Banging on the door interrupted the mother, and she stopped her wheel with a frown. 'Sweetling, I want you to hide up in the attic for me. Go on, now. Quickly!'
The tone of her mother's voice, more than anything else, had the girl scrambling for the hidey hole up on their attic. It was only once her daughter was safely hidden that the woman stood, smoothed out her skirt, and walked over to the door, pulling it open without any warning-and causing Glenfell and the man he was carrying to fall flat in front of her. The woman gasped at the sight of the two, and knelt next to them. Dark blue eyes topped by light brown hair opened and met her own pale blue, causing her eyes to widen in shock.
'D-Darian?! What happened to you two...?! Serena, come back down, sweetling! It's your father and Uncle Glenfell!'
Serena yelled in delight and raced back down-only to stop at the sight of the two males collapsed in the doorway. Her eyes widened, and she hurried over to help her mother pull them inside and quickly close the door, keeping the snow outside from getting in. Once they were settled in front of the fire, the woman hurried around the cottage, ensuring that all the doors and windows were locked and firmly shut, keeping any prying eyes from looking in. With that done, she sent Serena to get some hot food as she knelt next to them and examined them with quick, practised hands.
Darian opened his eyes again, and smiled up at her. 'Anya, love... I'm sorry. I was... held up at the palace.'
'Hush, Darian. You need rest and hot food. You can tell me what happened later.'
'No, I... can't. The Queen... Your mother... She's dead. They tried accusing me, and would have succeeded if Okril and Dievra hadn't... been there. They... need you, Anya.'
'No.' Anya's face turned hard as she stared down at her husband. 'They need Lady Silverfur, not me. I'm naught but a figurehead to them, Darian.'
'Majesty...' It was Glenfell who lifted his head this time, Glenfell who met her gaze. 'It is not Lady Silverfur that they need. It is Queen Rose Anastasia Irthis. No-one else can take the throne, Majesty. You know that.' Somehow, he managed to sit up, teeth gritted in a grimace as Serena came charging back into the room. 'They need the Lost Princess.'
Serena's eyes were wide with shock by this point. 'Mama...? What's going on...?'
Anya's eyes slid closed a moment, and she pulled in a large breath before slowly releasing it again. 'Serena... The stories your father and I told you. They were about us when we were younger. I am Lady Silverfur.' She opened her eyes, expecting to see happiness in Serena's eyes-only to be met with tears. They flowed down her daughter's face, and each one was like a knife to Anya's heart. She didn't hesitate to wrap her arms around her, holding her tight to her chest. 'Oh, Sweetling, I'm so sorry... We wanted to tell you, but it just wasn't safe...'
Serena wriggled out of Anya's grip and ran for her room, sobbing the whole way. Anya watched her go, and then looked over at the cats. 'Carlos...? Will you make sure she's all right...?' Carlos nodded and stood, padding out of the room quietly as Anya returned to the task of warming up the two men. It wasn't long before she had them sat up and drinking some of the soup that Serena had fetched for them. 'From the sounds of it, we shall have to go to the palace, won't we, Darian?'
'Yes. We have no choice now, Anya. Fiona is doing her best to act as Regent, but you and I both know that she belongs with the Knights and not in the Palace.'
'What of Jasmine? Has there been any sign of her?' Anya tugged off his boots, quickly followed by Glenfell's, and made sure that they were both well wrapped in blankets.
'None. Not that she could take the throne anyway, Anya,'
'I know that, Darian. I just worry for her, is all.'
'We all do, Anya.' He sighed sadly. 'Once this weather is clear, we shall have to start packing everything up to leave. It's time we returned to the fight.'
Anya's face tightened, but she nodded her agreement. It was, indeed, time to return to the fight. Time for her to return to her destiny at long last.