Topic: A Welcome to Phalion

Ariana

Date: 2014-05-15 07:02 EST
Two days after the blood moon, the rebel army arrived at Phalion to an astonishing welcome. With Conall and Liayna's assurances that they intended no harm, Adare had made certain that his people knew as much as was safe for them to know before he had opened the gates of the city to their welcome visitors. The army itself had camped around the city, almost protectively, the soldiers kept disciplined mostly by the threat of wrath from their generals and one or two pointed demonstrations of that wrath. Merchants turned out to provide supplies, the taverns sent entertainments; each group of soldiers who entered the city with permission was treated with the greatest respect and warmth. Phalion had opened her heart to the rebels.

But there was still the matter of the formalities to get out of the way, and that was where Shaye was headed now, walking a little behind Liam with a few of his most trusted generals as they were ushered into the great hall of the citadel. Her eyes went straight to the boy who stood on the dais beside the small throne that had been his mother's. Adare looked pale and tired, his eyes red-rimmed and filled with conflict, but he seemed to take heart from the presence of his squire. Shaye couldn't help grinning at Rory as she came to a halt, dropping smoothly down onto one knee to greet her monarch with her companions.

"Commander O'Connor," the young prince said, gesturing for Liam to come closer. "Welcome to Phalion."

For most of the rebels, the journey to Phalion had not been about conquering or taking over the city - it had been about freeing the city from Velasca's tyranny. It had been about coming home. Their commander had issued orders for the rebel army to treat the Phalions with respect and honor, as was their due; after all, they were fellow Arctrans and were not the enemy. For many of them, it was a homecoming of sorts. Liam knew it would take time to clear the city of Skarrans and spies and traitors, but for now, he was more concerned with unifying the people under the true monarch and living in peace. Thus far, no blood had been shed by either rebels or Phalions, but Liam knew it would not be quite as easy as it seemed.

The appointed commander of the rebel army stepped forward to greet the prince, moving to one knee again in a respectful bow to a boy who was nearly half his age. "My Prince," he started. "I thank you for the welcome. I believe I speak for all those under my command when I say that we have long awaited this day. We have been too long absent from our homes, and we are happy for your welcome."

Beside Adare, Rory was grinning like an idiot, just about bursting with excitement at the prospect of finally meeting his hero. He offered a nod in greeting to Shaye, obviously having a hard time containing his excitement, though he knew this was only the beginning of the end of Velasca's rule.

Adare nodded to Liam, understanding that there were a few things that had to happen before they could do anything. "I have sat idle for too long," he said, quietly accepting the blame for the treatment of the people. Despite his inner struggle with that strange knowledge that he was, in fact, a girl - the rightful Queen, of all things - he had been raised as a ruler, and that was what he would do. The fact that Rory was still right there next to him was all that was keeping him sane right now. "It is time Velasca and her daughter were shown what it truly is to be a Queen of Arctra. I have had rooms prepared for you and your generals here in the citadel, if you wish to use them, and I invite you to enjoy the hospitality of my city. Messengers have been sent to the neighboring lords, inviting them to main square six days hence, to witness the eclipse. I believe any strategic planning will have to wait until after that day."

Shaye frowned faintly. The boy spoke so carefully, obviously uncertain who knew the truth and who didn't. She, for one, had no idea why they had to wait for the eclipse, but assumed it had something to do with gathering support from the neighboring lords and ladies before pinning down a war council. She smirked faintly at Rory's over-excited expression, wondering if Liam had noticed there was something very close to hero-worship going on right in front of him.

"We appreciate your kindness, my prince," Liam replied, straightening from his bow, an almost amused smile appearing on his face. "We accept your generous offer. It has been a long time since many of us have slept in proper beds." In all truth, for Liam and most of his generals, it had been very long indeed - it had been years. "We would be most honored to share in witnessing the eclipse with you. Until then, we are at your service to help you in any way we can." Liam turned, extending an arm to gesture toward the small group of rebels that had accompanied him there.

"Thank you, Commander." Adare inclined his head courteously. He might be young, and small for his age, but he was beginning to accept the inevitability of his future, it seemed. There was a gentle air of regal authority starting to form in his mannerisms, the sort of authority that reassures rather than intimidates. He swallowed, glancing at Rory for a moment before continuing. "Would you care to join me for a drink, Commander" I would like to celebrate your marriage with you, if I may."

Shaye's grin reappeared, laughing accusation glinting in her eyes as she looked at Rory, knowing exactly where that information had come from. So Liayna and Conall were here somewhere, keeping themselves out of sight, no doubt.

A warm smile spread across the Commander's bearded face at the invitation for a less formal conversation where they could be a little more at ease with each other and speak without the need for so much formality. "Perhaps I should ask my wife. The last time we celebrated, I imbibed a little too freely." He flashed that amused grin again and turned to offer Shaye a hand to tug her forward. "I believe you are already acquainted with the First Blade," he started. "Allow me to introduce you to my wife, then. She is too proud to take my name for her own, but she married me just the same. Prince Adare, my wife, Shaye Dervla."

Tugged forward from her position at his left shoulder - his right side having been reserved for Conall's return - Shaye was laughing as she bowed a little less formally to Adare. "It is a pleasure to see you well, my prince," she greeted him warmly. "Trust me when I say you need not fear me any longer. That danger has passed."

Adare couldn't help staring at Shaye, now that he knew he was female. This was a warrior woman, yet she had married and seemed happier for it. It was ever so slightly confusing. "You are very welcome in Phalion, my lady," he managed finally, gesturing for Liam and Shaye to accompany him and his squire into a side chamber, set up far more informally than the great hall.

Liam turned to his small entourage, dismissing them with a wave of his hand to whatever duties awaited them, before taking hold of Shaye's hand to followed Adare and his squire to a more private setting. If it seemed odd to Liam to be deferring to a boy not much younger than he had been when he had fled Loscar, he did not show it, treating Adare with the respect and courtesy due his station. As for Rory, he was still grinning widely, glad to see Shaye once again and anxious to properly meet her new husband.

Offered the opportunity to observe the boys for a few moments as they followed the pair out of the hall, Shaye found herself reflecting on the differences since the last time she had seen them. Rory had grown in confidence, obviously feeling far more at home here, and clearly protective of Adare in a manner that made her think of the way Conall tended to hover over Liayna at times. Adare, too, was different - more withdrawn, with those clear signs of stress and upset that he was mature enough not to try and hide but simply put to one side for the time being. What had happened, she wondered, to change them both so much in just a month"

Liam didn't notice these changes the way that Shaye did, as he had never met either boy before but had only been told what to expect, mostly from Shaye, but also from Liayna. He knew what was to occur in six days' time, but for now, he could say nothing of it to anyone, not even Shaye. When the change occurred, as Liayna had assured him it would, it would appear to everyone to be the work of the Gods. In reality, that was not too far from the truth. He did notice, however, how the pair reminded him of himself and Shaye at that age, though Adare was still wearing the guise of a boy. He noticed how the taller boy lingered close, almost protectively. Rory was his name, Liam remembered. Shaye had said he was Adare's squire, but it seemed to Liam, he was far more than that.

Ariana

Date: 2014-05-15 07:04 EST
The antechamber they entered was small but comfortable, possessed of a padded bench and a few luxuriously upholstered chairs, side tables set along the walls, the walls themselves covered with tapestries, and a thick rug on the floor. Today, the seats were gathered around a wide window that looked out across the city, but it was easy to see that in winter, they would be huddled about the fireplace. Adare gestured for his guests to make themselves comfortable, moving without thinking to serve them wine himself. He'd never had to worry about playing the prince - princess, he corrected himself in the privacy of his mind - much less perform for an audience.

Liam stepped into the smaller chamber and cast a cursory glance around. Had the traitorous queen not usurped power, he might have found himself in Phalion sooner, perhaps even as part of the Royal Guard, but there was no point in worrying over it now. The past was the past and nothing could be done about it now. "I've always wondered what Phalion was like. I used to dream of coming here as a boy," Liam mused aloud.

"It was a beautiful place, when my father held power," Adare said quietly, offering Liam a cup of wine. "I regret that I never saw it in its glory, before ..." The words stuck in his throat, refusing to come out. Before Velasca destroyed the best part, and my parents with it. He'd witnessed it all in Kari's stone bowl, the renewed shock and pain of that loss too near to speak of right now.

Shaye's eyes traveled curiously to Rory, silently asking if his prince was quite well. After all, Adare looked pale and red-eyed, and now he had faltered in his speech. Something very serious was going on with him, and she was willing to bet that Rory knew all about it.

Not knowing Adare very well, Liam attributed Adare's behavior partly to nerves and partly to the change that was coming in a few short days - a change that was bound to come as something of a shock, even if the boy did know what was going to happen to him. Liam could not possibly imagine what kind of a life Adare must have suffered, and he found himself feeling an almost fatherly affection for the boy. "Adare," he started. "May I call you Adare?"

"Please, do," the young prince nodded, taking a robust mouthful of his own wine to try and get control of himself. He knew he wasn't making a very good show of things, ashamed of the red eyes and pale face he was showing to a man who had been fighting Velasca for as long as Adare had been alive.

Liam waited for the prince to sit before claiming a seat for himself. He had come a long way in sixteen years, no longer the restless, uncertain boy, but grown into a man who had earned the respect and command of an army of over twenty thousand men and women. "You need not be nervous on my account. It is my greatest wish to free Arctra of Velasca's tyranny and restore rule to the true line of Arlan. You need have no fear of me. Shaye and I are your loyal servants. We have come here to help."

Adare felt himself smile a little, though the expression was a little wan. "I do not fear you, Commander," he assured the older man, wondering how this man would react to the sight of a prince turning into a princess before the week was out. Would he be so ready to support Adare, if he knew the truth' "I know I haven't done very much for our people, but I can't stand by any more. Events are moving along at a pace I have to keep up with. I have to make my own choices, and I have chosen Arctra. The throne is mine, as it should have been my mother's. I will take it back, but I will need your help."

"You shall have it," Liam assured the prince. He lifted his glass to take a small sip of wine before thinking better of it, for a moment. "I was a lad about your age when the Usurper took control of Arctra. We - Shaye and I - were in Loscar, training to become members of the Royal Guard when it happened. My father was Captain of the Guard then. Velasca declared him a traitor and had him killed, along with many others. It was only because of Shaye that I managed to escape, or I would have shared his fate. I swore that day that I would not rest until Velasca paid for her treachery, and that day is nearly come. So, you see, we have a common enemy for common reasons. I swear on my father's memory that I will do everything in my power to help you retake what is rightfully yours. It will not bring those we've lost back, but it will avenge their deaths and help them rest easier."

"And what is it you want for yourself, Commander O'Connor?" Adare asked, displaying a startling amount of insight into the human condition with one question. He refused to dwell on the war ahead of them, instead looking to the world he would have to govern come the end. "Will you retain your army, or will you go about your life as a private citizen" What is the reward you hope for?"

One blond brow ticked upwards in undisguised surprise at this question from the young prince, impressed with his insight or perhaps only surprised that he assumed Liam would desire more than just vengeance. "I do not expect any personal reward, nor would I demand one. I will be happy enough to be rid of the Usurper and restore the rightful heir to the throne. What will I do when this has been accomplished?" He glanced momentarily over at Shaye, knowing his fate and his future was ever connected to hers, before turning back. "I am a soldier from a family of soldiers. It is all I have ever been and all I have ever known. My father was Captain of the Guard, as was his father before him and so on. If I were to choose a reward, all I would ask for is a home where we might live and raise a family in peace. As for myself, I would ask that you find a place for me in your service doing what I know and do best. That is all I desire."

There was no hesitation in the young prince, however weary and sick at heart he might be. "If I am ever in a position to grant those wishes, they will be yours, Commander," he promised, not needing any assurance of loyalty or honor. "You have gone above and beyond for the reclamation of this realm already, and the war is barely begun. I can only hope it will be a short one, with a few deaths as we can possibly manage."

"We can only hope, but no more talk of war. This is a happy occasion. Phalion is once again free, and if we are successful, soon Loscar will be free, as well, and we will restore the glory to Arctra that has been lost." Liam took a sip of his wine and leaned forward. Seeing Shaye in conversation with Rory, he lowered his voice for Adare alone. "You look weary, Adare. It is only six days until the eclipse. If there is anything I can do to help, you need only ask." His expression was one of almost fatherly compassion, showing that even a man as accustomed to hardship as the Rebel Commander was still able to care.

Ariana

Date: 2014-05-15 07:05 EST
"I have not slept well these past three nights," Adare confessed quietly, looking down into his cup as Liam leaned toward him. "The eclipse will be a momentous occasion, I am sure, and I am concerned that I will not play my part to the proper conclusion. The weight of the war is heavy on me, and it has not even begun yet."

"You may be surprised what you are capable of when the need arises," Liam replied, partly from experience. He momentarily glanced over at the other boy whom Shaye had told him about and was now speaking with - the squire who seemed more than just a squire. Liam reached out to rest a hand on the prince's shoulder, knowing there was a girl inside him somewhere, but for now, he was still a boy. "You are not alone in this, Adare. You need never be alone."

For a moment, Adare's carefully put together composure faltered. He wasn't used to strangers caring so much about him; indeed, most strangers looked at him and saw only Velasca's rumors - the demon-touched boy, simple and stupid and fit only for breeding stock. He swallowed hard, clearing his throat as he looked into Liam's eyes. "Everything is going to change," he said softly. "Many people don't like change."

"Change isn't always a bad thing, Adare. In this case, change is very good. It's a chance for you to prove what you are made of, and to accept who you are are. The people will love you. Besides, it isn't so much about change as it is about setting things right, the way they should be. And I think you will have plenty of support in that." He smiled warmly, even fondly, at the boy as he gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze, glancing once again over at Rory as if to make a point.

Adare's blue eyes flickered toward Rory almost without conscious direction, a softness in his expression that had, as yet, gone unnamed. Yet it seemed that the people around him had already seen that depth of feeling, and though he knew now that it was not so unnatural as he had first believed, he didn't dare hope that Rory might still love him when he was no longer Adare. A thought occurred to him suddenly, setting a small frown between his brows as he looked back to Liam. "Commander, I wonder if you could solve a small mystery for me," he mused quietly. "I have a notion to change my name in honor of my ancestor Queens when I put myself forward to take the throne, yet no one seems willing to discuss with me the protocol for such a change. Are you aware of any legal steps I would have to take?"

Liam arched a brow at the boy's question, wondering if he was asking what he thought he was asking him. Of course, he would not want to remain Adare when the veil was dropped and it was revealed that the prince was truly a princess. "I am not aware of any legal steps necessary to do that, but in your case, I am sure it would be a simple enough matter." He was curious what name the boy was thinking of taking, but did not go so far as to ask that question.

"Thank you." The gratitude was genuine - Dalan and Mila had not known, and the priests at the temple had been less than helpful, wanting to know all the whys and wherefores before they gave an answer. "I think that is the first truly honest answer I have had to that question since I began to ask it."

"I am happy to be of help," Liam replied with that same warm smile again behind the blond beard. "Now, what do you say we drink to new friendships and old?" He lifted his glass of wine in salute to the boy, his prince, his sovereign, and soon to be, his queen.

As Adare raised his cup in reply, a shy smile on his face, over by the sideboard Shaye watched, curious to know what was being said, but more intrigued by Rory's very careful feigning of ignorance. She looked back at the young squire, one brow raised in amusement. "You do realize it's only a matter of time before you stop pretending not to know and tell me, yes?"

"Pretending not to know what?" Rory asked, taking a sip of his wine to cover the obvious discomfort he was feeling at the First Blade's prying questions. He had promised Kari not to tell a soul, to pretend everything was as it should be, though he wasn't quite sure whether or not that promise of secrecy extended to the First Blade or not.

"What's happened since I left here," Shaye said pointedly. Though she was more amused than annoyed by his evasion, she was concerned, too. "Obviously you two have grown exceedingly fond of one another, but something else has happened, I can tell. Adare didn't look half so fragile and frightened when he was right under Valeyna's nose, so why does he look now as though the wrong word could make him cry?"

Rory looked over at Adare who seemed to be involved in some deep discussion with Liam, and he wondered if Shaye should not be the one giving Adare advice. After all, Shaye was a woman, just as Adare was deep down. His licked his lips a bit nervously as he lowered the glass, frowning back at the First Blade, unable to lie and yet unable to completely tell the truth either. "He's scared. The eclipse is coming and....things are going to change. I don't think he has much confidence in himself or his ability to rule. I've tried to help him with that, but..." Rory shrugged his shoulders. "I cannot make him believe in himself. It is something that will come with time, I think."

She made a soft sound in the back of her throat, acknowledging what he said, even if she wasn't entirely sure she believed that was the whole of it. "I heard Valeyna made a show of shedding his blood in front of her guards," she said then. "Why didn't his ghost come to his rescue?"

Rory's lowered his head, averting his gaze, as if he was ashamed of something, hating every time that incident was mentioned. "That-that was because of me," he admitted quietly.

Shaye frowned, dipping her head to catch his gaze once again. "I take it you're not referring to the ghost's lack of action," she said gently, reaching out to raise his chin with her fingers. "Rory, shall I tell you what I heard? The story I heard - and have heard several times, from different people - is that the prince's squire did Phalion proud by taking first blood in a duel, in defense of his prince. They're calling you brave, and just, and good, and because you're not of noble birth, you're one of them still, too. And equally, they're proud of Adare for caring so much about you that he wouldn't allow Valeyna to harm you in retribution for what was a stupid mistake on her part. She is the one who comes out worst. What may be mortifying to you right now is one of the building blocks of Adare's reputation among the people at large. You should be proud of that story, and proud that you have a friend who is willing to do for you."

Forced to meet Shaye's gaze, Rory couldn't hide the tears that were clouding his vision at the memory of that day. "Some might call it stupidity, but I couldn't let her hurt him anymore. She's hurt him enough. I won't let her hurt him again." Whatever he thought of his own actions, he was vehement about his intentions to keep Adare safe from any and all threats. "I hope we never have to see either of them again."

Ariana

Date: 2014-05-15 07:06 EST
"Well, that's a vain hope," Shaye told him firmly. "You will see them again, across a battlefield, at least once. But your job on that day will be to keep yourself alive, do you understand me" I will protect Adare, to the death, if I have to. But there'll be no point in winning the day, if he has to grieve for the loss of such a dear friend as you."

"A battlefield?" Rory echoed. "Do you mean we are going to battle?" he asked, eyes wide, his voice echoing loudly enough to carry over to where the other pair sat, still quietly chatting. "Do you think it is wise for Adare to go to battle?" he asked further, lowering his voice so Adare wouldn't hear him.

"Would you accept a king who lets others fight his battles for him?" Shaye asked him in return. She shook her head sadly. "It isn't that I'm saying he should be there, or even that he's capable. But the people need more than a figurehead who hides behind other shields and swords. If Adare truly wants to unite this country, he needs to fight with us, where everyone can see him. When Velasca took power, she did it with trickery and deceit. She did it behind other people's actions and words. Adare cannot afford to be compared to her in that light."

"But if something happens to him..." Rory pointed out uncertainly. If anything happened to Adare, all would be lost. He was the last of the line of Arlan and his life - her life - was more precious than anyone else in all of Arctra.

Shaye held his gaze for a long moment, waiting for it to sink in just who he was talking to. "I won't let anything happen to him," she assured Rory. "And you can be damned sure Liam won't let anything happen to me. He will be the most protected person on the field, I swear to you."

Rory could only nod his head at that and trust in Shaye and Liam to keep Adare safe. There wasn't a person in the room who wouldn't lay down their life for the safety and life of their queen, and he wondered once more if he should tell Shaye the truth. "Not until after the eclipse," Rory said, more statement than question. Then all would become clear, and the people would see that Adare was not what the Usurper had led them to believe.

"No, not until then," she agreed, leaning comfortably against the wall now as they spoke. "There's a great deal of planning involved in military action. The pitched battles should be decided before anyone swings a sword. That's why we have war councils and such a large amount of planning. Ideally, we don't want to have to fight at all, but if it becomes inevitable, we want to know we'll win. So we'll take strategic points, and we'll move our way slowly south."

"Toward Loscar," Rory added, understanding at least part of the plan. It figured that they'd have to retake Loscar, since it was Arctra's capital, but whether it would require a battle or not was uncertain. Much of that, he thought, depended on Velasca. "Will..." he glanced toward the Rebel Commander who he had yet to say two words to. "Will he be leading the army?" he asked, curiously.

"When we march, it will be under Adare's banner," she tried to explain, not entirely sure how well she was doing it. "It'll be his name we shout, his cause we fight for. He is our king, it is as simple as that. But he won't be leading us alone. He will have a council of generals, who will probably defer to Liam, who is likely to end up as Adare's chief military adviser. Adare has final say in the decisions that are made, but options given to him will have been cut down and shaped by the council he appoints. Does that help?"

Rory nodded, accepting that answer, but wondering something else. "Who will stay behind to keep charge of things here?" he asked, though he wasn't even sure if these sorts of decisions had been made yet. He thought someone needed to stay in Phalion who knew the city and was respected enough to be able to take charge and keep things in order while Adare was away leading the army's march on Loscar. Dalan, maybe? He wasn't too sure, but he felt a mix of excitement and fear at the thought of going to battle for the first time.

"Ah, now, you see, that is one of those decisions Adare will have the last say on," Shaye assured him with a faint grin. "In other words, that won't be decided until all other plans for the march south are in place. But I expect the steward of the citadel will be put in charge, with a small force remaining behind to hold Phalion in Adare's name. That's usually how it works."

Rory nodded his understanding again. At least, she wasn't asking him what Adare's secret was anymore, but there was something else he needed to tell her that he'd been wanting to tell her ever since the rebel army had entered the city. "I'm happy for you, Shaye. I'm glad you found Liam and are together again. I know how much he means to you." He knew because, for some reason, she had decided to trust in him and tell him so.

She was quiet for a long time, watching as Liam spoke with Adare, finally speaking herself with almost embarrassing sincerity. "He's the light of my life," she said absolutely seriously, looking to Rory with a half smile. "And I think you understand what I mean by that, don't you?"

Rory studied Shaye quietly as she looked to Liam, seeing something in her face change, her eyes, her expression, and he knew it was love. He blushed as she looked back to him and replied with a question of her own. "Yes," he answered quietly, with the flicker of a glance to Adare. But it's not what you think, he thought to himself.

"He couldn't ask for a better friend and protector," she said gently. "And I don't think he ever will. He looks to you for everything, have you noticed" So long as you're with him, I don't think he'll go far wrong."

"I suppose," Rory replied with a light shrug, not wanting to admit to Shaye that while he was glad Adare loved him like a friend, he wanted so much more than that - in truth, he wanted what Shaye and Liam had.

In that moment, Shaye was tempted to share with Rory the rumors she had heard about Adare's father and Dalan, how close they had truly been even after Farus had married Arian, but she thought that information might damage the tenuous calm that seemed to have settled over the citadel. "Come on," she gave his shoulder a nudge. "Let's go and eavesdrop pointedly until they include us in the conversation."

Rory might not have understood the significance of that comparison, if Shaye had chosen to point it out. He had no close friend, like Farus had with Dalan or even like Liam had with Conall, other than Adare. A better comparison might have been Liam and Shaye in their youth, but Rory wasn't too concerned about having a friend right now. He was more concerned about how Adare was going to react to becoming a girl. "Could you introduce me?" Rory asked a bit shyly as he looked over at Liam and Adare in deep conversation. If anyone knew how much Rory admired Liam it was Shaye.

"Of course," she grinned back at him, pushing off the wall to wander over and lean on the back of Liam's chair, one hand gently touching his hair as she turned her smile onto the prince. "Forgive me for interrupting, my prince," she apologized to Adare, who looked startled at being addressed directly but covered it quickly. "Liam, Rory here would very much like to meet you. Liam O'Connor, meet Rory Brennan."

As deep in conversation as he was with the future queen of Arctra, Liam was aware of Shaye's presence, a small smile appearing on his face when he felt her fingers in his hair. He turned his gaze away from one boy to the other as Shaye introduced Adare's squire and offered the young man a friendly smile, remembering himself at that age. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Rory. Shaye has told me so much about you."

Rory arched a brow, more than a little surprised that the First Blade had seen fit to mention him to the Rebel Commander for some reason. "It's a pleasure to meet you, too, sir. Pardon me for saying so, but you're something of a hero to some of us." Us being citizens of Arctra, though Rory was mainly speaking for himself.

Hero-worship indeed. Shaye smiled to herself as she slipped from behind Liam's chair, allowing Rory time to gush and stammer and be reassured and praised by his hero, as she took the time to reacquaint herself with the prince. There would be plenty of opportunity over the coming days for this first introduction to grow into more than a passing acquaintance as they prepared for the beginning of the march that would commence the second civil war Arctra had seen in as many decades. But this time, she was on the right side by choice, and she fully intended to see Adare on the throne before the year's end. Even if it killed her to do it.