The stars flew above Dandelion as he was hurled backwards into a thicket of bushes with prickly thorns and something very pungent and squishy. He skidded a few feet, tumbling over himself a few times before stopping. Was it truly nesscessary for her to kick me so hard? His shoulder ached where she kicked him, and the thorns from the bush left small, silver gashes in his skin.

The slender white feathers at the base of Dandelion’s wings twitched As he got up. Puck’s grating laughter sounded behind him. He spun, glaring.

“Puck! Come out!” A bush rustled to Dandelion’s right. It grew taller, changing colors to resemble the infamous phuka. Puck grinned.

“She kicked you. She must really be mad at you. Remember that time Ashara beat you with a wooden training sword in front of the guard. Oberon took her-” Puck dodged Dandelions hand.

“The elven lands to find a mount. I know.” Dandelion sighed, his shoulders drooping. Father spoiled her like his own daughter. Giving her whatever she wanted. Dandelion started walking, fist shoved into his pockets, a scowl on his face. Puck followed, arms behind his head.

“Did you send her pet to his death?” Dandelion glared at Puck. The phuka’s eyebrows rose, painting bright orange-scarlet on a pale white forehead. Dandelion kept walking.

“Maybe. It’s up to him on whether or not he follows through, not I,” Dandelion said, a tinge of hope filling his voice. Puck tilted his head to the side.

“Ashara won’t like this.” Dandelion gritted his teeth, dragging a hand through his curls.

“It’s for the best. We need to focus on the Seven Day Ceremonies, anyways. After that, we’ll go through the Awakening and come into our full powers.”

Puck nodded. “Are you excited?” Dandelion shrugged.

“Yes. I’ll finally be able to be able to do more than fly and read emotions.” Like make flowers sprout, radiate warmth, control the environment with my emotions, and if I’m strong enough, with the right talismans, I’ll be able to use my powers outside the Summerlands.

“Puck, I need you to go find Ashara’s pet and make sure he writes that letter, tonight. Bring the letter to me, unopened.” Dandelion held Pucks gaze, staring him down. “Say it, Puck.” The phuka grinned, bowing.

“I, Robin Goodfellow, promise to ensure Princess Ashara’s pet, George McMurtah, writes the letter prince Dandelion of the Summer courts insisted he write tonight, and bring it back to prince Dandelion of the Summer courts.” Dandelion noded, keeping his eyes on Puck’s retreating figure.

The castle loomed above Dandelion, pearlescent in the light of the midsummer moon. It’s a nice night. I think I’ll walk the rest of the way. The night was dark as he walked; What few stars there were sparkled like tiny diamonds on a bed of blue velvet. Dandelion starred up, watching the stars slowly flow behind him like a river of light as he neared the castle. I don’t feel like telling anyone I got back. I’ll just go to my chambers and wait for Puck.

Dandelion jumped over the wall, landing on the slanted roof of the keep. He looked down into the courtyard. No one but the sentinels are up. Their dark outlines in the torchlight passed below Dandelion like insects from his vantage point on the roof of the sixth floor. He crouched, leaning into the slanting shingles.

His breaths came slow and even, hands bearing a soft grip on the apex of the roof. Both my room and Ashara’a are on the 4th floor. Ashara’s sitting room has a balcony… I don’t want to disturb her. My room has a large window in the study. I’ll use that. Dandelion licked his lips. His eyes flicked down to the fourth floor in the east wing. The dark green curtains hid the dark paneled desk and shelves lined with much beloved books.

Dandelion shifted backwards, his hands clinging to the shingles and his feet fitting in between their grooves. Once he was sure of his footing, he stood and lept in a sharp motion, careening over the courtyard and its sentinels in a smooth arch.

He landed on the roof of the east wing; The only sound giving him away was the creaking of the shingles and a small slip. Dandelion turned around, creeping to the edge of the roof. His feet edged down the smooth stones, finding the head of a window, and slowly working his way down to the sill. His hands gripped the last layer of shingles until his feet found the sill. Dandelion’s shadow passed over the next three windows, stopping at the last one. The dark green curtains twitched, making Dandelion frown.

He slipped a hand into the pocket of his white trousers, pulling out a bone dagger. Dandelion slipped it into the small crack between the two windows. The mahogany wood shifted as Dandelion lifted the latch on the other side of the window. He tensed as his foot hit the floor. The wood creaked. That wasn’t where I put my foot. That was farther in the room. Dandelion squinted, tilting his head. A slender shape, slightly darker than the shadows around it, came into focus in the half moonlit room.

The shape rushed at him, a wild yell slashing the air. Dandelion jumped backwards, landing in a fighting stance. He growled. The figure strode into the moonlight, bright. Dandelion groaned, knotting his fingers in his curls. “Puck!” The phuka’s bright red-orange hair, toothy grin, and apple green eyes made him stand out in the dark room. The smile vanished from his face. Orange eyebrows rose in an expression of surprise.

“I guess you don’t want me to give you the letter Ashara’s pet wrote?” Puck pulled a cream colored, tri-folded- piece of parchment from his vest.

Dandelion lunged for it, shoving Puck out of the way in his haste. He threw open the door to his study, bolting across the soft green carpet of his sitting room. The door of his sitting room received the same treatment as the door before it, thudding loudly against the marble corridor of the Seelie court palace.

Dandelion tiptoed across the corridor to his cousin’s chamber door. His breathing came in stuttering puffs and his hands shook. Why does my chest feel so tight all of a sudden? The letter felt hot in his hand; The parts where the quill pressed too hard into the parchment felt like iron brands against his palm.

Dandelion shook himself, his wings fluttering and extending as well. I’ll go in, put the letter on her toilet table, and sneak back out. He took a breath, steeling himself. Dandelion’s steps were slightly unsteady as he moved across the corridor.

He opened the door quickly, slipping into his cousins blue walled sitting room. The fire crackled, a log splintering. Dandelion rushed across the honey colored wood, trying to be silent. He skirted around the expensive carpet. If I get mud on Ashara’s carpet, she’ll kill me!

The door to his cousins bedchambers loomed above him. The shadows cast by the light of the fire danced over the walls, making it seem as if a revelry was taking place on the dark, ocean blue walls. Dandelion’s shoulders tensed as he reached for the crystalline door handle.

He turned it, opening it. The wide swath of Ashara’s bed chambers splayed out before him. Dandelion’s cousin lay in her four poster bed, on top of the covers, shifting and muttering. Her handmaid lay a few feet from her, under the covers, her back to Ashara.

He crept closer, his task forgotten for a moment. Is she having a nightmare? His eyes looked her over. She didn’t change into her nightgown… Her twitching form was covered by dark riding clothes. Dandelion came around the side of the bed, keeping his eyes on Ashara. Her head whipped in his direction, eyes flung wide open.

Founders stone! Dandelion jumped back, stumbling. Ashara didn’t move, save for her chest moving faster than it ought. She isn’t screaming at me… Does that mean she’s asleep? I hope I don’t lose a hand. Dandelion edged closer, breathing a sigh of relief when his cousin closed her eyes and turned away from him.

Dandelion stared at the letter in his hand, then at the sleeping figure on the bed. In his mind’s eye, a vision rose, he saw her opening the letter, reading it, her dark brown eyes filling with tears and her shoulders shaking with sobs. And there’s no telling how much time will have passed by the time she reads this, makes a plan or attempts to escape, in the mortal realm. Her pet could already be dead by the time she reaches him.

A cold resolve worked its way through him. Dandelion took a breath and let it go.

He dropped the note on the pillow beside Ashara’s head, jerking it back. I’m so sorry Ashara. It has to be this way… For the courts, for our families, for us. Dandelion backed out of Ashara’s chambers, shame filling him.