Disclaimer: The characters and places, and the plot in this chapter, are all the creations of the amazing Sherwood Smith. I'm just portraying them through my own words, for my own (and hopefully others') enjoyment.

Author's note: Please REVIEW, this is my first try at a fanfiction! Any comments are welcome, and very helpful. Thanks for reading!

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Prologue

I, Vidanric, Marquis of Shevraeth and next in line for the throne of Remalna, was for once at a loss to know what to do. And it was just my luck that it had to be the one moment in my life so far where a swift decision was vital.

I stood before the dais of the great throne room of the palace in the city of Athanarel, my rapier drawn, watching in helpless fear and anger as my own cousin held a knife to the throat of a young woman known as Meliara Astiar, Countess of Tlanth. I mentally kicked myself. I had known Flauvic to be a threat. I should have been better prepared both for the discovery that he truly was plotting for the throne and the confirmation of my suspicions that he was a sorcerer. But my mind was frozen in panic, and the only thing I could think was What if Flauvic moves his hand...? If Mel was hurt- I didn't want to think about what I would do if that happened. My only reassurance was that she seemed to be holding her own; even as my stomach lurched in terror for her safety, I admired the courage with which she faced having a blade brandished under her chin. Meliara was a picture of perfect fury despite her small form, and looked as though she was mostly vexed by the fact that she wasn't able to make a good threat of her own against her attacker.

The same unflinching glare that she now gave my cousin was exactly what I had first found fascinating about Meliara. She faced every impossible danger with determination and courage. My interest in the fiery countess had slowly grown over the course of the past year until I realized, somewhat to my own surprise, that I was entirely and completely in love. And it was only within the past day that I had finally professed my love openly, learning for certain that Meliara shared that love.

But now that newly discovered happiness threatened to shatter. I thought bitterly that we would likely be literally shattered, just like the unfortunate Duke of Grumareth's frozen form had been brutally smashed earlier. My cousin's sorcery had included the transformation of all the people of the city into statues, and he had presented me with a cruel choice: help to instate him as ruler –Condemning the people to his tyranny!– or condemn the entire court to the same ugly fate as Grumareth, if I tried to resist. How could I, or any decent person, make that terrible choice?

The necessity for that decision had been delayed; only moments ago, Flauvic's moment of gloating triumph had been interrupted. Outside the great doors of the throne room, the Hill Folk had appeared suddenly by the hundreds, triggering my cousin's present treatment of Meliara.

"Tell them to vanish," he snarled. "Or she dies."

Mel managed to yell, "Don't do it–" before she was silenced by Flauvic's arm. I was intensely aware of the glint of metal held so close to her neck. I stalked slowly toward them, my mind desperately racing to find a way to protect Meliara.

It was then I noticed that the air in the throne room had begun to change. Though I did not grow up knowing the strange people as Mel had, I recognized the Hill Folk magic at once. The air was thick with power, shimmering like water. The deep drums of the Hill Folk began a steady rhythm.

"Tell them now!" Flauvic's voice cracked with something like panic as he yelled.

My breath caught in my throat as Flauvic jerked his hold on Mel. But then he gave a strangled cry and released his hold on her completely. She toppled forward onto her hands and knees in front of the throne, and I rushed forward an instant later to lift her off of the floor. I looked up through the shimmering air to see that Flauvic's shape was oddly distorted. He threw his arms up and spoke strange words. Green light appeared between his hands and he flung it toward us- I tightened my arms around Mel, expecting the worst. But the spell evaporated into the air before ever reaching us.

Flauvic had his head thrown back, and his body seemed to lengthen upward. The drumbeat built into rumbling thunder that filled the room. Suddenly there was a great cracking sound like splitting wood, and Flauvic's stretching and twisting form was obscured in blinding light. The floor shook, and debris rained from the ceiling. I shielded Mel as best I could, holding her (I can admit in retrospect) as much for my own comfort as hers.

Abruptly the thundering stopped, and the light faded. For a moment the world was frozen in silence. As my vision slowly cleared, I stared in weary shock at the great goldenwood tree that now stood rooted in the dais where Flauvic had been, its branches reaching out through the roof.

Remalna was safe.

As the realization finally reached my sluggish thoughts, my breath returned with a shuddering sigh of relief. I had hardly noticed that I was holding it. Meliara! I pulled her close and was suddenly flooded with an irrepressible joy. Remalna was safe, and Meliara was in my arms. I kissed her hair and was rewarded to feel her smile against my chest. Oh Mel I love you. I lost myself in kissing her upturned face wherever I could, until our lips finally met and locked in giddy reunion.

I kept kissing her until with a gasp we both had to come up for air. When I looked at Mel I saw the same wry smile of regret that I knew showed on my own face. She had wanted that kiss to stop as little as I had. A noise at the doorway made us both turn, and there we saw that the frozen palace guards had been freed. They each took a gasping breath and crumpled to the floor, fast asleep.

"We did it." Mel whispered, leaning forward to rest her forehead on my tunic. "We saved them. Everyone."

I hugged her close, smiling even as I felt a tear roll down my cheek.