'Nice shot!' Zed called as my arrow hit the target he had marked onto a tree. I lowered my bow as he pulled his own arrow out of another tree. We were in the forest, the one he had deemed dangerous after dark, and it was mid-morning. A mist covered the ground like a smoky blanket and the air smelled like bonfires. I pulled another arrow from my quiver as I glanced at my fiancé. He was dressed casually in a black velvet jacket and brown trousers with knee-high brown boots. And I was dressed just as casually in leggings, an underbust corset, a blouse and a cloak. Apparently now that I was engaged to a prince, I didn't need to wear dresses all the time and I was glad for that.

I hitched another arrow in the string of my bow and pulled it back. It hit the arrow already embedded in the tree, splitting it down the middle. Cornelius let out a low whistle from where he and our other guards were stood.

'Your Highness, My Lady is better at this than you are.' He grinned and Zed narrowed his eyes at his guard. 'I think you need some more practise.' Jade smirked at me and I laughed softly as Zed hitched an arrow into the string of his bow and quickly fired it towards the tree.

It missed.

'Damn it!' Zed hissed and the guards and I stifled a laugh as he stormed off to collect the stray arrow.

Living in Aldheim was completely different to the palace. Unlike the palace, there was no hustle and bustle. It was calm and quiet and no one darted around with clipboards nor did the press hang around outside the gates, waiting to snap photographs of us. We spent the next week settling in and I was glad to be away from the stress of being a member of the Royal family. We spent the days in the forest and in the mountains, following trails, riding the horses and testing out our savant gifts as Zed taught me how to use my telekinesis effectively. The evenings were spent watching the stars from the observatory or whilst lying on a blanket in the castle grounds.

But a week after arriving, Zed crept out of our bed far earlier than normal. When he came out of our ensuite bathroom, I sat up in bed and watched him as he reached for a tunic slung over the chair.

'Where are you sneaking off to?' I asked him and he tensed as he looked over at me.

'I have some business to take care of,' he replied.

'Business?' I wrinkled my nose. 'What kind of business?'

'Nothing you need to worry about, my love.' He leaned towards me and pressed his lips to my forehead. 'I will be back in a few days.'

That caught my attention and I widened my eyes. 'A few days?'

'I am meeting Trace, Xavier, Yves and my father further south so it will take some time to travel.'

'Zed, what's going on?' My heart sank in my chest. 'Is it the rebels?'

'The less you know, the safer you will be.' He replied, softly. His finger traced the back of my left hand, circling the ring on my finger.

'I want to come with you.'

'I need you here. I need you safe.'

Tears brimmed in my eyes. 'And I need you safe.'

'I will be.' He replied, 'but there are some things I do not want you to see.' His hand moved from mine to cup my face. 'And here you will be safe.'

'Am I really safe if I am worrying about you the whole time you're away?' A tear escaped down my cheek and he wiped it away with his thumb.

'I do not want you to worry about me. Have some fun with Chloe and Abby, go out into the town… just keep out of the woods at dark, please.'

'Who's in those woods?' I asked him.

'Someone we cannot trust,' He pressed a gentle kiss to my lips and then I watched from the window a few minutes later as he rode away in his armour, with Cornelius, Jace and several other guards trailing behind him.

'He will be fine,' Abby said that afternoon. We were sat in the observatory and I had my nose in a book whilst she and Chloe sat and sewed the fabric I'd bought in the market the previous week. They were already making my Winter Solstice dress, even though it was a month away, but I didn't bat an eyelid. With all the cleaners and other maids in our house, they needed to keep busy and I was hardly a demanding princess.

'I've read the same page five times.' I huffed, putting down the book. 'I can't concentrate knowing he's out there, heading towards danger.' I walked over to the window and looked out at the mountains on the horizon, wondering where Zed was now, nine hours later.

'You need a distraction,' Chloe said, 'we could watch a film if you would like?'

'Or we could go to the music room?' Abby offered as I looked down at the town below. The lights were just starting to come on, now that it was getting dark, and I wondered what the town was like at night. Were the taverns packed? The clubs? Or did everyone stay indoors?

'Or we could go out this evening.' I suggested and I turned to face my maids.

'We can ask Theo and Jade to escort you to town if that's what you'd like to do.'

'No,' I shook my head and turned to face them. 'I'd like you both to come.'

'I'm not sure we'd be allowed into a tavern.' Chloe replied, signalling to her clothes.

'Oh but you will.' I grinned and they both gave each other concerned glances.

Three hours later and we'd all eaten and dressed together for an evening in a tavern. Abby and Chloe were in two of my gowns, despite their arguing, and they looked just as noble as I. Their hair was down and in waves, with a few bits pinned back, and they wore silver; Abby wore a new silver dress with long velvet sleeves and a silver top before it fell into a sequin-decorated skirt to the floor and Chloe wore an older dress of mine with loose, long sleeves, some embellishment across the bust and a floral pattern across the bodice and the skirt. My dress was silver too, with off-the-shoulder sleeves, a cinched in waist where my corset was and embellishment on the embroidery of the tight bodice before it fell into a satin-style skirt. We fastened on cloaks, mine the black embroidered velvet one Zed had given me, whilst the others wore my other wool cloaks and then we headed out into the cool, night air with my guards flanking us and a dagger tucked into the holster on my thigh, just in-case.

'This isn't a good idea.' Chloe said as we pulled up our hoods.

'I agree,' Abby replied, 'this is not what maids should be doing.'

'Nonsense, you're noblewomen tonight.' I tutted at them. 'Live a little.'

The town was still busy when we reached it and noblemen and women walked between taverns and clubs. Some sang, alcohol already flowing through their veins, and others huddled together as they walked along, chatting in hushed voices. Nobody turned our way, our guards disguised in normal clothing with weapons tucked underneath, hidden from the public eye. I heard music pouring through a tavern door and I grabbed my friends by their hands, leading them inside. A guitarist was on the stage, playing and singing along to songs I recognised from over the years and I grinned at Abby and Chloe as they looked around, warily. I unfastened my cloak and hung it by the door as they did the same and then we found some empty benches to sit at. But as I looked around, I realised that maybe we'd missed a memo about the dresscode in Aldheim. Girls wore mainly strapless dresses in shades of silver, black and deep blue and their dresses were draped with cut-out areas from low-cut, but still sophisticated, necklines, to low-backs and even cut-out sides, revealing waistlines. In our gowns with our corsets, it was very clear we were from Ascot. I imagined Lady Evelyn in this tavern and found myself smirking; she would not have approved of the skin on show through little cut-outs or slits in skirts.

'What can I get you?' A tavern girl asked as she walked over to us. She stood out amongst the noblemen and noblewomen in the tavern, dressed casually in a white off-shoulder dress that resembled something worn by the Greeks and certainly did not match the weather outside.

'Three cups of wine, please.' I replied as the guards took their seats around the room, scattering themselves and sitting in small groups as they pretended to chat like old friends.

'Coming right up,' she took the gold I'd left on the table and headed over to the bar as Abby shifted uncomfortably in her seat opposite me.

'Relax,' I told her as I tapped my feet in time to the music. 'We're here to have a good night.'

'And get drunk?' Chloe laughed awkwardly.

'A little wine is fine,' I replied as three cups were placed on our table in front of us. I nodded at the cups and we each took one. 'To a girl's night out.' I said and I clinked our silver cups together before they could argue.

Two cups of wine later and I finally had Chloe and Abby onside. They sat with me, giggling as we sipped at our red wine.

'You were right, Sky, this was a good idea.' Abby beamed. 'There are so many good-looking men in here!'

'The gentleman over there keeps looking at you.' I pointed out and she followed my glance, blushing and twiddling hair around her finger.

'He's looking at you.' She shook her head.

'No he isn't.' I laughed. 'You should talk to him.'

'And look desperate? I don't think so.' She frowned as Chloe finished drinking her wine.

'Can we dance?' She beamed, grabbing both of our hands. 'I've been practising.'

'You have?' Abby looked surprised.

'What?' She shrugged, getting to her feet, 'it's a useful talent to have, especially if our princess here insists on us attending parties and joining her in taverns.'

I laughed softly and got to my feet too. 'Well played.'

Chloe curtsied dramatically and I laughed as I moved to her side to join her. 'Well Abs, will you be dancing with us? Or sitting like a lost puppy?'

Abby rolled her eyes and stood up, 'lead the way.'

We walked towards the space that had become the dancefloor, where couples danced together and some women lingered, waiting for people to dance with them. As the song started up, Chloe took one of my hands and then one of Abby's and we danced together in a circle, laughing as we threw back our heads. Lady Evelyn would have criticised me for making a scene or being unladylike, dancing improperly without my fiancé but the three of us twirled each other around as we danced together and soon more women were joining in with their friends, no longer waiting for a male dance partner. I danced until my feet were aching and, when I moved to the bar to get us more drinks, I paused as I saw two noblemen asking my friends to dance.

'What can I get you?' The bar owner asked. I took a gold coin out of my pouch but a hand reached out with two gold coins.

'I'll have a whisky,' the white-haired stranger said in a thick, Northern accent, as he passed over the coins. 'And whatever the lady is having.'

The bar owner turned to me and I fiddled with my engagement ring. 'Miss?'

'I can buy my own drink, thank you.'

The white-haired man beside me raised his eyebrows. 'I wasn't assuming you couldn't.' He turned back to the bar owner. 'She'll have a whisky too.'

I wrinkled my nose as the bar owner turned away from us to make our drinks.

'Ah, so you're a wine drinker?' He tucked a loose strand of jaw-length white-blonde hair behind his ear. 'Whisky not fancy enough for you?'

I couldn't believe his nerve and I was about to interrupt but then I realised- he didn't recognise me. No one here seemed to without Zed at my side. To the white blonde-haired stranger beside me, I was simply a snobby noblewoman. I let my mouth creep into a smile. 'I'll have some whisky.'

The cups were passed over to us and the stranger clinked his cup against mine before downing it. In one. I glanced at his navy embroidered tunic, his brown leather trousers, his ruffled white shirt and his boots. He looked like he belonged in the military. And he was clearly pretty high up in it. I chugged back my drink too and he raised his eyebrows in surprise as I placed the cup beside his on the bar. Jade and Theon were watching us from across the tavern, expressionless as they watched my conversation with the man with a fancy-looking sword tucked into the holster at his belt. The engraved hilt with its wolf's head was enough to show he was just as important as he looked.

'Well, what do you think?' The man asked me.

'Not bad,' I replied honestly. I wondered if perhaps honey had been added to my whisky as it tasted sweeter than I'd expected.

The white-haired man smiled and held out his hand, 'Rowan.'

'Abby,' I lied, using one of my maid's names.

'Abby.' He nodded but raised an eyebrow. 'You're not from around here… where are you from?'

'Ascot,' I replied, knowing lies were no good here. My accent was clearly from near the capital and was very different to his.

'And what brings you to Aldheim?'

'I am here for the winter season,' I replied. 'My friends wanted to celebrate the Winter Solstice.' I nodded at Abby and Chloe, who were dancing around in time to the music. I smiled at the sight.

'Aldheim is the best place for that.' He nodded. 'The only place to see the meteor shower.'

'I imagine it's quite spectacular,' I said, 'I have already seen the Aurora Borealis and that was an incredible sight.'

'And a rare one. You have clearly arrived at the right time.' His eyes fell to my engagement ring and I tucked my hand behind my back. The ring had been all over the press and I didn't need him recognising who I was. 'Another drink? Your friends seem quite… occupied.'

'My round,' I replied, placing two gold pieces on the bar. 'Another whisky?'

Another whisky was a bad idea. By the time I'd finished it, I could practically feel the drinking pumping through my veins like blood. I wasn't drunk but definitely tipsy. And as for Abby and Chloe… well I was certain they were drunk. Especially when Chloe appeared in front of me and pulled me onto a table to dance with her. And I did. I danced in time to the music, weaving in and out of her and Abby and the other women and men that had joined us, whilst Rowan the military man or pirate or whatever he was watched us from his place beside the bar. When I glanced his way, he raised a cup to me, almost in a salute and then I returned to dancing again.

We left the tavern at kick-out time and back in our cloaks, we walked out of the town, back towards the castle as we laughed and chatted amongst ourselves. Chloe danced her way through the gates and Abby and I laughed as we joined her, spinning into the hallway.

'Sweet Gods,' Jade murmured as I walked up the stairs towards my room, 'our princess is a terrible drunk.'

I woke up feeling every bit the terrible drunk the following day. My head was throbbing and I knew Abby and Chloe were the same so, after they'd helped me to dress in a white flowy blouse and blue embroidered corset, I sent them back to bed for the morning. Breakfast was ready when I was downstairs and, under the cook's orders, I drank plenty of water to refresh myself. And then, quickly braiding my hair, I grabbed my bow and arrow and headed out into the forest.

It was a colder morning, the coldest it had been so far, and I was grateful as the cool air danced around my head, soothing my headache. From the frost and mist on the ground, I wondered if snow would soon be on its way, especially as there were fewer animals about than there had been over the last week. The only sounds were the crunching of Theo and Jade's footsteps behind me as their boots snapped twigs and the sounds of the birds singing in the trees. We walked through the forest, further than I had been before, and soon we came across a waterfall. I perched on a rock, eating the apple I'd stashed in my bag and looked up at the cascading water in front of me. It was the only waterfall I'd seen before and the way the water danced amongst the rocks made me smile. As the water fell in the river past my feet, it looked a turquoise colour and I wondered if it was coming from a glacier in the mountains.

Three birds startled me as they flew overhead and I glanced across the river at the direction they came from. I notched an arrow to my bow swiftly as Jade and Theo stood in fighting stance beside me, hands on the hilts of their swords. A crunch of leaves had me releasing my arrow and it flew through the air, barely missing a figure as he moved out from behind a tree just as my arrow embedded itself in the tree's bark.

Rowan held his hands up, his hands away from his sword, showing he was not armed. 'Well that was not a particularly pleasant welcome,' he murmured as he glanced across at us. 'Archeron, Kester, long time no see.' He nodded to my guards and I glanced at them with curiosity as they lowered their hands, no longer needing weapons. They knew each other? 'Shame you didn't join me for a drink in the tavern last night.' Rowan's eyes moved to land on me. 'Abby, wasn't it? Or Lady Sky? Now tell me, princess, which name do you prefer?'

Rowan pulled my arrow from the tree and walked over to the river, climbing onto a rock as Theo laughed and shook his head.

'We were trying to be inconspicuous, Thornbern,' Theo replied with a smirk. 'Something you don't know much about.'

'By letting our future leader dance on tables?' Rowan shook his head as a smile danced on his lips. He walked across the rocks until he landed with a leap in front of us. He straightened up from his crouch and bowed to me in a way that felt mocking.

'I shall do as I please,' I said to Rowan Thornbern. 'Who are you to judge?'

His mouth twisted into a smirk. 'Captain of the Aldheim Guard, my lady. Captain of your guard.'

I cursed, inwardly. So that was how he'd known all along. He worked for Zed and I. Led our guards. 'I believe you missed that small detail out last night.'

'But I'm not the only one who left out small details,' he reminded me and I bit my lip as he smiled a sly smile. 'Perhaps we could discuss this over lunch?' His eyes scanned the forest. 'There are too many ears here.'

'The trees can hear us now?' I smirked and his eyes darkened.

'It is not the trees I am concerned about, my lady.' He held out his arm and I hesitated to take it. 'No taverns today, let us head back to your chateau.'

'The maids will certainly be pleased to see you,' Jade murmured and Rowan flashed her a grin as she grabbed his arm. Theo followed suite and then Rowan reached for my arm before I could remove myself from his grasp. And suddenly, we were back in the grounds of the castle.

I glanced around, dazed, wondering if I was hallucinating. 'How…?'

'Think you are the only one with a gift, my princess?' Rowan grinned as he released me and Jade and Theo moved away from him. How had they failed to mention this to me? And how had Zed? 'Shall we get some lunch? I'm starving.'

I changed into a dress for lunch, something that would be deemed more suitable for meetings. I wore a black velvet dress with off-shoulder sleeves and a tight bodice, my corset holding in my waist and helping me to stand up straight. When I reached the dining hall, Rowan was already sat there, a tankard in his hand. I noticed the sword was gone, as was the cloak and he was sat reading a book of some description. He got to his feet as I walked into the room and bowed but I shook my head.

'No formalities,' I told him and he smiled.

'Your words or the words of His Highness?'

A maid brought me a cup of wine and I was more than happy to sip at it. 'I am still getting used to my new… position.'

'Of course,' he nodded, 'you have had a very different upbringing to mine and His Highness'.' I sat up straighter in my chair, feeling the holster containing my dagger rub against my thigh.

I took a swig of my wine, 'indeed I have.'

There was a lingering silence between us for a moment and then he looked across the table at me, his chin rested on his hand. 'You are not quite what I expected.'

I put down my glass and looked across at him as I fiddled with my engagement ring in my lap. 'How so?'

His green eyes flickered, almost cat-like as he trained them on my face. 'I suppose I expected a quiet lady who did what she was told, preferred dresses and luxury over weapons and such.' He took a sip from his tankard but kept his eyes trained on me, 'and then I saw you in the forest with a bow and arrow and you didn't hesitate to fire my way. You probably would have hit me too, had my reflexes been slower.' He leaned on the table, continuing to watch me, 'and had you been a quiet girl who follows orders, you would have kept well away from the woods when His Highness warned you.'

'What's in those woods?' I asked, leaning on the table myself as I refused to break eye contact with him.

'Dangerous people.'

I groaned, inwardly, at his lack of explanation and before I could respond verbally, I grabbed my dagger with great speed and stabbed the blade into the surface of the wooden table. Rowan's eyes widened in surprise.

'And you think that I am not dangerous?' I asked, pulling the plate out of the wood and spinning the dagger in my hand, a move I had practised many times.

Rowan let out a low laugh, 'my Lady, I admire your courage but you are not trained enough to face such a thing. Maybe an intruder to the castle or a pickpocket, but you do not have experience fighting enemies on a battlefield. Can you even use a sword?'

'I can use a bow and a dagger perfectly well thank you,' I replied but he shook his head.

'And what good is that if a foe should get too close?' He glanced at the scar on my arm, 'but you already know that, don't you?'

I winced at the comment, 'you are awfully bold speaking to your future princess like that.'

'Stay in the castle, my lady. It is the only way your safety can be guaranteed.' He stood up but so did I.

'Show me how to use a sword.' I said to him, my voice firm. 'Train me.' My mind thought back to the day in the palace when I had asked Zed to help me defend myself. And he had trained me. My stamina was still good, I could use telekinesis and now I could use a bow and dagger. What was a sword on top of that?

He turned his head and gave me a once-over, 'you really are not a normal princess, are you?'

'Zed trained me in the palace. At six every day, he taught my self-defence, helped me build my stamina and strength… he taught me to fight without weapons.' I folded my arms across my chest. 'If you consider a sword so important then teach me to use one.'

'Because being Captain of the Guard frees up so much of my time?'

I narrowed my eyes at him and unfolded my arms, standing up straighter, 'you will train me to use a sword and that is a command.'

A slow smile crept across his face, 'Yes, my lady.' He bowed and grabbed his sword from the table, twirling it and waving it around. 'Change out of the dress and find a sword. We start training in thirty minutes.'

Thirty minutes later and I was in a velvet embroidered tunic, a similar style to the ones Zed wore, and leggings and boots and I held an old sword in my hand that Jade had found in the guardtower. The hilt was dull, the blade lacked shine but it was a sword nonetheless.

Rowan was already in the courtyard waiting for me, swinging around a sword as he parried with a guard I didn't recognise. It almost was like a choreographed dance as their blades clashed together, a metallic sound ringing through the grounds. I looked at the sword I was holding and wondered if the old thing would make the same sort of sound when it hit Rowan's sophisticated blade. I doubted it.

'My lady.' He said in greeting with an unnecessary bow. The guards in the courtyard did the same and their eyes moved to take in my weapon. I walked over to the captain of the guard and he smirked. 'I think we're going to have to get you some armour made… and a new weapon.'

My arm throbbed the next day and I groaned as I stretched towards the empty space beside me. Zed wasn't back yet and I wasn't really feeling ready to face Rowan again. He'd criticised how I held my sword, how I swung it and anything else he could and my self-esteem was now lacking. As if sensing I was awake, Abby and Chloe walked into my room with a tray full of breakfast goodies and some painkillers.

'Good morning sunshine!' Abby said chirpily and I groaned. 'Feeling achy? The Captain said you would be.'

'You've spoken to him?'

'He called off your lessons today as he's been call to an issue on the Northern coast. Mentioned he'd be around for your next sword lesson tomorrow.'

'I'm not sure my esteem can take it,' I murmured, pushing myself up in bed as the tray was placed on my bedside table.

'He might be an ass but he knows his stuff,' Chloe said as she sat on the armchair, a new dress in her arms. She picked up a needle and some thread and started to sew on embellishments. 'Apparently he's been in loads of battles and he's been protecting the Northern border for four years now, following on from his father.'

'Doesn't give him an excuse to be a jerk though,' I rubbed my aching arm and mentally reassured my aching pride, before excusing myself for a hot bubble bath.

I didn't venture out into the forest that day. It was considerably colder, stormy and it poured down with rain. With the colder air, Chloe had muttered about being surprised there was no snow yet, but I just kept quiet on my windowseat in the observatory, wrapped in a fur blanket and reading a book. I had planned on spending the whole afternoon that way until the housekeeper came in.

'I am sorry to interrupt your afternoon, Lady Sky, but you have a guest.' He said with a bow.

'I do?' I moved my arms to the side of the window seat, so that I was properly sat up. 'Are they downstairs?'

'Yes, my lady, she is.' He looked uncomfortable and I wondered who it could possibly be. 'I showed her to the reception room and the cooks are making her some tea and refreshments.'

I hurried past him, running down the spiral staircase and then the next one and the next, until I was on the ground-floor. Wearing boots and leggings instead of heels and a long dress meant that I was downstairs in no time and I hurried into the reception room in a manner that Lady Evelyn would have called unladylike.

Amelie was already sprawled across a chaise longue, looking every bit the noblewoman she now was, but she jumped to her feet as I reached her. 'Sky!' She beamed, pulling me into a hug.

'Amelie!' I laughed. 'What are you doing here?'

'My father received a letter from a Lord up here who was interested in meeting me,' she rolled her eyes, 'and he insisted I came but I thought… why not drop in and see Sky's new home?' She grinned and then her eyes scanned my outfit. 'You seem to have reverted back to casual clothing though, I see, Lady of Aldheim.'

'I missed leggings,' I replied, 'but I see you're looking as glamorous as ever.'

She twirled in her pretty gown and smiled. 'Do you like? I know it's more Ascot than Aldheim but perhaps we could go shopping. I've not been up here since I was a young girl.'

'Sounds good,' I smiled, 'Now, where are your things? You must stay here, it's far nicer than a tavern.'

'Are you certain?' She asked as we both sat down together. 'I wouldn't want to be in the way.'

'Nonsense, Zed isn't here and I'd like the company.' I told her and she smiled as Abby walked into the room with a tray of tea and cakes for us.

'Then I'd love to stay here.'

Despite my arguing, aching body, we walked into town that afternoon, arms looped like proper ladies going for a stroll. I'd reluctantly changed into a satin embroidered dress, trying to match Amelie's glamorous embroidered and sparkly gown, and we both wore thick velvet gowns in an attempt to keep warm, mine fastened around my neck with a brooch bearing the royal crest. The air was getting colder and I wondered if snow would soon be present. My guards, plus two extras, followed us in close proximity all dressed in their black uniforms.

'So when will Zed be back?' Amelie asked as our boots moved onto the cobblestone ground.

'Hopefully in a few days,' I replied. 'He was travelling south, a two day journey to wherever he was going.' She nodded. 'When are you set to meet your possible suitor?'

She wrinkled her nose at my choice of words, 'In two days.' She replied, 'not that I intend to let him court me.'

'Of course not,' I laughed softly and she smiled back.

'I know my father wants me to marry a Duke, but what of me? I'd rather be with somebody who loves me and who I love back.' We reached the edge of town and she paused. 'You and Prince Zed are very lucky to have one another.'

'We are,' I nodded in agreement, 'And I hope that you find what we have too.'

'So do I,' She replied, her smile faltering, 'So do I.'