"Surely you have a room!" Adithe argued. The keeper shook his head.

"I don't. I'm sorry. We're all filled tonight." He shrugged. "Perhaps tomorrow?"

"I have to find somewhere tonight!"

A few people turned at her rising voice. One man approached.

"Trouble, miss?"

Adithe stared at the keeper. It was unlawful to do anything to a woman. She could see in his face that he knew it—knew she could get him now.

"I need a room. He is refusing to give me one."

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

"No! I have none to give her." the keeper maintained. Adithe shook her head.

"There is a key right there—" she pointed to the wall. "—and right there. And quite a few in your drawer. Are they forbidden rooms, held…what?"

He looked flustered. The man sighed, scratching his beard.

"If you have rooms, I'd suggest you get her one, you understand?"

"I have none!" Adithe turned around, leaning against the wall. Then she turned and stared into the keeper's eyes. They glazed over and he nodded.

"Good then." She turned to the other man. "Everything here is fine. Sorry to have bothered you."

The keeper handed her a key and she looked at it.

"The kitchens?" she asked. He nodded.

"The only one I can give you. Honestly."

"Give me yours and you'll be safe."

The keeper hurriedly traded her keys. Adithe smiled and walked away, heading to her room.

"Psst!"

Adithe looked up, startled. She pulled out her sword, resting it behind her. The young boy from the ship scrambled up the rocks to her, slipping once.

"Yes?" she sheathed the blade. She looked around to make sure none had followed him.

"I've got something for you." He reached into his tunic and she grabbed the hilt of her sword. He brought out a piece of parchment, neatly folded with a brilliant red seal. She looked at it. Etched into the wax was the symbol of the main family from Fiern. An elegant F with flames at the bottom. Adithe slid her nail under, breaking the seal. It folded out neatly.

"Where did you get this?"

"Before we left, ma'am." He replied nervously.

"Do you need a response?"

"Your presence will be response enough. Be there."

With that, he turned and ran away. Adithe looked around before tucking the note in her cloak and running to the horse.

Adithe slid into the building smoothly. Her hood was drawn and she looked around. The Guardian of Rooms looked up.

"May I help you?" he asked. Adithe nodded.

"Where is the Room of Elements?"

His eyes lit up. "Room of Elements, eh?"

"Yes!" she hissed. "Point me in the direction of the room and please leave me be."

"You'll see it. The door is barely hard to miss."

Adithe turned on her heel and began walking down a wide corridor. A family of three passed her. The first door she came upon showed a beautiful woman, arms outstretched. From her fingers came rays of darkened light, the very end showing the heads of serpents. The next door had the seasons inscribed upon it: Cold Month, Blue Month, Emerald Month, Fire Month, and Bitter Month. Blue Month, the current season, melted the cold from the air brought on by its predecessor, Cold Month. Emerald Month warmed up the land, reproducing and providing births. Fire Month and Bitter Month are ruled by the two underground civilizations—Fire Month by Fiern and Bitter Month by Yorn.

The next door she passed conveyed all things giving birth. She was repulsed by it and hurried on. Adithe skidded to a halt at the next door. Carved into the fine wood were the five elements: Fire, Ice, Earth, Air, and Water. Each showed the current design of that particular element, plus pictures of the actual element.

She turned the handle and walked in. A figure stood on one side of the room, his cloak a bright red. In this room, her cloak—which to an ordinary person would look black—now looked sapphire and silver. She shut the door, making sure it clicked. The figure turned, but the hood was drawn.

"Thank you for coming." He said.

"Yes…on such short notice, I would like appreciation."

"Bitter cold, as is your element."

"I've seen no similar traits in you that belong to yours. Are you not proud to bear the name?"

"You just met me."

She shrugged. Her eyes were a cold blue, staring him down. He finally offered her a seat and sat across from her.

"Look around you. What do you see?"

She did. Fire was on one side of the chamber, Ice was on the other. They weren't battling, weren't even trying to. They were at peace, drifting slowly among each other, wandering within the vapor of the other. While she sat in a frigid area, his side was burning. Though the contrast between the two elements was…infinite, they came together without the slightest hint of a clash.

The table was situated in the middle of the room, a chair on either side. Evenly measured, each person had their space.

"What are you saying?" she asked.

"We could live like this. In harmony—"

"I am surprised that such an angry element suggests this." She interrupted.

"I did not think of or consider this. If it had not been for Earth—and partly Air—I wouldn't have summoned you here. Our wars are corrupting their peace. Soon, we will have a war with them as well." He placed his hands on the table, revealing a gold ring on his right hand. In the middle was a ruby-like gem, but much darker and sinister looking. "I'm sure your people would not like that."

"This is nonsense." She stood, pushing back her chair quickly. Adithe turned and began walking to the door.

"Stop." He called softly. She did as he commanded. "Come back."

She turned and walked to the table. But she didn't sit. Instead, she rested her hands on the back of the chair.

"Consider this. It will gain you strength as a leader—"

"I am not a leader."

"You will be. Once you return."

"And if I choose not to return?"

"Then I will consider it surrender and take over your land." He said evenly. She opened her mouth, as if to speak, but no words formed.

"It will gain you allies—"

She turned and blocked him out of her hearing. Then she straightened and walked to the line that separated their spaces. Previous leaders that had been in this room had never dared to cross, especially if they were meeting with an opposite element. It could be deadly: Fire would melt Ice, Ice would freeze Fire; Water would drown Earth; Ice would freeze Water; Fire would burn Earth. And it went on forever. This huge slate of possibilities, all harming the one that crossed.

"Are you going to cross it?" he asked, noticing her silence. She shrugged.

"It could be a trap. Make me think you're offering allegiance, but instead you burn me."

"Then perhaps I should cross first?" he walked to her, the tip of his boots barely an inch away from her feet. She shook her head slowly, causing laughter to escape his lips. Adithe looked above her, gazing lightly at the conversing mists of elements. What would be—no, what could be.

"This," he whispered evenly. "…is why they should never allow a girl—and one of your age—to make such decisions."

"You talk like that and expect to get a truce?"

"That…or an armistice."

She raised her eyes until they met his. "Until what?"

"Until this conflict with other elements ceases."

"And if it doesn't?"

"We'll be stuck as partners, I guess."

"Is Water neutral?"

"Of course. But, they always side with Ice…"

"Ah, yes. Our ally." She spat sarcastically. "Where have they been the last—?"

"We are discussing Fire and Ice. Leave the others out until they have reason to be brought in."

"And if I refuse this offer?"

"If stupidity kicks in, I assure you: You and your whole empire will regret it."

"You offer this for peace concerning other elements, and yet if I refuse you'll attack anyways."

"Now you are seeing correctly."

"But if I refuse…you'll have three enemy elements, not one." She smiled maliciously.

"Would you risk your whole life on my word?"

"Is that the real question?" she asked.

"Answer it."

"Yes." She replied boldly, leaning her head forward until her chin touched her chest, a sort of nod. A strand of fine, blue-silver hair slipped into the light. She saw it when she brought her head back up, her deep breath cut short. She brought her left hand and slid the strand back into place. The hand displayed a silver ring with a blue gem in the middle. The gem changed shades of blue. It was safe to display that hand, for it had her ring. But on the other was the imprint of her identity. It rested on the hilt of her sword.

"I think we're done." She said quietly.

"You are not to be dismissed that easily. Before leaving the Room of Elements, you must answer any offer that has been provided. I have all the time you can take." And with that said smugly, he settled into his chair. She sighed in frustration and sat.

"How would this work? Our people hate each other. The hate is mutual and immeasurable. How would we manage to dispatch that feeling?"

"There is sorcery, but I never have liked that. There are a few months warning. But the other elements suggested an offering."

"Of what sort?" she asked, all energy now sapped. "What could be that huge?"

"People." He said simply. At her blank stare, he continued. "You give us a person to marry to one of ours. I suggested that, but it isn't what they had in mind. They were thinking—"

Adithe shot up, drawing her sword. He had sensed it also and stood with her. In this room, anything that could give away their identity was changed. Except for the mark on their hands—hers on her right, his on his left. Her sword was now a gray color with a dragon on the hilt, its tail sliding down the steel blade.

The door opened. Adithe crept forward. No one had entered the room. She pulled the door back further, still not seeing anything.

"What was it?" she asked, shivering. Nothing or no one but the parties involved were able to enter the room.

"I have no idea."

"This is a trap, isn't it!" she accused, turning her blade on him. "Using a distraction to get me off guard. Then kill me. I must admit, very smart. But low, even for Fire. I call this meeting off." she stepped forward, toward the door. And at the same time whatever had opened it leapt. Sharp talons dug into her chest and stomach, entering her flesh, scraping bone. It burst into fire before it could enter the room and Adithe fell to the ground. She vaguely heard the man curse and the door close.

He leaned down, noticing the pool of silver blood around her body. And he cursed again, opening her cloak. The man only hoped his Fire wouldn't hurt her worse.