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Darkness enveloped her in an unearthly stillness, and jumbled visions began to appear.

As she focused, one emerged clearly —Gigi, her bags in hand, being escorted from the castle as four royal guards waited on horseback for her to join them.

Issylte’s heart pounded wildly. She remembered how Lords Cian and Bolduc had led her into the woods. To kill her.

In the vision, Issylte saw the queen’s guards ride hard with Gigi deep into the forest, where they stopped abruptly and pulled her roughly from her horse.

Two guards in gleaming armor pinned her thin arms behind her back as an inconsolable Gigi pleaded with them, struggling against their unyielding hold, tears streaming down her desperate face.

While two armored guards held her pinned tightly against them, a third horseman grabbed a handful of Gigi’s hair and yanked her nurse’s head back to expose her vulnerable neck.

Issylte, her heart thumping out of her chest, watched in horror as a fourth guard unsheathed his sharp dagger and tore open Gigi’s throat before her very eyes.

Blood spurted from the beautiful neck, Gigi’s frail life force flowing freely into the dead, rotting leaves.

The huntsmen threw the fragile body to the ground, covering it hastily with thick branches.

The four royal guards, resplendent in their finest livery, mounted their magnificent horses and galloped away, abandoning Gigi’s crumpled body in the darkest shadows of the Hazelwood Forest.

Gasping, unable to breathe, Issylte became aware of a voice calling from far away. Viviane gently tapped her on the cheeks, crying out, “Lilée… Lilée… Come back to me!”

The darkness cleared, the water lilies welcomed her, and the sunlight reflected off the lake once again. Slowly, her breathing calmed, and she was able to speak to the distraught High Priestess beside her.

“Viviane, I saw what really happened to my nurse!” Issylte panted, sobbing, struggling to get the words out.

“I had been told that she was dismissed. That the queen decided I no longer needed a nursemaid. The entire castle had been told that Gigi was being returned to her sister.” Her heart pounded frantically.

“But I saw what really happened. The wicked queen had her killed !” Issylte jumped to her feet, flailing her arms, pacing along the sandy shore of the lake.

“My evil stepmother tried to kill me— twice . She forced me to flee my father’s castle.

Later, I had to flee the Hazelwood Forest. She killed Tatie, Bran and Dee.

And now, I find that she killed Gigi, too! ”

Issylte fell to her knees and buried her face in her hands, tearing at her hair in frustration and anger.

“That wretched queen even sold Luna. She has taken everything and everyone that I love!” Issylte grasped Viviane’s hands.

“My father is in danger . The queen is going to kill him, too. I know it. I must do something, before it is too late.” Issylte implored the Lady of the Lake.

“I must help him, Viviane. He needs me. The leeches, the bloodletting…they are not healing him. They’re killing him. I must go to him. I must help him.”

The Holy Priestess of Avalon held Issylte in her arms, consoling her with soothing words and a comforting embrace.

When Issylte was finally able to listen, Viviane said gently, “I know you are desperate to help your father. You fear for his safety—and rightly so. You’re the victim of the queen’s evil wrath.

I am so terribly sorry she has caused you such pain.

Killed so many you love.” She hugged Issylte, rocking her in cradled arms.

A few minutes later, when Issylte’s whimpers had abated, Viviane whispered, “We did discover something today. You do indeed have a tremendous gift for the sight . I am sorry the vision was so horrific.”

Viviane lifted Issylte’s face, the depths of her blue eyes as profound as le Lac de Diane.

“One thing is for certain, Lilée. You cannot return to the castle. The queen would kill you before you could even reach your father. She’d have you arrested the moment you set foot into the castle. And execute you at once.”

Imparting words of wisdom to Issylte’s unwilling ears, the Lady of the Lake said solemnly, “You are the sole heir to the kingdom of Ireland, and the greatest threat to her power.”

And, with nearly the same counsel that Tatie had given her years ago in Ireland, the High Priestess of Avalon said sagely, “It is difficult to be patient when we feel compelled to act. Yet often, we must wait, knowing that the Goddess has determined our fate—which has yet to be revealed.”

The Lady of the Lake kissed Issylte on the head and rose to her feet, beckoning her to stand as well.

“Come,” she said gently, “let us go to la Fontaine de Jouvence, and be rejuvenated by the sacred spring. You’ve had an arduous ordeal, and it will help to restore you.

There is nothing you can do to help your father right now.

You must be patient—no matter how difficult it is—and trust that the Goddess will reveal your fate, when the time is right.

For now, let us heal your troubled heart with the sacred waters of Avalon. ”

They walked slowly back up the hill, where the sight of the apple trees abundant with ripe, red fruit made Issylte think of Ronan, who had promised to return to her soon.

At the memory of the handsome Elf, a wave of longing washed over her.

She was simultaneously suffocated with tremendous guilt and overwhelmed with yearning for him.

I am safe here, amid this natural beauty, awakened by the passion of Ronan’s kisses, while my father lies ill in his bed, threatened by the wicked queen and her horrid wizard.

I must find a way to help him. Before it is too late.

At la Fontaine de Jouvence , Issylte drank the rejuvenating water of the sacred spring under the watchful gaze of the Lady of the Lake. Deep within her grieving heart, the Emerald Princess vowed to help her father. Somehow, she would find a way to save him and stop the wretched, wicked queen.

Before it was too late.