Oh my goodness you guys are the best! thank you! I am so awful to wait this long to update! Please forgive me! Here goes...

The palace.

It looks like heaven with sun shining on its delicate windows, the gardeners gently trimming the flowers and the maids occasionally popping their heads by the gates.

I felt a glimpse of hope staring into that paradise I once thought was a prison. Now it is the starting line of a revolution.

This is my plan:

If i am able to expose the king's actions towards me, the people of Illea will revolt, causing Clarkson to step down, allowing Maxon the throne. And i know just the time and place when to do it.

MAXON POV (same time as America finds the palace)

I hear a knock on my door, "Come in," i moan. I decided to take my food in my room today. I didn't feel like seeing my father this morning. Last night he gave me the suggestion, more like a command, that I announce the engagement in three days, this Friday. It was just to much to handle. Can't he see what I'm dealing with? Anger, pain, and tears came streaming through me. America just died, he knows i loved her, but he is making me love Elise, and propose to her. I complied with it, but this, It's too soon. The people, America's family, everyone, will think I had no feelings for her, or that I didn't care about her. Which is the complete opposite. I would have gotten on one knee at any moment if my father wasn't leaning over my shoulder with a whip.

My pulse increased.

I needed air.

My maid's, who were previously America's, came into to give me a tray of food. They set it on my desk and left without saying a word.

I got up from my chair, and walked to my balcony. Opening the doors allowing the sweet summer breeze to emerge from the outdoors and into my room. I took a deep breath, filling my lungs with the breath of the clouds combined with the scents of flowers, wanting to feel like i was far, far away from here.

My enjoyment didn't last long. The sirens went blazing. Irritated, I turned and sprinted to the safe room.

AMERICA'S POV

I was so fixated on the palace, i didn't even notice the swarms of people rushing at it, some already inside.

I was frantic, i was too close. If they saw me...no i wasn't letting that happen. I found a bush and dove into it, covering myself, and making me invisible to them. The fun part was, i had clear vision of them.

Bored I watched their movements. This attack consisted of what looked like about 80-100 rebels. Large firepower, so i assume northern. They started from the west side and the north. Flanking off in 3 directions. Splitting the group into 3 should have weakened them, or not. When the two groups on the west and north sides shot at the windows, the men at from the third group rushed to the southern end, crouching down and waiting. Different tactics i thought, but still observing I noticed something mystifying, and clever. They rebels attacked from the sides opposite the gardens. Why? Because the gardens have the biggest gate and quickest and easiest passage to the main floor. Where all the guards are, defending the safe rooms, allowing the royal family to get there. Once the palace realizes where they are they will try to out-smart them and ambush them from behind. Opening the gate to the gardens, when really they themselves are walking into an ambush.

And that is exactly what happened. We opened that gates, cautiously looking around, then charged through them, only to be struck down by the hiding rebels in minutes. Then the rebels moved into the palace.

So that's how they did it. They are cunning.

I drifted off during the attack but awoke to nightfall. I didn't feel like moving, i was warm in my little bush, plus i had nowhere to go. I will go see Marlee in the morning, but now a new addition had been made to my plan.

Of course, inspired by the rebels.

They have given me an asset, knowledge.

And i will use this knowledge to give up me the upper hand.