Cassandra helped Theo to his feet as the crowd raved, even Evie was cheering at the top of her lungs for her victorious cousin. Theo's thin line of a mouth and defeated sigh as he picked up his sword showed his distaste for Cass's victory.

Nope. That is a terrible nickname. Never using that one again. Must think of another one.

As the applause died down, Cassandra looked around at the newcomers with a bright, shining smile on her face. Cassandra threw her sword into the ground, the hilt sticking up in the air, before she spoke to the knights-in-training.

"You're welcome for giving you some proper entertainment. Now, as much fun as this was, I have even better news for you! There will be more of this tomorrow–" Cassandra picked up her sword and pointed it at the idle men– "when I get to beat the shit out of you dumbasses."

The men went very silent all of the sudden.

"Have fun, and welcome to Vale Serine!" Cassandra laughed.

There were some tentative, slow claps from the knights-in-training, but all of them had not just confused but also concerned, even terrified, faces on. Theo, still shaken from the defeat, turned to address them.

"The princess is indeed correct–" he shot Cassandra a look– "tomorrow's training will begin with a demonstration of everyone's skill as you face her. For now, you're all free to return home and get settled in, explore the city, or otherwise. Training will begin early in the morning, so don't spend too much time and money at the taverns tonight."

The crack elicited a bit of laughter from the men as they began to disperse. As Theo went to leave as well, Cassandra grabbed him by the arm to speak to him. Evie looked over at Gena after hearing a small gasp, only to find Gena pressing a finger to her lips and pulling it away to find drops of red.

"Are you okay?" Evie asked.

Gena looked over at the young princess, a little startled, as she reached for her handkerchief, and Gena flashed a small smile.

"Yes, it's nothing," Gena replied and went to wipe away the blood, but she stopped. "Promise me you won't say anything about what I told you."

"Okay. I promise."

Gena shook her head. "I rarely ever talk about Cassandra, let alone spill her secrets. I'm not usually like this, I'm sorry."

The maid pressed the handkerchief to her bleeding lips, the white cloth being stained red.

"Evie."

The two whipped their heads around to see Cassandra approaching with Theo. Cassandra continued to flaunt her smugness, which was a one-eighty from what her initial countenance had been all day.

"This loser right here–"

"Why did I ever agree to fight you," Theo murmured.

"–is Sir Theodore Valennard, my personal guard who can't win a fight against me."

"I can win a fight against you."

Cassandra held up a finger, "Don't make me recite my list of victories again."

Theo promptly shut his mouth and sighed through his nose.

"Theodore, like the one Teddy is short for?" Evie asked.

Brows furrowed, heads tilted, and Theo's lips pressed themselves into a thin line. He replied, "Mm... not quite..."

"I'm going to call you Teddy from now on," Evie continued, a smile on her face. "I like it better."

Teddy's face contorted even more while Cassandra clapped him hard on the back and said, "Good luck with this one."

She then gestured with her head toward the castle door and proceeded to leave, Gena tailing behind her. Teddy watched the two walk away, cleared his throat, and then turned back to Evie.

"So, uh, what-what did Cass– I mean Cassandra–" he stuttered before Evie mercifully cut him off.

"She was giving me a tour of the castle."

"Ah..." Teddy glanced at his surroundings. "Well, um... this is the training ground where we... train... yeah..."

Evie blinked at him a few times as he nodded his head slowly.

"Do you mind showing me the gardens?" Evie asked.

"Yeah, of course," Teddy replied quickly.

Teddy took her back through the palace, leading to the south end of the property. In a very short time, Evie was standing before another large door waiting for it to open out to the bright light of day. This time she was not blinded, and instead immediately greeted with her heart's desire.

The stone steps downwards melted into a gravel path that expanded far beyond what the eye could see. There were rows upon rows of green shrubbery, colorful flowers, and trees against the blue of the sky. Mesmerized, Evie took steps forward and those steps turned into an awestruck walk through the expansive gardens. Near the entrance, there was a quaint square pool lined with stone fountains, boxwood bushes, and ferns; and various sites similar to this one littered the grounds.

In the center of the gardens laid a small, circular fountain with water as blue as the sky above. Small bushes, hedges, and flowers made patterns upon the flat greens surrounding it. Tall, thin trees stuck up between the stone arches encircling the peaceful little haven, ivy and blooming roses mounted upon the pillars and helping the stone blend in with the nearby greenery. Evie took note of every pathway, especially those with mossy cobblestone for steps and flora arches for ceilings which seemed like they led to a secret passageway.

"While I'm here I might as well pick flowers for the queen. Do you know which ones she likes?" Evie inquired.

"I honestly have no clue," Teddy replied. "I'm not one for picking flowers."

"Oh, well, no matter. I suppose some roses might do. Do you know where I might find some?"

"Okay, I do happen to know where those would be. Follow me."

Evie giddily did as she was told. He left the center of the gardens and turned left immediately, going down one of the mossy cobblestone paths. The steps led down to a lower level of the gardens consisting of small hallways with statues at each end. The walls and ceilings were covered in roses, roses of every color and size imaginable. A wonderstruck Evie slowly perused the walls, gently removing certain flowers from their resting places. For once, Evie fell silent, and it didn't take long for Teddy to ask questions.

"You're very precise with what roses you're picking."

"Indeed," Evie absentmindedly responded and pulled another, being wary of the thorns on its stem.

"Why not just pick the first few roses and leave?"

"Gift-giving is an art form," she simply replied. "The gift one gives says much, even if it's simply the color of a flower."

"I didn't know flower colors had meaning."

"Not just the colors, but even the flowers themselves have various meanings," Evie looked away from the walls and back at Teddy. "Haven't you ever wondered why only lilies and rosemary are acceptable at funerals?"

"No, I guess I haven't given the idea much thought."

Evie returned to her flowers as she spoke,"Lilies represent death, so it's only natural to have them there. But rosemary stands for remembrance. That's what one does at a funeral: remember the life of the one who has died."

Teddy remained quiet, though Evie continued on.

"Roses are known for being common gestures of love, but there are many different meanings roses can hold. I can say a lot with roses and not say a word which makes them a perfect gift for someone whose favorite flower remains a mystery to me."

"And what is it that you're saying with these roses?"

"Many things. Yellow is a sign of friendship and cheerfulness, peach symbolizes gratitude, purple is not just a patron color but is also the color of royalty, a few black ones speak of new beginnings, and white represents loyalty everlasting."

"So in flower language you're essentially saying you're grateful for this new opportunity and are excited to form friendships and be a part of the royal family?"

Evie's face grew slowly into a smile, "You learn quickly."

"I've always had to."

Evie cocked her head slightly and said, "I'd like to bring you with me when picking flowers more often. You make very good flower-picking company."

"I certainly try to, my lady."

Evie shook her head. "Och, everyone here is so formal. Is it really that hard to use a person's name once in a while?"

"My apologies, Evie, but you are in the Ravenwell Palace. It's a different world when you're this close to the royal family."

"Well, at least this new world has a decent spot to read in. The center of the gardens is quite a peaceful place."

"I should do you one better. I may not know much about flowers and herbs, but I certainly know books and where one might like to read. It's actually just through these halls. Go to the end of this one, turn left, and there should be an arch leading out to a green pasture."

Evie nodded and followed Teddy's instructions, the knight following closely behind her. Sure enough, the archway was only a minute's walk and Evie could see expanses of long green grass as she approached. The light of the setting sun hit her eyes, illuminating her irises with the most brilliant light. She could hear the sound of waves and running water not too far.

"If you don't mind following me, it's just down this hill," Teddy called.

Indeed, the pasture slowed steeply downwards, and as the two overcame the gentle peak the pasture revealed to her a flat plain below. The blue river Serine weaved its way throughout the grass, and by one of its bends sat a beautiful monument to nature, the only tree for miles. There, sitting in dark tan bark, was a giant weeping willow, one whose leaves looked as though they were forged from the riches of the royal treasury.

"In my first few months living in Vale Serine I spent many a day here. I never come out here much anymore, so I figured you would be more likely to appreciate it than I."

"It's wonderful," Evie breathed.

"Indeed. This is supposedly the final resting place of the great sorceress Cassindrea, Cassandra's namesake and great-great-grandmother. Not many people ever visit here, so you're ensured privacy and quiet." "It's the perfect spot for reading," Evie said and turned to him. "Thank you."

"It's my pleasure, Evie," he replied with a smile. "Come, there's one more place I think you'd like to see."

A long trek later, Evie found herself atop the castle walls. The battlement overlooked the city itself and the mountains beyond. The sky began shifting back to the blend of orange to navy as the sun hit the horizon and sank beneath it slowly.

"The city is lovely," Evie commented.

"I know. Personally, I think this is the best spot in the castle to see our small corner of the world. You not only can see Vale and the Never Peaks, but also the sunset and sunrise."

"How did you come by this place?"

Teddy chuckled and shook his head. "That is a story for another time. Especially looking at the time, wow. We have to get to dinner."

"Alri–" Evie began but started to yelp as she tripped and fell towards the emptiness beyond the battlements. Teddy caught her, gripping her arms with great strength and hoisting her back up onto her feet.

"Maybe let's not have you fall to your death the first day here," Teddy joked.

"Maybe not."

The guards opened the doors to the small dining room the family was going to eat at, revealing a long wooden table set with much food. It seemed that Evie and Teddy were a little late to the party, as the queen and Cassandra had already sat down.

"I'm sorry we're late, Your Majesty," Teddy said and bowed. "Evie almost fell off the castle walls."

Evie caught a small eye roll from Cassandra before the queen obstructed any view of her by approaching the duo.

"You're right on time," the queen replied. "Just be safe next time you're up there."

"Here," Evie held out the bouquet of roses which Teddy so graciously found a bit of twine to tie the roses together with. "I picked these on our trip to the gardens. I regret I didn't know which ones were your favorites, so I went with roses."

"Oh, this is lovely!" the queen replied and beckoned over Gena. "Will you get a vase for these?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," Gena answered and curtsied before leaving.

"By the way," the queen turned back to Evie, "my favorite flowers are irises."

Evie couldn't help but smile as the queen handed the flowers to a vase-carrying Gena. Gena proceeded to set the roses as the centerpiece of the table.

"I also picked three black roses, one for each of you. To new beginnings."

"To new beginnings indeed," the queen nodded as Evie handed out the roses.

Cassie– yes, Cassie would do nicely– took her rose, and examined it with her long, slender fingers as the queen commented, "The roses are quite exquisite this year."

"Indeed," Cassie replied. "There's something oddly appealing about these black roses."

Teddy offered Evie the seat next to his, and she happily accepted. As the family sat down to eat, the two servants began filling the chalices with wine except for Evie's. The manservant robotically poured water into Evie's cup.

"So, seeing as you've done some exploring, what do you think of our palace?"the queen inquired.

"Oh, it's wonderful! Cassie and Teddy showed me all around the grounds, and I've found several perfect places to spend time..." Evie trailed off as she noticed Cassie's stare of death.

"Cassie and Teddy?" the queen's eyebrow raised.

"Oh, I just love nicknames. By the way, do you mind if I call you Auntie Ginny?"

Cassie proceeded to choke on her food momentarily and dropped her fork. Teddy cleared his throat and leaned on the table with a single elbow. The queen seemed shocked and speechless, yet to everyone's dismay she began laughing. Hard.

"It's quite unconventional, but sure. Why not," Auntie Ginny giggled.

"Anyway, I'm very excited to be here."

"I'm sure. Now, about the feast at the end of the week."

"I'm so looking forward to it."

"And I'm so not," Cassie muttered, earning a withering stare from her mother. It seemed the stare of death was hereditary.

"I was hoping to know what your favorite color, flower, and songs are. I'll get everything arranged for the feast," Auntie Ginny continued.

"Oh, well, I love pink, peonies, and I brought the sheet music to all of my favorite songs," Evie delicately picked up her utensils to eat.

"Perfect. Don't worry about the food, the cook will be around sometime to make the menu with you."

"Marvelous!" the princess exclaimed, half talking about the feast and half about the food she was eating. Evie had high hopes for the feast ahead.

"So, Theo," Auntie Ginny cut into her meat, "how are the new recruits?"

Teddy once again cleared his throat and set down his fork. "The new recruits are settling in well and thoroughly terrified. Some of them are at the tavern in Seven Crests, so training tomorrow might be rough on them."

"Indeed. And how about your cousin?"

"Wesley is ecstatic to be in the city. He found himself a place to stay in upper Wildwood until he can get a place of his own."

"That's absurd! He'll move into the castle immediately."

"Your Majesty, I-"

"Really, Theo, there's no need to be so formal, first of all. Second, you moved in here when you began training. I have high hopes for his success anyway."

"I'll let him know immediately."

"And speaking of living in the castle..." Auntie Ginny swiveled her head towards Cassie. "...I heard about the show someone put on at the demonstration this afternoon."

"Oh?" Cassie replied into her chalice.

"Yes, it seemed like it was quite entertaining."

Cassie set down her wine and smirked. "Well, that's a nice change from Theo's demonstration."

"My demonstrations are great," Teddy cut in.

"Oh, please, you couldn't make your sorry excuse for a demonstration better even if you wanted to."

"I always have a newly knighted man every year, it's never the same."

"Yes, but people want real entertainment. Not you," Cassie smiled.

"Enough," Auntie Ginny said. "Cassandra, you did make a fool of Theo–"

"He does that very well himself."

"–and you could have ruined a lovely dress."

"Mother, if I cared about ruining a dress, I wouldn't have bothered giving the recruits an easy show."

"You understand that it's considered very unbecoming for a princess to participate in such activities."

"And if I cared about that, I would be boring as shit."

"Cassandra," her mother said sternly.

Cassie's wicked smile returned. "Besides, I wouldn't be able to help Theo tomorrow if that was the case."

"Excuse me?" Auntie Ginny looked over at Teddy who tried hiding his face with his chalice. "Theo, explain."

"I, uh... I made a deal with her."

"Oh, I can imagine."

"I think I'll be helping Theo with training more often," Cassie grinned.

Auntie Ginny sighed through her nose. "This is what I get for trying to teach my daughter self-defense skills."

It was then that Gena leaned over to Auntie Ginny and whispered something into her ear.

"Ah, perfect. Thank you," Auntie Ginny told Gena.

"What's going on, Mother?" Cassie asked.

"You and Theo remember the King of Valoran?" Cassie and Teddy immediately stopped what they were doing. "He's passing through to visit his family in the south and has decided to break his journey here for a few days."

Both Cassie and Teddy found their laps very fascinating. Even Gena and the other servant seemed a little off put as well. Auntie Ginny didn't seem concerned about it, and instead continued on with her speech.

"He and I will also be discussing the fallout from your little adventure."

Evie zeroed in on Cassie, watching her cousin mess with her wrist. "All of that was an accident–"

"I know that," Auntie Ginny cut off Cassie, "and he knows that, however, there are some things that must be discussed before all's right with the world again. Besides all of that, the king wishes to speak to you both now that he's had time to grieve."

"Fantastic," Cassie breathed and took a long sip from her chalice.

"Now, I expect everyone to be on their best behavior, and, please for all that's good, do not partake in another wild escapade."

"You need to protect Evie," Cassandra's mother demanded after holding her daughter in the dining hall when everyone had left.

"I'm sorry, what?" Cassandra replied. "Where exactly did this come from?"

"Well, you heard her tonight. She nearly fell off of the castle walls today!"

"And this is my problem, how?"

"As her cousin and now essentially her older sister, it's your job to care for her."

Cassandra's face at that moment was indescribable.

"A princess would take care of her subjects and her family," the queen continued. "She wouldn't go off gallivanting with knights."

"I'm sorry, what? You really just can't handle that I enjoy competing with the knights."

"Whatever you believe. And, by the way, the king and I will be discussing the beginnings of a treaty between Valoran and Nevernia. We have lost much in the way of allies and treaties, as you know."

"I know."

"The death of Prince Henri has cost us nearly everything we have been working towards. So much of this could have been saved by your marriage–"

"I know, Mother," Cassandra's voice echoed through the hall.

The queen tilted her head ever so slightly and spoke with an unnerving quietness, "I only wish to say we must proceed with agreements, or we may one day find ourselves with another enemy. That is a lesson you must learn and learn soon."

Cassandra grabbed a nearby chalice that hadn't been taken away yet and dumped the rest of the wine into it. "And I suppose you know all."

"Cassandra, this is no laughing matter."

"I'm sorry," Cassandra swished around the liquid in the cup and looked up from its contents, staring up at her mother with a gaze of pure contempt. "I didn't hear anyone laughing."The queen went to speak again as Cassandra tipped the chalice towards her mouth, draining it completely. Cassandra cut off her mother by slamming the empty cup onto the table and simply walking away.

Chapter Intro: Angel of Small Death and the Codeine Scene — Hozier

Chapter Outro: Blood in the Wine — AURORA