Orian stepped out of the door of her new suite in the Askavi palace and looked out over the centre garden. Today it was all to begin. She had her Court and she had a home and she was the most important person in Askavi.

She gave it one more look over before turning back inside. It would only be a matter of hours before the First Circle and her triangle arrived to take up their new residence.

Remembering the choices she had made yesterday, she shook nervously. She knew her father and brothers were in the right positions, but she was still wondering if choosing Daemonar as her Consort had been right. She barely knew him and had only made her choice because of the small tingling she felt in her stomach when he was near.

Okay, maybe she was lying to herself. It wasn't a small feeling she had, rather it consumed her. Every time she tried to rid herself of it by telling herself that he was a rude, arrogant prick, it only made the feeling more unbearable. She was becoming more and more convinced that she loved him.

If only she could find out how she felt. She had tried to see his reaction to her yesterday, but she had been so busy trying to build up her courage to complete the task that she had forgotten to look. Though, she recalled, he had looked a little misty-eyed.

Shaking herself out of her thoughts, she remembered that she had to dress before everyone arrived. Opening up the long cupboard in her dressing room, she eyed the green dress she had worn yesterday. She had loved it when she saw it, and had rejoiced when the colour looked perfect on her. She wanted to wear it today – the dress was to be for special occasions, the maids had told her, and this was fairly special.

She imagined herself walking down the stairs to the main hall in it, and watching the Court stare at her as she gracefully descended. Then she saw Daemonar and she prowled towards him. She began stroking his chest and leaned up and kissed him, opening her mouth to let him in and let his tongue dance with hers. Her hands began to wander and she…

A knock on the door startled her out of her daydream. Distracted by what had happened, she called, "Come in." What was she doing? Why was she dreaming of passionately kissing Daemonar? And why was he responding? She sighed. After all, it was only a dream.

She turned to face Alanar who had just entered her room. "You're early," she said, narrowing her eyes.

The Warlord swatted his sister playfully. "Don't go all Queenly on me, sister. I only came early to see how you were handling all of this. Your father, or should I say Steward, along with your mother and First Escort, will be along with everyone else."

"Good."

"So, how are you with all this?"

"I think I'm okay. It's all just happening so fast. I'm caught up in all this, and my feet haven't settled on the ground just yet. I never expected that I would become a Territory Queen, maybe a District Queen, or even a Province one, though I thought even that was unlikely."

"Well, I appreciate you asking me to be your Master of the Guard."

"Well, who else was I supposed to ask? I wanted Father to be Steward, since he's older, and Dustivar wasn't old enough for Master of the Guard, and apart from Daemonar, I don't know any males who don't serve in another Territory Queen's Court or rule a Territory themselves."

"And are you sure you want Daemonar as your Consort? You must remember what his bloodlines are and where he comes from. And do you care for him, because for a position such as his, you need more than a familial or friendly relationship?"

"Actually, I've been asking myself the same question. I'm hoping it's the right thing." Orian turned back to her cupboard to find a dress.

Alanar smiled. She obviously didn't want to talk about Daemonar. Never mind. He wouldn't push it. She would do well, his little sister. She had issued a tactful dismissal, and he knew that he was meant to obey it. He served his Queen.

As she heard the door close behind him, Orian sighed. She hadn't wanted to talk about it, as she wasn't really comfortable with discussing things like that dream with her brother. Thankfully, he had realised that and had left. Turning her attention back to her dresses for the third time, she quickly chose one, and pulling it out, she laid it out on her bed and went to bathe.

Orian peered out her door, looking at all the Eyriens who were in her Court. They all looked so… Eyrien-like. Large, dark wings, straight black hair, light brown skin and gold eyes. She knew she was different, oh not very different, but it was still noticeable. She had the wings, and the eye colour and the skin colour, but her hair was wrong. It was curly, not straight. It hadn't really bothered her up till now, but she wanted to make a good impression on her Court. Which race was she a part of, as well as being an Eyrien? Was it Dhemlan, or maybe Hayll? She knew they looked slightly like the Eyriens. She had to know.

Taking a deep breath, she left her room and slowly walked down the stairs. At the sound of footsteps, her Court quietened and turned to watch her. It was just like her dream, but she wasn't going to make the same mistake here that she made in that.

Daemonar plastered a smile on his face as he watched her come down. He shouldn't have needed to force a smile, but it was so damn hard to smile when he was fighting the waves of desire that were rolling through him. She was so beautiful.

Reaching the bottom of the stairs, Orian swallowed her nerves and began to speak. "As Queen of Askavi, I welcome you, my First Circle, to the Hall. I hope that you will enjoy it here when you stay, however often that may be. Mildrian and Hadivar will be along shortly to show you to your suites."

Just then, the two servants arrived to escort them around the Hall, Mildrian taking the females and Hadivar taking the males. Orian decided she would rather go with the females, gossip and talk about things that made sense rather than have pointless conversations with males. It also meant that she might have time to think about her newest problem – her heritage.

Sorry I've been so slack about updating, school is kinda busy and I got a bit stuck on what was happening in the story. Should keep on track now! And thanks to those people who reviewed! Keep them coming!