She woke with a start, forgetting for a moment where she was. Then it came rushing back. There had been a meeting between her father and the king of this realm. Peace had been bought. She had been taken in an exchange of dignitaries. Call it what you like, it was still obvious that she was a spoil of a war that had never actually happened. As long as she obeyed the rules, Earth would be safe. As long as she went along with her fate, she would not be harmed.

Sitting up, she reached for the silken robe on the chair beside her bed. It was chilly here at night, when the sun disappeared below the horizon. She had learned in the few days since she arrived that while many things were the same here, just as many were strange to her. Not all of it was frightening. Some things were breathtaking and indescribably beautiful.

She stepped out onto the balcony and looked up at the night sky. A beautiful green aurora shimmered before her, and the twin moons seemed low enough to touch. This never failed to make her smile. Somewhere in the distance, a houndaloe, a creature resembling a fox, but the size of a wolf, raised a mournful cry.

“I know how you feel. I’d cry, too if I thought it would change anything,” she said.

“It won’t. The king has spoken. But if it makes you feel any better, I promise not to tell anyone you cried.”

She turned, startled, and fell into a low curtsy. She had not seen the prince in the shadows.

“Forgive me, your highness. I spoke out of turn. Your father has been generous in his care of me.”

The prince laughed. “Yes. So generous that he keeps you prisoner and plans to marry you off to a stranger.”

Having not been aware of the latter, she looked frightened, but said nothing. She was, truthfully in no position to protest. Earth’s survival depended upon her willingness to obey.

“Well aren’t you a well trained little pet? Poor little Earthling. Well tonight, you should have a drink to celebrate the happy news.”

He reached for her hand, leading her inside and down the hall to a room she had never noticed. Her bare feet were cold on the stone floor. She remained silent and watched as he poured her a small glass of moonflower wine. The thick opal liquid was a favourite here, but far stronger than anything on Earth.

“To the future princess of our realm.”

She looked up in stunned disbelief, but then obediently took a tentative sip of the wine. She wanted nothing more than to run as fast and far as possible. But even if she made it over the crystalline bridge that led to the ships, she had no way of flying one. Maybe she could hide in the forest. But there were far fiercer creatures than the houndaloes there.

Looking up at the prince, she was very tempted to take her chances. A thousand such creatures seemed preferable to his mocking indifference. But in her heart, she knew she could not. She had been chosen for a reason. She would not let her people suffer.

“Thank you for the drink, my prince. I must return to my room now.”

With another low curtsy, she left the room, returning to her own through a maze of halls. There, she sat near the window, watching the aurora and wishing for home until dawn came, and with it the hope of a new day.