All eyes were on Zed and I as we made our entrance into the ballroom. My dress sparkled under the lights as we reached the centre of the dancefloor and the music started up as nominated members of our court, including Amelie and Rowan, took to the spaces by us for the rehearsed dance routine.

'You light the skies, up above me
A star, so bright, you blind me, yeah.'

I curtsied probably the most perfect curtsy I had ever managed to do as Zed bowed to me and we held up our right hands in front of each other as we stepped in time to the music of the rehearsed routine.

'Don't close your eyes
Don't fade away, don't fade away, oh.'

We moved into a waltz, the dance I was now incredibly familiar with and could dance even in the high heels I wore under my long gown. I held my gown carefully, the secret attached looped threaded through my fingers as we moved across the floor.

'Yeah, you and me, we can ride on a star
If you stay with me, girl
We can rule the world.'

A turn and then, as rehearsed, Zed lifted me as the crowd around us gasped with awe and delight.

'Yeah, you and me, we can light up the sky
If you stay by my side
We can rule the world.'

I smiled across at Zed and his eyes sparkled, just as I knew the stars in the sky were doing over the castle and the courtyard at that very moment.

'Good evening and welcome to both Aldheim court and those who have travelled a great distance to enjoy our Winter Solstice celebrations.' Zed said moments later into the microphone where we stood on the stage in the courtyard. A cheer sang through the stone walls and it sang from the outside too, where villagers and tourists were watching the event on large screens just outside of the castle grounds. It wasn't safe to allow everyone entry to our home, frustrating as that was, but people were still in high spirits.

'The forecast for this evening looks clear and we have no doubt that the meteors will begin making an appearance shortly,' I said as I fiddled with the hem of my dress. Zed moved his hand from my waist to take my hand in his, stopping me from picking the glitter off the gown and he smiled as I glanced across at him.

We are doing wonderfully. He said into my head and I wondered if some of that reassurance was for himself too.

'We hope you enjoy the festivities wherever and however you plan to celebrate the evening.' Zed raised his glass of champagne, as did I, and we took miniscule sips as the crowds inside the grounds and outside too applauded and cheered. Zed and I walked off of the stage as the musicians returned to their star-related music and I hummed along as I followed Zed to his family.

The Royal Family had their own platform with chairs, lanterns and heaters to keep it cosy and inviting, and they were sat around chatting and laughing. Diamond raised her glass to me with a warm smile, looking the perfect future Queen with her tiara and black sparkly ballgown.

'You both look wonderful,' Queen Karla kissed me on each cheek before doing the same to her son and I blushed as King Saul did the same. 'And the castle looks lovely.'

'Sky did a fantastic job,' Zed squeezed my waist and smiled across at me affectionately, 'but I did not expect anything less.'

'I couldn't have done it without you or Amelie,' I reminded him and he rolled his eyes.

'You hardly needed our help. You had incredible ideas and now, just look around.' He signalled to the party in the courtyard in front of us, which flowed into the ballroom of the castle too. 'A fantastic turnout with lots of pleased guests.'

'The party has only just started,' I murmured.

'Too modest!' Prince Uriel called out and I blushed as I glanced away. Prince Victor kept quiet, staring at the drink in his hand and looking less than pleased by my presence or anyone else's. Yves and Phoenix sat to the right of him, smiling at me with large, encouraging grins, and Prince Will and Xavier were in a deep conversation about something.

'We should mingle,' Zed said, squeezing my waist and pressing a gentle kiss to the side of my head. 'Plenty of guests to great.'

I nodded and smiled up at him, 'Let's go.'

A lot of the court from Ascot, Lords and Ladies included, had travelled to Aldheim for the festivities and they seemed pleased to see us as we moved through the crowds, greeting them and their families. The dancefloor was filled with guests and others stood around catching up over champagne and the canapes we had ordered for the occasion. Children hovered by the chocolate fountain, dipping in marshmallows and cakes, and Amelie was the perfect Lady-in-Waiting, greeting every guest with Chloe and Abby in her show-stopping midnight blue satin gown. She caught my eye as she spoke to a young, good-looking Lord and she winked my way, making me smile.

'There they are!' Lord Nelson's voice boomed as we approached him and I barely recognised Tina stood beside him. Her red hair was shorter than before and pin-straight, but she still looked fiery and gorgeous in her black and silver embroidered velvet gown. She curtsied as Nelson bowed to us and then the formalities were gone as I pulled her into a hug.

'Don't let Lady Evelyn see!' She whispered into my ear.

'She's here?' I whispered back.

'She's here alright.' She nodded behind me and I turned my head. Sure enough, Lady Evelyn was wearing a navy velvet gown, her blonde hair piled into an elegant updo as she spoke to my parents.

'Why is she talking to Sally and Simon?' I raised an eyebrow and Tina shrugged.

'Maybe she doesn't know anyone else at this party?'

'A lot of the Lords and Ladies from Ascot are here.' I replied as I glanced over at them. A familiar song started being played by the pianist and Tina grinned at me.

'We should dance!' She beamed, looking at Nelson.

'Of course, my lady.' He laughed, bowing his head and pulling her to the dancefloor.

'So should we,' Zed murmured in my ear before he pulled me to join them.

'We get it almost every night
When that moon is big and bright
It's a supernatural delight
Everybody's dancing in the moonlight.'

We moved in time to the music in perfect time as other couples danced around us, the dancefloor a sea of sparkle and ballgowns of every colour imaginable.

'Everybody here is out of sight
They don't bark and they don't bite
They keep things loose they keep it tight
Everybody's dancing in the moonlight.'

A gasp went up through the crowd and I glanced up just as a meteor shot across the sky. The first meteor. The lanterns around us dimmed as Zed pulled me closer and we both looked up as another one joined it, its path slightly to the left.

'Come with me,' Zed whispered and he led me off of the dancefloor and up the guarded stairs to the castle wall. I followed him, watching my footing on the slightly icy stairs, and then we were stood on the castle wall. On the other side I could see the villagers and tourists enjoying the funfair, some of them dancing to the musical performance from inside the castle, which was being displayed on two large screens. Others sat back and cheered at the sky. Zed wrapped his arms around his waist and pulled me to him as we watched the meteors dance across the sky in one direction, whilst the Northern Lights danced in the other direction.

'The sky is awake.' I whispered and Zed pressed a kiss to the top of my head.

'It is very much awake.' He said. 'What do you think?'

'Of the meteor shower or Aldheim or everything?'

'Everything.'

I turned in his arms and looked into his eyes as the reflection of a meteor danced across them. To the side of his eyes I could see small creases where he'd been smiling and I realised those were new; they had been non-existent when we had first met.

'Everything is perfect,' I told him sincerely. 'You, Aldheim, the meteor showers… I couldn't wish for anything more.'

'Really?' He looked uncertain.

'Really,' I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him closer to me. 'All of this is far more than I ever expected… it's a fairytale.'

He smiled, 'but this fairytale is real.'

'Are you sure?' I asked, 'Because it seems too good to be true.'

'Nothing will ruin this night.' He said to me, a vow ringing clearly through the cold air around us. I smiled as my eyes looked into mine and another meteor shot overhead in the corner of my vision. I cupped his cheek and his eyes searched mine. 'Penny for your thoughts?'

'I want to marry you,' I murmured and he grinned as he laughed softly.

'And I want to marry you,' He took my left hand off of his shoulder and kissed my ring finger. 'Hence why I had this fabulous ring made.' His grin turned lopsided and teasing and I resisted the urge to make some snide remark.

'I mean, you idiot, I know when I want to marry you.'

His face became serious once more and he tilted his head as he looked down at me, 'And when is that, my love?'

'Winter Solstice next year. Under the stars.'

He ducked his head down and pulled me in for a passionate kiss, his lips fiery against mine. Emotion poured out of us both as he held me against him, heating my body with his own as his mouth explored mine. When he finally pulled away, his eyes were sparkling and teary. 'It is a date.' He whispered before pressing a kiss to my forehead. 'We had better get back to our party.'

'Do we have to?' I whined and he laughed.

'Come and dance with me under the meteors,' he said, intertwining our hands. 'Tomorrow we will announce our wedding date.'

My feet were aching and the party was still in full-swing, despite the clock striking midnight. Unlike in Cinderella, no one was hurrying away and everyone seemed perfectly content. Guests still danced inside and castle and outside, children dozed in corners or continued filling themselves with sugary snacks, and some couples and groups were lounged about on chairs and sofas, watching the sky's spectacular show overhead. Zed was off chatting to his parents, having already shared our plans for the next Winter Solstice with our ecstatic families and I was just heading back from the powder room when I heard my name being called out.

'Lady Sky!' I turned my head to see Lady Evelyn running towards me, breaking several of her etiquette rules by calling out my name and running towards a Lady-slash-future-princess. She curtsied to me and I resisted the urge to let out a wicked laugh.

'Lady Evelyn,' I replied with a smile. 'How lovely to see you again.'

'You look very well, My Lady,' She said to me, her voice quiet and she wiped her hands on her dress. I resisted raising an eyebrow. Was she… nervous?

'Thank you and so do you.'

'I was wondering if perhaps we could speak in private?' Her eyes darted about anxiously as some other guests passed us. The last thing I wanted was to be criticised for my behaviour but it was also breaking etiquette to refuse polite requests. Resisting a sigh, I faked a smile.

'Yes, of course.' I replied. 'We should go into the conservatory.' I led the way along the hallways and away from guests and music, into the conservatory at the back of the house. Here, beside the gardens, we could still see the meteor shower but it was quiet and away from prying ears. I sat down on a window bench and signalled to an empty seat across from me, which Lady Evelyn sat in hesitantly. She bit her lip and fiddled with her gown once more and I wondered what could possibly be making her feel so uncomfortable. 'Is something the matter, Lady Evelyn?' I asked and her eyes met mine.

'Just over eighteen years ago, I gave birth to a child.' She said. 'I was in a terrible place at the time… my husband had been murdered and the child… the child was not his.' I held back a gasp. 'The child was the child of my soulfinder.' Her eyes were sad, filled with tears. 'And because of that, because I could not face him or face his eyes or let the child be hurt by him I… I abandoned the child.' She took a deep breath. 'I left her-'

'Outside an art gallery,' I murmured as the pieces suddenly fit together and Lady Evelyn gave a mute nod. I looked across at the woman with blue eyes and white-blonde hair with creases on her forehead that I was certain were worry lines. My mother. My birth mother.

'I tried to find you,' She said softly. 'I have spent eighteen years regretting my decision. It was a horrible mistake but I had to keep you safe and my son… my son had lost his father.'

Son? My head was swimming? I had a… brother?

'And then I saw you on the day you entered the palace and you looked like I had at your age… I was sure it was a coincidence, certain, so I brushed it under the carpet and continued asking around in children's homes and then… and then I found out that Sally and Simon were not your birth parents and it had me wondering… They confirmed it tonight. They told me how they had found you and I am so, so sorry Sky.' Tears rolled down the woman's cheeks, the woman who had taught me how to be a Lady, or had tried to. But I felt nauseous. And dizzy.

'I need some air,' I murmured, standing up and opening the conservatory door.

'Mother?' A voice called out and I turned to see Rowan, Captain of the Guard, walking into the room with his hand on the hilt of his sword. 'Mother, there you are.'

His eyes caught mine as my eyes widened. 'Mother?' I choked out.

Rowan looked between me and his mother, uncertain of what he had walked in on.

And then I ran.

Down the steps and into the snow I hurried as fast as I could as my head spun and my stomach threatened to empty its contents.

'Sky!' Rowan's voice called out behind me but I didn't respond.

I hurried along the path, past the fountain and empty flower beds and into the maze, ignoring the meteors overhead and the freezing feeling of the snow on my feet. I wondered if he'd just teleport himself to me or he'd leave me be and I hoped it was the latter as I wound myself further and further into the maze. It was dark in there but I found myself able to navigate as I moved through the hedges towards the centre. And then, as I turned the corner, I could see silhouettes.

'Really? Don't you think that's completely unfair?' I hissed, irritation mixing in with my nausea.

'Hello, Sky, darling.' The voice said and I caught the blue eyes and the white scar on the tanned face before everything went black.