The room went deathly silent. The words seemed caught up in the rafters, echoing the accusation at the knight over and over.
Ethyn looked at Rose, who was as red as her namesake. Fortunately, no one had any reason to connect the statement to the princess, so it seemed like she was blushing from the statement itself more than the implication towards her.
"I did not! At least not in any inappropriate way." Ethyn straightened his shoulders. "May we speak privately?"
The Guardian scanned the room. Things seemed well under control such that they no longer needed his guidance.
Silver jumped lightly to the ground and strode towards the other two. At first, the ring of soldiers around Rose did not wish to part, but she assured them it was safe to do so.
"Good work men," Silver told the guards. "But you let one get through…"
The Guardian hoisted the knight up by one arm and escorted him back to the foyer. Thankfully, it was Ethyn's good shoulder, or the redhead would have crumpled to the ground in pain.
Moving down a side hall, Silver found the only alcove in the whole palace without a large plant in it, and began to talk quickly.
"You touched my sister and you know it! After you promised!" He pressed an accusing finger against the knight's armor.
"What makes you think that?" Ethyn was unwilling to admit to what had happened even though it was innocent.
If he did, then the Guardian would ask if he enjoyed it, and between the two siblings, there was no right answer!
Silver's eyes flashed beneath his hood. "I can see it on your face. You came in smiling like a cat that ate a canary! Your hand was itching to grab Her Highness's."
"It was?" Rose's cheeks, which had just begun to pale to their normal hue, turned pink once more
Ethyn smiled stupidly for a second before regaining control of his face. "Silver, it's not what you think."
"Did you touch her or not?" Silver crossed his arms.
'Does he look taller? I swear he looks taller than he did a minute ago…' Ethyn gulped.
"He did but it was to catch me when I jumped from the wall. If he hadn't I probably would have died!" Rose came to the rescue of the knight whom she loved.
Her words caused the Guardian's head to swivel towards her. Although she could not see his face, she knew his mouth was hanging wide open.
"I'm sorry, young lady. Can you repeat that? Your body did what from where and was caught by whom?" Silver's fingers dug into his arms as he tried to control his emotions.
"I was being held captive on the wall by one of the enemy soldiers. The only way to stop Ethyn and the others from surrendering was to jump." Rose chewed her lip.
"And you let her?!?" Silver thwacked Ethyn on the back of his head.
"Ouch! Have you ever tried to stop the princess from doing something?" Ethyn rubbed his scalp.
The argument Silver had died in his throat. He cleared it instead.
"Anyway, you are forgetting I caught her! I saved her life. If that doesn't count for something, I don't know what does." Ethyn turned up his nose at his friend.
"I haven't gotten to thank you for that yet!" Rose raised up on her tiptoes and planted a kiss on Ethyn's cheek.
"You are quite welcome. If that is the reward, I'll save you every day!" The young man winked.
It was clear both of them enjoyed the moment immensely until Ethyn remembered that Silver was watching. He cleared his throat.
"Please don't kill me, Your Guardianship. She kissed me, not the other way around." Ethyn pulled at the collar of his armor.
"I saw that. Doesn't mean I have to like seeing it...." Silver gritted his teeth.
"Brother," Rose grabbed the hand of the cloaked figure. Her touch softened the Guardian's heart.
"You really like him, don't you?" Silver fought to keep the emotion from his voice.
"More than that," the princess said honestly. "I think I love him." Her eyes looked forward, but she watched the knight out of the corner of her eye.
Ethyn's back straightened, her words had clearly given him courage. "I feel the same way about her Silver. I know it is very soon, but..."
"Do not ask. In the end, the decision lies with my sister on that matter. But if you two decide that is what is best, I will not stand in your way." It was the closest thing to a blessing Silver could honestly give at that moment.
He personally felt that things between the couple had moved very fast. The Guardian had only found out about their relationship that morning, so it all felt very sudden to him.
But if Rose and Ethyn had been dating twenty years, Silver knew deep down that he would still object to the idea of his sister getting married.
The Guardian himself had fallen hard at the first sight of Sage, and that had almost ended in disaster. But the two people in front of him were both honest, brave and kind. While he predicted that this road would lead to a lot of playful bickering, he could sense deep down that their commitment was real.
"Stand in the way of what?" Rose shifted her gaze between the two men. There was something she was missing.
"Stand in the way of your happiness. We both want the best for you." Silver saved Ethyn from having to explain. He kissed his sister's hand before releasing it.
"That's what Father always says... Father!" Rose's eyes widened. She had been so caught up in catching up that she had forgotten a key reason she had come inside the palace despite the danger.
Surely Silver would have been more concerned if the king were not safe. His calm demeanor surely meant all was well.
"His Majesty is tucked safely away. He is being protected by people I trust. I can take you there in a moment if you like." Silver reached into his cloak. "First we need to see to that nasty cut."
He pulled out his vial and before Rose could tell him it wasn't necessary, he dropped a speck of glowing light onto the deep cut which Fed had made. Knowing that the wound would heal on its own, Silver did not linger to watch the results.
Soon, the three began walking through the halls at a brisk pace. They passed more soldiers working, sparking the knight's interest.
"How did the soldiers get out of the dungeon?" Ethyn couldn't help but ask.
"Funny thing, that. It wasn't even my plan. I saw the blond soldier, Cole, on the way to the throne room. He had managed to avoid being rounded up from the infirmary and got Captain Rabert's keys. I told him of my plans and he said he would get everyone out of the dungeon. I don't know what he did, but it obviously worked."
"What about Borit?" Rose had not looked carefully at all the men who had fallen in the throne room even though both men had tried to shield her from that sight as much as they could.
"That is a problem I have yet to solve. He disappeared during the fighting. I do hope you find him and bring him to justice." Silver paused outside a door and made a special knock.
"This is it. I love you both. Take care of each other." Silver hugged his sister and shook the knight's hand.
"You aren't coming in?" Rose furrowed her brow.
"My part here is finished." Silver's eyes flashed.
"I have you back now. I am not letting you go again." The princess's eyes were suddenly wet with tears.
"You aren't getting rid of me that easily. We will see each other again. There is no way I can stay gone for too long with that one lurking around you." Silver jerked his thumb toward Ethyn before he hugged his sister once more. "Till next time."
"Till next time," she repeated. "I love you!"
Rose turned her head as the door cracked open. When she looked back, Silver was gone.