After then ball life started to change, I moved back into the palace alone while Darius remained at sea, we both needed that kind of space. I started socializing and going to social gatherings. Greeting common folks and other things to gain positive public perception because the last thing that they remember of me was my father banishing me, so I have to prove that I am redeemed. 

I was also doing all that I was training hard along side Darius at swords play so that I would be ready when the time comes to fight my half brother. It was surprising because I was more or less brushing up on my skills. My hands had automatically remembered what a sword was and I trusted my instincts. I visited my mom in her prison and promised her that the first thing that I would do when crowned was grant her freedom , she had still been acting quit weird but I brushed it off as some sort of of behavioral trauma caused while being in prison  

Right now I was having an evening meal, the moon has set to start the day.  I was eating along side my step mother the queen and my half brother. The meal was as dull as it could get, we weren't one big happy family and I failed to understand why the queen insisted on having meals together.

"Three more moons and I will no longer be queen...hmm it's quit poetic don't you think?"

"how?" my half brother questioned

"because its either I lose a step child or lose my blood son" The queen stabbed a cutlery into her meat as she spoke. Her words only worsened the atmosphere 

"May the best man...or woman win" she then proceeded to make a toast. We raised our glasses and clicked them before drinking them. But as I was about to drink mine my taster tapped my shoulder and whispered "Don't drink it, the prince has spiked it. I am off to go die now" and then he coughed and disappeared into the shadows. 

I stared at my drink and then at my half brother. Trying to get the throne earlier how predictable that I wasn't even amused. 

"are you not going to drink your wine dear sister?" he said with a smirk at the end

"Yes child, why aren't you drinking your wine?" I wasn't sure if the queen was in on it or unaware that she was insisting that I drink a spiked drink. I smiled politely and reached my drink, I pretended to clumsily drop the wine on my dress. I quickly apologized to the queen and  excused myself from the table and ran straight to my room with my personal servants trailing after me. 

They quickly got my clothes off me and bathed me thoroughly. They then changed me into a white spaghetti strapped high-low dress, they as redecorated my hair with gold. 

I excused them as I wanted some private time. I need time for myself to review everything, I was lucky that my taster sacrificed himself to save me, but what if next time I am not so lucky. The prince is doing everything he can to kill me and I should not let him succussed. 

My trail of thoughts were interrupted when a stranger was knocking on my window. I pulled out a knife strapped to my thigh and pointed it directly at the stranger. The red haired stranger just looked at me and mouthed "open the window" 

His confidence was nerving but I had to give it to him, he managed to pass security and climb all the way up here. He appeared to be wearing rags so a commoner, he didn't have more the two eyes or less, nor did he have horns or fur, a mortal. Mortals are harmless especially when then are on their own and unarmed. I weighed my options and decided to take the risk and open the window but I didn't drop the knife though. 

"are you Sammy?"  I breathed a sharp breath. I hadn't heard that name in a good long while that it felt surreal. 

"Whose asking?" 

"You may not know who I am but I am a companion of your little sister Lily and we came together to find you" I immediately dropped the knife and carried the stranger with both hands and demanded to know where was my sister. What was she thinking? and how did she know where was I ? was mom with her ?

So many questions were going through my head , I started getting teary. MY sister, oh how long has been since I had seen her lovely face and to hear that she was hear in this unsafe world that I live in, I was nearly killed a minute ago so I can't even begin to image the trauma that she had faced in this unkind world. 

"where is she?" 

"will you help me get her back?" he asked with a serious tone. I was insulted by the question and even more by who was asking it. Who did he think he was to ask me such but his eyes of courage and determine scowl prevented me from slapping him

"yes I would do anything"

"Then come with me, she has left to go the winter court to meet her father the ruler of the ice court"

"what! what do you mean her father?"

"I will explain that when we have time but right now she could be in grave danger, she alone and your mother had sent a monster to find her and bring her back"

"mom sent a what! no what is going on?! I panicked 

"It will only make sense in due time but please I beg of you please help me save Lily!" he was breathing heavily and was visibly shaken. This stranger seemed to care for Lily and I wanted to know who was he to her but according him there was no time for questions so I grabbed a near by guard and commanded him to fly a Pegasus for him to Darius. I would obvious need his help as he would know more about the winter court than me so he would act as a navigator and guide

I literally barged into his home and yelled out his name. He came out rushing ,curious to find the cause of commotion in his home 

"Darius I need you" were all I could say