1. Emmaleigh's journal

I miss my brother. 

Four years have passed since my best friend was taken away from me. She has been using this war to take my parents' crown, and it has gone on for far too long. She will not have my crown! I will make sure it never falls into her hands. 

I will get vengeance for Jonathan. 

I need to do this. 

I know this is dangerous. 

She must be stopped. 

We leave at dawn. 

2. Viviana in the forest

Viviana gazed at her reflection as the sun rose over the forest. The sunlight began to filter through the curtain over the window, setting a sparkle in her eye and making her fiery hair shine. She pulled it back from her pale face, and placed her makeshift crown of twisted twigs and leaves on her head. She walked to the window and threw the curtains back. The sunlight reflected off the black pendant around her neck, casting light around the dark room. "The day is dawning," she smiled, "let it begin."

3. Leaving Luxarian palace - Emmaleigh

I woke up and I was ready. I knew it was dangerous, but I was determined to see this through to the end. 

I rose from the bed, and quietly shuffled to the window. I drew back the curtains, and could see the beginning of the sunrise.

I had to hurry. He would be waiting. 

I quickly changed into the dark green dress and cloak I had ready the night before. I threw my chestnut hair into a waist long braid and wound it into a bun on the back of my head.

I draped my traveling bag across my body and quickly slipped into and tied my riding boots. I placed my signet ring in my jewelry box and debated leaving my emerald necklace. I left it on, and tied my cloak tighter around my neck. 

On the way out of my quarters, I grabbed my journal, pens and ink, along with my candle and wax and stamp.

“Jeremiah,” I whispered, closing my door behind me. 

He met me at the secret staircase behind the tapestry of my grandparents. I guided him down the staircase and into the kitchen.

“Emma,” he placed a hand on my arm, “we need to get going.”

“Just a moment,” I snuck into the kitchen and placed a few rolls, a handful of apples, and a block of cheese into a basket I took from one of the shelves on the wall. I took two small knives and placed them in the basket after wrapping them in a towel. 

“Let’s go,” I nodded to him and we slipped to the door to the outside as we heard footsteps approaching down the steps.

We ran to the stables where my bow and quiver of arrows was waiting. I grabbed them and we each took an empty canteen and filled it with water from the well.

Jeremiah took the basket from my hand, and we set off.

4. Viviana & Akadias in the forest

Viviana stepped into the dining room of her small forest cottage, and jumped when she saw the dark figure sitting at her table.

“Oh!” she exclaimed, her hand covering her mouth. “I was not expecting you today.”

“I thought you wanted to set the plan into motion as soon as possible. Everything is nearly ready. You’ll have your crown in little more than a moon.” The hood over his head shrouded his face in darkness. 

“And then you’ll have yours,” she smiled. She removed the black pendant from around her neck and placed it in his hand.

The dark figure held the black stone in his hand and rubbed it with his thumb three times, whispering to himself. 

He looked up at Viviana, and removed the hood from over his eyes. He stood, and replaced the necklace around her neck.

“It is ready, my darling. You will feel this warm when it begins working. Your niece will be yours in no time.”

“I couldn’t have done any of this without you,” Viviana stood on her toes and kissed his cheek.

He gently tapped her black pendant. “You had the answer here, the entire time.”

5. Initial Luxarian palace panic

King Richard opened the thick velvet curtains covering the windows overlooking the ocean. He normally didn’t wake this early, but his leg injury woke him and he couldn’t get back to sleep. As the early morning sunlight poured through the window, he looked through the door to the adjoining room where the queen lay sleeping on the bed. 

Jonathan’s death had changed her. She had become more withdrawn over the years, and it was taking an increasingly heavy toll on her relationship with their daughter Emmaleigh. 

Since Emmaleigh’s 20th birthday and upcoming wedding to King Liam of Clarion were fast approaching, it was important to keep the relationship between his wife and daughter strong. Emmaleigh was beginning to help him with writing laws and other duties, but she needed her mother.

He was jolted back to the present by a sharp pounding on the door.

“Your Highness, come quickly!” He quickly strode to the door and slipped through it, closing it behind him.

“Aurelia,” he acknowledged her, and put a finger to his lips. He guided her down the hall, and whispered, “Don’t wake the queen.”

In the sunlight coming through the stained glass window, the king could see the tears threatening to fall from her dark eyes and her shaking hands. “What’s wrong?”

“The princess is--” her voice cracked. She took a deep breath. “Emmaleigh is missing! We’ve looked everywhere--the stables and the kitchen. Her traveling bag is gone, but she left this,” she sobbed, handing the king a note addressed to the princess. The envelope had a broken black wax seal on the flap, inscribed with a V surrounded by a rose.

King Richard closed his eyes and took a deep breath before reaching into the envelope. “Have you read this?”

“No sir, no one has. I brought it to you right away.”

He nodded, opened the envelope and read,

Only one of us will remain.

She is the next queen to reign.

The king’s heart hit his stomach, and he was so dizzy he could barely stand. He took a moment to regain his composure, and placed his hand on the wall to steady himself.

“Aurelia, have your brother meet me in the conference room. She’s going after Viviana.”

6. Dream scene - Emmaleigh

“I had a really scary dream last night,” I told Jeremiah as we began walking through the forest. “It gave me a bad feeling.” 

“Are you having second thoughts?” he smirked at me, his blue eyes twinkling.

I glared at him and he laughed, holding up his hands in surrender. “Come on, Em, you know I know you better than that.” He winked at me. “Tell me.” 

I’m running through the forest. It’s almost dark, and I need to get to the cottage before the sun sets. My hair flies behind me, and I’m holding up my skirts to avoid tripping over them. Tied around my wrist is an amethyst pendant tied on a leather cord. Engraved on the pendant is a winged horse. As I run, I feel the pendant growing warmer, and it begins to glow.

I feel a heartbeat emanating from my bracelet. I turn the pendant over and read the name aloud. “Skyla.”

The ground begins to shake, and I see two violet eyes glowing at me. I step forward, and feel a warm breath on my face. In the dusky light, I see her. Skyla, my pegasus, my confidant and best friend. “I’ve missed you, girl,” I reach up and wrap my arms around her neck, then swing around and land on her back. “Let’s go find Jeremiah,” I whisper, and she takes flight.

We fly over the forest, and see a small fire in a clearing. “There he is,” I say, and we descend to the grass. I jump off her back and walk to Jeremiah. He looks at me as if surprised to see me. I sit next to him beside the fire, and he says, “You shouldn’t have come back.” 

I look into his sky blue eyes for a second before I say, “We had to come back for you. This forest isn’t safe, especially at night.”

 We hear the angry, thundering of hoofbeats approaching, and see a bright orange light moving toward us in the forest. I get up and run to Skyla’s side, ready to jump on her back. Jeremiah jumps up and takes a step toward the direction of the light, sword drawn and ready to strike. 

The closer the light gets, the faster my heart beats and the more anxious I feel Skyla becoming. The light comes out of the forest, and I see that the orange light is coming from the flaming mane and tail of a pitch black unicorn with haunting white eyes. It knocks Jeremiah on the ground, lowers its glowing horn, and charges at me at full speed.

“That is a lot to process,” Jeremiah exhaled after a brief pause. “Is this the same pegasus you dreamt about before?” he asked, taking my hand and helping me over a fallen log.

I nodded “I don’t know why I keep seeing her. I’ve never even seen a pegasus before. Or a unicorn for that matter. I thought they were all gone,” I trailed off.

We were approaching the deeper part of the forest. It was at least a three day journey through the forest to Clarion, and after this point, there was no chance of turning back.

7. Planning Luxarian palace search

King Richard arrived in the conference room to see his staff waiting for him to arrive. He gestured for them to be seated.

“What have you told them?” he whispered to Elliott. 

“That my sister found a note threatening Princess Emmaleigh, and suspects that the princess has gone after Viviana to confront her.” 

The king nodded. “And the continued search has turned up nothing?” 

“Correct, Your Highness.” 

“Very well, thank you.”

He gestured for Elliott to take the seat next to him. At 23 years old, Elliott was his youngest counselor/adviser by far. He had been Jonathan’s closest confidant in the palace, and Richard felt that he owed something to both Jonathan’s memory and to Elliott. 

Elliott’s sister Aurelia was Emmaleigh’s main lady-in-waiting, and Richard felt slightly guilty about having him report back to him every few days. He knew that Emmaleigh was a young woman and capable of taking care of herself, but he had to make sure she was safe. She was the only child he had left; he couldn’t lose her too. 

Richard sat at the head of the table, placing his cane into the holder in either the table or his chair. His leg had been bothering him all day, but that was of no importance now. 

“Has anyone been in contact with Jeremiah?” he asked the room, trying to keep his leg from bouncing. 

“No, sir,” one of the counselor/advisers said. “Lady Davenport told someone that she has not seen her son since last night.”

“Is it possible that they are traveling together?” another person asked. 

“Could he have taken her?” asked another.

Taken her? Jeremiah wouldn’t have taken her. Would he? Mark was my best friend, and Jeremiah is Emmaleigh’s. He is the one she wishes to marry. Except….no matter. We need to find her first, and deal with the logistics of her leaving later.

“I don’t believe Jeremiah took her,” King Richard said, hushing the table instantly. He held up the note. “She received a threatening note from the queen’s sister, and w...I believe that Princess Emmaleigh has gone to...” his voice began to shake. “I don’t quite know what she is doing,” he said quietly. 

No one said anything. They all knew how crucial it was to find the princess. Luxaria would cease to exist without her.

Richard cleared his throat. “Where is the last place Viviana was spotted?” he asked someone. 

“There is a cottage in the middle of the forest,” the same guy responds. 

Another guy says, “I can reach out to Queen Amara and see if she has heard anything of either Viviana or the princess in Elven Falls.” 

Richard nodded. “Elliott, have your sister find out if any of the servants noticed anything either last night or this morning. Someone needs to reach out to Lana Davenport again and find out the last time she heard from her son. He may have said something to his sisters. Amara needs to be contacted again. Someone should contact Sebastian to find out if Emmaleigh has been seen in Clarion.” 

“Why would she be in Clarion, sir?” some brave soul asked.

King Richard stood. His leg was on fire, and needed something to happen. Either way, he could not sit anymore. 

“Just talk to Sebastian,” King Richard responded. “I have to figure out how to break this to the queen.”

8. Viviana and Akadias - night 1

9. Forest scene/night 1 - Emmaleigh

It was very dark in the forest, the type of darkness that comes before a storm. I wasn’t going to admit that I was afraid, and I could tell that Jeremiah was too. He caught my eye and nodded, and we began walking. There were branches and grass on the forest floor, and a smell of damp leaves hung in the air. Other than the sounds of our footsteps and breathing, the forest was still and quiet. I was glad Jeremiah was there, because the forest wasn’t quite as frightening with him there.

In the distance, I heard a loud howl. Startled, I screamed, and reached out and grabbed Jeremiah’s arm. He jumped, turned, brushed the hair out of my face, looked me in the eye, and said, “I am going to get you out of here. I promise we will get home.”

I threw my arms around his neck, buried my face in his shoulder, and said, “Jeremiah, I’m so afraid.” He pulled me into a hug. “It’s going to be ok. We’re going to get out of this forest and go home. It won’t be so bad, as long as we stay together,” he whispered in my ear. He lifted my face to look into my eyes, and asked, “Do you trust me?”

I nodded, and he wiped away a single tear that I didn’t know had fallen. “Ok. We’d better start walking again, because I don’t want us to be here longer than we need to be. Are you going to be ok?”

I nodded again.

“Let’s go.”

We began walking at a faster pace than we had been before. Every once in a while, Jeremiah would glance back and make sure I was doing ok.

“Do you think we can make it to my father’s cottage before nightfall?” I asked Jeremiah. In our youth, Jonathan and I frequented the cottage in the forest with our father learning archery and how to hunt. I hadn’t been there since Jonathan had died, but knew it would be a good place to spend the night. 

He looked up at the position of the sun. “As long as we keep up with this pace, we will. Just don’t get us lost,” he smirked at me. 

Although it had been a long time since I’d gone there, I had no problem navigating to the cottage. I had memorized certain landmarks traveling there over the years, and was surprised that I still knew my way. 

I gently nudged him in the side. “I know the way to this cottage like the back of my hand. I just didn’t know if we had left in time to get there before dark. Once we cross the creek, it will be about an hour.” 

10. Palace search/search party

“Have you heard anything?” Elliott found his sister Aurelia in the hallway, looking out the window overlooking the stables. She turned to face him, and his breath caught. She hadn’t looked this upset since their parents had died. 

“Rails,” he hugged her. 

She drew a ragged breath and sobbed into his chest. “We have to find her,” she said. “She’s my best friend.”

“The king is planning a search party, but I need your help. We need to find out what she took with her.” 

She pulled out of his hug, tears still falling. “What is that going to accomplish?”

“We need to find out if she…left on her own, or if someone, maybe, took her.”

“Took her?” she whispered, leaning against the wall. “Viviana could have TAKEN her?” she squeaked, her hands starting to shake. She slid down the wall until she was sitting on the floor. 

“Aurelia,” his voice was firm as he knelt next to her. He waited until she met his gaze. “Emmaleigh needs you right now.” He rubbed his thumb over the tattoo of 4 stars on the inside of her left wrist. It matched the crescent moon tattoo on the inside of his right wrist. They had gotten the tattoos after their parents had died. 

“You’re a Luna,” he went on. “You’re strong, and you can do this.” 

He helped her to her feet. She brushed the tears from her cheeks and nodded. “Emma needs me,” she whispered. 

Aurelia stopped outside the door to Emmaleigh’s chambers. 

11. Emma again

It felt like the longest hour of my life. After being exhausted from walking all day and nearly falling in the creek, I was thrilled to see my second childhood home. 

Jeremiah made it to the door first, and looked back at me, clearly confused. “There’s no knob or handle. How do we get in?”

“You ask a member of the royal family,” I walked up to the door, placing my hand on the crown on the door. Hearing the latch click, I gently pushed the door open.

“Any royal family?” Jeremiah asked, closing the door behind us.

“I don’t know. I’ve never known anyone in any other royal family,” I replied distractedly. I lit the torches in the kitchen, watching the low light flood the room that brought me endless comfort. The kitchen was the first room we’d entered, and I placed my basket on the wooden table in the middle of the small room. There were small tapestries hanging along the walls, along with embroidery done by my grandmother. I set my bow and quiver on the counter, then took a tapestry off the wall and held it under the torch to see it better. 

There were three women featured - a strawberry blonde, who I took to be my mother, a redhead, obviously my bloodthirsty aunt Viviana, and a dark-haired, blue-eyed woman that I’d never seen before. She wore a tiara like my mother. “Lily,” I whispered, remembering that my mother’s childhood best friend had grown up to be the Clarionite queen. I had an arranged marriage with her son, but I didn’t know much else about that family. Any time I had asked either of my parents about them, I always got hushed, or they changed the subject. Jonathan hadn’t known much either, or if he did, he never told me anything. 

“Hey, Em,” Jeremiah touched my elbow, making me jump out of my skin and breaking me from my thoughts. “Sorry,” he said, steadying me and gently taking the embroidery out of my hand. “We should probably get to bed so we can get going early tomorrow.”

I smiled and nodded, taking the embroidery out of his hand. “I know, I just don’t want to leave this place. I haven’t been here since - ”

“I know. It will still be here when we come back, though.”

“Yeah,” I sighed, giving the room a final once over. “My grandfather built this place,” I took a torch from the wall and guided Jeremiah down the hallway.

The first bedroom was Jonathan’s old room. The shades covered the only window in the room, but there was still a sliver of moonlight peeking through. I hovered in the doorway, and Jeremiah gently nudged me. “Go ahead,” he whispered.

I handed Jeremiah the torch, and entered the room. I opened the shades and let the moonlight pour through. It was like stepping back in time. His military coat was folded on the bed, next to his bow and arrow. His sword hung on the wall above the bed, next to a shield bearing the family crest. 

I stepped closer to the bed to get a better look at his coat, and my skirts knocked a book from the stack it was perched on onto the floor. I bent down to pick it up, and saw that it was a journal. 

“I didn’t know that he kept a journal,” I whispered. I flipped through it, and saw that the last entry was from the day before he left to fight in The Great War. I gently closed it, unable to bring myself to read what he had written. I placed it next to his coat on the bed, and touched his bow. 

The moonlight glinted onto Jonathan’s sword, and I climbed onto the bed to bring it down. “You should have it,” I held it out to Jeremiah. 

 “Oh, Emma,” he breathed, “I can’t take this.” He reached for it anyway, and turned it over in his hands. 

“You can, and you should,” I said. “Aside from Jonathan, you’re the best one who can use it. And, it’s just wasting away up here.” 

He sighed.

“You know I’m right,” I looked up at him. I also reached for the coat and pressed it against his chest. 

He sighed again. “Em, I -” he began to fight against me, but seemed to think better of it. We both knew that he hadn’t brought a coat with him, and the nights could be bitter cold. He shook his head, and took the coat from me, pressing Jonathan’s journal into my hand. 

“We really should get some sleep,” he said. “It’s going to be an early morning.”

I nodded, and gave him a quick hug. “I’ll be right down the hall if you need me.”

“Good night, princess,” he winked, and gently brushed my cheek. “Sweet dreams.”

My bedroom was next to Jonathan’s. I closed the door behind me. I pulled back the curtain on the window and let the moonlight flood the room. I blew out the torch and placed it on the windowsill. I set my bag on the floor, and untied my boots and left them on the floor next to my bag. 

I unwound my bun, laid on the bed, covered myself up with my cloak, and fell into a deep sleep. 

12. Palace search

13. Forest - Day 2 - Emmaleigh

I awoke with a jolt when Jeremiah rapped on my door. I had been dreaming about Jonathan, but couldn’t remember much as the room around me began to make sense. “Not everything is as it seems,” he’d said, but he hadn’t given any hint about what he was talking about. 

“Coming!” I called, getting out of bed. As I slipped into my boots, I quickly undid my braid and shook out my hair. I tied my boots, grabbed the torch, slipped my bag over my shoulder, and laid my cloak over my arm. In the doorway, I took one last look at my room, and silently promised that I would be back soon.

I walked into the kitchen, and saw Jeremiah sitting at the table eating an apple.

“Good morning,” he welcomed me. “Your hair looks good like that,” he chuckled.

“Yeah, right,” I rolled my eyes, setting everything on the table. I began braiding my hair and let it fall long down my back. 

He handed me an apple, and began putting more arrows into my quiver. “I took these from your brother’s room,” he said. “I hope you don’t mind.”

I smiled. “Thank you. I know he would have wanted me to have them.”

“I found this too,” he replied, handing me a coil of rope. “It might be a good idea to have on hand,” he shrugged.

I nodded, my mouth full of apple. I slung my quiver full of my and Jonathan’s arrows onto my back, and picked up my bow. I put my arm through the handles of the basket, and exclaimed “I forgot!” I dropped the basket and bow and ran back to my room.

Jonathan’s journal and the embroidery were on the bedside table where I’d left them. As I made my way back to the kitchen, I tucked the embroidery inside the front cover of Jonathan’s journal and placed them both into my bag. I was just fastening the flap on the bag when I walked back into the kitchen and saw Jeremiah waiting, ready to go. 

“Ready?” he asked, handing me my bow and the basket.

I nodded, walking toward the door. I gestured for him to go through first. 

“Royalty has to close it?” he asked once we were outside. 

“Of course,” I put the basket into my hand with the bow and used my free hand to touch the crown on the door. The door swung shut and we heard the latch click. “I’ll be back soon,” I whispered, and began walking down the path.

14. Forest - Day 2 - Jeremiah

“Emma, wait!” I called. She had only gone a few feet, but I couldn’t wait anymore.

She quickly turned around and began walking back down the path toward me, slight worry on her face. 

I took a deep breath, took both her hands in mine, and kissed her. 

She had no reaction for a moment, then she stepped back and slapped me. The slap hurt, but not as much as the emotion in her eyes - a combination of anger and sadness.

“What are you doing?!” she yelled. Tears were welling in her green eyes, threatening to spill over. “Did you forget that I’m marrying a king? You could be executed for treason!” She backed away as a single tear rolled down her cheek. 

“Em,” I whispered. “I’m sorry.”

“What were you thinking?”

“I love you,” I took a step toward her.

“Jer,” she whispered. “You can’t.”

“What if things were different?”

She shook her head and turned away. “I can’t do this right now.”

“Please,” I whispered again, feeling my heart threatening to break.

She sighed quietly. “What do you mean if things were different? They’re the way that they are. Nothing is going to change that.”

“What if you weren’t a princess? What if you were just a girl in the village?”

“Jer,” she looked at me, “I can’t.”

“Baby, please,” I begged.

She sucked her cheeks in, slowly shook her head, and scuffed her shoe in the dirt. 

“Emma?” I felt a tear roll down my cheek.

She looked directly into my eyes. She took a deep breath. “If I wasn’t a princess, if I was just another girl in the village?” 

I nodded.

She licked her lips. “I would gladly marry you, and love you every day of my life.” She kissed my cheek, and began walking down the path again.

15. Forest - Day 2 - Emmaleigh

What have I gotten myself into?

I can’t believe it. How can I marry the king of Clarion when my heart isn’t going to be in it? If I go through with the marriage, I’ll break Jeremiah’s heart, but if I don’t, I’ll break the contract that my parents have had with Clarion since I was born. 

I kept walking along the path, trying to keep from crying. I couldn’t believe how long it had taken me to come to this realization - Jeremiah was my best friend, and I was in love with him. 

Remembering, I realized that I had known for years. We had been close since we were very young, and I remembered him …

The forest was becoming denser, and I paused, waiting for Jeremiah to catch up.

“Are you still mad?” he whispered sadly in my ear. 

I turned to look at him. “I was never mad. Well, not at you. This whole situation just isn’t fair.” 

He took a deep breath and opened his mouth to say something. Then, he shook his head, adjusted his pack, and nodded toward the forest. “Ready?”

I stared at him, waiting to see if he would say more. When he didn’t, I nodded, and we continued into the forest. 

16. Viviana and Akadias

17. Forest - night 2

We had been walking through the forest for the majority of the day, and had finally come to a clearing. I was tired from walking, and wanted to find somewhere to rest for the night. “Emma, I don’t think we’ll be able to go any farther today. The sun will be setting soon.”

I looked around, silently agreeing with him and hoping I could find a way to prove him wrong. I didn’t want to be in the forest anymore; I just wanted to be home. I sighed, “I don’t either. This looks like a good place to sleep for the night.”

“There’s no way I’m sleeping, Emma. My job right now is to protect you, and that’s what I’m going to do.”

“But you can’t protect me when you’re tired. You need sleep, Jeremiah.”

“Don’t worry about me,” he smiled. “I’ll find ways to keep myself awake. Right now though, I need to make a fire.” 

He removed his pack from his back and unhooked the bundle from the bottom. “Have you ever staked a tent?” he smirked. 

I gaped at him. “Jeremiah, you have known me for 15 years. Have you ever known me to stake a tent?” 

He laughed. “Thought not. I’ll go get some wood and then put up the tent.” 

He began walking away. “Are you going to use your sword to chop a tree down?”

He pulled an axe out of his pack, and left the pack on the ground. He bent down and threw a rock into a nearby bush, disturbing a small flock of birds. “Make yourself useful.”

“Get out of here,” I laughed, reaching for my bow. “Unbelievable,” I muttered.

I tied the rope to the end of an arrow and tried a practice shoot. 

By the time Jeremiah came back with an armful of wood I had three small birds in a pile and had cleared a small pit for a fire. “Useful enough for you?” I smirked.

He dropped the wood onto the ground and began arranging it in the pit. “It’ll do. Emma,” he said, his tone suddenly serious. “Are you ok?” 

“I -” I took a breath. There was no point in lying to him. “Not really.” I sat on a fallen log near the pit. All of the emotions I had been feeling in the last few days were coming to the surface. “I don’t know if I can do this.”

He pulled a jar of matches out of his pack and started some small twigs on fire and placed them in various places around the fire pit. He sat next to me on the log.

“What do you mean?”

I stared into the growing fire. “I don’t know anything about this king I’m supposed to marry, other than the fact that he’s basically the same age as you.”

“Would you rather it be some old man?”

I sighed, exasperated. “That’s not what I mean. What if he’s cruel? What if he mistreats his staff? What if he’s basically a dictator and treats his subjects like slaves?”

“Emma,” he placed his hand on my arm. “What if he’s everything you want him to be?” 

“You know that’s never going to happen,” I whispered. I stood up, needing to get away from the conversation. I aimlessly wandered around our little clearing. 

18. Palace search

19. Emma 

After we finished eating, Jeremiah put up the tent. The sun was just finishing its descent past the horizon, and I had a growing feeling of unease. We had already poured water over the fire, and it was just wispy smoke now. I pulled my cloak tighter around me, trying to fight off the increasing cold. 

“It’s ready,” Jeremiah said. The tent was small, and I worried that it would blow over in the growing night breeze. He held the flap open for me and slightly bowed, gesturing toward the open door. “My lady,” he said, smiling.

I knew that he was trying to make me feel better, but it did nothing to ease the growing feeling of dread I was getting. “It’s going to be fine,” he whispered, and held out his hand. I took it, and stepped into our shelter for the night. 

The sounds of wildlife and the night were amplified in our tiny space. After my eyes had adjusted to the dark, I looked apprehensively at Jeremiah. He pulled something out of his pocket and gently placed it in my hand. As soon as I touched it, it began to glow. 

It was round and cold, and the stone came to life in swirling opal. 

“What is it?” I breathed.

“A protection amulet,” he replied. “The elves gave it to my father before…” he trailed off. He shook his head. “Maybe if he had kept it, he would still be alive,” he whispered. 

Before either of us had the chance to say anything more, the amulet lept from my hands and floated in the air in front of my face. It bathed the tent interior in a soft silver light, and spun slowly. 

I stared at it in amazement. I reached out to touch it, and Jeremiah sharply whispered “no.” 

I pulled my hand back as Jeremiah laid down, adjusting his pack to make a suitable pillow substitute. “How does it work?” I asked, still mesmerised. 

“My father said that it’s like the tent isn’t here anymore. No person or animal can detect that it’s here. Once you touch it, the magic stops. It needs time to replenish itself or something.”

“I wonder if the elves can help us,” I mused. I knew that relations with the elves had been strained at best since before the beginning of The Great War, but my father had made it sound like there were some willing to try and make amends. I certainly didn’t want to start my reign as queen trying to ease tensions caused by past generations. I will, if it’s necessary, I thought. 

I laid down on the ground, a little surprised at how cold it was. Sitting on the ground and laying on it are two very different things. 

I tried to get comfortable, knowing that if I couldn’t get warm, I wouldn’t be able to sleep. I had never slept outside before, and I was realizing that it was not something I would enjoy. I covered myself with my cloak, and suddenly wished I had brought gloves with me. 

“Emma, come lay over here,” Jeremiah whispered. “You’ll freeze to death.”

I ignored him. I had to prepare myself to meet my husband-to-be, and being any closer to Jeremiah wouldn’t let me do that. It wouldn’t be fair to either of them.

“Good night,” he whispered. 

I woke up shivering and my bones ached. The opal was still making its slow rotation, but it was still pitch black outside. I looked over at Jeremiah, and saw him asleep on his back. I painstakingly crawled over to him, and laid my head on his chest, immediately feeling warmer. I arranged my cloak over me, hoping it would hold in more body heat now.

“I’m sure your king will forgive you,” Jeremiah murmured, kissing my forehead and pulling me closer by draping an arm around my waist. “Get some sleep, Princess.”

And so I did.

20. Palace search

21. Emmaleigh - forest - day 3

I woke up before Jeremiah, unable to keep the sounds of the forest out of my head. The early morning light was starting to filter in through the fabric of the tent, adding a soft brown tint to the silvery glow of the opal. We were only a couple hours from the Clarionite border, so I thought he should sleep a little longer. I finally had what I had wanted for years, only for it to not only be wrong, but to be ending so soon.

“You know, I’m awake,” he said, brushing a loose strand of hair out of my face.

I sat up to look at him. “How did you know I was awake?” I asked. 

He looked back at me, one side of his mouth turning up. He didn’t say anything.

“Fine, then. Don’t tell me,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. I turned my head away. Nothing had happened, but I suddenly realized how deeply I loved him. It had to remain a secret.

He sat next to me. “Don’t do that. Don’t push me away.”

“What choice do I have?”

“Tell me what’s really bothering you.” I met his gaze and he held it. He studied me for a long moment, and I had to look away.

“Am I doing the right thing? Going after her by myself?”

He was silent.

“Why did I do it? It seems like such a rash, stupid idea. Why didn’t I tell my father? Oh,” I said. I hadn’t thought of my parents the entire time I had been gone. “They must be so upset.” I buried my face in my hands, trying to keep from crying. “What made me think this was a good idea?”

Jeremiah gently removed my hands from my face and caught my gaze again. “You know what I think?” He tapped the emerald around my neck. “Viviana gave you this, right?”

A horrible idea dawned on me. “Do you think she’s using this to...control me?” I asked him, holding it in my hand. 

He didn’t have to answer. We both knew that he was likely right. I looked at the spinning, fiery stone floating in front of us. “That protects from magic, too,” I looked back at Jeremiah. 

“It must,” he said, touching it. It gently fell into his hand. He got up, and put it in his pocket. I reached behind my neck, ready to take my necklace off and leave it in the forest. 

“Leave it,” he said. I stared at him. Slowly, I lowered my hands. I trusted him. He had a plan.

22. Viviana and Akadias

Slowly, the forest was beginning to thin. I was relieved that we were nearly past this obstacle, but feelings of apprehension about meeting the king were mounting as it became closer to reality. 

Jeremiah was also becoming more on edge and was walking more quickly and deliberately. He had been slightly ahead of me on the entire trip, and I hurried to catch up. I slipped my hand into his and he squeezed it. He smiled down at me. 

“You still think this was a bad idea, don’t you?” I asked him. 

“It would have been worse if you’d been completely on your own. But, I don’t think you were thinking clearly.” He looked meaningfully at my necklace.
“Why not just leave it?” I asked. The thought had been gnawing at me for hours. 

“I know people in Clarion, remember? We might be able to use the necklace to our advantage and draw her out.” He gently squeezed my hand again. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you.” 

24. Emmaleigh - Clarion - day 3

25. 
    

“Here it is,” Jeremiah said, finally. We were finally at the edge of the forest, looking ahead to Clarion. The sun was high in the sky, and this leg of the journey was finally at an end. 

“Wow,” I breathed. “It’s beautiful. This is where you spent all of your summers?” 

26. Emmaleigh’s journal - Clarionite palace - night 3

The castle was huge. Absolutely massive. As soon as I laid eyes on it, my heart hit my stomach. This was the home of my future husband. It would be just a matter of a few short hours before I would meet him. I had never heard much about him and was more afraid of meeting him than meeting with Viviana. 

**somehow get invited into the castle by someone outside. I highly doubt that these two can just walk up to it and knock on the door. Or maybe they can?** (We’ve been expecting you)

Jeremiah nudged me and nodded toward the door. “Go ahead,” he encouraged. “I’ll take Horse (no name yet) to the stables and make my way inside.” He took Horse by the reins and began walking before I had a chance to protest. 

Doorman escorted me through the door and I almost stumbled when I saw the beauty unfolding from the entry hall. I knew that the Clarionite castle was more ornately decorated than the Luxarian castle, but I wasn’t prepared for the gleaming marble floor, ornate tapestries, or massive vases of flowers on tables on either side of the castle door.

“Welcome, Princess,” I heard behind me as I was absorbed in the flowers.

The voice came from a petite blonde with bright blue eyes wearing a simple gray dress. She had a small smile and a pleasant voice. She extended a bouquet of lilies to me as her smile grew. 

I smiled as I accepted the flowers from her. “Thank you,” I replied, smelling the flowers. “Please, call me Emmaleigh.”

She shook her head and deeply curtsied. “I’m Rebekah. Please follow me.”

So much for making a new friend here, I thought, following Rebekah down the hallway to the left. The hallways were filled with more tapestries and matching rugs, and I quickly became overwhelmed with the array of different colors, fabrics, and lights. 

She guided me through a door that opened into quarters painted in a gentle lavender. An older woman was waiting for us and looked me up and down, clearly displeased. “There is much work to do,” she huffed, and walked through the middle of the three doors. 

Rebekah instructed me to follow the other woman and to leave my cloak, basket, and bag with her. I hesitated, and she opened a chest next to the white couch against the wall. “We can lock it,” she explained. 

“That won’t be necessary,” I said, handing her my things. After a moment’s hesitation, I removed my necklace and placed it in her hand as well. I was feeling more disheartened, and was dreading what was coming next. 

As I entered the middle door, I found a huge bathtub and the steamy air was filled with the aroma of vanilla, lavender and roses. The older woman from earlier wheeled a divider between me and the tub, and said, “Into the tub. That dress is filthy.” Then, she walked to the other side of the divider, and I heard the clinking of bottles. 

I hurriedly undressed and nervously folded my clothing, forming a pile on the floor. I peeked around the divider, and seeing that the woman’s back was turned, quickly slipped into the tub. I was careful not to let the water splash over the edge, almost certain that the woman would have a comment about it if I did. 

She turned and instructed me to quickly bathe and pointed to towels on the counter. Then, she left the room. 

I did as I was told, but wasn’t able to relax, despite the perfection of the bath water. I stepped out of the tub and began drying off. I had just tied the rope around my waist on the bathrobe hanging on the hook on the bathroom door when the older woman from before entered through the door. She nodded once, obviously pleased that I didn’t waste time or splash water on the floor. 

“Now,” she clapped her hands, “to make you look worthy of meeting the king. Sit,” she gestured to a chair at a vanity in front of a huge mirror. 

This was just getting worse. I didn’t understand how I could one day be expected to live in this palace when I had yet to feel comfortable or even welcome here. I took a few deep breaths and absentmindedly wondered where Jeremiah was. I just wanted to get up, find him, and go back home. We could find a different way to stop Viviana. 

Rebekah entered the room again, carrying steaming white towels. “Sorry,” she mouthed, as she handed the towels to the older woman. She then placed the towels on my forehead, just covering my eyes. After a few minutes passed, the woman grabbed tweezers and began working on my eyebrows. 

I immediately felt tears prick my eyes, and a few escaped, running down my cheeks. I saw a slight look of compassion in Rebekah’s eyes, but it vanished when the older woman made eye contact with her. At that moment, I made it my mission to figure out what the issue was with this woman. I didn’t know if she just didn’t like me, or if she was a generally miserable person. 

After my eyebrows were plucked to her standards, the woman set to working on my makeup. I rarely wore more than a thin dark pencil drawn along my upper eyelashes, but it seemed that there was no spot on my face that didn’t require improvement. 

She spread makeup over my face with a sponge, and applied blush to my cheeks. Then she brushed lavender powder onto my eyelids and drew thick lines with a pencil along my upper and lower lashes, and swiped a black coated brush along my lashes. 

She stepped back and observed my face, nodding, clearly pleased. 

“Rebekah will take care of your hair,” she said, exiting through the door. 

28. Palace search - Aurelia?

29. Rebekah does Emma’s hair.

30. 36+9*-1

Rebekah gestured for me to follow her through the door and into the room on the right. Against the far wall, next to the window, was a huge fireplace with a blazing fire. In front of it sat a huge chair, flanked by two couches. 

“Please, have a seat,” Rebekah pointed me to one of the couches. As I sat, she placed the iron poker into the fire. “Has anyone ever curled your hair?” she asked me. 

“No,” I replied. “Is that what that is for?” I pointed to the poker. 

“Yes,” she said, “but I’m not going to use it just yet. It’s not nearly hot enough.”

“Mm,” I mused, unsure of what to say.

She turned her head, trying to hide a smile. “I won’t burn you,” she whispered.

“I know.”

Rebekah began braiding my hair along the crown of my head and pinned it behind my ear. She walked to the fireplace, and sprinkled some water from a pitcher on the table onto the poker. I heard the water sizzle, knowing that a very hot piece of metal was soon going to be very near my face. 

She started gently running a comb through and separating my hair. I closed my eyes, wishing the time would fly so I could get this night over with. 

31. Viviana and Akadias

Rebekah worked very quickly, making sure not to burn my skin with the poker, and she was soon encouraging me to look in the mirror. My chestnut hair was braided twice over the crown of my head, and soft curls hung around my face. She pinned the rest of my hair to the back of my head. She had woven jeweled pins into the braids, and they sparkled when I turned my head. My green eyes were striking against their black borders. She quickly swiped pink lipstick over my lips.

“Now, to get you dressed,” she said. “You may hate this more than anything so far,” she added, under her breath. 

Rebekah guided me into the room on the left of the bathroom, which was a huge wardrobe. The older woman from earlier was already there waiting, rifling through the various doors and drawers. “This one,” she said, pulling a bag on a hanger out of one of the doors. She handed it to Rebekah, along with a small silk slip. “Help her tie the slip in the back, and then she will probably need,” she looked me up and down, “assistance getting into this dress. I will go ensure that things are ready for the king.”

She left the room, letting the door slam behind her. “Did I do something to upset her?” I asked Rebekah. “I’m getting the impression that she doesn’t like me.”

“No, it’s not you. She’s untrusting of anyone from outside the palace. Sometimes I think she doesn’t even like me,” she whispered. Then, she smiled, and handed me the slip. “If you’ll put this on, I’ll put the robe away and help you get into the dress.”

Rebekah turned around and held out her hand. I changed from the robe into the slip and placed the robe in her hand. She quickly helped me tie the slip down my back and then handed me the bag with the dress. “I’ll be right back,” she said. She pointed to a bench in front of a floor length mirror against one wall and slipped out the door.

I laid the bag over the bench, and slowly unzipped it. I was in awe at how beautiful the dress was. My mother always wore extremely ornate and beautiful gowns, but I’d never seen one this beautiful. 

It was a strapless gown with a sweetheart neckline. It was a rich violet covered in silver leaves. When I moved the dress, it seemed to flow like liquid silk. The black hem along the bottom of the floor-length skirt matched the one along the neckline, and there was a small overwrap in black with gold and silver adornments.

I was still admiring the gown when Rebekah reentered the room. I heard her gasp when she stood next to me. “It’s beautiful,” she breathed.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” I agreed. 

Rebekah helped me into the gown, deftly navigating me through the multiple layers of petticoats and skirts. It was much heavier than I had expected. She helped me button up the back of the dress, then grabbed the overwrap. She fastened the overwrap with two buttons along the neckline of the gown by my arms, and with the two buttons along my waist. “We’re about to become very close,” she said, raising my arms to begin threading a cord through the loops along the inside of the overwrap. 

The opening began at my arms, and narrowed to be closed at my waist. Rebekah crossed the cord with each layer of loops until the strings hung down the front of my body. The older woman strode in the room, berating Rebekah for taking so long to get me into the dress.

“The king is waiting!” she barked. “And the front needs to be tightened. No self-respecting princess is going to wear a loose corset in Clarionite court, no matter where she is from.”

“Yes, mother,” Rebekah whispered, as the older woman shoved her out of the way. 

Mother? I thought. How can someone be so cruel to her child? 

I was jolted from my thoughts by Rebekah’s mother roughly tugging on the cord in the front of my bodice to tighten it. I involuntarily gasped with the final yank, and she slightly chuckled. “What? You’ve never worn a corset before?”

“No,” I shot back. “My mother had them banned. She wore them during the entire time she was expecting my brother, and the doctors said that that’s why he didn’t survive. His body was too small when he was born because my mother’s body wasn’t able to grow enough --”

“Well, that’s no excuse for you,” she said. “We’re wasting time. Shoes. Now,” she scolded Rebekah. 

Rebekah scurried to the bench and grabbed a pair of high heels from underneath. As she was doing that, her mother tied the cord at my waist into a small bow and wound a pearled belt around my waist. She latched it in the front with a purple pendant, and the string of pearls ran down the front of my body almost to my ankles. At the bottom of the string was a matching pendant. She also secured an elaborate violet jeweled necklace around my neck. Rebekah came back with a pair of glittery silver heels and encouraged me to put them on. 

“Thank you,” I mouthed to Rebekah, making sure that her mother didn’t see. She gave a slight nod, and quickly strapped my heels. 

Her mother left the room, muttering about making sure that everything was ready for the king and how she was determined to make me into the ideal Clarionite queen. 

“Thank you for your kindness,” Rebekah whispered to me, taking my hands in hers. “I’m sorry for being so cold and formal earlier. My mother just--” 

“It’s ok,” I smiled, brushing a blonde curl out of her face. “Thank you for yours.” 

She slightly blushed, and I wondered how often this poor girl had received any sort of kindness or basic respect. She would get heaps of it while I was here.

33. Palace search - Olivia?

“Come with me,” Rebekah’s mother barked, striding back into the room. She gave Rebekah a stern look, and turned her attention back to me. She looked me over once, nodded, and walked back out the door. 

“Good luck,” Rebekah whispered behind me. 

I glanced back, smiled, and closed the door behind me. 

We turned right once we got outside my quarters, and walked down a hallway that opened into a grand staircase. I followed her up the steps, and through the double doors at the top. The doors opened into a magnificent ballroom. One wall was entirely taken up by a bookshelf, with a lit fireplace in the center. There was also a chair, sofa, and two end tables.

At the back of the room were two sets of double doors, one on each side. The left set of doors was made of windows and appeared to open to a balcony. The other doors were made of solid wood. The remainder of the room was covered in stained glass windows, paintings, and tapestries. 

“Wait here,” Rebekah’s mother told me, then she walked toward the set of solid doors.

I slowly walked the perimeter of the room, looking at the different tapestries and paintings.

There was one that caught my eye. It showed a young couple with a very young boy. My eyes drifted from Lily’s face to that of the boy. I was drawn to his lifelike blue eyes. They were stunning, and I would know them anywhere. “No,” I whispered, and stepped back. “It can’t be.”

“Announcing, His Royal Highness, Liam…” Spencer Kingston announced, but his words trailed off when I laid eyes on him. My soon-to-be husband. My king. My best friend. My Jeremiah. 

35. Jeremiah - Clarionite castle - night 3

She is beautiful. I’ve always thought that, but tonight she truly looks like a queen. Although, it’s obvious that Victoria managed to squeeze her into the most uncomfortable dress possible. 

I knew this was a bad idea. I tried to talk Spencer and Victoria into letting me talk to Emma privately, but they insisted that this was the best way. She’s never going to speak to me again.

As soon as Spencer finished announcing my entrance, Emma slowly turned around. I could feel the rage radiating off of her before I saw her face.

She took small steps toward me until we were almost face to face.

Victoria loudly cleared her throat. Emma sunk into a deep curtsy, and sneered “Your Highness.”

“Em,” I whispered, reaching for her hand. 

“No!” She pulled her hand away and took a step back. “You don’t get to call me that.” Her green eyes were flashing in a way that I’d never seen before.

“Please, just let me explain.”

“Explain what? Why you’ve been lying to me for the last 15 years? Are you even really my friend?” She whispered the last question, and my knees almost buckled.

“Of course, I am. I want to explain everything to you.” She didn’t say anything, just stared at me. “Please.”

She crossed her arms. “Why did you kiss me?”

I heard a gasp from Victoria, but ignored her. Of all of the questions that she could ask me, why did it have to be this one? 

“I had to see how loyal you would be to --”

“You were testing me?!” she shrieked. She was flexing the fingers on her left hand and for a moment I thought she would slap me again. At the same time, she took a step back and wobbled on her heels. 

I reached out and steadied her, and she wrenched out of my grip. “Don’t touch me.”

Once I knew she was steady on her feet, I stepped back. “Emmaleigh, Please don’t push me away.” I heard Victoria huffing about improper behavior but I didn’t care. I glanced over at her and gave her a dirty look. 

When I looked back, I saw Emmaleigh taking off her engagement ring. My mother’s ring.

My heart plummeted. “Emma, no,” I begged. She dropped it in my hand, being very careful not to touch it.

I met her eyes, and saw tears. She took a very deep breath, and in a very shaky voice, said, “I have a lot to think about right now. I don’t want to say something that we both regret. Just...give me until the morning.”

I closed my eyes, and took a deep, long breath. When I opened them, she was still looking at me. I nodded, unable to speak. 

She turned and ran out the door. Victoria moved to follow her, but I managed to tell her to stay. 

I slumped into the nearest chair, and held my head in my hands.

36. Viviana and Akadias - necklace off = trouble

37. Emmaleigh - Clarionite castle - night 3

I ran. I didn’t know where I was going, but I couldn’t be in the same room as Jeremiah anymore. This adventure was becoming too much. I just wanted to go home. My father would know what to do. 

I somehow managed to find the hallway leading to my quarters. I burst through the door and slammed it behind me, slumping to the floor. 

“Princess!” Rebekah exclaimed, dropping something to the floor. I was trying to rip the awful shoes from my feet, and couldn’t stop crying. 

“Don’t let her in,” I commanded, wrenching the first shoe off. Rebekah nodded, and locked the door. 

“Let me help,” she gently pushed my hand away and removed the other shoe. Then, she deftly untied the bow keeping my lungs from expanding to their full capacity. I took a deep breath and immediately began coughing. Once my coughing fit subsided, Rebekah helped me up and onto one of my couches. She removed the overwrap and began cleaning the makeup off of my face. 

“What happened?” she asked, concern in her eyes. 

“Did you know?” I turned on her. “Do you know who he is?”

She involuntarily took a step back. “Who?” she asked quietly.

I sighed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you.” I began taking pins out of my hair. “The king. He’s...I came here with him.” 

“The king was your traveling companion?” she exclaimed. “Oh, princess, this is not good.” 

I set the pins in my lap and looked up at her. “What makes you say that?” I had a feeling that her opinion on the matter and mine were going to be vastly different. 

She stared at me. “How much did he tell you?”

I looked away, feeling my cheeks flush. “To be honest, I didn’t give him much of a chance to tell me anything.”

“You should hear what he has to say.” Before I could respond, she walked into the wardrobe and began leafing through a closet with much less ornate dresses.

Thinking about confronting Jeremiah, well, King Liam, made my hands start to shake. My stomach was still in knots, and I was disappointed that I didn’t have as much time as I thought to collect my thoughts. On the small table in front of the couches was a small cup of steaming tea. 

Rebekah came back into the room holding a pale purple and silver dress. I took the cup in my hands and was about to put it to my lips when Rebekah shouted “No! Don’t,” she dropped the dress and took the cup into her hands, “drink this.” 

I stared at her while she replaced the teacup to its saucer on the table. She avoided my gaze, picking up the dress from the floor and handing it to me. I narrowed my eyes at her, dropping the dress to the couch. “Explain,” I snapped.

She hesitated.

“Rebekah, now.”

“My mother had it poisoned and ordered me to have you drink it.” She glanced at me, and quickly looked away. “I couldn’t do it,” she quickly continued. “You have been so kind to me, and -” 

“Poisoned?” I choked. “Why?”

She was silent again and shook her head. She tried to leave, but I caught her by the wrist. “You need to tell me everything that is going on,” I demanded. “Enough people have been keeping secrets from me. I don’t appreciate you being one of them.” 

Rebekah pulled the dress onto her lap and sat in its place on the couch.

“I don’t want you to be upset with me,” she whispered, straightening the dress and smoothing it out. She looked at me with tears in her eyes.

“Are you...related to him?” I asked. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t seen it before. Her beautiful blue eyes matched Jeremiah’s exactly. 

After a long moment, she finally responded. “Yes.”

I closed my eyes and leaned back against the couch, tears threatening to fall again. Was this girl I was trying to befriend really a potential rival?

“My father was his father’s younger brother. My mother wants me to rule, but,” she took my hand, and waited until I met her gaze to continue. “Emmaleigh, I don’t want to. I’m not made to be a queen, but you are.” She squeezed my hand with her last two words. “I understand if you don’t trust me, but please believe that I want to help you. I want to be your friend.” 

I was speechless. This palace held so many secrets. I knew she was risking a lot defying her mother, and I had to admire her courage if nothing else. 

“Thank you for your honesty,” I said. “Tell me what I need to know.”

Rebekah handed me the silvery lavender dress and matching slippers. Once I had changed, she pulled my hair back from one side of my face with a diamond and amethyst clip in the shape of a star. The dress was much lighter than the one I’d worn earlier, and had many fewer layers. 

“You need to leave tonight, you know that right?” Rebekah asked, finishing touching up my hair. 

I stood, and took her hand in mine. “Yes, and you’re coming with us.”

She stared at me. “I...I can’t...leave!”

“You can’t stay either. If your mother was willing to poison a queen…” I trailed off, but I knew that she could understand what I wasn’t saying.

She looked away. I pushed back from the vanity and stood up. “Let’s go talk to the king.”

“You want me to come with you?” she asked, following me as I walked to the doors to my chambers. 

I looked over my shoulder at her, my hand on the door handle. “Do you really think I’m supposed to wander this palace unsupervised?”

She smiled the biggest smile I’d seen so far that night. “No, I suppose not.”

I opened the door, and after a slight moment of hesitation, Rebekah led the way back to the ballroom. 

38. Palace search

39. Viviana and Akadias

Jeremiah was sitting in the chair, head in his hands, with Rebekah’s mother pacing and yelling. We burst through the door and Jeremiah immediately jumped to his feet. He stared at me expressionless, and I watched Rebekah’s mother's face turn from shock to disgust to rage. 

I ran across the room and threw my arms around Jermiah’s neck. “I’m sorry,” I whispered, a little hurt that he wasn’t hugging me back. “I love you.”

He responded so quickly I lost my breath. With one arm wrapped tightly around my waist and the other cradling the back of my head twisting in my hair, he choked, “I love you, too. I thought I lost you.” 

“You worthless wretch!” Rebekah’s mother yelled. Jeremiah and I jumped apart, seeing her storm toward Rebekah. She grabbed Rebekah by the arm and went to drag her out of the room.

“Victoria!” Jeremiah boomed.

“Stop!” I yelled at the same time. 

“I am her mother,” she snarled. “How I treat her is none of your concern.” 

I quickly stepped away from Jeremiah, and stood next to Victoria and Rebekah. “And I,” I growled, “am her queen. Unhand my lady-in-waiting immediately.”

“Lady?” Victoria scoffed. “You know nothing about her, do you?” She threw Rebekah on the ground at my feet. 

As Jeremiah called for the guards, I saw a flash of silver in Victoria’s hand. She swiped at Rebekah, and I instinctively thrust my arm in front of Rebekah’s face. The blade was hot as it ripped a gash across my forearm. Oh, I thought, don’t ruin this beautiful dress.

41. Rebekah - Clarionite castle - Night 3

She saved my life. She’s known me less than 3 hours, and she risked her life to save me. 

I can’t move. I can’t stop staring at the blood pouring out of the arm of the only person that has shown me kindness, other than Liam,  in as long as I can remember. I hear shouting, and hear my mother being dragged away, but I can’t focus on anything but Emmaleigh. 

I hear Liam calling me, but it sounds distant. Emmaleigh is mouthing something to me, but I can’t make it out. Everything sounds like I’m underwater, and everything is happening much slower than normal.

“Rebekah!” I hear Liam’s voice in my ear. His hand on my arm pulls me out of my trance, and the world comes crashing back to normal. I don’t know how I ended up on my knees at Emmaleigh’s side. 

Liam pulls me to my feet and a few steps away from Emmaleigh. “Bex,” he pleads, tears filling his eyes. “Please help her. I can’t,” his voice breaks. “I can’t lose her.”

“I-” I can’t tell him that I’m not a healer. “I’ll be back,” I run out of the room.

What am I supposed to do? I’m not a healer. I’m running to the medical room to see if there’s anything I can find to help. 

The door is locked. I hold my hand on the handle until I hear a click, then push the door open. I frantically rummage through cupboards and cabinets, not finding what I’m looking for. I begin throwing things on the floor, knowing that I’ll know what I’m looking for when I lay my hand on it. 

I’m losing hope. If I don’t hurry, the future of this nation, possibly the entire continent, is at stake. My cousin will never be the same if he loses her. I can’t fail.

I rip the top off a chest against one wall and find what I’m looking for. I grab the jar, a handful of cloth scraps, a towel, and three long strips of cloth. 

I run back to the ballroom and burst through the door. Emmaleigh is still bleeding, but it looks like it’s beginning to subside. Then I look at her face. She’s very pale, and her eyes are almost lifeless. I can’t bear to look at Liam. 

I kneel at Emmaleigh’s side, and gently take her arm in my hand. Please work, I silently wish. “Hold on,” I tell her, opening the jar. I gently wipe as much blood as I can from her arm and begin spreading the ointment on the gash. It smells sweet, and has a slight blue-green color to it. Emmaleigh moans slightly, and I hope it doesn’t burn too badly. “I’m sorry,” I whisper.

“I know,” she whispers back, and tries to smile. 

“Please, stop pacing,” I tell Liam behind me. “You’re not helping.” 

He drops to her side and she shifts to lean against them. I try, probably in vain, to hide a smile. I’ve never seen Liam like this. He’s always so stoic and composed. He has an arm around her shoulders, and is whispering in her ear. She has slightly settled into him, as much as she can with me working on her arm. 

I press the small scraps to the wound, and pull my hands away when she winces. I look up at her, and her eyes are closed. I avoid looking at Liam. 

I hurry and finish laying the scraps to her arm as gently as I can. I finish wrapping her arm with the long strips. I’m careful not to make it too tight, and I hope that the ointment starts working quickly. 

*insert backstory about getting the healing ointment and figuring out how it works. Also, how does she know how to take care of Emma’s arm?*

*Piper & Blair*

42. Emmaleigh - Clarionite castle - night 3

“Jer, I’m fine,” I said, rolling my eyes at Rebekah. “My arm is already feeling better.” 

He hesitantly got up, and sat on the couch that I’ve been leaning on. 

“You’re hovering,” I said, getting up and pushing his arm away when he tried to help me. “I’m fine, really,” I stood, looked at him, and placed my hand on his cheek. “You should know by now, it’s going to take more than a little knife to stop me.” 

He smiled a little smile that didn’t reach his eyes. He stood and pulled me into the hug that was interrupted before. “Don’t ever scare me like that again.” 

“I’m sorry,” I said. I wondered if I would ever stop finding things to be sorry for on this journey. 

When we pulled away, Rebekah said “You two know that we need to leave. Tonight”

“We?” He looked between the two of us.

“I-” Rebekah started.

“Yes, we,” I took each of their hands. “If tonight has proven anything, it’s that my presence is a threat here. And I don’t think she’s much safer here than I am,” I looked at Jeremiah. “That threat was on her life, not mine.”

He took a step back. “How is your presence here a threat? Why don’t you feel safe here?” He looked disturbed, and a little offended. 

I looked at Rebekah and she shook her head. “Victoria ordered me poisoned earlier this evening.” I rubbed my arm. It didn’t really hurt, just a mild, steady ache. I glanced at Rebekah, and she looked extremely guilty. “This wasn’t your fault,” I assured her. 

“Why wouldn’t it be her fault? What aren’t you two telling me?” His voice began to rise.

I stood in front of Jeremiah and put a hand on his chest. “Sit down. We’ll explain everything.” I looked back at Rebekah and she sat on the couch. 

I sat next to her, and Jeremiah sat on my other side. We quickly recounted the events of the evening, much to Jeremiah’s horror. 

He looked past me to Rebekah. “Has she always been like that to you?” She looked away. 

“I’m illegitimate, remember? She’s always hated me,” she said softly. “My father too. That’s why I was always so excited when you arrived for the summer. You’re the only one who was consistently kind to me.”

We were all quiet for a moment. 

“Since we’re all sharing personal information,” I trailed off, looking pointedly at Jeremiah. 

He shifted uncomfortably. He took one of the throw pillows from the couch and began playing with the tassels. 

*finish later*

43. Next scene - Emmaleigh

Rebekah and I made it back to my quarters without further incident. 

“I’ll be back,” she said, trying to sneak out the door.

“Where do you think we’re going?” I asked, trying to keep panic out of my voice. We had just had this conversation, and she was putting herself at risk again. I caught her hand. 

She squeezed my hand. “I’m going to the kitchen. We need food right now, and I’ll see what I can bring with us.”

“I don’t think using the door is a good idea,” I admitted. There were several tunnels and secret passages at home. Did this palace have them too?

She closed the door. “Good point,” she agreed. She walked to the wardrobe and opened a cabinet door. To my surprise, there weren’t any shelves or storage space, just small stone steps. “Hand me your basket,” she said, descending down the first two steps.

I quickly fetched it from the chest in the entryway, and handed it to her, after grabbing an apple out of it. “Please hurry,” I whispered. 

She nodded, and pointed to the farthest closet. “See what you can find to take with you in there. Those dresses should be the warmest.”

“What about you?” I asked.

“I’ll look when I get back. I’ll see if I can sneak into the servants’ quarters too.”

“Be careful,” I bent down to squeeze her hand.

“You too. Don’t open the door for anyone.” She turned away and carefully and quietly made her way down the stairs. 

I walked toward the closets, and opened the door of the farthest one. It was sturdier than I thought it would be. The smell of cedar wafted out, along with slight vanilla and lavender. I leafed through the dresses, and found a heavy one in deep violet and pulled it off the rod. 

There were fewer layers than I was expecting, but it still looked very warm. There was a matching cloak I grabbed, and went to change into it. 

The dress was heavier than the dress that I had arrived in, and I knew it would be warmer. After changing into the dress, I fastened the cloak around my neck. I saw several pairs of stockings in a basket on the floor, grabbed two pairs, and put them on.

Next to the closet door where I retrieved the dress, was another door. I pushed it open, and inside a lavish bedroom. 

I heard a knock on the main door to my quarters and froze. Rebekah’s warning echoed in my ears. I silently closed the bedroom door behind me. 

I realized that I was still carrying the apple with me, and took a bite of it. Knowing that I was safe, I took a moment to admire the room that I was in. 

Three of the walls were painted in a faint lilac, and the fourth was lavender that matched the walls in the other rooms. Part of the fourth wall was made of brick, and was covered with an enormous tapestry of a beautifully detailed lily. 

“This was Lily’s room,” I whispered, gently brushing the lily with my finger. 

Opposite the tapestry was an ornate white four poster bed. The blankets and pillows were shades of lavender and violet. The bed had elegant end tables on either side of it. Next to the door where I entered was a large oak dresser with a large mirror hanging over it. 

I heard the door to the wardrobe open, and left the bedroom to meet Rebekah. I closed the door behind me, and finished eating the apple. We walked to the den, and she placed the basket on the table. 

She was beaming. “This is the most exciting thing that I have ever done,” she grinned. I had to admit, I felt the same way, but I was more nervous and afraid than excited. 

She moved to open the basket. It was almost overflowing with rolls and apples like I’d taken from the kitchen at home, but she’d added carrots, cucumbers, and dried meat. 

“Wow!” I laughed. “Did you leave anything in the kitchen?”

She winked at me. I couldn’t believe how much I was beginning to like this girl. I was going to make sure that she was much more than just a servant by the time this adventure was through. 

“Are you ready to go?” she asked. She looked at the cloak and gown and nodded. “That’s probably the warmest outfit you’ll find. Gloves?” she asked. I shook my head. After the frigid cold last night, I couldn’t believe I’d forgotten. I started back toward the wardrobe, but she gently grabbed my hand. “I’ll get them. I’ll change too.”

She turned to go toward the wardrobe, but quickly turned back. She pulled up my skirt to look at my feet. When she saw the stockings, she smiled. “Good, you found some. Quickly, grab your things. We’ll have to sneak out before the guards make their next rounds.”

“Is that who knocked on my door earlier?”

She paled. “We need to leave. Now.”

I hurried to the chest where she had put my things what seemed like ages ago. I put my boots on and tied them, I slung my bag over my shoulder, followed by my quiver of arrows. I grabbed my bow and rushed to meet Rebekah by the tapestry of the lily.

“You remember what Liam told you, right?” Rebekah whispered, taking my bow. I nodded, suddenly nervous. 

I lifted the tapestry, and took a deep breath. I noted the brick at the bottom of the stem, and counted up 12 matching rows. At the twelfth brick, I knocked three times. I glanced over my shoulder to Rebekah, and her eyes were sparkling. She was loving this.

44. Rebekah

 I’ve never been so excited and terrified in my life. Liam is trusting me to get Emmaleigh outside through the tunnels safely. I can’t let either of them down.

45. Emmaleigh

The hidden door opened slowly to a dark tunnel. 

“Go,” Rebekah whispered, nudging me after I hesitated. 

I stepped down into the tunnel with Rebekah on my heels. “Once you go in, you can’t get back out,” Jeremiah’s words came back to me.

“Are you sure this is safe?” I asked, after the bricks closed behind us. 

Rebekah positioned herself in front of me and looked me directly in the eye. “Do you trust me?”

Did I? I knew that Jeremiah did, and she had done everything in her power to help me. I nodded, unsure if I believed it myself. That could be sorted out later. 

“Follow me,” she whispered, handing me back my bow. She handed me a pair of gloves from the basket, then turned and walked down the tunnel.

We walked in silence through so many winding tunnels I got dizzy. The air suddenly got much cooler. The tunnel we were in opened to a long narrow room. There were numerous alcoves along the lengths of the room. I assumed that we were underground, in the dungeons.

Rebekah stopped so suddenly I bumped into her. 

“Sorry,” I whispered. 

She quickly recovered, grabbed my hand, and pulled me into one of the alcoves. “Don’t make a sound,” she whispered sharply.

We heard heavy footsteps approaching, and I felt a sense of panic. I had no choice but to trust Rebekah now. I just hoped that she wouldn’t make me regret it.

46. Rebekah

So much for this being easy. No one is supposed to be down here at this time of night. I don’t want to think about what will happen if someone finds us down here. The footsteps are getting closer, and I can hear someone’s heart pounding. I’m not sure if it’s mine or Emmaleigh’s.

The footsteps pass in front of the alcove that we’re hiding in, and I hear Emmaleigh suck in her breath. The figure comes into view as it passes, and I have to make a conscious effort not to gasp. It’s my father. 

“What were you thinking?” My father is talking to my mother. When they talk, it’s never good. 

“You told me to get the new queen out of the way,” my mother hisses back.

“Well, you clearly didn’t think that through very well. You nearly killed our daughter.”

Emmaleigh turns to stare at me, eyes wide. I avoid her gaze, my cheeks flaring. She grabs my hand and squeezes it. 

My mother scoffs. “Well, things happen.”

I feel tears prick my eyes. Emmaleigh squeezes my hand again. 

“It’s not like she would actually be able to rule anyway,” my mother continues.

“Hmm,” my father responds. “Perhaps you should have married me, and we wouldn’t be in this mess.” 

My stomach drops. Emmaleigh just heard my biggest secret. I have been trying so hard to keep her from finding out. I drop to my knees, and tears start streaming down my face. I have never been so humiliated in my life. 

“I’m not having this conversation with you again. It was just as much your mistake as it was mine. I wish it had never happened.” 

Emmaleigh moves the basket I’d dropped onto the floor and puts an arm around my shoulders. I shake my head and try to brush her off. 

“Don’t listen to them,” she whispers. “You’re not a mistake. The only mistake is the way that you’ve been treated. Don’t ever forget that.” She stands and walks closer to the opening, careful to remain quiet and hidden. 

I take a deep breath, compose myself, pick up the basket, and join her at the entrance. I look back at her, hand her the basket, and take a few steps forward. I don’t hear my parents arguing anymore. 

I hear a scuff of boots, then see my father’s silhouette in the dim torchlight. He turns around, and begins walking toward the exit, right toward the alcove we’re hiding in.

I silently grab Emmaleigh’s arm and pull her into the room, staying against the wall. The footsteps pass, and I hear the door to the dungeons creek open and slam shut.

I start to walk toward the entrance, and Emmaleigh grabs my hand. 

I turn to look at her. “Are you going to be ok?” she asks. 

I can’t see her face in the dim light, but she sounds genuinely concerned. 

“It’s nothing I haven’t heard before,” I dismiss her. I don’t feel like having this conversation right now. “We need to hurry. This is our best chance to leave.” 

I take the basket from her hand and head back into the main hallway. 

47. Emmaleigh

I’d never seen Rebekah move so fast. I had to almost run to keep up with her. It was hard not to trip with the dim light and my long skirts. I wanted to call out to her, but I didn’t want to alert anyone to our presence down in the dungeons. She deftly navigated in the near dark, and waited for me near the entrance of a narrow hallway. 

It looked like a dead end. 

Rebekah glanced back at me, then pushed three different bricks on the back wall. The wall swung back and opened into another tunnel. I followed Rebekah into the tunnel, and then it closed behind us.

“We’re almost outside,” Rebekah said after a few minutes. 

It’s about time, I thought. I didn’t know how much time I could take being in these creepy dungeons. 

After a few more twists and turns, we emerged to a small staircase. At the top of the staircase was a small trap door that opened to one of the horse stalls. Thankfully, it was empty.

She made her way out, set the basket down, and helped me out. She was still avoiding eye contact with me. I closed the door behind me. 

She began quickly making her way out of the stables, and to our designated meeting spot with Jeremiah. 

“Where have you been?!” he yelled. “You were supposed to be here --”

“Jer,” I said. “We --” I picked up the basket, glancing at Rebekah, “almost got caught.” 

At the worried look on his face, I placed my hand on his arm. “We’re fine. Let’s just go. Nice coat,” I began walking away. I was glad he was wearing Jonathan’s coat. 

Rebekah was still avoiding eye contact with me. 

I couldn’t take it anymore. “Tell me,” I said to Jeremiah.

“Tell you what?” he stopped to look at me.

I stared at him.

He sighed. “It’s a long story.”

“What else are we going to do?” I asked. I glanced over at Rebekah, but she averted her eyes again. We continued walking. 

“What do you know about The Great War?”

“Are you serious?”

He nodded, sharing a look with Rebekah. 

I didn’t know what was going on between the two of them, but I didn’t feel like starting an argument. 

“Jonathan told me that there used to be an alliance with everyone on Andarea. I don’t remember exactly how it happened, but at some point, Luxaria, Clarion, and Billedonia all started infringing in the forest over Elia’s borders. The elves got extremely upset and basically declared war on all humans.”

He looked at me, expecting me to say more, but I didn’t. I wanted to know what he had to say. 

“That’s a very short version, but yes,” he responded. “Billedonia was the easiest target, so it was invaded first.”

“That’s where Aurelia is from,” I whispered. Her family had stayed for as long as they could. 

He nodded. “It was a very weak monarchy, and once the royal family was destroyed, the elves moved on. At that point, most of the elves had had enough, and wanted to try to mend things with the humans. This essentially caused an elven civil war, which is still happening. I think.”

Rebekah nodded, and he continued.

“Anyway, the elves that were still angry and wanting revenge left Elia and settled in Ankia. From what I’ve been told, this made a lot of them even more angry because they didn’t want to relocate, but their leader forced them to. They retaliated, and since they couldn’t go against their leader, they -” he hesitated. He cleared his throat. “They came after my parents.”

“Lily and Theodore.”

“Yes,” he replied. 

I heard Rebekah whisper something. “We’ll stop at the next clearing for rest.” She whispered again. “Elia is directly north of the palace.” We both stopped and stared at him. How had I not thought to ask where we were going? Was Elia really the best place to go? 

“I’ve received word from the Queen of Elia that she’s hoping to reinstate the alliance and wanted to discuss it in person. I was going to make this trip regardless, Viviana threatening you was just good timing, I guess.”

“Can we trust her?” I asked, as we began walking again. I was tired of stumbling around in the dark, and wished that the moon was a little brighter. 

“It’s our best chance to move forward and leave this war behind us.” 

I’d lost so much in the war. Everyone had. “What happened next?” I asked. 

“Our parents 

“

48. Rebekah

“Is she ever going to talk to me again?” Emmaleigh asks softly. I thought they were asleep. I can just make out their silhouettes in the glow of the opal. She is resting with her head on his chest, and he adjusts so he could see her better.

“Just give her time,” he says. “She’s ...upset.”

I can practically hear her roll her eyes. “I gathered that. But why? I -- I don’t know what I did.”

He sighs deeply. “It’s...not you. She’s humiliated, and hurt, and angry, and confused right now. She was trying to find the best way and time to tell you. That was her biggest secret. She’s afraid that you’re going to treat her the way everyone else treats her, now that you know.”

“You know me a lot better than that,” she retorts. How am I supposed to know your true intentions? 

“Shh,” he scolds. I hold my breath, staying absolutely silent. After a moment, he continues. “I know that, but she doesn’t. She’s known you for less than a day. She isn’t sure if she can trust you yet.”

“How do I prove that she can?” 

He kisses the top of her head. “Just be yourself. She’ll come around.” 

She sighs. “Jer, we don’t have time for that. We need to all work together.” A pause. “What do you mean, the way everyone else treats her?”

Another, longer pause. “The nobility looks down on her, and the servants want nothing to do with her.” 

“Why?” She gasps. “Because her parents never married?”

“Yes,” he whispers. Tears are streaming down my face, but I’m trying my hardest not to move or make a sound.

What is she going to say? Please, oh please be different from everyone else. 

“That’s horrible!” she exclaims, and quickly covers her mouth with her hand. “So,” she continues, much more quietly, “everyone treats her so poorly because of decisions that were made, out of her control, before she was born?”

“Exactly,” he confirms.

“That’s the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard,” she murmurs. “She’s a princess.”

“Not a legitimate one. That’s-”

“But one all the same,” she interrupts him. 

He remains silent, and she knows that she is right. 

A long moment passes, and I think they’ve both fallen asleep. There is no way I will be able to fall asleep tonight. 

“I’m going to change that,” I hear Emmaleigh say. I must have started dozing, because I was jolted awake. 

“Change what?” Liam responds after a brief moment of silence. 

“Rebekah. She’s not going to be a servant anymore. She’s a princess, and she deserves more than she’s been given in this life.”

“How?” he asks sleepily.

“I’ll make her a duchess or something. I haven’t really thought about the details yet.”

“Maybe you should talk with her about this, not me.”

“I will. Do you think it’s a good idea?”

He sighs. “Baby.”

“Hmm?”

“Go to sleep. We can talk about this in the morning.”

“Good night, Jer.” She sounds deflated. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” he kisses her forehead.

My head is spinning. I can’t believe I might actually have a new, true friend. I’m trying really hard not to get my heart set on this, but it’s hard. I hope she’s still awake.

I nudge Liam’s arm to see if he’s awake. He doesn’t move. 

I reach my hand out, but in the bitter cold I draw it back. Maybe, I’m more afraid of what I’m about to do.

I reach out again, and before I can stop myself, I gently grab Emmaleigh’s hand and squeeze it. A silent thank you.

I let go of her hand, and try to pull it away, but she squeezes it back. 

“Thank you,” I whisper, a lump suddenly in my throat.

“You’ve nothing to be thankful for. It’s the right thing to do.” She hesitates. “What do you want to do?”

“I don’t think that’s for me to decide,” I whisper, fighting back tears. 

“We don’t have to decide right now, but it will ultimately be your choice.” She squeezes my hand again. 

She sounds so sincere, but it’s hard to believe that she’s not going to be like everyone else and turn her back on me when it matters. 

“Rebekah, it’s cold out here. Why don’t you come closer so you don’t freeze to death?”

She lifts part of the blanket that was covering Liam’s side closest to me. I nestle closer into Liam’s shoulder and Emmaleigh covers me up with the blanket. She brushes a curl off of my forehead and wishes me good night. 

49. Emmaleigh

 The next morning was the coldest morning I could remember. The clouds were dark and ominous, and the air felt damp. 

After walking for a few hours, Jermiah glanced nervously at the sky, and looked at the map he’d been keeping in his coat. “We should be able to reach Elia tonight,” he said. “I hope,” he added quietly. 

Rebekah and I exchanged a look, but didn’t say anything.

She appeared to be in a much better mood. 

“Do you actually know where we’re going?” I asked him.

“Well, it’s an old map,” he mumbled. 

“Jeremiah!” I grabbed his arm and spun him around to look at me. What was he thinking? I really was not in the mood to become lost in this creepy forest.

He smirked at me. “Kidding!” I glanced at Rebekah, and she looked like she was about to pass out. He looked at her too, and guided her to sit on a nearby log. 

I held my hand out for the map. 

He placed it in my hand, but I couldn’t read it. “You can’t read Elvish, can you?”

“Can you?” I asked back. I sat next to Rebekah, and showed her the map. 

“I’ve never seen a map in my life,” she whispered. “I’m sorry I’m no help.”

I shook my head. “You’ve been an immense help already.” I subconsciously rubbed the scar on my left arm. “Can you read it?” I looked back to Jeremiah. 

“I can read enough,” he said, taking the map back and studying it again.

I stared at him. “Where did you learn to read it?” 

“When I was seventeen, I spent part of the summer in Elia. One of the guards is actually the queen’s sister, and she showed me around the forest.”

“Why?” 

He sighed. “She’s a part of the group of elves that wants to resurrect the alliance, and thought that they’d get farthest starting with me. Jonathan wanted it back too, but-”

“He was killed before he saw it come back together,” I whispered. “But why guide you through the forest?”

“In case of attack or invasion. These elves helped clear the forest hundreds of years ago, and helped found the kingdoms that are around today. There are backroads connecting everything,” he finished excitedly. 

***

We finally made it to what the map showed as the last clearing before Elia. Clouds were beginning to roll in, and the air was colder and damp. Jeremiah set his pack on the ground and dropped on the ground next to it. Rebekah and I quickly followed suit, exhausted from the journey, cold, and minimal sleep from the night before. 

I pulled the piece of embroidery out of my bag. I gently ran my thumb over each of the three faces. “I was named after both of them, you know,” I said, half to myself.

“None of them was named Emma or Leigh,” Jeremiah chuckled. 

“Oh, that makes sense,” Rebekah whispered.

“No,” I told Jeremiah. “My middle name, Liliana. Your mother and my aunt. My mother told me once that the three of them were inseparable. Our marriage contract actually began as kind of a joke between Lily and Viviana. Viviana was marrying Isaiah, and they thought that she would be a mother soon after.”

“Who is Isaiah?” Rebekah asked.

“How old were they?” Jeremiah asked at the same time.

I gave them both a look, and they let me continue. “Isaiah was a prince of Billedonia,” I answered Rebekah. “He was I think the fourth son, so there was no chance that he would ascend the throne unless his child married higher. When they got married, you were already born,” I looked at Jeremiah, “and Jonathan was obviously a son. Isaiah died the following year, before they were able to have an heir.” 

“How have I never heard this story?” Jeremiah asked, sitting closer to us. 

“I think there are a lot of things that have been kept from us.” 

“Like what?” Rebekah asked.

“Well, you, for one,” I smiled at her. “If I’d known there was another princess my age, I would have tried to be your friend sooner.”

She smiled back.

“The way Isaiah died,” I said, getting back to her question. “All my father has told me is that he died under suspicious circumstances.” 

“Like he was murdered?” Rebekah asked, eyes wide.

“That’s what suspicious means,” Jeremiah muttered.

Rebekah rolled her eyes, and I chuckled. 

“I think he was sick for a while, but I heard whisperings that he was poisoned. Viviana was basically banished from Billedonia after that, and I don’t think she was welcome in Luxaria either.” 

There was a sudden rustle in the woods between us and Elia.

 Jeremiah sprang to his feet, sword in hand. I quickly grabbed one of the knives out of my bag and handed it to Rebekah. I stood next to Jeremiah, my bow ready. My heart was pounding.

An elf warrior emerged from the woods and stepped into the clearing in front of us. I saw a flicker of recognition cross Jeremiah’s face, and he lowered his sword. She nodded at him, and smiled at me.

“Emmaleigh. You look just like your father.”

“How do you know my father? Or who I am?” I saw Jeremiah look at my bow and shake his head, but my heart was still pounding. Did he trust this elf? Should I?

“I am Alisiana, princess of Elia and head scout of the Guard.” She half-curtsied. “I knew your father many years ago. He was a great warrior. As was yours,” she glanced at Jeremiah. 

I knew she was talking about Mark, Jeremiah’s adoptive father. He’d served in the Great War alongside my father, and was one of my father’s closest friends when they were younger. He had become one of my father’s military advisors, and they had remained close until Mark died. 

I lowered my bow. 

Alisiana looked behind me, and saw Rebekah for the first time. She sucked in a quick breath. “At last, the prophecy will be fulfilled,” she whispered. “The princess who wasn’t.”

50. Rebekah

I could not get over how beautiful Alisiana was. I’d heard of the beauty of elves, but had never seen one in person before. She stood as tall as Liam, and had light blonde hair that reached almost to her knees. At the top of her head was a braided crown. Her eyes were the most vibrant chestnut I had seen. A smattering of freckles decorated her nose on her otherwise pale face. She wore knee high leather boots, and a dark green flowing coat that opened at the waist and tapered to the ground. The sleeves were fitted to the elbows and opened to her wrists. Underneath that was a light green dress that was fitted to her wrists, and grazed the top of her boots. Tied at the high collar of the dress was a brown cloak. A sword was tucked into the belt tied at her waist, and a quiver and bow were slung over her shoulder.

I was so caught up in admiring her, I didn’t realize all three of them were staring at me. 

“Did I miss something?” I asked quietly, setting down the knife Emmaleigh had given me. 

“You’re the princess,” Alisiana walked over to me and took my hands in hers. She smiled. “The princess that wasn’t.” I glanced at Emmaleigh and Liam, but they both looked as confused as I felt. 

I stared at Alisiana.

“You are the one we have been waiting for for over 300 years.” 

I kept staring.

“Come. We can talk about this later. The three of you are in danger.” She turned to go.

51. Emmaleigh

“What is she talking about?” I whispered to Jeremiah. Alisiana was fast, and it was almost a struggle to keep up with her. 

“I have no idea.” He looked behind us to make sure Rebekah was keeping up. I was impressed. Since leaving the palace, she’d become almost a different person. There was a strength and fierce determination that wasn’t evident when I first met her.

He paused, and let me walk in front of him. He began walking next to Rebekah, and they whispered quickly. I looked ahead, and Alisiana had stopped to allow us to catch up with her. 

“How did you know we were in danger?” I asked her. I realized it was a stupid quetsion as soon as I’d asked it. We were in the middle of the forest, and no one knew where we were. 

“The fairies,” she looked up. I glanced at her, and looked into the trees.

I’d been seeing what looked like twinkling stars in the trees, but hadn’t thought much of it. 

“They watch over everything that happens in the forest,” she continued. “They are some of my closest friends.”

Alisiana began walking again as Jeremiah and Rebekah caught up to us. She glanced at me. “I think you underestimate how dangerous this journey is.”

I caught Jeremiah’s eye, and he nodded as I resumed walking. “I think you’re right,” I responded. I really didn’t want to be out here anymore, and was wishing that my father was with me. 

“Where are we going from here?” Rebekah asked timidly. 

“Elia. The three of you will stay there for a few days until we locate my brother and your aunt, Emmaleigh.”

“Locate?” I choked, and almost tripped. “She’s not at her cabin?” I sputtered. Jeremiah and Rebekah each caught one of my arms and steadied me. Jeremiah rubbed the spot on his forehead where my bow struck him, and Rebekah tried to hide a laugh. 

“No,” Alisiana continued walking. “Taryn hasn’t seen her in a few days.” She shook her head. “We will talk more about this once we get to Elia. We need to get going.”

A sudden clap of thunder that made all of us jump emphasized her words. “Do any of you have rope?”

I took the coil from my bag and handed it to her. She took the end and handed the rest to me. I took a section in my hand, and handed it back to Rebekah. Rebekah wook a section, wound some around her hane and handed the rest back to Jeremiah. He tied the slack around his waist and nodded at us. I wound a section around my hand like Rebekah had, and we continued walking. 

*section break*

We stopped to take a break on the bank of Silver Spring, and it was breathtaking. I’d seen paintings of it, and read about it, but I’d never seen it in person. 

It was a raging river, and glowed silver in the growing moonlight. 

“I’d hardly call this a spring,” I said. 

Alisiana smiled. “When it was named, it was a small spring. It was all that they needed. 

Alisiana guided Rebekah and me to the room where we would be staying for the next few days. It was small, with a massive window on one wall, and two beds facing it. In one corner between the bed and window, sat a beautiful harp. I thought about past times playing while my father accompanied me on the guitar. 

I pulled myself out of my daze, as Alisiana walked out the door.

I stared after her, and Rebekah chuckled.

“What did I miss?” I asked, moderately embarrassed.

She shrugged, still laughing.

“It’s really not that funny,” I tried my hardest to be serious. I couldn’t be mad at her, no matter how hard I tried. 

“Bath and bed,” she managed, and finally composed herself. 

I followed her gaze, and looked through the door to a room that had a steaming tub and two linen gowns hanging on the wall. 

“Go ahead,” I gestured.

She shook her head. 

I tried another tactic. “You deserve to be pampered, after everything that you’ve been through.”

“You’re the queen.”

“Technically, no.”

“You’re the crown princess of one nation, and engaged to the king of another. You go first.”

I paused, trying to think of something to say.

“You’re not going to win this one,” Rebekah smirked at me. 

“Fine,” I smiled. 

I quickly bathed, and as I was finishing getting into the gown, a woman came to change the water. She had the dark skin and long braids of a Billedonian. She held herself with a confidence that showed that she had been in Elia for some time. 

“My name is Justina Snow,” she smiled and curtsied.  

“Thank you,” I said. “For letting us stay here.”

She nodded. “Your families have always done right by the elves. This may be a new chapter, where we all exist in peace again.”

She smiled at me and nodded, then went back to her task. 

I picked up a hair brush from the table by the door, and went back into the bedroom. Rebekah was gazing out the window, mesmerised by the view. 

“It’s your turn,” I said, brushing my hair.

“Oh!” she exclaimed, jumping and turning around to face me.

“Sorry,” I tried to hide a smile, “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“That was very fast,” she narrowed her eyes in mock suspicion.

“Go,” I said. “I can have a relaxing bath whenever I want to. You deserve to sit in the tub until the water is cold.”

“I’m starting to understand why he loves you so much,” she smiled, and headed into the bathroom.

I finished brushing my hair, opting to leave it down and loose instead of braiding it. I sat down at the harp and studied it. It was beautiful, and the woodwork was very intricate. Leaves and ivy wound around the entire body. 

I started playing, and I was transported to another place. Sitting with my father, playing. Jonathan reading in the corner by the fire, and my mother holding Peter on her lap. 

The song ended and I rested my arms, opening my eyes. I saw Rebekah standing in the doorway, watching me. 

“I didn’t know you played,” she said quietly, walking toward me and sitting on the smaller of the two beds. “Maybe sometime, we could...I mean, I…”

“What do you play?” I asked her. 

She stared at me for a second. “Flute,” she responded. 

“I would love to play together,” I smiled. I sat on the bed next to her, bringing the brush from the table next to the harp.

Rebekah tried to take it from my hand, but I pulled it out of her reach. “I told you, you’re being pampered tonight,” I grinned. She opened her mouth to protest, and I said, “You’re not going to win this one.”

“You don’t have to,” she whispered.

“I want to.” 

She nodded and turned so I could reach the back of her head. Her blonde hair was longer than I’d expected, falling halfway down her back. 

I began brushing it, and she burst out, “How did you not know?”

She immediately clapped her hand over her mouth. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered.

“Rebekah,” I said. I looked at her in the mirror until her reflection met my eye. “I don’t want you to be afraid to talk with me, or ask me questions. I want you to be my friend.”

She opened her mouth, about to speak. “You don’t get to argue that. I’ve already made up my mind. Now, what did you mean, how did I not know? About Jeremiah?”

“Yes,” she said. 

I resumed brushing her hair, and began parting it to make four braids. 

“I have never seen a picture of anyone in the Clarionite royal family.”

“So, how did you know that Queen Lily was on that piece of embroidery?” she asked quickly, trying to ask her question before she lost her nerve.

I smiled, beginning the first braid above her left ear. “My parents spoke of Lily and Theodore frequently when I was young. My mother always said that Lily’s eyes were as vibrantly blue as mine are green, and that her hair was the color of a raven’s feathers. I couldn’t think of who else it would have been.”

I paused, waiting for her to ask another question. 

“What about,” she paused to think. “What about all of the summers that he was gone? Obviously he was in Clarion, but you didn’t find it odd that he left every summer?”

“He said he was spending time with his father’s family,” I shrugged, beginning on the second braid. 

She rolled her eyes. “Of course he told you that.”

“It wasn’t so bad when Jonathan was alive. After he died though, the summers were very lonely.”

“He must have meant a lot to you, for you to miss him so much,” Rebekah responded softly. She met my eyes in the mirror. “I’m sorry.”

I forced a smile. “It’s been almost three years, but it’s still hard.”

We sat in silence for a while. I finished the second braid and was almost done with the third when a thought suddenly struck me.

“I should have figured it out.”

“Figured what out?”

“About Jeremiah. We spent the night in the cabin that my grandfather built. The only way to open or close the door is for a royal to touch the crown in the center. I was explaining that to him, and he asked if it could be someone from any royal family.”

“And you brushed it off,” she tried, looking at me in the mirror to gauge my reaction. 

I sighed. “I brushed it off.”

“And then he kissed you?” she framed it as a question, but I could tell that she already knew.

“How did you know that?” I finished the fourth braid, and placed the brush back into her hand. She set the brush on the table and shifted to face me. “I’m a servant. I’m good at sneaking around and hiding. And,” she slightly blushed, “I like to find things out.”

“Well, then, I want you on my side.”

She laughed. 

“He kissed me. I panicked. I slapped him.”

Her mouth dropped open. 

“Not my finest moment,” I rolled my eyes, and she laughed. 

A knock on the door made both of us jump. 

Justina poked her head in the door and smiled at both of us. “Bedtime, ladies.”

I walked to my bed and got in. Justina closed the drapes covering the window, and blew out the candle on the table. “Sweet dreams,” she said, and closed the door behind her.

There was no way I was falling asleep. My mind was racing. Where is Viviana, and why has nobody seen her? Why didn’t I tell my father where we were going? Did Jeremiah tell him? Does he know anything? I pulled the blanket tighter around me. This room was chilly, but I was happy to be sleeping inside. What about Aurelia? Oh, I’m sure this has been hardest on her. I didn’t tell her any of this.  

“Emma,” I heard Rebekah’s small voice. “Can I…”

“Bring your blanket,” I answered. 

I moved next to the wall, and felt her climb in next to me. 

“I don’t think I want to be a duchess,” she whispered, after she made herself comfortable. “I don’t think that life is for me.” 

“Well, what would you rather do?” I asked. She was silent. “I’ve been thinking about this quite a bit.”

“Yes?”

“I have an idea for what you can do for me, but it involves a lot.”

“What is it?

“I want you to be my lady-in-waiting.”

“Don’t you already have one?”

Aurelia’s face appeared in my mind. She was as dark as Rebekah was pale, and as bold as Rebekah was quiet. They would make an interesting pair. 

“I do. I’ve been wanting, needing really, another lady for some time. But there would be another facet to your position.”

“What would that be?”

“My Clarionite advisor.”

“I hardly think I qualify for that,” she quickly responded. 

“I disagree,” I replied gently. “You’ve lived in Clarion your entire life. You seamlessly helped me get ready and appear like a Clarionite lady, as uncomfortable as I was. In addition, and I can’t stress this enough, I need someone I trust unconditionally in my corner.” I paused a beat and added, “You’re perfect. But, it is still up to you.”

“You’re serious?” she asked.

“Rebekah, I would never joke about something like this. My best friend adores you, and you have saved my life twice. No one would be more qualified for this than you.”

She thought for a moment. “I’ll do it, but I have one request.”

“What is that?”

“I don’t ever want to have to face my mother again.”

A big ask, but I was willing to do everything that I could. 

“I will do everything in my power.” 

She rested her head on my shoulder. 

“I have always thought of Liam as a brother,” she said softly. “I only ever imagined that I would get a sister too.”

I smiled. “Good night, Rebekah,”

“Good night, my queen,” she replied sleepily.

The room was cold when I woke up the next morning. Rebekah had pulled the drapes back from the window just enough for her to look through. She was curled up on the window bench with a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. She turned, saw that I was awake, and closed the drapes.

“That must be a Lancaster thing,” I muttered. “How did you know I was awake?” I asked in a normal voice. 

“I’m a Lancaster,” she grinned and shrugged.

I patted the bed beside me, sitting up. “Let me take your hair out.”

She touched one of the braids with her left hand. “We’re not leaving it like this?”

“No, it will look much better once the braids are out.”

She sat, and I carefully undid each braid, fluffing the waves as I went. 

Justina entered the room after gently knocking. She immediately went into the bathroom, and brought out a small glass jar. The cream inside was a pale yellow. She placed it into my hand. “It will help with the frizz,” she gestured to Rebekah’s hair. “Just a small amount. The humidity here is horrible.” 

I took the jar out of her hand, and began putting the cream in Rebekah’s hair, being careful not to break apart the waves. 

Justina drew back the drapes on the far right side of the window, and revealed not a window, but a large closet. “I’ll be waiting for you outside,” she smiled and walked out the door.

The closet was filled with dresses in many different colors and levels of fancy. Rebekah reached for a simple black one, but I brushed her hand away.  “No.”

She stared at me, a curious defiance in her eyes. I succeeded, mostly, in hiding a smile. I gently pulled a blue gown streaked in gold from the rack and held it out to her. There was a gold butterfly embroidered near the bottom of the skirt. 

She hesitated, pulling her hand away.

“Bekah,” I said. She smiled at the nickname. “Today is about you. The elves downstairs have been waiting for you for a long time. You are here to stand out, not to blend in.” 

She stayed where she was.

“This is important,” I continued. “This might be the most important thing you ever do.”

She took a deep breath and took the gown from my hand. There were tears in her eyes.

“What’s wrong?”

She smiled at me. “No one has ever used that word about me before.”

“Which word?”

“Important.”

I felt tears spring to my eyes, too, and squeezed her hand through the dress. “I hope you know how important you are to Jeremiah. And to me.”

“You’re never going to call him Liam, are you?”

“Probably not.”

She smiled again. “Turn around so I can change.”

I was happy to oblige, looking through the beautiful gowns. 

“I’m picking yours out,” Rebekah said, amid the ruffling of fabric. 

I sighed, in mock ____. “It had better not be ugly, then.”

“Will you please help me with the back?” she asked, standing next to me. 

I quickly helped with the back of the dress.

“Here,” she grabbed a very bright pink, very gaudy gown from the closet and held it out to me. I inhaled sharply. This was probably the ugliest dress I had ever seen. I tentatively reached for it, and Rebekah started laughing. She put it back on the rack, and withdrew a simple gown in dusty rose. I took it from her, and she immediately looked almost ashamed. 

“Don’t,” I said. “Today is about you, remember? You look like a princess.” Before she had the chance to speak, I went into the bathroom to change. In one of the drawers, I found a simple hair clip, the beads in the shape of a blue butterfly. I found another clip with pearls, and used it to hold the hair back from my face. Justina had commented on the humidity, but instead of my hair being frizzy, it was enhancing the slight wave my hair held. 

I saw Rebekah admiring herself in the full length mirror on the inside of the wardrobe door. I stayed in the doorway and just watched her for a few seconds. She caught my eye, immediately turned around, and blushed furiously. 

“Don’t ever be ashamed of liking the way you look,” I said. I walked the few steps to her, and used the clip to pull the hair back from one side of her face. She looked nervous, but her eyes were sparkling. “Are you ready?” I asked her.

“I don’t,” she stopped. “Yes.” 

At the door, I waited for her. “After you, milady.”

She took a deep breath, and stepped into the hallway where Justina was waiting.

52. Next scene - Rebekah

Justina guides us to a small room off of the large banquet hall. She seats us at a small table in the back corner next to two windows. I sit, staring out the window at the waterfalls. The scene is mesmerising.

Emmaleigh and I begin talking about the wonders of Elia, when she looks to the doorway and her face lights up. She stands as Liam begins quickly making his way toward us. He takes her face in his hands, and kisses her. It lasts long enough that I feel the need to look away and give them privacy.

“How did you sleep?” he asks us, sitting down across from us. “I like this,” he spins a lock of my hair around his finger. “Her idea, right?” he nods toward Emmaleigh. 

I nod. “I slept pretty well,” I answer quietly. I still feel like I’m interrupting their moment. 

“Me too,” Emmaleigh agrees. “I haven’t slept that well in quite a while.”

“Not me,” Liam adds. “I got so used to being next to you, I hardly slept.”

Emmaleigh flushes slightly, smiles and looks down at her hands in her lap. The love that these two share is palpable, and I only hope that I can find a fraction of that love in my lifetime. 

“You look like a princess,” Liam says to me. 

I certainly don’t feel like one, so I say nothing. 

“Good work,” he continues, addressing Emmaleigh. 

She shakes her head and looks at me. “You need to have more confidence in yourself,” she squeezes my hand. I try to smile, but it is obviously not convincing. “We will be both,” she glances at Jeremiah and he nods at me “be with you and help you.”

“You’re a Lancaster, Bex. You’re strong.”

I know that they’re right, but I still can’t make myself believe it. I force a smile that obviously neither one of them believes. 

Before any of us can say anything else, Justina brings a large bowl of fruit and three small bowls. She sets the larger bowl on the table, and hands us each a bowl after she’s filled it. 

“Briefing will be very soon. Guard Willow will be by to escort you.” She quickly curtsied and left. 

“Guard Willow?” I whisper. My hands are getting sweaty, and my heart is starting to beat faster. I’m not ready for this. I don’t think I’ll ever be ready for this.

“Alisiana,” Liam says. “The elves don’t really have last names, but they are given names that describe them. Willow,” he repeats. “Quiet strength.”

I look at Emmaleigh, who hasn’t touched her fruit, and looks about as nervous as I feel. 

She glances at Liam, who squeezes her hand across the table. 

“This can only go well,” he says. “It has to.”

53. Emmaleigh

The meeting room had chairs arranged in a circle surrounding an elevated podium. Alisiana stood at the podium addressing other members of the guard, dressed similarly. Rebekah was nearly trembling as Justina led the three of us to the seats in the front row.

“I think I’m going to be sick,” she whispered to me as we sat. 

“Put your head between your knees,” Jeremiah answered, looking around and sitting on the opposite side of her. “No one is really here yet.” 

“Take deep breaths,” I answered at the same time. 

Putting her head in her hands and between her knees, she took a few shuddering breaths. Jeremiah met my gaze as I rubbed her back. The confidence that he normally held in his eyes was gone. 

Alisiana called everyone to attention as Rebekah sat straight in her seat. She was still pale, but her eyes were bright. She might be afraid, but she was proving to be the bravest girl I had ever met. She set her jaw, and stared right at Alisiana, ready for whatever was going to come. The only ones who noticed her leg bouncing were the two of us.

Jeremiah laid his arm along the back of Rebekah’s chair, then reached to squeeze my shoulder. “This can only go well,” he whispered, repeating his words from earlier.

I only hoped it was true. I forced a small smile that I didn’t feel. 

“It has to,” Rebekah finished.

The crowd immediately began whispering and shuffling as an elf made her way to the podium. She was dressed all in white, and wore a small crown.

“That’s Amara,” Jeremiah whispered, leaning into Rebekah.

“The queen?” I asked. I really needed to brush up on my elven knowledge. “She looks so young.”

He chuckled quietly, despite all of the tension in the room. “Em, she’s over 600 years old.”

“Is everyone here?” she asked Alisiana, after taking her place at the podium.

“How can we understand her?” Rebekah whispered, amazed.

“The hair clips,” Jeremiah answered.

We both stared at him.

“I spent summers here, remember? I have a pretty solid grasp of the language.”

“Thank you all for attending on such short notice,” Amara began. “Dark Lord Akadias, as he prefers to be called now, is on the move again.” Tears shone in her eyes, as well as Alisiana’s. “I regret to report that our brother,” she glanced at Alisiana, “formerly known as Amanis, will not stand down. We ask that you join with us once more, so we can finally put a stop to the Black Coats once and for all, and begin to reunite the elves and humans of Andarea.”

She stopped to allow her words to sink in.

“We currently have the king of Clarion, crown princess of Luxaria, and the princess my mother predicted would help reunite these nations, in our presence today.”

Alisiana gestured for the three of us to join her next to the podium. Jeremiah and I were introduced, but everyone’s attention was on Rebekah. She looked over to me, wide-eyed.

“I told you this day was about you,” I smiled at her, gently nudging her with my shoulder. 

“Rebekah, the foreseen one, the princess who wasn’t,” Amara held her hand out to Rebekah, and hesitantly, Rebekah took it and joined her on the podium. “We don’t expect you to revive Andarea on your own,” she spoke to Rebekah, but addressed the entire room, “but we ask for your help. Your untapped abilities have unlimited potential.”

Jeremiah took my hand. I looked at him, and his face showed with pride. “This is her moment,” I said, standing closer to him.

“She’s so much stronger than she realizes,” he agreed.

Rebekah nodded, and the entire assembly stood, with some claps and cheers. Most of the elves present looked ready to fight. 

Alisiana held up two fingers. “We leave in two days. Use them wisely.”

Everyone filed out quickly. Rebekah joined us, looking nervous, but energized. 

“Are you ready for this?” Jeremiah asked her.

“I think so,” she replied. She looked to Alisiana who came to stand next to her.

“Come with me,” Alisiana smiled. “You will be training with me today. And you two will be with Tallindur. He will be along shortly. Do you remember how to ride a dragonfly?” She looked to Jeremiah. 

“A dragonfly?” I asked him. “You can’t be serious.”

“Just like riding a horse,” he grinned.

“I find that very hard to believe,” I muttered.

“No time like the present to find out,” a male voice behind me made me jump. Tallindur, I assumed.

We turned to face him, and he bowed slightly. “Majesties.”

Alisiana nodded to him. “We will reconvene this afternoon. She,” she gestured to me, “is a skilled archer.”

“Jonathan’s sister, I would hope so,” he replied somberly. “The best human archer I have ever met.”

“He taught me everything I know,” I whispered. It was odd to hear Jonathan’s name spoken so freely. No one at home had talked of him since he died. I just hoped that I could honor him in front of this entire army.

After stopping in my room to change into a long-sleeved tunic, pants, and my riding boots, I met Jeremiah and Tallindur in the room where we had breakfast. 

“Are you nervous?” Jeremiah asked me, nudging my shoulder with his.

I nodded. My heart was pounding, and my palms were beginning to get sweaty. I quickly wiped them on my pants and followed Tallindur out of the room. 

The dragonflies were bigger than any horse I had ever seen. Some hovered above the waterfalls, but most of them 

54. Emmaleigh 

We chased Akadias to the edge of a cliff. The wind whipped his hair and cloak around him. I was out of breath, and hair kept flying in my eyes and sticking to my face.

Jeremiah charged at him with his sword, but Akadias drew his bow and launched an arrow directly into Jeremiah’s right shoulder before he reached him. Jeremiah screamed, dropped his sword, and fell to the ground. I immediately ran over to him. His shoulder was covered in blood and dirt, and purple poison started to seep out. “Don’t get shot with one of his arrows, _______’s words came back to me. “It may be the last thing you ever do.”

“Take it out,” Jeremiah begged. A single tear rolled down his cheek. “Please.”

“Jer, I can’t,” I whispered, trying not to cry. “You’ll bleed to death.”

“Baby,” he choked. 

“It doesn’t have to be this way, Princess,” Akadias sneered at me. He waved his hand and my green necklace warmed and tingled. It was almost too hot, but I didn’t react. “You know, you were always the one that I wanted. Viviana was just...a distraction.” 

“I think I’m a little too young for you.”

He laughed. “Sweetheart, everyone is too young for me. Perks of being over 600 years old.”

My hand tightened on my bow as I stood in front of Jeremiah. 

Akadias snorted. “Typical human. Foolishly loyal.” His eyes hardened. “You had your chance, little girl.” 

He reached for his bow, but I sent an arrow flying before he could grab it. It lodged in his chest, and he stumbled back, making sure to send an arrow into my left thigh before he hit the ground. My leg was hot where the arrow was, and I could feel the heat spreading. Jeremiah was unconscious. I hit my knees, and my head started to pound and grow heavy.

I managed to pull another arrow out of my quiver and aim it directly at Akadias, who was now lying on the ground. “That was for my brother,” I choked. “And this is for my king.” I let the arrow fly. 

It hit its mark. I could no longer keep my eyes open, and eased myself onto the ground. We needed help. There was only one person I could think to call.

“Alisiana!”

END OF PART/BOOK 1

Revelation scene not in the story

The dancing had been going on for almost an hour when King Liam arrived. He was promptly escorted to the balcony overlooking the ocean to wait for the princess.

“Emma,” King Richard called her over to him. “King Liam is here,” he gestured to the balcony door.

Emma’s face fell. “Father, you know I don’t want to do this.”

He brushed the hair from her face and raised her chin to look into her eyes. “Do you trust me?” he asked her.

“Of course I do. I just don’t really think this is a good idea.”

“It is, trust me.” He kissed her on the forehead. “It will work out for the best.”

She nodded, took a step back and curtsied. She slowly began walking toward the door, trying to keep the tears in her eyes from falling. A thousand thoughts filled her head. I really don’t want to meet him, let alone marry him. I can’t believe my parents have an arranged marriage for me! She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. I need to make the best of this though. If not for myself, then I’m going to do it for my father and my people.

She approached the door to the outside balcony, and whispered, “Let Nathaniel go.”

She gently closed the door, and closed it behind her. Her heart was pounding and her palms were sweaty, but she held her head high and went outside. 

Alternative beginning

Viviana stared at her reflection in the full-length mirror that hung in her cramped chambers. “The day is dawning,” she whispered to herself as the corners of her mouth curled into a crooked smile. The sun had already begun to chase the shadows from her room as it filled her open window. The light set her red hair ablaze in her reflection and her icy blue eyes seemed to be the only thing containing the radiance. Slowly, Viviana picked a crown made from the sticks from the forest below and placed it on her head. “The day is dawning,” she repeated, “let it begin.”

Alternative ending - probably won’t use, but I like the emotion in it

My dearest Jeremiah,

Tomorrow I marry Prince Liam of Clarion. I can’t help but wish it was you. You would have made such a good king, and my father said I could have married you if you had survived.

Your mom works in the palace now, helping mostly in the kitchen. Katherine is married, and is going to have a baby soon. Her husband is one of the horse trainers for the army, but I don’t know him too well. Elisabeth helps the tailor, and she has come up with some of the best designs I have ever seen. We don’t see too much of Rachel. She’s been quieter ever since she died, and she stays in her room almost all of the time. I think she blames me for your death, even though she denies it. Alisiana drops by every once in a while, but I know she feels uncomfortable being away from the forest for too long.

I still have issues coping with your death. You were my best friend, and I loved you more than anyone. I know tomorrow should be a happy day for me, but I feel a twinge of sadness and sorrow knowing that it won’t be you. I miss you dearly. I look with fondness on the adventure we had, and I desperately wish we could embark on it again. 

Always yours,

Emmaleigh

Forest geography

The forest surrounded the lake around the central part of the island, but if you didn’t know where to cross the lake, you could die wandering in the forest. It was at least a two day journey through the forest, and once you entered, there was no turning back.