“Hello,” his mother said. “It took me awhile to figure out where you have gone. May I - we - speak with you and your friend?”

The prince joined the warrior at the doorway. “Yeah,” he said. “Come on in!”

He welcomed the adults inside the dark room and seated them in different chairs near the fire. He and the warrior sat before them. “Did you need to talk with us?” he asked.

The warrior’s mother nodded. “The moment I walked out of that room, I knew I was going to regret everything your father said to you,” she told the warrior. “I regret it all. I don’t agree with what that man said to you.”

“H-he said you weren’t proud of me,” the warrior stuttered.

“He does not speak on my behalf, my son,” she said with a smile.

When the warrior heard the words “my son”, he became very emotional. The prince was surprised to hear the words as well, but it also made him feel warm inside. He pulled the warrior closer to him and hugged him. His parents as well appeared touched by the words.

“We had an argument not long after you two left,” she continued, “and I told him that he should never speak in such a way to my family. He didn’t seem to agree, so I have decided that he will no longer be a part of our family. Since he is the true owner of our home, I knew that I would be the one leaving.

“Your friend’s parents came over when I called to help me gather my belongings, and they told me you were here. I knew I had to make things right with you and tell you my side of things.”

The couple sitting next to her smiled at the warrior. He smiled back, through dried tears of joy and relief.

“Your happiness is what is most important to me,” his mother told him. “Whether you are a prince or a princess, or if you feel that you are neither or unsure where you stand in that spectrum, I will stand by your side and fight for you to be happy and accept you as who you are. You’re my son, after all.”

“Th-thank you, mother,” the warrior said, pulling his mother over and hugging her tightly. “I have no idea what to say, really. I’m just so happy to hear you say these things.”

The prince and his parents rejoiced with them both, and it was decided that they will celebrate by throwing a huge ball later that week. Many people arrived on the day of the ball, and almost everyone who knew the warrior were surprised yet very accepting of his new appearance.