As it turns out, a beautiful set of armour has been made for me. It's strange to wear it, but it's also kind of cool to feel this badass. It's made of snug metal plates that make my hips look curvier than they are, but there's a soft fabric inside that somehow lightens them. It doesn't feel like I'm wearing dozens of pounds worth of metal on my body, instead, it's more like the weight of a woollen coat. Two curved bits of metal hug my breasts. Whoever designed the pointy bits at the end was having a laugh. My boobs don't even look this perfectly shaped when I'm wearing a bra.

"The metal is infused with magic repellents," Frost explains as he helps me put on the shoulder guards. "You'll still need to keep up a barrier, but if something gets through, you'll be protected from minor magic attacks. It's also impenetrable to any form of weapon."

"Wait, completely impenetrable? There must be weak spots? What happens if there's a really sharp weapon?"

"Magic," is all he says as an explanation. "This will keep you as safe as it gets. The armour is made from the metal that was once part of Beira's armour, but she was taller than you, so the smiths melted it down and crafted a completely new one for you."

"Before or after the coronation?"

I don't want them to have done it after she died. That feels wrong. Her belongings should stay as they are and not be changed to fit me.

"Before. I think she knew that she would never be able to fight in a battle again, so she had it changed to protect you. She was always thinking of how to keep you safe, even though she knew you had to fight."

He wiggles the shoulder guards back and forth to make sure they're well secured.

"I think you're ready."

I shake my head. "I don't think I am."

He pulls me closer. I can't feel his touch through the thick armour, but his closeness is comforting nonetheless.

"When you woke up, you were different, Wyn. Not bad different, not good different, just changed. More aware. Sharper, somehow. I don't know how to describe it, but I can tell you how I felt. Like you were the one person I'd follow anywhere. I trust you completely because I know your heart. I know how much you care for us, for everyone in this Realm. You will lead us through the darkness and back into the light. I have absolutely no doubt about that. I'm not saying it will be easy or that there won't be losses, but I believe in you, Wyn."

I swallow hard. Don't cry, Wyn. Don't cry, not after all the beautiful things he said.

"I love you," he adds and the floodgates open. I rest my head on his shoulder as I cry and cry, my tears soaking his shirt.

I know this is the last time I'm getting this emotional. The last chance to get rid of all the pent up sadness in me. It's not the deep sadness, that one will have to stay stashed away for a while, just the sadness of what's about to happen. People will die. This isn't a game, this is war. I don't think I'd ever be completely ready for that, but Frost's words have hardened my resolve. There's nobody else who can do this. I'm the Winter Goddess, the Queen of this Realm, and I'm going to lead my people to victory.

While I was unconscious, some of the visiting dragon shifters taught our strongest mages how to create a temporary Gate. I'm glad since this means I don't have to teleport everyone and can conserve my strength.

All eleven of them are standing before me in a courtyard that I've surrounded with the yellow magic that makes it impossible for anyone to listen in. My Guardians are behind me, giving me strength.

Until now, I’ve stayed in the shadows, not wanting anyone to know that I’m awake. Only the Council and my Guardians knew before this moment, but it’s time to show myself to the people who will be fighting and dying for the Realm.

"Are you all confident you'll be able to create a Gate and keep it open for long enough to let one battalion through?"

They all salute as an answer. I didn't know much about how the military works before, but my mother's knowledge is filling the blanks. Thanks to her, I now have all the statistics of how many soldiers we have, how many Guardians specialise in specific kinds of magic, how many weapons we have at our disposal. There are poison flasks that can be thrown, magical grenades and bombs that can make everyone freeze. At first, it looks like we're unbeatable with all these resources, but I'm aware that the Morrigan will likely have the same. Plus, she has the higher numbers. Her demons might not all be as well trained and as powerful, but they make it up with how many they are. Nobody knows for sure, but demons are known for spawning at high rates during times of war. I don't want to think about how exactly they do that. Let's hope it's cloning or something like that, not sex and baby demons.

"Good. Storm will assign each of you an officer to report to. No matter what happens, you stay with that officer and follow their commands. Once everyone is in place, your officer will be told your destination. You'll then open a Gate and make sure everyone gets there safely, before closing it again. I don't want any enemies using our Gates to enter the Palace. Understood?"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" they shout as one. Their auras are full of hope and confidence. They really believe that we're going to win this. Well, we are. I have the same confidence in my heart.

"There may be strategies that you're not aware of. If your officer asks you to bring everyone to a new location, you do that without question. Everything relies on you eleven and while you should feel that responsibility, I want you to be proud of your role."

Their auras brighten even more.

"Be ready, the signal to leave could come at any time. Don't get distracted and defend this Realm!"

I shout the last few words and a chorus of cheers responds.

"Good work," Storm whispers from behind me, before walking towards the mages and handing each of them a note with the name of their commanding officers. They don't know it yet that we're not just defending the Realm. We're also attacking another one.

Being the ones to throw the first stone leaves a bitter taste in my mouth, but it's what will give us the best chances of success. I know the Morrigan and I'm sure she won't expect us making this move. She doesn't see us as equals. She's a clever Goddess, but her superiority will be her downfall.

I go through my checklist in my head. The Council has been briefed. I’ve said goodbye to my father. The mages know what to do. Our forces are ready to be transported to their designated attack points. Now all I need to do is tell our allies. The Council have reassured me that all our allied Gods have their forces ready, so all they need is the time and place of where I want them to join my own army. This isn't my plan, it's what Storm and Gwain have been working on, but it needs to look like it's all me. People trust in me, their Goddess, the woman who survived an explosion that killed the old Winter Queen.

I turn to my remaining Guardians while Storm is still talking to the mages.

"Do you think we're ready?"

"Aye. Time to kick that bitch off her throne." Arc's voice is full of passion and anger. Good, that will help him in the battle.

"Yes, all the healers are standing by. Theodore will supervise them."

There was no persuading Crispin to stay with the healers and off the battlefield. He won't leave my side, and to be honest, I'm grateful to have all four men with me. I might have all these shiny new powers, but that doesn't mean I'm not afraid. Terrified, actually.

"We can do this," Frost says confidently. "I told you already and I will tell you as often as you need to hear it."

Storm joins us. "Are we doing a pep talk?"

I grimace. "No, a make-Wyn-feel-like-she's-ready-talk."

"Same thing." He grows serious. "Everyone's in position. All you need to do is contact the other Gods."

I nod. "Not here though. Hold my hand."

They do as I ask, already used to the procedure, and I teleport us onto the top of the highest tower. I like it up there. I feel like I'm away from the Palace and yet still part of it. It's freeing.

I sit down in the centre of the circular platform and focus on my magic. I know my Guardians will keep watch while I do the whole mind thing. I know that I can do it and I have my mother's memories, but it still takes me several tries until I connect with Dewi's mind.

Even though she knows I'm going to be doing this, she still shrieks in surprise. I hope it was just a mental shriek and not a physical one. I don't want her to be embarrassed.

"Everyone's ready," I tell her without further ado. "I'm going to try and send you an image of the map and your position, let me know if you get it."

I call up the map from my mind, the one Storm has shown me, complete with little flags to symbolise the places our allies are supposed to use to enter the Demon Realm. My mother is... was one of the few people who ever visited that Realm, so I had to make a few changes to the map Gwain had procured. It was like one of those old maps of Britain where the coastline is all wrong, but you can still make out the basic shape. That's what the Demon Realm map looked like. It's correct now though, thanks to my mother's memories. If I had the time, I'd get a little panicked about how her knowledge is seeping into mine, changing it, but no, I need to focus. No time to get hysterical because I feel my own self merging with a dead Goddess's consciousness.

Definitely no panicking.

I push the map towards Dewi, trying not to be too fast. I have no idea if this is going to work and melting her mind is not on my agenda. She's strong, but I'm a lot more powerful. That's not boasting, that's just a fact.

"Got it," she says much quicker than I'd expected. "Which colour am I?"

"Brown. I'm going to do the rounds and let all others know, but try and be there in two hours. I'm going to leave a tiny connection open so when you feel that activating, it's time to attack."

I can feel her assent and return to my body.

My Guardians are looking at me curiously. I smile at them.

"One down, another twenty or so to go. Could someone get me some tea?"

By the time I've contacted every single God, I'm exhausted. Not physically, not my magic, but mentally. It's like I've been at a long, drawn-out party where I had to talk to every single guest. I've done far too much socialising today. Luckily, the next people I meet are probably going to be demons that I can kill. Hurray.

I teleport us back into the Council chambers, where everyone is waiting. Gwain and Ada are dressed for battle, his armour dented in several places. I'm sure it could easily be repaired, but he might see it as a source of pride, a memory of all the wars he's won and survived.

Theodore is wearing a strange robe with dozens of pockets over his black clothes, as well as a belt full of tiny flasks.

Anthony, our new treasurer, looks a little pale, but he's wearing armour as well, just like Algonquin and Zephyr. Those two seem far too old to fight, but I remind myself that they are Guardians, immortal and likely a lot stronger than they look.

The only one who's not going to join me in the Demon Realm is Tamara who's going to oversee things from here, together with several Guardians who can communicate with their minds. They're our back up plan, in case I'm prevented from coordinating our allies myself.

"Is everyone ready?" I ask, not even bothering to sit down.

"We are, my Queen," Gwain replies formally. "The troops are ready to take their positions. All we need is your signal."

I take a deep breath. This is the moment everything will be decided. I might be sending everyone to their deaths. If this doesn't work out, the Morrigan is going to take the Winter Realm and many others and turn them into her own private hell. The balance will fail, magic will cease to exist, life will suffer.

No, this cannot happen. We need to be victorious, we will be.

"Spread the word," I tell the Council. "Let's show the Morrigan that we're not as weak as she thinks we are. Let's make her pay for what she's done."