Author's note: I try to keep most of my chapters so that you don't have to read anything else, but if you plan on reading this next chapter, make sure you have read the second chapter of 'Life of a Knight'. Otherwise, you'll be very confused. Please review.

"Lady Jane has requested an audience, your majesty." The Lady-In-Waiting had somewhat startled the queen, who had been thinking deeply of something else.

"Oh! Of course, let your daughter in." The Lady-In-Waiting made her way to the door behind which her daughter stood, which she quickly opened.

Jane bowed. "Your majesty."

"Rise, Jane. I had somewhat hoped you would request an audience soon. You see, as you know, the Princess Anna has given birth to a lovely little girl. My problem is that not a girl of close enough age to be her handmaiden can be found who is willing to work anywhere near the castle."

"I see. May I suggest Rose?"

"Who is that?"

"That would be one of Verbena Gardener's many daughters."

"Verbena Gardener…Did she also call herself Pepper?"

"Yes, she did, your majesty. And while we are speaking of Pepper and her children, may I ask you what you think of Valentine's cooking?"

"She can't make a pea soup or pancakes to save her life, and she refuses to so much as touch a potato."

"Pepper's daughters, Rosemary, Sage, and Spice, are all quite accomplished chefs. Sage can create treats fit for any King's table, so light and airy and delectable, Rosemary can concoct foods both hearty and filling, she specializes in pea soup and pancakes, but she is good with potatoes, and Spice has become an expert pastry chef, creating things that could drive you crazy if she didn't make enough. The three work in such harmony that I have never seen. For a short time, Pepper was ill and the girls took over making the food. The customers did not even realize that she was gone."

"I understand, and you make a good point, but if Valentine left, so would Maximilian, and we would not have a gardener, which is something we can not have."

"Once again, Pepper and her family can save us. Her son, Drake, does not have much interest in the inn that she and Rake run, he prefers to garden all day like his father used to, but he can't seem to find someone willing to provide him with an apprenticeship or a job doing what he loves, and the boy is almost fourteen. Rake has taught him all the tricks of the trade, and you must admit, the gardens have looked much worse these past years than they ever did when Rake and his family were in charge of them."

"Very good. I am sure, though, that you did not just come to petition me for positions at the castle for your friend's children?"

"You are correct. You may have noticed, but the number of girls training to be knights has skyrocketed. No longer can they just stay in tower bedrooms."

"Go on."

"I came to humbly request that a women's knight quarters be built, so that we too may live near to the arena. Also, I came to ask if the concept of a Queen's guard would interest you."

"Interesting concept, how did you come to think of this?"

"I didn't, it was my squire, another of Pepper's. She pointed out that while the male King's guards are capable of watching over him at any time, they cannot watch the Queen at all times. The same is true with the women. Besides that, many girls are paired with male knights, which is a folly. Their mentor may try to take advantage of them at worst, and at best cannot teach them the best methods to fight. Very few women will be as strong as a man, so we must be taught how to fight in other ways. Also, if we had a separate branch of the guard for women, more girls may want to think of becoming a knight."

"Very interesting. I shall give it some thought. You are dismissed." The queen waved Jane away. She bowed and exited the room. The Lady-In-Waiting made to leave as well. "Wait, Adeline."

"Yes, your majesty?"

"Don't do that. We've known each other long enough for you to call me by my name."

"Very well, your- Gwendolyn."

"I always meant to ask. What is it like…what is it like watching your daughter grow up…get married…have a family?" The queen was swiftly losing composure.

"Your- Gwendolyn…"

"I want the truth."

"The truth? It's the most blessed thing in the world, seeing her unfold into the wonderful woman that you always knew she would be, seeing her feel the same way about her kids."

"Do you think…?" Tears streamed openly down the face.

"I don't need to think. I know that Lavinia would have surpassed by far any dreams that you could have made for her. She would have been beautiful, like her mother. She would have been wise, and kind, and gentle, like her mother. I know that she would have made you proud."

"Damn him," the queen whispered, so faintly that Adeline almost missed it. She started to sing a song in her native tongue. It was the second time in the many years that she had known the queen that she had seen her break her calm exterior, the first time was at her daughter's deathbed. She had not even shed a single tear at Lavinia's funeral.

But then, when Adeline tried to imagine life without her headstrong, stubborn daughter, she too shed a tear. This was quickly wiped away, and the Lady-In-Waiting left the queen in the room alone. Or perhaps not completely alone. For one very short moment, there was someone next to the queen in her anguish, someone you still had the same young face and raven black hair and dragon wings, but she was there only for a moment, whispering something into the queen's ear, and she was gone.