If I could ban one thing, I would ban the Flashers with their intrusive grins and terrible flashing lights. They hound around my father like a group of vultures, circling in for the kill, and the funny thing is my father relishes it. He always has, loved the attention they put on him. Smiling for every flash they throw at him, I sport a forced grin and a swollen belly, sitting uncomfortably while Arvud maneuvers around in my stomach, kicking down on my bladder. He's a relatively still baby, not moving around too much, but he seems to be as uncomfortable with the Flasher affair as I am. He really goes for it when I stand up, almost hitting the air out of my lungs, and I have to put a big fat grin on my face while he's doing things inside of me as the Flashers take pictures of my growing belly.

"When will Princess Anaise and Prince Christophe Fjeld be wed, Your Highness?" A short, brunette Flasher asks, dazed by my father's presence.

"On that affair, we in the Castle have decided it would not be safe for Anaise to be wed so soon, due to the unborn child. The rebels rudely interrupted the first attempt and we do not want a repeat of that. Therefore, we shall wait until after the baby is born to wed Christophe and Anaise." He answers smoothly and then the riots begin.

"Do you know why the rebels tried to kidnap Princess Anaise and Prince Castiel?"

"No, we do not. But we have the Enforcers on it." My father smiles.

"What's the likelihood of another rebel attack?"

"I cannot predict the rebels, but the Wanderers Alliance and I have a strict code, I let them do what they do as long as they do not interfere with what I do. I will assure my Citizens that whomever attempted the attack will be Reckoned upon capture." My father says.

"What will you be naming the baby?"

"That remains unsaid." He says with a smile, and there's a glint above him, a quick flash of light gleaming above him. It happens so fast that I almost don't see it, he hits the ground so hard, with the blood pooling in his chest, staining his prestigious white dress shirt. I'm down on the ground as fast as I can muster, with the Enforcers looking for the source of the shot. My father lay bleeding on the ground, I've got my hands on the wound as a feeble attempt to stop the bleeding.

"Anaise, baby, what happened?" He asks, his voice soft, and hoarse.

"You were shot, Papa. But it's okay, you're okay." I'm crying again, this cannot be happening, I cannot be losing my father and my mother. No, this is not happening again! I watch him slowly recoil into himself as all the colour drains from his face and pools in the wound down on his chest, and watch as those blue eyes of his loose all their colour. And then I sit there weeping with my dress soaked in blood, my hands still pushing on his chest as if it would help. We're all placed on lock down after that, my precious windows replaced with lined metal and artificial lighting. There's a small knock on my door later, after I spent hours just crying like an idiot. It's Castiel.

"Hey." He says softly when he's sat down next to me.

"What kind of sick joke does Zedd think this is? This wasn't part of the plan, we never intended to be violent! He was supposed to live, Castiel! To live!" I don't know whom I'm mad at, Castiel or Zedd or maybe the man who shot my father or the man who organized it.

"Annie," Castiel tries but I don't let him finish.

"Damn Zedd, I should have never trusted him!"

"Annie." Castiel says firmly, "it wasn't us. We didn't- the Alliance didn't have your father killed. It was a small group of rebels called the Power Struggle who are enforcing Christophe's right to rule. They're in question now, I don't know what the Enforcers are going to do with them." Castiel says.

"What's going to happen to this Kingdom? My father is dead." I say softly, even though I half know what's supposed to happen.

"Emergency coronation. It takes place in two days, they're giving you time to grieve, the Council, that is. And then they'll have you and Christophe crowned, the funeral will be afterwards." He says smoothly, as I fall back into his chest. I'm always falling back into Castiel's arms; it's an old habit I don't have the power to break right now. I'm crying again when he hugs me tightly, pushing my face up against his chest. Now he really is all I have left, literally and figuratively.

Two days fly by with a blur of tears, and small little kisses shared between Castiel and I. Before I know it, it's already Coronation Day and I'm back in my seat, with a handmaid doing my hair. Arvud at least seems to have calmed down, not hammering down on my bladder anymore, there's one good thing in my life, this baby, when he comes out, he and Castiel will be all I have left. That thought alone is enough to make me weep, but I cannot because I know my make-up will be ruined if I so much as shed a tear. Christophe and I walk hand-in-hand out the doors and into the packed Courtyard where the ceremony is happening.

"Ladies and Gentlemen of Dema, we proudly present, Princess Anaise Von Duyk direct descendant and sole heiress of the Demain Throne, and Prince Christophe Fjeld of the Fjords, and her partner in life." It's an extravagant introduce, but I don't feel extravagant, I feel like a mess of tears and emotions when I take my spot.

The ceremony master hands me the scepter and crowns me as I absentmindedly agree to follow the rules and to do everything I'm supposed to. The day doesn't get interesting until the ceremony master announces something.

"As Lady Anaise is the sole and direct descendant of His Majesty Demascus II and Her Majesty Lady Von Duyk I, it has been written in the final words of His Majesty that she will be given a sixty-percent reigning right, with His Majesty Sir Christophe Fjeld a forty-percent reigning right. His Word is final." He says, and I see a change in Christophe.

"That cannot be possible. The Queen cannot have more reigning right as the King." He says, an edge to his voice that was never there before.

"His Word is law, Your Highness." Ceremony Master says, "I am only reciting it."

"His word was law, as of two minutes ago, my word is law." Christophe demands, I struggle to get up to object against it, and Castiel happily comes to my rescue.

"Christophe, you have a forty-percent say in this. Don't be foolish. Forty-percent is more than enough." I say.

"No Anaise, I want one-hundred-percent reigning right! This forty-percent crap is absolutely nonsensical! You a child, you have no idea how to run a Kingdom." He rants.

"So you want a tyranny? Christophe, that's nonsensical. I am eighteen, legally obligated to run this quarter, and if you will no abide to what I say, then we will have a problem. I may be young, but I know what I am doing. I have watched enough people die to know what my father was doing wrong." I say, standing my ground firmly.

"This conversation is not over, Anaise." He says, and then he's gone.

I turn to the people watching, wide-eyed and big-mouthed, "I apologize, Sir Christophe has always had a little bit of a temper. I am sure he was just messing around." Everyone leaves after Christophe's little temper tantrum, and I'm left squeezing the life out of Castiel's hand and hoping Christophe hasn't done anything rash. I hope to my life that he doesn't come back later that night, hoping that the snow storm outside of the Dome has swallowed him whole, but as we sit at dinner, gravely eating the food in front of us, he steps in, dressed crisply in black and blue. Christophe always wears white, and that crazed look in his eyes is back. He's snapped for real this time, I end up squeezing Castiel's hand again, hoping he won't do anything rash, like always.

"And where have you been?" Sir Robert asks.

"That, Far, is none of your business. And as the Coronation was this morning, I am legally obligated to tell you your services are no longer needed." He says smoothly, a smug grin stuck on his face.

"Christophe, don't make this a power struggle. He's your father, someone needs to watch over you." Castiel speaks.

"Neither are you needed around here anymore, Castiel. All you do is ruin my relationship with Anaise, we don't need your silly presence anymore." He says, shrugging as he takes a long sip out of the tall glass of water.

"I object." I say, "they stay. You're out of line."

"Shut up, Anaise. You're blinded by love." He says quickly, hammering the glass down on the table. The entire atmosphere shakes like an earthquake.

"I'm not. You've been out of line since you aimed that arrow at Castiel, since you raped me, since you came here, Christophe. And now you're demanding full reigning rights? You're out of your mind Christophe, absolutely blinded by power. You're a damn megalomaniac!" I don't care about Sir Robert's big eyes and I don't give a damn about Castiel's silent pleas of warning, I'm pissed. He thinks he can run this Kingdom the way he wants because he's a man? Screw him, I have been taking orders from men my entire life, and now it's my turn to speak, I'm not going to be told by Christophe Fjeld what to do, this is my Kingdom.

"Surprised, Sir Robert?" I continue, "that your precious son is capable of such atrocities? Yeah, he doesn't hold back, first chance he got he took advantage of me, and then he's got the audacity to try and kill Castiel! This 'son' of yours, is a psychopath and if I had all the power, I'd revoke all his rights, because he's too unstable to even put a hand into this Kingdom!" I'm practically screaming, I'm done with this stupid power struggle shit! Christophe can go to hell for all I care, he's done enough to earn his place down there.

"What she forgets to mention is she's been messing with Castiel behind my back, kissing, doing God knows what behind my back! She's the one with commitment issues, messing with my own brother behind my back." Christophe speaks.

"Shut up. Don't you dare talk to me about infidelity, I hear the noises coming from your quarters at night. Those poor maids you're abusing Christophe, I hear it every damn night, and I'm tired of not being able to sleep because all I hear are those noises, that poor maids pleas for you to stop!" I scream, rising to my feet.

"Bullshit! I would never do such a thing, she's delusional!" He replies, banging his hands down on the table, the glass of water almost topples over from the impact.

I let out a laugh, "I'm delusional? You're a riot, in what universe is taking advantage of a woman okay? In what universe is trying to kill your own brother okay? Where the hell do you live, because it's not here, not in this Castle. Harming your brother or your wife is punishable by Reckoning, Christophe."

"As if you've got the guts to Reckon me, Anaise. Poor, naïve Anaise, who cries when the slightest of things go wrong. You're weak, and you'll always be. And that why you can't run this Kingdom, you're weak, you're naïve and sensitive, baby," he says, and he's standing in front of me now, "you always have been."

I see red, and my hand extending to slap Christophe's cheek, "don't you talk to me that way! I've been stuck with your constant bullying and all your goddamn crap long enough Christophe, I draw the line here!"

"You don't have the guts to draw it!" He laughs, not bothered by my slap, "you never will! You're just weak, naïve little Anaise, who's still caught up in the death of her mother!"

Hot, angry tears spill out of my eyes, I'm furious, "don't you speak of my mother!"

"Admit it, you'll never get over it, Anaise. Poor, little wounded Anaise who goes for therapy because her mommy died. You're a weakling, you always have been!" He's got that grin on his face again, like he's won. My hands ball into fists next to me and I consider striking him in the face. My hand has a mind of it's own because I strike that he staggers backwards, and then I hold my hand. It hurts like I've struck a wall, but it feels good, feels damn great!

"That was a Princess Cut, asshole!" I scream, "don't talk to me like I'm some weak little child, I am strong, stronger than you. You give into the chemical urge of alcohol and let your feelings take over, you're weak, you're naïve, and you're crazy! Don't think I don't know you, Christophe. You're the weakling." I say, breathing heavily. Both other contenders stand completely still with their eyes wide and mouths hanging open. I turn back to Christophe, who lies clutching his nose, and then I spit on him. I don't care if I'm locked up in isolation, I spit on him because I hate him, and he deserves it.

"Guards, please escort Christophe to the Isolation Chamber." I say crisply, once I'm done, I'm out of breath, but I'm powerful. I am strong.

"Don't take orders from her, I am your superior!" Christophe protests.

"Shut up, or I'll have you split in half." I say quickly, and then he's heading down to the chamber, saying something about regret. I regret nothing. It's only then when I realize my mistake, it's only then when the severity of the situation strikes me. I take a deep breath and then face Castiel.

"Please take me to the medical wing, I think I might have hurt my hand." I say, as he nods wordlessly. I might have overreacted but at least Christophe knows who's in charge.

"Are you okay?" Castiel asks, when we're walking down one of the hallways to the medical wing, "you said some pretty harsh things down there."

"He deserved it." I say sighing, "but yes. I'm okay, a little shocked and I think I might have fractured my hand, but okay."

"That was a crazy display of what you're capable of," he laughs breathlessly, "remind me never to get on your bad side."

"Sorry you had to witness my mental breakdown, he just infuriated me and I was tired of being silenced by it." I say softly, "I don't really know what came over me, but I'm glad I said it, he needed to know."

"You can't just have outbursts like that, Anaise. You're the Queen now, everyone's watching you, looking for reasons to undermine your authority," Castiel speaks hushed, "and we don't need that now." He's got me sitting down on one of the beds, while waiting for the doctor to come in, he takes his time apparently. The one person who does come is Sir Robert though.

"Far?" Castiel asks, taken aback by his presence, "what are you doing here?"

"I come in peace," he's got his hands up, laughing a little, nervous laugh, "sorry. That must have been insensitive."

"That's okay." I say softly, "I was just a bit out of line anyway."

"You weren't though. We've all been turning the blind eye to Christophe's antics for years now, someone needed to put him in place." He replies, with a smile, "Christophe's always been unstable, but I've never been able to accept it, because he was supposed to be the good son, the one that reached great heights, you know, the intelligent one? I masked it by making Castiel to be the bad son, when in all reality Castiel's the good son, he's the one that's kept you safe and sane for that matter." He sighs, "I'm a pretty terrible father."

"No, you're not." Castiel says, not meeting his eyes, "I've been waiting years to hear you say that, but I never thought you actually would. I know why you were so invested in Christophe, because I reminded you of Ma. She always had these stupid fears, these irrational ones that could be solved by science or whatever, she always feared the unknown, and I suppose we all have our ways of dealing with a death."

"You do though, you're the splitting image of your Ma. You've got her soft eyes, and her understanding, her love for humans, but her fear for the unknown. And you've got her hands, her hands that used to play the piano and her hands that used to make beautiful paintings. You're the splitting image of her, and in some twisted way by ignoring you, I was ignoring her. I'm so, so sorry." He's got little tears in his eyes as he confesses all this, I've never seen Castiel or Sir Robert this emotional, and I almost feel like I shouldn't be here.

"All these years, I denied what you and Anaise had because I was irrationally afraid of losing you like I lost your mother. I was afraid you'd do the same as she did." He keeps going.

"You know I'm not that weak, far." Castiel cuts in, "I wouldn't."

"You're just a little reckless, Castiel. That scared me, that's why I paired Christophe up with you, not because he was the oldest, or because he was better, just because of my stupid fears." Sir Robert is sitting down next to me, his broad shoulder shaking in terrible sobs. It was hard seeing someone so rock hard crumble right before you. I'd seen it in Castiel once, and I see it in him now.

"You and Castiel aren't too different." I say before anyone else can, "you two both hide your emotions, and you both break yourselves down about it. You two are more alike than you credit yourselves for."

"She's observant and intelligent," Sir Robert, says to Castiel with a teary grin, "you choose well."

"I'm so glad you finally approve of her, far." Castiel jokes, with a half-hearted laugh at the end.

"I'm sorry, Castiel. If you're anything like me, I don't know if you have it in you to forgive me, but if you're like you-" he's interrupted by Castiel engulfing him in a hug.

"It's okay. I've never been one to live in the past." Castiel says before Sir Robert blubbers on in their native. The doctor walks in sometime between that.

"And this?" He asks, a confused look on his face.

"A family reunion of sorts," I speak, "may you give us a second, doctor?"

He nods quickly, and then he's back down the hallway.

The two Fjeld's break contact, and Sir Robert looks to me, "Anaise, if those things you said about Christophe are true, there has to be a way to convict him of it."

"They are true. I'd hoped his guilt would eat him alive, but I don't think he has a conscience." I almost smile, "I'm not quite sure how we will do it."

"If I may," Castiel says, "I think I know who killed your father."

My attention is immediately back to Castiel, whose eyes are glued to the ground, "what do you mean?"

"I mean, I had Nathaniel look into it, and well, he found some pretty shocking news." Castiel answers.

"Who is this Nathaniel fellow?" Sir Robert asks.

"A friend of ours," I answer, "good at research. What did he find?"

"Well, first he found recordings of Christophe discussing plans with someone, and then he hacked into the Gaol's camera's to get live footage of one of the Power Struggle rebels singing like a canary, saying Christophe hired them. I don't know if they're spinning lies, but it seemed convincing." Castiel says, with a grave tone to his voice.

"That's a bit of a mouthful, Castiel. Don't you think?" I ask, only because I don't want to think that Christophe is capable of such heinous crimes. It hits me that he probably is, and that thought is more devastating than the actual news.

"Yes, but there's cold hard evidence to it. I don't want to believe it either since he's my brother, but it's true Anaise. I really think he did it." Castiel says, "I'm not usually easily convinced, but by the things he has done, I wouldn't be too surprised."

"It's all happening so fast, all of it." I say, "these last months are all just going too fast. I can't keep up, first he violates me, then he tries to kill you and now he's killed my father? What is he? Because he's certainly not a human." I find myself saying, I don't know to who because I'm in too much shock to process any of it. I can't believe Christophe can live with himself with the acts he's committed. A part of me wants to run down to the Gaol and just give him another punch in the face, but I know that would just be stupid.

"Annie, it's okay. He'll get what's coming to him." Castiel assures, looking determined, "I know he will."

"When Dema becomes a democracy we won't be able to punish him as hard, though." I say, "and he deserves to be Reckoned."

Castiel takes a moment to mull it over, "he'll rot in the Gaol for the rest of his life. Only sitting with his sins and his guilt. That's a good sentence to me." He says, nodding.

"Your thought process is very interesting, both of you. You two seem to work amazingly together." Sir Robert speaks up, "it's fascinating." Both of us laugh softly.

"Takes years of practice for us to agree on something," Castiel says, "she's stubborn and I'm headstrong. It's a rare occasion for us to agree on something."

"That I will not argue on." I reply, with a laugh even though the situation is gravely serious. Who knows what Christophe might do next.

"Do we have any idea what he'll try to do next?" I daunt.

"No," Castiel answers, "but let's hope he doesn't get too out of hand, and does something seriously rash. Like try to have you killed."

I laugh like it's funny, "I wouldn't be surprised if he does." And it really wouldn't.

It's late that night when Castiel and I are lying in his quarters again. He's playing around with my short, little locks like he used to when we were younger and I'm enjoying it a little too much. The day has been too eventful for us to talk about, so we don't. We're lapsed in a perfect silence. That silence doesn't last long though, because a bullet hitting the headboard interrupts us, and the shot of another one hitting Castiel square in the stomach. It happens to fast, because we're back on the floor again, the impact knocking the air out of our lungs again. I'm crying again because I've already lost my father, I can't lose Castiel as well. He's got his hand over the wound like it'll stop the bleeding, I dig around in his pockets and locate his mini-tablet to call Zedd.

"Hey, Anaise! How are you two doing back there?" He's got a smile perched on his face, his holographic state making him waver around my field of vision.

"Zedd, it's Cas. He's been shot, and shit! I don't know what to do because he's bleeding out and I can't let him die!" I'm babbling nervously.

"Okay, calm down. I'll get Michael." Within seconds Michael is there with his understanding smile that calms me down.

"Okay, Anaise. I want you to find something to wrap around his wound. Where was he shot?" Michael asks, voice calm as ever.

"In the stomach, there's so much blood." I say, trying to tear a bit of my dress off. The material is strong, so I go to the bathroom, digging around for gauze. Instead I find a towel and hope it will help. Castiel's still on the floor, with his hands over the large, red mass.

"Okay, wring the thing around his body, we need to limit blood flow so that he doesn't bleed out." Michael says and I abide, placing as much pressure on the wound as I possibly can.

"Guards!" I'm screaming as the door flies open, "please go get the Castle doctor, and tell him it's urgent!" I've still got my hands around Castiel's wound, my hands lathered in his hot, red blood.

"Annie, listen. If I don't make it," I don't let him finish because I'm not losing him.

"Don't be nonsensical, you'll be fine." I say, trying to convince myself rather than him.

"Listen, if I don't. I want you to know something." He says, voice soft just like my fathers was when he was passing. I swallow hard, and blink the tears away, nodding.

"Annie, I love you." He says simply, "I love you so much, Annie."

"Goddammit, I love you too." I say, crying for all that's left of me.

"I've been too scared to admit it, but I love you, Anaise Von Duyk, and at least now I can die saying I did tell you." He has a tired smile up on his face, and it just upsets me more.

"Don't say that, you're fine, it's fine, we're fine. You'll be fine." I say, crying my eyes out practically. I'm surprised for a second that there are still tears left in my body.

"Sing to me, Annie." He says, and now it really hits me. Castiel is ready to die, he's ready to go but I'm not.

"No! I can't, Castiel I can't lose you!" I exclaim, gripping onto him.

"Shh, just a little song, Annie. I'll be fine." He says, closing his eyes.

"Castiel, don't go! Stay with me!" I cry out, and then thank the heavens that the doctor shows up, taking over. I can only watch in horror as I hand the life of the only person who's ever loved me over to a person I barely know. It feels like hours that I wait for news from the medical wing, sitting with Sir Robert and staining his clothes with sloppy tears. He tries to calm me down, but I'm in a flat spin about losing everything. The only thing I can clearly make out are his eyes, and they remind me of Castiel.

"Shh, Anaise. He will be fine. He's a strong boy." Sir Robert tries to soothe me, but it only makes me cry harder because I was a strong girl, I was proclaiming that I was a strong girl, but I'm not. I'm weak, and I break easily, I broke so easily.

"He's all I have left, Robert." I say softly, sobbing again. Castiel really is all I have left, my father was killed, my mother perished because of illness and now Castiel was almost killed by someone. I guess Christophe meant it when he said next time he wouldn't miss.

FOUR THOUSAND WORDS GIVE ME A ROUND OF APPLAUSE