Walking into the great dining room is like entering another world. The ceilings reach for the sky sky, the only sign that they end being the glittering crystal chandeliers dangling from them. Huge colorful tapestries adorn the dark stone walls, bringing a feeling of life and liveliness to the majestic room. The table must be a mile long, with endless chairs along the sides. At the very end, I can spot four distant figures. Shaking slightly, I walk down the table, feeling alone as I realize that my maid has abandoned me.

It's the longest walk I've ever taken, the one exception perhaps being when I broke the news to the dwarfs. Although they're too far for me to see clearly, I can feel the piercing gazes of the royals. Finally, when I reach the end, I sweep into a deep curtsey, channeling all the poise I'd worked on in my endless hours in the tower.

"Your Majesties," I say, keeping my eyes trained down. It's funny how I didn't think I had to show any of this reverence with Prince Richard, or Snow and his stepmother, who is also a queen, a reigning monarch. Perhaps the difference is that these monarchs are actually humane.

"Thank you," says a deep voice. "You may be seated." I sit obediently in the chair next to Flor and across from Leon.

The king is sitting at the head of the table. He has a head full of blonde curls on which a golden crown is carefully placed, and a full beard. He is adorned in deep purple robes, with golden embroidery. To his right is the queen. Her face is slim and beautiful, and she appears to be several years younger than the king. Her hair is piled on her head in a fancy updo, far grander than my shabby small one, and a glittering tiara inlaid with gems sits on the crown of her head.

To the left of the king is Florian, and next to the queen is Leon. He smiles at me which helps ease my nerves just the slightest bit.

"So Miss Ivy," says the king. "Leonardo has told us that he found you in the desert. It is by his request that you are here with us tonight."

"That's right, Your Majesty," I say, feeling awkward, looking around the room. A couple of servants come in with platters of mouth watering food.

"So what are you going to do now?" he asks, and I start to squirm. That's the question, isn't it. "How long do you think you're to be staying here."

"I-I'm not really sure," I admit. "I was staying with my friend... but I left her back in Mirshcon. I don't really know my way around so I just stuck with... Prince Leonardo, but I think I might go back for my friend. That's what friends are for."

"That's quite a long journey," says a soft voice. The queen. "Pray tell why you came all the way to our beloved home if you merely wish to go back."

"I needed to talk to someone," I say, thinking of Grandmother. "And to figure some things out."

"Grandmother?" asks the queen softly, as if reading my mind.

"Yes," I say, slightly surprised.

"She's lovely," says the queen. "She was my fairy godmother. I wouldn't be here right now were it not for her."

My eyes widen a little, but I try to mask my surprise as quickly as I can. She looks to regal and perfect here that it's hard to imagine her as anything other than a queen. And so much the opposite from the queen of Mirschon.

"So Leo," says the queen, turning away from me. "How fare the Harysons. With all that's happening between other kingdoms, I haven't had a chance to ask."

"They are well," says Leon. "They miss you, especially the Lady Haryson. Liliana has asked me to plead an invitation to return, even just for a visit. She says it's been far too long since she's seen the interior of the palace."

"Indeed it has been," says the queen. "How long, four years?"

"Five," says Flor, his mouth twitching slightly. "I remember it perfectly. Eleven year old Lily wearing that skies-awful black and white dress she had, bouncing around like a frog in her refusal to leave."

At once, Leon gives a hearty chuckle. "I remember that. I love Lily, but I question her taste sometimes." He turns to me, eyes twinkling. "Liliana went through a crazy frill phase when she was younger," he says. "Everything she owned covered in bows and ruffles and sparkles. And she had this once black and white dress that was the worst. There were so many zig zags and crazy patterns that she looked like an optical illusion."

"She did," Flor agrees, grinning. "It practically hurt my eyes to look at her."

Even the king joins in on the laughter. "Really, I'm ashamed that her parents even got her gowns like that. If one of you boys wanted something crazy like that I might have to disinherit you." He says it playfully though, and the whole family bursts into laughter. Remembering the neon dress I almost had to wear, I can't help but laugh as well.

"Perhaps, now that she actually has sensible taste you ought to invite her to the Stylunan ball," the king suggests.

"Oh yes," says the queen. "I am certain that their king and queen will not object. After all, the Harysons are such close family friends. And you said that despite all that happened in Mirshcon, we are still on good terms with the Stylunans?"

"Yes, of course," says Leon. "I should have thought of that myself. After all, it would be nice to have someone else there I know who isn't wasting his night away dancing with strangers."

Flor and the king both laugh, but the queen looks appalled. "Leonardo!" she reprimands.

"I'm just kidding," says Leon grinning. "But what I did say is true. Are you quite certain that Flor can't come."

"Please," Flor pleads. I look back and forth between all the members of the royal family with absolutely no idea what's going on and trying futilely to follow their conversation.

The king sighs. "You know that as the crown prince, you are not free to simply follow your hearts whims."

"But the three of us are friends," Flor whines. "Not just Leo. I haven't visited the Stylunans, or the Mirshconeese for that matter, in a very long time."

"Perhaps," says the queen, sighing. "We'll think about it. But please don't get your hopes up, Florian."

He shrugs his shoulders, looking only slightly sad. "It is what I expected. Leo, you don't know how lucky you are to be second born."

"And you don't know how lucky you are to be heir," the king interrupts. "Hush up both of you. I don't want to hear any more needless quarreling when we have a guest." At once everyone looks at me, and I blush so I'm sure my face matches the coloring of my gown.

"Where are you from, Miss Ivy?" asks the queen, and as kind as her intent is I'm sure, I'm annoyed that the conversation has moved back to me.

"I know I look Krwenian, but I grew up in Styluna," I say, repeating what I believe to be true.

"Oh, how interesting," says the queen. "Are your parents Krwenian?"

I haven't been asked anything about my parents yet, and I guess I should have been more grateful for that because I've no idea how to respond. I remember what Snow told me about how people look, and I recall Mother's glorious thick brown hair. Stylunan, based off what Snow told me so long ago of how the different ethnicities here in the Greater South look.

"My mother is Stylunan," I say. "I've never known my father."

"Oh," says the queen, quietly. "I'm sorry." She pauses then asks, "Is there a reason you left?"

"Mother," says Leon, sharply, shooting her a look. I'm grateful, for it saves me from having to remember my lies and keep them straight. And I feel like a horrible person for all the deceiving I've done, but truthfully, I've been deceived as well. I don't know the first thing about me. Except... perhaps Mother's magic has something to do with my resistance to.

"How long do you think you'll be staying with us," asks the king.

"I suppose I'll leave tomorrow," I say, hesitantly. I didn't know my mind was made up until I uttered the words, but now I know it's true. I can't sit here in beautiful gowns eating the food of kings while Snow slips closer and closer to permanent death. Regardless of everything that Leon said, I shouldn't have come at all.

"Leo has told us about Princess Snow White," says the queen. "I think it's very admirable, what you're doing, but you should really think twice about going back. The queen of Mirshcon is certainly a force to be reckoned with, and as a Krwenian, I'm not sure you'll be welcome back there. Especially since you were with my son."

"I appreciate your concern, Majesty," I say. "But I really have to help her. I know that were our positions switched, she would help me, and it's really the least I can do."

"As your king, I have to request that you don't," the king interrupts. "We really don't want to provoke the Mirshconeese. Krwenia has been in peace for all of my reign, and I'd like to keep it that way."

I can feel my face heating up. Is this why Leon wanted me to stick with him: so his family can persuade me to stay away as well? "Majesty, I don't mean any disrespect, but as I friend, I feel it is my duty to return. And I am nothing but a peasant girl. I am sure that my presence will do nothing to start any unnecessary wars."

"Father," says Leon, unexpectedly. "Perhaps Ivy is right. Richard adores his sister and will someday be king. We would have the gratitude of his kingdom when that day comes should Ivy, a dear friend of mine and thus our family, be the one to bring Snow back to life when he is certain that she has succumbed to death."

"That may be true, but Richard is not king yet," says the king. "And I suspect that it will remain that way for a while. His stepmother is not one to give up power easily."

"So we must stop her! We are allied with the Northern kingdoms as well, and some of the smaller ones will certainly fall to Mirshcon should we allow this to continue."

"And starting a war is not to the way to go."

"We wouldn't be starting a war if just Ivy and a couple others maybe went. Just as long as we stay out, we should be fine. And I am quite certain that with his sister awakened, Richard would side with us over his stepmother."

"Perhaps we should move this conversation elsewhere," says the king, looking sideways at me.

"No, it concerns Miss Ivy and she has a right to hear it," says Flor. "The moment she allied herself with the princess of Mirshcon, she became involved in all of this. I hate to disagree with you Father, but Leo is right."

"What, exactly, are you hoping to accomplish with this?" asks the king, looking directly at Leon.

"My heart wants my friend to be able to save hers," he responds calmly. "I saved her in the desert and it's time she passes it forward. And my head wants to have a stronger alliance with the future for Mirshcon, to stop their queen before she succeeds in creating an empire, which would create all sorts of problems. I know that the queen has also broken off the alliance with Styluna, and at the rate it's going, I see it as only a matter of time before she tries to take the whole Triland forest for her own. And from there, I can only see it getting worse. We need to stop it prematurely, or we will have a war whether we provoke it or not."

"That may well be true, much as it pains me to say it," says the king. "But that still does not explain how sending Miss Ivy to help awaken Princess Snow White, which we still don't know if it will work, will help prevent a war. Alliances with Prince Richard may be strengthened, but we have not entered his reign yet."

"Much of my additional time spent in Mirshcon was not with the queen, but with her son. Especially after the apparent death of his sister, coupled with the, shall we say, coincidental death of his parents, well, he is no supporter of his stepmother. And based on what Ivy has told me, his sister likes her even less. I believe that... well, I believe with the help of both siblings we may be able to, shall I saw, hasten Richard's ascension to power."

The king's eyes flash unexpectedly at the same moment the queen gives a little gasp. "Leonardo," she reprimands, firmly. "This is no suppertime discussion, especially with another in attendance. What you speak of is treason, and I will not stand for it."

"Listen to your mother," says the king, pushing back his chair even though his plate is still half full of food. "We have raised you better than to talk like this outside of strict confidence. We will speak later, I can assure you of that. But for now-" he turns his gaze to mine, and unconsciously, I lower my eyes. "I apologize for supper," says the king. "This was not how I intended the discussion to happen. It would not be too much to ask you to return to your room?"

"No, of course not Your Majesty," I say, getting up and fleeing from the room as quickly as I can, mind still in shock over what Leon said.

***

I'm sitting on my bed in the soft nightgown I was given when there's a knock on the door. "Come in," I call.

The door opens and Leon walks in. "Hi," he says. "Sorry about supper."

"It-it's fine," I say, a little uncertain. My mind is still reeling from all that I heard.

"I shouldn't have said that at the end," he says. "Except that it's true."

"Did, well, what did the king say about it?"

"I shouldn't tell you. That's why he had you leave, as you know I'm sure. He was furious. My parents are right, that was treason. But in my defence, it was actually Richard who first suggested it."

I gasp, remembering how I insulted Richard to his face for following in the queen instead of his sister. Was I that wrong? "He suggested the overthrow of his own mother?"

"He is not his mother. And not in so many words, but yes. I shouldn't think you'd be so fazed. You did assist in the assassination of a crown princess, after all."

His words are like a slap to the face. Of course. It's my fault. I look down at hands in my lap, wishing to be anywhere but here.

"Hey. I'm sorry," he says, more softly. "I shouldn't have said that."

"No," I say. "But it's true."

He sighs. "Listen Ivy, that's not what I wanted to talk to you about. After some persuasion from Flor and myself, he agreed to let you go. And, well, what we were speaking of earlier. Flor hasn't seen the Harysons in five years. Mother encouraged that it's about time he sees them again."

"So..." I say slowly, unsure what he's getting at.

"Flor is coming of age. He's two years older than I; he's almost twenty-one, and as heir to the throne, he needs to wed soon. It's his royal duty to produce a heir. And once he does wed, he will be much more tied to the palace, even more so than he is now. He's always wanted to leave the palace and travel around more, like I can. So Mother has persuaded Father to let him visit the Harysons for a week or so while he is still young.

"As you well know, the Harysons live considerably closer to the Mirshconeese border, as well as closer to where Snow White lived. And as the crown prince, Flor cannot travel unattended like I do. He will be taking a handful of guards to go visit Dawsburg for a few days, and you, will be going with him. And from there, you can take one or two of the men to travel to Mirshcon and get Snow. And maybe even, don't tell anyone, communicate with Richard."

"Oh," I say, suddenly understanding. "I see." I frown. "But why do I have to take a guard?"

"Ivy, let's not go over this again. You don't know your way around. And it's not safe, especially going against the queen like that. You'll have to be discreet, of course, and pretend that the guard is your brother or husband or something."

"Why can't you come?" The words pop out of my mouth before I can think. In response, Leon smiles wryly.

"Believe me, I wish I could. But I've already been away for far too long, and it would be irresponsible. A peripatetic lifestyle is not one for a prince. And anyhow, that's just for going to Lily's house. You already know why none of us can go to Mirshcon with you."

"And what about what you said earlier. About ending-"

"Stop. That's none of your concern, I'm afraid. You heard my family; it's treason to speak like that."

"Why? It's not like she's the queen of Krwenia, she's Mirhsconeese and she's trying to start a war."

He merely shakes his head. "Get some rest, Ivy. You leave in the morning."

---

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