I opened my eyes, finding myself in Ivy's chambers.

There was no body.

The wall of rock crumbled down around me, crashing to the ground.

Everyone in the room turned to me. Aiden, Arden, Maple. Forreston, Branch.

"Where's Ivy?" Branch yelled.

"Gone." I said simply, gripping my sword.

"You killed her," Forreston breathed.

Their faces changed from shock to outrage as they ran from the corners of the room towards me, pulling out their swords as they came.

I raised my sword — but I didn't have to.

Arden blocked Forreston, Aiden with Branch.

Their sword clanged in furious attacks, while Maple ran to me.

"What happened?" She asked, her eyes running over my mussed hair, the scrapes around me, the blood on my dress.

"I'll kill you!" Forreston bellowed, his eyes turning to me and Maple.

Maple stumbled into me, her eyes wide in horror.

Arden glanced back once, and that was precisely when Forreston struck.

"Watch out!" Maple screamed.

He stumbled back, Forreston's sword barely missing him. Forreston attacked faster, harder, while Arden struggled to regain his footing.

I gritted my teeth, and the rocks from behind me rose to rush at Forreston, who stumbled back, his eyes wide.

"Let me," Arden said, his eyes hard as he glared down at Forreston.

I nodded, stepping back as Forreston rose, brushing himself off. "For mother," he said, swinging at Arden.

On the other side, Aiden was holding off Branch.

But Branch fought like a maniac, his moves wild and harsh. They crept towards us, while Aiden tried us hardest to keep them away.

The boys were good.

But Forreston and Branch were royal-trained.

Forreston feinted. Arden misjudged.

Forreston swung at his feet, sending Arden crashing to the ground. He raised his sword over Arden —

And froze.

Red bloomed at the front of his leathers, the sword poking through each of them.

Maple's face was harsh, her mouth quivering as she let go of the sword, stumbling back.

Forreston crashed to his knees, the sword slipping out of his limp hands. His eyes darted over the room, coming to rest on his father.

He didn't say anything before his shoulders slumped, and he dropped to the floor, his eyes fluttering shut.

I gaped at Maple.

She reached out a hand to Arden, who took it, grimacing at Forreston's body as he stood up. But Maple's eyes stayed fixed on Forreston's corpse.

A primal yell led me to look at the other two.

I turned to see Branch, staring with something beyond horror at the body of his son.

Finally, his eyes lifted from Forreston to me. He glared, and I could see the fire in revenge burning behind those eyes.

His son and lover had died because of me.

I took a step back inadvertently, and he snarled. "This is all your fault."

He ran at me, lifting his sword high.

He didn't get far before Aiden blocked the strike with his dagger.

Aiden's face was tense. Blood trickled out of a cut in his thigh.

"Aiden!" I shouted.

I ran towards them, reaching just as Branch pushed Aiden to the floor. Branch reached up to block me —

But he was too late.

I swung hard, fighting him into the corner. Jab, parry, duck. An opening — I pierced his leg, and he crashed to the floor.

I took a step back. He couldn't get up now.

He glared at me, at all of us, as the others closed in at my sides.

Aiden gripped my hand once before standing in front of me. I forced myself to watch as he bent down and ran his dagger across Branch's neck.

Branch's eyes sputtered, giving me a last, dark look, before he shut them, and his body went limp.

"Elvina," Aiden breathed. I turned and found his eyes on my dress, the blood from the cut in my side caked on to it.

But the wound was healed.

"I'm fine," I said, "How are you?"

"I'll survive," he said, giving me a wry look.

"We have to go," Maple said, her voice shaky.

The rebels were still fighting.

We ran through the doors — just as Terran and Birch ran up to us.

"The Queen?" Terran asked, his eyes darting over our blood-stained clothes.

"Gone," I said, not quite believing it myself.

"The Prince? Sir Branch?" Birch asked, his shoulders slumping.

"Dead as well," Aiden said, his voice dark.

"Thank Nalvia," Terran croaked, closing his eyes momentarily.

"We have to tell the others. Come," Branch said.

I recognized where we were going. They opened the doors, and we stood, where, so long ago, Ivy had announced Forreston's coronation.

The rebels had moved the fighting outside, and I could see them dimly, through the darkness.

I stepped between the cherry blossom trees.

Speak. They will hear you.

"STOP!" I yelled.

My voice came out unnaturally loud — like it was coming from all the trees.

The fighting stopped, and the elves turned to look at me, their swords catching whatever little light there was coming from the palace.

I swallowed, clenching my fists.

"Fellow elves," I started, my voice indeed reaching the soldiers and rebels alike.

I didn't look back at the others. I was Queen now — this was my duty

"I am Princess Elvina. Your Princess. And I am here to tell you that Queen Ivy and Prince Forreston are dead."

I could hear the gasps, the exclamations.

"Forest Law declares that I am the new Queen. As such, your allegiance is to me. I order you to cease fighting each other immediately."

There were no protests, surprisingly.

"I am with all of you — not just the rebels, but each elf in this Forest. I know all of you have faced injustices in the past. But I am here to bring a new era of peace upon us."

I paused. Silence hung like a shroud over the Forest. I didn't dare look anywhere but at the elves below me.

"With your faith in me, together we can restore the Forest to its glory. It will not be easy, after years of fighting, but with Nalvia's grace, it shall be done!"

I felt Nalvia's presence thrumming over us, soothing and calm.

"Together, we can sail into a forever of glorious harmony!"

The rebels burst into applause and cheers, while the soldiers followed half-heartedly. I'd have to earn their allegiance — but that was for another day.

"Princess!" Aiden rushed at me, and hand coming firmly over my eyes, just as I caught sight of light breaking over the sky.

The Sun had returned.

The cherry blossom petals rained softly down on us, and red burned my eyelids through his fingers.

My promise of peace settled over the Forest as hope seared through me.

And I knew the eclipse was over.

First of all: Ahhhhh!

Second: It's over! It's literally over, only the epilogue left!

Third: This is crazy short, much shorter than the old one, and I have to add about 40K words to it...I have no idea how I'm going to do that. But this one is like a third of the first one's chapters, which makes sense because here the chapters were about three times the length in the first one. I'm good at math, so.

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