Knightwalker stared at the corner of her cell. The dirty gray wall stared back at her blankly. She huffed and turned away, keeping the row of bars out of her line of vision. A harsh shiver trickled through her skin. It was freezing cold down in the dungeons. She wrapped her scarf around her shoulders and concentrated on blocking out the chill.

She had been down here for days. It hadn't gotten any easier.

A set of footsteps echoed down the stairs outside her cell. She groaned and arched her shoulders. He's coming again.

The door outside her cell room opened, and a figure stepped in. He was outside her cell, but in the same room; only a wall of iron bars separating them. She sneaked a glance over her shoulder at her visitor.

The figure was dressed in his usual dark attire with a black cloak around his shoulders and a green muffler pulled up around his neck. Thick, spiky blue hair fell over the olive-green eyes that were staring at her. She sighed. The king was visiting her again.

Irritated, she hunched against the gray wall, ignoring him.

"Erza."

His quiet voice prickled her skin. She drew her dark scarf around her tightly.

"Is there something you want, Your Highness?" she forced herself to ask. Her skin prickled as he took a breath.

"Not particularly."

"Then may I ask why you're here?"

She heard him shifting behind her, crouching into a sitting position.

"Actually, there is something I would like to ask," he said evenly. Erza found his constant calmness irritating. She had worn a similar mask before, and she tried to now, but the man across from her rarely showed much emotion. Erza did her best to stay calm, but it was difficult.

"What?"

"I would like to ask you to reconsider," he told her. Erza tensed the muscles in her body. Just leave me alone.

"I'm afraid not, Your Highness."

She heard him sigh.

"Are you sure you want to go through with this?" he asked again.

"Yes, sir."

"I won't be able to change your mind?"

"No."

Erza heard his clothing rustle as he leaned against the wall.

"I guess if I ask the same question often enough, then it becomes easier to harden your resolve," he spoke softly. Erza folded her arms out of habit and rubbed at the familiar metal gauntlets adorning her forearms.

"I suppose so, Your Highness."

The pair sat in silence for a few moments. Erza waited for the king to leave, but he didn't. He simple remained seated against the wall. His visits were getting longer every time.

"May I ask you a question, Your Highness?" she eventually asked moments later, turning around to face him. He lifted his head in surprise.

"Be my guest."

Erza took an annoyed breath.

"Why do you come down here so often?" she questioned. "A king must have better things to do than sit in an ice cold cell with a prisoner of the kingdom."

The king looked thoughtful. He pondered her question for a moment.

"You think it's cold down here?" he asked. Erza mentally slapped herself for admitting weakness.

"No, sir," she answered him chillingly. He tilted his head to the side. He looked at her for a moment, then raised his head, looking up at the ceiling.

"It is rather cold in here," he mentioned. "I didn't notice at first."

He moved away from the wall and took off his cloak. Erza couldn't help noticing how different he looked without it shrouding his body. He seemed smaller, more vulnerable. The white bands wrapped along his limbs were more prominent without the dark fabric hiding them.

He stretched his hand through the bars of the cell and offered the cape to her. Erza stared at it for a minute.

"Take it," he told her. She looked at it without moving. His hand remained outstretched.

"Please," he said. "It would be a favor to me."

Another cold chill ran through Erza's skin. She reached forward and accepted the cloak without touching his hand. She wrapped it around her body and sighed as the warm heat from the king's body melted into hers. After a second, she turned her attention back to him.

"You never answered my question, Your Majesty," she told him. He smiled at her slightly.

"You're right."

He settled back against the wall.

"I guess it's just easier to be down here," he said. Erza listed her head to the side, looking at him curiously.

"Easier?" she asked, raising her eyebrow. He nodded.

"I'm used to being alone."

"But I'm here."

"I don't want you to be," he told her. Erza stiffened slightly. He shrugged.

"Being here with you feels better than being in the castle with a multitude of people," he admitted. Erza crossed her arms and scowled.

"Then why don't you go bother Hughes and Sugarboy instead?" she snapped slightly. The king raised his eyebrows slightly. Erza recovered herself quickly. Strike two.

"Your Majesty."

"I did, actually," he said. Erza raised her head, her attention focused.

"How are they?" she asked. The king looked at her curiously.

"What?" she asked, slightly defensive.

"I didn't think you cared," he commented.

Erza frowned.

"They are -were- my fellow captains. Of course I would be interested in their current state of affairs."

"Pantherlily was your fellow captain as well," he reminded her. Erza huffed through her nose. During the battle, she had shot the Higher Exceed captain while he was helping the Earthlanders.

"Captain Pantherlily betrayed our king," she said in a firm tone. "My orders were to destroy the enemies of Edolas." She bowed her head. "My apologies, Your Highness. I know you see things differently."

She heard the king sigh.

"To be honest, I'm not really sure how I do see things," he murmured. Erza raised her head in surprise. The king looked sullen for a moment, then looked back at her.

"Sugarboy and Hughes are fine," he told her. He smiled slightly. "They make a lot of racket in their cell. I'm thinking of moving them to a better set of chambers." He glanced at her. "You could have some, too, if you want. It is fairly dismal here."

"No thank you, Your Majesty," Erza said stiffly. "I'm fine here."

The king looked at her.

"If you say so, Miss Knightwalker," he told her with a sudden chill in his tone. He stood up and walked to the door. He glanced back at Erza once, then left. The only trace of him was the warm cloak he had left behind.

Erza curled the cape around her and rested her chin on her arms. She didn't need any handouts from His Majesty. The sooner he ordered her execution, the better. She sighed, hearing the soft sound fade into the choking silence. It seemed empty without him there. Being alone brought her no pleasure.

Silence, she told herself harshly. He is the king, and you are an enemy. Soon, you will be dead, and he will rule Edolas. And this is how things will be.