Saorise had dreamed of demons after she’d passed out. She’d dreamed of the destruction and death they caused across continents and worlds known and unknown whilst they smiled and catered to the whims of those that considered them friends. And among all the blood and death she saw a boy. A boy who saw the demons for what they were just like she did and determined to build up the only thing that could hope to fight against the fear the demons instilled. He built up hope through unity. It was an epic story. One which she had not heard before but which for some reason felt familiar.

At the end, she sat overlooking a vast throne room in a palace larger than any she had beheld before. Those around her were faceless, though seated respectfully as they faced her and the one who sat beside her. Saorise turned to look to her right. The presence she felt there was greater than any she had felt before. She feared it as much as she respected it. The figure there lazily held out his hand to her, as if done as an afterthought, and she placed her hand in it. The warmth and strength she felt in that connection, it made her fear almost instantly disappear.

The figure turned towards her, and she met eyes that burned with amber flames. They gazed at her not with anger or malice, but with affection. It hit her like an arrow to the chest, and she had jolted up from her bed in shock.

"My lady!" Helen had called in surprise, hurriedly using a damp cloth to wipe at Saorise's face and neck "My lady, please be careful, you're not well-"

Helen had paused in her careful dabbing of the cloth and frowned with a sudden confusion. A moment before, Saorise had been pale and clammy. Now, though clearly distressed and still covered in sweat, the young woman had colour in her cheeks once more.

"My lady?"

Saorise had turned to look at Helen. Helen’s eyes had widened in surprise. Was it a trick of her imagination, or were her lady’s eyes greener than they had been before?

"Helen," Saorise had gasped out, seeming to catch her breath as she lifted a hand to her forehead, "What happened?"

"My lady you passed out," Helen had informed her, "The doctor insisted you'd gotten sick from the stress. You've been bedridden for three days".

"Three days?" asked Saorise with a frown, then her eyes widened in realisation, "What of-?"

Helen had looked down knowingly, folding the cloth in her hands, it was as expected. Despite the doctor's orders not to cause Saorise further stress until she fully recovered, the girl wanted to know about her family and the result of the war effort. Helen could not deny her, "We received word yesterday that the main army was caught in a pincer attack as it tried to retreat across the River Arnoc…Your brother Lyle made it across with roughly a third of the army. But the rest either perished in the attack or were captured. We have yet to receive a full list of the prisoners, but General Lowan reports that Master Isaac and your father are among them".

Saorise had sighed in acceptance, closing her eyes in the calm distress that everyone who didn’t know her perceived as silent anger. But Helen knew this was different as she watched her lady reach up a hand to cover her face. This was not anger, this was loss. Sadness. The great Saorise Caramort was on the verge of tears and desperately trying to keep them in so that she might appear strong for her people and make rational decisions. After a moment, Saorise dropped her hands, her expression stoic as she spoke again.

"Have there been any ransom demands? And how is Lyle’s condition?"

"Your brother is quite distressed, though General Lowan is holding him back from doing anything reckless," Helen stated, "There are no ransom demands as of yet".

Saorise sighed, then after a moment, she had nodded, "Pack what we'll need for the trip there. Leave Olrich in charge of the Keep's affairs".

"My lady, I really think you should-"

"If they have yet to attack that means they would rather negotiate," Saorise had stated diplomatically, "As such, I'd rather be present when deciding the fate of my people. Wouldn't you?"

Helen paused in thought, looking into the determined, near luminescent green eyes of her lady before she had nodded in acceptance, "Shall I inform the other nobles of your decision?"

Saorise nodded, "Ensure that every house has a representative at the River Arnoc within a week. The East will make its decisions on a united front, just as it has defended its lands for ten millennium".

A week later, and Saorise had arrived at the head of a procession of nobles and any members of the reserve army that could be spared.

"Sister!"

Lyle had grown taller and stronger since Saorise had last seen him three years ago. Still, when she saw his eyes, she saw the panic in them, and the relief at her presence. Lyle had never been great on his own. He preferred the presence of his family. It had never been a real problem before, and Nathan had never sought to test him otherwise. That had clearly been a mistake if the look on General Lowan's face was anything to go by.

The General, a larger man than most Easterners who tended to be of slighter build, bowed respectfully, "Lady Saorise. I trust the journey was not too taxing".

Saorise shook her head. After another night's rest, she'd awoken as if she'd never been sick. In fact, she felt even better than before, but she didn't mention the small nuances that she felt had changed within her as she didn't wish to alarm those around her. It alarmed her as it was. She'd had difficulty getting used to her more sensitive ears and nose, not to mention her vision. When she'd had moments alone to really concentrate on the changes, she'd perceived it to be at least twice as good as before. There was nothing to indicate why she'd gone through this change, nothing but the strange fruit she'd eaten.

She still had the seed on her now. She'd cleaned it and placed it in a pouch at her waist, somehow feeling that it was important. She'd felt that way after she'd asked Helen about it. Helen had told her as she watched her lady hold her hand flat before her, that there was nothing in Saorise's hand, and golden fruits hadn't been among the stock sent from the south.

It had unsettled Saorise greatly, but she'd had to take stock of more important matters on her journey to the River Arnoc.

It had been years since she'd been so far from the Caramort Keep. She used to do yearly tours around the Eastern Territory every Spring with her Father and Brothers. It had been years since she'd been able to do such a thing though.

Saorise had dismounted the horse she'd been travelling on, and handed the reins to an attendant as she turned to General Lowan.

"Any news?" asked Saorise as she took off her riding gloves.

"Not yet. All is silent from the Wendolan Camp,” General Lowan had stated.

Saorise had sighed, "Very well, gather the nobles".

There were at least eighty nobles of the eastern territories in the large tent that had been set up in a clearing not far from the River bank. Though many of them were opposed to any form of negotiations at first, Saorise persuaded them otherwise. After all, if they could avoid bloodshed it would be better for both parties. She only hoped the Warmongering Wendolan King would see it the same way.

Saorise had waited patiently for three weeks. Quelling any protests that arose amongst the Eastern Nobles and ensuring the reserve army was training every day so that they were not idle. She was confident that the Wendolan Army would not attack. They seemed to be waiting for something, or, as it happened, someone.

Three weeks after her arrival at the River Arnoc, General Lowan passed on a message from the scouts on the opposing bank.

“The scouts reported a carriage arriving at the enemy camp an hour ago. It was from a distance, but they have reported seeing the King's insignia," General Lowan stated gravely.

Saorise's eyes narrowed, so the King himself had arrived? It was unexpected that he would come all this way himself. To come all this way, he was surely confident of this victory of his. Saorise could not help but feel an ounce of respect for the man. He was arrogant, but considering his victory he'd earned the right to be. Better to face those he had conquered in person rather than hide in his Palace. Especially when it came to the prideful people of the East. Perhaps he was not as incompetent as the rumours prevailed him to be.

She had waited three weeks, now that all of the parties were present, Saorise saw no reason to stay idle any longer. She then penned a letter which was signed by all of the Eastern nobles present, and sealed it before walking to the bank with the General and her brother. She requested that a green flag be flown beside them, a request for negotiations, then she stood and waited on the bank.