A/N: We are nearing toward the very end. Just a chapter or two after this one.

The smell of flowers was the first thing that she noticed.

A warm feeling came across her forehead next.

Victoria opened her eyes from what seemed like a long dark imprisonment. The first thing she saw was her sister standing over her, eyes glistening with freshly harvested tears.

"You're alive," she said, her voice shaking. "I'm so glad."

Trina's face grew concerned and she fetched a goblet of water.

"Please, drink this"

She helped Victoria to sit up and she eagerly drank the cold, refreshing liquid. Being "dead" for more than 1 day can apparently conjure a powerful thirst.

After almost choking on the water in her desperate attempt to quench herself, she looked right at Trina.

"Where am I? Where are the others? Are they alright?"

"They are all fine," nodded Trina as she sat beside her sister. "But you were pretty far from fine for a while."

"Did I...?"

Trina nodded, "I'm afraid so. We were all terrified and sad when you left us. Especially..."

"Hold on a moment," Victoria insisted. "Tell me what had happened."

"What do you remember?"

Victoria closed her eyes and pondered.

"I remember... you were trapped...and then I remember fighting Noxymis...being on top of him...then"

She winced when she felt her side.

"I was stabbed," Victoria concluded.

"When you died in my arms," Trina's voice shook. "I was devastated. So much so that in my grief the jewel that Noxymis took from me was destroyed."

"How is that even possible?" Victoria asked shaking her head.

"When the stone was first made, it was a means to protect me. Say, if someone shot at me with an arrow, in the heart...it would have no effect. Because in essence, the jewel was my heart. Unfortunately, in the wrong hands, it was powerful enough to be a weapon. When I lost you..." she looked at Victoria. "For a second time, the agony was overwhelming and my heart basically died."

Victoria blinked. "So the stone is destroyed?"

"Not entirely, it turned out."

Trina pointed to Victoria's heart.

"It's inside you."

Victoria gave Trina a look.

"I'm sorry...?"

"After the battle, something shining was found amongst the rubble. It was not made apparent to me until well after your funeral."

Victoria covered her eyes, embarrassed "There was a funeral?"

"Anyhow," Trina continued. "The energy from the death of the original stone was reborn into a new one. In a desperate attempt to try and save you; I wondered if I could forge a new heart. For the one person I love more than anything in this world."

"I suppose it worked," Victoria smiled.

"Now at first."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, the gem could repair your injuries, restore you physically. But it was not enough to beckon your soul from the netherworld. From what I have read, only a special someone could be capable of carrying out the spell." Trina smiled. "Your true love."

Victoria put her hand over her chest and breathed deeply. She remembered hearing Jadelyn's voice.

"Where is the princess?" she asked.

"Safe," Trina assured Victoria. "Left for Reinhart early this morning, hours before you had awoken. Beckett is accompanying her."

Victoria nodded, "Thank goodness she is safe and going home now." Flashes of Beckett and Jadelyn holding hands to be wed at a royal engagement sprung into her mind's eye. "He will look after her. They will be fine together."

"Are you going back, Victoria?"

She shook her head no. "I must remain far from Reinhart. There is no place for me there."

"Do you honestly believe that?"

Victoria just gave Trina a look when Clios knocked on the wall and entered.

"Pardon me," the tall man said walking in. "Victoria..." he smiled. "It is wonderful to see you on the mend. I am Clios, captain of the guard for the king." He extended his hand and Victoria humbly accepted it.

Trina had to admit to herself that Clios was a shockingly handsome man but she forced herself to focus on more pertinent matters.

"What brings you into the infirmary wing?"

"The king wishes to see Miss Victoria. When she is feeling better, of course. But the audience with His Majesty is non-negotiable."

Victoria looked at Trina and then at Clios.

"I suppose I can make myself presentable enough for a king."

Clios grinned and departed.

Trina looked back at Victoria, whom was looking at her.

"What?"

"You are soft for tall, dark and handsome over there, are you not?"

Trina didn't answer but her turn of the cheek to hide her blush was enough for Victoria.

The two sisters would spend the rest of the day together going over everything that had happened between when they were separated to when they were reunited. Trina was particularly proud of how her baby sister managed to coax a dragon hatchling to take flight.

The following day, Trina past on to the king's men that Victoria was fit for seeing the king.

Victoria entered the great throne room, still in a state of disrepair from the battle. Much of the rubble had been clear but there was considerable daylight coming through the collapsed roof. Fortunately, it was a beautiful, sunny day.

She was dressed in her armor, much like during her wake, and here too it was specially cleaned to gleam and look as elegant as any evening gown. Victoria had originally planned on some kind of conservative dress that Catherine had helped find but to the king's insistence, she was requested to don her battling garb.

Everyone else in the hall was dressed to the nines. Trina, Catherine and Rob were there looking their best and just smiling at how much they are relieved to see her again. Rob started to comfort the weeping Catherine; apparently it was a bit of a shock to see your friend looking as she did on her deathbed now walking among the living. Clios was there, along with his brother Demian. They, too were dressed in polished guardian dress so Victoria didn't feel too out of place.

Much of the faces she did not recognize because they were a mixture of townspeople and surviving horsemen. Victoria figured that once the princess had been recovered, that Reinhart's forces had departed straight away.

Victoria's eyes were drawn to the throne, where Andre sat. When she got closer, he stood and as he stood she curtseyed.

"I trust you grow ill of hearing this," Andre smiled. "But it is grand to see you again."

Victoria smiled, "One more does not hurt, Your Majesty."

The congregation chuckled.

"Victoria, I spoke of you days ago - of your valor and compassion - but if I may iterate for your own ears."

She thought it odd for a king to ask permission but she nodded for him to go on.

"My father served this land for half a century until he was struck down in cold blood. We shall not forget those dark times for fear of repeating history. But I choose not to utter the name of the man responsible because that attaches a miniscule shred of dignity that he is woefully underserved."

Andre turned to his side and signaled for Clios to hand him his royal sword. It must have been two-thirds the height of its master. The blade was as shining as the sun that hung overhead and the handle was bejeweled with rubies. And even the hilt was solid gold. Victoria couldn't help but notice such a beautiful thing before focusing on the king's face as he spoke.

"Kneel," he said.

This was not a request and Victoria obliged, looking around trying to read everybody's expressions for what was to come next.

He held the sword tightly and pointed it upward. "By virtue of the authority invested in me, King Andre, in recognition of your valiant services to the crown; for it was your bravery and inventiveness that helped sow the seeds for the downfall for my father's murderer."

Victoria lowered her head as she saw the sword coming down toward her. She felt the cold metal on her left shoulder.

"I hereby dub thee, Victoria of Reinhart, as Lady Victoria..."

The sword then touched her right shoulder.

"Member of the Royal Knighthood of Rosym. Please rise."

Victoria humbly rose to her feet and was slightly startled by the other sword wielders in the room unsheathing their shafts and pointing them upward toward her out of respect.

"Let it be known on this day," King Andre declared. "That the time of turmoil is now over. Let there be peace; not only here but in every kingdom!"

A mighty cheer rose up from the crowd, the loudest participants were naturally Victoria's crew. Andre then proceeded to place a necklace on Victoria with a gorgeously designed cross made of silver, a universal symbol of a knight. He then presented her with a royal scroll, which has her knighthood authenticated with the stamps and signature of the king.

Her status was without question.

"Thank you, Sire" smiled Victoria widely. "If I could only find the words to tell you how much this means to me."

Andre put his hand on her shoulder. "My hope is that it is enough."

Victoria thought for a moment.

"Am I allowed to leave Rosym?"

"You may," Andre responded. "Why do you ask?"

"My Lord," she asked. "Could I be set up with a horse and some supplies?"

The king chuckled, "Are you in a hurry?"

Victoria nodded, "There is something very important I must do."