Aurora placed her foot on the first stair of the spiral staircase. Her vision fogged, and she experienced the sensation of being back inside Dew Mountain. She tried to call out, but the words caught in her throat. Something was wrong.

The fog receded, and Aurora was in her childhood room. It was one of the few times her mother had come to visit her, and it had ended in disaster. Aurora had only been four at the time, and this was one of her earliest memories. Zephyra had attempted to play with the child, but quickly became dissatisfied with the young babe's childish behavior.

"Be realistic," Zephyra had said, not realizing that the child had no idea what that meant.

"Come on, mommy! Fly with me," the little girl raised a toy doll and spun it through the air. In her flight, Aurora had not seen the canter of juice that had been brought in for refreshments. The pitcher spilled and sloshed all over Empress Zephyra's dress.

"What is wrong with you, little beast?! This dress cost a fortune." Zephyra leapt at her daughter angrily.

Nanny had only barely intervened in time. "Forgive her, please, Your Majesty. She is young."

"Then do not let her around me again until she can do something useful." She scoffed at the child in front of her, "Such a waste!"

As Aurora relived the memory, fresh tears pricked her eyes. Following the traumatic scene, a series of painful events from the Empress's life passed in front of her. Missed birthdays, servants behaving badly toward her, her mother's constant derision both to her face and behind her back: all of it caused Aurora to sob. A few happy memories came to her consciousness, times with Nanny or her father, but they were quickly pushed aside for the next heart-wrenching encounter.

Finally the world slowed and focused in on the night before her tenth birthday. The sweet scene of her father giving her the Fates' necklace and speaking life into her was so wonderful that she almost forgot how the night ended. As her father pulled out the cake, Aurora's breath caught in her throat. "No, Father! It is poisoned. Do not eat it!" She hoped against hope that her words would have some effect, but they did not. Elias ate and died just as he always had.

Aurora let out a guttural scream and dropped to the ground. The funeral of her father and death of her mother paraded through her thoughts like crashing waves upon the rocks of her sanity. With all this pain balled up inside her, how could she go on living? She had gone on for so long and fought so hard. Maybe it was time to give up and… sleep. Her body felt so heavy. She closed her eyes in despair, and at last the memories around her went dark.

In the stillness, a voice broke through the void. It was barely audible. "Don't give up, Aurora." She knew that voice. Who was it?

"You are strong."

Aurora tried to focus on the words. A small speck of light peeked into her peripheral vision.

"I am here, and I love you."

Yes, she knew the voice! Like a refreshing spring rain, the memories of Devrim washed over her. Their laughter together, their childish escapades, their love. The light grew brighter as she remembered Mairwen and Alaron. Zan, Brinn, Nurlan and Junayd, even Hanna…all of these good things had come out of the bad. The pain, the dark night, all of it, was worth it if this joy was what came in the morning.

The grey-eyed man's voice broke through loud and clear. "You have to fight."

"Devrim." She breathed his name. He was right. She must fight. With a strength beyond her own, she stood and walked into the light. It warmed her skin and quenched the thirst in her soul. Aurora realized her feet were wet and cold. She was standing in a shallow pool. The Empress turned and could see Devrim and Hanna staring at her, but they seemed far off and separated from her by a thin veil.

Her clothing felt strange, heavier and made of different cloth. Somehow she was wearing the most regal gown that she had ever seen. Above her, Aurora could feel something hovering. She looked up and saw a copy of her coronation crown, with the symbol of the Fates prominently centered. She lifted her arms and took the crown in both hands. She placed it on her head. The world vanished in a flash of light.

When the Empress opened her eyes, she was in one of the Royal gardens at the Castle Valiant. Her blue and white gown fluttered in the soft breeze of the afternoon. She stood near a stone bench looking out at all the beauties of spring.

"Mother, isn't it wonderful?" Mairwen said. She stood beside Aurora in a red and gold brocade gown, her blue eyes shining. By her womanly figure, Aurora guessed Mairwen was around eighteen, maybe a little younger. She was slender and beautiful. The Empress could not help but smile and nod.

Next to the girl stood Alaron. His tall, broad shoulders were nearly to Mairwen's ear. His handsome eyes were wet, but Aurora sensed they were tears of joy not grief. The girl grabbed her twin's arm and pulled him forward. "Come on!" she beckoned. He obediently complied.

Aurora watched the pair walk towards their target, and her smile grew wide. Watching them there, together and happy, it was the most beautiful sight she had ever seen.

Another presence made itself known next to the Empress. Although she could not see him, she could feel the warmth and compassion emanating from this mighty being. Taking a chance, she spoke to him. "Is this what will be or what could be?"

There was a pause. Then a voice both loud as the crashing sea, yes quiet as silence answered her. "This is the outcome I desire," came the response. "But your choices and the choices of those around you will bring it to fruition."

"Then please tell me what I came to learn. Who was born first, Mairwen or Alaron? And who is their father?" Aurora held her breath in anticipation.

"In your heart you know what I will say."

He was right. She knew. Deep down, she had always known.

"But those are not the answers you actually need. Ask me the question that has brought you all this way."

The Empress thought for a moment. She had thought she knew the solution to the problem, but now she realized that she had been mistaken. "How do I avoid the coming doom that Hanna showed me?"

"Love your children. Lead them on a different path than Zephyra. And, most importantly, remove the poison that plagues young Alaron."

"You mean Cafer?" Aurora knew from the gnome king that the councilman was a traitor.

"Cafer will be the death of all of you if no one intervenes."

"I understand." Aurora sighed. Her fingers traced the pattern on her gown as she lingered.

"You have another query?"

"Yes, if I may… who exactly should be my heir?" Aurora asked meekly.

The Maker laughed a full and genuine laugh. "Look at that happy scene before you! If you use the wisdom I gave you, then you can solve that puzzle easily."

Aurora blushed and covered her face. "Yes, I know what to do."

"Then go, young Empress. Be well. Choose well. Love well."

"I shall try."