Sophie's gaze was assalted by bright sunlight when next she opened them. To her dismay, Gabriels was sitting on a chair, slumped on her bed, asleep, grey hood protecting him from the sunlight streaming into her room. "How are you feeling?" A quiet, familiar voice said. Sophie looked over to see Diana looking at her warmly, followed by a stony faced Loki, and a hooded Zarathustra standing by the door.

"Depressed." She admitted, causing Loki to frown but Diana to nod understandably.

"You went into shock there on us." Diana informed.

"S-Sophie?" Gabriels lifted his head, his eyes barely opening sleepily.

"A King sleeping at a slave's bedside." Sophie scuffed teasingly, "Unheard of."

He sighed in relief, rubbing the heel of his palms against his eyes. "Glad you're feeling better."

"Yes. You saved me again Gabriels."

He smirked, looking at her tiredly, "You called for me, of course I would save you."

Sophie looked down at her small hands against the navy blue comforter. "I didn't know about the Iesmiarain blood before I agreed to be your guard."

Gabriels stiffened. "I knew you were a Regiis before I offered you the job."

She sighed and looked away. "As always you make no sense."

Gabriels chuckled, then became worried as he remembered something. "However, I have now discovered more about your past." Sophie stiffened. "Why don't you simply stay in Drakon as a guest?" Sophie frowned. Did he know? Or maybe he was dismissing her as his guard? She was nothing but trouble anyway. Gabriels glanced at Diana. "Diana, I'd like to speak to Sophie privately."

The red-head nodded, "Certainly." and left.

Gabriels looked back at the slave. "Why don't you stay in Drakon as my royal guest?" Sophie sighed, not meeting his gaze. He knew. 

"No. Having the former Princess of Iesmiarain in Drakon will only cause trouble. You would become a target by those wanting Regiis blood. If you didn't let known who I was it would cause unrest and tormoil in court because of the secrecy. Both are bad plays. However, having me as a guard is a complete disaster as well. I'm a woman, human, Iesmiarain, Regiis. I only attract more dangers to you then protect you."

Gabriels expression stiffened. "What is it you truely want Sophie? If you weren't a slave, or royalty or Regiis, non of that. If you were truely free, what is it you would want to do?"

Sophie dropped her eyes to the comforter once more...but didn't really see it. "I don't know. I'm off-centered right now, it's hard to think."

Gabriels watched her and slowly nodded. He gently dropped a hand on her head and ruffled her hair. "Take your time and think about it. Tell me once you've found the answer." Sophie nodded, not looking up at him. He rose to depart.

Zarathustra bowed to her. "I am glad you are safe Sophie." Sophie's lips twitched in a smile, but she couldn't keep it up. She felt numb. What was wrong with her?

After a moment of silence, Loki came forward and knelt beside her bed. "I'm sorry." Sophie blinked, but didn't look at him. He tentatively raised his hand to place lightly over one of hers. "I promised no one would ever hurt you, yet that seems to be all that's happened."

Sophie released a breath and looked at him warmly. "It's not your fault Loki. You have your own job to do, you can't be shadowing 2 people at once all the time."

"But still, I promised you."

Sophie shook her head. "Don't make this a burdon on your shoulders Loki." She could see his anguish in his eyes but didn't know how to take it away.

"Why...why didn't you tell us you were royalty?"

She cocked her head, "Iesmiarain is no more. I am no longer Princess of anything. There was nothing to tell."

He withdrew his hand and looked away. "It seems wrong..."

"Ho ho!" Sophie cheered, her mind seeming to wake up some as she pointed at him. "Now you know how I feel! Ever since I met you guys, the way you treat slaves and royalty seems obscene."

Loki's frown stayed in place, not reacting to Sophie's attempts to lighten it. "We enjoy your company Sophie, we want you to stay." He said before leaving stiffly.

~Even if I only bring trouble and endanger your King?~ Sophie sighed in dismay, rolling over and tugging the blanket closer, then glared at the bright sunlight outside the windows before sitting up, pulling the drapes around the bed and laying on her other side, trying to relax.

~~

She was too depressed to sleep. She couldn't get her negative thoughts to leave her alone. She held Unholy Might, but doing the usual exercises didn't feel right. She was messing up. Sighing, she sat cross-legged on the rug infront of the fireplace, letting the sunlight stream in, she closed her eyes against it, concentrating on stillness. She started to feel better. She emptied her mind even more and tried to let go of her unease...but it wasn't that simple. Sighing again, she balanced Unholy Might on her knees, resting her palms against the sword and sheath and focused unconcioiusly on her breathing...

~~

She was at that for quite some time before she gave up letting go fo her negative feelings completely and instead laid down on the rug in the sunlight, holding Unholy Might close....she drifted asleep.