The night had fallen over the palace, moon shining above the land paving a spotlight for the lovers, stealing the attention from the stars. The only sound that emerged in the area was footsteps of guards patrolling around soft ground and the crickets chirping in the hidden trees. It was peaceful. Too peaceful. Everything was in place, happiness had enveloped many except for Audra.
For Audra it was the calm before the storm. She twisted and turned in the bed she lay on. Hushed snoring noises arrived from beside her, she still felt her mother's presence once again. She squinted at her mother in the darkness. They were in the same room where Audra had first seen her mother's picture painted on the wall after the rebels had broken in and everyone had learned the truth about her identity, about her being the princess.
