I have spent the last seventeen years observing the current princesses of Vivelle. Ever since the year that Princess Illyana turned five. 

From the small amount of information I have been able to find on The Gift, I have come to the conclusion that the Gift can arrive from as young as five to at least the age of twenty-five.

My reasoning for this comes from an article found in a history book during the reign of King Bryler and the Queen's Trial of his daughters. Princess Myla and Princess Talla. Talla was the younger daughter. She was born seven years after Myla. The Queen died giving birth to Talla so there were no more chances of a male being born. At the age of Five, Talla first showed signs of The Gift. It was a gift obviously passed on from the Lupine as she was stronger and faster than any five-year-old girl should be. Mayla, twelve at the time, had no signs of any gift. It became only natural from then on that Talla was the favoured daughter. She surpassed her sister at everything. She had the heart of the nation whilst her older sister was seen as a stain on the crown. This created a bitter rivalry between the two.

As there were only two sisters competing in the Queens Trial, the King decided to change the format. Of course, the Trial began when the youngest daughter turned a woman at the age of eighteen. Myla was twenty-five. They did all their tests, though it didn't matter if they passed or failed. Naturally, Talla failed none of them. Myla failed seven. To end the Trial, the King decided the two should battle to the death. Their hatred for each other was so strong that it was decided that the losing sister should be sacrificed by the other. It also made for great entertainment.

It was only logical, of course, that Talla would win. She was strong, fast and undefeated in battle. Not even the best warriors could defeat her as her strength and speed were too great. The people loved her for it. They thought she would be their great protector. So they cheered as she taunted and injured her older sister. They knew that she would win. Myla could barely hold a sword. Talla would throw her to the ground as if it were nothing. She slowly sliced and injured Myla until she was left kneeling in front of her. Then Myla did something no one was ever expecting. She began to sing. Now Myla had sung before and was no good at it. Talla, laughing, thought it was nothing. Her arrogance stopped her from seeing what was really happening. 

"Oh sister, your pathetic attempts to save yourself do make me laugh. Did you really think singing could make me feel any sort of remorse toward you?" It is recorded that Talla said. Then she laughed some more. She didn't hear how Myla's voice had changed from the out of tune screech that she has always done whilst growing up, into a beautiful, soft, haunting melody. She was to busy taunting her singing sister to realise the audience had hushed. To realise that the warriors had all began to walk into the arena, weapons ready. Myla stood up at that point and began to sing louder. As she sang, her wounds begin to heal as tears fell down her face.

"What? What are you doing?" it is recorded Talla said. She went to land the killing blow on Mayla, but it was already too late. The warriors all enchanted by her voice had lost their ability to think for themselves. Myla had complete control over them all. Though Talla was an excellent warrior, she could not take on one-hundred of them. Even with her strength and speed. Myla kept singing as the warriors beat and slashed her sister until she was nothing but a crumpled bloodied heap, barely breathing. Myla approached her sister then, taking one of the warrior's swords.

"I'm sorry," she is recorded to have said. "That this is what had to become of us." Then she buried the sword into her sister's chest.

I believe that it was the first time The Gift ever appeared to Queen Myla. With the fear and desperation that she would have been feeling. However, I also believe there were subtle hints that it was there deep inside her all along. For example. It is recorded that during her singing lessons, she sounded truly awful. However, no one would ever stop her from singing. In fact, they would always listen. Just a small hint that she had inherited the Siren Gift. That is why I've been observing the Princesses. Watching for any sign that The Gifts are hidden but there. More of what I have discovered about them will be written further on in my studies. What I will say at the moment, is that I believe these girls are truly special.

~The Gift. Chapter Two. Written by Master Audwin. The Master Scholar of Vivelle during the reign of King Orion and King Chosen Matthias.

We arrive back at the palace. We travelled back separately from father and I am not sure how he will react. He is already in the throne room waiting for us.

"Well done on your speeches, girl," he begins, a calm smile on his face. "As I said, it would be a very difficult test for you to fail. You all received cheers and support and you all spoke with strength and confidence. You have all passed." I smile softly and feel my sisters relief next to me. "Illyana," my smile fades as I look up at him. "Your speech received the most amount of applause and I am sure we all understand why..." he starts and I feel my heart race. I accused him of stealing from the poor. I painted him a villain and promised to give the money back. He wouldn't be happy about that. But, he smiles. Confusion fills me.

"Take notes girls, from your eldest sisters speech. The best way to get on the side of the people is to exploit their anger towards one ruler to make them prefer you. Then make false promises of how you will change their lives for the better. Well done on taking the initiative Illyana," he smiles and joy fills me. He doesn't realise what I've started and what we have planned. He doesn't realise that I've started to sew doubts into the minds of the people about his reign.

"Now, you are all dismissed. The next test is tomorrow so get as much rest as you can. It will be the first of three combat tests in the morning. The afternoon will be tested on your womanly skills. Music, to be specific." We all nod and rush out of the room quickly. We don't talk. There are lots of people around us and we want to make it seem as though we are distant. Make it seem we are now all in it to win it. We separate, heading off to our rooms. When I arrive at mine, I let out a long sigh and lay on my bed. Today has been a long day. I stand up a few minutes after lying down and go to one of my windows. Darkness is beginning to fall over the city as night draws in. Thousands of little candles light up the windows of all the buildings and the streets. From here, I can hear people laughing and cheering. They are celebrating the trial beginning. They have paraded through the streets and they dance and drink. I sigh again. They are hoping that with the next ruler, their lives get better. I don't know why they do. Each time they get excited and with every new king they get taxed more as each king is more greedy than the last. I was telling the truth today when I said I would cut their taxes. When I said that they'd have to be paid more, I meant it. Yet as I look down at the celebrations, I can't help but be envious. They get to be families. They get to be able to communicate and befriend whoever they want. They don't have to grow up knowing that if they live, they are the reason their siblings aren't here. I gulp and turn away from the celebrations to look out of the other window. At the miles of flat farmland ahead that sit below the cliff our castle stands on. There are a few lights in the fields, but people are celebrating in the city mostly. Then, maybe one hundred miles beyond the farms, are the mountains. Small triangles in the distance that I've only ever seen from this castle. I wonder what they look like close up. I wonder what the rest of the world looks like.

My door opens and I turn around, knocked out of my daydreams. It's Fallon.

"Did anyone see you?" I ask.

"No," she tells me as she walks in. I nod my head and take a seat on my bed. "Now we just have to wait for the others to get here," she sighs. They slowly trickle in wearing thick black cloaks so they aren't seen. Once they have all arrived, I lock my door. Then, I pull the shutters of my window closed. Even though we are pretty high up, we don't want people to see our shadows. Then, we sit on my floor in a circle.

"So," Fallon begins. "You were going to teach us about potions," she says, getting straight to the point. I nod my head and stand. I go to the floorboard where all my random ingredients are hidden. I pull out the little bottles of various liquids and plants along with empty glass tubes. Then, I pull out the lipstick.

"This is what I used on Kristoff," I say. "I will give him another dose soon to make sure he stays out of our way," I tell them. "It is nasty stuff," I say and then hand it to Fallon. "When I am gone, you'll need all the protection you can get. Putting it in your lipstick is the best way to keep it hidden and administer it to someone. Who would refuse a kiss from a Princess," I chuckle and they nod eagerly. "This is the poison by itself," I tell them as I pull out a small jar full of a clear liquid.

"How did you come up with it?" Fallon asks with wide, amazed eyes. She looks at the poison like it's her new toy. I chuckle.

"It is my own recipe," I tell her. "I will teach you later but I will show you what else I've done first." She nods, slightly disappointed. I go through all my little potions. Most of the ingredients I steal from the healing wings. They have all sorts of herbs, liquids and plants for me to pinch. Most of them are harmless on their own but if you mix them other elements or add heat then they change into different things. Though my painful, truth serum poison is my favourite, I have many useful potions. Potions I am teaching my sisters to make and use to make sure they have plenty of protection when I am gone.

"This one is an antidote," I tell them. "To pretty much every poison." Their eyes widen.

"How?" Cordelia asks. I smile and give her a look that tells her to be patient.

"This one might be the most important one you need. This stops pregnancy for as long as you're taking it. Even if you are given the potion the Kristoff forced down my throat." They nod their heads, realising the importance of it. "The potion Kristoff made me drink makes your body fertile immediately. This one stops you from being fertile at all. As long as you take it once a week. Do not miss it," I tell them. "There is a horrible chance that Kristoff will try something like he tried on me to one of you." They nod their heads somberly.

We spend all night talking about the potions and how to make them. I don't leave anything out. They look fried by the time we are done.

"Do you understand?" I ask them all as I put all the pots away.

"Yes," Rayanna sighs then yawns.

"Thank you, for showing us," Shaelyn says with a soft smile.

"You needed to know," I tell them. "These could save you." They nod their heads.

"We should head back to our rooms and get some sleep," Fallon tells us. I nod my head. They leave one at a time, a few minutes apart, surrounding themselves in their black cloaks so they can hide in the shadows as they return to their rooms.

"How did you learn all this?" Fallon asks as she waits to leave. We are the last two in my room. I frown.

"I used to get the healers to teach me about making healing potions," I tell her. "It has always clicked for me. I've always been able to understand what happens when you mix one thing with another. When they taught me all they knew, I would sneak into the library and find books on poisonous plants and substances. It was easy to get a hold of the plants too. Bribe a farmer or a soldier and they'll get everything I needed." She nods her head.

"Thank you," she tells me and wraps her arms around me. "These might save us," she whispers and I tighten my grip around her. We stay like it for a few moments and I close my eyes, taking all of her in. We step back at the same time. I see the vulnerability on Fallons face. There is fear in her eyes.

"This is a dangerous game," she says. I nod my head.

"Very," I reply.

"You remember the plan for these next tests?" she asks.

"Of course," I reply and she nods, satisfied.

"Good," she smiles softly before rushing out. I stare at the door for a few more seconds after it shuts before I grab a black cloak of my own. I reach for one of my little potions and leave the room. My bare feet are silent against the stone as I walk through the dark corridors. There is no one around which I am thankful for. It doesn't take long to get to the abandoned part of the castle. I find the key to the room where I left Kristoff. I laugh as I walk in. He is lying in a pool of his own bodily fluids.

"You're pathetic," I tell him. He groans and stands up. Obviously, the poison is wearing off.

"You bitch," he snarls as he clumsily runs toward me. I step out of the way with ease and hold out my foot. He trips and falls to the floor. He lets out a pained moan.

"How do you think you'd get away with this?" He asks. "They'll be wondering where I am," he chuckles arrogantly. I laugh too.

"But everyone knows where you are," I tell him. "You and your men have left for the Lupine borders to protect the villages from the most recent attacks," I tell him. His eyes widen with horror and he tries to move again. I kick him in the face. Not hard enough to knock him out, but enough to weaken him.

"They'll figure out that I'm not there eventually," he whispers, trying to sound threatening.

"Maybe, but by then it would be too late," I tell him.

"What's that supposed to mean?" he gurgles.

"Shhh, no more talking," I say. "I've come to administer your medicine," I tell him. He tries to wiggle out of my way.

"Now this one isn't as nasty as the other one. Well, it might be. I'll leave it up to you." I tell him.

"No, please," he whispers as I lean over him and open the vile. I lean on his chest. He is too week to struggle against me or even bring up his arms to push me away. I open his mouth and pour the liquid in before forcing it shut. He tries not to swallow it, but eventually, he does. It reacts immediately. His body goes completely limp. It is as though he is dead.

"You won't be able to move at all for a few days. You'll be trapped in your own body," I sigh as I put my hands under his shoulders and drag him into the corner of the room. I then lay an old blanket around him before surrounding him with various old bits of junk furniture. Hiding him completely. If my dad does get suspicious, then hopefully he won't be able to find him too easily. Once I am done, I leave. I lock the door behind me and head back to my room for a few hours of sleep.

I am the last to arrive for breakfast. I tried to sleep as much as I could and managed a few hours.

"Ah, Illyana," father booms as I walk in and take my space at the table.

"Good morning, father," I whisper.

"Are you ready for today's trials?" he asks.

"Of course," I reply, allowing a small smile to cross my features. Cordelia scoffs. Father turns and glares at her.

"Something to say, Cordelia?" he asks.

"Not at all, father," she smiles sweetly. I place a spoonful of yoghurt into my mouth and look down.

"Very good," he carries on. "This is the first trial you actually have a chance of failing," he warns us. "The first trial is one of three combat trials you will face during the Trials. The other two are much harder so if you fail this one, you will lose the confidence of the people. If you can't pass the easiest combat test, then how can you pass the others? That would be all three trials out of maximum three you are allowed to fail," he shrugs. I nod my head. "However, I recommend not showing everything you've got yet," he tells us. "You want to start showing off later in the trials when the stakes are higher." He says. "Illyana, as of now, your tests will be harder." I nod my head.

We finish our breakfast and are taken back to our rooms to change. Juliet takes my combat uniform from a bag and dresses me in it. There are tight black trousers with a gold line running down the sides. Then, there are plain black boots which come up to just below the kneecaps. The boots have no heal or decoration of any sorts. They are just immaculately polished leather. I then wear a black vest which can't be seen as over top I wear a black jacket. It goes all the way up to the neck with gold buttons running up the body. Gold stitching also sits along the sleeves with golden buttons. The stitching also follows the material around the neck. It is simple. A thick black belt is then placed around my hips with attachments to my thighs where my weapons will be added. Juliet then ties my hair into a ponytail before braiding it. There is no makeup today.

I look at my reflection in the mirror. It is very smart as well as practical.

"Thanks," I say to Juliette as I leave. She just nods and watches me go.  I feel nervous. I am pretty good at combat but I need to not only succeed in this trial but put on a show. I plan on being gone by the time the second combat trial comes along so I need to make sure I leave the best combat impression I can. I need to give the people another reason to love me. I arrive at the carriages and my sisters show up not long after. Then, father arrives.

"Are you all ready?" he asks. We nod.

"Then let's put on a show," he grins as we get in the carriages and head back to the arena.