"Let me down there, Yousef."<br/><br/>"It does not matter how many times you ask, the answer will still be no."<br/><br/>"He does not deserve this! He is not a threat to us!"<br/><br/>"That is not for you to decide and even if it was, the dungeon is no place for a woman."<br/><br/>Before Yousef could reach for the door knob leading down to the dungeons, Navia shoved herself in front of him, eyes fiery as she glared up at him. "That is not for you to decide," she told him angrily, using his own sexist wording against her, "And it also does not sound like you. You've been spending too much time with Kazim."<br/><br/>"You mean our King? The one who does decide these things?" He rolled his eyes at her, then reached past her, his shoulder butting against hers to shove her out of the way enough for him to open the door.<br/><br/>Perhaps it was because it was Yousef, who she had been around her entire life, or perhaps desperation to make sure Théadan was all right, but Navia was quickly and childishly trying to shove past her brother to squeeze through the door before he could. All he managed to be able to do was shout down in Khluri for Sai to get his ass back upstairs before he had to slam the door shut to keep Navia from wiggling into the dungeons.<br/><br/>"My siblings have gone mad!" He groaned as he pressed both hands on Navia's shoulders and guided her back from trying, his expression a mixture of irritation and bemusement, "Do neither of them love their country as I do?"<br/><br/>Before Navia could answer, the door opened and Sai stepped out. She jerked away from Yousef's hold to take in her younger brother's appearance. Had he grown taller? When had he started to grow a beard? Was his build different? After a beat of staring, Navia decided it didn't matter and hurried forward to embrace him.<br/><br/>"He's fine," Sainan assured Navia, figuring the worry on her face had been for the man downstairs and hugging her tightly, "Nothing bad has come of him. I've missed you." While they hugged, they both felt Yousef's hand fall to rest on one of their shoulders and the three were all together again.<br/><br/>"I've missed you too," Navia answered with a brief break in her voice, thinking of how much she'd hated been so far from her brothers. Théadan’s status quickly returned to her mind though, and she pulled back to look up at Sai, "You spoke with him? How is he feeling? Did you like him?"<br/><br/>"You are not to speak to him again, Sai," Yousef warned, causing both of his siblings to turn and glare at him.<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>They had not let her near the dungeons again that evening. Yousef had insisted they have their first dinner together as an entire family for the first time since Navia had left Mandira, which she had begrudgingly attended and argued for Théadan's release every chance she got. She and Sai tried to discuss his meeting with Théadan as well, but Yousef and Kazim managed to make it very difficult for them. Her frustration had mounted and Navia had decided to try to sneak into the dungeons late at night to see Théadan, only for Yousef to catch her and send her back to her chambers with a guard posted at her door. She had spent her first night home, alone in the bed she and Théadan had talked of, and had begged for dawn to arrive so she could try again.<br/><br/>The next morning, she'd been blessed with a chance. An innocent kitchen servant, who had known nothing of the rift forming in the Royal family, had entered the dungeons to bring breakfast to the imprisoned. Navia had waited until that moment and snuck in behind them. Resistance was met the second she step foot in the dark, damp place, which she took in with wide eyes. It was clearly a place she did not normally belong in and her presence seemed to shock the guards as much as she was to finally be in the dungeons. They took in the pale pink gown, it's flowy skirts and intricate champagne beading across the chest, the thin, gauzy white sleeves, the golden jewelry chain stretched straight across her forehead, and simply gawked at her. Her eyes narrowed at both men before demanding they open the door to Théadan.<br/><br/>One of them resisted briefly, stating his King would not allow it, but Navia's sharp tongue stating his Duchess demanded it, seemed to startle them enough into complying. The door opened and Navia stepped into the doorway to take in the space her lover had been forced to occupy. She noticed the water on the floor immediately, but said nothing when her gaze landed on Théadan. Hating what her family had done, that they had not reacted to him the way she had been so sure of, Navia looked upon him defeatedly before hurrying forward to him. Her delicate khussas splashed through the low water until she reached him and slung her arms around his neck to be in his arms once more. "I'm so sorry," she breathed as she hugged him tightly before the words began pouring from her, a jumble of frazzled and frustrated thoughts as she turned her head to press relieved kisses to his cheek and temple, "I'm so sorry, Théadan. I would have come sooner, but Yousef confined me to my room and I’ve haven’t been able to get in here. I never thought they would do this to you. If I had, I never would have allowed you to bring me home. How are you? Are you all right? Sai said you were fine, but I've been so worried and I've missed you so much."