Mummy and I watch as Anna of Cleves steps off the ship. Her golden headdress looks weighed down by tassels, and the cut of her dress doesn't help show off her figure. I close my eyes and sigh. Poor Anna. I knew she would arrive on English shores without knowing the language, but her sense of style? Mummy and I have our work cut out for us.

The locket in my hand feels warm. I gently open it, and a blue holographic screen appears before me. I watch as Mummy and I introduce ourselves to the new queen. The first is in English. We struggle to make ourselves understood as Anna fumbles with the language. Anna turns her back on us and ignores us. The scene then jumps to New Year's Day. Anna is with the King and demands our removal from Court! Mummy looks over and gasps. "I thought I heard the queen say she wants us removed."
"That's what happens if we introduce ourselves in English." The screen flickers away. "Anna will be one of my best friends. I want to gain her trust."
"Me too," Mummy says, placing a hand on my shoulder. "What happens if we introduce ourselves in German?"
Why didn't I think of that? Anna taught me German in the future! Now will be a fantastic time for me to test my knowledge. I repeat Mummy's question.

The holographic screen returns. Mummy and I introduce ourselves to Anna in German. It seems like things will go well. But a warning pops up. There are many variables. We could make more enemies at Court. Our friendship with Anna will come at a cost. What cost? What will we lose?

The screen vanishes as I ask my questions. The trinket does not respond. Stupid thing! My hand curls into a fist. How did Daddy think this would help? Is the locket trying to warn us against being Anna's friend? Why else would it not tell us what we'll sacrifice to gain Anna's friendship? I want to chuck the locket into the water. Why did I listen to that stupid messenger?

I don't let go of the locket. Throwing the locket into the sea means losing Catalina, Anne, Jane. It will mean losing Maria, Rocky, Katheryn. Daddy. Henry. William. I close the locket and run a finger over the engraved anchor. Daddy gave it to me. I blink back tears as I look at the dull, grey sky. "Can you help me put this on?"
"Of course." Mummy takes the locket from my hand and fastens it around my neck. The locket feels warm against my skin. I will protect you. That's Daddy's voice! I look around. My heart falls.

He's not here.

It's time for us to meet Anna. My heart beats a frantic rhythm in my chest. I clench my hands into fists as I even out my breathing. Failing isn't an option. We must become friends with Anna. I square my shoulders before walking towards her.

"Wait!" A frantic male voice yells. I look around. Who was that? Who doesn't want me to meet Ann?
"Who are you?" My voice wobbles. I swallow. "Show yourself!"

A tall, majestic lion steps out from the crowd and walks towards me. He looks like the one I met at Court a few days ago. Moreover, his voice sounds the same. There is no way it can be the same lion! It would be impossible! I scan the crowd. Why is no one panicking? Why aren't they screaming? I turn my attention back to the lion. His mane looks full and fluffy, his gold eyes kind and expressive. He smiles at me. "Hello, dear Emma."
"How do you know my name?"
The lion chuckles, his laugh warm and bright. "My name is Aslan, and I know your friends; Catalina, Anne, Jane, Henry, Thomas, and George."
"You know them?" I slowly step forward.
"Your locket granted me the power to form a separate Heaven outside the Higher Authority's control and save your friends."
My hand flies to my locket. "My locket did that?"
"Accepting the locket did that." Aslan walks over to me and presses his head to my hand. "Your allies will be safe when or if they pass over."

Mummy slowly approaches us, holding her arms up in surrender. "I apologise for intruding."
Aslan looks at her and smiles. "No need, Sarah Jane. Any ally of a Qetesh or hybrid is an ally of mine. You can speak freely."
"What did you mean about Emma's allies being safe? And what does the Higher Authority have to do with it?"

Aslan's ears lower, and he closes his eyes. "The Higher Authority is not a friend of Qetesh or hybrids." His voice sounds sad and heavy. "They hate Qetesh and anyone who associates with them." He opens his eyes and looks at the ground. "Emma, if you follow history, the twenty-first century will be a dark time for Qetesh and hybrids."
"How am I supposed to change that?" I gently stroke Aslan's head. His purr is a deep rumble, and his ears perk up. "I'm not a politician! Or, I won't be in the twenty-first century. How on earth can I make things better?"
"You start by being happy." Aslan looks up at me. "Do you doubt you can change things?"
"How can we not?" Mummy crosses her arms and sighs. "Changing the future is a massive responsibility, and Emma's locket isn't telling us everything."
"It's not omniscient." Aslan sits down and raises his head to the skies. "You must trust your judgement. Relying on the locket or your history books won't help." He looks towards Anna's group. "Speaking of being happy." He stands up and walks towards Mummy. "Sarah Jane, do you want to find love again?"

Mummy blinks. "That's an option?"
"Of course. Look at Anna's ladies." We look at the group. At the back is a lady wearing work clothes that are too short for her. The sleeves of her gown hang loosely to the ground, and her velvet dress is ripped and stained. "See the lady at the back? She is a lonely alien who needs a little love."
"Do you think I'm the right person for her?"
"You have so much love to give, and Katja Liebherz needs connections at Court."

He's right. Court can be a dark and dangerous place without allies. We can't let Katja become a faceless name in the centuries to come. Anna and her ladies slowly approach us. "It is time for me to go," Aslan says, "but I am sure you will make the right decision." Aslan turns away.

"Wait!" I spin around. "Will we see you again?"
"Yes, dear child." Aslan smiles. "Now, you have a queen to meet and a destiny to change. Good luck."

I turn back and curtsey. Mummy curtsies, and we wait for Anna to approach. She stops to talk to someone and then looks at us. "I cannot believe I cannot pick my own household," she says in German. "Did my husband plant spies in my household? What of my German ladies?"
Mummy and I glance at each other. This is nowhere near what we expected. Not even the twenty-first century Anna would complain about it openly!
"Mistress Liebherz can return to Kleve, but the rest must remain here."
I hear sobs and look up. Katja's head is buried in her hands, and her body shakes as she cries.

Mummy stands up. I grab her arm. "What are you doing?"
"Giving love to someone who needs it." I let go of Mummy, and she walks towards Katja. "Miss Liebherz?" Katja looks up. "My name is Sarah Jane. I do not mean to intrude, but—"
Katja throws her arms around Mummy. "A friend! Thank Aslan!"
She already knows about Aslan. But how? Did Aslan reveal himself to Katja?
"Yes," Mummy says as she wraps her arms around Katja. "Friend."

I slowly approach them. "I will also be your friend."
Katja grabs my hand and pulls me into the hug. "Friends," she sniffs, "true friends."
I close my eyes and let myself relax. Anna can argue about our bonds with Katja all she likes. Katja's staying.

"Excuse me?" We turn to find Anna standing behind us. We curtsey. "You befriended Katja."
"No one deserves to be without a friend, Your Majesty," I say.
"You speak German?" Anna asks in English this time.
"Mummy and I had great tutors."
"I can tell." She smiles at us. "Since you welcomed Katja with such... hospitality," Anna says, slipping back into German, "I wish for you both to have high positions in my household."

What? Mummy and I look at each other. There was no way we were expecting this! The other queens wouldn't have let us have high positions in their households simply because we were friendly with someone. We were trying to be decent people, not trying to gain favour with the queen! "That will not be necessary, Your Majesty," Mummy says, "we were not doing it to gain any favours."
"I know. But you were the first people who tried talking to Katja, so..." Anna falters, searching for the right words. "Not many people talk to her. They're terrified she will steal their souls."
"I'm a hybrid," I say, "and no one treats me differently at Court. We will ensure Katja makes friends."
"Thank you." Anna reverts back to English. "Your names?"
"My name's Sarah Jane Smith and this is my daughter, Emma Smith-Wh—" I grab Mummy's arm and shake my head. "What?"
"I don't want to be a Smith-White anymore," I bow my head. "My name is Emma Smith."