“Finneas, I want you to show me your magic.”

Maron’s words were sudden, running together quickly and frantically. Just behind the door, the man stood tall, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. He seemed to have blurted it with more force than he expected, his eyes wide with surprise at himself.

Finneas stood before him, blinking. “Your Highness? Are you alright?”

Maron swallowed, turning his head away. “If I didn’t say it quickly, I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to ask at all,” he said, now speaking at a normal speed and volume. His cheeks held a soft pink flush that Finneas wasn’t used to seeing. It wasn’t like the prince to become easily embarrassed or flustered. How long had he been standing there waiting to ask him that?

“I… don’t know if that would be the best idea, Your Highness,” he answered, his fingers brushing over his wrists. “I’ve barely begun learning, and the last thing I want is for you to get hurt.”

Maron stood still. “Please.” He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing on his throat. His entire body was rigid, his lips pressed into a straight line.

Finneas stepped forward and gestured to the small loveseat before them. “Sit. You need to relax before anything else.” Tension like that wouldn’t be good for him. With the attack and the heavy decision to allow Finnes to remove his cuffs, he had enough stress on his shoulders. The crutches resting against the side of the sofa told Finneas that it had already begun to take a toll on him.

Maron took a seat, though he was still stiff. “I need to do this.”

Finneas grimaced, sitting beside the man. “Why? Your Highness, I appreciate that you’re willing to accept this for my sake, but you don’t need to rush yourself. We have all the time in the world for you to get used to this.” He paused, eyeing his hands. “I don’t want to frighten you.”

Maron sighed. “That shouldn’t have to be a thought in your head. This is part of you. I shouldn’t be afraid of it.” He paused. “Help me work through this.”

Finneas furrowed his brow. Last night, the man hadn’t seemed nearly as distressed or hurried. Even this morning, he had placed that letter beneath Finneas’s door to ask for space. “Tell me what happened.”

Maron sat straighter, finally meeting Finneas’s eyes. “My father called me to him this morning.”

Finneas nodded. Right. If he had received a talk, it was likely that Maron would have had a similar one on his own. “I just left my meeting with him. What did he say to you?”

“If he believes I’m the slightest bit afraid, you’re gone.”

Finneas shivered, though he wasn’t sure why. It wasn’t as though that was unexpected. His Majesty was likely to find any excuse he could to have him made an example of.

Maron let out another sigh. “I’ll just work through it. The last thing I need is for you to be taken away because I failed you.” He placed his hands on his thighs. “Show me what you can do before I lose my resolve.” His voice wasn’t pleading, but it wasn’t quite the strict tone he used for proper orders. It was an honest request, not as his prince, but as Finneas’s friend.

He couldn’t refuse that.

“Alright, Your Highness.” He nodded, and stood, moving himself to the seat across from him. Even if Maron wanted to put on his bravest face, Finneas didn’t want to be too close. Startling him would only make everything harder. “I’ll tell you what I’m doing as I do it. Right now, I’m just going to hold it in my hand. I won’t let anything spread unless you tell me to.”

When Maron nodded, Finneas ignited a small spark, holding it gently in his palm. Maron didn’t flinch, but he wasn’t delighted in the way that Barnaby and Joel had been. Instead, he sat there with a blank face, eyes watching the flame there. “You have control over it?” His eyes moved lower, toward the scar on Finneas’s wrist. “Does it hurt?”

Finneas shook his head. “It’s part of me. It’s hot, but… heat isn’t painful.” He held the flame in his hand, rolling it in his palm like a small ball. “Is this alright?”

Maron nodded. “It is. And it is enough for now.” His fingers gripped tightly against his thighs, the rest of his expression and body keeping neutral.

“Of course.” Finneas extinguished the flame, closing his fist around it. “It’s gone. I won’t use it again until you ask.”

Maron rose, closing the space between them and extending his hand. Carefully, his fingertips brushed against Finneas’s palm, and he took a long, slow breath. “You’re warm.” His fingers retreated quickly, as though the light heat of Finneas’s skin was scalding after holding them there for just a moment too long. He turned his head.

“You don’t have to force yourself to do this,” Finneas offered.

“I’ll adjust.” His voice was firm. “I’m not fragile.”

“Of course, Your Highness.” Finneas nodded, watching as Maron reclaimed his seat. “I appreciate you doing this for me.”

Maron shook his head, turning away. “It’s for me as much as it’s for you. It’s time I dealt with all of this.”

Finneas didn’t really like that response, but he kept quiet. If Maron wanted to face everything head on, he would be there for him. He only hoped that it wouldn’t make the man hate him in the end. If anything went wrong, Finneas wanted to know he would be forgiven.

“Where is your head right now?” Maron asked, leaning against his armrest.

Finneas just shook his head. “I'm alright. Speaking with your father just wears on a person quickly,” he said with a soft laugh. He shouldn’t say that sort of thing, but with Maron across from him, looking just as drained, it wasn’t as though the man would disagree.

Maron stood once again, taking his crutches in his hands and adjusting his arms to fit into them. “We’ll need to get on with the day nonetheless,” he said with a soft sigh. “I need to do research on policies near the border. Nadia will be stopping by shortly so that I can consult with her. Please let her in, work through tomorrow’s schedule, and then you’re dismissed for the night.”

Finneas raised a brow. There was still so much they both needed to attend to in preparation for Maron’s birthday ball. “Are you certain there’s nothing more you’d like my help with?”

Maron looked at him over his shoulder. “I imagine you’ve had a long day.”

As kind as it was, it almost sounded like an excuse. “Your Highness, if I’ve done anything to upset you–”

“No.” Maron’s voice was harsh, perhaps harsher than he meant for it to be, judging by the surprised look in his eyes. “You haven’t done anything wrong. My problems are mine to face. It had nothing to do with you.”

Finneas sighed. “Please don’t avoid me because of this.” He didn’t expect to sound so defeated when he spoke, but the weight of the day at last felt as though it were tumbling down onto his shoulders.

“Finneas…” Maron stepped forward, reaching out a hand, fingers almost brushing against his wrist.

A knock at the door made Maron flinch and Finneas turned quickly, clenching his jaw. He straightened himself, taking a breath as he approached the door. Princess Nadia would need to be allowed in. That took precedence over whatever emotional baggage Finneas was trying to unpack from them both. He put a smile on his lips, and opened the door to see Her Majesty and the princess standing stiffly before him.

“Ah, Finneas. Just who I was looking for,” Her Majesty said.

Finneas bowed. “I’m glad to be of service, Your Majesty.”

The pair entered, and Meredith turned, locking the door behind her. Maron gave her an odd look, and Finneas stepped out of the way.

“My apologies, dear. I needed to see you both without suspicion. Your meeting with Nadia will need to be postponed.” Meredith carried herself confidently, taking the seat Finneas had only just left. “If all of you could sit, please.”

Finneas met Maron’s eyes, and they looked back at him blankly. No ideas. Upon meeting Nadia’s gaze, she only offered the tiniest, weakest smile. She gripped her hands tightly together before her, placing them in her lap when she sat beside her mother. Hesitantly, Finneas joined Maron at his side once more. It was not lost on him when the man shifted away, but he didn’t say a word.

“Nadia, darling, it’s best if you begin.” Meredith said. Her tone was still even and clear, even as her daughter shifted in her seat, wringing her hands.

“Can I just show them?” she asked, watching Meredith’s face closely.

“If that is what will be easiest for you. It’s alright. I know it’s frightening, but you’re in the presence of friends. No one in this room is going to be upset with you,” she said, moving a soothing hand over Nadia’s hair.

Finneas glanced at Maron again. He looked as puzzled as he had before.

Nadia took a deep breath, and the moment she stretched her hands in front of her, palms upturned, Finneas’s eyes widened. She didn’t need to do anything else. He leaned forward, mouth already parted in a gasp.

A quick, erratic burst of water spewed from her hands like a miniscule geyser, and she jumped at the motion, scrambling back into her seat. The water reached its peak quickly, collapsing onto the ground in a wet mess.

“Princess,” Finneas said, his eyes wide. He kept his voice soft, not wanting to startle her. Was this the reason she’d been so stiff the last few times he had seen her? “That’s… That was amazing, Your Highness.”

She shook her head quickly. “I don’t know what to do.” When Finneas met her eyes, he found tears welling there, threatening to fall off long eyelashes. “I– I don’t want to be like this. Not that– not that it’s bad to be a magician, of course it isn’t, but–”

Finneas nodded. “It’s frightening to come into powers you didn’t expect. And I’m sure with your status, it can’t be easy on you.”

“I… can’t be this.”

Finneas frowned. His heart ached for her. When he’d come into his powers, it had been a time of celebration. Even as a child, the depth of the excitement had carried great weight. Everyone around him had praised him for even the slightest bit of fire he conjured, so proud, so happy he would be able to use the same magic his family had held for generations.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come here. I should deal with this myself. Mom, I told you this was a bad idea.” Her words were quiet, but they ran a million miles an hour. “Finneas, I don’t want to offend you, and Maron, I’m sorry if I scare you.”

“I’m not offended.”

“I’m not afraid of magic.”

There was a quiet in the room and Nadia sat in her chair, trembling. “If father finds out…”

“Nadia, on my life, I will ensure he does not,” Maron said. He paused, clasping his hands in his lap. “Show us more. Is it water that you can control, or more than that?”

She nodded. “Water. I sort of get dehydrated when I do it too much, and I don’t really know how to do much…” Her voice shook less when she spoke now, but it was still quiet. She outstretched her hands once more, bringing forth a small amount of water in her palm, and tossed it carefully into her other. As she caught it, the faintest smile brushed over her lips. “I’ve been working on this for a little while.”

“That’s really great, Princess,” Finneas said.

She looked up. “Can you do something like that? I guess of course you can, right? You’ve practiced a lot.”

Finneas nodded. “And I had the advantage of a family who’d experienced the same things. Magic isn’t something you should compare with others. Everyone’s journey is different.”

“That was why I wanted to speak with you specifically, Finneas,” Meredith said, calling the room’s attention back toward her. “There is no one else who will be able to help her as much as you can. It must be discreet, but the more practice and guidance she has, the better. If you are willing, please help her grow.”

Finneas swallowed, glancing toward Maron before he nodded. “I will do anything I can. We have quite a busy schedule with the ball, but I’m certain I can make time for something this important.” He offered Nadia a smile, and was relieved when it was returned.

Before he had a moment to react, the princess launched herself forward, crashing into his arms. He blinked in surprise, hesitating for a moment before pulling his arm around her small shoulders.

“Thank you, Finny.” She squeezed him rightly before pulling back and staring toward the ground. “I– My apologies. That wasn’t very ladylike.”

“No apologies needed, Your Highness,” he said with a soft laugh. “Whatever you need, I’ll be here for you.” He glanced back to Maron, finding him still an ocean away on the sofa, but his expression gentler. He nodded.

“We both will.”