Have any of you seen Les Miserables in the cinema? The most amazing film I've seen.

"I'm going sledging." I announced to the Winter Court.

The nobles eyes me balefully with sunken eyes, and I couldn't blame them. In the week since I had been allowed out of my cozy dungeon cell, I had been hell bent on causing as much havoc and disarray as possible. Since Mab had put all of her guards on high alert, and sent the nobles doggedly tailing me round the kingdom, I hadn't had a chance to even think of escape. On my first day out Rowan had shown me the hideous trolls guarding the gates, and the ice statues in the frosted gardens. So while I had resigned myself to staying in the court, by no means was I doing it quietly. If they were going to keep me here against my will, then I was going drive them to insanity. On my first day, as soon as I was free of Rowan, I danced around the palace and added ridiculous touches of summer. I grew trees in the corridors, I covered the floor with splatters of flowers, I whizzed around and hung garlands of flowers around the ugly leering gargoyles necks, and made a special point of busting my way into Rowan's bedroom and turning it into a mossy glade which had not yet dispersed.

On the second day, the nobles tried to 'entertain' me, and took me to the library, which I admit, I enjoyed. Not wanting to let them think I was demure, I threw the books I didn't like out of the windows, apparently ruining a few priceless faery lore books. I know this because Mab was pissed and let me know by striking me across the face a few times. It was worth it though, especially when I turned my skin to flame and she burnt herself. She didn't touch me after that. Nobody did. I returned to the library, and continued chucking the oldest books I could find out of the window. It was hilarious watching the nobles and Rowan in particular dashing around trying to save them all. Eventually, the beautiful words lured me back, and Prince Ash turned up with an exasperated but surprisingly soft expression when he saw me sprawled on the floor enraptured in a heavy book. He gestured to the toadstools and vines creeping up the wall.

"You know everything you do is convincing Mab that you are Oberon's daughter." I had just shrugged non comitedly, too interested in my book to do anything other.

Afterwards, I released convicts from the dungeons, stated a riot in the city center and thawed out half the prisoners in Mab's private garden. As a result of this, I was banned from almost every room in the court. Not that anyone stopped me. After Rowan had grabbed me roughly by the wrist and sprained it, I had taken to wearing iron bangles. Almost everyday Mab made a point of gloating about the upcoming Elysium. I think it's her coping device, because deep down I think she fears me.

"I'm going sledging." I repeated, hands planted firmly on hips. The court issued a collective sigh, and I grinned.

"No." Issued Mab's hard voice. I exhaled.

"Why not?" I demanded.

Mab stared on impassively, her narrowed eyes the only give away of annoyance.

"It's obviously a ploy to escape." I sighed impatiently.

"I just want to have fun."

"No." I huffed, and crossed my arms and raised.

"Fine. You want a guarantee I won't leave then fine. I Teressa, supposedly of the Summer court, promise to return to the Winter court today on the condition that I am taken sledging in the realm of Tir Na Nog. Without Rowan." I added. Said Prince glared at me and I threw him a sweet smile. The other nobles looked on in surprise, and Mab surveyed me over her champagne flute.

"Very well." She said smoothly, as if it had been her idea all along. "Prince Ash will take you."

The amount of glares I was receiving today made me feel very special.

...

"So let me get this straight." I gasped out as I hiked up a snow laden hill. "You live in the land of eternal winter, and you have never been sledging?"

"No." Ash looked at me confused. He was hardly affected by the sharp incline while I was red faced and puffing. "It is more efficient to travel with on a horse."

"Yes, but sledging is more fun." Finally at the top, I straightened and looked at the slope with glee. "This is perfect." I took the sledge from Ash's hands and positioned it.

"Are you sure? We'll run straight into the forest."

"Exactly. Now you. Sit on the back."

"I have no wish to travel on this sledge." He said flatly. I rolled my eyes at his attitude. I mounted and slid into place.

"Fine catch me if you can. Maybe I'll even run into some redcaps." I tinge of sadness flitted across my face, but my grin blew it away.

He knew then what I was saying. I had left a loophole in my promise. There was nothing that stopped me from killing myself, or having someone else do it for me. Because I would rather die, if only to spite Mab, than to be a pawn in teh endless game of chess between the courts. Because when Mab found out that I was not Oberon's daughter, I would be fair game for both of them. Half of me was teasing him, but the other half was wondering, if I were given the chance to get out of the Winter court, once and for all, would I take it?

He made to grab the edge of my seat but I was already hurtling down the icy hill at top speed. I let out a whoop as the exhilaration overtook me. Behind me Ash cursed and I laughed. The colours of trees blurred around me as I plunged into the woodland, swerving and ducking under stray branches that threatened to take my head off. Then somebody with stark red hair darted in front of me, and my sledge was upturned, which sent me flying. The next thing I knew The snow was numbing my face, searing my skin with the cold. My arms were pinned to my back, and I felt satisfaction when I heard a hiss and a yelp when skin came into contact with my bangles. I snarled. Ash would surely catch up soon.

"Let go of me you buffoon! I have to get out of here." I wriggled some more, but only succeeded in burying myself further into the snow. Behind me I felt rope slide over my wrists.

"Okay, I'm gonna let you up now, alright." I was raised slowly by my shoulders. The boy who had captured me was a summer fey. His face was made of sharp angles as did all fey and dazzling green eyes. He was wearing a plain green shirt, trousers and leather boots. I glared at his smirk for a second, before ramming my head into his.

He howled and leaped back, while I lurched up and stumbled towards his weapons. He recovered faster than I thought he would, and snatched them up before I could reach them. I growled and looked around in desperation, but there wasn't anything I could see that could help. He approached me as you might a wounded animal, holding his hands up soothingly.

"Easy. Easy princess. This'll be a lot easier if you don't fight." I stared at him aghast.

"For the last time, I am not Oberon's daughter." The rope was singed away in my irritation. He grinned at me again, but there was a note of uncertainty in his voice.

"I know princess. You're Mab's daughter. Or at least, that's what Oberon told me. I've come to get you."

"No!I'm not I- Oh dammit." I snapped a branch of a nearby tree, shook the snow off, and bundled up some glamour. I directed into the frozen wood, and willed it to bloom. Vibrant flowers burst up among the remaining icicles. The boy lowered his weapons, and stared at me with unabashed curiosity.

"I am not a daughter of any court for lords sake. I'm a prisoner here." I looked down miserably. "Just like you will be if you don't start running." He quirked an eyebrow and looked delighted at the sound of trouble. "I have got a very angry Winter Prince on my trail."

"Oooh brilliant, which one?" I rolled my eyes at his antics, but began to march in the direction I had been sledging.

"Ash. Who are you anyway?" He paled considerably, and his tone was grave all of a sudden. I got the feeling he and Ash didn't get on very well.

"Puck."

"Well Puck, I suggest we get moving." He nodded, and joined me.

"Do you want me to get you out of here?" I shook my head.

"Can't. I made a promise to go back."

"Where are we going then?"

"The nearest cliff. I left a loophole." He caught my hand, and pulled me round to face him.

"You want to die." It was more of a statement than a question.

"I don't know." I crumpled "When Mab finds out I'm not who she thinks I am, then I might never get a chance like this again. And I can't stand being trapped. This might be the only way out."

"There isn't anything after death for us. There will be no turning back. I can always come back for you, after today." My breath caught. What was I supposed to say to that?

"I must admit, the sledge ride was exhilarating. You were right about that hill." Ash's voice murmured through the forest as he glided into view. Behind him a handful of knights appeared, and a nastily grinning Rowan.

"It was lucky I was so nearby. Didn't want the princess to run off did we?" He mocked. I clenched my fists and regretted for the umpteenth time not killing him, or at least cutting out his tongue.

"Puck." I warned lowly. "Get out of here."

"No Goodfellow. Stay won't you?" Ash's eyes burned with anger and hate.

"Hate to agree with ice boy, but I'm not leaving." I laughed humorlessly

"You know I have to go back, unless you kill me and I can't see that happening anytime soon. Besides, I'll see you at Elysium." I smiled a little, and put on a mock imperious tone. "Now be off with you Goodfellow. I command that you return to the Summer Court and update Oberon on the situation."

Puck, catching on, gave me a little bow and a small grin, then exploded in a whirl of black feathers. A huge black raven soared into the sky. The knights clanked after it, but they didn't stand a chance. I laughed a little.

"So dropping all pretenses now are we? Princess?" Rowan gloated. Ash grabbed my arm and started to steer me back the way we came.

"At what point did I actually admit to being the summer princess?" I asked innocently.

"When you ordered Goodfellow away."

"No Rowan, that was just to mock you." I shot back at him.

And with that, we fell into silence on the way back to the winter court. I had failed in my mission to escape via death, but there are other ways to get out. Tommorrow, my oath would no longer exist. Though if I were honest about it, I didn't truly want to die. Not yet.

...

To say Mab wasn't pleased with me was an understatement. I was put back in irons, and locked in my room. And the next time Rowan came to visit me, I set a hive of hornets on him.