A/N: *Insert something witty here* I don't own the Iron Fey series

Previously:

There was silence and the weight of Meghan's words finally hit her. She realized what her role was and now so did Ash.

The tension and the awkwardness (at least for Meghan) were unbearable. Before she knew what she was doing, Meghan sprinted from Ash in the vague direction of her room.

Tir Na Nog, the Winter Palace:

Meghan made it back to her room in mostly one piece. She ran into a pack of redcaps in the corridor on the way to her room, and one of them bit her arm before she could scatter them. And by scattering, I mean kicking and throwing the redcaps down the hall.

The princess plunked herself on her bed before rummaging around the room for something to treat her injured arm.

Meghan just finished cleaning and bandaging her arm when the door opened. Surprise, surprise, it was Ariella. The angry pregnant fey would give the redcaps a run for their money on the scary-o-meter.

Ariella yelled, rage obvious on her face, "You little weasel, how dare you try to steal the King from me!"

"Steal? If you haven't noticed I don't want him; I don't want to be here or in this position, but I have no choice!"

"There is always a choice." Ariella pulled out a dagger from her sleeve and stalked towards Meghan. The latter, searched for her dagger only to remember that she never picked it up after her skirmish with the redcaps. Meghan was totally venerable with no weapon and being in an area where Summer glamour was scarce.

Ariella was now within striking distance. Meghan closed her eyes, but her arm moved at its own accord.

Slap. Thump. Umpf.

Meghan opened her eyes. Ariella was sprawled on her back, her knife two feet away from her. A red mark on her check indicated what Meghan's arm had done. Ariella moved to stand up, and Meghan stepped back in surprise.

Ariella noticed Meghan's hesitation and used it her advantage. With a blast of Winter glamour, Ariella pushed Meghan into the far side wall. Meghan's limp body slid to the floor, the bed effectively hiding her.

Ariella walked over to the supine princess and incased her in ice to prevent her from moving.

Lady Ariella smiled, pleased with her work, and left the frozen, unconscious Princess.