I wake to the jostling of a ship, the hours spent at sea with my father mean I know the undulations of the ocean. But how did I get here? Where is here? I'm not due to set sail with my father for weeks yet so how am I at sea? I open my eyes only to find myself blanketed in the same darkness I had when they were closed. My only comfort is the creaking of the ship as the waves pound it mercilessly. I am bound at my wrists but manage to stagger to my feet. There is a beam of light streaming from the slightest gap between planks. It's day then, but what day? I remember falling asleep early, still in my clothes after spending the day with Annie and my mother on Tuesday. That would mean it must be Wednesday or possibly Thursday, I'm hungry but not painfully so, so it can't be any later than that. But why am I on a ship? And bound? If I was taken while I slept and we have been at sea for a day and a half the closest land is another three days. Where am I going? And why?

I follow the small shaft of light until I come to a wall, then follow it to my right until I come to a corner, then follow the adjoining wall. To my relief, two steps along my shoulder comes into contact with something hard and I turn to find a set of ill carpentered steps. There are five, I sit on the fourth and feel around above me for the hatch that must be there. I can hear footsteps now and each time they come near I prepare myself for a fight. The seventh time I brace myself, fists raised, I can only imagine how feeble I look. The footsteps stop directly overhead and I hear voices. It takes me a moment to realize there are two men, they're not speaking my native language of Ocien but I do know it. Serefin, they're Serefin, why on earth am I on a Serefin ship? I listen to them converse, I can only pick out a few words. I haven't had lessons in Serefin since I was a girl. I switched them out for self-defence training and swimming with Cato, Annie and Finnick. I'm not sure which is more useful right now. Why am I on a Serefin ship? Pirates? But what would they want with me? Then one word catches my attention

"-Sphincer" Sphincer, Serefin for ruler, king, the king of Seref is up there. He's in on this, behind this. Then it hits me. The cruellest man of any of the known kingdoms has taken me, from my parents, my friends, my people and my country. I'm crushed under a wave of terror as realization sinks in. If my father knows who has me, it means war with Seref. If not, then I am completely at the mercy of King Coriolanus Snow of Seref and he is known for many things, mercy is not one of them.

I hope, plead to whatever God's there are that my father does not know of my captors. Seref is far better equipped for war than my small nation, it would mean annihilation, the loss of so many of my people. I pray my father accepts my death and focuses on strengthening our nation. How he'll do that without my betrothal to a foreign prince or nobleman I don't know but he is a wise man and won't go down without a fight. A trait I have inherited so I resolve to stay strong throughout this ordeal. I will not show them fear.

When footsteps draw close again it's dark, there is no longer light seeping through the cracks above my head. There's a series of clicks above me and I stand at the base of the steps, squaring my shoulders and schooling my features. The man who opens the hatch leans back in surprise when he finds me awake and quickly calls something over his shoulder. I'm able to decipher most of his Serefin words

"The girl's awake" then something he says too fast for me to distinguish "fetch some rope and inform the King" there's more I can't make out but it doesn't take much to fill in the blanks.

I'm beckoned from the depths of the hull and for a few short moments I revel in the clearness of the night sky. I marvel at the sheer number of stars just as I always have. I'm tethered to the mast by a rope and three burly men stand close by watching me, their gaze is meant to unnerve me no doubt but I've suffered worse and I'm daughter of the king I know how to handle myself. Besides, I've resolved to be strong so I meet they're gaze with narrowed eyes and a smirk of some kind. They seem at least confused by my reaction, perhaps even unnerved themselves. Good.

A tall man with white hair, serpent eyes and fine clothes approaches from behind, I immediately recognize him as Coriolanus Snow. If the appearance wasn't enough, the way the men cower before him is all the confirmation I need. He stops before me and opens his mouth to speak, I do not give him that chance

"What do you want with me Coriolanus Snow?" I ask in the best Serefin I can conjure. His men's eyes widen but his eyes narrow, he can't hide his surprise though. I thought maybe I should hide my knowledge of Serefin but the shock he can't conceal completely wipes any regrets away. I think the men are more surprised by the way I addressed him. If I know who he is I should address him by his title, I will do no such thing

"You know our tongue?" I give him a salacious grin in reply

"What do you want with me?" I repeat, tipping my head condescendingly. Snow turns his back on me and I laugh because I will not let him think he's above me

"Feed her, bind her and put her back in the -" I do not know his last word but there's only one place he could mean

"Goodnight Coriolanus" I call at his retreating form. His men handle me a little more warily after that. The bread they give me is stale and beginning to mould in the corners but I figure it's all I'm going to get for a while and eat it. I hope to wash it down with the water I've been given but it tastes stagnant, I'm not willing to take that risk. I've learnt my holding cell is the length of my body twice and a little over once in width. In the far left corner is a bucket, I grimace at the thought. I manage to loosen my bindings easily and lay beside the steps with my hands behind my head. It's cold and damp but I have enough layers of clothing, eventually the steady rocking of the ship lulls me into a fitful sleep.

I'm woken by the hatch being opened. A bowl and a cup are placed on the top step then the hatch is closed. The cup tips as the ship falls but I wouldn't have drank its contents anyway. The porridge is lumpy and tastes like earth but it's food. When the bowl is empty my mouth is parched, I need water, I'm dehydrated but I can't drink the stagnant water. I check the pockets in the skirt of my dress, I'm both glad and disappointed to find a needle and thread, a mother of pearl shell Annie had wanted to make into earrings and some coins. I'm disappointed it was not more but this is all I have to remind me of my home now and they are treasured.

When I'm brought out of the hatch the sunlight burns my eyes but warms my clammy skin. Snow does not speak to me but his men chance nervous glances in my direction, I meet each one with a smirk. When they untie me and lead me back to the cell, they're in too much of a hurry to notice me taking a water skin from a chubby balding man's belt.

I take sips from the skin until it's a third empty. I feel I could drain the whole thing but refrain, I don't know how long this water will have to last me. I'm surprised to find the bucket is empty but that doesn't mean the cell doesn't smell rancid. I'm ashamed to admit I haven't bathed but there's not much I can do about it, my clothes and skin smell and my hair is matted and greasy but I will not break, I'm strong.