My eyes shot open and I tried to sit up, but my body was weak. This was not my room, this was not anywhere familiar. The walls told me I was in a wooden cabin, the window showed trees, a thick forest. My heart sped up. Memories filled my head. La Fray had left me for dead, how had I ended up in a cabin? Looking at where my wounds were I noted they were wrapped. I tried to sit up again. "I wouldn't do that yet," a familiar voice said. However, when I turned my head to the voice the face was a stranger.

The stranger smiled kindly and walked forward slowly. "You were lucky that Kiko found you when he did," he said, nodding to where a giant black ball of fur lay at the end of my feet. "He's hardly left you since we brought you in a week ago," he said, patting the dog on the head.

"A week?" I croaked, my hand going to my throat realizing how dry it was.

The man walked forward. "Let me help you sit up, get you a drink of water, then we can talk," he said. He helped me into a sitting position; then handed me a glass of water. "Take it slow," he said sitting down beside the bed.

"Thank you," I said after sipping the water. "You said I've been here a week?" I asked.

He nodded. "The fire was fierce. We just barely got out of there before it closed in on us. You've been in and out of it for the week. Mostly out," he said. "Your wounds have healed well, although one seems to be taking a little longer," he said pointing to the one lower down.

"Yeah... my guess is that one opened up an old wound in the same area," I said. "My name is Sam, by the way," I added.

He nodded. "And mine is Kel. How does one as young as yourself have multiple wounds such as the ones you do?" he asked a look of concern on his face.

I hesitated. I did not know this man. He had been kind enough to help me so far, but how much could I say? "I come from a family with power... a man wants that power and has been after it for many years. My friends and I are in your country trying to find him and end this," I said.

Kel did not respond right away. He sat looking at me. "A family of power?" he questioned. "Why not hire someone to come end this for you then?" he asked.

"Because this man has taken my family again and again. I need to see it come to an end and not rely on others," I said. My face dropped as I thought of those others. How had they feared in the fire? Did they make it out?

"It's a mess out there!" a young voice called as the door from the outside slammed open. "Kel? Where are you?" he cried. Footsteps were heard and then a young boy around twelve was standing in the doorway. "Whose she?" he asked looking at me.

"This is Sam. She's been keeping me company since you and Akim left," Kel said turning to the young boy. "Sam, this is my little friend, Ikaika," Kel said. He then raised an eyebrow. "Where is Akim? What took you guys so long anyways?" he questioned.

"Someone decided to set fire to the forest! Then to top that off there are like swarms of king's guards searching the forest," Ikaika said with excitement.

"Seems as though a certain young queen has gone missing," another familiar voice said. This time when I turned to the voice I knew the face.

"Elakim!" I said with wide eyes.

Elakim smiled walking over and taking a chair beside the bed. "Hello, our little queen," he said.

Ikaika and Kel raised their eyebrows. "Queen? This is who they are searching for?" Ikaika exclaimed, staring at me with huge eyes.

Elakim nodded. "Yes, although it seems as though they have given up hope. They have all returned to Sayven. I'm sure a certain group of young men will be back in a day when they are given the supplies needed," he said eyeing me.

Kel looked back and forth between the two of us. "Sam... Queen... your the queen of Auroja," he said, eyes landing on me.

"Yes," I said, nodding my head slowly.

"We need to get word back to your brothers that you are okay," Elakim said.

I nodded. "I need to get back to them. We need to find La Fray," I said.

Elakim and Kel shook their heads. "No, you are not well enough to be going after La Fray. You hardly survived the fire," Kel said.

"From the reports I've gathered he's already left the country as well. The weight of the king's army did not settle well with him," Elakim said. Elakim and Kel started into why it was good that La Fray had left. As they talked, the familiarity of Kel hit me, my body froze. "Sam, are you alright?" Elakim asked, turning to me.

At first I couldn't respond. I simply sat staring at Kel. Finally, I slowly raised a hand and pointed a finger at Kel. "Your Mikkel," I said.

He nodded, slightly confused. "Yes, how did you know? I just told you my name was Kel," he said.

Elakim sat up a little straighter. "You two didn't have much time to talk before we came in, did you?" he asked.

"She just woke up... the few times she was awake before that, she was so out of it there were no conversations," Mikkel said. "Again, I ask, how do you know my name?"

"Because your son is one of my best friends," I said.

It was Mikkel's turn to freeze. "You know my son?" he asked his body on the verge of shaking.

I nodded slowly. "He's a Dragon, with me. He's one of my best friends. He's here. He, Emree, and Morr-El were guiding us through," I said.

At this both Elakim and Mikkel froze. "Our children have reunited? How have they not killed Morr-El yet?" Elakim asked.

Nodding again, I sat up a little straighter. "Because they listened to his side. They heard of how you two saved Morr-El's sister. They may not be best friends with him, but they are working with him. We have to return to Sayven, not only for me, but to reunite you with your children."

The two didn't speak. They exchanged looks, but no words came. "So... we're going back to the capital? Cause I thought I'd had enough of that place for a few months," Ikaika said.

"Not the capital. There are still too many hard feelings there," Elakim said shaking his head. "Do you really think Emree and Rowen want to see us? Rowen seemed pretty mad back in Auroja," he said.

A smile crossed my face as I nodded. "I am sure. They may not act it, but they have missed you terribly. They both had to grow up quicker than most, but they are still kids who want their fathers," I said. Then my eyes turned to Mikkel. "Plus, Sparrow adores you and will be ecstatic to meet you," I said.

"Sparrow? She's here? Oh goodness, she was just a babe when everything happened," Mikkel said, running his hand through his hair.

"So what's our plan?" Ikaika asked.

"Would the two of you calm down?" I asked, shaking my head as the two fathers paced the room at the inn that we were occupying. The day after I woke, we started traveling to an inn in a town just south of Sayven. The fact that many people still held Elakim and Mikkel responsible made the choice to reunite outside of Sayven the best one. "They might seem mad at first, but that is only going to be because they are shocked," I said, from my place at the table.

It had taken us four days to reach the inn, as my injuries caused us to go at a much slower pace. The morning after we arrived, Ikaika was sent to Sayven to bring my brothers to me. They would be arriving at any moment.

"They are right through here," Ikaika's voice rang out from the other side of the door mere seconds before it was open. Ikaika scampered to the corner to watch the reunion.

"Sam!" Sparrow cried out, releasing Rowen's hand and running towards me. She skidded to a stop when she saw my wrapped arm and burns. She cautiously reached out and placed a hand on my cheek. "You had us so worried," she said a tear falling from her eye.

With my good arm I reached out and pulled her close. "I told you that we would do everything in our power to return to you. I didn't know at the time that we would need help, but we did, and we are all here now," I said, wiping the tear from her face. She nodded, wrapping her arms around me and laying her head on my shoulder.

My brothers were the next to enter the room and approach me. "We did all we could," Benedict said. I could see on his face, he was taking it as his responsibility for what happened.

"It wasn't your fault. You did all you could. We underestimated La Fray. It was fate, and possibly a little luck, that brought Kel to my rescue," I said.

"Actually, it was Kiko that found you," Mikkel said, slowly stepping from the shadows of the corner.

The room fell into silence, most confused, a few shocked. "Who are you?" Sparrow asked, straightening up. Rowen stepped forward, placing a hand on Sparrow's shoulder and pulling her back to himself. Sparrow slowly shook her head. "No, no... it can't be... you're dead," she said, her voice breaking. Before anyone could respond she tore free from Rowen and ran out the door.

"I'll talk to her," Nate said, then quickly exited the room to find Sparrow.

The room remained silent. Rowen and Mikkel staring at each other. "Hello, son," Mikkel softly said. Rowen swallowed, but still no words came.

"How could you do this to your children?" Emree asked, stepping up and placing a hand on Rowen's shoulder.

"It was to keep you all safe," Elakim said, walking forward and standing beside Mikkel.

At his words and appearance Emree's face turned red, her fist balled up and she lunged at her father. However, Rowen grabbed her around the waist and held her as she struggled in his arms, tears pouring down her face. "How dare you show up! How dare you come back after abandoning us!" she cried.

"What we did was to keep you safe. I know it's hard to understand, you may never. However, you have to believe me that I did it because I loved you," Elakim said, walking forward.

"Love? This is what you call love? Abandoning your wife and daughter to the wolves? Did you know mum left me? Did you even care? Or was that her way of showing love too?" Emree continued, her bodying shaking in Rowen's hold.

"There is so much I wish I could undo, I wish I could have taken you with me. At the time I didn't know if that would make you a target too," Elakim said then reached out and took hold of his daughter pulling her close. At first she struggled, then her body collapsed into his as she sobbed.

"Rowen, can we speak privately?" Mikkel asked, taking a step towards his son. Rowen gave a short nod, then turned and exited the room, followed by Mikkel. Then Elakim led Emree out leaving my brothers and Ikaika in the room with me.

"Well... that was intense," Ikaika said, emerging from the shadows and taking a seat on one of the chairs.

"Nothing involving Sam can be boring. She likes to keep things exciting," Alakay smirked, walking over and sitting on one of the two remaining chairs. Benedict took the other leaving the bed for Louis and Shepherd to sit on the edge of. "So what's your name little man?" he asked, turning to the young boy.

"My name's Ikaika," he said looking at the men in the room.

Louis titled his head. "That is a very Nivetarian name, however... you are not," he said, taking in Ikaika's dark skin and black hair.

He nodded his head. "I am originally from Lucror," he said, mentioning the country to the south of Nivetara. "I grew up in a small fishing village, it was a prime spot for pirates and slave traders to descend upon. When I was seven I was one of the many taken. Mikkel and Elakim bought me from the slave block in Rahasia. They saved me. Then changed my name because they could not pronounce it," he said with a grin.

"And what might that name have been?" Louis asked.

"Ischyrós (Es-Key-Rose), it means strong on my native tongue and that is why they call me Ikaika," he explained. Louis was filled with questions. Ikaika and Shepherd switched places and the two on the bed went into conversation about cultural similarities and differences.

It was at least a half hour before the door opened again. Nate and Sparrow walked through. Nate's hand resting on Sparrow's shoulder. Sparrow's eyes quickly looked around the room. "Rowen and Mikkel left shortly after you," Benedict said, seeing the question in her eyes. She nodded and pulled Nate to the bed. After he took a seat she sat down and leaned into him.

"I'm assuming Emree and Elakim are talking as well," Nate said, wrapping one arm around Sparrow and leaning back on the other.

Another half hour passed before the door opened and Rowen and Mikkel walked through. Rowen's eyes quickly landed on Sparrow. "Sparrow, come here," he said holding out his hand.

Sparrow remained silent as her eyes stayed on their father. She slowly shook her head and leaned further into Nate. Rowen went to call her again when Mikkel put a hand on his son's shoulder. "It will take time," he said softly. Then turned to Sparrow. "When you are ready, I would love to talk with you. Rowen has told me a little about you and it reminds me so much of your mother when we first met," he said, smiling at her. She remained quiet as he spoke.

Only a few minutes passed before Emree and Elakim walked back in. "I'm surprised you're still in one piece," Nate said, looking at Elakim.

Emree glared at Nate. "I'm not that bad... it was just a lot to take in," she said. Nate smirked, but said nothing as Emree walked over and took a seat beside him and Sparrow.

"Now what?" Alakay asked the question that was on all our minds.

Taking a deep breath I looked around the room at our growing group. "We take the rest of the day to be together. Then tomorrow we return to Sayven to say our farewells and go home," I said.

"What about La Fray? Shouldn't we continue to track him down?" Alakay questioned.

"Elakim said that he has heard from many people that La Fray is no longer in Nivetara. I have a feeling that he is heading back to Auroja to try his hand at the throne again," I said, realizing that if he thought I was dead and Nate was here the path to the throne would be fairly empty. "We have rushed head first into things too many times. It is time to take a step back and make a final plan to bring him down."