Calandiel was unmistakable. Even after years, even with half her face covered in blood, Rosa had no doubt it was her. The elf's uncovered eye stared at her in astonishment, as if she, too, couldn't believe who she was seeing. But the queen didn't have much time to admire her former companion's face. Calandiel pushed her away and ran, pulling her hood up to hide.

- BOSS? - Rosa heard someone shout from behind her carriage.

She rushed out, looked quickly to the back and saw two guards in the mist fighting a large figure, but she didn't stop, she didn't think about anything, not even about how defenseless her heir was, she just wanted to reach Calandiel. She saw the elf's back from a distance and ran after her.

When she was far away, Henrique's voice could be heard from a distance, calling for her. But she couldn't stop. She felt the tears run down her cheeks, the ground uncertain under her feet. The queen only saw her target and nothing else. She hadn't felt this much adrenaline in years, much less those buried feelings.

Soon both were consumed by the darkness of the forest, only clearings of moonlight lighting their way. Rosa called out to Calandiel, who did not answer. She felt short of breath, her heels catching on roots, she didn't know how much longer she could run.

She fell to the floor. But not because of her legs failing her, someone had knocked her over.

- I GOT'ER, BOSS! - Shouted Rosa 's captor. She couldn't see him, lying face down in the grass, but she felt big hands tying her down. From its voice it was a man, perhaps the figure she had seen near the carriage.

The queen ran out of breath. She managed to spit out the weeds and dirt that had gone into her mouth, and suddenly heard Calandiel's footsteps coming back towards her. The elf would be soon joined by others. A second voice further away said:

- We got some good jewelry this time... Hey, what's going on?

- I didn't know we had a target in this ambush. - A third voice followed.

- We didn't. She came after me - Rosa heard Calandiel's voice, not believing it was hers. She glanced up to make sure that low tone was the same girl she'd known.

Calandiel looked at her sternly.

- BOSS! Your face! - Said the man who was still holding the queen.

- Hobin! Let me take a look! - followed a female voice.

Before Calandiel could answer, a shout was heard in the direction from which they had come.

- WHERE IS THE QUEEN?

- She's a queen!? - One of the members of the group was startled.

- What do we do, boss? - Asked the big man.

Rosa faced Calandiel as best she could. Her heart was beating at a breakneck pace, whether from fear or excitement, she didn't know. She could see the doubt flitting across her ex-lover's face.

- I think they came this way! - They heard the Sunstone guards a little closer.

- Shit! Let's take her with us!

Calandiel brushed aside the girl who was trying to treat her face, took a cloth from her robes and crouched down next to Rosa. The man who had bound the queen lifted her, like she weighed nothing, and let the elf take care of her. As she tied the gag around Rosa's mouth, Rosa felt Calandiel's warm breath caress her ear.

-Don't try anything funny - she said in that melodic but deep voice, that wasn't hers.

And for the first time in years, Rosa felt her confidence waver before she fainted.