Valda was trying not to hyperventilate as Dusk dragged her along to the stables. The horses had already been seen to that morning, so it was empty except for its curious animals. They raised their heads, neighing as Valda and Dusk entered.

Once inside, Dusk closed the door behind them before plopping herself down on a hay bale. Her violet eyes watched Valda with an unreadable expression.

Not being able to sit still, Valda went over to a horse and patted its neck.

"So is there anything you need Dusk?" She broke the quietness, cringing at how breathy her voice sounded.

Dusk's relaxed posture morphed in front of Valda's eyes. She sat forward, pulling the dagger from her belt and resting her elbows on her knees. Her eyes focused on her hands as if she no longer wanted to look at Valda.

She sighed, twirling the dagger in her hands. "I've had word from my brother and it isn't good."

Valda's hands froze on the horse's mane. Dusk's brother was the Fairy king. He'd been one of the more reluctant participants in helping them with Lorcan. It had taken most of the two weeks for him to send Dusk and her soldiers to help. And even then, Valda knew he wasn't happy to help the Fae.

"He's told you to return home?" Valda guessed.

Dusk's mouth curved at the corners. "No, I wish it had been that easy. I would have just defied his wishes."

Valda wanted to ask why she would do that for the Fae, but kept her mouth clamped shut. It was clear that Dusk had more she wanted to stay and Valda was not going to interrupt that.

Dusk lifted her head, fixing Valda with a steady look. "My brother said some of the other fairy kingdoms have joined Lorcan. As we speak they are preparing magical barricades around the Fae kingdom. Even if we leave tomorrow, my brother estimates it could take till the autumn equinox to reach the castle."

Valda leaned against the horse stall, all the breath knocked out of her. They were hoping to get to Lania with a few days to spare, but it appeared those hopes were being ripped to shred. Somehow Lorcan always seemed to be three steps ahead of them.

"You're sure?"

Dusk nodded her head. "My second in command brought my brother's letter straight to me after the meeting. I knew that you'd have to be the first to know."

Goosebumps formed on Valda's arm and her heartbeat sounded in her ears. "There is nothing else we can do. We will have to march tomorrow and hope we arrive in time. Either way, we have to stop Lorcan before he destroys everything."

She tried not to think about what her Mom would go through if they didn't make it in time. The thought only turned her stomach.

Mauve had already explained what the process would do. Queen Orlaigh would be nothing more than an empty shell, everything that made her who she was would be gone.

"I'm sorry I don't have better news Valda." Dusk grimaced, raising her dagger and impaling it in the hay next to her.

Her brother's news was bad, but she knew it was a hundred times worse for Valda and the other Fae. They had already seen their Queen and homes overrun. The last thing they needed was for Lorcan to grow stronger. He needed to be stopped in the Fae Kingdom before he set his eyes on the other inhabitants of Lania.

She looked at Valda, noticing her desperately trying to appear brave. It was almost heartbreaking.

If someone had told Dusk two weeks ago that she would have been feeling sorry for a Fae, or at least a half Fae, she would have laughed in their face. And yet, looking at Valda, she felt more than just sorry for the girl. She felt the need to protect her.

Taking a leaf out of Arlie's book, she bounced to her feet and pulled Valda into a hug. Fairies were big on physical contact, being able to read each other's emotions made it a necessity. Still, she knew there was another reason why she wanted to hug Valda. An errant thought she tried to ignore.

A Fairy and Fae would never work, she quickly dismissed, ignoring the quick beat of her traitorous heart as it refused to listen to her.

Valda froze in Dusk's arms, feeling the fairy's wings brush against her cheek. She awkwardly patted her shoulder and Dusk laughed.

She pulled back and looked at Valda's chagrined face with a smirk. "You're cute when you're flustered." Only laughing harder when Valda blustered in front of her.

She stepped away, retrieving her dagger from the hay. "We can do this, Valda. I have faith in you." And it was the truth.

Valda was different. The things she said and did always left Dusk stunned. She cut through decades of hurt and impasses to get at what they needed. She knew she wasn't the only non Fae who had great hopes for the Queen Valda would become.

Though her brother had been unhappy with coming, it had intrigued Dusk. Something like this had never been done, not since the days of the great Healers. If it was happening, she wanted to be a part of it. And after speaking with Valda, she knew it had been the right decision. A new part of Adiocion's history was being written, and it was something she couldn't have missed.

"We'd better inform the others about your brother's news." Valda's eyes flickered to Dusk and away, the memory of their hug still weighing on her mind.

Dusk nodded. "I'll round up the lovers. I leave the rest of the war council to you."

Valda groaned, knowing how difficult it would be to tear Gamjee away from lunch. Dusk smirked, as if knowing her thoughts, and the sight made butterflies curl in Valda's stomach. Dusk's smile only widened and Valda was quick to look away, wondering if the Fairy was aware of her thoughts. Shaking the embarrassing feeling away, she marched away, leaving Dusk to trail after her.

The war council bore the news in stony silence, each face a mask of indifference, but Valda could sense their tension. It was the same tension that was thrumming through her own body.

"Then it is final. We must move tomorrow." Nandrin spoke with a finality that settled over the group like a spell.

"I agree, great dragon. This news changes nothing. My clan and I stand with Princess Valda." Kadtius boomed, the other giant clan leaders echoing his words.

"Well said. The trolls too stand with you, Princess. And we look forward to tearing Lorcan's forces apart." Gamjee's eyes twinkled with wicked delight as he gnawed on a chicken leg he'd hidden in his clothes before the meeting.

Dusk stood too, her skin glittering in the last light of the day. "The Fairy kingdom, Edephate, lends itself to the future Queen of Lania, in the hopes of a better future."

The other creatures nodded their heads. It was the reason they were all willing to help; Valda had given them a reason to stand together. She had promised change, and they had faith in her. She had won them all over by simply being her.

Carrick stood, Mauve by his side and Tevin next to her. "The kingdom of Lania stands by its Princess." They said in union.

Tevin placed a hesitant hand on Mauve's making her smile widen and his eyes twinkled back at her. He looked at Valda with absolute hope.

Arlie stepped up towards the table, material still covering her face but her eyes soft as she looked at Carrick. He held his hand to her, and she lifted her hand to place it in his before looking at Valda.

"The people of Lania will fight in your name, Princess. They will follow you as I will." Arlie inclined her head.

Valda took a few moments to clear the lump in her throat. The sight of so many faces, so different, and yet united, stole her breath.

Swallowing loudly, Valda stood. "With you all by my side, I know we can do this. Lorcan will be stopped and Lania freed. And when it is over its people will have everyone of you to thank. Fae, Dragon, Fary, Giant, Troll, it won't matter. Tomorrow we stand together as one."

Tears slipped down her cheeks as shouts rang out and weapons clanged on the table. The fear was still there, the unknown of what they were facing, but for now it was hope that was winning the internal battle.

The next morning dawned bright and early.

Mauve and Valda dressed in silence before joining the boys outside. Rows and rows of recruits and soldiers stood in queues as Kelli and her helpers spooned their breakfast into bowls.

Tevin bravely took Mauve's hand as they took their bowls and joined the main table. Their relationship still new and undefined, but neither wanting to waste the last of their time together.

Arlie passed, inclining her head in their direction, her and Carrick's fingers just grazing each other in passing.

Valda was happy to see her friends enjoying their moments of happiness, before they had to become serious.

Dusk pulled herself into the seat next to Valda, her bowl skidding across the table, not hiding her discontent at what was on offer.

The mood was subdued and breakfast was very much a quiet affair. It wasn't long before Mauve and Valda were heading back to their room to get ready.

"I'm just stepping out for a few minutes." Mauve called out, already dressed. Thick chain mail stretched down her arms and legs and light but strong metal plating covered the rest of her body.

The forges had been working around the cloak, helped by the giants and trolls who were masters working with natural metals, in order to outfit everyone with as much protection as they could. The armour was light and yet incredibly durable.

Valda nodded her head, knowing that Mauve was probably sneaking out to find Tevin.

She continued clicking pieces of the armour into place.

The door opened behind her as she clicked her wrist plate into place. "Hey Mauve, can you click the back piece in for me?" She'd already helped Mauve and knew the piece was impossible to put on or remove without help.

She felt the metal rest against her back before it clicked into place. Turning to thank Mauve, the words died in Valda's throat as she was met with a pair of grey eyes.

"Let me help you there." Dusk maneuvered the shoulder plates to a more comfortable position before stepping back and admiring her work. "I think you're ready to go, Princess."

Valda nodded, turning to tuck her Mom's letter into the space between her shoulder and the plate. It would stay close to her, but safe. A reminder of the people she was fighting for. A dream of being reunited with her parents.

"Is there something you need?" Valda hoped Dusk didn't hear the nervousness behind her words.

Dusk shrugged, before sitting on the edge of Valda's bed. "I just came to check how you are?"

Valda grimaced. "Just wonderful." She expected Dusk to laugh at her, but the girl was silent.

"Valda, I know what everyone expects of you, but you're not doing this alone. I just wanted you to know that." Dusk got to her feet quickly and left before Valda could say anything.

Valda felt lightened by Dusk's word. Somehow, knowing the Fairy would be next to her made her feel better.

Before long they were all gathered at the doors of the stronghold. Every horse was saddled and there were tearful goodbye being said all around her.

Despite all of their preparations, their meager army looked diminished.

A rumbling shook the ground, making everyone come to attention. Fighters gathered together, drawing their weapons.

For a terrifying moment, Valda wondered whether Lorcan's forces had found them.

Excited shouts from on top of the stronghold walls had everyone rushing out. Valda got carried along with the crowd, Dusk by her side.

Both of their mouths dropped open at the sight that greeted them.

Horses flew through the sky, seeming to appear out of the very air. Some had glorious wings the colour of the sun, whilst others galloped with just the air to keep them suspended. The ground split apart and more horses poured out of the ground, their manes made of vines and their coats caked in dirt.

A great white horse walked forward, its regal head held high as its jet black eyes searched the crowd. As it stepped forward, the crowd parted around it.

Without noticing herself moving, Valda walked forward and hand her held up to stroke its muzzle. Relishing the feel of its smooth coat beneath her fingertips.

As she looked behind the grand mare, she could see a green-haired girl walking between the horses. The spirit of Adiocion waved at Valda before the horses obscured her from view.

"This is impossible," Dusk whispered, her eyes as big as dinner plates.

"No, it is very much possible." Nandrin stepped forward, bowing at Valda. "She is blessed by the spirit of Adiocion herself."

The eerie silence that had started at the horses' arrivals disappeared as hopeful cries rang out. With the spirit of Adiocion on their side, there could be nothing stopping them.