Idelle went straight to Torran's room in the tower, and found him just about to leave for the midday meal with Yseult and Aelga. She pushed him back in the room and closed the door behind her.

"Lunch is being served here today," she said, continuing to push against his chest until he stumbled backward into a chair. He sat with a thump, too bewildered to say anything yet.

Idelle checked behind the curtains at the window and under the bed, making sure someone like Thellamy or Yseult wasn't hiding out. She didn't know what they might be able to convince Torran to do or think while he was under the influence of the love potion. As she climbed back to her feet, Torran finally found his voice.

"What are you doing?" he demanded, trying to get up. She pushed him back down into the chair, using his unstable balance with his brace against him. She felt a bit bad about it, but in the long run it was better than letting him go around dripping with besotment.

"You've been given a love potion, Torran, and I'm here to make sure that it wears off," she replied, sitting on the edge of his bed so that she could keep a close eye on him. His chair was only a few feet away. "I need you to help me unravel the web Yseult has set, and we don't have much time, so I need you to stop being heartsick and start being useful."

Torran glowered. "First you reject me, and now you push me into my room and lay across my bed. Are you this cruel? What do you want me to believe? You hate me or you love me?"

Idelle rolled her eyes. "That's the love potion talking again."

Torran's face grew even stormier. "You're playing with my heart and it's too harsh, Idelle."

Getting up, she walked to the other side of the room, not wanting to hear him pining or any of his angry words. Whatever he said, she knew it was from the love potion. She couldn't trust it or let it hurt her. When he saw she was no longer listening, he stopped talking, but he glared and huffed and crossed his arms. It was a long and uncomfortable wait for the love potion to wear off, and Idelle could only hope it wouldn't take days that she didn't have. Thankfully, about an hour later, Torran started to show signs of confusion and tiredness. After about ten more minutes, the strange gleam in his eyes had died and the tenseness he'd carried in his shoulders around Idelle drained away. He squinted and rubbed at his forehead.

"My head is pounding worse than a blacksmith's forge," he muttered.

No mention of her or her cruelty, which was a good sign. She walked toward him, wanting to test if he was finally back with her, and stopped just by his knees. He glanced up and startled at her closeness. His eyes skipped away from her, his hands braced against the chair. A normal response for a person who suddenly found their personal space invaded. Not the response of the lovesick Torran who could barely keep his hands off her last night. It had worn off. He hadn't had any since the day before, so it must have been long enough.

She stepped back, giving him space, and he relaxed. Though it hurt a bit that he would react away from her, after she'd been so hopeful just a half-day before, she knew it was for the best. His brain was clear and she had her ally back.

Idelle gave him a brief rundown of all that had happened with Rogerick and the vial, though she left out just exactly how she had managed to figure out what its use was for. When she was finished, Torran rubbed his temples even more.

"I managed to stop the meals with Yseult for today," Idelle said. "But I can't keep Aelga from seeing her for too long without an explanation."

"We have to tell her," Torran said, getting to his feet and grabbing his sword. "She may not listen, but there's a small chance we may get through to her."

Idelle nodded. "I'm afraid we don't have any other option, anyway."

Together, they made their way to Aelga's chambers, where they found her staring out the window and very obviously sulking. She didn't even turn to look at them as they approached her, but spoke with her back to them.

"You cancelled my meal," she said. The cold lunch, a plate of meats and cheeses, sat untouched on the side table by her arm.

"The cook was sick," Idelle answered.

Aelga snorted. "Of course. Not for breakfast, only lunch. When I would be seeing Thell."

Idelle tried to step around, so she could see Aelga's face, but Aelga just turned away even more. She folded her arms and stuck out her bottom lip, looking like a child who had been denied a sweet. Idelle wasn't sure how she couldn't have noticed such a change in Aelga's personality. It was obvious, now, that something else was at work.

"Aelga, I don't want to frighten you, but the duke and I have reason to believe that you have been given a potion," Idelle said. She didn't use Torran's name, perhaps sensing that Aelga would bristle at the casualness of it. Idelle didn't want to call any attention to the warmth she held for him when Aelga was sulking about her own doomed love.

Aelga looked at her then, a mocking sort of disbelief on her face. "Oh yes, of course. A potion. I suppose Thellamy had it on his lips to poison me."

Torran spoke up. "No, Yseult is the one to blame. We think she's been getting you to eat it somehow during your meals."

Aelga nodded. "Certainly. And that's why it was cancelled. Not because you both want to keep me away from Thell."

Idelle grunted in frustration. "Yseult has been giving you love potions for weeks now, Aelga. You're being slowly poisoned into loving Thellamy, and then Yseult is manipulating you using him."

Aelga's face went white and she shot to her feet. For one, joyous second Idelle thought perhaps they had gotten through the haze of love potion and made Aelga see the danger, but then it all dashed to the ground as she flew at Idelle with a pointed finger.

"How dare you!" she shouted. "You think I'm going to just stand here and let you say that my love for Thell is fake? That he's using me?"

"Aelga!" Idelle shouted back, wanting to grab her and shake her out of the haze.

Torran stepped in, trying to calm her down. "No one's saying your love is fake, but Thellamy is an enemy and his queen is obviously using your bond with him to try and capture Wynherst."

Aelga laughed sharply. "Wynherst, Wynherst, Wynherst! What does that matter when Thellamy is in danger and the only person who can save him is me?" She rounded on Torran now, glaring at him. "He told me that you just want the throne. You want me to fail, to keep the war going so that the people will hate me. Then you can sweep in and take my place."

"Aelga," Torran said, hurt in his voice. "I would never do that."

Aelga was beyond listening. "He also said Yseult knows that you were responsible for killing Aengus. You wanted to take his place, but I got in your way."

"Aelga! That's disgusting!" Idelle shouted, stepping between her and Torran. He only stood frozen in spot, his mouth slightly ajar, unable to respond to such lies. "You know that he came back to help you. He loved Aengus and he loves you. He'd never do such a thing."

Aelga shivered with anger. A hot flush ran over her skin and Idelle could almost feel the heat. The love potion was working strong, even though she hadn't had a dose this morning. The build-up was enough to keep her in the haze, and Idelle had a feeling it was becoming too strong. Could you actually get sick from loving someone too much? Could you die?

"You need to calm down," Idelle said, holding her hands out, palms up, like she might do with a dog that was acting vicious. "No one here wants to hurt you. We're only trying to warn you."

Aelga spun on her heel, walking back to the window. She was quiet for a moment, her shoulders heaving with her emotions. With each breath, she managed to gain a little more control, until she was still. It was a fake calm, though. Idelle knew the anger was still roiling underneath the stoney facade.

Staring out the window, Aelga addressed them. "I should have followed Thell's advice long ago. You're both plotting against me, and it's time I got rid of you." She looked over her shoulder, unmoved by the shock that must have been displayed clearly on Idelle's and Torran's faces. "I no longer have any need of your services. Duke Torran, you are to report back to the front lines. Soldier Idelle, you can go where you want, as long as it is not Holmley."

"What are you doing..." Idelle asked, tears choking her voice. They had been friends. She wanted Aelga to be safe and happy. How could she be doing this right now? How could this happen.

"Leave this instant. I don't want you to spend a second more in my castle. I have already had your horses packed," Aelga said, looking back out at the view. "Some guards will escort you out of the grounds."

"Aelga, you can't be serious," Torran said, trying to reach her. He placed his hand gently on her shoulder, but she shrugged him off.

"Guards! Come take them!" she shouted.

A second later, a group of the regular guards entered and grabbed Idelle and Torran by the arms. They gave them no time to try and argue their case, though both Torran and Idelle tried to yell as loud as they could to get Aelga to hear them. But she just stood with her back to them, ignoring their pleas as they were dragged toward the door.

Just before they were out of the room, she spoke, but it was not in answer to their questions. "I'm going to marry Thell and bring peace," she said.

Idelle felt her heart plummet as they were dragged out of the room and through the corridors. Aelga wouldn't be bringing peace by marrying Thellamy. She would only bring more violence and war.

When the guards finally let them go, it was in the courtyard in front of Lugh and Ffion, already saddled and ready to leave.

"Let us just speak to the Queen for a few seconds," Idelle said, but the guard she was speaking to just shoved her toward the horse.

"You're to leave in opposite directions," he said. He jerked his chin at the open gate, obviously in a hurry for them to be gone.

Idelle tried to get to Torran, but the guard drew his sword and swung it up to nick Idelle under the chin. She froze, her hands raised, as the sharp sting of the blade bit into her skin.

"We're going," Torran said, his hands also raised as he slowly walked to Lugh. He climbed on with some help, his braced leg awkwardly hanging off. Idelle walked backward to Ffion, the blade still against her skin. The guard was enjoying it, she knew. She reached behind her, finding Ffion's side, and then slowly turned to mount him. The guard finally sheathed his sword once she was in the saddle.

As she turned Ffion to face the gates, she caught a glimpse of the castle stairs. Sabena, Jaspip, Walliam, and a few of the other Guards stood at the top. She opened her mouth, wanting to speak to them, but the surly guard smacked her leg and shook his head.

"No communication. Leave."

Idelle looked once more at her Guard, hoping they could see her apology in her eyes. Walliam made a move as if he was going to come after her, but the regular guards swarmed around them, drawing swords. The Queen's Guard drew their own, Sabena yelling something and Jaspip trying to rush by the regular guards. They only grabbed him, holding him tight, and fending off the rest of the Guard.

The surly guard at Idelle's side glared at her. "Leave now or we'll be forced to slaughter your friends for treason," he snarled.

Swallowing hard, Idelle kicked Ffion's side, rushing out the gates before Sabena or Walliam could do anything that might get them hurt. She heard Lugh's hoofbeats right behind her, but then they broke off to the right while she was forced to take the left. She glanced behind her to catch a last glimpse of Torran, heading in the opposite direction like the guard had told them. She wondered if it was the last time she saw any of them.

Ffion rode through Holmley like the wind, and Idelle hung on as she tried to block out all that was lost. Tears burned her eyes, and she was glad she was moving too fast for anyone to notice them. She had lost her Guard, Torran, and Aelga's friendship. That was blow enough to stagger her. Yet, she knew that it was much worse than her own life and friendships. Aelga had said she was going to marry the bodyguard of the Glastonbex Queen.

It wasn't just Idelle's life which was laying in ruins. Wynherst was about to topple as well.