OUR group consisted of seven people — the four of us, Pecan Ainsley — who was one of the best soldiers, a rebel woman who I'd been told was one of the best fighters, and a senior man who was also remarkably good with both weapons and the Forest.

The groups were small, to avoid too many elves being captured or dying if Ivy found them, but I knew that we'd been given the best fighters because they needed to protect me. Given they thought I was powerful.

Despite me barely being able to use the Forest after I'd defeated Birch and his soldiers.

After a tearful goodbye with Grove, Meadow and Birch, we'd set off into the Forest. It was a long trek, too many days to count.

The rebel woman was Aster, much older than us and unmarried. This fact did not seem to chafe her much. According to her, the time that a husband and children would have taken helped in improving her swordplay, leaving her one of the best fighters in camp.

We traipsed through the Forest, stopping once it had turned dark, because Terran Lark, our group leader, had realized that we needed to rest after Maple had tripped and not woken up.

Arden set her down on a soft patch of moss while Terran muttered about how she needed training. I was proud that he didn't feel the same way about me, though I was sorry for Maple.

Aiden and I had first watch, both of us being much too stubborn to let the others stay up. They slept on the rolls they'd carried with them, while Aiden and I sat side-by-side, leaning on a tree.

"Here," Aiden said, passing me a staff. I gave him a curious look. "I kept this because I wanted to practice. You can start."

I gave him a nod and grasped the staff. I closed my eyes, almost afraid of what I would see, if Nalvia came back.

The darkness under my eyelids changed to an aura of gold. I recognized it, because I had seen this figure before.

Nalvia

Yes. You must understand. I do not have much time.

Understand what? I asked.

Her golden figure dissipated like before. Like she was showing me another vision.

Why are you showing me this?

See.

My eyelids were still closed, but I saw what she wanted me to see. Another vision of my parents.

They were in a room.

Just the two of them, alone- but not quite. The chamber was massive. It could have seemed empty, but it was quite full of happy energy pulsing through the room.

Ivy sat in the large bed, blankets covering her, as Rowan sat next to her, both of their eyes focused on something in Ivy's arms, obscured from me by Ivy's long, dark hair, hanging over it.

I shifted, and it became clear what they were staring at. A baby.

A young child, wrapped in white, a tuft of light brown hair already growing out of its forehead. Laurel? It had to be. She was their firstborn. She gurgled happily as Ivy rocked her back and forth gently.

"Let me hold her." My father said gently.

Ivy smiled up at him and said, "Careful."

She passed Laurel to him. He stared down in wonder at the baby, tenderness written all over his regal face. "She's beautiful," he breathed.

"That she is." Ivy agreed.

"What should we name her?" Rowan asked, tilting his head to the side.

"Well, what do you want to name her?" Ivy asked.

Rowan cupped his hand over the child's head gently. "She's going to be Queen one day. So, something to do with victory. Because our daughter will be victorious." They were both silent, pondering.

Finally, Ivy suggested, "Laurel?"

My father smiled brightly. "It's perfect. Just like her. And just like you, my dear. Laurel it is! Our heir." He kissed the baby's forehead, and then Ivy's.

"Thank you," he said, smiling at Ivy gently.

"For what?" Ivy asked, still smiling up at him.

"For her. For us, For all of this. You're truly amazing." Rowan said.

Ivy's pale cheeks grew pink at the compliment, and she said, "So are you."

"But you more so." Rowan said.

Ivy opened her mouth to speak, but a knock sounded on the closed doors. "Come in," the couple said in unison.

Guards opened the door to four more elves. My grandparents, their faces anxious.

Oren, Ivy's father, looked the most worried. They rushed in to look at their first grandchild, and Ivy and Rowan smiled seeing their excitement. "She's absolutely lovely. What have you named her?" Cypress, the old Queen, asked. Ivy smiled at her mother-in-law.

"Laurel."

"Laurel. Fitting for a Queen, or a Lady." Malus, my paternal grandfather and the former King said, smiling proudly at the child who was to, possibly, carry on the Elowen line.

"Oh, she's beautiful. Let me see her." Magnolia, Ivy's mother, said.

Rowan gently handed her my eldest sister. "Aren't you a beauty?" She cooed. "Yes, you are."

"Give her to her Grandfather now, Magnolia." Oren said, blinking away tears. She passed Laurel on to him. "Our first grandchild." He said proudly.

"Let us hold her." Cypress said. Oren gave the baby to her. "A little Princess." Cypress breathed. She gently handed her to Malus.

"She's even more beautiful than you, Rowan," he said teasingly.

My father laughed. "Of course. She takes after her mother."

Ivy blushed even more as Malus and Cypress laughed. Cypress said, "Well, of course. If the child took after you it would be a disaster."

"Mother!" Rowan said, though he was laughing as well.

"Now, we must warn you." Magnolia said. "You appear to have many friends and well-wishers who would like to see the future Queen, so be prepared to be awake till tomorrow morning, perhaps even later."

"Many elves are here to see you. I know you must be tired, but bear with them." Malus said, passing Laurel back to Rowan.

"Goodbye." Cypress said, as they walked out.

Once the door closed, Ivy's face fell. "Row, what if I'm a terrible mother?" She asked, her eyes downcast.

Rowan lifted her chin up gently. "I'm sure you will be a fantastic mother. Now let's brace ourselves for the onslaught of elves."

This made Ivy laugh, and together, they faced the door, their first child safely sleeping in their arms.

And the scene faded to black.

I gasped, opening my eyes. My father — I'd heard his voice. I'd seen him. I'd seen him laugh, and smile. He was happy. They both were happy.

"What happened?" Aiden asked, eyes shrewd.

My own eyes widened. "Did you know this was going to happen?"

"What?" He asked. "Did you see something?"

I gaped at him. "You planned this."

Aiden shrugged, fiddling with the hem of his shirt. "Not planned. Hoped."

I sighed, my head falling back to the tree. "Well, you were right. I did see something."

"What?" He asked, sounding much more alert.

I turned my head, meeting his eyes, shadowed in the night. "I saw my parents, right after my oldest sister was born."

"And — they were happy," Aiden said slowly, his eyes shifting. I could almost see him calculating in his head.

"They were," I said, giving him a nod, "Nalvia is trying to show me something — she's trying to make me understand something. But she said she can't show me much, that all her power couldn't be with me."

Aiden pursed his lips. "Maybe she can't because some of her power is with the Queen. Because technically, Queen Ivy is on the throne."

"She said I was her chosen one," I said, remembering the first vision.

"That's what we said," Aiden pointed out. I gave him a flat look. He shrugged. "I don't know. And since you aren't prepared to even think about my theory — "

"Aiden," I said, voice hard. He pressed his lips together and looked away. I sighed. "Here," I said, passing him the staff.

He paused, momentarily, before reaching out and grabbing it himself, shutting his eyes and leaning against the tree. I watched as wind blew around us, first faint and then stronger. He didn't let it get too strong, though, before opening his eyes.

"Why don't you try something?"

"What?" I asked, looking around.

He shrugged. "Try dropping the leaves."

I glanced up, staring at the endless amount of leaves above us, fluttering in the wind. They were too many — I'd just do what I could.

I closed my eyes, concentrating. I could feel the Forest — the life humming through each tree, each flower, each blade of grass. I knew they'd respond to my call.

But the leaves were as alive as I was...to kill them by detaching them from their trees was a heinous act.

Instead, I made the branches sway, though Aiden's wind had died out. Hearing them rustle, I opened my eyes. Above, they were shaking, a few dead leaves dropping.

I glanced at Aiden. He peered at me curiously. "What happened?"

"I don't want to kill them," I said, gesturing at the leaves above.

He nodded slowly. "Then don't." I watched as he gazed at the trees above, and a leaf came twirling down, balancing on the tip of his nose. I laughed as he grinned at me good-naturedly, and then closed his eyes.

His face strained, and the leaf flew back up. I watched it join a low-lying branch and attach to it, ever so slowly.

Aiden's eyes opened, and I gaped at the layer of sweat over his face. He gave me a shrug.

"It's always easier to destroy things than to make them grow."

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