After a quiet dinner in the company of her mother and the prince of Celegorm, Rosa returned to her room thoughtfully. Calen looked extremely shaken during the meal, as if his hopes had been dashed when they said his sister was not there. Although he had time to sleep and bathe, he still looked exhausted and only spoke when he had to respond to the queen's attempts to have a pleasant conversation.

Rosa dropped on the bed, still wearing the banquet dress. She stared at the canopy above, thinking about everything that had happened that day. Her mother said that she wouldn't stop her, but the weight of her words and all Rosa’s responsibilities was already enough prison. The princess closed her eyes and let her mind wander for a moment, just over a year ago...

She was lying on her beloved's lap. A beautiful elf who did not appear to be more than 19 years old, with long silver hair, which fell over her pink shoulders and lay in circles on the bed where they were. Her smooth face with fine features, held light blue eyes, full of white lashes, which looked at Rosa with tenderness. The elf's long fingers played with the human princess's orange hair while they talked.

- So... There’s this place which went by last time I traveled looking for undiscovered kingdoms. It’s a really beautiful place, with exotic plants, and the women that live there are amazing warriors, they perfectly mastered the art of fire! They date each other and are very receptive.

- Are there no men there?

- Yes, there are, but they are few, they created a restricted community in this sense. There people like us are not rejected - She added, excited, admiring the beauty that stared at her.

- It seems like a dream to me such a place to exist! - Answered Calandiel, with her melodic voice, that sounded silky and soft like a singing bird.

- Hey, I’m serious! People there are sure strict, but they believe that love shouldn’t have any barriers!

- And where can we find such a wonderful place? - The elf asked, laughing kindly.

- I will take you there. But in the meantime, just so you know that I’m not lying, bring me my bag, there’s a map from the westlands - and, having said that, Rosa gestured to the bag that was next to the bed on a small table.

Calandiel leaned majestically to the surface, easily reaching the bag with her long arms untouched by the sun. From the inside she pulled out a parchment, already used, and handed it to her partner. Rosa unrolled it and pointed to the location on the map.

- Where the Green River flows, there is an island. It is there where the Amazons live.

- It could be the place we would meet. If something happens...

Rosa stood up, dropped the parchment and turned, so that her face was at the same height as Calandiel's.

- What are you talking about? Nothing’s gonna happen - she said tenderly, caressing the elf's face.

Calandiel frowned slightly, but then relaxed and approached her girlfriend to give her a peck.

- You are very optimistic - said the elf.

- And you, very pessimistic - said the other.

Back to the present, Rosa found herself staring at a map of the lands she had visited hanging on the bedroom wall. Her eyes wandered to the Green River drain.

"Where did you go, Cali?" She thought, distressed. “Do you remember our promise? And, if you do, do you still want me there? ”.

Gabriel by now would probably be on the road for the final preparations for the wedding, which would take place in five days. Would she have time to look for Calandiel and return to the fateful day?

"Surely she is not far away, she doesn’t know these lands, she barely traveled in her life... She doesn't know how to defend herself" that last thought made the lump in Rosa's throat tighten. "But all is set, the wedding, the coronation... The nobles would understand if I went after a lost friend, wouldn't they?'' She got up to change clothes. “No… In their minds there is nothing that I can do that a cavalry doesn’t do better. My reputation would drop immensely for the nobility of so many countries… Some could sympathize with me, but others would not like to travel idly. ” With her sleepwear on, she went back to bed. “Cali must hate me now, what's the use of looking for her? I have already made up my mind about my priorities, my kingdom... But it is my fault that she is gone! ”

The torture continued into the night. When dawn came, the princess heard the knights shouting orders from a distance, outside the castle. She had made a decision. She put on the first decent outfit she saw and ran out into the courtyard.

***

Rosa sighed. The church should be full by now. Many nobles would be asking for the bride who has not yet appeared. She straightened up, remembering the conversation she had had with the cavalry captain. Rosa had told him everything she knew about Calandiel that could help with the search. She emptied her mind and entered the church.

Many kilometers away, at that very moment, a hooded young woman was entering an inn.