I'm still thinking about the note as the severe-looking selkie seamstress pins difference swatches of fabric to me the following morning.

Did someone see me that day on the battlefield? I had thought everyone was too focused on their own fights to notice. When I asked Alessia if she had seen anything, she just shook her head and told me she wished she could have been there.

She isn't to know that I don't think her presence would have made the slightest bit of difference, but I thanked her all the same. When I asked others for their experience of that day, everyone admitted they had felt the ground shaking and breaking under the pulse of power that my gift gave off. However, they had assumed it was the death of my brother that caused it. Why wouldn't it be? He was strong, powerful, and a magical force to be reckoned with. 

Even I had believed it was him at first that had caused it. They did not know me for more than being the sister just three minutes younger than him, with no gift and always dreaming of adventure I was too clumsy to experience.

My mind drifts to everything I learnt in the book last night and my eyes flicker to the bed, where it lies just under my pillow. I couldn't put it down, devouring every bit of knowledge it could give me. Learning how to access the power was so different to how the light fae magic worked. Light fae magic just required a mental call, whereas dark fae magic seemed to need a powerful emotion to trigger and fuel it. I had yet to try what it had suggested. Half-afraid of the damage, my gift had the potential to do if I couldn't control it.

I was exhausted too and, I felt like that gave me even less control over myself than usual. It wasn't as though I had not slept through the night since the day my gift burst free. My dreams were haunted by my brother's body, Duncan's demise, and the mysterious stranger who left me the note. I felt them, watching me now wherever I went. My whole body is on high alert. I can't relax, my power won't let me when it feels so unsafe. It was a conundrum, to defend myself and my power, I needed to learn to control it. To control it, I needed to practise using it and to use it I needed to feel safe enough to rest and so I was stronger. 

At this rate, I would get nowhere. The seamstress tuts her displeasure as I let one of my aching arms fall. "Arm up, I have hours to finish this instead of the days I should at the very least be allowed." she grumbles around the pins in her mouth. 

With a sigh, I obey and decide to let her attitude slide. Merino is the best in the dressmaking business and I am just grateful she believes it is possible for her to create me something for the ball tonight.

It seems she knows she can get away with a lot as well because she immediate lifts my chin out of her way and holds up different appliques against my chest. Her sharp grey eyes are assessing and deciding between options that somehow look all the same to me.

A soft knock at the door breaks her concentration, and she lets out a huff of annoyance, throwing up her hands and marching over to the trunk of cloth she brought with her to rummage for something.

I make sure I'm fully covered and decent before I call out, "Enter?"

The door opens slightly and a pretty, dark-haired woman slips in. "Your majesty." She says, her curls bouncing wildly as she drops into a curtsy.

"Violet, thank you for coming." I reply and wave for her to approach.

She hurries forward, her head still slightly bowed in respect, "Of course, my Queen, what do you need?"

"I find," I struggle to come up with the words to explain what is happening each night, "I find I am unable to sleep. The sleep I do have is plagued by dreams I'd rather not have, and I think they are getting worse." I explain tiredly, scrubbing my hand across my face. 

"You wish for a sleeping draft?" Violet ventures, "I can have one ready for tonight."

"Yes please, and perhaps something for today? The lack of sleep is," I rub my aching temple, "I am not myself without sleep."

"I will make you up a restorative tonic now, your majesty." Violet promises, dipping into another curtsy.

She hovers, waiting to see if there was anything else. Her pretty, open face is so eager to please I almost forget she is twice my age. "Thank you, Violet, that will be all." I dismiss her with a smile.

When she smiles back, her entire face lights up. "You are so like your mother," she says as she backs up to the door, "I will bring you the tonic myself as soon as it is complete." she adds and then, before I can say anything else, she is vanishing back through the doors.

The next few hours are a whirl of meetings and approvals for the ball. Menus are suggested and I just agree with the options they say are best, too tired to decide otherwise. My whole body aches and feels like it might collapse in on itself at any moment. I briefly wonder if anyone would want to marry me if it did.

I am just coming out of a council meeting I was not informed about until the last possible moment, but attended anyway, when Violet reappears with a small goblet of orange liquid that appears to be steaming slightly.

I give her a concerned look and she grins. "It tastes nicer when it is warm so I have heated it for you."

"Thank you." I reply before hesitantly inhaling the rising mist.

I start in surprise. It somehow smells like citrus and smoky wood at the same time. I take a small sip and feel the infused power in it shoot through my body.

"Drink up," Violet encourages, "I need my goblet back!"

I laugh out loud and take a few more gulps. I can feel the strength and warmth spreading through me as my body remembers what it is like to feel rested. My power stretches out lazily inside of me with a grateful sigh and, for once, I feel I am doing the right thing.

"That should keep you going," Violet says as I hand it back to her, "I suspect it will fade at around the eleventh hour so I would try to be in your bed chamber by then." she recommends and I nod.

"Thank you Violet, I only wish I had thought to come to you sooner." I tell her with a little shake of my head.

Violet looks delighted and then moves to leave, but something stops her. She opens her mouth to speak and then frowns.

"Speak your mind." I coax, curious at what she has to say.

"Begging your pardon if I'm overstepping, but I just wanted to say that whatever is keeping you awake...what I mean to say is...if you need someone to talk to about it, I am here. You'll find I am an excellent listener and superb at keeping secrets." she says earnestly. 

I think carefully before responding. Does she know? Is she the mystery person from the note? She was not on the battlefield that day, but I suppose she tended to many of the wounded. What if a dying fae told her something?

Careful to keep my expression neutral, I nod, "Thank you. I will keep that in mind."

Violet looks relieved I am not offended, but something about my reaction causes her smile to falter. "Good day, your majesty." She gives a slight bob of her head and hurries off. 

I watch her retreating figure with interest. Somehow she knows more than she is letting on and I determine to find out exactly what as soon as I can.

I hear the music rising from the ballroom as I make my way to my room so I can dress, "Is everything alright my queen?" Alessia asks as I carefully peek around another wall into the next corridor.

I let out an embarrassed laugh, "Oh yes, I am sorry. I am just trying to make sure I don't bump into anyone before the ball."

I had been avoiding lords and ladies all day. Each hour avoiding them was convincing me more and more I could empathise with the fox as it tried to outrun the hunt.

As soon as I was dressed and in that room, I could not escape them, but for now, blissful peace was mine. "Would you like me to go ahead?" Alessia asks, giving me a look that suggests she thinks I am utterly insane.

If only she knew. "Yes, please." I reply gratefully, allowing her to lead me to my room and steer clear of the social climbers.

When we make it to my room unscathed, we find Merino perched on the guard's chair outside. She looks exhausted, and I feel a twinge of guilt at the fact she has been working all day on something for me. Perhaps I should ask Violet to send her some of that magical tonic? Although I'm not entirely certain if it would work on a selkie. 

Merino's hand rests on a huge thin black dress bag balanced on her lap. It's well covered, but I can see a hint of gold fabric escaping the bottom and a girlish thrill goes through me at the idea of whatever she has created. 

"Thank you so much Merino. Your work on this has been much appreciated." I tell her warmly as I lead her into my rooms.

She snorts, "Don't thank me yet, you haven't even seen the damn thing."

I watch as she lays it almost reverently across my bed and unwraps it. A gasp escapes me and my hands reach out to explore the fabric. Somehow it is even better than I had imagined. 

"Let's get you into it, lass." Merino murmurs before I can get completely lost in the moment.

She spends what feels like forever fussing and layering the dress on the floor before she helps me step into it.

For the amount of fabric in the skirt, I am surprised by how light it feels as she pulls it up my body and quickly begins to tighten and tie the corset back with practised hands. It is perfection; I think as I look at myself in the mirror. The tonic has given me a glow that sits on my cheeks in a delicate rosy flush. 

Tiny buttery-soft satin sleeves hang prettily off my shoulders, and the neckline dips teasingly low. I brush my hair over one shoulder so I can see it better and realise that the golden fabric has a shimmer to it that catches the light as I move.

As soon as I am fastened in it, I cannot help but do a small spin like a child at the solstice. The voluminous skirts flair out around me and joy runs through me for the first time since the battle. When I stop and the skirts settle around me, I look at Merino. Amusement plays across her face at my antics and I have to remind myself that I am supposed to be a Queen. Perhaps I should not have done that. Alessia is grinning at me from the door, as though my happiness brings her joy.

Perhaps it does? I know that her happiness means a lot to me as well. "It is stunning, thank you." I tell Merino sincerely 

She preens under my praise and I let my fingers trace the beautiful lace flowers around the waist that fall on embroidered vines down the skirt.

"I will send in your ladies to take care of your hair and face. Take care this eve, my queen." she smiles cryptically and leaves. 

Suddenly, I am questioning whether she knows something she isn't saying either. Ever since I found that note, I am jumping at shadows and seeing conspiracies at every turn.

I roll my shoulders and sigh. Is this all there is to be to my life now? Danger, deception and dancing in magnificent dresses?