Meara wiped away a tear as her maids made last minute adjustments to her coronation gown. She thought it was rather cruel to make her Queen just a week after her family was killed. She still remembered that day. The family stroll through the woods, the picnic under the oak, the masked man and her families gruesome deaths. She shudders, earning her a scolding from her old nurse. "Matilda, please." The old woman softens. "I miss them too dearie." She gives Matilda a hug. "Will the pain ever stop?" Matilda gives her a quick squeeze. "Never, but it will become bearable." She takes a deep breath as she walks into the grand throne room. It was filled with hundreds of nobles. Clasping her shaking hands, she walks slowly toward the throne. All too soon the Bishop was announcing her as Queen Meara the Loyal. She held back tears; her brother had given her that title. The ball and banquet that followed did nothing to improve her mood, only giving her a raging headache. As soon as was proper she excused herself. Changing into a soft nightgown, she slipped out onto her balcony. Letting her hair loose, she sighed with relief. She looked out on her kingdom, various lights twinkling in the dusk. The memories came flooding back. It was a warm summer day that her adventurous older brother had suggested a family picnic. They had all agreed and had walked to the woods. For a few hours it had been pure bliss, then the masked man arrived. He rode a black horse and carried an obsidian blade. Before they could react he had her mother by the throat. They were all shape shifters, but for some reason her mother couldn't against the man. He had slit her throat without a thought. She still remembered watching her fall to the ground. Her father and brother had then attacked, again they could not shape shift. The masked man was a skilled duelist and soon her father laid dead as well. She doesn't remember charging the man, but she must have for she had sliced his leg open. He had seemed surprised. It didn't help her brother, though and he fell as well. She remembered the horrible fear that had welled up in her as he turned toward her. He had studied her intently before advancing. She had drawn her knife, but decided to try and shift. To her surprise it worked. She fled from him, never looking back to see that he was puzzled. She had fled all the way to the palace and summoned the army to find the man, but not a trace of him was found. She closed her eyes, trying to make the painful memories stop. She climbed into her bed, falling into a fitful and nightmare filled sleep.