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"You've forgotten our love; I'm dying to make you see, But you're blinded by her, lost to all but her deceit."

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Rue intones an ancient mantra to open the gates of the fae land. This sacred chant not only grants her entry but also transports her directly to the White Palace's Ministry Hall. Determined to resolve this conflict, Rue is ready to let the entire land feel the heat of her wrath.

As she completes the chant, a circle of blue flames materializes in her kitchen. She takes a moment to gaze at her daughter one last time, her resolve steeling her for what's to come.

Taimat, cradling Jiya, transforms into her dragon form and vanishes into the night sky.

After tearfully bidding farewell to her daughter and ensuring she has all five elements in her satchel, Rue stopped for a moment and notices a pot of white lily next to the dishwasher. She picks it up, holding onto it as a poignant reminder of the love that blossomed under the moonlight, blessed by the Moon Goddess.

With the lily in hand, Rue steps into the blazing portal. The gate pulls her into its swirling vortex, tossing her through a vacuum. Moments later, she lands firmly in the Ministry Hall of the White Palace, ready to face whatever awaits her.

"Look who has arrived," Aurelia announced with a cackling laugh, capturing the attention of everyone in the hall. Aurelia sat to the right of Eryndor, asserting her status as his wife and the queen of the entire fae land, radiating beauty and authority.

The high ceilings of the White Palace gleamed, adorned with precious stones sourced from the dragon kingdom. Echoing Aurelia's proud in the hall.

Beside her, Eryndor sat with his arms crossed, his expression grave as he fixed his gaze on Rue. Draped in white, his head bore the Fae King's crown, intricately crafted from forest twigs.

Aurelia clutched his arm, pulling herself closer to Eryndor, visibly asserting her dominance.

The ministers of the five kingdoms, gathered around the round table, were visibly shocked by Rue's sudden appearance.

"What brings you here?" Eryndor inquired, his voice laced with a venomous edge.

Rue fought back tears, longing to run into his arms, but she restrained herself, knowing all too well that Eryndor would not openly reciprocate in such a setting.

"I am here to remind you of the pact we made, Aurelia," Rue declared with determination, asserting her presence before the assembly.

Infuriated by Rue's audacity, Aurelia rose from her seat and, with a flick of her finger, levitated Rue into the air.

Eryndor sat back, observing the confrontation unfold.

Stunned by his indifference, Rue could not comprehend how Eryndor could remain passive while Aurelia tormented her. Though Eryndor was known for his ruthlessness, this cold detachment was uncharacteristic.

"A filthy human," Aurelia sneered. "Dare to defy me again, and you'll witness what I'm truly capable of."

"You think you wield power?" Rue retorted, her voice steady despite her precarious situation. "Let me remind you of the force that dwells within me."

A flicker of fear crossed Aurelia's eyes.

Abruptly, Aurelia released her magical hold, dropping Rue to the floor. She strode towards Rue with a menacing glare.

"Have you forgotten what occurred eight years ago?" Rue challenged.

"You are banned from our lands," Aurelia hissed in response.

"If you've forgotten your own pact, then perhaps I should speak to the king. I'm confident he will administer justice," Rue countered, secure in her knowledge that Eryndor, the true and just king, would not deny her a fair hearing.

Eryndor, known as the Golden One and the King of All, valued his commitment to justice.

"Aurelia, please, take your seat beside me. Let's hear what this human has to say. It's against my principles to dismiss anyone without a fair chance. Come, my queen, sit next to your king," Eryndor declared, his tone laden with a subtle mockery that did not escape Rue's notice.

"Speak, human. Do you require a representative to present your case?" Eryndor inquired of Rue.

"No, my King," Rue responded, bowing respectfully before continuing. "My King, I stand before a ruler who values justice above all. Thus, I will not speak falsehoods in this hall. Should I lie, let the White Palace consume me with fire immediately." Rue bound herself with an ancient oath, one that could turn dire if broken.

Eryndor nodded, a distant look flickering across his face as he wrestled with emotions buried deep within his heart, emotions he had denied for the past eight years. He sensed a void in his life, though he could not articulate what it was.

"My King, eight years ago, I arrived in your realm with my grandfather, searching for my grandmother who had vanished without a trace. After extensive research, we discovered a hidden town concealed by my own—Westbury Town. Occasionally, the veil between our worlds thins, and humans inadvertently cross into your land, or your people are spotted by humans. But let me return to the main issue. During my visit, on that very night, my grandfather was seized by the dark mist. At the time, I was unaware of what had taken him, but I later learned that creatures from the dark mist sometimes leave the mist's borders and roam the forests under the cover of night."

"You may wonder how I came to know all this. Let me explain. In the course of my investigations, your esteemed wife cunningly bound my soul to that of an ancient dragon, transforming me into a changeling. She then presented me to you on the night of your wedding to her." This revelation sent ripples of shock through the hall. Although most of the ministers were already privy to the use of changelings, benefiting from their plight, they feigned ignorance. This was the first time they had publicly acknowledged such knowledge.

Aurelia's eyes flare red, a fiery signal that she is ready to annihilate Rue then and there.

"Just before your wedding night, I finally freed myself from the grip of her magic and wandered into the forest," Rue begins, her voice quivering with emotion. She pauses, recalling the river where her transformation occurred. "There, by the river, I encountered the love of my life." Tears threaten to spill as she glances at Eryndor, seated beside what she now views as her adversary.

Eryndor feels a stab of pain as he observes Rue's distress, but he stifles his feelings.

Rue continues, "The man I thought was my fairytale... I had never met him, yet I felt an undeniable connection. However, after speaking with him, I discovered he was the reason my grandparents were taken from me. Heartbroken by his betrayal, I fled deeper into the forest and stumbled into the Mist." Rue shivers as she recalls the chilling dampness of the mist—a place saturated with sorrow and dark emotions.

"In that mist, one can plunge into the darkest corners of their mind. I don't know how long I was lost there, but when I awoke, I had reverted to my dragon form and managed to escape."

"If you're here to recount our history, spare us—we already know what followed. You came to our palace intending to burn the White Palace and disrupt our wedding. You sought to kill our king," Aurelia interjects sharply, her voice slicing through Rue's narrative.

Aurelia worries that Eryndor might recall memories she thought were sealed away long ago. When Eryndor had been with Rue, Aurelia had observed everything from above. She knew that if Eryndor embraced his true soulmate over her, her scheme to ascend as the undisputed queen would crumble, along with her aspirations to save her kind.

In desperation, she had sought her counselor's advice, who then provided her with a tiny bottle designed to capture and contain the sole memory Eryndor had of his soulmate—a memory she intended to use to secure her position and influence.

"Aurelia, let her speak," Eryndor interjects, signaling for silence with the intent to hear Rue out. Despite his request, Aurelia is unyielding. She discreetly gestures to Jamion, a minister from the werewolf lands, prompting him to attack Rue.

Jamion transforms into his werewolf form, growling ferociously, poised to tear Rue apart. Witnessing his own minister losing control infuriates Eryndor, prompting him to use a hunter's trap to subdue Jamion and reassert his authority.

"My apologies. Werewolves sometimes lose control at the sight of humans," Eryndor explains, then signals his soldiers to remove the werewolf from the hall, planning to address the incident later.

"But as Aurelia said, if you're merely here to rehash your last encounter with us, I must ask you to leave."

"No, my king. You must hear my story. " Rue waited for Eryndor to let her complete her story.

He nodded in acceptance.

"Though it appeared I was at your wedding to wreak havoc, that wasn't the whole truth. I was there to warn you all of the expanding boundaries of the Mist. And as usual, you wouldn't listen, which forced me to take drastic measures to get your attention."

This revelation catches Eryndor off guard. He turns to Aurelia, searching for any sign of truth in her expression, but he sees only rage. He then looks back at Rue, who stands resolute, imploring him to hear her out.

"Indeed, you did capture our attention, and we did witness the Mist expanding, which led us to dispatch our dragons to contain it," Eryndor admits.

"Do you remember the celestial proclamation that was made at that moment?"

"Yes."

"It declared that only the true Queen could save us all from the sins of our ancestors."

"That was the call. What does this have to do with your pact? We all know it was Aurelia who ultimately quelled the Mist."

Rue spits on the ground and laughs bitterly. "You are the most delusional king I've ever encountered. How do you manage to rule a kingdom? Fool." She was now infuriated by the King.

"HUMAN! Mind your manners," Eryndor bellows, his temper flaring.

Aurelia smirks, pleased by the display of control she still wields over Eryndor.

"I won't apologize for what I've said, but you need to hear the truth. Aurelia didn't go to save your people from the Mist; she retreated to her palace to hide."

"HOW DARE YOU ACCUSE HER OF SUCH COWARDICE!" Eryndor roars, his rage peaking, ready to banish Rue. Yet, he is bound by his commitment to justice.

"It's reassuring to see you still honor your word," Rue comments dryly. "I was there, fighting for your people when the creatures of the Mist attacked. You were on the brink of death, and I saved you. I eradicated the Mist and drank what remained."