away!” Ocean remarked, bowing his head before motioning to Rallan and leading him out of the Royal Chamber. Frost chuckled softly and turned back to Fantasy.

“Well, he’s rather good looking, don’t you think?” Frost said teasingly, “Is he up to your standards, sweetheart?” Fantasy gave her father a look of utter disbelief.

“Father, I can’t believe you! Here we have a guest whom we know little about and you’re asking if I’m interested in him!” she retorted, “I told you, I’ll choose my mate when I find true love, not for the most talent of best looks! Personality matters to me!”

“I know, Fantasy, I know…” Frost said softly, padding up to her and nuzzling her in a fatherly manner, “You know I’m just teasing you… I want you to choose whoever you want to be with for the rest of your life… Don’t let anyone force anything onto you…” Fantasy smiled and nuzzled her father back.

“Thanks Daddy… It means a lot to me to know that you want whatever makes me happy…” she replied cheerfully. Frost chuckled softly.

“And don’t you forget that!” he responded in his signature jubilant tone, giving a wink to his daughter, “But, just between you and me, that Rallan is quite a catch, huh?”

“Well, erm… Yeah, I guess you could say that…” Fantasy replied, her pure white cheeks turning a shade of light pink, “I mean, he is kinda cute… But I don’t really know him well enough to actually say he’s a ‘catch’ for sure…”

“Well, he may be here for a while, so maybe you should get to know him a little better!” Frost suggested, turning toward the back room that was his bedding chamber, “Well sweetie, I’m gonna go to bed… It should be sunset right about now and I’ve been up all last night… Goodnight, Fantasy…”

“Goodnight Daddy… See you in the morning…” Fantasy replied, giving him a farewell nuzzle before turning and walking out of the Royal Chamber, heading to the room she knew Rallan would more than likely have and be settled into by now.

When Frost had dismissed them, Rallan had followed Ocean back out to the main cave and back to the central spire. Aside from the ice bridge they’d just crossed, three others stemmed from it, high above the ground level. From up here, Rallan could get a good look at the cave. It was absolutely gigantic, Arctic wolves roaming and perusing about the many levels of the cave, different layers of floors stacked up upon one another with dens and other caves on each level. A series of ramps connecting each one up and down to each different floor.

Ocean led Rallan across the southern bridge and through a large cut archway in the ice. Inside was a cave large enough to accommodate five wolves! Many more of those incandescent crystals hung from the ceiling, illuminating the chamber. A large bed of brush, leaves, and grass lay spread out across the back. A small spring bubbled up in the corner of the cave, easily large enough for one to bathe in, if needed. Rallan took a few steps inside, mouth agape as his brown and gold eyes took in the sight before him.

“By the gods! This is absolutely stunning!” Rallan exclaimed, turning back to Ocean, “Are you sure this is my chamber? The whole thing is mine?”

“Yes Master Rallan… Lord Frost has made it specific that this be your sleeping quarters for as long as you should wish to stay…” Ocean confirmed, his distinguished neutral tone still present through and through, “Shall you be needing anything that I may fetch you?”

“No… I’m alright for now… Just some sleep and I’ll be fine…” Rallan replied, nodding to Ocean. The Beta bowed his head, turned around, and walked out of sight, leaving Rallan to marvel at his new room.

Meanwhile, Fantasy had just walked out onto the icy spire, nodding a greeting to Ocean as the two passed one another. She sighed softly and continued walking across the south bridge, coming to the room she knew Rallan would be in. Taking a deep breath, she stepped inside, spotting him staring around his room. She chuckled softly and cleared her throat to announce her presence. Rallan quickly turned around and gave the Princess a slight smile.

“Oh Fantasy, you startled me…” Rallan said, sighing softly with relief, “Good evening, your highness… What brings you to grace me with your presence?” Fantasy laughed softly and walked in a little more.

“Please don’t give me all of that ‘your highness’ or ‘milady’ stuff, please… I’m not into things like that, despite being a Princess…” Fantasy replied calmly, “So Rallan, how do you like your new bedroom?”

“It’s… God, it’s fantastic! It’s incredible! But do I really need all of this for just myself?” Rallan asked, tilting his head slightly to one side.

“Well thank you for your kind words, Rallan… And believe me, you’re not talking my father out of giving you this room!” she stated with another soft, short, laugh, “He’s very decisive when it comes to travelers and pilgrims… He holds morals and virtues so high in his life that he awards those he likes greatly… And apparently he likes you a lot!”

“Well it’s always good to have strong allies, like my father always used to say!” Rallan replied with a chuckle, then sighed softly, “Your father is a very generous wolf, Fantasy… And I’m so very, very grateful that he accepted me a guest instead of driving me away or trying to harm me…” Now it was Fantasy’s turn to look confused.

“Harm you? Why would anyone harm someone like you? You seem so kind, gentle, and friendly!” Fantasy said, going back to her previous inquiry, “Why would anyone have any reason to hurt you?”

“Let’s just say… I’ve had trouble in my past…” Rallan said, still attempting to hide his blood-stained past from everyone for as long a she could bide, “There are many who would severely dislike me- even want to kill me to this day…”

“Oh Rallan, that’s terrible!” Fantasy said, walking up to him and giving him a reassuring nuzzle, “But you don’t have to worry here… You’re safe so long as you are welcome in our home… You have nothing to worry about…” Rallan sighed softly and smiled at Fantasy.

“Thank you Fantasy… for your hospitality… It’s much more than I deserve, really, it is…” Rallan whispered, nuzzling her back, “Well, I’d better be getting to bed… I’ve been traveling for a long time now and a good night’s sleep is something I haven’t seen much of in months!”

“Oh, sure thing Rallan…” Fantasy responded softly, “Sleep well… I’ll see you in the morning, then… Goodnight…”

Rallan smiled as he lay down on top of his large bedding, watching as Fantasy walked out of sight. With a soft sigh, he lay sprawled out, eyes slowly closing themselves as he delved deep into a peaceful slumber. Fantasy walked back across the ice bridge to the spire, then to the north, back into the Royal Chamber. From there, she took a pathway left that curved slightly and led to her bedding area. It was much like Rallan’s, but a lot more ornately decorated with gemstones of all kinds. She lay out on her bed, which had been accented with lilac petals, and closed her eyes.

Her father’s words continued to echo through her mind, despite her attempts to fall asleep. That Rallan is quite a catch, huh?... Fantasy tried desperately to force Frost’s voice out of her head, but it still remained, words dashing through her mind like an elk across a plain. After many minutes of fighting with her own memory, she finally gained control and fell asleep, subconscious mind still debating about the gray-brown wolf who lay asleep just on the other side of the ice city.

            Rallan awoke the next morning to various voices murmuring something, but it was incoherent to the wolf at this present moment. He groaned softly and opened his eyes slowly, taking in his surroundings. Standing right by the entrance were three or four other Arctic wolves, staring at him and whispering amongst one another. Rallan sat up and stared sleepily at them.

“What’s going on?” Rallan asked with a yawn, “Why is everyone gathered here? Is something happening?” The four wolves jumped slightly as they realized Rallan was awake now. Not hesitating, they quickly dashed out, leaving him alone except for one other Arctic wolf who had stayed behind.

“Um… hello…” Rallan said to the wolf, who looked about his age, then watched as he, too, ran away, “Hey, wait! I just want to talk with you!”

Rallan quickly got to his paws and dashed out after the wolf, still wondering why he was being spied on in the first place. Not too far ahead was that wolf, making his escape across the ice bridge. However, the wolf lost his footing and slipped, skidding over the edge, barely catching the edge with his front paws. Rallan leapt at him and grabbed the wolf by the scruff of his neck, pulling him back up to safety.

“Whoa, easy there… That would’ve been a real nasty fall…” Rallan stated, glancing over the edge and feeling a little woozy by the sheer drop that faced him, looking back to the Arctic wolf, “Who are you and why were you watching me in my sleep?”

“P-please don’t hurt me sir! I was just curious!” the wolf said, cowering and whimpering softly, “I had heard that we had a royal guest of honor here and I wanted to see who it was, so I came to look and then- Oh, please just don’t harm me!” Rallan chuckled and placed a paw gently on the wolf’s shoulder.

“Don’t worry… I’m not gonna hurt you! I wouldn’t even ever consider doing anything like that!” Rallan said reassuringly, watching the wolf settle down a little bit, “I just want to know your name, is all!” The wolf considered this for a moment, and then sighed softly.

“I’m Blizzard… Blizz for short… Once again, I-I’m terribly sorry for spying on you… I didn’t mean to, I just-”

“Please, Blizzard, no more