"I'm not worried about you running off to tell someone else my name," says not-Ted. "If I were, I wouldn't have come back. But I'm - I don't want you to be in a situation where the options are 'say the mortal's name' or 'get tortured' because you know it. Or if the queen shows up, and since she knows your name, she can order you to say it against your will and - I don't want that, either."

"Yes, exactly. Why does it bother you that I don't know your name, given all that?"

"It's - I think it's just a leftover from how mortals work. It sort of bothers me that random people in Forks know something about me that you don't, and - probably shouldn't for safety."

"I hope it doesn't bother you that the Queen knows something about me that you don't."

"It doesn't. It's more - I am upset with her because the only reason she knows it is to make you her vassal, and that feels icky to me. But you're not at fault at all."

"I don't think she learns the names. She just knows them as part of being the kind of fairy she is."

".... Brrr. Okay, creepy."

"I guess it is. It's been that way as long as anyone remembers."

"I really don't think I like one person having that much power, just because of what kind of fairy she is."

"Well, I don't like it either, but I don't have anything to do about it at this time."

"Yeah," he sighs. "But she doesn't know my name, so. Yay for that."

"Yes. ...If I ever anticipate the Queen's attention I might go into your world and tell you my name and ask for protective orders. I'd take food, instead, but food from someone who's already my vassal won't vassalize me."

"But a name will? Huh. What happens when two fairies both know each other's names?"

"Mutual vassalization. Same as if I gave you my name. They can still enforce instructions, but usually what happens is one of them is faster at telling the other to be silent. So if you come up with a clever way for me to learn the Queen's name..."

"I should let you know, so you can be free, or - I suppose learn it myself and tell her to be silent. Since at the moment, she can't order me to do anything at all."

"Not directly, no. But your orders will expire when you die."

"Ah. Then - order her to be silent, and then scurry off to you to give you her name and so you can do the same."

Promise shakes her head. "Order her silent except to command her vassals to aid and abet you and leave you unharmed. Or her guards, the genuinely loyal ones, would just kill you."

"... Right," says not-Ted. "That charming detail."

"I have lots more sorcery to learn before I even start thinking of coup plans, for sure."

"Yeah. So until then..." He kisses her forehead and snuggles her.