going to hurt you, Iris. Nobody's going to hurt you again."

She didn't respond, except to cry harder. He held her close, resting his head on hers, letting her cry. They'd done this before, when she fell apart and he held her, but he'd never seen her like this. The sobs shook her entire body and tore from her throat. He almost didn't hear the door open behind him.

"Char? Is everything-"

Char looked back at Rath and shook his head slightly. Rath nodded and left. Char returned his attention to Iris, who he wasn't sure even heard Rath's voice. She was still sobbing uncontrollably. He held her for many long minutes before the heart-rending sobs faded to choked whimpers, and the whole-body shaking reduced to intermittent tremors.

"I-I'm sorry," she whispered.

"Don't apologize," he murmured.

"B-but...it w-wasn't you..."

"I know. It's fine."

She shook her head and pulled free, keeping her face downcast. "I-I should c-clean up."

Char followed her into the bathroom, reluctant to let her go. He had a sense that she shouldn't be alone. She didn't rebuke him as she went to the sink to wash her face. He leaned against the counter beside her, staring at the opposite wall and inwardly fuming. There was only one reason she would react that way to a simple 'Good morning.' He could see those frigid blue eyes, that smug smirk as Micah looked down at Iris from the front doors of the castle. The anguish in her eyes as she turned back to put up the shield that kept Char from chasing after her. And Micah walking toward her, touching her, pulling her close and whispering in her ear, a blue spark dancing in his free hand as he pointed to one of the castle guards. It didn't take much to figure out what he was whispering to her. Threats of harm to others if she didn't comply. Char's stomach churned even now, remembering Micah leading her into the castle, watching the doors close behind them with a sickening feeling in the pit of his stomach.

"Char," Iris whispered, taking his hand.

He left the horrible memories behind and focused on her, standing in front of him with red, puffy eyes. "Yes?"

She hesitated, and then she said, "C-can I tell you?"

He clenched his jaw and nodded. She stepped toward him, wrapping her arms around his waist and resting her cheek on his chest. He completed the embrace and steeled himself.

"I...I was following the crystal. He said he found it, and he was controlling it, but he was lying. But I...I lost my focus when I saw him. And when he threatened that guard, I just...gave up."

Char tightened his grip about her waist. He didn't want to hear this.

"H-he made me tell him how I'd been p-practicing my magic, and then he m-mixed the potion, but he added s-something so I couldn't scream and I couldn't leave." She took a deep, shuddering breath. "I w-woke up in his bed. H-he woke me up. And he...he told me he might wait until I recovered i-if I l-let him summon the f-fairies. He s-said he'd only k-kill one of them. But I-I didn't know how I was shielding them, a-and I t-told him that. And he..." She stopped, her voice choking up.

"You don't have to go on," Char said quietly.

"I begged him not to do it," she whispered. "He laughed at me."

"Iris." Char kissed the top of her head and wished he could bring Micah back to kill him again. A quick beheading was too good for him.

"I had a dream the night before," she continued in a small voice. "I saw Micah's master rape my mother."

Char's gut twisted within him.

"She was his maid, and she was just a teenager, and he told her to finish her dusting when he was done with her. That's why she stole the amulet. To get back at him for what he'd done to her."

"Iris..."

"And when Micah was talking to me afterwards, when he said it wouldn't hurt next time if I did as he said, I got so angry."

That was it. That was the impetus for her marching into that throne room to face him head on. Not that he had raped her, but that he promised to continue raping her. Char couldn't hold her tightly enough to make her forget, and he couldn't undo what had already been done. The anger surging through him had no outlet.

"He was losing the war on purpose," Iris continued, her voice strengthening as she looked up at Char. "He was holding back his magic, luring the dragons in, and when they attacked the capital, he was going to kill the entire dragon army, along with the king, so it would look like the king died in battle. Then he was going to take the throne and make me his queen."

Char exhaled deeply. "He was insane, but he had good taste."

Pink dusted Iris' cheeks, and her brown eyes widened in surprise.

"Iris." He leaned in, his lips meeting hers in a soft kiss. "You could never be his queen, because you're already mine."

"Char..."

"I don't have a ring, so I can't really do this right, but..." He turned her so her hip was to the counter and stepped back enough to drop to one knee in front of her. Her brown eyes widened even further. He took her hand, took a deep breath, and said, "Iris, will you marry me?"

Her other hand flew to her mouth. Tears shimmered in her eyes again, and she nodded. He grinned and stood up, pulling her into his embrace.

"Move your hand, Iris," he murmured.

She did, and he leaned in for a kiss, starting off soft and gentle, deepening and intensifying as she responded. Her arms wrapped around his neck; her hands tangled in his hair. He scooped her up and set her on the counter, removing his hands from her bare thighs to wrap around her waist and press on her back. She easily moved toward the edge of the counter into him, and he moved his kisses away from her mouth and down her neck. She tilted her head back and gasped softly.

"He...tried to imitate you...the way he kissed me and touched me...but it wasn't the same," she said breathlessly.

Char smirked and pulled back to look into her eyes. The longing he'd seen the night before was back, the golden flecks dancing in their chocolate background. He kissed her lips again, and a soft moan escaped them.

"We should go have breakfast," he breathed against her lips, and then he kissed her again. "Rath and I still need to find a way out of here." Another kiss. "And then I'm taking you to the first church I see."

She giggled as his lips pressed against hers again. "I can't let Rath see me in this."

"Why not?" Char grinned and kissed the tip of her nose. "You're spoken for."

"I guess I am."

Her face still bore the signs of crying, but her bright smile was radiant. He kissed the newest tears, the happy tears, away from her cheeks, and then he tightened his grip around her waist to lift her off the counter and set her back on the floor.

"The bigger problem is what you're going to wear when we leave," he said, unwilling to let her go. "I don't mind my brother seeing you in this, but it's not suited for travel, is it?"

She giggled again as his lips touched her forehead. "I'm sure the fairies will come up with something. Go have breakfast. I'll be out in a few minutes."

It was easier and harder letting her go now that she was smiling. He tore himself away, reassured that she was in a better place emotionally than she was a few minutes ago. So was he. His heart swelled until he thought it might burst out of his chest. Micah tried to destroy her, tried to poison her relationship with Char, but he couldn't do it. She said yes.