Isolde had been avoiding this moment since the death of her Father but it was no longer avoidable. She would fight for what was rightfully hers. She held her breath as she got to the doorway of the towering Palace.

"I'm here to petition my King and Lord Princes for an audience with a dispute over my land" she told at the guards. They looked at Isolde and sneered "Good Luck" as they opened the doors for her and pointed her in the right direction.

In the Kingdom of Stormhold, every third week of the month the Palace gates opened to the landowners for any complaints they wished to be petitioned to the Crown. With the King's old age he had taken to not attending these 'minor' engagements with his people therefore he took it as opportunity for his sons to gain experience in these obligations for whichever one of them would succeed the King once he eventually passed.

Isolde grew concerned as she reached the room she was told to go to as there was not another soul in sight. She had expected there to be some sort of queue with other landowners who also needed to be heard but here she was, completely alone.

"You may go in and wait for the Prince" the next set of Guards told her.

'This is it' she told herself, she adjusted her silk green gown and brushed her curls out of her face as she strolled towards the empty throne accompanied by a Guard either side.

"My Lord, Prince Septimus" one of the Guards announced and Isolde felt her stomach drop. It became clear as to why no one else was here. She really had chosen the worse week to attend. Then he appeared, every inch of him in black. The room instantly felt colder as he placed his cold green eyes onto hers. Isolde bowed her head to him and then met his gaze again.

And she heard his voice for the first time and what a voice it was. Commanding yet oddly warm "Well, my Lady...?"

"Lady Isolde of Waterstrong" she answered not breaking his stare.

"So Lady Isolde, how can I assist you today?" he asked. She was once again, surprised by his pleasant tone. Prince Sepitmus had a terrible reputation and was known for all sorts of dark deeds, some folk would even say he had made a deal with the devil.

"My Lord, I am here to obtain land that is rightfully mine"

"Rightfully yours, how so?" he raised an eyebrow.

"My Father, the Lord Waterstrong passed not three months back and I am yet to receive the deeds to his land handed over to my name. It is my inheritance, Sir" she explained.

He gave a chuckle to himself "But aren't you missing an important detail here?"

Isolde gave him a puzzled look, she knew exactly what he was going to suggest but she thought it would be better to play it innocent "I'm not sure I understand your meaning, Sir"

" Let me explain this simply then, you are a woman, a daughter, not a son therefore you inherit nothing" he coolly told her.

Isolde could feel her temper rising, her heart rate getting quicker. She knew this would be the answer but if it was one of the other Princes she might have been able to persuade them to a new way of thinking but how would she get through to this dark Prince?

"Sir, it's not as simple as that. There are no male heirs, I am the last of the Waterstrongs. It is down to me to carry on our name and obtain our lands, not only for me but for the tenants of the land. They need stability" Her voice getting more tempered as she went on.

"If there are no heirs then the land reverts back to Crown, so thank you for bringing this to my attention. I shall see the deeds are changed" and he picked himself up from the throne and went to leave.

"My Lord! I am the rightful heir, yes I may not be male but I can work hard and get twice as much out of the land as any man can. You will change the deeds into my name!" Isolde's temper had got her into trouble plenty of times but she really didn't think she would lose it to one of the Princes of Stormhold, yet alone the cruellest one of all. It seemed, Septimus also had an awful temper as he stalked down the few steps to where she was standing and grabbed her tightly by the wrist "How dare you command me in such a way" he growled at her.

Determined not to be intimated by the Prince she gave him a cold look back into his eyes as he held her. This was not helping manage her temper as she growled back "Let go of me". What did she have to lose? It had seemed she was already losing everything anyway so why not be bold, she hadn't come in expecting these events to unfold but so be it, but she was about to go a step further.

Septimus loosened his grip on her for a second and she took the moment to pull her hand back from him, the temper in both of them peaking. It was at that moment Isolde took her laced black glove off her hand and threw it at his feet. He looked amused at this action and laughed "You cannot be serious?"

"I am deathly serious, my Lord. I, Isolde, Lady Waterstrong challenge you, Prince Sepitmus of Stormhold to a duel" She told him, though she couldn't quite believe what she was doing.

"You remember that duels are illegal?" he asked, still not sure whether this was a serious act or not.

"And when have you ever kept to the law?" she questioned back. He shrugged his shoulders, possibly the first thing they could agree with. Isolde then continued "If I win this duel, I will get the deeds to the lands that are rightfully mine"

"And what if I win?" he asked

"You keep that wonderful reputation of yours" she smiled for the first time at him.

"Well, with an offer like that how could I possibly refuse?" he smirked back at her. This was certainly not what he was expecting from today.

"We will meet at dawn tomorrow in the meadows outside of Waterstrong, you will not bring anyone with you. I shall have only my maid" she continued.

Again, he was taken back by her confidence or foolishness, he couldn't quite decide just yet but his temper was getting calmer and his amusement rising "I must say Lady Isolde you continue to amaze me with your strong demands considering you are addressing Royalty"

"I apologise for speaking out of term my Lord Prince but I feel very strongly about this matter" she replied taking her tone down.

"Clearly" he muttered "There you have it then Lady Isolde I will meet with you at dawn to settle this matter. I look very much forward to it" and he left the room.

What had she done? It was starting to sink in now, she had challenged a Prince to a duel and not just any Prince; Prince Septimus. The best swordsman in the land, the darkest of the Princes who showed no mercy to anyone. How would this end for her?