The days after Petru Rareş and his minions left the castle, chased each other away in a blur.

Sorina recovered quickly, and a few weeks later, she was allowed to join me and Clara, but only when at least one of the men-- Mihail, Ioan, or Vlad-- were present, too. She was a very nice and friendly young woman, and it was a pleasure having her around.

Even though she looked like any of them by now, perfectly human-like and self-composed, she never joined us during the meals in the beginning. I was told on different occasions by either Clara, Ioan or Mihail-- always after they glanced over their shoulders several times surreptitiously to make sure that Vlad was nowhere within earshot-- that at the moment she could only drink animal blood. She would start eating again, eventually.

Knowing that talking about it was making Vlad feel uncomfortable, I never brought the subject up in front of him. I was able to find out all that I really wanted to know by pestering the others with my questions. And, as I heard, Junior would be coming soon. He would surely tell me the rest, fill in all the remaining gaps in my knowledge.

The life seemed perfect, and I started to coax myself into first hoping, then believing that maybe it could last forever. Vlad finally had more time just for me. Whenever the weather permitted, we would spend most of the time outside, riding, visiting the village when running small errands, accompanying Clara and Ioan to the mill, or simply exploring the surrounding forest.

When it was too cold, snowing, or as the spring approached raining, we would spend most of the time in the library. While Vlad was reading or writing letters, I continued drawing in my book. There were nearly no pages left without my sketches obliterating the printed words.

Of course, there were moments, especially at nighttime, when instead of sleeping, I passed hours thinking about my friends and parents, my life back in London... But the memories were fading slowly. I started to regard that part of my life as a story in a book which I had read so many times that I felt as if I knew its protagonists personally, but still, it wasn't about me.

Whenever the memories kept me up all night and left me exhausted and melancholic in the morning, Vlad would make sure that my mood didn't last too long. After every sleepless night, there was a new sunrise to watch from the tower. It was always worth climbing the spiral staircase at the crack of dawn, however tired I felt, to admire nature's awaking at Vlad's side. If only to see him smiling at me when he saw my nostalgia dissipate like the early morning's mist.

Like this, days continued fading into weeks and morphing into months. Spring arrived unnoticed, silent as a whisper, gentle like a caress.

Everyone kept talking about the oncoming ball. Clara, who was still busy finishing her gown. Sorina, who was expecting her parents to come for the occasion, as the last time they came, just after she had arrived in the castle, she did not see them. Katerina, whose duty it was to make sure that all the guests who would be staying would have a suitable place to rest or sleep. And even all those inhabitants of the castle who habitually gathered in the kitchen every night, the maids, servants, and grooms...

Apparently, I was the least excited of them all. The idea of the great and magnificent Council gathered in the castle in their full number this time, the notion of seeing the obnoxious Petru Rareş again, was disconcerting, to put it mildly.

After weeks of waiting and preparations, the day of the ball finally arrived.

"I have a little surprise for you," Vlad whispered in my ear as he woke me up one morning.

He was sitting on the bed next to me, dressed and ready to leave.

A large number of guests had gathered in the castle over the last couple of days, and we were back to our normal, busy routine. Which meant not seeing enough of each other when I would give anything to have him just for myself.

"Oh? What is it?" I asked, intrigued enough to forget my sleepiness and sit up immediately.

"You'll see later. It's for tonight and I won't give it to you now. Otherwise, you might refuse it. I know you too well, my love." Vlad grinned.

Now he got me. What was it? But I was not going to ask. Instead, I reached out to him and closed the last two buttons on his shirt that were still undone.

"Fine, as you like," I said, forcing myself to look nonchalant.

What is it? I mused, worrying my lower lip, not realising I was doing it until Vlad laughed. He brought his lips to mine, teasing my lip free with his teeth and kissing me deeply, leaving me breathless as usual.

"Stay in bed. Rest. You'll have to dance a lot tonight," he said casually while I was still recovering my breath.

I felt my eyes widen as I stared at him. Oh no. I hadn't thought about dancing. There had been far too many other, more important things to ponder.

"But I don't remember how..."

"Don't worry. It will come back. You always liked dancing."

"Great. Thank you. Now I'll worry all day about the steps. Did you remind me about dancing right now to make me forget about the Council and... "

He kissed the rest of my sentence off my lips, pressing me back among the pillows. I laced my fingers through his hair, pulling him down with me.

"Hush..." he whispered after a while. "You mustn't worry about anything. Go back to sleep. Please." Then he was gone.

How could I sleep now?

I stood up, wrapped myself in my blanket, and walked over to the window. It was the beginning of April, but the chamber was still chilly in the mornings, despite the lively fire that Vlad had already rekindled. Inside, it was still winter. Outside, the spring reigned in all its magnificent beauty.

The view that my windows offered had changed completely over the last weeks. The sloping meadows that used to be covered in snow were now carpeted with bright green grass, sprinkled with the first pastel coloured flowers. In the perpetual shadows where the meadows met the first trees of the forest, a few small heaps of snow lingered stubbornly, diminishing slowly, gradually as the days passed.

With a sudden idea, I pulled myself away from the beautiful view and ran to Vlad's chamber.

Most guests would be arriving today, and one of his windows offered the perfect view of the courtyard. As I was not supposed to do anything the whole day but get ready for the ball and worry about the forgotten dance steps, I could spend some time watching who was coming.

On approaching the correct window, I saw a large group of guests crowded in the courtyard. Distinctive looking men were handing the reins of their horses over to the waiting grooms, cheerful, laughing women, who somehow managed to look stunning even clad in their dark travelling cloaks, were conversing loudly enough for their voices to reach me. Many women. Too many beautiful women. And then there was Vlad coming to welcome them, towering above all the present ladies and even most men, making his way with easy grace from group to group.

He looked so regal and gorgeous and... so much like them... and I just didn't belong.  How ever did he manage to talk me into attending this ball? I was only going to make a fool of myself... and even of him, most likely.

As if the subject of my despairing thoughts felt my intense gaze and my rising panic, he looked up at the window and smiled. How much I love his smile and all the rest of him, I thought as I waved at him uncertainly, then stepped away from the glass quickly, before anyone else would notice me.

"You should get dressed, my lady." Katerina's voice reached me from somewhere behind me. As I turned around, I saw her standing in the open door of my chamber, her ancient, wrinkled face highlighted by a single ray of sunshine.

In that instant, she looked otherworldly. I realised it was just my vantage point that made her look like one of the figures in Vermeer's paintings, as she stood there so serene and composed and I saw her through three perfectly aligned doorways, at the end of a dim corridor... Looking so lifelike, but too still to be alive... So much more a part of this world than me.

I ran to her like a small, lost girl, feeling overwhelmed, dabbing hastily at a few stray tears before she could notice.

"Is something the matter?" she asked as I embraced her, nearly crushing her frail body against mine.

"I... I just don't want to go to the ball." I sniffed and wiped another tear away as I released her.

She laughed, taking me by surprise. "He said you would say that. And I'm not to listen to you."

"Oh, did he now! And pray tell me how is he going to make me attend, if I refuse, hmm?"

"Well, I wouldn't put it past your husband to dress you up himself and carry you all the way down... if all of his other ways of persuasion failed. And you know that's not very likely." She grinned.

I actually blushed at her words. My old nurse had never joked with me like this before. But this was not the first time I noticed her warming up to Vlad, the two of them forming a little, secret alliance...

The idea of Vlad and Katerina united against me made me smile and relax a little. I took a deep breath, starting to feel myself again.

"The young lord is coming tonight too. Have you forgotten? You've been asking about him for months," Katerina continued.

"You're right. Fine. But let's not talk about the ball until tonight."

"As you wish, my lady."

I got dressed quickly, and as soon as I was done, Clara entered with my breakfast, followed by Shadow.

"If I were you, I wouldn't set my paws in this castle today. I bet it's much more pleasant in the forest than here," I told the wolf as he finished his part of my breakfast. He seemed much less worried about all the chaos and confusion than me. Well, he is not expected to smile politely at the grand Council and dance, my subconscious reminded me promptly, making me frown.

The morning passed quite fast. Clara was finally happy with her new sleeves, and she needed my help with attaching them to the yellow dress. I was thankful for the distraction because I just couldn't concentrate on anything unless I was told exactly what to do.

However, after our late lunch, when she collected all the used dishes and left me alone-- she had been instructed to let me rest-- I couldn't stay put. How can I possibly rest!

Surprised, I found the key to the spiral staircase still on the mantelpiece. I hadn't used it in months. But today, I needed to get outside. Alone. To avoid the confusion reigning in the castle and the knights and Guards following me everywhere. At least for a while.

I made my way down the narrow staircase together with Shadow, and on reaching the dimly lit corridor, I let him go towards the Entry Hall on his own. He was impatient to get outside, too.

Alone, I continued in the direction of the kitchen. There was a little herb garden accessible from there, I had noticed it more than once before but never had an occasion to explore it.

Trying not to attract any attention, I entered the large room. I ducked my head, rushing across as silent as a mouse. The kitchen was so filled with hectic activity that I was sure no one had noticed me.

Once outside, I found myself in heaven. I closed the small door behind me and looked around in awe. The garden was much bigger than I had expected, full of small aromatic plants and herbs growing in its centre, and rose and lavender bushes along the walls. Here's where the scents and essences for the bath water come from, I thought, picking a few flowers of mint and rosemary. The garden was so sunny and well protected by the thick castle walls that despite it being only early spring, it was as warm here as in the summer, and most of the plants were blooming.

I noticed a large stone bench standing next to a well in one of the corners. How come I never thought of coming here before? It was such a perfect place. I reached the bench and sat down, closing my eyes, feeling completely relaxed for the first time since the morning. Leaning against the wall, revelling in the rays of sunshine and the light wind caressing my face, I listened to the birds chirping beyond the tall walls and the distant soft drone of voices reaching me from the kitchen.

I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I knew, Vlad was sitting next to me, and the sun had disappeared behind the castle.

He smiled at me, and I smiled back happily, even though I knew I should most probably feel guilty.

"Did I make you worry?" I asked.

He shook his head, wrapping his arm around me and kissing me on the top of my head. "No. Katerina sent me a word about your sudden disappearance and your not exactly cheerful mood, and soon after, Cook came to tell me in person that she saw you out here. I just wonder why you are here all alone. You should have sent for me if..."

"Surely you have more important things to do than dealing with my... stage fright," I interrupted him, not sure he would understand what I meant.

He shook his head again. "There's nothing more important than you. I hate it when you feel sad or anxious, or however it is you feel right now..."

"I'm feeling great right now. You are here." I beamed at him.

"Then make sure you always let me know when you need me. Please. I love you," he said, his green eyes boring into mine.

I felt my eyes filling with tears, so I only nodded.

"Will you let me take you back inside now? As much as I don't like to remind you, in case all this bad mood was caused by the ball, it's nearly time to get dressed. Katerina has a bath ready for you, she said you need to calm down."

"I wanted to talk to you about Katerina, by the way," I said, standing up. "About your... friendship. You've been too good to each other lately, and I wonder what it will mean for me."

He only grinned at my teasing remark, his eyes full of mirth.

Hand in hand, we made our way towards the kitchen, across the sea of herbs swaying gently in the early evening breeze.