She stood under the old tree that protected her castle. The tree she use to stare out her windows at as a child, fascinated when it would bloom flowers. The tree that would become a gnarled twisted mess without a sacrifice. 

Suddenly there was shouting in the distance, she turned to see what all the yelling was about. A mob was running at her, up the hill, torches burning, pitchforks at the ready. Further behind them was an army marching. 

Curiosity gripped her, the mob more than the army. Why were her people rushing her? She had protected them, how could they not know? The pain in her heart told her she had sacrificed far too much for these people, yet they were coming for blood. 

She started running up the hill, yet she did not make it far. She was pulled back, a handful of hair ripped from her scalp as they drug her back down to the tree. “Chain ‘er up boys!” a man shouted from the group. 

Panic did not seize her as she had expected. If she were to be chained she would die. Her soul given to the tree, it would bloom, and leave a warning for the next to come. 

“You dare kill the last of my name?”She asked them quietly. The men around her hushed, straining to hear her over the sound of war drums marching their way. 

A few men looked around at one another, questioning if they were doing the right thing, or if they were just drunkards, joining the bandwagon. 

“I am the last. There will be no more of my name if you do this.” she told them with her head held high as a couple women approached her, shackles and chains in their hands. 

She looked at the women, they were young, no older than 17 years. They didn't want to do what must be done, but they would. The fear in their eyes told her that they would. 

“Do what you must.” She finally told them, her voice strong, carried on the wind to the open ears around her. More people had gathered, watching and waiting. She looked them in the eye, each and every one. “I gave you everything I could. I killed for you, I killed my family to keep you safe. I SAVED YOU!” She shouted, “You do this, and you are walking into a trap! We made a deal, and yet,” she yanked her hand from the girl and pointed at the army coming for them, “here they are. Coming to cut you down, to rape your women and children, to enslave them.” 

Murmurs went around the group of villagers, second guessing. The drums were louder, closer, causing your heart to beat to the same beat of the drums. “Kill your Queen, the last of their name, or release me and let me save you again.” she shouted over the drums, the horn that sounded, letting them know death was ramming the gates.

"They are here! Do it, do it now!" A man shouted at the girls by her sides, "we have to hol' up our side of the deal." 

The girls shackled her hands, one chaining them behind her back while the other slipped a noose over her head. The man snatched the ropes from her hands, tossed it over a branch and pulled. 

She took a gulp of air before she was yanked off her feet, nearly forcing her breath out of her. She jerked around, like a fish out of water, struggling. 

"You fool! She'll get out and kill us all!" 

Her pulse throbbed in her head, eyes felt swollen and her vision began to blur. A blond headed blur shoved through the crowd, hope shot through her before it was lost to the rope tightening around her neck. 

Something shined in the mass of people, fire reflecting off it. The screams of men and women blended with the rush of her blood pounding in her ears as her vision faded to darkness. 

Just as all her hope was gone she fell from her cloud of darkness, on the hard ground. Her lungs ached as the noose loosened its grip on her neck. 

A pain flared in her chest, instinctively her hands went to it. Her fingers brushed a handle, sending shooting pains from her touch. Lowering her fingers to the wound she brought it to her face, her vision starting to clear, blood graced her fingers. 

She looked up at her attacker, a hand grabbed his shaggy black hair, tilted his head back as the man yelled, a flash of silver and a line of crimson across his neck. Blood pulsed out and splattered her. 

Ursila Kempton woke with a jump, clutching her chest, and gasping for air. She was covered in sweat, her clothing clinging to her body 

Knocking on the wooden door of the cabin took her attention from her nightmare. "Just a moment." She called. 

Quickly wiping her face she got out of the stiff bed. She didn't bother changing her clothes as she knew it would be a waste when she went on the deck of the ship. 

Opening the door Ursila was greeted by Siren Ankest, the redheaded sister of the famed Soren Ankest. "Sorry to disturb, I thought you were awake since you were banging stuff around in there." 

Her dream was so vivid, she hadn't even thought about what she might have done or said while sleeping. "It's fine, I've been awake for a while." She told her. 

"We have almost arrived. Figured you might like to know." Siren responded before walking off to find her brother. 

"Thanks." Ursila mumbled under her breath before following her up to the deck. 

They were assaulted by the sea air as soon as they opened the door, sea spray soaking them in minutes as they walked the deck. 

There were men running back and forth, shouting orders to be passed down the line, Soren at the head of the ship shouted something and his crew cheered. 

When he turned he had the happiest smile she had ever seen him wear.  As if this, the sea, were truly his home. His smile quickly turned into a grin, a mask. “Ah, morning Princess.” he kissed her hand, which she quickly withdrew. She would not fall for Soren tricks, many have and she refused to be thrown in that group. 

"Soren, I can not thank you enough for taking me on this journey." Ursila told him. 

"Not much of a choice, was there?" Siren asked, "You're mother can be quite cruel, we know who our allies are." 

Soren gave his sister a clap on the shoulder, a warning in a sense. "We are honored to help you, as you've helped us many times." He smiled at Ursila and guided her to the railing, pointing towards the land mass they were headed for. "Your destination is close. Few hours, I could think of a few ways to pass the time."

Ursila wiggled out from under his arm with a polite smile, "You have a crew to command, I would hate to take you away from them." Soren's grin grew, and she turned away before he could respond. "Siren, I could use your help." 

The two girls wandered away, heading below deck. Soren had thought he heard Ursila say she needed to be discreet when entering the king's city. She was entering unannounced, which was never a good sign when a Kempton came around.