*/*

Their mother was devastated, but DG understood her hands were tied. The OZ was too unstable for her to risk another coup, which surely would happen if she isolated the Royal Family from the nobility slowly returning to their side after the end of the Sorceress's reign.

It didn't help her mother's guilt that the contracted had been written annuals ago, signed by Queen Lavender and sealed by her Light. There was no breaking it, not without dishonouring the name of the House of Gale and risking a declaration of war from the lands of IX.

"It doesn't specify which Gale daughter," Azkadellia murmured, her pale hands held in her father's. "I could –"

"No." DG's voice was stern. "You're not going to do it, Az."

Her sister's dark eyes locked on her back; DG could feel them as she stared out of the window to the city outside and the country beyond. "But Deege, if I don't, that means you have to."

"And I will if it comes down to that." Her shoulders were squared, her back ramrod straight. "You can tell the Council to inform the Prince that we will meet to discuss the betrothal, Mother. All I ask is that no announcement be made regarding it until we've met in person and that such a meeting can wait to take place until after the anniversary of the Eclipse."

"But, my angel..." Lavender's voice trailed off as she touched her youngest daughter's arm. "It is no secret amongst the four of us that your heart already belongs to another."

"Heart's got nothing to do with it," DG quoted, but no one else in the room knew the words weren't her own. "It's an obligation, not a choice."

"It's one I can't let you make, baby sister." Azkadellia squeezed her father's hand before getting to her feet, noting that Ahamo still appeared utterly devastated by Lavender's announcement and had yet to speak. She joined her mother and sister at the window. "You've already done so much for me. You can't expect me to let you do this, too."

DG, at last, turned away from the window. She took her mother's hand in one of hers, her sister's with the other. "I haven't even started to make up to you for all you were put through at the Witch's hands. And I'm not saying I'm going to marry him. We'll respond to the Prince's people, invite them here. If on meeting me and discussing the subject, he wishes to go ahead with the arrangement his parent's made, we'll deal with it then. We don't know what his thoughts on are on the whole matter. He might not want to, and between us, we might be able to come up with a compromise that would help keep the alliance between our countries." She gave them what she hoped was a reassuring smile and squeezed their hands. "Please don't worry, not yet. Our priority still is and still should be getting our own people on side, and that's what I fully intend on doing."

Queen Lavender drew both of her daughters into an embrace. DG didn't need to look up to know when her father joined them, wrapping his arms around the three women who meant everything to him. The threat of their family being torn apart again so soon after being reunited was one that worried them all.

She sent a silent prayer to the deities of the OZ that her optimism that all would work out as it should was not misplaced.

*\*

Those eyes were familiar. There was no mistaking them.

Even without Raw confirming it and Glitch's misfiring synapses to stop misfiring long enough for him to make the connection, DG knew.

She knew, and she wept internally when those eyes changed from suspicious to concerned, her heart breaking and soul crying out for someone so similar who couldn't be there with her.

"Your Highness?"

Ignoring the soldier who spoke, DG walked closer to the man who represented the town. "I'm sorry; I didn't catch your name."

"Sam, Your Highness." The man lowered his head. "Samuel Cain, Princess. It's a mighty honour to have you visit our small town."

"Cain!" Glitch exclaimed, catching up with what DG had already worked out. "DG, it's Cain's – oomph! Hey!"

Raw's elbow wasn't a subtle gesture, but sometimes subtly wasn't what their friend needed.

The older man gave Glitch a curious glance but returned his attention to DG. "You'll forgive our lack of a welcome, Highness. News is slow to travel these days. May I be so presumptuous to assume that the rumours must be true if you're here?"

"The rumours regarding my sister?" DG questioned softly. At his nod, she smiled. "My sister was indeed possessed by an evil witch," she answered, raising her voice to be heard by the townsfolk who'd joined them. "She had been for many annuals. The Sorceress stole my sister's face, her name, her hands. She was liberated at the final battle on the day of the Double Eclipse. Rescued, though she still has much in the way of recovering to make. The battle," DG continued, locking eyes with Sam Cain, "was won because of the brave actions of so many Resistance Fighters, but there are five specific names I would ask the people of the OZ remember. Master Raw of the Viewer tribe. Lord Ambrose, Royal Advisor to Queen Lavender. Princess Azkadellia of the House of Gale. Wyatt and Jeb Cain."

Sam stared at her, his face pale and his eyes bright. The people of the town began to murmur amongst themselves at the announcement and the unexpected arrival of the rumoured Slipper Princess to their little corner of the OZ.

"Don't forget yourself, Doll, " Glitch called out, a proud grin on his face. "Azkadee wouldn't have been able to fight the Witch without you."

DG heard him and acknowledged the words with a small smile even if she didn't try to claim the credit he wanted to give her. Her gaze was fixed on the man standing in front of her, so easily imagining her Cain looking like him in the future.

"My... My son?" Sam choked out. "My son and his boy? They're alive?"

"They are," DG commented softly. "They're heroes, Mister Cain. I know our visit here was unannounced and regrettably has to be so short, but something drew me here, to this place. I believe now that it was the men we have in common. If I may, I'd like to let them know they can find you here. Too many families were torn apart during the war, and it would be a privilege and do my heart good to help reunite at least one of them."

Sam Cain moved swiftly, startling her guards. DG held up a hand to halt them as the older man took her into his arms, into an embrace that felt familiar but not the same. As his shoulders shook in silent sobs, DG felt the ache in her chest ease just a little.

*/*