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Maravel rubbed his eyes. "I told the General if he wanted any tax revenue the people would have to be able to run their businesses and that if he taxed them too high they'd all die and he'd get less instead of more. But that doesn't absolve me of what happened to Dae'er. Or Gaelin, he didn't have to die the way he did. Or Caelamondorion. He was two days old when he was taken from them. Two days!"

"And look how well he turned out," Lancaeriel pointed out. "Safe. Well fed. Well educated. Good ethics. Even before he got his memories back, he was helping people. Caring for Earendil at risk to himself. I highly doubt that would have happened without you."

"Sure it would have," Maravel said sadly. "He would have been raised by his parents, and he would have been just fine."

Maravel stood next to the window and looked out of it. "I don't know," he said quietly. "How could I have saved Dae'er from such a fate? I don't know. I tried. I did what I could. I sneaked down extra food. Blankets. A mattress. All of it, too little to late."

Lancaeriel sighed. "Perhaps the best thing to do is simply wait for the opportunity to speak with all of them - and with Mari - and ask them what you can do for them," she told him gently. "All we can do is offer words that really mean very little because it has nothing to do with us."

"No," Maravel said sharply, turning back to face them. "It has everything to do with you. Prince Earendil was kept here because of what I told the General. He was tortured because of what I told the General. He was put in solitary because of what I told the General." He clenched his fist. "Ointment to draw the flies, I told him. The only way to bring about the end of the rebellions."

Maravel didn't reply, but he couldn't bring himself to face Lin anymore. He turned back to the window.

Lancaeriel hesitated a moment, then pushed herself to her feet and turned towards Maravel.

"Whether you believe us or not," she said quietly, "we do not hold you responsible for what has happened. Your actions have caused some suffering, perhaps - but how much more have they prevented? Gaelin did not die in prison. In your words, he and Tsara were happy together. Dae'er did not die in prison, and though the General did what he could to make her miserable, you did your best to make things better for her. Blankets. Mattress. Food."

She paused, then added, "And Mari told us that you knew of her survival and kept it secret all this time. That can't have been easy. If he somehow found out from another source, I'm sure you would have been killed. You risked your life being here, doing what you did. As far as I'm concerned, you deserve praise for the way you've taken care of the people. Stop beating yourself up."

Andarien kept snuggling with Zeus and Eon, though he eventually fell asleep as well. Lancaeriel went back to what she had been doing before - looking through Cael's study to learn more about his present life. Maravel stayed by the window, watching outside.

Though it had been morning when they'd rescued Earendil, it was well into the afternoon by the time there was another knock at the door. This time it was Kyrie. She looked in and saw most of them asleep, and she smiled softly to herself. Tiptoeing so that she wouldn't wake more people than she intended, she headed over to the bed and touched Lin lightly on the shoulder.

Kyrie nodded and smiled. "We've taken the castle," she whispered. "There's still the city to take - Mari and Cael will be leading the soldiers as soon as everyone's rested, but in the meantime, they'd like to speak with you, Maravel and Lancaeriel. I think it'd be best to let Miyuki and Andarien rest, and of course Earendil needs all the rest he can get. You up for it?"

Her smile widened, and she looked very optimistic.

"You go see, I'll talk to Maravel," Kyrie nodded, heading over to the man who was still standing by the window.

Lancaeriel was indeed back in the study, reading through another journal that had been on the desk. She looked up when she heard Lin enter the room and put her finger in the page where she had been reading.

"All rested up?" she murmured quietly.

Lancaeriel smiled and set the journal aside. "Good. It went well, then. I'm glad."

She started towards Lin and the door. "Come, let's not keep them waiting."

Kyrie had already spoken with Maravel, and they were waiting for Lin and Lancaeriel. "Come on, back to the throne room," she said quietly. She motioned for them to follow her and led them out of the room.

The General's body had not yet been moved, though a blanket had been pulled over it to cover it up, and there were two guards around it to keep everyone away from it. Only the soldiers loyal to Mari were in the room, and Kyrie explained to Lin and Lancaeriel in a low tone that the others had been taken to the prison cells.

Arphenion, Dae'er, Cael, Mari and Wren were all standing together, along with a few soldiers, and they motioned for the others to join them as soon as they entered the room.

"How is your husband doing, Lin?" Mari asked anxiously as they approached.