I am told that the Phoenix People battling outside of the throne room won the fight before news of the king's death even reached them.

I wouldn't know, of course. I spent a good time - although I have little idea how long exactly - kneeling over Audric's body, sobbing.

I had lost the last of my family. I was finally, truly alone.

Finally, Melody tapped my shoulder hesitantly. "Princess," she whispered. Then, she cleared her throat. "Queen."

"Don't call me that!" I exploded, a new bout of tears streaming down my face. I still allowed Melody to haul me to my feet, anyhow. I followed her out of the throne room and through the hallways of the castle, through the cheering hoards of rebels. They all quieted as I passed, stricken by my grieved appearance.

I entered some bedroom and fell into the bed. Melody sat on the end, watching me worriedly.

I closed my eyes and slept.

*

When I awoke, everything ached.

Then, everything came crashing back.

I gasped from the sheer emotional pain of it all. Slowly, I picked myself up.

I recognized this pain from when my parents had passed. It didn't even matter that this was on a whole new level, now accompanied by regret and guilt.

I would survive this. I always had.

There came a slight knock at my door. I stood shakily as Anna entered. There was a mixture of sadness and hope in her young features.

"There's someone here who you might want to see," she whispered.

My brow furrowed. "Who could she possibly be referring to? Griffin or Theo, most likely..

It took me a moment to place the woman who slowly walked into my room, glancing furtively around.

When I did, I swayed on my feet, rendered speechless with my shock.

"Alexia," Alia breathed.

"We found her in the dungeons," Anna explained.

Alia held up a hand as I opened my mouth. "Please," she said softly. "I don't want to talk about it."

I nodded. There were things I did not want to discuss as well. "There is much else to talk about," I agreed.

"Like how you're going to be queen," Alia suggested.

I shook my head slightly. "What? No, wait. We will discuss that later. Alia, you're home."

Alia nodded slowly. She pressed her hand over her mouth, her eyes filling with tears. Mine did the same.

In the same instant, we flew across the room and into each other's arms, bursting into tears.

I breathed in the scent of my sister, felt her familiar shape - although she had lost some weight and gained some muscle, just as I had - and the sharp pain in my heart softened ever so slightly.

*

My friends and sister were wonderful about not pushing me. My coronation was held a full week after the death of the king.

In that week, there were riots in the Highborn community, plans were already being sketched out for various projects, and I was becoming reacquainted with the palace library, which Anna instantly fell in love with.

Finally, however, the day arrived.

I had just picked out my fanciest gown from the very wardrobe where I had first found Melody when the woman herself entered, as if summoned by the memory.

"Hello," I greeted her.

Smiling softly, she crossed the room and wordlessly began helping me with the laces of my dress.

As she applied my makeup, I stared at myself in the mirror. It was almost as if nothing had changed.

And yet, a permanent hardness had settled over my features, and a strange, wild light burned in my eyes.

I was changed in ways that could never be undone, and I was learning to accept that.

Anna was waiting for us in the hallway along with Alia. They were both dressed beautifull.

"You're stunning," my sister told me gently.

I had tried several times to broach the idea of her taking the throne instead, and each time, she quickly shot the thought down. Something had happened to her during her time in the uncharted Outlands, which she still refused to talk about.

I was confident that she would, though, in due time.

"Thank you," I replied. "You both do, as well."

Anna grinned, slipping her hand into mine. She seemingly harbored no jealousy that she would not become queen. When I had tentatively broached the subject, she had shrugged and said, "Our victory is reward enough."

We walked through the halls of the castle - my castle. It was strangely quiet. Everyone was already at the ceremony.

The coronation was being held in the throne room, as was customary. Melody peeked through the cracked doorway, flashed someone a thumbs-up, and then gestured me closer. I hurried over to the door, my nervousness mounting.

Whoever was speaking raised their voice so I could hear them. "Please welcome Princess Alexia - your soon-to-be queen!"

Before I could overthink it, I stepped into the throne room.

It was filled with people. A small aisle had been created to travel around the room and this is what I took, eyes fixed on the throne as I began walking towards it.

High Mage Adrian had announced me. Now, he stepped aside, smiling encouragingly.

I turned around to face my rapt audience, the majority of whom were former Phoenix People. "Well," I said nervously, "this is probably the strangest coronation that this room has ever seen."

Chuckles rippled through the room, taking the edge off my nerves. "I suppose everything's changing," I continued. "Our way of life will never be the same, and I view that as quite the miracle."

A smattering of applause broke out and I paused, courage boosted. Once the commotion had died down, I went on, "Once, I viewed the Lowborns and Highborns as completely seperate groups, one superior to the other. I am glad - beyond thankful - that I found people to teach me otherwise."

I paused, looking around the room for my friends. Griffin and Theo were in one of the front rows, smiling despite their still-healing cuts and bruises. In their arms, Jack babbled, oblivious to the importance of the situation. Adrian was to my right, nodding thoughtfully at my words. Melody and Alia were in the back of the room, grinning proudly up at me. And, of course, Anna, who was bouncing up and down from happiness in the aisle.

And I knew what I had to do.

"This is an honor," I said, gesturing to the crown resting on the throne behind me. Taking a deep breath, I scanned the room.

"But it is not an honor I achieved alone." I gestured to my friends. "Griffin, Theo, Alia, Melody, Anna - could you please come here?"

Griffin was the first to move, pulling Theo behind him. The others quickly followed.

I felt stronger with them surrounding me. They gave me the strength to do what I did next.

I turned and picked up the crown. Slight mutterings arose from the crowd - it was unheard of for a ruler to crown themselves, after all. There  were about seven more steps we still had to work through, and that was assuming I was finished with my speech.

I leaned over and whispered a question into Anna's ear. Her eyes widened and she clapped a hand over her mouth. Then, slowly, she nodded.

"However much I have changed," I called out confidently, "I am still a symbol of the old ways. That being said, I give you your new queen - Queen Annamarie."

There was a tense, shocked moment of silence before Anna's father broke into wild applause. My friends and sister were quick to follow, and then the audience joined in. Climbing to their feet, they whooped and cheered for their child queen, whose cheeks were flushed with a delighted pink.

She would lead the kingdom to a bright, prosperous future with us at her side. I was sure of it.