Clara huffed as the black horse refused to let her put a saddle on him. Shadow kept moving around and wiggling to stop her. After ten minutes of no success, Clara settled for bribery.

"If you let me put this on you I'll give you three more sugar cubes."

Shadow puffed air out of his muzzle.

"Okay fine, and two apples." She rolled her eyes. "Deal?"

Shadow stilled in response and Clara finally let out a breath of relief, putting on his saddle for the long journey ahead. She fastened all the grips and made sure they would not come undone whatsoever. Once she was done, she patted his mane, running her hands over the thin braids Lila insisted she do for the stallion.

"You're very hard to work with, you know that?" Clara chuckled, putting a hand on her hip and leaning her weight on one leg.

Shadow let out a short neigh before he nudged her shoulder lightly with his muzzle. Clara let out a laugh, bringing her arm up to hug him as one would do with a horse.

Carmen walked into the stable, making a beeline towards Clara. Hay crunched under her feet as she called out the knight's name with a smile. Clara turned to the princess with a warm smile, bowing her head in respect.

"Your highness." Carmen raised an eyebrow at the formality, but pushed it to the back of her thoughts.

"How are you?" She asked. "Ready to see Elvaria?"

"I'm good." Clara smiled. "If I'm honest, I'm quite scared of leaving Avelyn...I've never really travelled much."

"Really?" Carmen was surprised. "I thought you'd have travelled more, given Edwin's job...well, now yours."

"He only let me go with him once." She smiled stiffly, remembering where she'd been. "He had to go to Crounia once, and I was so worried about him going there, nothing eased my mind other than going with him."

Carmen frowned and put a hand on her friend's shoulder, hoping it would comfort her even in the slightest way.

Clara racked her mind for anything she could remember about the general of Crounia, but all she could see was his blinded eye. He'd taken her world away from her, and all she did was take an eye.

It was not enough for her.

"So, how can I help you?" Clara changed the topic, replacing the scowl on her face with a smile.

"I wanted to ask if we can bring an extra horse." She said. "I really don't want to miss out on a ride in this weather; I hate being stuffed in a carriage."

"Of course, I'll arrange for it with your men-"

"No!" Carmen cut her off. "My father doesn't want me out in the open, but I'm so tired of hiding away."

Clara bit her lip, thinking about the consequences bringing Carmen a horse would bring her. However, when she saw the pleading look on her face, she sighed in defeat, offering a smile to the princess.

"I'll bring one." She said. "I'm going to end up in the dungeons again if I keep defying royalty."

"Please never joke about that ever again." Carmen hit her arm, her tone serious. "We all lost our mind at your disappearance...and hearing what happened to you..."

Clara gulped and looked down, biting down on her lip in shame. She knew more than anyone that her failures were not hers alone; others paid the price as well.

She'd paid too many times herself.

It only got harder for her to look at her reflection in the mirror, even now as she stared at a blurry reflection of herself in a puddle of water on the ground. She looked too much like the woman who left her. The woman who gave up on her. The woman who caused her the greatest pain. And each day she felt as if she were becoming more and more like her with every worried eye that gazed at her.

She hoped she would be nothing like her mother, even if everything about her reflection was a painful reminder of her.

Invisible scars hurt worse than the ones that littered her skin, there for everyone to see.

"I'm fin-" Clara cut herself off this time. "You don't have to worry about me anymore."

No one else will worry about me.

If Carmen noticed Clara's guard going up and a wall being built around her, she said nothing, only nodding solemnly before she was called by her maidservants to prepare for their departure. Clara watched her leave with a heavy heart as the first light of dawn peeked over the mountains. She did not know how to say goodbye to a friend.

No more friends. She reminded herself.

"I'm sorry." She whispered, her voice being carried out by the breeze.

The journey began with the rising of the sun. A troop of two dozen men and Clara had accompanied the royal family of Avelyn. Their number of knights doubled with the royal guard of Elvaria who had been with the royals since their arrival at Wisteria. Two carriages were being pulled by stallions as the knights of both kingdoms trotted with their horses by the sides, front and rear.

The morning sun was burning their skin as it set in the middle of the sky, and Clara's uniform did not help with the heat. Though she opted for lighter clothes and less armor than usual, she still wore her forearm braces that she'd made not so long ago, finally perfecting her new weapon design. Her abdomen was covered with chainmail and a chest piece.

She rode at the front with Sir Pierre of Elvaria, their horses matching in pace. They discussed the camping plans and security details of the journey. Both knights wore their scars proudly, having fought the same war side by side.

Having seen her on the battlefield, Sir Pierre had nothing but the utmost respect for Clara, just as she had for him.

Conversation flowed easily between them, but alas the heat of the sun was too much so they opted to just ride in silence, saving their energy.

Clara's long ponytail tickled her neck with every sway. She had to fight the urge to rip it off of her head just as she had for the past few days. It was becoming insufferable. It was an unnecessary weight on her head, nothing but a burden.

But for the time being, it protected her neck from the inevitable sunburn. She was grateful for it despite her hatred.

It was how she learned to live after all.

Clara's mind wandered back to her little sister, wondering if she was still sound asleep in Hazel's arms in one of the carriages. Hazel's new rank allowed her to easily accompany this party, making Clara's job so much easier since she didn't have to look for extra reasons for her to come along.

Just as the young general thought, Lila was still in a deep sleep in Hazel's arms. The princess and the advisor were deep in conversation. Hazel tried her best to keep Lila steady as the carriage shook and tumbled on rocks over the road.

"It's infuriating!" Carmen rolled her eyes. "It's like all I am to my kingdom is a pretty face!"

"Well, you do have a pretty face." Hazel teased, wiggling her eyebrows at her friend, laughing when she was met with a stone face.

"I want to do more, though." Carmen slumped back in her chair, all propriety lessons abandoned. "I want more than smiling and waving."

"Okay then do it." Hazel shrugged.

"How?" The princess asked. She couldn't fathom how casually Hazel said that.

"If there's anything I learned," Hazel wiggled one of her arms free, moving it around so she could feel it again. "it's that the opportunity to prove yourself will not present itself; you have to make it yourself."

"You're right." She sighed. "I guess I'm too scared to fail..."

"Failure is what builds us up." Hazel put her now fully functioning arm on Carmen's knee. "You just have to trust yourself."

Carmen nodded with a smile. She gazed out the carriage window, thinking of all the possibilities. There was no way her father would allow her to join her brother in all the meetings; instead, she'd have to hold her own.

Her eyes lit up and she sat straight, staring directly at a startled Hazel.

"Remember the tea parties I told you about?" Hazel nodded in response. "What if we extend your project over all kingdoms?"

"A worldwide movement for women's rights..." Hazel's smile widened. "It's brilliant!"

"I'm sure all the princesses are tired of being nothing more than an alliance gift; they'll agree to this."

"It's about time we mark our names in history." Hazel grinned, looking down at Lila. She couldn't help but dream of the future she could build for the little girl, and perhaps her own daughter one day. "Clara will love this."

"Oh but I don't want to burden her." Carmen shook her head. "She seems to be dealing with so much still, I don't want to add to that weight."

"Knowing her, this is the only way she might forgive herself." Hazel sighed, subconsciously running her fingers through Lila's hair.

"Maybe then she'd finally see how lovestruck Victor is with her." Carmen chuckled.

Hazel's eyes widened and she sat up straighter, perking up at her words. She tilted her head, studying Carmen's face for any signs of sadness or jealousy. She only found amusement.

"But I thought you and Victor were-"

"Courting?" Carmen raised a brow before laughing. "Absolutely not. We practically grew up together; he's like my brother."

"But you're always together in every gathering?"

"Another ploy of our fathers." Carmen smiled stiffly. "They seem to think marriage is the only way to truly bring two kingdoms together. Thankfully, Victor and I disagree."

"So you just pretend?" Carmen hummed in response.

"We agreed this was the best way; otherwise we'd be set up with other people who would expect a real courtship. Neither of us want that."

"Huh." Hazel furrowed her brows. "I remember Victor being more...social with the ladies. Never was one to complain about that."

"You don't have to remind me." Carmen rolled her eyes. "Both he and my brother kept flirting with my friends...frankly, it was gross."

"Wonder what made him stop..." Hazel said with a growing grin, a mischievous glint in her eye that mirrored Carmen's.

"My theory is that it all started when a certain someone called him a royal rodent."

The two girls giggled, slapping their hands on their mouths when Lila began to stir. The little girl finally sat up, yawning and rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"Are we there yet?" She asked.

The two women exchanged looks. It was going to be a very long journey.

When the sun settled further down in the sky and the breeze picked up, some of the royals opted to ride their horses instead of the carriages. Luckily for Carmen, her father did not leave the carriage. Hazel rode with Alan, wrapping her arms around his torso, taking in the scenic route. They were still in Avelyn territory and the wildflowers were a wonderful sight to take in. The two young princes rode alongside one another, chatting and enjoying the weather.

Lila was settled happily in front of Clara, pointing out every flower in her favorite color. She smiled at her sister's enthusiasm and made sure her hat was casting enough shadow on her face. Carmen rode between Clara and Sir Pierre, who had orders from the king to not allow Carmen to ride on her own. However, Clara bargained with him and he agreed hesitantly.

"I don't know why I'm surprised." Sir Pierre said with a chuckle. "Never been one to follow orders, are you, your highness?"

"Only when they're unreasonable." Carmen grinned. "Clara would agree, wouldn't you?"

"That I would," Carmen smiled but it soon turned into a frown as Clara finished her sentence. "your highness."

Though they were side by side, Carmen felt so much space between them. She didn't know where it started nor why. In the end she decided to push her worries to the back of her mind, hoping the formality was there only because of Sir Pierre.

"So uhm..." Carmen grasped for anything to talk about. "How is training your knights going?"

"It's great." Clara offered a polite smile. "Now that we've plucked out all of Rowan's followers, things are much smoother."

"I'm glad." Carmen smiled sincerely.

"Actually, would you mind training with us during your stay with us?" Sir Pierre asked.

"I'd be honored, Sir." Clara nodded with a smile.

"Can I join?" Lila turned her head with a toothy grin. "Please, Clara? Can I? Please?"

"I'll think about it." Clara chuckled.

Conversation was stiff and silence dominated their journey. It wasn't long before Carmen heard that her father would get on his own horse, as well as King Harry. With a dejected sigh, the princess went back into her carriage, staring out the window sadly.

Surrounded by so many people, and yet she was still alone.

Clara's heart ached when she watched her friend get into the carriage with a frown. She wanted to badly to comfort her, to tell a bad joke that would make her laugh or roll her eyes. But she couldn't bring herself to do so.

Hazel also saw her disappointed friend enter her cage. She gave Alan a kiss on the cheek before she joined the princess, not wanting to leave her alone.

"Still not ready to face your father?" Hazel asked, sitting down across from Carmen. The latter shook her head, still looking out the window solemnly. "That's okay. All in due time."

"I only wish time would speed up." Carmen sighed. "I guess I'm just tired."

"Oh, I can leave if you want to take a nap-"

"Not that kind of tired." She chuckled. Hazel's eyes softened and she reached out for her friend's hand. "I just...I don't even know!"

"That's normal." Hazel assured her. "Change is hard; more so when you're the one causing it."

"I know..it just.." She looked down. "It just seems so much easier in my head. I was so ready to face my father and tell him what I want to do...But I'm cursed to constantly doubt myself."

"Not for long." Hazel squeezed her hand. "We're right behind you. It took Clara years to even be able to step foot into the castle training grounds to participate with the rest, and look at her now."

"Speaking of Clara..." Carmen remembered. "Is she alright? She's been...too formal with me today."

Hazel furrowed her eyebrows. Clara had never been one for formality and it often got her in trouble. She'd crossed the border of titles and facades with Carmen throughout the months they'd been friends.

Why is she being- Hazel's eyes widened. Oh.

"Oh I am so going to kill her."

The sun set faster than Clara thought it would, engulfing the world in a peaceful slumber. The travel party settled their tents and lit their fires, yet no fire could rival that of the one in Hazel's eyes as she made her way towards Clara.

Strong as she may be, Clara was no match for her best friend's scolding.

Clara avoided Hazel as best as she could, until she ran out of tasks and excuses to be far away from her friends. By now everyone had split into groups near each other. Cooking fires were lit on the side, various meats, cheeses, and breads were spread out for everyone to enjoy. It was a feast of its own.

Twigs and dried leaves crunched under every footstep, keeping the knights on alert just in case. As much as Clara wanted to take first lookout for the night, other knights insisted that they do it since Clara hadn't rested in so long.

If only Alan didn't snitch on me... She thought with a shake of her head.

She knew they had more than enough firewood to last the night and more; but she still wandered around collecting some more. She was stalling and her best friend knew it. Hazel knew every last trick in Clara's book, but this was one she would not let slide.

Hearing rushed steps behind her, Clara took a deep breath and closed her eyes in preparation for a war she would inevitably lose.

"Building a castle with all that wood, are you?" Hazel raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms.

"Maybe." Clara shrugged, not looking at her.

"We have to talk." Hazel stated.

"I'm busy-"

"Collecting wood we don't need." She cut her off. "We are talking, and you know I'm not letting you go until we do."

"Fine." Clara gave up. "What is it?"

"Oh no, we're walking away from everyone so I can yell in peace."

Clara cringed and sighed, knowing she could not escape Hazel's wrath. She tried to lighten up the tense atmosphere with a joke, but looked down when Hazel gave her a stern look. The crickets were getting on her nerves, and she had half a mind to scout for them only to crush them. When they walked far enough from their campsite, they faced one another. Clara fidgeted with her hands, picking the skin around her thumbs and cracking her knuckles.

"I know what you're doing." Hazel said.

"What am I doing?" Clara asked.

"You're pushing people away again."

Silence hung in the air, and that stupid cricket was mocking her. Usually Hazel got scared of the screeching bats, but she didn't even flinch this time. Clara was impressed, and even more terrified. When she opened her mouth to speak, Hazel cut her off.

"Don't you dare try to deny it." Hazel seethed. "I talked to Carmen; she doesn't know what you're doing, but you can't fool me."

"I'm not trying to." Clara spoke weakly, looking at the ground, glaring at the cricket that finally showed up. She stepped on it and cringed at the crunch under her shoe. Instantly, more crickets sounded off; a punishment from the universe.

"I understand it's hard to let people in, but you can't let them go. Not now." Hazel said, her tone stern, but a little softer. She understood why Clara did the things she did, even if she disagreed. "You've already let them in. Like it or not, you're part of their lives now, and you have no right to leave them."

"What if I don't have a choice?" Clara snapped her head up, tears pooling in her eyes. "What if one day...something happens to me and I-"

She shut her eyes, fighting back the tears.

"I've hurt too many people." She said. "If I turn them away, they won't have to grieve me."

"That's not how that works!" Hazel exclaimed frustratedly. "Clara, they care about you! They'll always worry for you, more so if they don't know what's going on with you!"

"But-"

"No buts." Hazel shook her head, stepping closer to her. "You're scared to hurt them, but if you push them away, you will be. Carmen needs us now more than ever. She needs you."

"She'll be better without me."

"Can you stop that?" Hazel groaned. "I am so tired of you thinking you don't matter! For god's sake, Clara, we chose to have you in our lives. It's not your decision if you're worth it or not for us to care about you. And we will grieve; whether you die or you push us away, we will grieve."

Clara stayed silent.

"You did not make a mistake by letting Victor and Carmen in." Hazel continued. "You need them just as much as they need you. You're the one who always said how we have to stick together, so don't you dare try to walk out on them now."

Clara finally spoke, her voice nothing but a mere whisper.

"I...I'll try."

Clara's mind was torn between Hazel's words and her own decision. She knew Hazel was right, but she was too scared to go through with it. Too lost in thought, Clara didn't notice Victor staring at her by the bonfire. He watched her tug on her hair absentmindedly, her gaze burning through the ground. The light of the fire reflected in her eyes. Her shadow danced behind her.

She sat alone, away from the fire as much as she could without raising suspicion.

Clara broke out of her trance when the knights began to sing and strum their instruments joyfully. She looked over to the group and smiled fondly, unaware that she too caused a smile. Hazel caught her eye and motioned for her to join them. It took Clara six seconds to decide her next move.

She joined the knights and her friends.

They cheered once she walked up to them and she laughed lightly, sitting down next to Hazel, across from Victor. She cast a smile at Carmen, who grinned back.

Alan whispered something in his friend's ear and the tune changed instantly. And then he began to sing, surprising most of the people there. Clara grinned, watching the awestruck expression on Hazel's face.

Alan continued to sing loudly as he offered his hand to Hazel, making her stand with him. He twirled her around and everyone joined in. Knights and maidens alike all danced and sang together, their voices merging into one happy choir. Alan's voice was the most prominent.

"So take my hand, cuz darling you're all I need,
And even in a different land, your love is all that will set me free,
You've taught me love so pure and deep..."

Carmen was blushing furiously as she danced with a knight wearing her kingdom's crest, listening to him sing along to Alan's words.

Victor's eyes never left Clara's wide smile. Noticing this, Thomas shoved his friend off the log he sat on, gesturing with his eyes towards Clara. Getting the hint, Victor straightened up and began to sing as well, surprising everyone around him. He sang with Alan side by side for a minute before his gaze caught Clara's and he walked towards her, pulling her up and towards the dancing crowd. He never stopped singing, even as he stared deeply into her eyes.

"And even if you wanna take it slow,
Just know that I have lost control,
You took my heart and now I'm all yours..."

Clara didn't know why, but her heart skipped a beat.

By the time everyone went into their tents for much needed rest, the moon was high in the sky. A few clouds swam in the endless sky, illuminated by the billion stars sparkling and blinking like they were watching Clara's life unfold in front of them.

Though she was not assigned lookout that night, she still found it hard to sleep. Instead, she sat on a log and gazed at the sky. Hazel's words replayed in her mind, and she saw them reflected in the stars. So many stars; great and mighty, and yet they all had companions. She saw no lone star. Each group told a story of their own, constellations that were made of stars working together to decorate the sky in portraits of their friendship.

Perhaps that was her answer.

Staring at a star in the Perseus constellation, she breathed out a prayer; asking for guidance on her path.

"Can't sleep?" She heard Victor's voice.

"Your steps are lighter." She observed out loud. Victor smiled.

"I had a good teacher." She quirked a smile. "What keeps you up?"

"What doesn't?" She chuckled. "I don't know...I just...needed to breathe, I guess."

Victor sat down next to her, craning his neck to look at the sky as well. He smiled at the familiar sight, his heart clenching with memories of his mother.

"I know what you mean."

They didn't say anything else. Just two souls wondering what the stars had written for them. A shooting star flew by, its light reflected in both their eyes. They didn't know it, but that was the sky smiling at them.

It took 8 more days until disaster caught up to them on their journey.

The royals were all on their own horses, including Carmen who had argued with her father that she had a right to enjoy the weather just as much as the rest of them. The sun was close to setting, cascading golden rays on the travelers.

That was when the knights picked up on the sound of hooves and footsteps. Immediately they circled over the royals, rushing them into their carriages as they surrounded it for protection. Clara and Sir Pierre shot out orders, working in harmony as they placed their knights strategically to handle the situation.

The archers of their party shot out, stopping many of their attackers before they could even get close. With the knights split into two groups, Clara lead the attack while Pierre manned the defense. Riding with her men, Clara unsheathed her sword and let it swing at anyone who came her way. Seeing as Clara wasn't wearing much armor, and many didn't know who she was, they focused on attacking her.

Their attack was well planned, having more numbers than the travelling knights, but they forgot to consider their skill. Easily, the knights of Avelyn and Elvaria had the upper hand. Clara jumped off of Shadow, preferring to use her legs and agility in the fight against five of the attackers.

With each dodge she attacked one, exactly as she had the day she was knighted. This was nothing but a piece of cake to her.

Though this time, she had help.

Arrows embedded themselves into her enemies. Glancing back, Clara could see Victor arming a bow of his own and shooting along with the archers. He didn't have a horse, and he ignored all of Sir Pierre's orders as he stepped out closer to where Clara and the rest of the knights fighting.

Clara's mind blared alarms and she hurried to fight side by side with Victor. She had to make sure he wouldn't get himself killed; again. Noticing the prince getting overwhelmed, she called out for him, throwing her sword his way. He caught it just in time to swing it at an attacker.

Clara faced her opponent and he smirked, thinking she was defenseless. Clara smiled menacingly before she shot her hands down and daggers slid out from her armbraces. She positioned her hands and swung with her wrists, cutting and jabbing the blades into her opponent while dodging his own blade.

She managed to slit his throat and he went down with a thud. Clara turned and saw her knights handling the situation perfectly. There were no more attackers, except one that she prolonged her fight with on purpose.

She kicked him to the ground, landing on him with her knee, keeping him in place as she put her dagger to his throat, drawing blood. He squirmed in pain. His face was pale and his eyes were wide and frantic.

"I'm keeping you alive to send a message." She said dauntingly, ripping the crest off his armor. "I know who sent you. Tell him I will be his demise. You saw what happened when you cross me and my men. I am your hell and no power on earth will stop me."

Clara stepped off of him and watched as he scrambled away to his horse, riding it frantically back to where he came from. She stared at the crest in her hand, breathing heavily. The vein in her forehead was popping out and her hair stuck to her red face. Her hand tightened around the crest and her blood smudged it, but she could not feel the sting of it.

Victor came to her side and took her hand in his, opening her fist and putting his hand in hers to stop her from clenching it again.

"Everyone is safe." He told her.

"Not completely." She said, looking behind him to see his father marching towards them with a red face and a scowl.

"Ah, shit." Victor groaned. "Dad, listen-"

"What the hell did you think?" He yelled. "You can't just jump out and fight! You don't know how-"

"No." He shook his head, handing Clara her sword back. "What I can't do is just sit there while everyone else fights for our lives. And if you couldn't tell, I know how to fight now."

The king's eyes turned to his general, who stood confidently behind Victor.

"You." He seethed. "You trained my son against my orders."

"Your orders were to protect him." She said calmly. "I did so by training him. I won't always be there, you know."

"You shouldn't have-" He was cut off by Clara.

"You said you trusted my judgement." She said. "This was the right thing to do. You chose to make me general, and this is how I do it. It's how Edwin would have too. If he hadn't defied your orders too, then you wouldn't have me now."

That shut him up.

With a shake of his head, he left. Victor let out a breath of relief and turned to Clara, searching her eyes. Though her face was strong and emotionless, he could see her breaking apart behind her eyes. The eyes so many people feared were hiding her own fears all this time.

Without a word, he pulled her into his chest.

"Thank you."

Clara smiled and nodded when they pulled away, thankful that the fight disguised her blush as exhaustion. Her eyes then caught onto movement behind him and she walked closer, watching as Alan ran towards Hazel and taking her in his arms. She and Victor exchanged looks before they rushed closer to see what was wrong.

"I can't wait any longer." Alan said, pulling away to stare at Hazel who furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. Alan knelt on one knee and gasps were let out by everyone. Clara had slapped her hand over her mouth while her other hand was slapping Victor's arm repeatedly in excitement. Victor winced but felt warm inside nonetheless, still getting hazy with her touch.

"Hazel, you're my everything." He said. "I know we're young, and the future isn't certain...but there's one thing I am certain of; and that's you. I can't imagine a life without you, and with danger around every corner I can't help but fear that I'd lose my chance with you...so, Hazel, will you marry me?"

Hazel was crying and she fell down to her knees, wrapping her arms around his neck, nodding into it. Alan held her tighter and everyone cheered as he put the ring on her finger and pulled her in for a kiss.

Clara couldn't contain her excitement, so she punched Victor in the arm.

His arm went numb, but he didn't care.

Days later in Crounia, the king marched towards his general's office after hearing the failed attack on the Kings of Avelyn and Elvaria.

"How the hell did four dozen men defeat all of ours?" The king roared, remembering the large number they sent out. "Who's the general your guard speaks of? Who the hell is he?"

"That general is who cost me my eye, sire." Phillip said, venom dripping from his voice. The lantern on his desk illuminated the scar on his face, twisting with the scowl he presented. "She is the warrior of Avelyn; Clara Virtus."

The End.




...of book 1.