This update is coming in a bit late since I had a bio test and a history presentation to review and memorize for. So that's why it's taken me about a week to get this chapter up online, but now that it's here, I swear it''ll be good :D

So read and review!

/Mininski

Chapter 8: What doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger

Ash POV:

The first thing I did when I rolled out of bed the next morning was check whether the connection between me and the Summer princess still existed. I closed my eyelids, and felt the bond like a flickering candle in the darkness. Yes, it was still there.

And it remained there for the rest of that day, whether I liked it or not. From the moment our training in battle started, Meghan and I could have an entire conversation that was secret to the rest of the world. But we didn't. At first, the girl tried to reach out to me, gently, and with serene thoughts. But I put up a mental wall of ice between us, and Meg's frustration grew until it was near unbearable.

Tara, in the meanwhile, stood in the shadows alone, becoming more and more curious as the silent exchange between Meg and I did not go unnoticed. But it was only after our training pass had ended that she approached me, and tugged at my elbow.

"Ash", she murmured, "Something wrong with the ignorant half-breed?" And instead of agreeing, I cast one look at Meg, who sent a wave of emotions tumbling towards me.

"No," I spoke after a while. "I'm just feeling a bit tired, that's all. Let's take a short break, shall we?" Both young womens' eyes widened, since admitting your faults in the Winter Court was almost like comitting suicide.

As I walked away, I sensed light footsteps behind me, and since no train of thought followed it, I assumed it was Tara. I spun around, once at my bedroom door, and saw I was correct.

Tara stood there, blinking back tears. Shocked, I put up a fingertip to wash the salty tear from her cheek away, but she brought up her left hand and slapped it feebly away. She spoke with a broken voice that had fury buried behind it like a row of graves. "You love me. You said you loved me. Me. Not the ignorant child of a girl who doesn't know left to right!"

With a soft, but pained voice, I said, "I think I meant more like a friend, Tara. Not anything else."

She stumbled away from me, abashed, and red eyed. "So all I was was a friend to you, then?" She narrowed her eyes, still crying, and stabbed her finger at my chest. "Well, I got news for you. You don't have friends. But you've got me, and you love me. "

I stepped out of her range of rage, and spoke quietly. "I did once. I was friends with Robin Goodfellow, up until Ariella died. So there you're wrong."

Tara stared disbelieving at me. "You'll never get her, you know that right? The courts have plans for both of you lovebirds, and none of them are going to do your relationship any good." Her voice dropped to a hushed whisper, aware that we were gaining an audience. "So walk away, why don't you? Walk away from her while you still can. And come back to me, " She added, smiling slyly. "I'm sure you'll learn to love me the right way one day."

"I'm sure I will," I agreed, to the benefit of the crowd around us, whose interest in us was increasing. "If I chose to." Tara's face dropped like I had just slapped her.

Then she gave me one long, vicious glance, and hissed, "The two of you will never be together. I'll see to that." Then she whirled around, and stormed off in an elegant manner in the other direction, leaving me at loss for words.

Recovering, I glared at the ogres, redcaps, and other fey around me. "Well, what are you waiting for? You have duties to attend to!" All of the workers headed off, reluctant to leave the gossip scene.

"Prince," A voice rasped at my feet. I glanced down, meeting the hungry eyes of a redcap.

"What is it?" I said icily. The redcap licked his lips eagerly, which probably meant he was going to deliver bad news.

"The Queen wants to see you," he said in a formal tone. "She says it's in regard to the Summer princess stay at the Winter Court."

Worried, but not showing it, I glanced with seemingly little interest. "Then I shall speak to her." I followed the servant down the corridor, wondering what catastrophe my mother had caused now.

*

"Please," I spoke confusedly, "Can you repeat what you just said?"

Queen Mab, proud and powerful, sat upon her throne of icicles, unaffected by my puzzlement. She did not seem to understand that what she's saying is going to change my entire future, or at least the remainder of it. "Despite the fact that you are my son, I will make no exceptions for you," she said flatly. "However, since this is a vital part to my taking care of the Winter Court, I shall explain it to you again." She leaned over and touched one of the icicles by her throne. "Our courts are growing weaker, both the Summer and Winter Court. The only way we can survive against the Iron realm is that we fight, united, against it." Here she took a dramatic pause, and then spoke again. "But we are weak to Iron as it wounds us, and so we overpower it. And the only way we can do so is for you and the Summer princess to create an offspring that is strong against iron. That is what the prophecy speaks of." Now she glanced at me, her eyes icy spears, displaying her power. "So you and the Summer princess must marry to save our courts."

I stared at her. "My Queen, that is...that is..." I was at loss for words, which seldom happened.

"Do you want to save your court, your kingdom, or not? This is the only way."

I stared at her, wondering over the choice I would make. I had only recently acknowledged that I loved Meg, but that didn't mean I wanted to marry her!

"Make your choice, prince, for you have until tomorrow."