The sun peaked through the balcony window of Lief and Jasmine's bed chamber. Its rays reached up across the floor, the up to the bed, and over Jasmine's face. The sudden warmth and bright light stirred her awake. She opened her eyes, blinked through her morning blurriness, and slowly crawled out of bed, careful not to wake Lief just yet.

She did not waste time admiring her room. She had been living it it for the past five years as it was. There were potted plants here and there. The walls were painted with blue, green and purple designs resemble the colors of a vineyard or forest. There was a few glass windows in the ceiling, which was high above their heads, meant to let the sunlight shine through when it was high enough. The windows were set in a design meant to resemble that of a flower.

None of these pretty designs truly intrigued Jasmine, especially not now that she was use to them. She was sure that many other kings and queens of Deltora before her had also customized their bed chambers in similar matters. Besides, it was all a poor attempt to make her feel more at home in a forest.

There were two finely carved wardrobes at one corner of the room, one for her and one for Lief. Next to those was a dresser with a large mirror and drawers containing several different materials. On top of the dresser was a small basket filled with straw, and nestled comfortably, and sleeping soundly in that straw was Filli, the small furry creature who was one of Jasmine's constant companions.

Atop a coat rack near the door, which also held a few robes and coats, was Jasmine's other companion, Kree, the black bird. He was also still asleep, his head tucked into his chest. These two animals had been Jasmine's two oldest and closest friends. They had known her since she was a small girl living alone in the Forests of Silence.

Those days seemed so far behind her now. It had been six years now since the year that the Shadow Lord was defeated once and for all, when his Four Sisters plan thwarted by Lief, Barda, Jasmine, and the help of all of their companions, including the Dragons of Deltora. That was also the year of the day Lief and Jasmine were married, and overall, Deltora was finally at peace.

Barda, despite being married to Lindal, and the father of six, still worked as the chief palace guard, and was planning on retiring after one more year of service. Jasmine's father, whom everyone even herself still called Doom, had been on enjoying his own retirement, exploring the world of Deltora, studying the amazing creatures in it, and having all sorts of wild adventures. Jasmine would have liked to go with him, not stay in this wretched palace with her queenly duties. And now, Doom was back in Del from his adventures, and had been living in the palace for the last few days, planning on setting out again the next day. Since then, he had been spending time with his family and helping Lief and Jasmine with their duties. It had been much easier to Jasmine to talk to him and think of him as her father.

Sharn, Lief's mother was planning on retiring herself in another year, though she had not thought of where she would go or what she would do when she did. As she did after the Shadow Lord was pushed from Del, Sharn had worked as Lief and Jasmine's top advisor and assistant. Ranesh was also a very handy advisor. He had always given good advice to the King and Queen, been a useful spokesman for them when they were unable to fulfill that role, and almost always seemed to know what to do. He was a good friend to the royal couple for a long time, just as his wife, Marilen was.

Marilen still worked as the palace librarian, spending most of her time in the library, and always provided the family information when they needed it. She was also proving to be a good school teacher for Lief and Jasmine's children, as well as her own son, Josef, named after Ranesh's deceased foster father. Josef was six years of age now, Anna was five, and the twins, Endon and Jarred, were now three. All of them were great friends. In particular, Jarred and Endon were inseparable brothers, just as their grandparents, their namesakes, were.

All was well in Deltora. King Lief was ruling the land fairly and wisely, keeping everyone's faith in him. The Shadow Lord had not made any attempts to breach the peace of the land since the Four Sisters plot was foiled. All of the people who have suffered from the Shadow Lord's reign were recovering, and getting their lives back on track. Most had already done so. Now that the Four Sisters were destroyed, the land was no longer being poisoned. Deltora's crops, livestock, and economy were all jostling and were more lively than ever. All of the seven main tribes, as well as some of the minors like Broome and D'Or, were all united and were working together happily and peacefully. Everyone was happy.

So why was Jasmine not so?

For the last six years of her life, every day had been the same routine, with a few exceptions such as birthdays, business trips and tours, and vacations. Every day it was get up, bathe, have breakfast, tend to the children, tend to the people waiting in the , have lunch, maybe have some free time, perhaps time with Lief if he was not busy, then tend to the people some more, go over some royal documents that needed attention, answer messages from other tribes, make plans with the rest of the council, have supper, get ready for bed.

It was maddening for Jasmine. She was so sick of all those jobs and duties she had to follow. She was sick of the fine clothes, of good food, of manners, of servants hardly letting her do anything (aside from political decisions) herself. She had been living this elegant life for far too long for her liking, and Filli and Kree would agree, particularly Kree, who had grown tired of being the palace's top messenger bird. They, like here, were wild animals, and they belonged in the wild, in the forests.

And what did she give it all up for? For Lief? For her children? It was certainly not for the good of Deltora. Lief could have had any girl he wanted for his queen. She had seen many girls and women her age display interest in Lief. But no. He picked her, because he loved her, and although she was occasionally ashamed to admit it, she loved him.

She also loved her children. Anna was a free-spirited, rebellious girl, much like her mother, and was occasionally found shirking her lessons and chores, though nothing to the point of which it was time to worry. Usually, Anna was very dutiful. Jarred and Endon were still very young, so their personalities have not fully developed yet, but as mentioned before, the were inseparable. You have never seen two brothers who loved each other more, never such close best friends. Of course, they occasionally fought over a few small things, but not that often, and someone was always there to help them sort it out when they could not do it themselves.

Of course, the first year, perhaps the second as well, was not horrible for Jasmine. Her family made it bearable for her. But as the next few years rolled by, her family's love did not seem to have as much of an affect on her. She also started to become accustom to palace life, and she did not like that. She did not like what she was becoming, and every day struggled to fight it, now recently more than ever. And now, Jasmine was wondering if this was the life she was doomed to lead for the rest of her days.

These thoughts were going through Jasmine's mind as she picked out a gown and other clothes from her wardrobe, and took them with her to her personal wash room, still careful not to wake Lief, Kree, or Filli just yet.

Once she was bathed and dressed for the day, Jasmine walked back to her room to check on Filli and Kree. Both were awake at this time. Lief had left the room. Jasmine figured he was down at the kitchen for breakfast, and now everyone was waiting for her to come. That was how it was every morning. Just then, she remembered that Kree was taking the day off. So, she let Filli hop onto her shoulder, and left Kree alone in the room.

She headed down the hallways, her expensive boots making a knocking sound on the marble floor. She hated these boots, as oppose to her regular, messy, probably worn-down boots. She passed by the guards, at the door ways, many of whom still did not show her emotion or say a word to her. She had become friendly with a few guards, but some still believed she was a witch or a criminally insane person who would kill them if they upset her. She hated that sort of harsh beliefs. She longed to get away from such judgmental people.

At last she arrived at the kitchen, and sure enough, everyone else in the council was already there, at their seats, waiting for her to begin eating.

"Good morning, mother!" Anna called out cheerfully.

Jasmine took a deep breath for a second, trying to let go of her anxiety for a moment for her daughter. "Good morning, my dear." She said. "And a good morning to the rest of you." It was some of the same words she had been using almost frequently the last few years.

Jasmine took her usual seat in between Lief and Ranesh. Everyone said their good mornings to her before the meal began. Some of the others may have been discussing some political matters while they ate, but Jasmine did not pay much attention to it. She continued eating her breakfast of griddle cakes with strawberries and blueberries.

"Would you not agree, Jasmine?" Ranesh suddenly asked, interrupting her meal.

"I am sorry, what now?" Jasmine replied, trying hard not to show her disdain.

"That if Raladin and D'Or both have their eyes set on a gold mine, they should combine mining efforts rather than argue on which one should mine."

"Yes. I do think that would be best." Jasmine said carelessly before taking another bite of her griddle cake.

"You see. Exactly my thought." Sharn spoke up.

"Grandfather," Endon called out, "May we hear later of the time you were taken to the Shadowlands?"

"I am afraid not, Endon." Doom chuckled. "You parents do not want me telling you that story until you were a little older." He glanced up and smiled at Lief, who winked back at him. The twins both moaned with disappointment. "But I will tell you after your lessons of my most recent trip around Where Waters Meet, where I ran into a small group of Pirates." This aroused excitement in the boys. They adored their grandfather as much as they did their parents, perhaps more so.

After breakfast, Marilen was the first to get up as usual. "Alright, children, off to the library for our lesson today." She took little Josef's hand and walked to the kitchen doors with him. Lief and Jasmine's children followed closely behind her. Jasmine noticed a mischievous look that Jarred and Endon shared. She could tell they were planning on sneaking out of their lesson today.

Again, she cursed herself for not doing what a proper parent would do, and taking them aside to talk some discipline into them. As she remembered it, that was what her parents did when she misbehaved in the forests. Instead, she was taking the queenly approach and allowing the palace staff to parent them.

Another few minutes, and soon everyone else in the kitchen was well fed and ready to go about their day and deal with their normal duties. Lief gave Jasmine the usual peck on the cheek, and went on to his study to deal with whatever the advisors brought him. Lief did not make the same mistakes that the previous kings and queens have made. He carefully read whatever he was signing, and his advisors were hand selected.

Jasmine followed Sharn down to the entrance hall to meet the people and their demands. On the way, Sharn noticed Jasmine's look of distain, and made an attempt to cheer her up.

"I know you are tired of this routine, Jasmine." She said, smiling at her. "But-"

"But what, Sharn?" Jasmine hissed back, clearly showing how foul a mood she was in. Sharn had often tried to cheer her up after she had shown her distaste in these jobs.

Shocked, Sharn turned away, her smile faded. "You must try to retain your temper." She whispered at last. "You have been doing very well lately."

"What is the point?" Jasmine said stubbornly. "Every day is just the same exact thing. There seems to be no light at the end of this tunnel."

"Just hang in there, Jasmine." Sharn said again. She often times, much like this time, did not know exactly what to say to soothe Jasmine's rage, especially lately, when her anger and frustration had become more volatile than usual. She thought dearly of her daughter-in-law. Jasmine often tried to think of Sharn as her second mother. And although Sharn was an excellent mother, and a dear friend to Jasmine, Sharn could never truly replace Anna, Jasmine's true mother.

At last, they had reached the vast entrance hall. There was a large crowd of people there already, as there always was nearly every time of the day. Since the defeat of the four sisters, the crowds have turned up with less haggard, filthy figures. Now, mostly everyone was healthy and well fed.

It was a long morning, answering dozens of questions and concerns that the people had. Many had to do with asking for more metal or imports for the city of Del, or other villages, for there were folk from many different villages in the room. Sharn and Jasmine have promised to provide aid for the small bits, and for the large decisions, told them that they would see what they could do, and they would discuss it with King Lief.

Jasmine had also seen a few familiar faces in the hall that morning. Gers, the leader of the Jalis Tribe, had come with a few more Jalis to claim a shipment of metal they had ordered a week ago, and now were asking where to collect it. Manus and a few Raladins had come to make a few renovations to the palace after a recent accident, and were asking for a few extra plans. Steven the peddler had come asking for a few new imports he had ordered.

Finally, it was all over, and Jasmine could go on a lunch break. Sharn stayed to answer the questions of the people. She was more than capable of handling the people herself. The main reason Jasmine was there was to gain experience with it for when Sharn passed or retired and it would become her duty entirely.

She headed back to the kitchen, and met with Marilen there, who was eating a bowl of soup.

"Hello Jasmine." She smiled and greeted her dear friend warmly.

"Hello." Jasmine replied, her attitude rising slightly at the thought of repentance.

Suddenly, Marilen's smile fadded. "Jasmine, I am sorry, but I fear Jarred and Endon have run away again, leaving our lesson today."

"It is no big deal." Jasmine replied carelessly. "I am sure they will turn up sooner or later."

"Is something wrong?" Marilen asked, confused. "Lately you have not been as worried about some situations as I would expect you to, or as you have been in the past."

"Marilen," Jasmine answered in a know-it-all tone, "we face these problems every day, and they always work themselves out in the end. There is no need to worry about them. I will be worried when there is something big to be worried about."

With a concerned face, Marilen awkwardly returned to eating her soup, as Jasmine got to hers. After another few minutes, Barda came into the room. "Jasmine," he called, "There are some documents in the study you must look at."

With a huff, Jasmine got up from her seat and followed him to the study. There, she found Lief, who was skimming over a document. At his sides were Ranesh and a few more advisors.

"Ah, Jasmine." He exclaimed as he looked up and saw her come in. "Tell me what you think of this." He passed her the document he was holding. It seemed to be a request from a nearby island off the south coast, requesting permission to build a port with Del.

"Well, I believe we should-" Jasmine barely got to finish her sentence when suddenly, another door to the study swung open, and out popped Jarred and Endon. Endon was holding Monte, Lief's old kin doll, which was now one of the boys' favorite toys, out of Jarred's reach.

"There you two are." Lief remarked, walking over to his sons. "What have I told you about sneaking away from Aunt Marilen's lessons?"

"Come on!" Jarred whined. "Let me have a turn with him! You have had him for so long today!"

"My turn just started." Endon whined back. Neither of them payed any attention to their father, who came over and tried to break them up, but they ducked out of his reach and started running around the room like they were on fire.

Jasmine just watched for a moment as Lief tried to take care of the problem. It was rather amusing to her.

"So, Jasmine, you were saying?" Ranesh's voice suddenly broke her silence.

"Oh, yes." She stuttered. "We are friendly with the people on this island, yes? I think if we opened trade with them, it would be a good chance for trade for Deltora, and we can protect another nation from the influence of the Shadow Lord."

"Yes, but to set up the port would take months and a lot of money." Barda interjected.

"Well, we have all of that, do we not?" Jasmine hissed.

Suddenly, the door burst open again, and into the room rushed a small crowd of people. Sharn was trailing right behind them, so they must have been a few of the people in the entrance hall. They must have worked their way past Sharn to come speak to Lief, or Jasmine.

Gers was amongst the crowd. He stormed up to Jasmine. "Jasmine!" He shouted, "Everyone keeps saying the shipment was suppose to arrive at high noon today. It is now three hours late!"

"Be patient you stubborn oaf!" She snapped "It will arrive when it arrives! Ugh! You are just as stubborn as your brother, Glock!"

"What did you say?"

"Your highness," Manus stuttered, "What parts of the palace did you want us to fix up?" He took out a scroll with a blue print of the palace, and opened it up before Jasmine.

"I do not remember!" Jasmine muttered. "Ask Ranesh. He would know."

Gla-Thon, who must have ridden in on a kin, entered also. "We have brought that sap you ordered, your majesty. Where would you like us to leave it?"

"Ask a guard!" Jasmine hissed. Her temper was rising fast. So many people were asking her questions all at once. It was more than she could take.

"Your highness," one knight came in and complained, "There are two elderly merchants selling their products without a permit in the market.

This one came close to making Jasmine explode. "So? Arrest them! Do you really need me to tell you that?"

"Your highness, please." One citizen pleaded. "My husband is ill and there is no more room at the inn for the wounded."

"There is a room near the entrance hall where you can take him where he will be comfortable." Barda announced, trying to give Jasmine some space.

It did not work too well. The people crowded around Jasmine on all sides, shouting at her, asking her favors, demanding requests of her. Meanwhile her sons still ran about the room like animals, still fighting over Monte.

Jasmine could not take it, she covered her ears, gave a brief scream, pushed her way through the crowd, and slammed against the desk, supporting herself on her hands.

Everyone's questions paused for a moment. All eyes turned to Jasmine. Curious gazes locked upon her, making her feel even more uncomfortable.

Suddenly, Jasmine had had it. Something inside of her snapped. She had to get away from these people. She must. She will.

"Jasmine." Lief said softly, "Are you alright?"

Seeing a chance to voice his needs, one man stepped closer to Jasmine.

"My lady, please, will you-" He never got to finish, Jasmine snatched her dagger from her sash, and swipped at the man, cutting his arm. The man clutched his arm, and shouted in pain. All the other people stopped and stared longer. A few let out light gasps.

After seeing that the shriek was over, Jarred and Endon went back to their tom foolery, running around like animals, when suddenly, they ran passed Jasmine. Jasmine stood in their way. She reached down and aggressively snatched Monte from Endon's hands. And then, she slapped Endon across the face, and then Jarred. Everyone in the room gasped this time.

"Jarred, Endon, I have had enough of you today!" Jasmine scolded. "You two will go back down stairs to the library, you will sit through Aunt Marilen's lesson, and you will not make a peep for the rest of the day! Do you understand me?"

"Y-Yes, mother." Both boys whimpered in unison. Both were on the verge of tears.

"Good. Now go!" She snapped again. Scarcely holding back their crying, both boys ran out the door towards the library.

When they were gone, Jasmine looked about the room again, staring angrily back at all of the shocked faces. When she turned to Lief in particular, his face went from shock to anger. Without another word. Jasmine stormed out of the study, and headed for her bedchamber.

Still furious, Jasmine rushed into hers and Lief's bedchamber, and slammed the door, startling Kree. She was furious at herself for what she had just done. She had attacked an innocent citizen, and more importantly, deeply hurt her two sons. She was furious at countless other things.

She stomped over to the dresser, and looked at herself in the mirror. Filli hopped off her shoulder, onto the top, and sympathetically stared back at her.

What she saw was something beautiful and at the same time hideous. Her reflection was someone she did not know. The woman before her had well combed black hair, expensive diamond earrings and hair band. Her face and arms, which eight years ago were roughed and hardened by dried mud, were all washed and smoothed out. Around her neck was a necklace with a blue gem that sparkled like the lapis lazuli that Lief had gotten her for her twenty-first birthday. She was wearing an elegant, light-red colored silk gown.

She hated the image. She reached up to her face, and tore the earrings out of her ears, though carefully as to not to rip her own flesh and start bleeding. She then yanked the golden hair band off the top of her head, and threw all the jewelry at the wall, making them shatter. She grabbed and tore at her hair, intending to mess it up and tangle it. It was working.

She took a second to breath after looking at her wilder reflection. She then noticed that she had not torn off the necklace Lief had given her. She reached up and felt the tiny blue gem between her fingers.

Suddenly, the door to the room swung open, and in stomped Lief, who looked just as angry as she was. Jasmine saw through the mirror.

"Unbelievable." He snapped. "I cannot believe what happened back there."

"Tell me about it!" Jasmine hissed before turning to face him. "Those villagers-"

"I am not talking about the people, Jasmine. I am talking about you. Jarred and Endon were only playing around. Sure, they could use a little discipline, but how could you suddenly turn so cruel on them? And that man. Was it really necessary to attack him as you did?"

"Those people should not have been up there to begin with. Is there not a rule that all commoners must stay in the lower floors in the entrance hall?" Jasmine retorted.

"Oh, so now the rules are convenient for you to follow?" Lief asked sarcastically.

"Well, Lief. I use to live my life without rules or duties. Now, I do not even have the freedom to choose how to talk to people, how to spend my day, or even what to wear for that matter."

Lief took a moment to think about what to say. He knew Jasmine better than anyone. He understood exactly what she was thinking. After a second, he tried again to speak to her more calmly.

"Well, so you do not have quite as much freedom as you use to have. But think about it for a minute. It may not be such a bad thing. And besides, did you think that you could stay in the Forests of Silence forever?"

Jasmine was still too angry to think about anything. "I would not expect you to understand." She snarled. "You have had your parents to look after you and raise you your entire life, like a normal boy!"

Hurt by his wife's final words, Lief simply glared angrily back at her, not knowing what to say.

Jasmine walked away from him, and out through the window doors to the balcony. She looked out at the hideous city of Del. The sun had begun its descent, and the sky was lit a brilliant orange and yellow blend. Lief walked up behind her again, still glaring at her.

At last, Jasmine took a deep breath and started speaking again, trying to keep her temper lower. "Look, I just wish that everything could go back to the way it use to be. Back when I lived a life of solitude in the Forests of Silence, and everyone left me alone. When I could run about the forests without a care or responsibility in the world. When I could do what I wanted to do, when I wanted to do it. Back when I was free, and life was sweet!" She turned away to the railing, supporting herself on her arms again, and looked back out into Del.

"You mean back before you rescued me and Barda from the Wennbar?" Lief asked, getting angry again. "Back when the Shadow Lord ruled over Deltora, and destroyed hundreds of lives every day?"

"EXACTLY!" Jasmine shrieked at him. She was especially angry now because Lief had reminded her of her mother and father.

Lief, more hurt than before, took a step back. His expression changed from anger to sadness. He knew that Jasmine had longed for the freedom she had in the forests. He had done everything he could to try to make her feel more at home. And still, she despised being his queen this much.

At last, he took a step closer to Jasmine, placed his hands on her shoulders, looked into her emerald green eyes, and spoke softly. "Jasmine, you have three, wonderful children. A husband who loves you. Dozens of friends who care deeply for you. Why is that not enough for you?"

Still Jasmine's expression barely changed. At last, he released her shoulders, and slowly turned around, and headed for the door out of their bedchamber. When he reached the door, he slowly opened, and gave one last look at Jasmine, still at the balcony.

"I pray you will be able to apologize to Jarred, Endon, and that man before the end of the day." He said before shaking his head and leaving the room, closing the door behind him. He was most likely going back to deal with his kingly duties.

Jasmine slowly walked back into the room. Filli and Kree and heard everything, and were looking at Jasmine with looks of both sympathy and confusion. Not wanting to talk, Jasmine simply crossed her arms and did not say a word to them.

Jasmine felt suffocated, and cramped. She needed to get away from this palace. Away from this city. But she could not go out in her current dress. She quickly changed into a dress slightly less formal and elegant, and then took a large, dark cloak to cover her entirely, save her face. She also kept her dagger strapped to her like she always did, and also snatched a sack of gold coins in case she needed it.

She called Filli into her collar, and Kree onto her arm. "We are going for a walk. I need to get out of here." She said to them. They hurried down the stairs, and out through the gardens and to the gates. Nobody paid her any trouble in her disguise. And once they were outside, Kree took to the skies and got to fly around freely. The three wandered through the gates and into the city streets of Del.