"You just proposed because she was wearing that, didn't you?" Rath teased after Iris left to get changed. The brothers were rummaging through the cabinets for supplies, and Char kept his gaze firmly in front of him so he couldn't see the smirk he knew Rath was wearing.

"No."

Rath chuckled. "But it was a factor."

Char pressed his lips together and exhaled out of his nose. There were a lot of reasons he proposed, first and foremost, that he loved her, and it felt like the right time. She sought him for comfort, and she trusted him not to take advantage of her when she was at her most vulnerable. But the deciding factor came when she told him about Micah's intention to make her his queen.

The use of that word struck a nerve.

Char knew what Micah meant by it. He intended to make himself king, and Iris would bear the title of queen on the surface while remaining his prisoner, nothing more than a valuable piece of property, his to abuse as he saw fit. It was all wrong, and it would have angered Char regardless, but that word.

The word his father used every day to describe his mother. The reason his father wouldn't allow Char and Rath to show even a hint of disrespect to his wife. It wasn't a pet name, and it wasn't a cute joke. She meant everything to him. She was the love of his life, she was his queen, and she deserved to be loved and treated with the utmost care.

As soon as Char heard that word, he knew that's what Iris meant to him, and he was not going to let Micah's use of it stand.

"No, it wasn't," Char told Rath firmly.

Rath laughed. "Lighten up. I know you're deeper than that. If all it took was a sexy outfit, you would have proposed the minute you saw her in that party dress. So, how soon are you looking to get married?"

"As soon as possible."

"Figured. Better wait until we get home, though. Mother can forgive you for a lousy proposal. She'll never forgive you if you leave her out of the wedding."

Char had to smile at that. He'd been toying with the idea of sneaking into the city and getting Father Peter to marry him and Iris, but Rath was right. His mother would kill him if he did that.

"You're right."

"Yeah, I'm right. Go get some blankets. We'll have to deal with heavier packs this time, but it's that or a really long walk, and I'm ready to fly."

Char left the kitchen and crossed the living room toward the hallway, but the door flew open just as he reached it, and he nearly ran into Iris. He caught her by the upper arms and took the opportunity to steal a kiss before she could react.

"We keep running into each other," she said, a shy smile and a soft flush decorating her face.

"We do. Looks like the fairies found you something to wear," he replied, grinning.

"Yeah," she said, looking down at herself. "It doesn't fit right, but it works."

Char released her and stepped back to get a better look. Dwarven men were shorter than her, but also stockier, and the plaid shirt and heavy work pants were baggy on her frame while still leaving much of her wrists and ankles exposed. She had tucked the shirt into the pants, which were cinched tightly about her waist with a thick leather belt and a brass buckle that looked enormous on her stomach. Char chuckled and pulled her into an embrace.

"It looks better on you than it would on a dwarf," he said, leaning in for another kiss.

"Ahem," Rath interrupted loudly from the kitchen doorway.

Char released Iris with a sigh. "I'm getting the blankets," he grumbled, passing her and heading into the hallway. He stripped the blankets from all four bedrooms and returned with them to the living room. Iris was sitting on the sofa awkwardly, and Char immediately wondered what Rath had been saying to her.

"These are all the blankets," Char said, presenting his stack of folded quilts and comforters. They were made of thick fabric and heavy enough all together that he was mildly concerned Iris wouldn't be able to stand once he wrapped her up in them. Not that she would need to stand for long.

"Shouldn't we leave a note?" Iris asked uncertainly.

"A note?" Rath repeated, already busy wrapping one load of supplies in a blanket.

Iris nodded. "In case they come back. It would be a bit of a shock to come back home and find all your food and blankets gone, wouldn't it?"

Rath shrugged. "I guess, if they come back at all."

The fairies were already dropping pen and paper in her hands. Char had no idea where they found such items, but then he hadn't been looking for them, either. He joined Rath in using the blankets to make three travel packs while Iris wrote a quick note. They finished when she did, setting the paper and pen down on the coffee table with finality.

"Okay, I'm ready," she said brightly.

"No, you're not. Shoes," Rath said, looking pointedly at her socked feet.

"There are shoes in the entryway that might fit her," Char volunteered, stepping over to the coffee table to scan the note. It was an apology for using the dwarves' home without permission, and a thanks for providing a cozy sanctuary. She signed all three of their names at the bottom. He smiled and followed her and Rath to the entryway, where she was trying on the heavy work boots the dwarves had left behind. They did fit her, but they made her outfit look even more ridiculous. Rath snickered as he led them out into the tunnel, shifting the two packs he was carrying over each shoulder.

"Well, it's better than walking around barefoot in a bathrobe, right?" Iris asked.

"Yeah, sure," Rath replied. "Although that would give Char an excuse to carry you everywhere, like he did yesterday."

The fairies hovered around Iris so she could see, their golden light casting a warm glow on her rosy cheeks. Char shouldered his pack, took her hand, and led her past Rath.

"I can still carry you if you get tired," he said, grinning.

"N-no thanks," she stammered, embarrassed.

"Hey, question," Rath said lightly, coming up alongside her. "You said that crystal was supposed to limit and regulate magic, but it exploded. So...what now?"

Iris shook her head. "I don't know. I didn't know most of what I said once the crystal took over."

"That's what I thought," Char said quietly.

"So, that wasn't your magic, either?" Rath continued.

"It...was my magic," Iris said hesitantly.

"Better watch yourself, Char," Rath said, a sly grin spreading across his lips. "You upset her, and she can wipe the floor with you."

"I think I'll be okay," Char replied, sending Iris a sidelong glance.

Rath sighed dramatically. "Yeah, if she wouldn't even hurt that psychopath, you're probably fine. I can't believe he wasn't even a mage."

Char shot Rath a warning look as soon as he realized where Rath was going with his thought, but Rath didn't see it. He was focused on the tunnel ahead. His brow was slightly furrowed, the seriousness of his expression contrasting with the lightness of his tone. Char scanned the dark tunnel ahead, searching for whatever had Rath on edge.

"He wasn't a mage, but he was really smart," Iris replied. "I think even if he was born a mage, he would've been just as cruel and heartless. There was something...wrong about him."

"You're telling me," Rath agreed absentmindedly. "Hey, fairies, fly on ahead to that bend in the tunnel."

They zipped ahead happily, twisting and turning in the air as they went. Just where the tunnel bent, about one hundred feet away, they completely vanished from sight. Rath cursed and threw his arm up in front of Iris and Char to stop them.

"Go back. Now."

Char was still just as confused as Iris, but he recognized Rath's sharp tone and immediately turned around, pulling Iris along with him.

"What happened to them?" Iris asked nervously.

"Oh, they're fine," Rath said, returning to his light tone as he followed them back the way they came. He shoved Char's back, and Char picked up his pace. Any faster and he'd be running, but he was following Rath's lead, and Rath was trying to keep Iris calm.

"So why-"

"Let's show her that big cavern, Char," Rath interrupted her. "She can see for herself how I saved your life."

Char took the prompt and forced a snort of laughter. "Or we could have run further from the tunnel entrance. Did you ever think of that?"

"Like you weren't about to fall over from exhaustion," Rath retorted. "You couldn't even keep up with me."

"I would've passed you if there was room in the tunnel," Char argued, glancing down at Iris. She looked up at him questioningly, a fine line of worry between her brows. He smiled and squeezed her hand, although he had a feeling he knew where Rath was going with this.

"You're on," Rath shot back, sprinting past them. Iris shrieked in surprise as Char scooped her up and followed at top speed. Now that he was fully rested and out of that cumbersome armor, he easily passed Rath and kept going.

"Char-" Iris started, wrapping her arms around his neck for stability.

"Take a right," Rath shouted from behind them.

The pack slung over Char's shoulder kept hitting him in the back, and he suddenly realized why Rath left him with one and took two for himself. Two packs plus carrying Iris was doable, but it would have slowed him down significantly. His heart was pounding in his chest, and though his ears strained for any abnormal sound, there was nothing except the thudding of their footsteps on the stone floor. The opening to the main cavern was getting closer.

"Second tunnel," Rath called.

Char burst into the main cavern and swung a hard right, following the cave wall past the first tunnel on the right. Fifty feet ahead to the second tunnel. Rath's footsteps followed with no further shouted instructions. Iris' hands were sweaty on his neck. He ducked into the second tunnel, and it turned sharply to the right.

"Stop," Rath gasped.

The wall completely concealed them from the main cavern. Char set Iris down, his chest heaving as he caught his breath. Rath put his finger to his lips and crept back to the tunnel opening, freezing at the turn, holding his position for ten breaths, and then dropping to his hands and knees and peeking around the corner. Iris leaned into Char, and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, watching Rath intently and trying to breathe as quietly as possible. Rath held his position for another ten breaths, and then he slowly rose to his feet, stepping back to Char and Iris. He froze again, listening, and then he turned toward them, putting his finger to his lips and pointing down the new tunnel. Char took Iris by the hand and headed in the new direction.