Life as she knew it was over. In the blink of an eye, the brush of a hand, her destiny had been severed from that of her friends and encased in stone. She'd never truly known what it meant to be alone in the world until that moment. Completely and irrevocably alone. There was no one left to stand by her side. They faced their fate and it showed them no mercy.

Blood pounded through her skull, carrying sharp, sickening pain in its wake. Eyes forced shut by the blinding light, she attempted to shield herself with one hand. Abrasive rope bound her wrists together beneath her body. Aches and pains rose to the surface, riding the wave of her growing consciousness. A shadow passed overhead, gone in an instant.

Lilly's dried and cracked lips parted in a silent cry. For help or in anguish she knew not. Her throat burned from dehydration. The heat was unbearable, oppressive, claustrophobic, pressing in on her prone form like a sarcophagus.

A flicker of darkness crossed her skin once more. Her eyes fluttered open and she squinted towards the sky. Pure, unadulterated blue stared back. This was a stark contrast to the heavy foliage of the shrouded forests they'd explored in Fillory thus far. A grandiose creature of snowy white feathers circled far above her. It was a bird, that much she could tell. It was nothing she'd seen on earth, nor read about in any of the Fillory books. She had a distinct feeling that whatever it was, was watching her.

Lilly used her minimal strength to hoist herself upright. Her spine twisted and popped and muscles stretched out days of constant strain and brutality. She rested against a thick wooden post that shot up higher than she could reach. A line of five or so more was assembled a few meters apart from each other. They were assumedly used to restrain prisoners, though she couldn't help but notice the resemblance to a sacrificial pyre. This was the extent of her man-made surroundings. The land before her was barren, a wasteland of sand and scorching sun. Only one thing could come from a place like this... death.

She tugged fervently at her binds. Her fingers slid skillfully together, folding and unfolding in the correct pattern of Popper 46. A familiar release of energy rushed through her, indicating the spell had run its course. Lilly hastily yanked her hands apart. Fibers cut into her delicate skin, refusing to give. A storm of fear and confusion surged behind her soft brown eyes. It should have worked. She should've been free.

"Your magic won't help you, little witch." A disembodied voice rang out from behind her. Sharp and metallic, it sliced through the thick air like a knife. "Not as long as you're bound." A shiver ran up her spine at the presence of another.

"I don't know who you think I am, but I assure you I'm not a threat." Lilly schooled her voice into one of innocence and compliance.

"You're all a threat, whether you realize it or not." Grains of sand shifted as the woman approached. Lilly faced forward, refusing to yield to her alluring presence. She didn't need to wait long for her captor to be revealed. The woman's body took up residence between Lilly and the glaring sun. The agony in her skull was eased slightly by the temporary shade, "why have you come?"

She was stunningly beautiful, her skin sculpted from the very sand she stood upon. Intricate braids of midnight hair peeked out from beneath a head covering of lightweight cloth. She was dressed for the climate and armed for a fight, or an execution. She could only hope it wouldn't be the latter. Sunlight glinted off the menacing dagger clutched in the woman's hand. She reminded Lilly of such a weapon, beautiful, sharp, and lethal. She was a warrior, that much was clear. Lilly hesitated a moment, trying to recall the lie she'd spun in the woods.

"I got separated from my friends. I was trying to find my way back to them."

"And you just happened to stroll through our wards by chance? I don't think so." Her voice curled into a ferocious snarl. "There hasn't been an outsider within our borders for years."

"I didn't mean to trespass It was an accident, I swear. I don't even know where I am. This all just a misunderstanding."

"Don't play coy with me. I know he sent you." She crouched in the sand before Lilly, leveling her gaze with that of her enemy. Brandishing her weapon she twirled it around her fingers in a skillful figure-eight pattern. "What I want to know is how a scout, like you, managed to not only find us but break through our defenses?"

"I told you, I'm just lost, no one sent me!" Lilly squirmed away from the warrior's frost laced glare. She was getting nowhere. Panic and frustration had begun to culminate in her chest, joining the overwhelming grief that'd branded itself there the night before.

"What is your name?"

"Lilly," She stated simply. In her previous life, she would've lied, given her the name of another, but this was a new world, a new Lilly. Her name held none of the same strength and connection it once had for her. Her friends, her family, there was no one left that she loved. This warrior couldn't hurt her. She was already broken beyond repair.

"If you don't offer up the truth willingly, I'll be forced to use more invasive tactics. Is that what you want?" Lilly raised her chin, setting her jaw in determination.

"That is the truth." The warrior shook her head and motioned to something behind Lilly. The blonde strained to look behind her, but the post obstructed her view. Sand shifted once more and soon another woman revealed herself. She was much older than the first, her dark skin wrinkled with age. Her kinked hair grew past her breasts in a chocolate halo. Thin robes had been draped over her body, flowing around her as she moved. Pools of pure wisdom swirled behind the elder's dark eyes. Lilly felt stripped bare, her soul on display for this woman.

"Yakia, she's all yours." The warrior pushed herself up to stand, moving a few feet away. Yakia took her place, crouching down in a way normal women her age wouldn't have been able to. Lilly instinctively pressed herself against the post. Yakia reached out one rough and wrinkled hand, clamping it around the blonde's jaw with an uncharacteristically firm grip. Lilly fought to break free, but Yakia held strong. She would be forced to meet this woman's unearthly gaze. The warrior crossed her arms, watching the exchange with furrowed brows.

Lilly expected one of them to begin an interrogation, berate her with questions and punish her if it wasn't what they wanted to hear. None of that happened, only silence. Yakia kept her grip tight and her eyes trained on Lilly's. The minutes seemed to drag on with every one of Lilly's attempts to break free thwarted. She resigned to stare back with a set jaw and narrowed eyes.

A trail of energy brushed against the edge of her mind. Lilly flinched at the sensation. Her nostrils flared as she slammed her mental wards shut on the intruder. Yakia never broke eye contact. Lilly felt a surge of spite and smirked back. Yakia's magic pressed against her wards. Lilly's walls were solid brick, but this woman was a wrecking ball. Before she knew what was happening, the old woman's magic flared, crushing Lilly's wards from every direction. Lilly reinforced as much as she could, creating wall after wall to replace the ones crumbling to dust. Tendrils of energy slipped past her wards, licking at the edges of her inner workings. Flashes of light, blood, and moths overwhelmed her. She caught glimpses of Penny, Quentin, Margo, the rest of her friends, lying dead on the floor. Lilly let out a strangled gasp, slamming iron-clad walls down between herself and the woman. In an instant, Yakia's grip on her mind and her chin were ripped away as if she'd been burned. Lilly panted heavily and fought back a wave of nausea. Tears rolled down her pale cheeks and dropped to the sand in silent procession. Yakia took a step back, turning to face the warrior, who looked quite shocked herself.

"She's strong," The elder rubbed her temples, "she's had training. I caught glimpses, but not enough to reveal her purpose here." The warrior stepped forward.

"What did you see? Is she a scout?" She gripped her dagger eagerly, ready to slit the intruder's throat at any moment.

"There's a darkness around her. She is not a scout, but she's nothing good." Her eyes fell on Lilly, appraising her with worried eyes. The warrior on the other hand scowled and brandished her weapon.

"We have to kill her then," the warrior began to move towards her, but Yakia held her back.

"Saia, no," Her voice was stern, a mother scolding her child. "We take her to Bloodreigna. He will decide her fate." Saia was displeased, but she nodded. She reached Lilly in one stride, slicing through the rope binding her to the post in one fluid motion. Lilly's hands were still bound securely behind her back. Saia roughly hoisted her to stand. Lilly swayed unsteadily, head spinning from the sudden movement.

"Move," Lilly allowed herself to be dragged in the direction she'd previously had her back to. She gasped, taking in the sight. They stood in the shadow of a massive mountain range that stretched toward the horizon west and east. Straight ahead, no more than half a mile from their position was the strangest patch of lush green forest she'd ever seen. It looked as if the mountain itself had been cleaved in two and within the narrow valley left behind, an oasis had sprouted.

"Those are The Copper Mountains, aren't they?" Lilly gaped, her eyes as wide as saucers, "and The Wandering Desert." She received no response, she didn't need one. She'd studied the Fillory map hundreds of times and The Wandering Desert was the only place she could be. As they approached the edge of the forest, Saia's grip on her arm tightened to a tourniquet. The trees looked much like those of the rest of Fillory, and if she concentrated, it almost felt like she was back with her friends. Within the forest, the pressure of sweltering heat lifted completely, replaced by a warm, but pleasant temperature that she would expect of a late spring day. The sudden change baffled her and she knew there was magic at play.

Through the underbrush, she could see a grouping of cottages. Some built as treehouses, raised from the ground with rope bridges joining them together. Others burrowed into the ground like Hobbit holes, mounds of grass and moss covering the roofs before continuing back in their natural pattern. Villagers milled about, carrying baskets of fresh vegetables or buckets of water. A few children played, swinging from a bunch of vines like monkeys.

They all halted when they saw Lilly. The forest clearing went silent as their eyes tracked her every movement like a pack of hungry wolves. Their expressions ranged from furry to terror. One of the children, however, took a step towards her. His eyes held none of the same ire as his peers and instead, he watched her with innate curiosity. She gave him a weak smile and continued her march towards likely death. They arrived before a massive oak tree which must've been a few hundred years old at least. Built into the base was a two-story stone cottage with a thatched roof. Vines grew up the walls. Nature had claimed this village as its own.

Saia banged on the arched wooden door, keeping a tight grip on Lilly's arm as she did. Heavy footsteps approached and the door swung open to reveal a man. He must've been in his forties, judging by the early signs of aging. He was of fair complexion, though he carried a light tan due to the desert sun. Straight blonde hair streaked by salt and pepper was cropped short and left to its own devices. He had a slight stubble, just enough to leave a shadow around his thin lips. Bright blue eyes met hers. He wasn't immediately disgusted or afraid as the others had been, much like the little boy. His lips curled in a soft smile.

"You must be our intruder," he stepped aside and gestured politely for them to enter, "come in." Saia guided her into the cottage, which was much more spacious than she'd initially believed. A cozy sitting area had been arranged around a grand stone fireplace, natural light illuminated the area through the various windows. A little kitchen and dining table were located to her left. It was unexpectedly homey for someone with a name like Bloodreigna.

"My apologies for the unpleasant visit." Saia and Yakia dipped their heads toward the floor as a sign of respect for the man.

"She resisted our questions and I was forced to incept her mind," Yakia explained, "as far as I can tell, she's not a scout, but she's not innocent either. She's been trained in the art of Occlumency. I was able to get enough to tell that she doesn't work for him, but nothing else." Bloodreigna took a moment to observe Lilly, her blood-spattered, sandy clothes, greasy, knotted hair, and haunted eyes.

"Sit," his tone was pleasant enough to mistake it as an offer of hospitality. Saia shoved her harshly down into one of the overstuffed armchairs. "You may leave us," this was directed towards the other two women. Yakia nodded respectfully and turned to vacate the cottage.

"She could be dangerous," Saia eyed Lilly, who tried her best to look innocent.

"It will be fine, Saia," Bloodreigna reassured, "I've still got quite a lot of fight left in me." Saia hesitated, looking to her leader with concern.

"I'll be right outside," she shot Lilly a warning glance as she left. When the door shut behind her, a moment of silence passed between them. Lilly wasn't exactly sure what to make of him.

"What's your name?"

"Lilly."

"You're from Earth, aren't you, Lilly?" She noted the way his eyes crinkled at the edges when he smiled.

"Yes," her brows furrowed skeptically, "how'd you know?"

"You aren't the first child of Earth I've come across," he suddenly stood, freeing a dagger from the waistband of his pants. Lilly flinched and he held up both hands to calm her. "Relax, I'm going to cut your hands free." Her muscles softened, her fear replaced by confusion. Lilly leaned forward and allowed him to slice through the rope.

"But, why?" She rubbed at her raw wrists. He knelt in front of the chair and took her hands in his.

"Well," He began rewrapping the rope around her wrists separately, "I can't let you go completely. I can't have you using magic, but I like to think I'm still a magnificent fighter, even if I'm not as young as I once was." The knots he'd tied were intricate enough that she couldn't untie them with one hand but loose enough that it wouldn't irritate her inflamed skin.

"Thank you," her words were genuine. Lilly sank back in the armchair for some much-needed comfort after the last twenty-four hours. He returned to his chair and rested his elbows on his knees pensively.

"Now, as much as I'd love to keep this pleasant, I must decide how to handle the situation."

"I simply got lost trying to find my friends. I mean no harm to your people, I swear."

"That may be, but Yakia sensed something off about you and I trust her with my life. You entered our borders in the night, refused questioning, and resisted Yakia's interrogation. You do not add up." Lilly swallowed the lump in her throat. Danger was rising and if she wanted to survive, she had to start thinking fast. "I'm not going to kill you, but I can't let you go either."

"If you let me go, I promise to never return. I just want to go home. You can ask Yakia. I'm telling the truth."

"I can't take the risk of you sharing what you've seen here with anyone. I need to think of my people, their safety comes first, always." He pursed his lips, locking eyes with her. "I sentence you to a trial by combat."