Astrid first entered this palace wanting to die. She wanted to join her parents in a peaceful, blissful afterlife. Then she found reasons to stay alive. To prevent others from being brought in as her replacement, her friendship with Tamara, her curiosity about Loras. And finally... love. She was ready to face turmoil and pain just so can stay and right when that happened... She is dressed in a white, simple dress as she is paraded through the palace. A macabre crowd of spectators follows here to the gardens. Where the executioner is waiting. Such a beautiful day today, she thinks and then almost laughs at herself. So it is true that when you are about to die, the most random thoughts come to your head. Like your mind is trying to distract you from the fact that your life is about to end. The guards order her to kneel down on the black carpet that was lying in the middle of the garden. It's washed after every execution, but somehow, she can still smell the blood of the ones before he

"Astrid! How did you do that?" Tamara shouts with her eyes still closed. She opened them when they fell on Aine's back, but she closed them again when she realized she was flying through the clouds."Long story." Astrid answers. She wants to tell Tamara everything, but right now... the feeling of freedom she has as the wind caresses her hair at the top of the world. It's addictive.She remembers the faces of the concubines when she jumped over the balcony, pulling everyone after her. The shocks, the relief. They were scared to hurt the princess. They hoped Tamara wouldn't oppose when they realized they were wrong, they panicked. When Astrid jumped, they must have thought she decided to kill herself and take everyone that could stand witness against them with her. No blood on their hands, no one remaining to accuse them.Until they saw the dragon. The shadow of Aine's huge body swiped through the sky so fast, that no one was able to comprehend what was happening. When they finally did,

They just talk for a while. Catching up on all the gaps in each other lives. And God knows there are many. But thankfully, in the soft light of the full moon, it's only them. No one to interrupt."How did you end up here?" Astrid finally asks."Because of him." Loras answers pointing at Dracos. "He became agitated and I thought he sensed something wrong with Aine and you. I didn't have time to think too much, before I knew it I was in the air, flying to you."Astrid was resting her head on the king's chest and as he described the moment he thought she was in danger, his heartbeat got faster, as if only the thought of it made him uneasy. She hugs him tighter. In the end, she protected herself, but the thought of someone being out there, willing to let everything behind to come to her rescue makes her feel so safe, so deeply loved. Loras kisses the top of her head."When we arrived here, Dracos stopped wanting to fly any further and kept trying to go back to camp.""He felt Aine flying

"I was called, Your Majesty." The healer says after regaining his composure."She is unwell." Loras tells him, pointing at Astrid. It was like he couldn't even remember that he was screaming a moment ago. The doctor nods and approaches Astrid, but he also keeps an eye on the king as well."We were in a forest last night. Maybe I caught a cold?" Astrid continues to play her part, not allowing herself to get distracted by Loras' sudden outburst from earlier.The healer nods, taking a shiny rock out of his bag. Astrid looks at him confused, and he explains."I am a healer, my lady, not just a doctor. I take care of the body and soul. A two-for-one kind of deal, if you like." He lifts up the stone, for her to see it. It looks awfully similar to the ones the shaman was holding when they went there. "This one will tell me if there is something wrong in your body. Like a cold.""How does it work?" Astrid asks genuinely curious. She heard stories about healers but never saw one."I don't know

"Lady Astrid?" James shakes her shoulder.Astrid's eyes shoot open. Did she fall asleep? She feels like she just had a bad dream but she can't remember any of it."What happened?" She asks James, rubbing her eyes, trying to wake up and process what he's saying. "The meeting... Loras...""Yes. The king is still in the meeting. He required your presence, my lady."Oh no... so he's going ahead with the plan. Not surprising since she did nothing to try and change his mind."How is the meeting going?" Astrid asks, trying to regain a drop of composure before she walks into a room with the most important people in the kingdom. Not even that, before she walks into a room with the people she's supposed to lead in a battle just a few hours away. She wants to feel anxious and scared, but the memory of the feeling that took over her when she flew Aine over the battle, burning and destroying everything that wanted to hurt what she holds dear...She was never the one that lusted for power, she was