We combed the room, but there was no sign that anything had been disturbed. No one had been seen going in or coming out, and not even my staff cleaned yet. 

I felt a shiver of unease up my spine. My room, which was once my sanctuary, was now tainted by this mystery visitor and I no longer feel safe in it. I know Alessia is taking this personally and has been marching around, ordering additional guards and scouting parties to search the grounds for signs of an intruder.

I don't want to tell her I think it is pointless. I no longer feel eyes on me and I am convinced my watcher is gone for now. My mind desperately looks for answers as to who it could be. There are so many dark fae staying with us. So many of my own court. Those who would like to see me disconcerted and thrown off balance by their games. But who could have pulled off this? 

My eyes scan over the paper for the hundredth time. Hoping for some sort of clue as to who has left me this note. Why did they need me to see this? Are they friend or foe? Are my people safe? Am I safe? The Undoing chatters with concern inside me, which does nothing for my nerves. 

The prophecy was one I was familiar with at least. We had studied it with our tutor as children. Along with a number of others, we were tasked with trying to understand the meaning of the rhyming message. I had always hated those lessons. It seemed so subjective and I almost never agreed with our tutors' understanding of them. How could sibling be centuries apart? It made no sense.

"My queen?" a tentative voice breaks through my anxious mind and I spin. 

"I'm so sorry, your highness, but the first task is about to begin and they need you to release the champions." stammers, a nervous-looking maid, her hands twisting in her skirts in a poor attempt to disguise their shaking.

It's clear she was reluctant to approach me and I try to smooth the frown from my face to reassure her, "Thank you. Please inform them I will be down momentarily." I reply.

She bobs a curtsy and hurries off, eager to escape my company. It isn't until I move to the mirror, I finally see why. There's darkness in my eyes that swirls angrily, almost completely covering their usual cornflower blue. 

The Undoing has risen inside of me. With very little magic to my person before it appeared, I had never had to work to control my emotions. There was no need to keep in check a power I did not have. How I wished my parents were here now to help me through it.

But they are not. Ayden is not. I am alone and I must make the best of it.

I turn to the window so the sunlight can dance across my face and warm my skin as I close my eyes and focus on more calming things. Laughter around the castle...my family's arms around me...a feeling of safety...the rush of finishing a gripping book...lips on my own. My eyes jolt open as memories of the kiss come flooding back and my cheeks heat in embarrassment.

The startled eyes looking back at me from the reflection of the window are just my own again, and I am thankful it worked. The pink staining my skin will make it obvious to anyone what I was thinking. Not that there is anyone but Alessia here. I can hear the scratch of her quill on parchment as she scrawls messages to her fellow guards. I cannot let her see me so flustered when she is already concerned.

Fanning my cheeks, I try to clear my mind of those honey eyes and that smug, beautiful grin. After a few moments, there is no delaying it any longer. Straightening my back, I march from the room. Alessia follows me wordlessly, but I know we have not nearly finished discussing what we need to about the intruder or what happened before she returned to the library. I just hope she won't be as scandalised by my behaviour as I should have been.

Ahead of me, the large oak doors creak open and we step out into the gardens. I have always loved being outside. Breathing deeply to pull that calming fresh and floral scent deep into my lungs.

I have barely taken three paces before we are joined by several guards. Clearly, Alessia is taking the potential danger very seriously. I don't look at them or smile, refusing to show any sign of weakness as we approach the crowd gathered by the forest entrance. It has been years since anything truly dangerous emerged from it, but we still have guards there as well at all hours.

Alessia breaks away from me, just far enough to say something to a knight at her side. They nod sharply and with a wave of their hand, the rest of the team drop back to stand in formation close to us.

I don't react, but I am relieved. I can't have people knowing that I don't feel safe or that I need more protection that usual. That would just cause unnecessary panic.

"Welcome," I say loudly, instantly silencing those who were speaking amongst themselves in the crowd, "to the first task of the Croí Éadrom Games."

There is a brief smattering of applause and I wait quietly for it to settle down. "Seven have pledged themselves to me, but only five may continue on to the second task." My eyes scan along the waiting champions and I hope I am making the right decision. "Each of you will choose a note from the basket which will tell you a clue to the location of two scarves hidden earlier today. It is up to you which you go for, but know that you may be racing another to get to it." 

The champions are dressed in identical tunics and trousers to prevent anyone having an unfair advantage and sneaking in something hidden within their clothing. I had mages confirm that they are clean of any spells or artefacts that can aid them, so it is as even a playing field as I can give them. The only thing identifying each is that fact they are wearing their family or house colours. 

Some of them shift restlessly and I cannot tell whether it is nerves or eagerness to get going. 

I smile, but it feels false on my lips as I gesture towards the basket the maids helped me to prepare earlier. Each location we chose for the scarves has meaning to me. From the one in the hexed hedges I used to run through, or the one in the hidden garden I explored as a child, to the sleeping spelled one deep in the spring flower meadow. My eyes drift to Ezra briefly as I think of the one he told me he would fetch, which waits at the top of one of the most ancient oaks and is surrounded by all manner of wicked and wild creatures.

When I next open my mouth, the champions tense, ready to race each other to claim their note. Perhaps they think it will give them some sort of advantage to choose first? "You have each been given a calling crystal should anything go wrong and you require aid. Simply crush the crystal beneath your foot and my team will come to you immediately," I gesture to the guards at the side and Liam scoffs out loud. 

It is cruel of me to wish misfortune on him, but I do hope he isn't one of the ones who makes it to the next round. "Champions," I call out, "Please choose your clues." 

They dart forward quickly. Each grabbing a note and moving away from one another to read it. I refuse to meet Ezra's eyes as he looks up from his with a grin. Owen is also looking at me, but I don't understand his expression. Sadness, mixed with slight irritation perhaps?

As much as I want to ask if all is well, I cannot. "Without further ago, let the games begin." I declare.

They don't need any further encouragement as they all hurry into the woods, pushing and shoving like children. 

"For those who wish to wait, food will be served out here shortly. Alternatively, you can reconvene here on the third hour of the afternoon and I will hope to be announcing those who will progress then." I call out to the waiting crowd.

When no one moves to go inside, I curse under my breath. Of course, they all want to watch the woods for the winners. I'm sure they plan to scrutinise my reactions to who emerges victorious. "Would you like to wait inside, my lady?" Alessia asks. 

I shake my head, "Not if no one else will be. I should be the first to see who the victors are." I say grimly.

She doesn't reply, but I watch her eyes scanning the crowd for danger and know my choice does not impress her.

Whether she is happy or not - whether there is danger - it does not matter when it compares to how people see my behaviour. I wish it were as simple as waiting somewhere safe. Nowhere is safe from the rumour mill and those gossips could bring down an empire if they tried.

Fixing my face into a smile, I make my way slowly through the crowd. Passing the time with polite small talk and wishing it was over so I could escape the sharp gazes and tongues of my court.

After a little over an hour, a shout goes up and I am shocked by who I see emerging. Finn strides out, with a body hanging limply over his shoulder and a scarf clutched in his fist. He looks a little surprised when he realises he is the first, but smiles and waves to the crowd with his spare hand before slowly laying the body he was carrying on the grass.

I hurry forward to see who it is, sweeping the long dark hair off her face and revealing a very pale, unconscious Lady Lina. "She wasn't able to crack the sleeping spell and I couldn't just leave her there." Finn says with a shrug.

"So you carried her all the way back from the meadow?" I ask incredulously.

He shrugs again, looking embarrassed, "There are all manner of things in the wood. No one should be left vulnerable there."

I rise from my crouched position and gesture a maid over, "Please fetch Violet and explain we need her to undo a sleeping spell."

The maid nods and dashes back to the castle. I step around Lina's still form and turn back to the crowd with a courtly smile. As uncomfortable as I am with doing this as one lies unconscious at my feet, I take Finn's surprised hand in my own and raise it up. "Our first victor!"

The crowd goes wild, cheering and clapping, and Finn smiles politely and waves back to them. "Your scarf, my lady." he says when I finally release him. 

I take it, twisting the fabric between my fingers just to give my hands something to do so the watching busy bodies have nothing to say about their nervous trembling.

I'm about to thank him when Lina's family hurry over to join us. They mutter their thanks to Finn but look more disappointed than anything else. We leave her in their capable hands as we make our way towards the blanket laid out for us to sit on.

"That was very honourable, my lord." I tell him with a smile.

The tips of his ears are pink with embarrassment, and it's oddly endearing. "It's what any good fae would have done."

I want to protest and say I suspect many of the others would have just left her there, but I don't get the chance as another cheer goes up and two others stride from the forest, scarves in hand. I smile at Owen and then recognise the man at his side and frown. 

Liam and my sweet friend seem like such an unlikely pair to be seen together as they smile and wave to the waiting crowd. I accept the offered scarves graciously and announce our next victors. So much for hoping Liam would not be making it out.

"Are you ok?" I murmur to Owen as he continues to wave politely to the crowd.

"Of course," he gives me that familiar lopsided smile and I can't help, but smile back, "I promised I'd try, didn't I."

I want to tell him that he made no such promise to me, but I am too relieved to see him safe. When the crowd gasps, I feel my stomach drop and spin back to the forest. A beam of light has gone up in the distance. A thin ray of gold from a calling crystal.

"Go." I order my guards, heart in my mouth as I wait to see who it is.

Ezra's face fills my mind and I feel a mix of guilt that it was my game that sent them out there and fear that he might be in some sort of danger. I should be concerned no matter who it is, but my traitorous heart doesn't care.

"All will be well." Owen tries to reassure me, but I can't tear my eyes away from the light to respond.

After a moment he sighs heavily, "Later then, my queen." 

Guilt grips me, and I find myself hating the council for ever putting me in this position. Barely a minute has passed when whispers ripple through the crowd and I see a figure emerge. At first it is just an outline, then he steps from the shadows with his usual cocky smile and my breath comes out of me in a rush.

It takes all of my restraint to fight the urge to run to Ezra, and instead approach with what I hope resembles a serene smile, "Miss me, princess?" he asks when I get close enough to hear him.

I cannot reply, but something about my expression tells him all is not well. "What happened?" he asks, forehead creasing into a frown.

I looked pointedly over his shoulder at the beam of light, and he glances back. After a moment of silence, his eyes light with understanding, "You thought that was me? Were you worried for me, princess?" he asks.

I find my voice. "I was merely concerned you'd fallen from a tree and needed rescuing again." I tell him haughtily. 

Surprised laughter bursts from him, which feels highly inappropriate considering someone could be seriously hurt out there. "Always ready to save me, princess. Be careful, someone might think you care for me."

I let out as scoff and accept the scarf he hands me, "Unlikely, most are aware of how incredibly annoying you are. They'd never believe it."

Before he can reply, I hear hoofbeats and refocus on the forest, expecting to see my guards returning.

When Lady Melida appears astride a magnificent black horse, my eyebrows shoot up. It doesn't take long for her to spot me and she encourages the flighty beast to gallop to my side.

In one smooth movement she dismounts and places her hand in the centre of the horse's face. "Thank you for your assistance wise one." she whispers, so quietly I almost don't hear it.

The horse snorts and paws the ground twice, before turning sharply and dashing back towards the forest.

"A kelpie who was kind enough not to kill me." Melida says by way of explanation at my shocked look.

Kelpies are known for being vicious and surviving an encounter is rare, let alone ending up riding one. "Quite the feat, Lady Melida." I manage to say.

Even Ezra, who I had half-forgotten was at my side. Let's out a low whistle to show how impressed he is.

Melida lowers her eyes, embarrassed by the attention, and I make a note to ask her more about what happened as soon as we are able. "Your scarf my Queen." she says with a smile, handing me the emerald scarf with silver embroidery.

"Our champions." I call out to those watching us so closely, holding both scarves aloft.

Applause breaks out and I feel a slight twinge of concern for the still missing Edmund. However, there's no time to dwell on his fate as I make the last declaration of the champions continuing on.

I've almost finished my speech when I see the guards return, Edmund slung clumsily over the back of one of a horse.

Violet rushes to his aid and I breathe out a noise of relief as she gives me a nod of reassurance. Thankfully, the games have not taken a life. Not yet. Never if I may have my way on it.

"My lady." a small voice interrupts my inner musings as I step down from the stage I was using to address the crowd.

I look down at the child who is speaking and smile, "Yes, little one?" 

She gives a small gap-toothed grin, "The man in the cloak asked me to give you this." She lisps, holding out a small folded note, sealed with a familiar crest.

My crest. My royal seal. How is it possible?