The first thing Valda woke to was the sound of distant arguing. The voices muffled, but just loud enough that she could still hear every other word.

"Out... way. The girl...explain."

"If you think... get by... protectors."

Valda was almost sure that the second voice was Arlie's but the other voice was a mystery. As to their disagreement, Valda was sure she was the cause, but there were too many confusing words for her to make sense of what they meant. What were protectors?

The voices continued to argue, but Valda lost interest. Her sole focus was getting her eyelids to open and to find out where she was.

The last thing she remembered was healing Niamh, and then her memory drew a blank. The space in between was making her edgy, and she pushed herself up.

Her eyes fluttered open, and her arms shook where they tried to support her. A weight across her legs kept the lower part of her body from moving.

Looking down, three little dragon heads rose to look at her. Pandath was the first to move and crawled into her lap.

"Are you feeling better, Valda?" His mind spoke into hers.

Pommyt and the other dragon, that Valda didn't know, moved so she could rest her back against the wall.

After even that slight movement, her face was flushed, and her breathing laboured. "Exhausted."

Pandath bobbed his dragon head. "You were really cold. We had to stay with you and keep you warm." He pressed against her as he spoke.

The unknown dragon gave a snort. "And to stop the other Fae from bothering you."

All three dragons growled faintly, showing off their sharp teeth. Suddenly the word protectors made sense to Valda. She shook her head, wondering how much trouble her three little guardians had gotten into.

The door crashed open before Valda could ask anything, and the growls that greeted the newcomer were nothing short of terrifying.

Pandath and his companions tracked the man as he stepped back away from them, but perhaps encouraged by their lack of immediate attack, he steeled himself and bustled into the room.

Valda wrapped her arms around Pandath before he could launch into an attack.

"Lord Eljin, what are you doing?" Arlie's voice called out angrily before she stomped into the room, taking in Valda's awake state and the upset dragons surrounding her bed.

She rushed forward, her eyes roaming over Valda. "You're awake? Mauve thought it would be another day before you recovered enough. How do you feel?"

Arlie sat on the edge of the bed, the dragons completely ignoring her to Valda's surprise. Pommyt went as far as to crawl into Arlie's lap, the better to stare down the errant Lord who had invaded the room.

Lord Eljin interrupted before Valda could reply. "Now that she is awake, she must answer our questions," he demanded.

The dragons hissed at his tone, and he visibly flinched away from them but stood his ground.

Valda looked between everyone waiting for someone to explain when her cousins and Tevin entered the room, all wearing equally cross expressions.

"Lord Eljin, you should not be in here. Princess Valda requires rest. You and the other Lords can wait until she is feeling well before your interrogations," Mauve spat, making the Lord bluster.

Valda felt weird hearing Mauve say her title. She guessed she would have to get used to it now that her cover was well and truly blown.

She sighed, being recognised was something she wanted, but seeing Lord Eljin in front of her was a nasty reminder of what awaited her. Already she could see his disbelief and condemnation.

She cut over his soft mumbling. "Mauve, I'm feeling better. Let's just get this over with."

Lord Eljin stared at her with grudging approval. "I will gather the other Lords." With relief, he fled the room, his eyes darting to make sure the dragons didn't follow him.

Mauve took Arlie's seat as Arlie left to stand by the shut door. Guarding it in case they had any more unwanted visitors.

"Valda, are you sure about this? You're still weak from what happened yesterday, please just rest another day," Mauve pleaded.

Valda swallowed, her mouth dry at the realisation that she'd been asleep for over 24 hours. She shook her head to clear the disturbing thought, placing Pandath beside her.

"I'm fine. I just want this over with."

Arlie nodded her head. "If you can stand you can go to your meeting, Princess." Her eyes danced with mirth, as if she knew how exhausted Valda already was.

Huffing out a sigh, and throwing Arlie a withering look, Valda pushed herself away from the bed before Mauve could start arguing against her idea.

Her legs shook underneath her, but as she wobbled around the room, her stride became easier. A dull headache pounded behind her eyes, but it was durable for the moment. Her stomach grumbled loudly, making the boys chuckle, though Mauve's face remained stony.

"If she's got an appetite, then she's fine," Arlie surmised. "Come on boys, we'll grab some food and keep an eye on the Lords. I'll have Tad stay guard outside," she added before Carrick could ask.

Once everyone had left, Valda sat by a silent Mauve. "You think I'm making a mistake." It was a statement, not a question.

Mauve turned to look at her, her face melting into worry, before her hands rubbed it away. "No, you're right. The only way to approach the Lords is head on."

Valda waited, knowing there was more.

Mauve tugged on her hair like she did as a child. "Everything that happened...what you did yesterday...you could have died!" She gripped Valda's hands tightly. "Magic always has a cost, and I don't want to lose you." Tears welled in her eyes and she moved one hand to wipe them away.

Valda was at a loss how to handle her cousin. She'd seen Mauve, tired, angry, exasperated even, but never prone to tears.

"Just promise me you won't take any more risks."

Valda nodded, knowing that it was a promise she may have to break before Lania was once again free.

Mauve smiled, portraying much more courage than she felt. "Come, I have the perfect gown for you." Their previous conversation pushed away but not forgotten.

She rose, heading towards the wardrobe, but Valda gripped her arm.

"If I'm to meet the high Fae, then it shall be as myself. No use giving them false hope."

Mauve shared Valda's mischievous smile, closing the wardrobe and pulling out one of Tevin's shirts. "I think that's a marvellous idea." The doddery goats won't know what's hit them, she thought to herself, relishing the thought.

Silence greeted Valda and Mauve when they entered the room.

"What on earth are you wearing?" One lord gasped, eyeing their matching trousers and shirts.

Mauve looked at Valda, and they shared a smirk before taking their seats. Valda sat at the head of the table with Mauve to her side. Carrick and Tevin sat together on her other side, apparently enjoying the lord's outrage judging by their wide smiles.

"Clothes, Lord Hedrek." Valda mentally enjoyed his mutterings, glad that Mauve had run through their names a few minutes before. "Now if you'd be so kind to allow your partners to join us. I don't wish to have to waste time explaining my story again."

They waited expectantly until the lords' partners eventually joined them, all eyeing Valda with fresh eyes. Lady Dylynn came in last, little Etna and Kelli at her side.

"They are here to bear witness." She was quick to explain, seeming to enjoy the undercurrent of tension.

Valda nodded, though she kept an eye on Lady Dylynn. The old woman wasn't as she'd first appeared. She was stern, there was no question, but her core pointed always to the truth. When she'd overheard the General asking her grandson to kill Valda, she had summoned Etna to find Mauve immediately, not realising she was with Valda.

She had made to warn the princess that Valda was in trouble. For all her grumblings, the old woman was extremely loyal to Lania's crown.

"This is highly unorthodox." Blustered an unhappy Lord.

Lady Dylynn shot him a scathing look. "I know it's difficult, but clamp that pie hole shut Eljin and listen." She stomped her cane dramatically before taking her seat.

Once everyone was seated and the grumblings had ended, Valda stood, placing her hands on the table so she wouldn't play with her fingers and give away how agitated she really was. There was nothing like twenty plus eyes staring at her expectantly to make her realise how little she knew what she was doing.

"My name is Valda. My father is Ken Reynolds, a human, and my mother is Queen Orlaigh."

"Outrageous."

"This can not be."

A chorus of disagreements rang out, which was greeted with a growl sounding from outside the building and above her chair. Valda looked up to see Pandath, minus his friends, on the top of her chair.

The high Fae present looked at each other, uneasy, as Valda walked towards the window. She threw it open, not surprised to find Nandrin on the other side.

She bowed regally as he dipped his giant head. "Forgive me Nandrin I wasn't aware you were there. You are welcome to our meeting of course."

Many looked like they were ready to argue, but Lord Glenton stood before they could voice their new objections.

"Forgive me, Princess Valda. But how did you befriend these regal creatures?"

Pandath stood prouder on the top of her seat, and she quickly scratched at his head before taking her place again.

"It was a long journey here, Lord Glenton. We encountered many new friends." She shared a conspiratory smile with Mauve and Tevin as Carrick explained the task the Queen had given him and his sister.

As Carrick's story unwound, the looks on the faces present went from unease to disbelief to shocking blankness.

"And do you still possess Queen Orlaigh's letter?" Lord Eljin asked, his voice quivering as if he'd realised just what a big blunder he'd undertaken by barging into her room.

Valda nodded her head. After everything that had happened, she'd forgotten about where she'd tucked it into her bag.

"I'll retrieve it." Tevin stood, bobbing his head at Valda and disappearing out the room only to reappear moments later carrying her bag.

She rummaged in the bag, feeling for the hidden pouch at the bottom. Drawing it out, she pressed it flat on the table, smoothing out the creases with a careful hand.

Looking at her Mom's curly handwriting made Valda think of her. Her hand hovered over the words before she pushed the letter towards Lord Eljin. They could only do what was possible. There was no good worrying over the unknowns they couldn't control.

Others left their seats, crowding around the letter. Lord Eljin's hands shook as he saw the royal seal before his eyes focused on the writing. His shaking only became more pronounced as he digested the words.

"There can be no doubt. She is Queen Orlaigh's heir." He swallowed painfully, his adam's apple bobbing with agitation.

They passed around the letter, when all Valda wanted to do was grab it back. Her Mom's words were for her and her Dad, she didn't like these strangers reading it. But she kept her hands clenched. This was substantial proof of her heritage.

"My Princess, what is it you would like first?" Lord Glenton bowed, speaking for the other shellshocked Fae.

Valda thought over her request. She'd already discussed it with Mauve, and they'd both agreed. Change only happened if you were brave enough to take it.

"The plans for taking Lania back, I understand you are having difficulties, please speak freely." The partners began to leave, but Valda held up her hand. "Please, difficulties are often better shared."

"That is not how things are done." Bristled Lord Eljin.

Valda's eyes cut to the man, and he visibly shrank under her gaze. "Times change, Lord Eljin. I appreciate more help when there is a problem to solve." Her eyes cut to the rest of the Fae. "Now speak, freely." She sat, breathing deeply, Mauve and Carrick both squeezed her hands and Tevin gave her a large smile.

Lord Glenton was the first to speak. "With Lord Tevin's help we can get into the castle from the surrounding grounds, but the floors above are a maze of servants' quarters and small rooms which we have very limited knowledge of. Unfortunately, most on that level could not escape when Lania fell."

Kelli fidgeted uncomfortably, and Valda's sharp eyes tracked the movement. "Kelli, do you have something to add?"

The poor woman looked like she was ready to faint when all the eyes turned to look at her.

"Umm, your highness...umm... not all the servants were in Lania. There are at least five or six who were visiting their families outside Lania at the time it fell."

The table murmured with speculation as Kelli's eyes danced from face to face.

"And where are these servants now?" Lord Glenton's wife, Imogen, was quick to ask.

"Well, here, my Lady, in the stronghold."

Most looked astonished, including Carrick and Tevin, but Valda just lowered her head in exasperation.

"Kelli, will you fetch them immediately," Valda queried.

Kelli bowed unsteadily, and then dashed from the room, her gown barely touching the floor in her haste.

"What of the other kingdoms? Any word?" She knew from Carrick's and Tevin's conversations the Lords had tried to contact other kingdoms to stand with them to take back Lania, but so far all they'd received was refusals.

The Lords looked anxiously at each other. "I'm afraid all have refused to give any help to Lania."

"Cowards." There were agreements to this, but Valda disagreed.

"They fear Lorcan. They will not leave their own kingdoms to come to our defense if it means leaving their own people unguarded." She could understand their fear. She had yet to meet Lorcan, but she knew he'd earned the fear that accompanied his spoken name.

Many looked like they wanted to argue but held their tongues given her new position.

Valda thought over their options. The high Fae, most of which hadn't trained properly in years, and the few recruits in the stronghold wasn't enough to mount an attack against Lorcan.

Pandath slipped from the chair back until he was in her lap, his front paws resting on the table. Mauve patted his head, making him almost purr.

Insight struck Valda like lightning. Streaking across her mind and providing a spark of an idea. Nisog, Pandath and countless other children called Lania home. Lorcan had taken the Fae's lands but there would be nothing to stop him eventually taking everything else. The Fae weren't the only ones who would be enslaved under his power.

"Have you asked the other creatures of Lania?" She looked at the Fae who stared back at her dumbfounded.

"I don't quite understand you?"

Nandrin huffed behind her, and even Pandath rolled his eyes at Valda. She suppressed her smile with difficulty.

"You've asked the other Fae for help, but what of the other creatures that call Lania home?" She quirked her eyebrow, already knowing their answer.

The Lords looked at each other before looking at Lord Glenton, who swallowed nervously. "Beg pardon Princess, but the other creatures are in league with Lorcan."

Valda lifted Pandath up. He flew to Lady Imogen, who tentatively stretched out her hand to pet his scales. Valda placed her hands on the table, levelling the strongest look she could at the waiting lords.

"They have joined Lorcan because you've given them no other options." The Lords went to argue but Valda held up her hand. "I don't know how my Mom ran things or how things are done, but this...this is something you've never faced before. And things need to change in order for us to face what is coming. Lorcan overwhelmed you once and I will do my damndest not to let it happen again."

The high Fae stared at her in awe, an expression shared by her companions, though there were some who looked unconvinced. Before they could voice their opinion Lady Imogen rose.

"Lorcan bested us before." She looked around at the others, daring them to contradict her. "And we can't allow that again. For the people of Lania still under his control, we must change. We must become better."

"Here, here." Lady Dylynn banged her cane.

Lady Imogen looked back at Valda, ready. "What would you have us do?"

"Send messengers to all the other creatures. The Giants, the Fairies, the Trolls, any creature that calls Lania home, contact them all and ask for their help."

"And what will we offer them? I'm sorry, Princess, but they will not help us."

Valda ignored the last bit. "Offer them what they want. A voice. A seat at my Mom's table. All they want is to be heard, if you offer that then they will come."

Lord Glendon jumped in before anyone could object. "My Princess, time is off the essence. To send messengers across Lania would take too long. Our reports today say Lorcan is amassing support for a demonstration in two weeks' time. We must march before then."

Valda looked at Tevin and Carrick's bewildered faces; the news was as new to them as it was to her.

"You're sure?"

"He plans a demonstration, a display of his power. The castle is preparing as we speak."

Mauve gasped, her hands flying to her face, her eyes as wide as saucers. "He's going to drain her magic." Her voice filled with horror.

The other high Fae stood, everything flying into chaos, whilst Valda held onto Mauve, making her look at her.

"Mauve? What do you mean? What's he going to do to my Mom?"

Mauve's eyes barely focused on Valda before the words were forced out her. "In two weeks, the winter equinox takes place. Power shifts during the equinox; it's at its strongest but also more changeable. He can absorb her power when the moon is at its highest. He'll be unstoppable."

Valda's heart froze, goosebumps rising across her skin. They had to make it to Lania before the equinox. Despite Mauve not saying it, Valda knew her Mom would not survive the process.

"My dragons will take the messengers. You've granted us our home, allow us to help you take back yours." Nandrin spoke, making the high Fae pause.

Valda looked towards the window, snapping out of her worries. Here and now; was what she needed to focus on.

"Thank you, Nandrin." She said with all the sincerity she could muster, though it would never be enough. She turned back to those still sat around the table. "Well? Choose your men, get the letters written. We need to move fast."

Many of the Lords blurred into action, shouting orders as they left the hall, calling on their sons, daughters, servants. The time for action had come, and they were going to be ready for it.

"You will make an excellent Queen one day." Lady Dylynn was the last to leave, Etna beside her.

The door closing behind them echoed around the hall, leaving Valda, Mauve, Carrick and Tevin in silence.

"Valda, that was amazing," Tevin said in awe.

Unfortunately, all the confidence she felt deserted her and Valda collapsed back against the seat, stroking Pandath's head for a distraction from her worrying thoughts.

"Tevin's right. No one else could have commanded the high Fae that way," Carrick agreed.

"But will it be enough?" Valda whispered.