During that time, back at Zora's castle. A heavy door of the dungeon opened. Zora entered. Walking by all the cells, she noticed that all her prisoners were busy enjoying their ham lunch. She stopped at the last and most spacious one, where king Nathaniel was held.
Noticing her, he flung his plate away. "Trying to ease your conscience by giving us good food?" he said coldly.
"A lucky accident, actually. One peculiar stroke of a quill and, well, you know how that goes," she said nonchalantly.
The king grumbled. "So how long do you plan on keeping us here? You know someone will eventually look for us."
The princess sighed. "All in due time. What is now important is that Aidan is returned safe and sound. And after that. Well."
"Well, what?"
Zora stayed composed. "We will have to hold a trial for your actions."
"This is no way to treat a royal!" the king yelled, enraged. "Under what authority do you allow yourself to act in this way?"
"As I remember our deal, this castle is under special domain, where I do have authority to do whatever I want," she stated coldly. "You did not oppose that right then. Why are you protesting now?"
The king grumbled, holding the sturdy metal rails.
"You have no idea what game you started, girl. I will make sure I see your dead body hang before this is over," the king declared.
Zora stood at the door, holding her round belly. "Yes, I imagine that is why you rushed to this castle so soon. You would have been perfectly safe in your own if it wasn't for that very reason."
The king was stunned. The guard came over to the princess, whispering something into her ear.
"I'm afraid I have to go now. We will continue this conversation later," she said, walking away.
Back at the gate, another problem appeared in the form of the queen.
"How dare you! And after everything we had done for you! Just wait till the rest of the kingdom finds out about this!" she yelled as soon as she saw Zora.
The pregnant woman stared at her with a blank expression. "What seems to be the problem, dear sister-in-law?" she replied calmly.
"Do not act naive with me?" she shouted, mad from rage. "I demand to know where my husband is?"
"Has he not told you," the princess said. "There was a ransom note from Aidan's captors. He insisted that he see to it personally."
His wife slouched, a little confused. "He went personally?"
"Of course. Like any good brother would," Zora added calmly.
"But, why didn't you go... Go with him?" Olivia asked.
The princess tilted her head. "Surely, you do not expect me to run around dark woods in my state?"
Olivia was unsure how to act. She did not expect this timid girl to act so... so, rationally. "Surely you can tell me more? We are family, after all."
Zora sighed. "I am afraid I do not have anything to say on the matter. Not until Aidan is safely returned."
"And what is that doesn't happen? What then?" the queen asked.
Zora looked at her with a piercing gaze. "We should hope that does not happen? I am tired now, my queen. I need to go and rest for the baby's sake. Be certain that I will send a message as soon as I hear some news.
Olivia did not want to give up so easily. She even tried calling out several times, but the guards did not let her through. "Watch who you threaten with those spears!" she yelled. "This is not over, girl. Just wait when I get my soldiers here."
Zora pierced her with her gaze a second time. "Do that. Viniria will look forward to it. She had been telling me she was getting bored recently."
That seemed to do the trick, making the queen back down. Her carriage was already on its way when Zora reacher her room in the tower.
"Took everything I had not to cry, just now," the princess sighed from sorrow.
"It is over now. Why don't you rest?" Theodor said. He was the only human guard allowed in.
"No. I have to prepare myself. The queen is probably on her way to assemble all the noble houses. I will have to prepare if I plan to stand my ground at the assembly," she said, sitting at her desk. The large wooden surface was covered in books and documents. She had apparently arranged for copies of all the law books in the kingdom."
"You are surely not planning to talk to these people. After everything they have done to you?" Theodor protested.
"Sadly, I must. I have to explain my actions. Otherwise, what makes me different from that tyrant Nathaniel," she explained. Thinking for a moment, she continued: "You know, I have tried to follow my mother's advice. Keep my head low. Not talk back. Try to stay out of everyone's way. I even understood when they wanted to sacrifice me to the guardian. But now, with my child in danger."
"You will never be in danger! Not while I am around!" the knight said abruptly.
Zora smiled. His way of speaking would sometimes get on her nerves, but she appreciated the sentiment. "I know, Theodor. Still, life is not only about fighting. If we are lucky, we might avoid that entirely."
Theodor, nodded. As she arranged her stationary, her protector noticed a small glass box with a velvet cushion. Inside was a long sharp white hair. "Is that how you were able to transform into a wolf?"
"Yes," the young queen said and sighed. "If only I could use it now. Sadly, Viniria warned me that, in my state, it might cause some complications."
"I see," he said with his gaze glued to the small box. "Does it work on anyone?"
"I wouldn't know. She never told me," Zora said and discretely yawned. "I would like to rest now. Tell my ladies in waiting to come in."
"Of course, your Majesty," the large guard bowed. Exiting the room, he glanced at the box one more time.
The exhausted princess, managed to get in her bed. Placing her tired face on the pillow, she whispered: "Oh Aidan. Where are you? Everything seems so gloomy without you?"