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I waken in the delicious embrace of the prince’s arms and look at the amazing view as the early morning sunlight gently brings the mountain landscape to life.

Giant pines and cedar trees shake off the shadow of the night and their frost-tipped foliage sparkles in response to the sun’s kiss.

The gentle babble of the nearby stream provides wonderful background music to the dawn chorus of birds happily chirping their morning greetings to each other.

The prince sighs happily into my shoulder and I’m filled with the sense of peace I always get when I come here.

The Lodge was built by my father and was ostensibly a hunting lodge where he and his hunting parties would reside when on a royal hunt.

However, in the latter years of his life it became more of a sanctuary to him from the pressures and politics of royal life and he increasingly came here alone.

I accompanied him on a number of occasions and was always struck at how the sharp edges fell away from him within hours of being here.

After a few days at The Lodge he would invariably return to the castle a much more relaxed and renewed man.

It was only after his death I came to truly value it as a place of renewal for myself.

I’ve spent the past two days in meetings, either with the Khaleeni, my army Commanders or the Grand Council and by the end I was drained and wound tight in knots of apprehension for all that is to come.

In the midst of it all, Greythorne arrived at the gates of Valensia and is reported to have been consumed with rage at being blocked from entry and told he will only be allowed entry this evening for the Grand Banquet, along with all the other lords.

The Grand Banquet. I feel a twinge of apprehension at the mere thought of it, but I also smile to myself at the plans I have for my enemies, those who dared to plot against me and wish to see me brought down.

Greythorne and his collaborators think I’m going to announce him as my betrothed and my king, believing I have no other choice.

They’re in for a surprise. A very big surprise.

A deer walks by the window followed by a young fawn and I smile as they stop to look at me and the prince, their brown eyes wide and curious.

Then they move on, seemingly unimpressed and I chuckle quietly to myself at how little we mean to them.

I was right to drop everything late yesterday afternoon and come here.

It has done me good and I feel it has also brought further healing to the prince.

“They looked at us as if we were a pair of curiosities,” he laughs into my shoulder. “It matters not a whit to them that you are their queen.”

“I think a much higher power than I is their Queen,” I reply, as I feel the touch of his lips on my flesh.

“Indeed,” he agrees, “and to us all.”

I turn to look at him and am struck at how peaceful his eyes look this morning, as if some of his torment has abated. “Thank you for bringing me here,” he says in a quiet voice. “It’s a peaceful place I find calming to my soul.”

Happiness bubbles up within me as this was the main purpose of my visit here.

“You don’t know how happy it makes me to hear that, Ronan,” I say, a slight wobble of emotion in my voice, “and I want you to know this place is at your disposal any time. Should you feel you need to get away or find your suffering becoming too hard to bear, then please come here. I promise you will be left in peace. I will make sure you are supplied with food and drink and Barra and Aaran will be the only ones allowed to check on you. Please don’t expose yourself to the elements again.

I would prefer you have some comforts to see you through your pain, especially now winter is nearly upon us. ”

He is silent as he tenderly strokes my cheek before taking a deep breath, almost as if he is steadying himself, then he closes his eyes and when he opens them he smiles a watery smile.

“I thank the Goddess for whatever moment of madness inspired you to come and find me, Elinor, and whilst I hope I don’t suffer another breakdown, I promise you I will come to this place should I need to find peace and restitution. ”

He seals his promise with a kiss and a pang of guilt sits like a dark shadow on my heart as the knowledge of his brother’s betrayal, and how I must eventually reveal it to him, weighs on me like a dark storm.

“I also promise, at all other times, I will be the best husband and king to you that I can be. However, I will ask you to do one thing…” His voice fades away, as if he’s not sure how to ask me this thing that seems so important to him.

“What is it?” I enquire. “What is this one thing you would ask of me, Ronan?”

He balances himself on his elbow and with a most earnest expression on his face asks me to do something I’m not sure I can. “I want you to declare Aaran and Barra your consorts.”

I sit up, shocked at his suggestion. It’s one thing for him to accept my attraction to his fellow Ellerban and even encourage sexual relations, but to ask that I declare them my consorts… I don’t know what he is thinking and I don’t even know if this is something I can do.

“Ronan…” I start to respond, not even sure what I intend to say but he cuts me off.

“I can see you’re shocked,” he says in a firm voice, “but just hear me out.”

I look at him through narrowed eyes but remain silent and nod my assent.

“You know my story and you’ve seen first hand how broken I am.

My healing will take some time and the gods only know what bumps I will hit along the way.

I also intend to find the blaggards who killed Aurora and Aonghus, which I have no doubt will necessitate my leaving you for some periods of time.

I will leave either Aaran or Barra with you, on the occasions where I don’t require their skills, and I wish for them to have the full power of the realm to care for and protect you in every way.

Also, the position of royal consort will allow them some measure of protection. ”

I’m stunned into silence at the extent to which he has thought about this, but the more I think about what he has said, the more it begins to make sense. However, there is no precedent for this in Ardvalla.

“I'm not sure this is something I can decree,” I say to him, my voice heavy with doubt.

“For sure it is, Elinor,” he replies, his voice firm and certain. “You are the queen and even if a precedent doesn’t exist, you can set one.”

I’m surprised at his level of conviction on this matter but he seems to have given it some thought. “Do you wish me to make this announcement tonight at the banquet?” I ask.

“Yes,” he replies, “I think that would be for the best. Announcing me as your king will be shocking enough, but declaring Barra and Aaran your consorts will really put the cat amongst the pigeons. You will kill two birds with one stone, completely blindside your enemies and establish a measure of protection for Barra and Aaran and yourself.”

The prospect of watching the collective jaws of the Grand Council, The High Cleric and the Lords of Ardvalla fall to the floor is indeed an enticing one, and he is right about the built- in protection of such an announcement for Barra and Aaran.

However, I’m still having difficulty with his total acceptance of my having intimate relations with Barra and Aaran.

I’m not sure how this is all going to play out in the future but then it hits me – if he doesn’t have an issue with it, I shouldn’t either.

“Fine,” I reply, “I will announce Barra and Aaran as my consorts. You’re right. It will afford them a measure of protection and it will give me no end of satisfaction to see the shock on the faces of my enemies.”

He smiles broadly and pulls me to him for a kiss. There’s a high pitched call outside and we look out the window to see an eagle swoop past. The prince’s smile broadens. “The sacred bird of Ellerban graces us with its presence. It’s a good omen, Elinor.”

He pulls me tight to his chest and I gladly fall against him as I look at the majestic beauty of the mountain surrounding us. It gives me a feeling of strength I know I’m going to need to get through the next few days.

“Are you sure, we must leave?” the prince asks, half joking, half serious, and I don’t miss the wistfulness in his voice.

“Alas, I’m afraid we must,” I reply, my voice hushed with regret, “but I promise we shall return soon.”

I think about the betrayal I must reveal to him and can’t help wondering if he may return here much sooner than either of us thinks.